Friday, March 30, 2012

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Just Looking For The Truth !


I have looked for years for this information, I found it this morning! For the longest time I heard about it but could never find out anything! So I didn't think it was true! HOWEVER---


The First Company Richmond Howitzers-------


"John Parker, a slave from King and Queen County, was employed as a laborer on breastworks and artillery batteries near Richmond, but when the Union army began its advance on Manassas, the Confederate military ordered all colored people must come and fight. Arriving two days before the battle, Parker and four other slaves were assigned to a battery after a brief stint of training. He and his fellow slaves, as Gun Battery no.2, opened fire at 10.00 A.M. that fateful morning with grapeshot, and Parker quickly had his hands full handling ammunition, swabbing the cannon, and staying alive."

( Black Confederates and Afro-Yankees in Civil War Virginia, by Ervin L Jordan)


Intersting stuff for a descendent of two Richmond Howitzers.

Add the above find to ---‎


"Federal Official Records, Series 1, Volume 4, p.569 - Report of Colonel John W. Phelps, First Vermont Infantry:

"CAMP BUTLER, Newport News, Va., August 1 I, 186I - SIR: Scouts from this post represent the enemy as having retired. they came to New Market Bridge on Wednesday, and left the next day. They-the enemy-talked of having 9,000 men. They were recalled by dispatches from Richmond. They had twenty pieces of artillery, among which was the Richmond Howitzer Battery, manned by negroes. . . Their numbers are probably overrated; but with regard to their artillery, and its being manned in part by negroes, I think the report is probably correct."

I have searched through Howitzer records, Letters from my Ancestors, just about every source I could find. I'm not 100% convinced that the Howitzers had Black Men at the cannons.

But the evidence is adding up.

It don't matter in the grand scheem of things one way or the other. Sure it would be cool if it's true, but that is the paramount factor / " THE TRUTH" !


I will keep ya posted !

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Battle Flag.





I support the Battle Flag of my great grand father to honor his courage.



He defended his home state of Virginia, for four years against an invading army!



He had broken no law. Instead he faced overwhelming forces, better armed, and vastly outnumbered! And kept them at bay for four years.






That is something worth honoring! And if "those people" can not understand that concept I do not know what else to say.The hate groups who have adopted the Battle Flag are out of my control, but the honor my ancestors deserve for their efforts will not be lost in the mist of time.






Dave Tatum.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Y'all Come!
















My Friend Mike sent me an invitation !

Figgured I'd share it with Y'all !