"The Weekly Fireside" 23 October 2005

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NOTES FROM THE HELPERS OF THE CIVIL WAR HISTORY CHATS
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If you haven't gotten your newsletter, PLEASE do check your Spam Folder just in case it's there.

IF you respond to anything in they newsletter, PLEASE send it to [CWWeeklyFireside@aol.com] screen name.

Due to the lack of interest, we have discontinued reading the Confederate Campaigns of the Southwest. We'd like some suggestions from all of you, re just what you would like to see. No matter what the topic for a night may be, you are always welcome to ask for a Civil War soldier look up.

I have another question for you... We have MANY internet subscribers to the newsletter who can't access our AOL rooms, and I was wondering whether you all would like to have a Civil War chat scheduled on the internet, available to everyone.

I'm sorry to have to report, we are discontinuing the Wednesday night chat, 10 PM ET in the Genealogy room. We may bring the chat back in the future, but for now, visit the Thurs or Friday night chats

ANNOUNCING: Wednesday, November 03 at 9 PM ET, there will be an hour chat about the Zouaves in the Mason Dixon Room [aol://2719:3-508-Mason%20Dixon%20Line] with GenWarren5thNY

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You can visit the Genealogy Schedule by going to [http://journals.aol.com/gchjenna/AOLGenealogyCommunityNews/] which includes our Civil War chats. Watch there for announcements for special programs in the chats... Enter your surnames, your brickwalls, Need help, GENTREK announcements, our Chat schedule, Your hosts can even let you know if they can't be in their chat and who might be subbing for them. Put this in your favorite places and visit if often.

You can also check out other Civil War chats, Mondays 9-10 PM ET Thursdays 9-10 PM ET Both are in the Mason Dixon Room (aol://2719:3-508-Mason%20Dixon%20Line) (on AOL only) They have some great Trivia quizzes

Stop by the NEW Genealogy Community Website. [http://www.genealogycommunity.com]

Please register and be sure to post your queries on the message boards. More content is being added all the time.

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"THE BOOK SHELF"
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OK folks I know there are those of you who read Civil War books all the time... How about taking a few minutes and telling us about them. It doesn't have to be long. Send your review to along with the title, author to [CWWeeklyFireside@aol.com]

Civil War Book Review [http://www.cwbr.com/]

Book Review Gods andGenerals

Author: Jeff Shaara

By GCH Sandy J

I read this book before I read Killer Angels. I’d recommend reading it first because it is a prelude to the Battle of Gettysburg. The third book in the trilogy, The Last Measure, is post-Gettysburg to the end of the Civil War.

With today’s situation with troops in several trouble spots in the world, I was able to relate several personality profiles in the book to our current history. Do we ever learn from history?

Some fought for political reasons; others for personal limelight; some for the “cause” they perceived the fight was about. Many were classmates at West Point

One important aspect of this book is to remember it is historical fiction. That having been said, I would highly recommend it to get to know the men who fought so bravely on both sides.

He follows the lives of four men in the turbulent days leading up to the Civil War until just before the Battle of Gettysburg: Thomas Jackson, Robert E. Lee, Winfield Scott Hancock and Joshua Chamberlain. We learn about their families, their homes, their jobs, and their lives because answering the call to war. He includes glances of some of thebest known soldiers and civilians of the Civil War Era, including John Brown, JEB Stuart, McClellan, Burnside, Longstreet and Hooker

If you’ve read other stories of Civil War, you can compare what you already know with the characters in this book. If you’ve never read any other story, this is a great place to start to learn details of the families of war heroes.

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--------OUR WEEKLY READING--------
(items from our Letters, Songs,
and Poems evenings)
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Letter by James W. Vanderhoef, May 1, 1861

Transcription of letter written by James W. Vanderhoef, from Williamsburgh, Brooklyn, who fought in the Union Army from 1861 through 1865. Please note spelling variations and errors are his.

"Washington Navy Yard
May 1, 1861

Dear Sister
I embrace this favourable opportunity of addressing these few lines to you, it being the second chance I have had since my arrival here. I wrote to Jane the first, and I now write to you. I expect you have heard of our arrival here long before this, we had a hard time of it from New York to Washington. We sailed from New York Sunday at 5 o'clock and arrived at Annapolis on Wednesday Evening, some of our men feeling very bad from the sudden change of diet and sea sickness, the next morning at 3 o'clock we commenced a march of 36 hours during which time we had but two hard sea biscuit a man and very little water what we didget was partly swamp water with a few exceptions but we at last arrived at our journey's end pretty well played out in body but not in heart. The place was called Annapolis Junction.we remaned there over night expecting an attack but in the morning was disappoint(ed).we then took cars from there to this cityariving Friday morning at 9 ½ o'clock all hands in good cheere and anxious to see the capital. And we now anxiously await an onset from Jefferson Daves Esq--he is stationed some 7 miles from here with a reported army of 60 thousand men at a place called Alexanderer his flag is visible from the top of the White House--so we do not know what moment he may give us a good square turn for the capital of Our United States which before he can get he must concour (conquer) 22 thousand men that didn't come here to play or be played with. A secessionist by the name of Doyle was shot here last Sunday morning by the Washington City Guards and instantly killed 5 Balls passing through his body, he never spoke after the guard fired. Troops are hourly arriving here some of the 69 Regt. Of New York have just arrived and the remainder with the 8th of New York is expected tomorrow morning. Dear Sister I have not much time to rite to any being but suffice for me to say that I don't think I ever seen a more grand sight than I have seen since I have been here this time. The Capital, Hall of Representatives, Navy Yard in fact ever Publick building and street is filled with soldiers of some Regiment, and all seam alike well in Good heart and anxious for a brush. Having rote all the news of interest I will now close, but before I do so I must state my disappointment in not seeing one of my friends the day I left. I expected very much to see Eathen Guillan or Alexander Low but all I saw of the boys from the company who was out good and strong to bid us a last good Bye there is some 30 boys from WmsBurgh here with me so I am not a lone Dear Sister you will give my love to mother, Caroline, Henry and all ?? friends not forgetting yourself and Guillan rite when you receive this for I should like to hear from you all.
I am as ever shall remain your obt servt and Brother
James W. Vanderhoef
Company H 71 Regt
Navy Yard
Washington D.C.

P.S. Give my best respects to Uncle James and Ant Caroline and let him know how I was pressed for time when I started, that I couldn't call and see them
JWH"

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Weekly Web Sites we've received
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If you have a favorite Civil War site, please send them to [CWWeeklyFireside@aol.com]

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From Moweq Civil War Battles Page [http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/pottery/1080/index.htm]

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From Bitsobluengray Chemistry Students Investigate Civil War-Era Medicine
[http://chronicle.com/weekly/v52/i09/09a01002.htm]

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from one of the maillists I belong to:

COLUMNIST: Mike Doyle
Civil War letters meaningful even today [http://www.rrstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051020/OPINION0106/110200032/1154/NEWS]

Veteran's Day Notice: How to Wear/Display Medals The official U.S. Order of Precedence (how to arrange the wear or display of military medals) is available for veterans who plan to wear their medals on Veterans Day:
[http://members.aol.com/warlibrary/display]

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From RKat91 Missouri History Genealogy Culture Missouriana Digital Text Collection [http://digital.library.umsystem.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=umlib;cc=umlib;tpl=home.tpl]

Houck's MissouriHistories-vol I,II,III are online at this address through the search. I think this is the finest Missouri history for genealogists as the names are packed in there with lengthy footnotes. He also wrote Houck's History of the Spanish Regime in Missouri, but I don't know if it is online except in parts at other sites. These are old histories.

There are Civil War histories also online at this site.

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From Rua Confederate cruiser died a long way from her element By JEFFERSON WEAVER Staff Writer [http://www.bladenjournal.com/articles/2005/05/04/news/focus%20on%20bladen%20history/confederate%20cruiser%20died%20a%20long%20way%20from%20her%20element.txt]

Biography Explores John Brown's Legacy [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4633323]

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From DaePowell President Abraham Lincoln: Health & Medical History [http://www.doctorzebra.com/prez/g16.htm#26]

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FROM OUR READERS
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If your ancestor has or you have a story to tell about your ancestor, please send it to us. [CWWeeklyFireside@aol.com]

From: Jeff Heagy <heagmeister@VERIZON.NET>
Folks,
I'd like to direct your attention to the NEWLY enhanced websit for Anna
M. Ross Camp #1 (Philadelphia), Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War!
http://annamrosscamp1.freeservers.com/

Bother Ken Gavin has done a fine job of picking up the work established
by Brother Dave Brady, who has relocated to Connecticutt.
There are some GREAT new photos of the Civil War Monument in the
Frankford Section which is the subject of a major restoration project
now underway.
PLEASE CHECK IT OUT!!!!
Cordially,
Jeff Heagy, PCC
Signals Officer
Department of Pennsylvania
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War

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Do not know if this is where I send the info but here it goes. Fort Bayard New Mexico was an active military post with both Cav and Inf from 1866-1900. It has a cemetery started in 1866 that is now a National Cemetery. The Fort was home to numerous regiments of Cavalry from 1st-10th. and Infantry regiments 15th-38th.

The Fort is currently a State Historic District and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2004.

If you have any questions feel free to contact me.

Christina Joslin Genealogical consultant VP Fort Bayard Historic Preservation Society [tinacastle@silvercity-nm.com]

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Rcbrooks sent us the following: Subj: DEATH TAKES BRAVE BUCKTAILS OFFICER
Date: 10/22/2005 7:13:53 A.M. Eastern Standard Time
From: Rcbrooks1
To: BitsOBlueNGray

Obituary : November 28, 1913, "Germantown Independent Gazette": DEATH TAKES BRAVE BUCKTAILS OFFICER:

Major George W. Jones Had a Gallant Record as a Soldier in the Civil
War:

With the death of Major George W. Jones, one of the few surviving line
officers of the Civil War of this neighborhood and one of the bravest
soldiers of the Pennsylvania Bucktails, has passed away.

Major Jones died on Wednesday at his home, 6012 Morton street, after
having been sick a short time of pneumonia. He was 80 years old on
election day, November 4.

At the outbreak of the Civil War Major Jones lived on Wister street. He
joined Captain William B. Hubbs' company, which was the second from
Germantown to respond to President Lincoln's first call for troops, the
company leaving Germantown on April 23, 1861, for a service of three
months in the neighborhood of Baltimore.

Following the three-mouth service, Major Jones was for a time attached
to a Missouri regiment, and under General Sigel he participated in the
battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas.

In 1862, when two regiments of Pennsylvania Bucktails were organized-the
149th and the 150th-Major Jones recruited a company in Germantown, of
which he became the captain. This was Company B, of the 150th. Company
A, of the same regiment, was also recruited here with C. C. Widdis
Captain.

Before going to camp Company B had its headquarters at Napfle's Hotel,
Germantown Avenue and Wister St. On September 1 Companies A, B, E and F went into camp at Stenton, remaining until the 3d, when they joined
their regiment at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg. Colonel Langhorne Wister, of
Germantown, commanded the 150th regiment.

Upon being attached to the First Army Corps, one of the earliest
war-time experiences of Captain Jones' command was the "gum boil attack"
on Port Royal. The men gave this name to the expedition because of the
"gum boils" theyacquired upon their heels in the march. As they
approached the town a "Quaker-gun" battery began a series of manoeuvers
to impress the enemy. The guns of this battery consisted of chestnut
logs wrapped with rubber blankets and mounted upon wheels of army
wagons, while the ammunition boxes were hardtack receptacles. Under
cover of this battery as it limbered to the front, Captain Jones'
company crossed a pontoon bridge and skirmished through the town.

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"The Weekly Fireside" 23 October 2005 - Part 1