November 2003 Weekly Firesides

November 2003 Weekly Firesides

Hear Ye .... Hear Ye

"The Weekly Fireside"
of the American Civil War History
Special Interest Group;
Distribution Coast to Coast
Week ending 09 Nov 2003

NOTE: If you do not wish to receive the Weekly Fireside, PLEASE send email to HOST FMLY Jayne AND HOST FMLY Bill saying "UNSUBSCRIBE" and we will remove you from the distribution. On the other hand, if you know someone who would like to receive the newsletter, please have them send us email with subscribe in the subject line.

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WHAT WE ARE ABOUT
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OUR FOCUS: the "History of the American (United States) Civil War," with by-products of laughter, and camaraderie!

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).

JOIN US... Thursday 11 PM ET AND Friday 10 PM ET in the Ancestral Digs Room We will have the same schedule for each night, so if you miss something on Thurs night, you can catch it on FRIDAY nights!!

You can visit the other Genealogy chats by going to KEYWORD: Parenting Chats > scroll down to Genealogy and click. Be sure to read the Genealogy and History (scroll down to War Between the States) message boards at Genealogy Community

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
"THE BOOK SHELF"
* * * * * * * * * * * * *

If you have read a great Civil War book you think others should read, send the title, author and a Review of it to either HOST FMLY Jayne and/or HOST FMLY Bill.

Crossroads of Freedom: Antietam
by James M. McPherson
(http://www.largeprintreviews.com/antietam.html)

Gettysburg: Day Three
by Jeffry D. Wert
(http://www.largeprintreviews.com/HIRwert.html)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
--------OUR WEEKLY READING--------
(these items are extracts from our Letters, Songs,
and Poems evenings)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

GRANT
by Frank Benway

His name became known at Shiloh
His star did rise at Vicksburg
Till a desperate Lincoln
Called him East to Honor him
He gave to him the Armies
His Generals he called East
Sheridan and Sherman fighting men
Known from Battles in the West
To Sherman he gave the task
To cut the South in half
Sheridan the Shenandoah Valley
To keep from bearing crops
For him he headed South
Lee knew Grant from long ago
In the eighteen forties
Lee won some Battles but
Grant continued to press
Till at Petersburg the Siege began
The end was now in sight
Grant pressed them hard
Moved up big guns
The shells now fell in Richmond
Lee's only hope link up with Johnson
To harass the Yankees
They might sue for Peace
At Appomattox it was over
Now Grant a National Hero
Was elected President
The only success he ever knew
Was as a soldier
As President again he failed

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DID YOU KNOW?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Cooking Measures - Civil War Era

For liquid measure --
Two jills are half a pint
Two pints are one quart
Four quarts are one gallon

For dry measure --
Half a gallon is a quarter of a peck
One gallon is a half a peck
Two gallons is one peck
Four gallons is half a bushel
Eight gallons is one bushel

About 25 drops of any thin liquid will fill the common sized tea-spoon. Four table-spoons or half a jill will fill a common wine glass Four wine glasses will fill a half-pint or common tumbler or a large coffee-cup A quart black bottle holds in reality about a pint and a half of flour, butter, sugar and most articles used in cakes and pastry, a quart is generally about equal in quantity to a pound avoirdupois (sixteen ounces). Ten Eggs generally weigh about one pound before they are broken. A table-spoon of salt is general about one ounce.

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

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THE HELP DESK
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Do you have a question that didn't get answered in the chatroom??
Send us and email and we'll post it here to see if
some of our readers can help you. If you get an answer to your
question, please let us know.

I'm going to leave the follow in another week.

Under the Widow's Act, were children of a soldier eligible? Did the children have to be minors at the time of application? (Or were all children, minors or adults, eligible?) <snipped>

In Answer to CageyCat's question , IllinoisCW says: The children were elligible for pension from the parent until the age of 16. After that they were not elligible to claim anything. Any pensions claimed by a minor (under 16) were stopped on the day before the 16th birthday.

Thanks!!! ((((((Frank))))))

Now CageyCat has this question: Let's see what we can find for her now.

Thanks for one part of the answer. But, why then would the "baby" of the 1st 5 children (of the 1st legal marriage) AFTER he had passed age 21, I *think*, had a bank write an official letter to the Pension Bureau, saying he thought his father had an pension? If he was just curious, he could have written himself. That's why I thought perhaps he was seeking a loan, using his deceased father's pension as some sort of collateral. Since that theory wouldn't hold since children were ineligible anyway after age 16, then why in the world would he mention it to a bank?? hmmmm
(Of course, the bank president maybe was a friend, just writing the letter -- but to me that seems an even more far-fetched theory.)

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Weekly Web Sites we've received -
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from An Madra Rua
Civil War - American Civil War History, Ancestors, Documents and Images
http://genealogy.about.com/cs/civilwar/index.htm

Fannie & Vera's Site for New Civilian Reenactors
http://www.shasta.com/suesgoodco/newcivilians/index.htm

from Bitsobluengray
US Army Military History Institute - Carlisle Barracks
http://carlisle-www.army.mil/usamhi/

Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War 1861 - 1865 http://www.duvcw.org/

Daughters of the Confederacy
http://www.hqudc.org/

from Cyndi's List of new sites
URL:     http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=drowa
TITLE:     Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery, Seattle, WA
DESCRIPTION:     3-generational database of Civil War Union veterans buried
in Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery on Capitol Hill in Seattle, WA.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A BIT OF COMMUNITY... MEMBERS HELPING MEMBERS!!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

[email protected] said she has a book on the men of the 9th OHIO if anyone needs information.

[email protected] has a book on the 85th NY Infantry which spent most of their time in Andersonville.

HOST FMLY [email protected] Has a book with the Rosters of the 1st through the 20th Ohio Soldiers.

If anyone is doing Illinois Civil War research, you may email [email protected] and make sure that he knows HOST GFS Jayne sent you 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 32000 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 13000 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.
Visit Kevin's site at:
http://www.angelfire.com/ga2/Andersonvilleprison/index.html

If YOU have a question regarding Confederate researching, visit Steve Teeft's website at http://www.dixieresearch.com Tell him you saw his address in the Weekly Fireside. [email protected]

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"THE TOWN CRIER"
Civil War Calendar!!
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November 13,20 11am-2pm Come watch Historic Cooking Demonstrations at the Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site in St. Francisville, LA. Visitors are invited to a demonstration of 19th century open hearth cooking using appropriate 19th century recipes and reproduction equipment. For more information, call 1-888-376-1867 toll free or 225-635-3332 locally.

November 15 1 p.m Remembrance Day Parade and Ceremonies, Gettysburg National Military Park, For more information, contact: (717) 334-1124, ext. 422, 431; www.nps.gov/gett

November 15     10am-4pm   The Mansfield State Historic Site in Mansfield, LA will host Civil War Encampment. Authentically uniformed volunteers will portray a typical Civil War encampment in the field. Learn about the daily life of a Civil War soldier; what he ate, the clothes he wore and the equipment and weapons he used. For more information, call 1-888-677-6267 toll free or 318-872-1474 locally.

November 15 1-4pm Living History Civil War Life program at Honey Springs Battlefield, Checotah, Oklahoma.. Soldier duties, drills, , free. Candlelight Tour, 7-9, $3 adults, $1 6-18 by reservation. For more information, contact: (918) 473-5572 or [email protected]

November 19   10 am 140th Ceremony, 140 Anniversary of the Gettysburg Address ceremony, Soldiers' National Cemetery, Gettysburg National Military Park.

November 29-30     10am-4pm     The Fort Pike Historic Site in New Orleans, LA will be hosting Confederate Commando & Surgeon. Join the site historian for a uniformed presentation of the life of Dr. Daniel Burr Conrad, a member of Stonewall Jackson's corps and personal physician to Admiral Buchannan. For more information, call 1-888-662-5703 toll free or 504-662-5703 locally.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Schedule of Upcoming Topics/Events
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Time:
Every Thursday Night at 11pm ET in the Genealogy Room
Every Friday Night at 10 PM ET in the Genealogy Room
with hosts HOST FMLY Jayne, HOST FMLY Bill and our many faithful friends :)

November 13 & 14, 2003 - Our Special Songs, letters and poems night. If you have any one of the three things you'd like to share with the room, please feel free to send them to HOST FMLY Bill or HOST FMLY Jayne.

November 20 & 21, 2003 - OPEN CHAT

November 27 & 28, 2003 - The Battle of Franklin, Nov. 30, 1864

December 4 & 5, 2003 - OPEN CHAT

December 11 & 12, 2003 - Our Special Songs, letters and poems night. If you have any one of the three things you'd like to share with the room, please feel free to send them to HOST FMLY Bill or HOST FMLY Jayne.

December 18 & 19, 2003 - OPEN CHAT

December 25 & 26, 2003 - The hosts of the Civil War History chats will be spending Christmas with their families. If all your family events are over and you want to stop in the room, please feel free to do so. We don't know who you might find there.

We'll See You Thursday and/or Friday Night.
Your Joyful, Intelligent and Fun-lovin' Host & Hostess :-)

Hear Ye .... Hear Ye

"The Weekly Fireside"
of the American Civil War History
Special Interest Group;
Distribution Coast to Coast
Week ending 16 Nov 2003

* * * * * * * * * * *

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).

JOIN HOST FMLY Jayne and HOST FMLY Bill... Thursday 11 PM ET AND Friday 10 PM ET in the Ancestral Digs Room We will have the same schedule for each night, so if you miss something on Thurs night, you can catch it on FRIDAY nights!!

Also on Thursday 8-9PM ET: Trace Your Civil War Ancestors in Ancestral Digs. Join HOST FMLY Wolfrd and HOST FMLY Heathr to discuss ancestral searches from the Civil War period

You can visit the other Genealogy chats by going to KEYWORD: Parenting Chats > scroll down to Genealogy and click. Be sure to read the Genealogy and History (scroll down to War Between the States) message boards at Genealogy Community

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
"THE BOOK SHELF"
* * * * * * * * * * * * *

If you have read a great Civil War book you think others should read, send the title, author and a Review of it to either HOST FMLY Jayne and/or HOST FMLY Bill.

The War Within
by Carol Matas
http://www.largeprintreviews.com/matas.html

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
--------OUR WEEKLY READING--------
(these items are extracts from our Letters, Songs,
and Poems evenings)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

HERE'S YOUR MULE
Words and music by C.D. Benson

A Farmer came to camp one day,
With milk and eggs to sell,
Upon a mule who oft would stray,
To where no one could tell.
The Farmer, tired of his tramp,
For hours was made the fool,
By everyone he met in camp,
With "Mister, here's your mule."

CHORUS: Come on, come on,
Come on, old man,
And don't be made a fool,
By everyone you meet in camp,
With "Mister, here's your mule."

His eggs and chickens all were gone
Before the break of day,
The "Mule" was heard of all along,
That's what the soldiers say.
And still he hunted all day long,
Alas! the witless fool,
Whil'st every man would sing the song
Of "Mister, here's your mule."

CHORUS

The soldiers ran in laughing mood,
On mischief were intent;
They lifted "Muley" on their back,
Around from tent to tent.
Thro' this hole, and that, they push'd
His head, -- And made a rule,
To shout with humerous voices all,
I say" "Mister, here's your mule!"

CHORUS

Alas! one day the mule was miss'd,
Ah! who could tell his fate?
The Farmer like a man bereft,
Search'd early and search'd late,
And as he pass'd from camp to camp
With stricken face -- the fool
Cried out to everyone he met,
Oh! "Mister, where's my Mule."

CHORUS

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
DID YOU KNOW?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

There many things traded between the lines, but the 5 most popular items traded were: Newspapers, coffee, tobacco, peanuts, and whiskey.

The six favorite pastimes were: Baseball, football, boxing, horse racing, snowball fights and bowling.

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

After we posted the answer to the intitial question,CageyCat had this question:

Thanks for one part of the answer. But, why then would the "baby" of the 1st 5 children (of the 1st legal marriage) AFTER he had passed age 21, I *think*, had a bank write an official letter to the Pension Bureau, saying he thought his father had an pension? If he was just curious, he could have written himself. That's why I thought perhaps he was seeking a loan, using his deceased father's pension as some sort of collateral. Since that theory wouldn't hold since children were ineligible anyway after age 16, then why in the world would he mention it to a bank?? hmmmm
(Of course, the bank president maybe was a friend, just writing the letter -- but to me that seems an even more far-fetched theory.)

In answer to the above IllinoisCW writes: Pure conjecture. As to why anyone would do anything is pure conjecture. Free money will do wonders for anyone's honesty.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Weekly Web Sites we've received -
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

from Bitsobluengray
All the Best Civil War Books
http://www.gis.net/~dmarden/cw/

from HOST FMLY Bill
Civil War: West Virginia
http://www.lindapages.com/cwlist.htm

from Kashathree
Rootsweb Genealogy Mailing Lists: Military
http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Military/

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A BIT OF COMMUNITY... MEMBERS HELPING MEMBERS!!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

[email protected] said she has a book on the men of the 9th OHIO if anyone needs information.

[email protected] has a book on the 85th NY Infantry which spent most of their time in Andersonville.

HOST FMLY [email protected] Has a book with the Rosters of the 1st through the 20th Ohio Soldiers.

If anyone is doing Illinois Civil War research, you may email [email protected] and make sure that he knows HOST GFS Jayne sent you 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 32000 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 13000 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.
Visit Kevin's site at:
http://www.angelfire.com/ga2/Andersonvilleprison/index.html

If YOU have a question regarding Confederate researching, visit Steve Teeft's website at http://www.dixieresearch.com Tell him you saw his address in the Weekly Fireside. [email protected]

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
"THE TOWN CRIER"
Civil War Calendar!!
* * * * * * * * * * * * *

November 20 11am-2pm      Come watch Historic Cooking Demonstrations at the Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site in St. Francisville, LA. Visitors are invited to a demonstration of 19th century open hearth cooking using appropriate 19th century recipes and reproduction equipment. For more information, call 1-888-376-1867 toll free or 225-635-3332 locally.

November 19   10 am 140th Ceremony, 140 Anniversary of the Gettysburg Address ceremony, Soldiers' National Cemetery, Gettysburg National Military Park.

November 22 - Living History - “Maine Camp Hospital Association,” National Museum of Civil War Medicine, Frederick, MD 11-3. Presentation by association members of home front efforts to aid Civil War soldiers & caregivers.

November 29-30     10am-4pm     The Fort Pike Historic Site in New Orleans, LA will be hosting Confederate Commando & Surgeon. Join the site historian for a uniformed presentation of the life of Dr. Daniel Burr Conrad, a member of Stonewall Jackson's corps and personal physician to Admiral Buchannan. For more information, call 1-888-662-5703 toll free or 504-662-5703 locally.

November 29 - 30 Living History - Harrisburg PA
“A Civil War Christmas” at The National Civil War Museum, Harrisburg. Kevin Rawlings as Thomas Nast’s Civil War version of Santa Claus, Victorian Dance Ensemble. U.S. Marines “Toys For Tots” drop-off.
For more information, contact:
(717) 260-1861; www.nationalcivilwarmuseum.org

December 6 Frederick, MD... “Soldier Life and Sanitation,” National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 11-3. Program on the struggles faced by soldiers in their everyday life, with emphasis on sanitary conditions of camps and effect on health.
For more information, contact:
(301) 695-1864, [email protected]; www.CivilWarMed.org

December 6 Fort Gaines Historic Site, Dauphin Island, Alabama 19th Annual “Christmas at the Fort” at Fort Gaines Historic Site, Dauphin Island. 1861 Christmas with Confederate garrison. “Papa Noel,” cooking demonstrations, candle dipping, blacksmith, children’s seashell Christmas decorations.
For more information, contact:
(251) 861-6992, [email protected]; www.dauphinisland.org

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Schedule of Upcoming Topics/Events
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Time:
Every Thursday Night at 11pm ET in the Genealogy Room
Every Friday Night at 10 PM ET in the Genealogy Room
with hosts HOST FMLY Jayne, HOST FMLY Bill and our many faithful friends :)

November 20 & 21, 2003 - OPEN CHAT

November 27, 2003 - Since this is Thanksgiving, we won't be doing any story tonight so we all may spend this day with our families. I will probably stop in there in case any of you wish to be there. We'll decide then if we'll read the story Thursday night.

November 28, 2003 - The Battle of Franklin, Nov. 30, 1864

December 4 & 5, 2003 - OPEN CHAT

December 11 & 12, 2003 - Our Special Songs, letters and poems night. If you have any one of the three things you'd like to share with the room, please feel free to send them to HOST FMLY Bill or HOST FMLY Jayne.

December 18 & 19, 2003 - OPEN CHAT

December 25 & 26, 2003 - The hosts of the Civil War History chats will be spending Christmas with their families. If all your family events are over and you want to stop in the room, please feel free to do so. We don't know who you might find there.

We'll See You Thursday and/or Friday Night.
Your Joyful, Intelligent and Fun-lovin' Host & Hostess :-)

Hear Ye .... Hear Ye

"The Weekly Fireside"
of the American Civil War History
Special Interest Group;
Distribution Coast to Coast
Week ending 23 Nov 2003

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
WHAT WE ARE ABOUT
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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).

JOIN HOST FMLY Jayne and HOST FMLY Bill... Thursday 11 PM ET AND Friday 10 PM ET in the Ancestral Digs Room We will have the same schedule for each night, so if you miss something on Thurs night, you can catch it on FRIDAY nights!!

Also on Thursday 8-9PM ET: Trace Your Civil War Ancestors in Ancestral Digs. Join HOST FMLY Wolfrd and HOST FMLY Heathr to discuss ancestral searches from the Civil War period

You can visit the other Genealogy chats by going to KEYWORD: Parenting Chats > scroll down to Genealogy and click. Be sure to read the Genealogy and History (scroll down to War Between the States) message boards at Genealogy Community

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
"THE BOOK SHELF"
* * * * * * * * * * * * *

If you have read a great Civil War book you think others should read, send the title, author and a Review of it to either HOST FMLY Jayne and/or HOST FMLY Bill.

Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All
by William Gurganus

Imagine you are 99 years old and living in a nursing home and you have outlived your husband and all 9 of your children.

     This book is the longest 875 pages, I have never read and took 3 weeks to read it at 20 pages a night. Lucy was born around 1886 in Falls, North Carolina to two parents, and is the only child, The father was a poor farmer and the mother a very wealthy socialite of Charlestown family. All her life Lucy had to live up to standards of her mother to be a socialite debutante but she is too much like her fun-loving father and marches to her own drums. Her mother tries to keep her in frilly gowns but she rather be up in her tree house she and her father built.

     By the time she is 14 her mother decides she is going to marry this child off to a man of 50 who is considered the town hero of the civil war, William Marsden, to try to get this child where she wants her, a socialite. Well at 14 how much of a socialite are you going to be and by the time you are 20 you already have 9 kids.

     William, Will to everyone, marches off to war with his best buddy, Ned at 14 years old in 1862. They think it is for Glory of the South and it wasn't going to last over a week or a month.

     While playing around near the river swimming and having fun swinging from a branchs vines Ned is shot and killed by Yankees. Will witnessing this cannot get over it. he gets Ned down and carries him back to his regiment and Ned is buried but not in Wills mind. At 16 he is with his regiment at Appomatox Courthouse at the Lees signing the surrender. Will walks away and on home. When he gets home he finds that his home has been burned by the Yankees and his mother has lost her mind because of being burnt and deformed and left alone in the slave quarters. All the slaves flee but one.

    Will at 50 is still living the war and is considered the town hero. Hey, did anyone else in that town volunteer to go to war. it dont sound like it. This book is very funny in parts and very sad and Lucy dont mince words when told her life of living with a man who is 35 years old than you and you are left alone most of the time with all the children while he is out being the town hero talking about the war with all the town people and gambling and drinking and having his story written in every newspaper and magazine in North Carolina.

     As he gets older he gets more abusive towards Lucy and the one old slave, Castalia is her protector and caregiver of taking care of Lucys wounds.

     I dont want to tell you the whole story because then you wouln't want to read the book. There is a lot of history telling here of what happened back during the civil war, There was no glory of losing that war, to the south. General Lee did look the Great General when he signed the surrender papers in front of General Grant, but t here were tears in his eyes for his men.

     While sitting in the tub this afternoon I realized that my Great Grandfather was with General Sherman marching through Georgia. Was he one of the men who burned those beautiful antebellum mansions, steal food from the people leaving them with nothing to eat? He might have been one who were ordered to pillag and burn, but I pray to God that he did not rape.

Review by Nancy Meiring

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

From [email protected] I received the following:

I am not a reader so can't give a review. The reason I bought this book is the hundreds of Civil War Pictures. It is EYE OF THE STORM by Private Robert Knox Sneden.    According to the synopsis on the inside of the dust cover it states this is one of the most important Civil War documents to be published since Ulysses S. Grant's Personal Memoirs. Four tattered scrapbooks were found in a Ct. bank vault in 1994 that yielded a treasure trove of more than 500 watercolors that vividly depict America's great national drama. These books plus a five thousand page ilustrated memoir that came to light later, are the life's achievement of a long forgotten Union private and mapmaker named Robert Knox Sneden. Little is know of Robert Knox Sneden beyond the pages of his memoir. He returned home to NY after his realease from Andersonville and died alone in an old soldiers home in 1918

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
--------OUR WEEKLY READING--------
(these items are extracts from our Letters, Songs,
and Poems evenings)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

This letter was sent to me by Mr. Short's GGrandson, Larry Boynton.

November 18th 1861
Camp Butler Newport News VA

Dear Sister

I received some papers from you today. I was quite a treat to read a Manchester paper. It is seldom that anybody sends me letter or paper. I have wrote more than a dozen letters to Harriet and Carl and have only received one letter in return. I always make it a turn to answer all letters or papers for I consider them as good as a letter. We continue to have good news from the south; in fact from all quarters it comes all in a heap. Well it is time that we should have some such news to encourage the men and I hope we shall continue to have just such news.

Last night we expected an attack on this camp. Gun boats were stationed all along in the river front of our camp. In case they should try us we can retreat into Fort Monroe and these gun boats can cover our retreat by throwing shells over our heads. Besides we loaded and laid on our arms--had everything ready to go into action. But nothing was seen of the rebels excepting a few horsemen by our outer pickets. They didn't venture close enough to get a shot at them, although they have lately shot and captured quite a number of our men. Charly wrote home that he was having a hard time of it and I think he is by the accounts that I hear of his regiment marching about all the time.I see a New Hampshire man yesterday in Fort Monroe that started with that expedition and was obliged to come back on account of the rough weather. There was quite a number of New England troop on with them. There is a fellow on board the Cumberland that lives in Manchester. I have had a long talk with him. His name is Robinson. He lived on Concord St.

I wish they would make a move from here so I could see some fighting. I have been in service about 7 months adn all the fighting that I have seen was in Baltimore 19th of last April. That was sort of a running fight and I didn't have a chance to do anything.

I will draw to a close. Write soon. You must excuse his bad writing. I write it in great haste. More soon, from your brother.
Wm E. Short

My respects to all, tell Willis to write me a letter or anybody else
Do you ever hear from Carl

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
DID YOU KNOW?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The first recorded prisoners during the Civil War at Fort Delaware were approximately 260 Confederate soldiers from the Battle of Kernstown, VA. Usage of the the prison was discontinued in 1866. There were various numbers used for the number of prisoners... 22,773 and 23,000 seemed to be most used numbers.

Commandants of Fort Delaware during the Civil War were: Captain A. A. Gibson, Major Henry S. Burton, Lt. Col. Delevan D. Perkins, and Brig. Gen. Albin F. Schoepf.

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

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A BIT OF COMMUNITY... MEMBERS HELPING MEMBERS!!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

[email protected] Has a book Annals of Alexander Hamilton Post, No 182, Department of New York, Grand Army of the Republic, during the years 1184 to 1900, Compiled and Aranged by Past Commanders F. S. Bartram and T. W. Smith,
New York, Bartram Press, 126 William Street --- 1900

List of Names from the book...   I have been told that most of the members have pictures in the book of when they were probably in their 50's or 60's.

Bartram, F. S.    (pg. 67)
Bassett, John W. (pg. 164)
Behning, Henry    (pg 162
Cochmower, James H.   (pg. 170)
Coffin, GermanL   (pg. 164)
Colvin, James A.   (pg.31)
Connolly, James W. (pg. 166-168)
Constant, John C.   (pg. 158)
Davis, John H.   (pg. 164)
Duryea, Charles H.   (pg. 154)
Fish, John   (pg. 162)
Golderman, Caspar   (pg. 170)
Greenfield, Edwin T.   (pg. 139)
Hamilton, Alexander   (pg. 170)
Hammond, Alfred R.   (pg. 162)
Hartshorn, Edwin A.   (pg. 158)
Hewlett, Algernon C.   (pg. 158)
Hewlett, John   (pg. 158)
Holmes, James K.   (pg. 160)
Holton, Wm. Henry Harrison   (pg. 170)
Howard, Charles H.   (pg. 156)
Johnston, Wm. H.   (pg. 168)
Kelly, Thomas J.   (pg. 154)
Kurlbaum, Ernst   (pg. 160)
La Coste, James M.   (pg. 168)
Land, Joseph F. MD   (pg. 154)
Lawrence, Harry W.   (pg. 160
Lawton, Henry W.   (pg. 151 - no picture)
Lorigan, George T.   (pg. 166)
Low, Philip B.   (pg. 108)
Lybolt, Archibold (MD)   pg. 168-170)
McAllister, D. James    (pg. 160)
McIlroy (MD)   (pg 156)
Middleton, Orland F.   (pg. 166)
Miner, Thomas T. W.   (pg. 154)
Montague, Almer H.   (pg. 166)
Moran, William M.   (pg. 158)
Norman, George A. J. (pg. 166
Norman, John A.   (pg. 156)
Parsons, Theron E.   pg. 154)
Philbrick, Wm N.     (pg. 166-168)
Reddy, Wm. C.   (pg. 122)
Scott, Albert E.   (pg. 113)
Shrady, John (MD) (pg. 158)
Smith, T. Franklin (MD) (pg. 156)
Smith, Thomas W.   (pg. 101)
Spencer, Leonard   (pg. 172)
Staats, John   (pg. 133)
Stamber, Jacob C.   (pg. 156)
Steves, Elbert O.   (pg. 164)
Stone, Lyman S.     (pg. 154)
Styles, Charles H.   (pg. 160)
Sullivan, Wm.   (pg. 168)
Thompson, Walter L.   (pg. 156)
Tyson, Isaac C.   (pg. 164)
Tyson, John (pg. 164)
Underhill, Andrew M.   (pg. 38)
Vorhis, Albert B.   (pg. 162)
Wall, Frederick A.   (pg. 160)
Ward, Andrew   (pg. 162)
Weeks, George H.   (pg. 168)
Westcott, Henry A.   (pg. 168)
Wilkins, Hartwell A.    (pg. 162)
Wood, Wm. T.   (pg. 51)
Wright, Clark   Rev. D. D.   (pg. 172)

If you know one of the above names is your ancestor, send [email protected] to make any arrangements about getting a copy of the photo, if available.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
"THE TOWN CRIER"
Civil War Calendar!!
* * * * * * * * * * * * *

November 29-30 10am-4pm The Fort Pike Historic Site in New Orleans, LA will be hosting Confederate Commando & Surgeon. Join the site historian for a uniformed presentation of the life of Dr. Daniel Burr Conrad, a member of Stonewall Jackson's corps and personal physician to Admiral Buchannan. For more information, call 1-888-662-5703 toll free or 504-662-5703 locally.

November 29 - 30 Living History - Harrisburg PA
“A Civil War Christmas” at The National Civil War Museum, Harrisburg. Kevin Rawlings as Thomas Nast’s Civil War version of Santa Claus, Victorian Dance Ensemble. U.S. Marines “Toys For Tots” drop-off.
For more information, contact:
(717) 260-1861; www.nationalcivilwarmuseum.org

December 6 Frederick, MD... “Soldier Life and Sanitation,” National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 11-3. Program on the struggles faced by soldiers in their everyday life, with emphasis on sanitary conditions of camps and effect on health.
For more information, contact:
(301) 695-1864, [email protected]; www.CivilWarMed.org

December 6 Fort Gaines Historic Site, Dauphin Island, Alabama 19th Annual “Christmas at the Fort” at Fort Gaines Historic Site, Dauphin Island. 1861 Christmas with Confederate garrison. “Papa Noel,” cooking demonstrations, candle dipping, blacksmith, children’s seashell Christmas decorations.
For more information, contact:
(251) 861-6992, [email protected]; www.dauphinisland.org

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Schedule of Upcoming Topics/Events
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Time:
Every Thursday Night at 11pm ET in the Genealogy Room
Every Friday Night at 10 PM ET in the Genealogy Room
with hosts HOST FMLY Jayne, HOST FMLY Bill and our many faithful friends :)

November 27, 2003 - Since this is Thanksgiving, we probably won't be doing any story tonight so we all may spend this day with our families. I will probably stop in the room in case any of you wish to be there. We'll decide then if we'll read the story Thursday night.

November 28, 2003 - The Battle of Franklin, Nov. 30, 1864

December 4 & 5, 2003 - OPEN CHAT

December 11 & 12, 2003 - Our Special Songs, letters and poems night. If you have any one of the three things you'd like to share with the room, please feel free to send them to HOST FMLY Bill or HOST FMLY Jayne.

December 18 & 19, 2003 - OPEN CHAT

December 25 & 26, 2003 - The hosts of the Civil War History chats will be spending Christmas with their families. If all your family events are over and you want to stop in the room, please feel free to do so. We don't know who you might find there.

We'll See You Thursday and/or Friday Night.
Your Joyful, Intelligent and Fun-lovin' Host & Hostess :-)

Hear Ye .... Hear Ye

"The Weekly Fireside"
of the American Civil War History
Special Interest Group;
Distribution Coast to Coast
Week ending 30 Nov 2003

NOTE: If you do not wish to receive the Weekly Fireside, PLEASE send email to HOST FMLY Jayne AND HOST FMLY Bill saying "UNSUBSCRIBE" and we will remove you from the distribution. On the other hand, if you know someone who would like to receive the newsletter, please have them send us email with subscribe in the subject line.

We hope you all had a very Happy Thanksgiving. We didn't tell our story this week as we didn't have many in the room and we thank those who *did* come in and visit over the holiday weekend. We'll do The Battle of Franklin, Nov. 30, 1864 this week.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
WHAT WE ARE ABOUT
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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).

JOIN HOST FMLY Jayne and HOST FMLY Bill... Thursday 11 PM ET AND Friday 10 PM ET in the Ancestral Digs Room We will have the same schedule for each night, so if you miss something on Thurs night, you can catch it on FRIDAY nights!!

Also on Thursday 8-9PM ET: Trace Your Civil War Ancestors in Ancestral Digs. Join HOST FMLY Wolfrd and HOST FMLY Heathr to discuss ancestral searches from the Civil War period

You can visit the other Genealogy chats by going to KEYWORD: Parenting Chats > scroll down to Genealogy and click. Be sure to read the Genealogy and History (scroll down to War Between the States) message boards at Genealogy Community

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
"THE BOOK SHELF"
* * * * * * * * * * * * *

If you have read a great Civil War book you think others should read, send the title, author and a Review of it to either HOST FMLY Jayne and/or HOST FMLY Bill.

Both of these shared by Ted Fisher.

The Class of 1846 From West Point to Appomattox
by John C Waugh.
Stonewall Jackson, George McClellan and their 18 brothers that attained General rank in the Civil War.
A fascinating look at the careers of leaders who were to have a major impact on the Civil War.

Be Your Own Napoleon
How would you command ten of history's greatest battles (Includes Chancellorsville and Gettysburg)
by William Seymour.
Gives you the scenarios, you make the choices to fight the battle. Tells you of the consequences of your decisions.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
--------OUR WEEKLY READING--------
(these items are extracts from our Letters, Songs,
and Poems evenings)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Oct 10 1863

Fairfax Station Virginia

Dear wife I received you letter on Thursday I was glad to hear from home you write that Nathan is verry bad sick I would like to see him I hav not had a letter from him for so long I could not tel what was the mater we are as wel as comon and I hope this will find you the same it is quite cool hear Mitchener is verry weak yet he is not able to set up he has got a furlow to go home for 30 days he is going to Philadelphia to his sisters if he gets able to be mooved he has bin verry bad he has had the direar he is nothing but skin and bone he has no apatite I see by the Delaware paper that the Chaplin got to Wilmington safe but he has not got back hear yet we heard that N. B. Smithers is nominated for Congres I think we will get home for the election but is is hard to tel what will turn up yet we are stil geting some of our deserters of the 4th Del reg they hav got Edward Woliston in prison at Georgetown near Washington and he writes that he wants to come to our regment and I think Bart Loyd will be got some of thes times yet it looks like rain hear this morning I must bring my letter to a close this Saturday and I hav to draw rations for ten days and our men is all out on picket Mr Pusey is in the Hospital in Wilmington but he wil be sent out as soon as he is fit but the 2 Delaware claims him as a deserter from them but you need not tel eney body but time will tel the tale I send my love to you all

from your afectinate Husband

Levi McCormick

good by

this ink is verry bad

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DID YOU KNOW?
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The four (4) most frequent court-martial offenses were:

Insubordination
Conduct unbecoming an officer
Failure of leadership
Cowardice in battle

There were more than 100,000 general court-martials in the Union Army

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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Weekly Web Sites we've received -
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

URL:     http://members.aol.com/Infantry8thMO
TITLE:     8th Missouri Volunteer Infantry (US)
DESCRIPTION:     This re-enactor unit website has a history of the
Regiment, biographical/genealogical sketches, and a guest book for getting
in touch with the group.

TITLE:     History of Co. "K" 140th Penna. Vols., 1862-'65
DESCRIPTION:     Complete book about Company "K" 140th Penna. Vols.,
1862-'65 by B. F. POWELSON, 1906.
Email [email protected] for the URL

CivilWarLiterature
this is a Sampler of Civil War Literature and was sent to me by [email protected]
It has stories from the pages of Harper's Weekly.   If you would like the URL for this site, please email her.

I'm sorry for any inconvenience, but I'm no longer able to put non AOL sites in the newsletters.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A BIT OF COMMUNITY... MEMBERS HELPING MEMBERS!!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

NOTE from Jayne:
I'll leave this one in another week, in case you missed it last week.

[email protected] Has a book Annals of Alexander Hamilton Post, No 182, Department of New York, Grand Army of the Republic, during the years 1184 to 1900, Compiled and Aranged by Past Commanders F. S. Bartram and T. W. Smith,
New York, Bartram Press, 126 William Street --- 1900

List of Names from the book...   I have been told that most of the members have pictures in the book of when they were probably in their 50's or 60's.

Bartram, F. S.    (pg. 67)
Bassett, John W. (pg. 164)
Behning, Henry    (pg 162
Cochmower, James H.   (pg. 170)
Coffin, GermanL   (pg. 164)
Colvin, James A.   (pg.31)
Connolly, James W. (pg. 166-168)
Constant, John C.   (pg. 158)
Davis, John H.   (pg. 164)
Duryea, Charles H.   (pg. 154)
Fish, John   (pg. 162)
Golderman, Caspar   (pg. 170)
Greenfield, Edwin T.   (pg. 139)
Hamilton, Alexander   (pg. 170)
Hammond, Alfred R.   (pg. 162)
Hartshorn, Edwin A.   (pg. 158)
Hewlett, Algernon C.   (pg. 158)
Hewlett, John   (pg. 158)
Holmes, James K.   (pg. 160)
Holton, Wm. Henry Harrison   (pg. 170)
Howard, Charles H.   (pg. 156)
Johnston, Wm. H.   (pg. 168)
Kelly, Thomas J.   (pg. 154)
Kurlbaum, Ernst   (pg. 160)
La Coste, James M.   (pg. 168)
Land, Joseph F. MD   (pg. 154)
Lawrence, Harry W.   (pg. 160
Lawton, Henry W.   (pg. 151 - no picture)
Lorigan, George T.   (pg. 166)
Low, Philip B.   (pg. 108)
Lybolt, Archibold (MD)   pg. 168-170)
McAllister, D. James    (pg. 160)
McIlroy (MD)   (pg 156)
Middleton, Orland F.   (pg. 166)
Miner, Thomas T. W.   (pg. 154)
Montague, Almer H.   (pg. 166)
Moran, William M.   (pg. 158)
Norman, George A. J. (pg. 166
Norman, John A.   (pg. 156)
Parsons, Theron E.   pg. 154)
Philbrick, Wm N.     (pg. 166-168)
Reddy, Wm. C.   (pg. 122)
Scott, Albert E.   (pg. 113)
Shrady, John (MD) (pg. 158)
Smith, T. Franklin (MD) (pg. 156)
Smith, Thomas W.   (pg. 101)
Spencer, Leonard   (pg. 172)
Staats, John   (pg. 133)
Stamber, Jacob C.   (pg. 156)
Steves, Elbert O.   (pg. 164)
Stone, Lyman S.     (pg. 154)
Styles, Charles H.   (pg. 160)
Sullivan, Wm.   (pg. 168)
Thompson, Walter L.   (pg. 156)
Tyson, Isaac C.   (pg. 164)
Tyson, John (pg. 164)
Underhill, Andrew M.   (pg. 38)
Vorhis, Albert B.   (pg. 162)
Wall, Frederick A.   (pg. 160)
Ward, Andrew   (pg. 162)
Weeks, George H.   (pg. 168)
Westcott, Henry A.   (pg. 168)
Wilkins, Hartwell A.    (pg. 162)
Wood, Wm. T.   (pg. 51)
Wright, Clark   Rev. D. D.   (pg. 172)

If you know one of the above names is your ancestor, send [email protected] to make any arrangements about getting a copy of the photo, if available.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
"THE TOWN CRIER"
Civil War Calendar!!
* * * * * * * * * * * * *

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Schedule of Upcoming Topics/Events
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Time:
Every Thursday Night at 11pm ET in the Genealogy Room
Every Friday Night at 10 PM ET in the Genealogy Room
with hosts HOST FMLY Jayne, HOST FMLY Bill and our many faithful friends :)

December 4 & 5, 2003 - The Battle of Franklin, Nov. 30, 1864

December 11 & 12, 2003 - The Special Songs, letters and poems night. If you have any one of the three things you'd like to share with the room, feel free to send them to HOST FMLY [email protected] or HOST FMLY [email protected]

December 18 & 19, 2003 - OPEN CHAT

December 25 & 26, 2003 - The hosts of the Civil War History chats will be spending Christmas with their families. If all your family events are over and you want to stop in the room, please feel free to do so. We don't know who you might find there.

We'll See You Thursday and/or Friday Night.
Your Joyful, Intelligent and Fun-lovin' Host & Hostess :-)