September 2001 Weekly Firesides

September 2001 Weekly Firesides

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

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

This Thursday is again, just OPEN CHAT about all things of a Civil War nature. We hope you drop by and give us a hollar!

You'll have noticed that of recent deliveries, the Weekly Fireside has so many feedbacks from you readers that we have had to deliver in two parts. Incredible! Keep it UP........... We love it. Continue to let us know what you think....

Civil War History & Genealogy Forum Related Announcements

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

* * * * *

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

* * * * *

"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

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

THE HELP DESK
This segment is to address specific questions that hit our plate on Thursday night that we didn't have a chance to answer or needed a bit of time to check it out. Hope these answer the mail :D

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

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

Weekly Web Sites We've Received
From: [email protected]:
The Civil War Message Board Portal
http://history-sites.com/cwmb/

* * * * *

From: [email protected]:
Some neat sites on Belle Boyd:
A Spy in the Shenandoah
http://members.nbci.com/bmw658/spy.htm
Travel West Virginia
http://www.travelwv.com/bell.htm
Belle Boyd, 1844-1900 - Belle Boyd in Camp and Prison
http://docsouth.unc.edu/boyd/menu.html
Belle Boyd Biography
http://www.civilwarhome.com/boydbio.htm
Belle Boyd CLAS
http://www.angelfire.com/la/BelleBoydOCR/
Women in History - Belle Boyd biography
http://lkwdpl.org/wihohio/boyd-bel.htm
Women in History - Belle Boyd
http://www.lkwdpl.org/wihohio/boyd.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....

* * * * *

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

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

Charles Dudley BOYETT AKA CD buried Union Hill Cemetery, Pensacola, Escambia Co. Florida.

If any live in the areas I would gladly pay whatever the cost.
Thank you
Joe

"Joe" thanks for send us your request. We have a number of readers in the Pensacola area that may be able to help out and we see what Iowa folks we may have reading this. Let us know how it goes.....

* * * * *

From: [email protected]:
In response to HOST GFS TAZ's (Candy) information from last week.

Thank you so much for your help Candy. I'm still searching and hope to get a bingo on this one.....Thanks again

OUR WEEKLY READING...
Over the years some of our membership has been incredibly gracious and shared some of their precious family treasures with us to use in the American Civil War SIG. Deanna Holm is one such member who has a prolific family collection from her direct ancestor Colonel Alonzo Slayback (CSA) and has given us her permission to share. These are her comments to this poem.

Jim--Lonnie truly thought he'd never return to Mo. that he'd spend the rest of his life in Mexico. He did return to Mo. and his law practice and Suzanne became the first (in 1878) Queen of the Veiled Prophets Ball in St. Louis
- Deanna:

TO MY DAUGHTER SUSIE.
(Written in Mexico in 1865)

To-day thy chronicle of life counts five!
And he who should be near thee is away;
Thoughts leave my heart, as bees fly from a hive,
To seek their favorite flower, its charms survey,
And burdened with its sweets retrace their way.

Alas! poor child! God grant you ne'er may know
The kindling fierceness of your father's heart,
Which makes him scorn to fear or brook a foe,
Yet weep in secret from his child to part,
And die of torture, ere confess its smart.

Thou dost not know me, pretty little one;
You'd pass me by unknown upon the street;
Thy father's features, form, appearance, tone,
Thy fancy doubtless paints, thy friends repeat---
Yet ah! how sad the thought, we ne'er may meet!

Unknown to thee my yearning for thy weal,
Unknown to thee my sorrow for thy woe;
Unknown to thee what pangs intense I feel,
To think my only child----a girl----should go
Upon life's path exposed to every blow.

Cruel the fate that severs me from thee,
Susie, my darling; and more cruel still
That vain were my aims to make thee free
From the despotic sway, and unjust will,
Of foeman pledged to do thee every ill.

I fought to save thee! think of that, when blame
Is muttered in thy presence 'gainst thy Sire!
Perhaps thy proud heart chafes in childish shame
To hear the invader curse my vengeance dire;
I hope again to make them feel my ire.

But all such thoughts are foreign to my theme,
For every pulse beats gently at thy name;
I see thee nightly in my brightest dream,
And wonder if thy nature will be tame,
Or, like thy father's, glow with ardor's flame.

Ah! the rebuffs thy soul must meet on earth,
If you inherit but one-tenth my fire;
Perhaps you'll curse the hour that gave you birth,
And long for that which bids thy life expire;
I have oft done so in my phrensied ire.

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]
A tour of Fort Hancock- New York port defense base located on Sandy Hook, NJ parts going back to the CW would be well worth the effort. This facility which includes the Sandy Hook lighthouse built in 1764, was an active costal defense base for upwards of 120 yrs before being written off in 1974 and turned over to the National Park Service . All buildings and gun emplacements are still in existance, as is a museum.
I was especially impressed with a 20 inch Rodman Smothbore cannon on display, weighing 115,100 pounds Developed by Ordinance General Thomas Rodman who was aboard the Princeton when a large gun being test fired burst and killed a number of people. Rodman committed himself to improving the technology of cannon manufacture and invented the casting process that made this one-piece smoothbore barrel possible. This gun (one of 2 ever made) gave the U.S. the largest muzzle loading cannon ever made. At the same time however, rifled guns were being developed which made all smooth bore cannon obsolete. With spin from spiral grooves inside the barrel, pointed projectiles from rifled cannon could travel further and with greater accuracy then cannon balls from smoothbore weapons.
During the Civil War, rifled artillery penetrated the thick masonary walls of several coastal forts (including Sumpter), which influenced the Army to abandon construction of a masonary fort on Sandy Hook. Hope this brief description of Sandy Hook will encourage some of our group participants who live in the vicinity to visit the place.
The site was named after Winfield Scott Hancock CW General. Officers row (houses) as well as homes for married enlisted men still are standing. Sizes of homes of course are dependent upon rank. Ancellery buildings- bakery, guard house, theater,etc are also still standing. Several batteries of disappearing guns were sited, one of which still has the guns. An active Coast Guard base occupies part of Sandy Hook, part of the hook is used for public bathing and includes a nude beach, much to my wifes horror when she took Girl Scouts there on a camping trip. The girls actually stayed in a house on officers row on their "camping trip".
Ted

{{{Ted}}} Thanks for the great coverage......

* * * * *

From: [email protected]
Linda passed this to us from one of her "Irish Lists"....

Civil War Papers May Be Salvaged
IMPORTANT documents damaged during the Civil War may finally be readable with the setting up of a conservation unit at the National Archives.
There has been a commitment to recruit a properly trained conservator who could set up the systems necessary to repair and preserve fire-damaged documents, senior archivist Ken Hannigan said.
Some of the documents date back to the 17th century but they have been unavailable to historians and the public because they are considered too fragile to be handled or viewed.
The vast majority from the Public Records Office were destroyed when the Four Courts was held siege during the Civil War.
But the lack of a conservation unit has meant that up to now those which escaped with minor smoke or water damage have languished unusable since 1922.
The National Archives which houses official State records is the only such archive in Europe without a conservation unit.
The unit would also be vital to create microfilm and digital copies and preserve newer paper records.
Aideen Sheehan

{{Linda}} Thanks for the information. This is great; and NO hadn't known of this before......

* * * * *

From: [email protected]
From: http://www.genealogybulletin.com/archives/HTML/etc70.html

According to a tidbit from genealogical society bulletins, 78 percent of the Union Army in the Civil War was comprised of lads 15 to 18 years old. Data gleaned from government records reveals figures that may surprise you. Here are the statistics from the total enlistment of Northern soldiers during the Civil War:

Age Number of Personnel

10            25
11            34
12            225
13            380
14            1602
15            104,987 (3.5%)
16            231,051 (8.0%)
17            884,981 (28.0%)
18            1,158,434 (38.5%)
19-22        617,511 (20.5%)
22-44        52,696

{{{Candy}}} Interesting Info.... I'll bet there is a goodly chunk though in the 45+ group.

* * * * *

From: [email protected]
I have not been able to get to firesides recently, because of sickness.

I ran across a civil war letters website and thought I would forward. It may be old to you, but I had not seen before.
The Civil War Letters of Fannie Austin
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~snugaza/austin/
Thanks for the newsletters. I really enjoy them.
Barbara

{{{Barbara}}} You take care and get better. Thanks for the great website....

* * * * *

From: [email protected]:
Jim and Jayne -
Don't know if you have this or not. A bit of trivia.
Nancy Watrous

FAMOUS HORSES OF THE CIVIL WAR
Although generals usually had more than one horse during the War Between the States, there was more often than not one that was their favorite, or most closely associated with them. If you can identify more than half of the owners of these horses, pat yourself on the back -- you're good.

GENERALS		HORSES
___General Robert E. Lee		A. Cincinnati
___Major Gen. Ambrose Burnside		B. Baldy
___Lt. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest		C. Daniel Webster
___Major Gen. Benjamin Kelly		D. Little Sorrel
___Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant		E. Traveller
___Major Gen. Phillip Sheridan		F. Philippi
___Lt. Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson		G. Major
___Major Gen. George Meade		H. King Phillip
___Major Gen. George B. McClellan		I. Rienzi

{{{{{{{{Nancy}}}}}}}}}} Great! I've turned it into a trivia quiz. We'll see how many respond.... Heh Heh

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 :)

9/6/01 - OPEN CHAT

9/13/01 - Letters, Songs and Poems night. Send in any material you want read in the room to HOST GFS Jim, HOST GFS Jayne, HOST GFS TEG or HOST GFS Amy and we'll be more than happy to do the reading for you :D

9/20/01 - OPEN CHAT

9/27/01 - The Vicksburg Campaign - by HOST GFS Jim

10/4/01 - OPEN CHAT

10/11/01 - Letters, Songs and Poems night. Send in any material you want read in the room to HOST GFS Jim, HOST GFS Jayne, HOST GFS TEG or HOST GFS Amy and we'll be more than happy to do the reading for you :D

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

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

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

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

Also, HOST GFS Brenda tells me that the story "Coastal War" is posted along with last week's Newsletter.

* * * * *

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

* * * * *

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

The name of Brigadier General Barnard E. Bee deserves a place in the highest niche of fame. He displayed a gallantry that scarecely has a parallel in history. The brunt of the morning's battle at Bull Run, July 21, 1861, was sustained by his command until past two o'clock. Overwhelmed by superior numbers, and compelled to yield before a fire that swept everything before it, General Bee rode up and down his lines, encouraging his troops, by everything that was dear to them, to stand up and repel this tide that threatened them with destruction. At last his own brigade dwindled to a mere handful, with every field officer killed or disabled. He rode up to General Jackson and said "General, they are beating us back."

The reply was: "Sir, we'll give them the bayonet."

General Bee immediately rallied the remnant of his brigade, and his last words to them were: "There is Jackson standing like a stone wall. Let us determine to die here and we will conquer. Follow me!"

His men obeyed the call; and at the head of his column, the very moment the battle was turning in our favor, he fell mortally wounded. General Beauregard was heard to say he had never seen such gallantry. General Bee never murmured at his suffering, but seemed to be consoled by the reflection that he was doing his duty.

.....from the Charleston Mercury

............. 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!

Weekly Web Sites We've Received

From: [email protected]:

Civil War Jayhawkers Chain Gang
http://www.geocities.com/thomas_mcelroy/Jayhawkers.htm

* * * * *

From: [email protected]as given by John Rigdon:

Confederate States in the Civil War
http://www.researchonline.net/xxcw
* where xx is the post office abbreviation for the state.
http://www.researchonline.net/civilwar/xx/genboard
* direct link to the message boards where xx in this url has the same meaning

MEMBERS HELPING MEMBERS!!..

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

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

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

* * * * *

OUR WEEKLY READING...

An Address by an Ex-Confederate Soldier to the Grand
Army of the Republic ....
by Maurice Thompson (1844-1901)

I was a rebel, if you please,
A reckless fighter to the last,
Nor do I fall upon my knees
And ask forgiveness for the past.

A traitor? I a traitor? No!
I was a patriot to the core;
The South was mine, I loved her so,
I gave her all, -- I could no more.

You scowl at me. And was it wrong
To wear the gray my father wore?
Could I slink back, though young and strong,
From foes before my mother's door?

My mother's kiss was hot with fight,
My father's frenzy filled his son,
Through reeking day and sodden night
My sister's courage urged me on.

And I, a missile steeped in hate,
Hurled forward like a cannon-ball
by the resistless hand of fate,
Rushed wildly, madly through it all.

I stemmed the level flames of hell,
O'er bayonet bars of death I broke,
I was so near when Cleburne fell,
I heard the muffled bullet stroke!

But all in vain. In dull despair
I saw the storm of conflict die;
Low lay the Southern banner fair,
And yonder flag was waving high.

God, what a triumph had the foe!
Laurels, arches, trumpet-blare;
All around the earth their songs did go,
Thundering through heaven their shouts did tear.

My mother, gray and bent with years,
Hoarding love's withered aftermath,
Her sweet eyes burnt too dry for tears,
Sat in the dust of Sherman's path.

My father, broken, helpless, poor,
A gloomy, nerveless giant stood,
Too strong to cower and endure,
Too weak to fight for masterhood.

My boyhood's home, a blackened heap
Where lizards crawled and briers grew,
Had felt the fire of vengeance creep,
The crashing round-shot hurtle through.

I had no country, all was lost,
I closed my eyes and longed to die,
While past me stalked the awful ghost
Of mangled, murdered Liberty.

The scars upon my body burned,
I felt a heel upon my throat,
A heel that ground and grinding turned
With each triumphal trumpet note.

"Grind on!" I cried, "nor doubt that I,
(If all your necks were one and low
As mine is now) delightedly
Would cut it by a single blow!"

That was a dark night; but day is here,
The crowning victory is won;
Hark, how the sixty millions cheer,
With Freedom's flag across the sun!

I a traitor! Who are you
That dare to breathe that word to me?
You never wore the Union blue,
No wounds attest your loyalty!

I do detest the sutler's clerk,
Who skulked and dodged till peace had come,
Then found it most congenial work
To beat the politician's drum.

I clasp the hand that made my scars,
I cheer the flag my foemen bore,
I shout for joy to see the stars
All on our common shield once more.

I do not cringe before you now,
Or lay my face upon the ground;
I am a man, of men a peer,
And not a cowering, cudgeled hound!

I stand and say that you were right,
I greet you with uncovered head,
Remembering many a thundering fight,
Where whistling death between us sped.

Remembering the boys in gray,
With thoughts too deep and fine for words,
I lift this cup of love to-day
To drink what only love affords.

Soldiers in blue, a health to you!
Long life and vigor oft renewed,
While on your hearts, like honey-dew,
Falls our great country's gratitude.

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]
Vicki Weiss at the NYS Library is putting together great information about where to find Civil War records and giving the following presentation. Please help us locate ALL records that pertain to men who served for NYS in the Civil War. Also of interest would be information of any organizations affiliated with the Civil War such as Women's Relief Organization. Seeking diaries, letters, minutes of meetings, etc. Please include names of regiment or organizations, types of materials, and size of collection as well as the name of the repository where found, repository's address, telephone and email address.

Pass this message to ALL museums, libraries, historical and genealogical societies across the USA and ask them to notify Vicki of any information that they might have. Let's be a part of compiling the most complete information about NYS in the Civil War and the men who fought. Vicki has already has received some previously unknown information and you can help to find more. Thank you for helping.
Ruth Ann Messick - Heritage Hunters of Saratoga Co., NY

* * * * *

Researching the Civil War:
Resources at the
NYS Library and Archives (and then some!)

A Workshop on What's Available and How to Locate It.
Thursday, November 8, 2001
10:45am to 3:00pm
(Snow date: Thursday November 15, 2001)
at the NYS Library, Madison Ave., Albany, NY

Registration Fee: $10.
Registration Deadline: Thursday, Oct. 25, 2001

Bring your own lunch or order a box lunch for $10.00
For more information go to http://www.nysl.nysed.gov and click on
the Civil War Workshop hotlink or contact the NYSL at
<[email protected]> or 518-474-2274

* * * * *

From: [email protected]
Jim and Jayne -
Don't know if you have this or not. A bit of trivia.
Nancy Watrous

FAMOUS HORSES OF THE CIVIL WAR

Although generals usually had more than one horse during the War Between the States, there was more often than not one that was their favorite, or most closely associated with them. If you can identify more than half of the owners of these horses, pat yourself on the back -- you're good.

GENERALS		HORSES
___General Robert E. Lee		A. Cincinnati
___Major Gen. Ambrose Burnside		B. Baldy
___Lt. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest		C. Daniel Webster
___Major Gen. Benjamin Kelly		D. Little Sorrel
___Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant		E. Traveller
___Major Gen. Phillip Sheridan		F. Philippi
___Lt. Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson		G. Major
___Major Gen. George Meade		H. King Phillip
___Major Gen. George B. McClellan		I. Rienzi

{{{{{{{{Nancy}}}}}}}}}} Great! I've turned it into a trivia quiz. We'll see how many respond....
Now - here are the answers. We had a ton of email last week hitting quite a few, but no one hit them all.... Heh Heh and I struck out trying to remember who Major Gen. Benjamin Kelly even was...... I did include those with additional information given. See below

Answers:
Lee - Traveller
Burnside - Major
Forrest - King Phillip
Kelly - Philippi
Grant - Cincinnati
Sheridan - Rienzi
Jackson - Little Sorrel
Meade - Baldy
McClellan - Daniel Webster

* * * * *

From: Snow [email protected]

Lee rode Traveller
Forrest rode King Phillip, Roderick, and Highlander
Grant rode Cincinnati, Methuselah, Rondy, Fox, Jack, Jeff Davis, and Kangaroo
Sheridan rode Riezni or Winchester and Aldebaron
Jackson rode Old Sorrel or Little Sorrel (same horse, different name)
Meade rode Baldly

{{Snow}} thanks for the additional names......

* * * * *

From: [email protected]
Jim, I thought that General Meade"s favorite horse was named "Old Baldy."

Old Baldy was wounded numerous times and was actually left for dead on the battlefield at Antietam only to be later found grazing in the middle of the battlefield while the battle was going on around him. He outlived the General and after he died near Philadelphia his head was mounted and is still hanging on the wall in the Civil War Museum and Library on Pine St. in Philadelphia.

Another General's horse that bears mentioning was Charlemayne(sp)- Brig. General, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain.

Best regards,
Richard Brooks

{{Richard}} Neat history on Old Baldy and thanks for Chamberlain's horse.

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 :)

9/13/01 - Letters, Songs and Poems night. Send in any material you want read in the room to HOST GFS Jim, HOST GFS Jayne, HOST GFS TEG or HOST GFS Amy and we'll be more than happy to do the reading for you :D

9/20/01 - OPEN CHAT

9/27/01 - The Vicksburg Campaign - by HOST GFS Jim

10/4/01 - OPEN CHAT

10/11/01 - Letters, Songs and Poems night. Send in any material you want read in the room to HOST GFS Jim, HOST GFS Jayne, HOST GFS TEG or HOST GFS Amy and we'll be more than happy to do the reading for you :D

10/18/01 - 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 16 September 2001

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

From your Editors:
I really struggled this week with what to put in the newsletter, because I'm staggered from the events of this week as all of you are. I've felt rage and grief. I've just wandered around some and stared off to the mountains and felt a lifting of my heart for no apparent reason and I've had to stop doing something at work or at home and let the tears flow. I've tried to come to grips with these events and failed.
I've thought of friends that have gone in harms way and those that harm has never touched. I've had long talks with my family members, my sweet wife, my two sons and daughter, my daughters and sons-in-law, a possible future daughter-in-law, my grandchildren and my mother. There is no one left in America that is not "touched" now, after these events this week.
Even though I may not have come to grips with this yet, I have revisited and confirmed some things for myself.

I'm proud to be an American

I'm thrilled that someone of every race and culture on Planet earth has participated in this American experience and they too are Americans

I'm proud and blessed that we still believe in Liberty and still call ourselves Free

So, with your indulgence and I hope your approval, we will honor those of us in this land who have perished because they are Americans and we shall honor those who have dedicated themselves this week to saving those that could be saved.

I would like to share a note from one of our Hosts (HOST GFS TEG whom we fondly refer to as Sir Tom Gladwell) in the American Civil War History SIG to say how proud we are of him and that he has all our support and prayers!

I guess I better tell you now so you don't worry about me. I have volunteered to work at the World Trade Center site. I told you ..... if my country called I would go. I was briefed yesterday and know what to expect. This is something I must do.
.... I would like you to ask all the members of our chat to fly the flag and let the rest of the world see that we are united and stand as one. You can use this where ever you think it will fit.
My Letter to the Cowards that did this; Yes you have given us a bloody nose. And yes we have not struck back yet. Why? We mourn our dead. You think we are hiding in some dark corner? You are wrong. We are a family. Yes we fight among ourselves, sometimes over little things. You have caused us to stop fighting, all my brothers and sisters stand together now as one. We will find you and those that support you.
We will punish you severely. You and those like you will never be able to snuff out the flames of freedom that are a beacon to the rest of the world. We won't let you.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

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

* * * * *

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

* * * * *

A Special Sharing This Week.............

This favorite American patriotic hymn had these lyrics written by the Reverend Samuel Francis Smith, and sung publicly for the first time in Boston in 1832. Samuel was an American minister and writer. According to Julian's Dictionary of Hymnology, he was one of the main editors of The Psalmist--"the most creditable and influential of the American Baptist collections."
Smith attended Harvard University and Andover Theological Seminary. He entered the Baptist ministry in 1832, and the same year became editor of Baptist Missionary Magazine. He also contributed to the Encyclopedia Americana. From 1834 to 1842, he pastored at Waterville, Maine, and was Professor of Modern Languages at Waterville College. In 1842, he moved to Newton, Massachusetts, where he stayed until 1854, when he became editor of the publications of the Baptist Missionary Union.
The secular world best remembers Smith as the lyricist for "My Country 'Tis of Thee," though he wrote several other hymns. He and Oliver Wendell Holmes were classmates at Harvard, and at a reunion for the class of 1829, Holmes wrote:

There's a nice youngster of excellent pith,
Fate tried to conceal him by naming him Smith;
But he shouted a song for the brave and the free,
Just read on his medal, "My country," "of thee."

The tune to this praise hymn was first popular in England as "God Save the King (Queen)" and is now the English national anthem. This was written by Henry Carey in 1740.

America: My Country Tis of Thee

My country, 'tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the Pilgrims' pride,
From every mountain-side
Let Freedom ring.

My native country, thee,
Land of the noble free,
Thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and templed hills;
My heart with rapture thrills
Like that above.

Let music swell the breeze,
And ring from all the trees
Sweet freedom's song;
Let mortal tongues awake,
Let all that breathe partake,
Let rocks their silence break,
The sound prolong.

Our fathers' God, to Thee,
Author of liberty,
To Thee we sing;
Long may our land be bright
With Freedom's holy light,
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God, our King.

God love you all..............

MEMBERS HELPING MEMBERS!!..

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

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

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

* * * * *

OUR WEEKLY READING...
Katharine Lee Bates wrote the original version in 1893. She wrote the 2nd version in 1904. Her final version was written in 1913. She left us some of her thoughts:
"One day some of the other teachers and I decided to go on a trip to 14,000-foot Pikes Peak. We hired a prairie wagon. Near the top we had to leave the wagon and go the rest of the way on mules. I was very tired. But when I saw the view, I felt great joy. All the wonder of America seemed displayed there, with the sea-like expanse."

America the Beautiful – 1913
By Katharine Lee Bates

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife.
Who more than self the country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!

O beautiful for pilgrims feet,
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America ! America !
God shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through
wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!

O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man's avail
Men lavished precious life !
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!

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, HOST GFS Jim and our many faithful friends :)

9/20/01 - OPEN CHAT

9/27/01 - The Vicksburg Campaign - by HOST GFS Jim

10/4/01 - OPEN CHAT

10/11/01 - Letters, Songs and Poems night. Send in any material you want read in the room to HOST GFS Jim, HOST GFS Jayne, HOST GFS TEG or HOST GFS Amy and we'll be more than happy to do the reading for you :D

10/18/01 - 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 23 September 2001

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

From your Editors:
A short note from Jim who is on the road again with his paying job.
"...We have been incredibly busy and are doing well. Tell the folks Hi for me and I hope to get into the forum next Thursday." While I'm on the subject of "Jim," I just like to say CONGRATULATIONS to him. September is his 6th Anniversary of being with the Genealogy Forum and the American Civil War History chatroom. Jim and GFL George (our big boss <G>) had a saying way back when "Build it and they will come" and come you did!!! We thank you all.

AND speaking of Thursday night, you want to be sure to join us as we'll be presenting The Vicksburg Campaign - by HOST GFS Jim 11 PM ET Thursday, September 27 in the Golden Gates Chat Room Please join us!!

While it been two weeks since the terrible tragedies in NY and Wash, DC, it hardly seems possible it's not been so long ago, but yet it seems like it's been an eternity. My heart and prayers go out to all involved, however that may be. We received a note from DASHJUST, this week wondering if we thought any of the "Faithful" would like to contribute to the fund for the New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund. We asked her to send us the info and we'd put it up for all to see so here it is.

New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund
PO Box 3713
Grand Central Station
New York, NY 10163

I'm going to make a suggestion here. It isn't Civil War, but most of you are also involved in Genealogy. Take time to sit down and write what you were doing when you heard or saw what happened, how you felt, your thoughts and fears about what happened September 11, 2001. Have your children or your grandchildren do the same thing or have them draw those things in pictures, then put them all in your family genealogy file. Many generations from now, descendants won't have to wonder what their ancestors were doing at the time, as many of us wonder what our families did, or how they felt when their men folk were in the Civil War.

I'm going to leave the following in, just in case you didn't see it last week and if you read it before, I think it's worth reading again. <grin>

I would like to share a note from one of our Hosts (HOST GFS TEG whom we fondly refer to as Sir Tom Gladwell) in the American Civil War History SIG to say how proud we are of him and that he has all our support and prayers!

I guess I better tell you now so you don't worry about me. I have volunteered to work at the World Trade Center site. I told you ..... if my country called I would go. I was briefed yesterday and know what to expect. This is something I must do.
.... I would like you to ask all the members of our chat to fly the flag and let the rest of the world see that we are united and stand as one. You can use this where ever you think it will fit.
My Letter to the Cowards that did this; Yes you have given us a bloody nose. And yes we have not struck back yet. Why? We mourn our dead. You think we are hiding in some dark corner? You are wrong. We are a family. Yes we fight among ourselves, sometimes over little things. You have caused us to stop fighting, all my brothers and sisters stand together now as one. We will find you and those that support you.
We will punish you severely. You and those like you will never be able to snuff out the flames of freedom that are a beacon to the rest of the world. We won't let you.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

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

* * * * *

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

* * * * *

A Special Sharing This Week.............

Proud To Be An American
(God Bless The USA)

Written By Lee Greenwood

If tomorrow all the things were gone I'd
worked for all my life, And I had to start
again with just my children and my wife,
I'd thank my lucky stars to be living here
today, 'Cause the flag still stands for
freedom and they can't take that away.

I'm proud to be an American where at
least I know I'm free, And I won't forget
the men who died who gave that right to me,
And I gladly stand up next to you and
defend her still today, 'Cause there ain't
no doubt I love this land God Bless the U.S.A.

From the lakes of Minnesota to the hills of
Tennessee, Across the plains of Texas from
sea to shining sea. From Detroit down to
Houston and New York to L.A., There's
pride in every American heart and it's time
we stand and say:

I'm proud to be an American where at
least I know I'm free, And I won't forget
the men who died who gave that right to
me, And I gladly stand up next to you
and defend her still today, 'Cause there
ain't no doubt I love this land God Bless the U.S.A.

God love you all..............

Weekly Web Sites We've Received

From: [email protected]:
Ohio Historical Society's Civil War Documents Searchable Database
http://www.ohiohistory.org/onliinedoc/civilwar/guide/a.cfm

* * * * *

From: [email protected]:
GREAT RESOURCE FOR CIVIL WAR GENEALOGY

Originally published by the U.S. Quartermaster's Department in the 1860s, the ROLL OF HONOR: CIVIL WAR UNION SOLDIERS was released a volume at a time as Civil War battlefield sites were surveyed, Union soldier graves were exhumed, and bodies were identified and reburied. When the project was completed, twenty-seven volumes referencing the names of over 200,000 Union soldiers buried in national cemeteries, soldiers' lots, and garrison cemeteries had been published. All twenty-seven volumes, as well as a supplementary volume published by the Genealogical Publishing Company in 1996, are now available on a fully searchable CD at a fraction of the cost of the books themselves.
http://www.genealogical.com//item_detail.cfm?ID=7351

* * * * *

From: [email protected]:
If you would like to read more of my ramblings (Non-Genealogical) then I want to recommend you try out "On the Home Front" a new weekly column I am going to be writing. Here is a link On The Home Front The URL is http://www.geocities.com/mzz_jezzy/index

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....

* * * * *

From: [email protected]:
Hello everyone-
I truly enjoy reading the Weekly Fireside for it's educational matter as well as it's humor. I want to thank all who are involved in creating it.
I have recently perused the Burnet Co TX message boards and have located the obit on a distant ancestor of my children. Unfortunately, I can't seem to get farther back in his ancestry line. His obituary, written by a granddaughter (name unknown), states he was James Madison Livingston b 11 Sept 1839 on a plantation in SC then moved to Americus GA. early in life, one of 16 children. He died in Nov 1935 in Burnet TX.
An email from Brad Coker in a RAOK sent an email stating "he enlisted as a private on 15 June 1861 into the "Muckalee Guards" from Sumter Co, Co A, 12th GA Infantry. He was wounded at Gaines Mill June 27, 1862 and again at Chancellorsville on May 3, 1863." The obit states that brothers William and George also served in the CW with him.
The obit further states that he came to TX in 1866 to Cameron TX, then came to Burnet TX in 1869 and in 1871 married Josephine Catharine Chamberlain, d/o James and Sarah Chamberlain. The Chamberlain family has been well researched and placed online but I find nothing farther back on James Madison Livingston. Nor on his descendants online.
Is there anyone reading this who might be descended from his siblings who could tell me more about this line? Family rumor is that there is a connection to Philip Livingston, a signer of the Declaration of Independence but I don't know where this connection is and it may be indirect.
I want to thank in advance anyone who can help me fill in my blanks.

[email protected] ( in CA)

((((((Betty))))))
We'll post your letter here and see if any of the "Faithful" can help you out

OUR WEEKLY READING...
OLD GLORY

I am the flag of the United States of America.
My name is Old Glory.
I fly atop the world's tallest buildings.
I stand watch in America's halls of justice.
I fly majestically over institutions of learning.
I stand guard with power in the world.
Look up and see me.
I stand for peace, honor, truth and justice.
I stand for freedom.
I am confident.
I am arrogant.
I am proud.
When I am flown with my fellow banners,
my head is a little higher,
my colors a little truer.
I bow to no one!
I am recognized all over the world.
I am worshipped - I am saluted.
I am loved - I am revered.
I am respected -- and I am feared.
I have fought in every battle of every war for more then 200 years.
I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Shiloh and Appomattox.
I was there at San Juan Hill, the trenches of France,
in the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome and the beaches of Normandy, Guam.
Okinawa, Korea and KheSan, Saigon, Vietnam know me,
I was there.
I led my troops, I was dirty, battleworn and tired,
but my soldiers cheered me, And I was proud.
I have been burned, torn and trampled on the streets of countries
I have helped set free.
It does not hurt, for I am invincible.
I have been soiled upon, burned, torn and trampled on the streets of my country.
And when it's by those whom I've served in battle -- it hurts.
But I shall overcome -- for I am strong.
I have slipped the bonds of Earth and stood watch over the uncharted
frontiers of space from my vantage point on the moon.

I have borne silent witness to all of America's finest hours.
But my finest hours are yet to come.
When I am torn into strips and used as bandages for my wounded
comrades on the battlefield,
When I am flown at half-mast to honor my soldier,
Or when I lie in the trembling arms of a grieving parent
at the grave of their fallen son or daughter,
I am proud.
MY NAME IS OLD GLORY LONG MAY I WAVE.
DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN LONG MAY I WAVE.

* * * * *

From: [email protected]
Thanks Jim for sharing with the rest of the CW chat that Tom is helping at the World Trade Center. He let me know as well as you what he was doing. I am very proud of my dear cousin Tom and I know that both his dad and mine would be proud of him too. Please keep Tom and all of the other men and women that have taken on this grueling task in your prayers. We need to pray for safety, stamina, endurance, protection of mind, body and soul and an extra measure of Grace to see this incredible task through. May the Lord Bless those men and women that are working at the WTC and the Pentagon and their families and those prayer warriors all around this world that are lifting them up in prayer.

* * * * *
From: [email protected]
This is very moving and it speaks for so many of us. My prayers to GFS Teg and his unselfish efforts. God bless us all.

* * * * *

From: [email protected] (Bonnie)

I'm quite sure you are being swamped with replies to this week's fireside.

As a mom of 4 boys, the oldest 18, this week's events have stunned me, horrified me and shaken me to the core. As the mom of an Eagle Scout, with the others in Scouts, my husband a Scoutmaster of 3 years and myself a 10 year Scouter, one question keeps ringing in me -- why does it take something like this to show our patriotism, our Flag and our love of this Country? What is wrong with our society that we are afraid to show these things, to teach our children the Anthem, America the Beautiful and God Bless America on a daily basis? In how many schools is our National Anthem played even once a week, let alone daily? My children have NEVER heard the Anthem played in school. A few years ago I did a phone survey to area schools and found 1 that played the Anthem - once a week. I called about 10 schools.

Is it any wonder that fanatics like those responsible for this horrible thing think what they do about our Country? Thank God we do pull together when it counts. Thank God we can and will show others what America is and what America stands for.

It scares me, it worries me, but I wouldn't want to live in any other Country on this Earth. I love this Country, and I teach my boys to love it also. And why.

My prayers and thoughts to all who were affected by this -- because we were all affected by this.

{{Bonnie}}
I've been on the road on my paying job since Wednesday and everyone is talking and sharing. Yes, it has been a little busy on email but I would even more shocked if there were no emails. We're going through those kind of thoughts and I certainly don't have an answer. You know the majority of those I've talked to are saying the same things. It seems that we get complacent when everything is going well and we don't seem to want to stand up for what we really believe so we just let things slide.
Well, as you indicated, the complacency has come to an abrupt halt and we now have a common goal, and patriotism and God are not embarressing anymore. They have become key to our daily thoughts, and I hope they stay there.
Lee Greenwood's song "Proud to be an American" says it all for patriotism and "Amazing Grace" written by a man who was changed from a "Slaver" to an "Abolishionist" says it all about what God does. We need to gently remind those small minority groups that lead the legislation to remove those truths from our schools that they do not represent us and we need to speak up for the majority.

You take care and God Bless!
Jim

* * * * *

From: [email protected]:
I am glad to see TEG is still around. I followed thread on board but there was no ending. I pray God gives you strength to do this which you feel you must do. MY Thoughts and Prayers will be with you.

My families (immediate) all survived as far as we know. One running from the WTC and one knocked out of chair at Pentagon and in getting up walls were in flame so ran also.

God says love conquers all. OUR Local Councilman had an awesome statement in that nature at the service here in SD Friday.

Love, Blessings

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 Room (On AOL Only) with hosts HOST GFS Amy, HOST GFS Jayne, HOST GFS TEG and HOST GFS Jim and our many faithful friends :)

9/20/01 - OPEN CHAT

9/27/01 - The Vicksburg Campaign - by HOST GFS Jim

10/4/01 - OPEN CHAT

10/11/01 - Letters, Songs and Poems night. Send in any material you want read in the room to HOST GFS Jim, HOST GFS Jayne, HOST GFS TEG or HOST GFS Amy and we'll be more than happy to do the reading for you :D

10/18/01 - OPEN CHAT

10/25/01 - An American Civil War Trivia Quiz!! Come join us and test your Civil War knowledge. <G>

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 Amy

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

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

From your Editors:
While we didn't have a big crowd Thursday night, we did enjoy a story HOST GFS Jim had written about Vicksburg and Chattanooga. We are pleased Jim was able to take some time out of his VERY busy "on the road" work schedule to join us from Florida. I '*talked* to him Sund and he said to be sure to tell everyone "Hi!!"

HOST GFS TEG called me Sunday morning and he will be sending me an email to share with everyone, but he also said to tell everyone "Hi!!"

Please join us!! Thursday night, we'll be having OPEN CHAT 11 PM ET Thursday, October 1 in the Golden Gates Chat Room. Bring all your Civil War questions and maybe we can get them answered for you.

I just want to share with you all that I talked with Flo Benway this past week. She has moved to Texas with her daughter. While she enjoys being there with her daughter, she's hoping she can find some place small for herself close by. She has had some health problems but is coming along better. Please keep her in your prayers. She asked that I say hi to all the "faithful." Flo still has her AOL account but doesn't have her computer set up yet.

I'm going to leave this in at least another week:

While it been three weeks now since the terrible tragedies in NY and Wash, DC, it hardly seems possible it's not been so long ago, but yet it seems like it's been an eternity. My heart and prayers go out to all involved, however that may be. We received a note from DASHJUST, wondering if we thought any of the "Faithful" would like to contribute to the fund for the New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund. We asked her to send us the info and we'd put it up for all to see so here it is.

New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund
PO Box 3713
Grand Central Station
New York, NY 10163

I'm going to make a suggestion here. It isn't Civil War, but most of you are also involved in Genealogy. Take time to sit down and write what you were doing when you heard or saw what happened, how you felt, your thoughts and fears about what happened September 11, 2001. Have your children or your grandchildren do the same thing or have them draw those things in pictures, then put them all in your family genealogy file. Many generations from now, descendants won't have to wonder what their ancestors were doing at the time, as many of us wonder what our families did, or how they felt when their men folk were in the Civil War.

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

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A Special Sharing This Week.............

Not too long after I had met HOST GFS TEG, and his realizing I didn't know a whole lot about the Civil War, he wrote this for me. While it's really basic "stuff" I still think it's worth sharing.

HOW ARMIES MOVE...

Hi Sis: OK here we go. A Regiment is made up of 1,000 officers and men. There are 10 companies to a regiment, they use letters for each company, A-K except there is no I company. So it would be A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, & K in most regiments. In most regiments Company E was the color company, they carried the National and state flags.

There are 100 men in a company. We will work at company level so you will understand how they were moved around the field.

The 1st Sgt. would call the company to attention and the men would line up in size (height) order... smallest man on the right end of the line to the tallest on the left end of the line. This was done so the smaller men would always be in the front row so they could fire the rifles.

Now with the men in one single line going from right to left, the men count off. One, two, one, two, one, two, all the way down the line so now each man is either a number one or a number two. Now I want to take that single line and make two lines. Here is where the fun starts.

The Sgt. gives the command "Right Face." Now here is what would happen, the number one man turns right, at the same time the number two man turns right and steps in. We now have two lines or column of two.

Now the Sgt wants the company to face him so he gives the command "without undoubling front" which is really another right turn, so that all the men are facing him.

There are now two rows of men facing the Sgt. These lines are called files. His next command is from the right in each file, count off again. It's one, two all the way down the line.

Now we are ready to march out. The command is "shoulder arms right face" Again, the number one men face right and the number two men step in also facing right. We are now in a column of four and away we go. We are marching along and we run into the enemy so we must now form lines of battle.

The command we would hear is "on the right by company into line." Here is what happens. The First Sgt. would post where the commander wants the battle line formed and the men would line up on him in their file formations, so you now have two lines of men. This is a battle line. This line would not move, but stand and get ready to fire.

The command comes to "advance," the colors step out five paces and the whole line moves forward. The command is "halt Dress" on the colors. Everyone side steps to the colors so you have a tight compact double line with the colors in the middle.

Ok, now what would happen is, the colors would step to the rear of the line and the companies would close that gap. The fight is now on. All the rifles are loaded (we will go through the 9 steps to load and fire another time.)

We want to get their attention so the command would be "fire by company! Ready, aim, fire," that's a volley. Another command might be "fire by rank. Front rank kneel. Rear rank, ready, aim, fire. Load. Front rank, ready, aim, fire. Load". Or, the command might be "fire by files" from the right the two men at the right end of the line would fire and so on all the way down the line to the last two men on the left. Once that command is given then it's fire at will. Load and shoot as fast as you can.

Ok Sis, I will stop here for today. Before you know it, you will be able to command an army on the field.

Tom

Weekly Web Sites We've Received

From: [email protected]:
Civil War Burials In Montgomery County PA
http://www.thefinalwaltz.com/

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From: [email protected]:
The Historical New York Times Project: Chapter 2, The Civil War Years 1860-1866
http://www.nyt.ulib.org/index.cgi

The Historical New York Times Project recently debuted the first in a series of Web offerings undertaken by the Universal Library at Carnegie Mellon University and sponsored by Seagate Technology. This chapter of the project is divided into Overview (by year), Topics (Battles, Military, Politics, Relations Among the States, and Social Issues), and Articles of Note. Each section contains selected articles drawn from the pages of the New York Times. As the site exists, it offers easy access to contemporary Civil War journalism albeit from a Northern, Union perspective. Perhaps the remaining project chapters (no information on the timeline or exact scope of the project is offered) will expand this view of American history as recorded by one of America's foremost newspapers. Future enhancements are noted to include higher-fidelity access with more detailed topic search, class-oriented access, and licenses to exploit the enhanced digital data for modest subscriptions (although the archive will provide this free-to-read access). [DJS]

These are some of the new Civil War websites from Cyndi's list

URL: http://www.angelfire.com/wv/wasec5/38thNC/regiment.html
TITLE: 38th North Carolina Infantry Regiment
DESCRIPTION: History and rosters of the 38th NC Infantry Regiment during the Civil War.

URL: http://www.angelfire.com/wv/wasec/wasec5
TITLE: Pender/Scales Brigade of North Carolina Infantry
DESCRIPTION: History and rosters of the five regiments assigned to the brigade in the Army of Northern Virginia.

URL: http://www.angelfire.com/wv/wasec5/13thNC/regiment.html
TITLE: 13th North Carolina Infantry Regiment
DESCRIPTION: History and rosters of the 13th NC Infantry Regiment, CSA.

URL: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~volker/60thOhio.html
TITLE: 60th Ohio Volunteer Infantry
DESCRIPTION: Includes the entire rosters for the 60th OVI, biographies, photos, memoirs (diaries, letters, newspaper articles) and other fascinating facts.

URL: http://freepages.misc.rootsweb.com/~york/12MOG.html
TITLE: 12th Missouri Union Volunteer Infantry Company G
DESCRIPTION: Roster and history of the 12th Missouri Union Volunteer Infantry, Company G.

MEMBERS HELPING MEMBERS!!..

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OUR WEEKLY READING..

The following, a "last letter" home, was provided to us by [email protected]
Hang on to your hats!!

... your children will be Fatherless.
Colonel Thornton F. Broadhead
1st Michigan Cavalry

August 31, 1862
My dearest Wife,

I write to you, mortally wounded, from the Battle Field. We are again defeated. And as this reaches you, your children will be Fatherless.

Before I die let me implore you that in some way it may be stated, that General Pope has been outwitted and that McDowell is a traitor. Had they done their duty, as I did mine the dear old Flag had waived in triumph.

I wrote to you this morning. The leter was dated Sunday. It should have been dated as Saturday. And to-day I sink to the green Couch of our final rest

I have fought well, my darling, and I was shot in the endeavor to rally our broken battallions. I could have accepted; but would not run till all hope was gone; and was shot about the only one of our Forces left on the Field. Our cause is just. And our generals - not the Enemy's have defeated us. In God's good time he will give us Victory.

And now, Good bye, Wife and Children. Bring them up, I know you will, in the fear of God and love for our Saviour.

But for you and the dear ones so dependent, I should die happy. I know the blow will fall with crushing weight on you. Trust in him who gave Manna in the Wilderness.

Dr. Nash is with me. It is now after midnight; and I have spent most of the night in sending Messages to you.

I send my silver watch to Johnny. And all my Military Equipment at home, guns, saddles & etc are his. The Rebels took my horse, saddle, pistols, and Sabre from me as soon as they shot me. It is lucky that I had this pencil and paper in my pocket so as to write you.

Two bullets have gone through my Chest; and directly through the Lungs. I suffer little now, but at first the pain was acute. I have won the Soldier's name, and am ready to meet now, as I must, the Soldier's fate. I hope that from Heaven I may see the glorious old Flag wave again over the individual Union I have loved so well.

Fairwell Wife and Babes and Friends.
We shall meet again.

Your loving Thornton

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

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]
UP AND COMING EVENTS
Twice a year, the small town of Andersonville has a fair which consist of a great deal of arts and crafts, as well as a great many re-enactors not only strolling among the crouds but also in an " encampment " of confederate forces in a living history. There will also be a " battle" fought over a small creek behind the town which is quite a show. About 50 to 100 " Yankees " and Rebs" do battle with lots of powder and noise filling the air with an exciting yet touching emotion of what it might have been like to witness such site during the Civil War. I dont have a schedule of the happenings at the town as of now, but listed below is what will be available for your enjoyment and educational experience at the National Historic Site.

ANDERSONVILLE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE INTERPRETIVE PROGRAM SCHEDULE
HISTORIC FAIR WEEKEND OCTOBER 6 & 7, 2001
Saturday
11:00 Prison Talk
12:00 Cemetery Walk
2:00 Prison Talk
3:00 Cemetery Walk
4:00 Prison Talk
Sunday
11:00 Prison Talk
12:00 Cemetery Walk
1:00 Memorial Service (led by the Odd Fellows and Rebekkahs of Georgia)
2:00 Cemetery Walk
3:00 Prison Talk

Prison Talks will begin at the Wisconsin Monument, located at the northwest corner of the Prison Site.

Cemetery Walks will begin at the Georgia POW Memorial Monument, located at the south end of the National Cemetery.

Memorial Service on Sunday will be held at the Rostrum in the National Cemetery.

Roving interpretation of the National Cemetery and the Prison Site will be available from 10 until 4 each day.

A POW Guest Host will be on duty in the Museum from 10 until 4 each day.

(((((((((Kevin)))))))) My apologies for not getting this in last week's newsletter. It was in my other screen name and I just plain forgot it.

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From: [email protected]
You are wonderful people, God Bless and Keep all of you safe. I don't get into the Weekly Fireside very often, but do enjoy all the interesting items that you talk about in the Weekly Fireside.

Jim, Congratulations on you 6th anniversery. Tom, take care and be safe. So much to clean up at the World Trade Center. Jayne, you are a great person. Someday I would love to meet you. Thank you for all of the wonderful things you do for others.

For all of you with the Weekly Fireside. Thank you for all the wonderful stories, poems and songs you have. Thank you again and God Bless and keep all of you safe in his loving arms. God Bless America.

((((((Ellen))))))) just a HUGE Thank you!!!! from all of us.

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 Jyane, HOST GFS TEG, HOST GFS Jim and our many faithful friends :)

10/4/01 - OPEN CHAT

10/11/01 - Letters, Songs and Poems night. Send in any material you want read in the room to HOST GFS Jim, HOST GFS Jayne, HOST GFS TEG or HOST GFS Amy and we'll be more than happy to do the reading for you :D

10/18/01 - OPEN CHAT

10/25/01 - An American Civil War Trivia Quiz!! Come join us and test your Civil War knowledge. <G>

11/01/01 - OPEN CHAT

11/08/01 - Letters, Songs and Poems night. Send in any material you want read in the room to HOST GFS Jim, HOST GFS Jayne, HOST GFS TEG or HOST GFS Amy and we'll be more than happy to do the reading for you :D

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

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