Genealogy Forum NEWS
December, 1998
U.S. CIVIL WAR SIG
From The Weekly Fireside
Submitted by GFS Jim@AOL.com
What a nice evening we had last Thursday sharing Letters, Songs and Poems. And Guess What??? We are Most Happy to Announce a new host who has come to join our Merry Band.... GFH TEG has put on his new Hat and joined our ranks. You know him as TUBES and the name his mother and father graced him with is Tom Gladwell. Jayne and I are just tickled to death to have him with us and the Civil War knowledge he brings with him. Join us in Welcoming Tom !!!!! .... Heh Heh!!!
I have been getting lots of email from you giving me different music artists and CDs to try, and I have gone out and tried some of them and THEY ARE GREAT.... Thanks for the tips. Now to reciprocate, I'll tell you about a CD I'm listening to as I type and I'm sitting here grinning. Lord have mercy this girl can indeed play the violin. There be in this great packet of joy, violins, keyboards and piano, Uilleann Pipes, whistles and low whistles, guitars and mandolins, harps and believe it or not a choir. I have to give you a quote from the composer Rolf Lovland. "Somewhere within us all there is a secret garden. A garden in which we can seek refuge when times are rough, or retire to in joy or contemplation. For years I have visited my own secret garden in search of organic harmony and melody. The songs on this CD are some of what I've found. A year ago, I met an artist who through soulful simplicity of her instrument gave my songs a voice. She is the famed Irish violinist Fionnuala Sherry. Together we have tended the secret garden and the crop is here for the picking...... Soooo on your next sojourn to the music you go find "The Secret Garden" by Rolf Lovland under the Philips label and give yourself a treat. I know this isn't Civil War History, but it seems to have caught your fancy so with your indulgence I'll continue to dabble here.... Heh Heh I do looooove my music...
“MY APOLOGIES” for sending last weeks newsletter out in the “Clear”. Heh Heh That certainly put out 6 extra pages of gibberish.... That’s the first time I’ve sent the newsletter out with the distribution as CC rather than BCC in two years. Oh well, Senior Moments Abound!!!!!!!!!!!! Heh Heh There was a good response though.... Read Betty’s note about finding a niece in the address list down in “ A Bit of Community”.... Go Figure :-)
This Thursday night is "The Border Wars". I've taken a special interest in Missouri's history leading up to and including the Civil War period as that is the land that formed me and where my roots reside. So I have a neat story for you..... Come join us.
FOR ALL YOU 1ST TIMERS ON THURSDAY - "WELCOME" WE ENJOYED HAVING YOU :-)..... COME AGAIN, WE "RELISH" YOUR COMPANY....
The continuing series I'm putting in the newsletter under the HELP DESK, is on the Civil War Military Records which can be found at, or through film ordering at your local Family History Centers (FHCs)........ So many of you have been astonished that those records are available through the FHCs, that we thought this would be of worth in your research....
THE HELP DESK
This segment is to address specific questions that hit our plate on Thursday night that we didn't have a chance to answer or needed a bit of time to check it out. Hope these answer the mail :D
Editor's Note: Regimental Histories and Letters, etc. Postings: keyword "roots", after which will bring you to the main screen of the Genealogy Forum. Select the "Files Library Center", then "History Files". At that point select "Civil War Files. Lectures are also posted in the "Files Library Center" under "History Lectures" as the Lecture Subject. The "Firesides" when they eventually get there after their 30 days in the New Files section are posted in the "Files Library Center" under "Meeting Logs and Newsletters".
US Military Records at the Family History Centers.............................
The next stage of this series, I thought would be best to describe the various Types of Military Records available for Civil War researchers and those available through the FHC network.
Specific Union Sources...........................
Union Army soldiers may have served in the US Army, local militia units mustered into federal service, or volunteer regiments raised by the individual states. The length of service varied from 90 days to three years. Many soldiers also reenlisted serving in more than one regiment. The Union Army and Navy enlisted over 2.3 million men, of which nearly 359,000 died in combat or from wounds and disease.
Union Service Records
Service Records of Soldiers. - There is currently no master index to the names of soldiers who served in Union volunteer regiments. (Note from the editor: A Union Soldiers Roster is in the making by Broadfoot Publishing. It's up to 13 volumes as this writing, but it's still incomplete.) Individual indexes to state volunteer regiments are available on microfilm for every Northern state and every Southern state except South Carolina. Most service records have not been microfilmed and are available only at the National Archives. The following service records and indexes are available on microfilm at the National Archives and the Family History Libraries........
........... continued.
Veteran and Lineage Organization Records
The Grand Army of the Republic. This was the major veterans' organization after the war. It reached its largest membership in the 1890s with about 400,000 members. Below is a published history of the organization with biographical sketches of national and state officials:
"Beath, Robert B. History of the Grand Army of the Republic." New York: Bryan, Taylor a& Co., 1889. (FHL book 973 M2bea; film 1.320,710, item 2.)
Local post or chapter records may be found at historical societies and state archives. The Family History Library has records for......
Iowa (FHL 69 films; FHLC computer number 238654).
Michigan (FHL 76 films; FHLC computer number 277155).
Nebraska (FHL 2 films; FHLC computer number 527157).
To find specific microfilm numbers with the Family History Library Catalog on microfiche, search the Locality section under [STATE] - SOCIETIES.
The Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War. 1861-65. This organization was established in 1885. The address of their library and museum is .....
Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War
503 S. Walnut Street
Springfield, IL. 62704
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. This society has a grave registration committee that marks graves of Civil War veterans. The address is.....
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
c/o James T. Lyons, Secretary
411 Bartlett Street
Lansing, MI 48915
.......................to be continued (NOTE: next week will start with the Confederate sources....)
A “News Flash” on Civil War Info from the POW Network
From: rosewebb@datasync.com (Rose C. Webb)
Advocacy And Intelligence Index
For Prisoners Of War/Missing In Action, Inc. (AIIPOWMIAI)
Bob Necci and Andi Wolos
THE POW/MIA E-MAIL NETWORK (c)
aiioct14.98b
State Civil War soldiers unknown no more. POWs who died in Indiana to get Tennessee "burial"
By Sue McClure, Staff Writer, Tennessean
SPRING HILL, Tenn. - Come Friday, Tim Morrison will load seven half-gallon jars of dirt into his car and drive to Indiana so 38 Tennessee Confederate soldiers who died in a prisoner of war camp in 1862 can be covered with some of their native soil. Morrison, a guide at the Civil War-era Rippavilla mansion and commander of the Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp No. 152 in Fayetteville, collected the soil form each of the soldiers' home counties - Williamson, Giles, Marshall, Lincoln, Bedford, Lawrence and Franklin.
The native ground will be used to honor the dead during a 1 p.m. dedication ceremony Saturday in Greenbush Cemetery in Lafayette, Ind.,where Morrison is the keynote speaker. The ceremony culminates more than two years of diligent research by Morrison to identify the men who, after their surrender at Fort Donelson, endured a grueling steamboat and rail trip to Lafayette, but failed to survive their temporary confinement there in a local meatpacking house. Until now, their graves have identified them simply as "Unknown, C.S.A."
"These poor fellows had been fighting for three days out in the snow and ice prior to the surrender of Feb. 16 of Fort Donelson," Morrison said. "The ones who wound up in Lafayette, they're all Southern Middle Tennessee boys, so being up there fighting in and around Kentucky, that was pretty far north for them."
The massive surrender at Fort Donelson left the Union Army with about 13,000 POWs and no facilities or procedures to handle them. The 38 Middle Tennesseans who died were buried in Greenbush Cemetery by the townsfolk. On Saturday, 38 Civil War reenactors will stage a roll call of honor, stepping forward as each name of the Confederate dead is read, and saying, "Died honorably for my country."
A monument honoring the 38 also will be unveiled. Descendants of the Confederate dead are encouraged to attend the ceremony.
{{{Rosie}}} Thanks Sis, great bit of news :-)
DID YOU KNOW?? ...................................
Excerpts from various areas of documented history or family journals........
I'm sure many of you went to see "The Dead Poets Society" with Robin Williams. That was one of my favorites. The ending scene of the movie showed the students that were in "William's" class supporting him by standing on the desks and saying "O Captain My Captain". Well I thought it would please you to hear the words that attend that statement. It was written about Lincoln's death.
O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up -- for you the flag is flung -- for you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths -- for you the shores a-crowding,
Her Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You've fallen cold and dead.
My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,
The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
But I with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
Walt Whitman (1819 - 1892)
A BIT OF COMMUNITY............................
Check out the following member inputs for comments and requests for information, Feedbacks, Items of
Interest and Pleas for HELP................
Jayne picked this up and sent me a copy.....
ALL GOOD THINGS
He was in the first third grade class I taught at Saint Mary's School in Morris, Minn. All 34 of my students were dear to me, but Mark Eklund was one in a million. Very neat in appearance, but had that happy-to-be-alive attitude that made even his occasional mischievousness delightful.
Mark talked incessantly. I had to remind him again and again that talking without permission was not acceptable. What impressed me so much, though, was his sincere response every time I had to correct him for misbehaving - "Thank you for correcting me, Sister!"
I didn't know what to make of it at first, but before long I became accustomed to hearing it many times a day.
One morning my patience was growing thin when Mark talked once too often, and then I made a novice-teacher's mistake. I looked at Mark and said, "If you say one more word, I am going to tape your mouth shut!"
It wasn't ten seconds later when Chuck blurted out, "Mark is talking again." I hadn't asked any of the students to help me watch Mark, but since I had stated the punishment in front of the class, I had to act on it.
I remember the scene as if it had occurred this morning. I walked to my desk, very deliberately opened by drawer and took out a roll of masking tape. Without saying a word, I proceeded to Mark's desk, tore off two pieces of tape and made a big X with them over his mouth. I then returned to the front of the room.
As I glanced at Mark to see how he was doing, he winked at me. That did it!! I started laughing. The class cheered as I walked back to Mark's desk, removed the tape, and shrugged my shoulders. His first words were, "Thank you for correcting me, Sister."
At the end of the year, I was asked to teach junior-high math. The years flew by, and before I knew it Mark was in my classroom again. He was more handsome than ever and just as polite. Since he had to listen carefully to my instruction in the "new math," he did not talk as much in ninth grade as he had in third. One Friday, things just didn't feel right. We had worked hard on a new concept all week, and I sensed that the students were frowning, frustrated with themselves -- and edgy with one another. I had to stop this crankiness before it got out of hand. So I asked them to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. Then I told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down. It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed me the papers. Charlie smiled.
Mark said, "Thank you for teaching me, Sister. Have a good weekend."
That Saturday, I wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and I listed what everyone else had said about that individual. On Monday I gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. "Really?" I heard whispered. "I never knew that meant anything to anyone!" "I didn't know others liked me so much." No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. I never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another again.
That group of students moved on. Several years later, after I returned from vacation, my parents met me at the airport. As we were driving home, Mother asked me the usual questions about the trip -- the weather, my experiences in general. There was a lull in the conversation.
Mother gave Dad a sideways glance and simply says, "Dad?" My father cleared his throat as he usually did before something important. "The Eklunds called last night," he began. "Really?" I said. "I haven't heard from them in years. I wonder how Mark is."
Dad responded quietly. "Mark was killed in Vietnam," he said. "The funeral is tomorrow, and his parents would like it if you could attend."
To this day I can still point to the exact spot on I-494 where Dad told me about Mark.
I had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. Mark looked so handsome, so mature. All I could think at that moment was, Mark I would give all the masking tape in the world if only you would talk to me.
The church was packed with Mark's friends. Chuck's sister sang "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." Why did it have to rain on the day of the funeral? It was difficult enough at the graveside. The pastor said the usual prayers, and the bugler played taps. One by one those who loved Mark took a last walk by the coffin and sprinkled it with holy water. I was the last one to bless the coffin. As I stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to me. "Were you Mark's math teacher?" he asked. I nodded as I continued to stare at the coffin. "Mark talked about you a lot," he said.
After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates headed to Chuck's farmhouse for lunch. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting for me. "We want to show you something," his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket. "They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it."
Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. I knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which I had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him.
"Thank you so much for doing that," Mark's mother said. "As you can see, Mark treasured it."
Mark's classmates started to gather around us. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, "I still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my desk at home." Chuck's wife said, "Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album."
"I have mine too," Marilyn said. "It's in my diary."
Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. "I carry this with me at all times," Vicki said without batting an eyelash. "I think we all saved our lists."
That's when I finally sat down and cried. I cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again.
THE END
Written by: Sister Helen P. Mrosla
{{{Jayne}}} No further words are necessary! LEAVE A MARK!!
From: AvalonPark
Thanks again for all you do to make Thursday nights so memorable. The stories and comments are all so interesting and the last story of "The Beginning of A Military Tradition", was to much! One can only imagine the heartache that dreadful war brought to so many people.
{{AvalonPark}} Your response is the “Salary” that gives us the incentive to “Keep On Keeping On”!
From: BettyLAtw
Jim-
Thank you for printing the whole list as CC instead of BCC. I now know that a niece of mine is subscribing :-). But no one else that I am personally acquainted with :-( although I do recognize a few screen names.
I truly enjoy reading your newsletter although seldom get to your Thurs evening chat.
{{{Betty}}} Ha Ha Ha !!! That was a GREAT feedback to my “Goof Up”!! I never do a CC on purpose as that results in about 5 pages of unintelligible gibberish, and it is meant to maintain the anonymous nature to screen names most members desire. I’m glad you found your niece, but I probably won’t do that again... Heh Heh Can you believe how many folks get this newsletter?? It flabbergasts me :-)
From: SCSunset
Jim, I really enjoy the online newsletter very much. It is a great joy to be able to read it when its convenient and is something to savor. I have been passing it along to a friend who is not on AOL. Could you add him to your mailing list even though he is on another ISP??. He really enjoys the letter as he is a Confederate historian and Editor.
Keep up the great things you are doing, we appreciate it.
Shelby
{{{Shelby}}} Heh Heh! I got your second note with his name and he is now on distribution. :-) For your information, about 200 on distribution aren’t on AOL but have asked to be put on distribution. Some have even come over to join us... That’s a good feeling. We must be doing something right :-)
From: Kujen
Hi -
My computer crashed 3 times while trying to read this week's email 11/9/98. I have a power Macintosh but have never had any trouble before. Could the message be too long? Could you try sending half?
I cannot go for over a week without reading your newsletter. The best!
“Kujen” - Oh Lord!! Try this one and let me know what happens.... I’ll send you an email as well... Thanks for the nice feedback :)
One of the MS CC's posted this morning on the state list, and granted permission to post it here.
Thanks,
Ellen
Please take a look at the following article. It is about one woman's fight against a developer, who is demolishing a family burial plot, and disregarding a legal deed that provided for the plot forever... I'm not sure what any of us can do to help, but in spreading the word we may find some help for her. I have her e-mail address if someone can help.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/docs/grave101898.htm
Peggy Hall
{{{Robin}}} Thanks for the heads UP...
From: AUPSHAW1
Andy has been in the hospital since October 25th, and will not be getting out for another two weeks. I am printing all of his mail for him to read when he is able. I am also sure that he will get in touch with all of you as soon as he possibly can.
{{{Penny}}} Jayne forwarded your note to me. You tell Andy, he’s in our prayers and thoughts and we wish him a speedy recovery. I thought I’d put this in the newsletter, so others can drop him a note as well. :-) God Bless!!
From: RV4cats@aol.com
The following description is a document recently found hidden in a picture frame bought at a yard sale in Arizona. If anyone has connections to this Mark CROSBY, Jr., contact me privately and I will forward the name of the fellow genealogist currently in possession. She would like to have it in theproper hands.
Cynthia
Civil War Discharge Paper
For: Mark CROSBY, Jr.
Private, Company B, 16th Regiment
Union Army
From Yarmouth, Massachussetts
Entered service in 1860 and left service 1864
Marked Paid and signed by B. McCONNELL
Description:
5 ft. 3 inches, gray eyes, dark curly hair.
He was a clerk in the Union Army.
Entered in the Auditors records on July 26, 1870
This document bears the Union Crest.
{{{Ike & Jayne}}} Thanks for the heads up. If any of you readers connect to this NOTICE, Please get in touch with Cynthia at her email address RV4cats@aol.com. Let us know if there are any hits out there and we’ll celebrate with you on a fantastic find..... :)
<
WHAT WE ARE ABOUT………….
OUR FOCUS: the "History of the North American Civil War".
OUR GOAL: to enhance your Genealogy activity, knowledge, and "wisdom" by talking about the history surrounding their lives and actions; specifically the "Civil War" that our ancestors lived through and died because of.
OUR PROMISE: to provide an "online" environment that is NOT judgemental and to address ALL aspects of this "Pivotal Period" in our History, with honesty and truth (where we know it).
We do "Fireside Stories" about the battles, the people and the social happenings. In addition we dedicate one Thursday a month to the sharing Songs, Poems and Letters from that era. So come back and visit; we'll save you a seat at the Fireside, and keep the Cider warm..... For a full listing of upcoming events, either look on the Schedule at the end of this Notice or in the Upcoming Events of the Genealogy Forum.
As we review the logs, and we find new visitors who show an interest or have entered into discussions on this topic in our Thursday sessions, we automatically add you to the distribution for this "Weekly Fireside."
AND TO YOU "FIRST-TIMERS" THIS WEEK, "Welcome"... :)
We heartily enjoyed your visit and participation. We relish what members bring to the discussions, and we hope to see more of you.... Note that for any reason, should you desire to be removed from distribution of this "Weekly Missif", just drop us a line and we will comply with your wishes "poste- haste".
Schedule of Upcoming Topics/Events
Time: Every Thursday Night at 11pm ET in the Golden Gates Room with Hosts GFS Jayne, GFS Jim and GFH TEG along with our many fill-in friends :)
12/3/98 - "The Story of a Campaign by Mark Twain" - GFS Jim
12/10/98 - "Letters, Songs and Poems Night"
12/17/98 - "OPEN CHAT"
12/24/98 - "MERRY CHRISTMAS" To allow all of you to enjoy your Christmas time with Family, Your HOST's are taking Christmas Eve OFF. And we're gonna be funnin around with our Families as well.
We'll See You Thursday Night……….!
Your Hosts
GFS Jayne, GFH TEG and GFS Jim
Webmaster's Note: Chat schedules are presented for historical information only. The Genealogy Forum no longer hosts chats.
Beginner's Center | File Libraries | Internet Center
Message Boards | Resource Center | Reunion Center
Surname Center| Previous NEWS Issues
BACK to Cover Page - GFSNEWS 12/98
© 1998 - 2004 Graphics By Carol, All Rights Reserved
Content © 1998 - 2004 GFNEWS, a monthly publication of Golden Gate Services, Inc. of Armada, MI The Editors welcome your ideas and articles, success stories, favorite genealogy research tips, comments and suggestions. The Genealogy Forum is a proud member of the FGS - Federation of Genealogical Societies