Heritage Attacks on Confederacy-- Part 4: May 30-31

From the Google Alerts for Confederate for May 30 and 31, 2019.

**  University clarifies flower removal policy for Confederate monuments.

**  Confederate flags will be sold but discouraged at county fair.

**  Confederate flag at community gardens in Concord removed.

The May 31, 2019, Google Alerts for Confederate were mostly about the Confederate flag in the high school yearbook, but there were two others.

**  Parade vehicle with Confederate flag draws criticism.

**  Letter:  Artifacts support out alternative history of the Confederacy.

--Old Secesh

Heritage Attacks on the Confederacy-- Part 3: May 30, 2019

From the May 30, 2019,  Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Tennessee town's plans for Confederate statue draws controversy.  (Franklin)

**  High school yearbooks recalled over Confederate flag photo.

**  Vendors banned from selling Confederate flags at Gouveneur & St. Lawrence County Fair.

**  Kemp signs bill to protect Confederate monuments.

**  Neighbors furious after person hangs mannequin from tree next to Confederate flag.

And You Think It's Over?  --Old Secesh

Heritage Attacks on the Confederacy-- Part 2: May 29, 2019

**  Tony Horwitz's greatest book "Confederates In the Attic," seems even more crucial today.

**  Md's divided loyalties during the Civil War complicate its memory.

**  Charleston lab restores Civil War cannons pulled from the Pee Dee River.  (South Carolina)  Now, this is the kind of Civil War articles I want to read about.  These are the cannons from the CSS Pee Dee that were discovered in the river in 2015.

**  And Water So Wet:  Study shows whites from former slave states more likely to be biased against Blacks.

--Old Secesh

Heritage Attacks On the Confederacy-- Part 1: May 29, 2019

I am only writing about these attacks three days in a row.  To read them really sends my blood pressure up.

Just to let you know that these  attacks are continuing and will so  until we can get something to stop  them.

These are Confederate Google Alerts from May 29, 2019.

Fortunately, most of these listed  today do not require the removal of a statue or memorial to the gray.

**  The best e-mails I've received about Dallas' Confederate Memorial.

**  Letter:  Removing Confederate flags does not erase history.

**  Debate continues over Confederate statue 'Fame' in downtown Salisbury (N.C.).

**  Sims:  We shouldn't honor the worst of traitors.

**  Letter:  Proud of my Confederate ancestors.

More From Today.  --  RoadDog

The Indy 500 Salute to the American Military

I just got back from what probably is the biggest Memorial Day commemoration, the Indy 500.  This is why there have been no posts since Thursday.

Each year, thousands of fans go to this race, billed "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."  Much of the pre-race ceremonies revolve around the salute to the American military.

All military are honored for their service, as well they should be.

Without them, we wouldn't be enjoying the lives we are living.

Old Secesh Salute to the American Military.  --Old Secesh

MCCWRT Discussion Group Meets Saturday

The McHenry County (Illinois) Civil War Round Table (MCCWRT) will meet Saturday, May 25 at Panera Bread in Crystal Lake, Illinois, by US-14 and Main Street.

We start at 10 am and go to noon.

This month's topic:  Union Prisons.

We all know about how bad Confederate prisons were, especially Andersonville.  But, Northern prisons were as bad.

--Old Secesh

Road Trippin' Through History, or How I Ended Up with Gen. Jacob "Howling Wilderness" Smith

And, you might be wondering where Jacob Smith got the nickname (actually derisive) and I can tell you it was because of his role in Philippine Insurrection.  Read my Cooter's History Thing blog from this month to find out about it.  It was what he did after the Belangiga Massacre and you can also find out about that in that blog.

I ended up there as a result of one of my Road Trippin' Through History tours which started with an article about a new SUVCW camp in Wyoming in this blog on March 29 of this year.  It was named after Francis E. Warren of Massachusetts who received a Medal of Honor for his action at the Battle of Port Hudson and later moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming, and became a big deal out there, eventually ended up as the first governor and a long-serving U.S. Senator.

After his death in 1928, the Army post at Cheyenne was renamed in his honor.  But before that, men from Fort Russell had served in the Indian Wars and in the Spanish-American War and the Philippines Insurrection (now called the Filipino-American War evidently).  You can read about these in the April and May Cooter's History Thing blog.

This is when I switched over to the Cooter's History Thing blog and wrote about the fort, the Belangiga Massacre, the Belangiga Bells and the general.

With Road Trippin' Through History, I start in one spot and follow it to wherever it ends, often with surprising and interesting events.

This was all stuff I didn't know about

And Very Interesting.  --Old Secesh

Gen. Jacob "Howling Wilderness" Smith's Civil War Service

I have been writing a lot about this man this month in my Cooter's History Thing blog.  He was not a general during the Civil War, but an officer.  After the war he continued off and on in the military and then fought in the Spanish-American War, especially during the so-called Philippine Insurrection.  What he did there earned him the nickname "Howling Wilderness" especially when he gave orders to kill all Filipino males over the age of ten after the Belangiga Massacre of American troops.  "I want no prisoners," he ordered.  He also ordered that all of the island of Samar be laid to waste.

You should read about him.

Anyway, I'll talk a little about his Civil War service here.

At his 1902 court martial, Jacob Smith said that he had been wounded in battle three times:

**  Scar on his head from a saber cut he received July 1861 in Barboursville, Virginia.

**  Since April 7, 1862, he had been carrying a Minie ball in his hip from the Battle of Shiloh.

**  Smith also had a bullet  in his body from a wound  at El Caney, Cuba, during the Spanish-American War.

And, Some More.  --Old Secesh

Theophilus Lyle Dickey-- Part 2: Commanded the 4th Illinois Cavalry

In August 1861, the State of Illinois authorized Dickey to raise a company of cavalry which became the nucleus of the 4th Illinois Volunteer Cavalry.

In this process Dickey  and Illinois Governor Richard Yates over commissions of officers.  Both wanted to appoint the officers.  The governor especially liked to have  political patronage of those he would appoint.  In the end, Dickey got to appoint the officers.  (Usually the men in regiments voted on officers.)

Theophilus Dickey became the regiment's commander with the rank of colonel and its organization completed and mustered in September 26, 1861.

He commanded the regiment during Grant's advance on Fort Henry where it served as scouts and screening force and then again led the advance on Fort Donelson.  The regiment was then shipped to Pittsburg Landing where it participated in the Battle of Shiloh.

After the war as assistant attorney general for the United States and often argued before the U.S. Supreme Court.  In 1875, he was elected a justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, a position he held until his death in 1885.

--Old Secesh

Theophilus Lyle Dickey-- Part 1: Lawyer and Mexican War Captain

This man was quite involved with the lives of all four of the Wallace boys who I have been writing about this month.  He also commanded the 4th Illinois Cavalry for awhile and three of the Wallace's were in that outfit.

From Wikipedia.

THEOPHILUS LYLE DICKEY  (October 4, 1811-July 22, 1885)

Illinois jurist and military leader.

Born in Paris,, Kentucky,  moved to Macomb, Illinois, to study law and was admitted to the bar in 1835.  The next year he moved to Rushville, Illinois, and worked on his law practice and was editor of a newspaper and worked in real estate.  In 1839, he moved to Ottawa, Illinois, where he continued his legal career.

During the Mexican War, he raised a company of soldiers (which included William H.L. Wallace) and received a captain's commission.

After the war, he returned to Ottawa, continued his legal career and  was elected judge of Illinois'  Ninth Judicial District in 1848.  He resigned in 1851 and continued with his legal career.  He was a big supporter of Stephen A. Douglas and made many speeches for him in 1858 and 1860.

--Old Secesh

Three of the Wallace Boys Served in the 4th Illinois Cavalry

William H.L. Wallace's three brothers who served in the Union Army were all in the 4th Illinois Cavalry.

Martin R.M. Wallace was initially the regiment's major and then rose to command it and was brevetted to brigadier general after the war ended.

Captain John F. Wallace was a 2nd lieutenant in the 4th Illinois Cavalry and eventually captain of several companies.

First Sergeant Matthew H.W. Wallace was in Company E of the 4th Illinois Cavalry and was one of the two Wallace brothers to die in the war, both in 1862.

William H.L. Wallace was elected colonel of the 11th Illinois Infantry Regiment.

--Old Secesh

John F.Wallace: Captain, 4th Illinois Cavalry

From Civil War Illinois GenWeb.

Had Matthew H.W. Wallace listed as 1st Sgt. from Polo, Illinois (Ogle County).    Mustered in September 26, 1861.  Drowned Cairo, Illinois,  Feb. 2, 1862.

Also listed his brother John F. Wallace of Oregon in Ogle County. who mustered in September 26, 1861, as 2nd lieutenant. He was promoted to 1st lieutenant September and went to Company C.

For COMPANY C, 4TH Illinois Cavalry:

John F. Wallace is listed as captain promoted February 20, 1863 and going to Company D, consolidated.

For COMPANY D (CONSOLIDATED) 4th Illinois Cavalry:

John F. Wallace captain  October 17, 1864.  Transferred to Co. L , 12th Illinois Cavalry.

He is not listed in Co. L, 12th Illinois Cavalry.

I am unable to find any further information on John F. Wallace.

--Old Secesh

Matthew H.W. Wallace-- Part 2: Drowned Feb. 2, 1862

Marital Status:  Single
Occupation:  Farmer
Nativity:  Polo, Illinois

Joined When:  September 6, 1861
Joined Where:  Ottawa, Illinois

Period:  Three Years
Muster In:  September 26, 1861
Muster In Where:  Ottawa, Illinois

Remarks:  Drowned at Cairo, Illinois
When:  February 2, 1862

So, the Wallace family lost two sons in 1862.  The other one was Brig. Gen. William H.L. Wallace.

--Old Secesh

Matthew H.W. Wallace-- Part 1: 1st Sergeant, 4th Illinois Cavalry

From Find-A-Grave.

Another one of William H.L. Wallace's half brothers who fought for the Union.

Born 1837
Died 2 February 1862 (aged 24-25)

Buried in Oakwood Cemetery,  Mount Morris, Ogle County, Illinois.

Rank:  1st Sergeant
Company E
Unit:  4th Illinois Cavalry

Residence:  Polo, Illinois, Ogle County
Age: 23
Height:  5 feet 11 3/4 inches

Hair:  Light
Eyes:  Blue

--Old Secesh

Martin R.M. Wallace-- Part 2: At Battles of Fort Henry, Donelson and Shiloh

With the coming of the Civil war, Martin Wallace helped organize the 4th Illinois Cavalry with Theophilus Dickey (where he studied law with his brother William Wallace).  He was commissioned as major of the unit on October 12, 1861.  Theophilus Dickey was the regiment's colonel (William Wallace was married to Dickey's daughter.)

Martin Wallace led troops at the battles of Fort Henry, Fort Donelson and Shiloh.  His brother William was killed at Shiloh.

He assumed command of the 4th Illinois Cavalry following the death of Col.William McCullough in December 1862.  Promotions to lieutenant colonel and colonel came in January and June.  He was mustered out  on November 3, 1864.

On May 4, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated him Wallace to the grade of brevet brigadier general of volunteers to rank from March  13, 1865.The United States Senate confirmed it on May 16, 1866.

After the war, Wallace was named U.S.  Assessor in the Chicago District.  In 1869, he was elected to the Cook County Court and served for eight years.  He also served as attorney on the Cook County Board.  His wife, Emma, became a noted philanthropist.

Martin R.M. Wallace died on March 6, 1902, in Chicago and is buried in Rosehill Cemetery.

--Old Secesh

MCCWRT Meeting Tuesday, May 14: "Hi Tech Rebs and Their Infernal Machines"

This Tuesday, may 14, the McHenry County Civil War Round Table will be having their monthly meeting at the Woodstock, Illinois, Library on 414 Judd Street at 7 pm.

This month's presentation will be "Damn the Torpedoes:  Hi Tech Rebs and Their Infernal Machines" by Bruce Allardice.

Of course, that would cover torpedoes and submarines among other things, right up this navy  guy's alley.

Everyone Welcome.  --Old Secesh

Martin R. M. Wallace-- Part 1: Brother of William H.L. Wallace

From Wikipedia.

MARTIN REUBEN MERRITT WALLACE  (September 29, 1829 to March  6, 1902)

Brother of Brigadier General William H.L. Wallace.

Union Army officer from  October 12, 1861 to November  3, 1864.  Colonel of the 4th Illinois Cavalry when mustered out.  In recognition of  his service, in May 1866 he was nominated and confirmed to the grade of brevet brigadier general of volunteers to rank from  March 13, 1865.

Born in Urbana, Ohio,   In 1834, his family moved to LaSalle County, Illinois.  In 1839 the family moved to Ogle County, Illinois.  He attended Rock River seminary and became a lawyer after studying with his older brother at the firm of Dickey & Wallace in Ottawa, Illinois, and when he passed the bar, moved to Chicago to form a practice with Thomas Dent.

--Old Secesh

The Family of William H.L. Wallace in the War

From Find-A-Grave.

William H.L. Wallace had three half brothers who fought on the Union side during the war.

Brevet Brig. General  Martin Reuben Merritt Wallace

Captain John F. Wallace,  Co. D, 4th Illinois Cavalry and Co. L, 12th Illinois Cavalry Consolidated.

1st Sergeant  Matthew H.W. Wallace.

--Old Secesh

Battle of Shiloh-- Part 2: A "Great Profanity in the Army Post Office"

Lew Wallace met W.H.L. Wallace at the Battle of Fort Donelson.  Lew Wallace's first impression of W.H.L. Wallace was describing him as looking like a "farmer coming from a hard day's plowing."  As far as them having the same last names, Lew said  that it must have caused "great profanity in the army post office."

For his conspicuous service at Fort Donelson, W.H.L. Wallace was promoted to brigadier general.  During the Army of the Tennessee's movement to Savannah, Tennessee, Union Major General Charles Ferguson Smith injured his leg and turned his division command over to W.H.L.

This is how W.H.L. Wallace came to command troops fighting next to the famous Hornet's Nest at the Battle of Shiloh where they withstood six hours of repeated Confederate attacks, buying time for the Union Army to regroup.

It was here that Wallace was mortally wounded.  He was carried to Grant's headquarters at Cherry Mansion in Savannah and where he met his wife, who provided care and love to him in his final days.  He died in his wife's arms with his last words, "We meet in  heaven."

His body was taken home and buried in Ottawa, Illinois.

He was brother to future Brevet Brigadier General Martin M. Wallace.   Wallace County, Kansas, is named for him.

--Old Secesh

The Battle of Shiloh-- Part 1: USS Tyler, USS Lexington and Brig. Gen. William H.L. Wallace

As far as my research for the discussion group on this battle, I concentrated on several aspects of the battle.
**  The first was the role played by the two U.S. Navy ships, the USS Lexington and the USS Tyler.  I am writing about those two ships in my Running the Blockade: Civil War Navy blog.

**  I also did some research on William H.L. Wallace (July 8, 1821 to April 10, 1862)  since he was from Illinois.  Of course, he was one of the two Wallaces commanding divisions at  the battle (the other one was Lew Wallace who wrote "Ben Hur" after the war).

W.H.L. Wallace was the original commander of the 11th Illinois Volunteer Infantry regiment which had suffered over 60% of its strength at the Battle of Fort Donelson.  His gallantry was noticed and with it a promotion from colonel to brigadier general.

A lawyer by trade, he had enlisted in the regiment as a private but was elected its colonel by the time it mustered in on July 30, 1861.

--Old Secesh

Answers to the Battle of Shiloh Quiz

I wrote down by quiz questions for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group in my last two posts.  Here are the answers:

1.  USS Lexington and USS Tyler

2.  Army of the Tennessee, Army of the Ohio were the Union ones.  The Confederate one was the Army of Mississippi.

Side Question:  Union Armies named after Rivers and would be the Army of the Tennessee.  Confederate named after regions, so their would be the Army of Tennessee.

3.  Southwest

4.  Strike Grant before Buell's troops arrived.

5.  Hornet's Nest

6   Corinth, Mississippi

7.  W. H. L. Wallace and Lew Wallace

Frank Question   William Hervey Lamar Wallace.

Second Frank Question.  Lew Wallace commanded the 11th Indiana and W.H.L. Wallace the 11th Illinois.

Did Ya' Pass?  Yaw'l.  --Old Secesh

MCCWRT Battle of Shiloh Quiz

Continuing with the quiz.

Side Question, there was a Confederate Army and a Union Army both with the name Tennessee.  How could you tell them apart (and don't say uniforms).  Hint:  The name.

3.  In what intermediate direction would Shiloh be in the state of Tennessee?  (Hint:  Not E,S,W, or N)

4.  What was the objective of Confederate General Johnston?  (to strike Grant before what?)

5.   What was the name given to the sunken road where the very fierce fighting took place?

6.  Where was Johnston's base of operations?

7.  Who were the two Union division commanders named Wallace?

FRANK QUESTION:  (THAT MEANS REALLY HARD):  One of the Wallace's had two middle names,  what were they?  (Hint:  The letters were H.L.)

WAIT, ONE MORE FRANK QUESTION:  Besides the same last name, both Wallaces had commanded the 11th regiment of their respective states.  What were the two states?

Good Luck.  Answers in the Next Post.  --Old Secesh

MCCWRT April Discussion, Battle of Shiloh-- Part 1: A War and a Snowstorm

The McHenry County Civil War Round Table (MCCWRT) discussion group met Saturday, April 27 at Panera Bread in Crystal Lake, Illinois in the midst of all sorts of dire snow warnings.  As such, attendance was down to just four.  I went, but as Captain Jack Sparrow would say, "Kept a weather eye out."  As long as the snow didn't start sticking to the pavement, I was staying.

I brought along the huge book "American Heritage Civil War" to give to the eleven-year-old boy who has been at our last two meetings.  I had a smaller child's edition growing up.  But the thing I liked the most were the battle maps which had small soldiers charging and moving in formations.  I spent hours pouring over those maps.  And, the book was written by none other than Bruce Catton, who really knew his way around words.

*****************************

I had a little quiz for attendees concerning the Battle of Shiloh.

1.  Name the two U.S. Navy ships that helped turn the tide at the Battle of Shiloh?

2.  Name the two Union armies involved in the battle as well as the Confederate one.

Answers in the next post.

The Snow and the Blood and the Beer.  --Old SeceshSnow

Removal of Confederate Mound in Chicago-- Part 2

Both groups are planning on peaceful events in April.

Said, SCV Camp Douglas Commander Matthew Evans:  "We respect their right to the First Amendment.  We respect their right to gather, but it is a two-way road.  We hope that they can respect our presence there at Confederate Mound and realize that this ceremony is not to divide or open old wounds, but to pay respect for the dead.

"Confederate Mound is not a monument, but a headstone for 6,000 men who never got to go home."

****************

I came across this article in the April 5,2018, Suburban Chicagoland paper.

"Later in the month, on April 22, Smash White Supremacy will come together to stand against the annual white supremacist gathering held by the Sons of the Confederacy.  This will be from 11-1 at the confederate mound in the cemetery."

I Sure Didn't Know That Honoring Your Dead, Especially Thousands Who Died As Prisoners Was a White Supremacist Thing.  --Old Secesh

Upcoming Protest Calls for Removal of Confederate Mound in Oak Woods Cemetery-- Part 1

From the April 18, 2019, Chicago Weekly Citizen by Katherine Newman.

The Camp Douglas Camp #516 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans (which is named after the Union prison in Chicago in which some 6,000 Confederates died during the war) will hold a memorial service on April 22 at the Confederate Mound, where at least 4,000 victims are buried, in Oak Woods Cemetery. 

They will be met by a group calling themselves Smash White Supremacy.

Matthew Evans, the commander of the SCV group said:  We gather to honor the 6,000 men buried at Confederate Mound, who suffered through harsh winters, extreme summer temperature, starvation, human cruelty by the hands of Federal guards, only to die in a prison camp and never return home."

Both groups are planning a peaceful event near each other on April 22.

--Old Secesh

Last Year It Was A Planned Confrontation At the Confederate Monument in Chicago

The Camp Douglas  Camp #516 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, with members throughout Chicagoland, has been holding a memorial service at the Confederate Mound in Oak Woods Cemetery in Chicago for many years and, until last year, there has never been a problem, even though this cemetery is located deep within a black neighborhood.

It has been a peaceful commemoration with much solemnity.  That is, until last year.  At that time a group arrived on the scene, supposedly to have a service at the grave of Ida B. Wells, but in reality the reason they were there was to break up the Confederate service and provoke a confrontation.

They had never been there before and neither Ida B. Wells' birthday or death occurs in April.  They had loudspeakers and were chanting right in the middle of the Confederate proceedings.  Strange that it would happen in this time and age.

But, if you read my three previous posts before yesterday, you will see it is all part of the bigger movement to bury and disgrace all things Confederate.  It is so sad that some people can not allow  others to commemorate their heritage.

And, I also believe that Ida B. Wells deserves to be better known than she is.  She was one brave woman to go after the horrible lynchings that took place in the South during her time.  And the fact that she was a black person and a woman, made her going to the South a very dangerous trip.  I'd support a statue at the cemetery or on a public space.

It is too bad that it took the opportunity to cause a confrontation to get the other group fired up enough to go out and do something for a real hero, Ida B. Weells.

--Old Secesh