December 2002 Weekly Firesides

December 2002 Weekly Firesides

Hear Ye .... Hear Ye
"The Weekly Fireside"
of the American Civil War History
Special Interest Group;
Distribution Coast to Coast
Week ending 08 Dec 2002

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

If you know someone who would like to receive the newsletter by email, please have them send an email to HOST GFS Jim and HOST GFS Jayne with subscribe in the subject line.

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

It was OPEN CHAT last Thursday night. Seems the subject turned to books. What an interesting night we had!!!

Thursday - Dec.12- is our special night of Songs, letters and Poems. If you have anything your Civil War ancestor wrote, please feel free to send it to HOST GFS Jim, HOST GFS Amy or HOST GFS Jayne. It would be a good idea to send it to at least two of us, just in case one can't be in the Chat for whatever reason.

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

"Coming Events"

"Uncle Chuck's" Civil War Calendar!!
HOST GFS Chuck has been providing us with some excellent Civil War Events around the country so as long as he keeps sending them we'll keep this "Town Crier" up.......

[email protected] sent this little tidbit into the newsletter so we'll post it right here.

The Capitol Brigade of the North Carolina Division Sons of Confederate Veterans is arranging a private showing of the new feature film "Gods and Generals" in Raleigh. The date for this private screening will be set in January.

"Gods and Generals" has been called the "Southern Braveheart." The hero of the movie is Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. Robert E. Lee is portrayed by acclaimed actor Robert Duvall. To view this film in a theater full of fellow Confederates will be akin to the Atlanta opening of "Gone With The Wind."

To reserve a ticket, contact Burgwyn Camp Commander Thomas J. Smith Jr. at 2009 East Garner Road, Raleigh, NC 27610, by telephone at (919) 772-7786, or by e-mail at [email protected] and let him know how many tickets you want.

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

Civil War History & Genealogy Forum Related Activities and Sites
Available for your Enjoyment and Research
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

"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

The Genealogy Forum Mailing List Signup
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.
========================================

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).

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

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

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

Did you know?

For several months now, [email protected], Ted, has been sending me "tidbits" about the Civil War and other wars. As I've done in the past, I'd like to share some more of these with you.

Civil War Prisoner Exchanges

The first agreement for the exchange of prisoners adopted on July 22, 1862 and signed by Gen. John Dix for the Union and Gen. D.H. Hill for the Confederacy stipulated that all prisoners were to be exchanged within 10 days of their capture. The agreement also included a formula for exchanges - Enlisted men were exchanged on a one for one basis, but officers were valued according to rank. A captain was equal to 2 lieutenants or 6 captured privates. A Major General was equal to 30 of the enemy's enlisted men.

26th North Carolina Infantry at Gettysburg

This regiment went into the battle of Gettysburg with 800 men. On day 1 they battled the Iron Brigade in the Herbst Woods and had 588 casualties. The remaining 212 men took part in Pickett's Charge on day 3 and the regiment had an additional 142 casualties. Approximately 80 men of the regiment participated in retreat from Gettysburg- 90% casualties in 3 days.

Confederate Marine Corps

The confederacy organized a marine corps which totaled 539 officers and men. Some served aboard the raider "Alabama" under the brother-in-law of Jefferson Davis.

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

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

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!

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

Websites we've received:
From: [email protected]

Civil War Christmas - December 2002
http://www.bitsofblueandgray.com/december_2002.htm

From: [email protected]

General Lee on the Aftermath
http://www.spwva.prohosting.com/index/words-aftermath.htm

General Order No. 83 by General Robert E. Lee
http://www.spwva.prohosting.com/index/words-83.htm

Robert E. Lee's orders to Jeb Stuart before Gettysburg
http://www.spwva.prohosting.com/index/words-83.htm

Lee's Lost Orders
Special Order No. 191 - The Maryland Campaign
http://www.swcivilwar.com/LeeMarylandLostOrders.html
The Lost Orders found by Union troops and turned over to McClellan

Robert E. Lee's General Orders No. 102
http://www.civilwarhome.com/generalorder102.htm
Lees orders prior to departure north to the field at Antietim

General Robert E. Lee's General Order No. 9
http://www.stratfordhall.org/no9trans.htm
Lee's farewell to his troops at Appomattox

Civil War Nurses, "The Angels of the Battlefield"
http://www.civilwarhome.com/civilwarnurses.htm

From: [email protected]

Confederate Officer Picture Site
http://www.archives.state.al.us/conoffalb/photo102.html

From: [email protected]

Civil War Soldiers of Hart Co, KY
http://www.censusdiggins.com/civilwarky.html

Kentucky Soldiers Who Died AT Andersonville Prison Soldier List
http://www.censusdiggins.com/ky_prisoners.html

Online Census Finder Kentucky
http://www.censusfinder.com/kentucky.htm

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

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....

NOTE: If anyone is doing Illinois Civil War research, you may email [email protected] and make sure that you tell him HOST GFS Jayne told you to write to him. He will give it priority and see what he can find for you.

If YOU have a Civil War Ancestor, Kevin ([email protected]) does Volunteer reseach at Andersonville Civil War Prison in Andersonville, GA. Any research he does is absolutely at NO cost and he is willing to do all he can. There are more than 32,000 prisoners on record from the Union, and quite a few who were held prisoner there as Union regiments from Confederate states. There are also nearly 13,000 marked graves of those who died there. Kevin's focus is dedicated to ALL of those held prisoner during the war, on both sides, as well as all Americans who gave their freedoms for those that we enjoy today.. He just happens to be near Andersonville, so that is where he does his work.

The souces for the research is:
There are 2 online databases to do lookups.....One by name...one by Company and Regiment. He also has a copy of the Dorence Atwater Death list which has the names and grave numbers of 12,960 graves with only 460 marked as " UNKNOWN " This along with a CD he has that contains 34,000 names of the 45,000 who were imprisoned there which helps him find prisoner records because of misspellings of the names or alternate names. He also has the contined update database which is dated July 19 2002 . Kevin visits the prison site every couple of weeks and has access to the onsite databases as well as the physical files.

Visit Kevin's site at:
http://www.angelfire.com/ga3/ANDERSONVILLE/PRISON.html

If you have any nicknames for Civil War Brigades or Regt's please send them to HOST GFS [email protected]

From: [email protected]

The War of the Rebellion records

FYI. At last, the 'Official Records' of the Civil War - "War of the Rebellion; Records of the Union and Confederate Armies" (US Govt., 1909 etc.) - are now free and on line, much thanks to Cornell Univ. A truly superb set for your CW searches.

http://moa.cit.cornell.edu/moa/browse.monographs/waro.html

Notice too that the complete 1880 census is now on LDS, and it too is free, NO thanks to any of the genealogy for cash sites !!! Just click on census and fill in the blanks. It too is great. Here is that site:

http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/frameset_search.asp?PAGE=census/search_census.asp

Paul

Thanks Paul

From: [email protected]

Does anyone know of a JOHN A FREILER/FRIELER who served as a Confederate in the Washing 5th Artillary Division in the Civial War? I sent for the records, but got nothing more than what I got off the internet which was close to nothing.
thanks Shirley

{{Shirley}} We'll see what we can find out from the membership.

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

OUR WEEKLY READING
(these items are extracts from our Letters, Songs, and Poems evenings)
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1863

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head
'There is no peace on earth,' I said,
'For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.'

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
'God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.'

Till ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound the carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn, the households born
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

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

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]

As many of you know, I am a member of the Civil War Preservation Trust. This organization is dedicated to preserving Civil War battlefield land in it's prestine state as well as fighting the powers that be against development of that property. This land is sacred ground in that it often contains the graves of those who fell for what they believed was right. To have it desicrated by black top parking lots and condos is an abomination. Received word today that 1014 additional acres of Shiloh Battleground in private hands is up for sale at $1566 per acre. Shiloh was the epic struggle on April 6 and 7, 1862 where 24,000 of our forefathers fell during the two days of combat. I can't begin to tell you how important this preservation is to me as a veteran, historian and American. Remember, those who forget the past are doomed to relive it! Yes, I gladly contributed enough to purchase 100 sq feet - total contribution $36.00. If you are as interested in this effort which I believe is of significant future importance to our children, grandchildren, etc why not join the Civil War Preservation Trust, 11 Public Square Suite 200, Hagerstown MD 21740. Telephone 1-888-606-1400. Web site http://WWW.civil war.org
Ted Fisher, CWPT member 103663
PS- this is a tax deductible organization.

{{{Ted}}} Thank you kind sir :D We'll leave this for awhile.

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

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 :)

12/12/02 - Our Special Monthly session of Letters, Songs and Poems of the Civil War

12/19/02 - OPEN CHAT

12/26/02 - To be announced. Heh Heh Maybe we ought to sing Christmas Carols....

01/02/03 - OPEN CHAT

01/09/03 - Our Special Monthly session of Letters, Songs and Poems of the Civil War

01/16/03 - OPEN CHAT

01/23/03 - To be announced

01/30/03 - To be announced

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 15 Dec 2002

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

Thursday night was our Songs, Letters and Poems night. There was a nice selection of each read. Jayne read one of her favorite letters of all time. The Sullivan Ballou letter. You've probably all heard a part of it on Ken Burns' "Civil War" CD If you like to read the letter in its entirety, you may go to.. July the 14th

Thursday - Dec.19- OPEN CHAT... had enough Holiday shopping? Come visit us for a change of pace. Bring all those Civil War questions you ever wanted to ask.

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

Civil War History & Genealogy Forum Related Activities and Sites
Available for your Enjoyment and Research
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: ROOT

"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

The Genealogy Forum Mailing List Signup
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.
========================================

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

Did you know?

I'm going to share even more of the tidbits that [email protected], Ted, has been sending me.

The Invalid Corps

At the beginning of the CW, soldiers incapacitated by wounds or disease were medically discharged. The Invalid Corps was formed in April 1863 and 2 battalions of these men served either on garrison duty or as orderlies in hospitals. Later renamed the Veteran Reserve Corps, upwards of 60,000 served in its ranks.

26th North Carolina Infantry at Gettysburg

This regiment went into the battle of Gettysburg with 800 men. On day 1 they battled the Iron Brigade in the Herbst Woods and had 588 casualties. The remaining 212 men took part in Pickett's Charge on day 3 and the regiment had an additional 142 casualties. Approximately 80 men of the regiment participated in retreat from Gettysburg- 90% casualties in 3 days.

Confederate Marine Corps

The confederacy organized a marine corps which totaled 539 officers and men. Some served aboard the raider "Alabama" under the brother-in-law of Jefferson Davis.

The Hampton Roads Conference

Proposed by Francis P. Blair, this conference was an attempt to end the Civil War in 64. With Lincoln's blessing, Blair presented his idea to Jefferson Davis where both sides agreed to meetings at Hampton Roads, Va. Nothing was accomplished- Lincoln insisted on unconditional surrender, emancipation and reunion, while Davis insisted on Southern independence.

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

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

Websites we've received:
I'm going to leave in the ones that were in last week, just in case you didn't get to see them, plus we have a new one from IllinoisCW which he said is one of his favorite web sites of all times.

From: [email protected]

Abebooks.com- Buy and sell out-of-print, used and antiquarian books
http://abebooks.com/

From: [email protected]

Civil War Christmas - December 2002
http://www.bitsofblueandgray.com/december_2002.htm

From: [email protected]

Civil War Burials in Montgomery County PA
http://www.thefinalwaltz.com

From: [email protected]

Confederate Officer Picture Site
http://www.archives.state.al.us/conoffalb/photo102.html

From: [email protected]

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

Thanks Paul

From: [email protected]

{{Shirley}} We'll see what we can find out from the membership.

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

OUR WEEKLY READING
(these items are extracts from our Letters, Songs, and Poems evenings)
THE BATTLE AUTUMN OF 1862
by John Greenleaf Whittier
(1807 - 1892)

The flags of war like storm birds fly,
The charging trumpets blow;
Yet rolls no thunder in the sky,
No earthquake strives below.

And, calm and patient, Nature keeps
Her ancient promises well,
Though o'er her bloom and greenness sweeps,
The battle's breath of hell.

And still she walks in golden hours,
Through harvest-happy farms,
And still she wears her fruits and flowers
Like jewels on her arms.

What means the gladness of the plain,
This joy of eve and morn,
The mirth that shakes the bread of grain
And yellow locks of corn?

Ah! eyes may well be full of tears,
And hearts with hate are hot;
But even-paced come round the years,
And nature changes not.

She meets with smiles our bitter grief,
With songs our groans of pain;
She mocks with tints of flowers and leaf,
The war-field's crimson stain.

Still, in the cannon's pause, we hear
Her sweet thanksgiving psalm;
Too near to God for doubt or fear,
She shares the eternal calm.

She knows the seed lies safe below
The fires that blast and burn;
For all the tears of blood we sow
She waits the rich return.

She sees with clearer eye than ours
The good of suffering born,
The hearts that blossom like her flowers
And ripen like her corn.

Oh, give to us, in times like these,
The vision of her eyes;
And make her fields and fruited trees
Our golden prophecies.

Oh, give to us her finer ear;
Above this stormy din,
We, too, would hear the bells of cheer
Ring peace and freedom in.
========================================

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]

{{{Ted}}} Thank you kind sir :D We'll leave this for awhile.

This came from one of the folks, [email protected], in my DE/MD/WASH,DC chatroom

http://www.washingtonpost.com

In a Dusty Vault, An Abundance of Lee Family Relics

Trunks Discovered in Alexandria Bank By Linda Wheeler
Washington Post Staff Writer

Wednesday, November 27, 2002; Page B07

More than 80 years after the death of Mary Custis Lee, eldest and most headstrong daughter of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, two steamer trunks full of her papers and travel souvenirs have been found in an Alexandria bank vault.

The wooden trunks -- containing family letters, photographs, clippings of her father's obituary, strands of hair collected from royalty on European trips rarely taken by other single women of her era -- came to light after an inquiry from a descendant.

Rob E.L. deButts Jr. (who prefers that shortened version of his famous name) knew that Mary Lee used Burke & Herbert Bank & Trust Co. as her permanent address when she left on her travels abroad. While doing some family research, deButts -- whose great-grandfather was Mary Lee's brother -- sent an e-mail to an old classmate from Episcopal High School in Alexandria, bank Vice Chairman E. Hunt Burke, asking whether the bank had any records or artifacts associated with his ancestor.

"I was asking about things in general but did mention trunks," said deButts, a New York lawyer. "I never dreamed there would actually be trunks."

The request sent Burke to the bank's "silver vault," where it stores items too bulky for safe-deposit boxes. The trunks "were dusty. They were in a corner," Burke said. "On the inventory, they were carried as two trunks. We didn't have a name."

But he saw that one of them was stenciled on the side with "M. Lee."

DeButts came right away to look at the find. Last week, he returned and delivered both trunks to the Virginia Historical Society in Richmond in hopes that it will catalogue and preserve their contents.

"Everything in the trunks is Lee-related," said Charles F. Bryan Jr., society president. "They were stuffed full. This is a very exciting find."

Mary Custis Lee was the second child of the four daughters and three sons born to Lee and his wife, Mary, granddaughter of George Washington. Her father's nickname for her was simply "Daughter."

According to Mary Price Coulling, author of "The Lee Girls," she was unusually bold for her time. Daughters were expected to live at home until they married. If they remained single -- as many southern girls did after the Civil War, because there were so few men left to marry -- their role was to care for their parents.

"She took off and did what she wanted to do," Coulling said. "She left her sister Mildred to cope with everything."

From 1871 to 1914, when the outbreak of World War I brought her home to Virginia, Mary Lee was abroad so much, traveling in Europe and Asia, that very little is known about her life.
"Hopefully, these papers will fill out those 40 years," Coulling said.

Lee, who was 36 when she set out, had an inheritance to help finance her travels, but she was not reluctant to supplement it by playing up her family name, according to Coulling. She would write ahead to tell royalty that Lee's daughter was arriving -- and the red carpet would be rolled out.

It was common in those days to use one's hometown bank as an address during extended travels.

Burke & Herbert, founded in the early 1850's and still family-owned, then required no written rental agreements for vault space. Burke said it is likely that no fee was ever charged, explaining why the connection to Mary Lee was lost.

The vault is frequented only by customers who pay for space, so employees hadn't tripped over her trunks and wondered to whom they belonged. DeButts, one of six Lee descendants who agreed that the trunks should be taken to the Historical Society for the time being, has sorted through their contents.

"There are thousands of letters in there," he said.

Bryan said the society is waiting only for a formal agreement with the family to begin cataloguing and preserving the contents, a project that could take two to three years.

© 2002 The Washington Post Company

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

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 :)

12/19/02 - OPEN CHAT

12/26/02 - To be announced. Heh Heh Maybe we ought to sing Christmas Carols....

01/02/03 - OPEN CHAT

01/09/03 - Our Special Monthly session of Letters, Songs and Poems of the Civil War

01/16/03 - OPEN CHAT

01/23/03 - To be announced

01/30/03 - To be announced

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 22 Dec 2002

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

Well can you believe it. ONLY THREE MORE SHOPPING DAYS TO CHRISTMAS. Heh Heh! This is a great week to fill the newsletter with items for the season. Hope you enjoy. Last Thursday night we talked a lot about Civil War medicine and I've listed the sites shared in the websites below. Check them out.

The Host Crew from the American Civil War HIstory SIG do wish all of you an great Christmas and New Years. Our prayer to you is "Time with Family", "Peace in Our Land", but not at the cost of our Liberty, and may "Love Rule".... God Bless :D

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

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

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

Did you know?

Our good friend Ted , [email protected] has sent a wealth of good material which we'll share with you this week...

The Drummer Boy of Chickamauga?

9 yr old Ohioan Johnny Clem was adopted by the 22nd Michigan whose officers contributed $13 per month toward his pay as an enlisted man. Newspapers called him Johnny Shiloh when a bullet smashed his drum. Enlisting prior to Chickamauga, Clem became a national hero for refusing to surrender. Turned down by West Point, he stayed in the army until retiring as a major general in 1916.

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

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

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!

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

Websites we've received:
From: HOST GFS [email protected]

Virginia's Confederate Military Hospitals
http://members.aol.com/jweaver300/grayson/hospital.htm

Civil War Medicine - Tompkins-McCaw Library
http://www.library.vcu.edu/tml/bibs/cwmed.html

Welcome to the National Museum of Civil War Medicine
http://www.civilwarmed.org/

Society of Civil War Surgeons
http://www.civilwarsurgeons.org/

Jim Schmidt-Archive of Civil War News Columns on Civil War Medicine
http://civilwarmed.home.att.net/

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

Need help trying to find a painting or picture from the Civil War period.
"It's a dark headed woman with her head bowed or laying across her arm at a table and holding a letter in her other hand. It seems that she is in a parlor type room."

Please let us know if this rings a bell .......

From: [email protected]

{{Shirley}} We'll see what we can find out from the membership.

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

OUR WEEKLY READING
(these items are extracts from our Letters, Songs, and Poems evenings)
A Christmas Story
"One of our Favorites"

It has been documented in many, many places, from diaries and letters of Civil War Veterans, to newspaper stories, about a tradition that occurred over and over in Federal and Confederate camps at the end of the day. At twilight, the regimental bands would begin their evening concerts. When the armies were bivouacked close to each other, the bands would play of an evening, and sometimes they would compete with each other or they would alternate playing different songs back and forth. Toward the end of their concerts the music would become tender and soothing calling up memories of home, family and better days.

One such occasion, I would like to tell about. It's twilight in Virginia, along the Rappahannock River. The Union Army of about 100,000 is camped on one side of the river and the Confederate Army of 70,000 is camped on the other. It's bitter cold that night on the 13th of December, 1862. A few weeks earlier they had fought the Battle of Fredericksburg, at that time in the conflict, the bloodiest battle ever fought on American soil. 12,000 Federals and 5,000 Confederates had been killed or wounded.. The bands from both armies had been playing that night and they were coming to the close of their concerts. That night they had alternated back and forth, the music becoming more and more tender, bringing tears and longing to the hearts of the soldiers. Finally one Federal band had started one of the Civil War's favorite tunes. The music floated over the river, while men and boys, were writing letters home. The moon was out and it's light shown down on thousands of campfires sending streams of smoke up into the cold air. The music was so light, and haunting. No sooner had the Federal band started than a Confederate band joined in. One at a time, other regimental bands on both sides joined in, adding their "voice" to the music. Pens were put down, card games stopped; all talk and sounds of cleanup and preparing for bed stopped except for the music. Finally every regimental band had joined in to meld the music together. Still not a sound from 170,000 souls as they sat motionless with their frosty breath and the campfire smoke rising into the moonlit sky and listening to an "unearthly" song........

"Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam, Be it ever so humble there's no place like home! A charm from the skies seems to hallow us there, Which, seek through the world, is ne'er met with elsewhere; Home! Home! sweet, sweet, Home! There's no place like Home! There's no place like Home."
The music slowly began to fade, until the last note just drifted off into the night, fainter and fainter, until...... nothing. Suddenly from that awesome silence, both sides "Roared" up with heart rending shout, and started cheering, jumping up and down, and throwing their hats in the air. In the words of one witness, Frank Mixson, Private, 1st South Carolina Volunteers; "Had there not been a river between them, the two armies would have met face to face, shaken hands, and ended the war on that spot.

The song; "Home Sweet Home" by John Howard Payne. Thank you Ernest L. Abel for your article in the May 1996 edition of "America's Civil War" Magazine that reminded me of this incredible incident.

...........Beginnings.........

How I Came to Write My Song
- Julia Ward Howe
I distinctly remember that a feeling of discouragement came over me as I drew near the city of Washington. I thought of the women of my acquaintance whose sons or husbands were fighting our great battle, the women themselves serving in the hospitals, or busying themselves with the work of the Sanitary Commission. My husband was beyond the age of military service, and my eldest son but a stripling; my youngest was a child of not more than two years. I could not leave my nursery to follow the march of our armies; neither had I the practical deftness which the preparing and packing of sanitary stores demanded. Something seemed to say to me, "You give, and there is nothing for you to do." Yet, because of my sincere desire, a word was given me to say, which did strengthen the hearts of those who fought in the field and of those who languished in the prison.

We were invited one day to attend a review of troops at some distance from the town. While we were engaged in watching the maneuvers, a sudden movement of the enemy necessitated immediate action. The review was discontinued, and we saw a detachment of soldiers gallop to the assistance of a small body of our men who were in imminent danger of being surrounded and cut off from retreat. The regiments remaining on the field were ordered to march to their cantonments. We returned to the city very slowly, of necessity, for the troops nearly filled the road. My dear minister was in the carriage with me, as were several other friends. To beguile the rather tedious drive, we sang from time to time snatches of the army songs so popular at that time, concluding, I think with:

"John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the ground;
His soul is marching on."

The soldiers seemed to like this and answered back, "Good for you!" Mr. Clark said, "Mrs. Howe, why do you not write some good words for that stirring tune?" I replied that I had often wished to do this but had not as yet found in my mind any leading toward it.

I went to bed that night as usual and slept, according to my wont, quite soundly. I awoke in the gray of the morning twilight, and as I lay waiting for the dawn, the long lines of the desired poem began to twine themselves in my mind. Having thought out all the stanzas, I said to myself, "I must get up and write these verses down, lest I fall asleep again and forget them." So with a sudden effort I sprang out of bed and found in the dimness an old stump of a pen which I remembered to have used the day before. I scrawled the verses almost without looking at the paper. I had learned to do this when, on previous occasions, attacks of versification had visited me in the night and I feared to have recourse to a light lest I wake the baby, who slept near me. I was always obliged to decipher my scrawl before another night should intervene, as it was only legible while the matter was fresh in my mind. At this time, having completed my writing, I returned to bed and fell asleep, saying to myself, "I like this better than most things that I have written."

The poem, which was soon after published in the "Atlantic Monthly" (Feb 1862), was somewhat praised on its appearance, but the vicissitudes of the war so engrossed public attention that small heed was taken of literary matters. I knew and was content to know that the poem soon found its way to the camps, as I heard from time to time of its being sung in chorus by the soldiers.

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;
He hath loosed the fateful lightening of his terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps;
They have builded Him an alter in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps.
His day is marching on.

I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel;
"As ye deal with my contempers, so with you my grace shall deal;
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel,
Since God is marching on."

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before his judgment seat;
Oh! be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.

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.
Among the singers of the "Battle Hymn" was Chaplain McCabe, the fighting chaplain of the 122nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He read the poem in the "Atlantic," and was so struck with it that he committed it to memory before rising from his chair. He took it with him to the front, and in due time to Libby Prison, whither he was sent after being captured at Winchester. Here, in the great bare room where hundreds of Northern soldiers were herded together, came one night a rumor of disaster to the Union arms. A great battle, their jailers told them; a great Confederate victory. Sadly the Northern men gathered together in groups, sitting or lying on the floor, talking in low tones, wondering how, where, why. Suddenly one of the Negroes who brought food for the prisoners stooped in passing and whispered to one of the sorrowful groups. The news was false: there had, indeed, been a great battle, but the Union army had won, the Confederates were defeated and scattered.

Like a flame the word flashed through the prison. Men leaped to their feet, shouted, embraced one another in a frenzy of joy and triumph; and Chaplain McCabe, standing in the middle of the room, lifted up his great voice and sang aloud ----

"Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!"
Every voice took up the chorus, and Libby Prison rang with the shout of "Glory, glory, hallelujah!"

The victory was that of Gettysburg. When, some time after, McCabe was released from prison, he told in Washington, before a great audience of loyal people, the story of his war-time experiences; and when he came to that night in Libby Prison, he sang the "Battle Hymn" once more. The effect was magical; people shouted, wept, and sang, all together; and when the song was ended, above the tumult of applause was heard the voice of Abraham Lincoln, exclaiming, while the tears rolled down his cheeks, ------

"Sing it again!"
..................... Merry Christmas from your Merry Hostesses & Hosts

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

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]

History Channel TV G
20 Dec 2002 -
11:00PM - 12:00AM [EST]
Repeat Saturday 21 Dec 3:00AM - 4:00AM [EST]
The Civil War Draft Riots
As men died on battlefields, the homefront simmered with anger and newspapers fanned the flames. Then, a new conscription law led to civil discontent. The year, 1863; the President, Lincoln. Blood flowed in New York City streets when riots erupted into the single most violent outbreak of urban unrest in American history.

Tuesday 24 Dec 2002
7:00AM - 8:00AM [EST]
Civil War Journal
Trains at War
Trains...both sides needed them, but it was the Union who had the know-how and equipment to make use of this invaluable tool. TV G

Tuesday, 31 Jan 2003
7:00AM - 8:00AM [EST]
Civil War Journal
West Point Classmates
The saga of U.S. Military Academy classmates who fought on opposite sides in the Civil War: Union generals Grant, Sherman, and McClellan, and Confederate leaders Lee, Beauregard, and Davis.

http://www.historychannel.com/ontv/ or History Channel

Happy Holidays, to all the HOSTs!

Donald L. LADD
Scio, Oregon

{{{Don}}} Thanks for the upcomings on the History Channel. I read your suggestion and we'll see if we can add that to our information bank for the newsletter. :-)

From [email protected]

Don has forwarded us an email for the newsletter "Your Freedom"

I want you to close your eyes and picture in your mind the soldier at Valley Forge, as he holds his musket in his bloody hands.

He stands barefoot in the snow, starved from lack of food, wounded from months of battle and emotionally scarred from the eternity away from his family, surrounded by nothing but death and carnage of war.
He stands tough, with fire in his eyes and victory on his breath. He looks at us now in anger and disgust and tells us this...
I gave you a birthright of freedom born in the Constitution and now your children graduate too illiterate to read it.
I fought in the snow barefoot to give you the freedom to vote and you stay at home because it rains.
I left my family destitute to give you the freedom of speech and you remain silent on critical issues, because it might be bad for business.
I orphaned my children to give you a government to serve you and it has stolen democracy from the people.
It's the soldier not the reporter who gives you the freedom of the press.
It's the soldier not the poet who gives you the freedom of speech.
It's the soldier not the campus organizer who allows you to demonstrate.
It's the soldier who salutes the flag, serves the flag, whose coffin is draped with the flag that allows the protester to burn the flag!!!
"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen."

Prayer Wheel:
When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our U.S. ground troops in Afghanistan, and the ones facing deployment to Iraq at this very moment - AND all over this world.

There is nothing attached.... This can be very powerful.... Just send this to all the people in your address book. Do not stop the wheel, please....

Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Prayer is the very best one.....

{{Don}} It's great to hear from you and to know you're stateside at Scott. Your inputs are always watched for. Thanks for sharing. Please tell your lovely wife and daughter that all of us here wish you and yours a long and memorable Holiday time together. God Bless!

From [email protected]

Dear Friends in Genealogy:
I just want to thank you for the lovely job you do related to The Weekly Fireside letter. I truly enjoy reading it. I want to wish every one of you a wonderful holiday. Best wishes for good health and happiness in the new Year.
Sincerely Eleanor

{{Eleanor}} Bless your heart. Thank you .....

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

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 :)

12/26/02 - OPEN CHAT Heh Heh Maybe we ought to sing Christmas Carols....

01/02/03 - OPEN CHAT

01/09/03 - Our Special Monthly session of Letters, Songs and Poems of the Civil War

01/16/03 - OPEN CHAT

01/23/03 - "The Redstick War" - HOST GFS Jim from Notes of Karen Phitzer

01/30/03 - OPEN CHAT

02/06/03 - Antietam Part I - HOST GFS TEG

02/13/03 - Our Special Monthly session of Letters, Songs and Poems of the Civil War

02/20/03 - Antietam Part II - HOST GFS TEG

02/27/03 - OPEN CHAT

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 Dec 2002

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

Well here we are sending out the LAST edition of the Weekly Fireside for the year 2002. It has been a full year for us and we have enjoyed meeting many newcomers and relish our long term friends over the years. Your responses to the newsletters (all 52 of them) have made us cry, laugh, snicker and we have absorbed your wisdom and learned even more of our chosen topic in the group to in turn share back with you.
THANK YOU.

We have been open for business all 52 weeks and we have only left 2 Thursdays unhosted for holidays and family time. On our Letters, Songs and Poems nights we've shared approx 100 of these precious items to your hearty approval. We had 11 Major Story Evenings and 2 Evenings with Guests who came to speak. We lost some friends this year and we'll miss them and continue to send out prayers to their families.

The Host Crew from the American Civil War History SIG wish you a very Happy New Year in 2003 and we'll be looking for you in our first gathering on Thursday of 2003.... God Bless :D

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

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

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

Did you know?

Raphael Semmes
Nicknamed " Old Bee's Wax" due to his mustache, Marylander Semmes captained the raiders Sumpter and Alabama which sunk 78 Yankee ships in cruises as far as the orient. After losing the Alabama ( named after his adopted state), to the Kersarge off Cherbourg France, he returned to the confederacy and assumed command of the James River Flotilla in the defense of Richmond. Forced to scuttle the fleet when Lee retreated from Petersburg, Semmes's sailors and marines were the last confederate troops to leave Richmond. They joined Joe Johnson in North Carolina where Semmes was given the rank of Brig. Gen of Artillery in addition to his rank of Admiral. Parolled, upon Johnson's surrender, Semmes returned to his home and family in Mobile where he was arrested in violation of his parole, upon orders from Gideon Welles and charged with piracy. Tried in Washington, Semmes utilized his experience as a marine lawyer to prove his innocence and was released.

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

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

Websites we've received:
From: HOST GFS [email protected]

Dyers Compendium of Union Regiments
http://www.public.usit.net/mruddy/dyer.htm

The Washington Grays Co K 10th Reg NCST
http://thewashingtongrays.homestead.com/index.html

Regimental History Books-James River Site
http://users.erols.com/jreb/regiment.html
Note: this is one of the best sites for finding Regimental Histories that are on-line. It by no means covers them all but James River Pubs has made an extemely excellent effort to bring all available to one place.

Regimental Histories Index-Union, Tarleton Site
http://www.tarleton.edu/~kjones/unions.html

Regimental Histories, Directory-Confederate-Tarleton Site
http://www.tarleton.edu/~kjones/confeds.html

1st & 2nd NC Union Volunteers
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~ncuv/ncuv.htm

From: [email protected] passed on by HOST GFS [email protected]

The American Civil War Home Page
http://www.civilwarhome.com/index.htm

From: [email protected]

Matthew Fontaine Maury story (Scientist, Curmudgeon, Confederate) by our own Ted Fisher
http://www.bitsofblueandgray.com/january2003.htm

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

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....

NOTE: If anyone is doing Illinois Civil War research, you may email [email protected] and make sure that you tell him HOST GFS Jayne told you to write to him. He will give it priority and see what he can find for you.

If YOU have a Civil War Ancestor, Kevin ([email protected]) does Volunteer research at Andersonville Civil War Prison in Andersonville, GA. Any research he does is absolutely at NO cost and he is willing to do all he can. There are more than 32,000 prisoners on record from the Union, and quite a few who were held prisoner there as Union regiments from Confederate states. There are also nearly 13,000 marked graves of those who died there. Kevin's focus is dedicated to ALL of those held prisoner during the war, on both sides, as well as all Americans who gave their freedoms for those that we enjoy today.. He just happens to be near Andersonville, so that is where he does his work.

The souces for the research is:
There are 2 online databases to do lookups.....One by name...one by Company and Regiment. He also has a copy of the Dorence Atwater Death list which has the names and grave numbers of 12,960 graves with only 460 marked as " UNKNOWN " This along with a CD he has that contains 34,000 names of the 45,000 who were imprisoned there which helps him find prisoner records because of misspellings of the names or alternate names. He also has the contined update database which is dated July 19 2002 . Kevin visits the prison site every couple of weeks and has access to the onsite databases as well as the physical files.

Visit Kevin's site at:
http://www.angelfire.com/ga3/ANDERSONVILLE/PRISON.html

If you have any nicknames for Civil War Brigades or Regt's please send them to HOST GFS [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Please let us know if this rings a bell .......

From: HOST GFS [email protected]

During our session last Thursday night we had a number of Regimental HIstory questions and the talk was great. From that discussion though, KStuart had an ancestor in the Stonewall Brigade and we were trying to sleuth out some history on the 4th Virginia Infantry, Company E, (Montgomery's Highlanders). Anyone with any history on this company will be cherished beyond measure :D

{{{KStuart}}} keep your fingers crossed.

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

OUR WEEKLY READING
(these items are extracts from our Letters, Songs, and Poems evenings)
O Captain! My Captain!

O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up -- for you the flag is flung -- for you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths -- for you the shores a-crowding,
Her Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You've fallen cold and dead.

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,
The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
But I with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

Walt Whitman (1819 - 1892)
..................... Merry Christmas from your Merry Hostesses & Hosts

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

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]

History Channel TV G
Tuesday, 31 Jan 2003
7:00AM - 8:00AM [EST]
Civil War Journal
West Point Classmates
The saga of U.S. Military Academy classmates who fought on opposite sides in the Civil War: Union generals Grant, Sherman, and McClellan, and Confederate leaders Lee, Beauregard, and Davis.

http://www.historychannel.com/ontv/ or History Channel

Happy Holidays, to all the HOSTs!

Donald L. LADD
Scio, Oregon

{{{Don}}} Thanks for the upcomings on the History Channel. I read your suggestion and we'll see if we can add that to our information bank for the newsletter. :-)

From [email protected]

To Host GFS Jim, Jayne, Teg and Amy. Thanks for all the news letters this year. i have not been able to join in on many this year, but hope to in the coming year. have a Marry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Doug McDowell

"Doug" Thanks for the nice words. We'll be looking for you.

From [email protected]

"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen."

Amen indeed! I am reminded of a saying I have heard a good part of my life as an Army Brat and Army wife. It goes something like this:

"In time of war and not before, God and the soldier we adore. The war is over and all things righted, God is forgotten and the soldier slighted."

I believe Kipling wrote that. It seems appropriate right now. Happy Holidays to all of you at The Weekly Fireside.

Barbara

{{Barbara}} Thanks - Hope you and the family had a great Christmas and Happy New Year.

From [email protected]

At this special time of year I want to wish everyone a wounderful and happy holiday season.May the Joy and Happiness that is Christmas be with us all year.
Tom

{{Tom}} Hugs to ya friend....

From [email protected]

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL THE WONDERFUL GEN HOSTS!!!!!!

{{{LETSFINDUM}} And the same to you :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 :)

01/02/03 - OPEN CHAT

01/09/03 - Our Special Monthly session of Letters, Songs and Poems of the Civil War

01/16/03 - OPEN CHAT

01/23/03 - "The Redstick War" - HOST GFS Jim from Notes of Karen Phitzer

01/30/03 - OPEN CHAT

02/06/03 - Antietam Part I - HOST GFS TEG

02/13/03 - Our Special Monthly session of Letters, Songs and Poems of the Civil War

02/20/03 - Antietam Part II - HOST GFS TEG

02/27/03 - OPEN CHAT

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

Return to the Weekly Fireside Newsletter Index

Return to the the Main page