P.O. Box 52, Brighouse, West Yorkshire, HD6 1JQ, England The A.C.W.S. NEWSLETTER

Spring Edition

Stanford Hall 2009

Issue No 156 Website :- www.acws.co.uk Spring 2010

1 West Point Sutlers incorporating Albion Small Arms RFD 1951 West Midlands Antique guns & curios

17th - 19th Century Antique muzzle loading haversack fillers muskets, pistols and blank firers Leatherwear

Gun accessories Brasswear & and cleaning insignia equipment

Gun repairs & deactivations

Phil & Jayne Olden 21 Edgewood Road Rednal Birmingham B45 8SB Tel: 0121 453 7016 Mob: 07974 956401 Email: [email protected]

Website: www.westpointsutlers.org

2

Events 2010

All events are FULL SOCIETY EVENTS unless otherwise stated Camping from Friday until Monday unless otherwise stated.

2-5th April - EASTER TRAINING WEEKEND - CONFIRMED

Easter holiday weekend event at West Wales Museum of Childhood Pen- ffynnon, Llangeler, Carmarthenshire, SA44 5EY. Authentic and family camping available (family camp area for tents, but only 3 caravan/ motorhome places available please contact Claire Morris 69th NY to register if you need a place). Camping available from Good Friday through to the following Tuesday. Facilities include:- water; indoor toilets; showers; tea- room; toy museum Please bring some wood with you.

10-11th April - CONFEDERATE TRAINING WEEKEND and

17-18th April - FEDERAL CAMP OF INSTRUCTION - CONFIRMED

Society Training Weekends at Tatton Old Hall. Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6QN. Members camping available from Friday until Sunday. No arrivals before 15.00 hours on Friday, gates will close at 21.00 hours Friday and 19.00 hours Saturday. They open again at 07.00 hours each morning, Sunday evening last exit will be 21.00 hours. Private training on SATURDAY and SUNDAY 2nd-3rd May - ROCKINGHAM CASTLE, Leics – CONFIRMED

Members camping available from Friday afternoon until Tuesday. Camping and parking arrangements will be similar to last year. There will be a beer tent and catering bar available on Saturday and Sunday evenings. Displays on SUNDAY and Bank Holiday MONDAY

30-31st May - SEWERBY HALL CONFIRMED

Spring Bank Holiday Weekend. Members camping from Friday afternoon until Tuesday. Displays on SUNDAY and MONDAY

3 19-20th June - STANFORD HALL, Leics - CONFIRMED

Self-sponsored event. There will be a beer tent available on Saturday night. Private event on SATURDAY and Public Battle on SUNDAY.

3rd July - EYNSHAM CARNIVAL - CONFIRMED

Members camping available from Friday until Sunday. Public event only on SATURDAY including two battle displays.

10-11th July - SILLOTH, WIGTON CUMBRIA - CONFIRMED

Multi-period event at Silloth, Wigton, Cumbria, CA7 4AW, with Vikings, Romans, English Civil War, Napoleonic and ourselves in attendance. Members camping available from Friday afternoon until Sunday. Living History on SATURDAY & SUNDAY with the main event including battle on Sunday.

14-15th August - SPETCHLEY MULTI-PERIOD – Subject To Confirmation Possible multi-period event at Spetchley Park Gardens, Worcester, WR5 1RS. Details to follow once confirmed.

29-30th August - SHEFFIELD, South Yorks – CONFIRMED

Sheffield City Council event with EventPlan staging Multi-Period displays again as part of the Sheffield Fayre. Members camping available from Friday after 3 p.m. until Tuesday a.m. Displays on SUNDAY and MONDAY.

11-12th September - TATTON, Cheshire – CONFIRMED

No arrivals before noon on Friday, gates will close at 21.00 hours Friday and 19.00 hours Saturday. They open again at 07.00 hours. each morning

18-19th September - INGLETON - CONFIRMED

Small event to finish the year with in stunning surroundings on the edge of the Yorkshire moors at Waterfalls Field, Ingleton, North Yorkshire, LA6 3EP. Members camping available from Friday until Sunday. 4 17-18th July - KELMARSH HALL - CONFIRMED English Heritage Multi-Period Event - Festival of History, at Kelmarsh Hall, Northamptonshire ACWS members have been invited to participate as Boer Infantry in the main arena at this event. Displays SATURDAY & SUNDAY Numbers strictly limited to those who pre-register with Kevin Holden. You Could Not Make This Up Both are composed of fifteen letters Now hang on to your seat Abraham Lincoln was elected to Lincoln was shot at the theatre named Congress in 1846 Ford John F Kennedy was elected to Kennedy was shot in a car called Congress in 1946 Lincoln made by Ford Abraham Lincoln was elected Lincoln was shot in a theatre and his President in 1860 assassin ran and hid in a warehouse John F Kennedy was elected Kennedy was shot from a warehouse President in 1960 and his assassin ran and hid in a Both were particularly concerned with theatre civil rights. Booth and Oswald were assassinated Both wives lost their children while before their trails living in the White House Both Presidents were shot on a Friday Both presidents were shot in the head It get even more weird from now on. Lincoln‘s secretary was named Kennedy Kennedy‘s secretary was named Lincoln Both were assassinated by southerners Both were succeeded by southerners Feeding The Troops named Johnson Andrew Johnson who succeeded This photograph shows what a Lincoln was born in 1808 temporary Union commissary depot Lyndon Johnson who succeeded looked like during the war. Large Kennedy was born in1908 wooden barrels containing salted John Wilkes Booth who assassinated meat, coffee beans, and sugar are Lincoln was born in 1839 stacked next to crates of hardtack. It Lee Harvey Oswald who assassinated took a lot of food to feed the army Kennedy was born in 1939 even for one day! Both assassins were known by their three names (photo Library of Congress)

5

PROJECTS TEAM REPORT

Well folks the season is looming at an ever quickening rate, and what an action packed year for all of you we have. We have events from the razzmatazz of carnivals, with crowds, to quiet little backwaters in OBITUARY idyllic surroundings. From coast to plain to Hill, I am sure you will BARRY HUSBANDS agree a very diverse programme. 25.12.1943 – 18.1.2010 We are all met by challenges and restraints including myself and this Barry joined the ACWS 20 years I appreciate but do please support ago and was a very loyal and as many events as you can. I hope dedicated re enactor. A member of to see many of you at the nd 32 . Virginia he was a confederate forthcoming training weekends and through and through. Until 6 years do feel free to come along and ago, Barry attended every event and have a chat put forward your views thoroughly enjoyed every minute of and thoughts, I will be more it. Unfortunately at that time he accessible this year and can be discovered he had cancer. He was found in the vicinity of the seriously ill for a while and then ‗U.S.Signals‘ on the federal camp. went into remission. He then started This does not mean I only talk to attending events again. Sadly the federal members and all members cancer returned 18 months ago and blue, green, grey, the last time he came to an event butternut, civilian and even modern was at Rockingham 2009 , where he visited just for the day on the dressed are welcome to come and Sunday. Although he was unable to pull up a chair and smell the go on the field and fight, he still wore coffee. My only request is that his uniform with pride. He‘s period protocol is used during probably now up in Heaven sitting public opening hours. My ‗Office‖ with Roger listening to his stories will be usually the Signal Officers and going over old battles. wall tent, distinguishable by a Our sincere condolences go to his multitude of red and white flags wife Carol and his devoted family. outside. 6 Most Events will have warning have used Tatton Old Hall as a orders issued prior to events, these training venue. We have at our will be cascaded down the chain of disposal hundreds of acres to use command to each individual during Saturday, even I don‘t know member, and there will be site what your army commanders have specific information, location of planned but with the parameters water points, toilets, positions of available I am sure they will camps car parking and overall provide plenty for you to do. I will timings. make a suggestion though; make Now to what most of you want to sure you take suitable food and know the events themselves: drink to fill your haversack with rations!! Sunday will be spent 2-5th April – PEN FYNNON Wales around the camp areas as there SA44 5EY Registration Fee £ 3 will be public access to us. For those of you that have never been, this is an absolutely cracking 30-31st May - SEWERBY HALL little venue, Paul and Hilary were YO15 1EA Registration Fee £ 6 members of the Iron Brigade years Back to our old favourite at back and are very receptive to Bridlington, and one of two visits to A.C.W.S. they have a cracking little the coastline this year, Saturday is cafe and hot water, flushing loos, a free day with many members and even showers on site. The 69th taking the opportunity of heading N.Y. have been going for some into the nearby town of Bridlington time now and have built a gun in uniform and being seen by the emplacement and breast works public, excellent pubs and with plenty of space. At night it is restaurants typical of British so dark due to the lack of light seaside towns, of course don‘t take pollution, you can get a real feel of any weapons at all with you! There what it could have been like out on is also an excellent tea room by the campaign all those years ago. the stable block at Sewerby Hall This is over the Easter weekend, itself serving over the weekend, so an excellent opportunity to have please check for trading hours. an inexpensive weekend away Sewerby Hall also has a pub in over with friends. very short walking distance, serving a variety of beverages and TATTON OLD HALL WA16 6QN a good choice in way of food. Registration Fee £ 3 Sunday and Monday will consist of 10-11TH April CONFEDERATE Living History displays and the TRAINING battle this year we are portraying 17-18TH April FEDERAL CAMP OF Battle for Knoxville, Knoxville was INSTRUCTION the scene of numerous The army training weekends this engagements over a large area, of year will be the second time we which we will be depicting a small 7 section. The cavalry will also be in spacious and there is a separate attendance to enhance what arena for ACWS. There will be a promises to be an excellent short parade at 1.00pm followed by weekend. a full afternoon programme. We are contracted to do 2 x 30 minute 19-20th June - STANFORD HALL, battles, one at 3.30 and the other LE17 6DH Registration Fee £ 10 at 5.00pm, although these times Our annual favourite, this year we are subject to change. Please can are back at the front of the house, we have the band at this event as we have extensive use of the they were very spectacular at grounds with a very large area on Market Deeping and we would like which to operate, the army to repeat this. We were commanders are looking at the recommended to the sponsor by a area we have to use and I am sure leading member of the English Civil they are going to provide an War Society, so please let‘s have a exciting campaign for Saturday. good turn out and stand up to our There will also be Battle on the good reputation. Sunday for the public on site. A good weekend to also try out your 10-11th July - SILLOTH, new ideas for displays and living CA7 4AW Registration Fee £6 history and maybe a first person Our second visit to the coast finds scenario or two, this is a golden us in Silloth on the seafront for a opportunity to try out some ideas multi-period event, living history for away from the public glare. There Saturday and the main event will be the same beer tent we have happens on Sunday with us used at Rockingham in attendance providing an arena display. The this weekend and it will be sited up site overlooks the Solway Firth and the track towards the family camp, into Scotland in the distance there hopefully this will cater for all our is a wide range of pubs in the area members who want different things and similar to Sewerby the local for evening entertainment. population is boosted by holiday makers, an ideal chance for you to 3rd. JULY 2010 EYNSHAM recruit in a previously untouched CARNIVAL, EYNSHAM area by A.C.W.S. all this in a OX29 4HG Registration Fee £6 beautiful part of the world. Camping from Friday lunchtime 2nd. until Sunday lunchtime 4th. 25-26th July – GLEMHAM HALL – July. This is a really lovely village SALUTE FOR HEROES with 8 pubs, 2 chippies and a Chinese takeaway. The Carnival is More details to follow a very prestigious event which has been going some 20 years. The 14-15th August - SPETCHLEY site for the Authentic camps is very MULTI-PERIOD WR5 1RS 8 Registration Fee £6 with a flower show, crafts, animals Next on this busy schedule is ‗M5‘, and many other attractions and a name coined by sitting down with previous years have seen flypasts a cup of tea and friends, it basically of The Red Arrows, Lancaster, describes the event, not far from what‘s coming this year? the M5 motorway and the five main representative periods that will be 11-12th September – TATTON present Medieval, 17th century, OLD HALL, WA16 6QN Napoleonic, Victorian and 20th Registration Fee £6 century, ‗Military 5‘ It is being run A.C.W.S. s third visit to Tatton Park by Worcester re enactors who are of the year will be this weekend, for all, yes you got it, re enactors the main event of the year; we themselves. This is their first have battles Saturday and Sunday attempt at a major show with the with living history both days. Our hope that it will grow year in year, instructions are simply to engage there will be a market area, beer the public and give them an tent and caterers in attendance enjoyable, entertaining and and a large battle field. Battles educating experience. There will Saturday and Sunday, could I have be a few changes to the layout this a volunteer to organise a work year with family camp being moved party to enhance the battlefield to a different location and possible with the other groups please. timings being changed. There is a small tea room and extensive gardens on site which 18-19th September - INGLETON are accessible during the day. LA6 3EP Registration Fee £3 Another note for this event is FIRE The final event of the year will be PITS MUST BE DUG, if you are in Waterfalls field Ingleton on the using a raised fire a pit must be edge of the Yorkshire Dales, it is a dug for the fire to sit in. country and western themed weekend not far from Lancaster. 29-30th August - SHEFFIELD, Ingleton is a very pretty village South York‘s S2 2RU Registration steeped in history with spectacular Fee £6 views and of course the waterfalls. This weekend finds us at Norfolk The programme will be a relaxed Park Sheffield, camps will be in one with a cafe and flushing loos their usual places, battles Sunday accessible. and Monday, the Sheffield Fayre is We hope to see you all, over the staged by Sheffield City council, course of the events this year, with our friend Howard Giles of Projects is at times a difficult job to Event plan providing the historical do because you all want different displays of which we are part of. things out of your hobby and listening to you I try to There is plenty to do and see here accommodate you all in there 9 somewhere. Often we have to Varina was a very religious adhere to sponsors wishes and woman, and very intelligent, who procedures, which some may not received little formal education; agree with, but the guy paying the however, in her teens she did piper gets to call the tune. I am attend a finishing school where her always open to ideas and social graces were enhanced. suggestions of what you, the When she married Jefferson Davis individual member would like and at the age of nineteen, her mother will try to accommodate any objected, as Jefferson was suggestions when I can, and I eighteen years older than she. But, would also like to ask if anybody their married turned out to be a would like to get involved in setting long and most happy one. Varina up and running events as part of had a strong interest in politics; the team come along and have an therefore her adjustment to the informal chat with either myself or political life as the wife of a Viv. We also have the international politician in Washington, D.C. was next year and we will need some easy. She also was a consummate help setting up and running it, do hostess, and an exuberant have an enjoyable season and we conversationalist and a story teller. shall see you all soon Unlike her husband, she handled condemnation well, which was an asset through the tough years as the First Lady of the Confederacy. Varina Davis In 1862, when conditions in The Wife and Influence Behind Richmond stated to deteriorate and Jefferson Davis. food was becoming scarce, she found herself under public scrutiny for her entertaining at the White House of the Confederacy. Yet, others complained that her parties were not extravagant enough. Jefferson and Varina would have six children together, one of whom was born during the troubled times of the war, and another who died Varina was born at "The Briars," in tragically. Natchez, Mississippi on May 7, At war‘s end, when Jefferson Davis 1826, she married Jefferson Davis was captured and arrested in in 1845, she was his second wife, Irwinsville, Georgia, Varina was and His first wife had been the with her husband. Upon his daughter of Zachary Taylor, who confinement at Fort Monroe, had died three months after their Virginia, Varina spent this time wedding. campaigning to free her husband. 10 These attempts being unrelenting, Jefferson was finally released in CONFEDERATE May 1867. REPORT The Davises lived in Canada for a short while, in virtual poverty, until the early 1870s, when a friend arranged for them to purchase the Mississippi estate known as Greetings my Fellow Southerners "Beauvoir." They retired here, and following Jefferson‘s death in 1889, Hope you have all had a good win- Varina remained to write her ter and are eager to go again. memoirs. New campaigns lie ahead for us Varina eventually moved to New this year, so lets hope that all of York City, and gave Beauvoir to you can make it an outstanding the state of Mississippi to be used good one. as a Confederate veteran‘s home. I‘m also hoping that the numbers While in New York, she supported in attendance will be up from last herself by continuing to write year, we always put on a spectacu- articles for various magazines. lar show to the public and by hav- Varina Davis died in New York City ing a great turnout of Confeder- on October 16, 1905. Sadly, she ates, it shows them just what we‘re was survived by only one of her six capable of. children. Lets all march to Tatton Old Hall for our annual training weekend ACWS where we can get things sorted for PHOTOGRAPHI the campaign that lies ahead. COMPETITION What better place than this to give 2010 your kit a good going over, so you`ll be ready to march on to Rockingham which promises to be another cracking do. Once again A.C.W.S. will be running We will be having our OFFICERS the photographic competition on 2010. and NCOs meeting at Tatton as usual, so if you have anything that Keep those cameras clicking and enter you or your unit wishes to be your best photos . brought up, this is the place to do it. Details with be published in the newsletter and on the website at a Hope to see you all soon

Why not send some of your photos to Major Bill Brown me for inclusion in the newsletter. If CS STAFF... you have a tale to tell so much the DEO VINDICE better. 11 the upcoming struggle, while the Federal Army of the Southwest had about 10,250. The Confederates had advantages in men and artillery relative to their opponents, greater than any other Confederate force in a single campaign during the entire Civil War. Van Dorn ordered the Army of the West north toward Fayette The Battle of Pea Ridge (Washington County), hoping to 7-8 March 1862 destroy the scattered Union detachments that Curtis dispersed

around his central position near Little The Battle of Pea Ridge (AKA Battle of Sugar Creek. The plan failed as Union Elkhorn Tavern) played a pivotal role Brigadier General Franz Sigel‘s forces in securing Missouri for the Union and in Bentonville escaped to Union lines opened Arkansas to Union occupation. around Little Sugar Creek. The It played a large role in preserving Confederate men and animals were Missouri‘s tenuous loyal-state status. worn out from the march over the

Boston Mountains, had had little sleep, After the Battle of Wilson‘s Creek in and brought few supplies. Despite this, Missouri, August 10, 1861, the Van Dorn formed an even more command structure on both sides in ambitious plan. He decided to attack Missouri underwent major overhauls. from the rear. He split the Army of the Union Major General Henry W. Halleck West into two forces, separated by chose Brigadier General Samuel Ryan Pea Ridge, one under McCulloch to Curtis to command the force that skirt the western edge of the ridge and fought at Wilson‘s Creek, the newly come in behind the Federal troops, christened Army of the Southwest. The while the other wing under Price would Confederates also had command take the Bentonville Detour around the issues. Major General Sterling Price ridge, then take Telegraph Road south and Brigadier General Benjamin and link with McCulloch at Elkhorn McCulloch feuded bitterly, and Tavern to attack in the rear. President Jefferson Davis chose Major While Curtis did not anticipate such a General Earl Van Dorn to revive the wide-ranging envelopment, he took Confederacy‘s fortunes in the new precautions by felling trees and Military District of the Trans- making obstructions to delay any Mississippi. Rebel moves around Pea Ridge via Van Dorn‘s plan to reinvigorate the the Bentonville Detour. The Rebel cause west of the Mississippi Confederate attack began the morning River exhibited his reputation as an of March 7. Curtis initially believed that aggressive fighter. He planned to the Rebels were trying to slip part of attack Curtis‘s troops in northwest their force around his right flank but Arkansas and to capture St. Louis, that most of the force was in front of Missouri. The Rebel Army of the West him. He dispatched troops under had about 16,000 men available for Colonel Peter J. Osterhaus from the

12 Second Division to determine the attack, but once in action the strength of the Confederates to the Confederates made great progress. west of his army. This sparked the first About 10:30 a.m., Curtis became shots of the battle. aware of large numbers of Rebels on After initial success, the Rebel attack Telegraph Road, behind him. Colonel at Leetown (Benton County) met Eugene Carr‘s Fourth Division gave disaster as McCulloch decided to ground grudgingly before Price‘s reconnoitre the Federal position and superior numbers. In the late was killed by Union troops. Yankee afternoon, the Confederates pushed soldiers also gunned down the second Carr‘s battered Fourth Division back from the area around Elkhorn Tavern. Missouri rebels led by Colonel Henry Little forced the Federal troops around Elkhorn Tavern south to Ruddick‘s cornfield. A flank movement by Price‘s forces against the Fourth Iowa under Colonel Grenville Dodge failed, but Little‘s men moving east on Huntsville Road dislodged the Iowans as nightfall ended the fighting. The Battle of Pea Ridge would be decided the next day. Curtis spent -in-command, Brigadier General most of the night of March 7 preparing. James McIntosh. The Confederates He rearranged the Army of the had huge advantages in numbers and Southwest and made sure the men men, but no leaders. were fed, rested, and supplied with All was not lost for the Rebels. Colonel ammunition. The next morning, Union Louis Hébert led a large force east of troops were ready to resume combat, Leetown in an attack on still but the Confederates were not. Van outnumbered forces. Hebert did not Dorn needed to reconcentrate the know about McCulloch and McIntosh‘s army. In the process, he forgot to bring deaths and that he was the highest up the supply trains. Most of the ranking Confederate officer on this Rebels did not get food or new part of the field. He led his force of ammunition. The mistake proved about 2,000 in an uncoordinated and fatal.The fighting on March 8 was unsupported attack. His attack ran into decisive. Federal cannoneers quickly dense woods and seemed to make silenced, destroyed, or forced their progress. Yankee reinforcements led Rebel counterparts to retreat. As by Colonel Jefferson Columbus Davis Curtis prepared to attack with the of the Third Division blunted the entire Army of the Southwest, Van assault; Hebert got lost in the woods Dorn realized his supply trains were and was captured. Thus the still in Bentonville. Comprehending he Confederates were down to the fourth- had lost and was in danger of being ranking officer on the battlefield, trapped and destroyed, Van Dorn sent Brigadier General Albert Pike. Pike did the exhausted army east toward nothing to keep the Rebel effort going. Huntsville. Price‘s force was late in starting its The Battle of Pea Ridge was over, and

13 The Trench At Pen Ffynnon

14 15 The Sutherland Affair Quincy Adams, into Richmond. Lt. Edward J. Bartlett would write home On April 23, 1865 in a small town ―Today, is the most glorious in the twelve miles west of Petersburg, VA, history both of the country and our disparate cymbals crashed against regiment.‖ Fannie Walker, a one another, part of a symphony Richmond native, would react with orchestrated by bigotry and hunger ―horror‖ at the sight of the ―Negro‖ and a demand for respect. It was a cavalrymen singing ―John Brown‘s clash in which two opponents forgot Body‖ in the streets of the fallen they were part of a common cause, Confederate capitol. part of a fraternity of triumphant The Fifth Massachusetts Cavalry had soldiers, and were each ready to been mustered into service over a draw the blood of comrades in blue. three-month period, from January to For two days following the May 1864. Twenty-one of its white Confederate surrender of arms at officer cadre was drawn from the 1st Appomattox, regiments of the Third and 2nd Mass. cavalries, three from Brigade of the First Division of the the ranks of the 44th Mass. Infantry, Fifth Corps had drawn the unenviable while 12 had no prior military task of collecting weapons, experience. The enlisted ranks were munitions, and stores left behind in overwhelmingly filled by free blacks the Rebel camps. According to John hailing primarily from Massachusetts Smith, historian for the 118th cities and towns, including Boston, Pennsylvania Infantry, ―whole Framingham, Rehobeth, Amherst, battalions had stacked their arms and Springfield, Marshfield, Waltham, left for home, taking no part in the Roxbury, Duxbury, Provincetown, surrender, not even signing their Dorchester, and Middleboro. The parole.‖ It was also a task performed barbers, laborers, waiters, farmers, on nearly empty stomachs, as rations sailors, painters, and blacksmiths had been exhausted. Railroad from the Old Bay State were joined bridges had been destroyed by enlistees from such distant locales preventing supply trains from as Pittsburgh, Raritan and Jersey reaching the area, while road City, New Jersey, New Orleans, conditions kept wagons from moving. Newbern, Goldsboro and Plymouth, Foraging parties were sent out, but North Carolina, St. John‘s in New pickings were slim. Beef was scarce Brunswick, Cleveland, Philadelphia and what little was found was ―poor and Reading, Pennsylvania, Frankfort and tough.‖ Some scavengers picked and Logan County, Kentucky, the ground for corn that had been fed Wellsville and Cincinnati, Ohio, to horses and mules and, according Chicago, Batavia and Elmira, New to Smith, ate it ―with great relish.‖ York, South Kingston and Eleven days earlier and 90 miles to Providence, Rhode Island, the West the east, one thousand Black Indies, and Valparaiso, Chile. troopers of the 5th Massachusetts Assigned to the 18th Corps in the Cavalry had followed Col. Charles Army of the James, they had initially Francis Adams, the great-grandson performed picket and reconnaissance of John Adams and grandson of John duty and then became part of the 16 general troop movement toward right of Union lines at Deep Bottom Richmond in June. The regiment had as part of the 25th Corps. been engaged at the battle of On April 6th, three days after their Baylor‘s Farm, where three of its entry into Richmond, Adams was members were killed and another given orders to shift the regiment to eighteen wounded. They would not Petersburg. They remained a day be allowed to further their combat before receiving additional orders to record, however. In late June the move twelve miles to the west, to regiment was reassigned to Sutherland Station, to guard the supplement companies drawn from Southside Railroad. Adams own stay the Veterans Reserve Corps and at Sutherland Station lasted only nine stand guard over Confederate days. On the 16th of April he was prisoners at Point Lookout, Maryland, summoned to appear before Major the largest of all Northern POW General Edward O.C. Ord, then camps. There were reports of rough commanding the Army of the James. treatment of prisoners by members of There Adams was arrested and the 5th and after five prisoners were charged with neglect of duty in shot dead in three separate incidents, ―allowing his command to straggle including two for supposedly talking and maraud,‖ and was further in their tent after dark, James Barnes, ordered to report to Fortress Monroe commanding the military district of St. for trial. The charge of marauding Mary‘s came down hard and warned was leveled because of complaints the regiment that unwarranted or from Richmond citizens alleging unjustified discharge of weapons members of the 5th Mass had would meet with harsh appropriated horses for their own consequences. use. The warning served its purpose and a The Third Brigade began its march cavalry regiment that wasn‘t a cavalry back to Washington on April 14th. regiment performed their duty as Spirits were dampened and there required. Like any regiment they had was no sense they were a their good and bad elements, drunks, conquering or triumphant army. slackers, two who were found guilty Hunger and rain will do that. Officers of striking their sergeant, others who used a carrot and stick approach, verbally abused their officers, or were urging the men toward Farmville, 27 found to be mutinous by disobeying miles away, where rations were said orders, but as a whole performed well to be waiting. After two days of and the majority without incident. marching through mud, the strung out They‘d continue this duty through column finally reached its first Thanksgiving, when they sat down to milestone destination and found the a traditional New England repast, promised supplies waiting. As Smith afterwards chasing a greased pig and recalled, ―We stacked arms and laid engaging in wheelbarrow races, then around, and for the first time realized Christmas, on into the fading winter, that the war over.‖ The whole scene when finally, in March 1865, the was brightened further by the clearing regiment joined the siege at of rain clouds overhead, but any Petersburg, occupying the extreme feelings of contentment were 17 shattered at 4 p.m. when a dispatch thoughts buoyed their every step was read aloud announcing the through the Virginia countrysiide. assassination of Abraham Lincoln. On Sunday the 23rd, dirty, Lincoln had won the love and dissheveled, and stomachs growling, devotion of the Army of the Potomac. the Third Brigade stacked arms at In a display of mourning the color Sutherland Station. Men of the 118th bearers from all regiments draped Pennsylvania took quick note of the their flags in black, dyeing white 5th Massachusetts camped in their handkerchiefs and any other fabric front. They were put off by the available in ink obtained from the cleanliness of the cavalry uniforms ranks. and the perception, real or imagined, On April 20th the Third Brigade, that they were being looked down which included veterans of upon by black men. Some of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Philadelphia‘s best immediately Gettysburg, the Wilderness, and began itching for a fight and looking Spottsylvania, would break camp and for an excuse headed for the tent of resume its eastward trek along what the 5th‘s sutler. None had money to is now Rt. 460. They had 55 miles to pay for what they wanted, they simply go before they would reach began taking it and were joined by Sutherland Station and make their more comrades in the taking. Three acquaintance with the 5th of the 5th, assigned to guard duty, Massachusetts Cavalry. ordered the 118th to back off. That While the 5th Massachusetts demand only drew more of a crowd, encamped, the Third Brigade swept until the corporal of the guard, ―a big through Burkeville, fifteen miles from black fellow, wishing to magnify his Farmville, reaching Nottoway nine office, came up and undertook to miles further on. By the 21st they arrest our men for disobeying orders.‖ were at Wilson‘s Station, and finally Sergeant Charles Brightmeyer of the on the 22nd, eight days after leaving 118th threw the first punch, knocking Appomattox, within easy reach of the corporal to the ground, and then Sutherland. One day beyond all hell broke loose. Knives sliced Sutherland lay the city of trenches through ropes holding up the sutler‘s and bombproofs that had shielded tent and a rush began for boxes of them for ten months from everything canned peaches, canned tomatoes, Petersburg had to throw at them, sardines, tobacco, cheese, and every except snipers. Beyond that, after other item that someone could pick four long years for some, Richmond, up and run with. Soldiers from the and beyond that, a mere hundred 20th Maine and 1st Michigan joined miles away, the dome atop the in the pillaging. While a distraught Capitol building. Beyond that home, sutler looked on, buglers could be and children never seen before, heard in the distance sounding wives who had gone without an ―Boots and Saddles.‖ embrace, fathers and mothers who Officers from the 5th Massachusetts, had grayed, and younger siblings brandishing swords and intent on who had grown more than a foot making arrests, were immediately set taller in their absence. Those upon and became participants in an 18 all out brawl. Swords went flying into arms swinging upward, eyes right the air, while tassled hats were when they passed the reviewing kicked around like balls. Samuel stand, the cheers of the crowd Chamberlain, acting Colonel of the deafening in their ears. 5th in place of Charles Adams, raced The Fifth Massachusetts moved from to the scene on his horse, the rest of Sutherland to City Point, where on his command in close pursuit. Fists June 16th they loaded their horses froze in mid-punch. Chamberlain onto trains to begin a 1200 mile demanded officers from the three journey to Clarksville, Texas. They white regiments arrest those would stand vigil along the Mexican responsible and hold them strictly border until mustered out of service accountable, threatening to take on October 31, 1865. action himself if his demands weren‘t met. The troopers, under Carl Culshaw Chamberlain's direction, formed a 118th Pen line in front of the sutler's tent, ready to spur their horses forward if signaled to do so. There was no mistaking the now steeled expressions and open contempt that registered in the eyes of white men who looked at black men led by white The Battle of Pea Ridge men. An unidentified Third Brigade 7-8 March 1862 colonel ordered them to fix bayonets, Continued from page 13 six to eight of which were then thrust into the chest, belly, and flank of it was a resounding Union victory. The Chamberlain‘s horse. battle was one of the bloodiest west of Major General Alfred L. Pearson, the Mississippi. The Confederates commanding the Third Brigade, suffered about 2,000 casualties. The finally arrived on the scene to restore Union had 1,384 casualties. order. Chamberlain launched an immediate protest and looked for Pea Ridge changed the strategic outlook of the Civil War in the trans- justice, not only for his men, but his Mississippi west. Van Dorn was so horse that was later destroyed due to demoralized that he took the Army of its wounds. Pearson quickly sized up the West to the east bank of the the situation and ordered Mississippi, leaving Arkansas Chamberlain to withdraw his men, defenceless. This combined with the cautioning the Colonel that unless he Union victory at Pea Ridge, secured complied some of them were certain Missouri for the Union. Although to be killed. Confederates made other attempts to A month later, on May 23rd, the Third take Missouri, the Pea Ridge Brigade stepped out into the line of Campaign proved to be the best march and proudly paraded down opportunity for the Rebels. With Pennsylvania Avenue with the rest of Missouri and St. Louis secure, the the Fifth Corps and the triumphant Union emphasis switched to capturing Army of the Potomac, in lock step, the rest of the Mississippi River Valley. 19 Hampton Roads, where the Minnesota and other potential victims awaited their fate, the Confederates realized that things were not going to be so simple. There, looking small and low near the lofty frigate, was a vessel that could only be USS Monitor , the Union Navy's own ironclad, which had arrived the previous evening after a perilous voyage from New York. Action between USS Monitor Though her crew was exhausted and and CSS Virginia , 9 March 1862 their ship untested, the Monitor was also preparing for action. Undeterred, Monitor and Merrimack, two American Virginia steamed out into Hampton warships that fought the first Roads. Monitor positioned herself to engagement between ironclad ships. protect the immobile Minnesota , and a When, at the beginning of the Civil general battle began. Both ships War, the Union forces abandoned the hammered away at each other with Norfolk Navy Yard at Portsmouth, Va., heavy cannon, and tried to run down they scuttled the powerful steam and hopefully disable the other, but frigate Merrimack. She was their iron-armoured sides prevented subsequently raised by the vital damage. Virginia 's smokestack Confederates, converted into an was shot away, further reducing her ironclad, and renamed the Virginia. On already modest mobility, and Monitor's Mar. 8, 1862, the Virginia, commanded technological teething troubles by Capt. Franklin Buchanan, sallied hindered the effectiveness of her two forth into Hampton Roads against the eleven-inch guns, the Navy's most wooden ships of the Union blockading powerful weapons. Ammunition supply squadron. She rammed and sank the problems required her to temporarily Cumberland, destroyed the Congress pull away into shallower water, where after running her aground, destroying the deep-drafted Virginia could not both and killing more than 240 of their follow, but she always covered the crewmen, and scattered the remaining Minnesota . ships, all the while sustaining Soon after noon, Virginia gunners practically no damage to herself. At concentrated their fire on Monitor 's dawn on 9 March 1862, CSS Virginia pilothouse, a small iron blockhouse prepared for renewed combat. She near her bow. A shell hit there blinded expected to inflict a similar fate on the Lieutenant John L. Worden , the Union grounded steam frigate Minnesota and ship's Commanding Officer, forcing other enemy ships, probably freeing another withdrawal until he could be the lower Chesapeake Bay region of relieved at the con. By the time she Union sea power and the land forces it was ready to return to the fight, supported. Virginia would thus Virginia had turned away toward contribute importantly to the Norfolk. Confederacy's military, and perhaps The first battle between ironclad diplomatic, fortunes. However, as they warships had ended in stalemate, a surveyed the opposite side of situation that lasted until Virginia's self- 20 destruction two months later. general, as well as an aide to However, the outcome of combat President Jefferson Davis. between armoured equals, compared Through her husband, Mary became with the previous day's terrible mis- good friends with Varina Davis, the match, symbolized the triumph of wife of Jefferson Davis. Through this industrial age warfare. The value of relationship she formed friendships existing ships of the line and frigates with many of the Confederate leaders; was heavily discounted in popular and governmental and military, and wrote professional opinion. Ironclad about them all in her diary. construction programs, already Following the war, Mary Chesnut underway in America and Europe, rewrote her diary, condensing it from accelerated. The resulting armoured its original 400,000 words to about warship competition would continue 150,000. She and her husband James into the 1940s, some eight decades in had no children, so upon Mary's death the future. on November 22, 1886, she left her diary to a friend. Mary Boykin Miller In 1905 Mary‘s diary was first Chesnut published under the title: A Diary from She was born Mary Dixie. Boykin Miller in Statesburg, South Carolina on March 31, DERBYSHIRE ARMS LTD 1823. She is Specialist in Historical Firearms remembered with writing her diary, FULL ARMI-SPORT RANGE: that of all the women who kept diaries  Exclusive 1860 Spencer during the war, hers stands out as the most detailed, and is a very important  Carbine and Rifle source on the life of the Confederacy.  1842 Springfield Muskets / short As Mary came from a wealthy barrel Southern family, she was well qualified  1853 & 1858 Enfields to write on her experiences. Her father st nd  1855 Springfield Rifle 1 and 2 was Stephen Decatur Miller, a models southern lawyer, governor and congressman. Her upbringing and  1861 Springfield Musket education gave her the opportunity to  1862 Richmond Musket intelligently observe and record all  1863 Zouave Musket and classes of people, including the  Musketoon slaves. At the age of seventeen, Mary married  1886 and 1892 Winchester (lever James Chesnut, Jr., and was his action) confidante throughout their marriage.  1887 lever action Shotgun James was a wealthy planter, a  Full range of Sharps Rifles and defender of slavery and a staunch Carbines secessionist. As a U.S. Senator, he Our Guns are suitable for serious re was active in the South Carolina -enactors, film and TV, museums secession convention, served the and collectors Confederate army as a brigadier Email: [email protected] 21 BALLOONS IN THE balloon to the commanders below. AMERICAN CIVIL WAR He used the ‗Enterprise’, attached to tethers and floating 500 feet Both the Union and Confederate (152 meters) above Washington, armies used balloons for D.C. President Lincoln was duly reconnaissance during the impressed. Later that summer, American Civil War, marking the President Lincoln established the first time that balloons were used in Balloon Corps, a civilian the United States for organization under the authority of reconnaissance. The professional the Union's Bureau of aeronaut John Wise was the first to Topographical Engineers, and receive orders to build a balloon for granted Lowe permission to the Union army. However, the requisition equipment and balloon never was used because it personnel. Lowe received funds to escaped its tethers and was shot build a balloon on August 2, 1861. down to prevent it from falling into The first U.S. balloon designed for Confederate hands. military use, the Union, was ready Both Thaddeus Lowe and John for action on August 28. Because LaMountain carried out he was forced to inflate the balloon reconnaissance activities for the with gas from municipal lines in Union army during the war. Lowe Washington, D.C (he had not had foreseen the usefulness of received his funds yet for a balloon observations when he had portable gas generator), the accidentally landed in South balloon could not be moved far, Carolina on a flight from Cincinnati, which limited operations to the Ohio, to the Atlantic Ocean in April Washington, DC, area. 1861. One of his financial On September 24, 1861, Lowe supporters, Murat Halstead, editor ascended to more than 1,000 feet of the Cincinnati Daily Commercial, (305 meters) near Arlington, wrote to U.S. Treasury Secretary Virginia, across the Potomac River Salmon P. Chase and suggested from Washington, DC, and began that the United States establish a telegraphing intelligence on the balloon corps under Lowe's Confederate troops located at Falls command. This corps would Church, Virginia, more than three provide aerial reconnaissance for miles (4.8 kilometers) away. Union the Union armies. guns were aimed and fired Secretary Chase arranged a accurately at the Confederate meeting between Lowe and troops without actually being able President Abraham Lincoln for to see them—a first in the history June 11, 1861. On July 17, 1861, of warfare. Lowe demonstrated his ideas for This triumph led the Secretary of balloon reconnaissance and also War Simon Cameron to direct for sending telegrams from the Lowe to build four additional 22 Atlantic Ocean earlier, he made two two successful ascents at Fort Monroe in July 1861. The New York Times reported that LaMountain could view the Confederate encampments beyond Newmarket Bridge, Virginia, and also at the James River north of Newport News. LaMountain had actually made the first aerial reconnaissance of the Civil War and also was the first to gather intelligence by free balloon flight rather than from a tethered balloon. LaMountain, however, did not have The Civil War balloon Intrepid. the Union Army behind him, and he had difficulty obtaining balloons. equipment. He managed to obtain Two more followed shortly. The another balloon, the Saratoga. fleet now consisted of the Intrepid, That balloon, however, was lost on Constitution, United States, November 16, 1861. He tried to get Washington, Eagle, Excelsior, and some of Lowe's equipment, but the original Union. The balloons Lowe refused to cooperate. Each ranged in size from 32,000 cubic man found supporters, and the feet (906 cubic meters) down to rivalry between the two grew. 15,000 cubic feet (425 cubic Finally, after accusations and meters). Each had enough cable to hostilities on both sides, on climb 5,000 feet (1524 meters). February 19, 1862, General At the same time, fellow aeronaut McClellan dismissed LaMountain John LaMountain was also from any further service to the attempting to provide balloon military. services for the Union. He wrote to Lowe continued providing tactical Secretary Cameron in 1861, but, reports to the Union troops. He because he had no influential provided information during the backers, LaMountain did not siege of Yorktown, Virginia, and in receive a reply. However, the late April 1863, at Fredericksburg, commander of the Union Forces at he transmitted hourly reports on Fort Monroe, Major General Confederate movements. During Benjamin F. Butler, contacted him the battle of Fair Oaks, Virginia, and asked for a demonstration. Lowe continually transmitted Using the Atlantic which he had information on enemy troop used to attempt to reach the positions. Observations made 23 during this battle proved to be crucial to the Union victory. The presence of the balloons forced the Confederates to conceal their forces. To avoid Detection, they blacked out their camps a fter dark and also created dummy encampments and gun emplacements, all of which took valuable time and personnel. However, the balloon corps did not last until the end of the war. General George McClellan was relieved of his command in 1863, and Captain Cyrus Comstock, who was assigned to oversee the balloon corps, cut its funding and thus its effectiveness. Lowe was also accused of financial A reconnaissance balloon is impropriety, and his pay was launched from the coal barge reduced. Lowe resigned from the George Washington Parke Curtis, balloon corps on May 8, 1863. By during the American Civil War. August 1863, the corps had for the same purpose. Word of the disbanded. Americans' achievements even As well as aerial reconnaissance reached Europe, where the and telegraphy, Lowe and Prussian army sent Count LaMountain also introduced the Ferdinand von Zeppelin to learn use of aircraft carriers. Lowe what he could from this kind of directed the construction in 1861 of warfare, and we all know what that the first aircraft carrier, George lead to. Washington Parke Custis, a rebuilt Some authorities claim that, coal barge with a flight deck although balloon observations superstructure. On one occasion, contributed to battle victories, the she towed one of Lowe's balloons Union Army's commanding for 13 miles (21 kilometers) at an generals did not use the balloon altitude of 1,000 feet (305 meters) observations advantageously. while Lowe made continuous Vague reports on Robert E. Lee's observations. On August 3, 1861, movements issued from the LaMountain used the deck of the hydrogen balloon Intrepid during small vessel Fanny to launch an the 1862 Peninsula Campaign observation balloon 2,000 feet apparently served only to panic (610 meters) over the James River. General McClellan. The general He used the Union tugboat Adriatic withdrew his vastly superior forces 24 and positioned them seven miles silk, which gave rise to the legend (11 kilometers) from Richmond, that this Confederate balloon was Virginia, rather than attacking the made from silk dresses donated by sparsely defended Confederate the ladies of the Confederacy. capital and ending the war three Although the "Silk Dress Balloon" years and tens of thousands of was constructed from dress silk, no lives sooner. After McClellan was actual dresses were sacrificed. relieved of his command, Ulysses This balloon was gas-filled in S. Grant took over and reorganized Richmond, Virginia, and carried to the Army of the Potomac. the field by tethering it to a Preferring to rely more on attrition locomotive. In 1862, when the than on intelligence, he disbanded battle area moved too far from the the Balloon Corps. railroad, it was attached to a The Confederate Army also formed tugboat and carried down the a smaller version of the balloon James River where the tug, corps. In the spring of 1862, unfortunately, ran aground and Captain John Randolph Bryan was captured. offered to oversee the building and Another "Silk Dress Balloon" was deployment of an observation constructed and went into service balloon. This balloon consisted of a at Richmond in the fall of 1862. It cotton envelope coated with provided aerial observations from varnish. Unlike the hydrogen-filled its post until the summer of 1863 Union balloons, it was a when it escaped in a high wind and Montgolfiere—filled with hot air— was captured by Union troops. because the Confederacy did not have the equipment for generating hydrogen in the field. Bryan launched the balloon on April 13, 1862, over Yorktown, Virginia. Even though the balloon was rotating on its single tether while aloft, Bryan managed to sketch a map of Union positions. On his next flight, Bryan ended up in free flight after the tether was cut to free an entangled ground crew The war balloon at General member. He was fired upon by McDowell's headquarters Confederate troops below who Duprey. Thaddeus Lowe, America's thought he was the enemy, but One-Man Air Corps. managed to escape and land Rolt, L.T.C. The Aeronauts: A History safely. of Ballooning - 1783-1903. The second Confederate balloon Evans, Charles M. "Air War Over was constructed of multi-coloured Virginia. 25 are a few smaller events this year, but Mama‘s let us not forget, that without the Mutterings smaller events bringing in the revenue, we could not afford to put the larger events on, so let‘s all make an effort to attend the small events as well as the bigger ones. Gone are the days of going out on the field and banging merrily away with your musket. These Here we are almost at the beginning of days we have to work for our money. another season. The Projects team Sponsors want entertainment all day have been hard at it over the winter and that means Living History. I know securing events for us so we can once that the economic situation for a lot of again enjoy another full season of re folk has not got any better, but please enacting. attend as many events as you can, The Pre Season event in Wales and let‘s have a cracking good promises to get us off to a good start. season. I have included some photographs of I hope to see many of you in Wales the 69th‘s endeavours to build a gun over Easter, if not there, then at emplacement there. They started in Rockingham Castle. the autumn of 2008 and continued it over a few spare weekends in 2009. It Val Holt was a lot of work, but it gave us an Editor insight into how much effort was put into this type of work during the Civil Civil War Fruit Cake War. It was a learning curve for us. Combine in a large saucepan: The trench had to be dug, branches 3 medium apples, peeled and diced found and cut down to size and woven 2 cups raisins 2 cups water into gabions and breast works. We 1 cup white sugar 1 cup brown sugar had to learn how to support these 2 tablespoons lard or shortening Cook when the earth was piled into them. At together for five minutes. most there was about ten guys and Remove from heat and cool thor- gals doing this work over a weekend, oughly. Sift together into a large in the war, there would have been mixing bowl: 3 cup flour many more doing the work. This type 2 teaspoon soda 1 teaspoon salt of work was thrown up overnight in 1 teaspoon ground cloves many cases. Of course they were not 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg meant to last. The 69th are hoping 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon Add ap- theirs will last for many a year. This is ple-raisin mixture and stir thoroughly. an on going project for us until we Add 1 cup chopped nuts. have a small cannon in place and Pour into a greased and lined tube then it will have to be maintained to cake pan. Bake at 350 about and hour keep it in order. or until done. This is the original Why not come down and have a look, recipe. If you use self-rising flour, omit we might even let you have a go at salt and soda. firing from the firing step. Also omit sugar if you use 1 cup That part is finished and in use. There molasses. 26 A.C.W.S. Merchandise ACWS Pens Fine Point (Black Ink) & Ball Point (Blue Ink) £0.50 Each ACWS Refillable Mechanical Pencils £0.30 Each Black Baseball Cap with ACWS Logo £5.00 Each Stock Clearance Adult & Child ASWS Logo “T” Shirts £7 & £5 Each (See web site for list of colours and sizes available)

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