Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Richmond Howitzers !

A Sketch in Personal Narrative of theScenes a Soldier Saw

By WILLIAM MEADE DAME, D. D.
Private, First CompanyRichmond Howitzers








There was only one man in the Battery who could cut hair—Sergeant Van McCreery—and he had the only pair of scissors that could cut hair. So every aspirant to this fashionable cut tried to make interest with Van to fix him up; and Van, who was very good natured, would, as he had time and opportunity, accommodate the applicant, and trim him close. Several of us had gone under the transforming hands of this tonsorial artist, when Bob McIntosh got his turn. Bob was a handsome boy with a luxuriant growth of hair. He had raven black, kinky hair that stuck up from his head in a bushy mass, and he hadn’t had his hair cut for a good while, and it was very long and seemed longer than it was because it stuck out so from his head. Now, it was all to go, and a crowd of the boys gathered ’round to see the fun.








The modus operandi was simple, but sufficient. The candidate sat on a stump with a towel tied ’round his neck, and he held up the corners making a receptacle to catch the hair as it was cut. Why this—I don’t know; force of habit I reckon. When we were boys and our mothers cut our hair, we had to hold up a towel so. We were told it was to keep the hair from getting on the floor and to stuff pincushions with. Here was the whole County of Orange to throw the hair on, and we were not making any pincushions—still Bob had to hold the towel that way. Van stood behind Bob and began over his right ear. He took the hair off clean, as he went, working from right to left over his head; the crowd around—jeering the victim and making comments on his ever-changing appearance as the scissors progressed, making a clean sweep at every cut.








We were thus making much noise with our fun at Bob’s expense, until the shears had moved up to the top of his head, leaving the whole right half of the head as clean of hair as the palm of your hand, while the other half was still covered with this long, kinky, jet black hair, which in the absence of the departed locks looked twice as long as before—and Bob did present a spectacle that would make a dog laugh. It was just as funny as it could be.





A Surprise Attack





Just at that moment, in the midst of all this hilarity, suddenly we heard a man yell out something as he came running down the hill from the guns. We could not hear what he said. The next moment, he burst excitedly into our midst, and shouted out, “For God’s sake, men, get your guns. The Yankees are across the river and making for the guns. They will capture them before you get there, if you don’t hurry up.




This was a bolt out of a clear sky—but we jumped to the call. Everybody instantly forgot everything else and raced for the guns. I saw McCreery running with the scissors in his hand; he forgot that he had them—but it was funny to see a soldier going to war with a pair of scissors! I found myself running beside Bob McIntosh, with his hat off, his head half shaved and that towel, still tied round his neck, streaming out behind him in the wind.





Just before we got to the guns, Bob suddenly halted and said, “Good Heavens, Billy, it has just come to me what a devil of a fix I am in with my head in this condition. I tell you now that if the Yankees get too close to the guns, I am going to run. If they got me, or found me dead, they would say that General Lee was bringing up the convicts from the Penitentiary in Richmond to fight them. I wouldn’t be caught dead with my head looking like this.”





We got to the guns on the hill top and looked to the front. Things were not as bad as that excited messenger had said, but they were bad enough. One brigade of the enemy was across the river and moving on us; another brigade was fording the river; and we could see another brigade moving down to the river bank on the other side. Things were serious, because the situation was this: an Infantry Brigade from Ewell’s Corps, lying in winter quarters in the country behind us, was kept posted at the front, whose duty it was to picket the river bank. It was relieved at regular times by another Brigade which took over that duty.





It so chanced that this was the morning for that relieving Brigade to come. Expecting them to arrive any minute, the Brigade on duty, by way of saving time, gathered in its pickets and moved off back toward camp. The other Brigade had not come up—careless work, perhaps, but here in the dead of winter nobody dreamed of the enemy starting anything.




So it was, that, with one brigade gone; the other not up; the pickets withdrawn, at this moment there was nobody whatsoever on the front except our Battery—and, here was the enemy across the river, moving on us and no supports.





In the meantime, the enemy guns across the river opened on us and the shells were flying about us in lively fashion. It was rather a sudden transition from peace to war, but we had been at this business before; the sound of the shells was not unfamiliar—so we were not unduly disturbed. We quickly got the guns loaded, and opened on that Infantry, advancing up the hill. We worked rapidly, for the case was urgent, and we made it as lively for those fellows as we possibly could. In a few minutes a pretty neat little battle was making the welkin ring. The sound of our guns crashing over the country behind us made our people, in the camp back there, sit up and take notice. In a few minutes we heard the sound of a horse’s feet running at full speed, and Gen. Dick Ewell, commanding the Second Corps, came dashing up much excited. As he drew near the guns he yelled out, “What on earth is the matter here?” When he got far enough up the hill to look over the crest, he saw the enemy advancing from the river, “Aha, I see,” he exclaimed. Then he galloped up to us and shouted, “Boys, keep them back ten minutes and I’ll have men enough here to eat them up—without salt!” So saying, he whirled his horse, and tore off back down the road.





In a few minutes we heard the tap of a drum and the relieving Brigade, which had been delayed, came up at a rapid double quick, and deployed to the right of our guns; they had heard the sound of our firing and struck a trot. A few minutes more, and the Brigade that had left, that morning, came rushing up and deployed to our left. They had heard our guns and halted and came back to see what was up.





With a whoop and a yell, those two Brigades went at the enemy who had been halted by our fire. In a short time said enemy changed their minds about wanting to stay on our side, and went back over the river a good deal faster than they came. They left some prisoners and about 300 dead and wounded—for us to remember them by.





The battle ceased, the picket line was restored along the river bank, and all was quiet again. Bob McIntosh was more put out by all this business than anybody else—it had interrupted his hair cut. When we first got the guns into action, everybody was too busy to notice Bob’s head. After we got settled down to work, I caught sight of that half-shaved head and it was the funniest object you ever saw. Bob was No. 1 at his gun, which was next to mine, and had to swab and ram the gun. This necessitated his constantly turning from side to side, displaying first this, and then the other side of his head. One side was perfectly white and bare; the other side covered by a mop of kinky, jet black hair; but when you caught sight of his front elevation, the effect was indescribable. While Bob was unconsciously making this absurd exhibition, it was too much to stand, even in a fight. I said to the boys around my gun, “Look at Bob.” They looked and they could hardly work the gun for laughing.




Of course, when the fight was over McCreery lost that pair of scissors, or said he did. There was not another pair in camp, so Bob had to go about with his head in that condition for about a week—and he wearied of life. One day in his desperation, he said he wanted to get some of that hair off his head so much that he would resort to any means. He had tried to cut some off with his knife. One of the boys, Hunter Dupuy, was standing by chopping on the level top of a stump with a hatchet. Hunter said, “All right, Bob, put your head on this stump and I’ll chop off some of your hair.” The blade was dull, and it only forced a quantity of the hair down into the wood, where it stuck, and held Bob’s hair fast to the stump, besides pulling out a lot by the roots, and hurting Bob very much. He tried to pull loose and couldn’t. Then he began to call Hunter all the names he could think of, and threatened what he was going to do to him when he got loose. Hunter, much hurt by such ungracious return for what he had done at Bob’s request, said, “Why, Bob, you couldn’t expect me to cut your hair with a hatchet without hurting some”—which seemed reasonable. We made Bob promise to keep the peace, on pain of leaving him tied to the stump—then we cut him loose with our knives.





After some days, when we had had our fun, Van found the scissors and trimmed off the other side of his head to match—Bob was happy.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Prove It !

In recent exchanges with two "Northern Friendly" bloggers I have had them pound their chest and flaunt their educational superiority!

Both telling me I lacked the "Proper Training" to review and evaluate documentation.

It goes without saying my feelings were hurt! Gee I only have a High School education! I was at William and Mary college for a while back in the 60s but got the boot when they found out I was selling "Home Grown" to the college kids!

Well my lack of formal training is only a tripping point for them!

The picture below is the Shipping Manifest from 1619 that shows my Ancestor Nathaniel Tatum as being one of the "Indentured Passengers" who were on route to Jamestown VA.






I'm just wondering, can either of my "Northern Friendly" blogger friends show me some documentation from the same time frame for their ancestors?

Now then if they can't: I'm sure they will challenge my Documentation! A nice way to avoid the issue. Well I have the source of the documentation, as well as documentation that predates the above shipping manifest ! Call my Bluff ? What you wanna put up as a bet ? Come on young fellas give me a worthy bet! 30 Days without posting if I can't give the source what is your counter offer?


So it's now the time to "Put up or Shut up"!


Show me how good your superior training and education really is !


OK fellas the balls in your court! Step up to the plate or sit on the bench!


Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Feeding the Slaves




Well I'm gonna roll the dice again and post more information from family records,




This post shows the weekly food allowance for the slaves owned by an ancestor.




I can see it now - a Yankee blogger crying / " But what did the owners eat"?


"What type of home did the owners have as compaired to the slaves"?




Yea I guess that's fair / but what do the CEOs of major companys have for dinner as opposed to the guy in the mail room? And what about living conditions ?


Tuesday, November 22, 2011

I am a "Flagger"



I AM A FLAGGER"I speak for that which has no voice. I relay the message of Honor, Dignity, Respect, and Heritage to those who never knew, to those who have forgotten, and to attempt to reach those who refuse to hear.I travel many miles at my own expense, for which there is no reimbursement.










My weapons are the 1956 Georgia Flag, Battle Flag of the Confederacy, and Truth. My enemies are liberals, politicians, NAACP, SCLC, GABEO, SPLC, Black Caucus, media, scalawags, and those who worship ignorance, historical revisionism and Political Correctness.










The former Governor has called me an Extremist. The former Speaker of the House has called me a Jackass. The learned scribes in the papers have called me a Neo-Confederate Peckerwood. By a popular radio talking head I have been called a Flaggot. I have read in the media that I do not exist, and that I am a racist bigot. I wear those names as badges of honor.I have been hit with a rock. I have had to dodge a bottle thrown at me. I have been flipped off. I have been cursed. I have been called KKK and racist. I have been confronted. I have been threatened with arrest numerous times. I have been investigated by the GBI and I have had my civil rights trampled on almost every event I attend.










But for all that, I get thousands of smiles, waves, and thumbs-up.Jews have persecuted me. Christians have barred me from attending their 10 Commandments rally. Members of my own SCV camp have harassed and ignored my efforts. I have been called a Klansman at two jobs – one previous and my current one - and have been released from 2 other jobs for my beliefs and activities.I do what I do not for fame or glory (although I have appeared in print and on TV) but for the silent majority. I speak for the mute to the timid majority against the loud heritage-hating minority. My aim is to supply an unexpected education, while following the teachings of my Lord & Savior Jesus Christ and leadership of my Confederate Forebears.










I was born and raised in Virginia. I claim that state as my home, and as a son of Virginia, would come to her aid if ever there was a need, but I reside in Georgia, in the county where my father was born – the same county where 3 of my Confederate ancestors are from as well. Ironically, one of my ancestors fought in Virginia near my place of birth, in Cobb’s Legion infantry, during the Peninsula Campaign. At times I feel I am pulling double duty, representing Georgia and Virginia. I do it to represent the soldiers from 150 years ago, to represent Southerners today, and to protect my children for tomorrow.










I have even traveled the 650 miles each way to Flag a hotel in Williamsburg who covered some Confederate artwork to appease some DC black judges.When I think that my ancestors marched hundreds of miles barefoot, without proper food or adequate supplies, only to then form lines and march into cannon and musket fire by overwhelming odds and against superior numbers and better equipment – I only pray that my small effort is enough “Thanks” for what they sacrificed for me.The things I have mentioned are factual, and at times have been tough. I willingly accept the challenges and risks.










I take pride in taking a stand for the Cause. And for this Cause, I call others to flock to the banner of our ancestors, but most will not. Most find it more comforting to let others go into battle in their stead rather than miss a Football game or a dog washing. Some are “Keyboard Commandos” and write a mean letter, but have no guts to stand with a Flag against tyranny. Some are not even registered to vote. I call to them, but I shall never see them, for they lack their ancestors’ convictions, and refuse to stand up for Honor."- Billy Bearden

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Brooks Simpson.





I don’t think anyone at SHPG is actually in favor of desecrating a monument to any Northern soldier!





The picture you were referring to was satirical in its nature.










One of the facts you overlook is the folks at SHPG are everyday folks, we don’t claim to be college graduates with a wall full of diplomas. And just as in real life we cut up and clown around a bit.










We do not take refuge in “Ivory Towers” of higher education. We speak our mind and try as best we can to have the truth behind what we post! And on occasion the post are deleted, for any number of reasons, I myself have deleted a number of post that have contained racist veils or outright racist comments. But being an open group SHPG is vulnerable to inappropriate post. We try as best we can to police (censor) content to keep it as close to our stated mission as possible.










As for deleting post; Kevin Levin took down a post that painted a target on Susan Hathaway. This post criticized her and put all her personal information on line for all to see! With its negative overtones this post was nothing more than intimidation! Also after numerous comments from me about Kevin’s use of one of Mort Kunstler’s paintings that was a copyright violation he changed the post, then deleted many post that I hade made at his site.










I would suggest looking in the mirror before shining your Halos!










Dave Tatum

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Freedom in the North !




While the South has been label racist lets take a look at our wonderful neighbors to the north!








OHIO
The state had enacted Black Laws in 1804 and 1807 that compelled blacks entering the state to post bond of $500 guaranteeing good behavior and to produce a court paper as proof that they were free.
"No extensive effort was made to enforce the bond requirement" Likwack wrote, "until 1829, when the rapid increase of the Negro population alarmed Cincinnati. The city authorities announced that the Black Laws would be enforced and ordered Negroes to comply or leave within thirty days."
Citizens of the city's "Little Africa" -- largely a ghetto of wooden shacks owned by whites -- appealed for a delay, and sent a delegation to Canada to try to find a place to settle there. But if the authorities were willing to offer more time, the Ohio mob was not, and whites in packs roamed through the black neighborhoods, burning and beating. The delegation came back from Upper Canada with the offer of a safe home from the governor. "Tell the Republicans on your side of the line that we royalists do not know men by their color. Should you come to us you will be entitled to all the privileges of the rest of His Majesty's subjects."
About half of the city's 2,200 blacks left, most of them apparently going to Canada. The proponents of strict enforcement of the Black Laws then discovered that they had driven off "the sober, honest, industrious, and useful portion of the colored population," which lessened "much of the moral restraint ... on the idle and indolent, as well as the profligate" among the rest





Connecticut
Discrimination against free blacks was more severe in Connecticut than in other New England colonies. Their lives were strongly proscribed even before they became numerous. In 1690, the colony forbade blacks and Indians to be on the streets after 9 p.m. It also forbid black "servants" to wander beyond the limits of the towns or places where they belonged without a ticket or pass from their masters or the authorities. A law of 1708, citing frequent fights between slaves and whites, imposed a minimum penalty of 30 lashes on any black who disturbed the peace or who attempted to strike a white person. Even speech was subject to control. By a 1730 law, and black, Indian, or mulatto slave "who uttered or published, about any white person, words which would be actionable if uttered by a free white was, upon conviction before any one assistant or justice of the peace, to be whipped with forty lashes. As early as 1717, citizens of New London in a town meeting voted their objection to free blacks living in the town or owning land anywhere in the colony. That year, the colonial assembly passed a law in accordance with this sentiment, prohibiting free blacks or mulattoes from residing in any town in the colony. It also forbid them to buy land or go into business without the consent of the town. The provisions were retroactive, so that if any black person had managed to buy land, the deed was rendered void, and a black resident of a town, however long he had been there, was now subject to prosecution at the discretion of the selectmen.





Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania laws forbid blacks from gathering in "tippling-houses," carrying arms, or assembling in companies. These, however, were loosely or unevenly enforced. But throughout Pennsylvania colony, the children of free blacks, without exception, were bound out by the local justices of the peace until age 24 (if male) or 21 (if female). All in all, the "free" blacks of colonial Pennsylvania led severely circumscribed lives; they had no control even over their own family arrangements, and they could be put back into servitude for "laziness" or petty crimes, at the mercy of the local authorities.





ILLINOIS, INDIANA
The legal history of the black codes in these two states is essentially similiar, and in fact Illinois simply continued Indiana's code when it organized as a territory.
The new states that entered the union in the North after the gradual emancipation of northern slaves were just as concerned as the old ones with maintaining their racial purity. To do so, they turned to an old practice in the North: the exclusion law. Slaves could not be brought into the Northwest Territories, under the ordinance of 1787, but slaves already there remained in bondage. Once states began to emerge from the old territories, most of them explicitly barred blacks or permitted them only if they could prove their freedom and post bond. Ohio offered the first example, and those that followed her into the union followed her lead on race.
Both Indiana (1816) and Illinois (1818) abolished slavery by their constitutions. And both followed the Ohio policy of trying to prevent black immigration by passing laws requiring blacks who moved into the state to produce legal documents verifying that they were free and posting bond to guarantee their good behavior. The bond requirements ranged as high as $1,000, which was prohibitive for a black American in those days. Anti-immigration legislation was passed in Illinois in 1819, 1829, and 1853. In Indiana, such laws were enacted in 1831 and 1852. Michigan Territory passed such a law in 1827; Iowa Territory passed one in 1839 and Iowa enacted another in 1851 after it became a state. Oregon Territory passed such a law in 1849.




Ever wonder why the underground Rail Road went to Canada ?


Monday, October 24, 2011

Is Mississippi Still Burning ?



Well I watched “Is Mississippi Still Burning



Joseph Goebbels would be happy with the production were he around to see it!




The producer had four shots of the Mississippi State flag that includes the Battle flag in its design.And a couple of shots of a Confederate monument. Both were mentioned in the segment.




But what wasn’t mentioned was neither had a damn thing to do with the crime! The man (PUNK), who is accused of the murder, and by all accounts it is a hate crime and should be dealt with as such, had no Confederate connections.




It was mentioned that he hung out at a gas station, I guess by the same logic used to tie in the Confederate part of the story you could have tied in the Company that owned the gas station.Was it Shell, or Texaco?


And what brand of beer did he drink? It would have made just as much sense to tie in the gas company or the beer brand as it did The “Confederate Connection” which is NONE!




It was just another inflammatory piece of Yankee journalism, designed to vilify Southern Heritage!



I hope the guilty person gets the death penalty!

And you can be sure my flag won’t be at half staff when they throw the switch!






David Tatum Jr.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Twins? Well they think alike!

Charles Girard who was a French military supplier to the Confederacy noted:

"Even the Southern Slaves fight with their masters for their way of life, in preference to dying of hunger in Northern cities, as prey of the invader.

From Paris pays / May 13, 1861.

Black Confederates or not?

Friday, October 14, 2011





The Locket.©




At last the war was over, Now Johnny was on his way home

And silent as most of the others - Passing a wasteland of ashes and stone.

For once on that land stood proud “Dixie” a lady that Johnny loved true.

At the station at home waited Heather, A jealous woman, but John loved her too.


Yes Heather was jealous of Dixie- because Dixie had taken “Her Man”

In her heart Heather tried to forgive her- But Dixie had ruined her plans.

At her church Heather planned to get Married- Then raise children to play in the yard!

But Dixie stole Johnny for four long years - so finding forgiveness was hard.


But now he was “HOME” it was over- yes sweet Heather was waiting for him.

With flowers in hand, she’d wait for this man- Then caress those coarse hairs on his chin.

But at the Station there were so many- in fact it took Heather a while.

When she saw him she greeted him gently- a silent kiss blended with a sad smile.


“Close she sat as they rode back of carriage- past Her Church that was burned to the ground

Then through a charred frame, its all that remained- of what once was there small southern Town

It was then that she noticed the “locket”- her auburn hair sticking out a small crack.

When she gave it to Johnny he Promised- that “Yes Dear- I’ll Bring It Back”


So true to his word Johnny had it - but as the carriage passed by the old well.

Heather looked in his face and saw the cold trace - of four years of fighting through Hell.

As the carriage pulled into the back yard - Johnny still had her locket in hand

Heather smiled and kissed him so Gently - closed the lid - Then she buried her man.


By Dave Tatum

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

El Paso ?






El Paso, is in Illinois ?






Well if it plays in Peoria or Eureka






I guess it will float in El Paso!





But not in DIXIE !






Thursday, September 1, 2011

Pro Southern Blogger my Ass !



Pro-southern blogger my Ass !

Recently Kevin Levin made the contemptible claim to be a pro southern blogger!
I have no idea who he is trying to hoodwink, but he damn sure ain’t fooling me, or any other reasonable individual who has a minimal education and the ability to read.



If you can read “See Spot, See Spot Run” and comprehend what it says you can see clear through Levin’s snake oil- “My version tells all”- adaptation of history.



With such blog post as / “Was Michael Jackson a Black Confederate” / ” I Think I’ve seen this painting before” / “Loyal Slaves Extra” / “ Show your Gay Confederate Pride” and his numerous attacks on Ann DeWitt, he has more than shown his true colors.




Not only has he attacked Ann, but he had the audacity to post the profile and personal information of a young lady from Richmond VA. “Susan Hathaway” as the subject of a blog post! Why? Because Susan had a different view of things, and was not afraid to post facts and opinions. The same as Ann Dewitt has done.




In the past few weeks I have seen 1 or 2 affirmative post regarding Confederate items at kevins’blog.



It’s thin Confederate icing on a large Yankee cake. No thanks I don’t want a slice!


A Tiger has stripes, and if you shave away all the fur from the Tiger you will find that his skin has stripes as well! There is no way to remove the stripes.




The same thing applies to Kevin Levin. Sure you can make a post or two as a smoke screen to say “Look at this, I am pro South”. But when you shave away the stripes the markings still remain, and just like the Tiger there is no way to expunge them.



Levin your “Trojan Horse” pro south hand-outs should be burned at the gate. You can’t carry the torch of Lincoln for all those years and then “snuff the flame out” in the face of loyal Southern men and women. Some of us may have been born at night, “But it won’t last night”



Kevin added to all your other dubious attributes you can now add, scammer. Your recent pro south post are nothing more than a scam. Their only purpose is to shave the stripes off the Tiger, and that won’t work!



I will be watching my E-Mails for a “Congratulations Notice” telling me that I have won $10.000.000.00 in the Boston / Nigeria E-Mail lottery.

Printing of Paroles.

J.C. Tatums Original Parole!


J.C. gives a brief account of the parole printing.





It’s a small snippet of history.


It regards the printing of paroles at Appomattox on April 10th 1865 .



The last sentence says “The parole was printed in a wagon in the woods by order of Grant, who was nearby at the time” .


Nothing earth shattering, no profound revelation, just a tidbit of information I thought I would share!




But it also states – “This parole John C Tatum was very proud of as it proved he honorably served his country to the close of the war”!



The total number of paroles printed form thin press was 28.231. Documentation from *Historians says the printing of the paroles was done at the Clover Hill Tavern; perhaps the wagon was in the woods by the tavern. (* Bean Counters)



This last picture is from a web page, I lost the address, but don't wish to be accused of plagiarism.







Friday, August 26, 2011

Cary Eggleston.




This story by W.M. Dane
First Co Richmond Howitzers.


Just here, we of the “Howitzer” suffered our first, and only, loss in this day’s fighting. Cary Eggleston, “No. 1” at third gun, had his arm shattered, and almost cut away from his body, by a fragment of shell. He quietly handed his rammer to John Ayres, who that instant came up to the gun, and said, “Here Johnny, you take it and go ahead!” Then, g...ripping his arm with his other hand, partly to stop the fast flowing blood, he turned to his comrades, and said in his jocular way, “Boys, I can never handle a sponge-staff any more. I reckon I’ll have to go to teaching school.”


Then he stood a while, looking at the men working the gun. They urged him to go to the rear; he would not for a while. When he consented to go, they wanted to send a man with him, but he refused, and walked off by himself. As he passed back an infantry officer, seeing what an awful wound he had, and the streaming blood, insisted that one of the men should go and help him to the hospital. “No,” he said; “I’m all right, and you haven’t got any men to spare from here.” So, holding his own arm, and compressing the artery with his thumb, he got to the hospital.

His arm was amputated, and a few days after, as the battery passed through Spottsylvania Court House, we went by the Court House building, used as a hospital, where he lay on the floor, and bade him “good-bye.” He was just as cheerful, and bright, as ever, and full of eager interest in all that was going on. Said “Since he had time to think about it, he believed he could handle a sponge-staff with one hand; was going to practice it soon as he could get up, and would be back at his post before long.”

The next day, the brave young fellow died. The “Howitzers” will always remember him tenderly. No braver, cooler warrior ever lived! Always bright, full of fun in camp, and on the march, he was at the gun in action, the best “No. 1” I ever saw. One of the few men I ever knew who really seemed to enjoy a fight. His bearing, when he was wounded, was simply heroic. No wounded knight ever passed off his last battlefield in nobler sort. All honor to his memory!

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Grant’s Neglect of Federal Wounded





Grant’s Neglect of Federal Wounded






By W.M. Dane




First CO.
Richmond Howitzers








We had witnessed all these horrors, with our own eyes, days before, from our lines, and had been helpless to do anything for them. Hundreds of wounded Federal soldiers lay between the lines, day after day, and perished for want of help. Several of us, unable to bear the sight of their suffering, went out one day to carry them food and water, and the Federals fired upon us, and wounded one of our men, then we had to leave them alone. They could not or would not care for their wounded, and would not let us do it. It was stated among us that General Lee had sent an offer to General Grant to permit him to send, and care for his wounded, near our lines; and he refused. And then General Lee offered, if Grant would suspend hostilities for some hours, that we would care for his wounded rather than see them suffer, and die, before our eyes; Grant refused that proposal too!








Certain it is, these poor fellows were left to their fate and perished, miserably, by wounds and famine, and fire. Their many dead, in our front, lay unburied until the odor from them was so dreadful that we could hardly stay in our works. It may be that General Grant had this in mind, and was determined that, if his live soldiers couldn’t drive us out of the works, his dead ones should. Well! he had his way of making war! And on account of his inhumanity to his wounded, his own men thought as ours did, that his way was very brutal! I heard his own men curse him bitterly. They called him “The Butcher” in those days. The feeling of his army to him was widely different from our feeling for our General.

(see)
http://atrueconfederate.blogspot.com/2011/08/love-that-lee-inspired-in-men-he-led.html







All those dead soldiers along a line of five miles lay rotting on the ground, until we had gone away, and the people of the country neighborhood had to collect them from the fields, and thickets, and bury them, for fear of pestilence. And when one remembers that from Thursday, the 5th of May, to Thursday, the 12th of May, General Grant had lost 40,000 in killed and wounded, the dread sight of death and suffering we looked upon, can be imagined! The thronging lines of unburied dead,—it was a shocking and appalling spectacle!





Tuesday, August 23, 2011

The Love that Lee Inspired in the Men He Led






The Love that Lee Inspired in the Men He Led






By WILLIAM MEADE DAME,


D. D.Private, First Company


Richmond Howitzers







General Lee had come in an ace of being captured. A body of the enemy had pushed through a gap in our line and unexpectedly come right upon the old General, who was quietly sitting upon his horse. That, these fellows could with perfect ease have taken, or shot him, but that he had quietly ridden off, and the enemy not knowing who it was, made no special effort to molest him.



I wish you could have seen the appalled look that fell on the faces of the men, as they listened to this. Although the danger was past an hour ago, they were as pale and startled and shocked as if it were enacting then. The bare idea of anything happening to General Lee was enough to make a man sick, and I assure you it took all the starch out of us for a few minutes.



I don’t know how it was, but somehow, it never occurred to us that anything could happen to General Lee. Of course, we knew that he was often exposed, like the rest of us. We had seen him often enough under hot fire. And, by the way, I believe that the one only thing General Lee ever did, that the men in this army thought he ought not to do, was going under fire. We thought him perfect in motive, deed and judgment; he could do no wrong, could make no mistake, but this,—that he was too careless in the way he went about a battlefield. Three different times, during these very fights, at points of danger, he was urged to leave the spot, as it was “not the place for him.” At last he said, “I wish I knew where my place is on the battlefield; wherever I go some one tells me that is not the place for me.”



But, he would go! He wanted to see things for himself, and he wished his men to know, that he was looking after them, both seeing that they did their duty, and caring for them. And certainly, the sight of his beloved face was like the sun to his men for cheer and encouragement. Every man thought less of personal danger, and no man thought of failure after he had seen General Lee riding along the lines. Nobody will ever quite understand what that old man was to us, his soldiers! What absolute confidence we felt in him! What love and devotion we had, what enthusiastic admiration, what filial affection, we cherished for him. We loved him like a father, and thought about him as a devout old Roman thought of the God of War. Anything happen to him! It would have broken our hearts, for one thing, and, we could no more think of the “Army of Northern Virginia” without General Lee, at its head, than we could picture the day without the sun shining in the heavens.



An incident illustrating this feeling was taking place up in the front just about the time we were hearing the news of the General’s narrow escape.


As the Texan Brigade of Longstreet’s Corps, just come up, dashed upon the heavy ranks of the Federals, they passed General Lee with a rousing cheer. The old General, anxious and excited by the critical moment, thrilling with sympathy in their gallant bearing, started to ride in, with them, to the charge. It was told me the next day by some of the Texans, who witnessed it, that the instant the men, unaware of his presence with them before, saw the General along with them in that furious fire, they cried out in pleading tones—“Go back, General Lee. We swear we won’t go on, if you don’t go back. You shall not stay here in this fire! We’ll charge clear through the wilderness if you will only go back.” And they said, numbers of the men crowded about the General, and begged him, with tears, to return, and some caught hold of his feet, and some his bridle rein, and turned his horse round, and led him back a few steps,—all the time pleading with him.


And then, the General seeing the feelings of his men, and that he was actually checking the charge by their anxiety for him, said, “I’ll go, my men, if you will drive back those people,” and he rode off, they said, with his head down, and they saw tears rolling down his cheeks. And they said, many of the men were sobbing aloud, overcome by this touching scene. Then with one yell, and the tears on their faces, those noble fellows hurled themselves on the masses of the enemy like a thunderbolt.


Not only did they stop the advance, but their resistless fury swept all before it and they followed the broken Federals half a mile. They redeemed their promise to General Lee. Eight hundred of them went in, four hundred, only, came out. They covered with glory that day, not only themselves, who did such deeds, but their leader, who could inspire such feelings at such a moment in the hearts of these men. Half their number fell in that splendid charge, but—they saved the line, and they gloriously redeemed their promise to General Lee—“We’ll do all you want, if you will only get out of fire.” I cannot think of anything stronger than to say that—





This General, and these soldiers, were worthy of each other. There is no higher praise!

_________________________________________________________________

I think the post speaks for itself, but there is another reason I chose to post it!
The attitude that southerners have to this day, not only about General Lee but about every man who wore the gray!
We still love and respect all of them. Even the ones who some say don’t exist! And I think this is a feeling that is special in the south. In the same way Lees’ men loved him and wanted to protect him, we as southerners still love and want to protect all of our southern ancestors.

And I think that is one thing that eats at our detractors. We still love and defend our men in gray; the color of their skin doesn’t matter. Their status as free or slave doesn’t matter. It was the content of their heart.

God bless them all, and may we never give up on standing our ground, to show our love and respect for all of them!

Friday, August 19, 2011

To Remember - To Honor !








I have read hundreds of letters, diary entries and comments from men in the field, you know the ones who actually did the fighting.



And I have yet to find one from a Southerner that says, “I am here to preserve our right to own slaves!” Nor have I seen one from a Northerner saying, “ I am here to free the Black Man”.



I have read the inscriptions on many monuments the ones that honor the men who fought! And I have yet to read a plaque or inscription that says,



Dedicated to the brave men who fought for our right to own slaves.”




I have read of thundering battle cry’s, None of which said-
FOR SLAVERY “!


______________________________________________________________





With all of the Hundreds of monuments, Thousands of letters, and recounts of battles; that if Slavery had been "the issue" it would show up some place!





DT.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

What's the Difference ?




Sometimes, some folks logic defies my understanding !
The Folks from up north have a marker that glorifies the use of slaves to build the U.S. Capitol !
It pays honor to their efforts!
Were the slaves willing participants?
_____________________________________________________________





I guess if the North used slaves for labor that's OK, However-----




Andy Hall posted this


The force of negroes on the island consists of 481 effective men. Of these 40 are at the saw-mills, 100 cutting and carrying sod (as all the works are of sand, consequently the sodding must be done all over the works), 40 carrying timber and iron, which leaves 301 on the works, including [harbor] obstructions. The whole force of negroes consists, as above, of 481 effective, 42 cooks, 78 sick; total, 601.
In order to complete the defenses of Galveston it will require the labor of 1,000 negroes during three weeks, or eight weeks with the present force. The work of soldiers amounts to very little, as the officers seem to have no control whatever over their men. The number of soldiers at work is about 100 men, whose work amount to 10 negroes’ work.

___________________________________________________________



Now then would it be OK to place a marker to honor the Impressed Slaves who worked on fortifications in the south?


Or better yet a marker in a cotton field!


I somehow feel the NAACP would be up in arms over such a marker!

But what's the difference?


Geographical location !


I guess it's OK to uphold and honor slavery in the north, but the "Evil South" can not make the same claim!

So what's up with that ?


If the South was "Wrong" by using unwilling Impressed Slaves during the war, how can the North be "Right" for doing the same thing?



Can someone please explain the difference?

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

A Sad Day !








THE SURRENDER—
APPOMATTOX COURTHOUSE, SUNDAY,
APRIL 9TH, 1865.
By Wm. S. White, Third Richmond Howitzers.

We started early and moved in the direction of Appomattox Courthouse. When reaching that place it was evident we could go no farther, for the enemy, cavalry, infantry and artillery, in countless thousands, were on every side. A shell comes hurtling
down our line—another and another follow fast, and follow faster.
Just as cheerfully and just as defiantly as at Bethel, four years ago, when our hopes were big with the fate and fame of a newborn nation, do our boys go forth to meet them and our guns hurl back their shot and shell. We were but a little band standing there in the soft spring light of that Sabbath morn they were as the sands upon the seashore,or as the leaves upon the forest trees.

The flag of the Army of Northern Virginia
[under whose silken folds so many a gallant comrade, friend, and brother fell,]
all tattered and torn but never dishonored; around staff so many happy memories cluster, is floating above us for the very last time.

The fighting ceased, and soldiers wept.
" O now forever.
Farewell the tranquil mind; farewell content!
Farewell the plumed troop, and the just wars.
That make ambition virtue! O, farewell!
Farewell the neighing steed, and the shrill trump,
The spirit stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife.
The Southern banner, and all quality.
Pride, pomp, and circumstance oi bloody war!
And O, you mortal engines, whose rude throats
The immortal Jove's dread clamors counterfeit.
Farewell—Othello's occupation's gone!"

Then rode adown our lines that peerless General, Robert Edward Lee—his head all bared, and his noble face all clouded with a sorrow deeper than tongue can tell or pen can paint.
Is it a wonder then that strong men—men "grown old in wars"—weep like children, and tearfully turning from the, to them, saddest sight on earth, silently prepare to go back to their desolated homes ?




Ah ! Neither time, or sorrow, can erase from memory's page the bitterness of that day.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

You Tell Me !





( Click on letter to make it easy to read ! )






"There is a class of people (in the South), men, women and children, who must be killed or banished before you can hope for peace and order."







______________________________________________________________




A letter from WH Tatum "Confederate"




A quote from Gen. Sherman, "Yankee"


______________________________________________________________




Your Opinion?






Friday, August 12, 2011



The following post is by Connie Chastin, God Bless Her!

IMO, the purpose of this is to have a post up he can point to when he's accused of anti-Confederate bias and say, "No, I'm not biased. See?"

Frankly -- and this is MY OPINION, a conclusion I've drawn based on my (admittedly limited) lookarounds over there -- that blog is not about the Civil War, or how it's remembered, despite the title. It's about slavery. It's about how slavery is remembered. Even that is a sort of generalization. It's about *Southern* slavery; it's about Southern slaveholding and Southern slaveholders. We know that because of the inattention given to Northern slaveholding and Northern slaveholders, and slave shipping, a basically Northern enterprise.
This is the sort of inattention that will argue with you that the Union was fighting to free the slaves while ignoring that there were five Union slave states and slaves were helping to build the U.S. capitol.

The Civil War, in other words, is a cover for the subject that truly interests pro Yankee bloggers: white Southern evil. When they say "slave women were raped," using the passive voice like that, what they really mean is evil white Southern men raped slave women. When they say slaves were beaten, what they mean is evil Southern white men beat slaves. When they say "slave families were separated" what they mean was evil Southern white men separated slave families
We know it's not about how the Civil War is remembered because of the references to the "Jim Crow white South" -- which occurred long after the war, long after reconstruction. But it does fall within the realm of discussion of evil white Southerners.

The question is, why?

Why such an interest in so evilizing white Southerners? We're no worse than anyone else -- our ancestors were no worse than anyone else. The great majority of antebellum white Southerners owned no slaves. (They have to be evilized by saying, "Well, yeah, but they wanted to. They aspired to being a slave owner some day," though I've never seen anyone offer the "scholarship" that proves it.)

So why? Because Southerners have to be made deserving of the horrific brutality done to them by the north in the war. It is that simple. There may be a few critics, but basically, the United States cannot admit to ever having done anything wrong. But what the north, doing the bidding of the feds, did to the South during the war and for five generations afterward is not justifiable.
So they came down here and killed us, stole everything that wasn't nailed down, burned towns and farms, and laid our region waste; installed a military dictatorship over us, and puppet governments that would put state treasures so deeply in... debt it would take generations to get out, leaving us little or no capital for investments, jobs, schools, and kept us in widespread poverty until almost WWII -- and then ridiculed us for being poor and uneducated.

THAT is why the South -- why *Southerners* (white ones) -- must still be evilized -- in the classroom, on television, on Hollywood's silver screen, in the corporation, the government bureaucracy, even in freakin' video games. Throughout the popular culture. And especially in academia. That mission of keeping Southerners evil is the motive, perhaps buried so deep it isn't recognized, behind all the "Civil War" "scholarship" and that's what all the Sesquicentennial commemorations intend to commemorate, in one way or another.

Don't let the occasional token Confederate flag post fool you. Don't let the occasional "fairminded" comments fool you. Look at the totality.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

The Locket !


The Locket

At last the war was over, Now Johnny was on his way home.
And silent as most of the others - Passing a wasteland of ashes and stone.

For once on that land stood proud “Dixie” a lady that Johnny loved true.
At the station at home waited Heather, A jealous woman, but John loved her too.

Yes Heather was jealous of Dixie- because Dixie had taken “Her Man”
In her heart Heather tried to forgive her- But Dixie had ruined her plans.

At her church Heather planned to get Married- Then raise children to play in the yard!
But Dixie stole Johnny for four long years - so finding forgiveness was hard.

But now he was “HOME” it was over- yes sweet Heather was waiting for him.
With flowers in hand, she’d wait for this man- Then caress those coarse hairs on his chin.

But at the Station there were so many- in fact it took Heather a while.
When she saw him she greeted him gently- a silent kiss blended with a sad smile.

“Close she sat as they rode back of carriage- past Her Church that was burned to the ground
Then through a charred frame, its all that remained- of what once was there small southern town.

It was then that she noticed the “locket”- her auburn hair sticking out a small crack.
When she gave it to Johnny he Promised- that “Yes Dear- I’ll Bring It Back”


So true to his word Johnny had it - but as the carriage passed by the old well.
Heather looked in his face and saw the cold trace - of four years of fighting through Hell.

As the carriage pulled into the back yard - Johnny still had her locket in hand
Heather smiled and kissed him so Gently - closed the lid - Then she buried her man.

by Dave Tatum


Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Research is like a Box of Chocolates!

The 2011 version of this society deals with Black Confederates!
The Charter Members are shown below!






































Tuesday, August 9, 2011

That's What I thought he said !




По Президент Соединенных Штатов Америки: ПРОВОЗГЛАШЕНИЕ В то время как на 22-й день сентября, AD 1862, провозглашение был издан президентом Соединенных Штатов, содержащий, среди прочего, следующее, а именно:


"То, что на первый день января, AD 1863 года, всех лиц, содержащихся как рабы в пределах любого государства или назначенный со стороны государства люди чего в таком случае будет в восстании против Соединенных Штатов является то, той поры и навсегда бесплатно, и исполнительной власти в США, в том числе военных и военно-морских органом власти, будут признавать и поддерживать свободу таких лиц и будет делать каких-либо актов или действий для пресечения таких лиц, или любого из них, в какой-либо усилия, которые они могут сделать для их фактической свободы ". что исполнительный волю первого дня января сказано выше, путем обнародования, назначить Штатов и частей государств, если таковые имеются, в которой люди их, соответственно, в таком случае будет в восстании против Соединенных Штатов, а также тот факт, что любое государство или люди их должны в этот день будет добросовестно представлены в Конгрессе Соединенных Штатов, членов, избранных на выборах ним котором большинство правомочных избирателей таких государств приняли участие принимает, в отсутствии сильных компенсационных показания, быть считаться убедительным доказательством, что такое государство и народ их не то в восстании против Соединенных Штатов " Теперь, поэтому, я, Авраам Линкольн, президент Соединенных Штатов, в силу власти во мне принадлежит, как главнокомандующий армии и Военно-морского флота Соединенных Штатов во время фактического вооруженного восстания против власти и правительства Соединенные Штаты, и как в форме и необходимые меры войну для подавления восстания говорит, делать, на этом первый день января, AD 1863 года, и в соответствии с моей целью, чтобы сделать, публично провозгласил на весь период ста дней с Первый день выше, порядок и назначить в качестве государства и частей государств котором люди их, соответственно, в этот день в восстании против Соединенных Штатов следующее, а именно: Арканзас, Техас, Луизиана (кроме приходов Санкт- Бернар, Palquemines, Джефферсон, Сент-Джон, Сент-Чарльз, Сент-Джеймс, Вознесение, Успение, Terrebone, Лафорч, Св. Марии, Св. Мартина, и Орлеан, включая город Новый Орлеан), Миссисипи, Алабама, Флорида , Грузия, Южная Каролина, Северная Каролина и Вирджиния (кроме сорока восьми округах назначается Западная Вирджиния, а также округа Беркли, Аккомак, Morthhampton, Элизабет-Сити, Йорк, принцесса Анна, и Норфолк, включая города Норфолк и Портсмут), и которые освобожденных частей для настоящей левой именно так, как если бы это воззвание не были выданы.



И в силу власти и с целью вышесказанное, я делаю заказ и заявляем, что все лица, содержащиеся в качестве рабов в течение указанного указанных государств и некоторых частях государства, и в дальнейшем должны быть, свободными, и что Исполнительной Власти Соединенных Штатов, в том числе военных и военно-морские органы власти, будут признавать и поддерживать свободу указанных лиц..
И я настоящим предписывают на людей так, объявлены свободными воздерживаться от всякого насилия, если в необходимой самообороны, и я рекомендую им, что, в случае, когда все разрешено, они трудятся добросовестно за разумную зарплату. И я также объявлять и известно, что такие лица подходящие условия будут приняты в вооруженных силах Соединенных Штатов, чтобы гарнизон крепости, позиции, вокзалы и другие места, а к человеку судов всех видов в указанных услуг. И на этот поступок, искренне полагают, акт справедливости, гарантированный Конституцией на военную необходимость, я призываю внимательным суждение человечества и милости Всемогущего Бога.


Yep makes just as much sense in Russian as it did English !

Thursday, August 4, 2011

So post about it !








Kevin Levin made this statement---








"No one here has attempted to turn this into a South bashing crusade. We are all aware of the North’s long and violent history surrounding slavery and the slave trade."








Well if he is as he claims / a "Historian" his new place of residence should provide a fantastic opportunity to enlighten us all about the slave trade.












Kevin I checked the Museums in your area, why no mention of the "Slave Trade" ?






The Museums in the South as well as the Battlefields are required to mention Slavery,


Are the folks from Boston suffering from selective amnesia?






Prove your not on a South Bashing Crusade!




Come on Kevin ! Show us all what the Museums in your area say about slavery!

Selective Racists !

Anyone see a burning cross or sheets in this photo ?
It's a monument to courage!



HOWEVER !







The Folks at The NAACP are boycotting South Carolina due to the Confederate Battle flag at The state house!






This is from a KKK rally in PA.



No PA Boycott! Why is that ? Lincoln maybe?




Yep if your gonna boycott a state because a flag has been used as a hate tool I think ya need to cover all your bases! OOOOOPs only 48 when this picture was taken!












An American Flag being used by a hate group, The same way they use the Battle Flag!



We have no control over the flag they choose to wave!












But The NAACP ain't got to be fair! Or open minded.




So I guess the National Association Against Confederate People should be added to the list of hate groups!


Monday, August 1, 2011

What the Hell Do Ya Want ?

OK all you Yankee Bloggers!
The Document plainly says / "ENLISTED NEGRO"

What part of that don't you understand?

My thanks to Ann for her tireless efforts in preserving our Heritage!




Thursday, July 28, 2011

So who is the "Revisionist" ?





It seems that "All Things Confederate" are under attack.


.http://www.dailymail.com/News/201107261058 The PC "Historians and their sock puppet bloggers are out to continue the trend started over 150 years ago.




The NAACP is offended by the Battle Flag! Black Confederates' who do not meet the parameters of certain "Historians" do not exist! George Orwell had it right, they keep stuffing all things Confederate down the memory hole and rewrite what they want us to believe. So who is the revisionist ?
Then if you don't get on board with their Official Version of the war, you're a Neo Confederate ! Any documentation you present is validated only if they say so! And in order to have their blessing it has to conform to what they want you to believe!
If your going to start tearing down Monuments start with Mr Lincolns in DC.
I am offended by it! My tax dollars are going to maintain a memorial to a racist war monger !
The Great Emancipator: who was in favor of Colonization! And started a war that cost many thousands of lives on both sides.
The Tyrant who imprisoned people who spoke against his policy's', deported members of the government who opposed him, issued arrest warrants for Jude's who disagreed with him! And shut down newspapers that voiced opposing views. Why won't the well rounded "Historian / Bloggers / Teachers / X-Teachers, address the Norths role in the slave trade, the Black Exclusionary Laws, or any number of other racist factions that were in the north?




D.T.