Genealogy Forum NEWS
October, 1997
More SIG Updates
ENGLISH CHAT OCTOBER FOCUS - Books
submitted by GFSMorgan,
Coordinator - Upcoming Special Events
Join GFS Rhonda, GFS Sam, and GFH Aleta -- our terrific England Team -- for a series of interesting chats on Monday nights during the month of October.
The focus in October will be on "Books for Research in England." There will be discussions about the best books available about immigration, families, places, surnames, and even some medieval research books! What better way to extend your research and help corroborate the information on your pedigree charts and in your genealogy database? Learn about the best of the books from the some of the best experts in the field!
Join the England Team on Monday nights at 10:00 PM ET in the Golder Gates conference room throughout the month of October. See you there!
US CIVIL WAR CHAT
submitted by GFSJim
I can't remember when we've had such a response from "first-timers and The Faithful" as we had to GFS KathyD's Fireside last Thursday on The Battle of Antietam. It was just great..... I'm out of superlatives to describe it.... Thank you Kathy!! for a great evening..... While she was telling the tale, I thought I'd do a bit of a Tribute to her efforts. As a result "The Faithful" asked us to include it in the Fireside this week, which we have :)
A Tribute To My Partner Kathy:
As the sun comes up on a town names Sharpsburg and shines down on Antietam Creek, Hooker's Men march down through the North Woods; down against Lawton and Early, through a place called the "Cornfield". The melody begins.......
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.........
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored........
As Hooker falls back from that awful "Cornfield and Early and Lawton try to mend, the sun is up, the powder smoke is thick to the north, it's getting hot.... and then down through the East Woods comes Sumner, with Sedgwick and Richardson and French......
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword.....
His truth is marching on........
On down to Dunkard Church they come, with McLaws and Anderson running up
to the Grey Line to "Hold"......
:
I have seen Him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps.....
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps....
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps.....
His day is marching on.......
On comes Burnside down to the creek to force his way across the bridge.......
I have read a fiery gospel writ in burning rows of steel.....
As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal....
Let the hero born of woman, crush the serpent with his heal.....
Since God is marching on......
Now it's noon on that terrible day and after the "Bloodiest" Service ever held at the Dunkard Church, Sumner's boys joined by some of Porter's slide down to a place called "Bloody Lane" ... cause the Southern boys have held, but Burnside is still "hammering" at the bridge.
He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat....
He is sifting out the hearts of men before his judgement seat....
Oh! Be swift, my soul, to answer Him! Be jubilant, my feet!.....
Our God is marching on...
Finally in the afternoon, Burnside gets across the bridge, and starts towards town, but up comes ole A.P Hill from a long run beyond the Potomac and the Grey Line has held again......
:
In the beauty of the lilies, Christ was born across the sea....
With a glory in His bosom, that transfigures you and me......
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free........
While God is marching on....
...........................Julia Ward Howe.
You really should have been there :)
This Thursday is OPEN CHAT, so come join us......
Here's a Heads UP..... On October 9 is Letters Songs and Poems night but it's also your Host's Second Anniversary at Hosting the Civil War History SIG! Sooo we're inviting you to join Kathy and I and "The Faithful" and Celebrate......
The Civil War Reading List.
I wish the thank the "Readers of alt.war.civil.usa," for corporately compiling this list and to Stephen Schmidt affiliated with Union College and Justin Sanders affiliated with South Alabama College" who are the "maintainers" of this list, for giving us gracious permission to share their work and efforts with our membership.... Their only stipulation was to keep the list "pure" to their readers, and that we shall certainly comply with "GLEE" :)
Because this is such an extensive list, I will add a topic a week. Their list covers a prodigious thirteen topic sets, so this will be of increasing use and enjoyment to us all. The topics provided are:
- General Histories of the War "Posted in the 9/14/97 Fireside"
- Causes of the War and History to 1861 - "Posted in the 9/21/97 Fireside"
- Slavery and Southern Society
- Reconstruction
- Biographies
- Memoirs
- Reference Works
- Unit Histories and Soldier's Reminiscences
- Fiction
- Specific Battles and Campaigns (chronological)
- Strategies, Tactics, and General Military Aspects
- The Experience of Soldiers
- Civil War Periodicals (popular press)
Here then is Section 2, Causes of the War and History to 1861.
David M. Potter, The Impending Crisis, 1848-1861 (Harper's & Row, 1976).
This book covers, primarily from a political perspective, the events leading to the war from the Mexican Cession in 1848 through Fort Sumter. Judged by the weight of footnotes, this is a very serious historical work, but Potter reaches beyond mere facts and manages to relate a sense of the personalities and motives behind the events. A very enjoyable read. In the preface of "Battle Cry of Freedom," McPherson lists this book as one of the handful of classics on the Civil War period. 638 pages
Bruce and William Catton, Two Roads To Sumter. 1963.
Compares the lives of Lincoln and Davis starting with their births close together in time and space. It then uses their two diverging lives as a microcosm of the national drift to war.
Richard N. Current, Lincoln and the First Shot. 1963.
A vivid narrative and scholarly analysis of the decision to resupply, and not to surrendar Fort Sumter. Regards Lincoln's second inaugural as containing a succinct and true characterization of the crisis - that both sides preferred war to compromise - and that Lincoln felt that to compromise on Fort Sumter with the Southern states promising to dissolve their secession conventions was futile appeasement.
William Freehling, Road to Disunion: The Secessionists at Bay 1787-1854. 1990.
A good, though idiosyncratic, one volume treatment of the South's development of the secessionist mindset.
Phillip Shaw Paludan, A People's Contest: The Union and Civil war.
David M. Potter, Lincoln and His Party in the Secession Crisis. 1942.
A professional historian's treatise. Not light reading, but a quite compelling account of the blunders and circumstances that led to the outbreak of war.
A NOTE from you're friendly editor :) When we have completed getting all the Pieces and Parts of this Reading List through the Fireside, I'll make sure that we have a complete copy posted in the Civil War Files area of the Files Library Center for you continued reference. :)
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
Last week we noted the Video Solution Connection Site, owner JoAnn Strait.... Again, Kathy and I want to emphasize that we DO NOT promote any particular site, nor are awarded any endorsements.. This is strictly for your aid to research and enjoyment of the topic we share, and therefore entirely your choice...... As we find them, we share them........
ENJOY...... :)
Now I have some information for you folk that have been asking about CDs available for the Army Official Records (AOR). Well I point you to "CIVIL WAR REGIMENTS", Journal of the American War, Volume 5, No. 2, September 1996 Issue for an excellent discussion of the three top choices. We're talking the entire set here, 128 Volumes - 131,000 pages on CD Media. Therefore the price is very high..... (approx $600) But for you serious reseachers with the Computer horsepower to handle it, it is indeed an awesome purchase for your Reference Archives.... The approximate price indicated above was from Broadfoot Publishing, however the CD comes with very formidible tools for searching by various topics and titles and notepad add-ons.
........
A Bit of Community......
Check out the following member inputs for comments and requests for information :)
Feedbacks, Items of Interest and Pleas for Help.......
*******************************************
Ike and Nancy sent this to us and I laughed so hard I cryed..... So we had to include this one in the Fireside.......
THE ART OF GIVING THE CAT A BATH
From: FI WATROUS
Some people say cats never have to be bathed. They say cats lick themselves clean. They say cats have a special enzyme of some sort in their saliva that works like new, improved Wisk - dislodging the dirt where it hides and whisking it away.
I've spent most of my life believing this folklore. Like most blind believers, I've been able to discount all the facts to the contrary, the kitty odors that lurk in the corners of the garage and dirt smudges that cling to the throw rug by the fireplace.
The time comes, however, when a man must face reality: when he must look squarely in the face of massive public sentiment to the contrary and announce: "This cat smells like a port-a-potty on a hot day in Juarez."
When that day arrives at your house, as it has in mine, I have some advice you might consider as you place your feline friend under your arm and head for the bathtub:
-- Know that although the cat has the advantage of quickness and lack of concern for human life, you have the advantage of strength. Capitalize on that advantage by selecting the battlefield. Don't try to bathe him in an open area where he can force you to chase him. Pick a very small bathroom. If your bathroom is more than four feet square, I recommend that you get in the tub with the cat and close the sliding-glass doors as if you were about to take a shower. (A simple shower curtain will not do. A berserk cat can shred a three-ply rubber shower curtain quicker than a politician can shift positions.)
-- Know that a cat has claws and will not hesitate to remove all the skin from your body. Your advantage here is that you are smart and know how to dress to protect yourself. I recommend canvas overalls tucked into high-top construction boots, a pair of steel-mesh gloves, an army helmet, a hockey face mask, and a long-sleeved flak jacket.
-- Prepare everything in advance. There is no time to go out for a towel when you have a cat digging a hole in your flak jacket. Draw the water. Make sure the bottle of kitty shampoo is inside the glass enclosure. Make sure the towel can be reached, even if you are lying on your back in
the water.
-- Use the element of surprise. Pick up your cat nonchalantly, as if to simply carry him to his supper dish. (Cats will not usually notice your strange attire. They have little or no interest in fashion as a rule. If he does notice your garb, calmly explain that you are taking part in a product testing experiment for J.C. Penney.)
-- Once you are inside the bathroom, speed is essential to survival. In a single liquid motion, shut the bathroom door, step into the tub enclosure, slide the glass door shut, dip the cat in the water and squirt him with shampoo. You have begun one of the wildest 45 seconds of your life. Cats have no handles. Add the fact that he now has soapy fur, and the problem is radically compounded. Do not expect to hold on to him for more than two or three seconds at a time. When you have him, however, you must remember to give him another squirt of shampoo and rub like crazy. He'll then spring free and fall back into the water, thereby rinsing himself off. (The national record for cats is three latherings, so don't expect too much.)
-- Next, the cat must be dried. Novice cat bathers always assume this part will be the most difficult, for humans generally are worn out at this point and the cat is just getting really determined. In fact, the drying is simple compared to what you have just been through. That's because by now the cat is semipermanently affixed to your right leg. You simply pop the drain plug with your foot, reach for your towel and wait. (Occasionally, however, the cat will end up clinging to the top of your army helmet. If this happens, the best thing you can do is to shake him loose and to encourage him toward your leg.) After all the water is drained from the tub, it is a simple matter to just reach down and dry the cat. In a few days the cat will relax enough to be removed from your leg. He will usually have nothing to say for about three weeks and will spend a lot of time sitting with his back to you. He might even become psychoceramic and develop the fixed stare of a plaster figurine. You will be tempted to assume he is angry. This isn't usually the case. As a rule he is simply plotting ways to get through your defenses and injure you for life the next time you decide to give him a bath. But at least now he smells a lot better.
From: JBurns7357
I do enjoy receiving your newsletter. I have not been able to return to Thurs night Chat, but hope to in the future. I am searching for information on the burial site of my great uncle, George Hartz who was with the 48th Reg, PA. He was killed at the Front of Petersburg, Va. on Dec 20, 1864. Is there a National Cemetery in that area? Is there a burial site in that area for the soldiers killed during the Seige. Thank you for any information that you can provide.
Jane Burns
Thanks Jane for you response.... If anyone reader has info on the 48th PA Infantry Regiment, drop Jane a line. :)
From: MEllis4864
Hi, after reading the Fireside, I remember a site I had seen a while ago, but not where it was. So I went looking for it, found it last night. It is called Welcome to North Georgia at http://www.ngeorgia.com/ .... If you go down to the bottom and hit Blue & Gray Trail .. and or North Georgia History ... it talks about the battle above the clouds.... Nice site with pictuers .. I am going to see if I still have that ladys
e-mail address and seen it to her. Tks me :)
ME :) To "One of the Faithful" thanks :)
From: MDelPa
Just had to write and tell you how much I enjoyed Kathy's lecture and Jim's tribute. They were both wonderful. Kathy, I don't know for sure yet, but because of your lecture, I may be able to say one of my gggrandfathers was a Brig. Gen. in the Civil War. My ggrandfather was a Samuel Crawford who died in Philadelphia, PA and has a will filed there. I have no other information about him yet, but I see a trip to Phila. in my future.I'm hoping the two Samuels are one in the same :) From: Bridgton
Thanks again to the two best hosts in the Forum.
From one of the "faithful"
..............Jayne
Jayne :) Our hearty thank you for the great feedback. Now for all you readers, here's a success story we love to advertise..... Jayne keep us posted :D
Know you do not expect nor encourage replies to your Fireside Chat messages. However, since I rarely can attend the chat sessions, thought you might store this bit of information somewhere in case anyone ever is in need.
I had an ancestor who served in the Civil War who I found was lying in an unmarked grave--South Portland, Maine - Forest City Cemetery, well documented. He died 7/4/1900 at the age of 90 in an alms house medically and financially indigent.
He served both in the Infantry and the Navy, on the "Imo," the "Allegheny" and the "Ohio." I have obtained his military and pension records. Just this past August I arranged to have a marker prepared to place on his gravesite--which is free of charge and can be obtained by providing information to any funeral director in the nation who then forwards the request to the Federal government. I will need to pay $60 to the cemetery association to install the bronze marker in a required cement base--but consisder this negligible considering the man has lain in an unmarked grave for 97 years after having served his country so valiantly--he was injured on a forced march to Fredricksburg, which is well documented in the history books--but continued serving another two years.
Anyone who every finds that a veteran of any war lies in an unmarked grave may obtain a marker for the gravesite in the same way. I am very excited about arranging a small gathering as well as a news story when we finally get the marker in place. The funeral home pesonnel where I made the arrangements said they had never had a similar request for a Civil War Veteran previous to this.
If anyone has suggestions as to some other potential ceremonial/commemorative activity in connection with this, I would appreciate hearing same.
Keep up the wonderful work on this topic, and please keep me on the mailing list. I will let you know what transpired in future regarding this incident if you wish. Carol Morton, Lynnwood, WA
Carol - "Bless Your Heart" Heh Heh !!! We DOOOOO encourage feedback and you make sure you let us know what's going on :) READER's this is GREAT News for those of you in the same situation. Write this information down and then act upon it.... :) Thanks for this great news Carol........
From: FI WATROUS
Deanna, (Holm Hogs) per your query about prison camps in Texas, I came across this interesting narrative:
"PRISONS ....
The two most important prisons west of the Mississippi were Camp Ford, near Tyler, and Camp Groce, near Hempstead, Texas. The former was at first a camp on a beautiful hill covered with trees, though a stockade was built later. Both officers and men were confined here, and there seemed to have been, during 1863 and the early part of 1864, comparatively few hardships. The prisoners built log huts around which some of them planted vines and flowers. Lieutenant Colonel A. J. H. Duganne tells of paying two prisoners, experienced in such work one hundred dollars in Confederate money for the construction of a hut ten by twelve feet with a stone fireplace and clay chimney. The supply of wood was abundant, the water was excellent, bathing arrangements were ample, and the food, though confined to a few articles, was good. There was an abundance of fresh beef and cornmeal and farmers in the neighborhood were allowed to sell any of their produce though there was no regular sutler. The prisoners seem to have been allowed to keep and to receive money in any quantity.
There was so litle sickness that there seems to have been no need for a hospital. A newspaper written by hand was published by the prisoners, and concerts were given frequently. In the spring of 1864 many of the inmates planted gardens but about this time a great influx of prisoners from the Red River operations overcrowded the prison and the horticultural hopes were dissipated. This great increase in the number of prisoners brought disease from overcrowding, and a hospital was built. By this time there were no trees within the prison or nearby, and many men burrowed in the earth. The ration was reduced to cornmeal, and conditions became similar to those in the Eastern stockades. The last prison to be considered, Camp Groce, near Hempstead, was at first a camp in an open field enclosed by guard lines. The number of Federal prisoners of war confined here was comparatively small, and little information regarding it is to be found in the "Official Records"."
source: PHOTOGRAPHIC HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR, VOL 7, pub 1911, pg 96
Ike: Thank you for your usual incredible resource access and faithful responses. Even though this was for Deanne, I thought I'd add it to the newsletter for all those others with ancestors in Texas..... And say Hi to Nancy from us....
From: BaileyABCE
Thank you so much for the update. I must regretfully pass this week ( school board meeting - must take care of the here and now first I guess )
Re: Antietam - on Sept 17 ( ironically this date ) a rebel soldier wrote home about the battle " The sun seemed almost to go backwards. It appeared as if night would never come. "
Please keep up the good work!
Hope to visit next time.
Becky - What a great Quote!! Our thanks for the feedback....
From: Norb162611
I want to thank all those who responded to my question re: Battle Above the Clouds more commonly known as Look Out Mountain. Much information available at this site http://www.ngeorgia.com/ . Thanks again to everyone.
Joan
Joan :) You're entire welcome.. AND to "The Faithful", THANK YOU for your quick and "large" responses to Joan's request.... :) Another instance of "Community" has occurred... Oh My!!!! Heh Heh And WHO SAID we can't communicate ??????/
From: GENESGENE
CIVIL WAR IN MINIATURE with music (Link Relocated 8/2/04) I think this is great place. Jean
Jean :) Thanks for the site address. I went and visited with the builder of the site and it is indeed a unique one. ENJOY For those of you that haven't played with this type of link before; you only have to click on the Title above while Online and you'll go straight there. If for some reason it doesn't work, then the actual address is: http://civilwarmini.com/ (Relocated 8/2/04)
Message from the Webmaster: rlctlc@aeneas.net
What we are about.........
Our Focus: the "History of the North American Civil War".
Our Goal: to enhance your Genealogy activity 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, people and social happenings. In addition we dedicate one Thursday a month to 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 in this topic and our Thursday sessions, we automatically add you to our Weekly Notices.
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, 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 Co-Hosts GFS KathyD and GFS Jim and our many fill-in friends :)
See ya at the "Fireside";
- 10/2/97 - "The 20 Days from the Wilderness to Petersburg" - GFS Jim
- 10/9/97 - Letters, Songs, and Poems Night. "Our Monthly Special" Come join us and watch some real history from those that were there......
- 10/16/97 - OPEN CHAT
- 10/23/97 - "The Last Major Attempt in Missouri (1864)" - GFS Jim
- 10/30/97 - OPEN CHAT
GFS KathyD and GFS Jim
NOTE: Chat data is presented for historic purposes only.
The Genealogy Forum no longer hosts live chats.
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Content © 1997 - 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