Zeb Vance was thought to be the chief of state in the KU Klux. This idea possibly came from a 1924 book by Susan Lawrence Davis. There is no documentation of this. There is no reference to Vance and the Klan before 1926. Thomas A. Hope stated that he had heard it talked among the
Why do people think Zeb Vance was in the Klan? Read More »
War has rules, even in the middle of the bloodiest conflict in American history. Some of the most interesting rules of the Civil War were never written into any army manual. They were unwritten customs that soldiers on both sides agreed to follow. One of the most surprising, found in letters written by soldiers, was
This unique flag was created in Richmond, Virginia, for the 5th Texas Regiment: the “Bloody Fifth.” This was one of three Texas regiments that fought with Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. Their flag was based on the design of the Confederate First National Flag, the Stars and Bars. Instead of a circle of stars representing
The Lone Star and Bars Flag of the Texas “Bloody 5th” Regiment Read More »
It was the winter of 1861 – 1862. The 5th Texas was encamped on the Potomac River, the 5th New York across the river. The New Yorkers were a Zouave regiment, meaning they wore uniforms modeled after French Colonial soldiers. The men on both sides were known for their courage. Choice words were exchanged, explaining
Vortex of Hell: How the Texas “Bloody Fifth” Regiment Got its Name Read More »
When the war came in 1861, the Confederacy’s western frontier bordered the lands of the Five Civilized Tribes: the Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw and Seminole Nations in Indian Territory, today’s Oklahoma. Each of the five nations signed treaties of alliance with the Confederate government, and thousands of tribal members took up arms. Among them, none
Cherokee Confederate Soldiers Read More »
Recently the Marana High School administration has banned the confederate flag from their campus in general. The flag is banned in every other form except for what is used in the schools curriculum. This decision in general has caused a number of students as well as parents to protest. The decision for the ban was
Despite protests, Marana High bans Confederate Flag Read More »
It may be of interest to read words from letters written home by Confederate soldiers during Christmas. The first is a letter by Henry Kyd Douglas, who was being held at Johnson’s Island Prison in Ohio. Henry had been with Stonewall Jackson at Gettysburg, where he was injured and the captured. In a Christmas 1863
Civil War Confederate Christmas Letters Read More »
Private Valerius Giles had picket duty on Christmas day, 1861. A member of the 4th Texas Regiment, Giles “had a splendid view of the river for two or three miles in each direction.” Across the river was a Union brigade from New York. The day was bitterly cold, with snow “gently and silently falling, deepening
A Christmas Visitation to a Confederate Sentinel Read More »
It was the winter of 1862, and the little Virginia town of Warrenton – a village, really – was in the hands of the Yankees. But the people of Warrenton were trying to make the best of it as Christmas approached. One of the women living there was the wife of a Confederate General. He
A Confederate Christmas Present Story Read More »
Flags are a very interesting piece of fabrics. The hold so many different meanings and representation depending on what they are. They can represent a whole country, and even cause controversy. To a historian their meaning is much different. They are a piece of history which needs to be preserved forever. Key Takeaways: Flags can
Flag: Silent sentinels of history? Read More »
