Time for another tale of Private Sam Watkins. General Bragg ordered Sam’s First Tennessee Regiment to rearguard duty. It was not much fun: “You don’t move more than ten feet at furthest before you have to halt…. You haven’t time to sit down a moment before you are ordered to move on again. And the
“A minnie ball passes through my Bible.” Read More »
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 »
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 Civil War Battle of Lexington, Missouri is also known as the Battle of Hemp Bales. As you may know, hemp is a variety of the Cannabis plant that is used for making rope.Some quick background. Missouri was sort of neutral in early 1861. Then Lincoln called for 75,000 troops to put down the rebellion.
How Hemp Won the Day Read More »
“Fightin’ Joe” Wheeler has the distinction of serving as both a Confederate General in the Civil War, and later as a U.S. Army General. That’s him in the photo, in front of the others. Joseph Wheeler graduated from West Point in 1859. After completing Cavalry School, he was posted to Fort Craig in New Mexico Territory.
A Rebel General in a Yankee Army Read More »
When a battle raged, Rebels and Yankees fought like the devil. But when things were quiet, they often got along rather well. Private Sam Watkins had recently been in the thick of battle at Chickamauga – only Gettysburg saw more casualties. It was Sunday and Sam and his buddies were relieving a guard detail on
“Go Back, Johnny Reb! Go Back!” Read More »
