HMDB Civil War Update – Week of 1 December

Back in Missouri, we had what we called “ebb and flow” springs.  In dry spells they would trickle, then when the rainwater percolated through the earth, the spring flowed.  Well for Civil War marker entries, last week was an ebb, this week we have nearly eighty entries and updates posted by our contributors.  Markers this week range from California, Georgia, Kentucky,  Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

- Starting out in the Golden State, we have another marker adding to the story of Deputy Sheriff Joseph Staples, who was killed by “Confederate robbers” on June 30, 1864, in El Dorado County, California.  This marker place marks the scene of the robbery.

- With several markers this week directly related to, or at least mentioning operations, the Battle of Cassville, Georgia, we have created a related set (map).

- Not far from Cassville, in Kingston are three state markers of note.  First is our nearly weekly addition to the Andrews Raid collection.  I really need to dress out a related set for these at some point.

- Another Kingston, Georgia marker details the May 12, 1865 surrender by General William T. Wofford of Georgians not already paroled.  These were mostly Georgia state troops.  In line with the spirit of other surrender events at the close of the war, the Federals shared rations with the Confederates.

- Then another Kingston marker explains the first Confederate Memorial Day was held in late April 1865!  Let me see if I can figure this one out – a memorial day for the soldiers who were not yet done fighting?  The last line in this state marker states, “Much credit is due the Dardens and other patriotic citizens of this town for their untiring efforts to keep alive memories of the gallant Confederates – greatest fighting men of all time.” [emphasis added]  Perhaps another artifact for those researching into our collective Civil War Memory.  At any rate, the spirit of ration sharing was perpetuated, as the memorial services included recognition of nearby Federal Graves at Kingston.

- Other Georgia markers entries included some for the Battles of Resaca (May 1864) and Allatoona (October 1864).  Both are parts of a growing set of markers detailing the Atlanta Campaign and other operations in Northern Georgia.  At a late point, I’ll start grouping these by battle or campaign phases.

- A Civil War Trails marker in Westminster, Maryland continues the story of the town’s role in the Gettysburg Campaign.  The town’s flag was sent south to Richmond as a trophy of war, never to be returned.  A sidebar mentions the “Gettysburg Gun” which was damaged in the July 3rd cannonade at Gettysburg.  The gun was later photographed in Westminster and today occupies a place of respect in the Rhode Island State House.

- Working into the theme of last surrenders (and the first memorial day) in Georgia is the sole entry from North Carolina this week – the grounds of the last encampment for General Joseph Johnston’s Army of the Tennessee outside Hillsborough, N.C.

- Entries from Tennessee this week included a weather beaten state marker discussing Missionary Ridge and the fighting there on November 25, 1863.

- One of our editors is slowly documenting and entering the war memorials in Richmond, Virginia.  I’ll highlight the memorial to the Richmond Howitzers this week.

- Another correspondent found a nearly destroyed marker on Belle Isle discussing the Confederate prison which occupied the site during the war.  I don’t care which side you were on, being a POW during the war wasn’t fun.

- Civil War Trails markers are now in place at the site of Rutherford’s Farm.  Glad to see this lost battlefield is at least getting some proper interpretation.

- I always like to see markers for the “out of the way” Civil War sites.  A marker in Spencer, West Virginia provides a chronological list of events during the war which affected the town.  An earlier entry nearby details the 11 day siege of Spencer in August 1861.

- From Wisconsin, a state marker offers the story of Old Abe, the Eagle which followed Company C, Eighth Wisconsin to war.

- Progress at Gettysburg continued the march up Culp’s Hill.  This week the entries were from the saddle between the upper and lower crest.  One update was made to a monument on Howard Avenue.  If I had to pick a favorite this week, I’d chose the 149th New York for its front relief.  On the other hand, the 150th New York is not some of my best photography, and will require another site visit for completion.

Lots of markers this Turkey Day Week!