Orange
County Civil War Association. 
Vol. I-NO. 2 “NO TERMS EXCEPT UNCONDITIONAL AND IMMEDIATE SURRENDER” February 2004
*
IMPORTANT NEWS
Orange
County Civil War Association. *
Call to arms! Rebel invasion at Saint Catherine’s!
Reports of a Rebel invasion of Anaheim have been received by this headquarters. All forces are ordered immediately to Anaheim to drive back the invaders.o
Schedule of Events
Friday 1200 site open to set up.
Saturday:
0800 Reenactor registration.
0930 Gates open to public.
1000 Officers meeting.
1200 Colors, Battle of New Market and VMI Honors Ceremony.
1330 Officers Meeting
1430 Battle.
1700 Event closed to public.
1800 Free Reenactors meal. Raffle follows.
Sunday:
0800 Reenactor registration.
0800 Church services.
0930 Gates open to public.
0930 Officers meeting.
1100 Colors, Battle of New Market and VMI Honors ceremony
1300 Officers meeting.
1400 Battle.
1600 Event closed to public.
The Nuns sell donuts and coffee and the parents sell hamburger lunch to raise additional funds. Saturday is the big school children’s day when the majority of school field trip busses are scheduled.o
A $2.00 donation from reenactors is requested.o
The School is located at 215 Harbor Blvd. in Anaheim and was built in the late 1800’s as a girl’s orphanage. It currently serves as a Boy’s Military school, K-12.o
The VMI Honors Ceremony at the first battle of each day was started because they had alumni at VMI. The Commandant at VMI sent the school the design of the VMI flag for the school to copy and use during the battles. Two VMI cadets taught the Honors Ceremony to the cadets.
o
Although very limited because of the size of the field with Scott Harrington and Reed Settle as brigade Commanders the battles are done well and safely.o
Parking is limited to on-street. Please plan to arrive early for the best parking locations.
Camping may be limited, please bring only the basics. Please contact your NCOs on what to bring.
oHeadquarters and the 2nd US Infantry will host President and Mrs. Lincoln. Proper respect will be afforded the President and Mrs. Lincoln as well as to all general officers.
As usual, the Appomattox surrender is scheduled to take place each day. With drill, two battles each day, and the Appomattox scenario, it will be a busy weekend for all. Huzzah to the 116th PVI, 2nd US Infantry, and Headquarters!o
*
UPCOMING EVENTS
Below is our latest schedule.Please watch the schedule for date/event changes and send Email if you have a question.
o
February 7/8 Saint Catherine’s School CW Reenactment Anaheim, CA
February 14/15 President’s Weekend Living History Event San Juan Capistrano, CA
March 13/14 Civil War ReenactmentVista Antique Gas & Steam Museum Vista, CA
March 20 Swallow’s Day Parade San Juan Capistrano
April 3-4 Prado Regional Park CW Reenactment Chino
April 17/18 Ft. Tejon CW Reenactment
May 15 Torrance Armed Forces Day Parade
May or June Marching Through History Event -?TBD
July 4 Fort MacArthur Event
July 10/11 Civil War ReenactmentVista Antique Gas & Steam Museum Vista, CA
August 1 Drill Day – Location TBD
August 21/22 Fort Tejon Invitational CW Reenactment
September 4/5 Central Park Civil War Reenactment Huntington Beach, CA
October 1/3 Kearney Park CW Reenactment Fresno
October 23/24 Marching Through History Prado Park
November 6/7 Moorpark Civil War Reenactment Moorpark, CA
December 4/5 Drum Barracks – Living History Event Wilmington2005: January 22 or 29 Winter Cotillion
*
San Juan Capistrano Event
Details will be provided at the Saint Catherine’s Event and via Email. Details are still being worked out. Information will be distributed as soon as possible.
o
For new members, this event features President Lincoln arriving by train at the AMTRAK station at SJC. The President is welcomed by the unit, a short speech is given, and a 21 gun salute is fired.o
The President tours Los Rios Street (old town), presents a speech at the SJC Mission, and visits with the public. Lunch and refreshments are provided by the local businesses.o
This year, there’s an excellent chance the event will be filmed and shown on the Real Orange program. Don’t miss this opportunity to visit with the public, recruit, and have fun.
oSPECIAL EDITION OF THE DISPATCH
o
A special edition of the Dispatch will be distributed at Saint Catherine’s. Included will be pictures from the cotillion.
o
VISTA EVENT -- March 13 and 14
o
Our Vista Event is coming along very well. The following information was provided by Ed Mann.
o
The Fourth Annual Civil War Reenactment at the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum in Vista (next to Oceanside) is only about six weeks away. The event gets better each year, so I hope that you and your unit have made plans to attend the event on March 13-14.o
Because we have outgrown our old bivouac areas due to increased reenactor attendance, the first year's battlefield will serve as the bivouac site for both sides. For those of you who have never been there, the new bivouac site is approximately the size of the battlefield and bivouac sites, combined, at Fort Tejon. There will be plenty of elbow room. We will use the same battlefield as last year. It is in the vicinity of 500 yards long and 100 yards wide. It will offer plenty of maneuver area.o
There will be a low cost meal on Saturday night and a low cost breakfast on Sunday morning. The "grub" prepared by the museum staff and volunteers has always been a big hit with the reenactors, so keep that in mind when making your plans for the weekend.o
For the campaigners, there will be separate camps available for those wishing to be apart from the main bivouac areas.
There will be a free reenactor raffle on Sunday. You must be present to win!o
Sutlers, are welcome to attend the event. The only fee is the donation of an unrestricted $50.00 gift certificate to be used for the reenactor raffle. Please contact me and give me your space requirements so that we can reserve space for you.o
For those reenactors under 18 who will be attending the event without parents present, please contact me via email for a waiver/release that must be signed by a parent. Please don't show up at the reenactment without the proper signature! Commanders, please see that your younger members are provided for in this regard.o
The minimum age for combatants on the field will be 14.o
In general, the safety rules and regulations used at the Moorpark event will be applied. These are essentially slightly modified FTHA rules and regulations.o
Below is the tentative schedule for the event. You can expect additions to the schedule prior to the event.
oSaturday, March 13
9:00 Officers' Call-Federal and Confederate Unit Commanders (Confederate Brigade HQ)
9:15 Officers' Call (Battalion Commanders and above)
10:00 Event officially begins. All vehicles out of camp
11:30 Horse race (Confederate), Assembly and Weapons Inspection
12:00 First Engagement
12:45 Artillery, infantry, and cavalry demonstration (field)
1:30 Meet Mr. Lincoln and the General Grant (field)
1:45 Horse Race (Union)
2:30 Assembly and Weapons Inspection
3:00 Second Engagement, immediately followed by the Gettysburg Address
5:00 Rations call (discretionary)
10:00 TAPS; quiet in camp.o
Sunday, March 14
7:00 Reveille
8:00 Church call (Central area)
9:00 Officers' Call--Federal and Confederate Battalion Commanders and above (Federal Brigade HQ)
10:00 Public is admitted–Living History
10:30 Assembly and Weapons Inspection
11:00 Third Engagement
11:45 Artillery, Infantry and Cavalry Demonstration (field)
12:15 Meet Mr. Lincoln and General Grant (field)
12:30 Horse Race
1:30 Assembly and Weapons Inspection.
2:00 Fourth Engagement, followed by Gettysburg Address
2:45 Raffle for reenactors (Must be present to win!)
3:00 Break camp as necessary.o
DIRECTIONS
From LA: Take the I-5 to Oceanside. Merge onto CA 76E. Go 6.9 miles and turn right onto N. Santa Fe Avenue. Proceed south 2.2 miles to the museum at 2040 N. Santa Fe Avenue in Vista.
o
From Riverside: Take the I-15 to CA 76W. Continue west toward Vista until you come to N. Santa Fe Avenue. Exit and turn left. Proceed south 2.2 miles to the museum at 2040 N. Santa Fe Avenue in Vista.
oAs in the past, there will be no fee for reenactors.
o116th PVI HOME PAGE
FROM CAPTAIN GRACE
COMPANY COMMANDERASSAULT COLUMNS
o
Many times at reenactments, we are formed into small columns to engage the enemy. Assault columns were used extensively during the Civil war. I recently read of such a column used by General C. F. Smith, it 1862, at Fort Donelson. I believe this is a classic use of the assault column. Perhaps some day, we will have the opportunity to use this formation (in a reduced size). The following is from From Fort Henry to Corinth, by M.F. Force.o
“The assaulting force was formed in column of battalions of five companies each. The Second Iowa was in advance, with General Smith in its center, and followed in order by the Fifty-Second Indiana, Twenty-fifth Indiana, Seventh Iowa, and Fourteenth Iowa. Birge’s sharpshooters, deployed on each flank opened a skirmishing fire. The column advanced silently, without firing, crushed down the abattis, covered the hill-side with battalions, heedless of the fire from the garrison, pressed on to the works, leaped over, formed in line, and drove the defending regiment to further shelter.”
o
I have pictured this assault and it is awesome. As reenactors, we must continue to study the tactics used by the Army during this time period. The assault of the Union Soldiers in “Cold Mountain” was just as awesome but lacked the depth of this column. Perhaps some day we will be fortunate to use this formation. It would be breathtaking.
o
Leadership in any assault is critical. As you see, General Smith was IN FRONT and IN THE CENTER of his assault column. That is leadership.o
Until next month, I remain honored as your commander.o
David Grace, Captain
Commanding Company
o8
o
Friday, June 3rd, 1864 – Cold Harbor
o
The position of the Army today is as follows. The 9th Corps (Burnsides) on the right, The 5th Corps Warrens next, The 18th Smiths next, The 6th Wrights next. The 2nd Hancocks (ours) on the left.
o
At Sunrise our Division Barlows advanced on the enemies works. Charged them, captured 3 cannons and several hundred prisoners. Our second line failed to come up soon enough and the Rebels rallied and forced us back, but not to the old lines, only a few yards and they could not get us any farther.o
We lay about forty yards apart. If they showed themselves we let them have it and they returned the compliment when they had the chance.o
The McKean Brigade was within fifteen yards of the rebels, we had to hold our position, there was no chance for any retreating, as to expose ones person was sure death. So we had to lay, the fighting going continuously.o
They were using solid shot, shell, grape and canister and small arms. At nine O’clock our Regiment went on picket we had to fight our way to the Picket line.o
Both armies was like hornets. We dug holes with our bayonets to protect ourselves and more than one poor fellow was shot before his little dugout would protect him. We lay there expecting every minute to be gobbled up and sent south.o
Ed: Wording and spelling is unchanged from the text.
Ballantine Books, 1989, Edited by Menge and Shimrak
oHEADQUARTERS NEWS
*
FROM PRESIDENT LINCOLN "LIBERTY"o
I have always been opinionated about why the South wanted their freedom and yet denied the same from the slaves. As you know, I like to read – poetry, fables, and most of all Shakespeare. I was dogged about how to compare liberty to a group of Baltimore citizens. Maryland, a border state, has not always been a strong supporter of mine.
o
When I read an Aesop fable, it came to me. At that speech in Baltimore, I said the following: “The shepherd drives the wolf from the sheep’s throat, for which the sheep thanks the shepherd as a liberator, while the wolf denounces him for the same act as a destroyer of liberty, especially as the sheep was a black one.”o
I think the message regarding liberty was received. The North being the shepherd and the South being the wolf. What could have been clearer than that?o
o
FROM GENERAL GRANT -- "GAINING THE INITIATIVE"
o
Wars are won by the generals who seize and maintain the initiative. Few wars have been won by sitting behind fortifications and waiting for the enemy to come.o
When I departed Cairo with my army to attack Fort Henry, I was taking a serious chance – what if General Sydney Johnston attacked toward Cairo? I would have to abandon my plans and react to Sydney Johnston.o
I knew Sydney Johnston and had been following his movements. I did not believe he was bold enough to make such a move. It was a gamble, but the opportunity to open up the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers was too inviting.o
So we loaded the transports and moved on Fort Henry. We disembarked the troops and marched towards the Fort. By the time we arrive, Commodore Foote gunboats had already forced the remaining garrison to surrender. During our advance the majority of the garrison escaped to Fort Donelson some 12 miles away.o
Waiting only for the weather to clear, I moved immediately upon Fort Donelson. We seized the initiative and besieged the fort. Although the garrison tried to breakout, and eventually opened an escape route, they failed to take advantage of the situation. The next day it was over when the garrison surrendered. Some 12,000 rebels fell into our hands. More importantly, the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers were opened and this forced the Rebels to abandon Kentucky and most of Tennessee.o
o
FROM GENERAL CANBY -- "RAIDING"o
In early 1865, I received orders from General Grant that he was sending me 23,000 troops from General Thomas’s command. The General wanted me to raid from Mobile into the interior of Alabama.o
The troops were to live off the country and Grant’s instructions were quite explicit. “It is important to prevent, as far as possible, the planting of a crop this year and to destroy their railroads, machine-shops, &c. It is also important to get all the Negro men we can before the enemy put them in the ranks.”o
Raids were not new to me; I had sent cavalry into Mississippi to disrupt General Hood’s communications before Nashville.
Halleck warned me that Grant was becoming impatient at delays and too ponderous preparations. I decided to move at once.
o
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
*8
During the battle of Shiloh, General Grant sent an aide to find General Sherman for an appraisal of the situation.
The aide found Sherman leaning against a tree. When the aide asks the general for a report, Sherman stated: “Tell Grant if he has any men to spare I can use them. If not, I will do the best I can. We are holding them pretty well just now. Pretty well-but it’s hot as hell?”
o
o
o
o
o
o
What was unknown to Davis was that the British had accumulated a huge inventory of raw cotton during 1860 to last for two years! In addition, colonies in Egypt and India begin growing cotton thus placing less reliance on Southern cotton imports.o
On the other hand, in 1859 England imported 90,000 quarters of wheat from the North. This rose to 3,500,000 quarters in 1861 and an astronomical 5,000,000 quarters in 1862. The North owed its harvest through the use of machinery invented by Cyrus McCormick – a Southerner!
o
o
o
After 4 days of drill, Sigel planned a mock battle on the 5th day. Poor planning so confused the 34th Massachusetts Infantry they became separated and lost. Couriers were sent out to find the lost regiment. Needless to say, this campaign so far did not instill the highest confidence in Sigel’s men.
o
To make matters worse, while the mock battle was occurring, Mosby and his guerrillas raided Union wagon trains and captured Sigel’s personal baggage. Guerrillas in the area forced Sigel to assign 400 cavalry to escort each wagon train. The farther Sigel marched, the weaker his army grew.o
On May 15, 1864, Confederates led by General John C. Breckinridge defeated Sigel at New Market, Virginia. Part of Breckinridge’s forces included the students from Virginia Military Institute.o
The Column has reeled,
but is not defeated.
In front of the guns,
They reform and attack.
Six times they have done it,
And six times retreated,
Twelve hundred they came,
And only two hundred go back.
Two hundred go back now
With chivalrous story,
The wild day is closed
In the night’s solemn shroud.
A thousand lie dead, but
Their death was a glory,
That calls not for tears
-the green badges are proud!o8
o
The Charge of the Irish Brigade at Marye’s Heights, Fredericksburg lasted only 20 minutes. A final charge was made towards the end of the Irish Brigade’s assault. Led by Colonel Mulholland (116PVI) and Major Horgan (88 NYSV), the Irish once again charged and came within 15 paces of the wall before a wall of shot, shell, and shrapnel shattered the regiments.
o
The charge was long remembered by both Rebels and Yankees. London Times correspondent Francis Lawley wrote: “Never at Fontenoy, Albuera, or Waterloo was more undaunted courage displayed by the sons of Erin.”o
The morning after the battle found only 287 men reporting to General Meagher. Stragglers reported in slowly. The final count: 545 men casualities of the 1300 who marched across that field into history and glory.o
o
GREAT VICTORY!
REBELS DRIVEN FROM CHATTANOOGANovember 30, 1863, 4:30 pm.
Army Rail Depot, Nashville, Tennessee.
o
My Dear Friends,
o
I write this from the depot en route to Cincinnati, where I have promised my father and wounded brother a visit for the holidays before retiring to the refuge of the Willard in Washington. I hope this finds each and every one of you in good health and safe from the deprivations and suffering of this War.o
The events of the last week will undoubtedly take their place among the great milestones of military history, certainly in the history of the present Rebellion. On the day following my last dispatch of the 24th, General Grant launched his main assault on Bragg's work atop Mission(ary) Ridge, southeast of Chattanooga, the forbidding crest from which his guns have glared menacingly down upon us for these two months. General Sherman was given the task of flanking Bragg's right, General Hooker the left, and General Thomas was charged with taking the center of the Confederate position.o
All three wings met with initial resistance from the Johnnies, who held their ground stubbornly, particularly Cleburne's men at Tunnel Hill on the north end of the ridge (it is a pity we did not grab up this Cleburne at the beginning of the War, as he has become one of the enemy's most outstanding field commanders, in spite of his foreign birth and aversion to the Peculiar Institution). The work on all fronts was slow and tedious at first, with little gained and mounting casualties, as our gallant lads wrestled with the abatis and other Rebel obstructions, the irregular landscape, and the omnipresent Tennessee mud.o
Then occurred one of the singularly most remarkable moments in this War to date. Without orders, several regiments of General Thomas's troops began to advance at a rapid pace up the slope of Mission Ridge, in the very face of the Rebel works. For some inexplicable reason (no doubt due in part to Bragg's persistent incompetence), the normally stalwart butternuts left their trenches and began to withdraw up the slope, perhaps intended as a move to strengthen their defenses at the top.o
Our boys, however, took this as a sign of panic and retreat, and their blood was up. A manly shout, audible to all of us on Orchard Knob, arose from the blue ranks, and the colors fluttered up the hill, with brave hands lifting the flag when a Rebel aim on the color guard found its mark. Many of the Confederates, astonished at the bold courage of our men, simply remained in their trenches and lifted their muskets, butt first, as a sign of surrender. Others dropped everything and ran, some taking a bullet in the back.o
Through my field glasses (and a telescope graciously erected near General Grant's command tent for our use), I could make out some of the Rebel officers, vainly struggling to restrain their men, and solitary Confederates making a gallant but tragic last stand to defend their position. The Rebel artillery and muskets continued to fire their rain of lead, but many of the guns were overshooting, due to the degree of the incline and the speed of the advance.o
General Grant, normally a man of marvelous composure, snapped at one of his aides, "Who ordered that charge?" and I heard the reply, "No one, Sir," and did not hear what the General responded, but I gathered that he soon held his breath with ours to await the outcome of this spontaneous assault. But before we could let out that breath, the charge was over, and Missionary Ridge was in Federal hands. A great cheer arose from the mountain, with some soldiers firing their own and the Rebels' guns in the air, and waving the captured Confederate colors in triumph. I looked immediately to General Grant, and noticed little change in his expression, except that I did see quite distinctly that his chest rose and fell in a sigh of relief, and he returned to his cigar as he issued orders to his courier.o
This great and successful assault put an end to the siege of Chattanooga, and Bragg's army soon retreated into northern Georgia. I have heard from a telegraph operator that President Lincoln literally jumped for joy when he heard the news in Washington, much to the surprise of his Cabinet members. This great victory will surely confirm General Grant's place in the national imagination as the Man of the Hour, as it were, and we all fully anticipate a promotion in the wind, certainly as deserved as it has been overdue.o
I have made some rough sketches of the assault, which I plan to complete and forward to our offices in New York during my winter hibernation at Willard's. Mr. Waud, my friend and colleague, will be engaged in similar artistic endeavors, as he has decided to complete a full painting on the subject of the Mission Ridge attack. Look to Harper's for the latest news on this campaign and those of the new year. May '64 bring an end to the Rebellion and a restoration of the Union, and a fulfillment of Mr. Lincoln's glorious words uttered at Gettysburg on the 19th - "a new birth of freedom" for our grand Republic.
o
Until then, I remain, Your servant,
o
James Allen Davis, Special Artist Correspondent, Harper's Weekly: A Journal of Civilization.
