I picked this book up while down in Harper's Ferry. Here is an excerpt from the book. It's about the Battle of Gettysburg:
Buford came to Gettysburg late that night
Riding West with his brigades of blue horse,
While Pettigrew and his North Carolinians
Were moving East toward the town with a wagon-train,
Hoping to capture shoes.
The two came in touch.
Pettigrew halted and waited for men and orders.
Buford threw out his pickets beyond the town.
The next morning was July first. It was hot and calm.
On the grey side, Heth's division was ready to march
And drive the blue pickets in. There was still no thought
Of a planned and decisive battle on either side
Though Buford had seen the strength of those two hill-ridges
Soon enough to be famous, and marked one down
As a place to rally if he should be driven back.
He talks with his staff in front of a tavern now.
An officer rides up from the near First Corps.
"What are you doing here, sir?"
The officer
Explains. He, too, has come there to look for shoes.
_Fabulous shoes of Gettysburg, dead men's shoes,
Did anyone ever wear you, when it was done,
When the men were gone, when the farms were spoiled with the bones,
What became of your nails and leather? The swords went home,
The swords went into museums and neat glass cases,
The swords look well there. They are clean from the war.
You wouldn't put old shoes in a neat glass case,
Still stuck with the mud of marching.
And yet, a man
With a tasted for such straws and fables, blown by the wind,
Might hide a pair in a labelled case sometime
Just to see how the leather looked, set down by the swords.
The officer is hardly through with his tale
When Buford orders him back to his command
"Why, what is the matter, general?"
As he speaks
The far-off hollow slam of a single gun
Breaks the warm stillness. The horses prick up their ears.
"That's the matter," says Buford and gallops away.
Chills. I get chills reading this. Awesome. But the proven wrong "shoes" theory is still included. Oh how I wish that STUPID theory would just die. There were NO SHOE FACTORIES in Gettysburg. The Confederates were NOT coming to Gettysburg for shoes. I don't care what Harry Heth stated in his report....he was just trying to cover his butt.
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
The Gettysburg Atlas
The ultimate map book on the battle of Gettysburg has been published and it is The Gettysburg Atlas. For us map lovers, 421 maps on the battle is more than we can handle. Follow in the footsteps of your favorite regiment or brigade. Follow your favorite general. See who stood on your favorite part of the battlefield. Whatever you need (or want) to know....its in this book.
What makes this book even better (as if 421 maps on the battle isn't good enough) is that it is spiral bound. This makes taking it on the battlefield so much easier. Instead of standing around trying to figure out how to hold open a book (which I've done many times) and look around without dropping said book, this makes following the battle while on the field 1000x better.
There is also a wonderful order of battle in the back. Ever wonder how many and what type of guns a particular artillery unit had....its in here. Ever wonder what the casualty rate for a certain regiment was.....its in here.
There's a real in-depth index in the back. AND a really long bibliography (which is something that I look for in a GOOD book).
The book sells for $40 and is worth every penny. For anyone who is looking for the ultimate book, The Gettysburg Atlas by Phil Laino is it!
What makes this book even better (as if 421 maps on the battle isn't good enough) is that it is spiral bound. This makes taking it on the battlefield so much easier. Instead of standing around trying to figure out how to hold open a book (which I've done many times) and look around without dropping said book, this makes following the battle while on the field 1000x better.
There is also a wonderful order of battle in the back. Ever wonder how many and what type of guns a particular artillery unit had....its in here. Ever wonder what the casualty rate for a certain regiment was.....its in here.
There's a real in-depth index in the back. AND a really long bibliography (which is something that I look for in a GOOD book).
The book sells for $40 and is worth every penny. For anyone who is looking for the ultimate book, The Gettysburg Atlas by Phil Laino is it!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Coddington
I've been taking my book "The Gettysburg Campaign; A Study in Command" by Edwin Coddington to work with me just about every day. Slowly but surely, I have been going through the notes at the end of the book.
First thing that I should say about this book is that even though I love the subject matter, I find the book very, very dry. There is just no excitement. Everything is presented in a matter of fact manner. Now, with that said, I LOVE this book. Unbelievable isn't it??? I have never read this book through from cover to cover....but I have read every single chapter in this book a number of times. This book is considered the "Bible" of the Licensed Battlefield Guides.
One of the juicy treats that you can find in this book is at the end of it: 200+ pages of notes about the body of the text. Reading the book and the notes at the exact same time is really hard and I admire anyone who is able to do it. What I have been doing is reading a chapter and then going into the back and reading the notes on that particular chapter. There are some real gems in these notes. The footnotes of history are almost better than the history itself.
Right now, I'm reading about the advance of the armies with them heading into Gettysburg. They are working their way slowly towards battle. The details of the advancement of these armies is wonderful. I can almost follow each corps from each army work their way north. Here is a little bit from Chapter 6: "Preparations to meet the invasion were by no means confined to the large cities, and people in the rural areas of Pennsylvania also took measures to protect their property if and when the rebels should come their way. As early as June 15 Couch had warned the residents of the Cumberland Valley of the possibility of a Confederate advance, and he advised the farmers to run off their horses to places of safety. Many banded together and sent hundreds of their best animals to the mountains or across the Susquehanna. Others his them in obscure nooks on their property. In desperation one farmer sought to save his bid gray from seizure by putting him in the basement of his house which was quite a feat. Other livestock, food supplies, harness's, wagons, and similar items were secreted in lofts and haystacks, for everyone feared the rebels would appropriate all they saw for their own use, and what they could not use they would destroy. Shopkeepers in the small towns, equally worried about what the Confederates would do, began to ship their most valuable merchandise to Harrisburg and other cities farther east."
This is interesting stuff.....and this isn't exactly a dry part of the book, but it is a good example of what the book is like.
For those of you who like to learn about the Battle of Gettysburg, I highly recommend this book. If you find that you can't sit down and read the entire book....cover to cover, then do it like I do: a chapter at a time....over the course of a few months. But by all means, read this book!
First thing that I should say about this book is that even though I love the subject matter, I find the book very, very dry. There is just no excitement. Everything is presented in a matter of fact manner. Now, with that said, I LOVE this book. Unbelievable isn't it??? I have never read this book through from cover to cover....but I have read every single chapter in this book a number of times. This book is considered the "Bible" of the Licensed Battlefield Guides.
One of the juicy treats that you can find in this book is at the end of it: 200+ pages of notes about the body of the text. Reading the book and the notes at the exact same time is really hard and I admire anyone who is able to do it. What I have been doing is reading a chapter and then going into the back and reading the notes on that particular chapter. There are some real gems in these notes. The footnotes of history are almost better than the history itself.
Right now, I'm reading about the advance of the armies with them heading into Gettysburg. They are working their way slowly towards battle. The details of the advancement of these armies is wonderful. I can almost follow each corps from each army work their way north. Here is a little bit from Chapter 6: "Preparations to meet the invasion were by no means confined to the large cities, and people in the rural areas of Pennsylvania also took measures to protect their property if and when the rebels should come their way. As early as June 15 Couch had warned the residents of the Cumberland Valley of the possibility of a Confederate advance, and he advised the farmers to run off their horses to places of safety. Many banded together and sent hundreds of their best animals to the mountains or across the Susquehanna. Others his them in obscure nooks on their property. In desperation one farmer sought to save his bid gray from seizure by putting him in the basement of his house which was quite a feat. Other livestock, food supplies, harness's, wagons, and similar items were secreted in lofts and haystacks, for everyone feared the rebels would appropriate all they saw for their own use, and what they could not use they would destroy. Shopkeepers in the small towns, equally worried about what the Confederates would do, began to ship their most valuable merchandise to Harrisburg and other cities farther east."
This is interesting stuff.....and this isn't exactly a dry part of the book, but it is a good example of what the book is like.
For those of you who like to learn about the Battle of Gettysburg, I highly recommend this book. If you find that you can't sit down and read the entire book....cover to cover, then do it like I do: a chapter at a time....over the course of a few months. But by all means, read this book!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Books, books, and more books
Having gotten a new piece of furniture for my living room, I decided to put it in the spot where I have a make-shift book case. Actually, its a TV stand that I was using prior to getting my entertainment center. But the stand is piled at least 2 feet high with 2 stacks of books. So in the course of trying to rearrange furniture, I have a dilemma.
Now I love my books. My books are my best friends. But WHEN did I accumulate so many of these things???? Fortunately, I do have places to put them and spent about an hour today moving them around. But it dawned on me that the majority of my books have something to do with the Civil War. Actually, I found THREE books that weren't Civil War related (I should note here that these are ONLY the books in my living room....I haven't even begun to go through the books in my bedroom). Hmmmm...makes you wonder where my interests lie.
The reason I'm talking about this is because recently there was a guy who I had come into contact with who wanted to know all things about the Civil War and Gettysburg and didn't want to read. He wanted those of us who DID know these things to tell him everything. But we all spent many, many years reading and studying the Civil War to come to the level of knowledge that we have attained.
I will never claim to have all the answers, I am no where near being an expert, but I am a little farther advanced than the novice when it comes to my Civil War knowledge. I rely on my books to help me understand the big picture of what happened. We can be on the battlefields and study the terrain, but until we read someones account or an after action report or someones interpretation of these events, how can we understand? The written word is what brings it all together. Now, I'll use Gettysburg as an example because I live here, but even when you are on the field, you really don't need a book to understand the battle....we have a ton of monuments, markers, etc that tell the story for you....but you still need to READ.
I still find myself buying books on certain aspects of the Civil War, whether its a campaign, a battle, a biography or whatever, but I'm getting to the point where I have entirely too many books dedicated to the Gettysburg campaign....so I'm concentrating on 1st person accounts. The diaries, journals, personal memoirs of the common soldier who fought at Gettysburg is what intrigues me the most nowadays. As a matter of fact, I just ordered a book from Amazon that was written by Private John Haley of the 17th Maine. Can't wait to sink my teeth into this book.
I guess what I'm trying to say, after all this, is that without books, we can never fully understand the Civil War. We need to sit down with a book and read it to be able to gain an understanding that can surpass the textbooks from high school. What we need to do is READ. Run to your favorite bookstore (new or used). Run to your local library. Run to a friend who has entirely too many books (who could I possibly be describing?). Borrow books, buy books. Do whatever you have to do to get your hands on them.....but read! This is how we learn!
Now I love my books. My books are my best friends. But WHEN did I accumulate so many of these things???? Fortunately, I do have places to put them and spent about an hour today moving them around. But it dawned on me that the majority of my books have something to do with the Civil War. Actually, I found THREE books that weren't Civil War related (I should note here that these are ONLY the books in my living room....I haven't even begun to go through the books in my bedroom). Hmmmm...makes you wonder where my interests lie.
The reason I'm talking about this is because recently there was a guy who I had come into contact with who wanted to know all things about the Civil War and Gettysburg and didn't want to read. He wanted those of us who DID know these things to tell him everything. But we all spent many, many years reading and studying the Civil War to come to the level of knowledge that we have attained.
I will never claim to have all the answers, I am no where near being an expert, but I am a little farther advanced than the novice when it comes to my Civil War knowledge. I rely on my books to help me understand the big picture of what happened. We can be on the battlefields and study the terrain, but until we read someones account or an after action report or someones interpretation of these events, how can we understand? The written word is what brings it all together. Now, I'll use Gettysburg as an example because I live here, but even when you are on the field, you really don't need a book to understand the battle....we have a ton of monuments, markers, etc that tell the story for you....but you still need to READ.
I still find myself buying books on certain aspects of the Civil War, whether its a campaign, a battle, a biography or whatever, but I'm getting to the point where I have entirely too many books dedicated to the Gettysburg campaign....so I'm concentrating on 1st person accounts. The diaries, journals, personal memoirs of the common soldier who fought at Gettysburg is what intrigues me the most nowadays. As a matter of fact, I just ordered a book from Amazon that was written by Private John Haley of the 17th Maine. Can't wait to sink my teeth into this book.
I guess what I'm trying to say, after all this, is that without books, we can never fully understand the Civil War. We need to sit down with a book and read it to be able to gain an understanding that can surpass the textbooks from high school. What we need to do is READ. Run to your favorite bookstore (new or used). Run to your local library. Run to a friend who has entirely too many books (who could I possibly be describing?). Borrow books, buy books. Do whatever you have to do to get your hands on them.....but read! This is how we learn!
Friday, November 6, 2009
Gettysburg: A Testing of Courage
This is one of my favorite books about the Battle of Gettysburg. Although this is a rehashing of the battle (not very different than Edwin Coddington's "The Battle of Gettysburg, A Study in Command" or Stephen Sears "Gettysburg"....both of which are excellent books) the style in which Noah Andre Trudeau writes this book gives it a different flavor.
When Mr. Trudeau wrote this book, he put it in order according to the times. Does he know that the times he assigns to each action are correct? Of course, he doesn't. No one knows this....but he does it as accurately as possible. It makes it easy to sit and read the book and understand what was happening....what was going on at the same time...who was involved (not just the regiments, but he also quotes many privates and others up the ladder). Reading about the battle in this order makes it so much easier to understand the ebb and flo of the battle. I'm still not sure how the battles at Devil's Den, Little Round Top, The Wheatfield, and the Peach Orchard all fit together...but in reading this book, I have a much better understanding of the pieces....how they fit together....and what pieces I am missing (and believe me, no one or ten volume book could EVER put all the pieces together and make me understand).
A couple of years ago, my friend, Jackie and I sat out on the field where the 11th Corps' fighting took place. We sat and read directly from this book and then tried to "see" exactly what he was talking about. By doing a lot of pointing...we were able to almost pinpoint where these events took place....in a timeline which made sense. Studying the battle in this way, has made a really confusing event (for me anyway) easy to understand and even easier to discuss.
For those who are just starting to read about the battle, I would recommend a book like Stephen Sears "Gettysburg"...an easy read with a great overview of the battle. For those who know the battle a little bit...Mr. Trudeau's book is the one to read. If you happen to know a lot about the battle, then you definitely want to read the "packed full of information, but a very dry read" of Mr. Coddington's book.
I look at my ever-growing library of books on the Battle of Gettysburg and the Civil War, and I realize that there are just a couple of books that I keep finding myself going to over and over again, and this book happens to be one of them. This is definitely a must-read for students of the Battle of Gettysburg.
When Mr. Trudeau wrote this book, he put it in order according to the times. Does he know that the times he assigns to each action are correct? Of course, he doesn't. No one knows this....but he does it as accurately as possible. It makes it easy to sit and read the book and understand what was happening....what was going on at the same time...who was involved (not just the regiments, but he also quotes many privates and others up the ladder). Reading about the battle in this order makes it so much easier to understand the ebb and flo of the battle. I'm still not sure how the battles at Devil's Den, Little Round Top, The Wheatfield, and the Peach Orchard all fit together...but in reading this book, I have a much better understanding of the pieces....how they fit together....and what pieces I am missing (and believe me, no one or ten volume book could EVER put all the pieces together and make me understand).
A couple of years ago, my friend, Jackie and I sat out on the field where the 11th Corps' fighting took place. We sat and read directly from this book and then tried to "see" exactly what he was talking about. By doing a lot of pointing...we were able to almost pinpoint where these events took place....in a timeline which made sense. Studying the battle in this way, has made a really confusing event (for me anyway) easy to understand and even easier to discuss.
For those who are just starting to read about the battle, I would recommend a book like Stephen Sears "Gettysburg"...an easy read with a great overview of the battle. For those who know the battle a little bit...Mr. Trudeau's book is the one to read. If you happen to know a lot about the battle, then you definitely want to read the "packed full of information, but a very dry read" of Mr. Coddington's book.
I look at my ever-growing library of books on the Battle of Gettysburg and the Civil War, and I realize that there are just a couple of books that I keep finding myself going to over and over again, and this book happens to be one of them. This is definitely a must-read for students of the Battle of Gettysburg.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Civil War Fiction
Occasionally I find that reading nonfiction books on the Civil War a little "heavy". I LOVE Civil War books. I read them constantly, but every once in a while, I need to read something....light....some world that I can fall into just to forget the things that cause my day to day life to become unbearable at times.
A friend of mine gave me some books the other day and in the pile of books was a book called "Jacob's Ladder" by Donald McCaig. Well, I looked at the pile of books that I'm reading (I always have at least 4 books going at once....and I've learned to read different genres when reading all these books....reading two biographies at once can become EXTREMELY confusing) and I just couldn't pick up any of those books. I needed a break. Not a big break....just a break. So I grabbed this novel and started to read.
At first, I found it boring. I don't normally read fiction and I have a difficult time getting into some of these books....I don't know the characters....or the locations. So, trying to figure out who was who and what was what made me a little confused. When you read a Civil War book, you know who the main characters are. When you read a Civil War book, you know the locations. Non-fiction, especially on a subject that you enjoy, can be easy to slip into because you know what is about to happen....its like an old friend....you just don't know the details. So I started reading this book. AND I haven't been able to put it down.
This book is the story of a couple of slaves who get married. One is in love with the other, but the other doesn't love this person back. The wife is sold away. But it doesn't stop there, it also tells the story of the slave owners. The reasons for needing the slaves, the reasons that slavery was important in the south. I would never think that Slavery, in any form, is ok....but this book almost makes it sound like it is necessary. My mind will never change about the slavery issue....it's wrong on all levels. But I almost feel sympathy towards the owners.
I'm only about 1/2 way through the book so I can't get into details on what happens...because I don't know. But I find myself sympathizing with quite a few characters in this book...even the "bad guys". Now, as I said, I don't normally read fiction books...only because I have to learn as much about the Civil War as I possibly can in the next 14 months (the Guide test is in Dec. 2010), but once in a while a fiction book is fun to read....and gives me a lot to think about. This happens to be one of them. If you read it, enjoy it. If you don't, then think about possibly reading it.
A friend of mine gave me some books the other day and in the pile of books was a book called "Jacob's Ladder" by Donald McCaig. Well, I looked at the pile of books that I'm reading (I always have at least 4 books going at once....and I've learned to read different genres when reading all these books....reading two biographies at once can become EXTREMELY confusing) and I just couldn't pick up any of those books. I needed a break. Not a big break....just a break. So I grabbed this novel and started to read.
At first, I found it boring. I don't normally read fiction and I have a difficult time getting into some of these books....I don't know the characters....or the locations. So, trying to figure out who was who and what was what made me a little confused. When you read a Civil War book, you know who the main characters are. When you read a Civil War book, you know the locations. Non-fiction, especially on a subject that you enjoy, can be easy to slip into because you know what is about to happen....its like an old friend....you just don't know the details. So I started reading this book. AND I haven't been able to put it down.
This book is the story of a couple of slaves who get married. One is in love with the other, but the other doesn't love this person back. The wife is sold away. But it doesn't stop there, it also tells the story of the slave owners. The reasons for needing the slaves, the reasons that slavery was important in the south. I would never think that Slavery, in any form, is ok....but this book almost makes it sound like it is necessary. My mind will never change about the slavery issue....it's wrong on all levels. But I almost feel sympathy towards the owners.
I'm only about 1/2 way through the book so I can't get into details on what happens...because I don't know. But I find myself sympathizing with quite a few characters in this book...even the "bad guys". Now, as I said, I don't normally read fiction books...only because I have to learn as much about the Civil War as I possibly can in the next 14 months (the Guide test is in Dec. 2010), but once in a while a fiction book is fun to read....and gives me a lot to think about. This happens to be one of them. If you read it, enjoy it. If you don't, then think about possibly reading it.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Arthur James Lyon Fremantle
One of the books that any Gettysburg aficionado must read is Arthur Fremantle's book "Three Months in the Southern States". This is a great behind the scenes look at the Confederacy from someone who was a neutral observer to the war.
Arthur Fremantle was born in 1835 and worked his way up the ladder to become a Lt. Col. in Her Majesty's Coldstream Guards. In March, 1863 he was able to take a leave of absence and travel to America to observe the war.
Throughout his book, he tells of the struggles that he encountered crossing the Texas desert, trying to reach the Mississippi River before the Union took control and he wouldn't be able to cross, and trying to reach General Lee's army....his ultimate goal.
During his travels, he ran across people, such as, John B. McGruder, Joseph E. Johnston, Edmund Kirby Smith, Braxton Bragg, and so many more. He also heard about the victory at Chancellorsville and also the wounding and eventual death of Stonewall Jackson.
It wasn't until June 27, 1863....4 days before the battle of Gettysburg that he finally met General James Longstreet. During his time spent with Longstreet, he was able to have long conversations with him about the war, battle strategies, and such. Col. Fremantle was able to observe the fighting on all three days of the battle but missed the charge itself on July 3. He was trying to get to the Seminary Cupola when the cannonade started and by the time he got back, the charge was done and overwith.
On July 7, Fremantle left Longstreet and with a note of neutrality, headed for New York City. On July 14, he noticed a lot of tensions in the streets....which progressively got worse....He had made it in time for the draft riots.
Finally on July 15, he left New York City for his long trip home to England.
Fremantle is one of those people (who, like Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain), became a "household" name after Michael Shaara's novel, "The Killer Angels". The book made him look a great deal more important to the cause than what he was, but he did have long discussions with Longstreet about the war and such. What most people don't seem to realize is that "The Killer Angels" is a book of fiction (this is why its located in the fiction section of the bookstore)....so we need to realize that these characters are built up to move the story along. Learn about the REAL Fremantle....read his book!
Arthur Fremantle was born in 1835 and worked his way up the ladder to become a Lt. Col. in Her Majesty's Coldstream Guards. In March, 1863 he was able to take a leave of absence and travel to America to observe the war.
Throughout his book, he tells of the struggles that he encountered crossing the Texas desert, trying to reach the Mississippi River before the Union took control and he wouldn't be able to cross, and trying to reach General Lee's army....his ultimate goal.
During his travels, he ran across people, such as, John B. McGruder, Joseph E. Johnston, Edmund Kirby Smith, Braxton Bragg, and so many more. He also heard about the victory at Chancellorsville and also the wounding and eventual death of Stonewall Jackson.
It wasn't until June 27, 1863....4 days before the battle of Gettysburg that he finally met General James Longstreet. During his time spent with Longstreet, he was able to have long conversations with him about the war, battle strategies, and such. Col. Fremantle was able to observe the fighting on all three days of the battle but missed the charge itself on July 3. He was trying to get to the Seminary Cupola when the cannonade started and by the time he got back, the charge was done and overwith.
On July 7, Fremantle left Longstreet and with a note of neutrality, headed for New York City. On July 14, he noticed a lot of tensions in the streets....which progressively got worse....He had made it in time for the draft riots.
Finally on July 15, he left New York City for his long trip home to England.
Fremantle is one of those people (who, like Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain), became a "household" name after Michael Shaara's novel, "The Killer Angels". The book made him look a great deal more important to the cause than what he was, but he did have long discussions with Longstreet about the war and such. What most people don't seem to realize is that "The Killer Angels" is a book of fiction (this is why its located in the fiction section of the bookstore)....so we need to realize that these characters are built up to move the story along. Learn about the REAL Fremantle....read his book!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
26th NC color bearers at Gettysburg on July 1
I have found the story of the color bearers of the 26th NC on July 1, 1863 very interesting. In a short period of time, they went through 14 men. Some were killed, some wounded, but all were heroes.
A color bearer is probably the toughest job in a regiment and its not for someone who is a wimp. The color bearer carried the regimental flag. This flag, although something for the men in the regiment to follow, was also a huge bulls eye for the enemy. The person carrying the flag was one of the first people that the enemy would shoot or at least shoot at, and this person usually was forgotten by history.
However, in the story of the 26th NC, the color bearers are a huge part of the story and the names of these men have not been lost to history.
Here are a list of the men and their companies (if I know it):
Color Sergeant Jeff Mansfield
Sergeant Hiram Johnson (G)
Private John Stamper (A)
Private G. W. Kelly (D)
Private Larkin Thomas (F)
Private John Vinson (G)
Private John Marley (G)
Captain Westwood McCreery
Lieutenant George Wilcox (H)
Colonel Henry King Burgwyn
Private Franklin Honeycutt (B)
Lieutenant Milton Blair (I)
Lieutenant Colonel John Lane
Captain Stephen Brewer (E)
I got most of this information from David Martins: Gettysburg July 1. Another book that I would recommend to those who are truly into the details of the battle. One thing to keep in mind about this book: he tells all the little details. When I've read it, I have often wondered if on the next page he was going to tell us the exact time that Pvt. John Smith of Co. A sneezed while crossing the field. Its that detailed. But when you want to know the details, this is the book to read.
Incidentally, the 26th kept its flag on July 1, 1863 but lost it on July 3, 1863 during Longstreet's Assault (Pickett's Charge).
These men were the real heroes in the Civil War
A color bearer is probably the toughest job in a regiment and its not for someone who is a wimp. The color bearer carried the regimental flag. This flag, although something for the men in the regiment to follow, was also a huge bulls eye for the enemy. The person carrying the flag was one of the first people that the enemy would shoot or at least shoot at, and this person usually was forgotten by history.
However, in the story of the 26th NC, the color bearers are a huge part of the story and the names of these men have not been lost to history.
Here are a list of the men and their companies (if I know it):
Color Sergeant Jeff Mansfield
Sergeant Hiram Johnson (G)
Private John Stamper (A)
Private G. W. Kelly (D)
Private Larkin Thomas (F)
Private John Vinson (G)
Private John Marley (G)
Captain Westwood McCreery
Lieutenant George Wilcox (H)
Colonel Henry King Burgwyn
Private Franklin Honeycutt (B)
Lieutenant Milton Blair (I)
Lieutenant Colonel John Lane
Captain Stephen Brewer (E)
I got most of this information from David Martins: Gettysburg July 1. Another book that I would recommend to those who are truly into the details of the battle. One thing to keep in mind about this book: he tells all the little details. When I've read it, I have often wondered if on the next page he was going to tell us the exact time that Pvt. John Smith of Co. A sneezed while crossing the field. Its that detailed. But when you want to know the details, this is the book to read.
Incidentally, the 26th kept its flag on July 1, 1863 but lost it on July 3, 1863 during Longstreet's Assault (Pickett's Charge).
These men were the real heroes in the Civil War
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Debunking myths
I've worked at the Visitors Center at Gettysburg as both an employee and a volunteer and am always amazed at some of the questions that I am asked. Stories get started and somehow you wonder how they manage to keep going around because they are so outrageous. But other stories seem to have merit although they aren't real. The one myth that I'm thinking of started out this way.
So often I've been asked "Where was the shoe factory?" Huh? It seems that the story is that the battle was started over a search for shoes....precisely, they were looking for the shoes in a shoe factory. There was no shoe factory in Gettysburg. The Confederates did not come to town specifically to raid a shoe factory. They came looking for supplies....but there were none. Jubal Early had come through town just a couple of days before and took all the supplies.
How did this story start though? Harry Heth went to A.P. Hill asking for permission to come into Gettysburg looking for supplies. Hill gave Heth permission but told him not to start an engagement. Here's the strange thing: Heth took his men into Gettysburg with artillery leading the way....to "look" for supplies. Instead, they found Buford and his Cavalry....an engagement started and, as they say, the rest is history.
In his memoirs (which is a great book....VERY funny) Henry Heth states that he came into town looking for supplies, especially shoes. Heth had to cover his butt....because a general engagement was started....so to keep himself out of trouble, this was his story. Trouble is, Early had come through town....took up a "collection" from the townsfolk (a story all by itself) and then moved on. Didn't Heth or Hill know this? And if not, why not?
As the years progressed, the story took on a life of its own. People tend to leave out the "supplies" part and just leave in the "shoes" part. Gettysburg does not and never has had a shoe factory in town. The closest thing to a shoe factory were a few cobblers....but that is it....no large scale shoe manufacturing. This has become a well-known fact, yet the truth never spreads like a rumor. So, far fewer people know that this is not the truth and the number of people who know the myth. It's frustrating to those of us who know and understand the beginnings of the battle. People come to Gettysburg insisting that they know the "Truth" and when you try to explain to them that it isn't true, they get mad at YOU for being ignorant. I'm just hoping that they ask enough people and keep getting the same answers so that one day everyone will know the truth about the shoes in Gettysburg.
So often I've been asked "Where was the shoe factory?" Huh? It seems that the story is that the battle was started over a search for shoes....precisely, they were looking for the shoes in a shoe factory. There was no shoe factory in Gettysburg. The Confederates did not come to town specifically to raid a shoe factory. They came looking for supplies....but there were none. Jubal Early had come through town just a couple of days before and took all the supplies.
How did this story start though? Harry Heth went to A.P. Hill asking for permission to come into Gettysburg looking for supplies. Hill gave Heth permission but told him not to start an engagement. Here's the strange thing: Heth took his men into Gettysburg with artillery leading the way....to "look" for supplies. Instead, they found Buford and his Cavalry....an engagement started and, as they say, the rest is history.
In his memoirs (which is a great book....VERY funny) Henry Heth states that he came into town looking for supplies, especially shoes. Heth had to cover his butt....because a general engagement was started....so to keep himself out of trouble, this was his story. Trouble is, Early had come through town....took up a "collection" from the townsfolk (a story all by itself) and then moved on. Didn't Heth or Hill know this? And if not, why not?
As the years progressed, the story took on a life of its own. People tend to leave out the "supplies" part and just leave in the "shoes" part. Gettysburg does not and never has had a shoe factory in town. The closest thing to a shoe factory were a few cobblers....but that is it....no large scale shoe manufacturing. This has become a well-known fact, yet the truth never spreads like a rumor. So, far fewer people know that this is not the truth and the number of people who know the myth. It's frustrating to those of us who know and understand the beginnings of the battle. People come to Gettysburg insisting that they know the "Truth" and when you try to explain to them that it isn't true, they get mad at YOU for being ignorant. I'm just hoping that they ask enough people and keep getting the same answers so that one day everyone will know the truth about the shoes in Gettysburg.
Friday, August 21, 2009
So Far From God
I'm currently reading the book "So Far From God" by John S. D. Eisenhower. This book is about the Mexican War. Why would I talk about a Mexican War book when I'm writing about the Civil War? Well, the Mexican War plays an integral part in what happened in the American Civil War and that was why I felt compelled to read a book about this war.
In my studies of the American Civil War, I have come across (repeatedly) accounts of the participants also being in the Mexican War. Most of the officers on both sides fought down in Mexico: Lee, Grant, Meade, Longstreet, Armistead, Hancock and the list goes on and on. Not only were the majority of leaders West Point graduates - using West Point techniques - but these men were also employing tactics that they learned in the war with Mexico.
While reading biography after biography I keep seeing the same battles come up: Churubusco, Chapultepec, Veracruz, Mexico City, Molino del Rey. So now, its time to start to learn about these men and what they did before the Civil War. I asked quite a few people for recommendations on a book that would give me a good overview of the war without getting into the nitty gritty. I really don't want to study it THAT intensely....just a good idea of what happened. This book was recommended by at least 4 people....so I figured it was the book for me.
The beginning of the book gets into the political situation of the nations involved: the United States, Mexico, and Britain. I'm not much of a political historian...but sometimes, you have to understand the political background in order to understand the war. This is one of those times. It seems that the fighting was over the annexation of Texas. I knew the story of the Alamo and how the men were killed...but never put it together with what was happening at the time with Mexico. Its funny how you start putting things together and suddenly you have one of those "AHA" moments. This is how I've been feeling as I read this book. Suddenly American history is starting to make sense....not the history itself but the events that seemed to weave itself among other events.
For anyone who is interested in the Civil War, I recommend this book. Its a good way to give yourself a background on the generals and what they were thinking and what they were doing. This book is an easy read. Not having a lot of background on the Mexican War (except for bits and pieces from biographies that I've read), I'm understanding this war and that's always a good thing.
In my studies of the American Civil War, I have come across (repeatedly) accounts of the participants also being in the Mexican War. Most of the officers on both sides fought down in Mexico: Lee, Grant, Meade, Longstreet, Armistead, Hancock and the list goes on and on. Not only were the majority of leaders West Point graduates - using West Point techniques - but these men were also employing tactics that they learned in the war with Mexico.
While reading biography after biography I keep seeing the same battles come up: Churubusco, Chapultepec, Veracruz, Mexico City, Molino del Rey. So now, its time to start to learn about these men and what they did before the Civil War. I asked quite a few people for recommendations on a book that would give me a good overview of the war without getting into the nitty gritty. I really don't want to study it THAT intensely....just a good idea of what happened. This book was recommended by at least 4 people....so I figured it was the book for me.
The beginning of the book gets into the political situation of the nations involved: the United States, Mexico, and Britain. I'm not much of a political historian...but sometimes, you have to understand the political background in order to understand the war. This is one of those times. It seems that the fighting was over the annexation of Texas. I knew the story of the Alamo and how the men were killed...but never put it together with what was happening at the time with Mexico. Its funny how you start putting things together and suddenly you have one of those "AHA" moments. This is how I've been feeling as I read this book. Suddenly American history is starting to make sense....not the history itself but the events that seemed to weave itself among other events.
For anyone who is interested in the Civil War, I recommend this book. Its a good way to give yourself a background on the generals and what they were thinking and what they were doing. This book is an easy read. Not having a lot of background on the Mexican War (except for bits and pieces from biographies that I've read), I'm understanding this war and that's always a good thing.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Disciplining Reporters
Oh the things I'm learning about George Gordon Meade. This book that I'm reading is a bit fascinating. Apparently the thing about Historicus is heresay only. So, I'm still correct in my thoughts that no one knows who Historicus is. But I learned something new today in my reading. I'm no scholar on Meade which is why I'm reading this book....to learn a few things...and today I learned a new fact. Did you know that Meade disciplined a reporter who gave him an unfavorable review and ALL reporters got even with him?
By this time in the war, U.S. Grant had taken over control of all the armies of the north. He was traveling with Meade and the Army of the Potomac. So in June of 1864 a reporter by the name of Edward Cropsey started traveling with the army. Cropsey sent an article to his paper, The Philadelphia Inquirer, about the army stating that Meade was no longer in charge but Grant was....which was untrue. Grant gave Meade the overall plan....Meade implimented that plan. This is not unlike the way it was prior to Grant's promotion. This reporter got it all wrong and made Meade look like the bad guy for all the failures of the Army of the Potomac. Meade sent word to Gen. Halleck, who was still in Washington, about this whole situation and Halleck told Meade not to worry about it....they weren't paying any attention to what was being said in the newspapers. Meade should have left things go at this....but he didn't.
Meade was angry. He came up with a plan and while he was starting to impliment it, he let Grant know what he was planning. Apparently Grant just nodded in agreement. So Meade went on with his plan: He got two placards and placed them on the front and back of this reporter (for the life of me, I can't remember exactly what they said, but in essense they said that this man was a liar) and then sat him backwards on a horse. Then to parade him around the camps, they got a drummer and a bugler to lead the way. Humiliating in the least, I would say.
When word spread out amongst all the other reporters about what had happened (did anyone say "freedom of the press"?????), they banded together and decided that from that moment on they wouldn't give Meade any further press unless it was bad press. If something bad happened to the Army of the Potomac, Meade would be blamed, if something good happened to the army, Grant would get the credit. Meade was unaware of this and when he found out, he was livid.
Now, I like Meade, but I feel that he was dead wrong in this instance. Yes, reporters should get their facts straight. Yes, they should make sure they put the blame where it belongs and not just place it wherever they want. Yes, they should be held accountable for wrong facts. NO, Meade did not have the right to punish this man.
First of all, when Meade told Halleck about this report, Halleck told him to ignore it, as Washington was ignoring it. Second, there is a thing in the Constitution called freedom of the press. Now, I'm not stupid, if reporters are giving out false information, they need to be called on it. If it comes down to name calling or injuring a person's career, let the courts take care of it. If Meade really wanted to punish this guy, then he should have kicked him out of the army and told the newspaper that he didn't want him anywhere near the army....or face arrest. What Meade did to this man was unnecessary but creative. Its really kind of funny when you stop and think about it....and this man will forever be known as the guy who Meade punished.....and it was completely wrong. Sometimes we let our emotions get the best of us....and in this instance, Meade let his emotions get the best of him. But they didn't call him "Old Snapping Turtle" for nothing.
By this time in the war, U.S. Grant had taken over control of all the armies of the north. He was traveling with Meade and the Army of the Potomac. So in June of 1864 a reporter by the name of Edward Cropsey started traveling with the army. Cropsey sent an article to his paper, The Philadelphia Inquirer, about the army stating that Meade was no longer in charge but Grant was....which was untrue. Grant gave Meade the overall plan....Meade implimented that plan. This is not unlike the way it was prior to Grant's promotion. This reporter got it all wrong and made Meade look like the bad guy for all the failures of the Army of the Potomac. Meade sent word to Gen. Halleck, who was still in Washington, about this whole situation and Halleck told Meade not to worry about it....they weren't paying any attention to what was being said in the newspapers. Meade should have left things go at this....but he didn't.
Meade was angry. He came up with a plan and while he was starting to impliment it, he let Grant know what he was planning. Apparently Grant just nodded in agreement. So Meade went on with his plan: He got two placards and placed them on the front and back of this reporter (for the life of me, I can't remember exactly what they said, but in essense they said that this man was a liar) and then sat him backwards on a horse. Then to parade him around the camps, they got a drummer and a bugler to lead the way. Humiliating in the least, I would say.
When word spread out amongst all the other reporters about what had happened (did anyone say "freedom of the press"?????), they banded together and decided that from that moment on they wouldn't give Meade any further press unless it was bad press. If something bad happened to the Army of the Potomac, Meade would be blamed, if something good happened to the army, Grant would get the credit. Meade was unaware of this and when he found out, he was livid.
Now, I like Meade, but I feel that he was dead wrong in this instance. Yes, reporters should get their facts straight. Yes, they should make sure they put the blame where it belongs and not just place it wherever they want. Yes, they should be held accountable for wrong facts. NO, Meade did not have the right to punish this man.
First of all, when Meade told Halleck about this report, Halleck told him to ignore it, as Washington was ignoring it. Second, there is a thing in the Constitution called freedom of the press. Now, I'm not stupid, if reporters are giving out false information, they need to be called on it. If it comes down to name calling or injuring a person's career, let the courts take care of it. If Meade really wanted to punish this guy, then he should have kicked him out of the army and told the newspaper that he didn't want him anywhere near the army....or face arrest. What Meade did to this man was unnecessary but creative. Its really kind of funny when you stop and think about it....and this man will forever be known as the guy who Meade punished.....and it was completely wrong. Sometimes we let our emotions get the best of us....and in this instance, Meade let his emotions get the best of him. But they didn't call him "Old Snapping Turtle" for nothing.
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