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Featherston’s Brigade (C.S.A.) passed through Collins’ Farm as they came upon their position where they assaulted Stiles’ (U.S.) line (120th, 63rd and 128th Indiana) on 11/30/64 at Franklin.
After the failed assault the Confederates, most Mississippi boys, retreated and used the Collins farm for respite.
The picture below shows some grave markers of Mississippi boys who are buried at the McGavock Cemetery nearby - boys who lost their lives that day due to artillery fire from Battery M, 4th U.S. Artillery and the guns position NE at Ft. Granger. McGavock Cemetery was donated by the McGavock family and is the largest privately owned Confederate cemetery in the United States. It is located very close to where Featherton’s Brigade assaulted Stiles’ Brigade on the far eastern flank at Franklin.
Carnton was later used by the Confederates as a hospital and to tend to their wounded.
The 120th, 63rd and 128th Indiana Regiments (Stiles’ brigade) sent many Mississippi boys to their grave and to the hospital atCarnton on November 30th, 1864.
John and Carrie McGavock’s describes the scene at Carnton after the Battle of Franklin.
‘Every room was filled, every bed had two poor, bleeding fellows, every spare space, niche, and corner under the stairs, in the hall, everywhere. And when the noble old house could hold no more, the yard was appropriated until the wounded and dead filled that.
‘Our doctors were deficient in bandages and [Carrie McGavock] began by giving her old linen, then her towels and napkins, then her sheets and tableclothes, then her husband’s shirts and her own undergarments. … Unaffrighted by the sight of blood, unawed by horrid wounds, unblanched by ghastly death, she walked from room to room, from man to man, her very skirts stained in blood.’
Save the Franklin Battlefield
http://www.franklin-stfb.org/
- The purpose of Save The Franklin Battlefield, Inc is to focus the national attention of all concerned citizens on the need to save some portion of this overlooked Civil War Site.
BattleofFranklin.net
http://www.battleoffranklin.net
- “(Franklin) is the blackest page in the history of the War of the Lost Cause. It was the bloodiest battle of modern times in any war. It was the finishing stroke to the Independence of the Southern Confederacy. I was there. I saw it.”
–Sam Watkins, 1st Tennessee Infantry
The Carter House Museum
http://www.carter-house.org/
- This Registered Historic Landmark is now open to the public and serves as a memorial to the Carter Family as well as the countless heroes in the Battle of Franklin. The modest brick home was the Federal Command Post while the family took refuge in the basement. See the evidence of over 1,000 bullet holes remaining on site, including the most battle-damaged building from the Civil War.
The Carnton Plantation
http://www.carnton.org/
- Not only was Historic Carnton Plantation a field hospital during the Battle of Franklin, but it was also a profitable, large-scale farming operation established in 1826 by Randal McGavock, a former mayor of Nashville.
Battle of Nashville Preservation Society
http://bonps.org/
- The Battle of Nashville Preservation Society and Civil War Roundtable is Dedicated to the Preservation of Historic Civil War Sites in Davidson County, Tennessee.
Rippavilla Plantation
http://www.rippavilla.org/
- Today, the house has been restored to its 1860 appearance with many original period family antique pieces of furniture on display throughout the house.
Spring Hill & Franklin: For Cause and Country
http://www.springhillandfranklin.com/
- A study of the affair at Spring Hill and the Battle of Franklin
Battle of Franklin site photos
http://www.civilwaralbum.com/misc/franklin.htm
Sunset in the West
http://www.battleoffranklin.com
Battle site provided by Travellers Plantation
http://www.travellersrestplantation.org/LC/Franklin.html
Franklin, Tenn.
Nov 12th 1864
Dear Sister,
It has been a long time since we have had any thing like regular mail communication and consequently I have not attempted to write to you. I am now on the cars some thirty miles from Nashville. We have stopped to wait for another & then we go on to Pulaski. Hoods old army is up here some where & part of Shermans army is here to watch him while Sherman himself with the main force is advancing from Atlanta to Savannah or Charleston. He will destroy the entire railroads of the Confederacy and then they will be reduced to still greater straits than before. Old Abe is elected & if Jeff Davis wishes to try his hand for four years longer let him do so. The Southern Confederacy will by that time be effectually destroyed while the North will be flourishing as the rose. If southern traitors wish desolation and destruction of their entire country Abolition of Slavery included let them have it. Columbia, Tenn. Nov. 23rd 1864 Dear Sister, Since I commenced the letter on the other page circumstances prevented my finishing it. We started immediately from Franklin & when we got here I was sent away & in the mean time the cars which had my things on were sent back before they were unloaded. A man was with the whole of the luggage & he just returned to us the other day. So I concluded to write on the same sheet nevertheless. Nearly all I care about writing at present is that I am perfectly well and doing well for a soldier. Cold weather has commenced. Day before yesterday we had a little spotting of snow just enough to be seen on the ground, when it cleared off the ground froze hard so that now we consider ourselves embarked in the winter campaign. Yet winters with the exception of a few days are not so very disagreeable and soon you know almost before we are aware of it spring will come & its heels another summer which will let us out of the service even if the war is not as I hope it will be ended. How I wish a few of the northern democrats or Copperheads for there is very little difference between them were in the place of some of these Rebs so that they could try the effect of our bullets. George writes that his house is burned down. He takes it hard! P Shah! I could whistle over such misfortunes as that. Haven’t I seen thousands of such buildings burned in the South. Black smoking ruins where the house once stood. Every fence burned down, every particle of corn potatoes etc. destroyed & every part of the farm rendered so barren that even a rat would not be secure from starvation. I like to see it done here for the South has sown the wind & they should reap the whirlwind. The worst men that God ever suffered to live are in my mind the Aristocrats of the south. And side by side with them are their sympathizers in the North. Have your heard from Thomas lately. According to my understanding his time will be out in ten or fifteen days. He enlisted on the first of December & I the following August. I have nine months & a few days yet. We have been notified several times since we have been here to look out for Hood & Forrest. They have not paid us a visit yet & I hope will not attempt to at present. We don’t care about fighting them but can & will if they come this way. Our regt. is in excellent condition though small & we hope may be able to go out without losing many more men. Excuse this letter which was hastily written & though in two parts, may perhaps be as good as any I could write were I to commence anew. Remember me to all the friends. Write the news as soon as possible.
Your Brother
A.M.Weston
Nov 27th We have had quite a battle here I am well & unhurt
(Asa M. Weston enlisted on 8/11/62 as Sergeant in Company K, 50th Ohio Infantry, 3/4/65 promoted to Sgt Major, 4/22/65 promoted to 2nd Lt, 6/26/65 mustered out at Salisbury, NC)
Columbia Tenn
Dec 28th 1864
Dear Sister,
I received a long letter from you today. I reply not because there is anything of importance transpiring just at present, but because when the most happens is the time I am entirely unable to write. Since I was last at Columbia we have had some stirring times. Hood drove us back to Nashville. We had a very severe battle at Franklin during which our Regiment lost in killed wounded & captured some thing over half its men. After that we were in the big fight at Nashville & our company lost its Commanding Officer, a fine man who was shot through the breast & had an arm broken by a musket ball. But the success atoned for all the loss & more. Hood has halted at Columbia again. The rest of the Army has gone down after Hood. How long we shall remain here idle I know not but presume we shall have plenty to do. Sherman has taken Savannah & Hardee has escaped with his 15000 men & will probably reinforce Hood which will give him a chance to show us considerable fight. But we shall conquer in the end. The right will triumph in the end. Charleston will be taken next and all important Sea ports. Christmas is over & I thought often of the fine times you were having at home. We had rather hard times living on hard tack & sow belly. It is quite cold to night, I have just had an argument on Slavery with the Captain who is for allowing the slaveholders credit for honesty on account of early education and I am not. I would just as — take a horse or hoe from one of these men as not. But I must stop writing. Having passed safely through the Battle of Franklin I expect good times for a while. Let me know if any thing new happening and you hear from Thomas.
Goodbye.
Your Bro. A.M.Weston
(Asa M. Weston enlisted on 8/11/62 as Sergeant in Company K, 50th Ohio Infantry, 3/4/65 promoted to Sgt Major, 4/22/65 promoted to 2nd Lt, 6/26/65 mustered out at Salisbury, NC)
“(Franklin) is the blackest page in the history of the War of the Lost Cause. It was the bloodiest battle of modern times in any war. It was the finishing stroke to the Independence of the Southern Confederacy. I was there. I saw it.”
–Sam Watkins, 1st Tennessee Infantry
Having lost a good opportunity at Spring Hill to hurt significantly the Union Army, Gen. John B. Hood marched in rapid pursuit of Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield’s retreating Union army. Schofield’s advance reached Franklin about sunrise on November 30 and quickly formed a defensive line in works thrown up by the Yankees in the spring of 1863, on the southern edge of town. Schofield wished to remain in Franklin to repair the bridges and get his supply trains over them. Skirmishing at Thompson’s Station and elsewhere delayed Hood’s march, but, around 4:00 pm, he marshalled a frontal attack against the Union perimeter. Two Federal brigades holding a forward position gave way and retreated to the inner works, but their comrades ultimately held in a battle that caused frightening casualties. When the battle ceased, after dark, six Confederate generals were dead or had mortal wounds. Despite this terrible loss, Hood’s army, late, depleted and worn, crawled on toward Nashville.
Source: National Park Service
The Civil War Gazette - because the stories need to be preserved and re-told
MIDDLETON PLACE is a National Historic Landmark and a carefully preserved 18th-century plantation that has survived revolution, Civil War, and earthquake. It was the home of four important generations of Middletons, beginning with Henry Middleton, President of the First Continental Congress; Arthur, a signer of the Declaration of Independence; Henry, Governor of South Carolina and an American Minister to Russia; and Williams, a signer of the Ordinance of Secession. [Text taken from their web site].
Middleton Place is about a 30-40 minute drive from downtown Charleston on I-61 North.
This is a very enjoyable and relaxing estate to visit. The grounds are perfectly landscaped. One will see a very large reflective pond upon entering the grounds. Travel to the house museum area by foot or by horse-drawn carriage (for a fee).
There is a fine restaurant on site. Make sure you save room for the huguenot torte dessert. Also save time for a walk through the stableyards, the House museum, the outdoor program, and the gift shop.
The original estate was built by Henry Middleton starting in 1741 when he married Mary Williams. There were originally 200 acres as part of the estate.
The main house was originally three stories and then two flanker houses were added to either side of the main house in the 1750’s. Middleton Place was burned by Federal troops in February 1865 and the only structure remaining that was restorable was the south flanker structure, which is what one can see and visit today.
When touring the House Museum one will see many items from the personal family collection covering the years of 1740s to the 1880s, including, china, paintings, documentsm Civil War memorabilia, books, furniture and silver.
The North flanker had a library with 10,000 volumes in it. Many were destroyed by the fire in 1865 as well as untold numbers were thrown into a heap outside the home and simply rotted instead of being rescued.
There are several fully-restored homes in the Battery area one can visit and even take inside tours. The Edmondston-Alston House is on 21 East Battery row.
It was originally built in 1825. Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard is said to have stood on the second story piazza on April 12th 1861 to watch the bombing of Ft. Sumter.
One of our favorite items about this house is a painting displayed that pictures a street scene of East Battery street around 1825.
Their web site states:
The stately Edmondston-Alston House was built in 1825 on Charleston’s High Battery and is one of the city’s most splendid dwellings. A witness to many dramatic events in Charleston’s history, the Edmondston-Alston House is a classic example of the city’s changing and sophisticated taste in architecture and decorative arts.
The Edmondston-Alston House is a repository of family treasures, including Alston family silver, furniture, books and paintings that remain in place much as they have been for over a century and a half. There is an exquisite collection of prints and other artifacts collected on Alston family trips abroad. Guided tours of the house give visitors an insight into the lifestyle of merchant Charles Edmondston, who first built the house in 1825, and Georgetown County rice planter Charles Alston, who later bought the house in 1838.
There are many choices for Civil War walking tours while in Charleston. How do you know which one is best for you?
You will probably enjoy any walking tour you take. Your guide could be a student from the College of Charleston, someone who rotates from leading walking tours to hosting carriage rides, and everything in between.
Civil War Gazette would suggest you start with Jack Thomson and The Civil War Walking Tour of Charleston. If you have time, try some other tour companies.
We recommend Jack Thomson for several reasons:
Jack Thomson gets the Civil War Gazette Award for the best Civil War walking tour in Charleston.
The Confederate Civil War submarine, H.L. Hunley sank after sinking the Union ship U.S.S. Housatonic on February 2, 1864, just off the coast of Charleston, S.C. According to historians, the commander of the Hunley, Lt. Dixon, carried a $20 gold piece given to him by his sweetheart, Queeine Bennett who lived in Mobile, Ala. The coin saved Lt. Dixon’s life during the battle of Shiloh in 1862 when a minie ball struck the coin he was carrying in his pocket. Afterward, he had the coin engraved with the words, “Shiloh April 6, 1862 ‘My Life Preserver’ G.E.D.”. The original coin is valued at approximately 10 million dollars.
1. Her last and fateful mission was on February 17, 1864.
2. Nine crew members were aboard on February 17th, all perished.
3. The Hunley was in the ocean, in Charleston Harbor, 136 years before it was raised.
4. The Hunley sank the USS Housatonic, the first successful use of a submarine sinking an enemy vessel in battle.
5. Five Union soldiers aboard the Housatonic died as a result of the sinking; while 150 survived.
6. The Hunley was finally discovered in 1995.
7. The original Hunley was funded and sponsored by a New Orleans lawyer, Horace Lawson Hunley, who perished aboard his namesake vessel during her second mission.
8. She was about 40 feet long, 4 1/2 feet high and 4 feet across.
9. The Hunley was powered by a hand-cranked propeller.
10. The Housatonic sank in about 30 feet of water.
11. Why the crew of the Hunley died aboard is a mystery.
12. P.T. Barnum, at one time, offered a $100,000 reward for the discovery of the Hunley.
13. American author Clive Cussler determined to find the Hunley in 1980. It took him 15 years.
14. The Hunley sank the Housatonic by sticking a long spar into the ships side and then backing away thereby debtonating about 100 pounds of explosive.
15. The Hunley had a surface speed of 4.6 mph (4 knots).
To learn more about the Hunley or to help in preserving the submarine please visit the Friends of the Hunley organization.
Friends of the Hunley is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the H.L. Hunley complete her historic journey home. The goals of the Friends of the Hunley are: to recover the remains of the brave men who gave their lives and honor them with the proper burial that they earned; to solve the mystery of that first ever submarine attack in 1864; and to conserve one of the greatest, most sought-after artifacts in the history of naval warfare.
One attraction you definately don’t want to miss when you visit Charleston is the Confederate submarine, the H.L. Hunley.
It is on display, in a tank, at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center just a few miles outside of Charleston.
Tours are for 20 minutes (where the Hunley is actually displayed) but you can take as much time as you want outside the Hunley exhibit area. Tours are available only on Saturdays and Sundays. Check the Friends of the Hunley web site for up-to-date information.
You can NOT take pictures of the actual submarine in the holding tank. There is a part of a replica in the common exhibit area where you can take pictures though.
This is a MUST SEE stop if you’re an enthusiast of the Civil War or of Southern maritime history.
A visit to Charleston would not be complete without at least one cruise of the harbor.
Civil War Gazette recommends a dinner cruise aboard one of the SpiritLine boats. They offer trips to Ft. Sumter and a relaxing dinner cruise aboard the Spirit of Carolina.
You don’t have to dress up. Reservations are recommended. The views are awesome. The music on board is also very nice.
To learn more, visit their web site.
This is a fantastic DVD. The cinematography is outstanding sometimes surprisingly artful. There are 14 stories on the first DVD and 16 on the second.
Some of the stories are superb, for example: The Lost Drum of William Mayo, Mystery at Devil’s Den, Capture of the Confederate President, and A Tale of Two Jackets.
Each story is just a few minutes and can be viewed as a ’stand alone’ feature for the classroom. Public libraries should also purchase this edition.
The weakest part of the production is probably the narration by Keith Carradine. His voice does not vary in tone much and one can lose focus from the great story itself.
This is a very enjoyable book. Coddington is a long-time collector of soldiers’ images or CDVs. He traces the personal stories of each soldier, whether it leads to heroic discoveries or ones in which a soldier served with less honor. You can read each story in just minutes and it makes for an easy read. The quality of the paper is very good and the images of the soldiers are awesome. This is a delightful addition to any Civil War enthusiasts’ collection.
Civil War Talk Radio, part of the World Talk Radio Network
We are providing access to this content (i.e., streaming audio files from CWTR) because Dr. Woodworth is a friend to the Civil War Gazette in many ways, none the least of which is in an advisory capacity.
February 4th, 2005
How important was the Western Theater to the Civil War? What was the religious life of soldiers like? How does one do or write good history without being driven by one’s own paradigm? Is interest in the Civil War cresting, getting tired of it? If you could go back to meet with one person, whom would you meet and what would you say? Professor, and advisor to the Civil War Gazette, Steven E. Woodowrth was recently interviewed by Civil War Talk Radio.
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Archives of Civil War Talk Radio
____________________________________________
Here are a list of publications by Dr. Woodworth.
Richard F. Barter was Colonel of the 120th Indiana. This regiment was organized in the winter of 1863 at Columbus, and was mustered in March 1, 1864. It left the state March 20, proceeding to Louisville, Ky., where it was assigned to a brigade with Hovey’s division.
Regimental History of the 120th Indiana Infantry
One Hundred and Twentieth Infantry INDIANA
(3-YEARS)
One Hundred and Twentieth Infantry. — Cols. Richard F. Barter Allen W. Prather, Reuben C. Kise; Lieut.-Cols., Allen W. Prather, Reuben C. Kise, John M. Barcus, Majs., Reuben C. Kise, Edward B. Brasher, John M. Barcus, Albert Knowles.
This regiment was organized in the winter of 1863 at Columbus, and was mustered in March 1, 1864. It left the state March 20, proceeding to Louisville, Ky., where it was assigned to a brigade with Hovey’s division.
It moved to Nashville and on April 5, for Charlestown, Tenn., being assigned to the 1st brigade, 1st division, 23rd army corps. Moving May 2 in the Atlanta campaign, it was engaged at Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, taking a conspicuous part and joining in the charge which routed the enemy; in the assault of Kennesaw Mountain, and in the battle before Atlanta, July 22.
It was in the siege of Atlanta and in constant skirmishing until its evacuation being engaged at Jonesboro and Lovejoy’s Station. Col. Barter resigning Sept. 15, Lieut.-Col. Prather was promoted to the colonelcy of the regiment, which moved in the pursuit of Hood in October as far as Summerville.
It was detached from Sherman’s army, Oct. 30, and ordered to Nashville, being in skirmishes at Columbia, and in the battle at Franklin, on Nov. 30, losing 48 in killed and wounded, Maj. Brasher being mortally wounded.
Moving to Nashville, it took position in line of battle and took part in the battle of Dec. 15-16, joining in the pursuit of Hood’s retreating forces, and going into camp at Clifton, Tenn. Embarking Jan. 15, 1865, it moved to Cincinnati, thence to Washington City, from whence it proceeded to New Berne, N.C.
Moving on March 6, with its division towards Kinston, it was in a sharp fight at Wise’s Forks on the 8th and again on the 10th, when a furious assault was repulsed with heavy loss on the enemy. The regiment occupied a position in the center, exposed to the heaviest attack, and lost 7 killed and 48 wounded.
Joining the forces under Gen. Cox at Kinston, it moved to Goldsboro, meeting Sherman’s army which had arrived from Fayetteville. It was in camp at Goldsboro until April 10, when it moved towards Smithfield, proceeding thence to Raleigh, where it was engaged in provost duty with the army encamped about the city.
It then moved to Charlotte, N. C., May 10, remaining there for three months and moving thence to Greensboro. It was ordered to Raleigh, Aug. 21, for garrison duty. Col. Prather resigned Sept. 9, Lieut.-Col. Kise was promoted colonel, and on Dec. 2, was made brigadier-general of volunteers for distinguished services.
The regiment was mustered out Jan. 6 1866. Original strength, 976; gain by recruits, 219; total, 1,195. Loss by death, 151 ; desertion 5 2.
Source: The Union Army, vol. 3, p. 178
I’ve heard that civilian lumbermen and hunters made excellent soldiers in the Civil War. Is this true?
Some of the best soldiers came from the civilian ranks who were superior hunters prior to the war. One such unit, the Pennsylvania Bucktails were recruited from lumbermen and backwoodsmen from that state. These men had to demonstrate their skill in marksmanship by producing a bucktail from their aim. They wore these bucktails on the rear of their caps. These men served in the 13th Pennsylvania Reserves (also known as the 1st Pennsylvania Rifles or the 42nd Pennsylvania Volunteers).
Bucktails from the 150th PA, Company K, were assigned as Body Guards to Abraham Lincon. They served at the Summer White House also known as the Soldier’s Home until the assassination in April 1865.
Books:
Pennsylvania Bucktails, A Photographic Album of the 42nd, 149th, & 150th Pennsylvania Regiments.
Read a review of the book.
Corporal Brewer, A Bucktail Survivor. William W. Means.
Web:
Famous Units - Pennsylvania Bucktails
Bucktails - 1st PA Rifles
You can order a beautiful picture (above) of the Pennsylvania Bucktails here.
Keywords:
Pennsylvania Bucktails, 1st Pennsylvania Rifles, 13th Pennsylvania, 42nd Pennsylvania, 150th Pennsylvania
Civil War Book of Lists, 1994: p. 44.
Barney Williams, (Bernard O’Flaherty) was born in Cork county Ireland in 1823. His parents immigrated to America when he was a young boy and settled in New York. By 1836, at age 13, he was connected with the Franklin theatre. He learned clogging while in Ireland and became the first professional clogger in America by 1840. In his early performance-days Barney performed negro minstrels, the circus, and performed a variety of song-n-dance routines.
In 1843 he played the role of Jerry Murphy in Bumpology at the Chatham theatre in New York. In these days Williams played in several roles in the Tyrone Powers repertory, including Paddy O’Rafferty in Born to Good Luck, and Terry O’Rourke in The Irish Tutor. By 1845, at age twenty-two, Williams was manager of Vauxhall Garden, NY.
Apparently Williams career never took off until he married Maria Pray in 1850. It was then that he shed his role as a black-faced minstrel and focused on the celebrated Irish comic boy. In 1854 the Williams husband-wife team played in San Francisco to much success. The next year they traveled abroad to Europe and found success there as well, especially England. It was at The Adelphi Theatre in London that Barney debuted in Rory O’Moore.
In 1856 Barney wrote the song, My Mary Ann for his wife. The couple continued performing in London and became huge hits to the public, though not always viewed similarly by the critics. From 1856-1857 the Williams performed at The Adelphi. According to the London Times they performed the following: Bobbing Around, Polly, Won’t You Try Me, Oh?, and My Own Mary Anne. Some of their more popular performances were Ireland As it Is, Barney the Baron and Our Gal.
In 1859 the Williams returned to America (New York) for engagements at Niblo’s Garden. The first acts they performed there were Innisfallen, and The Men in the Gap.
By the time of the Civil War, in 1863, the Williams’ were also playing in Washington, D.C., performing The Fairy Circle in Grover theatre in February. On February 26th they performed at Grover’s for Abraham Lincoln. Apparently, that evening Barney was able to get a hand-written note to the President asking for his approval of appointing a nephew of Williams to West Point. Lincoln did not approve the appointment but did respond to Barney in writing the next day. In October of 1863 Pvt. Miles O’Reilly of the 47th NY mentions Barney Williams, among others, performing for the 47th while they were heading down the Hudson.
In December 1864 we find Barney and Maria being billed at Niblo’s Garden in New York to appear in Irish and Yankee Life together.
On December 6th the Williams’ debuted the The Connie Soogah (The Traveling Peddler) at Niblo’s. There is evidence that Barney sang The Bowld Soldier Song for the Irish Brigade of the 63rd New York, probably in 1864 as well.
In 1867 Barney began managing Wallack’s theatre in New York He died on April 25th, 1876 in New York City.
“My Mary Ann” (1856)
The Yankee Girls Song
Words by Barney Williams
Music by M. Jyse
New York. NY: Henry McCaffrey
Plate No. 402
[Source:051/056@Levy]
1. Fare you well, my own Mary Ann.
Fare you well for a while.
For the Ship it is ready and the wind it is fair,
And I am bound for the Sea, Mary Ann,
and I am bound for the Sea, Mary Ann.
2. Don’t you see that turtle dove,
A sitting on yonder pile!
Lamenting the loss of its one true love,
And so am I for mine, Mary Ann,
and so am I for mine, Marry Ann.
3. A lobster in a lobster pot,
A blue fish riggling on a hook,
May suffer some, but oh! no not,
What I do feel for my Mary Ann,
what I do feel for my Mary Ann.
4. The pride of all the produce rare,
That is our kitchen garden grow’d,
Was punkins, but none could compare
In angel form to my Mary Ann,
in angel form to my Mary Ann.
It all started simply enough. I was reading through other parts of the December 2, 1864 issue of The New York Times. I originally purchased the newspaper for its value in recording the story of the Battle of Franklin which was fought on November 30, 1864.
As I was thumbing through the classifieds, more specifically the section labeled “Amusement,” I stumbled upon this particular ad and it caught my eye:
Several things struck me. One, the ad was promoting a husband/wife team. Two, they were comedians. Three, they used song in their routine. Fourth, there appeared to be an Irish connection. The information caught my attention enough to do a quick Google search on Barney Williams. I soon discovered Barney Williams was originally born Bernard O’Flaherty, born in Cork, Ireland, and he performed for President Lincoln as well as for the troops during the Civil War (at least for the 47th NY according to Miles O’Reilly)
Excellent speeches were made by General Daniel E. Sickles, Mr. James T. Brady, John Van Buren, Wm. E. Robinson, Commodore Joseph Hoxie, Judge Charles P. Daly, Daniel Devlin, and others; while Dr. Carmichael, Mr.John Savage, Mr. Stephen C. Massett, Mr. Barney Williams, and several celebrated songsters, amateur and professional, favored the company with patriotic and expressive melodies as the good vessel steamed up the Hudson on a brief pleasure trip.
I then Googled his name to find any extant images of him and/or his wife and I was delighted to find this wonder CDV.
I spent many hours that first evening mining the riches of the Internet and digging up everything I could on Mr. and Mrs. Barney Williams. Here are some quotes about him from his contemporaries:
. . . the genuine Paddy, the true Irish peasant.
When he opened his mouth you could smell the shamrock.
Barney Williams . . . held a dominating place on the American stage as the portrayer of Irish comic roles from the middle 1840’s till the 1870s.
He could make an audience roar by hispantomimc excellence.
Williams possessed the true Irish spirit of the comical . . .
Headquarters 50th ovd
Raleigh N.C.
Apr 14th 1865
Dear Sister, You will doubtless be anxious to hear from me by the tune this will arrive. So although I do not owe you a letter I will write. Events of immense importance have transpired within two weeks. Richmond has been taken. Lee’s entire army surrendered to Grant and Johnston has fled from Sherman. We have entered Raleigh in triumph and feel very much elated with the prospect of a speedy end of the war by the subjugation of the Rebels. When that event transpires you may expect to see my familiar countenance once more at home. The 27th day of August now something more than four months distant is the day which if the United States govt is true to pledges will see me free from all obligations to do military service. You may look for me say the last day of August or the first of September and if I dont come then just keep on looking. Trees and every thing are n full leaf. Peaches are of considerable size so as to have sloughed off the old blossom and look like peaches. The weather is very warm almost too much so to march and yet if my conjectures are right we push in after Johnston tomorrow and will give neither him or ourselves any rest until the whole affair is settled. This is a very fine sandy country very unlike that nearer the seacoast as instead of Swamps we now have hills of tolerable size and fine rolling farms. The people in Raleigh approach nearer to being Union than any we have seen before since we left E. Tennessee. Holden is to continue the publication of the Raleigh Standard as a Union paper which it has always been at heart, & as far as possible openly. The army has burned some very fine houses in this march. I have learned that a number of our men who were taken prisoners. Starved and otherwise mistreated on escaping took an oath to destroy all the property they were able in Southern territory sparing the women and children only. Accordingly along the roadside far in advance or far in the rear as we marched along might be seen dense volumes of black smoke rising. Splendid houses superior to any in Sheffield very much finer than Mr. Parks for instance containing splendid pianos the property of planters owning thousands of acres of land and hundreds of Negroes were destroyed in this way. I must confess I was glad to see them burn in most instances where I knew the owners to have been original traitors.
Write soon Your Bro.
A.M.Weston Direct Headquarters 50th O.V.D. 3rd Brig. 2nd Div. 23rd A.G. Dept. of N.C.
Love to every body Keep on writing I’ll be home in a few months
(Asa M. Weston enlisted on 8/11/62 as Sergeant in Company K, 50th Ohio Infantry, 3/4/65 promoted to Sgt Major, 4/22/65 promoted to 2nd Lt, 6/26/65 mustered out at Salisbury, NC)
Near Atlanta Ga.
Aug 25th, 1864
Sister Harriet,
When I last wrote, whom I wrote to, and what I wrote, is to me now a matter of doubt. Having been a month right in the midst of an active campaign here at the front, you can probably imagine that I have had no time to keep up correspondence and that in the general disorder I should forget just how matters epistolary stood. Every second of the livelong day & night I am in danger, so are all the soldiers in this army, that is to say I am constantly under fire. A shell or a musket ball, plenty of which are almost constantly on the wing, may come to me at any time. How many have struck just over my head or passed by my side I could hardly tell you since I have been at the front. Every day some one gets hit, but there are a good many of us left yet & we all take our chance. I try to be careful, not to expose myself unnecessarily & at the same not to shrink from duty in a cowardly manner. I dont wish to terrify you by these statements for it always seemed to me that I was to be lucky & I have been able to avoid the balls thus far so that nothing but chance could have hit me. I am in good health and spirits. 
We expect to take Atlanta soon & end the campaign. Then times will be easier. The drafted men of the 500 thousand called for on the 5th of Sept. must be here soon & if these are fully and promptly made up I think we shall be able to conquer the Rebellion. You will doubtless see in the papers what the 2nd Division Genl Haskells of the 23rd corps has done in the late movements on this, the left, flank of Shermans army. Our Brigade is the 3rd Col. Stricklands. Lt Col Elstner Commanding our regiment & the 50th Ohio was killed on the 8th of this month while leading the regimentt into action. He was a splendid brave man. (torn at top of page).. .frighten him. He was cool in an engagement, and his presence of mind & judgement always at hand. We shall never get another as good a Commander. The boys shed tears when he died for though not what I call a good man, he was a brave and good commander & the boys could trust to his judgement & leadership. A Capt. Now commands us & of 900 men we now have about 200 to go into an engagement. The rest are killed, wounded, have died or become disabled by disease. My trust is in God for my own present and future life & for the preservation of my country. Probably I might have got a discharge on acct of my eyes, but while I am otherwise well I shall not attempt it. My glasses make me to see when on the skirmish live & at other times I can get along without them. Remember me kindly to all friends. Say I am hopeful & in good spirits though you & no one not in it has an idea of the severity of the Campaign in which we are engaged. We are just now by special order living on 5 day on 3 day rations though we generally get enough to eat. This 3/5 matter won’t last long I think. The other night I wrung water out of my shirt blouse pants etc, went to bed, slept soundly, & got up wet as ever. We had to keep our clothes on you must know as well as cartridge boxes etc & that is the reason we sleep so wet sometimes. We must be ready to meet an attack at any time in a minutes notice. Received a N.Y. Independent two days ago but no letter lately. Love to all. Have got the family picture Celia sent me yet. Direct “Co “K” 50th O.V.I. 3rd Brig. 2nd Div. 23rd A. C. near Atlanta Ga.”
Your brother Asa. M. Weston
(Asa M. Weston enlisted on 8/11/62 as Sergeant in Company K, 50th Ohio Infantry, 3/4/65 promoted to Sgt Major, 4/22/65 promoted to 2nd Lt, 6/26/65 mustered out at Salisbury, NC)
Decatur Ga,
Sept. 11th 1864
Dear Sister,
I received a letter from you a few days ago. It was an old letter & would have been received before but we have for two or three weeks cut loose from Mail communications in order to 
Capture Atlanta. We left our “Cracker” line too, but before this reaches you, you will have heard how we succeeded in taking the City we have so long been striving for and that now we have fallen back to Decatur 6 miles from Atlanta where the 23rd Corps will remain until we rest & get some drafted men to fill our Army & enable us to continue our foreward movement which we shall probably do in a month. I escaped all accidents though many bullets & shells flew around me and it was almost a miracle that I did escape. The N.Y. Independent you sent I received the day before we started the letter I did not get till we came back. This country is completely desolated where the army has been so long. We passed through some country on our late expedition which was the best I have seen in the south. Fine corn fields, sweet potatoe & bean or pea patches were about the only farming. It was hot dusty and hard marching. We have crossed all the railroad tracks and torn them up & destroyed those south of the city. Yet our corps has not yet been inside the city. During the expedition we were not in the hard fighting & our regiment has not lost any men for three weeks. Before that we lost over one man on an average per day & that too when the aggregate did not exceed three hundred for duty. We draw rations now for 275 men which includes those who are present, sick & detailed for duty at Headquarters & other places. I dont think there are over 200 who bear arms & are available in line of battle. Tell me if the draft comes off who are drafted. Will Old Abe be reelected? I hope so though there are many here especially in the Ky. Regt which belong to our brigade who will vote for McClellan. They would vote for him so much the more willingly I suppose because he suits Vallunsligham. Well I have not time to write much more, Am too tired and dirty & lazy after our severe campaign, & wish to rest awhile, to loll about in the shade is a luxery. Love to all, write the news, let them know I am well, unscratched.
Your Bro. A.M.Weston
(Asa M. Weston enlisted on 8/11/62 as Sergeant in Company K, 50th Ohio Infantry, 3/4/65 promoted to Sgt Major, 4/22/65 promoted to 2nd Lt, 6/26/65 mustered out at Salisbury, NC)
Cleveland, Tenn
July 15th 1864
Dear Sister Celia,
Some how I got the blues this afternoon and had to think of some mode to dissipate them. Though I do not like the place of writing letters when my mind is in such a state, I think I had better attempt to answer your very satisfactory letter. As yet there is no prospect of my getting away from here. It is one continued routine of hot days and nights which I spend as quietly as possible for I do not believe in this hot climate. It would be best for me to exercise too much. I am now boarding out though I did board myself for about twenty days. Have not received a letter in a longtime. Wonder why friends don’t write oftener. The last I got was from mother. It was a good kind letter & pleased me very much except one part of it which was “Your father says get out of the army & come home”. He meant for me to leave the service altogether. That I would not do on any consideration now if I could. I don’t know but this country will be destroyed yet. There are so many North & South possessed with the very 
spirit of the Devil to destroy it, but if it is destroyed everything is lost & we must stake all on the result. Oh, if I had the power I could hang a million men with the greatest complacency & believe I was doing God’s service. How bitter it does make my heart to think of it. The plots from one end of the land to the other to destroy our Government. The doom of the damned for every one of them could not satisfy the implacable enmity of my soul against them. I often think when my mind gets wrought up to this terrible pitch that it is wrong. I ought to be more charitable. Perhaps the dark hour is just before the day if so the day is surely now approaching. But when I think of Mexico, of the terrible wars which have devastated her, that the probability is our fate will be like hers, that it has been all darkness with her & no dawn that it has even settled into the steady unchanging worse than midnight gloom of despotism. Are we approaching that terrible fate, after long years of civil war to have some Napoleon (for sooth) to conquer us & place an Emperor over us to rule with all the tyranny of a selfish ambition? If this rebellion is not put down my word for it 50 yrs will see just this state of affairs & then those who have been the vilest Rebels now will be (such of them as survives) the most object fawning sycophants at the foot of power. These men I could hang and gloat over the sight with as much pleasure as ever a hero witnessed burning cities & tortured martyrs. But I have written enough. All I had to write in the first place was to let you know that I was well. It is now midsummer and before you hear from me again probably my second year of service will be completed safely & I on the begining of the last short year. Whether I live to get out of the service or not does not concern me much. Why should it.
Yours Truly
A.M.Weston
(Asa M. Weston enlisted on 8/11/62 as Sergeant in Company K, 50th Ohio Infantry, 3/4/65 promoted to Sgt Major, 4/22/65 promoted to 2nd Lt, 6/26/65 mustered out at Salisbury, NC)
When walking around the streets of downtown Charleston you’re likely to pass the Market Hall (home of the Confederate Museum) several times. It’s on the corner of Meeting and Market Streets.
This museum is run by the Chapter #4 United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) since 1899. Market Hall was built in 1841 and is a copy of the Temple of the Wingless Victory in Athens, Greece.
You won’t find anything about Zeus or Apollo in Market Hall but you will find some real gems of memorabilia related to the Confederacy. The collection is quite impressive and diverse. The display and exhibit standards could be improved however.
Most of the collection was received when a call went out to former soldiers to donate personal items for the museum’s collection.
Check out the 1861 red secession flag on display.
The Civil War Gazette highly recommends a visit to the South Carolina Historical Society in downtown Charleston.
Their web site states:
“In 1855 some of South Carolina’s most distinguished citizens came together to record and preserve the past-for the sake of the future. Motivating them was the fear that if they did not act, South Carolina’s rich historical legacy would be lost to future generations. They founded the South Carolina Historical Society, which today is the state’s oldest and largest private repository of books, letters, journals, maps, drawings, and photographs about South Carolina history. The mandate of our founders remains our mission today: “to collect information respecting every portion of our state, to preserve it, and when deemed advisable, to publish it.” The Society’s holdings, located in the historic Robert Mills Fireproof Building in Charleston, S.C., are vast and grow constantly with the addition of materials from 200 years ago and from two weeks ago. It is especially rich on South Carolina’s colonial and antebellum eras and the American Civil War. The Society is a private, non-profit organization depending entirely on the generosity of its members to preserve and extend awareness of South Carolina history. We receive no local, state, or federal funding for our operations.”
Don’t expect to take pictures. The staff are very helpful.
We did some research in there recently and found that one visit gathered more information than several years of research done by distance.
