That was indeed a well written letter, very amusing, very entertaining. Would enjoy reading more of them and hope you will oblige. Claire

WOW, that is all I can say about the letter. Lyle **************************************Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products. (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop00030000000001)

Thanks, Roger. Interesting, but didn't find a badge like the one in the photo. Les ----- Original Message ----- From: Roger Lester<mailto:fishnut89@gmail.com> To: civil-war@rootsweb.com<mailto:civil-war@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2007 3:30 PM Subject: Re: [CIVIL-WAR] Uniform Item? Here is a link with some photos of Union corps badges: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War_Corps_Badges<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War_Corps_Badges> I hope this helps. Roger Lester

Camp Blick. Brandon Church (P.O.) Prince George C'ty, Va. 12th June/63 My own dear wife: Again I write to my darling though I have not received a letter since I last wrote though. I feel well assured that you have written. The last that I received was yours of the 27th . We are still at Camp Blick or at least a portion of us are. The Col with a portion of the Regt left Sunday morning last for Franklin. We have since heard several rumors as to his present whereabouts. One is that he has gone to Kinston, N.C. another is that he has gone to Bertie C'ty and then to Chowan. I feel pretty sure that he has not gone to the first mentioned place for if he had the whole Regt would have been ordered there. There is another portion of the Regt down on James river on picket at a place called Bacon's Castle. Last night about twelve O'clock a courier arrived stating that some steamers and transports were advancing up the James River. Capt G.W. Ward who is now in command of that portion of the Regt at this place sent off some men to look after those Boats and transports. They reported they went up the Chickahominy river. It is thought they are only on a marauding expedition. I heard yesterday that we had had another fight at Fredericksburg. We repulsed the enemy, did not hear any of the particulars. You no doubt have heard and been looking to the papers with a great deal of anxiety to the result of the battles going on in and in the vicinity of Vicksburg. Gen. Pemberton notwithstanding he has been severely unsured, and by some called a traitor has if what the papers state is true, done some of the best fighting that has been done during the war. Have you seen his address to his troops after the place was in siege by Gen Grant? He told them that he had been called a "traitor." He told his troops that the enemy should not occupy the place until the last horse & the last grain of corn had been eaten, and the last man under his command had perished in the trenches. The last accounts we have from there is that "all is well." Our loss is said to be six hundred. The enemy admit a loss of fifty thousand. Grant it is said has fallen back to near the Big Black. The Memphis papers (Yankee) state the arrival at that place of 4,500 Confederate prisoners. These must have been of Johnson's command, as he was expected to attact Grant's rear The paper also state the capture of nine hundred wagons belonging to Grants army. Gen Gardener has also repulsed and routed the enemy who attact him at Port Hudson. I do hope we will continue to hold Vicksburg. I think the Confederacy could better afford to loose a dozen Richmonds than one Vicksburg for the latter is the key to the Mississippi & all the state west of it. Mr. Bridgeman has just got in from the picket post on James river. He says the boats that came up yesterday returned last night. But the pickets at hog island report fifteen steamers in the river to-day. Griffin & Allen are with this portion of the Regt. Tell their wives they are very well. It is generally believed in the Regt that we will go to N.C. soon. I do not know upon what they base their opinion. I will not allow myself to believe it for I do not like to be disappointed unless it is an agreeable disappointment. We have quantities of cherries, onions, butter, butter-milk brought to our Camp now by the citizens for sale. Cherries 50 cts per quart, onions 50 cts for six about as large as a dollar, butter $2.50 pr lb., butter-milk 25 cts for quart & other things in proportion. Sue I have not seen but one thing in Va that excited my admiration. Yes I do admire these fine clover pastures. But I was going to speak of a very fine Spring that there is near a place where we camped known as Allen's Depot. The spring is about half mile from the depot. It is a deep revine with prodigious hills surrounding it. Those hills have all the undergrowth trimed out leaving a heavy growth of beautiful oaks. Upon one of those hills is a magnificent dwelling with very every necessary outhous, they too built and painted in a stylish manner. The water of this spring gushes through an aperture of petrified shell, the walls of which as you view it through the rushing body of pure christal liquid, looks like there were lined with pearl. As I stood looking at this boiling spring and watched the water as it ran hurriedly over its pebbly bottom with now & then shell of the antediluvian age I wished for my darling and our little ones to be there with me alone to admire this beautiful scene of nature. While standing by that spring in silent meditation I could but think what a contrast between it, one of the things of Gods workmanship & man who is said to be the noblest of his work. The one as pure as when it left its Maker's hand and still occupied in its legitimate functions while the other has left home and everything that was pure & near & dear to him with deadly weapons in hand to take his brothers life. I thought too how to my mind this purity resembles my darling wife who was living and laboring at home without a murmur. It also reminded me of our little ones in their purity and loveliness. I wished I could have them with me if it could only have been five minutes to see them frolick in its purity. We washed in the stream below the spring. The water was so cold that one could not keep his feet in it but a few minutes before they would become painful. Yesterdays paper stated that the Yankees had our prised Gen Stuart at Culpepper Court House and a terrible fight ensured. It lasted twelve hours. We sustained a heavy loss but finally repulsed the enemy. My love to all. Yours..Henry

Hi, I'm sure they've been there before, but lately I've noticed glasses for sale on the web called either Civil War era snipers glasses or sharp shooter glasses. They have metal frames and lenses that are usually a frosted amber color with a transparent amber colored circle in the center. Were they really used for that purpose, and does any one know anything about their history? I've also seen glasses that tie around the head, and have wire mesh around the outer rim of the lenses to keep powder or other residue from entering from the side. The description says that artillery personnel used them. I had no idea that such things existed that long ago, and am very interested in learning something of their history. Thanks so much, Cathey

Edward: Send some more please. This is just wonderful. Carol NJ ----- Original Message ----- From: Edward Harding<mailto:eharding2@suddenlink.net> To: civil-war@rootsweb.com<mailto:civil-war@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2007 12:06 AM Subject: Re: [CIVIL-WAR] Patrick Letter Clair, This is the first letter out of the series of the few that still exist where Henry M. Patrick wrote home to his wife Sue. One thing that's very noticable is his education and how well he writes. Edward Petersburg, Va 18 July 1863 My own dear Sue: We left our camp below Richmond at four O'clock Monday morning. A couier having arrived with an order for Col B & his command to report to Gen Ranson at Petersburg as the enemy had appeared in the James with monitors, transports & other vessels, twelve in number, and were said to be landing then thousand troops at Brandon. We camped after a heavy march, about four miles from P'burg Monday night. Comp H was sent on picket. At twelve we were drawn in, ordered to feed our horses & be ready to march at two O'clock (tuesday morning). We scarcely gave them time to eat before we resumed our march passing through the City of P while it was wraped in the sweet sleep of morning. The tramp of a thousand shoed horses upon the solid pavement during the small hours of the morning must have been to the dreaming city a pleasant lullaby. We continued our march, being accompanied by two pieces of artillery till we reached the vicinity of Brandon where the enemy were said to be landing, when we sent out scouts to learn where the enemy was & what he was doing. They soon reported that no enemy were to be seen either on the land or in the river. That they has landed about twenty-five the evening before and destroyed a little fort called Fort Powhatan which our forces had vacated several weeks ago, & which was occupied at the time by a few of the Petersburg militia, who had been sent there to act as pickets. At these the Yankees threw a few shells whereupon militia pickets left and reported a heavy force landing. Capt G. Willard who was not with the Regt on our march around R'md, but who was at Camp Ruffin with some sick horses, says he concealed within ¼ mile of the enemy's boats for six hours on Sunday with a spy-glass & thinks they had no men on board but their crews. The P'urg papers of yesterday say the enemy are evacuating Portsmouth & Norfolk & that these boats up the river is only to attract our attention while that evacuation is being done. We returned to this place Wednesday. Yesterday I went to the city, subscribed for the Daily Express for you, for six months. I also had my pretty taken for you, which I will forward the first opportunity. To-day we are drawing clothes: new 1 pr pants, one jacket, cap, two shirts, two pr socks, one pr shoes. I do not know what to do with my old clothes as I do not like to throw them away & there is no market for them. I had more clothes before than I wanted to carry with me, with the exception of socks & pants. We have not drawn any money yet__have not been paid off since Dec'/62. There are some NC Regts near us which are kept paid off promptly. I do not understand this. If I had a thousand or so dollars I could make several hundred dollars by advancing the money and buying their wages. I saw yesterday while in P, John Brookfield, besides a great many other N. Carolinians. John said Miss H was well & that they were expecting Mrs. Brookfield & mrs. Rach soon. If they arrive before we leave here I will call on her if I can get out of camp. I have made the acquaintance of Mr. Hurst who clerked for Mr. Eberstein & whom like him very much. Tell Mrs. G that Sgt Griffin is very well. He says had he known that Mrs. G was trying to get him a sick furlough while he was in the hospital he thinks he could have got it. As it was he was not much sick at first & when the surgeon came around to examine him to see if he needed such a furlough, he was almost quite well again. Says had he have known anything of the furlough being in store for him, he would have been "bad off". Your last letter that I have received, that of the 28th, contained a request from Mrs. Allen requesting me to write what had become of her worthy husband, how he was & how he looked. I have not seen him in about two months, but whenever I have written I have always endeavored to speak of him. If he had been sick I should have heard of his illness. Sgt Griffin informs me that Mr. A has at last got a furlough & has gone home. Mrs A therefore knows more of him now than I could write her. Tell her that as to answering her question, as how he looked, he had got to be about as ugly as a white man ought ever to become. Tell her that I congratulate her & him on his getting his furlough. Were I of an envious disposition, I should almost envy him his pleasure. I will not murmur how ever, for as the old maxim says, "every dog will have his day." I still live in hope of being with my loved ones. The reason I assign for not having received a letter or letters from my darling since the one mentioned above is that I directed you to address me at Richmond. They will find me after a while. I wait for them as patiently as I can. Sgt G informed me a few days ago that he had received a letter from Mrs G in which she stated that she was at your hous to the tableaux & concert. Spoke of it in a very complimentary manner & said you were all well. This relieved my anxiety considerably. Charlie C is going home on detail, after a horse, in a few days. I sometimes almost wish my horse would die, so that I could get a detail for the same purpose. But then it would cost me so much to buy another horse. We cannot buy anything like a good horse here for less than seven or eight hundred dollars. I asked Mr. F to look around and see if there is any horse or horses that I could buy that would do for this service & what they can be purchased at. If I could buy one or two at a justifying price there, I would get permission to sell mine which is very thin, here, and if I could buy two by selling one of them in Petersburg & with what I could get for the one I have and the advance on the other would probably inable me to make myself (illegible words) leave of absence to go home for fifteen days. Address me at Petersburg. My love to all. Keep my little ones for me. Tell Gennie I have a little book for her for her to help her mama for her daddy. Yours ever true, Henry ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to CIVIL-WAR-request@rootsweb.com<mailto:CIVIL-WAR-request@rootsweb.com> with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Clair, This is the first letter out of the series of the few that still exist where Henry M. Patrick wrote home to his wife Sue. One thing that's very noticable is his education and how well he writes. Edward Petersburg, Va 18 July 1863 My own dear Sue: We left our camp below Richmond at four O'clock Monday morning. A couier having arrived with an order for Col B & his command to report to Gen Ranson at Petersburg as the enemy had appeared in the James with monitors, transports & other vessels, twelve in number, and were said to be landing then thousand troops at Brandon. We camped after a heavy march, about four miles from P'burg Monday night. Comp H was sent on picket. At twelve we were drawn in, ordered to feed our horses & be ready to march at two O'clock (tuesday morning). We scarcely gave them time to eat before we resumed our march passing through the City of P while it was wraped in the sweet sleep of morning. The tramp of a thousand shoed horses upon the solid pavement during the small hours of the morning must have been to the dreaming city a pleasant lullaby. We continued our march, being accompanied by two pieces of artillery till we reached the vicinity of Brandon where the enemy were said to be landing, when we sent out scouts to learn where the enemy was & what he was doing. They soon reported that no enemy were to be seen either on the land or in the river. That they has landed about twenty-five the evening before and destroyed a little fort called Fort Powhatan which our forces had vacated several weeks ago, & which was occupied at the time by a few of the Petersburg militia, who had been sent there to act as pickets. At these the Yankees threw a few shells whereupon militia pickets left and reported a heavy force landing. Capt G. Willard who was not with the Regt on our march around R'md, but who was at Camp Ruffin with some sick horses, says he concealed within ¼ mile of the enemy's boats for six hours on Sunday with a spy-glass & thinks they had no men on board but their crews. The P'urg papers of yesterday say the enemy are evacuating Portsmouth & Norfolk & that these boats up the river is only to attract our attention while that evacuation is being done. We returned to this place Wednesday. Yesterday I went to the city, subscribed for the Daily Express for you, for six months. I also had my pretty taken for you, which I will forward the first opportunity. To-day we are drawing clothes: new 1 pr pants, one jacket, cap, two shirts, two pr socks, one pr shoes. I do not know what to do with my old clothes as I do not like to throw them away & there is no market for them. I had more clothes before than I wanted to carry with me, with the exception of socks & pants. We have not drawn any money yet__have not been paid off since Dec'/62. There are some NC Regts near us which are kept paid off promptly. I do not understand this. If I had a thousand or so dollars I could make several hundred dollars by advancing the money and buying their wages. I saw yesterday while in P, John Brookfield, besides a great many other N. Carolinians. John said Miss H was well & that they were expecting Mrs. Brookfield & mrs. Rach soon. If they arrive before we leave here I will call on her if I can get out of camp. I have made the acquaintance of Mr. Hurst who clerked for Mr. Eberstein & whom like him very much. Tell Mrs. G that Sgt Griffin is very well. He says had he known that Mrs. G was trying to get him a sick furlough while he was in the hospital he thinks he could have got it. As it was he was not much sick at first & when the surgeon came around to examine him to see if he needed such a furlough, he was almost quite well again. Says had he have known anything of the furlough being in store for him, he would have been "bad off". Your last letter that I have received, that of the 28th, contained a request from Mrs. Allen requesting me to write what had become of her worthy husband, how he was & how he looked. I have not seen him in about two months, but whenever I have written I have always endeavored to speak of him. If he had been sick I should have heard of his illness. Sgt Griffin informs me that Mr. A has at last got a furlough & has gone home. Mrs A therefore knows more of him now than I could write her. Tell her that as to answering her question, as how he looked, he had got to be about as ugly as a white man ought ever to become. Tell her that I congratulate her & him on his getting his furlough. Were I of an envious disposition, I should almost envy him his pleasure. I will not murmur how ever, for as the old maxim says, "every dog will have his day." I still live in hope of being with my loved ones. The reason I assign for not having received a letter or letters from my darling since the one mentioned above is that I directed you to address me at Richmond. They will find me after a while. I wait for them as patiently as I can. Sgt G informed me a few days ago that he had received a letter from Mrs G in which she stated that she was at your hous to the tableaux & concert. Spoke of it in a very complimentary manner & said you were all well. This relieved my anxiety considerably. Charlie C is going home on detail, after a horse, in a few days. I sometimes almost wish my horse would die, so that I could get a detail for the same purpose. But then it would cost me so much to buy another horse. We cannot buy anything like a good horse here for less than seven or eight hundred dollars. I asked Mr. F to look around and see if there is any horse or horses that I could buy that would do for this service & what they can be purchased at. If I could buy one or two at a justifying price there, I would get permission to sell mine which is very thin, here, and if I could buy two by selling one of them in Petersburg & with what I could get for the one I have and the advance on the other would probably inable me to make myself (illegible words) leave of absence to go home for fifteen days. Address me at Petersburg. My love to all. Keep my little ones for me. Tell Gennie I have a little book for her for her to help her mama for her daddy. Yours ever true, Henry

Thank you Ed for this information. You should publish those letters from Henry to his wife Susan. There are not many letters that still survive from that period and people seem to have a great interest in the Civil War. Even though my great grandfather fought for the Union, I have an avid interest in all those men and boys that were in this terrible conflict, a conflict that could have been avoided. There is a web site called Blue and the Grey that will post letters and articles sent in. They printed one of my letters. I would like to read more of yours. Thanks. Claire

Here is a link with some photos of Union corps badges: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War_Corps_Badges I hope this helps. Roger Lester Meri Schoof wrote: > Could you try to post the photo of the item? That would help us figure it > out. > > Thanks, > Meri > > On Dec 1, 2007 10:55 AM, les williams <lesliebwilliams@msn.com> wrote: > > >> A fellow genealogy researcher sent me a photo of a possible civil war >> uniform item or that of a subsequent social organization's accouterment. It >> is made of off-white, course woven material, in the shape of a square with a >> handle at one corner (like a square pan with handle at corner). It is about >> three inches wide, and four inches long (with handle part upright, opposite >> corner pointed down (imagine a baseball diamond looking from center field to >> home plate). The "handle" part has a button hole which looks to be hand >> stitched. There is a square (diamond) within, the points being bronze stars >> (two painted red) with four bronze studs between each star forming the >> sides. In the middle of this diamond is another star painted dark blue. A >> lot of the paint/coating of the stars is worn off. >> >> If anyone has an inkling of what this might be, or wants me to email the >> photo, please let me know. >> >> Thanks, >> >> Les Williams >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> CIVIL-WAR-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> >> > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to CIVIL-WAR-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > >

I would like to see a photo as well if possible. Meri Schoof wrote: > Could you try to post the photo of the item? That would help us figure it > out. > > Thanks, > Meri > > On Dec 1, 2007 10:55 AM, les williams <lesliebwilliams@msn.com> wrote: > > >> A fellow genealogy researcher sent me a photo of a possible civil war >> uniform item or that of a subsequent social organization's accouterment. It >> is made of off-white, course woven material, in the shape of a square with a >> handle at one corner (like a square pan with handle at corner). It is about >> three inches wide, and four inches long (with handle part upright, opposite >> corner pointed down (imagine a baseball diamond looking from center field to >> home plate). The "handle" part has a button hole which looks to be hand >> stitched. There is a square (diamond) within, the points being bronze stars >> (two painted red) with four bronze studs between each star forming the >> sides. In the middle of this diamond is another star painted dark blue. A >> lot of the paint/coating of the stars is worn off. >> >> If anyone has an inkling of what this might be, or wants me to email the >> photo, please let me know. >> >> Thanks, >> >> Les Williams >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> CIVIL-WAR-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> >> > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to CIVIL-WAR-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > >

Could you try to post the photo of the item? That would help us figure it out. Thanks, Meri On Dec 1, 2007 10:55 AM, les williams <lesliebwilliams@msn.com> wrote: > A fellow genealogy researcher sent me a photo of a possible civil war > uniform item or that of a subsequent social organization's accouterment. It > is made of off-white, course woven material, in the shape of a square with a > handle at one corner (like a square pan with handle at corner). It is about > three inches wide, and four inches long (with handle part upright, opposite > corner pointed down (imagine a baseball diamond looking from center field to > home plate). The "handle" part has a button hole which looks to be hand > stitched. There is a square (diamond) within, the points being bronze stars > (two painted red) with four bronze studs between each star forming the > sides. In the middle of this diamond is another star painted dark blue. A > lot of the paint/coating of the stars is worn off. > > If anyone has an inkling of what this might be, or wants me to email the > photo, please let me know. > > Thanks, > > Les Williams > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > CIVIL-WAR-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Thanks for pointing this out. I have an ancestor (a ggg uncle) who deserted from a Union regiment at Thibodaux, Louisiana. I have yet to learn the details of what happened. Roger Lester keegan wrote: > also we must remember communication was not as we have it today! > could have taken ill or got shot and even lost his horse, a number of > things could have happen on his way back to camp and no way to inform his > unit. > I take a reports of desertions questionable. I often wonder how many of us > would "desert " under the conditions they had to endure. Ann > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <Wmdperkins@aol.com> > To: <civil-war@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2007 9:30 AM > Subject: [CIVIL-WAR] Desertion--different definitions for different times > > > >> morning yall, >> >> We must remember that during the American War of '61-65, a majority of the >> troops were volunteers who believed that they were serving to defend their >> homeland. >> >> When word would reach units that their families were in dire straits, just >> as in the War of '75-83, these brave men (boys mostly...) would be torn >> between >> their loyalty to their comrades and the needs of their families. >> >> Is it any wonder that many troopers slipped away to aid their families >> only >> to voluntarily return to their units, many to later pay the ultimate >> price. >> >> Desertion for cowardice is one thing, truly deserving punishment, leaving >> ones unit is technically desertion but back then it was total war, not as >> we >> have now. >> >> have a great weekend >> >> Bill >> >> >> >> **************************************Check out AOL's list of 2007's >> hottest >> products. >> (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop00030000000001) >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> CIVIL-WAR-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> >> >> > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to CIVIL-WAR-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > >

Claire, I have several letters that Henry Machen Patrick wrote home to his wife Susan, plus, there is more to the memoirs of William von Eberstein. He first served as 5th (Orderly) Sergeant with the Washington Greys, Co. K, 10th North Carolina Heavy Artillery. http://thewashingtongrays.homestead.com/index.html He served at the Outer Banks of North Carolina at Fort Ocracoke, in South Carolina at Battery Wagner in the Battle of Charleston, at Petersburg, Drewry's Bluff, and even came home to recruit which seemed not to happen because, as he said, "They Yankees were after me" since the town of Washington, NC and surrounding area were by then in Union control. When he transferred to the NC 61st Infantry Regiment, his brother in law, Henry Harding (my 2nd Great Granduncle) was Major of the regiment. On a stroke of luck one night a couple of years back, I stumbled onto a website for an underwater archaeology company named SIDCO that was exploring Fort Ocracoke, and ended up providing the head of the company with information about the fort from the memoirs. He and I have kept in touch and they are supposedly going to put out something like a book in the near future regarding their exploration of the fort which is now underwater. For more about SIDCO, you can find information at http://www.computer-therapy.com/sidco/ My wife's Great Grandfather, Major General Bryan Grimes from Pitt County, NC was the last Major General appointed by Robert E. Lee. There are transcripts of letters home to his wife online at http://docsouth.unc.edu/fpn/grimes/grimes.html Edward Harding Washington, NC http://ehardingwbtsancestors.homestead.com/

Loved your Civil War Letter. I have several letters left by my great grandfather that will be published in R. I. Roots sometime this coming year. He was in the R.I. 7th Infantry Co. I. Do you have others? Claire

also we must remember communication was not as we have it today! could have taken ill or got shot and even lost his horse, a number of things could have happen on his way back to camp and no way to inform his unit. I take a reports of desertions questionable. I often wonder how many of us would "desert " under the conditions they had to endure. Ann ----- Original Message ----- From: <Wmdperkins@aol.com> To: <civil-war@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2007 9:30 AM Subject: [CIVIL-WAR] Desertion--different definitions for different times > morning yall, > > We must remember that during the American War of '61-65, a majority of the > troops were volunteers who believed that they were serving to defend their > homeland. > > When word would reach units that their families were in dire straits, just > as in the War of '75-83, these brave men (boys mostly...) would be torn > between > their loyalty to their comrades and the needs of their families. > > Is it any wonder that many troopers slipped away to aid their families > only > to voluntarily return to their units, many to later pay the ultimate > price. > > Desertion for cowardice is one thing, truly deserving punishment, leaving > ones unit is technically desertion but back then it was total war, not as > we > have now. > > have a great weekend > > Bill > > > > **************************************Check out AOL's list of 2007's > hottest > products. > (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop00030000000001) > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > CIVIL-WAR-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > >

Bill, Great posting! Edward

After all the discussion earlier about Drewry's Bluff, I thought I'd post a portion of my Great-Great Grandfather's memoirs about his time there in 1864. He was Sergeant Major William H. von Eberstein with the Field & Staff of the NC 61st Infantry Regiment. It gives a pretty good idea as to how things were, plus, the ending is pretty funny to me. I transcribed exactly as it was written and considering he was 1/2 German and 1/2 English, he did a pretty good job of writing. Thought this might be of interest to some of you. Edward "May 7” 1864 our Division was ordered to meet <illegible> near Petersburg There we had a fight with the Yankees and proceeded to Drewys Bluff to occupy the same before the Yankees under Genl Butler. we marched parallel with the Yankee Troops. we arrived at the outer works of Drewys Bluff when we were informed that the Yankees were advancing in Force. We were formed at once in an old field in the lines of Battle waiting for an attack. we occupied the center with our Brigade. The Yankees not advancing upon us when they saw we were prepared. Orders we given for us to fall back to the Intrenchments which we did. as soon as we arrived in the trenches our Skirmishers were thrown out and in less than half an hour our skirmishers were engaged with the Yankee Skirmishers. it was hot and hard fiting the next day. The Yankees made an attack on our right which they carried by assault we not having men enough to man the works. They had flanked us on the right. the skirmishing continued in our Front where we were parted and upon our left. That night about one oclock in the morning orders were given to freshen up our fires, to call in our Pickets & Skirmishers and to retire with haste and quietly to the inner works around Drewys Bluff. The works did not embrace so much ground and we could better defend there. We retired in order and reach the inner works by a circutous route. we got there by day break and before we had got in good position the Yankee skirmishers were upon us. We throwed out our skirmishers as far as we could and they kept the Yankees at bay. we continued skirmishing for two days and nights. the skirmishes were equal to some Battles some time the whole of our troops were engage in front of the works and was a continual crack of the rifle. The Yankee Sharp Shooters at goten up in trees and with those long ranged telescoped rifles infilade our work and were wounding our men severely. I then proposed to Coln Radcliff to let me throw up a curtain with earth to protect our men which he consented to. I commenced to throw one up on our right. in doing so a man belonging to Co B of our Regt by the name of John Cherry got struck in the side of the head by a great shot but did not kill him. I received several holes through my blanket which I had swung over my shoulder. that curtain protected us so efectually that Genl Clingman gave orders during the night to throw them up every twenty yards or so which was done. they protected our men effectually. The skirmishing kept up as heavy as ever no slack in it at all. It took a regt at the time from each Brigade for the Skirmish line and it has to be commanded by a field officer. After Skirmishing there for several days and we expecting an attack from Butlers troops every day and night. On the 15” of May 1864 as well as I remember General Beauregard with a company of Cavalry commanded by Capt Fred Harding cut their way through to our entrenchment near Drurys bluff. Genl Beauregard then planned an attack and in the morning of the 16” just as the day was breaking our forces attacked Butlers Army General Beau Forestalling Butler. The attack commanded by Genl Bushrod Johnston leading in the van we attacked in General Beauregards favorit plan that was in the shape of a V. as the attack commenced Coln Devane came to me and asked me to go and assist him with his line of skirmishers. he said the line was so long he could not attend to it. I had been ordered to remain as long as our Regt did not move to remain near a Battery which we were protecting and <illegible> to assist them. Every Horse of the battery had been shot down. An order came from Genl Beauregard for our Regt to move at a double quick to the right to the assistance of a Georgia Brigade that was getting sorely pressed by the Yankees and were giving way. as we passed Genl Beauregard, President Jefferson Davis was at his side talking with him. Our regt gave him three hearty cheers as we passed. we got to the place where the Georgians were. they were totally demorallized. as we came up they called out good old North Carolina do not leave us. The shot, and the Balls, and the Shell were flying like hail all around us. I saw poor Lieut Sachelford from our Regt fall along side of me. he was shot through the Head. We having lost Coln Radcliff in the Malee I went up to Captain Shoat of our regiment and told him Capt give the command forward. He did. He gave the command Forward North Carolina 61st & he marched off with the Regt charging the Yankees. Capt Shoat and I fell at the same time he being shot through the Head and I through the thigh. The Regt marched right over us and with the other Troops they shove the Yankees before them. Emanual Edwards poor fellow was shot and killed in that charge. Capt Shoat was as brave a man as ever was on a Battle field. He came from the Western part of the State. Two of the Ambulance Corps took me and carried me to the rear. the shot and shell were falling all around us and I thought we should be killed any how. about one mile in the rear from where I was wounded we found behind a Hill the Dr. of a Georgia Brigade taking care of his wounded men. I remarked to him and asked him if he could not do something for me for I was getting very week from loss of blood. He replied that he could not do much for me as his wounded were coming in so fast and that the North Carolina Dr’s were only half a mile down. He looked at my wound put a bandage round it, and gave me a tin full of corn whisky to drink. The liquor revived me at once, and the bandage stoped the efusion of blood to a great extent, so we proceeded to our Dr’s Quarters. they were near the Bluff. The Ambulance men placed me down on the ground in a tent and the Dr which was Dr O’Haggen gave me another tin cup of corn Whiskey to drug me up as he was cuting of a leg at the time and could not attend to me just then. I had not been lying there long before a Yankee Prisoner was brought in wounded through the big toe. he was crying and making a doleful noise. I was a cursing him for being so white livered and for crying like a baby and telling him that if he had remained home and not come there with the balance to fight us he would not now be wounded no more would I. Just at that time Capt Frederic Harding Capt of Genl Beauregard’s Escort from Petersburg had heard that I was wounded so he and Henry Patrick came in serch of me and found me lying down in the tent cursing that Yankee. they could not help laughing. Capt Harding remarked laughingly I should not think you would curse that way being wounded so bad as you are."

morning yall, We must remember that during the American War of '61-65, a majority of the troops were volunteers who believed that they were serving to defend their homeland. When word would reach units that their families were in dire straits, just as in the War of '75-83, these brave men (boys mostly...) would be torn between their loyalty to their comrades and the needs of their families. Is it any wonder that many troopers slipped away to aid their families only to voluntarily return to their units, many to later pay the ultimate price. Desertion for cowardice is one thing, truly deserving punishment, leaving ones unit is technically desertion but back then it was total war, not as we have now. have a great weekend Bill **************************************Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products. (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop00030000000001)

A fellow genealogy researcher sent me a photo of a possible civil war uniform item or that of a subsequent social organization's accouterment. It is made of off-white, course woven material, in the shape of a square with a handle at one corner (like a square pan with handle at corner). It is about three inches wide, and four inches long (with handle part upright, opposite corner pointed down (imagine a baseball diamond looking from center field to home plate). The "handle" part has a button hole which looks to be hand stitched. There is a square (diamond) within, the points being bronze stars (two painted red) with four bronze studs between each star forming the sides. In the middle of this diamond is another star painted dark blue. A lot of the paint/coating of the stars is worn off. If anyone has an inkling of what this might be, or wants me to email the photo, please let me know. Thanks, Les Williams

Here is an interesting piece of a letter of Captain Henry Albert Potter of the 4th Michigan Cavalry written about Kilpatrick's Raid. In the letter he tells how to detect a coward. [not sure I agree with him - he is speaking of green recruits who hadn't seen the elephant yet and he is not indicating these men are running away but rather futilely trying to dodge the minié balls whistling around them] Here the general (1), who by the way is about a match for any body I ever seen in coolness and impudence, left colonel Murray with his division to fight and hold them back while he made another drive for the RR about ten miles below to Fayetteville -- our Brigade in advance -- we struck and charged their pickets killing some and drove them back -- when the 4th was ordered in the night to make a big show as possible and tear up a few rails while the attack was to be made by the 7th Penn and 4th Regulars. They advanced and charged the enemy’s line but were repulsed with loss and our boys were obliged to fall back hastily. We had struck two divisions of infantry, which had been sent there to take us-- you see we had struck a snag -- the 7th Penn lost about 40 and the Regulars 36 in that fight -- they charged dismounted. Well they drove us back so we had to leave one piece of Artillery in the ground but not so far but that our skirmishers covered it with their fire and with some loss we got it back. A number volunteered to retake it and they rushed down and pulled it off with their hands. Well shortly we begun to hear firing in our rear. It increased and soon we found we had their cavalry in our rear and Infantry in front -- in fact we were surrounded. They were forming to play Stoneman (2) on us ‘Yanks’too -- but Kilpatrick held a consultation with his officers and a decision was agreed at which we soon found out we were to charge! through their cavalry and cut our way out -- and here I must say -- there was no time to be lost either -- for their infantry were moving up and extending their line and every minute made the matter worse. Col. Minty volunteered to charge with his Brigade. The offer was accepted. We formed in column of regiments facing to the rear -- the 7th Penn on the Right, the 4th Mich in the center and the 4th Regs on the left. We held a hill yet in our rear which hid our movements from the enemy. The 2nd Brigade was to support us then was to come the command, Artillery, and Ambulances etc. with Pack mules and all. While we stood there waiting the order a man in the Regulars was shot dead by a bullet. He stood about 6 feet from me and although it misses even shot there by random shots, there is a certain feeling which I cannot tell you of -- when a man stands waiting the wind which perhaps will send him to Eternity in an instant. You never will know or feel it until you are there yourself (and I hope you will never be) there is a sort of instinctive bracing of the nerves and an air of sternness in a brave man’s looks which soon tells you his calibre. There is the place to detect a coward --I pity them -- they dodge at every sound and sight they see like a turkey looking for bugs. It is laughable as well as sober. Presently you hear the command Draw Saber! and then the command Charge! -- and away we went. As we raised that hill a shower of shot greeted us -- but with a yell enough to wake the dead -- we spurred on to their line. Their artillery belching forth grape and canister into our line. The regulars were directly in front of the battery and suffered badly. Capt. McCormick and Lt. Sullivan and a file of men in their van were mowed down by one shot. The ground grew rough and stony. On we pressed -- keeping up that deafening yell -- our Sabers flashing in the sun a thousand rays of light -- and as we got within 30 rods of their works they threw their arms down and run -- but on we go dashing over their works. The work commences -- they surrender by dozens -- but many of them were cut down without mercy. for my part I could not strike them after they had given up and but very few did hit them in our regiment -- but the Regulars (3) slashing right and left and many a poor devil’s brains lay scattered on the ground. NOTES: (1)The 'Kilpatrick raid', led by General Judson Kilpatrick (affectionately called "Kill-Cavalry" by his men), consisted of 4700 cavalry and 8 pieces of artillery with support. The 2nd Division was 2300 men with 4 pieces of artillery and the 3rd Division were 2400 with 4 pieces of artillery. The objective was to destroy the rail lines leading into Atlanta. They ran into Both Confederate infantry and Pat Claiborne's cavalry (Sul Ross's Texans) sent out by CSA General Hood, who learned of the expedition almost before it began. The expedition was lucky in that the CSA infantry got lost on the way to engage Kilpatrick. (2)Stoneman refers to an earlier raid where the Confederates captured most of a Union cavalry expedition. [Minty’s Cavalry by Vale page 526 (published 1886)] (3)Potter is referring to the 4th Regular US Cavalry which was brigaded with Minty's Brigade during the war. The whole letter is posted here: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~mruddy/letters5.htm