Monroe County Civil War Roundtable
“Exploring, preserving and sharing the history of the American Civil War”
The Sentinel
Volume 9, No. 1
September, 2012
Ed Bearss Comes to Bloomington!
The Second Annual David Wiley Lecture got the
roundtable’s season off to an exciting start with the most successful event in its relatively brief history. Ed Bearss, legendary battlefield guide and Civil War speaker, former Chief Historian of the National Park Service, and currently its Historian
Emeritus, came to Bloomington to tell the group about the
“Indiana Boys That Fought at Antietam”, since his visit was
only six days from the 150th anniversary of that fateful clash.
This was an event that was long in the planning and would not
have
been
possible without the partnership of our
friends, especially Christine Friesel, at
the Monroe
County Public
Library. Their
spacious auditorium
was
Ed Bearss in the MCPL lobby before his talk put close to
its limit with over 140 people attending, some from as far away
as Muncie, Indianapolis and Evansville.
The talk itself featured Ed in his unique style, speaking
without notes or technical assistance on the infantry units that
fought at Antietam, the bloodiest single day in American history.. Even though there were actually four infantry and one cavalry unit, his focus was specifically on the infantry units and
only those that saw action. The 3rd IN Cavalry was lightly engaged and the 7th IN Infantry was in reserve for the entire fight.
The 19th was the first to see action on the morning of
September 17, 1863, when it was in the vanguard of the troops
that were sent across the cornfield of a farmer named Miller to
face CSA forces entrenched in the West Woods, just beyond
the Hagerstown Pike. The 19th would become known forever
as members of the Black Hats of the Iron Brigade, and would
see further action in the
critical area of Herbst
Woods (now more commonly referred to as
McPherson’s
Woods)
near Willoughby Run at
Gettysburg only a few
months later. This fall
morning, they would take
heavy casualties until
relieved by reserve troops Ed chats with Secretary Steve
from the 12th Corps Rolfe and Anna Wiley, wife of our
lecture honoree, at the reception
which included the
before his talk.
27th IN and its famous local Co. F, the Monroe Grenadiers.
The 27th also took heavy casualties as it advanced
and sometimes had to step over...or even on...their comrades
from the 19th and other units, lying like the rows of corn they
advanced through earlier, as they tried to quell the rebel fire.
Eventually the fighting here subsided and moved south to the
area of Bloody Lane, giving the Hoosier boys a chance to rest
and regroup. They, too, would see action at Gettysburg, but in
the area of Spangler’s Spring at the foot of Culp’s Hill.
In mid-day, as the action at Bloody Lane heated up,
the 14th IN, a part of the Gibraltar Brigade, would see action
on the north side of this now famous farm road. At first they
were picked off by CSA troops hidden in the depression. Then
Union numbers began to overwhelm the Confederates, and
were easily able to shoot into the pit and inflict horrendous
casualties. The carnage was documented in photos taken by
Civil War photographer Alexander Gardner, photos that
brought the war home to the American people on both sides in
a way they had never conceived of before.
To get the details of Ed's talk, and to fully appreciate
his inimitable style, we recommend you check the local Community Access Television Service (CATS) channel on your
local cable supplier or, if you can’t do that, give us some time
and we will have copies of the event that can be checked out
and taken home to view.
Secretary Steve Rolfe shows Ed the home of Big Dave
van Buskirk while president Kevin Shiflet and Program
Chair Scott Schroeder look on.
The roundtable was thrilled to bring Mr. Bearss to
Bloomington, not only for his talk, but also to take some time
Tuesday during the day and give him the opportunity to tour
the IU campus where he received his Master’s Degree in History in 1954. He reminisced about Herman Wells, Dr. Robert
Ferrell, a fellow student at the time, and Professor O.O.
Winther. And, true to form, when he was taken to lunch at
Nick’s, he said “Looks just like it did when I was here in ‘54!”
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Civil War Travel—Thomas Espy GAR Post #153, Carnegie, PA
If you ever go to Pittsburgh, one thing not to miss is
this little known CW gem tucked away in the old Carnegie
Library in Carnegie, PA, a Pittsburgh suburb. One of our
members submitted this after visiting the site in August.
Thomas Espy was a Union volunteer, enlisting at the
age of 50 on July 4th, 1861, to join Co. H, 62nd PA. Clearly
older than most volunteers, he was committed to preserving
the Union and served in the Peninsula campaign. He was
mortally wounded at Gaines’ Mill and was buried in an unmarked grave in Virginia.
This GAR post was established in his honor and
eventually found a permanent home on the second floor of
the then new library in Carnegie in 1906. The last member
died in 1937 and, for odd and unknown reasons, the room
was simply locked and forgotten about for over 50 years until
the curator of the Pittsburgh Soldiers and Sailors Memorial
discovered it and worked to have it restored and reopened just a
few years ago. It is a true Civil War time capsule that is now
available for tours each Saturday afternoon or by special arrangement. There are artifacts, photos, and all kinds of CW
paraphernalia that show how an early 20th century GAR post
was run much like a masonic lodge.
If you are ever in the Pittsburgh area, just contact the
Carnegie Library in Carnegie, PA, and ask about seeing this
gem. It will be more than worth the effort. For details and
more, go to http://www.carnegiecarnegie.org/civil-war-room/.
This is one wall of
the room. Everything in the photo has been there
since 1907. The
chair in the archway was for one
of the four post
officers to use
during meetings.
This stand sits, altar-like,
in the middle of the
room and holds the post
roster.
A photo of the post membership taken in front of
the Carnegie Library in
the early 1900s.
A Reminder That We Need Your Support
Speakers of the renown of Ed Bearss, that you read about on the preceding page, are not only fascinating to hear but also
increase the prestige and reach of our roundtable. We want to continue to bring such noted guests to town and share them with the
community. But they don’t come for free. We must at least cover expenses. And running your roundtable incurs the usual expenses
of refreshments, mailing costs, postage, etc. Each September we ask you to “re-enlist” so we can continue to bring you the kinds of
things you have come to know over the past eight years. Our dues are nominal, only $15 annually, and we think it’s a great bargain.
Last year we also instituted a voluntary donation to our new Speakers’ Fund. While we still hope all our local members will
contribute to our program schedule, we want to bring in regionally or nationally known speakers once or twice a year to give us the
perspective of the true Civil War scholar. Ed Bearss was a perfect example. Please consider an extra donation, over and above your
basic membership, to help us offset these expenses.
We will be accepting memberships and donations by mail, at any meeting, or at the History Center if you want to drop
them off. Just use the form below to make your donation/membership payment.
And, as always, thank you for supporting your roundtable! We hope to see you all at our next meeting!
Monroe County Civil War Roundtable
Annual Dues/Donation Form
Name_____________________________________________Date______________________________
Address____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
E-mail ____________________________________________
Membership 2012-2013 $15____________
Speakers’ Fund
Mail to:
Monroe County Civil War Roundtable
c/o Monroe County History Center
202 E. 6th St.
Bloomington, IN 47408
$____________________
[NOTE: unspecified donations over $15 will be considered as membership first with the balance toward the Speakers’ Fund.]
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Thank you!!!
Special Order 191 Returns!!
Lee's Lost Order 191 Legacy
General Robert E. Lee’s famous Special Order 191,
a critical component of the 1862 Maryland Campaign, has
returned to the place where it was written, lost and found!
The order was written, lost and found on what is now the
Monocacy National Battlefield. In remembrance of the 150 th
anniversary of the 1862 campaign and the role the orders
played, the Monocacy Visitor Center is hosting a special
exhibit featuring the orders themselves. Special Order 191 is
available for viewing courtesy of the Library of Congress.
Special Order 191 was drafted by Lee on September
9, 1862, and detailed the movements of the Army of Northern Virginia during the early days of its invasion of Maryland. On the morning of September 13, 1862, Corporal Barton W. Mitchell (of Monroe County’s very own Company F,
27th Indiana Volunteers) found an unsealed envelope in a
wheat field under a locust tree near where a Confederate
camp had recently been. Inside the envelope were two cigars
wrapped in a single sheet of paper. Upon examining the writing on the paper, Mitchell realized its importance [see note at
right] and passed it along to his first sergeant, John M. Bloss.
The paper was passed up the chain of command and eventually reached Union General George B. McClellan, commander of the Army of the Potomac. McClellan, overjoyed
at having insight into Lee’s plans, told a subordinate, “Now I
know what to do! Here is a paper with which, if I cannot
whip Bobby Lee, I will be willing to go home.” As it turned
out, McClellan’s military response to finding the orders led
to the September 17, 1862, Battle of Antietam, the single
bloodiest day in American history. The battle itself turned
out to be a tactical draw, but it was a strategic victory for the
Union. It was enough to allow President Lincoln to issue his
initial Emancipation Proclamation. Many believe the strategic Union victory at Antietam was a critical turning point in
the war (read, e.g., McPherson’s Crossroads of Freedom).
The exhibit at the Monocacy National Battlefield
Visitor Center near Frederick, MD, will run until October 31,
2012 so make your plans to visit quickly as time to see it first
hand is ticking away. Also, look forward to an upcoming
roundtable presentation on Lee’s Lost Order.
Above: a digital representation of Special Order #191.
Barton Mitchell, finder of the lost order, eventually
came to realize his potential place in history and wrote several
letters to the government trying to capitalize on his brief encounter with Civil War immortality, but never was successful.
He died just a few years after the war ended and is buried in the
Baptist Cemetery in Hartsville, IN, just east of Columbus. A
historical marker on the town square in Hartsville marks his
brief flirtation with fame.
Sgt. John Bloss, shown (left) with his family long after
the war, lived well into the 20th century. He became an educator and eventually was president of what is today Oregon State
University. Due to failing health, he returned to Delaware
County, IN, late in life and is buried in Beech Grove Cemetery
in Muncie, IN.
2012-2013 Program Schedule
Oct. 9
Hoosiers in the Mexican War Who
Became Leaders in the Civil War
by Matt Hoagland
Nov. 13
Confederates Raid Newburgh, IN!
by Ray Mulesky
Dec. 11
Annual Holiday Dinner
Jan. 8
Christmas During the War by Scott
Schroeder
Feb. 12
The Causes of the End of the Civil
War by Deborah Cronin
Mar. 12
Alexander Gardner, Civil War
Photographer by Steve Rolfe
April 9
Nathan Bedford Forrest at Fort
Pillow by Cassy Gray
May 14
OPEN– do a program yourself!
150 Years Ago in October
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1st
3rd
4th-5th
8th
18th
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22nd
24th
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29th
Skirmish near Sharpsburg, MD.
Battle of Corinth, MS
Battle of Iuka, MS
Battle of Perryville, KY
Morgan’s Raiders defeat US cavalry near
Lexington, KY
CSA cavalry capture London, KY
Rosecrans replaces Buell as commander of the
Army of Ohio
Skirmish at Island Mound, MO. First use in the
war of USCT as organized unit.
“Sour” on Jackson
Tell Us What You Think
First, if you have never been to Lexington, VA, you
need to put it on your bucket list. The final home of Stonewall
Jackson, the Virginia Military Institute, Washington & Lee
University with the Lee Chapel where Robert E. Lee is entombed, and where his trusted mount, Traveler, is buried just
outside the side door (Jackson’s horse, Little Sorrel, or at least
its hide, is on display at the VMI museum in Lexington)...all
are here to see. And Lexington is, in itself, a very pleasant
western Virginia community that offers some wonderful
shopping, restaurants and, simply, a degree of Southern charm
that is becoming harder to find all the time.
But there is one more thing that is a “must see”, and
that is the gravesite and monument to Stonewall Jackson in a
cemetery just a few blocks from his home. One of our members was just there last month and had an interesting visit just
at dusk as a light rain began to fall. He remembered seeing
golf balls strewn on the grave of the great golfer and golf
course designer Bobby Jones at Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta,
and pennies placed on the base of the monument to Lincoln's
Gettysburg Address in that iconic town’s National Cemetery.
True to form, scattered on the ground around Jackson’s monument were...lemons! Jackson’s affinity for lemons may only
be a legend, but, even if that is so, it is one that sticks.
If you do make the journey, be sure to take the time
to look around other parts of the cemetery. There are some
more notable “residents” such as John Letcher, Virginia’s
Civil War governor, and Sandie Pendleton, Lee’s Chief of
Staff, among others. It will be worth the effort.
Do you like an article in the Sentinel? Hate one? Disagree or have a correction? Do you have a Civil War travel moment you would like to share, no matter how long ago it was?
We are anxious to hear your comments, suggestions, submissions, etc. to the newsletter. Just e-mail them to Editor Steve
Rolfe, [email protected], or see him at a meeting.
How Much Did They Earn?
So you think you’re underpaid, right? Member Bob
Willey prompted us to look into these figures from a recent
mailing of his. With his numbers and some internet searching,
here are the approximate monthly pay scales for most ranks in
the Union army during the war. This even includes a couple of
non-combatant positions. See how you stack up.
Lieutenant General
$ 778.00
Major General
$ 457.00
Brigadier General
$ 315.00
Colonel
$ 212.00
Lieutenant Colonel
$ 198.00
Major
$ 179.00
Captain
$ 120.50
First Lieutenant
$ 110.50
Second Lieutenant
$ 105.50
Sergeant Major
$ 21.00
First Sergeant
$ 20.00
Quartermaster Sergeant
$ 17.00
Sergeant
$ 17.00
Corporal
$ 13.00
Private
$ 13.00
Hospital Steward
$ 22.00
Female Nurse
$ 6.00
And, if you have looked at USCT pay rates or have
even seen the movie Glory, you will remember that a private
in the USCT ranks earned only about half the pay of white
troops, meaning they were putting their lives on the line for
about what a female nurse made.
Special Thanks!
The photos of the Ed Bearss event on page one were
taken by Martha Smith, a friend of president Kevin Shiflet
She is now a friend to the roundtable, too. Thanks for donating your time and effort, Martha! If you would like to see
more photos from the evening, just go to our website,
www.mccwrt-in.org/Bearss/bearss.html, where there are
many more shots of what was our most successful event ever.
We hope and intend to do it again down the road.
Special thanks also to Dr. Jeff Allen, a member who
put Mr. Bearss up in his guest suite at home and saved the
roundtable a significant expense for a hotel.
*****
Quote of the Month #2
On the eve of the Battle of Antietam, the commander of
the First Division of the XII Corps of the Union Army (which
included the 27th IN), Alpheus Williams, wrote home to his
wife:
“There was a half dreamy sensation about it all, but
with a certain impression that the morrow was to be great with
the future of our country. So much responsibility, so much intense, future anxiety.”
The Jackson grave and monument at Stonewall Jackson
Memorial Cemetery in Lexington, VA...and some of the
ever-present lemons lying in the grass at its base.
*****
Quote of the Month #1
One unknown Union general saw his troops disappear into the Sunken Road at Antietam, and was heard to say,
"God save my poor boys."
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MCCWR Roster of Honor
Capt. Ephraim Waterman Wiley, Co. H, 8th Maine Inf.—Grandfather of former MCCWR President David Wiley. Present or
active at Port Royal, Fort Pulaski, Drewry’s Bluff, Cold Harbor, Chaffin’s Farm, Deep Bottom, Spring Hill, White Oak Road, Fort
Gregg, Fort Baldwin, Petersburg and Appomattox.
Sgt. Charles Thomas Shanner, Co. A, 63rd Indiana Volunteer Inf.- Great-grandfather to MCCWR board member John Crosby.
Chattanooga-Atlanta Campaign, Clay Springs, Battle of Atlanta.
Col. James McMannomy, Commander, 63rd Indiana Volunteer Inf.- Ancestor of MCCWR member Matt Hoagland. Second
Manassas, fought Morgan’s Raiders at Shepherdsville, Kentucky.
Pvt. William Nicholas Shiflet, Co. I, 10th Alabama Infantry—2nd Great Grand Uncle to Kevin Shiflet, MCCWR member. Engaged, to some degree, at Dranesville, Yorktown, Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Gaines Mill, Frazier’s Farm, Second Manassas, Harpers Ferry, Sharpsburg, Hazel River, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Second Cold Harbor, Petersburg, High
Bridge, Farmville and Appomattox. Pvt. Shiflet is only one of a total of seventeen of Kevin’s ancestors who served the Confederacy,
including thirteen cousins, two third great granduncles and two second great granduncles.
Jacob Mann, Co. A, 16th Iowa Inf.- Ancestor of Allan Sather, MCCWR member. Fought at Resaca, Adairsville, New Hope
Church, Kennesaw Mountain, Peachtree Creek, and Bald Hill (Atlanta) where he was captured and sent to Andersonville Prison.
Sgt. Miles M. Oviatt, US Marine Corps- Great grandfather of Mary Pat Livingston, member MCCWR. Served aboard USS Vanderbilt, USS Brooklyn. Fought in Battles of Mobile Bay and Fort Fisher. Commended for Medal of Honor for his service at Mobile
Bay. Voyages included south Atlantic, Indian Ocean chasing blockade runners and capturing those renegades ships.
Pvt. Luther Oviatt, Pennsylvania 14th Cavalry, Co. I- Gr-Gr-Gr Uncle of Mary Pat Livingston, member MCCWR. Harper's Ferry, Monocacy Bridge protection of B&O RR. Died at Hammond Hospital, Point Lookout while on duty. Buried Arlington Cemetery.
Pvt. Cyrenas A. Young, 85th New York Infantry, Co K.- Oviatt ancestor of Mary Pat Livingston. Plymouth, Kingston, New
Bern, Petersburg, Suffolk. Spent time at Andersonville Prison, then sent to Florence Prison where he died days before the war ended.
Cpl. James Dickson- 10th Wisconsin Infantry, Co. D; 3rd great grandfather of MCCWR member Scott Schroeder. His only real
engagement was at the Battle of Perryville where he was killed in action.
Pvt. William Taylor Neville- 8th Iowa Infantry, Co. A; 3rd great grandfather of MCCWR member Scott Schroeder. Engagements:
Battle of Shiloh, Vicksburg, Red River Campaign. Captured at Shiloh in the Hornets’ Nest. Exch. Oct. ’62 and returned to his unit.
Reuben Newman—27th Indiana Infantry, Co. I, “Putnam County Grays”- Great-great-grandfather of member Eric Newman.
Wounded at Antietam. Also fought at Gettysburg, Winchester, etc. Served Aug. ‘61-Nov. ‘64. Died June 13, 1905. Buried in New
Providence Cemetery in Putnam County, IN.
Contact Information
President
Secretary, newsletter ed.
Treasurer
Hospitality
Programs
Programs
Programs (Chair)
Board Rep & tech help
Board Rep & tech help
Kevin Shiflet
Steve Rolfe
Larry Cady
Allan Sather
John Crosby
Ray Beeker
Scott Schroeder
Rick Watson
Randy Stevenson
361-7491
322-0628
935-6124
876-8003
339-2572
331-8925
876-9751
332-4483
824-5284
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[Anyone is welcome to attend board meetings on the first Tuesday of each month at 11:30 at the History Center.]
Monroe County Civil War Roundtable
c/o Monroe County History Center
202 E. 6th St.
Bloomington, IN 47408
812-332-2517
http://www.mccwrt-in.org/
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150th Anniversary Events Page and More!
[It is the 150th anniversary of the war and there are so many special events scheduled in the upcoming months that we
have added this page with anything that might be of interest to members and that are not too distant. If you have material to contribute to this “we-will-publish-it-as-long-as-we-have-stuff” page, send it to Secretary Steve Rolfe at [email protected]]
Civil War Trust 150th Events Site– The Civil War Trust is an excellent resource for information on both the timeline and upcoming events for the Sesquicentennial of the war. Just go to www.civilwar.org/150th-anniversary/150-events/.
The Civil War in Missouri Exhibit– Missouri History Museum, St. Louis– Now thru March, 2013- Explore the story of the Civil
War in Missouri. Through documents, objects, and interactive activities you will get a view of this pivotal conflict in an immersive
and engaging way only possible here. http://www.mohistory.org/node/4591
Lew Wallace Study and Museum– Crawfordsville, IN, is the home of perhaps the state’s most famous general of the war. Wallace,
and the Civil War controversy arising from his division’s “tardiness” during the first day of the Battle of Shiloh, was the subject of
his biographer, Gail Stephens, when she spoke at our roundtable last year. You can “read all about it” in her excellent new book
Shadow of Shiloh: General Lew Wallace in the Civil War which is available in the Monroe County History center gift shop.
Missouri Civil War History– The Secretary of the State of Missouri herself, Robin Carnahan, has requested that we pass along the
website for the new digital history collections for the state on-line at http://www.sos.mo.gov/mdh/CivilWar/Resources.asp#coll.
These include Community and Conflict: The Civil War in the Ozarks, St. Louis Daily Republican Newspaper: 1861-1865 and
St. Louis Area Civil War Digitization Project.
Kentucky’s Generals- “Kentuckians in the Civil War” is an ongoing exhibit of portraits of prominent native sons of the state who
were US and CS generals at the Battle of Richmond Visitors’ Center I Richmond, KY. Contact [email protected].
Battle of Perryville Reenactment, Oct. 5-7, 2012, Perryville, KY. This should be perhaps the biggest reenactment in the Midwest,
done on one of the most pristine and well-preserved CW battlefields for a long time. For details, contact Kurt Holman at Perryville
State Battlefield. http://parks.ky.gov/parks/historicsites/perryville-battlefield/default.aspx
Battle of Camp Wildcat Reenactment, near London, KY, Oct. 20-21, 2012. http://wildcatreenactment.org/
Stones River Civil War Symposium - Oct. 26-27, Murfreesboro, TN. http://www.nps.gov/stri/index.htm
Southern Indiana Civil War Roundtable– Evansville- Upcoming meetings and topics:
October 18, 2012 — Vincent Moran — Historic Newburgh Film
November 15, 2012 — Craig Berkeley — Ind. Troops at Gettysburg
December 20, 2012 — Trivia Contest/Show & Tell
[Contact Tom Murray if you have questions or need directions. [email protected]]
Civil War Medicine—Sponsored by the Lexington History Museum: It will be a double feature starting at 7:00 pm, October 5,
2012 to be held at the Arts Place, N. Mills Ave in downtown Lexington, Ky. It’s a fundraiser - tickets $15.00:
7pm - 8pm "Civil War Medicines, Infectious Disease & Immunity”
8pm - 9pm "Civil War Feuds: A Family Tradition"
[There will also be a Civil War medicine living history program at the Battle of Perryville reenactment on Sunday, October 7.]
*****
More Quotes of the Month
[All concern the Battle of Antietam]
"The smoke, the noise, the artillery is crashing in from all directions, It's just a concentrated terror." - Keith Snyder, a park ranger at Antietam.
"The thing about Antietam is it's a very personal battle," Snyder adds. "The vast majority of combat here is done at very close range — 100 yards and closer.
It's savage and personal. So when you pop out, the enemy is right there."
“It was a dreadful scene. The dead and dying lay thick on the field like harvest sheaths...Prayers were mingled with oaths, and midnight hid all distinction
between blue and gray.” - Henry Kyd Douglas, one of Jackson’s aides, who had grown up near the battlefield.
If you have information about an upcoming event that does not appear here, or if you
want to share a book review, a Civil War travel experience or even comment on anything you see in this newsletter, just e-mail the editor, Steve Rolfe, at
[email protected] and we will make every effort to include it in the next issue.
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