Continued from the Friends of Gettysburg web site.
R.K. Meade was a hero in the North after Sumter's surrender, but he resigned his commission when it became apparent Virginia would also secede. He became an engineer in the Confederate Army.
Confederate General J.R. Anderson wrote a letter to Secretary of War Judah Benjamin requesting that Meade be commissioned a Captain of Engineers. As such, he directed the fortifications that became Fort Fisher for a short time before serving on the staff of General Longstreet on the Virginia Peninsula. Promoted to major in the summer of 1862, he died of typhoid July 31, 1862 at Petersburg, Virginia.
He was buried at Blandford Cemetery in Petersburg, Virginia. His father, Richard Kidder Meade, Sr., is also buried there.
To What heights Might This Young Man have Risen Had It Not Been for His Early Death? --Old B-R'er
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
Showing posts with label Richard Kidder Meade. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Richard Kidder Meade. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Richard Kidder Meade; No Close Relation to General Meade-- Part 7
From the Friends of Gettysburg Web Site.
A member saw a picture in the March 23, 1861 Harper's Weekly Magazine of the federal officers at Fort Sumter. The name of one being Meade sparked their interest.
Further research showed that Richard Kidder Meade was not a close relative of Gettysburg's General George Meade. R.K. Meade was a member of a prominent Virginia family who graduated the USMA and entered service as a Brevet 2nd. Lt. of Engineers in July, 1857. The Engineer Corps was reserved for the very top officers in the Army.
Lt. Meade was at Fort Sumter during the crisis. Even with his Southern leanings, he evidently performed his job at the fort, as another officer wrote, "Lieut. R,K. Meade, Engineers, placed on ordnance duty, found the supply of cartridges on hand to be too small, and took immediate measures to increase the supply by cutting up all the surplus blankets and extra clothing to make cartridge bags (for the artillery)."
Performing His Duty. --Old B-Runner
A member saw a picture in the March 23, 1861 Harper's Weekly Magazine of the federal officers at Fort Sumter. The name of one being Meade sparked their interest.
Further research showed that Richard Kidder Meade was not a close relative of Gettysburg's General George Meade. R.K. Meade was a member of a prominent Virginia family who graduated the USMA and entered service as a Brevet 2nd. Lt. of Engineers in July, 1857. The Engineer Corps was reserved for the very top officers in the Army.
Lt. Meade was at Fort Sumter during the crisis. Even with his Southern leanings, he evidently performed his job at the fort, as another officer wrote, "Lieut. R,K. Meade, Engineers, placed on ordnance duty, found the supply of cartridges on hand to be too small, and took immediate measures to increase the supply by cutting up all the surplus blankets and extra clothing to make cartridge bags (for the artillery)."
Performing His Duty. --Old B-Runner
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Richard Kidder Meade-- Part 6
Earlier this month I was writing about this man and his short but interesting Civil War service. The last entry was August 3rd.
While at Fort Fisher a few days ago, I learned that part of the fort was named Batter Meade and had been designed by Richard Kidder Meade during the short time he was there. It no longer mounted guns by the time the fort was attacked and had been turned into a hospital to which Col. Lamb and Gen. Whiting were taken after they were wounded in action. They were later moved to Battery Buchanan where they and the garrison surrendered.
On December 27, 1860, Major Robert Anderson sent this telegram from Fort Sumter to Col. S. Cooper:
"This afternoon an armed steamer, one of two which have been watching these two forts, between which they have been passing to and fro or anchored for the last night, took possession by escalade of Castle Pinckney. Lieutenant Meade made no resistance. He is with us to-night.
They also took possession to-night of Fort Moultrie, from which I withfrew the remainder of my men this afternoon, leaving the fort in charge of the overseer of the men employed by the Engineer Department."
What kind of resistance to he expect Meade to put up when he only had one soldier with him? Or perhaps the fact that Meade was a Southerner made Anderson wonder where the man's loyalties truly were.
The Plot Thickens. --Old B-R'er
While at Fort Fisher a few days ago, I learned that part of the fort was named Batter Meade and had been designed by Richard Kidder Meade during the short time he was there. It no longer mounted guns by the time the fort was attacked and had been turned into a hospital to which Col. Lamb and Gen. Whiting were taken after they were wounded in action. They were later moved to Battery Buchanan where they and the garrison surrendered.
On December 27, 1860, Major Robert Anderson sent this telegram from Fort Sumter to Col. S. Cooper:
"This afternoon an armed steamer, one of two which have been watching these two forts, between which they have been passing to and fro or anchored for the last night, took possession by escalade of Castle Pinckney. Lieutenant Meade made no resistance. He is with us to-night.
They also took possession to-night of Fort Moultrie, from which I withfrew the remainder of my men this afternoon, leaving the fort in charge of the overseer of the men employed by the Engineer Department."
What kind of resistance to he expect Meade to put up when he only had one soldier with him? Or perhaps the fact that Meade was a Southerner made Anderson wonder where the man's loyalties truly were.
The Plot Thickens. --Old B-R'er
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Chris Fonvielle's New Fort Fisher Book
I bought noted Fort Fisher expert Chris E. Fonvielle, Jr.'s new book, Fort Fisher 1865: The Photographs of T.H. O'Sullivan, at the Fort Fisher Museum last Friday and sure enjoyed my first look through it.
Collecting this many of the photographs taken after the fort had fallen is an accomplishment in itself, but then Fonvielle writes about each photo and shows from which direction it was taken.
Then, from pages 3 to 26, he gives as good of a background of Wilmington, blockade-running, the construction of the fort and the two battles as you'll find anywhere.
It was amazing that serious work on the fort did not really start to occur until Col. William Lamb took command of it July 4, 1862.
Before that, a series of commanders had been in charge and the fort had grown piecemeal and in a disorganized manner. I was familiar with some of the former commanders and engineers such as Charles Pattison Bolles, William Lord DeRosset, W.H.C. Whiting (while a Confederate major) and John J. Hedrick.
However, I have only come to know two others just this past year and both by coincidence.
After attending the Daffodil Festival in Fremont, North Carolina, I wanted to find out a little about its history. It was named for the head of the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad, Seawell Fremont (it was a station on the railroad). Another source said he was in charge of all coastal defense from New River to the South Carolina line which would include what became Fort Fisher.
Then, this summer, I came across an auction of items owned by Richard Kidder Meade and short note that he had been at Fort Fisher at one point. There was one part of the fort called Battery Meade which he designed.
Mighty Good Book. --Old B-R'er
Collecting this many of the photographs taken after the fort had fallen is an accomplishment in itself, but then Fonvielle writes about each photo and shows from which direction it was taken.
Then, from pages 3 to 26, he gives as good of a background of Wilmington, blockade-running, the construction of the fort and the two battles as you'll find anywhere.
It was amazing that serious work on the fort did not really start to occur until Col. William Lamb took command of it July 4, 1862.
Before that, a series of commanders had been in charge and the fort had grown piecemeal and in a disorganized manner. I was familiar with some of the former commanders and engineers such as Charles Pattison Bolles, William Lord DeRosset, W.H.C. Whiting (while a Confederate major) and John J. Hedrick.
However, I have only come to know two others just this past year and both by coincidence.
After attending the Daffodil Festival in Fremont, North Carolina, I wanted to find out a little about its history. It was named for the head of the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad, Seawell Fremont (it was a station on the railroad). Another source said he was in charge of all coastal defense from New River to the South Carolina line which would include what became Fort Fisher.
Then, this summer, I came across an auction of items owned by Richard Kidder Meade and short note that he had been at Fort Fisher at one point. There was one part of the fort called Battery Meade which he designed.
Mighty Good Book. --Old B-R'er
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Richard Kidder Meade-- Part 5
For a guy I had never heard of before, this is getting pretty deep.
The ex-US Congressman Meade died April 20, 1862. His son, the Confederate officer died July 31, 1862. So, they died just over three months apart.
A CASTLE PINCKNEY TIMELINE
** December 1860 armament: four 42-pdrs, fourteen 24-pdrs, four 8-inch seacoast howitzers, one 10-inch mortar, and four light artillery pieces.
** December 3, 1860, Lt. J.C. Davis (no relation to future Confederate President Davis) and twenty laborers placed in the fort.
** December 11, 1860, Lt. Meade relieves Lt. Davis of command. The garrison now at 4 mechanics, 30 laborers and an ordnance sergeant and his family.
** December 20, 1860, South Carolina secedes.
And It Continues. --Old B-Runner
The ex-US Congressman Meade died April 20, 1862. His son, the Confederate officer died July 31, 1862. So, they died just over three months apart.
A CASTLE PINCKNEY TIMELINE
** December 1860 armament: four 42-pdrs, fourteen 24-pdrs, four 8-inch seacoast howitzers, one 10-inch mortar, and four light artillery pieces.
** December 3, 1860, Lt. J.C. Davis (no relation to future Confederate President Davis) and twenty laborers placed in the fort.
** December 11, 1860, Lt. Meade relieves Lt. Davis of command. The garrison now at 4 mechanics, 30 laborers and an ordnance sergeant and his family.
** December 20, 1860, South Carolina secedes.
And It Continues. --Old B-Runner
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Richard Kidder Meade-- Part 4
I'm spending quite a bit of time researching this young man whose life was cut way too short by typhoid. It would have been interesting to see what he would have accomplished in the Civil War.
I came across another Virginia Richard Kidder Meade on Wikipedia, born July 29, 1803, and died April 20, 1862, just three months before the Meade I've been researching. Perhaps his father? The dates would match up and both from the same state with the same name.
The other Meade was a US Representative from Virginia from 1843 to 1853, a good way to get a son into the military academy. Plus, he was appointed US Minister to Brazil from 1857 to 1861. He resigned from the position and returned to Virginia to help the Confederacy.
I now know that this Meade was the Meade who was a Confederate officer's father.
There was also another Richard Kidder Meade from Virginia whose grandfather had been the governor of North Carolina and had served with Washington during the American Revolution. He died in 1805, perhaps a grandfather?
It Just Keeps Getting Deeper. --Old B-Runner
I came across another Virginia Richard Kidder Meade on Wikipedia, born July 29, 1803, and died April 20, 1862, just three months before the Meade I've been researching. Perhaps his father? The dates would match up and both from the same state with the same name.
The other Meade was a US Representative from Virginia from 1843 to 1853, a good way to get a son into the military academy. Plus, he was appointed US Minister to Brazil from 1857 to 1861. He resigned from the position and returned to Virginia to help the Confederacy.
I now know that this Meade was the Meade who was a Confederate officer's father.
There was also another Richard Kidder Meade from Virginia whose grandfather had been the governor of North Carolina and had served with Washington during the American Revolution. He died in 1805, perhaps a grandfather?
It Just Keeps Getting Deeper. --Old B-Runner
Monday, August 1, 2011
Richard Kidder Meade's Personal Effects Lead Auction-- Part 3
I looked up this man who was at Fort Sumter on one side, then fought on the other side and found out some more information.
After Major Anderson moved to Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, Lt. Meade was put in command of Castle Pinckney on December 7, 1860. His command consisted of Sgt. Skollen, Skollen's wife and 16-year-old daughter and about 30 workers.
Confederates were livid with Anderson's move to Sumter. Future Confederate General James Johnston Pettigrew and three militia units boarded a steamer and went to Castle Pinckney. Pettigrew ordered his men to fix bayonets and shoot anyone manning cannons and preparing to fire at them.
Meade saw the approaching vessel and ordered the workers to close the fort's gate. Pettigrew ordered a surrender, but Meade did not respond whereupon, the Confederates scaled the walls and captured the fort.
Down came the US flag and the ship's flag, a white star on a red field went up in its place. The date was December 27, 1860, and Csastle Pinckney became the first Federal military installation forcibly captured by Confederates.
Meade was sent to Fort Sumter and Sgt. Skollen and his family sent north.
The Fall of a Fort. --Old B-Runner
After Major Anderson moved to Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, Lt. Meade was put in command of Castle Pinckney on December 7, 1860. His command consisted of Sgt. Skollen, Skollen's wife and 16-year-old daughter and about 30 workers.
Confederates were livid with Anderson's move to Sumter. Future Confederate General James Johnston Pettigrew and three militia units boarded a steamer and went to Castle Pinckney. Pettigrew ordered his men to fix bayonets and shoot anyone manning cannons and preparing to fire at them.
Meade saw the approaching vessel and ordered the workers to close the fort's gate. Pettigrew ordered a surrender, but Meade did not respond whereupon, the Confederates scaled the walls and captured the fort.
Down came the US flag and the ship's flag, a white star on a red field went up in its place. The date was December 27, 1860, and Csastle Pinckney became the first Federal military installation forcibly captured by Confederates.
Meade was sent to Fort Sumter and Sgt. Skollen and his family sent north.
The Fall of a Fort. --Old B-Runner
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Richard Kidder Meade's Personal Effects Lead Auction-- Part 2
High interest was also shown for a Confederate Army of Northern Virginia battle flag which was possibly given to his family after his death or acquired by him during his service. The hand-loomed natural dyed wool flag went for $84,000. Pre-auction estimates had it going for between $5,000 to $10,000.
A fragment of Fort Sumter's garrison flag from the attack on April 12, 1861, went for $3,200 and Meade family archives consisting of letters, books and paintings sold for $9,000.
A Lot of Money for Old Stuff. --Old B-Runner
A fragment of Fort Sumter's garrison flag from the attack on April 12, 1861, went for $3,200 and Meade family archives consisting of letters, books and paintings sold for $9,000.
A Lot of Money for Old Stuff. --Old B-Runner
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Richard Kidder Meade's Personal Effects Lead Auction-- Part 1
From the July 25th Auction Central News.
Four lots consigned by the last remaining descendants of Confederate Civil War officer Richard Kidder Meade were the most personal offered at the recent Brunck Auction House July 16-17.
Richard Kidder Meade (1835-1862) was a US Army lieutenant at Fort Sumter when the war began April 12, 1861, and surrendered with the garrison on the 14th. Two weeks later, the native Virginian resigned his commission and joined the Confederate Army.
The West Point graduate was assigned to the Wilmington, NC, defenses at Fort Fisher until early 1862 when he was promoted to major and assigned to Lee's staff. Unfortunately, Meade died of typhoid fever July 31, 1862.
Included in the lots was a hand-written condolence letter from Lee to Meade's mother reading in part, "The untimely death of your gallant Son...a noble young patriot." The one page, signed letter dated August 9, 1862, sold for $15,600 (estimated to bring in $4,000 to $8,000) including the 20% buyer's premium.
More to Come. --Old B-Runner
Four lots consigned by the last remaining descendants of Confederate Civil War officer Richard Kidder Meade were the most personal offered at the recent Brunck Auction House July 16-17.
Richard Kidder Meade (1835-1862) was a US Army lieutenant at Fort Sumter when the war began April 12, 1861, and surrendered with the garrison on the 14th. Two weeks later, the native Virginian resigned his commission and joined the Confederate Army.
The West Point graduate was assigned to the Wilmington, NC, defenses at Fort Fisher until early 1862 when he was promoted to major and assigned to Lee's staff. Unfortunately, Meade died of typhoid fever July 31, 1862.
Included in the lots was a hand-written condolence letter from Lee to Meade's mother reading in part, "The untimely death of your gallant Son...a noble young patriot." The one page, signed letter dated August 9, 1862, sold for $15,600 (estimated to bring in $4,000 to $8,000) including the 20% buyer's premium.
More to Come. --Old B-Runner
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)