American Battlefield Trust, Williamsburg, Va.-- Part 2: The 'Bloody Ravine'

WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA

69 acres saved

In the first pitched battle of the Peninsula Campaign, nearly 41,000 Federals and 32,000 Confederates clashed in the mud and poring rain at Williamsburg on May 5, 1862.

The Trust is working to save an additional 29 acres of this largely unprotected battlefield, including action around the famous "Bloody Ravine."  Of course, with the current Confederate hatred going on in the state, preserving these acres for posterity looms even more important.

Full page photo by Robert James.

Thanks, Trust.  --Old Secesh

American Battlefield Trust, December 2020: Battle of Williamsburg-- Part 1

As a member of the American Battlefield Trust, I receive the  calendars.  This is from the 2021 calendar which had a preliminary page for December 2020.

Since the organization works to save American battlefields from the American Revolution, War of 1812 and Civil War, each month they feature a different battlefield with a full page current photo as well as information.  There is also writing on specific days telling what happened.

I didn't know they had December 2020 in it until I opened it up.

December featured  a picture of part of the Williamsburg, Virginia, battlefield by Robert James.

There was also a smaller picture of Prospect Hill at the Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP, in Virginia by Chris Landon.

--Old Secesh

87th New York Volunteer Infantry-- Part 2: From D.C. to the Peninsula

Detailed Service of the Unit:

DECEMBER 2, 1861:  Left New York for Washington, D.C.

DECEMBER-MARCH 1862:  Duty in the Department of Washington

MARCH 10-15, 1862:  Advance on Manassas, Virginia

MARCH 17:  Ordered to the Peninsula, Virginia

APRIL 5-MAY 4:   Siege of Yorktown

APRIL 11:  Skirmish at Yorktown

MAY 5:  Battle of Williamsburg, Virginia

MAY 32-JUNE 1:  Battle of Seven Pines or Fair Oaks

--Old Secesh

Civil War Remnants Found at College of William and Mary-- Part 3

Slaves in Williamsburg and York County were not freed by the Emancipation Proclamation which applied to only those in states in rebellion and in areas not under federal control.

At the archaelogical dig, the area is small and only down two feet. Artifacts were initially found on campus last fall when the college was doing survey work for some new utility lines for renovations in a building dating to 1723.

At that time remains of a brick wall that was dug up and then covered over again by Union troops when they took over the abandoned campus. They demolsihed some of the buildings. For about three years, some 1500 Union troops were encamped on the school's campus.

--Old Secesh

Civil War Remnants Found At College of William and Mary-- Part 2

During the Civil War, most of the college of William and Mary's professors and students entered Confederate service. Confederate barracks and later a hospital were located in one building.

Union troops occupied the town and campus in May 1862, during the Peninsular Campaign. In 1865, they blocked up one campus building and placed cannons in it against a possible Confederate attack. Each end of the famed College Building had palisades.

--Old Secesh

Civil War Remnants Found At College of William and Mary-- Part 1

From the August 11, 2012, Azcentral.com, AP.

The College of William and Mary claims that it is the "Alma Mater of a Nation" because of its role before the American Revolution. But it also played a part in the Civil War.

Archaeologists in recent weeks have probed a defensive position on the school's campus in downtown Williamsburg. Union troops occupied the town from 1862 to 1965. The archaeologists  found evidence of a fortification and many well-preserved artifacts.

George Washington received his surveyor's license from the school. Presidents Jefferson, Monroe and John Tyler received their educations at William and Mary which was charterd in 1693 and still has a building dating to 1700. It is the oldest college building in the United States.

An Education and a War Too. --Old Secesh