Gregg Biggs talks about the Tennessee Civil War flags book he is working on: part two

Historian Greg Biggs

This is part two of a five-part interview series with historian Greg Biggs.  See part one.

CWG: question 3 – What kind of role(s) have you had – or still have – as it relates to Civil War organizations?

I have started or helped to start three Civil War Roundtables – two in Ohio where I used to live, and the one in Clarksville, TN where I currently live.  My silly members keep electing me president every year too for some reason!  I am also a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

CWG: question 4 – How or why will this book be unique in the Civil War literature?

Well, believe it or not, there just aren’t that many Civil War flag books out there that are based on serious research.  There’s a few that are not worth the paper they are printed on in that there is little scholarship behind them and most simply repeat mythology without challenges to that.  These are a waste of time basically.  Union flags are woefully under-represented as well for whatever reason.

The late Howard Madaus began the serious work of studying Civil War flags in the 1970’s and led the way for people like me to follow.  He was certainly my mentor and taught me a great deal about flags.

So we aim to have this book fill in a much needed hole in the study of the Civil War’s material culture side, which seems to be neglected as well at times.  For whatever reason, academia does not like to deal with artifacts like weapons and flags and prefers to stay with paper documents, which is fine, as I use those as well.  But these artifacts they ignore also have great stories to tell and help us understand the war as a whole.  The book will be the joining of serious scholarship and examination of the artifacts involved and we hope this will give the reader a better understanding of the era.

Part two of five: The Civil War Gazette interview with historian and author Greg Biggs

The following images are all courtesy of the Tennessee State Museum.

35-star U.S. Cavalry Guidon, Unknown Regiment (after July 4, 1863). Tennessee State Museum Collection, acc. no. 2.194 (Courtesy Tennessee State Museum)

First National Flag, 32nd Tennessee Infantry. Presented by the ladies of Franklin, Tenn., while the regiment was stationed in Bowling Green, Ky. (December/January 1861–1862). Tennessee State Museum Collection, acc. no. 10.342. (Courtesy Tennessee State Museum)

Hardee Pattern Battle Flag, 17th Tennessee Infantry (circa 1863). Tennessee State Museum Collection, acc. no. 78.19.50 (Courtesy Tennessee State Museum)

Dalton-Issue Battle Flag of the 11th Tennessee Infantry (1864). Tennessee State Museum Collection, acc. no. 3.2 (Courtesy Tennessee State Museum)

18th Tennessee Infantry Color Bearers. L-R: Dr. Nat Gooch, Logue Nelson and William McKay. Published in Confederate Veteran, 1911. (Note: At the Battle of Murfreesboro, 10 men were killed or wounded bearing this flag, including Gooch and McKay.) (Courtesy Tennessee State Museum)

Interview of a Civil War Reenactor

Matt Woodburn is a Civil War reenactor who lives near downtown Franklin. CWG asked him about the hobby of Civil War reenacting.

1. Are there different categories of Civil War reenacting?

First and most popular is recreating a particular battle of the Civil War usually for an audience and/or film crew. Then there are “living histories” which may not involve a battle, but portray life during the Civil War. You’ll get to see what life was like for soldiers and/or civilians in a particular place or time of the Civil War. Finally there are what’s called Events By Us For Us (EBUFU). They can include all of the above, but are more for the serious living historian that wants to experience life as it really was in the 1860s which in many ways is not politically correct today. These types of event are not open to the public.

2. How long have you been reenacting?

27 years.

3. Is reenacting a popular hobby in Williamson County and Tennessee?

The hobby is very popular in Williamson County. There are several groups in the area that cater to all types of interests and types of reenacting. Tennessee had the second most number of battles in the state after Virginia, so there is a lot of history here.

4. How are reenacting events organized?

Organization of reenactment groups runs from loosely knit hobbiests that communicate infrequently, to groups that have elected leaders, by-laws, newsletters and monthly meetings. Once at an event on the reenacting side, men are grouped into companies, companies into battalions, battalions into brigades and so on just like they would have been in the regular military.

5. How are events chosen?

As a reenactor you may choose to do about any event you want that is listed open to the hobby. Typically there is a registration process so the event planners know how many people to expect. Understand that the largest event in US history had 32,000 reenactors and 500,000 spectators over the course of a weekend. Something that large requires herculean efforts by planners, county government, law enforcement, National Guard, etc.

6. How many events are hosted locally each year? And which are the best to see as an observer?

In Williamson County there are some events well worth seeing. Every five years there is the anniversary of the Battle of Franklin which attracts a few thousand reenactors. This event has been held at Rippavilla Plantation most recently. Every three years, there is a great encampment at Fort Granger just behind Pinkerton Park. And you can find a couple good living histories every year at The Carter House and Carnton Plantation.

7. How would one go about getting started in reenacting?

To get started in reenacting I recommend going to some events as a spectator and asking alot of questions. This will help you find out about the different ends of the hobby, help you determine what you want out of the hobby, and where you will fit in best and be happiest. There is a great magazine that caters to the hobby called Civil War Historian, which is filled with event listings, informative articles, sources for reenacting uniforms, weapons and equipment. It is sold at some of the bookstores in Williamson County.

8. Are reenactors soldiers?

Many reenactors portray someone other than a soldier. This may be a male or female civilian during the conflict, a grave digger or embalmer, a journalist, a foreign military observer, a member of a Soldier’s Christian Aid Society, or a soldier of the support branches of the military like quartermaster, commissary, engineers, etc.

9. Do you have to be a “Civil War nerd” to enjoy reenacting?

People involved in reenacting come from all walks of life, doctors, lawyers, engineers, mechanics, salesmen, bar tenders, teachers, authors, truck drivers, pilots, warehouse workers, realtors, retired and active modern military, the list goes on. People are in the hobby for many reasons, and like most things, you’ll get out of it what you put into it. You simply need to decide what you want out of it.

10. Why do you enjoy reenacting?

Reenacting has given me my favorite camping experiences, my best friendships, a chance to lead, my best laughs, an income, a chance to serve others, continuing opportunities to learn, a chance to write and publish, some of the strongest words of praise and affirmation given to me, chances to travel the country, chances to teach, chances to speak to groups, to hear applause, to receive appreciation….

Reenacting The Battle of Franklin

Interview: reenactor, Professor Barclay – The Wizard of Edinburgh

The Civil War Gazette recently sat down with 19th century reenactor Rick Green who performs as Professor Barclay – The Wizard of Edinburgh.

Professor Barclay, The Wizard of Edinburgh

CWG: What do you do?

I am a combination of a reenactor and a professional magician; I do a presentation of 19th Century conjuring as a Scottish-born magician living in the South during the Civil War. The show is called, “Professor Barclay: The Wizard of Edinburgh .”

CWG: How long have you been doing it?

I have been performing magic since 1995, and created this show around 2003.

CWG: How did you get started?

I’ve been interested in history since I was a small child and when I got into magic, I was naturally drawn to the stories of the magicians in history. Most magicians will have an extensive library of magic books, and I am no exception; the difference is that about half of my magic library pertains specifically to magic history.

The idea for the show came after a chance meeting with a few re-enactors. I had been performing a show called, “Victorian Secrets”, which is a ‘tribute’ to the European salon magic shows of the 1840s-70s. These folks saw my show, liked what they saw, asked me to perform for their reenactment group Christmas party and, as they say, the rest is history!

CWG: Who or what influenced you a lot to get started, stay motivated?

One of the first magician conventions I ever attended happened to take place here in Nashville , TN. Until that time, I’d never thought of magic as a ‘theatrical artform’, but more as just something one could do in small informal setting…kind of like David Blaine does on TV. At this convention, however, I saw a man by the name of Max Howard. Max is an Emmy Award-winning actor as well as being a magician, and at that convention he performed a show called, “The War Wizard”. In his show, he was performing as an actual magician who had lived during the Civil war named Gus Rich, who happened to have been the bass drummer for the 23rd North Carolina Regiment as well as being a fantastic magician. After the war ended, Gus performed throughout the Blue Ridge region of North Carolina performing in what he called, The Great Southern Sleight of Hand Show. Upon learning about Gus, Max did quite a bit of research and put together “The War Wizard.” Upon seeing that, I had my eyes opened to what a presentation of magic COULD be.

CWG: What do you like most about what you do?

Meeting the people involved in reenacting, as well as having the opportunity to learn so much more about our country’s rich history.

CWG: What do you like least?

Performing in the cold!

CWG: Can you speak to the challenges you have faced? Over come? Still have?

Magical apparatus from the 19th Century is neither readily available, nor cheap to have reproduced! Most of the “props” in my show are reproductions or close facsimiles. One great example is the classic ‘cups and balls’ trick. The cups that are available today look very little like the ones used in the 19th Century; I wanted to stay with ‘period correct’ pieces. After some searching, I found someone who was able to make them for me…in SWEDEN !!

CWG: What is your show like?

Well, the show is a presentation of what was called, “Salon Magic”. Every piece in my show…from the “Duo-Chromatic Handkerchief” to the afore-mentioned cups and balls…is a reproduction of something from that period. Also, as one who is a descendant of Scot-Irish immigrants, I can do a fairly decent Scottish accent. Knowing that Professor Barclay would be performing for both Union and Confederate reenactors, I didn’t want to pick sides, so I made him a Scot who lives in the South and understands their issues with the North, but doesn’t particularly have anything against the North himself; except for the fact that the Union troops in Nashville took over his home! As Barclay would say it, “They call it requisitioning; I call it stealing!” In my back-story on Barclay, he and his family moved to Franklin as a result of this.

CWG: Were these kind of showmen really around in mid 19th century, and if so, who were they?

Not only were they around, they were some of the highest paid entertainers in the world! Signor Blitz traveled from his tative England to perform across the US, including Washington, DC and Boston, MA. The French magician, Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin, is called the ‘Father of Modern Magic’, and is also the namesake of the great Houdini; he lived and performed in Paris , France in the 1840’s until his death in 1871. In Austria , you had Johann Nepomuk Hofzinser, who is still considered to be the greatest magician with cards who ever lived. He was performing in Vienna from 1856-64. The one that I most admire is John Henry Anderson, aka, “The Great Wizard of the North.” He was from Aberdeen , Scotland and a favorite of Queen Victoria . He performed and toured the world from 1837 until he died in 1874. A quick story on Anderson : he had been scheduled to do his second performance tour in the US in the winter of 1860. He had sent his promotional material, including posters and broadsides, to the city in which he was to perform: Richmond , VA. When he arrived in Richmond, he found his posters and marketing materials had been destroyed and he was told to leave quickly at the risk of his own life because his billing title, the ‘Wizard of the North’ had so incensed Southerners, he had to leave immediately. He never again performed in America .

CWG: Can you share a funny story or two about your craft or personal experience?

This was the very first time I performed as Barclay, and is a true story. I’ll tell you before you read this next part that this was entirely impromptu.

I’d been hired to perform for the 19th Alabama Regiment’s Christmas Party in 2003 which was going to be held at the Elm Springs home in Columbia, TN, which is the headquarters for the Sons of Confederate Veterans. The entire evening was magical since it was all done as though it was Christmas 1862. Anyway, during dinner, everyone was chatting away and talking; one of the ladies who happened to be sitting across from me asked me (in character, of course), “Professor, isn’t it true that there is an animal that is native to Scotland that is not found in any other part of the world?”

“Yes, my dear. They are huge, ugly beasts with long red hair, horns as wide as a man’s armspan, and the most foul smell. Ugly, smelly beasties, they are!”

“What are they called?”

“Mother-in-laws!”

The entire table was nearly on the floor laughing! This really set the stage for the rest of the evening.

CWG: What personal goals do you have related to your show?

My biggest goal is to continue to perfect my show and have presentations that stay true to the history of the Civil War.

CWG: How can you be contacted?

The best place to get info and contact me is via my website, www.wizardofedinburgh.com,
or you can email me at richard[at]wizardofedinburgh.com

Gregg Biggs talks about the Tennessee Civil War flags book he is working on: part one

CWG: Could you describe the project-book you’re working on?  How did you come about deciding to write this book?

Well I fell into it actually and not by circumstances that I would choose.  The former curator of the Tennessee State Museum, Sheila Greene, passed away from cancer a few years ago.  She was not only an outstanding curator but was also working on doing a flags book for the museum that is, and will be, encyclopedic in nature.  The project sat dormant for a time until 2007 when thanks to a special appropriation from the state legislature, I was brought on board to complete the research and write it.

I had done some work with and for Sheila already and so was known to the museum while I was living in Ohio.  It helped, I am sure, that I had moved to Tennessee to about 50 miles from Nashville where the state museum is located.

Everyone who knew Sheila really misses her greatly.

CWG: Tell us a little about yourself.  How did you come about having such a strong interest in the Civil War?

I am a military historian with a wide-ranging interest that includes military flags of the 18th and 19th Century.  I am also the son of a US Air Force officer which is were that interest started.  I was into the Civil War as a kid but really got into it when as a 5th grader in a Chicago suburb a classmate brought a full Union sergeant’s uniform and equipment to Show and Tell.  Her name was Elizabeth Bloss and she told the tale of her ancestor, Sgt. John Bloss, who lead the patrol that found wrapped around three cigars, Gen. Robert E. Lee’s operational plans for the 1862 Maryland Campaign.  This, of course, led to the battles of South Mountain and Sharpsburg.

I suppose it was this direct connection of a classmate and her ancestor that really spurred me to getting into it a lot more than I already was.

Other than that I have lived across the country and even overseas and attended college in Florida and Texas with a journalism interest but got into business instead and all the while kept nurturing my love of history.  I am very grateful to say that I get to lecture on the Civil War across the country to Civil War Roundtables and history groups and on topics that include flags, the Civil War in the Western Theater and some other things.  I also just did my first Revolutionary War lecture this past weekend.

Part one of ten: The Civil War Gazette interview with historian and author Greg Biggs

Image courtesy of The Battle of Nashville Preservation Society. Biggs is on the far right.

Left to right, Eric J. Wittenburg, Brian Steel Wills, Myers Brown, and Greg Biggs.

Also: see this article from Civil War News

The following images are all courtesy of the Tennessee State Museum

35-star U.S. Cavalry Guidon, Unknown Regiment (after July 4, 1863). Tennessee State Museum Collection, acc. no. 2.194 (Courtesy Tennessee State Museum)

First National Flag, 32nd Tennessee Infantry. Presented by the ladies of Franklin, Tenn., while the regiment was stationed in Bowling Green, Ky. (December/January 1861–1862). Tennessee State Museum Collection, acc. no. 10.342. (Courtesy Tennessee State Museum)

Hardee Pattern Battle Flag, 17th Tennessee Infantry (circa 1863). Tennessee State Museum Collection, acc. no. 78.19.50 (Courtesy Tennessee State Museum)

Dalton-Issue Battle Flag of the 11th Tennessee Infantry (1864). Tennessee State Museum Collection, acc. no. 3.2 (Courtesy Tennessee State Museum)

18th Tennessee Infantry Color Bearers. L-R: Dr. Nat Gooch, Logue Nelson and William McKay. Published in Confederate Veteran, 1911. (Note: At the Battle of Murfreesboro, 10 men were killed or wounded bearing this flag, including Gooch and McKay.) (Courtesy Tennessee State Museum)

Did Hood’s 1864 Tennessee Campaign ever have a chance?

Dr. Steven E. Woodworth

The Civil War Gazette continues to engage prominent historian and author Steven E. Woodworth on questions and issues related to Hood’s Tennessee Campaign (fall 1864).

We recently asked Dr. Woodworth this question:  Did Hood’s Tennessee Campaign ever have a chance?

With Lincoln’s reelection, the North had demonstrated that it had the will to continue the war, if necessary, for another four years. Can anyone imagine that the Confederacy could possibly have resisted that long? Or, to put it another way, what would have had to happen, after Lincoln’s reelection, for the Confederacy to win its independence? Can we come up with any plausible scenario in which Hood’s Tennessee campaign could have started a chain of events leading to Confederate independence? If Hood had trapped and annihilated Schofield at Spring Hill, it certainly would have been an unwelcome development for the Union, but would it have enabled Hood to defeat Thomas in the fortifications of Nashville? I can’t imagine that it would have. What if Hood had pressed on into Kentucky or even Ohio? Would Union morale have collapsed, prompting Lincoln to sue for peace? Again, I can’t imagine such a reaction. And how might Hood’s ill-clad troops have fared in Ohio in December?

Here are some other posts on the CWG related to Professor Woodworth.

Check out the books on Amazon Dr. Woodworth has authored.

Why am I so passionate about the American Civil War?

I have been a serious enthusiast-student of the American Civil War (1861-1865) for twenty-five years now. Ironically, in all of my educational pursuits I’ve only had one undergraduate class on the subject but did not have one single class in over 100 graduate hours.

So where does this passion and interest come from? Since I’m basically asked about my Civil War passion frequently I thought I’d write a lengthy post for my blog that is in the format of a mock interview.  The questions are real questions I’m asked all the time.  So here goes.

What is your academic training in the Civil War or American history?

I have a B.A. in philosophy and speech-n-theatre (Indiana University), and two master’s degrees (theological studies, as well as library and information science).  I minored in history in my undergrad program. My education taught me how to think and how to research. I apply those skills to my research on the Civil War every day.

Do you consider yourself a serious student of the American Civil War?  Do you consider yourself an historian? A story teller?  Or what?

I would say I’m a serious student-story teller, and amateur historian. What I mean is that I read, research and study about the Civil War several hours a week. I typically read 2-4 books on the subject each month. This does not count the articles, letters, diaries, journals and Internet web sites I read regularly.  I am also doing ongoing research for various writing projects, film works, Internet resources, etc.  I have the good fortune of not having to earn my living as a professional historian, but I nonetheless enjoy and contribute to the field at levels of engagement and quality one would expect from a professional historian. I have many good professional historian friends who would say I am a serious student of the subject. I do research for a a few professional historians who publish traditional monographs. I also write lots of book reviews. I have over 2,000 Civil War volumes in my personal library. I speak at Civil War Round Tables and appropriate events on occasion.

Have you published material or resources on the American Civil War?

I have not published print books that can be purchased through the traditional channels like bookstores or on Amazon. Because my interests vary so greatly I have never focused enough to publish a traditional-length monograph. Rather, I have written and published (in some cases) thousands of essays, articles and blog posts.  Much of my published resources are accessible via the Internet but a lot is not.  Some of my essays have been downloaded by thousands of readers.

Did you have relatives who fought in the American Civil War?

Fortunately I do. I have only found two soldiers I am directly related to who fought in the American Civil War. Both were Union boys who fought for the 6th KY Cavarly. On the other hand, my wife is related to many ancestors who fought in the war.  The Wallace-Taylor boys of Gibson County for the Hoosier State in many Western theater battles. There were over 40 of those boys, all from the same grand parents.  She is also related to a handful of Confederate soldiers including several CSA Generals (e.g., A.P. Hill).

What is the personal human connection for you in terms of learning about the American Civil War?

First, I love history, American history in general, and Civil War history specifically. The thrill of discovering little known or tidbits of information that helps to weave together a coherent story from seemingly disparate facts is fun.  Doing history is intellectually and emotionally stimulating.

Second, the tragedies, ironies, questions, etc., drive me to explore why Americans killed Americans; why loved ones and families split because of the war; what motivated men and women on the home front to support or undermine the war; how the common soldier handled suffering and death; and on and on.

Third, I just love great stories. Some of the greatest stories come out of the Civil War.

Do you re-enact?

No I do not re-enact. If I did, I’d re-enact as War correspondent in the field, working for the Harper’s Weekly newspaper.

Where did you grow up and did it impact your present views on the American Civil War?

I was born and raised in Louisville, Ky. Kentucky was one of just four states that technically remained neutral during the war. Ironically, Lincoln and Davis both were from Kentucky.  Thus, I was not raised in an environment or setting that significantly impacted my view of ‘who was right’ from either the Union or Confederate side. The views I hold today have been mostly forged through diligent personal study and reflection apart from natural geographical biases.

I have lived in Middle Tennessee (south of Nashville) for the past nine years. This area was largely pro-Confederate during the war.

Do you collect memorabilia and items related to the American Civil War?

Yes I do. I especially enjoy collecting ephemera or paper items. My favorite item of ephemra are letters, diaries and documents.  I also collect Civil War newspapers and sheet music.  Though not a big priority I also collect images. And of course I do collect period books about the war.  I do not collect hardware like guns, swords, etc.

What is your favorite Civil War battlefield or site to visit?

Since I live in Middle Tennessee I am certainly able to visit key Western theater sites like Spring Hill-Franklin, Nashville, Shiloh, Perryville, Chattanooga and Chickamauga.  So my favorite would probably have to be the Franklin sites since it is in my backyard (almost literally).  I have visited numerous other sites outside the Western theater. I will try and stop at any park or site during travels if time permits. Chattanooga-Chickamauga, Stone’s River, Shiloh, and Perryville are just a short drive from home for me.

Are you into Civil War preservation?

Yes I am.  I feel it is important to preserve what we reasonably can related to Civil War battlefields. If nothing else, they make wonderful green spaces for our communities.  I do support and am involved in Civil War preservation efforts in Middle Tennessee and the Franklin community specifically.

Do you support any Civil War or history related organizations?

Yes I do. I support (i.e., give money and time) organizations like:

• The Civil War preservation Trust (National)
• Franklin’s Charge (Tennessee)
• The Williamson County Historical Society (Tennessee)
• The Gibson County Historical Society (Indiana)
• The Historic Carnton Plantation (Tennessee)
• Franklin Civil War Round Table
  . . . . and several other small organizations.

What is the CSACW you started?

The CSACW is The Center for the Study of the American Civil War. I started the CSACW in 2001 to be the public arm and face of my work and collection. The CSACW is the entity (i.e., brand name) that houses and archives all of my personal Civil War collection.

Are you pro-Confederate or pro-northern? In other words, ‘who ya fer’?

I am pro-United States today. I probably would have been for whatever side my local county (or perhaps just surrounding neighborhood) was in 1860. One of the myths is that everyone who was a Southerner in 1860 was also pro-Confederate. Not true. The historical data does not support that belief.

What do you think was the main cause of the Civil War?

I believe human chattel slavery,  the institution that fostered it and the wordl view that propagated and promoted it was the single greatest direct cause of the Civil War. Were there other causes or influences?  Of course. Many. But if I had to choose THE single greatest influence it would have to be the peculiar institution (i.e., slavery).

Do I lead Civil War tours or can I be contracted to do personal research?

Yes, sometimes.  On rare occasions I will lead personal tours of the Battle of Franklin. They usually take at least a half day and can easily take a full-day. I charge for them and donate the money to local preservation efforts. A half-day tour is $200 and a full day is $500.  Everything is customized and personalized for your interests.  Why do I charge so much?  Because I don’t want a ton of requests and for the few I do the sizeable donation to local preservation efforts I support is worth my trouble.  If interested email me [tellinghistory[at]yahoo.com

Do I speak at Civil War events?

Yes I do. I speak at Civil War Round Tables, conferences, dinners, ceremonies, historical societies, etc. My speaking fee (if any) is usually just to cover my expenses.

What topics do you enjoy speaking on?

Oh lots: Middle Tennessee, Indiana regiments, soldier life, the home front, newspapers, Robert Smalls, the H.L. Hunley, McGavock Confederate Cemetery, songster Barney Williams, etc.

Do I do personal research for people?

For the average person?  Rarely.  For a serious scholar, maybe.  If interested email me [tellinghistory[at]yahoo.com

Do you have a favorite Civil War film?

The movie Glory is my favorite Civil War film.

Questions “Civil War” geeks might be more interested in?

Are you a Neo-Confederate?

No I am not. A Neo-Confederate is basically a modern day proponent of the Confederate cause as espoused by the leading Southern thinkers since the mid-nineteenth century. Neo-Confederates basically believe the war was NOT fought over slavery, believe it was a war of Northern aggression, despise Abraham Lincoln, believe the war was mainly over States’ rights, believe that the South was morally right for secceeding, etc.  Neo-Confederates want to continuing defending the Lost Cause myth.

Many Neo-Confederates today live mostly in the South. The Sons of Confederate Veterans is the most visible arm of the Neo-Confederate perspective. I have many Neo-Confederate friends and I respect them. I just feel they are substantially mis-informed and often mis-lead in their perspectives about the Civil War and the mid-nineteenth society in America.

What kind of projects are you working on?

• I research and write articles or blog posts on personal soldiers and civilian letters I collect.
• I enjoy digital photography and documenting the condition and state of battlefields and sites today.
• I do research for professional historians and organizations.
• I am working on writing projects like revised regimental histories and even screenplay material.
• I am creating an interactive Google map of the Battle of Franklin.

The following subject areas are areas I focus on:

• The respective roles of the following states in the Civil War: Indiana, Tennessee, Kentucky and Illinois.
• The life and legacy of escaped Charleston slave Robert Smalls (1839-1915).
• Various regiments and units, most notably the 58th Indiana Infantry, Indiana units at the Battle of Franklin, Shiloh, Chattanooga and Chickamauga.
• How the following things impacted the war: the home front, technology, newspapers, medicine, 19th century pop culture, etc.
• The McGavock Confederate Cemetery

Do you have Civil War web sites or blogs you personally write for?

Yes, I have several. Many are not public. My two largest Civil War sites are The Civil War Gazette and The Battle of Franklin web sites.  They each get thousands of accesses a month.

Who are your favorite American (and American Civil War) writers or thinkers?  Story tellers?

My favorite writer and historian related to the Civil War is Steven E. Woodworth.  I also like Williamson County historian and author Rick Warwick.  My favorite Civil War story tellers are Robert Hicks and Shelby Foote.

Do I have any references or recommendations?

Kraig McNutt brings with him not only years of study and understanding, but the necessary passion to make the cold facts of history come alive. Driven by that passion, Kraig has honed his studies into scholarship and his scholarship into understanding. As the Civil War slips further and further into a dim past, we are fortunate to have Kraig breathing life back into the story.

Robert Hicks, best-selling author of The Widow of the South

Kraig McNutt is an enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and passionate student of the Civil War. He has for a number of years maintained one of the finest websites on the conflict and possesses, along with a wealth of knowledge, a deep inner appreciation of what the war meant for those who lived through it and for us their descendants. I highly recommend him to groups seeking a top-flight Civil War speaker.

Steven E. Woodworth, Professor of History, Texas Christian University

Kraig McNutt is an omnivorous reader, thinker, writer, researcher, advocate, and speaker–not only on the American Civil War, but on a host of other historical and cultural issues. His educational and professional background would indicate that he is qualified to speak on many of these issues–but, we all know folks who are qualified yet they bore us to tears. Not Kraig. His lively and engaging style makes history come alive.

George Grant
Pastor, Parish Presbyterian Church
Founder, King’s Meadow Study Center

Carter House historian David Fraley is interviewed on Focus on the Family

Historian David Fraley was a recent guest of Dr. Dobson’s Focus on the Family. Listen to the entire program.

Dr. James Dobson recently visited the Carter House, a museum located on the site where the Civil War Battle of Franklin took place in Franklin, Tenn. Here, Dr. Dobson (right) sits down to interview David Fraley, a historian and the curator of the Carter House. The two discussed the remarkable battle that occurred on the site.

Book Review: book on Battle of Franklin deserves must-read

For Cause & for Country: A Study of the Affair At Spring Hill & the Battle of Franklin

by Eric A. Jacobson, Richard A. Rupp

is awarded five cannisters

In For Cause & for Country: A Study of the Affair At Spring Hill & the Battle of Franklin,
Historic Carnton Plantation author and historian Eric Jacobson has provided us with an up-to-date, accurate, comprehensive and lively treatment of the Battle of Franklin (30 November 1864). Jacobson also amply covers the pre-Franklin action in Spring Hill, Tennessee.

The Battle of Franklin was arguably one of the bloodiest five hours during the American Civil War (1861-1865). There were roughly 10,000 casualties, with probably 2,500 killed outright.

The narratives moves briskly in For Cause & for Country: A Study of the Affair At Spring Hill & the Battle of Franklin. The author covers a lot of action in this book. Jacobson is generous with his citations from the Official Records, authentic letters and diaries, and post-war recollections and accounts, especially from the National Tribune.

His treatment of the key leaders, on both sides, is fair. Jacobson knows when to intersperse battle action with an appropriate soldier first-hand account.

Jacobson is trust-worthy in his research, reliable in his interpretations, and fair in his critiques.

If you have buy one book about the Battle of Franklin start with this book by Eric Jacobson.

What was life like on a plantation?

What if you could sit down and talk to a woman who was the daughter of a prominent plantation owner? Well, we did.

Her name is Nancy Bostick  De Sausssure  (1837-1915) and she was one of twelve children born to a prominent plantation owner in Hampton County, South Carolina. She was educated at home by private tutors and took music lessons in Charleston, where she met Henry William De Saussure. They married in 1859 and settled in Robertville, South Carolina, a central location from which Dr. De Saussure found it easier to visit patients.

We created a “fictional” interview with Mrs. De Saussure by excerpting actual statements she left in her journals and diaries. The lengthy, interesting and insightful interview can be found in full here.

This is a fascinating interview. In it, you will learn things like:

• What life was like for slaves on a real plantation during the Civil War?
• How were slaves cared for medically?
• Was there a master-slave attachment?
• Were de Saussure’s slaves treated well?
• What was it like to personally observe the firing upon Ft. Sumter?
• How did Charlestonians feel about the war?
• What kind of destruction and ruin did Charlestonians experience?
• And many more interesting questions answered by a personal witness who was just 24 years old in 1861.

To read the entire interview click here.

Life on a plantation: Interview with N.B. de Saussure

An authentic interview between the Civil War Gazette and Mrs. De Sausssure (1837-1915).Nancy Bostick (1837-1915) was one of twelve children born to a prominent plantation owner in Hampton County, South Carolina. She was educated at home by private tutors and took music lessons in Charleston, where she met Henry William De Saussure. They married in 1859 and settled in Robertville, South Carolina, a central location from which Dr. De Saussure found it easier to visit patients.

During the Civil War, Dr. De Saussure served the Confederacy as a surgeon, first with the Charleston Light Dragoons, and later along the South Carolina coast. While her husband was away, Nancy and her young daughter lived at Nancy’s father’s plantation, which was close enough to her husband’s camp to enable her to visit him relatively frequently. When General Sherman’s army swept through South Carolina, Nancy fled their home, which was destroyed by fire. After the Civil War, Nancy Saussure taught at Vassar College.

Nancy Bostick De Saussure wrote Old Plantation Days: Being Recollections of the Days Before the Civil War (1909) in the form of a letter to her granddaughter, Dorothy.

What you are about to read is an “authentic” interview between The Civil War Gazette and Mrs. De Saussure. The answers Mrs. De Saussure [pronounced DES-suh-sore] provides are historically-accurate, taken from her journal, diaries or letters. The questions are contemporary, but chosen and phrased in a manner as if Mrs. De Saussure were interviewed by a 21st century reporter.

No attempt has been made to contemporize the language of Mrs. De Sausssure. For example, she often used the term ‘negroes’. Though certain terms, idioms and phrases are no longer used, or perhaps acceptable today, we feel it is important to hear Mrs. De Saussure in her context, which includes her original language.

This is a fascinating interview. In it, you will learn things like:

• What life was like for slaves on a real plantation during the Civil War?
• How were slaves cared for medically?
• Was there a master-slave attachment?
• Were de Saussure’s slaves treated well?
• What was it like to personally observe the firing upon Ft. Sumter?
• How did Charlestonians feel about the war?
• What kind of destruction and ruin did Charlestonians experience?
• And many more interesting questions answered by a personal witness who was just 24 years old in 1861.

Imagine a reporter from The Civil War Gazette sitting down with Mrs. De Saussure in 1909, on a large shaded porch, in Charleston of course; sipping ice tea . . . . asking questions we’d all love the answers to.

In 1861 the De Saussure’s lived in Robertville, SC; a little northwest of Beaufort.

This interview will cover these topics:

• The Old South vs The New South
• The de Saussure Family
• The Slaves and the Plantation
  • The Master/Slave Attachment
  • Health and Medical Care
  • Typical Day/Life on the Plantation
  • Education for the de Saussure Children
  • The Social-life Around the Plantation Community
• Life and Times in Charleston during the Civil War (1861-1865)
  • Early in the War
  • The Firing on Sumter, April 1861
  • Post-Sumter Days
  • The Capture of Port Royal, November 1861
  • Late-War Reminscences, Charleston-area
  • The Effect of War: Ruin and Destruction
  • Sherman’s march through the Carolinas
  • The War Comes to an End
    

The Old South versus The New South

GDV: Mrs. De Saussure [pronounced DES-suh-sore], how do you see the South now, forty years since the Civil War?

NBD: The South as I knew it has disappeared; the New South has risen from its ashes, filled with the energetic spirit of a new age.

GVD: So those days were . . . ?

NBD: . . . the happy plantation days, the recollection of which causes my heart to throb again with youthful pleasure, and near them are the days, the dreadful days, of war and fire and famine.

The de Saussure Family

GVD: We’ve heard your great-grandmother was a special woman. Tell us about her.

NBD: My great-grandmother’s eldest son, at nineteen, was a captain in the Revolutionary War, and she was left alone, a widow on her plantation. When the British made a raid on her home, carrying off everything, she remained undaunted, and, mounting a horse, rode in hot haste to where the army was stationed, and asked to see the general in command. Her persistence gained admittance. She stated her case and the condition in which the British soldiers had left her home, and pleaded her cause with so much eloquence that the general ordered the spoils returned to her. Dearest child, in the intrepid spirit of this ancestor you will find the keynote to the brave spirit of the women of the South.

GVD: And would you tell us about your mother? She ran a plantation, right?

NBD: Mother was a woman of remarkable sweetness of disposition and intelligence, and had great executive ability, which latter quality was dispensable in the mistress of a large household of children and servants. She gave unceasing care and attention to her children, and personally supervised every detail of their education. Besides these duties, the negroes of the plantation, their food and clothing, care of their infants and the sick, all came under her control.

GVD: Who was your grandfather (father’s side)?

NBD: Henry William De Saussure, who was a descendant of the Huguenot family of that name, and a grandson of Chancellor Henry William De Saussure.

GVD: Your father was a spiritual man, was he not?

NBD: His devotion to Christ was unusual, and I never knew him to doubt for an instant that he himself was a child of God. Having a most affectionate disposition, he loved his wife and children intensely, and lived in and for them.

Part Two: Interview with N.B. de Saussure

The Slaves and the Plantation

GVD: How did your parents come into owning slaves?

NBD: My father and mother inherited most of their negroes . . .

The Master-Slave Attachment

GVD: Can you speak to the “attachment” between slave and master that often occurred?

NBD: There was an attachment existing between master and mistress and their slaves which one who had never borne such a relation could never understand. In one of my rare visits South to my own people, the old-time darkies, our former slaves, walked twenty miles to see “Miss Nancy” and her little daughter, and the latter, your dear mother, would often be surprised, when taken impulsively in their big black arms, and hugged and kissed and cried over “for ol’ times’ sake.”

GVD: to be candid, wouldn’t your had preferred freedom?

NBD: When I would inquire into their welfare and present condition I heard but one refrain, “I’d never known what it was to suffer till freedom came, and we lost our master.” Yes, Dorothy dear, a lot of children unprepared to enjoy the Emancipation Proclamation were suddenly confronted with life’s problems.

GVD: Can you speak more to the attachment of the slave to the master, as you experienced?

NBD: In spite of many misrepresentations by those who can never comprehend the tender attachment existing in those days between master and slave, I want you to have a clear idea of it, and I want you to know that the Southerner understood, and understands to this day, the negro’s character better than the Northerner, and is in the main kinder to, and more forbearing with him. There were countless incidents during the war of love and loyalty shown by the negroes to their former owners, which you will read of in the many stories written now by those who know the truth.

GVD: you have a letter from a Reverend Lathrop who speaks to the master/slave attachment. Would you mind sharing some of it with us?

[A letter to N.B. from an Edward Lathrop…]

I was nursed by a negro woman to whom I was most fondly attached, and who, I believe, loved me as she would her own son. I have had the opportunity to mingle freely with slaveholders of different characters and dispositions, and while I regard slavery as such an enormous evil and am heartily glad that it has been abolished in this country, I am bound in candor to say that my observation, during all these years of my residence in Georgia and South Carolina, thoroughly convinced me that in the majority of cases slaves were more kindly treated and brought into more intimate and kindly relations to white families than they are now, though free. This, of course, is not given as an apology for slavery, but it is a simple statement of facts. I might refer, for example, to what I witnessed and felt, while a guest, on more than one occasion, in the house of your honored father and mother. Your father seemed to me to be as watchful of the interests, both temporal and spiritual, of his slaves as of his own immediate white family. It was, to my mind, a beautiful illustration of patriarchal slavery, as it existed in the days of Abraham. Of course there were exceptions to this treatment of slaves by their owners, but, as a rule, so far as my observation extended, your father’s methods were universally approved, while the cruel slaveholder was indignantly condemned and repudiated.

Beaufort District (now county) was probably the largest slaveholding district in the State. Most that I have stated above, as to the kindly treatment of slaves was emphatically true of Beaufort. The Baptist Church, in addition to its white membership, embraced about two thousand slaves. These slaves, as church members, enjoyed equal privileges with the whites. The Lord’s Supper was administered to them and to the whites impartially and at the same time.
– Edward Lathrop

Health and Medical Care on the Plantation

GVD: what did you do for medical care, with so many people on a plantation to attend to?

NBD: My mother had a magnificent constitution or she could never have accomplished the amount of work required of her. I never knew her to have until her latter years a physician for herself. But for family needs we had colored nurses who, under a physician, were competent and devoted in sickness.

It was a revelation to me of the tender care that old patriarch gave to his slaves, no wonder that they loved him. . . . . If a negro was sick, your father would always send him food from his own table, which was received with great pleasure.

Typical Day-Life on the Plantation

GVD: What kind of resources did your plantation provide?

NBD: We had a steam mill for sawing lumber, and mills for grinding corn and wheat. Sugar was made in quantities for negroes, but there was no way of refining it. Everything was bountiful and we lacked nothing, but coffee and tea. Every known and unknown substitute was used for these drinks, but none were satisfactory; otherwise we never lived with greater abundance. Our swamps yielded us all game bountifully, venison, wild turkeys, partridges, and reed birds. It was a rich country and could feed an army.

GVD: how did a typical day begin on your plantation?

NBD: The day was always begun with family prayers, for my father’s religious principles were his staff in life, and he derived much strength from them. Fortunately, the love he gave the slaves was fully returned, and I doubt if there was ever a more devoted and united family.

GVD: what did slaves typically do in the evenings after work?

NBD: . . . . they [slaves] gathered in groups about their bright fires, roasting corn and singing their quaint and wonderfully sweet plantation songs.

GVD: What normally took place after breakfast on the plantation?

NBD: .… after breakfast it was customary for the head nurse to report any cases of sickness on the plantation to my mother. Mother’s medicine chest was brought out and together they consulted about the condition of each patient. If anyone were very ill, a man was sent to call in a physician who lived several miles away. My mother then hastened to the negro quarters, and if the invalids could be removed they were brought to the sick house – a large, long building fitted with cots – where they could be better cared for.

I can remember going fearlessly in and out of the cabins, carrying dainty dishes to many little ones who were suffering with what they then called putrid sore throat. It was really diphtheria, and, strange to say, not one of our family took the disease, though there were forty cases on the plantation.

GVD: After attending the sick, what was next?

NBD: After attending the sick, mother’s next duty was to give out the daily provisions. She made a pretty picture in her quaint gown carrying a basket of keys on her arm. The Bible verse, “She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness,” could well have been written of her. With twenty-five house and garden servants and the many little children to be looked after, this daily provisioning took a great deal of time, and thought. The house servants had their own kitchen and cook.

GVD: What was a typical Sunday like?

NBD: On Sunday they attended the same churches as the family, the galleries being reserved for them. I might have added in telling of their prayer meeting, that when we were present they always prayed for “Ole Massa and Missus,” and the various members of the family, including the “young Missus from the North.” The little negro children would leave their play to gather around me as they saw me walking about the grounds. On Sundays your mother and her daughters used to go around to the negroes’ houses to read the Bible, and teach the children Bible verses.

GVD: Were young mothers expected to work?

NBD: Mothers with babies were only required to do light work, such as raking leaves, spinning, or sewing, that they might be ready and in condition to nurse their babies.

GVD: How were the slaves provided clothing?

NDB: Another care of hers was to provide clothing for all the negroes, of whom there were over five hundred. To accomplish this, seamstresses were at work all the year round; three in the house and five or six in the negro quarters. These made the men’s and women’s clothing. All the cutting was done under mother’s supervision; and during the early part of the war, all the spinning and weaving of cloth, and even of blankets, was done on the plantation.

Education for the de Saussure Children

GVD: What kind of education was provided for plantation families?

NBD: We had a schoolhouse on the plantation where we went after breakfast with our governess. In those days, as teachers were not paid well for their services, it was difficult to find refined and cultured people to fill the position. Knowing this, father paid the highest salaries and thus secured the best talent there was to be had for us.

GVD: Did your education include exposure to music?

NBD: Besides a governess, we also had a music teacher, so we were expected to devote many hours to practicing music, and thus we were employed while mother was busy housekeeping.

GVD: Did you or your siblings attend college? If so, where?

NBD: As soon as the girls in our family were old enough they were sent North to school to finish their education, and the boys were sent to Northern colleges.

Social Life around a Plantation community

GVD: we have heard that it was common for planters to host guests fairly often, and oftentimes, many at one time. Can you speak to that?

NBD: As there were no inns in our country, and plantations were miles apart, some provision had to be made for the entertainment of travelers, who were never turned away. We often had delightful house parties and hunting parties, but our chief enjoyment was riding through the wild and beautiful country. We also went on fishing excursions, and on picnics. We thought nothing of driving ten miles to dine at a neighbor’s house.

Life and Times in Charleston during the Civil War (1861-1865)

Early in the War

GVD: What were the times like in South Carolina, more specifically, Charleston-area, in March 1861, just a month before the firing on Sumter?

NBD: It was a turbulent time; the feeling ran high between the North and the South, and we heard rumors of war, but it seemed too far away to invade our peaceful country.

The Firing on Sumter, April 1861

GVD: We understand you reached Charleston on April 12th, the very evening (and following eraly morning) that Sumter was fired upon. Tells us about that.

NBD: We reached Charleston about eight o’clock in the evening. My father-in-law met us, and after a warm greeting to the little stranger and ourselves, said, “You are just in time to see the fight at Fort Sumter, for it begins to-night.” I was terrified and begged to be taken home, but there was no train until morning and, therefore, we had to remain.

GVD: You were 24 years old and had a five-week old baby girl in April 1861; did you sleep that night (the 12th)?

NBD: That night I was too frightened to sleep.

GVD: Did you personally observe the bombardment of Ft. Sumter? If so, from what vantage point?

NBD: Toward morning, about four o’clock, the first gun was fired, and it seemed to me as if it were in my room. I sprang up, as I suppose everyone else did in the city. I hurriedly dressed myself and went down to cousin Louis De Saussure’s house, which is still standing on the corner of South and East Battery. From its numerous piazzas, which commanded a fine view of the harbor, we watched every gun fired from the two forts, Moultrie and Sumter.

GVD: Did others join you?

NBD: The house was crowded with excited mothers and wives, who had sons and husbands in the fight, and every hour added to their distress and excitement, as reports, which afterwards proved false, were brought to them of wounded dear ones. It was a day I can never forget.

We spent another most anxious day following an anxious night, but when Fort Sumter took fire and the white flag was raised, our spirits rose over the Southern victory, to confidence and hope.

GVD: Not knowing how long the war would last (four years), and the devastation Charleston would endure; how do you reflect on this today, some 40 years later (1909)?

NBD: We little realized the long years of struggle that were to follow ending in defeat, and ruined homes and country. Later on I was in Charleston several times when it was under shot and shell and heard the explosions of the shells as they shrieked over our houses. Those were sad and exciting times, the awful memories of which are still active with me.

Post-Sumter Days

GVD: We understand that after returning home in May, your husband joined the CSA war effort. Talk about that.

NBD: After a visit of several weeks, we returned to our home in Robertville, and my husband continued his practice, but his restlessness and anxiety to join the army was so great that I ceased to dissuade him. Physicians were needed at home, but he thought the older men should serve there, and the younger go to the front. He joined the Charleston Light Dragoons, and became surgeon of Major Trenholm’s brigade. When this brigade was was transferred to Virginia, he was, on account of his health, detailed to look after the hospitals on the coast.

The Capture of Port Royal, November 1861

GVD: Union forces capture Port Royal in early November 1861. Do you recall much about that?

NBD: Before we left our home, the fort below our country town, Beaufort, was taken, and the Northern fleet sailed in while the inhabitants were asleep. This fight at Port Royal was the second battle of the war.

GVD: What did people do when they learned the Port Royal region was taken by the North?

NBD: When the tidings of the invasions of their town was brought to them, the people, thinking the town would be shelled, fled in their carriages, many of them not waiting to dress themselves, so great was their fright. This long procession of carriages and wagons passed through our village about dusk, the occupants not knowing what to do or where to go. Every house was thrown open to them and these first refugees remained in the neighborhood during the war. They were taken care of, until in turn we had to flee before Sherman’s army.

Late-War Reminscences, Charleston-area

GVD: Take us back to December 1864. It’s late in the war, but of course you had no idea then when the war would be over. But in late 1864 the Eastern seaboard, Georgia and South Carolina particularly, are feeling the effects of Sherman’s famous March to the Sea. Can you talk about that a little?

NBD: The year 1864, in the month of December, found me still in the old homestead [in Robertville]. Sherman had passed on the Georgia side of the river, to Savannah, which was taken. We wondered what would be his next move, but never for an instant thought he would retrace his steps, and go through South Carolina.

GVD: Did your father provide support or care for retreating Southern troops as Sherman marched through South Carolina?

NBD: The Southern troops which had guarded Savannah retreated to our neighborhood, and we cared for them for several weeks. There were at least five thousand troops on our plantation of nine thousand acres. Barbecues of whole beeves, hogs, and sheep were ordered for them. The officers were fed in the house, there being sometimes two hundred a day. The soldiers had their meals in camp.

GVD: What did you do for money during the war?

NBD: For money we had no use, as everything was grown or manufactured on the plantation.

The Effect of War: Ruin and Destruction

GVD: Was your plantation destroyed or damaged by the Union during the war?

NBD: It was a wise provision that father was spared the sight of the destruction of his house and property, and possibly personal violence from the hands of the Northern soldiers, for during the raid, my uncle, an old man who was reputed to be wealthy was asked by the soldiers where he had buried his gold; and twice was he hung by them and cut down when unconscious, because he would not confess its hiding place. He had no gold, his wealth lay in his land and negroes.

GVD: Do you remember the day the Union army arrived at your plantation?

NBD: Shortly after father and mother’s departure, one morning, early, the remaining negroes came running to the house in a state of wild excitement, and said that Sherman’s army was crossing the Savannah River at the next landing below my father’s.

GVD: Do you remember precisely what you were doing that day?

NBD: I was picking oranges when the news came. Green oranges, blossoms, and ripe fruit all hung together on the tree. It was a favorite tree grown to an unusual size by the care given it, as it was always protected in winter. I have only to close my eyes at any time and see plainly the beautiful tree in all its glory of fruit and flower. We had picked from it that day a thousand oranges, the most luscious fruit, but they were left for Sherman’s army to devour, for we were thrown into a panic by the news the negroes brought us, and hastily got into our carriages and fled.

GVD: what happened to your slaves?

NBD: The negroes followed us in wagons, and we left our lovely home as if we had gone for a drive.

Sherman’s march through the Carolinas

GVD: Did you avoid coming in contact with Sherman after fleeing?

NBD: It was a strange fate that Sherman followed us in our flight passing through Columbia and within ten miles of us. His scouts came in and stole all our horses, except a few which we had time to hide in the swamps.

GVD: And your slaves?

NBD: The soldiers ordered many of the negroes, choosing the best young men, to mount the horses and go with them. All of them returned to us that night; they had broken away from camp, but were on foot.

GVD: What happened to Columbia?

NBD: Sherman’s army burned Columbia. Sherman may not have given the order, but he was undoubtedly responsible for the plunder and destruction engaged in by those under his command.

GVD: And . . .

NBD: Officers as well as soldiers had gone into houses and taken all food that could be found and burned it in the yards of the various houses; leaving the women and children to starve.

The War comes to an End

GVD: Finally, in mid-April 1865, you finally heard the news, “The war is over, Lee has surrendered.” What did you think? How did you feel?

NBD: My feelings were tumultuous; joy and sorrow strove with each other. Joy in the hope of having my husband back and the brothers and friends who were left, return to me, but oh, such sorrow over our defeat!

GVD: Did you long to return home to your plantation on the Savannah River?

NBD: As one after another of the family came back to us, worn out and dispirited, our thoughts turned to the dear old home on the Savannah River, and we longed to go back. Before yielding to our desires, it was considered wise for the men of the family to go first and investigate.

GVD: What did they find when they returned?

NBD: They found only ashes and ruin everywhere in our neighborhood, and father’s place, except a few negro cabins, was burned to the ground. There were thirty buildings destroyed. The steam mill, blacksmith’s shop, carpenter’s shop, barns, and house – nothing was left standing except chimney and brick walls to mark the place of our once prosperous, happy home. There was but one fence paling to indicate the site of our little village. The church, too, was burned, and now negro cabins are standing where it once graced the landscape. Our beautiful lawns were plowed up and planted in potatoes and corn by the negroes, who were told we would never return.

GVD: We’ve heard that even many years after the war was over, that people from the North sent personal items back that were stolen during the war by Northern soldiers. Things like pictures, jewelry, and Bibles too.

NBD: . . . . even family Bibles, which were taken from the old homes, have been returned to me. Looting was the order of the day during the Civil War, and wanton destruction followed.

GVD: The destruction and loss must have been very difficult to bear. Your final thoughts about the destruction you and your family experienced?

NBD: Sherman left a track of fire for three hundred miles through the State. When you hear the war song “Marching through Georgia,” which stirs the hearts of the Northerner, think of the scenes of desolation and heartbreak the song recalls to the Southerner