HMDB Civil War Updates – Week of 30 March

This week we continue the slowdown trend.  Only thirty-nine new entries in the Civil War category this week.  While thankful for the break, I like the numbers to be higher.  Markers this week are from the states of Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Missouri.  Here’s the weekly highlights:

- First off an alibi.  Last month we missed a marker from California.  From Benicia, California, a plaque honors Captain Antonio M. De LaGuerra, of the 1st California Battalion of Native Cavalry.  LaGuerra and his unit served in Arizona during the war.  These men were “vaqueros” from Southern California. (and a Thanks! to our California contributing editor for this heads up!)

- From Winder in Barrow County, Georgia a marker discusses the Battle of King’s Tanyard, at the end of Stoneman’s Georgia Raid.

- A marker in Cobb County, Georgia relates the probes and maneuvers as Sherman looked for a suitable crossing of the Chattahoochee.

- The Cotton States Exposition of 1895 marker in Atlanta, is not specifically about the Civil War, but does deserve mention here.  The Cotton Exposition of 1895 is rightly remembered for Booker T. Washington’s “Atlanta Compromise” speech, and I was rather surprised it was not mentioned.  However, the Civil War angle, if you allow, is the reunion of veterans held at the time of the exposition.  This coincided with the dedication of the Chickamauga-Chattanooga Battlefield, on September 19-21, 1895.   Some historians cite this as the formal opening of the National Military Park system we know today.

- A marker in Chaptico, Maryland makes a linkage to an 1689 Protestant Rebellion in the locality to Confederate leanings in 1861.  The marker features a copy of the oath of allegiance offered to Marylanders.

- The first of my Trans-Mississippi markers comes from Kennett, Missouri.  The marker discusses the settlement, formation, and general history of the “Bootheel” of Missouri, which would be that little “toe” that hangs down into Arkansas.  The “Bootheel” saw a lot of irregular activity during the war.  Kennett was the seat of the “Independent State of Dunklin” formed when the local leaders opted to secede from both the State and the Union.

- From Piqua, Ohio, a 10-inch Rodman gun commemorates Admiral Stephen Rowan.   Born in Ireland, Rowan commanded a relief ship sent to Fort Sumter in 1861.  Later in the war, he commanded different vessels also posted off Charleston.

- Only a couple new Virginia markers this week, both from the 2nd Manassas Battlefield.  The first indicates the position of Battery B, 4th U.S. Artillery on Battery Heights.  Supporting photos show the effects of the tree clearing in that sector of the battlefield.  The second is an older style interpretive marker providing maps of the campaign and battle.

- While not new entries, Robert has offered new groupings of the Shenandoah Valley markers, forming county-by-county virtual tours:  Clarke County, Warren County, Highland County, Shenandoah County, Page County.

- The thirty-one additions to Gettysburg were of course the majority of the markers for this week.  The entries span from the Klingle Farm to the Peach Orchard, and over to the Trostle Farm.  For the first time in months, I have no Gettysburg markers in my queue!  One interesting marker in town details the local G.A.R. chapter.

So while quantity is down, at least quality is not.