Yes, thank you!? I am not a Navy buff either, but it just seemed strange to me that all you ever heard about was the land fighting.? Once in a while you would hear of boats on the Atlantic with blockades but not often.? Perhaps our history books thought we needed to know about them as much as the reasons we all learned here in my neck of the woods that the war was fought primarily over the slave issue.? The older I get the more I find it definately wasn't over the slaves per se although they did factor in, but manufacturing seemed to be at the heart of the issues more.? I personally don't care who or what started the war, I'm just sad that as usual no one could find a way other than war to settle the problem.? Vicki researching these from NY and PA mostly: Arwin, Baker, Barrett, Brokaw, Brandow, Butler,Carnes, Crowe, Dean, Ferris, Golden, Havens, Hendershott, Hoxter, Huber, Isaman, Jenks (all variations), Kelleher, Knapp, Koons, Lundrigan, Makeley, McDermott, Mehlenbacher, Merritt, Neu, Northrup, O'Connor, Osincup, Patterson, Powers, Quick, Rahmlow, Robertson, Robinson, Root, Ryan, Slaughter, Stocum, Wade, White, Wilcox, Wright, Van Oxx (Oxx), Vanbenschoter, Yeckley, Young, Zimmerman. -----Original Message----- From: Ted Myers <halmyers2002@yahoo.com> To: civil-war@rootsweb.com Sent: Sun, 25 May 2008 11:58 am Subject: Re: [CIVIL-WAR] Army of Tennessee / Army of Vicksburg / Federal? Vicki, I am not a Navy buff, but maybe I can answer your question as best I can. Up on the upper of the Mississippi the Noth a Navy Flotilla. The Confederates decided they needed to build a River Defense Flotilla which they did in 1862. The Noth moved down the river and had a pitch battle with the Confederates near Fort Pillow. The Union Navy pushed the Confederates down to Memphis where a battle took place. The Confederate Flotilla was commanded by Capt J.E Montgomery. The battle took place on June 6,1862. The Union Flotilla wiped out the Confederate force confronting them. Four vessels were captured and three destroyed. One vessel the Van Dorn escaped to the Yazoo River were it was later destroyed. >From then on the Union had control of the River. However they had a very hard time getting by Vick- sburg. And was only able to get by at night. Also keep in mind these bouts were not Ironclads, most were converted steam boats. Most of the time heavy and light side wheelers. Lightly armored. They mostly battled short batteries and Forts. Hope I have helped answer your question. Ted Myers --- v10852@aol.com wrote: > I'm not really up on all the War details, but I do > have a question that perhaps someone here can > answer.? I know the North had a Navy and the South > had something similiar in place, now my question > is:? How many battles between the two sides if any > were fought on the Mississippi river? > > I've heard of battles along the Atlantic and some?of > the inland rivers off the Atlantic, but I've never > heard of any real battles on the Mississippi which > should have been a fertile area for fighting.? I > know the railroads had their share?of problems > between the two fighting armies, but not much > is?written that I have seen about the?Navy's of > either side.? Any Navy buffs out there?who can > answer?this question?? Vicki? > > > researching these from NY and PA mostly: Arwin, > Baker, Barrett, Brokaw, Brandow, Butler,Carnes, > Crowe, Dean, Ferris, Golden, Havens, Hendershott, > Hoxter, Huber, Isaman, Jenks (all variations), > Kelleher, Knapp, Koons, Lundrigan, Makeley, > McDermott, Mehlenbacher, Merritt, Neu, Northrup, > O'Connor, Osincup, Patterson, Powers, Quick, > Rahmlow, Robertson, Robinson, Root, Ryan, Slaughter, > Stocum, Wade, White, Wilcox, Wright, Van Oxx (Oxx), > Vanbenschoter, Yeckley, Young, Zimmerman. > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Alice Gayley <agayley@verizon.net> > To: civil-war@rootsweb.com > Sent: Fri, 23 May 2008 2:57 pm > Subject: Re: [CIVIL-WAR] Army of Tennessee / Army of > Vicksburg / Federal? > > > > Manaia, > > > > Artillery Corps: heavy weaponry? cannons? > Exactly. There was also > > "Light" artillery, but we'll save that for a later > time. > > > > Cavalry Corps: soldiers who rode on horses? > Exactly. Although sometimes > > when they fought in battle they dismounted. > > > > Infantry Corps: everyone else on foot? Right. > > > I'm trying to get the gist before I hit the books. > Is > > Corps short for Corporations? No, it's a French > term as in "esprit de > > corps." > > > > > It's a wonder anyone could win a war let alone > fight a > > war with all this planning and designing going on > just > > to strategize. > > Well, think about our foreign relations in today's > world. What else are > they except planned and designed strategies to > prevent some other country > from attacking us, either at home or elsewhere in > the world? Battle > strategies are almost as old as man himself. Think > about the Romans and the > Carthagens, or the British and the U. S. Army in the > Revolutionary war. War > is not simple; never has been. Yes, the individual > soldier has to run into > battle and shot at what he sees, but there are those > above him who have > picked his target, decided the direction in which he > will run, and the time > he steps off. > > Having grown up during WWII, I'm always in awe of > the men in the > Revolutionary and Civil Wars when linear warfare was > used. How could you > just line up and start shooting at each other, e. > g., Pickett's charge at > Gettysburg? It's easier to understand hiding behind > rocks, buildings, etc. > to protect yourself and not making yourself a > target. I'm all for ambush! > > Alice > > > "I'm tired already." More musings later. > > > > --Manaia > > > > ++++ > > > > --- Alice Gayley <agayley@verizon.net> wrote: > > > >> Manaia, > >> > >> Generally, > >> > >> An Army was made up of one Artillery Corps, one > >> Cavalry Corps and an > >> Infantry Corps. > >> > >> The Infantry Corps was made up of divisions (two > or > >> three or more). > >> Infantry Divisions were made up of Brigades > (usually > >> three or more) > >> Brigades were made up of Regiments (no fixed > number > >> generally three or four > >> or more) > >> Regiments were made up of Companies (Infantry > >> regiments usually had ten > >> companies designed as: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, > >> and K), although there > >> were larger regiments. Cavalry regiments usually > >> had more than ten > >> companies. > >> > >> Battalions were larger than a regiment and > smaller > >> than regiment. Perhaps > >> some one else can speak to the size of a > battalion. > >> > >> Hope this helps, > >> Alice Gayley > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------- > > 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 > > > ------------------------------- > 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

In regard to naval battles/blockades - yes, there were a lot! the old newsies tell the stories - I agree with Vicki - in school, I only heard of the land fighting for the most part - except for the Monitor and Merrimac. Below are some past newsies I'd submitted to the list - if you missed them and are interested in the navy of the wartime - Linda Appalling Disaster. The Monitor Weehawken Goes Down at Anchor in a Gale. Loss of Four Officers and Twenty-Six of her crew. United States Transport Fulton, Off Charleston Bar, Dec. 8. At two o'clock on Sunday afternoon, while a furious wind prevailed from the Northwest, the iron-clad Weekawken, lying at the entrance of Charleston harbor, went down at her anchorage - went suddenly, swiftly and unaccountably to the bottom - and carried with her, to a horrible death beneath the waves, four of her engineers and twenty-six of her crew. Saturday had been a bright and beautiful day, with scarcely a breath of air astir, and with a calm, unruffled sea. - During the night a breeze sprang up, and the wind, blowing freshly at daylight on Sunday, increased by noon to a violent storm. The iron-clad fleet lying meantime off its usual anchorage. The frigate New Ironsides was stationed off Morris Island, at a distance of about one mile due east from Fort Wagner - or, as it is now called, Fort Strong. North of the Ironsides lay the flagship Philadelphia, distant about four hundred yards. The Weekawken was next in line, anchored two or three hundred yards to the northward of the flagship. The Montauk was on picket duty, between Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie. Astern of the Ironsides lay the Nahant and Passaic - the latter farthest away from the flagship, and nearer than any other vessel to the Morris Island shore. The South Carolina and the Home were rocking on the restless tide some five or six hundred yards astern of the ironclads. The above was the position of the fleet when the first signal of distress was made from the Weehawken, at a few minutes before 2 o'clock. The signal was seen, and answered at once by the flagship, from which four boats wee dispatched to her assistance, and by the South Carolina, which sent two of her boats to the Weehawken's aid. - The tugs Dandelion and Iris were at once called up, and with them Commander Duncan, of the Weehawken, who chanced to be on the flagship, and in conversation with the Admiral, when the signal was made, proceeded immediately, with the hope of running his vessel on the beach. He had scarcely left when the officer of the deck made out from the Weehawken a new signal, and immediately reported her to be sinking. A moment after she settled swiftly down by the head, careened slightly over to starboard and disappeared beneath the waves. It is impossible to convey any idea of the appalling nature of this disaster. - It came with the suddenness of a thunderbolt. When the first signal of distress was made, no one divined how serious was the danger, and when, at length the vessel went down, it was difficult for those who saw her disappear to credit even the evidence of their own sense. The confusion on the flagship, arising mainly from the difficulty of launching her boats, and the desire of both officers and men to be first in them, was most intense and painful. - The wind was now blowing with great fury, and the boats which hastened from all sides to the scene, encountered great peril in picking up from the water the few who had succeeded in getting away from the Weehawken before she sunk. Almost at the very moment she went down some twenty or more sprang to the boats and succeeded in getting away. - As many others were rescued from the surging waves by the launches of the flagship, the South Carolina and the tugboats Dandelion and Iris. Thirty perished. All day the Weehawken had labored heavily in the sea, which kept her decks constantly submerged, and which frequently swept in large volumes into her forward hatch. Towards noon the crew commenced paying out chain, to ease her; but, accustomed as they were, in every gale, to the shipping of such seas, it is believed that they had grown confident and careless of danger, and paid no heed to the encroaching waters until it was too late to resist them. They dreamed of no peril until the waves had fairly yawned to swallow them. - Then, when it was known for a certainty that the vessel was to be lost, a panic of fright and fear benumbed them, and the terror-stricken crew below had little power to help themselves. there were men in irons between decks, and the sergeant-at-arms rushed frantically away to release them. Poor fellows, they all went down. There were invalids in the sick bay, and to their relief the surgeon sent his steward, who never returned. There were firemen at the furnaces, to whom vain shrieks for a helping hand at the pumps were made. A few of the confident were rushing to their quarters to save their effects, jostling the timid on their way to the deck to save themselves. It was in the midst of scenes like those that the Weehawken went down. I believe that none of the officers perished save the four assistant engineers, who were overtaken by the flood before they could make any effort to escape. - Commander Duncan had only taken command of the Weehawken on Saturday, having been detached from the Paul Jones to relieve Commander Calhoun. The officers' clothing, the paymaster's funds and the other papers of the ship sank with her. Various parties were picked up and taken to the nearest vessels, where every provision was made for their comfort and restoration. Those of the crew who were saved are now scattered in small squads throughout the fleet. It is impossible to procure at present the names of those who were lost. To Fleet Captain Bradford, Captain Ammen, and in fact to all the officers and men of the flagship, great credit is due for their heroic exertions in their frail boats for the rescue of the unfortunate crew. They exposed themselves to great dangers in their efforts to render assistance to others. Commander Ammen, acting under the orders of Admiral Dahlgren, particularly risked himself in the conveyance of orders and precautionary instructions to the remaining Monitors, performing the perilous duty in a small boat. The Weehawken is lying in five fathoms of water, and will soon be raised. Until she is brought up, no one can tell with certainty why she sank. It was thought no fault of her over-hang," for she apparently took in no water except at her forward hatch and hawsehole. It was, to the best of my knowledge, through the inattention, neglect and bad management of those on board that the vessel has been lost. Had the pumps been set at work when the waves first dashed in, it is probably that the Weehawken would at this moment have been afloat. Had the bars with which her compartments were made water-tight been in their proper place, it is quite likely that the dire calamity would never have occurred. Mr. Falcon, a practical diver, left Hilton Head this morning for the scene of the disaster. ~ Republican Advocate [Article, courtesy of correspondence of the N.Y. Herald.]- Batavia - Genesee Co., NY Tuesday, December 22-1863. ********************************************* The naval authorities of the Brooklyn Navy Yard have reported the iron-clad Lehigh ready for active service. She bursted a gun sometime since at Fortress Monroe, and came North for a new one. On her arrival, however, she was taken in and improved in every way. The turret gear, which got out of order in one of the vessels during the first contest, is now rendered inaccessible to projectiles of any description. A huge iron band, no less than five feet in thickness, surrounds the lower part of the turret, and preserves it from all effect of shot. The armament of the vessel has been also changed. She has now one of the 15-inch Dahlgren guns, and a 200-pounder Farret rifled. She has left New York for Charleston, to reinforce the armored fleet doing such good service there. The Lehigh is one of the original nine Iron-clads constructed immediately after the Monitor. *Republican Advocate - Batavia NY August 25-1863. ************************************************************************* The Crossing at Fredericksburg. [December 11th, 1862.] Miles Loquitur. I lay in my tent at midday, Too full of pain to die. When I heard the voice of Burnside, And an answering shout reply. I heard the voice of the General - 'Twas firm, though low and sad; But the roar that followed his question Laughed out till the hills were glad. "O, comrade, open the curtain, And see where our men are bound, For my heart is still in my bosom At that terrible, mirthful sound. "And hark what the General orders, For I could not catch his words; And what means that hurry and movement, That clash of muskets and swords?" "Lie still, Be still, my Captain, 'Tis a call for volunteers; And the noise that vexes your fever Is only our soldiers' cheers." "Where go they?" "Across the river." "O, God! and must I lie still, While that drum and that measured trampling Move from me far down the hill? "How many?" "I judge four hundred." "Who are they? I'll know to a man." "Our own Nineteenth and Twentieth, And the Seventh Michigan." "O, to go, but to go with my comrades! Tear the curtain away from the hook, For I'll see them marched down to their glory, If I perish by the look!" They leaped in the rocking shallops, Ten offered where one could go; And the breeze was alive with laughter Till the boatmen began to row. Then the shore, where the rebels harbored, Was fringed with a gush of flame, And buzzing, like bees, o'er the water The swarms of their bullets came. In silence, how dread and solemn! With courage, how grand and true! Steadily, steadily onward The line of the shallops drew. Not a whisper. Each man was conscious. He stood in the sight of death; So he bowed to the awful presence, And treasured his living breath. 'Twixt death in the air above them And death in the waves below, Through balls, and grape, and shrapnell, They moved - my God ! how slow! And many a brave, stout fellow, Who sprang in the boats with mirth, Ere they made that fatal crossing Was a load of lifeless earth. And many a brave, stout fellow, Whose limbs with strength were rife, Was torn, and crushed, and shattered - A helpless wreck for life. But yet the boats moved onward; Through fire and lead they drove, With the dark, still mass within them, And the floating stars above. So loud and near it sounded, I started at the shout, As the keels ground on the gravel, And the eager men burst out. Cheer after cheer we sent them, As only armies can - Cheers for old Massachusetts, Cheers for young Michigan ! They formed in line of battle; Not a man was out of place, Then with levelled steel they hurled them Straight in the rebels' face. "Oh ! help me, help me,comrade ! For tears my eyelids drown, As I see their starry banners Stream up that smoking town. "And see the noisy workmen O'er the lengthening bridges run. And the troops that swarm to cross them When the rapid work be done. "For the old heat, or a new one, flames up in every vein; And with fever or with passion I am faint as death again. "If this is death, I care not! Hear me, men, from rear to van! - One more cheer for Massachusetts, And one more for Michigan !" George H. Boxer. ~ Republican Advocate, Batavia, Genesee Co., NY

The USS Cairo monument at Vicksburg is what is left after it sunk, up river from Vicksburg. It is a very impressive and authoritative display... It might be noteworthy to mention that Gen. Grant ordered that a new channel be dug by hand to allow the boats coming down the Mississippi to pass because of the CS Gun Abutments at Vicksburg... > From: donlinda@2ki.net> To: civil-war@rootsweb.com> Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 13:31:29 -0400> Subject: [CIVIL-WAR] navy of the war> > In regard to naval battles/blockades - yes, there were a lot!> the old newsies tell the stories - I agree with Vicki - in school, I only> heard of the land fighting for the most part - except for the Monitor and> Merrimac.> Below are some past newsies I'd submitted to the list - if you missed them> and are interested in the navy of the wartime - Linda> > > Appalling Disaster.> The Monitor Weehawken Goes Down at Anchor in a Gale.> Loss of Four Officers and Twenty-Six of her crew.> > United States Transport Fulton, Off Charleston Bar, Dec. 8.> > At two o'clock on Sunday afternoon, while a furious wind prevailed from> the Northwest, the iron-clad Weekawken, lying at the entrance of Charleston> harbor, went down at her anchorage - went suddenly, swiftly and> unaccountably to the bottom - and carried with her, to a horrible death> beneath the waves, four of her engineers and twenty-six of her crew.> Saturday had been a bright and beautiful day, with scarcely a breath of> air astir, and with a calm, unruffled sea. - During the night a breeze> sprang up, and the wind, blowing freshly at daylight on Sunday, increased by> noon to a violent storm.> The iron-clad fleet lying meantime off its usual anchorage. The frigate> New Ironsides was stationed off Morris Island, at a distance of about one> mile due east from Fort Wagner - or, as it is now called, Fort Strong.> North of the Ironsides lay the flagship Philadelphia, distant about four> hundred yards. The Weekawken was next in line, anchored two or three hundred> yards to the northward of the flagship. The Montauk was on picket duty,> between Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie. Astern of the Ironsides lay the> Nahant and Passaic - the latter farthest away from the flagship, and nearer> than any other vessel to the Morris Island shore. The South Carolina and the> Home were rocking on the restless tide some five or six hundred yards astern> of the ironclads.> The above was the position of the fleet when the first signal of> distress was made from the Weehawken, at a few minutes before 2 o'clock. The> signal was seen, and answered at once by the flagship, from which four boats> wee dispatched to her assistance, and by the South Carolina, which sent two> of her boats to the Weehawken's aid. - The tugs Dandelion and Iris were at> once called up, and with them Commander Duncan, of the Weehawken, who> chanced to be on the flagship, and in conversation with the Admiral, when> the signal was made, proceeded immediately, with the hope of running his> vessel on the beach. He had scarcely left when the officer of the deck made> out from the Weehawken a new signal, and immediately reported her to be> sinking. A moment after she settled swiftly down by the head, careened> slightly over to starboard and disappeared beneath the waves.> It is impossible to convey any idea of the appalling nature of this> disaster. - It came with the suddenness of a thunderbolt. When the first> signal of distress was made, no one divined how serious was the danger, and> when, at length the vessel went down, it was difficult for those who saw her> disappear to credit even the evidence of their own sense. The confusion on> the flagship, arising mainly from the difficulty of launching her boats, and> the desire of both officers and men to be first in them, was most intense> and painful. - The wind was now blowing with great fury, and the boats> which hastened from all sides to the scene, encountered great peril in> picking up from the water the few who had succeeded in getting away from the> Weehawken before she sunk. Almost at the very moment she went down some> twenty or more sprang to the boats and succeeded in getting away. - As many> others were rescued from the surging waves by the launches of the flagship,> the South Carolina and the tugboats Dandelion and Iris. Thirty perished.> All day the Weehawken had labored heavily in the sea, which kept her> decks constantly submerged, and which frequently swept in large volumes into> her forward hatch. Towards noon the crew commenced paying out chain, to ease> her; but, accustomed as they were, in every gale, to the shipping of such> seas, it is believed that they had grown confident and careless of danger,> and paid no heed to the encroaching waters until it was too late to resist> them. They dreamed of no peril until the waves had fairly yawned to swallow> them. - Then, when it was known for a certainty that the vessel was to be> lost, a panic of fright and fear benumbed them, and the terror-stricken crew> below had little power to help themselves. there were men in irons between> decks, and the sergeant-at-arms rushed frantically away to release them.> Poor fellows, they all went down. There were invalids in the sick bay, and> to their relief the surgeon sent his steward, who never returned. There were> firemen at the furnaces, to whom vain shrieks for a helping hand at the> pumps were made. A few of the confident were rushing to their quarters to> save their effects, jostling the timid on their way to the deck to save> themselves. It was in the midst of scenes like those that the Weehawken went> down.> I believe that none of the officers perished save the four assistant> engineers, who were overtaken by the flood before they could make any effort> to escape. - Commander Duncan had only taken command of the Weehawken on> Saturday, having been detached from the Paul Jones to relieve Commander> Calhoun. The officers' clothing, the paymaster's funds and the other papers> of the ship sank with her.> Various parties were picked up and taken to the nearest vessels, where> every provision was made for their comfort and restoration. Those of the> crew who were saved are now scattered in small squads throughout the fleet.> It is impossible to procure at present the names of those who were lost.> To Fleet Captain Bradford, Captain Ammen, and in fact to all the> officers and men of the flagship, great credit is due for their heroic> exertions in their frail boats for the rescue of the unfortunate crew. They> exposed themselves to great dangers in their efforts to render assistance to> others. Commander Ammen, acting under the orders of Admiral Dahlgren,> particularly risked himself in the conveyance of orders and precautionary> instructions to the remaining Monitors, performing the perilous duty in a> small boat.> The Weehawken is lying in five fathoms of water, and will soon be> raised. Until she is brought up, no one can tell with certainty why she> sank. It was thought no fault of her over-hang," for she apparently took in> no water except at her forward hatch and hawsehole. It was, to the best of> my knowledge, through the inattention, neglect and bad management of those> on board that the vessel has been lost. Had the pumps been set at work when> the waves first dashed in, it is probably that the Weehawken would at this> moment have been afloat. Had the bars with which her compartments were made> water-tight been in their proper place, it is quite likely that the dire> calamity would never have occurred.> Mr. Falcon, a practical diver, left Hilton Head this morning for the> scene of the disaster.> ~ Republican Advocate [Article, courtesy of correspondence of the N.Y.> Herald.]- Batavia - Genesee Co., NY> Tuesday, December 22-1863.> *********************************************> > The naval authorities of the Brooklyn Navy Yard have reported the> iron-clad> Lehigh ready for active service. She bursted a gun sometime since at> Fortress Monroe, and came North for a new one. On her arrival, however, she> was taken in and improved in every way. The turret gear, which got out of> order in one of the vessels during the first contest, is now rendered> inaccessible to projectiles of any description. A huge iron band, no less> than five feet in thickness, surrounds the lower part of the turret, and> preserves it from all effect of shot. The armament of the vessel has been> also changed. She has now one of the 15-inch Dahlgren guns, and a> 200-pounder Farret rifled. She has left New York for Charleston, to> reinforce the armored fleet doing such good service there.> The Lehigh is one of the original nine Iron-clads constructed> immediately after the Monitor.> *Republican Advocate - Batavia NY> August 25-1863.> *************************************************************************> > The Crossing at Fredericksburg.> [December 11th, 1862.]> > Miles Loquitur.> > I lay in my tent at midday,> Too full of pain to die.> When I heard the voice of Burnside,> And an answering shout reply.> > I heard the voice of the General -> 'Twas firm, though low and sad;> But the roar that followed his question> Laughed out till the hills were glad.> > "O, comrade, open the curtain,> And see where our men are bound,> For my heart is still in my bosom> At that terrible, mirthful sound.> > "And hark what the General orders,> For I could not catch his words;> And what means that hurry and movement,> That clash of muskets and swords?"> > "Lie still, Be still, my Captain,> 'Tis a call for volunteers;> And the noise that vexes your fever> Is only our soldiers' cheers."> > "Where go they?" "Across the river."> "O, God! and must I lie still,> While that drum and that measured trampling> Move from me far down the hill?> > "How many?" "I judge four hundred."> "Who are they? I'll know to a man."> "Our own Nineteenth and Twentieth,> And the Seventh Michigan."> > "O, to go, but to go with my comrades!> Tear the curtain away from the hook,> For I'll see them marched down to their glory,> If I perish by the look!"> > They leaped in the rocking shallops,> Ten offered where one could go;> And the breeze was alive with laughter> Till the boatmen began to row.> > Then the shore, where the rebels harbored,> Was fringed with a gush of flame,> And buzzing, like bees, o'er the water> The swarms of their bullets came.> > In silence, how dread and solemn!> With courage, how grand and true!> Steadily, steadily onward> The line of the shallops drew.> > Not a whisper. Each man was conscious.> He stood in the sight of death;> So he bowed to the awful presence,> And treasured his living breath.> > 'Twixt death in the air above them> And death in the waves below,> Through balls, and grape, and shrapnell,> They moved - my God ! how slow!> > And many a brave, stout fellow,> Who sprang in the boats with mirth,> Ere they made that fatal crossing> Was a load of lifeless earth.> > And many a brave, stout fellow,> Whose limbs with strength were rife,> Was torn, and crushed, and shattered -> A helpless wreck for life.> > But yet the boats moved onward;> Through fire and lead they drove,> With the dark, still mass within them,> And the floating stars above.> > So loud and near it sounded,> I started at the shout,> As the keels ground on the gravel,> And the eager men burst out.> > Cheer after cheer we sent them,> As only armies can -> Cheers for old Massachusetts,> Cheers for young Michigan !> > They formed in line of battle;> Not a man was out of place,> Then with levelled steel they hurled them> Straight in the rebels' face.> > "Oh ! help me, help me,comrade !> For tears my eyelids drown,> As I see their starry banners> Stream up that smoking town.> > "And see the noisy workmen> O'er the lengthening bridges run.> And the troops that swarm to cross them> When the rapid work be done.> > "For the old heat, or a new one,> flames up in every vein;> And with fever or with passion> I am faint as death again. > "If this is death, I care not!> Hear me, men, from rear to van! -> One more cheer for Massachusetts,> And one more for Michigan !"> > George H. Boxer.> ~ Republican Advocate, Batavia, Genesee Co., NY> > > -------------------------------> 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 _________________________________________________________________ E-mail for the greater good. Join the i’m Initiative from Microsoft. http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/Join/Default.aspx?source=EML_WL_ GreaterGood