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U.S. Civil War History bits

Discussion in 'Military History' started by C.Evans, Jan 19, 2011.

  1. Herr Kaleun

    Herr Kaleun Member

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    Carl...Or you could just sew your own like I did. :cool:

    Here's my version of the Third Bunting Issue for the 13th Georgia Infantry...two of my great-great grandfathers served in Company F "Fayette Rangers"-June 1861 to 9 April 1865. Both of my ancestors were wounded...one at Gaines Mill and the other at Sharpsburg and Gettysburg. Thankfully, they survived to Appomattox...otherwise, I wouldn't be typing this.

    [​IMG]

    Also took a stab at one you might like....5th Texas Infantry.

    [​IMG]
     
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  2. C.Evans

    C.Evans Expert

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    Well, my brother is always telling me i need to learn how to use the internet-thanks Bobby, this is another example of what I could use it for ;-))
     
  3. C.Evans

    C.Evans Expert

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    Nice suggestions and flags my friend. Id try to make one but with my Essential Tremors problem, anything I could sew, would look like soemthing from the beginning of: Outer Limits, in appearance ;-))

    Of course, ill be looking at prices too to see how steep they might get for some of the nicer made flags ;-)) Ive also always wanted a Confederate Cavalry swallow-tail Guidon. The one with yellow over grey.
     
  4. A-58

    A-58 Cool Dude

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    Another thing to keep in mind Carl, at most respectable gun shows, there's usually someone there selling battle flags of all sorts. You never know what you'll stumble across at a gun show these days you know.
     
  5. Gebirgsjaeger

    Gebirgsjaeger Ace

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    A question to you experts. I´ve seen a documentation for the civil war at TV and there they showed up with an heavy artillery like that one in the pic i added, but it was a bit different. The gun carriage seemed to be retractable and was pumped up to an level where they could fire and, and it came down after the shot. Have you seen this artillery piece? I can´t remember their name and it would be great if someone would know it.
     
  6. USMCPrice

    USMCPrice Idiot at Large

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    Thank you for the link Gordon, it was good info! It is also quite appropriate because the industrialization of the north east and politics within the Federal Government to promote and protect these industries were one of the prime causes of the war. Cotton the south's primary product had a huge impact on the American economy.

    "By 1860, cotton ruled the South, which annually exported two-thirds of the world supply of the "white gold." Cotton ruled the West and Midwest because each year these sections sold $30 million worth of food supplies to Southern cotton producers. Cotton ruled the Northeast because the domestic textile industry there produced $100 million worth of cloth each year. In addition, the North sold to the cotton-growing South more than $150 million worth of manufactured goods every year, and Northern ships transported cotton and cotton products worldwide."

    Cotton was so important to northern manufacturing/textile interests that Federal authorities actually used slaves in captured areas of the south to raise cotton to be shipped north. And if you think that strange, how about this tidbit.

    "The situation became totally absurd when cotton was sold to Federal troops to get supplies for the Confederate army. Even President Lincoln approved an arrangement to send food for Robert E. Lee's troops at Petersburg in exchange for cotton for New York. Ulysses S. Grant stopped this exchange because he was attempting to cut off Lee's supplies, but other such exchanges occurred through the Civil War."

    The impact on the Federal treasury was immense:

    One of the quarrels between the North and the South concerned taxes (tariffs) paid on goods brought into this country from foreign countries. Southerners thought those tariffs unfair and were aimed specifically at them, as the South imported a wider variety of goods than Northern people. Moreover, Southern exporters sometimes had to pay higher amounts for shipping their goods overseas and to pay unequal tariffs imposed by foreign countries on some of their goods. Also, Southern banks paid higher interest rates on loans made with banks in the North. The inequities grew worse after several "panics", including one in 1857 that affected more Northern banks than Southern. Southern financiers found themselves burdened with high payments to save Northern banks that had suffered financial losses through poor investments. These small annoyances were insufficient to cause a major breach between the two parties, with the exception of the tariffs.

    As there was no federal income or other direct tax, the federal government depended on indirect taxes as its primary sources of revenue. Most 'duties, imposts, and excises' were collected at ports throughout the United States; ports monitored by Federal garrisons. For the thirty years from 1831 to 1860 the tariffs amounted to about eighty-four percent of federal revenues, but during the 1850s tariffs amounted to ninety percent of federal revenue. As the ports in the South had the most traffic, they paid seventy-five percent of all tariffs in 1859. For example: "New Orleans was the largest city in the South and was the center of the cotton & sugar export. Trade products of the Mississippi River Valley were shipped for sale to New Orleans and almost 2,000 sea-going vessels and 3,500 river steamers with tonnage of 1,200,000 tons entered the port of New Orleans during the year before the war."

    From Georgia's "Declaration of Causes of Secession"

    "The main reason was that the North, even if united, could not control both branches of the Legislature during any portion of that time. Therefore such an organization must have resulted either in utter failure or in the total overthrow of the Government. The material prosperity of the North was greatly dependent on the Federal Government; that of the the South not at all. In the first years of the Republic the navigating, commercial, and manufacturing interests of the North began to seek profit and aggrandizement at the expense of the agricultural interests. Even the owners of fishing smacks sought and obtained bounties for pursuing their own business (which yet continue), and $500,000 is now paid them annually out of the Treasury. The navigating interests begged for protection against foreign shipbuilders and against competition in the coasting trade. Congress granted both requests, and by prohibitory acts gave an absolute monopoly of this business to each of their interests, which they enjoy without diminution to this day. Not content with these great and unjust advantages, they have sought to throw the legitimate burden of their business as much as possible upon the public; they have succeeded in throwing the cost of light-houses, buoys, and the maintenance of their seamen upon the Treasury, and the Government now pays above $2,000,000 annually for the support of these objects. Theses interests, in connection with the commercial and manufacturing classes, have also succeeded, by means of subventions to mail steamers and the reduction in postage, in relieving their business from the payment of about $7,000,000 annually, throwing it upon the public Treasury under the name of postal deficiency. The manufacturing interests entered into the same struggle early, and has clamored steadily for Government bounties and special favors. This interest was confined mainly to the Eastern and Middle non-slave-holding States. Wielding these great States it held great power and influence, and its demands were in full proportion to its power. The manufacturers and miners wisely based their demands upon special facts and reasons rather than upon general principles, and thereby mollified much of the opposition of the opposing interest. They pleaded in their favor the infancy of their business in this country, the scarcity of labor and capital, the hostile legislation of other countries toward them, the great necessity of their fabrics in the time of war, and the necessity of high duties to pay the debt incurred in our war for independence. These reasons prevailed, and they received for many years enormous bounties by the general acquiescence of the whole country.
    But when these reasons ceased they were no less clamorous for Government protection, but their clamors were less heeded-- the country had put the principle of protection upon trial and condemned it. After having enjoyed protection to the extent of from 15 to 200 per cent. upon their entire business for above thirty years, the act of 1846 was passed. It avoided sudden change, but the principle was settled, and free trade, low duties, and economy in public expenditures was the verdict of the American people. The South and the Northwestern States sustained this policy. There was but small hope of its reversal; upon the direct issue, none at all."

    It was the 1860 election that "broke the camels" back. A President was elected that was not on the ballot of ten of the states and received minimal popular votes, and no electoral, from the rest. It was evident that the political makeup of the nation as a whole had changed and they were at the mercy of northeastern business interests.
    Lincoln in the Presidential Election of 1860 in the southern and border states.

    States that seceeded.
    1.)Alabama-not on ballot.
    2.)Arkansas-not on ballot.
    3.)Florida-not on ballot.
    4.)Georgia-not on ballot.
    5.)Louisiana-not on ballot.
    6.)Mississippi-not on ballot.
    7.)North Carolina-not on ballot.
    8.)South Carolina-not on ballot.
    9.)Tennessee-not on ballot.
    10.)Texas-not on ballot.
    11.)Virginia-1.1% of popular vote. Zero electoral

    Border States
    1.)Kentucky-0.9% of popular vote. Zero electoral
    2.)Missouri-10.3% of popular vote. Zero electoral
    3.)Maryland-2.5% of popular vote. Zero electoral

    The Federal Government was set to pass a new set of high tariffs called the Morrel Tarriff. The south realized that they were at the mercy of sectional interests and the first round of secession started.

    The three most populous southern states Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina, initially were against secession. it was Lincoln's call for troops to put down the rebellion that led to these three, plus Arkansas seceeding. The south only had 18.4% of the U.S. population to begin with. Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina accounted for 51.3% of that. Plus Virginia and Tennessee had most of the south's manufacturing capacity.

    General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson speech to his troops laying out the reasons they will fight:
    Men of the valley, citizen-soldiers: I am here at the order of General Robert E. Lee, commandin' all Virginia forces. On April 15th of this year of our Lord, 1861, Simon Cameron, the Secretary of War of the United States sent a telegram to our Governor, John Letcher, directing him to raise three regiments of infantry to be sent to assist in suppressing the southern confederacy. Governor Letcher's answer is well-known to you, but perhaps not his words.

    His wire to Washington stated, "You have chosen to inaugurate civil war. And, having done so, we will meet you in a spirit as determined as the Lincoln Administration has exhibited toward the South."
    Two days later, the Virginia legislature voted for secession.
    Just as we would not send any of our soldiers to march in other states and tyrannize other people, so will we never allow the armies of others to march into our State and tyrannize our people.
    Like many of you -- indeed, most of you -- I've always been a Union man. It is not with joy or with a light heart that many of us have welcomed secession. Had our neighbors to the North practiced a less bellicose form of persuasion, perhaps this day might not have come. But that day has been thrust upon us like it was thrust upon our ancestors.
    The Lincoln Administration required us to raise three regiments.
    Tell them we have done so!
     
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  7. USMCPrice

    USMCPrice Idiot at Large

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    A number of the Civil War masonry coastal forts were modified for seacoast guns to protect the harbors during WWI and WWII. A couple of the forts I've been to have been so modified. Fort Sumters interior is half filled with earth and a disappearing battery was installed. Fort Moultrie had extensive earthen fortifications added and disappearing batteries installed.


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    Fort Sumter, aerial view, modern.

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    Fort Moultrie, modern.

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    Coastal artillery, disappearing battery.

    One of the disappearing batteries at Ft. Moultrie.
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    If this isn't what you were referring to Ulrich, try and post a picture, one of us is sure to be able to identify.

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    I think these pictures will give you a good idea as to the most common types of mountings for heavy artillery in the Civil War.
     
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  8. Gebirgsjaeger

    Gebirgsjaeger Ace

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    Thank you much USMCPrice! This is exactly what i was referring to, the pic with the disappearing coastal artillery is the cannon i was looking for. Do you know their name?
     
  9. USMCPrice

    USMCPrice Idiot at Large

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    Yes, the name of the gun type is simply disappearing gun. Here's a wikipedia link to an article that gives good background on them.

    Disappearing gun - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
     
  10. kerrd5

    kerrd5 Ace

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    Controversy regarding the selection of the 72nd PA Infantry Regiment monument for the design
    of a new quarter:

    "When David Myers saw what was on the new quarter, he just had to add his two cents' worth.

    "The Carlisle man is convinced the U.S. Mint could have made a better choice for a monument to grace the tail side of the 2011 "America The Beautiful" quarter commemorating the Gettysburg National Military Park.

    "Issued Jan. 24, the coin features the monument of the 72nd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, which is on the battlefield at the Angle near the Copse of Trees and what historians regard as the 'High Water Mark' of the Confederacy."

    Cumberlink.com: Design on Gettysburg commemorative coin draws criticism

    http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/atb/?local=Gettysburg

    [​IMG]

    Dave
     
  11. USMCPrice

    USMCPrice Idiot at Large

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    Weapons continued.....

    We were discussing rifled muskets, notice that they have three barrel bands. Rifles generally have two barrel bands.

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    Enfield rifle-note the two bands.

    The primary formation that the infantry fought in was a battleline of two ranks, they used rifled muskets (3-bands) because their greater length allowed both ranks to fire without the back rank injuring the front rank. Rifles (two-bands) were primarily used by cavalry, artillery, sharpshooters, naval personnel, etc. that needed a weapon but would not be fighting in a battleline. Also a shorter weapon was less unwieldy.

    [​IMG]

    Top to bottom: Colt Model 1853 Rifle, Sharps Carbine, Burnside Carbine. Carbines were primarily used by cavalry troops. When dismounted they normally fought as skirmishers and the lesser range was not critical. Both the Sharps and Burnside were breech loading weapons and very popular with cavalry. The Union Berdan's sharpshooters used the rifle length version of the Sharps.

    [​IMG]

    Spencer repeating rifle.

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    Spencer repeating carbine.

    Now the Spencers were a huge technological leap forward. Muzzle loaded rifled muskets and rifles had a rate of fire of three rounds per minute. Breech loading carbines and rifles, such as the Sharps, 8-10 rounds per minute. The Spencer with it's 7 round tubular magazine had a rate of fire of 20 rounds per minute almost seven times that of a muzzle loader. John T. Wilder armed his Federal Brigade with Spencer repeating rifles and mounted them on confiscated horses and mules. This "mounted infantry" had nearly the speed of cavalry, the mass of infantry, and the firepower of two Federal divisions. Nicknamed the "Lightning Brigade" they gave stellar service.
    [​IMG]
    Col. John T. Wilder

    Well now that we know a little about the rifles, we'll look at the drill necessary to fire them. I looked through a bunch of videos trying to find one where they did a good, accurate job. I figured it was easier than trying to describe the process. The following video is of a Park Ranger at Fort Macon, North Carolina. He does an excellent job of explaining the process and throws out a little trivia at the same time. It's a little long but worth the watch.

    [video=youtube;SyuHdtw0v1E]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyuHdtw0v1E[/video]
     
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  12. belasar

    belasar Court Jester

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    When it came to repeating rifles, some were provided by the government, some supplied by unit commanders who had money to spare, and some were purchased by the troops themselves or by a family member. There were also several versions of repeaters that entered service in limited numbers (few hundred to a few thousand) many were flawed in some respect, while others were loved by the troops who had them. There was real friction within the ordenance department who saw repeaters as a waste of money and bullets, but then they never had to stand a line while confederates advanced on them giving the rebel yell.

    The Confereracy could not produce repeaters in numbers and could not import them thru the blockade in the quantaty they needed. Some confederate units were able to partialy equip thier troops from captured or discarded weapons, but suppling ammunition and spare parts was a challenge.

    In the first year of the war up to a third of Union, and perhaps half of Confederate troops used smooth bore muskets rather than rifles. Early in the war some regimental and brigade commanders prefered smooth bore muskets and employed what was called 'ball and buck'. This was a ball smaller than the musket was designed for and two pieces of buckshot. At close range devastating to close packed infantry.
     
  13. kerrd5

    kerrd5 Ace

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    Another update from the Times, as President-elect Lincoln travels to Washington for
    his inauguration:

    "If It’s Valentine’s Day, This Must Be Pittsburg(h)."

    Feb. 14, 1861

    If It's Valentine's Day, This Must Be Pittsburgh - NYTimes.com

    Valentine’s Day brought its usual array of challenges. It was cold and rainy in Columbus, although that did not deter the crowds who milled in the streets, hoping to catch a glimpse of the presidential party. The Lincolns slept at the governor’s home, woke up early, and left at 7 a.m. for Union Station, where they would find a train to Pittsburgh.

    Lincoln and his son Robert succeeded in boarding the Special. But Mary Todd Lincoln, along with Tad and Willie, had become separated from the party during the confusion of the transfer. They made the train, but barely, after running to catch it – an inauspicious beginning to what would prove a difficult day. The weather darkened, and the raindrops got bigger as the delegation headed east. Lincoln privately expressed his hope that it would keep people from coming out to hear him – he was beginning to wear down, and his voice was getting hoarse. To Ward Hill Lamon, he spoke the words that presidents can say only to their close friends. Lamon later wrote: “He had done much hard work in his life, but to make speeches day after day, with the object of speaking and saying nothing, was the hardest work he ever had done. ‘I wish,’ said he, ‘that this thing were through with, and I could find peace and quiet somewhere.’”

    The presidential party turned to music to lighten the mood. In the forward car, some of the younger members of the delegation (including Robert Lincoln) began to sing, as people did unselfconsciously then. They were joined by Lamon, who brought out his banjo. Thanks to alert reporting, we have the set list:

    “Get Off the Track!” (an emancipation ballad sung by the Hutchinson Family, a well-known family act)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8p5zucb13M

    “None Shall Weep a Tear for Me” (Stephen Foster’s new song)

    http://www.stephen-foster-songs.de/foster094.htm

    “Lorena” (a song that would be hugely popular among Confederate troops, but that was written by a Massachusetts preacher)

    http://books.google.com/books?id=Y9RZGuaSLkEC&pg=PA47&lpg=PA47&dq=lorena+1857+song&source=bl&ots=3P8_PvL7JK&sig=6yLyDoDq_vR3toOee8APUGnpVjw&hl=en&ei=C4FWTbnnCoKClAf9sMHtBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=lorena%201857%20song&f=false

    “Bonny Eloise, the Belle of Mohawk Vale” (this would become a march for Union and Confederate troops)

    http://www.pdmusic.org/thomas.html

    “Sparkin’ on a Sunday” (a novelty hit)

    “De Gospel Train Am a-Comin’” (a spiritual with railroad references)

    “Dixie’s Land” (the great song by the Ohioan Daniel D. Emmett – some believe it has African-American origins) Lincoln famously loved “Dixie,” and asked a band to play it after Lee surrendered in 1865.

    http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/dixie/index.html


    [​IMG]
     
  14. Mark4

    Mark4 Ace

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    Does any one know about any light infantry units during the like the European doctrine or something similar?
     
  15. USMCPrice

    USMCPrice Idiot at Large

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    Good question. Virtually all regiments/battalions had a designated company that performed as skirmishers. Skirmishing is what most Napoleonic light infantry formations specialized in. As for light infantry formations like German Jagers, you have Berdan's 1st and 2nd United States Volunteer Sharpshooter Regiment's on the Northern side and Confederate Sharpshooter Battalions on the southern side.

    More info on the southern units:

    In total 16 Confederate sharpshooter battalions were raised, these being the 17th and 23rd Alabama, 1st and 12th Arkansas, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Georgia, 14th Louisiana, 1st, 9th and 15th Mississippi, 9th Missouri, 1st North Carolina; 2nd South Carolina and 1st Texas. In many respects the men recruited were superior to those of the Federal sharpshooters, for they had already been serving as line infantry and were battle-hardened. Their farming backgrounds usually meant that they were markedly better at using their rifles. Lieutenant William Ripley (no relation to the Ordnance general), in his contemporary history of the 1st U.S. Sharpshooters, wrote of the Confederate troops that their predominantly rural backgrounds allied to skills at hunting and tracking meant they were often to prove better than the Federal sharpshooters. "It became painfully apparent that, however inferior ... the Confederate armies were in point of education and general intelligence to the men ... of the Union ... man for man they were the superiors of their northern antagonists in the use of arms" and "their armies were composed mainly of men who had been trained to the skilful use of the rifle [in] that most perfect of schools, the field and forest."

    I hope this begins to answer your question Sam.
     
  16. Mark4

    Mark4 Ace

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    oppps I meant "uring the war" o well.
    But on average which side was better weapons to perform the sharpshooting duties?I cam imagine it was the north since they had better industry compacity and the confederacy used the whiteworth rifle.
     
  17. lwd

    lwd Ace

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    We went into this in some detail on the longest range kill thread. Probably still some points to be addressed but you might look there and see what's left.
     
  18. C.Evans

    C.Evans Expert

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    Hi Price, I almost bought a Sharps Carbine about 14 years ago. Now I regret not doing so because I could have had it for about $300.00. However, I actually made the better (investment choice) when I spent $600.00 for a VERY rare variant of a German Sniper Rifle. I even got $200.00 knocked off the price AND free shipping and insurance too ;-))
     
  19. kerrd5

    kerrd5 Ace

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    "The U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center (USAHEC) is pleased to announce its 1st Annual Civil War Photographic Conference, “Understanding War Through Imagery: The Civil War in American Memory.” USAHEC will present this conference with the Army Heritage Center Foundation in conjunction with the Civil War sesquicentennial. The conference runs Saturday and Sunday, June 25-26, 2011 and concentrates on the events of the Civil War, early photography and photographic techniques and related history and research resources. This event’s speakers include both established and new scholars, who will discuss a wide range of topics covering the Civil War and photography."

    http://www.carlisle.army.mil/ahec/event/cwimagery.cfm
     
  20. kerrd5

    kerrd5 Ace

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    Good news from Gettysburg:

    "GETTYSBURG, Pa. (AP) - A newspaper says a preservation group has purchased 95 acres of formerly private land in Gettysburg National Military Park and plans to transfer it to the National Park Service.
    Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, whose department oversees the park service, plans a news conference at the park Friday to announce what his office describes as a major conservation initiative."

    Cumberlink.com: Preservation group to donate private land to Gettysburg park

    NPS - Salazar visiting Gettysburg Friday - Gettysburgtimes.com: Local Blogs
     

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