It is a real comfort to know that the memory of Jefferson Davis continues in a powerful way in many places. One, of course, is our beloved First White House of the Confederacy here in Montgomery.
Another is the Jefferson Davis Monument in Fairview, Kentucky which marks the site of his birthplace. At 351 feet tall, it is the largest unreinforced concrete obelisk in the world, and the fifth tallest monument in the world. The top four are St. Louis's Gateway Arch, San Jacinto Texas, Washington Monument and the Perry's Victory and Peace Memorial at Put in Bay, Ohio. (That one is only 12" larger than the Davis obelisk - boo, hiss, we wuz robbed!).
The idea for the monument was hatched in 1907 at a reunion of the Orphan's Brigade of the Confederate Army. Construction was begun in 1917 and it was completed in 1924 at a cost of $ 200,00. The Monument (like the First White House) has undergone major renovation and reopened to visitors in May, 2004.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Fightin' Joe Wheeler
I recently read an article that was in the Montgomery Advertiser, Feb. 19, 1961 reprinted by the Sons of the Confederate Veterans "News From the Cradle", George Gayle, Editor, about General Joe Wheeler.
In one of the many battles he fought, Wheeler dashed between two federal armies, defeating one, destroying 1200 loaded wagons, killing 4000 mules and blowing up 300 ammunition wagons. He was known as the master of retreat and master of attack.
He was born in Augusta but at an early age he was sent to live with an uncle in Connecticut. At the age of 18 he was appointed to West Point by a New York congressman. He finished the five year course in 1859. When Georgia seceded from the Union, Wheeler resigned his federal commission and
returned to Georgia and joined the Confederacy. He had lived all but the first five years of his life in the North.
During the course of the war he was wounded three times and had 18 horses shot under him.After the war he served in Congress until he resigned to fight in the Spanish American War where he was acclaimed a national hero. He later served in the Philippines under General MacArthur. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
In one of the many battles he fought, Wheeler dashed between two federal armies, defeating one, destroying 1200 loaded wagons, killing 4000 mules and blowing up 300 ammunition wagons. He was known as the master of retreat and master of attack.
He was born in Augusta but at an early age he was sent to live with an uncle in Connecticut. At the age of 18 he was appointed to West Point by a New York congressman. He finished the five year course in 1859. When Georgia seceded from the Union, Wheeler resigned his federal commission and
returned to Georgia and joined the Confederacy. He had lived all but the first five years of his life in the North.
During the course of the war he was wounded three times and had 18 horses shot under him.After the war he served in Congress until he resigned to fight in the Spanish American War where he was acclaimed a national hero. He later served in the Philippines under General MacArthur. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
A Good Trick Played On The Yankees
This is from my friend's great-grandfather's War memoirs: "Sometimes when we located an enemy picket of good size and favorably situated, Captain E. or Captain S. would organize an 'expedition'. Calling for volunteers he would pick out 20 or so. Then under cover of night...the squad would embark and row down the river, singing black spirituals, which all, being brought up on the rice plantations, we could do perfectly.
Presently 'Who goes there?' 'Der, me mosser'. 'Who's me?' 'Kum from de Stewart. plantation suh'. 'What you doing here'? 'We ain't bin had no terbaker, suh, since the rebbel gone, an' we brung sum chicken an' aig fuh see ef we kin swop um, suh'.
'What else you got?' Sum bee-honey, suh, en crab-meat and rossin years, suh'. 'Well, bring your boat in and I'll see what you got.' By that time the flat had touched the bank, all the men, except one, had leaped out; before the sentry could yell he was felled and gagged. By the time the picket squad woke up they were all covered, tied, and they and all their outfit, guns, food, equipage, etc., transferred to the flat or boat, and by next morning all were back in our camp and we ate up their fine food, divided out the spoils and sent them to headquarters with our report."
If anyone reading this, needs to have anything translated, please let me know!!!
Presently 'Who goes there?' 'Der, me mosser'. 'Who's me?' 'Kum from de Stewart. plantation suh'. 'What you doing here'? 'We ain't bin had no terbaker, suh, since the rebbel gone, an' we brung sum chicken an' aig fuh see ef we kin swop um, suh'.
'What else you got?' Sum bee-honey, suh, en crab-meat and rossin years, suh'. 'Well, bring your boat in and I'll see what you got.' By that time the flat had touched the bank, all the men, except one, had leaped out; before the sentry could yell he was felled and gagged. By the time the picket squad woke up they were all covered, tied, and they and all their outfit, guns, food, equipage, etc., transferred to the flat or boat, and by next morning all were back in our camp and we ate up their fine food, divided out the spoils and sent them to headquarters with our report."
If anyone reading this, needs to have anything translated, please let me know!!!
One Soldier's Service in the Confederate Army
A friend gave me an account of her Great-Grandfather's story of his service in the Confederate Army. He was 14 when the War started and he was wild to join, but his parents made him wait until he was 16!
He says: "In the 2 years (he served) I was never in a hospital, never had a tent, never was sick, never wounded. I had one large firm all wool blanket my mother gave me from the household supply. My cousin and buddy, Willie, had another of the same kind form his house. When we camped at night, if time and conditions suited, we would take up leaves or straw or boughs, cover it with one blanket and cover ourselves with the other."
He went on: "If it was raining, we would cut two sticks about 3 feet long with crouched top, stick them in the ground 6' apart, connect from crotch to crotch with a long stick or fence rail, stretch one blanket over it, tent fashion, like an inverted v and lie down underneath and cover with the other blanket. If we got wet it was unfortunate, but unavoidable and that was all there was to it."
This old soldier wrote his memoirs in 1931 and died in 1932. In my next blog I will tell you about one of the "tricks" they played on the Yankees!
He says: "In the 2 years (he served) I was never in a hospital, never had a tent, never was sick, never wounded. I had one large firm all wool blanket my mother gave me from the household supply. My cousin and buddy, Willie, had another of the same kind form his house. When we camped at night, if time and conditions suited, we would take up leaves or straw or boughs, cover it with one blanket and cover ourselves with the other."
He went on: "If it was raining, we would cut two sticks about 3 feet long with crouched top, stick them in the ground 6' apart, connect from crotch to crotch with a long stick or fence rail, stretch one blanket over it, tent fashion, like an inverted v and lie down underneath and cover with the other blanket. If we got wet it was unfortunate, but unavoidable and that was all there was to it."
This old soldier wrote his memoirs in 1931 and died in 1932. In my next blog I will tell you about one of the "tricks" they played on the Yankees!
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Jefferson Davis' first letter to wife from Montgomery
A dear friend from the Second White House in Richmond has sent a copy of Jefferson Davis' first letter to Varina after arriving in Montgomery.
He tells her about his Inauguration. He says: "the audience was large and brilliant upon my weary heart was showered miles, plaudits and flowers, but beyond them I saw troubles and thorns innumerable."
He goes on to say "We are without machinery without means and threatened by powerful opposition but I do not despond and will not shrink back from the task imposed upon me". He spoke correctly, didn't he?
About Montgomery he says: "this is a gay and handsome town of some 8000 inhabitants and will not be an unpleasant residence - As soon as an hour is my own I will look for a house and write to you more fully".
Well, we know the Confederate Government found him a house! It is our wonderful First White House, and we are so glad that it is still with us for visitors from all over the world to enjoy.
He tells her about his Inauguration. He says: "the audience was large and brilliant upon my weary heart was showered miles, plaudits and flowers, but beyond them I saw troubles and thorns innumerable."
He goes on to say "We are without machinery without means and threatened by powerful opposition but I do not despond and will not shrink back from the task imposed upon me". He spoke correctly, didn't he?
About Montgomery he says: "this is a gay and handsome town of some 8000 inhabitants and will not be an unpleasant residence - As soon as an hour is my own I will look for a house and write to you more fully".
Well, we know the Confederate Government found him a house! It is our wonderful First White House, and we are so glad that it is still with us for visitors from all over the world to enjoy.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
John Tilley's Book About Facts The Historians Leave Out
Facts the Historians Leave Out: A Youth's Confederate Primer
I bought John Tilley's book "Facts The Historians Leave Out - A Youth's Confederate primer" on Amazon. He reminds us that from the beginning the North was not congenial with the South. The South was pretty much wholly agricultural, the North, commercial. New England was Congregational, Virginia, mostly Anglican, Pennsylvania, Quaker, Maryland, Roman Catholic and so on.
Other antagonisms developed. New England offended those in Dixie with snobbish airs of superiority. Colonies imposed tariffs upon goods from other colonies, and later Congress enacted a "protective tariff" which enriched the North at the expense of the South.
Abolitionists took pains to incite Southern slaves to rise against their masters, etc. etc. The South became alarmed and recalled Lincoln's pronouncement that "any people, anywhere" had the right to "shake off the existing government".
Henry Cabot Lodge, a New England Brahmin said that as of the date of the adoption of the Constitution, it was universally regarded as an experiment, entered upon by the States and from which any State "had the right peaceably to withdraw."
Buy this little book and read it. It will open your eyes to things you may not have thought about before.
I bought John Tilley's book "Facts The Historians Leave Out - A Youth's Confederate primer" on Amazon. He reminds us that from the beginning the North was not congenial with the South. The South was pretty much wholly agricultural, the North, commercial. New England was Congregational, Virginia, mostly Anglican, Pennsylvania, Quaker, Maryland, Roman Catholic and so on.
Other antagonisms developed. New England offended those in Dixie with snobbish airs of superiority. Colonies imposed tariffs upon goods from other colonies, and later Congress enacted a "protective tariff" which enriched the North at the expense of the South.
Abolitionists took pains to incite Southern slaves to rise against their masters, etc. etc. The South became alarmed and recalled Lincoln's pronouncement that "any people, anywhere" had the right to "shake off the existing government".
Henry Cabot Lodge, a New England Brahmin said that as of the date of the adoption of the Constitution, it was universally regarded as an experiment, entered upon by the States and from which any State "had the right peaceably to withdraw."
Buy this little book and read it. It will open your eyes to things you may not have thought about before.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
New Acquisition
We are so thrilled to report that yesterday we were given a beautiful baby bed for the Westcott Bedroom by Gerald H. (Jerry) Thompson II of Birmingham, Alabama. It adds so much to the set of Westcott furniture - the Westcott bed, the magnificent Triple Wardrobe and the matching Wash Stand. These pieces were donated in 1956 by Mrs. Pattie Gilmer Westcott (Mrs. Baldwin Westcott).
The bed was slept in by all the Westcott children. It was given in honor of Jerry's Mother, Elizabeth Oden Ellis (Mrs. Gerald Hobson Thompson). We are so honored to have it and will treasure it as we do all of our lovely pieces that friends have been so kind to give us.
Do stop by and see it at your earliest opportunity.
The bed was slept in by all the Westcott children. It was given in honor of Jerry's Mother, Elizabeth Oden Ellis (Mrs. Gerald Hobson Thompson). We are so honored to have it and will treasure it as we do all of our lovely pieces that friends have been so kind to give us.
Do stop by and see it at your earliest opportunity.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)