American Civil War enthusiasts thread

[cuate]

My Great Grandfather enlisted in the Georgis Infantry at age 20 and fought in the several battles around Atlanta and was wounded in the Battle of Franklin, TN
and captured a few days later at Pulaski, TN, taken as a POW to Camp Chase, Ohio where he was held until shortly after the war ended. His Father served in the US Army during the Mexican War 1845-1847 and died there, no one knows where he is buried.

When I was younger I was a member of the SCV , Sons of Confederate Veterans, and was in many Civil War re-enactments in and around Granbury, TX and at Pea Ridge, AK...In one artillery outfit with a mountain howitzer aqnd later in an Infantry outfit...A real name for that war should be "The War For Southern Independence" and I didn;t know that d--nyankee was two words intil I was about 21 years old ! God Bless Texas !

 

[Clockwork]

I didn;t know that d--nyankee was two words intil I was about 21 years old !

 

[TrailDust]

I think it was partially a lack of urgency (and exhaustion) by Lee's field commanders in taking Little Round Top before the Union occupied it. Then you also had Stuart's cavalry gallivanting around the countryside and not checking in as often as they should have. Still, once you know the enemy has far superior positioning the smart thing to do is to pick a different fight a different day. He could have withdrawn and moved around, sending a smaller force to "procure" shoes and such after the Union had left. Yeah, Picket's charge was a huge WTF? I think they were tired, wanted to end it, and thought they could push through despite have disadvantaged positions. They should have known better.

Do you give any credence to the suggestions that Lee was sick (accounts seem to vary about whether it was hemorrhoids or dysentery) and that that clouded his judgment?

Honestly I've never understood the appeal of Civil War reenactments and the like, but I don't get NASCAR either. Guess I never will.

It's not my cup of tea to be a reenactor either, but I certainly enjoy watching them in action. I admire them for their dedication too.

When he lost the Hills he should have pulled back.

+1

 

[Mexican_Hippie]

Do you give any credence to the suggestions that Lee was sick (accounts seem to vary about whether it was hemorrhoids or dysentery) and that that clouded his judgment?

I don't think it was something that simple. Maybe the fatigue of fighting a brutal war for years and wanting a victory in the North.

I think the South's biggest issue is that there was a lack of urgency in getting to Little Round Top. They didn't realize how key it was until it was too late. There was ample time to take it uncontested had they acted quickly. There's a number of theories why they didn't take it early (lack of water, Hood's ineptness, they didn't think they would fight outside Gettysburg, etc.).

 

[Skip]

Last night I had a chance to catch up on some shows I had DVR'd. One was Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy, where he got involved with a re-inactment. American Pickers was all about the Civil War also, and they also got involved with a re-inactment. Lastly was Pawn Stars and they went to check out an Original Colt Gatling gun, The guy wanted 335,000 and they could make a deal, but they got to fire it. They also picked up a Carbine from the time. Cool episodes.

 

[Clockwork]

I want a Colt gatling gun...

 

[ROGER4314]

I've been in all of the lower 48 states and specialized in visiting Civil War sites. I am a genuine CW fan!

Here's a strange one. One year, I happened to be in Vicksburg Mississippi on the 4th of July. It was weird. No fireworks, no celebrations, noise, parties etc. I wondered what the heck was happening until I remembered that Vicksburg fell to the Yankees on that date. Those folks do not celebrate the 4th of July! It's like a stinkin' morgue there on the 4th!

There is a battle site in Galveston and there was a heck of a fight in Sabine Pass.

I love the black powder pistols and rifles. If you're interested in Civil War period firearms, check the Cabelas site. Their prices are great on the BP handguns and you can order them by mail.

Have fun!

Flash

 

[Clockwork]

Colt Dragoon is civil war era, innit?

 

[ROGER4314]

I depends the Walker and 1st, second or third Dragoon were all pre Civil War but very large pistols. They were all redesigned from the famous Walker Colt most notably in the latch to keep the loading lever from dropping down and locking the action. Never meant to be carried on the soldier, they were for mounted riders.

I like the first and second dragoons the best. I like the squared off trigger guards. The third Dragoon is rounded at the trigger guard.


Hey....about Lee. When he went South, he gave up virtually everything. He and his wife lived on her family plantation (Custis-Lee Mansion & grounds) in Arlington VA and he had to choose between a commission in the Yankee army or to go with the South. There was no choice for him.

Lee left the plantation in Arlington, went south and the Yankees grabbed the property since it was just across the Potomic River from Washington DC. The Blue coats wanted to make sure Lee would never return to the plantation so they began to bury soldiers on the grounds especially around the Mansion. Lee never returned, so the burials continued. The property is now the Arlington National Cemetery where JFK is buried and where the famous Iwo Jima flag raising statue is located.

I spent countless hours walking those acres of headstones and observing many military burials. That's where the seeds of patriotism and national pride were planted in me.

Flash

 

[TrailDust]

I've been in all of the lower 48 states and specialized in visiting Civil War sites. I am a genuine CW fan!

Sounds like you and I have pretty much done the same thing!

Here's a strange one. One year, I happened to be in Vicksburg Mississippi on the 4th of July. It was weird. No fireworks, no celebrations, noise, parties etc. I wondered what the heck was happening until I remembered that Vicksburg fell to the Yankees on that date. Those folks do not celebrate the 4th of July! It's like a stinkin' morgue there on the 4th!

I found the same thing is true in Savannah, Tennessee, at the Shiloh battlefield. Except for two small stores there's almost no memorabilia shops or visitor stores there, and the Stars and Bars flies on lots of people's front lawns and porches. They definitely don't like it there that the Union won it seems.

There is a battle site in Galveston and there was a heck of a fight in Sabine Pass.

Haven't seen the battle site at Galveston, I'll have to put it on my to do list.

-

 

[fnmedallion]

i personaly don't think i would enjoy a reenactment imho would remind me of the actual brutality & bloody mindlessness of the war itself, i love the writen and spoken history but do not believe would enjoy play acting

 

[fnmedallion]

Does your family have any memorabilia left by your great-grandfather?





You sure have to sit back and say, what the hell was Lee thinking at Gettysburg?

there is some pics and his wifes application for cw pension after he was killed in scyene in 1891

 

[TrailDust]

there is some pics and his wifes application for cw pension after he was killed in scyene in 1891

Very interesting! We have some veterans who served in the Union on my Mom's side of the family, but no one who was killed.


BTW, speaking of museums or battlefields that someone may not have visited, I'd highly recommend the battlefield and museum for Wilson's Creek near Springfield, Missouri. It's an excellent museum and a nicely preserved battlefield in an area of the war not many people study. Also, Pea Ridge in Arkansas is another out of the way gem.

 

[jocat54]

I haven't been a fan of the civil war, but after going to Gettysburg last fall and standing in all the places on the battlefield and letting my mind wonder, I now have an interest in seeing and learning more.

Always thought Lee made a big mistake there--but he was a great General.

 

[Texasjack]

Of course, you did mean to type "War of Northern Aggression", right?

"We are a band of brothers and native to the soil
Fighting for the property we earned through honest toil
And when our rights are threatened
A cry goes near and far
Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star!"

 

[TrailDust]

Of course, you did mean to type "War of Northern Aggression", right?

That's also why I usually post up the battle names with the north/south designations.

On a loosely related subject--and I may have mentioned this elsewhere--was growing up I used to have the Stars & Bars flag in my bedroom and my Mom got upset enough that she wanted me to take it down. My Dad understood that for me it was a matter of southern pride, so he overrode my Mom and the flag stayed. I think the emotions over the war run deeper for northerns more than they do for southerners, but that's just my opinion.

 

[rio grande]

There was a Texas army that marched into New Mexico and occupied Santa Fe. North of Santa Fe at Glorieta Pass they ran into a Yankee force that had marched down through Colorado. During the battle they defeated the yankees, but a group of the bluecoats managed to get behind the Texas lines and destroy their wagons and provisions. That was the end of the Texas effort there. They could not live off the land - I suppose in contrast to the yanks who invaded the South they would not steal food and supplies from the local people.
The Dance Brother's revolver (an improved Colt copy) was manufactured near Houston.
Lots of War for Southern Independence history hereabouts.

 

[JohnnyReb]

Let me start by saying my passion is target shooting. That being said, my family's passion has and always has been "The War Between the States." Most of my childhood family vacations were to battlefields. My parents house is like a museum. Sometimes my entire family will go to a reeactment if everyones work schedules permit. My dad is a former Sons of Confederate Veterans Commander, and my siblings and I have been members and participated when we've had time. To answer comments regarding why anyone in their right mind would dress in wool (or jean wool which was a cotton/wool blend since the south had less access to wool due to the blockades and far less industry) to "play war" in the heat is quite simple. The true scholars and historians of this era know that Southern history and Texas history for that matter of this time is being taught inaccurately to the point that what most people do know about this time period is almost all wrong. Reenactors feel like they have a duty that if even just one spectator at a reenactment that is curious gets their eyes and ears opened a little, they can help them learn a little about the truths of that era. Even more so, go home and read as much as possible after getting more interested and see for themselves. Many reenactors have traced their ancestry to veterans of the time and just got so engrossed in reading about their ancestor's unit, etc. that they want to honor them by understanding what they went through to an extent to honor the sacrifice they made. Here is research my father has done on ours. Albert Monroe Johnston I generally dont bring up this subject to many people because too many people are so quick to judge and brand me without ever hearing me out or knowing me personally. The powers that be have done their job at squashing Confederate history that anyone into it is viewed by mainstream as racist and dumb hicks trying to change history. My ancestor never owned slaves nor did 97% of Confederate soldiers. How could 200,000 plus soldiers die for something they never had? The vast majority of rebels were poor farmers and ranchers that could not afford a slave. Abraham Lincoln did not free the slaves until 1863 while the war started in 1861. Before anyone gets politically correct on me about the slave issue, let me part by letting you know that you have been indocrinated. Strong words? Yes, sad but true. Do some research!!! On a lighter note. Here's a funny History Channel commerical I saw since it's the 150th Anniversary of the war. I also saw a hilarious bit on the show "Only in America" with Larry the Cable guy about reenacting.

YouTube - ‪GEICO - Civil War Reenactors‬‏

 

[TrailDust]

Abraham Lincoln did not free the slaves until 1863 while the war started in 1861. Before anyone gets politically correct on me about the slave issue, let me part by letting you know that you have been indocrinated. Strong words? Yes, sad but true.

I'll support your position....+1

 

[Stumpy]

i dont know hardly anything about lincoln or the civil war. im a WW2 history buff.

why was lincoln so bad?