Tag: Virginia

Library of Congress“Dead Horse of Confederate Colonel; both killed at Battle of Antietam,” by Alexander Gardner

CSA: Piles of Thread-Bare Confederates at Antietam [Sharpsburg] – Notes on Their Sacrifice! (31.1.2025)

The Union Army paid the farmer $1 per dead Confederate body and the farmer made $60 out of the deal. He dug a new well in a different place for the cost of $2 – making a wartime profit of $58. No one knows the names of these Confederate soldiers – and if it was not for a report being made by the Union soldiers concerned – no one would know about these men today. Of course, there was great bravery on both sides – but the spin placed on the war by the winners has skewed how the Confederacy is viewed today. These Confederate men (and boys) advanced into the Union fire with the utmost discipline and determination. They believed 100% in their cause – which was for the freedom of their individual countries (termed “States”). At the time, this war was not only about slavery – but has been made ONLY about slavery since 1865. Many believed the federalisation of the United States was a betrayal of the 1776 War of Independence – and nothing short of a great evil!

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CSA Aeronaut - Captain John Randolph Bran!

CSA: Confederate Aeronautical Ballon Corps – Peninsula Campaign [1862]! (10.1.2025)

For safety reasons, the Confederates decided to transport their balloon via the water when not in operation (to protect it from enemy fire). The silk balloon was loaded onto the armed (CSA) tug “Teaser” – to transport it from the Richmond Gas Works up to the front-lines along the James River. This system, however, eventually led to the demise of the Gazelle. The Teaser, loaded with the Gazelle, ran into Union Naval Forces patrolling the James River, and was fired upon and captured by the US Marines carried aboard the USS Maratanza. The Confederate balloon was given to the Union expert – Thaddeus Lowe – who cut it up into scraps to give as souvenirs. Some of these pieces are still in existence. The Union lost the Peninsula Campaign due to a lack of reliable military intelligence. The Confederate Aeronautical Balloon Corps was abolished on the 4th July, 1862 – following the retreat of Union Forces out of the South.

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An Injured Stonewall Jackson!

How Confederate General “Stonewall” Jackson Overcame Disability! (20.11.2024)

The Ancient Greek idea of inner strength – mediated through a cultivated wisdom – was the Classical model Stonewall Jackson used to enhance his own health and social standing. Due to his honesty and humility, those who personally encountered his personality were always drawn toward his charisma. Although his family were not willing to “waste” money on a military education for their son, a friend of the family was made aware of an unusual Scholarship being offered which permitted “one” successful candidate to enter West Point to train as an “Officer” in the US Army. Around five very clever men competed for this Scholarship – and it was predictably won by an impoverished “Lawyer”. However, this “Lawyer” came from a privileged background and lasted just one-day when subjected to military discipline at West Point. The Scholarship was once again thrown open to the four remaining men – through another round of examinations – and Stonewall Jackson prevailed. This is how Stonewall Jackson gained access to West Point.

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Ruckersville [2009]: Chris Chan Is Working On It! (4.9.2023)

Interestingly, Robert Chandler (a US Army Veteran who fought in Korea) – was a very successful engineer in his civilian life – whose many different patents also contributed to the development of the 3-D Printer! Apparently, the family made a comfortable living from these patents whilst Robert was alive and it is something of a mystery as to ‘why’ this income never continued to help Chris and Barbara after his death in 2011. Furthermore, although Chris suffers from Autism – he made an attempt to keep his bedroom relatively free of the clutter that dominated the rest of the living space. Robert Chandler is well aware of the reality (and ‘danger’) of ‘hoarding’ – and explains this to Chris whilst not realising the camera is still running and whilst assuming that the internet is situated in a specific location somewhere in the outer world! He is referred to as the ‘Lumberjack’ – as he once implied he could ‘cut-down’ the internet!

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The Revolutionary John Brown (1800-1859)

He was a revolutionary who raised a small but determined force of liberal white people and enslaved and free black people. He procured a large amount of arms in 1859 with the intention of setting large numbers of enslaved Africans free. Unfortunately the slaves did not rise-up and Brown and his small group was left to fight the US Army and the angry town’s people on its own.

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