There were many Confederate officers who went on to serve in the U.S. Army after the Civil War. One such officer was Thomas Rosser, a very successful cavalry commander.Thomas Rosser and George Custer had been roommates at West Point. Custer called Rosser “Tex,” and Custer was “Fanny.” (Custer’s long, blond hair also earned him the
“Friendly” Enemies: “Tex” and “Fanny” Read More »
In school we learned about the Monitor and the Merrimac. But the Merrimac was not its name when it battled the Monitor. It was actually Confederate Ship Virginia, and was never defeated in battle. Its Union nickname was “Rebel Monster.”Virginia did start her life as the wood-hulled Merrimak (yes, with a k, historians misspelled it).
The “Rebel Monster” and the Battle of the Ironclads Read More »
The day was overcast, winds blowing hard as the Warships neared each other. The War of 1812 between Britain and America had just begun. The USS Constitution and the HMS Guerriere were now enemies. Captain Hull was in command of the Constitution, and we have his report. “The Gallant crew gave three cheers” when Hull
Old Ironsides in Battle Read More »
The world’s oldest ship still in commission is the USS Constitution, launched in 1797. Paul Revere forged her copper spikes and bolts, as well as the copper sheathing on the underwater part of the hull. One of her early captains was Commodore Edward Preble. He fought in the American Revolution (1775 – 1783), and was
“I will fire a shot into you” Read More »
Robert E. Lee is famous as a battlefield commander, but the Civil War had been raging for over a year before he led men in battle. Here is how it happened.Lee and Joseph E. Johnston were classmates at West Point, and they distinguished themselves during the Mexican-American War (1846). In 1861, they resigned from the
“It was not war, it was murder.” Read More »
After 27 years, a popular Civil War reenactment announced in 2018 that it would leave Fort Stevens State Park in Oregon. For years the park had waived its fees for the event, but new fees were imposed, and the reenactors felt they had been given the cold shoulder. Rather than pay, they decided to find
Civil War re-enactment will relocate from Fort Stevens State Park after 27 years Read More »
For a very long time this country has been seen as racist. What happened to American pride? The flag is a symbol and trademark of our country and many people do not see it that way. It is is seen as a racist thing along with the national anthem. This flag should be celebrated, not
Letter: Flag not a representation of slavery Read More »
In 2018, the Savannah City Council voted to move two bronze busts of Confederate officers from the Confederate memorial in Forsyth Park to Laurel Grove Cemetery, where both men are buried. Supporters of the memorial saw it as one more step in a nationwide push to remove Confederate history from public view. Others argued that
Savannah approves changes to Confederate memorial Read More »
Private Sam Watkins was on picket duty on Missionary Ridge, on top of Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga, Tennessee.Sam watched a night battle at the base of the mountain: “It looked like lightning bugs on a dark night.” Sam, Theodore Sloan and Hog Johnson were in an old log cabin, no sleep for two days, but
Yankees Were Swarming Everywhere Read More »
The story goes that in 1861 the hamlet of Town Line decided to secede from the Union, by a vote of 85 to 40. It wasn’t until 1946 that another vote was held about rejoining the United States. This time there were 90 votes to rejoin the Union. But 23 Rebels were still holding out
Secession in New York Read More »
