Lee-Jackson Celebration

Last Saturday night, the Sons of Confederate Veterans Samuel A. Hughey Camp 1452 celebrated Generals Lee and Jackson's birthdays with a special dinner honoring the occasion. A good-sized crowd turned out to honor the two Confederate generals, including members of the Varina Howell Davis Chapter 2559 United Daughters of the Confederacy.

The participants enjoyed a splendid dinner prepared by Linda McCan who, in this writer's opinion, should start her own catering business! Following dinner, Compatriot Jeppie Barbour, who is Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour's brother, gave a talk about the two celebrated generals.

The gathering participated in a candlelight vigil honoring the two generals as well as each member's ancestor, who was called out by name. Afterward, a drawing was held, whereby some individuals won grab bags containing Civil War movies, toiletries, etc. The annual dinner was a great experience for all.

Battle of Fredericksburg

Monday marks the 148th anniversary of the Battle of Fredericksburg in Virginia. It was during this battle that Burnside's Union forces faced defeat at the hands of General Lee's Confederates, who were entrenched on Marye's Heights. The Yankees were literally mowed down, and during the course of the bitter cold night, suffered tremendously, their cries and moans echoing in the still December air to the distraught ears of the Rebels.

One remarkable soldier laid his life on the line to assist the poor soldiers he was fighting against. This is a profound gesture, because the Union soldiers had pillaged the town upon their arrival, driving the remaining citizens into the woods to fend for themselves. Private Richard Rowland Kirkland, only nineteen years old, ventured out onto the battlefield to offer fallen Yankees sips of water from his canteen. Because of his bravery, he is forever known as "The Angel of Marye's Heights." He was killed a year later at the Battle of Chickamauga.

The battlefield has been honorably preserved, as has a house that survived the midst of battle and still has bullet hole pock mark scars to prove it. My novel, A Beckoning Hellfire, discusses the battle, and the remarkable thing that occurred afterward. Once the fighting had ceased, Northern Lights became visible in the winter sky. This was extremely unusual, as they are normally not seen that far south. The Confederates took it as a sign from God that he approved of their victory.

Gettysburg and the Definition of "Shoddy"

One of the most infamous battles of the Civil War took place in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on July 1-3, 1863. Several factors came into play, determining the location of this decisive battle. While General Lee led his Confederate army into enemy territory in an attempt to intimidate Union troops, invade the north, and impede upon Washington, the Rebel army was also in desperate need of shoes. It just so happens that there was a shoe factory in Gettysburg. So hence, the Confederates came in search of shoes, and yet found so much more - most likely what they realized they didn't bargain for.

The Civil War introduced mass production to America. Northern cities began constructing various clothing items, Bibles, and ammunition in mass quantities to supply the Union army. Within months of the war's start, manufacturing was changed forever. Child labor was commonplace, as were sewing factories, where women worked from 12-16 hours a day. Because there was such a high demand for these products, the advent of "shoddy" commenced.

Uniforms supplied to the Federal army were rapidly stitched together in a frantic attempt to keep up with the War Department's demand to supply troops. In 1861, 75,000 men volunteered to fight for the Union army, but the War Department only had enough uniforms for 13,000. Even though the infantry wore out shoes faster than what could be manufactured at the beginning of the war, within months, clothing companies found ways to keep up with demand, and managed to supply the Union army until the end of the war. This was far superior to that of the Confederacy, which was unable to supply its troops with clothing. Therefore, many new recruits enlisted wearing only their own homespun garments.

More Haunted Civil War Places

I have to admit, Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. Just ask my kids! And even though the ghost stories are spooky and make my skin crawl, I'm still fascinated by them, so I'd like to take this opportunity to tell you about a few other haunted places that were influenced by the War Between the States.

The Peidmont Hotel in Gainesville, Georgia belonged to General James Longstreet, or "Old Pete." After the war, he created controversy by becoming a Republican and holding posts under his former adversary, U. S. Grant. In his later years, he became a colorful eccentric, building terraces outside the hotel that looked like trenches. The locals called it "Little Gettysburg." He died in 1904, and since then, the hotel has gone through a number of changes, and is in the process of being renovated. It is said to host the general's spirit, as well as other unearthly beings. Items turn up missing, only to reappear later in another part of the building, and doors are rumored to open and close on their own.

Cashtown Inn eight miles west of Gettysburg was the site where Confederate officers met, and where the decision was made by General Lee to attack the Federals at Gettysburg. A mortally wounded soldier died on the second floor, and is believed to still wander the halls, dressed in a Confederate uniform. A local doctor claims he treated his comrade's wound, only to return the next day to find their campsite gone without a trace. Footsteps have been heard in the attic, things go missing, and the sounds of horses outside are but phantom imprints. Mysterious knocks on the doors when no one is there, and cold spots in the heat of summer also occur. Room #4 is reportedly the most haunted, and the favorite hangout of the Confederate soldier ghost.

Also at Gettysburg is the Thompson Farm. During the battle, wounded soldiers were taken to this farm on Seminary Ridge, which served as a field hospital. The dead were piled up in the barn's cellar, stacked on top of each other. Unbeknown to the stretcher bearers, a soldier at the bottom was still alive! Four days later, the corpses were slowly removed by the burial crew. They discovered the man on the bottom, who screamed in terror after his horrible ordeal. He died a few days later. In the late 1800's, the barn burned down, and a house was built in its place. The homeowners heard screams coming from the basement, and loud banging behind the cellar door. It wasn't until the house was blessed by a priest that the haunting finally stopped.

Another Victory for Walmart (and a Defeat for Civil War Enthusiasts)

Last week, a final approval was passed to build a new Walmart near the entrance of the Wilderness Battlefield in Orange County, Virginia. In a 4-1 vote, officials decided to grant a special permit after a majority of more than 100 speakers rallied in favor of the Supercenter. Regardless of protest from historians, Civil War buffs, and preservationists, supervisors reasoned that they couldn't see a threat, because there is no visual impact to the battlefield. Construction is scheduled to start in a year.

The majority of the Civil War's largest and most significant battles took place in Virginia. At the Battle of the Wilderness 145 years ago, Generals Lee and Grant opposed each other for the first time. Approximately 145,000 Union and Confederate soldiers fought, with over 29,000 casualties. Only one-fourth of the Wilderness Battlefield is currently protected. Walmart reasons that it is building in an area zoned for commercial use. Locals claim that a new store will provide jobs, tax revenue, and affordable shopping for the 32,000 residents living there.

Protesters included Ken Burns, Robert Duvall (who claims to be a descendant of General Lee), Virginia's governor, and two congressmen. Last year, the Commonwealth of Virginia appropriated $5.2 million for the preservation of its battlefields. Virginia is committed to protecting and safeguarding her Civil War battlefields. But unfortunately, local response outweighed the desire for historical preservation. Sadly, this may not be the last time such an atrocity occurs.

A man's best friend is his dog ... or his eagle?

Because I have always been an animal lover, I can't imagine my life without pets. At present, we own five dogs, three cats, two birds, and a tank full of fish. That number has downsized considerably over the past few years. I think we've had every kind of pet imaginable, both domesticated and wild. Whenever we take a road trip, our little dachshund, Dixie, travels with us.

Soldiers fighting in the War Between the States weren't any different. They brought along their dogs and cats, as well as domesticated livestock, and made squirrels, bears, and raccoons into pets, amongst just about any other kind of wildlife. Regiments sometimes chose animals to represent them as mascots. The 8th Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers even had an eagle named Old Abe represent them.

General Lee had a pet hen, George Armstrong Custer had numerous dogs, and Sallie, unofficial mascot of the 11th Pennsylvania, is carved in bronze on the regimental monument at Gettysburg. There are many other famous canines that accompanied their masters to the battlefield ... and to their death. A few are even buried there.