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The Weekly Fireside 06 March 05 Part 1
Hear Ye .... Hear Ye * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "I think it is a noble and pious thing All too ready to forget." Do you have a question that you didn't get to ask in the chatroom??
"The Weekly Fireside"
of the American Civil War History
Special Interest Group;
Distribution Coast to Coast
Week ending 06 March 2005
NOTES FROM THE HOSTS OF THE CIVIL WAR HISTORY CHATS
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We had open chat this week and we thank all of you who joined us. This week is our Special nights of Song, Letters and Poems from the era.
Join us!!!
There are some great websites listed this week.
There are more Trivia questions for you this week. See how many you get correct. :D I haven't heard from anyone so I guess you are all "acing" them
WHAT WE ARE ABOUT
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OUR FOCUS: the "History of the American (United States) Civil War," with by-products of laughter, and camaraderie!
OUR GOAL: to enhance your Genealogy activity, knowledge, and "wisdom" by talking about the history surrounding their lives and actions; specifically the "Civil War" that our ancestors lived through and died because of.
Captain Oliver Wendell Holmes of the 20th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, saidit so well.
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
Join HOST RL WillM, HOST RL IrshRose and HOST RL Jayne Thursday 11 PM ET
Join HOST RL Jayne, HOST RL Sandy & HOST RL DsRoots (when she doesn't have to work her paying job)... Friday 10 PM ET
Both in the Ancestral Digs Room
<<aol://2719:3-232-Ancestral%20Digs>> (on AOL only)
The "program" will not necessarily be the same both nights, but probably will be. Let us help you find your soldier. Tell us their stories. We will still have our Songs, Letters and poems nights the 2nd Thursday of the month and the Friday following. Watch the schedule below to see what we're up to.
JOIN HOST RL IrshRose.... Saturday Midnight ET for help tracing your heritige to the American Civil time period in the Ancestral Digs Room <<aol://2719:3-232-Ancestral%20Digs>> (on AOL only)
You can visit the Genealogy Schedule by going to Keyword: Genealogy Chat which includes our Civil War chats and you can also see them, and other Civil War chats also, at Keyword: Civil War Chat Schedule <<aol://4344:3120.mdchat1.2105643.678515300>>
On the Civil War chat schedule page, you will see a link to Civil War Libraries <<aol://4344:3120.civwrlib.2105860.680558942>> There are many files in the library that my ol' partner GFS Jim had posted over the years.
Visit the Genealogy CommunityMessage boards
<<aol://5863:126/mBLA:56406>>
There is something NEW!!! "The Genealogy Community News", created by HOST RL Jenna. Watch there for annoucements 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. <http://journals.aol.com/hostrljenna/GenealogyCommunityNews/>
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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/>>
GREAT NEWS!!!!!!!!! "Proud To Say I Am A Union Soldier" by Frank Crawford/IllinoisCW has gone to the printers and should be distributed soon!!. Order HERE
This is from the Heritage Books website in regard to the book.
Proud to Say I am a Union Soldier: The Last Letters Home from Federal Soldiers Written During the Civil War, 1861-1865 - Franklin R. Crawford. paper, index, 272 pp. Letters offer a deeply personal perspective of the war, and remind us that every one of the hundreds of thousands of brave men that died during the four brutal years of the Civil War was someone's father, or son, or brother, or husband. Numerous first-hand accounts of the harsh realities of war have been published, often including or comprised of the letters of survivors. This unique volume contains the final correspondence written by brave soldiers that did not survive the conflict: some died on the battlefield during combat; others understood they were about to die of wounds received in battle and were able to counsel their family regarding their final disposition. What is the price of freedom? Anyone that has ever asked that question should read these letters.
A book like this should have been done long ago. It's far too easy to lose sight of the individual, but Crawford brings us back to the truth: war is fought by men. These letters put a human face on the war. -Benton McAdams, author of Rebels at Rock Island
Frank Crawford has done a wonderful jobof filling a void in Civil War literature. While many books tell the story of the Civil War through letters of the men that lived through the conflict, Crawford's book is the only one that tells the story through the eyes of the men that died in the war. Taking a unique stance, Crawford gives you a brief background on each soldier and then lets the soldier take it from there, telling about his life through his own words. It is a sad thing to realize that each of these men, so hopeful and so full of life, would never see their loved ones again. -Gene Eric Salecker, author of Disaster on the Mississippi
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--------OUR WEEKLY READING--------
(these items are extracts from our Letters, Songs,
and Poems evenings)
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That's What's the Matter
by Stephen Foster 1862
We live in hard and stirring times,
Too sad for mirth, too rough for rhymes;
For songs of peace have lost their chimes,
And that's what's the matter!
The men we held as brothers true,
Have turn'd into a rebel crew;
So now we have to put them thro',
And that's what's the matter!
That's what's the matter,
The rebels have to scatter;
We'll make them flee,
By land and sea,
And that's what's the matter!
The rebels thought we would divide,
And Democrats would take their side;
They then would let the Union slide,
And that's what's the matter!
But, when the war had once begun,
All party feeling soon was gone;
We joined as brothers ev'ry one!
And that's what's the matter!
The Merrimac, with heavy sway,
Had made our Fleet an easy prey --
The Monitor got in the way,
And that's what's the matter!
So health to Captain Ericsson,
I cannot tell all he has done,
I'd never stop when once begun,
And that's what's the matter!
We've heard of General Beauregard,
And thought he'd fight us long and hard;
But he has played out his last card,
And that's what's the matter!
So what's the use to fret and pout,
We soon will hear the people shout,
Secession dodge is all played out!
And that's what's the matter!
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THE HELP DESK
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Send us and email and we'll post it here to see if some of our readers can help you. If you get an answer to your queston, please let us know.
I just want to include a note to all who have asked for help. Sometimes I am copied on an answer and sometimes I'm not, so IF you receive an answer to your queston, please let us know. Most respondents will put the name of the soldier or battle in the Subject line, so if you receive an answer directly, be sure you don't delete it, you may miss out on some vital information.
From: SScotth9
This was asked in one of the Chatrooms last week:
Has anyone heard of Burts Island Prison? J. Muller of the 1st NY Cavalry did a carving and it reads Berts Island
Anyone have any ideas here???
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From: emprice@comcast.net
I have a photo of my husband's great grandfather Thomas Benton Brashears wearing a Southern Cross of Honor lapel pin. He died in 22 March 1909 in Milton, Santa Rosa County, Florida. He served in the Civil War from the State of Alabama.
We have his obit (thanks to a wonderful aunt who saved everything!) and his funeral was a real Confederate Veterans blowout.
I have read that a list of those who were presented the medal was recorded in an Honor Roll and preserved in the Inspector General's office.
Any ideas or suggestions as to how one could access that Honor Roll? Some of you in the UDC might know.
Any help offered is greatly appreciated.
Emma Lou
We have received yet another answer to the above. MM3C11259 sent the following.
As we all know, names were frequently recycled through seceeding generations. Thomas Hart Benton was a well known Senator from Missouri. He was also an artist, with many of his paintings in museums. The man also fought a duel with Andrew Jackson perhaps over some slurregarding Rachael ( previously married and divorced before she married Jackson). Jackson was very touchy on the subject of his wife.
Regarding duels, read a wonderful book years ago called "The Code Duello" which outlined the rules governing duels and related many famous duels. Believe the Jackson/Benton duel was described there- they fought with Bowie Knives.
Some of our folks are aware of the duel between Confed Gens Marmaduke and Walker in which Walker was Killed.
((((((Ted))))))) Thanks!!! Always appreciate your feedback.
TRIVIA QUESTIONS:
(answers are just before the Town Crier)
How are you doing with the Trivia Questions??? Let us know.
Let's try 5 more this week
21. In a battle with troops of Wade Hampton, Custer was praised for saving the colors. What battle was it?
22. Custer was brevetted Colonel, USA for what battle?
23. On October 9, 1864 at Woodstock, Custer faced what former West Point classmate?
24. On April 7, 1865, Custer received the first flag of truce from the ANV. What was the flag made of?
25. Custer received Wilmer McLean's table that the Lee surrender was signed on . Who gave it to him
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