Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Judith Henry


The grave site of Judith Henry in front of her newly reconstructed home on Henry House Hill on the Manassas Battlefield. Judith was in her mid eighties when, during the battle of first Manassas, a Union shell tore off most of her foot. She died shortly there after.

Sincerely,

Randy

Please visit my primary site at www.brotherswar.com

All original material Copyright © 2006. All Rights Reserved

Saturday, November 25, 2006

Jackson at Sunset


Statue of General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson at sunset, Manassas National Battlefield, Virginia.

Respectfully,

Randy

Please visit my primary site at www.brotherswar.com

All original material Copyright © 2006. All Rights Reserved

Thursday, November 16, 2006

The Chaos of Battle


The above images provide a small glimpse into the chaos of the battlefield and what soldiers endured as they fought for our nation's identity. The first offers an idea of just how the bullets swarmed during some of these colossal conflicts. These malformed pieces of lead are minnie balls found on the Petersburg battlefield that collided mid-air.

The other image shows a ramrod shot through a fence rail as a soldier, in his haste or confusion, forgot to remove it from the gun barrel before firing. This can be seen in the Fredericksburg Visitor's Center.

Respectfully,

Randy

Please visit my primary site at www.brotherswar.com

All original material Copyright © 2006. All Rights Reserved

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Colonel George Willard

A rarely visited marker on the Gettysburg Battlefield noting the location where Colonel George Willard lost his life leading his brigade into the maelstrom wrought by General William Barksdale's Mississippians. The marker reads,

Colonel G L Willard
125th
N.Y. Infantry,
was killed
at this place on the
evening of July 2d, 1863,
while leading in a charge
3d Brig. 3d Div. 2d Corps

His men finally stopped the onrushing Southerners. At the end of the battle, the Division commander, Brigadier General Alexander Hays, would say of Willard's men, "The history of this brigade's operations is written in blood...The loss of this brigade amounts to one-half the casualties in the division."

Respectfully,

Randy

Please visit my primary site at www.brotherswar.com

All original material Copyright © 2006. All Rights Reserved

Sunday, November 05, 2006

The Cashtown Inn


According to the current Cashtown Inn website, this witness to the events of 1863 was "Built circa 1797. The Cashtown Inn served as the first stagecoach stop west of Gettysburg.

During the Gettysburg campaign of 1863, the Inn served as Confederate headquarters for General A.P. Hill."

Respectfully,

Randy

Please visit my primary site at www.brotherswar.com

All original material Copyright © 2006. All Rights Reserved

Saturday, November 04, 2006

North Carolina on South Mountain


Deep in the woods along the ridge of Maryland's South Mountain rests this monument to the men of North Carolina who gave their lives during the Confederate's first campaign into the north. Dedicated only 3 years ago, it highlights the darker sides of war often painted over by a preferred romanticism. The inscription reads:

In memory of the North Carolinians that fought at or near here September 14,1862.
The lst, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 20th, 23rd, & 30th NC Infantry Regiments and the 1st NC Artillery, Manly and Reilly Batteries.

General D. H. Hill was in command of the 10,000 Confederates with elements of Longstreet's Corps arriving in the afternoon. The fighting here at Fox's Gap saw one of the few instances of actual hand-to-hand combat of the war. The 13th was totally surrounded after the mortal wounding of Brig. Gen. Samuel Garland just a few yards from here. Two days after the battle, 58 Confederate dead were dumped down the well of farmer Daniel Wise located NW. In 1874, they were re-interred in Hagerstown, Md.

Respectfully,

Randy

Please visit my primary site at www.brotherswar.com

All original material Copyright © 2006. All Rights Reserved