Sunday, March 13, 2011
A Useful Discovery /
By William M Dame
BATTLES OF SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE...
In this fight, necessity, the mother of invention, put us up to a device that served us well here, and that we made fullest use of, in every fight we had afterwards. When we had kept up that rapid fire, with a scant gun detachment, in plowed ground, and under a hot sun, for an hour, we were nearly exhausted. After Hardy was wounded, and left us, it was still worse. The hardest labor, and what took most time, was running up the guns from the recoil. We had stopped a moment to rest, and let the gun cool a little, and were discussing the difficulties, when the idea occurred to us. There was an old rail fence near by. Somebody said “let’s get some rails and chock the wheels to keep them from running back.” This struck us all as good, and in an instant we had piled up rails behind the wheels as high as the trail would allow. The effect was, that when the gun fired it simply jerked back against this rail pile, and rested in its place, and so we were saved all the time and labor of running up. We found that we could fire three or four times as rapidly, in this way. So that a chocked gun was equal to four in a fight. We found this simple device of immense service! We were told by the knowing ones that we ran the greatest possible danger. The ordnance people said that if a gun was not allowed to recoil it would certainly burst. But we didn’t mind! A device that saved so much labor, and enabled us to deliver such an extraordinarily effective fire on the battlefield, we were bound to try. We found it acted beautifully. We then knew the guns wouldn’t burst for we had tried it.We used it afterward in every fight. The instant we were ordered into position, two or three cannoneers would rush off and get rails, or a log or two, to chock the guns. And on two or three very desperate emergencies, during this campaign, this device enabled us to render very important service. It made a battery equal to a battalion, and a good many other batteries took it up, and used it. I believe it added greatly to the effectiveness of our artillery in the close-range fighting of this campaign.Well! even with this relief, the labor of working our guns in this furious and prolonged fight was fearful! At last the welcome order, “Section cease firing” was given. We limbered up, and drew the guns a short distance to the side, out of the line of fire, and utterly exhausted, we cannoneers, threw ourselves right down on the plowed ground beside the guns, and slept like the dead
Monument to a warrior
Suffolk man’s yard art has some neighbors seeing only red
BY LINDA McNATT THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
• Reach Linda McNatt at (757) 222-5561 or linda.mcnatt@pilot online.com.
SUFFOLK — When Dave Tatum gazes across his front lawn, near the edge of the narrow, rural road he lives on, he sees a monument to a man he considers a hero.
When his neighbors look at the same scene, they see a “huge structure with a cannon on top.”
That’s what a neighbor told city officials, when calling to report Tatum for building without a permit.
When the inspector visited last week, according to Tatum’s wife, Fran, the woman smiled and called it a “garden structure, with yard art.” No permit required.
Tatum said he’d been thinking about the memorial to his great-grandfather, John Calhoun Tatum, for a while. When steel bars started coming into the construction job site where he works in Virginia Beach as a safety director, an idea popped into his head. The timbers supporting the bars would have been thrown away.
Now Tatum has constructed a wooden pyramid – shaped to resemble the Confederate monument at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond – at the front of his home on the edge of the Dismal Swamp.
It does have a cannon on it. And a little soldier dressed in gray.
“It ain’t coming down,” Tatum said. “People come by and wave. I’ve gotten a couple of eee-hah’s. This really means something to me.”
Tatum recently learned that his greatgrandfather was a private in the Richmond Howitzers, an elite group of volunteers formed just before the Civil War.
Soon after Virginia seceded, the Howitzers, numbering about 300, were mustered in. They served in major battles and were there when Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox.
William Henry Tatum, a Richmond merchant, joined first, his descendant learned. Later, a little more than a year before the end of the Civil War, John Tatum, barely 18, joined.
Tatum learned more about his grandfather through letters written home by the older brother. William told his parents how John taught others in the unit that last winter of the war, when the South was short on things such as manpower and ammunition, how to trap birds for food.
And, Tatum said, when the Union forces hurled cannonballs , John would dig them up for recycling. William told the family he didn’t know what he was going to do with his younger brother.
William, his great uncle, is buried in Hollywood Cemetery, said Tatum. He hasn’t found his grandfather’s grave. Meanwhile, he has a memorial to John Calhoun in his yard.
“The inspector gave me a piece of paper saying I don’t need a permit,” he said.
The soldier is made of concrete. The cannon is concrete, too.
“My wife wouldn’t let me get a real cannon,” Tatum said, grinning.
Suffolk man’s yard art has some neighbors seeing only red
BY LINDA McNATT THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
• Reach Linda McNatt at (757) 222-5561 or linda.mcnatt@pilot online.com.
SUFFOLK — When Dave Tatum gazes across his front lawn, near the edge of the narrow, rural road he lives on, he sees a monument to a man he considers a hero.
When his neighbors look at the same scene, they see a “huge structure with a cannon on top.”
That’s what a neighbor told city officials, when calling to report Tatum for building without a permit.
When the inspector visited last week, according to Tatum’s wife, Fran, the woman smiled and called it a “garden structure, with yard art.” No permit required.
Tatum said he’d been thinking about the memorial to his great-grandfather, John Calhoun Tatum, for a while. When steel bars started coming into the construction job site where he works in Virginia Beach as a safety director, an idea popped into his head. The timbers supporting the bars would have been thrown away.
Now Tatum has constructed a wooden pyramid – shaped to resemble the Confederate monument at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond – at the front of his home on the edge of the Dismal Swamp.
It does have a cannon on it. And a little soldier dressed in gray.
“It ain’t coming down,” Tatum said. “People come by and wave. I’ve gotten a couple of eee-hah’s. This really means something to me.”
Tatum recently learned that his greatgrandfather was a private in the Richmond Howitzers, an elite group of volunteers formed just before the Civil War.
Soon after Virginia seceded, the Howitzers, numbering about 300, were mustered in. They served in major battles and were there when Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox.
William Henry Tatum, a Richmond merchant, joined first, his descendant learned. Later, a little more than a year before the end of the Civil War, John Tatum, barely 18, joined.
Tatum learned more about his grandfather through letters written home by the older brother. William told his parents how John taught others in the unit that last winter of the war, when the South was short on things such as manpower and ammunition, how to trap birds for food.
And, Tatum said, when the Union forces hurled cannonballs , John would dig them up for recycling. William told the family he didn’t know what he was going to do with his younger brother.
William, his great uncle, is buried in Hollywood Cemetery, said Tatum. He hasn’t found his grandfather’s grave. Meanwhile, he has a memorial to John Calhoun in his yard.
“The inspector gave me a piece of paper saying I don’t need a permit,” he said.
The soldier is made of concrete. The cannon is concrete, too.
“My wife wouldn’t let me get a real cannon,” Tatum said, grinning.
A Duel of Honor !
(Boys will be Boys)
During the war a matter of Honor prompted a duel between two of the Richmond Howitzers.
While camped in Spottsylvania county, Mr William G Lampkin who was considered a lady Charmer .and Mr TJ Macon would soon face off in a duel to the death.
Near the Poison Fields was the residence of Count Deaskie, and family. His family consisted of himself his wife and three daughters. Mr Lampkin being the lady charmer made himself a frequent visitor.
TJ Macon, Ben Lambert and Edward Barnes Decided to play a joke on William. The three young men went to the home while William was visiting. Mr Barnes during the course of the evening sand a song with a fine tenor voice which the Count had him repeat. They spent a fine evening.
Upon return to camp, Macon sent word to Lampkin that he felt he had been treated shabbily and expected satisfaction. A duel was arranged !
J B Lambert was Macon’s second and Barnes was second to Lampkin. The duel and location were agreed upon. The agreement stated that a maximum of three rounds would be used at 50 yards distance.
The duel went on as planned and went as far as the third shot ! On the 3rd shot Macon fell with blood showing over his heart. He was placed upon a litter mortally wounded and taken to camp.
As he lay in the tent life fading away he was paid a visit by the victor.
“How are you Tom” ? asked William. “Very well under the circumstances I thank you, and How are you?”
At this point William knew he had been taken, The guns contained only powder no shot and the blood came from a sponge placed under TJ’s shirt and an unwilling horse.
This duel must have kept the camp laughing for days !
I got the story from chapter X of the book Reminiscences of the First Company Richmond Howitzers by T.J. Macon
(Boys will be Boys)
During the war a matter of Honor prompted a duel between two of the Richmond Howitzers.
While camped in Spottsylvania county, Mr William G Lampkin who was considered a lady Charmer .and Mr TJ Macon would soon face off in a duel to the death.
Near the Poison Fields was the residence of Count Deaskie, and family. His family consisted of himself his wife and three daughters. Mr Lampkin being the lady charmer made himself a frequent visitor.
TJ Macon, Ben Lambert and Edward Barnes Decided to play a joke on William. The three young men went to the home while William was visiting. Mr Barnes during the course of the evening sand a song with a fine tenor voice which the Count had him repeat. They spent a fine evening.
Upon return to camp, Macon sent word to Lampkin that he felt he had been treated shabbily and expected satisfaction. A duel was arranged !
J B Lambert was Macon’s second and Barnes was second to Lampkin. The duel and location were agreed upon. The agreement stated that a maximum of three rounds would be used at 50 yards distance.
The duel went on as planned and went as far as the third shot ! On the 3rd shot Macon fell with blood showing over his heart. He was placed upon a litter mortally wounded and taken to camp.
As he lay in the tent life fading away he was paid a visit by the victor.
“How are you Tom” ? asked William. “Very well under the circumstances I thank you, and How are you?”
At this point William knew he had been taken, The guns contained only powder no shot and the blood came from a sponge placed under TJ’s shirt and an unwilling horse.
This duel must have kept the camp laughing for days !
I got the story from chapter X of the book Reminiscences of the First Company Richmond Howitzers by T.J. Macon
True Southern Treasure©
Tall tales and long stories are still around.
Of Great Southern treasures - Buried deep in the ground.
Tales of Bright silver and boxes of gold.
from the Yankees , so no one was told.
No maps were made, because they might be found!
But TRUE southern treasure is not underground!
I’ve found the treasure - I share it with you!
As soon as you hear - you will know it is true
!So please listen careful - for now I shall tell!
It’s not Gold or silver, It’s our sweet Southern Belles’
For the Greatest of treasures in all of the land
Can’t match the soft touch - of a southern Belles hand.
Name all of the things that money can buy!
None are as lovely as a Southern Belles eyes.
Please think of something- go on take a while.
Name one thing as precisions - as a Southern Belles smile.
For our most valued treasure- we should thank God above.
For the greatest treasure of all - Is that Southern Belles LOVE!
David Tatum Jr. ®
Tall tales and long stories are still around.
Of Great Southern treasures - Buried deep in the ground.
Tales of Bright silver and boxes of gold.
from the Yankees , so no one was told.
No maps were made, because they might be found!
But TRUE southern treasure is not underground!
I’ve found the treasure - I share it with you!
As soon as you hear - you will know it is true
!So please listen careful - for now I shall tell!
It’s not Gold or silver, It’s our sweet Southern Belles’
For the Greatest of treasures in all of the land
Can’t match the soft touch - of a southern Belles hand.
Name all of the things that money can buy!
None are as lovely as a Southern Belles eyes.
Please think of something- go on take a while.
Name one thing as precisions - as a Southern Belles smile.
For our most valued treasure- we should thank God above.
For the greatest treasure of all - Is that Southern Belles LOVE!
David Tatum Jr. ®
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