Some More on the XXV Corps (A Fort Fisher and Wilmington Connection)

This unit was black war correspondent Thomas Morris Chester's beat during the war.

I should mention that it also had a Fort Fisher connection.  It was composed of three divisions.  One was under the command of August Kautz, William Birney and Charles J. Paine.

In January 1865, Paine's Division sailed  with Terry's Expedition to attack Fort Fisher in North Carolina, where it rendered effective service although it did not take part in the initial assault.  The division did not rejoin the XXV Corps after that, but remained in North Carolina and participated in the Wilmington Campaign during February.

The post I had about the USCT statue at the Cameron Art Center in Wilmington, N.C., in my Running the Blockade: Civil War Navy blog last month is dedicated to these men.  They showed their mettle at this final battle before the fall of Wilmington at the Battle of Forks Road.

--Old Secesh

The Hainesville Civil War Encampment: Elijah and Me

October 16, 2021

As usual, most of the attendees were whites.  I usually don't see many Blacks at one of these, unfortunately.  I also don't see U.S. Colored Troops re-enactors very often which is also too bad.  They have a very interesting history and had a lot to do with the final defeat of the Confederacy.

Walked past U.S. Grant's tent and he was sitting outside it in conference with a Union officer.

I was especially looking to meet with Elijah Haines, the person Hainesville is named after.  The person playing him is my old friend and fellow teacher Bob.  We go back to my first year at Magee Middle School, 1973.

I soon came across him regaling others about little-known aspects of Elijah's life and the early history of the region.  Actually, Elijah owned land where Hainesville was and some of his family lived there, but he spent most of his time in Waukegan and is buried there.

He had already given his talk in the open barn earlier in the morning.

It was sure good to see so many people there.  I think this would be a good place for our Civil War Round Table to "recruit" new members as we are getting a bit long in the tooth.

--Old Secesh

Stephen A. Douglas Tomb-- Part 5: His Tomb and Memorial in Chicago

From Wikipedia.

The Stephen A. Douglas Tomb and Memorial, also referred to as the Stephen Douglas Monument Park is located in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago (primarily Black). It is near the site of the Union Army's training camp and Confederate prisoner of war camp known as Camp Douglas.

The memorial is a 96-foot tall granite structure comprising three  circular bases and a  20-foot diameter octagonal mausoleum which holds Douglas'  sarcophagus.  Four figures portraying Illinois, History, Justice and Eloquence are at the four corners of the mausoleum.  A ten-foot statue of Douglas stands at the top of the  46-foot column of white marble from his native state of Vermont,

Douglas is probably best known for his series of debates with Abraham Lincoln in 1858 and his run for presidency in 1860.  However, he died soon after the Civil War began on June 3, 1861, from typhoid fever.

--Old Secesh

Col. Lewis Merrill-- Part 5: The Situation Worsens in York County, S.C.

That truce was broken the next day, February 12, 1871 when 500 to 700 Whites in neighboring Union County killed eight Blacks.  On March 6, 1871, J. Rufus Bratton and a group of seventy white men  attacked a number of black houses and hung Jim Williams.

Companies B, E and K of George Armstrong Custer's 7th Cavalry led by Lewis Merrill were dispatched to the area to quell the violence.

In the meantime, Elias Hill stepped up to lead the Union League which with the deaths was now in disarray.  In another raid by Whites, Hill's nephews, Solomon Hill and June Moore were attacked and forced to renounce their Republican allegiance in the local newspaper, the Yorkville Enquirer.

Elias Hill was also attacked on May 5, 1871.  By then, Merrill was in York County and this was the first activity that Merrill saw of the Ku Klux Klan.  But he found himself unable to step in to protect the black citizens of the county.

--Old Secesh

Some More On Fort D, Cape Girardeau-- Part 3: Not Involved in the Battle of Cape Girardeau

Cape Girardeau was attacked by Confederate forces on April 26, 1863.  During the Battle of Cape Girardeau, Fort B was involved in much of the fighting while Fort D was not attacked at all.  The Confederate forces were easily turned back and Cape Girardeau remained in Union hands the rest of the war.

During the summer of 1864, companies of free black men and escaped slaves, part of the 18th USCT were stationed at Cape Girardeau, including some who garrisoned the forts.

In September 1864, Confederate General Sterling Price moved into  southeast Missouri with his army and three of Cape Girardeau's forts were manned and new cannons emplaced there.  Fort D was deemed too far away from the downtown area to be of use.  The Confederates did not come, however.

After the war, the Cape Girardeau forts were abandoned and all but one disappeared in the following decades.

Still Wondering Why the Forts Were Named After Letters and Not Names.  --Old Secesh

Siege of Port Hudson-- Part 2: Slaughter's Field

The first Union assault hit the Confederate  left flank, guarding the northern approach to Port Hudson.  Timely reinforcements from the Confederate center allowed them to repulse several Union attacks.  The fighting here had ended before the next two Union divisions attacked the Confederate center.

Here, the Confederates easily handled the Union advance going across Slaughter's Field, killing around 2,000 Union troops.  I imagine this is where Corporal Francis Warren received his wound and eventually received the Medal of Honor for his actions.  I also wonder if the field was named that before the attack or after it.

Union casualties here included 600 Blacks of the First and Third Louisiana Native Guards who were led by Captain Andre Cailloux, a black officer.

Thus ended the first big attack on Fort Hudson.  --Old Secesh

North Grove School in Sycamore-- Part 2: Descendants of Henry Beard Come Back

About 25 descendants of Henry Beard, first black resident of Sycamore, came from the Detroit area to see the school where their ancestors attended.  Beard was a member of the 105th Illinois Infantry regiment from the DeKalb County area.

One of them was Eddie Beard, whose grandfather, Richard Beard, appears in an 1889 class photograph that is hanging in the school.

The North Grove School Association has an open house in June and November as well as on the Saturday of Sycamore's Pumpkin Festival.

--Old Secesh

Henry Beard-- Part 4: Service in the 105th Illinois

From the Illinoisgenweb.  105th Illinois.

Henry Beard   Company A   Cook of A.D.  (African Descent)  Date of Muster  August 6, 1863.  Absent, sick at Muster Out of Regiment,

--Old Secesh

MCCWRT Discussion Group Meeting Nov. 25: The Black Experience in the War

The McHenry County Civil War Round Table Discussion Group will meet Saturday, November 25, 2017, at the Panera Bread Company at 8000 Northwest Highway (US-14) in Crystal Lake, Illinois, from 10 a.m. to noon.

The topic will be the Black Experience in the Civil War.

I will talk about Ann Stokes, U.S. Navy nurse and first black woman to receive a Civil War pension.  I will also talk about the movie "Glory."

Looking Forward to It.  --Old Secesh

Monuments Around the South Carolina Statehouse

Last week I wrote about a movement to erect a statue of Robert Smalls, a slave who commandeered the Confederate transport Planter in Charleston Harbor, on the grounds of the S.C. statehouse.  This is where the confrontation over  the Confederate Flag started.

Statues on the grounds include an African-American monument, Robert E. Lee tree memorial, Confederate Women memorial, Confederate soldier monument, Wade Hampton (Confederate general) and Dr. J. Marlon Sims.  I have written about Dr. Sims before and his questionable experiments on black women in gynecology so would not have a problem with his statue coming down.

The Statehouse also has bronze star markers where it was struck by Union artillery in 1865.

Again, I would like to see a statue for Robert Smalls there.

--Old Secesh

"Fighting Guy" Henry-- Part 3: A Commendable Service Record

From the Arlington National Cemetery site.

He served in the First Regiment U.S. Artillery in the early fighting in the Civil War and in 1863 was elected to command the 40th Massachusetts Infantry regiment.  Some of his battles and postings:  Bull Run Campaign, Key West, Hilton Head, S.C. and the Battle of Pocotaligo, S.C., the attack on Charleston and bombardment of Fort Sumter.

Guy Vernor Henry was brevetted to brigadier general in the U.S. Army for gallantry at  the Battle of Rosebud, Montana, June 17, 1876, where he was shot through the face.  This was just a few days before Custer's Last Stand.

Later, he commanded the all-black 10th U.S. Cavalry.

The obituary for him saluted "Fighting Guy" Henry for his "brilliant and fearless campaigning."

His grandfather was Daniel D. Thompkins, governor of New York and vice president of the United States.

Again, I Had Never Heard of Him Before.  --Old Secesh

Some Interesting Facts About the NAACP

From the Free Dictionary.

When double checking on what NAACP stood for, I came across some interesting facts about the organization.

**  It is the largest and oldest Civil Rights organization and based in Baltimore, Maryland.

**  Its main goal is the elimination of racial discrimination.  (Now it seems to be the eradication of all things Confederate.)

**  It grew out of the Springfield, Illinois, race riots of August 1908.  That's right, Abraham Lincoln's hometown and the capital of what is considered a Northern state.  And they had a race riot.  It fought with the Union during the Civil War.  Who'd have figured?

**  It came about because of white people and in its early years its leadership was largely white.

I Sure Wish They Would Get Back to Working Against Racial Discrimination And Leave the Confederacy Thing Alone.  They Have Much Bigger Problems To Deal With.  --Old Secesh

Should There Be a NAACP? Should the Name Be Changed?

Under the circumstances for what the letters stand for, perhaps it shouldn't be NAACP, which stands for National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.  I didn't think Blacks liked to be referred to as Colored People anymore.

Perhaps the letters should be changed to NAAAA, the N Quadruple A.  You know, National Association for the Advancement of African-Americans.  But wait!!  The term African-Americans offends me.

Or, how about NAARCP, the N Double ACP,  the National Association for the Advancement of Racist Colored People.  It seems they really have a racist problem with people of Confederate heritage.

Or, in current days, the NAHATC,  The National Association for Hatred of All Things Confederate?

It's Too Bad It Doesn't Matter What Offends Me.  --Old Secesh

McHenry Civil War Round Table Discussion Group Meets Saturday, July 29: Topic Is the Twenty Most Significant Events Of/Affecting the Civil War

The McHenry Civil War Round Table will be meeting Saturday, July 29, 2017, at the Panera Bread Company in Crystal Lake, Illinois, at US-14 and Main Street.

The meeting will go from 10: a.m. to noon.

This month's discussion is a good one and should get a lot of input.  It is "The Twenty Most Significant Events of / Affecting of the Civil War."

I have my list already prepared and will give some of them.  The rest will be next week.

1.  The enlistment of blacks into the Union Army.

2.  Northern industry.

3.  Collapse of the Southern will to fight.

4.  Advances in Naval architecture:  growth of steam power, bigger guns, ironclads and turrets.

5.  Special use warships and blockade-runners.

Looking forward to hearing what others have to say.

Should be a Good One.  See You There.  --Old Secesh

Murder and Mayhem in Chicago

Remember, so much of this anti-Confederate thing started in earnest after the Charleston murders when the white racist killed the 9 blacks in that church.  Unfortunately, he was shown in previous pictures waving a Confederate flag.

That was nine lives and a horrible thing, for which I still hope execution takes place.

However, meanwhile, in Chicago, the mostly black on black shootings continue.

I went to the handy Hey Jackass, Murder and Mayhem site for these statistics:

March:  16  killed and 80 wounded

This week, so far (3-12 to 3-18):  5 killed 11 wounded

Year to Date:  114 killed and 505 wounded

On average, a person is shot every 2 hours 52 minutes.  A person is killed every 14 hours and 34 minutes.

And, Most of These Are Blacks Killing Other Blacks.  And the White Racist Killed Nine Blacks.  It Seems That the Black Groups Should be More Concerned With Their People Killing Each Other.  --Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 385: White Driver Beaten By Black Men in Chicago

This happened recently after the election of Donald Trump.  A white man was driving in a mostly-black area of Chicago when he was stopped, pulled from his vehicle and badly beaten by a group of blacks.  It was recorded on a cell phone and the scene has been replaying a lot on local media.

Remarkably, Black Lives Matter, the NAACP and Jesse Jackson and others have not said anything about this.  Just imagine had it been a black person beaten by a group of whites.  I imagine we might have heard something from them.

If this is not a racially tinged hate crime, I don't know what is.

--Old Secesh

And, Then There Is Dallas

Five dead policemen.  Five who died while trying to keep peace for a Black Lives Matter parade so these people could have a protest about blacks being killed by police.  Hey, this parade was against them, but there they were, doing their job.

And then a black man killed them in cold blood.  They didn't even get a chance to resist or challenge him as so many blacks do to the police.

Thankfully, he evidently was killing alone.  It would have been so much worse had this been an organized thing by blacks.

Looks like the BLM folks have their own idiots much like white racists had the murderer in Charleston.

But, if  those of us who are proud of our Confederate heritage have to take the blame for Charleston, who should take the blame for Dallas?

Does this mean that now whites can start going after things blacks hold near and dear to them like they do to our Confederate heritage?  Maybe start demanding anything named after blacks be "erased."  And, then there is rap music and visible underwear, both of which go a long way toward the "thug" mentality which is at the root of so much of this police-black problems.

What is Good for the Goose ....  --Old Secesh

Police Must Learn to Show More Restraint in Arresting Blacks

What happened in Louisiana and Minneapolis is very sad.  I haven't really seen whether the blacks who were killed were resisting or not.  But police, in these days of black rage have to start showing more restraint and do everything they can not to shoot them.

And blacks have to start making more effort to do as the police tell them and stop resisting and/or ignoring officers.

--Old Secesh

A Black Soldier's Actual Grave Found in Chattanooga Confederate Cemetery

From the March 25, 2016, News Channel 9, ABC  "African American soldier's actual grave found in Confederate cemetery" by Stephanie Santostasi.

The gravestone reads:

"CSA  Shaderick Searcey 1845-1937   Served under masters J.D. and W,K. Searcey  Co. I, 46th Ga. Inf.   Both killed in battle.  Involved with many UCV vets activities."

Mr. Searcey was born a slave in Talbot County, Georgia and was the servant to the two brothers.  he stayed with the Army of Tennessee after their deaths until 1865.

He moved to Chattanooga in 1903.

There was a grave marker, but it wasn't in the correct place.

The Shame in Charleston

The news was shocking last week.  Nine people murdered in a historic black church while at prayer service.  I was very happy when he was caught and definitely hope he is executed for the horror he caused.  I will not mention his name, as people like that should receive no notoriety for their foul deeds.  Just as I have never used the name of the person who murdered the five students at Northern Illinois University.

And, he felt that he was required ti kill them.  That he had to do the deed.

I can't help but think about another misguided, deluded person who committed a similar act 150 years ago when he murdered President Lincoln.  Like that person, the Charleston man could not have done more to hurt the South and its Confederate legacy.

Reconstruction and the return to the Union would have been a lot easier process under Lincoln who could control the Black Republicans who wanted large scale punishment and retribution.

Now, there is a huge upswell in demands for the removal of the Confederate flag from everywhere.  As if the Confederacy wasn't under attack enough already.

A Horrible Thing, Indeed.