Civil War connections to everyday life

[marlin teat]

Re: Civil War connections to everyday life

1. Those playing a few rounds on the Bobby Jones golf course and partying in Buckhead in Atlanta are on the Peachtree Creek battlefield.

2. A live artillery shell was recently found while digging a grave at Myrtle Hill Cemetery - Rome, Ga.

3. Artillery rounds fired by the Noble Bros. Foundry (Rome) to test their guns are routinely found in the bank of the Etowah River. Several hundred have reported to have been found to date. The local bomb-disposal unit is called out several times a year.

[Brent6871]

Re: Civil War connections to everyday life

To continue with the military theme that some members mentioned in earlier posts:

1st Brigade, 29th Infantry Division, Army National Guard based out of Staunton, Virginia is also known as the the Stonewall Brigade while the 29th Infantry Division is also known as the "Blue/Gray" Division.

[SouthernRifle]

Re: Civil War connections to everyday life

Whenever I'm watching sports on tv, and the game isn't going my way, I usually end up throwing something, or knocking stuff over. By the end of the game my mother is often right in saying "Well it looks like Sherman took Atlanta again!" The funny thing is, she can be even worse than me.

Rob Weber
3d Alabama

[hiplainsyank]

Re: Civil War connections to everyday life

In Colby, the next "big" town east of us here in Goodland, KS, I was driving and happened to notice that a few streets had names like Mission Ridge and Chickamauga. (Colby is in Thomas--as in Gen. Geo.--Co.)

We live in Sherman Co., just off of Sherman street. The county in which I work is named Wallace for Gen. WHL, killed at Shiloh.

Since I am so far removed from Kansas' Civil War period history, I have often looked through the cemeteries for vets. Most, of course, were from western army regiments, and would've fought in such key battles like Chatanooga and Vicksburg. Some were in KS units that never made it east of the Mississippi. But then you occaisionally come across guys from NY, MA, PA. There's a guy buried here from the famous 83rd PA. I've always wondered if he was with the regiment at Gettysburg.

I often look up their graves, esp. on Memorial Day, but this past year I discovered something really exciting. I stumbled across a book in the town cemetery in the chapel, they list all the vets buried there. Much to my surprise, there were Confederates buried here in Goodland! Two of them were named, the rest had a deeper story.

Fort WAllace was in the county south of here, active from 1866-1882 or so, and its soldiers fought in the most engagements (with Indians) of any fort in the west. When the post was deactivated, the soldiers buried in the post cemetery were moved to Ft. Riley (maybe it was LEavenworth), all except a few. During my early wanderings of the town cemetery, I was always puzzled why it had 6 or 8 gravestones marked "Unknown U.S. Soldier", with GAR markers. I wondered how in the world unknown Civil War soldiers ended up way out here, the middle of nowhere (both then and now).

The cemetery vet book stated that there were other Confederate vets buried in the place, under "Unknown U.S. Soldier" tombstones, and had been moved from the Ft. WAllace cemetery--so these were one and the same. Speculating with friends, we decided that they must have galvanized, went west, and died at Ft. WAllace, but because they had been Confederate soldiers, they were not moved when the post was closed. The graves originally all had wooden markers at Ft. WAllace, so their identity was lost.

I still don't know if this is the exact story, but the only other way that it's been suggested to me to track it down is to ask the local American LEgion Post for a look at the GAR records, which I was told the Legion usually inherited after the GAR post closed.

That's been my local connection with the Civil War.

[FWL]

Re: Civil War connections to everyday life

I believe when you say you have a "deadline" on a project, etc. it is referring to the deadline found in the Civil War prison camp. To pass the deadline meant death.

Greg Starbuck

Greg that's an excellent one. Not that I doubt you, but do happen to remember the source for that? Thats a great one for the office

Frank Lilley

[JWolf]

Re: Civil War connections to everyday life

Streets that are named Grand Ave often refers to the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR).

Refering to a previous post, GAR records/history can also be found at the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War website.

http://www.suvcw.org

Another Civil War/GAR connection to modern society is Memorial Day.


In 1868 General John Logan, as the GAR commander-in-chief signed

General Order No. 11 which estatablished Memorial Day.

Here is the origional text:
[FONT=Book Antiqua]
General Order
No. 11

Headquarters, Grand Army of the Republic
Washington, D.C., May 5, 1868


I. The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form or ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.

We are organized, comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the purpose, among other things, "of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers, sailors, and marines who united to suppress the late rebellion." What can aid more to assure this result than by cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead, who made their breasts a barricade between our country and its foe? Their soldier lives were the reveille of freedom to a race in chains, and their death a tattoo of rebellious tyranny in arms. We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and taste of the Nation can add to their adornment and security is but a fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let no wanton foot tread rudely on such hallowed grounds. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and found mourners. Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten, as a people, the cost of free and undivided republic.

If other eyes grow dull and other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain in us.

Let us, then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us as sacred charges upon the Nation's gratitude,--the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan.


II. It is the purpose of the Commander-in-Chief to inaugurate this observance with the hope it will be kept up from year to year, while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of his departed comrades. He earnestly desires the public press to call attention to this Order, and lend its friendly aid in bringing it to the notice of comrades in all parts of the country in time for simultaneous compliance therewith.

III. Department commanders will use every effort to make this order effective.

By command of:
JOHN A. LOGAN,
Commander-in-Chief.

N. P. CHIPMAN,
Adjutant-General.
[FONT=Book Antiqua]

[David Lanier]

Re: Civil War connections to everyday life

The North Carolina nickname "Tar Heel" comes from the Civil War. Originally intended as a slur (the barefooted boys who worked in the woods taking turpentine from the trees often had tar-looking gunk stuck to their feet), the term became a badge of honor applied to North Carolina troops who yielded ground grudgingly. The University of North Carolina uses "Tar Heels" as their motto, and NC is sometimes referred to as the "Tar Heel State" (the official motto is the "Old North State").

[Foggy Bottom Jim]

Re: Civil War connections to everyday life

When I arrived here in Saudi Arabia I found it very interesting that the Seargents of the Guard for the Saudi Arabia National Guard troops that protect our consulate wear red sashes from the shoulder when they're on duty. Mighty amusing with the American pattern BDUs and about the only thing here that reminds me of things Civil War.

Foggy bottom Jim

[stx]

Re: Civil War connections to everyday life

In Cincinnati there is Lytle tunnel, which is named after an officer who won the medal of honor at Gettysburg.

[nick19thind]

Re: Civil War connections to everyday life

SIDEBURNS after General Burnside
CRACKER a name for white southerners originating in the years before the war
SHARPSHOOTER after the Sharps rifle used by snipers during the war
GAT a name for a machine gun, originating from Gatling gun

[Rob Weaver]

Re: Civil War connections to everyday life

Strong Vincent High School is about 2 blocks from my home. Their team is the Colonels.

[western reb]

Re: Civil War connections to everyday life

Got two things in which the Civil War connects to my everyday life:

1) Col. Allensworth State Historic Park- About 25 minutes north of my city and on my route home I get to pass by the first black settlement in California established by ex-slave and US soldier in the Civil War Allen Allensworth and associates.

http://friendsofallensworthsandiego.com/about.htm -info on Allensworth

2) Shafter, the city just to the south of me is named after Maj. Gen. William Shafter. Although just a Lt. in the 7th Michigan during the Civil War, he earned the Congressional Medal of Honor for his service at the Battle of Fair Oaks. To go along with the City's theme, their mascot is the "Generals" and their school colors are blue and yellow and of course they just happen to be bitter rivals with my city :angry_smi

http://www.spanamwar.com/shafter.htm -info on Maj. Gen. Shafter

[Fritz]

Re: Civil War connections to everyday life

Mr. Borden of Borden's Dairy was making condensed milk in the late 1850's. I know it was used by the Union troops for their coffee.

[stx]

Re: Civil War connections to everyday life

I have a correction of my post. Lytle served and died at Chickamauga. I learned that on a visit a few days ago and found a civil war connection in everyday life that tops them all for a few people. If you've ever visited misionary ridge, there are homes along the driving tour that have plaques and full size cannon smack dab in their front yards. And there not big yards. It was very interesting to see.

[NoahBriggs]

Re: Civil War connections to everyday life

Big Pharma, who brought you OxyContin, Lipitor and Viagra among other things, got their major business break during the War as contractors for the Federal Army. Includes (but not limited to) Pfizer, Squibb, Merck, Mallinkrodt in St. Louis, Tilden. Much of thier profits went into further research to synthesize botanical medicines. Squibb specialized in manufacturing quinine, chloroform and ether, and if I remember correctly was the major supplier for the Navy (Squibb having been a squid himself in the early years of his life).

I happened to be reading Civil War Pharmacy this morning. Go figure.