Tag: Virginia

Above: Early recruiting poster for United States Colored Troops.  Click photo to read about the USCT’s history during the Battle of Nashville

CSA: When Confederate General James Thadeus Holtzclaw Complimented a “Black “ Union Regiment! (10.11.2025)

General Holzclaw Stated, “Five separate colour-bearers, one after the other, seized the fallen flag and attempted to plant it over our works. Each one was shot-down. Urged on by their White Officers – these Black soldiers repeatedly surged against the breastworks. They came only to die!” Indeed, so impressed by the bravery of these Black soldiers was General Holzclaw, that he cited their bravery in his official “Battle Report”. This would be read by the likes of Robert E Lee and Jefferson Davis – so such a report contained much significance. Although the Union would win this battle overall – it did not prevail on this small part of the Nashville battlefield. Of course, such stubborn Confederate action only delayed the inevitable defeat – but it did give the Black Regiments (there others that fought during this battle and even around this area) a chance to show the world what they were capable of doing. The Irish-British (Confederate) General Patrick Clayburne 9who had died at the Battle of Franklin) had suggested to Jefferson Davis that the slaves of the South should be “freed” and co-opted into the Confederate Army – but his idea fell on deaf-ears.

Continue reading

Battle of Gettysburg - Painting by Paul Philippoteaux

CSA: Confederate Army Uniforms, Hats, Ranks & Badges c. 1861! (27.4.2025)

Sometimes, CSA Units proudly wore “Blue” – whilst certain Union Units proudly wore “Grey”. Both sides also possessed Units that dressed (and acted) like English Red-Coats – a designation that then sent shudders through most people due to the reputation the Red-Coats possessed – namely that of strict discipline and ruthless close-quarter-fighting (all wounded were bayoneted as an act of compassion – due to the lack of any reliable medical treatment). English Red-Coats would march indifferently into enemy-fire – safe in the belief that once the distance was closed – the enemy would pay the price. The CSA Units attempted to replicate this attitude and make the Union pay for the damage its forces inflicted upon the Southern States.

Continue reading

Dead Confederate sharpshooters of Hood's Division among the rocks in Devil's Den in front of Little Round Top.

CSA: Remembering the Bravery of “Irish” Company “K” – 15th Alabama – Little Round-Top [2.7.1863] – Gettysburg! (3.4.2025)

The weather was hot – and the Confederates had to advance over open ground before storming an inclined slope (in the form of a steep hill) – with the intention of sweeping the Federals off its top and consolidating the victory. The previous day had seen the Confederates sweep the Federals out of West and Central Gettysburg – and into the hills to its East. Washington was just 80 miles to the South – and legend has it that Lincoln was packing his belongings to flee! I have audio-typed part of a chapter from Stephen Sears’ book – carefully reproducing the text from an Audible edition (in my native British English). This provides a general background to the battle – but does not mention the Irish specifically – other than one or two fighting for the Union. For the story of “Company K” of the 15th Alabama Regiment of the Confederate States of America (CSA) – we must turn to the excellent work of Phillip Thomas Tucker – who has produced an excellent book examining the contribution to the Confederate cause made by the Irish!

Continue reading

Stephen Spencer West Co. I “the Granville Stars” 23rd NC Infantry CSA. He was born in Oxford, Granville County, North Carolina in 1837. He was killed in action during the Battle of Chancellorsville on May 2, 1863

CSA: Remembering the [1863] Bravery of the 23rd North Carolina Infantry Regiment [and Other Carolina Men] – at Gettysburg! (27.3.2025)

Jefferson had to draw from a limited pool of men (compared to the North – which possessed an endless supply of recruits – as every newly arrived migrant was enrolled into the US Army) – Jefferson managed to assemble around 80,000 (aged 12-60) – gave every man a uniform, hat and pair of boots, and ensured all were armed and fed. The idea was to Punish the Lincoln Administration that had tried on numerous occasions to militarily invade and subjugate the South. It was General Lee who suggested to Jefferson Davis that an invasion into the North – and a decisive military victory near Washington – might force Lincoln to sue for peace. Lincoln, however, had other ideas, and refused any such compromise, stating that he strove for the utter destruction of the South.

Continue reading

Possibly a a Photograph of the "Philadelphia Greys"

CSA: General Robert E Lee Sues for “Peace” [1863] – Pennsylvanian “Minutemen” Non-Existent! (17.3.2025)

This reflected a remarkable situation. A Confederate Army was riding rampant through the Pennsylvanian countryside – the State within which Washington DC is situated – and yet “no one” amongst the young, elderly, disabled or wounded men (considered medically “unfit” to join the Regular Army due to ill-health or age) were prepared to defend the Union. Within the city of Philadelphia, 8,000 men of the already existing “Philadelphia Greys” bravely volunteered to march to the front in defence of the Union. Due to the general lack of volunteers from the ordinary population – the city of New York sent 12,000 of its own existing Militiamen to supplement the regular Union Army. How brave these men were! Militiamen are often called “Sunday Soldiers” – as they are working men, fathers and patriarchs who live in society, work and look after their families. They come together once a week, once a month, or just a few times a year to compare notes, fire their weapons, and discuss homestead self-defence. They are not frontline soldiers. Of course, Confederate citizens showed the same extent of bravery when the time came. 

Continue reading

Confederate Museum - Louisiana

CSA: Email – Did Louisiana “Natives” [Creoles] Fight for the Confederacy? (6.2.2025)

I know this must be true, because every so often in the biographies of Union soldiers and Officers, I read that the dastardly Confederates had been fielding Armies of “Negroes” and “Indians”, etc. Furthermore, some of the exploits of these non-White Confederates are well-recorded. On the other hand, there are Civil War authors who state that there was never any non-White Confederate soldiers and what has been mistaken as such – were unarmed slaves forced into Confederate uniform. We know that this cannot be true – because Black Veterans of the Confederate Army campaigned to have their names and exploits recorded on official Confederate War Memorials after the war. My real objective is to work my way into this subject and discover primary sources that record “Chinese” people fighting in the Confederacy – as this is my academic subject (Chinese Studies). My enquiry below is essentially whether the “Louisiana Natives” were the same outfit as the “Louisiana Creoles”? Of course, I might be wrong and could be confusing two separate and distinct formations (the former “Black” – the latter “Mixed”) – as the book above seems to be suggesting that the “Cannoniers” were a well-known Unit. Either way, for the progression of research – no stone must be left unturned!

Continue reading

1 2