The Civil War Sesquicentennial Photographic Project 2011-2015

Blog Title: The Civil War Sesquicentennial Photographic Project 2011 – 2015. I’ve had a photo hosting for some time now. When I started my Sesquicentennial project I wanted to separate it from the rest of the galleries and give some sense to the Civil War timeline. I have been following the events since the 1st Manassas / Bull Run event in Virginia. Each event I attend is entered with a single photo announcing the gallery. Now that I am near 80 posts I have noticed that the timeline is following the actual events. This last Autumn the Confederates moved into Maryland, retreated after Antietam, and held off the Federals until Lee could slip away to Fredericksburg, VA to set up the next major Federal loss that will occur this December.
When I started this the title came very easy. A defined a timeline, and a defined project scope. I am an architect and projects are what I do (and live for). The formality of the name was also influenced by Charles and Ray Eames, architects that branched out into film and other projects that interested them. Their most famous film, “The Powers of Ten” had a much longer formal name (Powers of Ten: A Film Dealing with the Relative Size of Things in the Universe and the Effect of Adding Another Zero) was the influence on my blog title.
I listed the blog but there are links to the website.
Paul

Finally got the photos processed and posted.

Infantry Company at Locust Grove November 2012

Private Hurley of 2nd Vermont  posted this on my web site but never donated anything.

Maryland My Maryland Christmas card

In early October 1862, following the carnage of Antietam, the major armies of both the Union and Confederacy were within 100 miles of Washington, DC. President Abraham Lincoln was worried but he had a plan. With elections coming up, Lincoln saw an opportunity both to end the war quickly and, perhaps, help with the upcoming mid-term elections. To forcefully push his plan, the President journeyed out to his field commander, General George McClellan, to urge him to rapidly move his forces between General Robert E Lee’s struggling army and the Confederate capital of Richmond.

Lee saw the danger immediately and began to march his troops south along the west side of the Blue Ridge. He knew of McClellan’s conservative style and developed his own plan to gain the time he needed to block McClellan’s movement toward Richmond. On October 28 Lee sent General JEB Stuart and a modest force of “but 1000“ cavalry and horse artillery with orders to delay McClellan’s very large force. McClellan’s advance units and JEB Stuart’s small force clashed around Unison in early November.

On October 31, Stuart, his dashing artillery officer John Pelham and a small handpicked band, seeking the enemy, rode from Bloomfield through the crossroads village of Unison (often still called Union at the time) and encountered Union pickets and the vanguard of front line Union forces arrayed along the Snickersville Turnpike. Behind them were 90,000 men, wagons and supplies in five corps. The small band of Confederates routed about 100 Union cavalry, chased them to Aldie, then withdrew.

On Sept. 22, 2011, Virginia’s State Review Board and Virginia’s Historic Resources Board both voted unanimously to place the 8,000-acre Unison Battlefield Historic District in the Virginia Landmarks Register. They simultaneously recommended to the National Park Service that the battlefield be placed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is expected to go on the National Register sometime this winter.Department of Historic Resources Director Kathleen Kilpatrick praised both the battlefield and the Unison Preservation Society for what they are doing for historic preservation in this region. She cited the pristine nature of the battlefield, with its farms, villages, historic dirt roads and no development, as one of best preserved battlefields and noted that more than half the battlefield is already under conservation easement.The Land Trust of Virginia, a major supporter of UPS and the battlefield project, calls the region one the best preserved most heavily easemented places in the nation. Being on the historic registers will make easements easier for landowners within the battlefield. Severaladditional battlefield easements are now pending.

Unison Preservation Society Link

Todd Kern leading Confederate forces near the Beaverdam Creek ford.

With events occurring almost every weekend I have fallen way behind on getting the images uploaded.

Canon night fire at Cedar Creek – October 2012

I sort of let my Flickr account die over the summer.  Even though there is so much activity in the groups and galleries I prefer my Smugmug account.  After I saw shots of Gbrug, Antietum and more I had to post.

13th Virginia about to take the field

The metro winds it way into Tyson’s Corner, Virginia.  The weekly challenge category is “mine”.  The town is not mine. The new still incomplete Metro line is not mine. The moon is not mine, but the shot is mine.   I think I am the only one that knows the spot and twice I have been there to shoot the progress of the construction.  The spot and time is MINE.

Unfinished Metro Bridge Dawn April 8, 2012

Dawn September 30, 2012

Here we go getting things complicated again.  I have been asked to provide CD/DVD of the event to several people.  I am going to try an experiment.  All of the details are not worked out and there seems to be some envelope stuffing on my end (I hate envelope stuffing), but if it is for a good cause I will try it.

I am thinking $60.00 a DVD.  The galleries, the ou-takes (withen reason) and any video.  If space is left over bonus footage of Lee Takes Command from last summer.  Another great event sponsored by Rear Rank Productions for a very good cause.  100% of the proceeds will be donated to the preservation of Civil War battlefield sites.

Leave feedback to let me know what you think about this new direction.  Please.

DVD Label 1

DVD Label 2

I entered this photo in a photo contest. The subject was “faceless portraits”  The moderators are from Australia so they probably never heard of Antietum.  Bold was my add.  You all are so far from just.  Maybe this will attract some others not knowing the work you all do.

“Paul Harris has served up something quite different from most of the images by presenting a portrait of a group rather than an individual. However, there is something about the combination of the sun and smoke, along with all the figures facing away from the camera that I found incredibly poignant. I don’t know the details of that particular battle but I can’t help feeling that they didn’t all survive.”

“I know these are just re-enactors, but it puts to mind soldiers facing battle throughout the ages. You do not see the fear, apprehension or any of the million emotions they are feeling on their faces, but you know it is there. The smoke adds to the effect plus the fact it was taken at dawn. How many would live to see the sun set?”

Dawn at the Cornfield – Antietam / Sharpsburg, Maryland USA

The second event around America‘s bloodiest day.  This event gave me a chance to capture some group portraits of the reenacting organizations that work hard to bring these events to life and keep the memory of this war alive. Thank you all for your hard work and dedication.

Antietam – Sharpsburg Galleries

Command staff of the 1st Legion, Provisional Army of the Confederate States.

Brigadier General Brian Gesuero Commander, 1st Legion, Provisional Army of the Confederate States and Mr. Patrick Falci portraying Lieutenant General Ambrose Powell Hill, Jr.

The battle opened at dawn  on September 17, 1862 with an attack down the Hagerstown Turnpike by the Union I Corps under Joseph Hooker. Hooker’s objective was the plateau on which sat the Dunker Church, a modest whitewashed building belonging to a local sect of German Baptists. Hooker had approximately 8,600 men, little more than the 7,700 defenders under Stonewall Jackson, and this slight disparity was more than offset by the Confederates’ strong defensive positions. Abner Doubleday‘s division moved on Hooker’s right, James Ricketts‘s moved on the left into the East Woods, and George Meade‘s Pennsylvania Reserves division deployed in the center and slightly to the rear. Jackson’s defense consisted of the divisions under Alexander Lawton and John R. Jones in line from the West Woods, across the Turnpike, and along the southern end of the Miller Cornfield. Four brigades were held in reserve inside the West Woods.
As the first Union men emerged from the North Woods and into the Cornfield, an artillery duel erupted. Confederate fire was from the horse artillery batteries under Jeb Stuart to the west and four batteries under Col. Stephen D. Lee on the high ground across the pike from the Dunker Church to the south. Union return fire was from nine batteries on the ridge behind the North Woods and twenty 20-pounder Parrott rifles, 2 miles (3 km) east of Antietam Creek. The conflagration caused heavy casualties on both sides and was described by Col. Lee as “artillery Hell”. Seeing the glint of Confederate bayonets concealed in the Cornfield, Hooker halted his infantry and brought up four batteries of artillery, which fired shell and canister over the heads of the Federal infantry, covering the field. All at once, the cornfield exploded into chaos as a savage battle raged through the area. Men beat each other over the heads with rifle butts and stabbed each other with bayonets. Officers rode around on their horses sweating and cursing and yelling orders no one could hear in the noise. Rifles became hot and fouled from too much firing. The air was filled with a hail of bullets and shells. The morning phase ended with casualties on both sides of almost 13,000, including two Union corps commanders.

Sunrise over the cornfield in Boonesboro, Maryland – the event site located a few miles from the actual Antietam Battlefield site

Confederate dead and wounded along Sharpsburg Pike “Bloody Lane”

Photo taken 19 September 1862. Courtesy of National Archives

On August 25th & 26th 2012 Prince William County sponsored the 150th Anniversary of the 2nd Manasas / Bull Run Remembrance Days.  A parade through the Old Town and activities throughout the weekend commemorated  the occasion.

Then on September 1, 2012 Fairfax County Parks Department sponsored the Chantilly / Ox Hill Remembrance on a small portion of the battlefield preserved to commemorate the battle.  The major portion of the site was lost to development many years ago with the building of Fair Oaks Mall.  With the help of preservationist and prominent citizens, the park was saved by development.  Today, it is a tribute to the only major battle to have occurred in Fairfax County, Virginia.

Group Portrait Before the Parade to Commemorate the Event

Wreath laying ceremony at the Monuments for Generals Kearny & Stevens. Both were Federal generals killed during the battle.

I was lucky to attend a presentation about Antietam by Edwin Bearss.  His PowerPoint presentation was one slide.  He spent an hour going through the events leading up to the battle and then described the battle in such detail in a way no one else can do.  Just amazing.  The guy is still going strong and will be reading names (along with many others) of those killed during the battle at the Antietam ceremony next month.  He was gracious enough to stand for a photograph.

Edwin Bearss – Civil War Historian

Photos of the 2nd Manassas event last weekend at Cedar Creek, Virginia.  Stay tuned for more over the next few days.  I had inside information as to where the Zouaves would fall and managed to get the entire decimation of the 5th New York Volunteers.   Click the image to go to the gallery.

5th New York Volunteer Infantry – Duryée’s Zouaves

The color version of this shot has become one of the most popular in the last few weeks.

Confederate Infantry Charge from the Woods

In 2012 Oak Hill Studio has received almost $ 700 in donations from print orders and digital downloads from those generous reenactors and spectators that have visited the site.  I am proud to say that the funds have been distributed to the organizations that sponsored the events of this past Spring.  These include: Appomattox County Historical Society (The Long Road Home), Friends of the Wilderness Battlefield (Spotsylvania Courthouse), Highland Historical Society (McDowell,VA), and Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation (Jackson’s Valley Campaign).  The donations were all made on behalf of the reenactors and spectators that donated to the site.

For those of you that posed at the Heater House porch, please be patient.  The background of the house was distracting from the subjects and I am having to “clean up” the images.  It is a long and slow process.

I have ordered prints from the photo service connected with the web site, and have been very pleased with the high quality.  The best size for the value is the 8×12.  When ordering choose either the LUSTRE or METALLIC finish.  These are a new paper and process combination that Kodak has introduced. The images almost jump off the page.

If you are interested in one of the group shots that is an elongated format make sure you check DON’T CROP during the check out.  This will give you a full image with white bars on top and bottom.  They can either be cut off or used to have the members autograph for future posterity.

Jackie Milburn and Warren Swartz on the Heater House Porch

The best impersonation of a simple Confederate soldier is done by Brandon Booth.  He interperts a South Carolina Infantryman with honesty and a passion.  He carries in everything on his back, sets up, and then carries everything out.  Food, utensils, all are researched to have been what was used by the ordinary Confederate soldier would carry.  This is what “hard-core” means.

Brandon Booth outside of his half A frame tent

The Federal General’s Corp posed for a photograph in front of General Grant’s tent in the Living History portion of the encampment site.  This is my first attempt at documenting the photograph with actual names.  My thanks goes to Barry Meadows for his help in the ID’s of the men.

Federal General’s Corp Living History Organization.
Front row (l to r) General John Buford, as portrayed by Richard Silvrants; Major General Darius Couch, as portrayed by Bob Creed; General George Gordon Meade, as portrayed by Joe Schafer; General George Sears Greene, as portrayed by Paul A. Bourget; General Daniel Sickles, as portrayed by Tim Ake; General Alpheus Starkey Williams, as portrayed by Richard L. Byrd.
Back row (l to r) Provost Marshall, as portrayed by Robert Silvrants; General John Fulton Reynolds, as portrayed by Ron Teague; General Ulysses S. Grant, as portrayed by Barry Meadows; Major General William Tecumseh Sherman, as portrayed by Jim Opdenaker; Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Davee Chamberlain as portrayed by Robert Hutchinson; General Joshua Chamberlain, as portrayed by David Starliper.

I will be attending the 149th Gettysburg Battle Reenactment as Julio Zangroniz’s apprentice. This is quite an opportunity to watch the master work in one of the most famous events of reenacting. I look forward to this, and want to thank Andrea Dimartino and the others of the Gettysburg Anniversary Committee. Their fine work and worthy charitable efforts are to be commended.

The Gettysburg Anniversary Committee will be supporting five very worthy organizations with the proceeds from the event.

The Adams County Historical Society, located in Schmucker Hall on the Lutheran Seminary campus, plays a significant role in preserving Adams County History and offering research opportunities for visitors, students and historians utilizing paid and volunteer staff.

Main Street Gettysburg is a non-profit organization committed to the preservation and revitalization of historic Gettysburg for the benefit of the citizens, businesses and visitors. In addition to preparing for the Gettysburg Sesquicentennial Celebration, two of their projects have included the David Wills House and the Steinwehr Avenue Revitalization Program.

The mission of Hope For The Warrior is to enhance the quality of life for US service members nationwide and their families who have been adversely affected by injury or death. Several service members involved in the program visited the Patriotic Area at this year’s event. The Patriotic Tent was staffed by community members with donations being received for the program and appreciation banners being signed and sent to our combat troops in the Middle East.

Land Conservancy of Adams County is a member supported nonprofit land trust with over 600 members and the noble mission of preserving the rural lands and character of Adams County. The Conservancy holds over 95 easements covering over 6,000 acres.

The Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association has been in the process of preserving and restoring the historic, civil war era, Daniel Lady Farm on Hanover Road for several years.

Here is a link to their site. Gettysburg Anniversary Committee

100% of the proceeds of print and download contributions will be donated to The Brittany’s Hope Foundation in support of the efforts of Rear Rank Productions and the Lee Takes Command participants. Brittany’s Hope Foundation is a non-profit foundation dedicated to aiding and facilitating adoptions of special needs children from around the world. Dedicated to improving the quality of life for all God’s children, especially those who wait in institutions or orphanages, live in extreme poverty or under the duress of slavery, abuse or war; and they seek, create and support humanitarian programs which accomplish these goals and extend all efforts to champion and campaign for children’s rights regardless of race, religion, or country of origin.

 Lee Takes Command Galleries

Confederate Command Staff – Lee Takes Command – June 2012

This was a moving tribute to a well respected fighting unit that served in many battles.

Louisiana Tigers Co B posing a few hours before the Battle of Gaines Mill

The Company was wiped out during the battle

During the Lee Takes Command event I was introduced to Julio Zangroniz, veteran reenactor war correspondent.  He has spent 20 + years covering the events.  I was honored to be his apprentice for the weekend and observe his coverage of the camps, the events, and the behind the scene activities.  I hope to accompany him at Gettysburg next month.

Galleries of Lee Takes Command Event – June 2012

Julio Zangroniz visualizing his next shot.
Federal encampment – Lee Takes Command – June 2012

I overlooked this video during the download from Spotsylvania last month.  The band had played the night before for a Saturday evening soiree, but sitting under the tent has a more authentic campfire sound to me.

2nd South Carolina String Band – Spotsylvania Courthouse May 2012

2nd South Carolina String Band – Spotsylvania Courthouse May 2012

The shot that grabs me is the first posted.  I am sifting through the 1600 + prints but this one I knew I would like when I took it.  Check back for more soon.

Battle of Cross Keys and Port Republic – Cedar Creek VA – June 2012.

13th VA Co I moments before taking the field

Memorial Day 2012.  Lily salutes my Father and Mother and all of the Veterans that paid the ultimate price to preserve our freedoms.  Thank all the Veterans for their service to our country.

Lily pays tribute at Culpepper National Cemetery Memorial Day 2012

It is hard to remain in the basement with such nice weather outside, but I am doing it.  More photographs to view and download for the cause that I am committed to.  I will be bring some prints to Cedar creek next week.

Thanks for the support.

SPOTSYLVANIA COURTHOUSE 2012 GALLERIES

FALLEN MEMBER OF THE 13th VIRGINIA INFANTRY CO I

CONFEDERATE INFANTRY MOUNTING A CHARGE

Since this is a photo blog I tend to keep the discription brief and feature the photos and the link back to the galleries.  The SCH event changed that.  For the first time I fell in with an infantry group.  The 13th Virginia Infantry Co I.  Captain Gary invited me out with strict rules to stay behind the line. Where the line was I don’t know.

At some point I would like to blog my impressions of what happened, but this post is just to let my friends at 13th Virginia Infantry know  my appreciation, not only for the invite, but the hospitality offered me the entire weekend.  A really good bunch, both the infantry and the wives / gfs that took me in as one of their group.  I have shared comradery before, but I am becoming aware that I am meeting some of the best people I will ever and have ever known at these events.   YOU ALL WERE AWESOME!

CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO LINK TO THE GALLERY

Colonel and Captain discussing strategy on the line

The village of McDowell hosted a living history day on May 5, 2012.  Rain, rain, rain.  The Shenandoah valley, as always, is one of the most beautiful places on earth.  The rain did not detract from that.  Posts in the gallery have started and I expect to add more every evening.

Pridgeon’s Shenandoah Legion (formerly the Fifth Battalion”), Highland Historical Society & Highland Chamber of Commerce sponsored the event and 100% of the proceeds from the donations for prints or downloads will be turned over to the Highland Historical Society.  It was a very successful 150th Anniversary Commemorative Living History & Reenactment at McDowell, Virginia. The event enjoyed several serious historical interpreters presenting the experiences of the soldiers who participated in the battle, as well as the citizens of the village and surrounding region.

The McDowell battlefield remains in nearly pristine condition. Various portions are owned by the Civil War Preservation Trust, the Lee-Jackson Foundation and the Highland Historical Society. All proceeds from this year’s event, will, as always, be returned to the local community to be used for preservation and restoration efforts. Proceeds from McDowell 2001 helped the Highland Historical Society purchase the Bullpasture River Field – 55 acres of the core area of the battlefield, and the George Washington Hull House. Proceeds from McDowell 2012 will be used to endow the museum and help continue its role as an interpretative center for the battle.

Click here or on one of the images to get transferred to the gallery

1st PA Artillery performed at the 2012 McDowell evemt. The full-scale 12 lb. bronze M1857 Napoleon canon echoed across the quiet Shenandoah Valley Sunday morning.

I am working hard to get the photos online.  An idea was passed from the webmaster of the 13th Virginia Infantry. His ID of the organization sparked me to start galleries based on the organizations participating in the event.  This adds another layer and requires accuracy that is more photo-journalistic than I am used to.  Checking facts is not something that a photographer usually does, but this is an effort to document 21st century living history so I am going to try.

A spectacular aerial tour pulled me out of my office Tuesday morning as the space shuttle Discovery, riding piggy-back on a 747, flew low and slow over the Capitol, White House, the Mall and much of the Potomac River in WWahington, DC. The duo touched down at Dulles International Airport, just a few miles from Discovery’s retirement home, the Smithsonian’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly Virginia USA.  The photo was taken from the roof of the Department of the Interior in Wahington DC.  As I have said before, I have many interests but only one blog.

Victory Lap of Space Shuttle 17 April 2012

I have started posting the photographs of the event last weekend.  More will be added over the next few days, so check back.  Click on the photo below to get to the galleries.

100% of the proceeds of print and download contributions will be donated to the Appomattox County Historical Society to help maintain the Clover Hill Village and the Long Road Home   programs that promote the living history of the Civil War times.

The Long Road Home Living History Event is actually five annual events on the Road to Appomattox. The Appomattox County Historical Society, together with the United Daughters of the Confederacy Appomattox Chapter 11, Lee’s Lieutenants, and the Federal Generals Corps invite one and all to the second event on “The Long Road Home” leading to the 150th anniversary of Appomattox. “Five Forks” April 13-15, 2012 Clover Hill Village 5747 River Ridge Road (State Route 627) Appomattox, VA 24522 .  The remaining events are scheduled as follows:

April 5-7, 2013 — Fall of Richmond

April 11-13, 2014 — Sayler’s Creek

April 10-12, 2015 — 150th Anniversary of Appomattox

More informatiion is available at Appomattox County Historical Society

Thank you for your support.

Medal Ceremony Five Forks - Appomattox, VA

The Appomattox County Historical Society was kind enough to invite me to the annual event of The Long Road Home series that is playing out in a four part annual series until 2015.  The society is working hard to preserve the rich heritage of the area.  I promised my friends of 1st Stuart Horse Artillery and the  2nd Company Richmond Howitzers that I would post these night canon fires ASAP.  They need “work” and through the power of Adobe I will try to enhance them more, but these are the files as shot on Saturday night.  Click on the image to link to four more from the same canon shot.

More about the event to follow……

Canon night fire 14 April 2012

While attending the opening of the Museum of the Confederacy in Appomattox I took some time to go visit Clover Hill Village, the site of The Battle of Five Forks reenactment. I was lucky enough to meet up with the 1st Stuart Horse Artillery having their annual muster. This group has been photographed in the Cedar Creek gallery and the FIRE video I produced this past winter. They are a great group of guys.

1st Stuart Horse Artillery 2012 Muster

1st Stuart Horse Artillery pose for a photograph

The Museum of the Confederacy opened a new branch adjacent to the Appomattox Courthouse National Park.  The events attracted about 5,000 people to witness the events up to a reenactment of the signing of the surrender by Robert E. Lee ending the Civil War.

Mr. David Palmer and Mr Larry Clowers portray Robert E. Lee & Ulysses S. Grant with staff at the Opening of the Museum of the Confedercy.

I had met a dead end trying to trace my father’s ancestory back to the Civil War.   I  errounisly presumed that they emmigrated from Scotland to Virginia in the 1830’s.  I was never able to find any records that would verify this.  Then through Ancestory.com I found that they came to the states into South Carolina, maybe Charlston, and eventually moved to Mississippi.   My mother’s family emmergrated here in the 1870’s so I have not traced that side.

My Great Great Grandfather was born in South Carolina in 1838 and in the 1850 cencus was 12 years old and living in Carroll County, MS.  His name was Junius Thomas Harris the son of  Thomas Cunningham Harris of Endinbourgh, Scotland.  In 1862 he volunterred to join the Mississippi 1st Light Artillery Company K raised from the men of Carroll County.  He was a Corporal and served at the seige of Vickburg by US Grant.  Maybe elsewhere.  That needs more research.

I guess the war travels might have led through the Virginia countryside and the views of the Shenendoah out did the flat plains of central Mississsippi.  After the war Junius brought the family to a small town near Roanoke, VA. This is where his son Thomas Cunnngham Harris was born  in 1883 and eventually married Mena Murray Cassie and she gave birth to four sons. The youngest was my father born in 1915.

This connection has been what I am looking for.  My attraction to the Confederacy during this project was rooted in childhood stories and family folklore.  I consider myself neutral but a leaning toward the confederate effort.

It also shows me another family trait.  My father, Paul Woodrow Harris served in World War II and Korea in an Artillery Company.  He went on to the reserves to the rank of Lt Colernal until retirement.  I’ve missed conflicts through my life because of age, but have always had a fondness for Artillery.  I guess it is evident in the photographs of the project.

Brette Schulte has the most complete list of CW150 blogs I have come across. His exhaustive work is amazing. While I have focused (pun intended) on the photography of the Sesquicentennial he covers everything.  Follow the link to see everything and anything CW150.

The winter quarters draw to an end and soon there will more posts from the events this season.

Brett Schutle Blog

Yesterday I had the honor of having a long conversation with an idol of mine. The video of When Johnny Comes Marching Home had a comment left that asked..”Did I get clearance to use the music?”  Oops.

During the research of the music tracks I found hundreds of versions of the song.  One that jumped out was by Ronnie Gilbert.  I remembered the name from the Weavers, Pete Seeger, Arlo, and many other artists she had performed with.  I downloaded the version and thought it was a perfect version to go with the images I had chosen.

The 2nd South Carolina String Band has a Facebook page.  I posted there and the music director, Joe Ewers, added me as a friend.  An easy contact.  Ronnie was more diffucult.  Her web site contact was outdated and emails were undeliverable.  Finally a link to another singer’s site got a response.  Then, on Tuesday I received a call from Ms. Gilbert.  We spoke for some 20 minutes about the video and other things.  I confessed that I am never happy with my finished videos.  She laughed and said the same thing happens to her with every song she has recorded.  She used the phrase “Oh, that one got away”  Google her name and take a listen.

When Johnny Comes Marching Home

To the Sound of the Guns
Civil War Artillery, Battlefields and Historical Markers
by Craig Swain
Sesquicentennial Threading: Perspectives from our “feeds”
Posted on 4 March 2012
You might have noticed I like to title any post timed to the sesquicentennial observances with “150 years ago.” That’s partly because while writing, I must periodically look up and remind myself “less on the markers and cannons, more on the event.” But beyond that, when published, I hope it is a queue for the reader to think about the actions and events which occurred real-time a century-and-a-half before. Certainly the “150 years ago” or similar title components prompt those type thoughts when I see them in my news feeds. Lately I’ve been noticing a new perspective as my mind “aggregates” those.
The talks at Longwood University yesterday represent one type of that threading – perhaps in a series. Topics began on the Virginia Peninsula; passing through 2nd Manassas to Antietam; then concluded as we considered a cold December day at Fredericksburg. It is an EASTERN locality, so I sort of understand the lack of WESTERN topics. And there is the well recognized serialization of events. Sort of conforms to our traditional framework, from the big Golden Book of the Civil War…. turn to the chapter on the eastern theater, and we’ll get to the western theater in the next chapter.
But we are entering a week where another type of event threading appears very evident. Of course we should all recognize the parallel nature of events in the Civil War. Even a novice can recount how eastern and western theater events, along with political turns, played into decisions and reactions – thus writing the course of the war. But we don’t often see examples of such short of some grand overview or on one of the “this day in the Civil War” calendars.
March 1862 was a very active month. And our sesquicentennial dialogs will reflect such. In a few days, the Civil War Navy types will remind us about the Monitor and Virginia. Dale Cox will conclude his excellent, detailed coverage of the Pea Ridge campaign. Civil War Daily Gazette will run a post mentioning a fellow by the name of Sherman establishing a base at some obscure corner of Tennessee named Pittsburg Landing. Perhaps someone else will chime in, but I plan to mention two sieges – one at the mouth of the Savannah River and the other on the muddy banks of the Mississippi River at an island with a nondescript name. Someone along the way will mention Glorietta Pass, Head of the Passes, New Bern, and discussion will return to Hampton Roads at the tip of the Virginia Peninsula. And these parallel threads won’t stop… not until April 2015.
Unless you have the disposable income and security to take six months (or more) away from the salt mines, there is no way any of us “sesquicentennialists” can follow this parallel threading in person. Most of us will do so while reading and conversing. And I submit to you we “sesquicentennialists” will have a perspective the “centennialists” lacked fifty years ago.
No topic is so obscure to escape notice on some blog or message board. The arrival of our favorite periodicals, while a highly anticipated pleasure, is not the only “feed” we receive. And those feeds are far more diverse, with more vibrant colors than the Cinemascope of 1962.

Stonewall Jackson "Press on men. Press on"

This is the HD version for Televisions and lower resolutions for standard TV down to IPhones.  Free download as my appreciation for all those that haave supported this effort.

FIRE! The HD Version

The Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation was my start into the project.  They were kind enough to allow me media coverage, which gave me access to early morning coverage and extended coverage from spots not afforded the casual spectator.  I have offered my help in their efforts to sponsor events this year.  Here is my first pitch.  Comments and criticisms  welcomed.

Poster for Cedar Creek Valley Campaign Event

I have processed the photos from Lee Jackson Day earlier this month.   The gallery of Mrs Jackson will follow shortly.

Lee – Jackson Day 2012

The first video actually edited and produced. This is a YouTube resolution version. I plan on rendering a full 1080P for HiRes download soon.

It has been an educational experience since I started this project in April.  Leave a comment or press the “follow” button.

FIRE! The YouTube Version

The 2012 Lee – Jackson Day services in Lexington, VA was a very moving experience. I attended the Service at the Jackson Memorial and photographed the parade through town to the Washington and Lee University. Rather then attend the Service at Lee Chapel I opted for an alternative. It was Ms. Kelly Atkins Hinson portraying Mrs. Thomas J. Jackson (Anna) about 1864. She read the letters that had been sent from the field by Stonewall. Her poignant stage presence was captivating. Almost like being in a parlor meeting one on one. This show was the highlight of the day.

The gallery will be posted in a few days. Proceeds from downloads and print sales will be presented to The Stonewall Brigade – Sons of Confederate Veterans.

2012 LEE – JACKSON DAY GALLERIES

Ms. Kelly Atkins Hinson portraying Mrs. Thomas J. Jackson (Anna) about 1864

B. Frank Earnest, ANV Commander looks on as Patrick Falci speaks at the wreath laying ceremony at the grave of Thomas J. Jackson in Lexington, VA

The 5th VA Infantry Co. E offer salute to Sonewall Jackson