tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29721583991319737572024-03-13T15:38:50.122-04:00All Not So Quiet Along the PotomacThe Civil War in Northern Virginia & BeyondRon Baumgartenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12449787740945022061noreply@blogger.comBlogger346125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972158399131973757.post-89308673897390375092016-05-25T09:55:00.000-04:002016-05-25T09:55:49.799-04:00A Change and Possibly More on the WayAs I approach my blog's sixth anniversary, I have started to think about how I may readjust the format and content here at <i>All Not So Quiet Along the Potomac</i>. My ability to keep a rigorous posting schedule has become difficult, but I don't want to discontinue writing when I have the urge, or remove the existing digital content. Many people use the blog as a resource center for research they are doing about the Civil War in these parts. They often come to me with questions concerning their Civil War ancestor, or more obscure battles around here like Vienna and Lewinsville. I sometimes feel like this has become more of a digital history project, even if not organized as such. At the same time, I haven't practiced law for nearly six years. Of course, once a lawyer, always a lawyer. Nonetheless, I have decided to remove the part of the blog's title "A DC Lawyer on the Civil War" to more accurately reflect what <i>All Not So Quiet Along the Potomac </i>is about. In the place of this wording, I am now saying, "The Civil War in Northern Virginia & Beyond." I am mulling additional changes here and will keep readers posted. Thanks again for stopping by!Ron Baumgartenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12449787740945022061noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972158399131973757.post-56749408119906705432016-05-14T08:24:00.002-04:002016-05-14T08:24:23.032-04:00Interview with the Manassas Battlefield TrustWell, if you haven't noticed, it's been a while since I last posted. Life has gotten pretty busy at home and at work. I am unsure of when I will return to a more regular schedule again, but for the time being, I thought readers might enjoy the latest edition of the Manassas Battlefield Trust newsletter. A few months ago I featured an interview with <a href="http://dclawyeronthecivilwar.blogspot.com/2015/10/an-interview-with-debra-kathman.html">MBT Executive Director Debra Kathman</a>. Since that time, MBT decided to launch a newsletter, and Debra asked if I would do an interview for the first issue. I believe that future issues will do similar interviews with MBT members. Check out the newsletter, including the interview, <a href="http://manassasbattlefield.org/newsletter/">here</a>.<br />
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<br />Ron Baumgartenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12449787740945022061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972158399131973757.post-14225763296235166492016-03-03T06:20:00.002-05:002016-03-03T06:20:37.913-05:00Civil War Views: Log Huts for Contrabands?Not long ago the <a href="http://www.arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org/">Arlington Historical Society</a> posted an engraving from the February 8, 1862 issue of <i>Harper's Weekly </i>on its Facebook page. Entitled, "WINTER-QUARTERS OF THE FOURTEENTH MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS—GARRISON OF FORTS ALBANY AND RUNYON," the illustration sparked my curiosity. Were these the same quarters used to house contrabands in the spring of 1863?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camp of the 14th Massachusetts near Fts. Albany and Runyon, from <i>Harper's Weekly</i>, Feb. 8, 1862 (courtesy of <a href="http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/civil-war/1862/february/virginia-cavalry-charge.htm">sonofthesouth.net<span id="goog_617415546"></span><span id="goog_617415547"></span></a>)</td></tr>
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As I've chronicled at length on the blog, in May 1863, the Union Army decided to relocate freedmen and women from Washington City to abandoned secessionist properties in Northern Virginia. Here the military intended to pay the contrabands to raise crops for the Union war effort. At the start of June, the army established Camp Todd near Ft. Albany in Alexandria County (now Arlington), on the site of Gen. Silas Casey's former encampment there. As the official report on the establishment of the contraband farms states:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>At Camp Todd we have used the log huts put up for the accommodation of Gen. CASEY's encampment. These houses have capacity of holding not less than one thousand people, and are in a good degree of preservation. </i></blockquote>
Initially, 230 freedpeople were quartered in the empty cabins. So, did the Union quarter the contrabands in the same huts that are pictured in the <i>Harper's Weekly </i>illustration?<br />
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In the fall of 1861, the 14th Massachusetts Infantry arrived in Washington and was assigned to the defenses of Washington, including Ft. Albany. (The regiment was later designated the 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery and saw heavy fighting in the Overland Campaign through Appomattox.) A regimental history takes note of the fine structures built by Company B, 14th Massachusetts:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Through the first winter, 1861-'62, the company remained at Fort Albany at regimental headquarters and built elaborate log barracks. As it was located first in the line on the way from Washington, its quarters were inspected first by the distinguished men who came from time to time, and on several occasions was honored by visits of President Lincoln, who was evidently proud to show some of the foreign officers the ingenuity displayed by his Massachusetts boys in making themselves clean, healthful and comfortable quarters.</i> (Roe & Nutt 13.)</blockquote>
Presumably the log huts in <i>Harper's Weekly </i>show these huts, or similar ones. Various companies of the 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery remained at Ft. Albany until 1864. Meanwhile, in the fall of 1862, part of Silas Casey's division was assigned to protect Ft. Albany. By March 1863, his soldiers had received orders to defend other locations in Northern Virginia. Casey's division was reassigned to Gen. John J. Abercrombie in April 1863, and Casey then took charge of Provisional Brigades around Washington.<br />
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All of this history brings us back to the original question -- Could those log huts be the same ones that belonged to Camp Todd? The 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery still guarded the fort in June 1863, when the contrabands arrived, and it seems possible that the cabins were more or less in continual use until the regiment left for the front in spring 1864. Or the huts may have been dismantled for their timber and may not even have been in existence when Camp Todd was established. Casey's men probably built their own cabins to survive the winter of 1862-63, and those huts were presumably the same ones that the Union Army used to shelter the freedpeople in June 1863, since Casey's soldiers had left by that time. Only if Casey's men had taken occupancy of the 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery's huts, or a portion of them, could we assume that the engraving depicts some or all of those inhabited by the residents of Camp Todd.<br />
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I suppose my initial enthusiasm for the engraving was a bit misplaced! The huts in <i>Harper's Weekly </i>are more than likely not the same ones later used to house the freedpeople at Camp Todd. Nevertheless, the illustration gives us a good idea of what such structures may have looked like near the same site. The hunt for pictures of the contraband camps in Northern Virginia continues.<br />
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<b><u>Sources</u></b><br />
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D.B. Nichols, <i><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1863/08/09/news/negroes-near-washington-official-report-superintendent-nichols-freedman-s.html">Official Report on Superintendent Nichols Freedman's Department, South Potomac, Quartermaster for the Department of Washington</a></i>, July 10, 1863, in <i>New York Times</i>, Aug. 9, 1863; <a href="http://civilwarintheeast.com/us-regiments-batteries/massachusetts/1st-massachusetts-heavy-artillery/">"1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery,"</a> <i>Civil War in the East; </i> <i>Official Records</i>, 1:21, 939; 1:25:2, 30, 182, 588; Alfred S. Roe & Charles Nutt, <i><a href="https://archive.org/details/historyoffirstre00roea">History of the First Regiment of Heavy Artillery, Massachusetts Volunteers, Formerly the Fourteenth Regiment of Infantry, 1861-1865</a></i> (1917).<br />
<br />Ron Baumgartenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12449787740945022061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972158399131973757.post-44480601375269472232016-02-19T06:05:00.002-05:002016-02-19T06:05:34.986-05:00A Few Odds and Ends, February 2016 EditionIf you are a frequent reader, you may have wondered what happened to the blog. I try to publish a post every two weeks or so. This past couple of months was the longest "dry spell" since I began the blog in 2010. Today I am finally back, and would like to wish everyone a belated Happy New Year!<br />
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So what gives? I guess you could say that I needed to disconnect in order to reconnect. The pace had been relatively intensive, particularly as I tried to balance a busy full-time job, family, and numerous activities and hobbies. I also had a bit of Sesquicentennial burn out -- not one day passed in four years where I wasn't doing something related to the Civil War. I like to think that my recent time away (and model building with my son Jack) has reinvigorated me for the year ahead.<br />
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And now a few odds and ends as I kick off 2016:<br />
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*My blog has brought me into contact with a lot of people I may not otherwise have met and has enabled me to expand my Civil War universe outside of the blog. <a href="http://dclawyeronthecivilwar.blogspot.com/2015/11/a-new-project-in-works.html">As noted previously</a>, I have started to do volunteer research for the Fairfax Station Railroad Museum. I have also begun exploring ways to help the Manassas Battlefield Trust (MBT). I will keep readers posted on any upcoming activities. Meanwhile, Debra Kathman, the Executive Director of MBT, recently sent me some interview questions. <a href="http://dclawyeronthecivilwar.blogspot.com/2015/10/an-interview-with-debra-kathman.html">(I posted a Q&A with Debra last year.</a>) They should be up and running soon on the MBT website.<br />
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*Speaking of Manassas, I recently purchased a copy of John Hennessy's masterful book, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-First-Battle-Manassas-Innocence/dp/0811715914">The First Battle of Manassas: An End to Innocence, July 18-21, 1861</a></i>. John has revised his first edition and re-released it through Stackpole. I bought my own autographed copy directly from him. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book -- my first of 2016 -- and can't recommend it enough. To use an oxymoron, it is a tactical page turner! Even if you think you know First Bull Run pretty well, you are sure to discover something new, and be entertained at the same time.<br />
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*On a related note, Harry Smeltzer over at <i><a href="https://bullrunnings.wordpress.com/">Bull Runnings</a></i> published an interview with John, who offered to lead a tour of the First Manassas battlefield for Harry's blog readers. <a href="https://bullrunnings.wordpress.com/2016/01/12/moving-forward-with-this-tour/">The suggestion has now come to fruition</a>. The tour will be held at Manassas National Battlefield Park on Saturday, April 23. More information is available over at Harry's blog, and on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1646476515615466/">dedicated Facebook page for the tour</a>. Expected attendance is growing, and a car pool caravan will be the chief mode of transport. If you plan on going, be sure to read John's book.<br />
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*Last fall Savas Beatie sent me a copy of one of the latest titles in the Emerging Civil War (ECW) series, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Want-Vigilance-Bristoe-Station-Campaign/dp/1611213002">A Want of Vigilance: The Bristoe Station Campaign, October 9-19, 1863</a> </i>by Bill Backus and Rob Orrison. This book appears only a couple years or so after the publisher's <a href="http://dclawyeronthecivilwar.blogspot.com/2014/02/a-look-at-books-february-2014.html">detailed atlas on the Bristoe Campaign</a>. Together, they help to fill in some gaps in the literature between Gettysburg and the Overland Campaign. Like all ECW books, <i>A Want of Vigilance</i> is a slim volume packed with key facts, plenty of photos and maps, and a driving tour. The authors, both old hands at the Bristoe Station Battlefield, cover all the major aspects of the campaign, from James Station to Buckland Mills. Six appendixes, including an order of battle and a chronology of battlefield preservation, round out the book. <i>A Want of Vigilance</i> makes for a good, fast read on a little known but important part of the war.<br />
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*I maintain a list of potential topics for future posts. My ability to add to the list has far surpassed my ability to keep up. Some of the subjects don't even seem that appealing to me any more. (Perhaps I should take a vote on what readers prefer!) As I gear up for 2016, I am thinking broadly of where I want to take the blog. Not surprisingly, more on Northern Virginia's contraband camps is in the offering. I also plan to report my findings on soldier and civilian life around Fairfax Station. I've lived in Loudoun for well over a year now -- I think it may be time to write a little more on the Civil War in my backyard. <a href="http://dclawyeronthecivilwar.blogspot.com/2015/08/what-ive-been-up-to.html">I've already mentioned my interest in the Loudoun Valley Campaign of 1862</a>, but haven't had a chance to dig deeper. And what about those Union Army campsites down the road, or the history of some Loudoun families during the war? If anything, I can help to spread the word about the best resources on Loudoun's antebellum and Civil War history. This year I also hope to continue features such as Civil War Views, travelogues, and Q&As. Forward march!Ron Baumgartenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12449787740945022061noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972158399131973757.post-70622530142006360972015-12-23T06:07:00.000-05:002016-01-26T15:30:44.477-05:00Christmas in Camp, Fairfax Station, December 1862<a href="http://dclawyeronthecivilwar.blogspot.com/2015/11/a-new-project-in-works.html">A few weeks ago I wrote about a new project that I am undertaking for the Fairfax Station Railroad Museum</a>. As I researched tales of soldiers and civilians around the station during the Civil War, I began to think about turning my research into blog posts. The museum agreed that this would be a good idea. Writing posts will help to focus my research efforts and build content for the museum. Moreover, I hope that such posts will encourage my readers to come forward with additional information about wartime life along the Orange & Alexandria near Fairfax Station. With my annual Christmas post, I venture for the first time into this new territory for <i>All Not So Quiet Along the Potomac</i>, and I look forward to sharing more discoveries in the future.<br />
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As Christmas 1862 approached, soldiers of the Second Vermont Brigade were busy protecting positions along the strategic Orange & Alexandria R.R. around Fairfax Station. Two divisions of the Army of the Potomac's Twelfth Corps were also encamped in the neighborhood of the station. The corps had fought only a few months before in the bloody engagement at Antietam. Reentering Virginia in November, the men marched through Loudoun County and made their way to Fairfax Station.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fairfax Station during the Civil War (courtesy of <a href="http://visions2200.com/CivilWar/Fort%20Schuyler.html">William Graham's War Between the States</a>)</td></tr>
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On December 24, Gen. Alpheus Williams held a grand review and inspection of his Twelfth Corps division. According to William Tuttle of the 107th New York, the activity was "very tiresome for the men, more than a day's march." (in Tappan 63) He returned to his campsite and "just laid down by the fire, looked into the flames and blazing coals, and thought of friends far away, of Christmas Eves and Christmas trees until I fell asleep." (in Tappan 63.)<br />
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That night, Gen. John Geary, commander of the corps' second division, sat down to write his little daughter Mary a rather sentimental letter:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>On this Christmas eve I have no doubt you have been enjoying yourself, perhaps with the toys of the season, eaten your nuts and cakes, hung up your stockings in the chimney corner for old Krisk[r]inkle, when he comes along with his tiny horses "dunder and blixen" and his little wagon to fill in </i>lots and gobs<i> of sweet things....Well, when I was a little boy. . . I was very fond of such things myself. And when I look back, they were indeed the happiest days of my life. </i>(in Blair & Wiley 74.)</blockquote>
On Christmas Day, the soldiers were blessed with mild and pleasant weather, not unlike predictions for this year's holiday. As Pvt. Henry Bayless of the 137th New York wrote to his parents, "today is clear and quite warm, so we can sit in the sun without our overcoats on with comfort." (in Creutz 73.) Capt. Robert Gould Shaw (future commander of the 54th Massachusetts) and fellow officers of the 2nd Massachusetts also sat "out of doors," eating a Christmas dinner of chicken, oysters, potatoes, and other culinary delights. (in Duncan 273).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Christmas," L. Prang & Co., c. 1862 (courtesy of <a href="https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:p5547x00w">Digital Public Library of America</a>).</td></tr>
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Gen. Geary, like many of the Union commanders, "issued an order allowing the men of my command a recreation from all military duties, except such as could not be dispensed with." (in Blaid & Wiley 76.) He emerged from his quarters that morning to find that "the men had erected two triumphal arches of evergreens before my tent." (in Blaid & Wiley 76.) As he told his sons, "the Holly is beautiful & Green covered with berries. The whole thing was the most beautifully wreathed affair I ever saw." (in Blaid & Wiley 76.) Geary's thoughts turned to his family, and how much he wanted to be with them on this holiday. The "forsaken country" around Fairfax Station surely did little to diminish his homesickness. (in Blair & Wiley 75.)<br />
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Tuttle of the 107th New York found little to celebrate on Christmas. As he lamented in his diary:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>It is not a happy Christmas day with us today. . . We have been moving our camp again. . . . This is the fourth camp we have occupied near Fairfax Station, and a great many are in the worst of humor over the perplexities and botherations which always attend a change of camp. We marched about two miles this morning, laid out our new camp ground, put up our tents and have just had our dinner, Christmas Dinner! which was no great affair today. (i</i>n Tappan 62-63.)</blockquote>
The men of 137th NY made do with rations of soft bread and beef. Charles Engle prepared a "hearty" Christmas breakfast of fried beef with a cup of coffee, but wished instead for "cakes and sausage and butter." (in Creutz 73.) Bayless and his messmate got more creative and fried the bread in a gravy made with bacon and beef grease. They sat on their blankets with plates on their laps and devoured the Christmas meal.<br />
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Over in the camp of the Second Vermont Brigade, the soldiers were excused from all but the most pressing duties. Pvt. Herzon Day went with a few friends to Fairfax Station "to see the country but got back in time for Christmas dinner, which consisted of beefsteak and potatoes, both excellent." (letter to parents on 16th Vermont blog.) Horace Barlow of the 12th Vermont enjoyed "[t]aking it easy in the A.M. & playing foot-ball &c in the P.M." (diary on 16th Vermont blog.)<br />
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Some officers had the privilege of leaving camp to celebrate Christmas elsewhere. In the 107th Pennsylvania, Tuttle's captain and first lieutenant headed to Alexandria to spend the holiday with friends. Tuttle was frustrated, writing in his diary: "Of course I could not go. I am not an officer." (in Tappan 63.) (He later would become a commissioned officer, so perhaps the holidays got better for him!)<br />
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Dr. James Dunn, surgeon of the 109th Pennsylvania, took four days' leave and traveled from Fairfax Station to Washington City. On Christmas morning he met a fellow physician at Willard's. The two at some point "visited around Washington where all is quiet." (in Kerr 60.) The doctor even "saw Old Abe":<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>He looks as if the load resting on him was too much. He is care worn and troubled. Political opposition is killing him.</i> (in Kerr 60.)</blockquote>
After the holiday, Dunn returned to his regimental encampment and the drudgery of army life. For the surgeon and many others at Fairfax Station, Christmas 1862 was a day of rest and relaxation. Even if the holiday meal was a little less appetizing than many of the men would have preferred, the warm weather was certainly a welcome present from Mother Nature. The enlisted men and their commanders dreamed of Christmas among family and friends. Perhaps the new year would bring an end to war and fighting. But Christmas would come and go two more times before Christmas at home became a reality. President Lincoln had reason to feel "troubled."<br />
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On a personal note, I'd like to wish my readers <b>Happy Holidays and a Very Merry Christmas</b>! See you in 2016!<br />
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<b><u>Sources</u></b><br />
William L. Blair (ed.) & Bell Irvin Wiley, <i><a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=aMtm_HUZONwC&pg=PA74&dq=christmas+at+fairfax+station+civil+war&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiN8_SWvdvJAhWG7iYKHUe9DLYQ6AEIRzAI#v=onepage&q=christmas%20at%20fairfax%20station%20civil%20war&f=false">A Politician Goes to War: The Civil War Letters of John White Geary</a></i> (1995); David Cleutz, <i><a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=yNpHaWNfxbIC&pg=PA71&lpg=PA71&dq=twelfth+corps+at+fairfax+station+christmas&source=bl&ots=Ar5ee5yjLY&sig=X6BEwsnLKY9wVbE6b3oznlTTHeY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjNnrPf1dvJAhXDLB4KHVQjCcAQ6AEIMzAE#v=onepage&q=twelfth%20corps%20at%20fairfax%20station%20christmas&f=false">Fields of Fame & Glory: Col. David Ireland and the 137th New York Volunteers</a></i> (2010); Russell Duncan (ed.), <i><a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=6m5h0Ax6tr4C&printsec=frontcover&dq=robert+gould+shaw+letters&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiqrdShrt_JAhUBtBoKHaJmA2AQ6AEIHDAA#v=onepage&q&f=false">Blue Eyed Child of Fortune: The Civil War Letters of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw</a></i> (1999); <i><a href="http://16thvermontletters.blogspot.com/2012/12/christmas.html">Letters from the 16th Vermont</a></i> (blog); Lynne M. Kennedy, <i><a href="http://www.lchr.org/a/34/gs/ansminie.html#fairfax">"GORDON'S REGULARS": The 2nd Massachusetts Infantry in the Civil War</a></i> (1999); Paul B. Kerr, <i><a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=6sLRGfXYgLIC&pg=PA60&dq=christmas+at+fairfax+station+civil+war&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiN8_SWvdvJAhWG7iYKHUe9DLYQ6AEIKTAD#v=onepage&q=christmas%20at%20fairfax%20station%20civil%20war&f=false">Civil War Surgeon -- Biography of James Langstaff Dunn, MD</a></i> (2012); George Tappan (ed.), <i><a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=R4p_zas1gA0C&pg=PA63&dq=christmas+at+fairfax+station+civil+war&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiN8_SWvdvJAhWG7iYKHUe9DLYQ6AEIIjAB#v=onepage&q=christmas%20at%20fairfax%20station%20civil%20war&f=false">The Civil War Journal of Lt. Russell M. Tuttle, New York Volunteer Infantry </a></i>(2006).<br />
<br />Ron Baumgartenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12449787740945022061noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972158399131973757.post-6331076580291399772015-11-25T06:12:00.000-05:002015-11-25T06:12:04.279-05:00Thanksgiving 1865 in Washington City<a href="http://dclawyeronthecivilwar.blogspot.com/search/label/Thanksgiving">Each year during the Sesquicentennial I wrote a post focused on Thanksgiving at the corresponding time 150 years ago</a>. I looked at holiday celebrations in camp or in the streets, hospitals, and churches of Washington and Alexandria. Now that the four-year commemoration is over, I wasn't sure what to do for this Thanksgiving. Many people are turning their attention to the aftermath of war and the start of Reconstruction so I decided to check out the Washington papers for the end of 1865, as the reunited nation prepared to observe the first Thanksgiving holiday since the end of the war.<br />
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President Andrew Johnson declared a day of national Thanksgiving for Thursday, December 7, 1865. In his <a href="http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=72035">Proclamation</a>, the President reminded the American people that "it has pleased Almighty God during the year which is now coming to an end to relieve our beloved country from the fearful scourge of civil war and to permit us to secure the blessings of peace, unity, and harmony, with a great enlargement of civil liberty. . . ." He recommended that "the whole people make confession of our national sins against His infinite goodness, and with one heart and one mind implore the divine guidance in the ways of national virtue and holiness."<br />
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On December 6, the day before Thanksgiving, the <i><a href="http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86053570/1865-12-06/ed-1/seq-2/">Washington Daily National Republican</a></i> published the following editorial:<br />
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The editorial surely reflected the thoughts of many loyal Americans about the ground the nation had traversed since the previous year and just how much the country had reason to give thanks as the end of 1865 approached. Some, however, may have disputed the characterization of President Johnson, who had just given his <a href="http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29506">State of the Union address</a> on December 4. (The speech is referenced in the article.)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two Winslow Homer views of Thanksgiving Day, 1865 from <i>Frank Leslie’s Illustrated</i>: <i>Hanging up the Musket</i> and <i>The Church Porch </i>(courtesy of <a href="http://streetsofsalem.com/tag/thanksgiving/">streetsofsalem</a>).</td></tr>
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Thanksgiving in Washington City was a relatively subdued affair. As was typical in previous years, businesses were closed. The <i>Washington Evening Star</i> reported that "the churches were opened for divine worship, and were well attended, while the services at each were appropriate to the occasion." (<a href="http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1865-12-08/ed-1/seq-2/#date1=1865&index=1&rows=20&words=thanksgiving&searchType=basic&sequence=0&sort=relevance&state=District+of+Columbia&date2=1865&proxtext=thanksgiving&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=4">Dec. 8, 1865</a>.) The paper was also pleased to observe that "throughout the day there were fewer displays of improper conduct than usual on such festive occasions." (Dec. 8, 1865.) According to the <i>Daily National Republican</i>, Bostonians were nowhere near as well behaved as the "staid and proper" Washingtonians. (<a href="http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86053570/1865-12-08/ed-1/seq-2/#">Dec.8, 1865.</a>) The paper reported that during the evening in Boston, "many persons were slewed, with great carnage." (Dec. 8, 1865.) Perhaps high rates of celebratory drinking had something to do with ruining the holiday up north. In any event, whether in Washington City or elsewhere, Thanksgiving gave Americans a day of rest and relaxation as they prepared to deal with the difficult issue of reconstruction and the future of the reunited country.<br />
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On a personal note, I'd like to wish all of my readers a <b>Happy Thanksgiving</b>! Enjoy the good times with family and friends, eat plenty of turkey and fixings, and see you next month!<br />
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Ron Baumgartenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12449787740945022061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972158399131973757.post-59042895918790204042015-11-20T06:12:00.001-05:002015-11-20T10:05:50.831-05:00An Interview with Singer/Songwriter Clark HansbargerLike many readers, I enjoy all types of music. When it comes to the Civil War, I tend to focus on recordings of songs from the era by the <a href="http://civilwarband.com/">2nd South Carolina String Band</a>, the <a href="http://www.jvmusic.net/federal-city-brass-band26th-nc-band/">Federal City Brass Band</a>, and other such groups. Then again, I have also become a fan of the contemporary Civil War songs of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/1861project/">1861 Project</a>. Last year I received an email from singer/songwriter Clark Hansbarger, who told me about his folk rock CD, <i><a href="http://www.civilwarsong.com/">Dream of a Good Death</a></i>. This recording of original songs follows Confederate soldiers throughout the Civil War, from Port Royal to Petersburg and beyond. The songs are modern, but inspired by the stories of those in gray and butternut who fought and died over 150 years ago. Clark was nice enough to send me his CD and recently agreed to do an interview.<br />
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<b>Q. Tell us a little about yourself.</b><br />
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A. I'm a retired educator and now work with my wife, who is an artist, so I have plenty of time to write and play music. I've done both since I was young, but for thirty years, teaching paid the mortgage. I record and perform regularly with The Bitter Liberals, a talented group of players from the Shenandoah Valley, where I live. I have two children, one of whom is making me a grandpa this month, so we are all pretty excited around home.<br />
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<b>Q. How did you become interested in the Civil War?</b><br />
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A. The same way a lot of modern Americans did, I'm afraid -- through Ken Burns and Shelby Foote. I watched that classic PBS documentary and then spent a summer lost in Foote's million word account of the war. Since then...well... I've become just another middle-age American guy who visits a lot of battlefields.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clark Hansbarger</td></tr>
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<b>Q. What inspired you to do <i>Dream of a Good Death</i>? How does this CD depart from other recordings you have done?</b><br />
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A. My wife and I were kayaking down the Combahee River near Beaufort, South Carolina, when I discovered the history of the rice plantations. I had no idea that rice had been the primary money crop in the Low Country since colonial times. Anyway, I dug into the history there and ended up writing a song called "Fall of the Rice Kingdom" about the Union naval conquest of Port Royal Sound.<br />
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My band liked the song, and we recorded it for our first CD. When my brother-in-law (who is a serious digger with a fine collection of Civil War artifacts) heard the song, he thought I should do an entire album, said I'd make a million bucks selling them at re-enactments. So I wrote another, and then another, and soon I had enough for a CD. I haven't made that million yet, though!<br />
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Once I finished the CD, I built an interactive website to accompany it. (<a href="http://www.civilwarsong.com/">www.civilwarsong.com</a>) I spent as much time on this as the music and had great fun doing so. I wrote an essay for each song and then included dozens of links and pictures so that folks could explore the history behind the songs.<br />
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The musical style of this CD doesn't depart much from what I usually write, but the subject matter certainly does. None of my other songs are historical, though they tend to be narrative, based on a distinct voice telling a story. The music is modern Americana...which is really just another way of saying folk rock.<br />
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<b>Q. Your idea for a song cycle following Confederate soldiers through the war is intriguing. In listening to the CD, it is clear that your songs teach as well as entertain. Please describe for us your creative process in composing the songs on <i>Dream of a Good Death</i>. What historical background research did you do? </b><br />
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A. Once I decided to create the album, I tried first to include different perspectives -- Union soldiers, slaves, women. But the songs with the Confederate voices came most easily, almost wrote themselves, so I stuck with these for continuity. This has nothing to do with any sympathy for their cause -- I'm glad the Union won that war, ended slavery, and moved us forward as a nation -- but somehow the Rebel stories had this ironic quality that seemed better suited for the music I was composing.<br />
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I researched the history carefully to be sure the facts were correct for each song. However, the key to writing historical fiction is to keep the focus on the character, lightly sprinkling in the historical details to build an illusion of reality. For the fiction to work, audiences must hear the human voice above all else. I didn't want these songs to be history lessons, but stories about "real" people from the past. And I wanted the songs both to stand alone and work as one long, sad tale.<br />
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I took some poetic license here and there, changed the time of day or a bit of the geography, and I always hear about this after a performance, usually from a polite, earnest Civil War buff waiting patiently to correct the slight inaccuracy. This actually brings me some satisfaction, because it means folks are listening carefully. And I always learn something and make new friends.<br />
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<b>Q. Would it be fair to describe you as a historian through song?</b><br />
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A. Oh man. That might be dangerous. Anyone who has been to a few Civil War Roundtables or read a few blogs knows that the study of Civil War history is a contact sport. If you claim to be an expert, you darn well better be, and then better be prepared to defend your points to the death. I think I'd rather be described as a musician and fiction writer with a deep love of history.<br />
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<b>Q. If you had to pick one, what is your favorite song on the CD? </b><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
A. My daughter Kara sang on "The Tailor from Kingsport," so this song is obviously dear to my heart. The song explores PTSD -- called soldier's heart then -- and she sings the wife's story about her husbands return from the war. Kara 's a talented gal, and she sings the song with a lovely mix of frailty and strength.<br />
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You can see a video of this from a recent performance in Winchester, Virginia, at<br />
<a href="http://youtu.be/o5hcR-4HLCk">http://youtu.be/o5hcR-4HLCk</a><br />
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My favorite song to perform live is probably the title song, "Dream of a Good Death," because it features each of the band members doing some spectacular instrumental work. Listen closely to that one and you hear some stellar guitar, violin and harmony vocals. None of that's me, but these remarkable guys I play with.<br />
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<b>Q. Who are your collaborators on <i>Dream of a Good Death</i>?</b><br />
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A. I wrote the songs alone, but arranged them with the fine musicians featured on each song, mainly my band mates in The Bitter Liberals -- Gary McGraw, Allen Kitselman, and Mike Jewell. I brought the songs to them as skeletons, just chords and words. They filled them out with lovely instrumentation, put the meat on the bones.<br />
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We practiced the songs a few times and then recorded them in a single, long day, so what you hear on the CD is pretty much a live recording with very little over-dub. This enables us to play the songs in concert just like they appeared on the CD -- even better, actually, because of the stage energy. My co-producer was Will Shenk, engineer extraordinaire from National Media Service in Front Royal, Virginia. He really brought the sound together, creating this open, rich feel.<br />
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I also included a few other great musicians I knew from years of playing in Northern Virginia-- Rob Remington, John Friant and Joe Faber. You can read about them all in the "About" section of my website at <a href="http://civilwarsong.com/">civilwarsong.com</a>.<br />
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<b>Q. What is your biggest source of musical inspiration?</b><br />
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A. I listen to all sorts of folks, but the songwriters who tell stories move me most. Richard Thompson, John Hiatt, The Band. I like simple structure and clarity, so I admire Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, also.<br />
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In terms of inspiration, my wife Ginger leads the pack. Once I started work on this, she was like an overseer, grilling me each day to see if I'd worked on my songs. I was afraid we wouldn't have supper that night if I didn't have something to play for her first! She's an artist, so she understands that creativity is work, a good bit of sweat and time.<br />
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<b>Q. How would you describe your musical style?</b><br />
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A. Folk-based, acoustic story telling, though the CD includes some moments of country, and a bit of bluegrass and rock.<br />
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<b>Q. Where have you performed songs from <i>Dream of a Good Death</i>? Do you have upcoming concerts?</b><br />
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A. We perform <i>Dream of a Good Death</i> as an entire evening-- sort of a TED Talk meets Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young concert. Basically, I introduce each song with a short lecture, projecting slides of war photos and maps on a big screen behind us. Then we play the song. Because the songs are in chronological order, we end up walking the audience through the war from the beginning to the end, presenting both sides of the story.<br />
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We've done the show in large venues, like The American Theater in Hampton, Virginia, and Loudoun's Franklin Park Arts Center, but also in smaller ones like Long Branch Plantation and the beautiful stone church in Harpers Ferry. We will be performing it this spring in a lovely old African Methodist church in Union, West Virginia. The local historical society is hosting the show, and they restored the church as a cultural center -- great acoustics and about 100 seats. We're excited with the venue and may do a live recording that night.<br />
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<b>Q. Any new recordings on the horizon?</b><br />
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A. The Bitter Liberals (<a href="http://thebitterliberals.com/">thebitterliberals.com</a>) will be back in the studio soon. We are working on new songs now. It's best to play the new stuff live for a while to tighten up the arrangements before recording. This will be our third CD, not counting <i>Dream of a Good Death</i>.<br />
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None of the songs are about the Civil War, though one is the story of a veteran home from the war in Afghanistan. We include this song in concerts regularly now, and it's coming together well.<br />
Here is a link to a video of the song from our recent concert at The Tally Ho theater in Leesburg:<br />
<a href="http://youtu.be/OCCWEgLzB30">http://youtu.be/OCCWEgLzB30</a><br />
<br />Ron Baumgartenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12449787740945022061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972158399131973757.post-12406178122175411142015-11-11T08:50:00.000-05:002015-11-11T08:50:43.347-05:00A New Project in the WorksA couple of months ago, I took my boys to the <a href="http://www.fairfax-station.org/">Fairfax Station Railroad Museum</a>. <a href="http://dclawyeronthecivilwar.blogspot.com/2012/08/after-second-manassas-tour-of-ox-hill.html">I previously wrote about this historic treasure on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Second Manassas Campaign</a>. The countryside surrounding the railroad station became one major field hospital following the fights at Bull Run and Chantilly in 1862. Clara Barton rushed from Washington City and helped tend to the wounded.<br />
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The current station dates from 1903 and hosts frequent model train displays. The museum also has exhibits on the history of the Orange & Alexandria Railroad, particularly during the Civil War. I've taken my sons there a few times. We are all train buffs, and the place has become a real family favorite.<br />
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After my last visit, the museum contacted me via my blog Facebook page. They put me in contact with Michael Chinworth, a volunteer who serves as the Vice President of the Friends of Fairfax Station. Michael asked if I was interested in helping the museum with various activities, including research, exhibits, and programming. I jumped at the opportunity. What better way to make a contribution to local Civil War and railroad history?<br />
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Currently I am assisting with research on the civilian population around Fairfax Station just prior to and during the Civil War. I also hope to dig into the lives of the ordinary soldiers who protected the O&A R.R. Another possible avenue of exploration is the experience of slaves and Irish immigrants who worked on the railroad in the antebellum period. We hope to use this research in drafting a comprehensive historical guide on the station. The work may also form the basis of temporary exhibits or be made available on the museum's website.<br />
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I'd like to put a call to my readers as well. If you know anything about the area during the Civil War era, please feel free to email me and we can talk. In the meantime, if things are a little slower here as of late, it is likely because I am knee deep in old records about soldiers and civilians!<br />
<br />Ron Baumgartenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12449787740945022061noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972158399131973757.post-83936785653616448972015-10-23T06:09:00.000-04:002015-10-23T11:46:03.999-04:00Civil War History & Wine -- a Great Combination!Living in Northern Virginia has its perks. After all, Civil War history surrounds us everywhere. As a added bonus, wineries dot the rolling countryside just beyond the inner suburbs. On Father's Day, my wife and children took me to <a href="http://www.wineryatbullrun.com/">The Winery at Bull Run</a>, which offers the best of both worlds. Opened in 2012 by Jon and Kim Hickox. the winery sits on land adjacent to the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/mana/index.htm">Manassas National Battlefield Park</a> and the famous Stone Bridge.<br />
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During the Civil War, the property was the site of Hillwood. The Weir family, who owned the estate at the time, lived at their nearby plantation known as <a href="http://www.manassascity.org/index.aspx?NID=221">Liberia</a> and left the property in the hands of a tenant or caretaker. (Liberia served as Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard's headquarters around the time of First Manassas. Gen. Irvin McDowell also did a stint there in 1862.) On July 21, 1861, soldiers under then-Colonels William T. Sherman and Erasmus Keyes marched across Hillwood on their way to ford Bull Run and join the Union attack. Capt. James Carlisle's battery of U.S. artillery also took position on the ridge line at Hillwood. During Second Manassas in August 1862, Confederate troops under A.P. Hill crossed the property en route to link up with the remainder of Stonewall Jackson's wing of the Army of Northern Virginia. As the Union forces retreated across the Stone Bridge following their defeat on August 30, they too passed by Hillwood. In other words, this land is an important piece of the story of both battles.<br />
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Following the devastation of the Civil War, the property was returned to family farming and other economic activities. The Hickox family purchased the land in 2008 and set to work on establishing their winery. Today, the winery's two vineyards are planted with Norton and Traminette varieties. The Winery at Bull Run also farms grapes on 115-acres in Rappahannock County, Virginia.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-79qlSClObeV55KwOajfnLn96037TXsKq4w2x_hZrd41tokh1p0F7yxqMF_z1onsfIrrwB66Lr6Gr1iIp0wfB8jvdP6iD4MoA3sOsyhoq2JUl_uzJjEWTGY0tZ5pwTvQKi9htnGAbrc/s1600/590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-79qlSClObeV55KwOajfnLn96037TXsKq4w2x_hZrd41tokh1p0F7yxqMF_z1onsfIrrwB66Lr6Gr1iIp0wfB8jvdP6iD4MoA3sOsyhoq2JUl_uzJjEWTGY0tZ5pwTvQKi9htnGAbrc/s640/590.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The remains of the Hillwood house (c. 1840s/50s) on the winery grounds. A fire nearly destroyed the historic structure in 1990. In 2008, Jon Hickox took down the damaged walls but preserved the foundation.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUInX5Lmy_so4GPrFfb9vdbh8aefTmgect01BKqWzKkVql76cxxr6fqlXuIQFfAxvG0aP7F4ek-75ltAMNjAMxrlH8wFuje8hEkoOVCxM4vrdSwpfyAFcJU-bmcPOF00AQ2H1bKutxp4/s1600/562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUInX5Lmy_so4GPrFfb9vdbh8aefTmgect01BKqWzKkVql76cxxr6fqlXuIQFfAxvG0aP7F4ek-75ltAMNjAMxrlH8wFuje8hEkoOVCxM4vrdSwpfyAFcJU-bmcPOF00AQ2H1bKutxp4/s640/562.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Tasting Room represents two styles of Virginia barns. The darker wood structure built of reclaimed stone and wood is about the same size as the 19th century barn that stood at Hillwood. The white structure is typical of the 1920s dairy barns that were seen across Northern Virginia until the 1950s. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaRQHmg3wjfTeB8nmKnwJ4gDeABWvhH6l21TtHC59hhtFrtoBZSdCcBUBciNZfKPP3NAqTtYbDw5N06PrwfIB9WSjf_Fj-HTLH8yS-BIC4U6Qqky7eO_u-qBUl7x9T7kTVPjmszstmCA/s1600/578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaRQHmg3wjfTeB8nmKnwJ4gDeABWvhH6l21TtHC59hhtFrtoBZSdCcBUBciNZfKPP3NAqTtYbDw5N06PrwfIB9WSjf_Fj-HTLH8yS-BIC4U6Qqky7eO_u-qBUl7x9T7kTVPjmszstmCA/s640/578.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Tasting Room at the winery features display cases filled with relics that were found on the property and at other places nearby. Pictured above is a variety of artifacts from a field hospital that was located in front of the Hillwood house.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Additional artifacts in the Tasting Room, including artillery shells, Minie balls, and a State of New York belt buckle.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view over the vineyard. Both Union and Confederate troops crossed this property at the time of the fighting at Manassas in July 1861 and August 1862. US-29, the Warrenton Turnpike during the war, is beyond the distant treeline.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6idX2yJsCsiW67Dx97R1pWwlatGi0AIcKmYD0VG-wxqpa-xErzAZz15PUJy2skZz4zpIvLIrGD-DbbKM3_zxHKBodKWUzUawLR5kc_bczR0T_jH6QQH-jthhSlEQGZ0ddoeRJiNWtCs/s1600/568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6idX2yJsCsiW67Dx97R1pWwlatGi0AIcKmYD0VG-wxqpa-xErzAZz15PUJy2skZz4zpIvLIrGD-DbbKM3_zxHKBodKWUzUawLR5kc_bczR0T_jH6QQH-jthhSlEQGZ0ddoeRJiNWtCs/s640/568.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What I believe to be a reconstructed winter cabin, similar to those used by Confederates in Centreville during the winter of 1861-62. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_N56VuIDxGrcYCCpwn_WefXMPn8BOT71MJERQWd1xDXDSA5RDZ7y-fU8QI1nts_5lLxlmjlEADLNI49M4VO3Mbj3o_s_9eDcY2w6l_BNyIYlWnmOfgbEihM3BlSmvtNqnrgxVXU066AM/s1600/564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_N56VuIDxGrcYCCpwn_WefXMPn8BOT71MJERQWd1xDXDSA5RDZ7y-fU8QI1nts_5lLxlmjlEADLNI49M4VO3Mbj3o_s_9eDcY2w6l_BNyIYlWnmOfgbEihM3BlSmvtNqnrgxVXU066AM/s640/564.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of several historical markers placed on the grounds at the winery. This one has a rather fanciful depiction of Hillwood, the Stone Bridge, and environs, during First Manassas.</td></tr>
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The Winery at Bull Run represents a successful marriage of preservation and agricultural tourism. Large swaths of commercial and residential development have largely spoiled this part of Northern Virginia; the Hickoxes ensured that the pastoral and historic landscape of Hillwood would be preserved for generations to come. An outing to the winery is a must for any Civil War enthusiast. And the allure of wine tasting will make it easy for other family members to indulge in your love of history.<br />
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<b><u>Sources & More Information</u></b><br />
Local historian Chuck Mauro has written an interesting history of the Hillwood property and winery. The booklet is available for purchase at the winery's Tasting Room.<br />
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For more information on visiting The Winery at Bull Run, go to the vineyard's website <a href="http://www.wineryatbullrun.com/">here</a>.<br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>Ron Baumgartenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12449787740945022061noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972158399131973757.post-84331630118972370862015-10-06T05:56:00.000-04:002015-10-06T05:56:37.744-04:00An Interview with Debra Kathman, Executive Director of the Manassas Battlefield TrustThis past August I visited <a href="http://www.nps.gov/mana/index.htm">Manassas National Battlefield Park</a> with my boys on the 153rd anniversary of Second Manassas. Living less than 30 minutes from the scene of the fighting, I consider Manassas my "local battlefield." I really enjoy exploring the ground on which both battles were fought. The close proximity means that if I want to focus on a specific part of First or Second Manassas -- for example, the fight on Chinn Ridge on August 30, 1862 -- I can do so with relative ease and little expense. (No offense to <a href="https://bullrunnings.wordpress.com/">Harry</a>, but I am more of a Second Manassas kind of guy!)<br />
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The day I visited in August, I had the pleasure of meeting Debra Kathman, the Executive Director of the <a href="http://manassasbattlefield.org/">Manassas Battlefield Trust</a>, who was staffing a table there. I had heard of this group on social media, but knew little about their activities. Debra was nice to enough to answer a few questions for me about her organization. I think you'll find that the Trust has an ambitious and admirable agenda, and I hope readers will consider joining the group.<br />
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<b>Q: What is the history of the Manassas Battlefield Trust?</b><br />
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A: The Trust was founded in 2013 through the efforts of then Park Superintendent Ed Clark (who is now the Superintendent of the Gettysburg National Military Park) and a core group of committed volunteers. All saw the potential for a friends group to support the Park and raise awareness and funds for projects and preservation. The group received initial support and guidance from the National Park Service, National Park Foundation, and the Civil War Trust, primarily to get the organization formed and legally up and running. The Trust was an all-volunteer effort until I was hired as the Executive Director this spring.<br />
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<b>Q: Tell us a little about yourself. How did you get interested in the Civil War and Manassas?</b><br />
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A. I have been fortunate to have had a varied career with jobs that have touched on many of my strengths and interests. I am a lawyer by training, and practiced law in both New York and the D.C. area for several years before moving into nonprofit and fundraising roles at several national organizations. Later, when my children were small, I decided to go back to school and pursue my interest in history. I received a Masters in History at George Mason University, and also worked as a research assistant at the Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media at Mason during and after my time as a student. When the job at Manassas Battlefield Trust came up, it was a perfect mix of history, fundraising and program management. While my scholarly interests lie more in legal and social history, I do have a particular interest in the 19th century, and growing up history was all around me, as my father was an avid antique dealer and collector, with a special interest in guns and weaponry. Since joining MBT I have been boning up on my Civil War history, which has been great fun.<br />
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<b>Q. What are the Trust’s goals?</b><br />
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A. The Trust’s main goal is to support the Manassas National Battlefield Park in the protection and preservation of the park through education, partnerships and philanthropy. While our primary purpose is to raise money to fund park needs that are unmet by federal funding sources, we also want to make the Trust and the Park a more visible and integral part of the local community. <br />
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<b>Q. What are your main targets for preservation and conservation?</b><br />
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A. We work closely with the Park Superintendent, Jon James, and his staff to determine what the priorities are for park projects, taking into account what is currently funded through their budget and what are the unmet needs that we can assist in funding. Currently, we are looking to help fund new exhibits at Stone House and Brawner Farm, as well as helping with a planned redesign of the information desk at the Visitors Center. Obviously, any of these projects are dependent on fundraising and financial support.<br />
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<b>Q. Have you or do you plan to partner with other groups, like the Civil War Trust?</b><br />
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A. We are always happy to partner with other organizations on projects that would benefit the Park. Our partnership with the Civil War Trust is a great example of this. Over the last two years we worked with them on both the acquisition of the <a href="http://potomaclocal.com/2014/11/17/manassas-battlefield-receives-grant-plans-expand/">Yeates Property</a> for the Park as well as defusing a potential problem that involved the possible building of cell towers adjacent to the Park. In the case of the cell towers, MBT and the CWT were able to negotiate a settlement that was in the best interest for all involved. We also have a member of the CWT staff act as a liaison between our two groups. In addition to the CWT, I have reached out to other Civil War and preservation related groups and have found them very collegial and easy to work with.<br />
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<b>Q. What can you tell readers about the Trust’s involvement in replacing trees that threatened the foundation of the Stone House?</b><br />
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A. This was a project that was before my time at the Trust, but I know that the trees were donated to the Park and replaced trees that had to be removed due to their encroachment on the foundation of the Stone House. This was one of the first projects completed by the Trust, and gave us some nice publicity. <br />
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<b>Q. What other projects has the Trust completed at the battlefield?</b><br />
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A. Other than the Yeates property and tree planting mentioned above, we recently funded the creation of three traveling trunks for use by local schools and community groups. As mentioned above, we are currently working with park staff on identifying other potential projects for funding, like additional exhibits to Stone House and Brawner Farm, assisting with the remodeling of the information desk at the Visitors Center, and new waysides where needed in the park. <br />
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<b>Q. Has the Trust taken a position on a possible battlefield bypass that would clear US-29 of congestion through Manassas NBP?</b><br />
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A. The Trust’s main focus is to support the protection and preservation efforts of the Park, so to that end we don’t have an official position on the bypass.<br />
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<b>Q. The battlefield is a tremendous educational resource. What activities do you have planned for schoolchildren?</b><br />
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A. I agree! My first trip to Manassas NBP was on a field trip with one of my daughters, and I think all of us at the MBT understand the value of the park to the local community. When completed, the aforementioned traveling trunks will be a great resource for local schools to use while teaching students about the Civil War. We have also arranged for a collection of Civil War related books to be donated to the brand new Haymarket Library that is set to open on October 22nd. The library will also have an exhibit of artifacts from the Park on display. There are also various activities at the park for schoolchildren, including the upcoming Saturday at the Park, scheduled for October 10th. The MBT website always has information on upcoming park events: <a href="http://manassasbattlefield.org/events/">http://mnassasbattlefield.org/events/</a><br />
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<b>Q. One thing I’ve noticed in multiple trips to Manassas is the absence of markers describing parts of the battle, particularly for Second Manassas. I was excited to read that you were planning to develop new interpretive waysides at the park. What can you tell us about this project?</b><br />
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A. I know the Park is currently replacing and updating many of the waysides throughout the park, and this is an ongoing project. There have been several areas identified (mostly for Second Manassas) that are still in need of updating, or in the case of the Stuart’s Hill and the Unfinished Railroad, adding waysides, and the Trust would love to be able to fund these….all it takes is raising the funds through our members and donors!<br />
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<b>Q. Your website mentions a lantern event to honor the fallen. We’d be interested in learning some more about this project.</b><br />
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A. This is something that other National Battlefields and National Military Parks do, and we would like to start the tradition here as well. Unfortunately, this takes both time and money, but we are anxious to get a program like this on the calendar as soon as possible.<br />
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<b>Q. Do you have any fundraisers in the works?</b><br />
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A. Right now our main focus is in obtaining new members. We recently revised our website and giving levels, and will be looking to add 100 new members (in honor of the National Park Service’s upcoming 100th anniversary) by the end of October. I hope you and your readers will consider joining the Trust and help us reach our goal!<br />
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<b>Q. What other projects do you have planned?</b><br />
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A. I have mentioned some of the possible projects that the Trust would like to support (new waysides, exhibits at Stone House and Brawner Farm, new Visitors Center desk), but our support is dependent on gaining members and donors to support the Trust and our goals. We are also hoping to get some special tours and programs scheduled for our Trust members in 2016.<br />
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<b>Q. What are your membership goals?</b><br />
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A. Long term, the sky is the limit—we would like as many members and donors as possible. In the short term, we are looking for those 100 new members by the end of October, again to celebrate the upcoming Centennial of the National Park Service. <br />
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<b>Q. How does one become a member?</b><br />
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A. Becoming a member is easy, and you have several options. The easiest way is to go on line and join (<a href="http://manassasbattlefield.org/donate/">http://manassasbattlefield.org/donate/</a>). Our memberships begin at $35, but any donation amount is welcome.You can also send me an email at dkathman@manassasbattlefield.org, or call our office at (703) 754-0791. <br />
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<b>Q. What are some of the benefits of membership?</b><br />
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A. All of our members receive a 15% discount at the Park bookstore, a nifty “I Support Manassas Battlefield Trust” sticker for your car or truck, as well as invitations to <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>upcoming special events and tours. We are also working on creating a membership pin (especially useful for all of our park volunteers who are also Trust members), and additional benefits for the higher giving levels. Stay tuned!<br />
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<b>Q. Is there anything else you want to tell readers?</b><br />
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A. I hope everyone keeps in mind the importance of the Manassas National Battlefield Park. Not only is this land historically significant as the site of two major battles of the Civil War and as the location of several notable local farms and homesteads, it is also one of the last large tracks of green space in an increasingly urbanized area. As such, Manassas is a unique park that deserves local attention and preservation. I would invite all of you to join our efforts to support the park, especially as we look to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. I hope you all will <a href="http://findyourpark.com/">#findyourpark</a>…and make that park Manassas National Battlefield Park!<br />
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Ron Baumgartenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12449787740945022061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972158399131973757.post-14894684606542395822015-09-11T06:13:00.000-04:002015-09-11T06:18:37.818-04:00Presentation on the Contraband Camps of Northern Virginia, Loudoun County Civil War Roundtable, Oct. 13I am pleased to report that the <a href="https://lccwrt.wordpress.com/">Loudoun County Civil War Roundtable</a> has invited me to speak next month about the contraband camps of Northern Virginia. During the first years of the Civil War, thousands of slaves fled to Washington in search of freedom. As the number of “contrabands” expanded, their living quarters became increasingly overcrowded and unsanitary, while the financial burden on the government continued to grow. Seeking to address these problems, the Union Army relocated freedmen and women to abandoned secessionist properties in Arlington and Fairfax during the spring of 1863. My talk will explore the history of these long-forgotten contraband camps, including economic, social, military, and political dimensions. My presentation will also offer some insights into where the camps were located in Northern Virginia. As readers know, I have devoted a lot of attention to this topic here on the blog, and I look forward to spreading story of the contraband camps to new audiences.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(courtesy of <a href="http://blogs.weta.org/boundarystones/2015/04/07/contraband-camps-northern-virginia">Arlington Hist. Soc.</a>)</td></tr>
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Below is some additional information on the event. I hope to see you there!<br />
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<u><b>When:</b></u> 7:30 pm, Tuesday, October 13<br />
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<b><u>Where:</u></b> Thomas Balch Library, 208 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia. Information on the location, including parking, can be found <a href="http://www.leesburgva.gov/government/departments/thomas-balch-library/library-hours-directions-contact-info">here</a>.<br />
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Attendance is free for first-time attendees of a LCCWRT meeting.<br />
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Ron Baumgartenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12449787740945022061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972158399131973757.post-25101894671024721522015-09-01T05:57:00.001-04:002015-09-01T05:57:17.192-04:00Confirming the Relation to my Civil War Ancestor<a href="http://dclawyeronthecivilwar.blogspot.com/2015/07/searching-family-history-for-right.html">A few weeks ago I wrote about some recent developments in the ongoing search to determine my exact relationship to Private William Baumgarten of Co. K, 102nd Pennsylvania</a>. Most of my research has established that my Great Great Grandfather John is likely related to William. I discovered an additional clue in John's obituary, which indicates that John had extended family in Alabama at the time of his death. William had moved to Alabama at some point after the war, and died there in 1921. I was getting closer.<br />
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Looking for more answers, I wrote to the <a href="http://diopitt.org/department-chancellor/office-archives-and-record-center">Archives and Records Center of the Diocese of Pittsburgh</a>. I figured that church sacramental records might contain some additional information as to the relationship between John and William. I recently received a response, and my request paid huge dividends.<br />
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John's marriage record from <a href="http://diopitt.org/parishes/saint-joseph-mount-oliver">St. Joseph in Mt. Oliver</a>, dated January 12, 1873, indicates that John (called "Johannum" in the record) was the son of "Joseph Baumgarten." William's father was also Joseph! (Unfortunately, John's mother is not named.) Piecing together all of the evidence that I have uncovered and detailed in previous posts, I am pretty sure that this record confirms that William is John's brother (or at the very least, half-brother). This would make Private Baumgarten my Great Great Great Uncle.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3vIieW-TpEhKVSAhUYg7N2_nn9Of8EWuZi24K03bwvowPXyDDZGYl6S5HnZazjUrbS5tp6AoOC_OtbGsupZ8V5aykDySNZ50cSFwg06Lt9JJdbuIdVMMMGU6Vyk_AYwh4yvvFman6Hw/s1600/St.+Joseph+Mt.+O+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3vIieW-TpEhKVSAhUYg7N2_nn9Of8EWuZi24K03bwvowPXyDDZGYl6S5HnZazjUrbS5tp6AoOC_OtbGsupZ8V5aykDySNZ50cSFwg06Lt9JJdbuIdVMMMGU6Vyk_AYwh4yvvFman6Hw/s400/St.+Joseph+Mt.+O+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Joseph's in Mt. Oliver, built in 1870. The church no longer stands (courtesy of <a href="http://diopitt.org/parishes/saint-joseph-mount-oliver">Diocese of Pittsburgh</a>).</td></tr>
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The Diocese also forwarded some additional information of interest. The researcher, Suzanne Johnston, could not locate baptismal records for John after searching church documents from 1847 through 1852. Perhaps John was not baptized, or perhaps the records are missing. In any event, she found William's baptismal records from <a href="http://diopitt.org/parishes/saint-philomena-strip-district">St. Philomena</a>, the first German ethnic parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. William received the sacrament on April 20, 1845. His older brother, Reinhard, was baptized there on February 20, 1841. I also learned that the boys had a sister, Maria, who was baptized in the parish on April 21, 1844. All three baptismal records indicate a father named Joseph and a mother named Martha (Marta) Stiz (possibly Stitz or Statz). A previous record had led me to believe that William and Reinhard were paternal half-brothers, but the baptismal documentation proves that both men had the same mother as well.<br />
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Five years ago, I had no idea that a Baumgarten had set foot in the United States prior to the end of the 19th century. Now I know that the family reached America's shores long before then. Even more of a revelation is that I have a close family relation through my Great Great Grandfather to a young man who volunteered to fight for the Union. My life-long interest in the Civil War has certainly assumed a more personal and intimate meaning.<br />
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<b><i><u>In Memoriam</u></i></b><br />
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This post, and my research on family history, are dedicated to my recently deceased Aunt Mary Ann and Uncle Richard, two of John's Great Grandchildren. They were thrilled to hear of my discoveries, and I'd like to think they are continuing to read from above.<br />
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<br />Ron Baumgartenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12449787740945022061noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972158399131973757.post-73383713120592033442015-08-11T06:19:00.000-04:002015-08-11T12:01:31.854-04:00What I've Been Up To....I recently finished Ethan Rafuse's impressive tome, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/McClellans-War-Failure-Moderation-Struggle/dp/0253345324/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">McClellan's War: The Failure of Moderation in the Struggle for the Union</a></i>. I've always found Gen. George McClellan a fascinating and complex person. Rafuse's biography challenges much of the conventional wisdom about Little Mac. He emerges as a more sympathetic character, whose devotion to Whig principles and the policy of conciliation became increasingly irrelevant as the war hardened and emancipation entered the picture. But I digress for the purposes of this post.<br />
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Rafuse dedicated an entire chapter to McClellan's last campaign, which took place in Loudoun Valley, Virginia in late October and early November 1862. Very little has been written about this period, including the cavalry battles at Philomont and Unison. Given that the 1862 Loudoun Valley Campaign largely occurred a places within 25 to 45 minutes drive from my home, I figured it might be interesting to read more about it, and to explore the ground where the marching and fighting actually occurred. As an added bonus, it is a postscript to the Antietam Campaign, which has been a focus of my studies on the war in the East.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivpQzZqVovs7t0n1A7qf-_1p3s8I32kSU_rBxEarm8y0PbUlH6Xl6SS8HVupv_gE_9W0GjtQpQM-3-vZ2nYIIlTxTrGccBH5MNZFgjSuzhfBGS4k_jJfDLOE1KijVgI53tyN1GHM7j7yU/s1600/IMG_1030+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivpQzZqVovs7t0n1A7qf-_1p3s8I32kSU_rBxEarm8y0PbUlH6Xl6SS8HVupv_gE_9W0GjtQpQM-3-vZ2nYIIlTxTrGccBH5MNZFgjSuzhfBGS4k_jJfDLOE1KijVgI53tyN1GHM7j7yU/s640/IMG_1030+%25281%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The North Fork ford along Jeb Stuart Rd. in Philomont. On November 1, 1862, the Confederate cavalry crossed at this point and clashed with Union forces. Maj. John Pelham's Horse Artillery fired from high ground on the far side of the creek. (Be warned! Do not try to cross here in your vehicle unless you are sure of its off-road capabilities!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmiLUs177Nqj2w4cV178m1l9f2wsJ686_swpJGJlp-7qXrIoBRhSYqMGJCTdi7xL-QTeh8975Lg6iCBAyp52jhYdGHgR6TP_uAd4wIwKcGvPLpOFUUjvpVxtjrjf57_DWhZ9cECzdNbY/s1600/IMG_0924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmiLUs177Nqj2w4cV178m1l9f2wsJ686_swpJGJlp-7qXrIoBRhSYqMGJCTdi7xL-QTeh8975Lg6iCBAyp52jhYdGHgR6TP_uAd4wIwKcGvPLpOFUUjvpVxtjrjf57_DWhZ9cECzdNbY/s640/IMG_0924.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fighting occurred near the Unison United Methodist Church (1832) on November 2, 1862. Union casualties were treated in the church following the fight.</td></tr>
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Aside from Rafuse's chapter, two resources have quickly become invaluable. In winter 1999, <i>Blue & Gray</i> published an issue featuring <a href="http://bluegraymagazine.com/store/product36.html">"Little Mac's Last Stand: Autumn 1862 in Loudoun Valley, Virginia"</a> by Patrick J. Brennan. The article is accompanied by a driving tour on the campaign. More recently, the National Park Service, in conjunction with the <a href="http://www.unisonva.org/">Unison Preservation Society</a>, published <a href="http://www.unisonva.org/publications.html"><i>Civil War in Loudoun Valley: The Battle of Unison, November 1-3, 1862</i></a>. This little book contains invaluable maps of all the fighting that took place between forces under Jeb Stuart and Alfred Pleasonton, as well as photographs of landmarks related to the battle. As far as I know, this book can only be obtained by sending a check directly to the Unison Preservation Society. It is well worth the price -- it contains detailed information that likely exists nowhere else in a secondary source.</div>
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I've already done some preliminary exploring at Unison and Philomont, and you may have seen pictures of my site visits on Facebook or Twitter. I may do a few blog posts as I dig deeper, but for now I am undecided about what direction my research will take. Sometimes it is just fun to get back to the basics and do a deep dive into a local topic that is a bit more obscure. As an added bonus, I get to tour some of the most historic and scenic countryside in the United States!</div>
Ron Baumgartenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12449787740945022061noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972158399131973757.post-84782696492148173432015-07-28T06:26:00.001-04:002015-07-28T20:02:09.864-04:00Civil War News and Views: The Advanced Confederate Line, September 1861Now that the Sesquicentennial is over, I look forward to revisiting the earlier war period in Northern Virginia. As readers may recall, I spent a lot of time a few years ago examining the Confederate advance closer to Washington at the end of August 1861, <a href="http://dclawyeronthecivilwar.blogspot.com/2011/08/longstreet-advances-closer-to.html">when forces under Gen. James Longstreet occupied the high ground on Munson's Hill and Mason's Hill</a>. Not long ago I came across the following report from the September 6, 1861 edition of the <i>Richmond Daily Dispatch </i>concerning the new position within sight of Washington:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Confederate States Army, Fairfax Station, Va., Sept. 1 </i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Last evening I returned from Mason's Hill, seven miles south of Washington, D. C. Mason's Hill derives its name from the gentleman's name (Capt. Mason, now in the Confederate service at Norfolk, Va.,) who is the proprietor. Mason's Hill is a very high and commanding position, and about two miles from Munson's Hill, both of which are now fortified and in possession of the ‘"rebels."’</i> </blockquote>
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<i></i><i>In a straight line from Mason's Hill stands the Capitol at Washington, and which can readily be seen with the naked eye. Whilst beholding the dome of the Capitol, I feel like one looking upon the ‘"promised land,"’ where shortly, I hope, ‘"may our possessions be."’ I had the pleasure of seeing Prof. Lowe's balloon, and am sure his observations were of little account to him. The Yankee experiment of ballooning came near receiving a great ‘"pull back,"’ by the firing upon the balloon spy by the Washington Artillery. Several shots were fired at it, when it immediately ‘"went down."’ Don't suppose, however, ‘"anybody was hurt."’ But, nevertheless. somebody was scared, for the balloon suddenly disappeared and did not come up again.</i></blockquote>
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<i>Camping at Mason's Hill is interesting and exciting — not a day passing away but a few Yankee pickets ‘"bite the dust."’ Whilst I was there, in one day eight were gathered by our boys, who keep a sharp lookout for the chaps, and give them a dead shot on sight — Several prisoners have been sent to General Davis' institution at Richmond for safe keeping. By the way, we will soon have a Yankee army on hand.</i> </blockquote>
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<i>On the morning of the 30th a large Federal camp, about two miles from Alexandria, broke up and retired, thinking, probably, the ‘"rebels"’ were getting too close for comfort.--They built a large fire, the smoke of which served to cover them as they broke up their camp.</i></blockquote>
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<i>Fine views are obtained from both Munson's and Mason's Hills, of the surrounding country, and also of the Potomac. Upon the Potomac, large vessels.</i></blockquote>
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<i>There has been considerable sickness in our camp; but, with the cool weather, the health of all the men is improving, and all will be on their feet soon, with musket in hand. No news at present that I dare tell you. Pen.</i></blockquote>
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<i>N. B.--Envelopes are very scarce. The man who goes into the manufactory of envelopes in the South, will make a fortune P. </i>(courtesy of <a href="http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:2006.05.0264:article=2&highlight">Perseus Digital Library</a>)</blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw54c2svdxTAZhZY_eGDz5fEkHq-c-FyHAs-yHQYGfnJUKyCVN2nBFRc-QA8VSbXkMkDODtAHFEs1eptoDX41zAkFj458dVCDf_SqjmOUVFyh4qJapBsd3tg9yqyOREPymGCGYSyUlf4k/s1600/ILNv39p351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw54c2svdxTAZhZY_eGDz5fEkHq-c-FyHAs-yHQYGfnJUKyCVN2nBFRc-QA8VSbXkMkDODtAHFEs1eptoDX41zAkFj458dVCDf_SqjmOUVFyh4qJapBsd3tg9yqyOREPymGCGYSyUlf4k/s640/ILNv39p351.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An engraving of the Confederate fortification on Munson's Hill, <i>Illustrated London News, </i>Oct. 5, 1861 (courtesy of <a href="http://beck.library.emory.edu/iln/browse.php?id=iln39.1111.101">Emory University</a>).</td></tr>
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Foreign correspondents also took an interest in the advanced Confederate line. A piece in the October 5, 1861 edition of the <i>Illustrated London News, </i>accompanying the above illustration, contained the following account of the Rebel position at Munson's Hill:<br />
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<i>This is the point in Virginia at which the Unionists and the Confederates are nearest each other, and whilst our Artist was making his sketch, crouched beneath the shelter of the foliage, within hailing distance of the enemy's pickets, a continual spattering of bullets fell round the spot. More than halfway up the road towards the hill is a barricade, from behind which a Secessionist sharpshooter is having some pot shots, and, screened by the hedges in the cornfields, others are doing the same. In the foreground are the Union advanced pickets, furnished by the Michigan Regiment, one of whom is in the act of firing at two or three men beyond the barricade. A Michigan soldier just shot lies in the road. The Confederates have some rifled cannon on the earthwork, and whenever they see a number of Federalists together they send in a dose of shells.</i></blockquote>
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<i>A New York paper thus describes the Confederate position on Munson's-hill:—"Munson's-hill is probably the highest eminence within ten miles of the Potomac, immediately opposite Washington. It is about six miles from the Capitol, the intervening space being covered with a succession of gently rolling hills, crowned principally with forest trees, although here and there dotted with churches, farmhouses, and country villages. The streams are unimportant and the roads dusty. The hill presents its most abrupt side towards the national capital, and, unlike those around, has but few trees on its summit. Many of those which originally existed have no doubt been felled while the intrenchments were in progress. At present an immense Confederate flag—the red, white, and blue stripes in which are at least five feet wide each—is the most prominent object upon the top of the eminence Two of the trees which have been allowed to remain were used as an observatory. The Confederate defences are constructed entirely of earth, fifteen feet being the highest elevation. The sloping hillside in front of the fort is clear of underbrush or trees, and is sufficiently extended to allow 3000 men to parade. The distance from the cover of the woods to the summit of the hill is not so great but that a quick movement would drive the enemy from their guns with very little loss of life. The flank defences of the fort consist of three batteries. It is believed that earthworks have been thrown up on another portion of the hill commanding the road to Fairfax Courthouse. The fort is intended more particularly to command the road leading from Alexandria to Falls Church, the road from Washington to Fairfax, just mentioned, the railroad from Alexandria to Vienna, and the position of Bailey's Cross-roads."</i></blockquote>
With little to report in the way of large-scale battles, newspapers turned their attention to the Confederate lines within view of the nation's capital. Munson's and Mason's Hills were popular topics. Add in the thrilling ascent of Lowe's balloons or the tension of the picket war, and correspondents had plenty of material to keep their readers interested and entertained. The Confederates abandoned the advanced position by the end of September 1861, and not long afterwards, both sides settled in for a long fall and winter in camp.Ron Baumgartenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12449787740945022061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972158399131973757.post-26156369259604526662015-07-15T06:19:00.002-04:002015-07-15T06:19:40.253-04:00Searching Family History for the Right ConnectionHow about a little break from the current Confederate controversy? I've written often about my "Civil War ancestor," Pvt. William Baumgarten of the 102nd Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, I still don't know William's exact connection to my branch of the Baumgarten family. Based on the research I have done, I think that William may be a brother or a cousin to my Great Great Grandfather John. Whenever I get the chance, I try to uncover the family link. After all, my membership in the <a href="http://www.suvcw.org/">Sons of Union Veterans</a> depends on it!<br />
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The other day I learned about the <a href="http://archives.post-gazette.com/">on-line archives of the <i>Pittsburgh Post-Gazette</i></a>. After a couple of searches (and paying for a month subscription), I found John's obituary from the January 23 and 24, 1936 editions of the paper. (January 23 is pictured below.) I learned some interesting facts about John, including his wife's maiden name and his exact street address, but was particularly drawn to the instructions at the bottom of the listing. The paper directed that the obituary also be circulated in the Ashland, Kentucky and Alabama papers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBxcOQwdJsk088Br49jXd6AL9WiL5nv2MEuXVt2pRw5U22mvgZK2IxkoaML7ymNxqRNES6R67WADphJQOz9_L0e8Ak-QMlr1c6nLjKWIx6-DB1fLY0RnkU9Tzc0vSy8HykXga4z6eY20/s1600/Pittsburgh_Post_Gazette_Thu__Jan_23__1936_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBxcOQwdJsk088Br49jXd6AL9WiL5nv2MEuXVt2pRw5U22mvgZK2IxkoaML7ymNxqRNES6R67WADphJQOz9_L0e8Ak-QMlr1c6nLjKWIx6-DB1fLY0RnkU9Tzc0vSy8HykXga4z6eY20/s400/Pittsburgh_Post_Gazette_Thu__Jan_23__1936_.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Those two states immediately rang a bell. John was related to a Reinhard Baumgarten, who had relocated to Ashland and died there in 1911. Moreover,William eventually found his way to Cullman, Alabama, where he passed away in 1921. It seems that someone in the Pittsburgh part of the family was seeking to spread the word of John's death to the Kentucky and Alabama branches. The obituary confirms a connection to those states, and further reinforces the possibility of a very close relationship among John, Reinhard, and William. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xSmw4RKL8w5nraKsj33zkXgv0fh5u3znp__iZxBhvxAjS152_1luFhVVKkZ_Zd12PWBVGS5HORvB5YDc8SB8wHI0JbEEqSfDOrbavB0oePHthyphenhyphenHzNNqIR3c-hd5BjWv0n4hnrzOpf6Q/s1600/John+Baumgarten+Death+Cert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xSmw4RKL8w5nraKsj33zkXgv0fh5u3znp__iZxBhvxAjS152_1luFhVVKkZ_Zd12PWBVGS5HORvB5YDc8SB8wHI0JbEEqSfDOrbavB0oePHthyphenhyphenHzNNqIR3c-hd5BjWv0n4hnrzOpf6Q/s640/John+Baumgarten+Death+Cert.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I also located John's death certificate on <a href="http://ancestry.com/">Ancestry.com</a>. (It wasn't there a few months ago.) From this document I discovered that John was born in Snowden Township (now South Park Township), Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, his parents' names are not recorded, so I could not match them against the names of Reinhard and William's parents. That said, this additional information enabled me to be even more precise in my request to the <a href="http://diopitt.org/department-chancellor/office-archives-and-record-center">Diocese of Pittsburgh</a> for John's baptismal, communion, and marriage records. I am hoping that from these additional documents I will learn the parents' names and at long last confirm my relationship to William. <br />
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I am also excited to follow the path opened by the death certificate as to <a href="http://www.southparkhistoricalsociety.com/News-or-Reviews.html">Snowden Township</a> and how my family ended up there. The township was created in 1845, the year of William's birth and only five years before John arrived on the scene. I would like to dig deeper into this linkage to discover what John and his family's life was like in antebellum Pittsburgh. I'll be sure to report back when more information is available, but I am increasingly hopeful that I will learn whether John and William were brothers, and whether William is a distant uncle. Stay tuned.<br />
<br />Ron Baumgartenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12449787740945022061noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972158399131973757.post-46390642305559340012015-07-03T13:52:00.003-04:002015-07-03T14:12:30.911-04:00Confederate Symbols, a Call to Moderation, and a Respect for HistoryI guess it was folly for me to think I could avoid writing a post on the recent controversy over Confederate symbols. I usually try to steer clear of these fights. However, as an amateur historian (or whatever you want to call me!), the recent turn of events is very troubling. We now find ourselves in a battle of extremes. On the one end, there are those who would just as soon tear down and erase every trace of the Confederacy on American soil; on the other, those who deny that slavery had anything at all to do with the Civil War or the Confederacy and assert that the Confederate flag is just "heritage."<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">The flag of the 28th Virginia Infantry, captured by the 1st Minnesota at Gettysburg, was on display at the Minnesota Historical Society for the 150th of the battle. (courtesy of </span><a href="http://blogs.mprnews.org/statewide/2013/06/no-virginia-there-will-be-no-battle-flag-for-the-gettysburg-anniversary/" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">MPR</a><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">)</span></td></tr>
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If you follow me on social media, you generally know where I come out on these issues. But I thought I'd use this post to break it down into a few key points:<br />
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1) As a boy, I grew up admiring the South, and the Confederate generals. (See <a href="http://dclawyeronthecivilwar.blogspot.com/2010/09/civil-war-at-oakwood-ridgewood.html">this post</a>.) I even had a few Confederate flags in my bedroom. I didn't really make the slavery connection back then. So the flag to me meant the Civil War and Lee and Jackson. Only later, as an adult, did I come to understand and appreciate the multiple meanings behind it, including the fact that it represents a political entity whose main purpose was the preservation and perpetuation of human bondage. That said, when I see the flag I still think first of battles and generals and my boyhood interest in the war -- despite my better instincts.<br />
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2) I think the Confederate flag, in any iteration, should not fly from state houses, town halls, and other government buildings. It wasn't flying there right after the war, and in many instances, it only went up again to protest the civil rights laws and desegragationist court decisions of the 1950s and 60s. Although it may represent the sacrifices and bravery of Confederate ancestors, it also represents slavery and treason to many others. And let's not forget to mention those who actually want the flag to fly there in the name of white supremacy. Gotta go.<br />
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3) Some people are now calling for the removal or elimination of Confederate monuments and memorials that dot town squares and other public places across the South. I can see little good in such actions. In most cases, these statues and other monuments were erected by the Confederate veterans themselves, or their immediate offspring. These memorials tell us a lot about how Southerners in the 19th and early 20th century chose to commemorate and remember the war. Sure, they may be associated with a cause we find distasteful (and should), but that doesn't give us a license to destroy our past. If we were to erase these memorials, we'd be no better than Soviet propagandists or ISIS radicals. Instead, as I have noted before on this blog, we should maintain these memorials, and place them in the proper context if necessary. This could include adding markers to explain the meaning of the monuments and what they represent. (The <i>Atlantic </i>published a thoughtful piece on this idea <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/06/-confederate-monuments-flags-south-carolina/396836/?utm_source=SFFB">here</a>. I also wrote previously about this issue with respect to Alexandria's Confederate monument <a href="http://dclawyeronthecivilwar.blogspot.com/2010/06/symbols-of-lost-cause-in-alexandria.html">here</a>.) Some bloggers and professional historians, like Kevin Levin in <a href="http://cwmemory.com/2015/07/02/when-a-monument-to-john-c-calhoun-was-torn-down/">this post</a>, are unfortunately opening the door to a slippery slope. Whatever our personal views on the Confederacy, we shouldn't be providing people with a rationale for dismantling the past in our public spaces.<br />
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4) The placement of the Confederate flags at museums and historic sites seems like a no-brainer. Where better to interpret the flag and display it than in its historical context? If visitors can't view original regimental Confederate Battle Flags at battlefield museums, for example, then they are missing the chance to connect with tangible and meaningful artifacts. However, the recent move by the National Park Service (NPS) at Ft. Sumter is troubling. (Check out Craig's excellent post <a href="https://markerhunter.wordpress.com/2015/07/02/ft-sumters-confederate-flags/">here</a> on the subject.) Hopefully others won't go the same way, and Ft. Sumter will reverse its decision.<br />
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5) Reenactments and living history demonstrations are another appropriate place to show the flag. Again, however, we see a step backwards when <a href="http://www.ltsg.edu/about-us/news/2015/confederatebattleflag">the Gettysburg Seminary bans the display of the flag in a way that adversely impacts living history events held on campus.</a> Far from being <a href="http://cwmemory.com/2015/06/28/gettysburgs-lutheran-seminary-takes-courageous-stand-on-confederate-flag/">a "courageous stand,"</a> the action represents nothing more than caving in to public pressure. "Courageous" would have been a position that allowed display of the colors by reenactment groups.<br />
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6) Another part of the debate involves what I dub "the bottom of the barrel." Some folks are now just overreaching and looking for excuses to do a complete purge. The debate has focused on removing all vestiges of the Confederacy from gift shops, on-line stores, military bases, street names, and even TV programming. Some of this is downright silly. <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/tv-land-pulls-dukes-hazzard-reruns/story?id=32152437">I mean, is the Duke boys' car really hurting anyone</a>? One of the most ridiculous and foolish proposals I have seen calls for the <a href="http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/25479/world_turned_upside_down.html">re-naming of a U.S. Navy vessel because it carries the name of a Confederate victory, Chancellorsville</a>! As for sales of the flag, private enterprises have the right to sell what they want, but they may just be hurting their bottom line, and their capitulation speaks more to their inability to stand up to the current witch hunt than anything. Street, school, and base names have at times been controversial, but I am sure that most people haven't thought twice about them as they go about their daily lives. How many are actually offended by a street or school named after a Confederate icon? That said, if a community wishes to rename public places and streets through the democratic process, then be my guest. Again, however, that just seems like overkill.<br />
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7) So how do we get out of this mess? A solution calls for mutual understanding and moderation, as well as a healthy dose of respect for preserving our history. America needs to stop the wholesale rush to dismantle or reshape the past, and instead engage in a thoughtful discussion about the Confederacy. (For example,see Robert's post <a href="https://cenantua.wordpress.com/2015/07/02/consider-for-example-an-unwelcome-army-on-your-doorstep/">here</a>.) We also can't ignore the hard truths about the causes of the Civil War.<br />
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I am a bit saddened that we did not use the Sesquicentennial to address our history in this way. Instead, extreme passions in the wake of the tragedy in Charleston have driven the agenda just as we are wrapping up the commemoration of our bloodiest war. One possible step in the right direction involves building, rather than tearing down. We should take action to remember slavery and the role of African-Americans in the war. I'd love to work on historical signage to commemorate Northern Virginia's contraband camps. I am sure there are many such opportunities across our country. As we celebrate the Fourth of July, let's strive to heal the divisions that have developed and come together as a country to shape a commemorative landscape that works for all.Ron Baumgartenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12449787740945022061noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972158399131973757.post-17882646700282531612015-06-25T06:20:00.000-04:002015-11-02T19:28:06.988-05:00A Trip to Gettysburg with the KidsAs the followers of this blog's feeds on Facebook and Twitter know, I often take my twin sons to Civil War sites in and around Northern Virginia. I am a big believer in exposing them to history at an early age. They may not really "get it," but I am sure that deep down, an understanding, or better yet, an interest, is taking root.<br>
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Truth be told, I started reconnecting with the war just as the boys were born. In those early days, I spent what little down time I had writing posts and researching, much to my wife's chagrin! As the boys grew, I grew too, as a writer, blogger, and amateur historian. I suppose it was fitting that for their fifth birthday I would take them to the granddaddy of all Civil War battlefields -- <a href="http://www.nps.gov/gett/index.htm">Gettysburg</a>. I also planned to make the vacation their first camping trip. My own parents could hardly believe that their son, a fan of the luxury hotel, was voluntarily returning to a campground after all these years. We opted on a Kamp Kabin at the <a href="http://koa.com/campgrounds/gettysburg/">Gettysburg/Battlefield KOA</a> -- not exactly roughing it, but try spending a few days with little boys and no access to a private restroom.<br>
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The twins are no strangers to battlefields. After all, they first visited <a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=manassas+national+battlefield+park&src=IE-SearchBox&FORM=IE10SR">Manassas National Battlefield Park</a> when they were almost three. Since then, they've returned to Henry Hill on numerous occasions. (We are only twenty-five minutes away. How wonderful it is to have a major Civil War battlefield at your doorstep.) They've also crossed Burnside Bridge at Antietam and walked through the historic streets of Harpers Ferry. But I would be lying if I didn't admit a bit of trepidation about spending a few days at Gettysburg with them. Manassas is one thing, but Gettysburg is quite another.<br>
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Even before driving up US-15, I started by kindling some enthusiasm for the story of the battle. I showed the boys some edited scenes from the film, <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107007/">Gettysburg</a></i>. Jack would continually ask me, "Who won, the blue guys or the gray guys?" every time he saw a scene from the battle. I had nightmares that he'd do the same once out on the field. Drawing from their recognition of a few key Civil War personalities, I also told them about Lee leading the Confederates, and how President Lincoln gave a speech there. <br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excited to be camping....</td></tr>
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Gettysburg is a family-friendly place, which makes visiting with little ones easier than at some destination like California wine country. However, I was determined to keep the kids away from the tourist traps and show them the proper way to visit a Civil War site. It is never too early to teach kids how to engage in respectable and respectful tourism.<br>
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We started at the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/gett/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm">Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center</a>. Unfortunately, and perhaps surprisingly, our first run-in with a Ranger was a little disappointing. He brushed us off when I asked for those Civil War NPS collectors cards and advised that we should come back tomorrow to get them instead. He never explained why. The Park Service redeemed itself the next day when a new Ranger handed each of my very happy boys a complete set of Gettysburg cards.<br>
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The film at the VC may have been a bit much for the boys' little brains -- try teaching concepts of slavery and emancipation to rising kindergartners -- but the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/gett/learn/historyculture/gettysburg-cyclorama.htm">Cyclorama</a> had them in awe. They marveled at what they were seeing and couldn't believe that it was only a painting. We also walked through the <a href="http://www.gettysburgfoundation.org/11/gettysburg-museum-exhibits">museum</a>. The boys each spent time looking at various artifacts from the battle and watching the informational videos. Jack was a bit more engaged; Cam moved at breakneck pace so that we would leave to check-in at the campground sooner.<br>
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Of course, battlefield stomping took top billing for us. We visited some key sites on Thursday evening. The first time Jack looked out over the field where Pickett's men advanced, he exclaimed to me, "That was a long way to march!" Pretty insightful for a new preschool graduate. We also made our way to the <a href="http://gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/monuments-to-individuals/father-william-corby/">Father William Corby Monument</a>, where I produced a copy of the statue in green plastic from their toy soldier set and told them what the good padre was doing there. We eventually reached the Angle and the Copse of Trees. Jack stood mesmerized by the stone wall. He remembered seeing scenes of all those "blue guys" waiting there to receive the Confederate charge.<br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jack looks at the Union position around the Angle.</td></tr>
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We rose early on Friday and headed back to the battlefield to beat the crowds and the heat. Best idea ever. The boys and I had most of the stops to ourselves, including Little Round Top. Jack could only shout "Wow!" when he looked out over the field from up there. The boys particularly loved climbing to the top of the <a href="http://gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/union-monuments/new-york/new-york-infantry/12th-44th-new-york/">44th New York Monument</a>, or "the castle" as they called it. I also walked with the twins to the scene of the 20th Maine's fight, and reminded them of the scene in the film where the men in blue fixed bayonets and rushed the Confederate attackers. After Little Round Top, we stopped at Devil's Den, but the boys surprisingly took a pass on checking out the huge boulders. Seeing the <a href="http://gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/union-monuments/pennsylvania/state-of-pennsylvania/">Pennsylvania Monument</a>, Jack and Cam were eager to meet the challenge of going all the way to the top. Only later did I realize that Cam was confronting his own fear of heights. No wonder he rushed to get back down!<br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Native sons checking out the <a href="http://gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/confederate-monuments/confederate-state-monuments/virginia/">Virginia Monument</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jack gestures towards the staging area for Pickett's division. As friend Harry Smeltzer of <i><a href="https://bullrunnings.wordpress.com/">Bull Runnings</a> </i>put it, Jack already has a good point and a certain future with the NPS!</td></tr>
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Before heading back to the campground, we stopped at the <a href="http://www.seminaryridgemuseum.org/">Seminary Ridge Museum</a>. Although I knew that the boys were a bit too young, I really wanted to check out this relatively recent addition to the Gettysburg scene. Just like everything else, the admissions fee is waived for little ones under six, so I didn't lose too much money in doing so! The boys were moved by the lifelike wax tableaux of hospital scenes at the Seminary. They had a lot of questions about the care of the wounded, and I used the visit as a way of teaching them that war is a "bad thing that hurts people."<br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the top of the Pennsylvania Monument.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Studying a hospital scene at the Seminary Ridge Museum.</td></tr>
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We spent Friday afternoon shopping for souvenirs on Steinwehr Avenue. Jack and Cam both bought a few Civil War-themed items, including the requisite bag of plastic soldiers. After eating an ice cream and waiting out a torrential downpour while visiting Oak Hill, we headed back to our cabin. As I watched the boys play outside with toy sword and miniature flags, I knew that something had sunk in when I saw them charge, shouting "Irish Brigade forward!"<br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Dad, can I get this?"</td></tr>
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On Saturday I took the twins to <a href="http://steamintohistory.com/">Steam Into History</a> in New Freedom, Pennsylvania, about an hour east of Gettysburg. If your kids like trains as much as mine do, and like their father does, this is a must-see attraction. We did the hour long excursion to Glen Echo. The train is pulled by a replica of the 4-4-0 locomotive that took Lincoln to Gettysburg. Passengers sit in recreated 19th century passenger cars. Jack and Cam were thrilled to hear the steam whistle as the train chugged along past small towns and farms. As an added bonus, the day we rode an entertainer dressed in Union blue told local stories about the Civil War and sang songs from the era. Overall, a family won't go wrong paying a visit to Steam Into History.<br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a fine example of Industrial Age beauty!</td></tr>
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Returning to Ashburn, I considered the trip a success. The boys seemed impressed with the battlefield, and I am sure they learned a thing or two. Meltdowns were kept to a minimum. I suppose flexibility on my part was key -- the schedule can't be too fixed or rigid with little ones in tow. And you got to make room for a swim in that campground pool. Jack and Cam may not remember every little detail about what they did, but I am pretty sure they will always remember their first trip to Gettysburg. We all do!Ron Baumgartenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12449787740945022061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972158399131973757.post-80851490447845485972015-06-03T06:55:00.000-04:002015-10-04T17:22:00.372-04:00A Talk with Eugene Schmiel, Author of "Citizen-General: Jacob Dolson Cox and the Civil War Era"A couple of years ago I had the pleasure of meeting Gene Schmiel during a <a href="http://dclawyeronthecivilwar.blogspot.com/2013/08/savas-beatie-author-conclave-south.html">Savas Beatie Author Enclave at South Mountain and Antietam</a>. At the time, Gene was putting the finishing touches on his biography of Union Gen. Jacob Cox. The book, <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Citizen-General-Jacob-Dolson-Society-America/dp/0821420836">Citizen-General: Jacob Dolson Cox and the Civil War Era</a></em> was published by Ohio University in 2014. <a href="http://www.ohioswallow.com/book/Citizen-General">Gene's biography received many favorable reviews and has been featured as a History Book Club Reading Selection</a>. Gene was nice enough to take the time to answer some questions about his book and Cox. I think you'll find his responses interesting, to say the least. And if you'd like to meet Gene and hear him speak about "Jacob Cox and the West Point-'Political General' Divide in the Union Army," be sure to head to the <a href="https://lccwrt.wordpress.com/2015/05/23/lccwrt-june-2015/">Loudoun County Civil War Rountable next Tuesday, June 9, at 7:30 p.m</a>.<br />
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<b>Q. First off, tell readers a little about yourself.</b><br />
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A. I am a retired U.S. Department of State Foreign Service Officer who served overseas in Sweden, South Africa, Djibouti, Kenya, and Iceland. I was Charge’ d’Affaires at three embassies and Consul General in Mombasa, Kenya. I now work part-time at the State Department on international political-military and terrorism-related issues. <br />
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Before joining State, I was an Assistant Professor of History at St. Francis University (Pennsylvania). I earned my Ph.D. from The Ohio State University, where I met my wife, Bonnie Kathryn. We have two children, David and Jennifer, and five grandsons. My wife and I wrote a book in 1998 about our life in the Foreign Service entitled, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Welcome-Home-Foreign-Service-Family/dp/0963926063">Welcome Home: Who are You? Tales of a Foreign Service Family</a></i>. We live in Gainesville, Virginia<br />
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<b>Q. Why did you choose Jacob Cox as the subject for a biography? </b><br />
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A. My focus in grad school was 19th century U.S. history, and Jacob Cox’s life (1828-1900) was in many ways a microcosm of the most important developments during that era. His military career, his role in Ohio and national politics, his tenure as both a railroad and a university president, and his authorship of highly-respected histories of the Civil War all made him one of the most important figures from the era about whom no one had written a biography. He even became one of the world’s most renowned amateur microscope scientists and wrote thirty-two articles about that topic for scholarly journals. In sum, he was a “Renaissance Man in the Gilded Age.” My dissertation was the “first draft” of that biography, and my book <i>Citizen General: Jacob Dolson Cox and the Civil War Era</i> was the conclusion of that process. <br />
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<b>Q. What sources helped you the most? </b><br />
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A. The Cox papers at the Oberlin College archives were by far the most important. Cox was not only an avid correspondent, but also someone with a sense of history, who saved his letters and most of those he received from other prominent individuals. Thankfully, he also had good handwriting! Among other important sources were the <i>Official Records</i>, the papers of Cox’s contemporaries and friends such as James A. Garfield and Rutherford B. Hayes, and Cox’s writings, especially his histories and extensive number of reviews of Civil War books. <br />
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<b>Q. How would you describe the thesis of your book?</b><br />
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A. In my preface I noted that in his book, <i>The Civil War Dictionary</i>, Mark Boatner wrote that it “might well be titled, ‘What ever happened to J.D. Cox?’” His thesis was that Cox, like many others in the war, had served well, but had been forgotten. So, in effect, my goal was to answer Boatner’s question, as follows: Jacob Cox was one of the best Northern “citizen generals” in the Civil War, an influential postwar political leader, and the ablest participant-historian of the war, one whose writings have been both recognized as authoritative and objective and quoted by serious Civil War historians ever since. <br />
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<b>Q. How do you rate Cox among Civil War Union generals?</b><br />
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A. I think it would be fair to say that a consensus of Civil War historians would place Cox in the top five of the “political” generals, along with men such as “Black Jack” Logan, Joshua Chamberlain, and Alpheus Williams. [William T.] Sherman clearly agreed – he thought so much of Cox’s ability that not only offered him a chance to command the 23rd Corps on the March to the Sea, but he also offered Cox a brigadier generalship in the Regular Army at the end of the war. The fact that Sherman and Grant both suggested to President Andrew Johnson that he choose Cox as Secretary of War to resolve the dispute with Congress over the “Tenure of Office” Act is additional evidence of Cox’s abilities and reputation. <br />
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<b>Q. What sets Cox apart from other political generals in the Civil War? </b><br />
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A. One key difference was that Cox was not politically prominent before the war, having served just one term as a back bencher in the Ohio Senate. Most historians, when using the term “political generals,” point to men like Logan, Butler, and Banks, all of whom were prominent already in national or state politics, and who could “demand” senior positions and commands. By contrast, Cox worked his way up and was given increasingly important positions by the senior generals whom he impressed with his ability, e.g. Rosecrans, McClellan, Burnside, Sherman, and Schofield. <br />
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Secondly, Cox was not a self-promoter – often to his detriment. In his letters to his wife he often expressed dismay that incompetents (both political and West Pointers) were getting good press and that others were more successful in lobbying Congress for promotions. <br />
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Third, he always sublimated his political views to military necessity. For example, when he served under John Schofield, a Democrat, during the Atlanta, Franklin-Nashville, and North Carolina Campaigns, Cox wrote to his wife that Schofield’s views were irrelevant on the battlefield and that he would carry out his orders without question. <br />
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Fourth, whereas McClellan and Sherman, among others, looked down on volunteer officers, they seemed to make an exception for Cox, whose abilities they respected as they offered him substantive responsibilities. They knew that Cox was, as I put it in the book, the “quintessential subordinate” officer, and that they could rely on him totally. <br />
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<b>Q. Tell us about Cox’s relationship with Gen. George McClellan. </b><br />
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A. In the beginning the two were very close, but after the war, Cox adjudged both that McClellan had critical weaknesses as a commander and that he was two-faced when dealing with his subordinates and superiors.<br />
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McClellan began the war as commander of Ohio’s troops and Cox was the military chief of staff of Ohio Governor William Dennison. They clearly got along well, and McClellan was impressed by Cox’s study of military tactics and history, as well as his intellectual command of military matters. McClellan, despite his prejudice against “volunteers,” chose Cox to command troop training at Camp Dennison and gave him an autonomous command in the West Virginia Campaign. <br />
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During the Maryland Campaign, Cox’s “Kanawha Division” was the advance element of the Army of the Potomac in taking Frederick and helping win the Battle of South Mountain. At the Battle of Antietam, Cox was tactical commander of the Union left wing, and he came within minutes of sweeping Lee’s forces from the field. McClellan praised him for his efforts and supported his promotion to Major General, even as he regretted Cox’s orders that October to go back to West Virginia to push back a Confederate offensive. <br />
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Cox noted in his letters and writings that he always respected McClellan during the war and believed he was the general best qualified to command Union troops. However, when he began doing research for his book reviews and his books, he came to a very different set of conclusions. He was especially taken aback when reading McClellan’s <i>Own Story</i>, from which he discovered that McClellan was two-faced and inclined to blame others for his failings. While preparing his review of that book, Cox made multiple notes in the margins of his copy of the text. Among his outraged comments were, “I don’t believe a word of it”; “Quintessence of nonsense!”; “What Stuff;” and “Always a lion in the way!” In his review, his wrote that that the book was “full of blinding self-esteem,” in which “everyone is a rogue and incapable except McClellan.”<br />
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In many ways Cox’s review and his articles about McClellan in West Virginia and the Battle of Antietam in the <i>Battle and Leaders of the Civil War</i>, and his section on the latter battle in his <i>Military Reminiscences</i> set the historiographical foundation for the judgment about McClellan’s shortcomings as a commander. As he wrote in the Antietam article, noting acerbically McClellan’s claim in his memoirs that because he led the Maryland Campaign without written orders, the administration could have charged him with usurpation of command, “The suggestion of McClellan twenty years afterward that it had all been a pitfall prepared for him, would be revolting if…the absurdity of it did not prove that its origin was in a morbid imagination.” Finally, underscoring that throughout his campaigns McClellan’s army greatly outnumbered the enemy and his equipment and supplies were far better, Cox commented that “McClellan’s persistent outcry that he was sacrificed by his government destroys even that character for dignity and that reputation for military intelligence which we fondly attributed to him.”<br />
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<b>Q. Why do you think Cox hasn’t attracted the attention of other Union generals like Winfield Scott Hancock? </b><br />
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A. Not being a West Pointer, he had no major command positions, and partly as a result he suffered from what he called the problem of being a second in command and being forgotten in the writing of history. In fact, that was a key impetus to his career as an historian. <br />
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Also, Cox was what might be called “colorless.” That is, he was a staid, stoic, and unemotional intellectual who lacked the common touch. He had been a divinity student at Oberlin, and for some time a career as a minister and professor of theology seemed likely in his future. While his men respected him, they never “loved” him in the way McClellan’s did. These characteristics made him an effective commander since he never lost control of himself and was always a voice of calm reason, even during the most tempestuous moments of the conflict – except once (see the next item). <br />
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Finally, as noted above, he was not a self-promoter, so while others sought and got the limelight, the reticent Cox always said he would rely on history to recognize his contributions. <br />
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<b>Q. In your view, what was Cox’s most important military accomplishment during the Civil War?</b><br />
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A. If I had to pick one, it would be his command of the defensive line at the Battle of Franklin, November 30, 1864. His commander, John Schofield, made Cox acting commander of the 23rd Corps and most of the 4th Corps and ordered him to set up a defensive line to protect the withdrawal of troops and the wagon train on its way to Nashville. Schofield did not even visit Cox during the day, so confident was he that Cox would, as always, perform his responsibilities effectively. <br />
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When John Bell Hood decided to attack frontally at Franklin, most generals on both sides were surprised. Cox too thought Hood would try to outflank the Union forces, but having seen Hood attack frequently on the Atlanta Campaign, he decided to set up a strong bulwark against a frontal attack. The only problem was that he had to leave a gap in the line for the wagon train and withdrawing troops. He set up a second line behind the first in case Hood did in fact attack. When that happened and fleeing Union troops, with rebels just behind them, poured through the opening, Cox faced a major challenge. At that moment, everything he had fought for and all of the contributions he had made to the Union war effort were at risk.<br />
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In the book I wrote that it was at that moment that, for one of the few times in his life, Cox dropped his stoic veneer and became an emotional “warrior” – though even then in a controlled manner. He rode to the front, waving his sword and screaming at his men to meet the challenge. But he still was calm enough to, at one point, calm his nervous horse, which was bucking wildly because of the noise. The Union forces met the challenge, and Cox’s leadership was the critical element of their success. He was the “unsung hero” of the Battle of Franklin.<br />
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<b>Q. What were Cox’s most enduring contributions outside of the war? </b><br />
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A. Cox was the ablest participant-historian of the Civil War, and his books and articles about the war are his enduring legacy. His two-volume <i>Military Reminiscences</i>, in particular, is frequently cited by modern Civil War historians not only because it is a primary source, but also because Cox has been shown to be a superb historian. His books on the Atlanta Campaign, on the Battle of Franklin, and on Sherman’s March to the Sea, the Franklin-Nashville Campaign, and the North Carolina Campaign all have stood the test of time. His five articles in the <i>Battles and Leaders of the Civil War</i> volumes, as well as his 161 reviews of books for the <i>Nation</i> magazine from 1874-1900, are further evidence of the quality of his research and historical writing. <br />
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<b>Q. Why didn’t Cox ultimately succeed in politics like some other well-known Ohioans?</b><br />
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A. When the war ended, most political observers would have said that Cox was someone whose rise to national political prominence was inevitable. He had a sterling war record, was one of the founders of the Ohio Republican Party, and had close friends in the national political and military leadership. Also, his home base of Ohio was important because that state was the home of five of the next six presidents, all of whom had war records (Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Harrison, and McKinley). When Cox was elected Governor of Ohio in 1865, he could have used that position as a springboard to be as Grant’s ultimate successor. (In fact Grant’s successor was Cox’s successor as governor, Rutherford B. Hayes). <br />
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Instead Cox’s established reputation as an uncompromising intellectual intent on speaking his own mind at all times proved to be his political downfall. He also lacked charisma and tended to give political speeches which were academic-oriented. His first political problems came when he suggested in the Ohio campaign (in his famous “Oberlin Letter”) that a possible solution to the racial problems of the postwar South was the creation of a special area where blacks would be given special privileges and protected from white reaction. The practical politicians all told him to say nothing about the issue, but he insisted that he wanted to contribute to the national debate. The plan was considered too radical – even if the blacks would not be forced to go there – and political leaders now knew that Cox had a strong independent streak. <br />
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Then, as the division between Andrew Johnson and the Radical Republicans widened, Cox supported Johnson for some months, and then tried to play a peacemaking role between the two. He was soon seen as insufficiently “loyal” by both sides, and decided not to run for re-election. Finally, in 1870 Cox resigned from Grant’s Cabinet on another matter of principle, civil service reform, and became a leader of the Liberal Republican party. Its loss meant that whereas in 1865 his political future seemed wide open, by 1873, he was in permanent national political exile. He did serve one term in the House of Representatives, where he hoped to help implement the policies of his wartime subordinate, Rutherford B. Hayes, but again his stubborn commitment to principle and refusal to become a “practical politician” convinced him to leave politics. <br />
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In an introspective letter written to a friend in 1885, Cox said that he well knew that he had a golden political future in 1865, but that:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>My experience of public life had probably been about as great as may come unsought to one who has stubbornness of opinion. Enough, at best, to warrant me in thinking that I too could have cut a more prominent figure had I thought the game worth the candle…and so without disappointment or envy, regret or longing, I have been able to go my way thinking my own thoughts, advocating my own opinions, calling no mob master.</i></blockquote>
<b>Q. How did Cox’s early Whig views influence his stance on issues like racial equality?</b><br />
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A. Cox’s first political affiliation was with the Whigs, which he joined just as it was undergoing its death throes in the early 1850s. He joined the Whigs rather than the Free-Soilers, in great part because the former’s membership was representative of Anglo-Saxon elites with moderate views on slavery and its expansion. Despite Cox’s education at Oberlin College, he was not a radical on racial issues, though he was, of course, intensely anti-slavery. <br />
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Like other Whigs who joined the Republicans, he believed that blacks should be free, but that they would inevitably be second-class citizens. Unlike many Whigs, he didn’t support overseas colonization, but during the war he suggested in a letter that black soldiers who performed well might be given land in Texas which would be off-limits to whites. That idea was the germ of his proposal in the “Oberlin Letter.” Cox, who as a former divinity student and potential professor always wanted to stimulate intellectual thought, saw this as an attempt to stimulate a dialogue about possible solutions. His political friends, including Garfield, warned him not to do it, but his instinct was always to be “tutelary.” It was exactly the wrong approach at that point in his political career – he paid the price, but as noted above, he was always his own man.<br />
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<b>Q. Are there any other Civil War books on the horizon?</b><br />
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A. Not for a while, if at all. I do have an article coming out in October in an Ohio history magazine, <i>Timelines</i>, about Cox’s near-miss at Antietam, when his forces, on the verge of taking Sharpsburg and breaking the Confederate right wing, were hit in the flank by A.P. Hill’s men and forced to halt their advance. <br />
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I also might do some articles about related topics from Cox’s life. One would be about his close friendship with Jack Casement, who was his subordinate during the war. Casement, who was the main builder of the Union Pacific Railroad, was Cox’s complete opposite in personality: brusque, abrasive, coarse, etc., but also, like Cox, a quintessential subordinate. It was a friendship of complete opposites.<br />
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Thanks so much to Gene for taking the time to answer my questions. Cox is truly a fascinating subject for a biography, all the more so given his relative obscurity among Civil War generals!<br />
<br />Ron Baumgartenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12449787740945022061noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972158399131973757.post-72235879386112369662015-05-28T06:12:00.000-04:002015-05-28T06:12:39.667-04:00Five Years of Blogging!Today <i>All Not So Quiet Along the Potomac </i>turns five. When I began blogging in 2010, I wasn't sure what the future of this endeavor would bring. Looking back, I can truly say it's been an interesting, rewarding, and sometimes enthralling experience. I find it hard to believe that I've reached the five-year milestone in what has been one of the busiest times of my adult life.<br />
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That said, life's stresses and responsibilities finally took their toll on my blogging this year. For a number of reasons, including a new home, new commute, new daughter, and greater work responsibility, I just couldn't find the time to do a post or two every week, and so I adapted accordingly. I tend to post every other week now. Not that I won't go back to what I was doing a few years ago, but for now, the frequency is likely to remain a bit less than in years past.<br />
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At the same time, I've maintained a very active presence on Facebook and Twitter. Truth be told, I communicate more with readers through these social media platforms than through blogging. I also like the immediacy of posting live to Facebook and Twitter whenever visiting battlefields and other Civil War sites.<br />
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One of the best things about blogging is the ability to set your own agenda. In prior years, I wrote a heck of a lot about the Civil War encampments of present-day McLean, Virginia. But this year has brought an intense focus on the contraband camps of Northern Virginia. I've enjoyed sharing my discoveries on this little-known topic with my readers. My interest led to a speech before the Arlington Historical Society as well as a related interview with WETA-TV.<br />
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I also began to write more about my Civil War ancestor, Pvt. William Baumgarten of the 102nd Pennsylvania. In January, I had the pleasure of talking with William's living grandson, Richard, who happens to be one of my parents' neighbors back in Western Pennsylvania. Richard even gave me a framed photograph of his grandfather. I also took the opportunity to follow William's wartime experiences in 1864, culminating in my participation in a descendants' reception for the 150th anniversary of the Third Battle of Winchester.<br />
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And speaking of the Sesquicentennial, this year as in years past I wrote about numerous 150th anniversaries, both large and small. I also reported on my attendance at various Sesquicentennial events at places like Cold Harbor and Ford's Theatre. As the 150th commemorations wind down, I will miss this aspect of blogging, but I would be lying if I didn't admit that I have a bit of burnout on all things Sesquicentennial!<br />
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At the start of 2015 I also launched a "Civil War Views" series, which has become a relatively popular feature. I have liked sharing and analyzing various photographs and sketches of the war in Northern Virginia and Washington. And believe me when I say that there is no shortage of rare and lesser-known images to discuss.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMk299uOjVXuVian7Hhk-8-UX8paBT9VV9woysP18M_hRAgGw5INrt95Uy32-jjJUqc9Qlgw3ZMu4bV6hYfpPprEud_eErLmG6eppuT_OzKcHikJQiPLg_bZSDsya0-yFziO7jB0Ta0yE/s1600/IMG_5499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMk299uOjVXuVian7Hhk-8-UX8paBT9VV9woysP18M_hRAgGw5INrt95Uy32-jjJUqc9Qlgw3ZMu4bV6hYfpPprEud_eErLmG6eppuT_OzKcHikJQiPLg_bZSDsya0-yFziO7jB0Ta0yE/s640/IMG_5499.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">As an artilleryman with Cooper's Battery B, 1st PA Light Artillery at an event at the Langley Ordinary, McLean, Virginia in June 2014.</span></td></tr>
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This year I continued to have enriching conversations with my readers and fellow bloggers, who have written to share research, ask advice, or discuss aspects of Northern Virginia Civil War history with me. I thank all of them for their continued interest and enthusiasm, which makes blogging so worthwhile. I also had a chance to participate in a living history event with my friend and reader, Keith Foote, of Cooper's Battery B. Helping to fire that Parrott gun was a true highlight of the year. And publishers continued to send review copies my way. (Look for a review or two in coming weeks....)<br />
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I am not sure what the future will hold, although I have a long and backlogged list of topics to cover. Some of these date to my time in McLean; others relate to my new home in Loudoun or random research ideas I've been meaning to explore. In addition, I have my eyes on a few non-blogging Civil War projects. If the last five years are any indication, I am sure that this year will be no exception.<br />
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Last but not least, thanks again to all of my readers. I appreciate the interest and am looking forward to the year ahead!<br />
<br />Ron Baumgartenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12449787740945022061noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972158399131973757.post-25270925098396423102015-05-06T06:27:00.000-04:002015-05-06T06:27:19.152-04:00Civil War Views: Another Photograph of the 43rd New York at Camp Griffin?In October 1861, Gen. William F. "Baldy" Smith's division established Camp Griffin near Langley and Lewinsville, Virginia (today's McLean). The regiments in Smith's force included the 43rd New York of Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock's brigade. <a href="http://dclawyeronthecivilwar.blogspot.com/2010/11/another-image-of-camp-griffin.html">Five years ago I discovered a stereoview of the 43rd New York at Camp Griffin</a>. This scene was captured by Edward Bierstadt, a photographer who was also the brother of famed artist Albert Bierstadt. After some additional research, I recently learned that Edward ran a temporary studio in Langley near the 43rd New York's quarters at Camp Griffin. There he joined other photographers, including <a href="http://dclawyeronthecivilwar.blogspot.com/2012/02/truly-handsome-publication-book-on.html">George Houghton, who took some iconic photographs of the Vermont Brigade in Northern Virginia</a>. Surrounded by thousands of soldiers hungry for images to send to the folks back home, these photographers found a ready-made market for <i>cartes-de-</i><i>visite </i>and camp pictures.<br />
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Among the Bierstadt photographs in the collection at the New York Public Library is the following, entitled "Culinary art in Camp, 43rd Reg. N.Y. Volunteers":<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnjFwDiyeDtosuc-jcQ0RL1HuBurqbqR-4N-8NGdrBPgAJVUe5T7E4rfqbcyo6lYN0slmzmQ9w4ny9O4xkJVzsL__cShyphenhyphenoUEs47s_55YFhtRH5JFWJriVivAmjXaoEJjkwGK0Dqr6ajU/s1600/Culinary_art_in_Camp,_43rd_Reg._N.Y._Volunteers,_by_Bierstadt_Brothers.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnjFwDiyeDtosuc-jcQ0RL1HuBurqbqR-4N-8NGdrBPgAJVUe5T7E4rfqbcyo6lYN0slmzmQ9w4ny9O4xkJVzsL__cShyphenhyphenoUEs47s_55YFhtRH5JFWJriVivAmjXaoEJjkwGK0Dqr6ajU/s640/Culinary_art_in_Camp,_43rd_Reg._N.Y._Volunteers,_by_Bierstadt_Brothers.png" height="326" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(courtesy of <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/Culinary_art_in_Camp%2C_43rd_Reg._N.Y._Volunteers%2C_by_Bierstadt_Brothers.png">Wikimedia</a>; also at <a href="http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e1-b91a-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99">NYPL Digital Collections</a>)</td></tr>
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This stereoscopic photograph does not mention a location. However, given that Bierstadt was with the 43rd New York at Camp Griffin, it seems highly probable that this photograph was taken there around the same general time as the regimental camp scene that I have featured before on the blog:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjssV16QUqdaJQ5zw9n4dWMWaCVqmb6Z7OnmxmGO-F_PWmxcmtXWqrQr2Yth6Y9SOBW36F6YX5OWjaa7mkXJTjt7sGXoJkFmN7ut2h9TXZ4v4Hg3hlqYu0fTkcmAkuE_NMjxFXXcJHtDm4/s1600/43rd_Reg__of_N_Y__Volunteers_Camp_Griffin,_near_Lewinsvile,_Va,_by_Bierstadt_Brothers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjssV16QUqdaJQ5zw9n4dWMWaCVqmb6Z7OnmxmGO-F_PWmxcmtXWqrQr2Yth6Y9SOBW36F6YX5OWjaa7mkXJTjt7sGXoJkFmN7ut2h9TXZ4v4Hg3hlqYu0fTkcmAkuE_NMjxFXXcJHtDm4/s1600/43rd_Reg__of_N_Y__Volunteers_Camp_Griffin,_near_Lewinsvile,_Va,_by_Bierstadt_Brothers.jpg" height="322" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(courtesy of <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/43rd_Reg._of_N.Y._Volunteers_Camp_Griffin%2C_near_Lewinsvile%2C_Va%2C_by_Bierstadt_Brothers.jpg">Wikimedia</a>; also at <a href="http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e1-b918-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99">NYPL Digital Collection</a>)</td></tr>
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This conclusion is further reinforced by the numbering convention at the bottom of both photographs. The photo of the regiment in formation bears the number 1319, while the culinary scene appears as number 1323. They are close enough in the sequence to be related to one another, and also bear the same photographer's inscription on the reverse of "Bierstadt Brothers, New Bedford, Mass." I haven't yet been able to reconstruct where else Bierstadt may have photographed the 43rd New York after Camp Griffin, if at all. <br />
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The photograph itself is rather curious. Bierstadt has captured an ordinary scene of camp life, in all its primitive glory, and his title for the photograph is certainly ironic! A crude shelter covers the "kitchen." Poultry and meat carcasses, along with a butcher's ax, appear to rest on a wooden plank. Boxes and pots clutter the background. A couple of the cooks wear what look like fezes. One man is busy cutting food. The picture reminds us that the Civil War was often more than just marches and battles. Thanks to Bierstadt, we are fortunate to get yet another opportunity to see life in the camps around Washington at the start of the war.<br />
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<strong><u>Source</u></strong><br />
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Eleanor Jones Harvey, <i><a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=2CPJyvqk4CUC&pg=PA146&lpg=PA146&dq=bierstadt+brothers+photographs&source=bl&ots=-3EhTVTkoY&sig=AyD19nvGvTlEW98zhgJGRP9DdIs&hl=en&sa=X&ei=W0_NU7yVFObLsQSg1oHgAw&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAjgU#v=snippet&q=lewinsville&f=false">The Civil War and American Art</a></i> (2012).<br />
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For more on the location of the camp of the 43rd N.Y. see my previous posts <a href="http://dclawyeronthecivilwar.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-johnston-family-and-benvenue-story.html">here</a> and <a href="http://dclawyeronthecivilwar.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-johnston-family-and-benvenue-story_18.html">here</a>.Ron Baumgartenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12449787740945022061noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972158399131973757.post-6272955796605009622015-04-21T09:00:00.000-04:002015-04-21T09:00:52.567-04:00My Last Sesquicentennial EventLast week marked the Sesquicentennial of President Abraham Lincoln's assassination and death. On April 14 I commemorated the anniversary by attending a lecture at <a href="http://www.fordstheatre.org/home">Ford's Theatre</a>, visiting the <a href="http://www.fords.org/home/plan-your-visit/daytime-visits-fords-theatre/petersen-house">Petersen House</a> where Lincoln died, and touring a <a href="http://www.fords.org/event/silent-witnesses">special assassination exhibit</a> at the Center for Education and Leadership. Given the immediacy of other forms of social media, I mainly covered the day's events on Twitter and Facebook. I won't repost all of my photographs and comments here, but I'd advise readers to check out my Facebook and Twitter feeds to see what I published in real time.<br />
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Life changes a lot in four years, and I had hoped to make it to Appomattox for the 150th. Intervening events, including the recent birth of my daughter, made the trip to Appomattox a near impossibility. However, because I work in downtown DC, I knew that I could at least mark the 150th anniversary of another important milestone of the end of the Civil War years, and I ultimately decided to take a half day of leave on the 14th and spend some time at Ford's Theatre. The 150th of Lincoln's assassination is the last of the Sesquicentennial events that I will personally attend, and it was a fitting, albeit sad, end to four years of commemoration.<br />
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The incessant rain on April 14 did not deter visitors, and the line for each timed entry to Ford's Theatre stretched down the block. The number of people in the street only continued to grow as the hour of the assassination approached. Living historians entertained the crowds with their first-person accounts from the day of the assassination. I chatted with a few reenactors from Pennsylvania who represented Independent Battery C, First Pennsylvania Artillery. On the night of the 14th, four artillerymen from the battery helped to carry Lincoln to the Petersen House. Check out <a href="https://bullrunnings.wordpress.com/2015/04/15/homeboys-at-fords-theater-41465/">this post</a> on Harry's blog for more info.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1tpOM-kISoudiCa0iYnAlstL6SFsK2txrNzBvxqUlyxRJEsB7UYTBlFyaiVvvpst29Xua1vNxnahS4PP0qZ5h6Z8QjUDuPHcmsQk2oF9ZOf5r7U-V98LBzrlvstKT6FW7qcLiMFze9Y/s1600/outside+ford's.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1tpOM-kISoudiCa0iYnAlstL6SFsK2txrNzBvxqUlyxRJEsB7UYTBlFyaiVvvpst29Xua1vNxnahS4PP0qZ5h6Z8QjUDuPHcmsQk2oF9ZOf5r7U-V98LBzrlvstKT6FW7qcLiMFze9Y/s1600/outside+ford's.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting outside Ford's Theatre in the rain.</td></tr>
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Once we were seated inside the theatre, a costumed interpreter told the story of Lincoln's assassination and death. The speaker really helped to take us back in time and imagine the horror, sadness, and confusion of that night. Her passion for the subject made for a captivating presentation. I've been to Ford's on numerous occasions, but I was moved beyond words to sit below the presidential box on the very day that Lincoln was shot 150 years ago and hear about his life, assassination, and death.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifax9M3Dri4r3sYxUWqvhazRnPUeiUJB0w_zrwROfCmD_ajdSHgf97j17Bkg1EntdqABpkuYRkLxsQM3sugKQyXh34CadbBEQe7F-XwsOqTyWTodJrTciTVHCLVgvMWMzhYIxmCsG4WTc/s1600/fords.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifax9M3Dri4r3sYxUWqvhazRnPUeiUJB0w_zrwROfCmD_ajdSHgf97j17Bkg1EntdqABpkuYRkLxsQM3sugKQyXh34CadbBEQe7F-XwsOqTyWTodJrTciTVHCLVgvMWMzhYIxmCsG4WTc/s1600/fords.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up at the presidential box -- this felt like truly hallowed ground.</td></tr>
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Following the tour, we made our way across 10th Street to the Petersen House. I felt a sense of extreme loss while reflecting on all that happened there. Just shy of 150 years before my visit, Lincoln slipped from life lying on a bed in a back room, and Secretary of War Edwin Stanton pronounced, "Now he belongs to the ages."<br />
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Upon leaving the Petersen House, I entered the Center for Education and Leadership, where I toured various permanent exhibits on Lincoln's death and the hunt for the assassins. Much to my surprise, I learned that my ticket included admission to the temporary exhibition of <em><a href="http://www.fordstheatre.org/event/silent-witnesses">Silent Witness: Artifacts of the Lincoln Assassination</a></em>. This exhibit, running through May 29, 2015, brings together an incredible collection of objects, including John Wilkes Booth's derringer; Lincoln's top hat, coat, and the contents of his pocket from the night of the assassination; and the blood-stained bunting from the presidential box. Given Lincoln's god-like status in U.S. history, many of these artifacts seemed like holy relics. <br />
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What I witnessed on Tuesday afternoon was nothing compared to what came later, as hundreds gathered outside the theatre to mark the exact time of Lincoln's assassination. Some people remained throughout the night to keep a mournful vigil, and by early the next morning, hundreds of onlookers once again crowded 10th Street, this time to mark the exact moment of Lincoln's death on April 15, 1865. (See <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/150-years-later-tributes-in-the-rain-to-lincoln-on-the-day-of-his-assassination/2015/04/15/7de4d154-e358-11e4-81ea-0649268f729e_story.html">here</a> for a <i>Washington Post </i>report.) Although I couldn't attend, I kept watch myself by tuning to C-SPAN and reading Facebook and Twitter feeds by a host of organizations and individuals, including friend <a href="https://markerhunter.wordpress.com/">Craig Swain</a>.<br />
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Overall, I was extremely encouraged by the public interest in Lincoln, his assassination, and death, even in jaded and cynical "Washington City"! And I was also happy to see so many friends and family who were interested in observing this 150th anniversary. I suppose that every once in a while, a historic event speaks to so many, including those who normally take only a passing interest in history. I and others like me are sometimes in our own Civil War bubble and tend to forget the wider appeal that America's history can hold. Last week's commemoration proved that some events mean so much to so many that they cannot easily be forgotten or overlooked, no matter how many years have passed.<br />
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Ron Baumgartenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12449787740945022061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972158399131973757.post-15391360727227435262015-04-09T06:44:00.000-04:002015-04-09T06:44:06.440-04:00"Heaven Has Seemed to Prosper and Aid Our Cause": Lydia Atkinson Reactsto Lee's SurrenderToday marks the Sesquicentennial of General Robert E, Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House, Virginia. On this occasion, I thought readers might enjoy a particularly relevant except that I discovered in the diary of Lydia T. Atkinson, a teacher at the contraband camp on Mason's Island.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtX0TVO7B7RqCu1JABygv7ak8eLZcKSbgbUOP2kKJYDksHTb7QXbcgnA0gCOnFcanWy9YnPhVAdLLoioekuiebGEZzx-XJo45btag770iQXgEYeeys0G76AxKwJudJh5174V2pwEgusuo/s1600/Appomattox_Court_House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtX0TVO7B7RqCu1JABygv7ak8eLZcKSbgbUOP2kKJYDksHTb7QXbcgnA0gCOnFcanWy9YnPhVAdLLoioekuiebGEZzx-XJo45btag770iQXgEYeeys0G76AxKwJudJh5174V2pwEgusuo/s1600/Appomattox_Court_House.jpg" height="288" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(courtesy of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Appomattox_Court_House">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
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In summer 1864 the Friends' Association for the Aid and Elevation of the Freedmen had sent Atkinson to teach former slaves at Camp Wadsworth in Langley. <a href="http://dclawyeronthecivilwar.blogspot.com/2015/02/contraband-camp-developments-late.html">Due to government policies of binding out children at the camp, her school lost pupils, and the Friends transferred her to Mason's Island in fall 1864</a>. A few months later, Atkinson learned of the momentous news of Lee's surrender. She described her feelings in a diary entry dated April 10, 1865:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Joy upon Joy—cheer upon cheer—love and thanksgiving and praise everywhere! Glory to God in the Highest on earth and Peace Good Will toward men! At dawn this morning were wakened by the loud thundering of guns from the neighboring forts and half sleepily I murmured “Lee has surrendered!” We really thought little of it however until the paper came announcing the glorious tidings! Oh! such a happy, grateful feeling took possession of the heart -- as we began to realize that the war must indeed be over -- and the blessed angel of Peace rest upon our noble banner. It was not the insanity of joy felt when Richmond fell—but a deep quiet happiness too intense for words! Truly God’s blessing seems now to rest upon the American nation! As we have learned to deal justly by the Negro—so Heaven has seemed to prosper and aid our cause.</i></blockquote>
Atkinson's sense of happiness and relief are incredibly moving, even after 150 years. Her feelings echo those of a war-weary nation upon learning of Lee's surrender that Palm Sunday at Appomattox Court House. Most strikingly, Atkinson's words bear witness to her deep-seated personal belief in the righteousness of the Union's fight for freedom and emancipation. The Quaker teacher, who through her own deeds contributed to the cause, plainly saw the hand of God in the victory over Lee's army.<br />
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<b><u>Reminder</u></b><br />
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On a related note, I wanted to remind readers that I will be speaking this evening before the Arlington Historical Society about the contraband camps of Northern Virginia. The event will start at 7 p.m at the Reinsch Library auditorium on the campus of Marymount University. Please click <a href="http://www.arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org/april-9-arlington-historical-society-presents-ron-baumgarten-and-civil-war-contraband-camps-of-northern-virginia/">here</a> for more information. I hope to see you there!<br />
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<b><u>Source</u></b><br />
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Thanks to the <a href="http://www.swarthmore.edu/friends-historical-library">Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College</a> for providing me with the excepts from Lydia T. Atkinson's Personal Diary from 1864.Ron Baumgartenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12449787740945022061noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972158399131973757.post-38708036230828621442015-04-07T22:45:00.002-04:002015-04-08T06:09:53.933-04:00WETA and the Arlington Historical Society: Video Short on NOVA's Contraband CampsA few weeks ago I sat down to an interview on Northern Virginia's contraband camps with Mark Jones, a Senior Manager of Digital Media with WETA, the main PBS station in the Washington area. Mark works with the Arlington Historical Society (AHS) to create video previews of upcoming lectures sponsored by AHS. These shorts are published on <a href="http://blogs.weta.org/boundarystones/">Boundary Stones</a>, WETA's local history blog. Mark contacted me about <a href="http://www.arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org/april-9-arlington-historical-society-presents-ron-baumgarten-and-civil-war-contraband-camps-of-northern-virginia/">my upcoming presentation on the camps</a>, which is scheduled for this Thursday at 7 p.m. at Marymount University. He and I talked for about an hour or so at the historic <a href="http://cherryhillfallschurch.org/">Cherry Hill Farmhouse</a> (c. 1845) in Falls Church. We selected the location for the 19th century atmosphere, as well as the site's proximity to the spot where Camp Rucker, a contraband camp, was located. Thanks for Mark for putting together such a great mini-documentary! And so, without further ado, check out the video below and click <a href="http://blogs.weta.org/boundarystones/2015/04/07/contraband-camps-northern-virginia">here</a> to see the entire post at Boundary Stones!<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="376" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="http://watch.weta.org/viralplayer/2365460485" width="512"></iframe>Ron Baumgartenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12449787740945022061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972158399131973757.post-89749599759709476702015-03-24T05:57:00.000-04:002015-03-24T06:05:23.165-04:00N. Virginia Contraband Camps Presentation, Arlington Historical Society, April 9I am pleased to report that the <a href="http://www.arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org/">Arlington Historical Society</a> has invited me to speak next month about the contraband camps of Northern Virginia. During the first years of the Civil War, thousands of slaves fled to Washington in search of freedom. As the number of “contrabands” grew, their living quarters became increasingly overcrowded and unsanitary, while the financial burden on the government continued to grow. Seeking to address these problems, the Union Army relocated freedmen and women to abandoned secessionist properties in Arlington and Fairfax during the spring of 1863. My talk will explore the history of these long-forgotten contraband camps, including economic, social, military, and political dimensions. My presentation will also offer some insights into where the camps were located in Northern Virginia. As readers know, this is a topic near and dear to my heart, and I look forward to spreading the story of the contraband camps.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjST-NT_C2Ez4meUphfHvHIED9AuA7UQzLu83G16CMR8Mo_hhlHE3FHiCPQNxZqM6p0bnuo1IKdfQNnuHcDYQU4wRKgHcO1GXt8Uyde2cDAt7VG6hOAij8NDb-fF7Urtss4lfhr4UuLmow/s1600/AHSPhotoLogo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjST-NT_C2Ez4meUphfHvHIED9AuA7UQzLu83G16CMR8Mo_hhlHE3FHiCPQNxZqM6p0bnuo1IKdfQNnuHcDYQU4wRKgHcO1GXt8Uyde2cDAt7VG6hOAij8NDb-fF7Urtss4lfhr4UuLmow/s1600/AHSPhotoLogo1.jpg" height="123" width="400" /></a></div>
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Below and at the link is some <a href="http://www.arlnow.com/events/civil-war-contraband-camps-of-northern-virginia/">additional information</a> on the event. I hope to see you there!<br />
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<b><u>When</u></b>: 7:00 pm, Thursday, April 9<br />
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<b><u>Where</u></b>: Marymount University, 2807 N. Glebe Rd, Arlington, VA 22207, in the Reinsch Library auditorium.<br />
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The program is free and open to the public. For additional information, please contact 703-942-9247.<br />
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<b><u>Directions</u></b><br />
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<u>For those who take public transit</u>: A free shuttle bus provided by Marymount University is available from the Ballston-MU Metro Station (Orange and Silver lines). The University is also accessible via Metro bus routes 23A and 23T; exit at the N. Glebe Road and Old Dominion Drive stop.<br />
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<u>For those who drive</u>: Marymount University provides free parking. Attendees should enter the main entrance gate (located at N. Glebe Road and Old Dominion Drive) and park in the main lot in front of The Lodge. If that lot is full, visitors may also park in the White Garage, located next to the Reinsch Library, or the Blue Garage, located under Ostapenko Hall. The Security Station at the main entrance can help direct where to park.Ron Baumgartenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12449787740945022061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972158399131973757.post-22725799640043814862015-03-19T06:22:00.001-04:002015-03-19T13:34:02.401-04:00Civil War Views: Battery Martin ScottThis week's "Civil War Views" takes another look at the strategic Potomac River crossing of Chain Bridge. The defenses around the bridge became the subject of many wartime photographs and sketches. <a href="http://dclawyeronthecivilwar.blogspot.com/2015/03/civil-war-views-lower-battery-at-chain.html">Aside from a lower battery at the Washington end of the bridge</a>, another gun emplacement, known as Battery Martin Scott, occupied the heights immediate above. The battery was initially composed of two 32-pounders and one 8-inch seacoast howitzer mounted en barbette. <a href="http://dclawyeronthecivilwar.blogspot.com/2010/08/how-not-to-defend-bridge.html">Two 6-pounder rifled guns apparently replaced these three artillery pieces</a>.<br />
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A few months ago, I discovered that the New York Public Library has made available a collection entitled, <a href="http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/collections/sketches-for-frank-leslies-illustrated-newspaper-138-original-drawings#/?tab=about"><em>Sketches for Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper : 138 original drawings of the Civil War by staff artists, 1861-1864</em></a><em>. </em>This set of drawings contains many fascinating images of Washington and environs during the early days of the Civil War. Among the drawings is this sketch by Arthur Lumley of Battery Martin Scott:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsZcND7_RO6zEvHM8lPGgk5PBhSWhx1v3Lbtj2HyckpsH-tTOoqoexn3r3IxudubjLJIL743V5Ju0LFwgBCuM4QRL10bAsI6Yck2iIfzae1OsrSz-S9nj8toljLkfeDJ9cuQxOfDgXAA/s1600/martin+scott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsZcND7_RO6zEvHM8lPGgk5PBhSWhx1v3Lbtj2HyckpsH-tTOoqoexn3r3IxudubjLJIL743V5Ju0LFwgBCuM4QRL10bAsI6Yck2iIfzae1OsrSz-S9nj8toljLkfeDJ9cuQxOfDgXAA/s1600/martin+scott.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"High Battery at the Chain Bridge" (courtesy of <a href="http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/6eaed3cc-755c-1df6-e040-e00a18065bf1">New York Public Library</a>)</td></tr>
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As my friend and fellow blogger Craig Swain has pointed out, the three guns depicted here aren't very precise renderings of the actual armaments at the battery. Below the battery, the wooden span of Chain Bridge crosses the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal and the more distant Potomac River. A mule team pulls a boat along the canal. The gun position offers a commanding view of the Virginia shoreline and hills. Incidentally, Forts Marcy and Ethan Allen protected the approaches to Chain Bridge on the Virginia side. They cannot be seen here, but sat on the hills opposite the battery.<br />
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Lumley's sketch appears as an engraving in the November 9, 1861 issue of <em>Frank Leslie's</em>:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh166alQ5Sg0IUxeupydEshsKcMHltHdUvKPUFAKfX-f-Jg9J0bjofGFS5-cj0hbfqIhpLARZ4uXChvcW5tafJ6JX3-9_x4zPDMMUZtbuwKeRG1BkIxVyt5E2SE15Zg1qXnABZytBO0uwQ/s1600/franklesslieupperbattery.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh166alQ5Sg0IUxeupydEshsKcMHltHdUvKPUFAKfX-f-Jg9J0bjofGFS5-cj0hbfqIhpLARZ4uXChvcW5tafJ6JX3-9_x4zPDMMUZtbuwKeRG1BkIxVyt5E2SE15Zg1qXnABZytBO0uwQ/s1600/franklesslieupperbattery.png" height="400" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(courtesy of <a href="https://archive.org/stream/franklesliesilluv1112lesl#page/389/mode/1up">archive.org</a>)</td></tr>
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The paper said the following about the illustration of Battery Martin Scott:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<em>WAR is a fearful and wonderful teacher of topography. Places and objects which a few months ago were known only to travellers, or those dwelling on the spot, are now "familiar as household roads." Washington and its adjacent localities are to the majority of readers now as well known to them as to their denizens. Among the more prominent spots is the Chain Bridge, which crosses the Potomac river at the Little Falls, about five miles above Washington City. It is the direct route from the camp at Tenellytown and Georgetown to Lewinsville and Langley, and is consequently a position of much importance. Our readers will perceive that the National Government has erected a powerful battery on the Maryland side, so as to sweep with utter destruction any hostile force. Now that the Federal Capital is safe, we trust Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee will be rescued from the rebel hordes, whose presence is unwelcome to the people of those States as it is humiliating to the National cause. </em>(at 389-90.)</blockquote>
Today, I'd venture to speculate that once again, few outside the Washington area know the Chain Bridge! But Lumley's sketch reminds us of the importance of such places over 150 years ago. So the next time you cross the river there, whether because you commute across the bridge daily, or because you are on a vacation in the area, think back to the sketch and engraving as you look up at the bluffs overlooking the Potomac.<br />
<br />
<strong><u>Source</u></strong><br />
<strong><u></u></strong><br />
Benjamin Franklin Cooling III & Walton H. Owen II, <em><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Lincolns-Forts-Defenses-Washington/dp/0810860678/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275565529&sr=1-1">Mr. Lincoln's Forts: A Guide to the Civil War Defenses of Washington</a></span></em> (2010 ed.); <em><a href="https://archive.org/stream/franklesliesilluv1112lesl#page/389/mode/1up">Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper</a></em>, Nov. 9, 1861; <i>OR</i><em>, </em>1:21:1, 911.Ron Baumgartenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12449787740945022061noreply@blogger.com0