Lee and His Generals: William Henry Chase Whiting

Continued from November 10.

Since the McHenry County Civil War Round Table was having its July 2, 2022, discussion group topic on Lee and his generals, I prepared this information on my favorite Confederate general, W.H.C. Whiting.

He was born in Biloxi, Mississippi, the son of Lt. Colonel Levi Whiting.  I haven't found it written anywhere else, but he was most likely named after his father's commander, William Henry Chase (1798-1870).

Whiting graduated 1st in his USMA Class of 1845 and was assigned to the engineers. (The top USMA graduates were assigned to the engineers.)    He spent his prewar career in the Army designing seacoast defenses in Maryland and Florida as well as harbor fortifications in San Francisco, California.

He then spent five years improving rivers, canals and harbors in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.  He also built the Cape Lookout, North Carolina, lighthouse.

--Old Secesh

Beauvoir

Yesterday, I was able to visit Jefferson Davis' final home at Beauvoir in Biloxi, Mississippi. Admission was $9 for the general public, unless you had AAA, were 65 or were a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans where you would save $1.50.

The Mississippi Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans deserves a big thanks for keeping this place going and especially after all the damage it sustained after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The place looks great.

The first time I saw the place was 1995, but I didn't go in. The second time was 2007 and it was still closed from Katrina.

You can read more about it in my travel blog at http://roaddogsroadlog.blogspot.com

A Place Every True Confederate Should Visit.

In Biloxi. Mississippi This Morning

And to those of you with a Confederate persuasion, that means Beauvoir, and that means Home of Jefferson Davis, after the war.

The last time we were here, a little over a year after Hurricane Katrina had devastated the Mississippi Coast, the home was closed. The exterior looked to be in good shape, but interior still damaged.

It was closed when we got to town last night, but we drove by it and it is impressive with the white fence and strategically placed lights shining on it.

The home dates to 1852, and is administered by the Mississippi Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans who have done a great job on it.

Last Home of the President. --Old B-R'er

Unknown Soldier of the Confederate States of America Tomb

From Wikipedia.

This is about the one in Biloxi, Mississippi at Beauvoir, the home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. There are two others with similar names in Kentucky at Horse Cave and Perryville.

The remains of a Confederate soldier were discovered in 1979, by Rick Forte, Chairman of the Combined Boards at Beauvoir, at one of the battlefields of the Vicksburg Campaign. The remains were reburied in a cypress casket at Beauvoir in 1980.

The tomb is inscribed "Known But to God" and was dedicated June 6, 1981.

The remains have been authenticated by artifacts by them, but his name, unit and place of origin are not known.

The Great Seal of the CSA is at the top of it and at the base is part of a poem by Father Abram Joseph Ryan, the poet-priest of the Confederacy.

Ah! fearless on many a day for us,
They stood in front of the fray for us,
And held the foeman at bay for us;
And tears should fall
Fore'er o'er all
Who fell while wearing the Gray for us.

Something to Think About On This Day dedicated to All Veterans Who have Defended Our Freedoms. --Old B-Runner