Today at James City: February 28, 1864
Kilpatrick has left Stevensburg today on his ill-fated raid on Richmond. As part of the deception and attempt to confuse the Confederates south of the Rapidan, Brig. Gen. George Custer took portions of his command on a raid into Albermarle County. Along with these movements, infantry from the Army of the Potomac also made demonstrations across the Rapidan.
John Haley of the 17th Maine took part in this event. From his diary, he gives us a description and his opinion of James City.
"...we turned off toward Cedar Mountain and shortly came to James City. This busy metropolis consists of the following valuable real estate: two dwellings, one with barn attached, one old carpenter shop, and an old mill – all expecting to tumble to pieces soon. Why such a pigmy hamlet should be called a city is a mystery. The main avenue is a lane terminating in a pasture into which we marched. Another lane intersects this one and passes over hillock dignified by the high-sounding title of Thoroughfare Mountain.
We halted in the shadows of this hill and formed a line to of battle to support the 6th Corps, which has advanced to Madison Court House and Charlottesville. They crossed the Ravenna River near one of these places ...
We who were left here passed the day “seeing the town,” getting acquainted with the names of the streets and public buildings. At night a storm of sleet and rain set in, but we are provided for such an emergency and have tents up, well stockaded with boards from James City."
Haley's diary can be found in the book "The Rebel Yell and Yankee Hurrah: the Civil War Journal of a Maine Volunteer: Private John W. Haley, 17th Maine Regiment," Edited by Ruth L. Silliker
Monday, February 28, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
The Old Slave
I apoligize for the significant gap in blog entries.
Today at Brandy Station: February 23, 1864
From a letter sent by Pvt. Joel Molyneux, 141st Pennsylvania Volunteers, to his sister, which can be found in "Quill of the Wild Goose," edited by Kermit Molyneux Bird.
"Our Hq. Qrs is at the plantation of a man by the name of Ririe. He has three slaves.... One old chap is 101 years old, and I have been having a talk with him of old times. He can remember of times before the Revolution. He lived then near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay; says he remembers the big snow storm and that it was so deep that it covered up all the houses; that it began to snow of a Friday and it snowed for a week; that they burned up everything in the houses for wood and then dug up on top and went on the crust and carried the wood. The sheep and cattle died because they could not find them.
He heard the cannons when Lafayette came to this country to fight. I suppose it was at Yorktown, but he did not get to see Lafayette. He said that he was “right smart old” at the time of the War of 1812, and remembered a considerable of what happened then. ...
He says he has had three wives that had been sold and could not tell how many children. He has all his faculties good yet. Is quite smart. Stands up straight. Says he can walk 20 miles in a day, easy. He has never been whipped – would fight first, run away, etc., then come back when he got ready..."
How much Ririe's slave states is true or not, we will never know. But it does sound like Joel had some interesting conversations.
Today at Brandy Station: February 23, 1864
From a letter sent by Pvt. Joel Molyneux, 141st Pennsylvania Volunteers, to his sister, which can be found in "Quill of the Wild Goose," edited by Kermit Molyneux Bird.
"Our Hq. Qrs is at the plantation of a man by the name of Ririe. He has three slaves.... One old chap is 101 years old, and I have been having a talk with him of old times. He can remember of times before the Revolution. He lived then near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay; says he remembers the big snow storm and that it was so deep that it covered up all the houses; that it began to snow of a Friday and it snowed for a week; that they burned up everything in the houses for wood and then dug up on top and went on the crust and carried the wood. The sheep and cattle died because they could not find them.
He heard the cannons when Lafayette came to this country to fight. I suppose it was at Yorktown, but he did not get to see Lafayette. He said that he was “right smart old” at the time of the War of 1812, and remembered a considerable of what happened then. ...
He says he has had three wives that had been sold and could not tell how many children. He has all his faculties good yet. Is quite smart. Stands up straight. Says he can walk 20 miles in a day, easy. He has never been whipped – would fight first, run away, etc., then come back when he got ready..."
How much Ririe's slave states is true or not, we will never know. But it does sound like Joel had some interesting conversations.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
49 Acres Saved in the Wilderness
Today in Orange County: January 5, 2011.
OK, it happened yesterday. From the CWPT website.
Civil War Preservation Trust Completes $1 Million Campaign to Save Battlefield Land at the Wilderness
National fundraising campaign results in protection of 49-acres of hallowed ground at historic Saunders Field on Wilderness Battlefield
(Orange County, Va.) – The Civil War Preservation Trust is pleased to announce that it has successfully completed a $1 million fundraising effort to permanently protect 49 acres at the very heart of the Wilderness Battlefield. First announced in October 2010, the effort will set aside a portion of historic Saunders Field immediately north of State Route 20 for eventual incorporation into Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park.
“Saving critically important landscapes like this is precisely why this organization exists,” said CWPT president James Lighthizer. “Generations of Americans will now have the opportunity to walk this hallowed landscape and gain a fuller understanding of the horrors of war experienced by the soldiers fighting in the Wilderness.”
Acquisition of the Middlebrook Tract has long been a priority for the preservation community, both for the intensity of the fighting that occurred there on May 5 and 6, 1864, and for its unique location, entirely surrounded by land owned and protected by the National Park Service. Since the land sits within national park boundaries, the project was ineligible for federal matching grant funds, leaving preservationists to raise the entire purchase price from private sources.
“I would personally like to thank everyone who stepped forward this holiday season to give a gift to the nation by donating in any amount, large or small,” said Lighthizer. “Several contributors indicated to me they considered this property so historically significant that they made multiple donations to the effort.” Lighthizer also noted that the campaign was also our most successful online fundraising effort to date.
The terms of the acquisition contract placed the purchase price at $1,085,000, if closing occurred before the end of 2010. While the transaction will be finalized in 2011, a year end fundraising surge means that CWPT has collected enough in donations and firm pledges to cover the base price and an extension fee.
OK, it happened yesterday. From the CWPT website.
Civil War Preservation Trust Completes $1 Million Campaign to Save Battlefield Land at the Wilderness
National fundraising campaign results in protection of 49-acres of hallowed ground at historic Saunders Field on Wilderness Battlefield
(Orange County, Va.) – The Civil War Preservation Trust is pleased to announce that it has successfully completed a $1 million fundraising effort to permanently protect 49 acres at the very heart of the Wilderness Battlefield. First announced in October 2010, the effort will set aside a portion of historic Saunders Field immediately north of State Route 20 for eventual incorporation into Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park.
“Saving critically important landscapes like this is precisely why this organization exists,” said CWPT president James Lighthizer. “Generations of Americans will now have the opportunity to walk this hallowed landscape and gain a fuller understanding of the horrors of war experienced by the soldiers fighting in the Wilderness.”
Acquisition of the Middlebrook Tract has long been a priority for the preservation community, both for the intensity of the fighting that occurred there on May 5 and 6, 1864, and for its unique location, entirely surrounded by land owned and protected by the National Park Service. Since the land sits within national park boundaries, the project was ineligible for federal matching grant funds, leaving preservationists to raise the entire purchase price from private sources.
“I would personally like to thank everyone who stepped forward this holiday season to give a gift to the nation by donating in any amount, large or small,” said Lighthizer. “Several contributors indicated to me they considered this property so historically significant that they made multiple donations to the effort.” Lighthizer also noted that the campaign was also our most successful online fundraising effort to date.
The terms of the acquisition contract placed the purchase price at $1,085,000, if closing occurred before the end of 2010. While the transaction will be finalized in 2011, a year end fundraising surge means that CWPT has collected enough in donations and firm pledges to cover the base price and an extension fee.
Monday, January 3, 2011
The First Sabbath of 1864
Today at Brandy Station: January 3, 1864
A fairly quiet day for the army.
A soldier in the 141st Pennsylvania Infantry caught the 3 o'clock train heading towards Brandy Station to visit friends. He began his journey at Warrenton Junction, a distance of 18 miles.
There was no service nor inspections in the 4th Michigan Infantry. But they did have an evening parade, their first since before Christmas.
Those soldiers whom decided to re-enlist in the 91st Pennsylvania Infantry were having a pretty good day. These men were preparing to take the cars in a northbound direction, heading home tomorrow to the Philadelphia area, on reenlistment furlough. They will return as Veteran Volunteers.
Lucius Bidwell, in the 14th Connecticut Infantry, wrote to his brother, lamenting that the recent snow had all cleared off the ground (more coming tonight), so no sledding, as there likely was home. Lucius also told his brother of a letter he has received from his 'sweet Philadelphian.'
William Owens, in the 86th New York Infantry, probably had the best day. Owens was called out of church to receive his pay.
A fairly quiet day for the army.
A soldier in the 141st Pennsylvania Infantry caught the 3 o'clock train heading towards Brandy Station to visit friends. He began his journey at Warrenton Junction, a distance of 18 miles.
There was no service nor inspections in the 4th Michigan Infantry. But they did have an evening parade, their first since before Christmas.
Those soldiers whom decided to re-enlist in the 91st Pennsylvania Infantry were having a pretty good day. These men were preparing to take the cars in a northbound direction, heading home tomorrow to the Philadelphia area, on reenlistment furlough. They will return as Veteran Volunteers.
Lucius Bidwell, in the 14th Connecticut Infantry, wrote to his brother, lamenting that the recent snow had all cleared off the ground (more coming tonight), so no sledding, as there likely was home. Lucius also told his brother of a letter he has received from his 'sweet Philadelphian.'
William Owens, in the 86th New York Infantry, probably had the best day. Owens was called out of church to receive his pay.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
"...without any important events."
Today at Brandy Station: January 1, 1864
Elisha Rhodes, of the 2nd Rhode Island Infantry, captures the essence of this first day of the new year:
"The new year opens without any important events. The troops are in comfortable quarters, built of logs and covered with canvas. Drill takes place daily and an occasional review breaks up the monotony of our camp life. "
It is a Friday in the army. So, those not drilling are in their quarters and huts. The ground is muddy and the air wet and windy.
There is however, some men celebrating the coming new year, a soldier in the 20th Indiana writes of his sister regiment, the 99th Pennsylvania, "The 99th Penn. are nearly all drunk, and make noise enough for both regiments."
Elisha Rhodes, of the 2nd Rhode Island Infantry, captures the essence of this first day of the new year:
"The new year opens without any important events. The troops are in comfortable quarters, built of logs and covered with canvas. Drill takes place daily and an occasional review breaks up the monotony of our camp life. "
It is a Friday in the army. So, those not drilling are in their quarters and huts. The ground is muddy and the air wet and windy.
There is however, some men celebrating the coming new year, a soldier in the 20th Indiana writes of his sister regiment, the 99th Pennsylvania, "The 99th Penn. are nearly all drunk, and make noise enough for both regiments."
Thursday, December 30, 2010
always the 'special duty'
Today at Brandy Station: December 30, 1863
Soldiers are always tasked with details. Police the grounds, picket duty, guard duty, stable duty, trash, etc... the list goes on and on. Today the 91st Pennsylvania published a list of soldiers in the regiment whom had been detailed to support the regimental leadership.
Henry Schaefer (Co. A)was detailed to Colonel Gregory to act as hostler.
John Costner (A) was cooking for his company commander, Captain Gregory.
Ed. Gamble (B) was cooking for his company commander, Lt. Kayser.
Joseph M. Johns[t]on (D) was cooking for Lt. Col Sinex.
Joesph Rementer (E) was cooking for his company commander, Captain Hall.
Henry Dunn (I) was cooking for his company commander, Lt. Donnell.
A hostler is a groom or stableman. Schaefer's mission in life was the care and feeding of Colonel Gregory's horses. It has to be assumed that the others had some skill in the preparation of meals. Gamble would be wounded at Petersburg in June 1864, the others survived the war.
These men had been detailed to these tasks within the last three months.
It should also be noted that Sergt David F. Mansfield (Co F) was detailed today to duty in the ambulance train, relieving Sargent John Hammill.
Soldiers are always tasked with details. Police the grounds, picket duty, guard duty, stable duty, trash, etc... the list goes on and on. Today the 91st Pennsylvania published a list of soldiers in the regiment whom had been detailed to support the regimental leadership.
Henry Schaefer (Co. A)was detailed to Colonel Gregory to act as hostler.
John Costner (A) was cooking for his company commander, Captain Gregory.
Ed. Gamble (B) was cooking for his company commander, Lt. Kayser.
Joseph M. Johns[t]on (D) was cooking for Lt. Col Sinex.
Joesph Rementer (E) was cooking for his company commander, Captain Hall.
Henry Dunn (I) was cooking for his company commander, Lt. Donnell.
A hostler is a groom or stableman. Schaefer's mission in life was the care and feeding of Colonel Gregory's horses. It has to be assumed that the others had some skill in the preparation of meals. Gamble would be wounded at Petersburg in June 1864, the others survived the war.
These men had been detailed to these tasks within the last three months.
It should also be noted that Sergt David F. Mansfield (Co F) was detailed today to duty in the ambulance train, relieving Sargent John Hammill.
Friday, December 24, 2010
"I took care of a friend"
Today at Brandy Station: December 24, 1863
From the diary of William Owen, 86th New York Infantry:
"Dec. 24. Stayed in camp. I took care of my sick friend Asa."
There is little better that you can do on Christmas Eve.
Asa is likely Asa Croos, who was wounded at Orange Grove on November 27, 1863. Croos survived the war. Owen also survived. He was captured on May 10, 1864 along the Po River and would spend nine months in a POW camp.
William Owen's diary can be found at: http://www.angelfire.com/ny4/djw/86th.owendiaries.html
From the diary of William Owen, 86th New York Infantry:
"Dec. 24. Stayed in camp. I took care of my sick friend Asa."
There is little better that you can do on Christmas Eve.
Asa is likely Asa Croos, who was wounded at Orange Grove on November 27, 1863. Croos survived the war. Owen also survived. He was captured on May 10, 1864 along the Po River and would spend nine months in a POW camp.
William Owen's diary can be found at: http://www.angelfire.com/ny4/djw/86th.owendiaries.html
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