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Last Saturday, a Confederate battle flag finally came home. It was presented at Beauvoir, the last home of President Jefferson Davis, in honor of Confederate Memorial Day. The flag belonged to the 46th Mississippi Infantry Regiment, and was recently obtained from the Hall of Flags in Springfield, Illinois.
This was a momentous occasion, because many flags are still being held captive. Some northern states are reluctant to return the battle flags because they are big draws for tourists. Fortunately, they are slowly realizing the historical and emotional relevance of returning these flags to their rightful owners.
For more info, please visit the following website:
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/04/28/3913009/flag-returns-after-147-years.html
Last weekend was the annual pilgrimage in Holly Springs, Mississippi. Members of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (Varina Howell Davis #2559) and the Sons of Confederate Veterans were on hand Saturday morning to participate in the tour of Hillcrest Cemetery, where numerous Confederate soldiers are buried in unmarked graves.
Later, some of the UDC ladies went to historic Montrose, one of the grand old antebellum homes in town, and served as tour guides.
Holly Springs was captured by Union General Ulysses S. Grant in 1862 following the Battle of Shiloh. Grant was so inspired by the town’s quaint beauty that he decided not to torch it, and so Holly Springs was spared. Every year, a parade of homes, 5-K run, brunch, and other fun events take place to honor the town. This year, an interesting new event was introduced, which was a tour of slave quarters.
One week after the Civil War ended, on April 15, 1865, the first presidential assassination took place when Abraham Lincoln “gave up the ghost,” or as Secretary of War Seward said, “He now belongs to the ages.” While attending a play on Good Friday entitled “Our American Cousin” at Ford’s Threatre in Washington D.C. with his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, the president was shot point blank in the back of the head by Southern sympathizer and famous actor John Wilkes Booth.
Booth jumped from the presidential balcony, hollered, “Sic semper tyrannis,” which means “Thus always to tyrants” in Latin. He managed to escape with a broken leg, but was nabbed several days later, shot inside a burning barn. Meanwhile, Lincoln’s funeral train was making the rounds across the country on its final destination to Illinois, his home state.
It was discovered after his death that he had a Confederate five dollar bill in his wallet. For his second inauguration, he requested that the song “Dixie” be played. It was his utmost belief to keep the Confederacy in the Union and maintain a unified country at all costs. Ultimately, he paid the price with his own life.
Kennesaw, Georgia houses one of the most famous locomotives in American history, yet most people don’t have a clue what that is. One hundred and fifty years ago, on April 12, 1862, what came to be known as “The Great Locomotive Chase” took place between Kennesaw (which was then known as “Big Shanty”) and Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The General was momentarily left unguarded when Confederate soldiers and passengers stopped to eat breakfast at the Lacey Hotel. Union Civil War spies led by James J. Andrews boarded the locomotive and attempted to drive it up to Chattanooga, destroying as much of the railroad line and passing telegraph lines as possible en route.
Seeing the train depart, the locomotive’s conductor, William A. Fuller, and two other men chased after it. The threesome borrowed a platform car and continued their pursuit, but had to abandon it when they came across destroyed railroad ties that the raiders had torn up. They continued the chase on foot, managing to catch up, because the raiders kept stopping to wreak havoc. Finally, the threesome climbed aboard another locomotive, the Texas, chased after the raiders with their train in reverse, and stopped the spies before they reached Chattanooga.
The Union spies who were caught, including Andrews, were hanged. Later on, they received the very first Congressional Medals of Honor for their daring raid, most posthumously.
(Photo courtesy of the Southern Museum in Kennesaw, GA)
Today marks the 147th anniversary of one of the saddest days in American history, when the Confederacy was forced to surrender. It was sad for the South, because it meant the end of states’ rights and a more unified central government. It was sad for the country as a whole, because over 620,000 men lost their lives. Freed slaves thought it to be the happiest day until they discovered later on that the Federal government had no intention of helping them prosper as a society. Because of this lack of support, many freedmen suffered from lack of food, medicine, etc., and had no other recourse but to return to their now impoverished former owners and beg for jobs. Thus, sharecropping began.
Appomattox Courthouse. where General Robert E. Lee surrendered his troops to Union General Ulysses S. Grant, is now an historic national treasure. Wilmer McLean’s house has been restored, as have several other outbuildings at the tavern, located at a crossroads intersection. The road where Confederate soldiers lined up to surrender their arms still exists.
The buildings were in severe decay when restoration began. Mr. McLean lived at the home for five years after the war until his debt forced him to move back to Northern Virginia, where his wife owned a home. From that time until the 1970’s, the house and surrounding buildings stood vacant. Restoration is still in process.
3 We had so much fun last weekend that I wanted to share more photos with y’all. Enjoy!
Last weekend marked the beginning observances of the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Shiloh in Tennessee. To kick off scheduled week-long events, a reenactment took place near the park. Opening ceremonies included an appearance by Miss Tennessee, as well as reenactors portraying generals who fought there: Grant, Hardee, Albert Sidney Johnston (who was killed), Beauregard, Buell, Wallace, and Prentiss, to name a few.
Simultaneous battles took place before several hundred spectators. A ladies tea and soiree, followed by an 1860’s fashion show, were held under a big tent, surrounded by food vendors and sutlers selling any era item imaginable.
On Saturday evening, a period ball was held in the big tent, which was so filled with reenactors that it was difficult to move about. However, dancers still had a very enjoyable time. Music was performed by the 52nd Regimental String Band.
Sunday morning began with a period church service. Officers spoke about the roles they played during the battle, and then another reenactment took place before the event came to a close.
This week, a new film (finally!) will premier at the Visitors Center. The National Park Service will sponsor special events and talks. An annual illumination in the National Cemetery will be held next weekend, which will mark the real anniversary (April 6-7) of the Battle of Shiloh. (More photos to follow, so please stay tuned!)
3 One hundred and fifty years ago, a unique battle took place during the Civil War that set it apart from the rest, because it took place out west. The Battle of Glorieta Pass took place inNew Mexico, which at that time, had not yet become a state. The battle was dubbed “theGettysburgof the West.”
In 1862, Confederate forces organized southern portions ofArizonaandNew Mexicoterritories. They intended to capture gold and silver mines inColoradoterritory andCalifornia, and seize control ofCaliforniaports.
Unionand Confederate forces clashed at Apache Junction, and fighting was intense throughout the first day of the battle on March 26. Reinforcements for both sides arrived the following day, and on March 28, Federal forces attacked the Confederates, comprised primarily of Texans.New MexicoandColoradoinfantry units managed to attack and destroy Confederate supply trains, which forced the Rebels to retreat further south. The battle was the turning point in the war in the New Mexican territory.
Last Saturday, the ladies of Varina Howell Davis Chapter 2559 United Daughters of the Confederacy got together to create “cotton boll angels.” These cute little Christmas ornaments will be donated by our chapter to Beauvoir as a fundraiser.
Beauvoir is located on the gulf coast in Biloxi, Mississippi. The historic home was once the place where Confederate President Jefferson Davis spent his final years after the Civil War. He wrote his memoirs there, and was surely inspired by the “beautiful view,” which is what Beauvoir means in French. However, the property was nearly destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Since then, numerous organizations have contributed to rebuilding and restoring the premises.
The UDC ladies made cotton boll angels last year, and all of the ornaments donated were immediately sold. If you get a chance to visit historic Beauvoir, make sure to purchase an angel to benefit the Presidential Residence.
