Well, busy at work and not a lot of time for blogging today! Check out this little link about fine tuning your federal impression. And no, it doesn't include big $$$$$!!!!!
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/8577/ftneart.html
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
That Rascally Morgan
So my reenacting unit's first event is coming up this weekend at Vernon, IN. It is for the town's Sassafras Festival, and the proceeds go to benefit the local historical society. I recommend anyone who's in the area to come on over and check it out, as the home made pies and breads are excellent!!
Vernon's history includes just a bit of Morgan's final raid into Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. It was just outside of town that he turned east into Ohio and eventually to his capture. Submitted by a friend, this is a story related from "The Camp Jester, or Amusement for the Mess" published by Blackmar and Brother, Augusta, GA, 1864. Its an amusing little story about an interaction by Morgan and some Indiana home guard.
HOW MORGAN GOT THREE HUNDRED HORSES.
John Morgan is as good at playing a joke sometimes as he is at horse stealing, and the following incident will prove that on this occasion he did a little of both at the same time. During his celebrated tour through Indiana he, with about three hundred and fifty guerillas, took occasion to pay a visit to a little town hard by, while the main body were 'marching on.' Dashing suddenly into the little 'burg,' he found about three hundred home guards, each having a good horse tied to the fences--the men standing about in groups, awaiting orders from their aged captain, who looked as if he had seen the shady side of some sixty years. The Hoosier boys looked at the men with astonishment while the captain went up to one of the party and asked:
"Whose company is this?"
"Wolford's cavalry," said the reb.
"What! Kentucky boys! We're glad to see you boys? Whar's Wolford?"
"There he sits," said a ragged, rough rebel, pointing to Morgan, who was sitting side ways upon his horse.
The Captain walked up to Wolford (as he and all thought) and saluted him:
"Captain, how are you?"
"Bully! How are you? What are you going to do with all these men and horses?" Morgan looked about.
"Well, you see that damned horse thieving John Morgan is in this part of the country with a parcel of cut throats and thieves, and between you and I, if he comes up this way Captain, we'll give him the best we've got in the shop."
"He's hard to catch, we've been after him for fourteen days and can't see him at all," said Morgan good humoredly.
"Ef our hosses would stand fire we'd be all right."
"Won't they stand?"
"No, Captain Wolford; 'spose while you're restin' you and your company put your saddles on our horses and go through a little evolution or two, by way of a lesson to our boys. I am told you are a hoss on the drill."
And the only man that Morgan is afraid of, Wolford (as it were,) alighted and ordered "his boys" to dismount, as he wanted to show the Hoosier boys how to give Morgan a warm reception should he chance to pay them a visit. This delighted the hoosier boys, so they went to work and assisted the men to tie their old weary, worn out bones to the fences, and place their saddles upon the backs of their fresh horses, which was soon done, and the men were in their saddles drawn up in line and ready for the word. The boys were highly elated at the idea of having their pet horses," trained for them by Wolford and his men, and the more so to think that they would stand fire ever afterwards.
The old Captain advanced, and walking up to Wolford, (as he thought,) said: "Captain, are you all right now?" Wolford rode up one side of the column and down the other, when he moved to the front, took off his hat, paused and said, "Now, Captain, I am ready; if you and your gallant men wish to witness an evolution which you perhaps have never seen, form a line on each side of the road, and watch us closely as we pass." The Captain did as he was directed. A lot of ladies were present on the occasion, and all was as silent as a maiden's sigh.
"Are you ready?"
"All right, Wolford," shouted the Captain.
"Forward!" shouted Morgan, as the whole column rushed through the crowd with lightning speed, amid the shouts and huzzas of every one present--some leading a horse or two as they went, leaving their frail tenements of horse flesh tied to the fences, to be provided for by the citizens. It soon became whispered about that it was John Morgan and his gang, and there is not a man in the town who will "own up" that he was gulled out of a horse. The company disbanded that night, though the Captain holds the horses as prisoners of war, and awaits an exchange.
There's some great stuff in this book and is available online to read for free. Just google "The Camp Jester," and check it out!
Vernon's history includes just a bit of Morgan's final raid into Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. It was just outside of town that he turned east into Ohio and eventually to his capture. Submitted by a friend, this is a story related from "The Camp Jester, or Amusement for the Mess" published by Blackmar and Brother, Augusta, GA, 1864. Its an amusing little story about an interaction by Morgan and some Indiana home guard.
HOW MORGAN GOT THREE HUNDRED HORSES.
John Morgan is as good at playing a joke sometimes as he is at horse stealing, and the following incident will prove that on this occasion he did a little of both at the same time. During his celebrated tour through Indiana he, with about three hundred and fifty guerillas, took occasion to pay a visit to a little town hard by, while the main body were 'marching on.' Dashing suddenly into the little 'burg,' he found about three hundred home guards, each having a good horse tied to the fences--the men standing about in groups, awaiting orders from their aged captain, who looked as if he had seen the shady side of some sixty years. The Hoosier boys looked at the men with astonishment while the captain went up to one of the party and asked:
"Whose company is this?"
"Wolford's cavalry," said the reb.
"What! Kentucky boys! We're glad to see you boys? Whar's Wolford?"
"There he sits," said a ragged, rough rebel, pointing to Morgan, who was sitting side ways upon his horse.
The Captain walked up to Wolford (as he and all thought) and saluted him:
"Captain, how are you?"
"Bully! How are you? What are you going to do with all these men and horses?" Morgan looked about.
"Well, you see that damned horse thieving John Morgan is in this part of the country with a parcel of cut throats and thieves, and between you and I, if he comes up this way Captain, we'll give him the best we've got in the shop."
"He's hard to catch, we've been after him for fourteen days and can't see him at all," said Morgan good humoredly.
"Ef our hosses would stand fire we'd be all right."
"Won't they stand?"
"No, Captain Wolford; 'spose while you're restin' you and your company put your saddles on our horses and go through a little evolution or two, by way of a lesson to our boys. I am told you are a hoss on the drill."
And the only man that Morgan is afraid of, Wolford (as it were,) alighted and ordered "his boys" to dismount, as he wanted to show the Hoosier boys how to give Morgan a warm reception should he chance to pay them a visit. This delighted the hoosier boys, so they went to work and assisted the men to tie their old weary, worn out bones to the fences, and place their saddles upon the backs of their fresh horses, which was soon done, and the men were in their saddles drawn up in line and ready for the word. The boys were highly elated at the idea of having their pet horses," trained for them by Wolford and his men, and the more so to think that they would stand fire ever afterwards.
The old Captain advanced, and walking up to Wolford, (as he thought,) said: "Captain, are you all right now?" Wolford rode up one side of the column and down the other, when he moved to the front, took off his hat, paused and said, "Now, Captain, I am ready; if you and your gallant men wish to witness an evolution which you perhaps have never seen, form a line on each side of the road, and watch us closely as we pass." The Captain did as he was directed. A lot of ladies were present on the occasion, and all was as silent as a maiden's sigh.
"Are you ready?"
"All right, Wolford," shouted the Captain.
"Forward!" shouted Morgan, as the whole column rushed through the crowd with lightning speed, amid the shouts and huzzas of every one present--some leading a horse or two as they went, leaving their frail tenements of horse flesh tied to the fences, to be provided for by the citizens. It soon became whispered about that it was John Morgan and his gang, and there is not a man in the town who will "own up" that he was gulled out of a horse. The company disbanded that night, though the Captain holds the horses as prisoners of war, and awaits an exchange.
There's some great stuff in this book and is available online to read for free. Just google "The Camp Jester," and check it out!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The Virginia Death March
After the surrender of Lee and Johnston, the two armies of the north prepared to march to the capital for one last "grand review" before being discharged. This is the disgraceful story of Sherman's army as it made its way through Virginia.
"Who was responsible for the severity of that march, I don't know. General Joseph A. Mower had been placed in command of our corps and it was said that he and other corps commanders had laid wagers as to who would reach Washington first.
The first half of the march was not hard, but then began the race. By then, it was very hot in the South. The march we were on wore out the best of us. Men fell out by the roadside and lay there completely eshausted. Sometimes the captain, or if the captain fell out, some other officer who would be leading the company, would find he had only three of four men following him and would draw them to one side and all lay down to rest. Some nights when going into camp the colonel would not have fifty men in this regiment.
We had made many forced marches on our long, roundabout route from Lousiville, Kentucky, through Tennessee, Georgia, and the Carolinas, but this march after the war was over always makes me mad to think of, even now.
I have seen men dying from exhaustion, lying in fence corners, whose deaths were simply murder. No one had time to time to wait on anyone, especially if the was a stranger. When our own boys fell down, we would pull them into the shade, pour water on their heads, and go on and leave them. We lost no men by death on this march, but we saw dead men lying in fence corners or under trees every day. After the first few days the boys got mad and fell out when they got tired. They came on when rested, and no rear guard meddled with them."
These words by Robert Strong, 105th Ill., are especially disturbing because of the fact that the war was over. I have no evidence to believe that a "race" was the cause for the march, or that the officers had placed wagers on it. What I do know is that an officer's duty is not only to lead and command, but to also look out for the well being of their men. It is shameful to think of men being treated this way, after marching so far, fighting so long, and enduring so much. How hard it must have been to bring even the hardest veterans of Sherman's army to fall out.
"Who was responsible for the severity of that march, I don't know. General Joseph A. Mower had been placed in command of our corps and it was said that he and other corps commanders had laid wagers as to who would reach Washington first.
The first half of the march was not hard, but then began the race. By then, it was very hot in the South. The march we were on wore out the best of us. Men fell out by the roadside and lay there completely eshausted. Sometimes the captain, or if the captain fell out, some other officer who would be leading the company, would find he had only three of four men following him and would draw them to one side and all lay down to rest. Some nights when going into camp the colonel would not have fifty men in this regiment.
We had made many forced marches on our long, roundabout route from Lousiville, Kentucky, through Tennessee, Georgia, and the Carolinas, but this march after the war was over always makes me mad to think of, even now.
I have seen men dying from exhaustion, lying in fence corners, whose deaths were simply murder. No one had time to time to wait on anyone, especially if the was a stranger. When our own boys fell down, we would pull them into the shade, pour water on their heads, and go on and leave them. We lost no men by death on this march, but we saw dead men lying in fence corners or under trees every day. After the first few days the boys got mad and fell out when they got tired. They came on when rested, and no rear guard meddled with them."
These words by Robert Strong, 105th Ill., are especially disturbing because of the fact that the war was over. I have no evidence to believe that a "race" was the cause for the march, or that the officers had placed wagers on it. What I do know is that an officer's duty is not only to lead and command, but to also look out for the well being of their men. It is shameful to think of men being treated this way, after marching so far, fighting so long, and enduring so much. How hard it must have been to bring even the hardest veterans of Sherman's army to fall out.
Monday, April 20, 2009
At the Route Step
This link on the Authentic Campaigner website was pointed out to me several months ago, and I thought that I would share this with everyone.
Generally, when the order to march at the route step is ordered, it is assumed that the soldier no longer needs to keep in step and that they may carry the rifle in whichever way he feels most comfortable. This debate flaired up, and interestingly enough, some folks went back to the drill manuals to see what they say! What craziness!
http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12064&highlight=route+step+muzzle
Muzzles up!
Generally, when the order to march at the route step is ordered, it is assumed that the soldier no longer needs to keep in step and that they may carry the rifle in whichever way he feels most comfortable. This debate flaired up, and interestingly enough, some folks went back to the drill manuals to see what they say! What craziness!
http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12064&highlight=route+step+muzzle
Muzzles up!
Friday, April 17, 2009
The Great Escape
So once again, we meet up with Mr. Strong of the 105th Ill. I know we've visited him several times already, but being as it's the book I'm currently reading, and there are many good stories, so here we go.
He had been out on a foraging expedition and had stopped to butcher a hog he had seen out in a field. Meanwhile, his pards had moved on and left him behind, unbeknown to Mr. Strong. Suddenly a reb cavalry patrol (not Calvary, if you don't know the difference, pick up a bible) happens upon him, and a running, shooting chase is on!
"While pounding along, I happened to think that some of the n.....s (changed so as not to offend African Americans) around camp had said that my mare was a trained fox hunter. If she was, she was of course trained to jump. I determined to try her. I was going down a rail-fenced road. If I could get off of it a sudden, I could turn and shake off the Rebs.
I had no time to dismount and throw the top rail off the fence, for the Rebs were right behind me, shooting and yelping. It was sport to them, but not to me...in my case capture spelled certain death because I was foraging. Suddenly on my right, a gun went off and a bullet whizzed by me. It meant more Rebs coming from that way.
I galloped a little farther, slowed up a little, straightened up in the saddle, and lifted on the bit, heading for the fence. That little mare jumped the fence as easy as I could a rail. Then I took off my hat, waved it at the Rebs, and rode off into the woods.
They fired at me, threw down the fence and came after me. Pretty soon I struck a sort of trail...I took it with the Rebs still after me, some shooting, some shouting, 'Surrender!' and one sport yelling, 'Go it Yank!' You may be sure I took his advice and went it."
Mr. Strong continues on the way towards his column of comrades, but his mare was beginning to breathe pretty hard having run several miles.
"Then I came to a creek that had a burned bridge across it...So I slipped the bridle rein over the mare's head and coaxed her into the water. She did not want to go in. The Rebs were getting nearer all the time. I was just on the point of turning her loose and running for it when she jumped in and swam across. I mounted on the other shore and rode on. Soon I overtook the boys and was safe.
I remember how I petted that mare and how I wished I could send her north. Later on-oh, sad story-I lost her, not to the Rebs but to General Judson Kilpatrick's cavalry. They seized all our Bummers' horses for cavalry remounts. I could have fought them."
That last paragraph is great, because I have read in many accounts before of the infantryman's disdain for the cavalryman. Often they speak of the cavalry as being scared of a fight unless emboldened by the prospect of a column of infantry behind them! Also, many men speak of their favorite mounts during the war, almost as fellow soldiers and friends. If you are interested in more human/horse stories, I suggest looking up "Old Baldy", "Traveller", or "Little Sorrel" just to name a few. Several are actually stuffed and in museums across the country today!
Have a happy weekend, I'm working the whole thing. Woo hoo!
He had been out on a foraging expedition and had stopped to butcher a hog he had seen out in a field. Meanwhile, his pards had moved on and left him behind, unbeknown to Mr. Strong. Suddenly a reb cavalry patrol (not Calvary, if you don't know the difference, pick up a bible) happens upon him, and a running, shooting chase is on!
"While pounding along, I happened to think that some of the n.....s (changed so as not to offend African Americans) around camp had said that my mare was a trained fox hunter. If she was, she was of course trained to jump. I determined to try her. I was going down a rail-fenced road. If I could get off of it a sudden, I could turn and shake off the Rebs.
I had no time to dismount and throw the top rail off the fence, for the Rebs were right behind me, shooting and yelping. It was sport to them, but not to me...in my case capture spelled certain death because I was foraging. Suddenly on my right, a gun went off and a bullet whizzed by me. It meant more Rebs coming from that way.
I galloped a little farther, slowed up a little, straightened up in the saddle, and lifted on the bit, heading for the fence. That little mare jumped the fence as easy as I could a rail. Then I took off my hat, waved it at the Rebs, and rode off into the woods.
They fired at me, threw down the fence and came after me. Pretty soon I struck a sort of trail...I took it with the Rebs still after me, some shooting, some shouting, 'Surrender!' and one sport yelling, 'Go it Yank!' You may be sure I took his advice and went it."
Mr. Strong continues on the way towards his column of comrades, but his mare was beginning to breathe pretty hard having run several miles.
"Then I came to a creek that had a burned bridge across it...So I slipped the bridle rein over the mare's head and coaxed her into the water. She did not want to go in. The Rebs were getting nearer all the time. I was just on the point of turning her loose and running for it when she jumped in and swam across. I mounted on the other shore and rode on. Soon I overtook the boys and was safe.
I remember how I petted that mare and how I wished I could send her north. Later on-oh, sad story-I lost her, not to the Rebs but to General Judson Kilpatrick's cavalry. They seized all our Bummers' horses for cavalry remounts. I could have fought them."
That last paragraph is great, because I have read in many accounts before of the infantryman's disdain for the cavalryman. Often they speak of the cavalry as being scared of a fight unless emboldened by the prospect of a column of infantry behind them! Also, many men speak of their favorite mounts during the war, almost as fellow soldiers and friends. If you are interested in more human/horse stories, I suggest looking up "Old Baldy", "Traveller", or "Little Sorrel" just to name a few. Several are actually stuffed and in museums across the country today!
Have a happy weekend, I'm working the whole thing. Woo hoo!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
'Cause we men ain't we...part 3
So here we go into part 3 of the Glory revision!
So I basically want to work on the assault on Battery Wagner, also known as the Second Battle of Fort Wagner. There was another assault made a week earlier in which 12 confederates were killed as opposed to 330 federal losses. As I mentioned before, the assault came from the other side so that the ocean was on the right of the men. In the movie, Shaw volunteers the 54th for the attack, however, in reality, it never happened that way. General George Crockett Strong asked Shaw if he wanted to lead the attack. Shaw could have declined, but after some consideration, decided to go in first because "if black men could storm the fort and open the door to the birthplace of the rebellion, the symbolism would be enormous."
Next comes the part where Matthew Broderick says, "If this man should fall, who will lift the flag and carry on?" Thomas responds that he will. False. The question was actually asked by General Strong, and Shaw responded that he would. After the first bearer and Shaw fell, Sergeant William Harvey Carney picked it up, carried it to the battery, and all the way back again, receiving four wounds in the process. He became the first black recipient of the medal of honor.
The manner in which Shaw dies in the film is actually fairly accurate, however, his final words were "Forward, fifty-fourth!" and he made it to the top of the parapet before being shot several times in the chest. His body actually tumbled into the fort. Shaw was buried with his soldiers in a mass grave, but his body was stripped of its uniform and he was thrown in first, with his men on top. The confederates intended this to be an insult, but Shaw's father later states that he was proud his son was buried with his men.
The federals never did take Wagner by storm, however, confederate forces abandoned the fort on Sept. 7th 1863, after 60 days of siege and bombardment.
Is this finally it? Could there be more? You'll have to tune in tomorrow to find out...
So I basically want to work on the assault on Battery Wagner, also known as the Second Battle of Fort Wagner. There was another assault made a week earlier in which 12 confederates were killed as opposed to 330 federal losses. As I mentioned before, the assault came from the other side so that the ocean was on the right of the men. In the movie, Shaw volunteers the 54th for the attack, however, in reality, it never happened that way. General George Crockett Strong asked Shaw if he wanted to lead the attack. Shaw could have declined, but after some consideration, decided to go in first because "if black men could storm the fort and open the door to the birthplace of the rebellion, the symbolism would be enormous."
Next comes the part where Matthew Broderick says, "If this man should fall, who will lift the flag and carry on?" Thomas responds that he will. False. The question was actually asked by General Strong, and Shaw responded that he would. After the first bearer and Shaw fell, Sergeant William Harvey Carney picked it up, carried it to the battery, and all the way back again, receiving four wounds in the process. He became the first black recipient of the medal of honor.
The manner in which Shaw dies in the film is actually fairly accurate, however, his final words were "Forward, fifty-fourth!" and he made it to the top of the parapet before being shot several times in the chest. His body actually tumbled into the fort. Shaw was buried with his soldiers in a mass grave, but his body was stripped of its uniform and he was thrown in first, with his men on top. The confederates intended this to be an insult, but Shaw's father later states that he was proud his son was buried with his men.
The federals never did take Wagner by storm, however, confederate forces abandoned the fort on Sept. 7th 1863, after 60 days of siege and bombardment.
Is this finally it? Could there be more? You'll have to tune in tomorrow to find out...
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
'Cause we men ain't we...part 2
Next, I was intrigued by Cary Elwes' character, Major Cabot Forbes. This man never existed! He is loosely based on a man by the name of Edward "Ned" Needles Hallowell. He was from a staunch abolitionist quaker family in Philadelphia, PA! He originally fought with the 20th Massachusetts and most likely gained his commission with the 54th because of his brother. Richard Price Hallowell was on the "Black Committee" with Gov. Andrew of Massachusetts to seek out officers interested in leading the all black regiment. This connection, and not likely a friendship with Shaw would explain his commission. Ned’s brother, Norwood Penrose Hallowell, was actually commissioned the Lt. Colonel. Ned actually recruited many men in the Philadelphia area, including two sons of Frederick Douglass.
By the time of the assault on Battery Wagner, and I’ll pause here. Yes, that's what it's called on original army topographical maps, of which I have copies. Not Fort Wagner. Also, the movie shot the sequence attacking from the wrong way. The ocean should be on their right! As I was saying, by the time of the assault on Battery Wagner, Ned was Lt. Colonel. He had been the acting second in command due to the formation of the second all black regiment, the 55th Massachusetts. This second regiment was formed, with his brother Norwood taking command.
Now at the end, we are not sure what happens to “Major Forbes,” but I can tell you what happened to Ned Hallowell on that day. He suffered three wounds and went home to recuperate. When he returned to the 54th, he was given command as a full colonel. Ned led the 54th for most of the remainder of the war, and was brevetted to Brigadier General after. He died at the age of 36 in 1871, most likely due to the effects of his wounds.
Did Cary do this man justice with his portrayal as a man of drink, afraid of responsibility, and lax with his discipline? Do you think Ned would have questioned whether or not the 54th would fight? You make the call.
Since this is becoming quite an ordeal, I’ll once again, continue tomorrow.
Part 3 in construction…
By the time of the assault on Battery Wagner, and I’ll pause here. Yes, that's what it's called on original army topographical maps, of which I have copies. Not Fort Wagner. Also, the movie shot the sequence attacking from the wrong way. The ocean should be on their right! As I was saying, by the time of the assault on Battery Wagner, Ned was Lt. Colonel. He had been the acting second in command due to the formation of the second all black regiment, the 55th Massachusetts. This second regiment was formed, with his brother Norwood taking command.
Now at the end, we are not sure what happens to “Major Forbes,” but I can tell you what happened to Ned Hallowell on that day. He suffered three wounds and went home to recuperate. When he returned to the 54th, he was given command as a full colonel. Ned led the 54th for most of the remainder of the war, and was brevetted to Brigadier General after. He died at the age of 36 in 1871, most likely due to the effects of his wounds.
Did Cary do this man justice with his portrayal as a man of drink, afraid of responsibility, and lax with his discipline? Do you think Ned would have questioned whether or not the 54th would fight? You make the call.
Since this is becoming quite an ordeal, I’ll once again, continue tomorrow.
Part 3 in construction…
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