Sgt. Henry H. Taylor at Vicksburg-- Part 2

Art Fort Hill, the colors of the Forty-fifth remained until the line could be extended to another work farther to the right, which was also blown up.  Then, as the general saw that he could not hold the position and prevent its reconstruction without remaining in the crater, he withdrew the troops about seventy-five feet from it, and there remained his position until the surrender of Vicksburg.

This work was done under the orders of Generals Logan and McPherson.  The mining was done underbthe immediate guidance and supervision of General A. Hickenlooper, the corps engineer.

--Old Secesh

Sgt. Henry H. Taylor at Vicksburg-- Part 1

From "Deeds of Honor:  How America's  Heroes Won Medals of Honor" by Walter  F. Beyer, Oscar Frederick Keydel, 1901.

FIRST UNION FLAG IN VICKSBURG

When Fort Hill, one of the defenses  of Vicksburg, was undermined and blown up on the 25th of June, the 45th Illinois, of which Sergeant Henry H. Taylor was color-bearer, was the first regiment taken into the breach by General  M. D. Leggett, and fought there most gallantly until relieved.

According to the statement by General Leggett, he struggle was desperate.  The regimental colors were bravely supported  by Sergeant Taylor, and the first to be placed  in the rebel works during the siege.  

In the assault on the 22nd of May, a color bearer, further to the left of McClernand's front, had advanced far enough to plant his flag on or against the enemy's works.  This achievement, however,  was not regarded  as the placing of the Union's colors on the rebel works, as they were not held there.

--Old Secesh

Why Do We Commemorate Memorial Day?-- Part 4: Why is Memorial Day in May?

Veterans Day (originally called Armistice Day) is observed on November 11 to signify the armistice ending World War I  After World War II,   Armistice Day's purpose was expanded and in 1954,  changed to recognize all who have served in America's wars.

WHY IS MEMORIAL DAY IN MAY?

The days that we  celebrate Memorial Day is believed to have been influenced by Illinois U.S. Representative (and Civil War general) John A. Logan, who was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat in 1858, and had served also as an officer in the Mexican War.

It is said that he was a staunch defender of the Union and wanted Memorial Day to happen when flowers were in full bloom across the country.

Congress passed an act making May 30 a holiday in the District of Columbia in  1888.

Now, Memorial Day is observed the last Monday in May.

In 2000, the National Moment of Remembrance was signed and encourages all to pause at 3 pm local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence-- was signed into law by Congress and the President.

I Didn't Know About the Moment of Silence.  --Old Secesh

Elijah M. Haines-- Part 3: Into Politics

Elijah Haines continued to be a popular person in the state of Illinois and was elected as an independent delegate in the 1870 Illinois Constitutional Convention.  There, he galvanized opposition to the Republican Party to such an extent that minority parties were able to to influence legislation as a combined majority.

He was reelected to the Illinois House in 1870 and again in 1874.   During the latter term he was elected to Illinois Speaker of the House.  later he was reelected to the House in 1882 and was Speaker of the House in 1884 and served until 1886.

During this term he served over the contentious Illinois 1885 U.S. Senate election.  This pitted Republican John Logan a Civil War Union general against  Democrat William Ralls Morrison and later Lambert Tree.

He was once again elected to the Illinois House in 1888, but died before his term was over on April 25, 1889.

He is buried in Cranberry Lake Cemetery.  This cemetery is no longer there.

Quite the Man of Illinois Politics.  --Old Secesh

Battle of Atlanta, the Troup Hurt House-- Part 3: Success Eluded the Confederates

A historic marker at the north end of De Gress Avenue before it turns sharply east, indicates the location of the De Gress Battery.  Together the combined action of Manigault's brigade and other elements of Brown's and Clayton's Confederate Divisions opened a half-mile gap in the Union line that could further be exploited and this could have turned the tide of battle.

However, the Confederate success was short-lived and they were soon driven back by a ferocious Union counter attack.  General Sherman, observing the action from a position three-fourths of a mile north of the Troup Hurt House, directed cannon fire against the Confederate front and behind it, thwarting further gains and preventing reinforcement.

Union Major General John A. Logan, who had earlier in the afternoon replaced the fallen Major General James B. McPherson as commander of the Army of the Tennessee gathered reinforcements and led the successful infantry counteroffensive.

The federal troops did not pursue the retreating Confederates, and the fighting in the vicinity of the Troup House came to a close.  Combat continued until dark at Leggett's Hill.

--Old secesh

Col. Lucien P. Greathouse-- Part 5: Buried at Old City Cemetery in Vandalia.

It was reported that he had  been promoted to brigadier general  two days before his death.  The promotion was in the mail.

His body was returned to Vandalia and buried at Old City Cemetery (also called Old State Cemetery as Vandalia at one time was the capital of Illinois).  A sixteen-foot monument was erected at his grave with the 40 battles he fought in inscribed on one side.

Other inscriptions on it read "His example was worth a thousand men," General J.A. Logan.  "The bravest man in the army of the Tennessee,"  Gen. W.T. Sherman.

--Old Secesh

Civil War Trust's National Park Day On April 2, 2016: Two Illinois Sites

This is a day a call goes out for volunteers to come out to Civil War (and Revolutionary War) sites and work on a variety of projects.

Surprisingly, there are two Illinois sites as you usually don't think of the war being in Illinois.

**  U.S. Grant Home in Galena.  This is where he was living before the war and a grateful population presented him and Mrs. Grant with this home after the war.

Volunteers will rake the park and ready flower beds.  Participants are asked to bring their own rakes.

Perhaps they will gaze on the statue of Mrs. Grant that looks so much like Mrs. Butterworth.

**  General John A Logan Museum in Murphysburg.  Volunteers will rake leaves and pick up fallen limbs and trash.  Yard tools will be needed.  A meal will be served.

Will Work for Food.  --Old Secesh

Decoration Day

That is the original name of the day we celebrate the veterans who have risked so much to enable us to enjoy the lives that we have.

According to Wikipedia, Decoration Day was set up shortly after the Civil War by Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) National Commander General John Logan to honor Union soldiers who had died in the conflict. The GAR was an association of former soldiers (and sailors).

By the end of the war in 1865, the practice of decorating the graves of soldiers was widely practiced in the North and South as well. The general called for every GAR Post to celebrate Decoration Day May 30, 1868.

That year there were events held in 183 cemeteries in 27 states and the number of cemeteries rose to 336 the following year. Michigan made it an official state holiday in 1871 and by 1890 every Northern state had done the same.

Generally, the 100,000 member Women's Relief Corps ran the events. By 1870, the remains of nearly 300,000 Union soldiers had been moved to 73 National Cemeteries, mostly in the South near battlefields.

A Day Linked Deep in Our History. --Old B-Runner