Also Buried at Louisville's Cave Hill Cemetery-- Part 6: "Pappy" Van Winkle and "Charlie Ward

Buried at the cemetery along with Charles C. Gilbert.

JULIAN PROCTOR "PAPPY" VAN WINKLE, SR.  (1874-1965)

Businessman known as "Pappy" Van Winkle, he is the namesake of the premium bourbon of the same name (Old Rip Van Winkle).  Other brands his former company produced were Old Fitzgerald and Rebel Yell.  (I'm quite fond of Rebel Yell even though they changed its logo.)

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CHARLES L. "CHARLIE" WARD  (1838-1875)

Songwriter, Confederate soldier and musician.  Well-known writer of minstrel and ,olotary songs in the 1850s and 1860s.  He wrote the words and/or music to such songs as "I'm Coming to My Dixie Home," "Think of Your Head in the Morning," "The Faded Gray Jacket" and "The Kentucky  Battle Song."

There has been speculation that the  tune "Dixie" was actually written by Charles Ward, with words by  Will S. Hays (not by Daniel Emmett)

During the Civil War, Ward  was the Chief Musician of the 4th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, CSA, of the famous Kentucky Orphan Brigade.

Bourbon and Dixie.   --Old Secesh

RoadTrippin' with Gen. Charles Gilbert-- Part 5: Lincoln's Good Buddy and Brother and, the 'Gonzo'

Also buried at Louisville's Cave Hill Cemeery.

**  JAMES SPEED  (1812-1887)

In 1864, he was appointed Secretary of the Treasury by Abraham Lincoln.  Brother of Joshua Fry Speed.

**  JOSHUA FRY SPEED  (1814-1882)

Friend and confidant of future President Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois.  During the Civil War, served as Lincoln's Western Affairs advisor and was offered the position of Secretary several times but refused it.

**  HUNTER S. THOMPSON  (1937-2005)

Journalist and author.  Internationally recognized "Gonza"  journalist.  Had a big best-seller with "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas."

--Old Secesh

RoadTrippin' with Gen. Charles Gilbert-- Part 4: All That Chicken, Geography and the 'High Five'

When I go RoadTrippin' Through History with someone, such as in this case, Charles Gilbert, one of the things I do is go to the cemetery where he's buried and see if there are any names that pop to interest.

There are a lot of then in Louisville, Kentucky's Cave Hill Cemetery.  Here are some more:

**  COLONEL SANDERS

Well, we all know him and that chicken of his.

**  ELLEN CHURHILL SEMPLE   (1863-1932)

Geographer and advisor to President Wilson at the Versailles Peace Conference in 1919.    Helped establish Georgraph as a legitimate field of study.  First woman ever placed in the president's position of any national academic organization in the United States,   Association  of American Geographers.  

Georgraphy was my college minor.

**  DEREK  ERVIN SMITH  (1961-1996)

Starting forward for Louisville's 1980 NCAA Championship Tea, and played in NBA.  Given credit as the "High Five" creator.

--Old Secesh

RoadTrippin' with Charles Gilbert-- Part 3: Gettysburg, Pro Football and 'The Kentucky Giant'

Charles Gilbert was buried at Louisville's Cave Hill Cemetery.  Here are some other persons of interest buried there.

**  ANDREW J. COWAN  (1841-1918)

Scottish-born Union Army artillery officer.    At Gettysburg, his battery was posted just south of the copse of trees during Picket's Charge.    Ordered his cannoneers to fire double canister.

**  PAUL HORNUNG  (1935-2020)

Heisman Trophy recipient and Pro Football Hall of Famer.   Played got the Green Bay Packers.

**   A whole lot of Union and Confederate officers and generals.

**  JAMES D. "BIG" PORTER (1811-1859)

Small as a child, but started to grow at age 17.    In three years, he grew to the height of 7 feet 8 inches.  Around 1830, the name "Big" was added.  Also known as the Kentucky Giant.

--Old Secesh

RoadTripping with Charles Champion Gilbert to Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville--Part 1: Ali and Clark

Back to the McHenry County Civil War Round Table  discussion group meeting from October 23, 2021.  This is where all the Gilbert posts from the past month have come from.

He is buried at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky.  A glance at some of the other people buried there shows quite a few folks of interest.

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Some of the burials:

MUHAMMAD ALI  (1942-2016)  Heavy weight boxer.

HENRY ATKINSON  (1782-1842)  Officer in War of 1812.  Later commanded U.S. forces in the Black Hawk War.

GEORGE ROGERS CLARK  (1752-1818)  Ranking U.S.officer in the Old Northwest during American Revolution.  Noted for captures of Kaskaskia and Vincennes.

ALBERT FINK  (1827-1897)  Major railroad man.

--Old Secesh

RoadTrippin' with Samuel A. Gilbert-- Part 2: A Route 66 Connection and Indian Wars

Since he was buried in this cemetery, we'll be taking a sroadtrip to see some othersof interest buried there.

**  MARY ELIZABETH JANE COLTER  (1869-1958)

Architect, interior designer credited as "The Architect of the Southwest" for her designs that incorporated Spanish and Indian influences with contemporary designs.

She worked with the Fred Harvey Company and completed 21  projects for them and the Santa Fe Railroad.  Also designed the  Navajo Hotel in Gallup, New Mexico, in 1923 and the La Posada Hotel in Winslow, Arizona, in 1929.

This is of special interest to Route 66 fans.

**  ALBERT WALTER McMILLAN  (1862-1948)

Indian Campaigns Medal of Honor recipient.  Awarded it as a member of  Co. E, 7th U.S. Cavalry for action at Wounded Knee in December 1890.  His father, SAMUEL JAMES RENWICK McMILLAN (1826-1897)) is also buried there.  His father was  a 2nd lieutenant with the Stillwater Guards in the Dakota Wars in 1862.

Of interest, I already have written about Samuel's brother, Charles, who was a Union general as well, whose daughter Isabel married John Chowning Gesham who was also in the 7th Cavalry and received a Medal of Honor at Wounded Knee.

**  Quite a few Civil War brigadier generals are also buried at Oakland Cemetery.

Samuel Augustus Gilbert-- Part 2: Further Service and Resignation

In August 1862,  he was ordered to join  General John Pope east of the Blue Ridge and he served there until 1863, when he assumed command of a brigade in Kentucky.  

There, he dispersed a political convention in Frankfort which he considered to be plotting treason.

He continued  in Kentucky and Tennessee until  November 1863 when he became an engineer on the staff of  General John G. Foster until Confederate General James Longstreet retreated at which time he resumed command of his brigade.

Colonel Gilbert's health having deteriorated by exposure caused him to resign  on 20 April 1864.  He was brevetted to brigadier general of volunteers, 12 March 1865.

--Old Secesh

General Samuel A. Gilbert-- Part 1: In West Virginia Early in the War

Two posts ago, I mentioned that Gen. Charles C. Gilbert was the brother of Brig. Gen. Samuel A. Gilbert.  Another Civil War general whom I do not know.  Some more research and Wikipedia does not have an article about this man.  

But, GENi does have some information.  So, we will continue our Roadtrip Through History that started with Charles C. Gilbert.

SAMUEL AUGUSTUS GILBERT

Birthdate:  August 15, 1825

Death:  June 9, 1868  (age 42), St. Paul, Minnesota

Civil War brevet brigadier general.  Was a civil engineer in the U.S. Coast Survey service and took leave of absence during the war and appointed lieutenant colonel of the 24th Ohio Volunteer Infantry and sent to what became West Virginia to defend Union positions.

On October 14, 1861, he was given command of the 44th Ohio Volunteer Infantry as colonel and later participated in the Battle of Lewisburg, West Virginia.

--Old Secesh

General Gilbert's Daughter Isabel Cass Gilbert Gresham: A Wounded Knee Connection

Charles Gilbert and his wife, Martha J. Prather Gilbert (1837-1930), had four children, two of whom survived to become adults.

His daughter, Isabel Cass Gilbert Gresham (1862-1938) married John  Chowning Gresham (1851-1926).  He was also in the U.S. Army and received a Medal of Honor during the Indian Campaigns.

Served as first lieutenant in the 7th Cavalry and received his medal for service at Wounded Knee Creek, South Dakota,  on December 29, 1890.

His citation reads:  "Voluntarily led a party into a ravine to dislodge Sioux Indians concealed therein.  He was wounded during this action."

This is what is known today as the Wounded Knee Massacre.  Twenty soldiers were awarded Medals of Honor at it.

He and his wife Isabel are both buried at the San Francisco National Cemetery.

--Old Secesh

Union Gen. Charles C. Gilbert-- Part 4: Rest of War and Afterwards

Major General William S. Rosecrans took command of the Army of the Ohio and the subsequent reorganization as the Army of the Cumberland left Gilbert without a permanent command.  He commanded the 10th Provisional Division in Tennessee at the Battle of Harpeth.  

In July 1863 he was assigned to the  East on administrative duty, serving as assistant  provost marshal  general and chief  mustering officer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and later Hartford, Connecticut, for the remainder of the war.

AFTER THE WAR

Gilbert served on the frontier after the war with the 28th U.S. and 7th U.S. Infantry Regiments.

When he retired in 1986, he was commanding officer of  the 17th U.S. Infantry with the rank of colonel.

He died in Baltimore, Maryland, on January 17, 1903, amd is buried at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky.

He was the brother of Union Brigadier General Samuel A. Gilbert and  uncle to Samuel's son Cass Gilbert.

--Old Secesh

Union General Charles C. Gilbert-- Part 3: At the Battle of Perryville Then Problems

Roadtripping Through History.

Gen. Gilbert was temporarily placed in charged of the corps-sized Army of Kentucky in the absence of the recovering General William "Bull" Nelson.  When the Army of Kentucky became a part of the  Army of the Ohio and redesignated the  III Provisional Corps, Gilbert remained in command.  

Just one week later, Gilbert commanded it at the Battle of Perryville on October 8, 1862.  There, his troops were successful in checking the last Confederate attacks and driving a Confederate brigade back through Perryville.

Even so, Gilbert was criticized for his slow action in the battle and his men generally did not like him, considered him as a martinet.

His appointment to brigadier general was not approved by the  Senate and it expired on  March 4, 1863.  Some officers in the Army, including Carlos Buell's chief of staff, James B. Fry, were surprised to find out Gilbert had not officially been promoted to major general.

Leaving the Volunteer service, Gilbert returned to the regular army and was appointed major in the  19th U.S. Infantry.  He was also brevetted to lieutenant colonel and colonel.

--Old Secesh

Roadtripping with Charles C. Gilbert-- Part 2: Civl War Service

After the Mexican War, he served in Texas for two years before returning to West Point in 1850 as  Assistant Professor of Geography, History and  Ethics and being promoted to first lieutenant on June 10, 1850.  In 1855, now a captain, he returned to Texas and fought the Indians

When the Civil War started, he commanded Fort Cobb in present-day Oklahoma.  Gilbert rejoined his regiment and fought at the Battle of Wilson's Creek where he was wounded.  During the Battle of Shiloh and Siege of Corinth, he was Inspector General of the Army of the Ohio.

During the Confederate  Heartland Offensive, also known as the Kentucky Campaign which led to the Battle of Perryville, Major General  William "Bull" Nelson was wounded at the Battle of Richmond and his Army of Kentucky severely mauled.  Department commander Horatio G. Wright needed to find a replacement for Nelson.

But, the two ranking officers, Generals Charles Cruft and James S. Jackson, refused the promotion.  At their recommendation, Wright promoted Gilbert to fill the vacancy and Gilbert was elevated to acting major general pending the approval of the president.

Several days later, President Abraham Lincoln promoted Gilbert to the rank of brigadier general of U.S. volunteers.  Major General Carlos Buell appointed Gilbert to a corps commander in his Army  of the Ohio, over such generals as  Jeremiah T. Boyle, Jefferson C. Davis and Albin F. Schoeph.  Buell later  denied knowing that Gilbert had not received an official appointment.

Of course, Generals Nelson and Davis were later involved in that shooting incident.

--Old Secesh

Roadtrippin' Through History-- Part 1: Well, Who Was Charles Champion Gilbert?

In the last post,I mentioned this man's name.  Even though he was a West Point graduate and Union general, not many people know of him.  I didn't.  That why it was our "Frank" question.  I like to Roadtrip Thru History where I start with one thing and see where it takes me, much like finding a road and seeing where you end up.

So, we're going to Roadtrip Charles Gilbert.

And, what better place to start in the unknown than with good ol' Wikipedia?

CHARLES CHAMPION GILBERT

(March 1, 1822 to January 17, 1903)

United States  Army officer during the Mexican War and Civil War.

Born in Zanesville, Ohio,  and graduated from West Point in the famed Class of 1846, finishing 21st of 59 students.

His classmates included twenty future Civil War generals, including  George B. McClellan,  Stonewall Jackson,  George Stoneman,  and George Pickett.

During the Mexican War he served in the  3rd U.S. Infantry and 1st U.S. Infantry and fought at Veracruz and Mexico City.

Do You Know Me Now?--  Old Secesh

McHenry County Civil War Round Table Discussion Group: The Perryville Campaign

Opening Questions continued.

6.  What were the reasons for Bragg's invasion of Kentucky?

7.  Bragg started from what Tennessee city?

8.  Who's July Raid through Kentucky served as a factor in Confederate plans that led to the Battle of Perryville?

FRANK QUESTION  (These are generally impossible to answer, but in honor of our good buddy Frank who is out of state these days.)

One of the main Union commanders at the Battle of Perryville was born in Zanesville, Ohio, and a member of the West Point class that included 20 future Civil War generals.  What was his name?   (Also, what class from the USMA had all those generals and how many members were in it?)

Answers below.

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6.  Gain support of Confederate symphatizers.  Draw Union Gen. Carlos Buell back across the Ohio River.

7.  Chattanooga

8.  John Hunt Morgan

FRANK QUESTION:  Charles Champion Gilbert.  Class of 1846.  59 members.

--Old Secesh