Civil War Weekly Fireside

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Continued from Part 1  

Subsequently, with his command, Captain Jones participated in the battle
of Dabney's Mills and Chancellorsville. After the defeat at Chancellorsville, the Union army prepared to move back across the Rappahannock, and Colonel Wister detailed Captain Jones and his company for picket duty to protect the rear while the troops crossed, telling the captain plainly that to safeguard the regiment it might be necessary to sacrifice Company B.  

The next day Company B failed to join the regiment, and Colonel Wister sent a telegram to Germantown that the entire company were prisoners in
the hands of the Confederates. The news caused much excitement and
distress among the relatives of the soldiers in Germantown, But a week
later came the joyous news that the company, with not a man missing,
were again in the camp of the regiment at White Oak Church. It then
transpired that Captain Jones and his men had escaped across the
Rappahannock just as the last Union soldiers were crossing, but had been
unable to find their regiment for six days.  

The next battle in which Captain Jones participated, and the one in which the 150th Regiment was put to the severest test of its career, was
that at Gettysburg. The regiment was in the thick of the conflict on the
first day. It entered with 700 men, and at night only ninety-six
reported fit for duty, all the others having been killed wounded or
captured.  

Colonel Wister, Lieutenant Colonel Henry S. Huidekoper, Adjutant Ashurst
and Major Thomas Chamberlin were all severely wounded. Captain Jones,
being the senior captain, then assumed command of the regiment. At night
he and Lieutenant Kilgore, of Company A, were the only commissioned
officers fit for duty, and the latter had sustained a slight wound in
the cheek. Captain Jones escaped unscathed.  

In the fighting of the at Gettysburg the 105th succeeded in recapturing
the colors of the 149th Regiment, which the Confederates had taken, but
shortly afterward the 150'scolor guard were mowed down. A corporal
seized the flags, but shortly he too was bayoneted, and the enemy then
took the flags. At the end of the war the flags were returned, and they
are now in the State Capitol in Harrisburg.  

For his gallant conduct at Gettysburg Captain Jones was promoted to
major. He led the remnant of his men during the second and third days'
fighting, and afterward was detailed on recruiting service, until the
regiment again attained normal numbers.  

Major Jones used to narrate an amusing experience he had with his
servant at the battle of Gettysburg. This servant, a Germantowner named
"Rhody," was sent to a stream with a number of canteens, just before the
battle opened, on July 1, to obtain water. Nothing more was seen of him
until the evening of July 6, when he appeared in camp with his canteens,
walked up to Major Jones and remarked nonchalantly: "Captain, here's
your water." "Well, where have you been" demanded Major Jones.  

"Why, I wanted to get good water;" explained "Rhody," and I knew that
there was no good water nearer than the pump at Napfle's Hotel, in
Germantown. So I started out, but I didn't get any further than
Baltimore, when the provost guards gobbled me up."  

 In 1864 the 150th participated in the Virginia campaigns under Grant,
and in February, 1865, the regiment was sent to Elmira, N. Y., to guard
prisoners, remaining there until June 23, when the men were mustered
out.  

 On May 16, 1865, Major Jones was promoted to lieutenant colonel and on
June 15 of the same year to colonel. It was characteristic of his
modesty that, although clearly entitled to be called "colonel," he never
assumed any higher title than that of "major", which he bore while in
active service.  

The regimental flags in use at the end of the war passed into Major
Jones' possession, and he retained them up to the time of his death.  

After the war Major Jones resumed work at his trade of carpenter, and
for some years he and Henry Harrison formed a firm of carpenters and
builders. Later Major Jones was custodian of the Philadelphia post
office, foreman of the carpenter shop at League Island Navy Yard and
custodian of the Germantown Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library. For
some years he has not been regularly employed.  

Major Jones was a member of Ellis Post, Grand Army of the Republic;
Mitchell Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and Philomathean Lodge,
Independent Order of Odd Fellows.  

A son and two daughters survive.  

 The funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon

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A BIT OF COMMUNITY...MEMBERS HELPING MEMBERS
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *   I'm going to put a note here to all of you have so graciously offered to help folks out.   If you no longer want to be on this list please let me know and I will take your name off the list.  I've had email telling me they've sent email to someone on the list for help, and the email was deleted before it was ever even read.     If you have a resource from which you would be willing to do look-ups for folks, please let us know and we'll add it here.   NEW!!! CWfan2  (thanks CW)  I have extensive files on both the 123rd and 169th NYV and will do look ups on any veterans in either unit.  I can go to the North Carolina Archives and do look ups on NC soldier records. However, I do not do Genealogy work.   FuzzyMonkee00@aol.com has offered to do lookups for anyone who has an ancestor who served in the 53rd Alabama Partisan Rangers.   JDevi4@aol.com has offered to help anyone with info on the 3rd Tennessee Mounted Infantry US and other Tennessee units from both sides.   HMS Polychrest@aol.com has said he would be happy to assist in research on:  18th Missouri Volunteer Infantry USA, which was organized in Northern Missouri before finally fighting at Shiloh and serving with Sherman starting in '63. Also, Missouri Units and state  CW history in general -- both Union and Confederate. Please put "Missouri CW Research" or "18th MO VOLS" in the subject line when contacting me   UBucket@aol.com has offered to do free Civil War research from veterans from Wisconsin.  He is the author of "Civil War Veterans of Winnebago County, Wisconsin"   eharding2@cox.net has offered to do lookups for folks with ancestors from the Confederacy, focusing mainly on North Carolina, but has other sources also.     GoldHobo@aol.com has told us if anyone wants info the the 85th NY Inf. Regt. (Plymouth Pilgrims) you may email her.  She has a book about them.    Her one request is that you put 85th Regt. in the subject line so she doesn't delete it by mistake   JLawson656@aol.com has access to Pension Records for Civil War Soldiers in Louisiana.  If you need help, send JL an email.   MOM611@aol.com said she has a book on the men of the 9th OHIO if anyone needs information.   Nanatnt2@aol.com has a book on the 85th NY Infantry which spent most of their time in Andersonville.   Trumpshallblow17@aol.com has a list of all the Civil War Venterans buried in every known cemetery and family plot in Maury Co., TN both Confederate anbd Union from which she is willing to check for your ancestor.  Also if you have anyone on the list and have additional information, Trump would appreciated you sending it to her.    Bitsobluengray@aol.com has Delaware Civil War Union Rosters from two different sources and a book "They Died at Fort Delaware"   If anyone is doing Illinois Civil War research, you may email IllinoisCW@aol.com   Tell him Jayne sent you.  He will give it priority and see what he can find for you.   If YOU have a Civil War Ancestor, Kevin/frye@pstel.net does Volunteer research at Andersonville Civil War Prison in Andersonville, GA.  Any research he does is absolutely at NO cost and he is willing to do all he can. There are more than 32,000 prisoners on record from the Union, and quite a few who were held prisoner there as Union regiments from Confederate states. There are also nearly 13000 marked graves of those who died there. Kevin's focus isdedicated 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.    Steve@dixieresearch.com   * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"THE TOWN CRIER"
Civil War Calendar!!
* * * * * * * * * * * * *   If your group is sponsoring any events or you know of a great event, please send it to [CWWeeklyFireside@aol.com] and we will be glad to include it here in our calendar.   You might want to check out this site if you're looking for an event in your area: [http://www.civilwar-va.com/events/index.html]  OR  [http://www.sutler.net/eventlist.asp]     October 29  Dunn, North Carolina
Living history and special tours on the Averasboro Battlefield near Dunn. Event includes military and civilian demonstrations and displays, battlefield and museum tours (which will include visits to the newly acquired William Smith Plantation House) and a Civil War Ghost Walk. 9 am-10:30 pm. Free, donations welcome. 910-891-5019 or [www.averasboro.com]   November 4-6  Ocala, Florida
21st annual reenactment of the March 1865 Union raid and ensuing skirmish with local troops in Marion County. Held at the Marion County 4-H farm site at the intersection of Highway 464 and Highway 35. All branches of service are welcome. Two battle reenactments, a ladies' tea and civilian activities
 
November 5-6  North Carolina
Reenactment, annual event at Fort Branch near Hamilton. Details: [www.fortbranchcivilwarsite.com] or 800-776-8566.   November 12  Maryland
Living history, "Camp Life of Union Soldiers," at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine in Frederick. 11 am-3 pm. Free with admission. 301-695-1864 or [http://www.civilwarmed.org]   November 13  Virginia
Walking tour, "Civil War Encampment and Freedman's Farm," on the grounds of Montpelier, James Madison's home near Orange. 2 pm. Free with admission. [htt://www.montpelier.org] or 540-672-2728.   November 19  Pennsylvania
Anniversary observance of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address in Gettysburg: Memorial Service at the Soldier's National Cemetery at 10 am; Remembrance Day Parade by living history groups begins 1 pm; and a Luminaria at the Cemetery in the evening (sponsored by the Friends of the Gettyburg Parks, 717-334-0772). More info: [http://www.nps.gov/gett] or 717-338-9114.   November 19-20  Hempstead, TX
Civil War weekend at Historic Liendo Plantation, Hempstead, TX. Please see our web site for more information! [http://www.liendo.org/civilwarweekend/civilwar.html]   December 3  Maryland
Annual Memorial Illumination at the Antietam National Battlefield. More than 23,000 candles placed on the battlefield, each representing a casualty. Driving tour begins 6 pm on Route 34 east of Sharpsburg. Inclement weather reschedule date is Dec. 10. The park visitor center will close at 3 pm. 301-432-5124 or [http://www.nps.gov/anti].   December 10-11  Virginia
Reenactment, "The Battle of Fredericksburg." Events scheduled on both sides of the Rappahannock River including two battles on Saturday. Activities in downtown Fredericksburg and at Ferry Farm. Check [http://www.47thVA.org] for updated information and schedules.   Be sure to check  (http://www.civilwar-va.com/events/index.html)  (http://www.sutler.net/eventlist.asp)   For other events    * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 
Schedule of Upcoming Topics/Events
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *    Time:
Monday Night at 9 PM ET in the Mason Dixon Line Room [aol://2719:3-508-Mason%20Dixon%20Line] TRIVIA
Thursday Night at 9 pm ET in the Mason Dixon Line Room [aol://2719:3-508-Mason%20Dixon%20Line] TRIVIA
Thursday Night at 11pm ET in the Ancestral Digs Room [aol://2719:3-232-Ancestral%20Digs] with Jayne, Rua and Will and their many faithful friends :)
Friday Night at 10 PM ET in the Ancestral Digs Room [aol://2719:3-232-Ancestral%20Digs] with Jayne and Sandy   * * * * * * * * * *   Schedule is subject to change   THURS...  OCT 27 - 11 PM ET -    FRI....  Oct 28- 10 PM ET -    THURS...  NOV 03 - 11 PM ET -    FRI....  NOV 04- 10 PM ET -    THURS...  NOV 10 - 11 PM ET - OPEN CHAT with a little bit of everything.  ie: Songs, letters, recipes...   FRI....  NOV 11- 10 PM ET - Same as above    THURS...  NOV 17 - 11 PM ET -    FRI....  NOV 18- 10 PM ET -    <FONTFACE=VERDANA size="2">THURS...  NOV 24 - 11 PM ET -    FRI....  NOV 25- 10 PM ET -   THURS...  DEC 01 - 11 PM ET -    FRI...  DEC 02 - 11 PM ET - OPEN CHAT   * * * * * * * * * *   Put these screens names, GCH Jayne CW, GCH Rua CW, GCH Sandy J, GCH Will CW  on your buddy list and if you can't find your way to the rooms, IM one of us and we'll get you in (AOL only).    * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  
WHAT WE ARE ABOUT
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *    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).   We'll See You Thursday, and/or Friday Night. 
Jayne, Rua, Sandy and Will  

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