General Orders Pannill's Brigade

VOLUME 16 March 2005 G.O. 8

"POLITICS AND PROFESSIONALISM: THE EVOLUTION OF UNION COMMAND IN THE CIVIL WAR"

OUR SPEAKER: in 1961. He taught at Ohio State of winning the war. He will show that, University, began editing The Papers relatively early in the war— around JOHN Y. SIMON of Ulysses S. Grant in 1962, and in November 1, 1861—this attempted 1964, he moved to Southern Illinois balance was, in reality, ineffective. University Carbondale, where he is professor of history as well as editor By March 1964, President Lincoln of the Grant Papers, now with 26 had found a more effective way of published volumes. He is a founder dealing with these competing pres- of the Association for Documentary sures. In essence, what made General Editing and a spokesman for the Ulysses S. Grant an effective com- craft. He also writes on various Civil mander in 1864 was, in part, his War topics. recognition of the important role that General Henry W. Halleck, so inept in many areas of human relations, played OUR TOPIC: in Lincoln's policy, and at the same time the role of political general-ship "POLITICS AND PRO- in correlation with Grant's own FESSIONALISM: THE campaign against Richmond, EVOLUTION OF UNION COMMAND IN Dr. Simon will dwell on the appointment of Robert Todd Lincoln THE CIVIL WAR" to Grant's staff as an example of the give and take of this unusual relation- Dr. Simon will discuss the balance ship. John Y. Simon between the need for pro-fessional military treatment of the American John Y. Simon received a B.A. at Civil War by the federal government Swarthmore College in 1955, and a and the coexisting necessity for a Ph.D. in history at Harvard University political balance between forces, in order to maintain a coalition capable

Mar 17, 2005 RESERVATIONS - REQUIRED BY 10:00 AM TUE Dinner is $30 and reservations are required by 10:00 am Briar Park Club Tuesday morning; we would prefer them made by Monday 2603 Timmons Lane @ Westheimer night. The lecture only is $3, and reservations are required for Command Post (Cash Bar) 6:00 PM that, as well. Please help us by calling your reservation to Dinner and meeting 7:00 PM Robert at 281-890-0556 by Tuesday morning before the meeting. Let him know also if you need a special meal. Cancellations must be made 48 hours in advance. creator of the monument was German (the Davis Guard) are inscribed on the sculptor Frank Teich, who sculpted side of the Dowling monument. QUIZ QUESTION the statue at his studio near Llano. Not long after Dowling’s death in Richard “Dick” Dowling was one 1867 from yellow fever, the Dick "My family is American, and has of the most interesting figures in Dowling Camp of the United Confed- been for generations, in all its and Texas history. Dowling erate Veterans decided to begin raising branches, direct and collateral." Thus Street was named in his honor, as was money to build a statue of Dowling in begins Chapter 1 of one of the most Tuam Avenue, the place in County Houston. A number of Irish societies famous books to be written about the Galway, Ireland, near which he was such as the Ancient Order of Hiberni- Civil War. Name the title and the born in 1837. Because of the Great ans wanted to participate in the author. Famine in Ireland, Dowling and his project, so the Dowling Monument family came to America some time Association was created to coordinate after 1846 and eventually settled in and lead the effort. Houston. Dowling made his name and fortune in a number of saloon busi- After a lengthy period of planning, BOOK RAFFLE nesses. The most notable of these design, and construction, the statue establishments was the “Bank of was finally finished in early 1905. It Books to be raffled in March are: Bacchus,” which he shrewdly located was placed originally at City Hall on Forward to Richmond (Time-Life across the street from Houston’s Market Square. In 1939, it was moved Books), donated by Jim Godlove; courthouse. “The Bank,” as Dowling’s to Sam Houston Park. In 1958 the Spies, Scouts and Raiders (Time-Life bar was fondly known, became an Dowling monument was relocated to Books), also donated by Jim Godlove; immediate success, making its owner its present location near Hermann Battles for Atlanta (Time-Life Books), one of the most prominent Irishmen in Park. also donated by Jim Godlove; Photo- Houston. graphic Views of Sherman's Cam- paign by George N. Barnard, donated Dowling was a man of great vision. anonymously; A Soldier's Story: The He was the first person in Houston to Double Life of a Confederate Spy by install gas lighting at his business. He David Phillips, also donated anony- also became one of the founding mously; Gettysburg's Forgotten members of Houston Hook and Cavalry Actions by Eric J. Wittenberg, Ladder Company No. 1, the predeces- also donated anonymously; and 4 sor of Houston’s fire department. assorted Civil War magazines. Dowling and his associates bought some of the earliest oil and gas leases Raffle tickets are 50¢ each, or in Texas, foreseeing the great oil 8 for $3 - the more you buy, the better boom that would eventually begin to your chance of winning! change the world at the turn of the century.

Although his business and civic accomplishments are impressive, Dowling is remembered today primarily for his role in leading a DICK DOWLING group of unruly Irish dockworkers to one of the greatest upsets in military STATUE 100 history at the Civil War Battle of Sabine Pass. Dick Dowling was the YEARS OLD 26-year-old lieutenant in charge of a The Dowling statue shows the Confederate fort () at mustached lieutenant with his binocu- by Ed Cotham, Jr. Sabine Pass on September 8, 1863, lars in one hand and a sword in the when a Union invasion fleet of 27 other. The sword has caused problems The Dick Dowling Statue in ships and almost 6,000 men attempted over the years. By 1958, a Houston Hermann Park was unveiled St. to capture the fort as part of a planned newspaper reported that “Dick Patrick’s Day in 1905, 100 years ago. invasion of Texas. Dowling’s sword is missing again. It was Houston’s first public monu- [Nobody] has the faintest idea where it ment, coming even before the statue of In a battle that took less than an went. Five times now swords have Sam Houston, for whom the city was hour, Dowling and his fewer than 50 vanished from the cupped left hand of named. Standing today on a triangle men repelled the invasion, capturing Dowling’s statue.” Speculating that near the intersection of Hermann Park two Union and winning a leprechauns might have a stash of the Loop, Holcombe, and North victory that Jefferson Davis later rusted swords somewhere in Ireland, MacGregor, the monument consists of called the most amazing feat in the reporter noted that in some ways an 8- statue made of Italian marble military history. The names of the missing sword was an improve- sitting atop a 20-foot granite base. The Dowling’s small company ment, since Dowling did not actually own a sword at the time of his famous battle. MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

Because of the Irish heritage of The Houston Civil War Round Table is dedicated to the study of the civilian, military Dowling and most of his men it was and cultural aspects of United States history during the period of 1861 - 1865 and to the preservation of historical sites and artifacts. decided to formally dedicate the statue on St. Patrick’s Day 1905. One of the Name largest crowds in Houston history Address participated in a parade and a large City ST Zip ceremony to dedicate the monument. When the parade finally reached the Phone No. statue about 3:00 pm, bands played Email address “God Save Ireland” and “Dixie.” After Mail to: Houston Civil War Round Table a series of speeches, Mrs. W. F. P.O. Box 4215 “Annie” Robertson, Dowling’s Houston, TX 77210-4215 daughter, pulled the silken cord to NEW MEMBER RENEWAL remove the canvas from the statue of $40 - Individual joining in Apr - Dec $40 - Individual her father amid deafening cheers from $20 - Individual joining in Jan - Mar $45 - Family the massive crowd of dignitaries, $45 - Family joining in Apr - Dec $15 - Student or Out-of-state Confederate veterans, school children, $22 - Family joining in Jan - Mar and interested citizens. $15 - Student or Out-of-state NOTE: For memberships or subscriptions outside the U.S., extra cost of postage The reason that the people of to mail the newsletter will be added. Cost may vary; please write to inquire. Houston found it appropriate to so enthusiastically dedicate such a large monument to Dowling and his men is because the Union invasion thwarted at Sabine Pass was not actually aimed "War on the Periphery: Comman- at that part of Texas. Sabine Pass was TWO CONFER- dos, Spies, Sailors, and the Human merely planned to be the initial Cost of War." landing point for a Union invasion that ENCES COMING would have rapidly marched west with UP: HILLSBORO Speakers include Kendall Gott, the intention of capturing Houston and AND DEEP DELTA Dr. Jim Hollandsworth, Dr. Gary Galveston. The people of Houston Joiner, Tim Smith, Dr. Bill Still, knew that by stopping that invasion Dr. Jerry Thompson, Dr. Brian before it even landed Dowling and his I am passing along what informa- Steel Wills, and Terry Winschel. men had saved their city from occupa- Both Union and Confederate topics tion and possible destruction. tion I have on these two conferences; we'll have some copies of registration will be covered within the general forms for each at the meeting. theme. No dates or times are given To express their gratitude, Housto- for the speakers. As I recall, it nians raised funds shortly after the HILLSBORO begins about noon on Friday, and battle to issue a special silver medal goes all day Saturday. for Dowling and each of his men. This The date is April 2, at Hillsboro College. The speakers are Allen medal (extremely rare today) is Early registration prices are the sometimes said to have been the Hatley on: "The 1st Texas Legion During the Civil War"; Dr. Richard only ones listed on this flyer. All Confederate equivalent of the Medal sessions and meals are $140; $120 of Honor that was awarded to Union Lowe on "Walker's Texas Division"; Dr. Robert Corwin on "Up Close and for students and spouses. Cost for heroes. After the war, the people of all sessions, without meals, is $75 Houston banded together to build a Personal"; and Brad Johnson on "Pvt. Leonard Gee: Co. E, 5th Texas and $65. Individual days, with or statue of Dick Dowling and thus without meals, are also available. permanently honor a man who had Infantry Confederate Hero." I don't have speaker's times, but they will meant so much to the city and its early Make checks payable to Deep history. begin at 9:00 am and probably end about 4:00 pm. Delta Civil War Symposium and mail to 19th Annual Deep Delta Cost is $25. Make check payable to Civil War Symposium. SLU (EDITOR'S NOTE: Ed Cotham's 10530, Hammond, LA 70402. For latest book is Battle of Sabine Pass: CHS 2005, P.O. Box 619, Hillsboro, TX 76645. Motel information is not more information, call 985-549- The Confederate Thermopylae. It tells 2151. the whole marvelous story!) given. For more information, call Peggy Fox at 245-582-2555 x 242.

DEEP DELTA Dates are June 10 & 11, at Hammond, Louisiana. The theme is U.S.S. MAINE COMMEMORATION by Robert York

On February 15, 1898, the U.S.S. Maine was destroyed in harbor by an explosion of unknown cause. Two hundred and sixty-six crew members lost their lives in the destruction of the ship and many more lives would be lost during the Spanish- American War that ensued.

Each year the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department sponsors cere- monies and interpretive displays aboard the U.S.S. Texas to commemo- rate the sinking of the USS Maine. Three members of the Houston Civil War RoundTable participated in the event on February 12 & 13, Reenactors at the U.S.S. Maine commemoration 2005.

Seated at the left side of the photograph are Martha and Greg Anyone interested in attending the me at [email protected] or talk to me Graham. Standing at the right side of event next year, or in re-enactments about it at the March meeting. the photo is Robert York. and living history generally, can email

P.O. Box 4215 Houston, TX 77210-4215