December 2001 Weekly Firesides

December 2001 Weekly Firesides

Hear Ye .... Hear Ye
"The Weekly Fireside"
of the American Civil War History
Special Interest Group;
Distribution Coast to Coast
Week ending 2 December 2001

Our Mission: To serve all genealogists by providing an enjoyable online environment with as many helpful and reliable resources as possible.

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Ohhhh it's good to be home again. Too many days on the road. Hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving. It was a great time being with family and catching up on the memories.

Many thanks to HOST GFS Jayne for covering "The Weekly Fireside" in my absence!!!!!!

I sent in a note to HOST GFS Jayne for the newsletter last week on Garbaby1959's request to find a gravestone and get him a picture. Well I had a few extra hours in Pensacola, Florida and with the help of some Funeral Parlor folk, found the subject cemetery over on the west side of Pensacola. After a few hours walking around I also lucked out and found his ancestors CSA Gravestone. I was pretty amazed how many of the "Boyetts" were in this cemetery. Seemed like generations and generations of Boyetts were buried there. I also noted that a good number of the male Boyetts fought in wars since the Civil War. That seemed a great tradition of this family to fight for their country. It was raining while I was there so I couldn't get any acceptable pictures so that calls for another visit.

It's so refreshing to be able to help out other members and I don't often get that opportunity so that made this special. I hope you'll help out others where they are researching in this way in areas that you live in.....

Next Thursday is OPEN CHAT, so the floor will be open for all kinds of Civil War History discussion. Hope you'll be able to drop by. We don't have many more days in this year; "Can you Believe It?" December is here. Watch the Schedule of Events coming up at the end of the "Fireside" as HOST GFS TEG has finished up another blockbuster to share. It's a 3 part session on Armistead.... You won't want to miss out.

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Civil War History & Genealogy Forum Related Announcements
War Between the States (Tracing your Civil War Ancestors)
With HOST GFS Amy and HOST GFS Wolford on
Friday evenings at 9:00 PM EDT in the Golden Gates Chat Room
of the Genealogy Forum (ONLY ON AOL) at KEYWORD: ROOTS

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Military Families Chat
With HOST GFS Beri, and HOST GFS Wolford
Wed, 8 PM ET in the Ancestral Digs Conference Room
of the Genealogy Forum (ONLY ON AOL) at KEYWORD: ROOTS

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"Genealogy Forum's Military Resources" Website
devoted to Civil War History and the material presented in
the American Civil War History Special Interest Group
in the Genealogy Forum of America On-Line.
The address is:
http://www.genealogyforum.rootsweb.com/gfaol/resource/Military/

The Weekly Fireside Archives
http://www.genealogyforum.rootsweb.com/gfaol/resource/Military/Fireside.htm

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Editor's Note: I sincerely encourage you to feel entirely free to post any Civil War Letters, Stories or articles that you have in our Civil War History Files through the new Military Resources Website. We are trying "beef up" our Library and now those of you who have patiently stuck with us who aren't AOL Members can now participate. There is also an area for you to upload photos, if you would desire to share those with the Civil War History community. On the Web Site, there are links to our Civil War Library (Files, Firesides, and Photo's).

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FOR ALL YOU 1ST TIMERS ON THURSDAY - "WE REALLY WELCOME YOU TO OUR MERRY BAND" WE ENJOYED HAVING YOU, TRADING QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS AND ESPECIALLY YOUR CAMARADERIE!!! :-)... COME AGAIN OFTEN, WE DO INDEED "RELISH" YOUR COMPANY..

Every first-timer to the American Civil War History SIG gets put on the newsletter distribution automatically, because we like to send you a "Thank You Card" for coming to visit and this is our way of doing so. We hope to give you an opportunity to jump right in with us. If you desire NOT to receive the newsletter, then just drop us an email saying UNSUBSCRIBE and we will quickly remove your screen name from distribution. We certainly don't want to clog your mailbox with unwanted material. Also many of you pass on the newsletter to others that don't subscribe to AOL. We really want to thank you for spreading the word. I would also like to let you know that we would be happy to add them to our list if they have email of any sort. We distribute everywhere to those that have requested it. AOL membership is not a requirement although we'd love to see you in the Chat Room :D

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Did you know...............

I know for certain that you've heard of the classic story "Moby Dick" by Herman Melville. But have you ever heard of titles such as; The Stone Fleet, Donelson, Shiloh, The Cumberland, The Turret? Well, Herman Melville fought in the Civil War as an Artillery Officer for the Union. As a result of his experiences, Melville wrote an incredible amount of Civil War Poetry that were assembled and published as The Battle Pieces by Herman Melville by Harper & Brothers of New York in 1866. In Melville's own notes he says:

"With few exceptions, the pieces in this volume originated in an impulse imparted by the fall of Richmond. They were composed without reference to collective arrangement, but, being brought together in review, naturally fall in to the order assumed. The events and incidents of the conflict -- making up a whole, in varied amplitude, corresponding with the geographical area covered by the war -- from these but a few themes have been taken, such as for any cause chanced to imprint themselves upon the mind. The aspects which the strife as a memory assumes are as manifold as are the moods of involuntary mediation -- moods variable, and at times widely at variance. Yielding instinctively, one after another, to feelings not inspired from any one source exclusively, and unmindful, without purposing to be, of consistency, I seem, in most of these verses, to have but placed a harp in a window, and noted the contrasted airs which wayward winds have played upon the strings.......

The Portent.
(1859)

Hanging from the beam,
Slowly swaying (such the law),
Gaunt the shadow on your green,
Shenandoah!
The cut is on the crown
(Lo, John Brown),
And the stabs shall heal no more.

Hidden in the cap
Is the anguish none can draw;
So your future veils its face,
Shenandoah!
But the streaming beard is shown
(Weird John Brown),
The meteor of the war.

............. and there you have it!

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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: The new Military Resouces Website (Website is listed above in the Fireside) has a myriad of options for you. Here are some the choices: US Military Records, Conscription/Draft Records, Civil War Battle Names, Secession of the Confederate States, Your Civil War Ancestors - Where to Begin, Military Resources on the Internet, links to the Stories, Files and Talks of the American Civil War History Chat on AOL, message boards and many, many others. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Additional Note from the Webmaster: Although we are thrilled to provide this area for you now, we want you to know that we are still building it and MORE files, Regimental Histories, etc., will be available in the near future. Stay Tuned!

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Weekly Web Sites We've Received
From: [email protected]

America's Civil War (magazine)
http://www.thehistorynet.com/AmericasCivilWar/

American Civil War Resources in the Special Collections Department of the University Libraries at Virginia Tech
http://scholar2.lib.vt.edu/spec/civwar/cwhp.htm

A Brief Naval Chronology of the Civil War (1861-1865)
http://www.history.navy.mil/wars/civilwar.htm

The Civil War Archive
http://www.civilwararchive.com/

Civil War Order of Battle for Major Engagements
http://www.access.digex.net/~bdboyle/battles/orders.html

Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System
http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/

Civil War Timeline
http://www.historyplace.com/civilwar/index.html

Civil War Times Illustrated (magazine)
http://www.thehistorynet.com/CivilWarTimes/

Genealogy Gateway to U.S. Military Resources
http://www.polaris.net/~legend/milifile.htm

General Officers of the Civil War
http://people.delphi.com/yatsuo/go_main.htm

Institute for Civil War Research
http://members.aol.com/lewrjohn/icwr.html

North and South Magazine
http://www.northandsouthmagazine.com/

Researching People of the Civil War Era
http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/other/genealogy/

CSA GENERAL CONFEDERATE SITES:

Confederate Deat at Rock Island
http://www.thehistorynet.com/CivilWarTimes/

The Confederate Network
http://www.confederate.net/

Confederate Regimental Histories Directory
http://www.tarleton.edu/activities/pages/facultypages/jones/confeds.html

Confederate States Navy
http://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/academic/history/
marhsall/military/civil_war/usa/C.S.N./

The Museum and White House of the Confederacy
http://www.moc.org/

Sons of Confederate Veterans
http://www.scv.org/

United Daughters of the Confederacy
[email protected]

"William" great material - Thanks

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MEMBERS HELPING MEMBERS!!.

Here's how it works... If you are trying to get photographs of a gravesite or battlefield, to collect for your Civil War ancestor research and records, then send us a request and we will post it here... Other members see your request, some being in the near vicinity, are willing to assist, and can email you directly (This protects your privacy) to work out the details. We HIGHLY recommend the "Requester" pay for all film costs and any postage involved for a helping member. This is intended to be a "Free" assistance between members (with the exception of defraying film and postage costs). Do unto others as.... you know
:-) Keep us posted on how this is working, so we can share them in the "Fireside"!!
HOST GFS Jim

IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED ANSWER(S) TO YOUR QUESTIONS, PLEASE BE SURE TO LET US KNOW!!!!!
Thanks!! - The Editors

We have had some gracious members offer their assistance in this area. Their screen names and areas they have offered to help in are listed.... Please honor their "goodness" and don't abuse them :-)....
We ask that you do follow the guidelines indicated above....

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From: [email protected]
I'm not sure this is where I reply but I thought I would give it a try. I noticed in the Weekly Fireside Chat newsletter that we could ask for help in locating a picture of a gravesite of a Civil War ancestor. Well my 3rd Great-grandfathers both served, 1 in the south and 1 in the north. Their names were:

Asahel IVES buried Bethel Cemetery, Bethel, Fayette Co. IA

Charles Dudley BOYETT AKA CD buried Union Hill Cemetery, Pensacola, Escambia Co. Florida.
If any live in the areas I would gladly pay whatever the cost.
Thank you
Joe

((((Joe)))) This is a note I received from Jim re the above:

We've found Garbaby1959's CSA ancestor "CD Boyett" in Pensacola, Florida. He was indeed in the Union Hill Cemetery at the junction of Fairfield Blvd and 69th Street in to old part of the cemetery that for years forgotten was managed and tended by the Union Hill Baptist Church. He lies next to his wife Elizabeth among generations and generations of "Boyetts". The Boyett men were fighting men as evidenced by the gravestones commemorating their valor in World I, and World War II. It does something to the soul to walk through that amount of family history and the memory it leaves with you. "Joe" you have a family history that swells a person's heart and brings a tear to your eye! We'll hope there's no rain on the next trip and we'll get those pictures for you.

HOST GFS Jim

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OUR WEEKLY READING...

Another from The Battle Pieces of Herman Melville.............

From an uninscribed Monument on one of the battle-fields of the Wilderness.

Silence and Solitude may hint
(Whose home is in yon piny wood)
What I, though tableted, could never tell --
The din which here befell,
And striving of the multitude.
The iron cones and spheres of death
Set round me in their rust,
These, too, if just,
Shall speak with more than animated breath.
Thou who beholdest, if thy thought,
Not narrowed down to personal cheer,
Take in the import of the quiet here --
The after-quiet -- the calm full fraught;
Thou too wilt silent stand --
Silent as I, and lonesome as the land.

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A BIT OF COMMUNITY...
Check out the following member inputs for comments and requests for information, Feedback's, Items of Interest and Plea's for HELP...

========================================

WHAT WE ARE ABOUT

OUR FOCUS: the "History of the American (United States) Civil War", with byproducts of laughter, and comraderie!

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.

Captain Oliver Wendell Holmes of the 20th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, said it so well.

"I think it is a noble and pious thing
To do whatever we may by written
Word or molded bronze and sculpted
Stone to keep our memories, our
Reverence and our love alive and
To hand them on to new generations
All too ready to forget."

OUR PROMISE: to provide an "online" environment that is NOT judgmental and to address ALL aspects of this "Pivotal Period" in our History, with honesty and truth (as 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 of 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 Hey!, TO YOU "FIRST-TIMERS" THIS WEEK, "Welcome"... :)

We heartily enjoyed your visit and participation. We really "fire up" with 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 "post-haste".

Schedule of Upcoming Topics/Events*****

Time: Every Thursday Night at 11pm ET in the Golden Gates Chat Room (On AOL Only) with hosts HOST GFS Amy, HOST GFS Jayne, HOST GFS TEG and HOST GFS Jim and our many faithful friends :)

12/6/01 - OPEN CHAT

12/13/01 - Letters, Songs and Poems night. Send in any material you want read in the room to HOST GFS Jim, HOST GFS Jayne, HOST GFS TEG or HOST GFS Amy and we'll be more than happy to do the reading for you :D

12/20/01 - OPEN CHAT

12/27/01 - "Ambrose - Part I" - written by HOST GFS TEG and entered by HOST GFS Jayne

1/3/02 - OPEN CHAT

1/10/02 - Letters, Songs and Poems night. Send in any material you want read in the room to HOST GFS Jim, HOST GFS Jayne, HOST GFS TEG or HOST GFS Amy and we'll be more than happy to do the reading for you :D

1/17/02 - "Ambrose - Part II" - written by HOST GFS TEG and entered by HOST GFS Jayne

1/24/02 - OPEN CHAT

1/31/02 - "Ambrose - Part III" - written by HOST GFS TEG and entered by HOST GFS Jayne

We'll See You Thursday Night..!
Your Joyful, Intelligent and Fun-lovin' Host's & Hostess's :-)
HOST GFS Jim, HOST GFS Jayne, HOST GFS TEG and HOST GFS Amy

Hear Ye .... Hear Ye
"The Weekly Fireside"
of the American Civil War History
Special Interest Group;
Distribution Coast to Coast
Week ending 9 December 2001

Our Mission: To serve all genealogists by providing an enjoyable online environment with as many helpful and reliable resources as possible.

========================================

Heh Heh - Ohhh I just love these Senior Moments. My appologies last week for labeling the Armistead Series in the actual schedule as "Ambrose". At least they both started with "A".

Next Thursday is "Letters, Songs and Poems of the Civil War" . This is one of our special nights of the month. Hope you find time to stop by and listen to some.

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MUSIC........................

I haven't shared anything with you for some time and since I've been home soaking up the family and enjoying a few quiet moments, I got rummaging around in my music collection and drug out an old favorite of mine that I thought I'd pass along. It's the recording of The Dave Brubeck Quartet at Carnegie Hall.

In the words of George Simon: Friday, February 22, 1963, the eve of the Washington Birthday holiday, saw storied Carnegie Hall packed to the rafters and in a festive mood when the Dave Brubeck Quartet returned to their New York home base. Every so often you're lucky to be in the right place at the right time. And we were the lucky ones, those of us who were in Carnegie Hall on Friday night. That was the night the Dave Brubeck Quartet reached swinging heights few of us had ever heard it attain before. It was begun predictably as a good Brubeck concert, but nothing out of the ordinary. We were all there on this Washington's Birthday because we like to listen to Brubeck, and we were hearing pretty much what we had expected to hear. And so we were satisfied. Then suddenly it happened -- right after the start of the third number. Don't ask why. Probably nobody can explain it. But it happened all right, and what had begun as a quite good Brubeck concert burst abruptly into a great one. From then on, this turned out to be the night the Dave Brubeck Quartet was really swinging. This was the night it fell into a groove few, if any of us, had ever realized it could find. This was one of those nights when everything turned out right. During intermission I sat with Dave and Paul Desmond in their dressing room. They were very happy. A great rapport had established, because they were feeling exactly what we had been feeling out front. They knew even better than we did that this was a special night. Some days later Dave still exultant about what had happened at Carnegie Hall, remarked, "The group had reached swinging heights like that before. What was lucky is that this concert was recorded!"

.....................enjoy

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Did you know...............

In camp, three miles from Richmond
Sunday, July 13, 1862

Jackson got on his old sorrel horse, which his courier was holding for him, and without saying a word to anyone, in a deep brown and abstracted study started in a gallop towards Mechanicsville Pike, which we soon reached. His orders, published to his corps, very strictly enjoined the preservation of the crops along which the army and its trains moved and forbade all officers and men from riding out into the fields on each side of the road. This day Jackson was especially anxious to get back to his quarters. Unfortunately for his speed, the pike was filled with long wagon trains, one set coming in, the other going out. It was impossible to make time under these circumstances and still obey orders. He had not spoken a word since we had gotten underway. He first dodged in and out among the wagons, but his progress was slow, much slower than his needs demanded. He obviously remembered his orders, but determined to violate them.

He told his adjutant to have the cavalcade fall into single file and thereupon dashed into the extensive field of oats, overripe for the harvest, on the left of the pike. Several hundred yards ahead of the place where he violated the sacred oat field, there was a very nice brick house sitting back some distance, in a grove of oaks with a lane leading down to the pike. On a porch a round and fat little gentleman was sitting smoking his pipe, with bald head and red face, in his shirtsleeves, with an eye on his morning Examiner and the other on his field of oats. When he saw the cavalcade ride out of the road, he threw down his paper, rushed down the steps and flew down the lane and before we reached the place where the lane and pike united, he was standing like a lion in the pathway. He was puffing and blowing, wiping the perspiration off his forehead and so bursting with rage that all power of articulation seemed for a moment suspended.

The General saw him and for the first time in his career seemed inclined to retreat, but our irate friend had regained his speech and made his attack as Jackson drew rein before him.

"What in hell are you riding over my oats for?" the little man shouted. "Don't you know it's against orders?"

The General looked confused, fumbled with his bridle rein and was as much abashed as any schoolboy ever caught in a watermelon patch. Before, with his slow speech, he could ever get a word of explanation, our volcanic friend had another eruption: "Damnit! Don't you know it's against orders? I intend to have every damned one of you arrested? What's your name anyhow?"

" My name is Jackson," said the General, half as if, for the occasion, he wished it was something else.

"Jackson! Jackson!" in a voice of great contempt. "Jackson, I intend to report every one of you and have you every one arrested. Yes, I'd report you if you were old Stonewall himself instead of a set of damned quartermasters and commissaries riding through my oats! Yes, I'll report you to Stonewall Jackson myself, that's what I'll do!"

"They call me that name sometimes," said the General in the same subdued, half-alarmed tone.

"What name?"

"Stonewall."

"You don't mean to say you are Stonewall Jackson, do you?"

"Yes, sir, I am."

I can give no adequate description of the sudden change. His anger was gone in an instant and in it's place came an admiring look that was adoring. His color vanished, his lips parted and tears stood in his eyes. His emothions stilled his tongue for an instant, then his speech returned with all the vigor of his vernacular and he shouted as he waved his big bandana around his head: "Hurrah for Stonewall Jackson! By God, General, please do me the honor and ride all over my damned old oats!"

-- Captain Charles Minor Blackford

............. and there you have it!

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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: The new Military Resouces Website (Website is listed above in the Fireside) has a myriad of options for you. Here are some the choices: US Military Records, Conscription/Draft Records, Civil War Battle Names, Secession of the Confederate States, Your Civil War Ancestors - Where to Begin, Military Resources on the Internet, links to the Stories, Files and Talks of the American Civil War History Chat on AOL, message boards and many, many others. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Additional Note from the Webmaster: Although we are thrilled to provide this area for you now, we want you to know that we are still building it and MORE files, Regimental Histories, etc., will be available in the near future. Stay Tuned!

==========================================

Weekly Web Sites We've Received

From: [email protected]

Civil War Lady's On-Line Book Shoppe - Civil War in the Trans-Mississippi. All material prime source. Many lists of Confederate and Union men and where and when they served. Complete county cemetery records. Many county histories.
http://cwbkladybookshoppe.com

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From: [email protected]

American Civil War Songs/Lieder aus dem americanischen Burgerkrieg
http://www.acronet.net/~robokopp/civilwar.html

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MEMBERS HELPING MEMBERS!!..
Here's how it works... If you are trying to get photographs of a gravesite or battlefield, to collect for your Civil War ancestor research and records, then send us a request and we will post it here... Other members see your request, some being in the near vicinity, are willing to assist, and can email you directly (This protects your privacy) to work out the details. We HIGHLY recommend the "Requester" pay for all film costs and any postage involved for a helping member. This is intended to be a "Free" assistance between members (with the exception of defraying film and postage costs). Do unto others as.... you know
:-) Keep us posted on how this is working, so we can share them in the "Fireside"!!
HOST GFS Jim

IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED ANSWER(S) TO YOUR QUESTIONS, PLEASE BE SURE TO LET US KNOW!!!!!
Thanks!! - The Editors

We have had some gracious members offer their assistance in this area. Their screen names and areas they have offered to help in are listed.... Please honor their "goodness" and don't abuse them :-)....
We ask that you do follow the guidelines indicated above....

* * * * *

OUR WEEKLY READING...
It is hard to say whether Thompson's poem is about a real event. At Christmas 1914 German and English troops joined in singing Christmas carols across the trenches, and music has always been the great connector. "Home Sweet Home" was one of the most popular songs in the war. In the dark winter of 1862-1863, after Federal forces were slaughtered at Fredericksburg, the song was forbidden in the Army of the Potomac lest it lower morale.

Music In Camp by John Reuben Thompson (1823-1873)

Two armies covered hill and plain,
Where Rappahannock's waters
Ran deeply crimsoned with the stain
Of battle's recent slaughters.

The summer clouds lay pitched like tents
In meads of heavenly azure;
And each dread gun of the elements
Slept in its high embrasure.

The breeze so softly blew, it made
No forest leaf to quiver;
And the smode of the random cannonade
Rolled slowly from the river.

And now, where circling hills looked down
With cannon grimly planted,
O'er listless camp and silent town
The golden sunset slanted.

When on the fervid air there came
A strain, now rich, now tender,
The music seemed itself aflame
With day's departing splendor.

A Federal band, which eve and morn
Played measures brave and nimble,
Had just struck up, with flute and horn
And lively clash of cymbal.

Down flocked the soldiers to the banks;
Till, margined by its pebbles,
One wooded shore was blue with "Yanks,"
And one was gray with "Rebels".

Then all was still; and then the band,
With movement light and tricksy,
Made stream and forest, hill and strand,
Reverberate with "Dixie."

The conscious stream, with burnished glow,
Went proudly o'er its pebbles,
But thrilled throughout its deepest flow
With yelling of the Rebels.

Again a pause; and then again
The trumpet pealed, sonorous,
And "Yankee Doodle" was the strain
To which the shore gave chorus.

The laughing ripple shoreward flew
To kiss the shining pebbles;
Loud shrieked the swarming Boys in Blue
Defiance to the Rebels.

And yet once more the bugle sang
Above the stormy riot;
No shout upon the evening rang, --
There reigned a holy quiet.

The sad, slow stream its noiseless flood
poured o'er the glistening pebbles;
All silent now the Yankees stood,
All silent stood the Rebels.

No unresponsive soul had heard
That plaintive note's appealing,
So deeply "Home, Sweet Home" had stirred
The hidden founts of feeling.

Or Blue, or Gray, the soldier sees,
As by the wand of fairy,
The cottage 'neath the live oak trees,
The cabin by the prairie.

Or cold or warm, his native skies
Bend in their beauty o'er him;
Seen through the tear-mist in his eyes,
His loved ones stand before him.

As fades the iris after rain
In April's tearful weather,
The vision vanished as the strain
And daylight died together.

But Memory, waked by Misic's art,
Expressed in simple numbers,
Subdued the sternest Yankee's hert,
Made light the Rebel's slumbers.

And fair the form of Music shines, --
That bright celestial creature, --
Who still 'mid war's embattled lines
Gave this one touch of Nature.

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A BIT OF COMMUNITY...
Check out the following member inputs for comments and requests for information, Feedback's, Items of Interest and Plea's for HELP...

From: [email protected]
Found this while surfing:
BIOGRAPHY OF PRIVATE JAMES LORD PIERPONT
1822-1893
Company H, 5th Georgia Volunteer Cavalry

James was a businessman and owned the J. Pierpont Co. on Montgomery Square in Savannah, dealers in paints, varnishes, wallpapers, window glass and art supplies. In addition to his business he was the choir director at his brother’s church and while in that capacity wrote "One Horse Open Sleigh" or "Jingle Bells" which was copyright 16 September 1857. Some say that he wrote the tune because he missed the snow down in Georgia that he experienced in his native New England. Some believe that he wrote the song for a local Sunday school entertainment. This beloved Christmas Carol is forever a part of the American Christmas Scene.

{{{Amy}}} Thanks a bunch....

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From: [email protected]
Thanks for the article, for what is a veteran writen by Father Denis O'Brien on Nov 11. I can't be in the chat room but I do read the e mails at other times and enjoy them. thanks again

Doug

{{{Doug}}} - just the fact that you've responded in this manner, makes all our newsletter efforts worthwhile. Thank you........... :D

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From: [email protected] (Don)
Greetings All! I just wanted to let you all know that I just got back (yesterday) from a 60 day deployment to the Desert (Qatar) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (I know "you were gone??!!"). I'm one of the fortunate ones that was allowed to rotate out before the Christmas holidays, but all that means is that someone had to relieve me. Let's not forget the thousands still holding the line in some very unpleasant and unfriendly places. remember them in your prayers as we celebrate the Christmas season and the beginning of a new year. I hope this finds you all well. Keep in touch as you have the time. God Bless.

Don
"Let us have faith that Right makes Might, and in that faith, let us to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it."
- A. Lincoln

{{Don}} I am heartily thrilled you're back in the "Homeland!" God Bless you and and crew for "Going in Harm's Way" for us back home. Pass the word, that our prayers have been with you and continue still for those still on the line. I'm sure you're cuddling back in with that sweet family of yours. Give them our love.
For those of you who don't recognize Don, He's been part of our "on-line" family for a number of years and I've had the distinct priviledge to meet him and his family while they were stationed at the Air Force Academy. We've missed him and glad he's home!!!!!!!!!!!

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WHAT WE ARE ABOUT
OUR FOCUS: the "History of the American (United States) Civil War", with byproducts of laughter, and comraderie!

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.

Captain Oliver Wendell Holmes of the 20th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, said it so well.

OUR PROMISE: to provide an "online" environment that is NOT judgmental and to address ALL aspects of this "Pivotal Period" in our History, with honesty and truth (as 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 of 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 Hey!, TO YOU "FIRST-TIMERS" THIS WEEK, "Welcome"... :)

We heartily enjoyed your visit and participation. We really "fire up" with 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 "post-haste".

Schedule of Upcoming Topics/Events*****

Time: Every Thursday Night at 11pm ET in the Golden Gates Chat Room (On AOL Only) with hosts HOST GFS Amy, HOST GFS Jayne, HOST GFS TEG and HOST GFS Jim and our many faithful friends :)

12/13/01 - Letters, Songs and Poems night. Send in any material you want read in the room to HOST GFS Jim, HOST GFS Jayne, HOST GFS TEG or HOST GFS Amy and we'll be more than happy to do the reading for you :D

12/20/01 - OPEN CHAT

12/27/01 - "Armistead - Part I" - written by HOST GFS TEG and entered by HOST GFS Jayne

1/3/02 - OPEN CHAT

1/10/02 - Letters, Songs and Poems night. Send in any material you want read in the room to HOST GFS Jim, HOST GFS Jayne, HOST GFS TEG or HOST GFS Amy and we'll be more than happy to do the reading for you :D

1/17/02 - "Armistead - Part II" - written by HOST GFS TEG and entered by HOST GFS Jayne

1/24/02 - OPEN CHAT

1/31/02 - "Armistead - Part III" - written by HOST GFS TEG and entered by HOST GFS Jayne

We'll See You Thursday Night..!
Your Joyful, Intelligent and Fun-lovin' Host's & Hostess's :-)
HOST GFS Jim, HOST GFS Jayne, HOST GFS TEG and HOST GFS Amy

Hear Ye .... Hear Ye
"The Weekly Fireside"
of the American Civil War History
Special Interest Group;
Distribution Coast to Coast
Week ending 16 December 2001

Our Mission: To serve all genealogists by providing an enjoyable online environment with as many helpful and reliable resources as possible.

========================================

Well as usual last Thursday was great as it was our "Letters, Songs and Poems of the Civil War" night. We had some great renderings, not to be confused with "squishing apples" for some cider. Heh Heh

This Thursday is OPEN CHAT, so if you just want to drop in and jabber about the Civil War, come on out and join us. We'll be watching for you.

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MUSIC........................
Now, on ocassion I've been accused of being a bit partial to Celtic style music and you know what? That's an absolute true statement. Heh Heh! However this week I've a bit of "Down Home" to share with you. I recently was looking through my CD Club and ran across one that caught my eye. One of the reasons it did is because I've been interested in the merging of music culture from the old countries our ancestors came from into their new country, America! There have been a number of movies recently available about this phenomena. One of these that I really enjoyed was a movie called "The Songcatcher" which occurred back in the early 1900's. Anyhow, the CD I put forth for your adventurous spirits is "The Crossing" by Tim O'Brien.

Let me share his thoughts on this effort of his. "Since hearing Kevin Burke fiddle "The Sailor's Bonnet" on an Arlo Guthrie record in 1973, I've sought out traditional Irish music whenever and wherever I could. Old-time and bluegrass music share a common repertoire with Irish music, and the two worlds have greatly influenced one another, particularly since the '50's and '60's folk revival. Beyond the musical relation, though, there's also a cultural, historical, and ancestral connection that drives this project, and greatly influences the original songs included here. In the last few years I've taken a growing interest in my Irish roots. I learned more about my great-greatfather, Thomas O'Brien, who came to America in 1851. I read old folk tales, a little history, some poetry. I poured draft Guinness from a can, planning my next visit to 'the old sod.'"

"That's why I'm so fortunate here to not only collaborate with some musical friends and heroes from both sides of the Atlantic, but also to write songs on a theme that naturally interests me. All of the co-writers and players participating are top names in their fields. A survey of the bassists alone reads like a 'best of' list. Though coordinating various schedules was a complicated matter, once the players met in the studio, success was a simple matter of letting the magic happen. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have."

.....and thus writes Tim O'Brien. I have certainly enjoyed this adventure and it sorta gave me goosebumps a little because I grew up during the "Folk Revival" in the '50's and '60's and my greatest memories are participating in the "Hootenanys"... I'll bet a goodly number of you remember those.

.....................enjoy

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Did you know...............

In June of 1863, "Mother Bickerdyke" was put in charge of Gayoso hospital, in what was formerly the Gayoso Hotel, one of the largest hotels in Memphis. Here she was in all her glory. It was her ambition to make her hospital the best regulated, neatest, and most comfortable in Memphis or its vicinity, and this, in such a building, was not easy. She accomplished it however ... Nothing displeased her so much as any neglect of the men on the part of the surgeon or assistant surgeons. On one occassion, visiting one of the wards at nearly eleven o'clock a.m., where the men were very badly wounded, she found that the assistant surgeon-in-charge, who had been out "on a spree" the night before and had slept very late, had not yet made out the special diet list for the ward, and the men, faint and hungry, had had no breakfast. She at once denounced him in the strongest terms.

He came in meanwhile, and on his inquiry, "Hoity toity, what's the matter?" she turned upon him with, "Matter enough, you miserable scoundred! Here these men, and one of them worth a thousand of you, are suffered to starve and die, because you want to be off upon a drunk! Pull off your shoulder-straps," she continued, as he tried feebly to laugh off her reproaches, "pull off you shoulder-straps, for you shall not stay in the army a week longer." The surgeon still laughed, but he turned pale, for he knew her power. She was as good as her word. Within three days, she had caused his discharge. He went to headquarters, and asked to be reinstated. General Sherman, who was then in command, listened patiently, and then inquired who had caused his discharge. "I was discharged in consequence of misrepresentations," answered the surgeon. "But who caused your discharge?" persisted the General. "Why," said the surgeon, hesitatingly, "I suppose it was that woman, Mrs. Bickerdyke." "Oh," said Sherman. "Well, if it was her, I can do nothing for you. She ranks me."

-- Dr. L.P. Brockett

............. and there you have it!

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Weekly Web Sites We've Received

From: Cyndi:
General John Buford's Cavalry in the Gettysburg Campaign - considered the web's most comprehensive website devoted to John Buford's Federal 1st Cavalry division during the Gettysburg Campaign of 1863.
http://www.bufordsboys.com

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OUR WEEKLY READING...
Last Thursday night HOST GFS Amy brought this treasure along.

We've Drank From The Same Canteen

There are bonds of all sorts in the world of ours,
Fetters of friendship, and ties of flowers,
And true lover's knots, I ween.
The girl and the boy are bound by a kiss,
But there's never a bond, old friend, like this --
We have drank from the same canteen.

It was sometimes water, and sometimes milk,
And sometimes apple-jack fine as silk,
But, whatever the tipple has been,
We share it together, in bane or bliss,
And I warm to you friend, when I think of this,
We have drank from the same canteen.

The rich and the great sit down to dine,
And they quaff to each other in sparkling wine,
From glasses of crystal or green.
But I guess in their golden potations they miss
The warmth of regard to be found in this --
We have drunk from the same canteen.

We have shared our blankets and tents together,
And have marched and fought in all kinds of weather,
And hungry and full we have been;
Had days of battle and days of rest;
But this memory I cling to, and love the best --
We have drank from the same canteen.

For when wounded I lay on the outer slope,
With my blood flowing fast, and but little to hope
Upon which my faint spirit could lean,
Oh, then I remember you crawled to my side,
And, bleeding so fast it seemed both must have died,
We drank from the same canteen.

.........and as that sort of started the subject on canteens, the following published in Harper's Weekly, June 2, 1888, p.399, naturally came after -

"The Old Canteen"

'Tis a treasure from out the old cedar chest
That a brave wife sacredly keeps,
All hidden away 'neath the bullet-ploughed hat,
Where the tattered old gray coat sleeps;

And the years drift softly and silently down,
The spider has woven her sheen--
A mantle of peace--like a halo of rest--
Round the heart of the Old Canteen.

It was battered and bent in the storm of war,
Where the hurtling grape-shot fell,
And it breathes in its sleep the mystical tale
That the Southland must know so well--

Of the clashing of steel, of the carnage of death,
Of the woe in the days that have been--
But a tenderer tale than the pale stars know
Lies asleep with the Old Canteen.

The battle was done, and the flash of the guns
Had ceased in the warm bloody rills,
And the night, like a pall of the dead, dropped down
On the grim field of Chaplin Hills.

But the field was won, to the soldier in gray,
And he lay in the lines between--
And weary and thirsty, he measured the drops
That were left in the Old Canteen.

There were dying and dead upon every side,
Loud curses, and prayers breathed low,
But the darkness concealed, nor would not reveal,
The face of a friend or a foe;

And he thought, as he lay by his arms, of home,
Of love, and its tenderest scene,
And he pillowed his head with its throbbing pain
On the breast of the Old Canteen.

But the chilling winds sighed, and a gurgling moan
Crept on through the darkening mist,
And the words of distress woke the slumbering heart
That the bright dream of home had kissed.

He tenderly lifted the shattered young form,
With the veil of the night between--
The heart of a soldier beat earnest and true
Beneath the old battered Canteen.

A friend or a foe?--ah! what mattered it then--
Union blue, or the C. S. A.?
With piteous _need_ in the jacket of blue,
Humanity's _heed_ in the gray.

And the message was breathed to a stranger heart,
In the ear of _the foe_ unseen--
And the quivering lips felt the cooling drip
From the depths of the Old Canteen.

"Tell my sisters I died for my country's cause,
That my end was a _soldier's_ end;
And tell them, O comrade"--a gasp and a pause--
"I died in the arms of a _friend!"

Through the shivering mist, like the white rush-lights,
The pale stars struggled between,
With the deep silence cleft by the gurgling sigh
That rose from the Old Canteen.

ENVOI.

Yes, lay it away in the old cedar chest,
With its tale of days that have been--
And light be the dreams, in the stillness of peace,
That may rest on the Old Canteen!

By Virginia Frazer Boyle.

(notes at the bottom of the Harper's Weekly page -- Chaplin Hills is Perryville, the man in blue was from the 10th Ohio, and the man in gray was from the Fifth Confederate [?]).

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A BIT OF COMMUNITY...
Check out the following member inputs for comments and requests for information, Feedback's, Items of Interest and Plea's for HELP...

From: [email protected]
While, like others, I do not find each and every entry in your newsletter of paramount interest, those items I do are welcome and well done.
So, thanks all of you, for continued good work.
Erik

{{{Erik}}} Ha Ha Ha! It just goes to prove the old adage "You can't please all of the people all of the time." ..........but on occassion..... I'm tickled to death that we do, on occassion prick your interest..... I'm a' grinning!!! I'll certainly own up to the fact that I dearly enjoy the challenge..... Communication is a wonderful thing and for the most part surprising in the feedback we get.... Thanks for dropping us a line :D I'll be chucklin for while.....

* * * * *

From: [email protected]
A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the office and asked them to disperse.

"But why?" they asked, as they moved off.

"Because," he said, "I can't stand chess nuts boasting in an open foyer."

"Ted" Heh Heh - Thank you for the "Christmas Cheer"

* * * * *

From: [email protected]
Hi Ya Jim, You may want to go to my website on Gen. W. T. Sherman. It is poems/songs from a book written by Frank Moore, published in 1889. http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~bowers/wtsherm.htm

{{{Heather}}} Bless your heart, thanks for the website.

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OUR PROMISE: to provide an "online" environment that is NOT judgmental and to address ALL aspects of this "Pivotal Period" in our History, with honesty and truth (as 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 of 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 Hey!, TO YOU "FIRST-TIMERS" THIS WEEK, "Welcome"... :)

We heartily enjoyed your visit and participation. We really "fire up" with 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 "post-haste".

Schedule of Upcoming Topics/Events*****

Time: Every Thursday Night at 11pm ET in the Golden Gates Chat Room (On AOL Only) with hosts HOST GFS Amy, HOST GFS Jayne, HOST GFS TEG and HOST GFS Jim and our many faithful friends :)

12/13/01 - Letters, Songs and Poems night. Send in any material you want read in the room to HOST GFS Jim, HOST GFS Jayne, HOST GFS TEG or HOST GFS Amy and we'll be more than happy to do the reading for you :D

12/20/01 - OPEN CHAT

12/27/01 - "Amistead - Part I" - written by HOST GFS TEG and entered by HOST GFS Jayne

1/3/02 - OPEN CHAT

1/10/02 - Letters, Songs and Poems night. Send in any material you want read in the room to HOST GFS Jim, HOST GFS Jayne, HOST GFS TEG or HOST GFS Amy and we'll be more than happy to do the reading for you :D

1/17/02 - "Amistead - Part II" - written by HOST GFS TEG and entered by HOST GFS Jayne

1/24/02 - OPEN CHAT

1/31/02 - "Amistead - Part III" - written by HOST GFS TEG and entered by HOST GFS Jayne

We'll See You Thursday Night..!
Your Joyful, Intelligent and Fun-lovin' Host's & Hostess's :-)
HOST GFS Jim, HOST GFS Jayne, HOST GFS TEG and HOST GFS Amy

Hear Ye .... Hear Ye
"The Weekly Fireside"
of the American Civil War History
Special Interest Group;
Distribution Coast to Coast
Week ending 23 December 2001

Our Mission: To serve all genealogists by providing an enjoyable online environment with as many helpful and reliable resources as possible.

========================================

Thursday was a fun night of OPEN CHAT and we relished having some new folk drop by. DJoi dropped by and brought a little "Gooseberry Pie" to share. Heh Heh! I do go on, don't I?

I gotta tell you about this fabulous tale I've been reading. It's really kinda neat how this all came together.

About two or three years ago I was working out of Langley AFB for a number of weeks in the Tidewater area of Virginia (Hampton, Norfolk to be more precise) and I had a great opportunity to visit Fortress Monroe at the confluence of the James River and Chesapeake Bay. I had a thoroughly grand time touring the fortress and talking with the permanent Parks Personnel who ran the Museum. I wrote up a little piece from that tour and put it in the newsletter which HOST GFS Jayne has resurrected and published in her Website.

In that article I happened to mention the fact that the renowned Edgar Allen Poe served a period of time there before the Civil War era as an Artilleryman. Well that reminded me of Poe and the fact that I enjoyed his Novels and so as I was romping through the bookstore the other day, Lo and Behold what should I run across but a historical novel written about an 1840's incident about Edgar Allen Poe (as a detective) and Phineas T. Barnum as his employer when Barnum owned and operated the 'American Museum" in New York City. I LOVE IT! What a tale and it's all true from the historical sense. I'm not going to tell you any more because I don't want to spoil any of it. It's called "The Humbug" by Harold Schechter, the author of "Nevermore," another true Poe tale about Baltimore. If you happen to read this tale let me know how you liked it.

Now I need to advertise this coming Thursday night and two more after as the commencement of a series written by HOST GFS TEG (our own Tom Gladwell) about Louis Armistead. If you've seen any of Tom's previous stories, you know they're to be relished. So the first of the series called Armistead - Part I starts this Thursday night. You won't want to miss this series. We'll save you a seat and some warm cider :-)

HOST GFS Jayne, HOST GFS Amy and HOST GFS TEG wish all of you a Very Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year. God Bless!!

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* * * * *

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MUSIC........................
Well this week in the music area, I'm going to really excite you lovers of Cajun musical excellence. I have on my CD player at this very moment a collection of The Best of Beau Soleil the 1980's and I'm just sitting here smiling. I had the extreme pleasure of being introduced to Cajun style music at the a New Orleans Jazz Festival in the late 1960's and I've loved that foot stomping, swaying style ever since. It's pure Cajun and there's no other style of music like it. Excerpts from this rendition are J'AI ETE AU ZYDECO (I went to the Zydeco), MECREDI SOIRE PASSE' (Last Wednesday's Soire), VALSE DE GRAND MECHE (Waltz of the Big Marsh) and HOT CHILI MAMA.

.....................enjoy

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Did you know...............

When General Lee had his army entrenched at the Wilderness (May of 1864) Aunt Abby made one of her usual trips to it, and was present at a sharp attack, in which the Confederate troops were driven by sharp-shooters from a portion of the entrenchments, which it was important to defend. While the officers were attempting to rally the men, Aunt Abby, with a hop, skip and jump, mounted the words and went dancing along in full view of the enemy, calling out, "Hand me up a broom boys; and the ole woman will sweep the bullets out'n your way if it's them you are a-fear'd on." Those who have heard a Confederate battle-yell can imagine the shout with which those works were remanned but I cannot describe it.

Again, down Petersburg way. Aunt Abby was as fearless under fire as she was in the use of her tongue, and more than one officer has testified during the fearful bombardment of Petersburg; and she has frequently been known to go under a heavy fire to carry water to our wounded. On one occassion an officer met her cooly walking down the road leading two horses by their bridles, with the bullets whistling round her like hail.

"My God! old lady," he exclaimed, "waht are you doing here?"

"I'm a taking Colonel McRaie's and Captain Young's horses to 'em. They jumped off 'em and turned 'em into the yard, while they run through the bushes down yonder to whar the Yankees begun a firing on our boys; and when they opened on 'em with the cannon, and the shells begun to 'bust round headquarters, these here foolish horses got sorter cantankerous, so I cotch 'em by the bridles, ans as they'd 'er bin killed maybe if I left 'em up yonder, I'm gwine to take 'em down to whar they boys is under cover."

The officer, who told the story said she was as cool as though she was leading the horses to water on a summer's day at home; and only got excited and used expressions more forcible than elegant when they, snorting and jerking back at the whiz of every shell, came near stepping on her. She said the woman at the house had run into the cellar when the bombardment began, and called to her to come in too, "... but I told her I was a-gwine to carry them thar horses to ther owners, --for Maybe they'd need 'em yet afore the day was over."

-- Mary Bayard Clarke

............. and there you have it!

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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: The new Military Resouces Website (Website is listed above in the Fireside) has a myriad of options for you. Here are some the choices: US Military Records, Conscription/Draft Records, Civil War Battle Names, Secession of the Confederate States, Your Civil War Ancestors - Where to Begin, Military Resources on the Internet, links to the Stories, Files and Talks of the American Civil War History Chat on AOL, message boards and many, many others. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Additional Note from the Webmaster: Although we are thrilled to provide this area for you now, we want you to know that we are still building it and MORE files, Regimental Histories, etc., will be available in the near future. Stay Tuned!

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Weekly Web Sites We've Received
From: [email protected]

Tennessee and the Civil War
http://www.tngenweb.org/civilwar/

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From: [email protected]

Pension list of US Vets for 1813
http://www.homestead.com/pensioners/invalid.html

This site tells where to write for vital records.
http://www.vitalrec.com/

* * * * *

From: [email protected]

War of 1812-1814
http://members.tripod.com/~war1812/index.html

* * * * *

From: [email protected]

Welcome to the NEW home of Uncle Hiram
Note: UnkHiram has been a faithful supporter of the CW Forum and his new site update is something to behold....
http://www.bhocutt.com/YearsBest2.htm

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OUR WEEKLY READING...
The losses in the Peninsular campaign were so heavy that Lincoln on July 2, 1862, appealed to the states to raise "three hundred thousand more" soldiers. It was in response to this appeal that James Sloan Gibbons, the New York abolitionist, wrote "We Are Coming Father Abraham" -- an assertion which, as it turned out, was overconfident.

Gibbons was a Philadelphia Quaker who in the thirties moved to New York and simultaneously entered banking and reform, becoming one of the staunchest supporters of the American Anti-Slavery Society. During the draft riots of 1863 his house was sacked. The music for this song was composed by Stephen Foster, then living in poverty and obscurity in New York City.

We are coming, Father Abraham, three hundred thousand more,
From Mississippi's winding stream and from New England's shore;
We leave our ploughs and workshops, our wives and children dear,
With hearts too full for utterance, with but a silent tear;
We dare not look behind us, but steadfastly before:
We are coming, Father Abraham, three hundred thousand more!

If you look across the hill-tops that meet the northern sky,
Long moving lines of rising dust your vision may descry;
And now the wind, an instant, tears the cloudy veil aside,
And floats aloft our spangled flag in glory and in pride,
And bayonets in the sunlight gleam, and bands brave music pour,
We are coming, Father Abraham, three hundred thousand more!

If you look all up our valleys where the growing harvests shine,
You may see our sturdy farmer boys fast forming into line;
And children from their mother's knees are pulling at the weeds,
And learning how to reap and sow against their country's needs;
And a farewell group stands weeping at every cottage door:
We are coming, father Abraham, three hundred thousand more!

You have called us, and we're coming, by Richmond's bloody tide
To lay us down, for Freedom's sake, our brothers bones beside,
Or from foul treason's savage grasp to wrench the murderous blade,
And in the face of foreign foes its fragments to parade.
Six hundred thousand loyal men and true have gone before:
We are coming, Father Abraham, three hundred thousand more!

-- James Sloan Gibbons

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* * * * *

From: [email protected]
To add to Tim O'Brien's comments on the Celtic/Irish music, I was in North Antrim a few years ago, boarding a tour mini-bus in the Giant's Causeway area. I heard over the music system a familiar type of music and would have sworn it was a Nashville-type sound. I commented to the genial driver that I did not know that they were fond of our country music....he retorted, "My boy (55 years old boy!), that music is from the glens of Antrim!"
Deja vu.
A trip to Ireland is the trip of a lifetime...HOWEVER, do your homework and do not plan to discuss politics or cuisine. You all continue to do good work. Thanks.
Erik

"Erik" - thanks for the "icing" on the story :D

* * * * *

From: [email protected]
We wish you all the blessings of this joyous season and hope you are able to spend the holidays with your loved ones.

This has been a difficult year for all of us and the events of Sept. 11 make us all focus more than ever on family and friends.

We are thankful for friends near and far and cherish our family ties. We realize how blessed we are. It would be so nice to wish you all a Merry Christmas in person and raise a glass of egg nog together in a holiday toast. We'll be thinking fondly of you.

Hugs,
Ike and Nancy

{{{Ike & Nancy}}} Our Hugs Back!!!! Merry Christmas :D

========================================

OUR PROMISE: to provide an "online" environment that is NOT judgmental and to address ALL aspects of this "Pivotal Period" in our History, with honesty and truth (as 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 of 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 Hey!, TO YOU "FIRST-TIMERS" THIS WEEK, "Welcome"... :)

We heartily enjoyed your visit and participation. We really "fire up" with 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 "post-haste".

Schedule of Upcoming Topics/Events*****

Time: Every Thursday Night at 11pm ET in the Golden Gates Chat Room (On AOL Only) with hosts HOST GFS Amy, HOST GFS Jayne, HOST GFS TEG and HOST GFS Jim and our many faithful friends :)

12/13/01 - Letters, Songs and Poems night. Send in any material you want read in the room to HOST GFS Jim, HOST GFS Jayne, HOST GFS TEG or HOST GFS Amy and we'll be more than happy to do the reading for you :D

12/20/01 - OPEN CHAT

12/27/01 - "Amistead - Part I" - written by HOST GFS TEG and entered by HOST GFS Jayne

1/3/02 - OPEN CHAT

1/10/02 - Letters, Songs and Poems night. Send in any material you want read in the room to HOST GFS Jim, HOST GFS Jayne, HOST GFS TEG or HOST GFS Amy and we'll be more than happy to do the reading for you :D

1/17/02 - "Amistead - Part II" - written by HOST GFS TEG and entered by HOST GFS Jayne

1/24/02 - OPEN CHAT

1/31/02 - "Amistead - Part III" - written by HOST GFS TEG and entered by HOST GFS Jayne

We'll See You Thursday Night..!
Your Joyful, Intelligent and Fun-lovin' Host's & Hostess's :-)
HOST GFS Jim, HOST GFS Jayne, HOST GFS TEG and HOST GFS Amy

Hear Ye .... Hear Ye
"The Weekly Fireside"
of the American Civil War History
Special Interest Group;
Distribution Coast to Coast
Week ending 30 December 2001

Our Mission: To serve all genealogists by providing an enjoyable online environment with as many helpful and reliable resources as possible.

========================================

Well this is the last Weekly Fireside for the year 2001. Tomorrow is New Year's Eve and ......

HOST GFS Jim, HOST GFS Jayne, HOST GFS Amy
and HOST GFS TEG

Wish all of you a A Happy New Year.

God Bless!!

I have an announcement for all of you. The Genealogy Forum now has a newsletter that can be received via email if you desire to subscribe. The GOLDEN-GATE mailing list is a read-only list for the promulgation of information related to the Golden Gate Genealogy Forum including the monthly newsletter, upcoming events, significant changes in the web site, and other announcements of general interest. It is expected that the list will be very low volume. You may subscribe by sending an email to:

[email protected]

Title the subject of the email SUBSCRIPTION and type "Subscribe" in the body of the email message. If you have any questions, drop us a line.

Last Thursday's tale on Armistead was absolutely great and it's what we've come to expect from Tom Gladwell's stories. Remember, that was just Part I and Parts II and III are coming up. Check the schedule at the end for dates.

This coming Thursday is OPEN CHAT and we'll be looking for you...

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A little something special......
You know, this year has brought many feelings and thoughts back to the forefront of our minds that we have allowed to receed. Things that used to be a part of our everyday activities and now, maybe they've sorta fallin behind in our priorities. And I think that it's good to remember our God in whatever form we individually believe, our Country, our Flag, our Liberty and Freedom, and those who've sacrificed for us....

Well, I'd like us (the membership) to adopt someone or many service men or women in one of the Armed Forces. I'm going to start the ball and give you the email address of one of our own long-time Members who drops a line now and then whenever he gets a chance between flying missions and other tasks as a military man.

His name is Don Long, and as a member of this Civil War History group, I met him and his family in Colorado Springs where he was stationed. That was a number of years ago and he and the family have moved on to other assignments. I think he'd appreciate it if we would send him and his lovely family a New Year "email" and let them know we appreciate the sacrifice they give to keep this country of ours free!

[email protected]

Thanks Don and God Bless you and your family.

If any of you have any other names to suggest, please send us (HOST GFS Jim and HOST GFS Jayne) an email address and their name, and please check with them for approval for us to "print" their email address in this newsletter. We don't want to offend anyone in this effort of saying "Thanks".

Jim

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Did you know...............

The old White Oak, wrote Gettysburg historian Gregory A. Coco, stood solitary in its open field for probably 150 years. The field was part of the Bliss Farm at Gettysburg, once the home of Adelina and Williams Bliss.

No buildings from the Civil War era remain there today, thanks largely to one of the many thousands of incidents that comprised the three days of deadly battle at Gettysburg -- July 1 through July 3 of 1863 -- between two armies, 165,000 men in all.

With Confederate sharpshooters picking at his men from buildings on the Bliss farm, Union General Alexander Hays on the third day of battle finally decided he must order the barn and house of his Yankee countryman burned down, thus denying the Rebel marksmen their sanctuary. The man who volunteered to carry out the mission had to zigzag right up to the buildings where the enemy was sheltered and set them afire.

That volunteer was Sergeant Charles A. Hitchcock of the 111th New York Infantry, as written in National Park Service Ranger Historian Coco's book "On the Bloodstained Field II." Even though Hitchcock suffered a serious wound in the arm in the process, he accomplished the task -- house and barn soon were brightly ablaze.

The aforementioned white oak reared its lovely head in an empty field not far away. It, too was a haven for Rebel sharpshooters harassing the Union lines. On the third day of battle, wrote Lt. Tom Galwey, 8th Ohio Infantry, he was again confounded by Rebel Marksmen shooting at his company from from beneath the solitary tree, not thirty yards in front of the Union men.

To the surprise of the Yankees at one point, however, came pause as one of the Rebs hidden behind the old oak cried out, "Don't fire, Yanks!"

Not knowing what to expect, the Ohioans complied, curious to see what would happen next.

"A man with his gun slung across his shoulder came out from the tree," recalled Galwey. Some of the Union men, angry and grieving over comrades already struck down by the Confederate shooters, took quick aim at this bold enemy, "but the others checked them, to see what would follow."

The Yankees could see that their Reb enemy carried a canteen in his hand as he made his way halfway to the Union line. He stopped then, kneeled, and gently gave a wounded man a drink from the canteen -- a wounded Yank!

"Of course, we cheered the Reb," wrote Galwey, Indeed, the Union men by now had risen to their feet, and the Rebs behind their Good Samaritan had stopped firing, too, and were standing in full view. Everybody was now an easy target for their opponents; it was a scenario that could not, and would not, last.

"As soon as the sharpshooter had finished his generous work, he turned and went back to the tree, and then at the top of his voice shouted, 'Down Yanks, we're going to fire.' And down we lay again."

Their battle at the foot of the old white oak resumed, and the next day, with Lee's army now in retreat, "a heap of Confederates was found under that tree," said Galwey. "Whether the hero of the day before was one of the ghastly dead will probably never be known."

Indeed, only the oak could ever have told, but the tree maintained its silent vigil for more than a century until on June 20, 1987, a severe windstorm blew it down.

............. and there you have it!

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Weekly Web Sites We've Received
From: [email protected]

The Washington Grays-Company K, 10th Artillery Regiments NC State Troops
http://thewashingtongrays.homestead.com/index.html

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From: [email protected]

Recollections of An Old Soldier: The Life of Captain David Perry
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~dagjones/captdavidperry/captdavidperry.html
Note: don't try to print, there's a glitch in the site software. And ... this diary is from about the French and Revolutionary Wars. Even though this is not Civil War related, the "first-hand" information here is simply fascinating. I've never read anything like it.
WASHINGTON. King County. G.A.R. Cemetery, Seattle 559 records
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/cemeteries/

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MEMBERS HELPING MEMBERS!!..

Here's how it works... If you are trying to get photographs of a gravesite or battlefield, to collect for your Civil War ancestor research and records, then send us a request and we will post it here... Other members see your request, some being in the near vicinity, are willing to assist, and can email you directly (This protects your privacy) to work out the details. We HIGHLY recommend the "Requester" pay for all film costs and any postage involved for a helping member. This is intended to be a "Free" assistance between members (with the exception of defraying film and postage costs). Do unto others as.... you know
:-) Keep us posted on how this is working, so we can share them in the "Fireside"!!
HOST GFS Jim

IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED ANSWER(S) TO YOUR QUESTIONS, PLEASE BE SURE TO LET US KNOW!!!!!
Thanks!! - The Editors

We have had some gracious members offer their assistance in this area. Their screen names and areas they have offered to help in are listed.... Please honor their "goodness" and don't abuse them :-)....
We ask that you do follow the guidelines indicated above....

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From: [email protected]
I truly enjoy reading the Weekly Fireside for it's educational matter as well as it's humor. I want to thank all who are involved in creating it.

I have recently perused the Burnet Co TX message boards and have located the obit on a distant ancestor of my children. Unfortunately, I can't seem to get farther back in his ancestry line. His obituary, written by a granddaughter (name unknown), states he was James Madison Livingston b 11 Sept 1839 on a plantation in SC then moved to Americus GA. early in life, one of 16 children. He died in Nov 1935 in Burnet TX.

An email from Brad Coker in a RAOK sent an email stating "he enlisted as a private on 15 June 1861 into the "Muckalee Guards" from Sumter Co, Co A, 12th GA Infantry. He was wounded at Gaines Mill June 27, 1862 and again at Chancellorsville on May 3, 1863." The obit states that brothers William and George also served in the CW with him.

The obit further states that he came to TX in 1866 to Cameron TX, then came to Burnet TX in 1869 and in 1871 married Josephine Catharine Chamberlain, d/o James and Sarah Chamberlain. The Chamberlain family has been well researched and placed online but I find nothing farther back on James Madison Livingston. Nor on his descendants online.

Is there anyone reading this who might be descended from his siblings who could tell me more about this line? Family rumor is that there is a connection to Philip Livingston, a signer of the Declaration of Independence but I don't know where this connection is and it may be indirect.

I want to thank in advance anyone who can help me fill in my blanks.

{{Betty}} I found this in my "Done" file and then I couldn't remember posting it, so I'm doing it again on the "off-chance" I slipped up. :-)

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A BIT OF COMMUNITY...
Check out the following member inputs for comments and requests for information, Feedback's, Items of Interest and Plea's for HELP...

From: [email protected]
Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, with much Peace, Love and Joy for all you you and your families.
Ellen

{{Ellen}} Thank you! .... and the same to you..

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OUR PROMISE: to provide an "online" environment that is NOT judgmental and to address ALL aspects of this "Pivotal Period" in our History, with honesty and truth (as 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 of 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 Hey!, TO YOU "FIRST-TIMERS" THIS WEEK, "Welcome"... :)

We heartily enjoyed your visit and participation. We really "fire up" with 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 "post-haste".

Schedule of Upcoming Topics/Events*****

Time: Every Thursday Night at 11pm ET in the Golden Gates Chat Room (On AOL Only) with hosts HOST GFS Amy, HOST GFS Jayne, HOST GFS TEG and HOST GFS Jim and our many faithful friends :)

1/3/02 - OPEN CHAT

1/10/02 - Letters, Songs and Poems night. Send in any material you want read in the room to HOST GFS Jim, HOST GFS Jayne, HOST GFS TEG or HOST GFS Amy and we'll be more than happy to do the reading for you :D

1/17/02 - "Amistead - Part II" - written by HOST GFS TEG and entered by HOST GFS Jayne

1/24/02 - OPEN CHAT

1/31/02 - "Amistead - Part III" - written by HOST GFS TEG and entered by HOST GFS Jayne

We'll See You Thursday Night..!
Your Joyful, Intelligent and Fun-lovin' Host's & Hostess's :-)
HOST GFS Jim, HOST GFS Jayne, HOST GFS TEG and HOST GFS Amy

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