Looking for Lt. Crocker-- Part 4: '...It Seemed Certain Death to Cross It'

Two days after the battle, Crocker, whose only punishment for disobeying orders was a reprimand, described his harrowing battle experience in a letter to his parents:  "As we got to the riverside we had to go near a half mile to a dam over which our men were attempting to cross, and to make this dam many a man lost his life, as the rebels were stationed on the bluff taking deliberate aim during the whole fight."

"I was cool and collected during my travel by the riverside," he continued, "but when I reach this dam, I think my cheek blanched, for it seemed certain death to cross it, as the rebels had got into a large brick building below the dam, and the main body above on the bluff, picking off our poor fellows."

Ravaged by time, nature and graffiti, that brick building used by the Confederates still stands.

After Lemuel Crocker's death in Buffalo in 1885, apparently from a stroke, no mention appeared in the local newspaper of his long-ago heroism.  It said that he was a respected businessman "noted for for his liberality, public spirit and kindheartedness.  he had many warm friends by whom his sudden taking off will be greatly deplored.

He was buried at Buffalo's famous Forest Lawn Cemetery.

He did not receive a Medal of Honor for his Shepherdstown efforts.  Hopefully at some time soon that will be rectified.  He definitely deserves one (along with William Barker Cushing in my book).

--Old Secesh

John Banks Looking for Lt. Crocker at Battle of Shepherdstown-- Part 2: 'Beaten, Dismayed, Wild With Fright'

Like I said, John Banks gets down and dirty (and in this case with the copperheads) with his person.  he goes there and experiences.

He goes out to where the battle was fought and he's standing there with the Potomac River about 15 yards away and a steep bluff to the other side of River Road where he is standing.  He can imagine what a treacherous place this would be for even veteran troops, but especially for the "rookie" 118th Pennsylvania, the Corn Exchange Regiment.

This is their first real action.  They are described as "beaten, dismayed, wild with fright" where they now find themselves.  Atop the bluffs they had already fought with muskets that proved defective.  Some had plunged to their deaths off those bluffs.

Under these circumstances. Lt. Lemuel Crocker and others hastily beat a retreat under fire across a mill dam to the Maryland side of the Potomac River.  (They were on the Virginia side  (now West Virginia).  You can still see the remains of that dam stretching across the river.

Others huddled alongside the river by Boteler's Cement Mill kilns where some were even killed by friendly Union artillery fire from across the river.  John Banks said:  "You can still see those ruins, too, if you're mentally prepared for the copperheads."

Hard to get More Real Than This.  --Old Secesh

John Banks Goes Looking for Lt. Crocker, Unsung Hero of Battle of Shepherdstown-- Part 1: 'My House Is Haunted'

From the December 2021 Civil War Times magazine "No Man Left Behind" by John Banks.

Every so often, John Banks' blog makes an appearance in the hallowed pages of this magazine (I believe it was the first non-veteran regular magazine published).  This is how I became aware of him and now I often go to Mr. Banks' blog as he writes more than one blog a month.

He often travels to the spot he's talking about in his post, as he did for the Battle of Shepherdstown. 

Now, remember, until recently I really didn't know anything about this battle.  I've learned a lot and it was quite the coincidence that the battle would be featured again.

John Banks' goal was to walk in the footsteps of 118th Pennsylvania Lieutenant Lemuel Croker "whose heroics on September 20, 1862, in the final Maryland Campaign should be legendary."

They, unfortunately, are not, but Mr. Banks makes a good point of support for the lieutenant.  

In typical John Banks style, he meets an interesting character who will take him on a tour of the battlefield, but had some time to kill, so finished his cup of coffee in the Sweet Shop Bakery.  

Because of the likelihood of ghosts since the building was used as a Confederate hospital in the aftermath of the Battle of Antietam, the war's single bloodiest day, he asks the woman behind the counter is that creeps her out.

She tells him:  "My own house is haunted so it really doesn't bother me."

And, then John was off.

--Old Secesh

My Busman's Holiday with a Blogger: John Banks

All blogs devoted to the Civil War are great, but I am of the belief that the absolute best blogger is John Banks.  This guy lives the Civil War.  Kind of reminds me of the scene from the movie "Patton" where he said that he had been at Carthage when that city was destroyed by the Romans.

He lives the Civil War.

He also finds some of the most interesting things to focus his attention on.  

In the December 2021 Civil War Times magazine, he wrote about the Battle of Shepherdstown with a focus on the efforts of Lt. Lemuel Crocker to save his men. He visits the actual spots he writes about it.

I'd sure like to go along with him on a jaunt (other than with copperheads) and just do the experience.

Just go to John Banks' Civil War Blog and see what I mean.

Happy Busman's Holiday for Me.  --Old Secesh

Battle of Shepherdstown

From the December 2021 American Battlefield Trust calendar.

SHEPHERDSTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA

622 acres saved.

Still reeling from America's deadliest day at the Battle of Antietam -- the Union and Confederate armies clashed again at Shepherdstown on September 189-20, 1862. 

As Lee's Confederate Army slopped back into Virginia following the battle, he had strategically left two infantry brigades at Shepherdstown to guard Boteler's Ford on the Potomac River.  So, when elements of Union Major General Fitz John Porter's V Corps pushed across there, a battle ensued.

The Trust along with the Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission has added 622 acres of hallowed ground at Shepherdstown.

I just read an article in the December Civil War Times by noted blogger John Banks about his trip there.  Done, of course, in his distinct style.

Of Course, Shepherdstown was in Virginia at the Time.--Old Secesh

The Widow's Secret-- Part 10: Helen Jackson, Last Civil War Widow

Shorty before Christmas 2020, about 20 people gathered at Marshfield Cemetery for Helen Jackson's graveside service.

On December 16, 2020, the 101-year-old woman, very likely the last Civil War veterans widow, died.  Her story made international news.

Perhaps Helen would have been pleased that Jimmy L. Bolin was there on that cold, blustery afternoon.  At 6-foot-11 and 300 pounds, he is Civil War veteran James Bolin's great-great nephew.   He looked nothing like James Bolin, but he was honored to serve as a pallbearer for the "Last Civil War Widow."

So, technically, Helen Jackson would have been his great-great aunt.

"At funerals, people don't like to take pictures," said Jimmy Bolin, a lifelong resident of Missouri.  "How we wish we did at this one.  This was a part of history...."

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I took this from the April Civil War Times magazine.  This was written by John Banks.  John Banks, in my opinion is the best Civil War blogger out there.  He really lives his stories.  You can check out his bklog at (john-banks.blogspot.com).

A Connection to the Past, That Helen Jackson.  --Old Secesh