First snow of the year

Today at Brandy Station: November 9, 1863

It is a simple statement on the wall: "First snow of the year November 9, 1863" The wall of course is in the Graffiti House in Brandy Station. This comment was revealed during restoration work completed by Christopher Mills this past spring.

All by itself, no other commentary. But true.

From the diary of a member of 3rd Massachusetts Light, Battery C: "There was a snow squall in the afternoon."

The History of the 40th Virginia Infantry reported: "...regiment marched through falling snow to the old camp along the Rapidan."

And Henry Seage of the 4th Michigan recorded in his diary: "It Snowed quite hard tonight the first snow of the Season"

The weather impacted the soldier greatly during the war, and diaries almost always included the local weather. It was important to the soldier to document how he endured the elements.

The 9th of November was also the last day the Army of Northern Virginia spent in Culpeper County. It's twin defeats at Kelly's Ford and Rappahannock Station by the Army of the Potomac closed the book on this portion of the ANV's storied history.

Personal note: between work and personal requirements and demands as well as my health, has caused this two month plus pause in the Today at Brandy Station blog. I hope most of these issues are behind me and I endeavour to again chronicle the daily passage of time and activities in and around Brandy Station.

August the 7th 1863

Today at Brandy Station: August 7, 1863

Upstairs at the Graffiti House, in Brandy Station there are three rooms. The smallest of the three has the least amount of observable graffiti. The reason is due to paint covering the plaster, not lack of graffiti. There are hints throughout the room of the treasure that awaits.

On an interior wall, just above is the paint line, written in pencil is:

August the 7th 1863

Are there more words below? We do not yet know. However, just to the left of this piece of graffiti is a drawing of what appears to be the sun. As I have noted in earlier posts this month, August was in a word oppressive. The Brandy Station Foundation anxiously awaits the next opportunity to have a conservator return to the Graffiti House.

We believe the graffiti was created by Confederate cavalrymen. In August 1863, the opposing forces in northern Virginia have pretty much settled down in and around Culpeper County following the Gettysburg Campaign. The pickets for the Rebels were posted on and near Fleetwood Heights, and the Federals not far away to the north and east, but on the south side of the Rappahannock.

So, it seems we have a mystery. We know when the graffiti was created, but we do not know by whom, why, or even if there is anything else that our mystery man from August the 7th 1863 is willing to share.

Been gone, coming back

Today at Brandy Station: July 11, 2010

Yes it has been a while, and for that, I apologize. Unfortunately I have to work for a living and that has greatly impacted my spare time when I am home. This unfortunate condition will abate in a week or two.

Yesterday, I along with Brandy Station Foundation President Bud Hall spent the day with members of the National Press Club. They toured the sites on the battlefield, hiking to Buford's Knoll, walking a portions of the fields of St. James and standing on the crest of Fleetwood Heights, as Bud spoke of the stirring events that took place there. After lunch, the NPC spent about 45 minutes at the Graffiti House. Finally, as time was short, they were driven to various sites in the Stevensburg area, a section of the battlefield that is not given it's proper due.

As the day ended, the President of the NPC congratulated the Brandy Station Foundation "on the fine job BSF is doing in "protecting the interests of America's greatest cavalry battlefield."

Today, I was at the Graffiti House again, this time as a Docent, speaking with those who came to see what the house has to offer. It is always an extreme pleasure to tell the story of the house and the people who past through to our guests.

Not Everybody Left Town

Today at Brandy Station: June 30, 1863

Not everyone went to Gettysburg. At least two from Huger's Battery remained in Brandy Station.

From R. Thomas Crew's and Benjamin H. Trask's book "Grimes' Battery, Grandy's Battery and Huger's Battery Virginia Artillery:

"Private James Addison (detailed as a blacksmith) and Private Richard Montgomery (detailed as artificer, blacksmith & farrier) at Brandy Station [30 June] through 31 August 1863. Each was paid .40 cents a day extra duty."

Though it isn't documented, I suspect they remained after the Army of Northern Virginia went north.

Huger's Battery holds a special place in my heart. To date at least six of this battery; Edward Moreland, Robert Lewis, Joseph Moore, George W. Butt, John W. Ashe and Robert Peed (5 times) signed the walls of the Graffiti House in Brandy Station.

A New Discovery

Today at Brandy Station: May 11, 2010

Today is one of those days when, nothing happened. I determined early on that when this occurred, I'd talk about the Graffiti House.

Recently, the Brandy Station Foundation has had an opportunity which it capitalized on, and it has paid off in spades. Christopher Mills of Christoper Mills Conservation Service has made two trips to Brandy Station this spring.

Chris was contracted by the Foundation to stabilize walls in the Graffiti House, where the pre-civil war plaster had separated from the lathing. This process is tedious and time-consuming, but ultimately he was successful.

His success has been more than could have been dreamed. In the course of repairing damage and reattaching plaster, Chris uncovered more graffiti. Additionally, while cleaning and prepping these walls, thanks to his work, what had been faded is now clear.

Names, statements, and drawings are now seeing the light of day for the first time since the mid-1860's. Researchers at the Foundation have already had some successes. Today, I will talk about one. His name is George.

George has been with us since the graffiti was discovered in 1993. George signed (at least) three walls in what we call the Dancing Lady Room. But is was always just George. We never new his story, until Chris arrived. In March, Chris uncovered Georges last name above a window. But it took a little detective work to figure it all out.
The name uncovered was Howver, George Howver.

So, into the databases and regimentals we go, but no George Howver. We were about to give up when findagrave.com was checked and we found our man. George Howver served in the 7th Virginia Cavalry. But in consulting the Virginia Regimental Series' volume on the 7th Virginia Cavalry, there was no listing under Howver. But there is an interesting note under George Hoover.

According to the book, George Hoover was born in 1847 (actually April 13, 1845) and served in Company H, joining the regiment as a substitute. He served until early 1864 when he was captured and eventually ended up at Fort Delaware in March 1864. He remained there until paroled in June 1865. Prison records indicate he was 5'8", had dark hair and eyes and a ruddy complexion.

The last notation is the money: Listed as Howver in the CSR [Compiled Military Service Records]. We have our man.

The 7th Virginia Cavalry spent time in Brandy Station during the Spring, Summer and Fall of 1863. Howver had opportunity to be in the Graffiti House. And at least once, George, picked up a piece of charcoal from the fireplace had told us he was there. George Howver died on January 1, 1916 and is buried in Singers Glen Cemetery in Rockingham County, Virginia.

The Picture, taken by Peggy Misch, is of Chris Mills hard at work, saving our walls, and above the window on the left side, you might be able to make out Howver. Thank you Chris for bringing lost history back to us.

If you havn't been to the Graffiti House within the last two months, it is time to come back. We have some new stories to tell.

The Graffiti House today

Today at Brandy Station, April 24, 2010, the Graffiti House was host to members of the 17th Virginia Infantry, Company D, The Fairfax Rifles. These gentlemen and ladies are a fine group of living historians. And this year, as they have for the previous four years, came to the Graffiti House to help us support Culpeper Remembrance Days. Cupleper Remembrance Days is a celebration of the history of Culpeper, with it's eye on the future.

At the Graffiti House we hosted over 70 visitors, young and old, from the area and the country. I was proud to be there to help tell the story of the house, to interpret the graffiti for them, and tell a ghost story or two.

But there is more. We tell the story of Brandy Station during the Civil War. The fighting, camping and the people who lived here and passed through here. The Fairfax Rifles help tell that story, for the original Fairfax Rifles passed by the house and looked upon at least once, in late August 1862.

The Graffiti House is a treasure. I like to describe the Graffiti House in this way. "Many understand what a witness tree is. A witness tree was present at a significant event and remains today. There are not many left that witnessed events during the Civil War. There are many, many structures on and around Civil War battlefields that were present during the fighting. The Graffiti House is one such structure."

But with the Graffiti left by soldiers, both blue and gray, it is much, much more. The docents at the house bring the graffiti to life. Our docents tell of the soldiers that signed the walls, describe when and why drawings were made, and speak of the events and incidents that are captured by dates annotated.

The Graffiti House is a witness house. But it is also so much more. This witness house speaks, it lives.