Number 121 Established in 1953 Winter 2019

The Magazine of the Round Table (UK)

3

www.acwrt.org.uk • also on Facebook • Patron: Dr Amanda Foreman crossfire

CROSSFIRE is the magazine of the American Civil War Round Table (UK), founded in 1953. It is published three times per year, and is free of charge to members of the UK Round Table. Articles in Crossfire are written and supplied by members of the Round Table, and contributors who are invited by the Editor to submit material. The opinions expressed in these articles are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Round Table. Additional information about the ACWRT (UK), and articles that have been published in the current and past issues, can be found on the Round Table’s website, www.americancivilwar.org.uk All copyrights reserved. Any person or organisation wishing to use or cite material contained in Crossfire or the ACWRTUK website must first obtain permission from the Editor or Webmaster. In instances where permission is granted, full credit must be given to the ACWRTUK and the author. Deadlines Articles to be considered for publication in Crossfire must be with the Editor no later than two months before the publication date. Crossfire is published in April, August and December. In considering articles for publication, the Editor assumes that full copyright permission has been given to the writer where relevant. Enquiries n Corporate, advertising, educational, promotional and business: President n Enrolment, address changes, subscriptions to Crossfire: Membership Secretary. n Forthcoming activities: Meetings Secretary n Articles for publication, letters for correspondence page: Editor Subscription to Crossfire: UK £25 pa; Overseas $50 pa to cover the year from January 1 to December 31. Advertising space can be taken in Crossfire. Casual rates for run-of-paper display space are Full page £50, half page £30, quarter page £15. acwrt (uk) executive committee 2019

PRESIDENT PRESS OFFICER Production Derek Young Charles Rees Barry Clayton [email protected] [email protected] 11 Park View Rise Nonington Dover Kent CT15 4JS VICE PRESIDENT Honorary Vice PresidentS [email protected] Jim Carroll Jerry Williams [email protected] 49 Parkhill Road, Prenton, Webmaster Birkenhead, Merseyside Historical Adviser Committee MemberS CH42 9JD John Coski Mike Somerville Historian American Civil War Museum [email protected] Lt. Col Joseph Whitehorne US Army (RTD) (initial enquiry to the Editor please)

Treasurer Crossfire Editorial Staff Brendan Meehan Editor: Greg Bayne [email protected] 30 All Saints Avenue, Margate, Kent CT9 5QW +44 (0)1843 295159 [email protected]

2 President’s Last Report. Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, members, guests and my and Vedette continue to go from strength to strength and that Mum to my final report as the President of ‘Crossfire’, the is down to the efforts of Greg Bayne and Charles Rees, thanks magazine for the ACWRT (UK). I trust the recent inclement to you both. Brendan Meehan continues to keep the purse weather has not caused any ill health to our gallant band. strings well managed. Jim Carroll and Michael Somerville By the time this drops through your letterbox, along with the have always been there when there was something to be first of the Christmas cards, we shall have had our AGM and done and they never failed, wonderful support from two great a new President will be leading us into 2020. Whomever it chaps. may be, I wish he, or she all the best for the future and I know Looking forwards, conference next year features the, that you will all support them the way you have supported me “Forgotten Battles of Gettysburg and Elite Units”. I you over the last three years. haven’t booked your place there is still time. If you have not From a personal perspective it has been a great been to a conference previously, make year, a splendid conference on a subject we this your first and I wager it will not be have not really covered previously. When I your last. first announced that, “War in the Carolina’s” We never stop looking for speakers, places was the topic I was told by one member are open for our meetings in 2020, so if you that, “We have never covered it before want to give a talk or know someone who because nothing of any note happened wants to give a talk, contact Jim Carroll or Mike there”! Those of us who attended Somerville and they will progress the issue with can testify that is not the case. Eric you. Lindblade and Kyle Sinisi were If you know of anyone who might be interested in superb and ably supported joining the ACWRT (UK) they can visit for a taster by our own David Kirkpatrick meeting and there will be no cost, they will our guest and Brendan Meehan. for the day. I was unable to attend the field trip to the Ardennes I should also like to thank, ‘OCT’, or more specifically Peter but, I know that Ian Mitchel and Jim White were splendid Lockwood for his time on the committee but also for his throughout the trip and my thanks to them, I am so sorry that splendid efforts in running of the Field trips and the annual I missed it. As always thanks to Peter Lockwood at OCT for conference. organising the event. Thank you, the members, who chose me to be your President, We were blessed with top class speakers at the meetings the it is much appreciated. entire year so, thanks not only to the speakers but also those I did not achieve everything I set out to do, but I had a great involved in contacting and bringing them to our meetings, it time trying, I hope I leave with a positive impression. was much appreciated My thanks to the committee goes without saying, Crossfire Derek W. Young. Former President ACWRT (UK). Meeting Dates for 2020

14th September – Derek Young — D H Hill 25th January – Professor Rodney Steward - The Confederate Act of Sequestration - tales from the Civil War’s ragged edges. Mid March tba – Greg Bayne – Is this the worst in the ? 24th-26th April – Conference: Gettysburg’s elite units and the forgotten battles. Main speakers are Scott Mingus and Eric J Wittenberg with Erick Bush filling a cameo slot. 18th July – TBC 19th September – TBC 14th or 21st November – AGM

On the Cover - The Pioneer

3 Editors Report by Greg Bayne Welcome to Crossfire 121 during the year. The you have an article you would like to Thanks to the members who raffle prize winnings write then please let me know. took time to emphasise with have not failed to And we have some good news. The my rant in the last issue. We disappoint and the Apostrophe Society has finally given live in interesting times to bedside table is up the fight. This will cut the editing say the least. Life is moving groaning under the process down by at least three days weight of the partially at a frantic pace and at times per issue. A major victory and no reads. Top of the list seeming to be enveloped more emails from Mr Grumpy pants of must be Kevin Levin’s in chaos. Everything is Bagshot need dealing with. Seriously, Searching for Black instantaneous and easily we try our best, the odd gremlin gets Confederates. It finally challenged via the web, through but hope that it doesn’t spoil nails the coffin lid social media Tv and radio. your enjoyment. tightly shut of the myth Spare a thought to how news of Black Confederate I will sign off by saying I am grateful travelled in the 1860’s and the contrast soldiers. Good research and evidence Mike Somerville for allowing me between the portrayal in the political will always win the day. If only the to share my research on the worst leanings of the newspapers of the time. message could be gotten through to regiment in the Union army with you in This issue contains a surfeit of riches. the die hards. our March meeting (date tba). As with So many that Steve French agreed Reading for early 2020 will cover most of my civil war studies, I came that we could split his article into two. Gettysburg topics in preparation for the across this regiment by accident and I really enjoyed Graham Whitham’s Conference. First up will be one of my the story just kept giving. No clues until piece on Vizetelly and Waud despite favourite , the 6th Wisconsin the day I’m afraid, but it is a sad story his insistent on including the footnotes! at the railway cut courtesy of Messrs from start to finish. I usually sign off the year with a run Herdegen and Beaudot. April issue No mint julep at this time of year – a through of the books I have enjoyed will likely be Gettysburg themed so if batch of eggnog is waiting.

4 Railroads in the by Scott L. Mingus, Sr. The shrill sound of steam whistles prepared for further shipment home to warehouses, engine houses, switches, echoed through the lush countryside in family members. Others would expire in and rails in multiple counties in the rural Adams County, Pennsylvania, in the next few weeks, unable to be saved days before the battle. And yet, through the weeks following the July 1-3, 1863, despite the efforts of often overworked the valiant efforts of Brigadier General . Long trains of rail and civilian physicians and Herman Haupt and his hard-working cars, filled with wounded soldiers in blue surgeons. For most of the wounded, the crews of the United States Military and gray, slowly steamed eastward into often-torturous ride out of Gettysburg Railroad, almost all of the railroads were York County. From there, the injured men was the first step in a long road to back in operation within two weeks were destined for further rail transport convalescence and eventual recovery. enabling the transport of the wounded. to formal U. S. Army hospitals in York, Railroads played a key role in the Those key railroads were, from west to Baltimore, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, New Gettysburg Campaign, not only after east, the Cumberland Valley Railroad York, and a host of other communities. the battle in carrying wounded men (Hagerstown, Maryland, to Harrisburg, The rails were uneven; the ride was away from the borough for subsequent Pennsylvania), the Gettysburg Railroad agonizing for most patients. A few treatment, but also to transport (Gettysburg to Hanover), the Littlestown did not make it, expiring in the hastily ammunition and supplies for the Union Railroad (Hanover to Littlestown), the improvised cars and being buried forces gathered at Gettysburg during Western Maryland Railroad (Baltimore upon arrival or and immediately after the battle. County to Westminster, Maryland), the Confederate forces frequently Hanover Branch Railroad (Hanover to targeted the railroads that Hanover Junction), and the Northern ran between Maryland Central Railway. The latter was the and Pennsylvania in an largest and arguably most important effort to disrupt the Union of these lines, running from Baltimore supply network. Rebel northward through Harrisburg all troops destroyed the way to Elmira, New York. The scores of bridges, NCR—along with its archrival culverts, turntables, Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore the luxury of taking their time to attend Railroad—had long been a major to the railroad. Soldiers pulled up the route for vast amounts of supplies and rails of the subsidiary Franklin Railroad soldiers headed for Washington, D.C., south of Chambersburg and bent them through Baltimore. The Pennsylvania over blazing piles of cross-ties. They Railroad and the Baltimore & Ohio both destroyed switches and culverts. On played auxiliary roles in the Gettysburg July 1, while the battle of Gettysburg Campaign but much of the focus was on opened some 25 miles to the east, the aforementioned smaller railroads in Pickett and his men again burned the south-central Pennsylvania. offices, engine house, turntables, depot, The Cumberland Valley Railroad began and other buildings the CVRR had rebuilt operations in 1837 between Harrisburg in Chambersburg following Stuart’s and Chambersburg. By the Civil War, 1862 foray. Little did the residents of it had taken operational control of the Chambersburg know that significantly Franklin Railroad from Chambersburg greater destruction to their town awaited south to Hagerstown. In the spring of them a little more than a year after the 1861, the CVRR transported Brig. Gen. Gettysburg Campaign when “Tiger Robert Patterson and his newly raised John” McCausland’s Rebels applied Union volunteers to their training camps the torch liberally to private homes, in Chambersburg. Later, the CVRR/FRR businesses, and churches in July 1864. carried Patterson’s force to Hagerstown, Across South Mountain to east, in Adams from which the aged general staged his and York counties, railroad officials had foray into the Shenandoah Valley. He been busy pondering the fate of their own had failed to pin down Confederates lines should Lee’s Confederates come under Gen. Joseph Johnston, allowing calling. The NCR, in particular, began Johnston to move his army via rail to erecting defenses. Work crews—paid Manassas Junction in time to join P.G.T. and unpaid, black and white, railroad Beauregard in defeating the Union army employees and refugees—toiled in the at First Manassas/Bull Run. In 1862, bright sunshine to construct earthworks, the CVRR again provided vital support, pits, blockhouses, and barricades to transporting equipment, ammunition, protect the railroads. They focused their guns, and supplies for George efforts on protecting bridges, especially McClellan’s Army of the Potomac during the two vital passenger and railroad the . Robert E. bridges across the Susquehanna Lee dispatched Jeb Stuart’s cavalry River linking the Cumberland Valley to march faster. Hence, after taking what to wreck the CVRR in October 1862. Harrisburg. the men could haul themselves, they Stuart’s cavaliers burned the key railroad More than 30 miles downstream, the only torched several railcars of supplies the buildings in Chambersburg, forcing the other bridge south of Harrisburg before militiamen had brought with them. For railroad company to rebuild. the Mason-Dixon Line linked Wrightsville good measure, the Rebels burned the Now, in the early summer of 1863, the in York County to Columbia in Lancaster Gettysburg Railroad’s covered bridge Cumberland Valley Railroad again faced County. The wooden bridge, at the time over Rock Creek east of town. the Confederate torch. It would be the the world’s longest covered bridge, also Early and his men headed on June 27 first of multiple railroads in south-central connected the Northern Central Railway to York, again destroying bridges and Pennsylvania to attract unwanted Rebel to the Pennsylvania Railroad and to the ripping down telegraph wires between attention. In the two weeks before the Philadelphia & Columbia Railroad. It was Gettysburg and Hanover. battle of Gettysburg, Rebel cavalry also the key bridge on the long turnpike Colonel Elijah V. White’s 35th , under Brig. Gen. Albert Gallatin Jenkins between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Cavalry occupied Hanover, tore down telegraph lines and burned a road that included the soon-to-be riding among the railroad buildings but key bridges (including a strategically famous section between Chambersburg, not causing much destruction in the significant one at Scotland north of Cashtown, and Gettysburg. town. Outside of town, however, was Chambersburg). Jenkins’ men preceded On the rainy morning of June 26, another matter and several bridges on the infantry of Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell’s 1863, the Confederates of Maj. Gen. the Hanover Branch Railroad fell victim Second Corps. Ewell’s men did further Jubal A. Early’s division departed their to the firebrands. Barrels of Pennsylvania damage to the CVRR. Major General temporary camps along the western coal oil poured over the old wooden Robert Rodes’ division destroyed the slopes of South Mountain in Franklin structures provided the accelerant. railroad at Carlisle in the northern County. They marched eastward across Riding into Hanover Junction at 2 p.m., Cumberland Valley, again focusing on the mountain gaps and easily captured “Lige” White’s troopers (deemed later bridges and railroad infrastructure. Gettysburg, scattering hastily-organized in the war as “the Comanches” for their The major damage to the CVRR came, Pennsylvania that had arrived Indian-like war cries and lightning swift however, from Maj. Gen. George E. via train earlier that day. Early’s men raids) again brandished the torch. After Pickett’s Virginians. In the rear of the lacked sufficient empty wagons, having readily chasing off more frightened state Army of Northern Virginia, they had left their supply train behind in order to emergency militiamen, they destroyed 6 state militia, augmented with patients Pettigrew’s brigade of Heth’s division, from the U. S. Army General Hospital in Buford prepared to defend the town. nearby York and a company West of Gettysburg, two unfinished of local black men, defended the railroad cuts, designed for the planned massive covered bridge over the mile- westward expansion of the Gettysburg and-a-quarter-wide Susquehanna River. Railroad, figured in his planning. Well After a brief firefight, the Union men to the south of Gettysburg, the Western retreated eastward across the bridge Maryland’s railhead at Westminster, and ordered four civilian volunteers to Maryland, remained intact. Jeb Stuart set it on fire. Early’s men desperately had driven off a small defensive force tried to extinguish the blaze but failed. on June 29 but he had not wrecked Six hours later, the bridge was gone, the railroad. That enabled the Army severing the rail and highway connection of the Potomac to use Westminster as between York and Philadelphia. a staging area for supplies sent there Meanwhile that same day, during the battle from Baltimore via the ransomed York for massive amounts of Northern Central and Western Maryland. supplies and shoes, as well as $100,000 Union and Confederate forces collided in cash (he received $28,610 in door- on July 1-3 at Gettysburg. One of the to-door canvassing of the town by first temporary field hospitals was civic officials). General Ewell sent word established in the Gettysburg Railroad’s to Early late on June 29 to prepare his depot on Carlisle Street. With telegraph division to march the following down service out across much of south- westward to Heidlersburg, essentially central Pennsylvania, it took effort to retracing their line of march used to reach restring the lines in order for news of the York from Gettysburg on June 27. Early battle to be relayed from the Hanover had his soldiers burn several railcars left Branch Railroad’s three-story depot in behind by the NCR. The feisty Virginian, Hanover Junction to government and however, refrained from torching the army officials, as well as to newspapers depot and nearby structures for fear across the North. the blaze could start an uncontrollable Almost immediately, the U. S. inferno that might consume much of the Department of War began preparations borough of 8,600 people. York became to move additional supplies into position the largest town in the North to fall to at Westminster and to begin repairing the Confederates in the entire Civil War the CVRR, Gettysburg Railroad, Hanover but received little in the way of physical Branch RR, and the Northern Central several railcars, the turntable, and a damage from the Rebel incursion. A Railway. General Haupt, a Pennsylvanian number of bridges on the intersecting, year later, Early showed no such mercy, intimately knowledgeable about the lines north-south-running Northern Central ordering John McCausland to destroy in south-central Pennsylvania, led an Railway. Over the next two days, White Chambersburg some 50 miles west of efficient process to repair or replace the as well as Col. William H. French’s 17th York. burned bridges and switched. By July Virginia Cavalry, ruined 12 bridges on At the same time that Early was marching 7, Haupt had made sufficient repairs to the NCR’s main line in York County, as back to Adams County on Tuesday, allow the evacuation of wounded from well as 19 bridges and culverts on the June 30, Union cavalry under Brig. Gen. Gettysburg. east-west spur from York to Wrightsville. John Buford had occupied Gettysburg. Twice a day, sometimes more depending On the evening of Sunday, June 28, the Witnessing a foray by Confederates of upon the availability of rolling stock and

The Railroad Cut, Gettysburg National Military Park, Pa. 7 Burial at the National Cemetery crews, the railroad network over the next of missing loved ones or coming on the to the Executive Mansion. several weeks evacuated more than somber mission to locate a grave and Despite the Confederates’ best efforts 14,000 wounded soldiers, both Union recover their fallen soldier. to render the railroads of south-central and Confederate, from the temporary In mid-November, the rail network again Pennsylvania impotent, through the efforts field hospitals. The depot on N. Carlisle brought throngs to Gettysburg for the of Herman Haupt and his often unsung Street was one point of collection; the dedication of the new Soldiers National USMRR crews, regular passenger service others were at the railheads south of town Cemetery. Among the visitors traveling resumed on all affected lines within mere at Westminster or Littlestown, as well to the war-torn borough via rail was as in Hanover. Among those taken by President , coming weeks of the battle of Gettysburg. The train to more permanent army hospitals to deliver a few dedicatory remarks, a sound of steam whistles reassured the was Union Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Sickles brief speech that has down in history populace they were again connected to of Peach Orchard fame. An ambulance as the poignant Gettysburg Address. the outside world. carried him to Littlestown, from which he Lincoln used the Baltimore & Ohio RR took the cars through Hanover Junction to go from Washington to Baltimore. He south to Baltimore. then switched to the Northern Central Railway for the two-hour ride north to Confederate prisoners taken at Hanover Junction. After a brief delay Gettysburg were often herded into railcars there while awaiting a southbound train and transported to Fort Delaware near from Harrisburg carrying several Northern Philadelphia, to Fort McHenry in Baltimore, governors and other dignitaries, Lincoln’s and to other prison camps, some as far five-car train headed west on the Hanover away as Johnson Island in northern Ohio. Branch RR to Hanover and then on Railroads brought relief workers to though New Oxford on the Gettysburg Gettysburg to help in the hospitals or, later, Railroad. He alighted from the train at at Camp Letterman, the temporary army the Carlisle Street station and stayed hospital established east of town. The overnight at the home of attorney David railcars also brought curiosity seekers, Wills. The following day, Lincoln repeated as well as anxious families seeking news the process in reverse while heading back Baltimore & Ohio Rail Road logo

National Cemetery, Gettysburg, 8 TWO LETTERS FROM POLIGNAC by Charles Priestley In an earlier article (“Crossfire” Number 114, Summer 2017), I quoted briefly from a letter written to Beauregard on March 22, 1861, by Prince Camille de Polignac, the future Confederate Major- General. The letter is in fact worth studying in its entirety, not merely for its significance as a historical document but also for the glimpse it gives us of Polignac’s character and personality. In its somewhat naïve view of America and Americans, it forms an interesting contrast to a letter which Polignac wrote thirty-five years later to be read out before a reunion of the veterans of his old Texas brigade. The 1861 letter is in French, which was Beauregard’s first language; according to his biographer T. Harry Williams, Beauregard “probably could not speak English until he was twelve years of age.” A copy of the letter is held in the Hill Library at Louisiana State University, and I was able to obtain a scanned version of this through the kind offices of Dr. Germain Bienvenu there. The letter was accompanied by a typescript translation. This is in general reasonably accurate, but it does contain several errors which unfortunately have been repeated by writers in English on A bareheaded Polignac in Confederate uniform Polignac who have clearly relied on the was unable to take advantage of your in raising a mobile body of troops*, typescript translation rather than going kind invitation, being forced, to my great given the lack of poor and unemployed back to the French original. In translating regret, to return at short notice to France. men in your happy country, I felt that I the letter now myself, I have tried to be Since then, I have followed with great should let you know you that I might be as faithful as I can to what Polignac interest the momentous events which in a position, should you wish to have actually wrote, while at the same time have been unfolding in your country, recourse to this, to supply you with some avoiding a too literal translation which and all my sympathies have been with Irishmen, through one of my cousins who would sound unnatural in English; I have the Democratic Party, whose rights, it has estates in Ireland and who recently also inserted punctuation here and there seems to me, are unquestionable. I offered the French Government 10,000 where the sense demands it. Here, was pleased to see that you had been peasants for Algeria. Enlisting is very then, is Polignac’s letter to Beauregard: appointed to the command of the military much in fashion at the moment, thanks forces of South Carolina; please allow to Garibaldi, Türr and Klapka, although, “Paris, March 22, 1861 me to congratulate you. I regularly see because of the coming events in Italy over here compatriots of yours interested and Hungary, these three absorb a large “Sir, in the cause of the South, including your proportion of it in all countries. I would “I do not know whether you will recall acquaintances Messrs. Michael Heine, also be able to find a number of retired meeting me in New York, a little over Calhoun (of Louisiana) etc. All of these French non-commissioned officers who a year ago, at the office of your friend gentlemen have told me that, according could be useful in specialist arms of and mine Major Barnard. In expectation to the reports they received, one of the service. I am well aware that, while you of my visiting New Orleans, you were objects of the new government was have no lack of quality over there, it may good enough to invite me to tour the to form a regular army large enough perhaps be otherwise where numbers defences which had been constructed at least to guard the frontiers. Since are concerned, whereas in France we through your efforts. Unfortunately, I you may perhaps have some difficulty have, at least, no shortage of numbers. 9 “I write to you about all this as a soldier. job in question and making I was in the French Army. I served my extravagant claims in order to apprenticeship in the trenches before appeal to potential employers. Sebastopol, but I have always had a Let us start with his claim to deep admiration for your country. I be able to supply troops to have always considered it my adopted the fledgling Confederate country, a country where one day I Army. It is perfectly possible should be happy to settle. Indeed, I that Polignac had a cousin, left the French Army purely in order to presumably on his mother’s start to put this plan into effect. When side of the family, with estates I was charged by a transit company in Ireland; what is less easy in Nicaragua to which I belonged with to believe is that this cousin organising the defence of the works, had offered the French the government of Nicaragua put all its government 10,000 Irish forces at my disposal, with the power peasants for service in Algeria, to modify them as I saw fit, in order to or that Polignac himself might fortify the weak points on the coast and be able to procure numbers protect the country. As this was an of them for the Confederacy. international enterprise, my idea was Equally, how could he, as a to propose to the government of the mere who United States that it put me in charge had resigned his commission of protecting and guaranteeing the two years before, hope to be lives and goods of those of its subjects able to persuade all of these making use of the transit. It was to be a experienced French non- sort of military consulate, set up in that commissioned officers to join country by the United States, and one the Confederate service? It is which would have been helpful to them not even clear what Polignac in counterbalancing the influence of meant by “the coming events TheThe NicaraguaNicaragua TransitTransit RouteRoute England, which is both very harmful to in Italy and Hungary”. With Emmanuel. György Klapka was in exile. them and disastrous to Central America. the invasion and occupation It is true that Türr and Klapka planned I will not bore you with the details of this of the old Bourbon Kingdom of the another abortive Hungarian national plan, which I explained in its entirety, Two Sicilies, most of Italy was now uprising together, but that was not until while in New York, to Messrs. Slidell forcibly unified under the Piedmont and Benjamin, and which failed through monarchy. Garibaldi had retired to 1866. lack of funds. I merely wanted to show Caprera, although he did attempt an Then there is the question of what you that I continue the traditions which unsuccessful assault on Rome in the exactly Polignac was doing in make sisters of our two nations, and that summer of 1862. István Türr was now a Nicaragua. We know that he arrived in I would be happy to offer your cause the general in the Italian Army and was also Costa Rica sometime in March 1859, gift of my person. being entrusted with certain delicate spent a few weeks there and then went “Forgive this long letter, and allow me to diplomatic missions by King Victor on to Nicaragua. He can have been in clasp your hand warmly and extend Nicaragua for no more than about to you my very best wishes.” three or four months, since after that *[This is a literal translation of Polignac’s he returned to Costa Rica and spent phrase “un corps de troupes mobile”. What four months there before boarding exactly Polignac meant by this phrase is not clear, but Daniel Frankignoul of the a ship for New York in November, Confederate Historical Association of 1859. Writers in English have Belgium suggests that Polignac probably had in mind something similar to the later asserted that Polignac was working French Garde Mobile, a locally-raised force for the Nicaraguan government, responsible for security and public order, yet he states clearly that he was especially in the case of invasion by enemy troops – in other words something like the employed by “a transit company”. Confederate Home Guard]. There was much international interest How much of what Polignac says in Central America at this time for a in this letter should we take at face number of reasons, but one reason value? In reality, probably not very for Nicaragua’s importance was the much, apart from his obvious desire discovery of gold in California in to find a position of some sort in the 1848; Nicaragua provided probably Confederacy. Polignac’s biographer the shortest and most secure route Jeff Kinard has aptly pointed out between New York and San Francisco. that it reads like “any typical job There were a number of attempts to application”. Polignac, like many make use of this route, and Michael another job applicant, is exaggerating Schreiber’s excellent article in his qualifications and experience, This photo is thought to be Polignac in a French Nicarao, the Philatelic Journal of the emphasising his enthusiasm for the uniform. He is wearing the Kei or bicorne hat. Nicaragua Study Group (Volume 25, 10 Though regular service on the new company of his, the United States transit route was not resumed and Central America Transit Company, until 1864, Vanderbilt’s former would begin operations on October 5. partner Joseph L. White This scheme, too, fell through, this time made two attempts, in 1858 from lack of river steamers. and 1859, to reopen it. White There was thus no transit company was a former member of the actually operating in Nicaragua during House of Representatives the three or four months which Polignac from Indiana. Vanderbilt’s spent there in the spring and summer most recent biographer, of 1859. Given that White was planning T.J. Stiles, describes him as to start operations in October, however, “an astonishingly vain and either he himself or one of his agents treacherous man”, who had must have been in Nicaragua for some “double-crossed Vanderbilt months before this time in order to more than once.” White had make all the necessary preparations. It a misplaced but unshakeable was presumably the United States and belief in his own abilities, Central America Transit Company, then, and was somehow able to which employed Polignac during his time persuade others at times to in Nicaragua. It is less easy to see why share this belief. He had now White and his partners would have put formed a new company, the him in charge of organising the various American Atlantic and Pacific defences which he mentions, since he Ship Canal Company, in was not an engineer but had served in early 1858, and in November a light cavalry regiment; possibly he was of that year one of his able to convince them that his military steamers arrived at Greytown, experience was wider than it really was, Nicaragua, from New York or perhaps they simply felt that a French aristocrat with some military experience TheThe NicaraguaNicaragua TransitTransit RouteRoute with passengers bound for the land route, by road and would be a useful addition to the Board. Number 2) provides a clear summary of river, to the Pacific coast and then on What appears highly unlikely is that the what is an extremely complicated story, by ship to California. White’s contract Nicaraguan government would have involving a large number of different put “all its forces” at his disposal for the companies and entrepreneurs. had not been ratified, however, and the Nicaraguan authorities refused to let work of fortifying the route. Previous The first passengers for California via him land. Meanwhile, his steamer on agreements between Nicaragua and Nicaragua left New York in February, the Pacific side had to be sold through individual transit companies had given 1849. Shortly after this, Cornelius lack of funds. Nothing daunted, White the company the right to fortify, but it is Vanderbilt inevitably became involved. announced in September, 1859, that a clear that this work was intended to be His American Atlantic and Pacific Ship the responsibility of the company, not of Canal Company was incorporated in the Nicaraguan government. Nicaragua in March, 1850, and began In any case, Polignac cannot have spent operations in July the following year. In very long in White’s employ, because he August of that year, Vanderbilt’s partner, must have been back in Costa Rica by Joseph Livingston White, secured the the end of July. Perhaps he and White agreement of the Nicaraguan authorities had fallen out, or perhaps he had simply to the creation of a new company, the realised that there was no substance Accessory Transport Company, to beneath White’s bluster. Whatever operate the route. During Vanderbilt’s the reason for his leaving Nicaragua, absence in Europe in 1853, White and an Polignac probably devoted much of the accomplice were able to gain temporary four months he now spent in Costa Rica control of this company, and two years to planning his next move. A draft treaty later operations were interrupted by the of 1857 signed by Buchanan’s Secretary invasion of Nicaragua by William Walker of State, Lewis Cass, and the Nicaraguan and his filibusters, who seized the Minister to the United States had given company’s assets and used its steamers the United States “rights to all transit to ferry in new recruits. Although routes, their security and protection, and Vanderbilt had by then regained control the right to protect the lives and property of his company and was able to use of U.S. citizens.” It must have been this his money and influence to ensure which inspired Polignac to formulate that Walker was finally ousted, regular the plan which he was later to present service on the Nicaraguan transit route to Slidell and Benjamin, and to propose ceased in early 1857, and Vanderbilt’s that he be appointed some sort of military interest increasingly shifted thereafter to representative of the United States, with Panama. Alexander Dimitry responsibility for protecting the transit 11 route. It was, by any standards, an enlisted the following year as a private much he was influenced in his choice extraordinarily audacious proposal to be in the 3rd. Chasseurs. Learning, in the by his earlier meetings in New York with put forward by a young man of 27, and spring of 1854, that the 4th. Hussars Slidell, Benjamin and other Southerners a foreigner at that, with little real military was being sent to the Crimea, he it is difficult to know, but all the evidence experience and no connection with the managed to get himself transferred to is that in the Confederacy he had found a United States, but then Polignac was that regiment, distinguished himself in cause to which he could devote himself never lacking in confidence. Certainly he the fighting before Sebastopol and was wholeheartedly. From then on, he seems to have succeeded in convincing finally commissioned second lieutenant showed total and unconditional loyalty Alexander Dimitry of Louisiana, the U.S. in the Chasseurs d’Afrique in July, 1855. to the South. Commissioned Lieutenant- Minister to Costa Rica and Nicaragua, The simplest explanation, then, for his Colonel on July 6, 1861, he was promoted since it was Dimitry who gave Polignac choosing to travel to Central America in to Brigadier-General on January 10, the letters of introduction to Slidell and 1859 may well be the correct one - that 1863, for his performance the previous Benjamin. he saw the region as likely to provide the August at Richmond, Kentucky, was What, though, was his real reason sort of opportunity to win fame which the made Major-General on April 8, 1864, for leaving France to travel to Central peacetime French Army could not. after the victory at Mansfield and in America? Was it really, as he claims in As we know, the plan which Polignac January, 1865, embarked for France, at his letter, both to help the United States to presented to Slidell and Benjamin his own suggestion, in a final, desperate counter Britain’s baleful influence in the in late 1859 never came to fruition. attempt to persuade Napoleon III to region and to enable himself eventually Nevertheless, it can be said to have led intervene on behalf of the Confederacy. to settle in the United States? Whatever indirectly to his distinguished career in For the rest of his life, Polignac never he may have said, then or later, there the Confederate Army. While in New wavered in his conviction that the South is no real evidence that either of these York, Polignac had met Slidell, Benjamin had been right. In 1896, over 30 years considerations was in his mind when he and Beauregard. He and Benjamin had since the end of the war, he drafted an crossed the Atlantic. Certainly Britain become particularly friendly, and the two address to the surviving veterans of his had an interest in Central America at remained in contact long after Polignac’s old Texas brigade, sending it to a “Mr. this time; indeed, the Mosquito (Miskito) return to Paris, where, as he says, he Derden” with the request that it be read Coast of Nicaragua and Honduras was followed closely the dramatic events out “at the next Confederate meeting.” a British Protectorate until 1860. There taking place in America. In March, This is a very different document from had been clashes in the past between 1861, the infant Confederacy sent its first his 1861 letter to Beauregard. With the British and Americans in Nicaragua three Commissioners to Europe, William benefit now of four years’ service in the and, despite the 1850 Bulwer-Lytton Lowndes Yancey, Ambrose Dudley Confederate Army and another thirty Treaty between the two countries, many Mann and the French-born Pierre A. years of reflection, Polignac sets out, American politicians may well still have Rost. On March 9, Benjamin wrote to clearly and cogently, the reasons for the been nervous of the British presence in Polignac about Rost as follows: Civil War as he sees them, explaining the region. Polignac himself, however, “I beg of you to extend to him all the aid in why, in his opinion, the South had no had no reason to be anti-British. He your power towards the accomplishment option but to secede and why he himself was, after all, half English himself, his of the object we have in view – any hints, was naturally drawn to volunteer for the mother being the Honourable Maria suggestions, or information that you can Confederate cause. The manuscript Charlotte Parkyns, daughter of the 1st give will be valuable and will be highly address, together with its accompanying Baron Rancliffe. Furthermore, Polignac’s appreciated, and all courtesies that typescript letter and two photographs father had been French Ambassador you may be able to render him will be of Polignac, was sold through Heritage to Britain during the reign of Charles particularly acknowledged as a favor to Auctions on June 8, 2010. It fetched X, had spent a number of years, as a myself.” $1,900. It reads as follows: Royalist exile, in London and had many English friends. As with Polignac’s This, however, was unfortunately not repeated protestations of love for the the sort of assignment likely to appeal “Honoured Confederate Soldiers & United States, the most likely conclusion to Polignac’s restless and ambitious companions in arms! is that he was once again playing the nature. The result, less than a fortnight “Many years have come & gone since part of a candidate for a job, telling his later, was his letter to Beauregard. the time when rising for the defense interviewers what he thought that they It would be a great mistake, at this point, of your rights you stood shoulder to would want to hear. From an early age, to see Polignac as nothing more than shoulder amid the clash of arms & in Polignac had shown himself almost an adventurer or a soldier of fortune. the din of battle, yet often still some obsessively determined to make a name Certainly he was determined to make magnetic attraction turns my thoughts for himself and to prove himself worthy of his mark, but he also needed a cause towards the fading shadows of the Past, his ancestors. His unexpected failure, in in which he could believe. His family & as my mind dwells on the warlike 1852, to pass the entrance examination was a Royalist one. His grandfather had incidents of those memorable days, I to the École Polytechnique, and thus, fought against the French Revolution ever feel thankful that the opportunity on graduation, to be automatically in the émigré Army of Condé and had was afforded me of devoting a span of commissioned into the French Army, then joined the Russian service, as had my life, however brief, to the Defense was therefore a severe setback. He other members of the family, and his of the South, & proud to have had the refused to be daunted, however, father had continued the fight against honour of leading into battle many of resolved instead to work his way up Napoleon. He would have seen himself its noble Sons, none of whom more through the ranks and accordingly as following in their footsteps. How patriotic or better remembered than 12 the gallant citizens of your State. To in the Southern States, only, in this adversity unblushingly & with brows an impartial mind, at this distance of case the Northern wire-pullers would erect. If our Cause was unrewarded time, the fierce struggle assumed have had to screen their selfish aims & by Victory, it was unstained by Defeat, even greater proportions & a more motives behind another – possibly less & the gigantic effort of the Southern significant import than that which at convenient – pretext. In espousing people in their struggle for Liberty will the time appeared involved in the the cause of political Decentralization for ever remain a noble Example of particularities of the contest. To justify as against the undue predominance Civic Virtue set to their own generation this remark, it is only necessary to of a Central Power, you have fought & to generations yet unborn throughout recall into mind the two main currents the universal & ever recurring fight the world. of Liberty against Oppression for of political opinion which ran in the “From the beginning of the struggle, such is indeed the lesson which the United States prior to the war. In the disregarding all side-issues, my mind History of the World teaches. It shows North, more especially in New-England, had fully grasped the principle which that individual rights & civic liberties the leading men of the day aimed at lay at the root of the contest & it was can only be maintained through a a greater concentration of political the consideration of the higher motives wholesome division of political Power Power & advocated the Supremacy herein referred to, which impelled me & are incompatible with too great of the Federal Government over the to go out & join your ranks in battle, a Centralization of Authority & an States. The Southern Statesmen not as a common adventurer but as a unanimously denounced that tendency absorbtion [sic] of political initiative, thinking man, with an upright purpose as unconstitutional. They contended which tho’ it may put forward the seeking no personal advantage that, in practice, it must end in placing excuse & assume the appearance beyond the honour of devoting his a dictatorial power in the hands of an of benevolent State-paternalism, youthful energies, bodily & mental to oligarchy & would leave all interests, sooner or later degenerates into Party the defense of everlasting Principles general & local, at the mercy of a favouritism & oppression. of justice & liberty. The testimonies of shifting majority. In conformity with the “Viewed in this light the Southern cause regard which my former companions traditions established by the Founders ceases to appear as the mere outcome in arms are pleased to send me from of the great Republic, they adhered of petty & temporary party squabbles, time to time across the Ocean I accept to the doctrine of States-rights as the but assumes a wider importance & gratefully as a proof that I did not err in only means of preserving an equitable must appeal strongly to the sympathies my appreciation of the Southern Cause, Balance of Power throughout the Union. of all Lovers of Freedom & Justice, at & those welcome tokens fill my heart With these two conflicting political all times & in all countries. with legitimate pride & with responsive tendencies, viewed in the abstract, “That our immediate object was not feelings of esteem & friendship. the social question of domestic attained, does not affect the substance had nothing of the Principle involved in our Cause. whatever to do. The two opposed He who only fights for spoils & plunder “That God may vouchsafe prosperity doctrines & consequently the main needs success indeed to save him to your families & to your country is the issue would have remained the same from disgrace. But he who fights in most fervent wish of your former General if Slavery had already ceased to exist defense of a high principle can face C. J. Polignac”

13 Depicting Combat: Veracity in drawings by Frank Vizetelly and Alfred Waud by Graham Whitham

Illustrated newspapers and ‘specials’ ...all battle art to this time had been drawn in studios and commercial art rooms by artists whose closest experience with combat was in most instances a monthly battle with their bill-collectors... [They] portrayed warfare in the romantic and heroic traditions of strenuous hand-to-hand combat by bare-chested heroes and occasionally a general dying magnificently on the battlefield in the arms of his grief-stricken aides. (1)

During the Civil War, established reproduction in an American paper ...there would be no time to secure traditions of depicting battle scenes was eight years after the end of the detailed sketches, and under some as described above were transformed Civil War. So, the only ostensibly truthful circumstances it would often be by so-called special artists, familiarly images of fighting reached the public as impossible to get more than a very known as ‘specials’. Employed by engravings made from artists’ drawings rough sketch from which to finish illustrated newspapers, ‘specials’ often and published in illustrated weeklies. a drawing of some very important travelled with the armies, drew what Daily newspapers in mid-nineteenth occurrence. (3) they saw and, as a result, depicted century America occasionally included The transposition of a quick sketch aspects of war in a relatively truthful way. pictures related to news events, but into a finished drawing ready for the From an historian’s point of view, these the wood engraving process used engraver might sometimes result in the drawings and the published engravings for reproducing images was labour artist adding elements he remembered made from them provide evidence that intensive and costly (2). However, there but had been unable to draw at the time, contributes to a fuller understanding of was a demand for images and a number or he might change features for editorial the war. But how far are we able to rely of illustrated weekly newspapers began or aesthetic reasons. Such amendments on these pictures as accurate testimony? to appear that attempted to fill the gap could compromise the drawing’s Just as the written word can present us left by the dailies. Whilst economic authenticity. with a subjective and biased view, so and technical difficulties forced some To remain newsworthy, drawings were can drawings. out of business, in 1856 Henry Carter, dispatched to newspaper offices as ‘Specials’ were not impartial reporters; who used the pen name Frank Leslie, quickly as possible using horse courier how could they be? Like anyone, they successfully published Frank Leslie’s or the army’s mail service. Once at the had their own opinions and beliefs, and Illustrated Newspaper. An English offices, a grid of squares or rectangles they also had their own artistic methods immigrant with six years experience was put on the drawing’s surface so and practices which determined working in the engraving department different engravers could work from the the appearance of drawings and, at the Illustrated London News, Leslie various sections, which speeded up consequently, how they were ‘read’. modelled his publication on this first the copying process. When completed, What’s more, ‘specials’ were employed and oldest illustrated newspaper. The the engraved wooden blocks were by newspapers with economic and circulation of Leslie’s periodical grew screwed together and electrotyped (4). political objectives; even if artists aspired impressively and its success inspired Generally, an engraving from a drawn to absolute truth, it was editors who similar ventures, notably Harper’s image appeared in print two to three selected what was published and had a Weekly, founded a year after Leslie’s weeks after its creation. say in what they looked like, since the journal, and the New York Illustrated Between 1861 and 1865, tens of drawings were transcribed by engravers News, founded in 1859. thousands of drawings depicting under the direction of those editors,. With the outbreak of the Civil War, various aspects of the war were made Notwithstanding the subjectivity of the illustrated newspapers began to employ by ‘specials’, ranging from notational artist and the vagaries of publishing, ‘specials’ as visual reporters to draw sketches of a few lines quickly drawn, drawings were the only way of battles, life in camp, armies on the to highly finished, detailed renderings. visually recording combat. Despite its march, and other things of interest. However, only about two thousand of sophistication and quality, photography Generally working quickly to capture the those sent to American publishers were couldn’t do this; the equipment was immediacy of the scene, ‘specials’ would engraved and printed. cumbersome, the materials of the wet- often re-draw their rapid on-the-spot In order to make their drawings, plate collodion technology dangerous, sketches to create a finished picture that ‘specials’ often travelled with the armies and exposure times were typically a few could be copied by engravers. The and endured considerable hardships. seconds, making movement blurred. Harper’s Weekly ‘special’ Theodore After the , the artist Besides, in the 1860s photographs Davis bemoaned the problems of Henri Lovie wrote to his employer, could not be printed in newspapers; the sketching quickly whilst on a battlefield: first photograph printed as a halftone 14 Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper: R. O’Neill at Baxter Springs, Kansas, these are only some of the things, – a Riding from 10 to 15 miles daily, in October, 1863, and John Hillen was few of them, – but sufficient to show through wood and underbrush, and severely wounded during Sherman’s the necessity for a special sketch- then working until midnight by the dim advance to Atlanta; he died in 1865, in book, in which to make, whenever I light of an attenuated tallow ‘dip’ are part as a result of the wound. Theodore found an opportunity, memorandum among the least of my désagrémens Davis, who had his horse shot from under sketches of every new thing. I thus and sorrows. To use an indigenous but him and was wounded at the Battle of provided myself with a reference book expressive phrase, I am nearly ‘played Raymond during Grant’s campaign for use when active campaigning out’, and as soon as Pittsburgh is against Vicksburg, wryly recalled: commenced...(9) worked up, and Corinth settled, I must My most peculiar experience...was Although objectivity was usually beg a furlough for rest and repairs. having a sketch-book shot out of the intention, accurate and truthful I am deranged about the stomach, my hand and sent whirling over my representations were always subject to ragged, unkempt and unshorn, and shoulder. At another time, one chilly a myriad of factors. It was principally need the conjoined skill and services night after the day of a hard battle, pressure from his employer to create of the apothecary, the tailor and the as I lay shivering on the ground with a battle picture that led Frank Vizetelly barber, and above all the attentions a single blanket over me, a forlorn to draw Battle of Chickamauga - the of home and the cheerful prattle of soldier begged and received a share Confederate General Hood receiving children, who, by this time, would of the blanket. I awoke at daybreak his wound. As special artist for the almost have forgotten that they had a to find the soldier dead, and from Illustrated London News, Vizetelly had father... the wound it was plain that but for gone to America at the outbreak of war In the same report, Leslie’s also the intervention of his head the bullet to make drawings and write articles for published an extract from another of would have gone through my own. (7) the newspaper. Born in London in 1830, their ‘specials’: However, some ‘specials’ simply took he had worked for his brother’s weekly, the Pictorial Times, and then edited Le We were only able to buy the fag-ends it all in their stride, apparently focused Monde illustré in Paris, but, in 1859, of the sutler’s stores on board ship – no on their work and indifferent to their he landed a job better suited to his flour, or sugar, or meal, only preserved personal safety. Major Edgar Kimball temperament and taste for adventure. meats and ‘stuff’ that needs no of the 9th New York Volunteer Infantry As a war correspondent, he reported on cooking. Our diet therefore is simple, Regiment wrote to Leslie’s Illustrated Garibaldi’s so-called Expedition of the if not cheap, consisting of hard ship News: Thousand in Sicily and soon after sailed biscuit – which we beg of the marines I beg to say that your illustrations of the for New York. Initially, he travelled with opposite – harder salt tongue, and victories on Roanoke Island are very and reported on the Federal armies, but coffee without milk or sugar. Add to correct. I noticed, and so did the whole in the summer of 1862 transferred his this that we have to take a big dose of of the Ninth regiment, Mr Schell, your allegiance to the Confederacy. quinine every morning to keep off the Artist, sitting on a log sketching under fever; that sandflies and mosquitoes the hottest fire from Fort Defiance. His are abundant and of gigantic size; that nonchalance and coolness did as our sleeping arrangements imply no much toward inspiring our troops as blankets, which I neglected to bring the enthusiasm and bravery of any of and I cannot buy; imagine all this and the officers. (8) more, and you will form some notion of The role of the ‘special’ was essentially the delights of a ‘Special Artist’ off the that of a reporter using images mouth of the Mississippi. (5) rather than words. Some went to Danger was also present. If a ‘special’ considerable lengths to create accurate wanted to get close to the fighting in representations: order to record it, he risked his life. The Infantry, cavalry, and artillery soldiers, artist Edwin Forbes wrote: each had their particular uniform, The fighting here was very severe; and besides these, t h e i r huge columns of yellow smoke rolled equipments, such as belts, swords, up from the roads; the faint rattle guns, cartridge-boxes, and many and roll of distant musketry came other things, were d i f f e r e n t . across the open fields, interrupted Their tactics and maneuvers were not occasionally by the boom of a heavy alike, and some distinguishing point gun...I was in the hottest of the fire for in each uniform designated quite awhile. When I attempted to get the corporals, sergeants, , away I found myself cornered. I started captains, majors, colonels, and with a party of skirmishers through a generals. As many as ten different dense road, leading my horse, and saddles were in use, and of the army after passing under a severe fire of homes – tents – there was a shell, got a safe position. (6) great variety. The harness for artillery Some ‘specials’ weren’t as fortunate as horses was peculiar, as was that of Forbes. Confederate guerrillas led by the mules which drew the Studio of Mathew B. Brady Frank Vizetelly c.1861 (glass negative, stereograph), Library of killed the artist James army wagons and ambulances. Now, Congress. 15 As the Confederate soldiers regrouped, was at Chickamauga, that he was with Major General rode over the Texas and Arkansas regiments as to help organize a counterattack and they surged forward, that not only did whilst discussing this with Robertson, a he see Hood fall from his horse, but also minié ball struck him in the leg. Fifteen had his pencil in hand and was able years later, Hood himself recalled: to capture the moment. What are the ...I was pierced with a Minie ball in the chances of such a confluence of events? upper third of the right leg; I turned from Vizetelly’s drawing depicts the very my horse on the side of the crushed moment the minié smashed into Hood’s limb and fell...into the arms of some of right thigh, but it’s obvious the drawing the troops from my old brigade...(11) wasn’t made in that instant. It’s too William Lee White, National Park complex and too finished to have been Service Ranger at the Chickamauga made at that moment. Not only are and Chattanooga National Military Park, there thirteen figures and a horse in the added more information about Hood’s foreground, there are at least another wounding: fifty figures, albeit sketchily rendered, numerous trees, and the distant lines of ... Hood rode in among the men of his the Federal army – all too much for even old brigade. He grabbed the of the speediest sketch artist to draw in a his old regiment, the 4th Texas, and few minutes. Moreover, the pencil image tried to rally his men – all the while has a brushed watercolour or ink wash still receiving fire... Among his milling with touches of opaque white paint, men, holding the flag and the reins of materials unlikely to have been used by Mathew B. Brady Alfred R. Waud c.1865, his horse with his disabled arm, Hood (albumen silver print) National Portrait Gallery, an artist working quickly to capture the made an excellent target. He soon Smithsonian Institution heat of battle. If Vizetelly’s Battle of Chickamauga went down with a gunshot in his right A credible answer to this conundrum is drawing was primarily the consequence thigh. (12) that Vizetelly quickly sketched the scene of editorial demands for a combat image, There is enough written detail of this and subsequently, perhaps in the relative Alfred Waud’s sketch at the Battle of Cold event to give us a pretty good idea of calm and safety of his tent or some other Harbor, The 164th N.Y.V charging Col. what happened, but we’re also fortunate location, worked up the sketch into a killed, illustrates how an artist’s aesthetic there was an artist on hand to provide more finished drawing, ready to be sent preferences might affect a seemingly us with a visual record that complements to the engravers in London. However, direct response to the event. Waud was the image conjured up by the words. all isn’t what it seems; Vizetelly did not born in London two years before Vizetelly. An engraving and a report of the sketch the scene on 20 September; he At the age of twenty-two, he sailed to New Battle of Chickamauga appeared in was more than a hundred miles away. York intending to design and paint theatre the Illustrated London News on 26 So, what purports to be an accurate scenery, but this didn’t work out and he December, 1863 (13), provided by the record of Hood’s wounding made by an found alternative employment making newspaper’s so-called ‘Special Artist observer is nothing of the sort. illustrations for various publications. He and Correspondent in the South’. What The circumstances of the drawing’s began covering the war for the New York luck, we might think, that Frank Vizetelly Illustrated News, but towards the end of creation began when Vizetelly set off 1861 became a special artist for Harper’s Weekly, remaining on assignment with the Federal armies until the war ended.

Vizetelly at Chickamauga Sometime during the afternoon of 20 September, 1863, Brigadier General Jerome Robertson’s Texas and Arkansas regiments advanced against Federal positions near the La Fayette Road west of Chickamauga Creek. The troops drove the Federals from the top of a hill, but, Robertson reported, [a]fter holding the hill a few moments, pouring a destructive fire into his [the enemy’s] fleeing columns in my front, a fire was opened on both my right and left flanks...but before I could stop it my line had been thrown into confusion, and I found it necessary to fall back to reform. (10) Frank Vizetelly Battle of Chickamauga - the Confederate General Hood receiving his wound September, 1863 (pencil, grey wash & Chinese white on paper) 25 x 36 cm. Houghton Library, Harvard University 16 for Georgia from Charleston, South fall of a great officer and the closing page. He writes as follows respecting Carolina, with fellow Britons Fitzgerald in of the soldiers to protect him. ‘What the first illustration:- ‘About midday, the Ross and Charles Byrne (14). They think you?’ said the proud Vizitelly battle raged at its highest. Two of the arrived in Augusta on 15 September, [sic]. ‘Splendid, but nothing like it most gallant charges that I witnessed where the town proved to be something took place.’ ‘No matter, it might have on the portion of the field where I had of a distraction for the trio and they made happened, and besides all battle- taken position ...form the subject of the merry for a few days. However, when pictures are drawn with such freedom.’ accompanying Sketch’. (17) they heard Lieutenant General James ‘Who is the general just falling?’ ‘That, What he wrote was enough for historian Longstreet and his staff had passed sir, is General Hood, drawn the instant Amanda Foreman to conclude: “Vizetelly through, they decided to follow him in the of being shot.’ ‘But, my good Vizitelly placed himself rather precariously hope of finding the Confederate army [sic], Hood was not within a mile of in a field and made sketches of the and see a battle, which Vizetelly was that little field I gave you.’ ‘No matter, Federal regiments charging into desperate to record for his newspaper. he was shot, no one will deny that; their Confederate opponents...” (18), Acquiring transport in the railway car of and I must have a great interesting although there’s no evidence to confirm Brigadier General Micah Jenkins and center for my picture. You fellows are he sketched on-the-spot. That’s not his staff, they reached Atlanta on 20 altogether too particular. This goes by to say he didn’t want to be close to September, the day of Hood’s wounding. first underground chance, and you will the action; Vizetelly was daring and Jenkins went on ahead, leaving the see it in the London Illustrated News sometimes impetuous, but his presence Britons to board another train, but by the [sic].’ (15) near the battle lines doesn’t prove he time they found the Confederate army Vizetelly was desperate to send a was drawing. on the afternoon or early evening of 21 drawing to his newspaper; perhaps his In December, 1862, with Robert E. September, the Battle of Chickamauga editor was pushing the correspondent to Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia at was over. Byrne hurried off to seek out dispatch something quickly. So, having Fredericksburg, he and others came Major General Patrick Cleburne, whilst missed the battle, the ‘special’ chose under fire from Federal artillery. He wrote, Vizetelly and Ross made their way to invention over veracity. In spite of this, “...a South Carolinian had a portion of his Longstreet’s headquarters. The next day, it seems improbable deception was head carried away within four yards of 22 September, the Britons set off across his intention. More likely, he wanted to myself by a shell...” (19). The incident the battlefield, appalled by the dead create as accurate a record as he could was described in more detail by Major and wounded they saw, and it was either and to do this he used his knowledge Heros von Borcke: this day or the next when Vizetelly met and experience of combat gained In the town of Fredericksburg a Longstreet’s Assistant Adjutant General, during two years reporting the war, and great many Yankees had been found Colonel Moxley Sorrel, and requested probably eye witness accounts as well, straggling and lurking in the houses, his help. Sorrel wrote: to represent Hood’s wounding. Even either with a view to , or too [Vizetelly] arrived...long after the though the location was, according to overpowered by the liquor they had battle. He took me aside with: Sorrel, incorrect, Hood is shown with his stolen to leave with their army; and ‘Colonel, I am in an awful mess. I must left arm in a sling, the consequence of a body of those captives marching send drawings and a picture of this a wound received at Gettysburg (16). along the turnpike road escorted by great battle to my paper somehow. Moreover, the General is being caught a detachment of our soldiers, attracted Cannot you help me?’ We were at the by a man as he begins to fall from his the curiosity of Mr Vizetelly, who time not very far from a little field that horse, which Hood himself recorded in immediately rode down to meet them. had a scene during the fighting which his memoirs. Since Vizetelly didn’t see Having reached the column, he had struck me, even then, as somewhat the incident, such details can only have just entered into conversation with picturesque. The open field crowned come from the recollections of those a corporal from a South Carolina with thick woods at one side, through who did. This, together with the artist- regiment who commanded which frowned half a dozen Federal correspondent’s own familiarity with the detachment, when the hostile guns and a brigade of ours moving up battle formations, uniforms, and batteries, mistaking their own men for in beautiful order to capture it. I said as equipment, gave the drawing some enemies, opened fire, and one of much as this to Vizitelly [sic], and sent accuracy. their very first shells, passing quite him to look at the spot. He returned, on Even if he didn’t make it to the battle at close to our friend, tore the head of fire with his artist’s fancies, and shut Chickamauga Creek, there’s no doubting the poor fellow with whom himself up for several days. Then he Vizetelly was on hand at a number of he was talking completely off his emerged with drawings, and much other battles and skirmishes. He was shoulders, scattering pieces of skull letter-press of what he had actually with Brigadier General Irvin McDowell’s and brains in every direction. seen; and principally a very large Army of Northeastern Virginia at the Horror-stricken at this sad incident, drawing beautifully finished of the so- First Battle of Manassas and made a and having no call of duty to called ‘Little scene’. But heavens! All number of sketches, dispatching them remain, the artist at once put spurs resemblance had ceased. Instead to the Illustrated London News, which into his charger’s flanks, and galloped of the slight affair, three solid lines of reported: off as fast as the n o b l e infantry were moving across a great steed could carry him. But the hostile stretch of ground against hundreds Our Special Artist, who was present at gunners seemed to take particular of guns that were devastating our the battle of Bull Run, has sent us some pleasure in aiming at the flying troops in fire and smoke. In the central sketches of the fight and the flight, two horseman, and ever closer and closer portion there was the wounding and of which are engraved on the previous

17 flew the unpleasant missiles about wrote, “ready to wield my pencil when likelihood, the more dramatic an image, his ears...(20) the struggle begins” (25). It’s the very the more likely it was to sell the paper. As Vizetelly’s desire to be close to the image of a ‘special’, on the front line, Hoppin claimed, this could result in “the action is indisputable; or is it? The prepared to record the forthcoming truth...now and then sacrificed to the Baltimore newspaper proprietor, William battle as it happens. Is this really demand for dramatic action”. Moreover, Wilkins Glenn, noted in his journal: “...he Vizetelly? Or should we consider the Hoppin was aware that, to a greater or [Vizetelly] gave me a brilliant account of opinion of Captain Blackford: “We had lesser degree, a drawing is a subjective the battle of Fredericksburgh [sic], all of a shrewd suspicion that he drew a little creation and he suggested as much which he had witnessed. Capt. Phillips, on his imagination for his facts...” (26). when he said that unless “taken from Guards, who was there and did see the If we believe Sorrel, when he expressed photographs, [drawings are] not always fight laughed at V. [Vizetelly] & said he misgivings about the Chickamauga reliable”(28). kept himself in a very safe place all day.” drawing’s veracity, Vizetelly himself Accurately drawing what one sees is not (21) admitted drawing combat scenes was only a matter of skill; it is also a matter an invention: “No matter, it might have Was it Vizetelly’s practice to draw of how an artist was trained or learnt his happened,” he told Sorrel, “and besides events at some later time, perhaps skill. Nineteenth century art schools in all battle-pictures are drawn with such after listening to verbal accounts, as he Britain and the United States advocated freedom”. seems to have done at Chickamauga? Did he sketch on-the-spot and then make a more finished drawing for Waud at Gettysburg publication? Did he observe the action Even during the war, and draw from memory? Could he even the veracity of drawings have incorporated drawings by others made by special into his own work? Captain William Willis artists was questioned. Blackford, an aide-de-camp to Major Reporting to the New General J.E.B. Stuart, recalled: York Historical Society, At his [Vizetelly’s] request I made the author William J. him some sketches of scenes in Hoppin noted: Pennsylvania during our late raid It is true that which he said he would embody in the illustrated some he was making for the Illustrated newspapers are News...(22) full of sketches, Or did he employ a combination of these purporting to be practices, or use different practices pictures of important at different times depending on the scenes; but the circumstances? The accounts of Sorrel, testimony of parties von Borcke, Phillips, and Blackford, as engaged shows ‘Battle of Chickamauga – the Confederate General Hood, Wounded’ (engraving) well as those of Vizetelly himself, provide these representations Illustrated London News Vol.43, No.1238, 26 December, 1863, p.661 confusing and contradictory evidence of are, when they are not artistic practice. However, most of the taken from photographs, not always an approach in which aesthetic qualities extant combat drawings by Vizetelly are reliable. The desire of producing were paramount. Hoppin alluded to this of a quality and finish typical of those striking effects sometimes overcomes when declaring, “truth is...sacrificed prepared for dispatch to newspapers to all other considerations, and the truth to the demand for...the pleasing play be engraved (23). I know of no drawings is now and then sacrificed to the of light and shadow”. In other words, by him where the style is characteristic demand for dramatic action or the the artist’s aesthetic predilection, to a of a sketch made quickly on-the-spot. As pleasing play of light and shadow. degree instilled through training, can Sheila Gallagher pointed out, Many of these designs are of little take precedence over an accurate Drawing on the spot, often in the midst value, except as studies of costume. rendition of the truth. Some of them are positively lying of chaotic military engagements, Even when the artist had dispatched his and fabulous. If all the terrific hand-to- required the artist to develop a kind of work, truth might be adjusted; engravers hand encounters which we have seen shorthand that captured the essence (and editors) often made aesthetic and for two or three years displayed in the of complex topographies and bodies technical decisions that changed the pages of our popular weeklies had in motion. (24) original image. Vizetelly’s Chickamauga actually occurred, the combatants Vizetelly’s work does not exhibit this drawing and the engraving made from on each side would long ago have stylistic characteristic. it differ in small details: the poses of the annihilated each other...(27) On 4 December at Fredericksburg, soldiers either side of Hood are different; Hoppin’s evaluation may have some Vizetelly was with Confederate pickets one of them, the officer with the raised credibility. Of all the drawings supplied on the banks of the Rappahannock sword seems to have been relocated in by ‘specials’, only a relative few were River near Fredericksburg. A hundred front of the line of troops in the engraving; chosen by editors to be engraved and yards away, on the other side, were the distance between Hood and the line published; a criterion for selection was Federal pickets. “I am lying out in of battle behind him has increased; a probably the drawing’s potential to sell as the pine-woods at the advance,” he mounted soldier has appeared in front many newspapers as possible and, in all of this line; trees have come and gone; 18 Hood’s placement within the rectangle of the engraving is closer to the middle than it is in the drawing; the soldiers’ legs and those of Hood’s horse are visible in the engraving, but not in the drawing. In themselves, such changes seem negligible, but they can modify the viewer’s interpretation. For instance, are we to think the officer with the raised sword in the engraving is bravely leading his men? In the drawing he’s not in front of them, and so not leading. Can we interpret Hood’s proximity to the front line in the drawing as implying courage, whereas his greater distance from that line in the engraving is less emphatic of his involvement in the battle? Some of the adjustments made from drawing to engraving were editorial; moving the Alfred R. Waud Death of Reynolds – Gettysburg 1863 (pencil on cream paper) 13.4 x 22.7 cm. officer with the raised sword maintains Library of Congress the idea of leadership, especially in light Brigadier General James Wadsworth’s was killed until about 4.30pm, the area of Hood’s incapacitation; positioning 1st Division of Reynolds’s I Corps, had around the Seminary was the scene of Hood further away and not crowding no idea themselves where they were considerable fighting and later it fell into him with attendant figures, as he is going or what they might find when they Confederate hands. Another location of in the drawing, makes him the focal got there. And it the first day’s fighting, Old R.R. cutting point of the image, as does moving was no light jog... [they] would have to where Archers Brigade [i.e. Joseph him closer to the centre of the picture. double-quick for a mile and a quarter Davis’ Brigade] of A.P. Hill’s Division But moving him, and including the legs in the thick humidity...’(30) was captured by the 14th Brooklyn, 6th of the soldiers and horse, as well as Wisconsin, and 95th N.Y., has a margin It’s possible Waud did move out with increasing distance between Hood and inscription written by Waud: “Made this Wadsworth’s brigades, perhaps alerted the Confederate front line, may also from an officers [sic] description I think to the possibility of a battle; maybe he have been aesthetic; the changes have it doubtful that the capture was made kept pace with the soldiers, followed resulted in a more balanced, spacious, here.” All Waud’s sketches of combat at them into Herbst’s Woods, saw Reynolds and legible picture. Gettysburg are of events on 2 and 3 July, arrive with his two aides and an orderly, Similarly, adding the mounted officer in suggesting he was on the battlefield from watched the Major General fall from his front of the Confederates’ advanced line, the second day onwards; one drawing, horse as the bullet struck, saw the horse serves to break a strong horizontal that Part of Ward’s line, Kershaw attacking, bolt, dragging Reynolds several yards. threatens to cut the picture in half, as has ‘July 2nd 1863’ written in the lower And perhaps Waud had his sketchbook does the raised battle flag, made more left corner below the artist’s initials. in hand through all this and made a prominent in the engraving than the rapid drawing. Perhaps. Despite its sketchy quality, suggesting drawing. an on-the-spot drawing, it’s virtually Alfred Waud made at least forty If Vizetelly’s drawing of a mounted certain Waud wasn’t on hand to draw drawings at Gettysburg. Timothy officer being shot was something of an the Death of Reynolds as it happened. O’Sullivan photographed him sitting on invention, albeit one informed by the On the back of the drawing he wrote a boulder in Devil’s Den on 6 July, but artist’s knowledge and, in all probability, almost 300 words describing the military no one knows how long Waud had been evidence from those who saw the situation on the afternoon of 1 July and on the battlefield before the camera was incident, can the same be said for Alfred the death of the I Corps’ commander, pointed at him. The best guess is that Waud’s drawing of a similar episode? adding a map of topographical features he got there at the earliest on the night and troop positions (31). He couldn’t The Death of Reynolds – Gettysburg of 1-2 July. The sketches he made at have known anything in such detail is dated 1 July, 1863 by the Library of locations where there had been action until after the battle, suggesting he later Congress, the day the Major General on the first day, including the Death of spoke to witnesses, including officers was killed, although there is no date Reynolds, were all drawn after the fight who were engaged in the fighting on the drawing. Some sources accept was over. For example, Seminary nr. near McPherson’s Ridge and Herbst’s Waud was present (29), but it would Gettysburg used as a hospital, scene Woods. Indeed, the written description have been highly unlikely if a ‘special’ of Reynolds fight with Longstreet the might well have been the primary source had been in Herbst’s Woods at about first day is a peaceful panoramic view, for the drawing. 10.15am. on 1 July. At that time, no a soldier seated in the foreground and one knew this was the front line of a two others walking behind a wagon in Reynolds’s death shocked the country developing battle, least of all a Harper’s the middle ground. Although the Library and he became something of a national Weekly’s special artist travelling with the of Congress dates the drawing 1 July, hero. His story was made more poignant Army of the Potomac. Besides, the two 1863, what it depicts cannot have been since he and his fiancé, Katherine May brigades that hurried to Gettysburg, from on that day; from about the time Reynolds Hewitt, had agreed that if he was killed,

19 field at Champion’s Hill (or Baker’s Creek, as the Confederate soldiers called the battle). The memorandum sketch of that action shows a general view of the field, indicated with reasonable distinctness...After leaving the spot, I saw General Grant and some of his staff at that point, and so introduced them in the sketch to add interest to the scene. (32) It was common practice for ‘memorandum sketches’ to be worked into more finished, detailed drawings suitable for engravers to copy, although this process might further compromise the veracity of the picture; in re- drawing, the artist might allow his artistic proclivities, or his editor’s lingering words about capturing dramatic moments, to Alfred R. Waud The Fall of Reynolds – (engraving) 13.7 x 22.5 cm. Library of Congress influence him. Is this what persuaded she would join a convent, which she The examples Battle of Chickamauga - Davis to add the Federal high command did. Like many others, Waud seems to the Confederate General Hood receiving to “a general view of the field”? have been fascinated with the incident; his wound and Death of Reynolds – at some later date, he had an engraving Gettysburg are representative of one Waud at Cold Harbour made, presumably to sell copies, and way ‘specials’ worked. However, they During the so-called ‘Overland drew a further two versions of Reynolds are more usually credited with sketching Campaign’ in Virginia in 1864, Alfred about to tumble from his horse. One on-the-spot, quickly capturing salient Waud made a sketch of Federal troops of these is drawn on the inside cover aspects of the scene, and this is almost attacking Confederate fortifications at of The Salon, an undated New York certainly the case. The artist Theodore Cold Harbor, east of Richmond. As well magazine. However, on the front cover Davis called these rapid ‘memorandum as writing the title at the lower left of the of the journal is a line reproduction of sketches’, noting, drawing and adding the date ‘June 3’ Pierre-Auguste Cot’s The Storm, which the character of these d r a w i n g s above it, he signed the drawing lower had been commissioned in 1880 by varied...according to the circumstances right and wrote the words ‘Rebel dead’ Catharine Lorillard Wolfe, an American under which they were made...the on the lower right side between two philanthropist and art collector, and sketches, or mere notes, as at times they foreground figures. On the back of this exhibited at the Paris Salon in the same were, might sometimes be absolutely relatively small piece of paper he noted: year. Therefore, Waud’s drawing had unintelligible except to myself... “McMahons regiment is in Gibbons to have been made between 1880 and [M]ost of these [memorandum] division wears a Zouave uniform dark his death in 1891, demonstrating his sketches...show simply the locality green the colonels last words were ‘Now continuing fascination with Reynolds’s of some exciting incident, and not boys we’ve got em’ 7 bullets reached death. a general view, such as that of the him and he fell over the rifle pit dead.” Colonel James Power McMahon commanded the 164th New York Volunteers, one of five regiments in the 4th Brigade of John Gibbon’s 2nd Division of the Army of the Potomac’s IV Corps. McMahon had succeeded his brother John as colonel of the regiment; John had died in Buffalo, New York, on 3 March, 1863, being treated for wounds. A third brother, Martin, was Assistant Adjutant Alfred R. Waud The Death of Reynolds Gettysburg c.1880 (pencil on grey paper, the General to Major inside cover of The Salon) Library of Congress Alfred R. Waud The Death of Reynolds Gettysburg 1863? (pencil on General Horatio 24.9 x 18.6 cm. Library of Congress cream paper) 16.5 x 17.2 cm. Library of Congress

20 Wright, commander of the army’s VI in 1864 at the Battle of Cold Harbor on quickly capturing the action? If he did Corps. Martin survived the war and in Hanover County, Virginia, felled by make the sketch on-the-spot, it’s more wrote about his brother James’s death: a hail of Confederate gunfire as he likely he re-worked it when he returned One officer alone, the Colonel of the attempted to plant the colors of to camp. The white paint creates the 164th New York, seizing the colors the 164th atop a rebel fortification. effect of musket and cannon smoke, of his regiment from the dying color- According to one account, one bullet serving to distinguish the position of the bearer as he fell, succeeded in split the sword he had raised over his Confederate breastworks and McMahon reaching the parapet of the enemy’s head, and two bullets shattered his himself. If Waud did refine the drawing main works, where he planted his left and right arms. He urged would- in this way, he may also have modified colors and fell dead near the ditch, be rescuers to save themselves, and some of the figures by adding stronger bleeding from many wounds. (33) even declined whiskey.’ (36) lines and darker shading. Against the lighter lines and more generalised tones Writing about the same incident, II Corps Some of the accounts of McMahon’s of the background, the darker foreground commander Major General Winfield S. death tally with Waud’s sketch; figures appear closer, but they also Hancock noted: the Colonel is on the Confederate breastworks holding the colours in one accentuate a triangular arrangement. On the left, and separated from his hand, sword in the other, falling back as At the apex of this notional pyramid is brigade by the swamp, the heroic he is shot. But bearing in mind Vizetelly’s McMahon. The right side line follows his Colonel McMahon, with a portion General Hood receiving his wound and falling body, thigh, and the angle of his of his regiment, One-hundred and Waud’s own Death of Reynolds, where sword arm, then picks up the elbow and sixty-fourth New York, gained the we can be certain the artists did not leg of a soldier at bottom right. The left breastwork, and, while alongside of see the incidents, can we believe the side line angles down to the man with a his colors cheering on his men, fell Harper’s Weekly ‘special’ saw McMahon raised sword, then touches the top of a covered with wounds, and expired in fall and, whilst there, sketched the falling soldier’s head and the head of a the enemy’s hands, they capturing his scene? prone figure, and echoes the angle of colors and the men with it. (34) his outstretched arm.

Pyramidal organization and golden section of The 164th N.Y.V charging Col. killed A pyramidal arrangement in figure compositions was a standard format for artists. For example, Théodore Géricault’s Raft of the Medusa and Alfred Waud The 164th N.Y.V charging Col. killed 3 June, 1864? (pencil, Chinese white, & grey ink wash Eugène Delacroix’s Liberty Leading on grey paper) 15.5 x 23.3 cm. Library of Congress the People are organized in this way. These are paintings Waud would have Lieutenant John Russell Winterbotham, The 164th N.Y.V charging... is even known about, having trained in London adjutant of the 155th New York sketchier in execution than the Death of at the Government School of Design, Volunteers, a regiment next but one to Reynolds and indicates the picture was the original manifestation of the Royal McMahon’s 164th when they charged, drawn rapidly. As well as pencil, there College of Art. Here, they would have wrote to his family a week later: are patches of what’s catalogued as been promoted as good examples of When all his men had been shot down Chinese white, an opaque watercolour history painting, that is, complex figure around him, and he had so few about him sometimes called body colour. There’s compositions of heroic, dramatic, that the rebels said they thought they were also a grey ink wash, a diluted layer biblical or mythological subjects. coming in the give themselves up instead of ink applied with a brush. Assuming Moreover, a pyramidal composition of to assault the works, [they] called upon Waud made the sketch as the 164th had been pioneered in late 15th and him to surrender, but he would not do it were attacking, and given his apparent early 16th century Italy by Leonardo and they shot him down. (35) proximity to the fighting, it seems and Raphael, both shining examples to Other variations of McMahon’s death improbable he used paint and a wash Victorian art educators. appeared over time. For example, even if he had them to hand; why would McMahon’s head, the apex of the notional He [James McMahon] died heroically he when not only was he in danger of pyramid, is also on a vertical line about being shot, but also when his focus was two-thirds across the rectangle of the 21 paper. As with a pyramidal composition, artist is at a distance a trained nineteenth century artist would from the action and, have been aware of the golden section one might suppose, when organising a composition. This was safer and had more had been used for positioning and time than he might have aligning elements in a picture since done sketching The the Renaissance, although artists 164th N.Y.V charging.... rarely constructed it with mathematical Unsurprisingly, neither Alfred Waud 7th N.Y. Heavy Arty. in Barlows charge nr. Cold Harbor Friday June 3rd accuracy, but used an approximate drawing was engraved 1864 (pencil & Chinese white on green paper) 34.7 x 51.4 cm. Library of Congress 2 1 positioning of about /3: /3.(37) It would be in Harper’s Weekly; instinctive for a trained artist like Waud they weren’t finished to place a significant element of the enough to copy. The drawing on such a vertical or horizontal only Waud drawing division of the picture’s rectangle. made at Cold Harbor We can never know whether Waud’s on 3 June appearing in sketch was made on the spot; the rapid Harper’s was 7th N.Y. drawing indicates it might have been; the Heavy Arty. in Barlows paint, wash, and darker lines could have charge nr. Cold Harbor been added later, and the pyramidal Friday June 3rd 1864. and vertical alignments may have been This is a complex figure second nature to an experienced artist composition, possibly rather than something contrived after the composed from a event. number of studies, Compare The 164th N.Y.V charging... perhaps from memory, with another drawing made on the perhaps from witness same day, Barlow and Gibbons charge accounts, or maybe General Grant’s Great Campaign – General Barlow Charging the Enemy at Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864 (38) (engraving) Harper’s Weekly Vol.8, No.391, 26 June, 1864, between the Mechanicsville road and a combination of all pp.408-9. swamp. This is an even sketchier three. The drawing drawing, a few lines and simplified demonstrates how Waud developed the the picket line, as well as being present blocks of tone to indicate men, horses, subject into a dramatic image suitable at numerous skirmishes and battles, the cannon, and the landscape. for publication. In the middle ground, demonstrating his bravery as well as two Federal officers his commitment to making dramatic point and the New and truthful records. Consequently, York soldiers level we should not assume his drawings their muskets towards are fictitious. But considering the an unseen enemy circumstances of the 164th’s charge, to the left, creating we might reasonably question whether a strong horizontal Waud was with them. It’s feasible he line that directs the was close to the Confederate works viewer’s gaze. To the McMahon scaled on 3 June; his drawing right of the picture, the suggests he was just yards away. But horizontal emphasis it was a dangerous location and he turns into a curve of risked injury, or worse. The Federal line captured Confederate moved forward at 4.30am., an hour and soldiers led away a quarter before daybreak, so visibility from the battle by can’t have been good. Moreover, Federal guards. The ‘[r]ain, which had been falling Alfred Waud Barlow and Gibbons charge between the Mechanicsville firing soldiers and the throughout the night, stopped as the road and swamp, June 3rd, 1864 (pencil & lead white on green paper) captives are linked by 8.6 x 14.7 cm. Library of Congress assault began, but the damp ground a sprawl of wounded gave rise to a thick mist that hugged in the lower left of the composition. Perhaps this is because it’s smaller than the ground and made it difficult to Moreover, the New York regiment’s flag The 164th N.Y.V charging..., or perhaps discern distant objects’. is at the apex of a shallow triangle, because it was drawn on-the-spot. There If Waud was with the troops, the darkness which itself is placed on a vertical axis are none of the compositional devices and fog must have limited his view of about two thirds across the drawing. – triangles, golden sections – manifest events. What’s more, the advance was The carefully balanced organization of in the study, and if Waud did make a ‘march across an open field in which it this drawing is worthy of history painting adjustments to Barlow and Gibbons would be under fire every step of its and must have caught the attention of charge, it was to add body colour, Harper’s editor, since it was published advance.’ (39). The 164th was on possibly darken the mounted figures in as a double-page spread. the extreme left of the Federal line, the centre foreground, and delineate the overlapping Confederate Brigadier Alfred Waud was something of a fixture houses in the background. What’s more, General Alfred Colquitt’s Georgia with the Army of the Potomac, where although this is a combat subject, the Brigade and actually attacking the 17th he was known to have spent time on 22 regiment of Brigadier the most deadly character thinning is more ambiguous. Although he didn’t General James G. Martin’s Brigade, the ranks at every volley, his men witness Hood fall from his horse with which was were compelled to fall back, leaving a leg wound, he seems to have gone armed with older muskets that fired the body of their heroic chieftain to considerable lengths to make the buck-and-ball and caused heavy where it had fallen, from whence it image as authentic as possible. If the casualties at close range. McMahon’s was afterwards recovered by the drawing was based on written or spoken soldiers overran an advanced position determined bravery and exasperated evidence, as it seems it must have held by the North Carolinians... devotion of the regiment. (44) been, and even though it was set in and continued toward the main Was McMahon’s death so heroic and “a little field...somewhat picturesque... line. Despite heavy enemy fire, they dramatic that Waud thought it a possible [but] not within a mile” (46) of Hood’s reached the line and began fighting subject for a potential engraving? If so, injury, should we judge it as a sincere hand-to-hand before being driven he didn’t pursue the idea. representation of the truth told by others back. (40) although not seen by the artist? Waud’s Death of Reynolds – Gettysburg Can we imagine Waud was with the 164th The ambiguity of veracity in front of the Confederate breastworks, is comparable. The notes written on When readers of the Illustrated London in the murk and mist of early morning, the reverse of the sketch demonstrate News opened their paper on Boxing that he positioned himself to draw the knowledge of the various brigades Day, 1863, and saw the picture at hand-to-hand fighting, saw McMahon fighting near McPherson’s Ridge on 1 the bottom of page 661, they almost grasp the flag, watched him fall from a July, the accompanying map indicates certainly assumed it was engraved from fusillade, and managed to capture this their dispositions, and an arrow drawn an on-the-spot sketch, since on the next with his pencil? It seems unlikely given from ‘Archer’s Rebel Brigade’ to a point page, the newspaper announced: the apparent ferocity of the combat; one in Herbst’s Woods is labelled ‘Line of hundred and fifty-five men of the 164th Some more sketches by our Special missil [sic] which killed Reynolds’. All this were killed, wounded, captured or went Artist and Correspondent in the suggests Waud’s concern for accuracy; missing in the assault, over one-third of South have, after considerable delay, he may even have been conscious of the the regiment (41). Of course, he may reached us through one of the many subject’s historical significance and the have gone forward with the New Yorkers, gaps in the blockade. necessity of documenting it. Since that observed the fight, and recorded it from This was followed by an account of fatal shot, Reynolds’s death has been memory at some later point. Equally, the battle of Chickamauga, the draft of focus of much speculation, generating a he may have drawn the scene from which was written by Vizetelly on the plethora of information and opinion (47) accounts circulating in the ranks after reverse of the drawing he had sent to but, as with Hood’s wounding, a drawing the battle, “although none was penned London. “From the nature of the ground, made within days of the incident and by anyone there to see it” (42). Division which was thickly wooded,” he wrote, from contemporary accounts, is perhaps as close as we’ll get to visually recreating commander Major General John Gibbon I found it impossible to make anything the episode. summed up the event in his report: like a drawing of the battle, not being On the left, and separated from his able to see more than a hundred yards As for The 164th N.Y.V charging Col. brigade by the swamp, the heroic either way; but I have selected an killed, its sketchy quality convinces some Colonel McMahon, with a portion of his incident for illustration, which occurred historians it’s an on-the-spot depiction regiment, One hundred and sixty-fourth in almost the only open portion of the but, as I have attempted to show, this New York, gained the breastwork, and, field...General Hood was cheering seems unlikely. Nonetheless, it stands while alongside of his colors cheering forward the second column when an alongside the Hood and Reynolds on his men, fell covered with wounds, Enfield ball passed through his right drawings as both a dramatic and, as far and expired in the enemy’s hands, they thigh, smashing the bone to pieces, as we can tell, truthful representation; the capturing also his colors and the men and as he was removed from the field rapidity of the drawing even suggests it with it. (43) he heard the shouts of his shoulders might have been made as someone was telling Waud about the incident not long And an obituary in the Army and Navy proclaiming their success and his after it happened. Journal elaborated: revenge. (45) Ultimately, a drawing is a drawing and In the fierce contest of the 3d instant If readers had not been persuaded the subject to the limitations of the discipline. before Richmond, Colonel JAMES P. engraving was a true representation of Where a camera might capture an MCMAHON, of the 164th regiment what had happened, they were now. image in seconds, a drawing takes at of New York Volunteers, fell mortally After all, Vizetelly had all but told them least minutes. Nineteenth century Civil wounded. The heroic manner of his he was there, although it had been War photographers such as Mathew death has in all probability attracted “impossible to make anything like a Brady and Alexander Gardner selected more than ordinary attention. Leading drawing of the battle, not being able to a scene, pointed the apparatus at it, his men to assault the enemy’s works see more than a hundred yards either and exposed the photographic plate; he daringly dashed ahead, and way”. But we know he wasn’t there; drawings made by special artists, either foremost, fighting with the National the fighting near Chickamauga Creek quick ‘memorandum sketches’ or more colors in one hand, was in the act of had finished the day before he arrived, detailed and composed images suitable planting them on the earthwork which so should we suppose he was being for engravers to copy, were a complex entrenched the foe, when his body was deceitful? interaction of eye, brain, and physical pierced by six bullets from the Rebel Whilst his words give the impression he dexterity and, as such, predisposed sharpshooters. An enfilading fore of saw the combat, the drawing’s veracity

23 Theodore R. Davis Our Special Artist Working at Night Reproduced in St. Nicholas: an Illustrated Magazine for Young Folks July, 1889, p.667. to the artist’s subjective interpretation. the tonal values for a more dramatic It matters little whether Vizetelly saw Besides, ‘specials’ were employees; if effect, were just some of the tools in the Hood being wounded or Waud was in drawings sent to New York or London for artist’s bag of tricks. Hersbt’s Woods when Reynolds was publication were rejected, the ‘special’s’ But all this is to play devil’s advocate. There shot. What’s important is the veracity livelihood may have been at risk. We are enough drawings made during the war of what’s illustrated, whether it came can never know how far some artists to recognize the commitment of ‘specials’ from the artist’s presence or from a adjusted the pictures they submitted in to portray truthfully and, when depicting second-hand account of someone who order to fulfil an editor’s expectations and combat, with enough authenticity to was there. We can only hope to know preserve their employment. Art training, offer a compelling visual record. What this by researching events and their experience, and aesthetic inclination also we must remember is that each drawing contexts and, from what we discover, played their parts; positioning a figure was subject to the circumstances of its making a considered judgement about here to create balance, omitting another creation, and we should not automatically the historical, documentary value of a there to enrich the narrative, changing accept drawings as indisputable truth. drawing.

Notes an electrical charge applied. The negatively charged graphite 1 Thompson, William Fletcher, Jr. ‘Pictorial Propaganda and the attracted the positively charged copper ions, eventually building Civil War’, The Wisconsin Magazine of History, Vol. 46, No. 1, up a copper skin on the wax. The skin was removed from the Autumn, 1962, p.22. wax mould, filled with type metal to give it strength, mounted on a block of wood, and printed alongside lead type. Many 2 Although lithography, which had been invented in the late copies could be made from the metal block, whereas printing eighteenth century, was a cheaper and quicker method, directly from the woodblock caused damage, especially when it was incompatible with the presses used by newspapers for sometimes as many as 200,000 printings were required for an printing text from lead type. edition of an illustrated newspaper. 3 Davis, Theodore R. ‘How a Battle is Sketched’, St. Nicholas: an Illustrated Magazine for Young Folks, Vo. 16, No.9, July, 1889, 5 Anon., ‘Our “Specials” in the South-West’, Frank Leslie’s p.662. Illustrated News, Vol.14 No.343 17 May, 1862, p.66. 4 Electrotype, invented in the 1830s, required the woodblock to 6 Forbes, Edwin, ‘Letter from Mr Forbes, our artist at the Second be pressed into hard wax to make a mould. The mould was Battle of Bull Run’, Frank Leslie’s Illustrated News, Vol.14 dusted with graphite to give an electrically conductive surface, No.363, 13 September, 1862, p.387. put in a bath of copper sulphate with a piece of copper, and 7 Davis, p.661.

24 8 Kimball, Maj. Edgar, Letter, Frank Leslie’s Illustrated News, p.350. Vol.13 No.329, 15 March, 1862, p.258. 28 Interestingly, Hoppin privileges “the testimony of parties 9 Davis, p.662. engaged...”, that is, word of mouth or the written word, over 10 ‘Report of Brig. Gen. Jerome B. Robertson, C.S. Army. 4 the drawn image. Of course, the spoken and written word can October 1863’ in U.S. War Department, The War of the be just as subjective as a drawing. Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union 29 Typical of such claims is the caption to Waud’s sketch in and Confederate Armies. Washington: Government Printing Knauer, Kelly Gettysburg: Turning Point of the Civil War. Des Office, 1880-1901 (hereafter referenced as OR), Vol. 30, Moines: Time Books, 2013, p. 43: ‘The following sketch was Chap. 42, Part 2, p.512. drawn from life by professional illustrator Alfred Waud, who 11 Hood, J.B. Advance and Retreat. Personal Experiences in the witnessed the death of Union General John F. Reynolds on United States and Confederate States Armies. New Orleans: the morning of July 1.’ Hood Orphan Memorial Fund, 1880, p.64. 30 Guelzo, Allen C. Gettysburg. The Last Invasion. New York: 12 White, William Lee Bushwhacking on a Grand Scale: The Random House, 2013, p.145. Battle of Chickamauga, September 18-20, 1863. El Dorado 31 See Library of Congress, Death of Reynolds – Gettysburg: Hills, CA.: Savas Beatie, 2013, p.115. https://www.loc.gov/item/ 2004660757/ 13 Vizetelly, Frank, ‘The Battle of Chickamauga – The 32 Davis, pp.662-3 & p.667. Confederate General Hood receiving his wounds’, Illustrated London News, Vol.43, No.1238, 26 December 1863, pp.661- 33 Martin T. McMahon, Brevet Major-General USV, ‘Cold Harbor’ 2. in Johnson, Robert Underwood and Clarence Clough Buel (eds.) Battles and Leaders of the Civil War. New York: Thomas 14 Edward Turton Fitzgerald Ross was born to British parents Yoseloff, 1956, p.217. in Boulogne-sur-Mer, had been a Captain of Cavalry in the Austrian army, and was now visiting the Southern States 34 ‘Report of Winfield S. Hancock, Major-General of Volunteers. in order to observe the war. Charles H. Byrne was a British 21 September, 1865’ in OR, p.345. soldier awaiting a commission, but had left the UK to throw 35 Quoted from O’Beirne, Kevin, ‘Our Boys Stood Up Like in his lot with the Confederacy and join Major General Patrick Heroes’, Irish Volunteer 5 2002, in Rhea, Gordon C. Cold Cleburne’s staff. Harbor. Grant and Lee. May 26-June 3, 1864. Baton Rouge: 15 Sorrel, Gen. G. Moxley Recollections of a Confederate Staff Louisiana State University Press, 2007, p.336. See footnote Officer. New York & Washington: The Neale Publishing 46, pp. 461-2, for misgivings about Winterbotham’s testimony. Company, 1905, pp.204-5. 36 Fordham Preparatory School, ‘The McMahon Brothers: John, 16 If White (note 12 above) is correct, Hood’s left arm was not in James & Martin Classes of 1848, 1853 & 1855’, https://www. a sling at the Battle of Chickamauga, but held the reins of his fordhamprep.org/page.cfm?p=4836 horse whilst carrying a regimental flag in his right hand. 37 The golden section is a harmonious proportion of 1 : 1.618, 17 Illustrated London News, Vol.39 No.1103, 17 August, 1861, known to the ancient Greeks and related to the Fibonacci p.168. The engraving is labelled: ‘Attack on the Confederate series. See Osborne, Harold (ed.) The Oxford Companion to batteries at Bull Run by the 27th and 14th New York Art. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1970, pp.488-9. regiments.’ 38 The date printed in Harper’s Weekly is incorrect. The charge 18 Foreman, Amanda A World on Fire. An Epic History of Two represented took place on 3 June, 1864. Nations Divided. London: Penguin Books, 2011, p.125. 39 Young, Patrick, ‘Two Irish Brigades Swept Away by a 19 Vizetelly, Frank, ‘Incident in the – Hurricane from Hell at Cold Harbor’ Long Island Wins 31 July, the attack on Marye’s Hill’, Illustrated London News, Vol.42 2014, https://longislandwins.com /columns/immigrants-civil- No.1186, 31 January, 1863, p.126. war/two-irish-brigades-swept-away-by-a-hurricane-from-hell- 20 Borke, Heros von, ‘Memoirs of the Confederate War for at-cold-harbor Independence’, Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine Vol.99, 40 Welsh, William E. ‘Robert E. Lee’s Last Great Victory: Clash No.606, April, 1866, 448-68, p.452. at Cold Harbor’ Warfare History Network 8 December 2018, 21 Glenn, William Wilkins Between North and South. A Maryland http://warfarehistorynetwork.com/daily/civil-war/lees-last- Journalist Views the Civil War. The Narrative of William Wilkins great-victory-clash-at-cold-harbor Glenn 1861-1869. Edited by Bayly, Ellen Marks & Mark Norton 41 OR Vol. 36, Chap.48, Part 1, p.168. Schatz. Cranbury, NJ: Associated Universities Presses, Inc., 1976, p.71. Captain Lewis Guy Phillips served with the 42 Rhea, p.336. Grenadier Guards in and had travelled south to 43 OR Vol. 36, Chap.48, Part 1, p.433. witness the American war. 44 Anon. ‘Obituary, Colonel James P. McMahon’, Army and Navy 22 Blackford, Lieut. Col. W.W. War Years with Stuart. New York: Journal. Gazette of the Regular and Volunteer Forces Vol.1, Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1946, p.183. No 44, 25 June 1864, p.733. 23 To the best of my knowledge, the most complete collection 45 Vizetelly, Frank, ‘The Battle of Chickamauga – The of Vizetelly drawings is in the Houghton Library at Harvard Confederate General Hood receiving his wounds’, Illustrated University. London News, Vol.43, No.1238, 26 December 1863, p.662. 24 Gallagher, Sheila, ‘Drawing as Information’ in Bookbinder, 46 Sorrel, pp.204-5. Judith & Sheila Gallagher (eds.) First Hand Civil War Era Drawings from the Becker Collection. Chestnut Hill, Mass.: 47 For example, see Anon., ‘He Shot Gen. Reynolds’, Los McMullen Museum of Art, Boston College, 2009, p.29. Angeles Herald, Volume 30, No. 285, 19 July, 1903, p.6; Hartwig, D. Scott, ‘Romances of Gettysburg – Who Shot 25 Vizetelly, ‘Position of the Federal and Confederate Pickets at J. R.? Parts 1, 2, & 3’ From the Fields of Gettysburg. The Fredericksburg on 4 Dec.’ Illustrated London News, Vol.42 Blog of Gettysburg National Military Park. https://npsgnmp. No.1183, 10 January 1863, p.44. wordpress.com/2011/12/21/romances-of-gettysburg-who- 26 Blackford, p.182. shot-j-r/; https://npsgnmp.wordpress.com/2012/01/05/ 27 Anon., ‘Art and War’, Army and Navy Journal. Gazette of the romances-of-gettysburg-who-shot-j-r-part-two/; https:// Regular and Volunteer Forces Vol.1,No.22, 23 January, 1864, npsgnmp.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/who-shot-j-r-part-three/

25 CSS Nashville Two Letter From Civil War Alabama: CSS Nashville, Selma & The Mobile Bay Squadron

By Erick Bush The CSS Nashville ironclad was repurposed engines from other purpose built but very underpowered originally designed to be a powerful vessels, but the CSS Nashville had two steam engines manufactured at component of the defenses of Mobile Columbus, Georgia. The first stage of Bay. The entrance to Mobile Bay was the ship’s construction was completed guarded by Fort Morgan, Fort Gaines and the ship was launched into the and Fort Powell, as well as formidable Alabama River on May 20, 1863. The series of obstructions and subsurface CSS Nashville was further equipped mines. Along with the ironclad CSS downriver at Selma, and then towed to Tennessee, the CSS Nashville was to Mobile Bay for the final stages of iron be a centerpiece of Admiral Franklin plate installation and armament. Due Buchanan’s Mobile Bay Squadron. The to supply shortages, it never received Confederate Navy began construction all the iron-plating and artillery the of the CSS Nashville at Montgomery original design called for. Specifically in the autumn of 1862. The unusual regarding artillery, it was armed with looking casemated ironclad was 271 only three seven-inch Brookes from feet long, designed with an unorthodox Selma and one twenty-four inch side paddle wheel propulsion system, howitzer. A small amount of original and built to be armed with seven iron plate on the CSS Nashville came Brooke rifled artillery pieces. from Selma, but the majority of the iron Most Confederate ironclads had Charles C Sims plate had been repurposed from the

Seven Inch Brooke Fort Morgan earlier Mobile Bay ironclad the the initiative and strike at the CSS Baltic. enemy off Mobile Bay with The CSS Nashville shared the CSS Tennessee before casemate design characteristics Union ironclads arrived. The with the CSS Virginia and the CSS Tennessee ran aground CSS Tennessee, the two most and the operation was called significant ironclads produced off. If the CSS Nashville had by the Confederacy. A link been operational, it could have among the three ironclads was helped to make this operation Lieutenant Charles C. Sims. tenable, but was not ready due He was on the crew of the to shortages of iron-plate and CSS Virginia during the Battle artillery. The lack of progress of Hampton Roads, and later continued and the CSS accompanied Commander Nashville was not ready for the Catesby Jones to Selma for Battle of Mobile Bay on August the establishment of the Selma 5, 1864. Navy Yard and Ordnance The CSS Nashville finally Works. Sims played a role in the reached an operational development of Brooke artillery, capability under the command as well as the construction of of Lieutenant Charles Sims as the CSS Tennessee. He later a key ship in the Mobile Bay commanded the CSS Nashville, Squadron. At the Battle of which had Selma made Brookes Blakeley it was a part of a rare and iron plate. instance during the Civil War, Throughout his time in Mobile, where an ironclad provided Admiral Selma Monument artillery support to Confederate was greatly concerned about the Nashville or CSS Tennessee. He once troops in the trenches. After the growing strength of the as considered striking at Union-occupied Confederate evacuation of Mobile, the it conducted the blockade of Mobile New Orleans, but lack of completed CSS Nashville and the remnants of the Bay. To relieve pressure on Mobile, ironclads made this plan unfeasible. Mobile Bay Squadron were surrendered he needed ironclads like the CSS Later in 1864, he attempted to seize on the Tombigbee River.

27 Two Scouts of the Border Part 1 By Steve French Since May 29, 1864, the mortal remains of Stephen Dandridge’s splendid manor and Harpers Ferry resident was a former Confederate scouts Redmond Burke and house along the Opequon Creek near miner and Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Andrew Leopold have laid side-by-side in Leetown, Virginia, Army of Northern stonecutter. Today it seems that no Shepherdstown, West Virginia’s Elmwood Virginia cavalry commander Maj. Gen. picture of him exists and about the only Cemetery. Although a visitor’s pamphlet Jeb Stuart met with Burke and placed accurate physical description of Burke available there gives a thumbnail sketch him on detached service. With the army that survives is a Metropolitan Police of the two men’s wartime exploits, today soon to be moving east across the Blue bulletin that appeared in the pages of even most local residents knowledgeable Ridge Mountains, he would be leaving the Washington D. C. Public Ledger one of their town’s history are not aware of the his accomplished middle-aged warrior day after his November 6, 1861 break out pair’s notable and sometimes notorious behind and giving him the tasks of running from the Old Capital Prison. According deeds during the great conflict. For scores Southern mail between Shepherdstown to the notice, the escaped prisoner was of years after the war, however, those and Berryville, Virginia, impressing “about fifty-two years old, 5 ft. 8 or 9 who knew them were quick to reminisce horses, scouting behind Union lines in inches high, high cheekbones, florid, about the brief time in the fall of 1862 and Maryland, and rounding up conscripting sun-burnt complexion, blue or light gray then again in the late winter and spring unwilling locals. Even though the captain eyes, iron gray hair, cut short, whiskers of 1863 when Burke’s “guerrilla band” was still recovering from a nasty wound and mustache of the same color.” held sway in the village and surrounding suffered two months earlier, Stuart was According to a Richmond Daily Dispatch area. Their defenders were quick to point confident that Burke and his handpicked scribe, at the beginning of the conflict out that for some months the valiant band of riders could carry out the mission. Burke served then Col. Stuart “as a soldiers were their only protection from One day in early-November, according special escort and guide… through the Yankee depredations. Former Unionists, to oral history, an unnamed young nurse mountainous country of northwestern however, considered them not heroes but first spotted the Rebel band riding into Virginia.” On June 14, 1861, The murderous thieves. Shepherdstown. One of the many women Washington Evening Star reported on According to Shepherdstown folklore, it who had volunteered to take care of the Burke’s ongoing attempt to destroy the was sometime in early-November 1862 numerous Confederate wounded from the Chesapeake &Ohio’s Dam Number 4, when the illustrious Capt. Redmond recent nearby battles of South Mountain, a masonry structure that spanned the Burke led a squad of tough Rebel scouts Antietam, and Boteler’s Ford, she was Potomac at Hard Scrabble, Virginia: into the town. Numbering somewhere walking to a makeshift hospital carrying June 13: Reliable information received between eight and fifteen, eyewitness a container of soup. When Capt. Burke here this evening by express, says that accounts differ, Burke’s riders included stopped to talk, he asked the nurse where the Virginians are engaged every night, the captain’s second-in-command he could find some beeswax, a handy with dark lanterns, drilling holes in the Sharpsburg, Maryland native Lt. Andrew item to waterproof the percussion caps solid rock on which dam No. 4 rests, Leopold and his close friend Pvt. Thomas of their weapons. The girl told them, and on the Virginia side, in order to blow up Hipsley, both from the 12th Virginia they rode off. She later related that both the same….This work is superintended Cavalry. From Co. F, 1st Virginia Cavalry, Burke and Leopold appeared very pale by Redmond Brown, an Irish-man who were Sgt. George Andrews and Pvt. and that although most of the men wore superintended its construction. He has George Burke along with the captain’s gray Confederate uniforms, Hipsley and two sons among the Confederate troops. three sons John Redmond, Matthew Polk, O’Brien were wearing civilian clothes. Regimental records indicate that on July and Francis “Frank” William, all privates. A year and a half into the war, their 2, 1861 Burke formally enlisted in the 1st Rounding out the documented members leader’s numerous thrilling adventures Virginia Cavalry. Over the next few months, of the group was Pvt. John O’Brien of the had made him one of the most celebrated he fought in a number of skirmishes and 10th Virginia Cavalry. men in Stuart’s cavalry. A personal the Battle of First Bull Run, where the On October 20 at “The Bower,” Adam favorite of the general, the Irish immigrant Irishman captured a horse. What brought 28 him to the attention of Stuart, however, For the next twelve days, Burke and reported some interesting news. Not was not his prowess in battle but his languished in a cell. On the morning of only was Redmond Burke back in town expertise in outpost duty and his ability to the 23rd, his jailers took him to see Maj. tying one on, but R. Shepherd Davis slip easily behind Federal lines and return Gen. George McClellan. The commander, and his small band of local militia were to camp with valuable information. who was busy with some paper work, was there too. Quickly, the officer in charge During research for his biography of the surprised by the appearance of the man dispatched a rider with a note back to renowned Rebel scout Frank Stringfellow, who, though claiming to be Stuart’s aide, the Sharpsburg regimental headquarters author R. Sheppard Brown interviewed wore no uniform. Finally McClellan turned of Col. William Link. After reading the Esther Green, Stringfellow’s grandniece. to the scout and asked “I desire to know, message, the colonel ordered Co. F to In her recollections, Mrs. Green spoke what you want-what you are fighting for, go to Shepherdstown and capture the of hearing him tell of how Burke took a and what you intend to do?” Burke replied: graybacks. special interest in the younger man and “I can only answer for myself…. I am Crossing upriver from the village to avoid taught him skills needed to stay alive fighting for liberty and against despotism. detection, a few of the Hoosiers remained when spying on the enemy. “You’ve got We have our slaves and hold them as with their boats while the rest headed for to learn how far a normal voice carries property. You say slavery is a curse-we the Smithfield Turnpike, on the western in the quietness of the woods. When you think differently. We find the Negro better edge of town. Once on the pike, they are out on a scout and have something off with the white man for a master, and began marching about a mile south to to say, say it as quickly as possible, and the history of the world has proved it.” “Fountain Rock,” the home of Confederate keep your voice down. A loudmouth From that point on, the two argued congressman Alexander R. Boteler. They doesn’t live long in this business.” She constitutional points vigorously until “Little suspected that Davis, Boteler’s son-in-law also related an exciting early morning Mac” finally tired of the pointless debate was there, and, considering him to be a incident that occurred behind the lines and ordered the guards to take the bigger prize, wanted to catch him first. The in September 1861 when a Union picket headstrong fighter away. In a little while, bluecoats arrived about midnight, entered leveled his musket on the unsuspecting they delivered Burke to Washington’s the dwelling and found the man hiding in private. Stringfellow, mesmerized by the Old Capitol Prison, which for the next six the attic. Then, with their prisoner in tow, smell of freshly brewed coffee coming weeks would be his home. they marched back to Shepherdstown from a nearby enemy campfire, came and divided into two squads. The first As noted before, Burke, along with to his senses suddenly when he heard surrounded a house and flushed out cellmate J. Owens Berry, escaped on a strange, whirling sound and then a some militiamen, while the other soldiers the night of November 6. However, not thump. He turned around to see an proceeded to Stone Row, the home of all went well. In the drop from his cell unlucky bluecoat toppling to the ground Constable George McGlincey, where they window, the scout hurt his foot. Although with a knife buried between his shoulder the Metropolitan Police were reportedly anticipated finding Burke. blades and a grinning Burke motioning “in hot chase upon their trail,” the pair After the soldiers encircled the long, two- for him in the distance. evaded them and eventually split up. story building, a few walked to the front On September 11 at Lewinsville, a village Once out of the city, the lame Rebel stayed door and called out for McGlincey. When a few miles northwest of Falls Church, on the eastern bank of the Potomac he appeared, an officer asked the old- Virginia, Stuart leading a small band slowly making his way northwest toward timer a few questions and then arrested of cavalry, infantry and some artillery Shepherdstown. Two days later however, him. Alarmed by the noise, Burke, despite confronted an 1800-man force led by beset by pain and an empty stomach, he still feeling the effects of his bacchanal, Col. Isaac Stevens. During the fight, found refuge with a Maryland secessionist jumped out of bed in his nightshirt and Stuart ordered Burke to check out some who allowed him to hide out at his house searched for a way to escape. Fortunately, soldiers he could see congregating in a until he was able to travel. Departing his Virginia McGlincey, George’s twenty-one- distant woods. Certain that the men were sanctuary on November 23, he reached year old daughter, had an idea. The pair Southerners, Burke nonchalantly rode Shepherdstown on the evening of the ran upstairs and, according to different over to the group of fifteen Federals who 27th. accounts, she either boosted him up promptly surrounded and captured him. When Burke arrived in town, his clothes in the rafters to hide or helped him get Interrogated first by Col. Stevens, were still soaked from crossing the outside onto the roof. some bluecoats soon hoisted Burke Potomac on a makeshift raft, just Shortly, the Yankees burst into the house atop a caisson and hustled him back downstream from the mouth of Antietam and ran to the stairs, where a defiant “Gin” to Brigadier General William F. “Baldy” Creek. The old hero’s sudden, unexpected stood awaiting them. Stoutly armed with an Smith headquarters. There, another appearance in their midst, surprised his axe handle, for a brief time the ferocious officer asked him why he was fighting, many friends who insisted on throwing Amazon violently defended her position Burke replied, “To repel invaders from him a party. Not long afterward, a large astride the narrow passageway, knocking my state… I am an Irishman by birth, but contingent of folks barged into a nearby a few down the steps. Burke later related a Virginian by adoption.” As his guards hotel and promptly began a large the end of the fracas saying that, “one prepared to take him away, one suddenly alcohol-fueled, rowdy celebration. While of them struck her in the face with his slapped a pair of handcuffs on his wrists. they were there, though, a mysterious fist, knocking her down and injuring her Incensed by this unnecessary action, woman, later only identified as Mrs. S, left severely.” The bluecoats then searched Burke shouted, “I thought we took all of Shepherdstown and, in the dark, traveled the dwelling but failed to find their wily those from you at Bull Run. We never put the back roads upriver to Shepherd’s prey. Thwarted in their quest to capture them on the meanest of your privates, and Ford. Once there, she crossed over to Burke, they soon were on their way back I protest in having them put on me.” the Camp of Co. A, 12th Indiana Infantry to Sharpsburg with their prisoners. 29 The next morning, despite the pleas of On June 12, Stuart’s 1200 well-mounted and robbed of his friends to stay on, Burke rode out of raiders rode out from Mordecai Farm, north its timbers, these town and headed for Martinsburg. In early of Richmond, with Burke in the vanguard. were stretched December, he arrived back at Stuart’s The next day, the Confederates brushed down to the Fairfax Court House headquarters. Once aside the Federal pickets along the creek, boat, and up there, according to a reporter, “He was fought another small engagement at Old to the opposite received here with much pleasure, and Church, and moved on. According to the abutment, and a he now has a seat at the General’s table, general’s report, that afternoon, ”A few foot-bridge was and is once more engaged in the daring picked men including my aides Burke, thus ready. Large exploits incident to the life of a scout.” Farley and Mosby were pushed forward numbers of men Throughout the following months, rapidly to Tunstall’s Station to cut the wires unsaddled their old Burke had a number of exciting and secure the depot.” In the ensuing horses, took their adventures that added to his growing action, the scouts rounded-up more than equipments over, fame. They included riding in Stuart’s a score of Yankees hanging around the and then returning escort at the December 20 Battle of depot but failed to stop a train highballing drove or rode their Dranesville, carrying out a risky February east, past the station. Not long afterward, horse into the 1862 reconnaissance of occupied Stuart ordered Burke to take some men stream, and swam Harpers Ferry for General Joseph E. and burn a nearby wooden railroad them over… but Johnston, and during the May 4 Battle bridge over Black Creek. Burke’s crew the process was of Williamsburg guiding Brig. Gen. Jubal soon set it afire and rode on. Although much too slow. Early’s four regiments into position on the Stuart, from a distance, saw the flames A regular bridge left of the Confederate line. In his report and later wrote that the troopers had must now be of the action, Stuart cited Burke, who was destroyed the trestle, he was mistaken. built without a now on the general’s staff, writing that, After burning some damp timbers, the moments delay. “Lieut. Redmond Burke was ever under flames died out. Cooke watched great personal danger, and led more than But it was on June 14, that Burke made his as Burke’s workers went back to the once the re-enforcements sent to Col. greatest contribution to the success of the building, found some timbers that were Jenkins to their positions.” In late-May, as mission. Riding south through the night, just long enough to complete the job, “and McClellan’s forces were closing in on the as dawn broke the tired Southerners finally immediately thick planks were hurried Confederate capital, Stuart sent Burke reached an obscure Chickahominy River forward and laid crosswise, forming a and Stringfellow to Fredericksburg to ford where Stuart had earlier determined secure footway for the cavalry and artillery determine when Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell to cross. To their dismay, they found the horses.” Soon all of the Rebels and even and his 31,000 troops would be moving water too deep and the current too swift their two cannons were across. Ever the south to join “Little Mac” and tighten for a safe crossing. Fortunately, someone classical scholar, John Mosby recalled, the noose around Richmond. They later remembered that just a mile downstream “It might not have been so good a bridge determined, however, that McDowell was there was a bridge at Old Forge. Moving that Caesar threw over the Rhine, but it marching west toward the Shenandoah quickly they arrived there to find out that served our purpose.” Valley. the month before, other Confederates When the command finally arrived safely But it was during the June 12-15 had destroyed it. Disappointed, the back in Richmond, Burke was one of the “Chickahominy Raid,” also called Stuart’s general was still confident that he could heroes of the day. Writing to Lee on June “First Ride Around McClellan,” that the find a way out of his predicament before 17, Stuart mentioned his courageous and gray-haired warrior made his mark in Civil any pursuing Federal cavalry would arrive resourceful friend noting “in every sphere War history. By this time, Robert E. Lee and trap them with their backs against the he has rendered most valuable service had replaced Johnston in command of the stream. He promptly ordered Burke to and deserves the highest consideration newly-dubbed Army of Northern Virginia tear down a nearby rundown warehouse at the hands of the government.” The due to the latter suffering a disabling and use its boards to repair the bridge. general also recommended Burke’s wound on May 30 at the Battle of Seven The accomplished Virginia writer Lt. John promotion to captain. Pines. On June 11, a messenger arrived Esten Cooke was on hand to witness the at Stuart’s headquarters with orders At the end of June,1862 Burke rode at amazing feat. Assisted by Cpl. Henry from Lee to go ahead with the cavalry his commander’s side during the terrific Hagen and a team of volunteers, Burke chief’s bold plan for a reconnaissance battles around Richmond as Lee’s made a quick plan and got to work. of McClellan’s right flank and, if possible, tenacious fighters pushed the Army of the Cooke remembered: Stuart was to damage the Richmond Potomac away from the eastern outskirts and York River Railroad, McClellan’s vital The bridge had been destroyed, but the of the capital. In mid-July, Stuart sent the connection to his supply base at White stone abutments remained… some thirty captain and Stringfellow on a mission to House Landing. A few days before, Stuart or forty feet only apart …. Between these scout Federal forces posted along the had sent Pvt’ John S. Mosby and three stone sentinels was… an “aching void” Rappahannock River in Northern Virginia. other scouts to reconnoiter the right of which it was necessary to fill…. A skiff A few weeks later, Burke narrowly missed the Union picket line along Totopotomoy was procured; this was affixed by a rope serious injury when a bullet fired by a Creek. Mosby came back with the news to a tree, in the mid-current just above the Yankee picket posted along the river that he had determined that the Federals abutments, and thus a moveable pier was grazed his wrist. had only a small screen of troopers secured in the middle of the stream. An But in an August 20 cavalry skirmish posted there. old barn was then hastily torn to pieces around Brandy Station, Burke was 30 not so lucky. time, Mary Louise Entler, who during the later related that about this time he saw As the combat early years of the conflict made her mark Leopold and another soldier making off intensified, as an underground Southern mail carrier, with two of his neighbor’s horses. Their Capt. Heroes described Leopold. He was “a brave actions soon led to the locals branding Von Borcke, the young man the very build of a typical them as guerrillas. Union Loyalist Charles gigantic Prussian soldier-tall, well-built, straight as an arrow, Ridenour commented, “… they were aristocrat not handsome of face, but with an honest, undoubtedly guerrillas, I mean horse attached to grave face that one knew to trust.” stealing and committing all kinds of Stuart’s staff, Although not as renowned as Burke, by depredations on citizens.” led about eighty the fall of 1862, Leopold had also made men in a fierce, quite a name for himself. Posted along Those men hiding out in Maryland headlong the Potomac early in the war, he quickly congregated at a tavern in Mercersville, a charge against came under suspicion for being one of riverside village of not far from Sharpsburg. some bluecoats the bushwhackers who hid in the brush Joseph Chapline, who owned a farm in descending on and boulders along the steep river bluffs Virginia, ran the place and used some of the Southern right and occasionally shot at Union soldiers the refugees in a spy network that kept flank. When the guarding the canal at Bridgeport, just watch on Confederate forces across graybacks were across the river from Shepherdstown. the Potomac in Berkeley and Jefferson about forty yards During his time with the 1st Virginia counties. While in Maryland, Chapline and from them, the Cavalry, he served as in Stuart’s his friends had plenty of protection. At this Yankees fired a brigade and fought during the Peninsula time, Brig. Gen. George H. Gordon’s five wild volley and Campaign. When the army reorganized, infantry regiments guarded the canal from then galloped in May 1862 Leopold and Hipsley both away. Although transferred to Co. D, 12th Virginia Cavalry. the mouth of Antietam Creek upriver to the Von Borcke wrote Now a sergeant, not long afterward he mouth of the Opequon Creek. Part of the XII that their shots “had very little effect,” he led a small band of soldiers that overran Corps, Gordon’s brigade consisted of three noted that after driving the Federals off, “I a Federal camp near Luray, Virginia. veteran outifts, the 2nd Massachusetts, occupied myself chiefly in nursing Captain Leopold’s losses were light, one man 3rd Wisconsin, and the 27th Indiana, plus Burke … who, while charging gallantly killed and three wounded, while Federal two, the 13th New Jersey, and the 107th by my side, had received a bullet in the casualties amounted to five killed, twelve New York, that had been organized that leg.” General Stuart later commenting wounded and eighteen captured. In summer. All had fought in the Battle of on the action added, “Capt. Redmond a letter to his mother, Andy recounted Burke … received a severe wound in Antietam. Now Gordon’s mission was to seizing “ten thousand dollars worth of the leg, disabling him for some time from stop any Rebel raids into Maryland and medicines, clothing, and supplies.” active duty.” As a result, over the next few prevent cross-river smuggling. The highlight of Leopold’s service with the months as the intrepid captain recovered Staff officer John Chipman Gray described slowly from his injury, he missed both 12th came on August 30 during a cavalry combat toward the end of the Battle of his commander’s first meeting with the the Second Manassas and Maryland refugees: Campaigns, plus Stuart’s October 10- Second Manassas. Brig, Gen. Beverly 12 Chambersburg, Pennsylvania Raid. Robertson reported, “Sergeant Leopold… The general went into a queer old tavern Finally, however, by mid-October he was was in the thickest of the fight, and acted where there was a fiddler playing to a back in action. In an October 22 letter most gallantly…. He was wounded in number of white men and Negroes; we written to his wife Flora two days after he three places.” The next month, while went into an upper room and had an had sent Burke off on detached service, recuperating, Leopold received the news interview with some spies. The queer old that he was now third lieutenant of Co. D. Stuart commented. “Burke and Farley are place lighted by one miserable candle and still with me and doing splendid service.” Not long after arriving in Shepherdstown, the men who were going to risk their necks The men and boys that Burke took with Burke and his followers started to obtain information of the enemy for us concentrating their efforts around Hard him on the mission, even fifteen-year made the scene really worthy of a novel. old Frank Burke, were proven veteran Scrabble, a small village about five miles Miss Entler, however, considered them fighters, crack riders, and top scouts. The north of Shepherdstown and just beside traitors: most intriguing, however, was Andrew Dam Number 4. Most of the men who Leopold. Hailing from Sharpsburg, he lived there and in the surrounding area Union men who love the flag and their was born in 1841 and was the only were Unionists or fellows who were not country so fondly that they will not fight for child of Matthew and Polly Leopold. His too keen on the Southerners conscripting them but take their chances refugeing {sic} them into the army. To escape capture, father died when Andy was young, and when the Confederates come to town…. some had slipped across the river into his mother later married John Zittle. As a Not that the Rebels ever molested them, Maryland, while a few took to hiding young man, Leopold worked on the canal but they tell so many wild tales about the and various farms while developing close in caves along the Potomac when the southern citizens to the Union soldiers that friendships with other boys in nearby graybacks were about. they instinctively feel that some punishment Shepherdstown. When the war began, he At first stymied in their efforts to conscript ought to be meted out to them, and they crossed the Potomac and enlisted in the reluctant Virginians, Burke’s squad had local militia company that later became some success rounding up horses. expect the Rebels to do it. Co. F, 1st Virginia Cavalry. About this S. H. Henry, who lived near the dam, To Be continued in Crossfire 122 31 Barnacles by Maurice Rigby Richard Hambley was born on August picked up one of the writing slates on the deserters from the ‘Alabama’, 4, 1845, in John Street, Kenwyn, Truro, desk and threw it at the teacher, striking had found themselves in Cornwall, the son of an Iron Moulder, him in the face, before running out of the trouble with the law, when James and Susannah Hambley, nee class room, and away from school. they fought with some of the Lean. Around the age of ten, his mother sent Petty officers and sailor’s Much of Richard’s early career, and life, him to a colonial school at the princely from HMS ‘Rifleman’ and had been documented by him to his sum of six pence a week. He recalls ‘Saracen’. Brought before granddaughter Dorothy Suydam, nee learning to swim at this age, and one the local magistrate on the Scharff, just before he died in the late particular day remembers rescuing a morning of the 23rd, the 1930’s. She had the good fortune to write lad from the Thames when nobody else former three confederates down all his memories of the events as would jump in. The offer of a medal for having been found guilty saving the lad’s life was later refused by of the charges, were given best as he could remember them. They Royal Humane Society leaflet can be fragmented in places at times, him. During class one day at the colonial the choice of each paying especially in later life, and difficult to school, he was once blamed by another a fine of fifty rupees, or the know chronologically in what order I pupil for doing something he swore he alternative of spending a two-month should place them in. But I suppose never did, and before being struck with prison sentence, with hard labour, in this is expected. As time passes the teacher’s ruler, he punched her in the the House of Correction in default of slowly, memory tends to fade a little, face, sending her crashing to the corner payment. It’s not known what they chose. something that will probably effect us of the class room. It’s not known whether It wasn’t the first time that Richard all at some point in time. Eventually, his he went back to school after this. had fallen foul of the law, unless the descendants chose to place the eleven When he did finally leave school, he incident after the ‘Alabama’ is somehow pages of information on the family tree worked two years at the real Japan connected. He remembers being locked genealogy web site Ancestry.co.uk, blacking company of Day and Martin, up for a night in a village jail with another which by chance I happened to stumble at 97, High Holborn, London, before sailor, somewhere in the East Indies. on while trying to follow up on a similar gently persuading his mother to let him Their cell had also been used as a name that was found in one of my old go away to sea. So one morning they store room to ripen bananas, and above note books from 2014. both walked the five miles to the Naval their heads hung the tasty delights. By Not long after Richard was born, he School to enroll him, only to find that the morning, when the guards came to release them, the two men quickly made was struck down with scarlet fever, and the school could only take on so many their way to the shore, found a ship, and by all accounts his chances of survival boys each week, and that he had to wait were gone before the guards discovered was slim. After some careful nursing he his turn. After about four weeks he was the fruit missing. managed to pull through, and by the age accepted into the school, and where of six his family moved to London, settling on his first day they washed him, cut Around 1864-65 Richard found at number 2, Noble Street, Amwell, in his hair, and dressed him in a naval rig, himself working for the pilot service the borough of Clerkenwell. A year later before attaching him to the school ship in Melbourne, aboard one of the ‘Rip’ his father enrolled him at Amwell Street for around four months, as he says, and pilot schooner’s. A schooner of the National School, not far from where to be instructed into the operations, and same name in July 1873, went out one he lived, at the sum of two pence a running, of a naval vessel. morning during heavy seas, and was week. He described the class room of In 1862 at the age of 17, he recalls being struck by a huge wave which knocked consisting of “four long rows of desks assigned to the ‘Evaline’ for the East the schooner on its side. Four of the and benches, with the schoolmaster’s Indies, though I believe this could be crew were washed overboard and were desk on a raised platform facing the either the ‘Eveline’, or the ‘Evangeline’ lost, leaving the other four survivors pupils” with “the recitation desk” just in of London he refers to, as this latter one clinging to the boat badly injured, before front of it. appears in one of the crew agreements another wave eventually righted the boat. In September 1874, this incident Playing marbles in the street on the I came across at the National Archives. created the founding of the Victorian way to school, would often make him By September 1863 he was at Simons Humane Society, which raised funds for late, and generally the punishment for Bay, where he had met up with an old the bereaved families, and recognition this was a rap on the knuckles with the shipmate from the ‘Evangeline’, and on for acts of bravery. By 1882, the Society teacher’s ruler. One day he laughed at his friends suggestion to join him on his changed its name to The Royal Humane the teacher after his punishment, only ship, both men then walked the twenty Society of Australasia. to find himself being stretched over the miles or so to Cape Town, meeting six back of another pupil, who then held distressed seamen on the quay with a It’s not known when he left the pilot on to his arms, for further punishment. similar idea. Once at sea Richard, along service, though Richard tells us that he The cries of pain from the pupil as the with the six other seamen, shipped moved inland and settled in the gold teacher ditched out his punishment, aboard the ‘Alabama’ on September mining town of Eaglehawk, Victoria, were not from Richard, but that of the 25, though he didn’t stay on board very working in one of the many brickworks other boy, as Richard chose to chew his long, for with the Alabama’s arrival at around the town, making bricks, and ear throughout the ordeal. The teacher Singapore, and while out on liberty, he finding gold dust scattered around the seeing the blood running down the other deserted the ‘Alabama’ on December yard. This prompted him to stake a boys neck, grabbed Richard to place 23. claim at Ballarat, Victoria, where he was him over one of the desks, but he broke In Singapore during the last week of able to dig enough gold to keep him free from his grasp and out of anger January 1864, he, along with two other comfortable for the foreseeable future. 32 When boredom set in, he It was in London, after one of his many catcher. began to miss home and voyages, that he would go on to meet his In late June 1901, a sad tragedy ocurred the call of the sea. future wife, Elizabeth Cox. The daughter off the Great South Bay, Long Island, It was during one of my of a Carpenter, James and Harriet Cox, when Richard Hambley, in accompany weekly visits to the National nee King, she was born in Battersea with Captain Charles LeCluse, Captain Archives at Kew, looking on May 17, 1855, and baptised at the LeRoy Still, William Still and William through boxes and boxes parish church of St George on March Stryker, aboard the sloop ‘Arthur B’, went of crew agreements, 7, 1858. It was while she assisted, and on a menhaden, or ‘bunkers’, fishing that I first came across occasionally sang, at the Christian trip. Menhaden is a type of fish of the Richard serving aboard Mission for Seamen when Richard herring family, found in the Atlantic that the Glasgow registered attended one day that they met, and has to be eaten fresh, otherwise the ‘Defient’, of 1310 tons, as on May 7, 1877, they were married at fish deteriorates very quickly and it’s oil an able-bodied seaman. St Mary’s parish church, Battersea. Not turns rotten. They had been fishing off He had joined the ship at too long after their marriage, Richard Smith’s Point, and where in the process Liverpool on July 26, 1866, took over the running of his late father’s of returning home with about 3 to 4,000 and it went on to show grocery shop from his brother Thomas, fish, when one of the skiff’s in tow, a sort him being discharged before deciding that he’d much sooner of light rowing boat, had capsized. After from her at Pernambuco, branch out on his own, and so told his managing to right the boat, Captain Royal Humane Society leaflet Brazil, on September 8, granddaughter that he then opened LeCluse then turned the sloop around of that year. His previous a coffee shop on Blackwell Street, in to try and pick up some of the items that vessel was difficult to read, and its the borough of Shadwell. It isn’t known had fallen into the water. William Stryker almost impossible to try and pinpoint his whether this venture turned out to be a grabbed the boat hook to pull them closer, further movements in this way, so I had small success, or simply a bad business but fell overboard, either by tripping no choice but turned back to the boxes deal, as I was unable to find a Blackwell over the nets on deck, or by accidently again. Discovering his next ship, I found Street in the London Post Office catching the boat hook on the sail during that he had previously served aboard Directories around this period. its manoeuvre turning around. Unable to the barque ‘Evangeline’ of, and for, What is known, according to family swim, he just managed to call out to his London on the Boston run in 1867, under tradition, was that he booked a one- colleagues, only to be hampered by his the command of Captain Peters. On way passage for himself, his wife and heavy clothing and boots which pulled September 21, during her voyage back two children, to New York, aboard the him down again. Despite the crews she was hailed by Captain Snow of the French steamer, SS ‘Pereire’ of Havre. attempts to do what they could to rescue ‘Pioneer’ who was passing nearby, and The steamer, with supporting sails, him using nets, and hooks, he never learned from the crew that its Captain averaged weekly crossings to New York surfaced. They spent around an hour or had not only become sick, but deranged between six to eight days, and was one more searching, before giving up due in his manner, and consequently when of a number of vessels owned by the to the increasing winds getting up. A he was relieved of duty it was found Compagnie Générale Transatlantique. marker buoy was placed nearby, and the that none of the crew on board had any The ‘Pereire’ (CGT) of Havre had next morning a group of volunteers from knowledge in navigating the ship. So probably been named after the brother’s the Court Bayside Foresters of America, Captain Snow sent over a navigator to Émile and Isaac Péreire, founding of which Stryker had been a member of, the ‘Evangeline’ whom he could spare, banker’s of the Société Générale du returned to the spot where he was last and once aboard quickly set a course for Crédit Immobilier, and creator’s of the seen. The volunteers, Oliver LeCluse, London, where the ‘Evangeline’ safely Compagnie Général Maritime, and later Charles Brown, Richard Hambley, arrived on October 19 at Gravesend. major financiers of CGT. Less than a few Mitchell Klein, and LeRoy Still, returned From the ‘Evangeline’ he then served weeks before Richard had booked his in the ‘Arthur B’, and recovered the body on the London registered mail barque tickets to New York, the aging Monsieur of their colleague in their purse nets. The ‘White Adder’, on November 15, 1867 Isaac Péreire followed his brother to twenty seven year man, who had been as an able-bodied seaman, on a the grave, leaving an estate valued at married for just four years, was brought voyage to Shanghai, and ports around 52,000,000 francs (over £2,000,000). back to Patchogue, where an inquest India, , and , The Hambley’s left Le Havre, France, would be held that afternoon. His young before finally returning back to London. for Brest, early in August 1880 to pick widow would go on to receive over $900 Nearing Woosung Harbour on March up more passengers, and the US mail, from his insurance company. 11, 1868, some fourteen miles from and after an uneventful crossing arrived Richard Hambley remained in the village Shanghai, Captain Francis Moore told in New York on August 11. It’s uncertain of Bayport, Islip, Suffolk Co, as a worker Hambley to check the soundings in this where they settled after arriving, due to for Messrs E Brown & Bros in their oyster particular stretch of water, something them missing out on the 1880 US census, house, working such sloop’s as the ‘Half most captains do as part of a routine. He and that of the 1890 US census of which Moon’ the ‘Minnie V’, and the ‘Kangaroo’, managed to call out three fathoms when only fragments survived. However, the to name just a few over the years, up the ship suddenly ran aground on the local paper The Suffolk County News, until his retirement, by now in his 70’s. He West Bank. After several failed attempts Sayville, New York, reported in their passed away on February 25, 1939, at the to move the ship from its predicament, social page for Saturday, May 31, 1890, age of 93 in Brookhaven, Suffolk County, Captain Moore had no other option but that Richard Hambley of Bayport had with his widow Elizabeth following him on to remove around seven hundred bales a continuing illness, which is affecting October 23, 1940, aged 84, having died of goods from the ships hold, so the him from returning to his duties. at the South Shore Convalescent Home vessel could be floated off the bank. A Confirmation of the June 1900 census at Patchogue. Funeral services were both thorough inspection later on, discovered shows them living in Oakwood Avenue, held at the Raynor’s Memorial Chapel, she hadn’t sustained any damage to her in the township of Islip, Suffolk County, Sayville, by the Reverend Joseph Bond hull. Hambley was discharged from the New York, with five children, one having of St Ann’s Episcopal Church, before ‘White Adder’ at London on November died some time before, and Richard’s interment in the family plot in St Ann’s 2, 1868. occupation that of a Bayman, or oyster Cemetery. 33 From the White House to Gettysburg, and to Arlington

By John Murray Reading an article in a recent issue of a Virginia Infantry. He was then aged 18 and family history magazine, I was reminded described as a farmer. It is evident from of a scene in the film ‘Gettysburg’. The several letters in his Compiled Military article concerned Letitia Christian, a Service Records (‘CMSRs’) that Robert woman of Manx descent, who grew was very highly regarded by the officers up in Virginia in the late 18th and early in his regiment. In letters supporting 19th century. In March 1813, Letitia recommendations for his promotion, Private Jones as depicted in Gettysburg married John Tyler, an ambitious lawyer there are references to Robert’s ‘fidelity, and aspiring politician, who went on courage and efficiency’, his ‘unflinching the Civil War, James Semple, who in to become the tenth President of the bravery and cool demeanour in several pre-war years was a purser in the U.S. United States. The article included a list engagements’ and ‘his conspicuous Navy, served as paymaster on the of the descendants of John and Letitia gallantry at Gettysburg’. famous Confederate ironclad warship Tyler and they included a grandson, Robert, however, was unhappy with the Merrimac. Robert Tyler Jones. The scene in his situation with the 53rd Virginia It is also interesting to note that Robert ‘Gettysburg’ occurs just before Pickett’s Infantry. On 3 December 1862, from had another uncle who might have been Charge – the discussion between Lewis Fredericksburg, he wrote to his uncle in a position to advance his career: John Armistead and Arthur Freemantle of James Semple requesting his assistance Tyler Jr, a son of President Tyler and the many ironies brought into focus by in getting a transfer to the Confederate Letitia Christian. John Jr was an Assistant the impending assault. Armistead drew Navy or in finding some other position Secretary of War in the Confederate Freemantle’s attention to three particular to which he was better suited. Although government and apparently held the individuals present nearby: Dearing, the James Semple promptly wrote to a rank of a Colonel in the Confederate artillerist, first in his class at West Point; senior politician in the Confederate Army. John Jr had served as a captain the great grandson of Patrick Henry; and capital in Richmond, no suitable position in the U.S. Army in the war with a member of the Colour Guard who was was found for Robert who, nevertheless, (1846–48). He also served as the private the grandson of a U.S. President, Robert continued to serve with distinction in the secretary to his father while he was in Tyler Jones. 53rd Virginia. the White House. After the Civil War, Robert Tyler Jones, son of Mary Tyler It is interesting to note that, earlier in John Jr practised, unsuccessfully, as and Henry Lightfoot a lawyer and died in Jones, was born in 1896 virtually in penury the White House on with only a meagre 24 January 1843. His military pension to grandmother, the ‘First sustain him. John Jr Lady’, had died in that is buried in Arlington famous residence on National Cemetery, his 10 September 1842. gravestone referring to Robert’s mother died his military service in in 1847 when he was Mexico. It is possible only 4 years old. Robert that Robert Tyler was reared by his Jones sought John Jr’s aunt Letitia, one of the assistance but there President’s daughters, is no evidence that who was married to he did so. Given that James Allen Semple, Robert was keen to join then a purser in the U.S. the Confederate Navy Navy. it is not surprising he In June 1861, at the start sought assistance from of the Civil War, Robert his other uncle James joined the Confederate Semple. forces and enlisted as a Robert, as a member of Private in what became the 53rd Virginia, took Company K of the 53rd part in many famous

34 battles of the Civil Richmond, in charge War, most notably of Division 3 of Gettysburg in July General Hospital 1863. In a letter, Camp Winder in written on 29 March that city. Evidently, 1864, requesting while stationed at Robert’s promotion to Orange Court House, Ensign, the Colonel of Tazewell applied on the regiment, William 3 April 1864 for a P. Aylett, wrote: transfer ‘to light duty’ He is at present and, on 5 May, he Color Bearer of the was ordered to take Regiment which charge at a division position I bestowed of the hospital in the upon him on account Confederate capital. of his conspicuous However, shortly after gallantry at the battle his transfer, he was of Gettysburg. He ordered on 15 May was one of the Color to Drewry’s Bluff ‘for Guard in the charge temporary duty with of my Regiment and the Reserve Surgical was wounded twice Corps’. By the end [in the arm and the of May, Tazewell was head] while carrying back at Camp Winder the Colors, after hospital where, save the fall of the Color for short furloughs Tyler passed the examination for the Bearer. in October 1864 and January 1865, position of Surgeon and was ordered he served throughout the rest of 1864 The Colonel’s letter was endorsed on 26 January 1863 to join A.P.Hill’s and early 1865. Tazewell is reported as ‘approved’ by Robert’s brigade and Division. On 29 March 1863, Tazewell one of those captured in the hospitals divisional commanders as it made its way was assigned to duty with the 13th of Richmond on 3 April 1865. He was up the chain of command and Robert South Carolina Infantry and he is marked paroled on 16 April 1865. was duly promoted to Ensign. Robert, by ‘present’ in the March and April 1863 then a First Lieutenant, surrendered with Field and Staff Muster Roll. It appears Internet sources state that Tazewell what remained of his regiment (6 officers from other records in his CMSRs that seems to have suffered from what is and 74 men) at the close of the war on 9 Tazewell had been absent ill from 7 April now termed ‘post traumatic stress April 1865 at Appomattox Court House, to 20 April 1863. Was Tazewell Tyler disorder’ as a result of the carnage he Virginia. present with the 13th South Carolina had to deal with as a war-time surgeon. Another of Robert’s uncles, also a son of at Gettysburg? Regrettably, there is In the post-war years, he became an John Tyler and Letitia Christian, Tazewell nothing in his CMSRs to confirm that alcoholic, divorced his wife and moved Tyler, served with the Confederate forces he was present at the battle where his to California where he died in 1874. He as a surgeon. In the earlier stages of nephew performed with ‘conspicuous is buried in Olivet Memorial Park, Colma, the war, Tazewell served with several gallantry’. There is no Field and Staff San Mateo County, California. Confederate regiments in the field then Muster Roll for May and June 1863 nor, After the war, Robert Tyler Jones latterly in Confederate military hospitals indeed, any other such muster roll for eventually found a position as a clerk in in Richmond. Tazewell was appointed as Tazewell’s service with the 13th South the U.S. Treasury Office in Washington an Assistant Surgeon to the 2nd Virginia Carolina. DC. It is clear that his service in the Civil Artillery with effect from 1 March 1862. By spring 1864, Tazewell was in War had a profound effect upon Robert. This followed a letter, dated He made an address at the 22 February 1862, from the 25th anniversary reunion Colonel of the 2nd Virginia of the ‘Blue and the Gray’ Artillery to the Secretary at Gettysburg in 1888. He of War: ‘I respectfully married late in life in 1891, recommend Dr. Tazewell aged 48, to 23 year-old Tyler as Assistant Surgeon Sally Breeden Gresham. of my Regiment. I beg to Their son, Lewis Armistead say that the Measles are Jones, was born on 22 spreading in my ranks and June 1893. Robert died I hope it will please the less than two years after Hon. Secy. to appoint the the birth of his son, on 18 Surgeon at as early a date May 1895. He is buried in as practicable’. Chestnut Grove Cemetery, In January 1863, Tazewell Camp Winder Herndon, Virginia. 35 Hanover junction, Then and Now

Lincoln and Lamon are standing to the right of the locomotive, and underneath the left window of the train station.