#Antietam Valley | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

warrenhenrytreeservice · 8 days

Text

Fun facts about Hagerstown, MD

Hagerstown, Maryland, nestled in the beautiful Antietam Valley, boasts a rich history, a vibrant cultural scene, and a surprising connection to the silver screen. Buckle up for a whirlwind tour of this charming city, packed with fun facts that will make you want to explore Hagerstown for yourself.

A Crossroads of Conflict: The Hub City During the Civil War

Hagerstown earned its nickname, "The Hub City," not just for its geographical location, but also for its strategic importance during the Civil War. Both Union and Confederate forces saw the city as a crucial transportation and supply center. Several skirmishes occurred nearby, and the town even faced a Confederate ransom demand in 1864.

From Ransom to Rails: The Rise of Hagerstown as a Transportation Hub

Hagerstown's role as a Civil War crossroads cemented its status as a vital transportation hub. The arrival of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad solidified this position. Soon, a network of railroads, including the Western Maryland Railway and the Pennsylvania Railroad, converged on Hagerstown, making it a center for trade and industry.

Taking Flight: Hagerstown's Soaring Legacy in Aviation

Hagerstown's industrial boom extended into the 20th century, particularly with the arrival of Fairchild Aircraft in 1931. Fairchild became the area's largest employer, and for decades, Hagerstown was known as the "Home of the Flying Boxcar," thanks to the production of the iconic C-119 cargo plane. The city's aviation heritage is still celebrated today at the Hagerstown Aviation Museum.

Lights, Camera, Action! Hagerstown's Brush with Hollywood

Hagerstown has a surprising connection to the entertainment industry. The critically acclaimed horror film "The Blair Witch Project" was filmed in the nearby woods, putting the city on the horror map. Hagerstown's picturesque locations have also attracted filmmakers for other productions, showcasing the city's charm on the big screen.

A Thriving Arts Scene: Beyond Industry

Hagerstown boasts a vibrant arts scene that caters to a variety of interests. The Maryland Theatre offers a diverse program of performances, from Broadway shows to concerts. The city also houses the Academy Art Museum, showcasing local and regional artists. Additionally, Hagerstown plays host to the annual Maryland International Film Festival, a celebration of independent cinema.

A Celebration of History: Stepping Back in Time

History buffs will delight in Hagerstown's well-preserved past. The Washington County Historical Society offers a glimpse into the city's rich tapestry through exhibits and tours. For a unique architectural experience, visit the Jonathan Hager House, a beautifully restored Georgian mansion that was once home to the city's founder.

A Foodie's Paradise: From Traditional Fare to International Flavors

Hagerstown offers a delicious array of dining options. Sample classic diner fare at a local hangout, or savor international cuisine at one of the city's many ethnic restaurants. Don't forget to try Pennsylvania Dutch specialties like shoofly pie, a local favorite.

Outdoor Adventures Await: Exploring Hagerstown's Natural Beauty

Hagerstown offers a variety of outdoor activities for nature enthusiasts. Hike or bike along the scenic trails of Antietam National Battlefield, or take a leisurely stroll through Hagerstown City Park. For water lovers, nearby lakes provide opportunities for fishing, boating, and kayaking.

Hagerstown, Maryland, is more than just a crossroads. It's a city steeped in history, brimming with culture, and offering something for everyone. So, whether you're a history buff, a movie aficionado, or simply seeking a charming getaway, Hagerstown promises a memorable and enriching experience.

When selecting a tree service company in Hagerstown, MD, there are several crucial factors to consider ensuring the job is done efficiently and safely. First and foremost, inquire about the company's credentials. Make sure they are licensed and insured to protect yourself and your property in case of any accidents or damages. Additionally, ask about their experience and expertise in the field. A reputable tree service will have knowledgeable professionals who can assess your needs accurately and provide appropriate solutions.

Another essential aspect to evaluate is the equipment and techniques used by the tree service. Modern equipment and industry-standard practices indicate a commitment to quality workmanship and safety protocols. Moreover, consider the company's reputation within the community. Reading reviews and testimonials from previous clients can offer valuable insights into their reliability and customer satisfaction.

Furthermore, it's prudent to obtain multiple quotes from different tree service companies to compare prices and services offered. However, be wary of unusually low prices, as they may indicate subpar work or hidden fees. Finally, ensure clear communication and transparency throughout the hiring process to avoid misunderstandings and ensure your expectations are met. By considering these factors thoughtfully, you can confidently choose a reputable tree service company in Hagerstown, MD, to meet your needs effectively.

Warren Henry Tree Service 21250 Leitersburg Pike, Hagerstown, MD 21742 (240) 730–3225 https://warrenhenrytreeservice.com/

#trees #tree service

1 note · View note

yatescountyhistorycenter · 3 months

Text

A business mogul and community booster

By Jonathan Monfiletto

The first time I ever heard about Lovell A. “Love” Adams took place when a woman contacted the Yates County History to see if her great-grandfather’s Civil War drum lives in our collection. Through her genealogical research, the woman had come across an article in the March 18, 1942 edition of The Chronicle-Express that reported a Civil War drum belonging to Charles D. Kelsey – her great-grandfather – had been given to the “school museum” by L.A. Adams (later determined to be Lovell), the president of “the board of education” (it turns out the school in question is Middlesex Valley Central School).

Kelsey had apparently given the drum, “which was used all through the war between the states,” to Adams’ father, Alden – “an expert snare drummer himself” – and it had been in the Adams family for more than 70 years. Faded ink on the drumhead discloses the names of the 46 battles in which the drum took part: the Wilderness Campaign, Antietam, Gettysburg, Petersburg, and many others. The connection between Kelsey – who lived for a time in Yates County, where his father died in 1849, but served from Vermont in Company E, 5th Regiment Volunteers and resided in Waverly later in life – and Alden Adams, who was born in Middlesex in 1848, is unclear. Even more unclear is how the Civil War drum went from Middlesex Valley Central School to the Oliver House Museum.

The second time I ever heard about Lovell Adams was when, while looking into our subject files on the town of Middlesex, I came across a newspaper article listing Adams among the honorees for the 14th annual Middlesex Citizen Appreciation Day in 2016. According to his biography in the article, Adams was a businessman whose first venture involved taking over his father’s coal business in the 1890s. He later bought a mill and processed feed, beans, hay, and various produce. He purchased sheep from the western United States, had them shipped to Middlesex by train, and sold the animals locally.

Among Adams’ community-minded pursuits, he gave land for a ballpark and built a stadium in 1932. He was elected to inaugural school board of the Middlesex Valley Central School District, served as its president in 1940, and led the way to purchase uniforms for the school band. He was also a charter member of the local Odd Fellows Lodge and a member of the Citizens Band – in which he played the cornet in various groups and performances. Along with his involvement in the Masonic Lodge, he was serving as president of the school board when he died; Adams was also active in local Republican politics.

Born February 17, 1873 in Middlesex, Adams died exactly one month before his 69th birthday on January 17, 1942, at the age of 68. In the intervening years, the son of Alden Alonzo Adams and Lodema Rackham Adams clearly had a mind both for private enterprise and the public good. His obituary describes him as operating a farm in his early life and later entering into a number of ventures, including being a coal and lumber dealer for more than 40 years and a bean and produce dealer for almost 30 years. With his brother-in-law, Scott S. Bennett, Adams was a partner in the Kendall oil distributor, and he was known as an expert on sheep – having raised and sold the animals for more than 25 years.

At the time of his death – described as coming “after an illness of several months” – Adams was also the owner and manager of the semi-professional baseball team in Middlesex. He was even responsible for building a grandstand at the ballfield. Adams apparently “had a hobby for baseball and … indulged in the pastime to the delight of the residents here … and to make the outfit complete, financed one of the best ball teams in this section,” states an announcement of his death from the Penn Yan Democrat. “He had spent his life in the community in which he was born,” Adams’ obituary in the Democrat reads, though the man never married nor had any children. “He was interested in every community enterprise and always was first to help launch any project directed toward the betterment of his community. He was known by all as a thoroughly honest man.”

As if jack of all trades were not an apt enough description, The Chronicle-Express of July 27, 1933 colors Adams as a “successful dealer in feed, produce, grain, grapes, coal, lumber, sheep, gas and oil distributor and baseball magnate.” A jack of all trades indeed, Adams seemed to continually expand on his business interests from the turn of the 20th century, when the Yates County Chronicle of November 30, 1904 dubbed him “not only a first-class coal dealer but a good farmer as well” who had recently sold a flock of lambs and a pair of steers.

In 1909, Adams built a storehouse on a corner of his lot near the depot; a later newspaper item indicates his property ran along the Lehigh Valley Railroad, and in fact he was involved in the local railroad interests of the time. The following year, he installed a gasoline engine in his coal elevator, making it “the most complete coal elevator in this section,” according to the Democrat.

In February 1912, Adams had his beanery up and running, but that August he bought William O. Mather’s bean elevator and mill in Middlesex to increase his footprint in this industry. Newspaper advertisements reveal the products of this enterprise – skim milk powder feed, considered a superior option for animals of all types; bread, pastry, and buckwheat flour along with mill feeds, table meal, seed oats, and whole or cracked corner; custom grinding as well as produce of all kinds and animals of all kinds – western yearlings and breeding ewes among them. Newspaper items also reference Adams raising white leghorn fowls and performing farm work such as cutting hay.

His business pursuits continued in the 1920s as Adams entered middle age. In 1921, he purchased a Western Electric lighting plant. The following year, he purchased half interest in a warehouse that he planned to convert to an ice house, and he constructed a shed to house lumber, “a first-class lumber yard,” according to the Rushville Chronicle & Gorham New Age. In 1924, he opened a gasoline and kerosene station; this apparently became a drive-in gas station in 1931. He improved a blacksmith shop opposite his mill property in 1933.

During the year before his death, with his health declining, Adams sold his bean elevator and mill to Sanford C. Emerson. He subsequently sold what The Chronicle-Express called “the Adams homestead farm at Adams Corners” to Howard Mack.

Adams’ community involvement included serving on the committees that established Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hospital in Penn Yan and the Robert Green Ingersoll Birthplace Museum in Dresden. However, his two greatest achievements may have been helping start the Middlesex Valley League baseball team in the early 1930s and serving on the inaugural Middlesex Valley Central School board of education in the late 1930s.

For the baseball team, Adams built a baseball park with a grandstand on his farm – dubbed Adams Baseball Park in one newspaper item. As the owner and manager, he led the team to the Western New York League pennant in 1937 and the championship over Canandaigua that year. When voters narrowly approved centralization of the school district in 1937 – 446 to 442 – Adams was elected to a five-year term on the board and then chosen president in 1940.

In the year before his death, newspaper reports of his admission into and discharge from hospitals and health clinics, and his convalescence and care at home, are intertwined with reports of his work to procure band suits for the school board. In May 1942, nine months before his death, Adams announced plans to purchase the uniforms, giving $600 of his own money while the board allocated $600 toward the total $1,200 effort. The uniforms arrived in time for the Middlesex Valley band to take part that July in the Yates County War Day program in Penn Yan hosted by the Yates County War Council.

Adams’ community involvement continued even after his death. In 1959, his sister and brother-in-law, Lura and Scott Bennett, donated $10,000 to establish a student loan fund in Adams’ memory. The fund allowed any student attending an institution of higher learning to borrow up to $500, free of interest while the student attended school. No more than $7,000 could be loaned out at one time, while the remaining $3,000 was to be invested. Adams remains an appreciated citizen of Middlesex indeed.

#historyblog #history #museum #archives #american history #us history #local history #newyork #yatescounty #middlesexny #citizen #appreciation #business #community #agriculture #industry

0 notes

gascoignephotography · 11 months

Text

Markeaton Street Gallery - an overview

Markeaton Street gallery, otherwise known as Msg., is a gallery space curated by Dr. Gemma Marmalade and Elisha-Mai Gascoigne (myself). It exhibits a permanent collection and a changing exhibition programmes of contemporary art at the Markeaton Campus at University of Derby. Msg. opened it’s doors for the first time to the public as part of FORMAT festival in March 2023, it held 5 exhibitions on the ground and first floor showcasing work from a wide variety of artists.

How love lives in two places -

How love lives in two places is a multi- and trans-disciplinary exhibition of over thirty artists describing the experimental boundaries of both photography and place. With a title extracted from the poetry of Clark County's Poet Laureate, Angela M. Brommel, How love lives in two places is a visual dialogue between Derby, UK and Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Students and faculty of the University of Derby School of Arts have worked together with their counterparts at Nevada State College Office for the Arts, alongside friendships made with seminal and emerging artists residing and working in the Las Vegas Valley. The partnership fostered between both institutions is supported by the generous patronage of James Stanford and Lynn Morris.

The official launch opened at 6pm on the 17th March and included a performance from Gemma Marmalade at 6:30, followed by speeches shortly after. It stayed open until 21st April which was an extended opening due to popular demand and footfall we had throughout the gallery being open. How Love Lives in Two Places was a great opening for Markeaton Street gallery as it was something that was close to home for both myself and Gemma and engaged a wider audience due to our very special and well respected guests from Las Vegas: American artist James Stanford, Senior Advisor & Executive Director for the Arts at Nevada State College as well as being Clark County Poet Laureate Angela M. Brommel, and PR Manager Laura Henkel.

During the summer of 2022, I was fortunate enough to be able to go across to Las Vegas to work alongside Nevada State College staff and students. Whilst out there we worked as a collective to produce an exhibition dedicated to the work we’d made based on what it feels like to be home. Due to the participants of the trip being from a variety of different media based works creating an amazing collection of work from all different medians.

My work within How love lives in two places -

The work that I created was a dedication to stereographic photography which is a popular form of photography in the 19th century. It used a special camera where photographers would take two nearly identical images which once they were printed side by side, would appear as a three dimensional image when viewed through a set of special lenses called a stereoscope. The stereoscopes go back all the way to 1830s however, it wasn’t until the Great Exhibition of 1851 that a practical method of publishing stereo images were introduced to the public. In typical use, stereoscopic images would be viewed as parlour entertainment. In an era before films or television, families would experience what it was like to see distant landmarks or exotic landscapes by passing around the stereoscope. Stereo cards were often sold in numbered sets, so consumers could easily buy a series of views related to a particular theme. Some photographs that might be impressive when shot with a normal camera can seem thrilling, if not terrifying, when viewed with the full stereoscopic effect. Alexander Gardner used a stereoscopic camera when he took his classic photographs at Antietam during the Civil War.

While Sir Charles Wheatstone first described stereoscopic lens, it was Sir David Brewster who further developed the idea in 1849. The production of the stereograph entailed making two images with almost alike similarity, usually pictured by two cameras placed 2.5 inches apart to simulate the position of the human eye. They were then mounted by the positive prints side by side laterally on a stiff backing. The two images were brought together by the effort of the human brain to create an illusion of three dimensionality.

One thing I noticed about Las Vegas was how strong the sun was compared to the UK. Along with this, naturally, the landscapes are different too as the climates are polar opposites. I wanted to incorporate both of these things within my work but mainly show how different the landscapes changed within such a short period of time. After monitoring the climates, I chose to have a 2-hour time period for my project as it had a better chance of showing exactly how the landscapes move due to the weather climates, I chose 12:30pm and 2:30pm. Because the project is about things that remind us of home, I decided to make my work into postcard sizes to symbolise the postcards you would send home when you go a great distance away from what you associate to be home.

0 notes

ruminativerabbi · 1 year

Text

George Santos Represents Me in Congress

Like most of my readers, I reside in New York’s Third Congressional District. In some ways, it’s a regular suburban place: a mixture of strip malls and fancy shopping malls and town centers, of wooded subdivisions and public parks and train stations. But in other ways, it is not that unexceptional at all. The residents of our district, for example, collectively have the highest median income in the state. (In the entire nation, only California Congressional District 17, which includes most of Silicon Valley; California Congressional District 18, which includes Palo Alto and Mountain View; and Virginia Congressional District 10, which lies just to the west of Washington, D.C., have higher median incomes.) Nor are we average in terms of our racial mix: our district has a higher percentage of white people than the American average (69.5% as opposed to 57.8% nationally), a dramatically lower percentage of Black people (3.1% as opposed to 13.6% nationally), a lower, but less dramatically so, percentage of Hispanic residents (10.6% as opposed to 18.9% nationally), and a much higher percentage of Asian-Americans than the national average (14.6% as opposed to 5.9% nationally). A mere 0.7% of the population of our district is constituted of people who do not self-define as belonging to any of the above groups.

We have sent many representatives to the House over the years. Egbert Benson, a jurist who had previously represented New York State in the Continental Congress, was elected in 1789 and then re-elected in 1790.

He was replaced by Philip van Cortlandt, who had previously served in the Continental Army, and who was re-elected four times after his initial victory in 1793. Van Cortlandt was replaced by Samuel Mitchill, who resigned to become a United States Senator and who in turn was replaced by George Clinton, Jr., an unfortunate fellow who died as a young man of thirty-eight after serving in the House for just four years.

Most of our representatives have been long since forgotten by all. Or almost all. Perhaps some might recall Henry Warner Slocum, Jr., a Union general in the Civil War who fought at Bull Run, Antietam, and many other battles, and who later represented our district in Congress. Or perhaps some might recall that we were once represented in the Congress by James Monroe, nephew of President James Monroe, or by James I. Roosevelt, grandfather of President Theodore Roosevelt. For the most part, though, the names of the people who have represented our district in the House in days gone by would be unfamiliar to most—which is a shame, because among them were men—and they were all men—of great renown. The more recent, on the other hand, would surely be known to all: between them, Robert J. Mrazek, Peter T. King, Steve Israel, and Thomas Suozzi have represented our district for the last forty years! (Mrazek was re-elected four times after his first win in 1982; King was re-elected ten times. Israel and Suozzi were re-elected once and twice respectively.)

And now we have somehow sent George Santos, or whatever his name really is, to Congress. How can we have come to this? It’s a good question!

We actually know more about who George Santos isn’t than about who he is. Contrary to his own press releases and campaign literature, he apparently

· did not attend Horace Mann Preparator School,

· did not attend Baruch College,

· did not attend New York University,

· did not work for Citigroup,

· did not work for Goldman Sachs,

· does not actually own any of the eleven properties he claimed to own,

· was not the grandson of Shoah survivors from Ukraine via Belgium,

· is not Jewish (or even really Jew-ish, whatever that means; maybe Jew-ish-ish-by-self-definition a little, but probably not even that),

· did not found Friends of Pets United, which alleged charity the IRS says is unknown to them,

· did not lose his mother in the 9/11 attacks, although she apparently was present in one of the towers when the planes struck,

· had no employees who were killed in the Pulse Nightclub massacre in Orlando,

· is not married, at least not officially, and

· is not biracial.

So that’s a lot of things not to be. And what does that leave him being? That, at least, is easy to answer, at least with respect to his new day job: he represents us in Congress. God help us all! Even his name isn’t all that clear: he appears legally to be George Anthony Devolder Santos, but has also used the name Anthony Zabrovsky and Anthony Devolder as aliases. Oy. (Special note to Jew-ish-ish readers: oy is a word in widespread use among actual Jewish people to denote extreme dismay.)

Nor is mopping up after his own mess the sole problem Representative Santos is facing. The government of Brazil has re-opened a 2008 investigation regarding a stolen checkbook our Congressman allegedly used to steal clothing from a store in Niterói, a town near Rio de Janeiro. Nassau County D.A. Anne Donnely has announced an investigation to determine if Congressman Santos has committed any actual crimes by lying to the people he hoped those lies would get to vote for him. A few days later, the State Attorney General launched a separate investigation into the matter. And then, finally, it was revealed that a federal investigation into the whole affair had been undertaken by the Brooklyn U.S. Attorney. The Republican Jewish Coalition, which under other circumstances would have welcomed Representative Santos with open arms, has instead barred him from future meetings. Leading Democrats like Hakeem Jeffries have been merciless in their condemnatory rhetoric. A few Republicans have followed suit. Marjorie Taylor Greene, on the other hand, said that she didn’t see why voters shouldn’t at least give the man a chance. I suppose I see her point: it’s not like lying has ever disqualified politicians from plying their trade! But, even so, this seems beyond the pale in terms of its acceptability to normal people…and particularly to the normal people whom he is now employed to represent, including most definitely myself. (Congressman Santos won 54.1% of the vote, as opposed to Democrat Robert Zimmerman who ended up with 45.9%.) Jerry Kassar, the chair of the Conservative Party of New York, summed things up nicely: “His entire life seems to be made up,” he said. “Everything about him is fraudulent.”

Is it a crime to lie to would-be constituents? It turns out to be more complicated a question than I would have thought, although the Supreme Court ruling of 2014 known as Susan B. Anthony list v. Driehaus seems to have determined that campaign lies are protected speech under the First Amendment. (To read more, click here.) In belated response, Bronx Congressman Ritchie Torres (D-NY) has announced a proposed bill specifically to make it a crime for candidates for federal office to lie about the details of their own past history, a bill he has whimsically named after none other than our own George Santos: The Stop Another Non-Truthful Office Seeker Act. You really couldn’t make this stuff up.

But although lying to constituents may be permitted, the U.S. attorney definitely has the right to investigate and prosecute violations of federal campaign laws. And that too seems to be an issue for Santos, who has yet to explain where the $700,000 he lent his own campaign came from exactly.

And where does that leave any of us? In a not good place! The chances of Santos being able to crawl safely out from any of this seem slim. But what seems certain is that this guy’s personal woes are going to take up a lot of the time he should be spending representing us in Congress. At this point, the most dignified path forward would be to make a full public confession, to agree to seek professional help from a trained mental-health professional, to give up his seat, and to call personally for a new election to find a replacement worthy of representing our district. Will that happen? Given the razor-thin Republican majority in the House, I doubt it. And, yes, some of the blame certainly must fall on the rest of everybody: the news media who swallowed his story whole without investigating, his opponent who failed to see through the smoke at the actual man facing him, the public who swallowed his story hook, line, and sinker as though none of us could imagine a politician fibbing to get him or herself elected. So this debacle touches all of us. But as I write these words, the only two real questions of the day yet remain unanswered: what is there to do about all this and who is going to do it?

#George Santos

0 notes

nebris · 2 years

Photo

The 6th Louisiana Infantry Regiment served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It was part of the Louisiana Tigers. Formed in June 1861 at Camp Moore, it fought in Jackson's Valley campaign, the Battle of Gaines Mill, the Second Battle of Bull Run and its related actions, and the Battle of Antietam in 1862. The next year, it fought at the Second Battle of Fredericksburg, the Battle of Salem Church, the Second Battle of Winchester, and the Battle of Gettysburg before being overrun at the Second Battle of Rappahannock Station. It spent 1864 fighting in Grant's Overland campaign and with Jubal Early in the Valley campaigns of 1864. The regiment fought in the Battle of Hatcher's Run and the Battle of Fort Stedman in early 1865 before surrendering after the Battle of Appomattox Court House in April. It began its service with 916 men and ended with 52.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6th_Louisiana_Infantry_Regiment_(Confederate)

0 notes

blickcalleviewfromthestreet · 4 years

Video

flickr

Do Kids Really Play Back Here?!?!? by Blick Calle Via Flickr: Antietam Plaza St. Lawrence, Pennsylvania

2 notes · View notes

sleepysailorjunko · 3 years

Text

Sunshine and Scars

It has been a long time since Christine Royce was at peace. True, Elijah's death had relieved her of her duty, but to be at ease in the Sierra Madre was to die.

Christine had been glad to see the Courier. How strange, that her life had been so affected by couriers. She owed a lot to the couriers of the Mojave. Did the Mojave Express accept payment for life debts twice over?

She had spent part of the long and dangerous journey to the Mojave trying to put how they felt towards Antietam into words, so they would know how deeply grateful she was. Only, she hadn't needed to.

The Courier had grabbed her hand, ostensibly to pull her out of harm's way. After, their grip loosened, leaving Christine free to remove her hand. Instead, she tightened her grip. That was how they had returned to the Mojave, hand in hand.

The Courier had described their friends as they walked to Antietam's home. They spoke so kindly, so affectionately of their friends. It made Christine half-jealous and half-curious to see how she would be described.

Perhaps as a broken knight who passed off their duty to a courier like it was a mere package. Christine thinks that for a second, and then hates herself for it. The Courier would never speak of them like that.

Antietam had no obligation to return to the Madre for her, but they did anyway. They wouldn't have come for her if they saw her like that.

The Courier gently dances around the topic of Veronica, not trying to overwhelm or guilt Christine into seeing her before she felt ready. She was not at hotel Antietam had brought them to, but a man of equivalent height to the Courier was. He seemed greatly relieved to see the Courier, who hugged him tightly.

"Just like last time, huh?" He said, wrapping his arms around Antietam. He looked down at the Courier fondly, and then leveled a less fond look to Christine. "You and your friend make it back okay?"

The Courier let go of the man and stood back.

"Yeah. Everything okay here?"

"Yeah. Mostly just waiting for you and shooting legionaries."

"Ha, wish I'd been here."

The Courier's strength seemed to sap as they recognize they were in friendly territory. This is their home, Christine realized, and then thought that they had brought her without evaluating the threat she posed as a Knight.

She knew that she could not return to duty as a Knight. She had been through too much and the Brotherhood would not be the home she left. Still, perhaps she and the courier would visit, if only for the hilarity of Antietam passing for a paladin.

They rested in a hotel room that night. The way Antietam moved showed their familiarity with the room, if the key they had brandished and their belongings spread throughout the room didn't. Christine thought she saw the jumpsuit the Courier had worn in the Sierra Madre peaking out of a cupboard.

That was one thing Christine had learned of her friend-their insatiable need to pick things up, from checkerboards to boxes of abraxo. Even now, they're dropping off their haul.

"Courier." Christine heard herself say, only it wasn't really her voice but Vera's. It took getting used to.

"Yeah, Christine?"

"Thank you." And the courier smiled at that, ran their fingers through their hair.

"It's what I should have done. Ah, I have something for you." They walk over to the cabinet and produce a rifle and armor that's familiar to Christine. Her Circle of steel uniform. "It's yours. If you want it."

When she wakes in the morning, she asks them about travelling to the Divide.

"Sure thing," the Courier says, and then looks a little flustered. "But I have to warn you. It's very dangerous in the Divide and we can't go immediately. I used up too many supplies getting to and from the Madre. You can stay here if you'd like, or I can set you up somewhere else. Oh, and you're welcome to come with me if you'd like."

That was another thing the Courier did: give her options, return to the Brotherhood, visit Veronica, visit the Divide, stay with the Courier. Maybe they were trying to stop her from feeling trapped.

So she travelled with the Courier throughout the Mojave. The Sniper came as well, although he didn't talk much and neither did Christine. But she could tell that he respected her and that he cared about Antietam. That was enough for Christine to respect him.

Travelling with Antietam wasn't like it had been in the Madre. The sun shining down on them reminded Christine of that with every step. It felt good to breathe in fresh air and walk under the Mojave's blue sky. With every breath she took, the Sierra Madre's fog left her lungs a little.

While gathering supplies, she asks the Courier to accompany her to the Brotherhood bunker of Hidden Valley. They were at the 188 Trading Outpost, and the Courier had ran under the bridge rather than head to the outpost. It was only for a second, but Christine is sure of what she sees: Veronica.

Her chest pangs at the sight, and she knows then that she still loves her.

Christine did not think she would ever see Veronica again. Had planned on it actually, when she resolved to be the warden of the Sierra Madre. Although the Courier had swayed her from the casino, she didn't lend any creedence to the idea of seeing Veronica. She had nothing left to offer her; she was a broken and scarred person and Veronica deserved better than her.

Antietam would probably argue with that, but it's not their decision to make.

Arriving in Hidden Valley, the Courier is treated as a paladin, although they certainly haven't welcomed them into the fold. The recycled ammo and poor quality armor is proof of that.

Cristine almost says something, and then she remembers the Courier's great love of fixing things. The armor was probably just a repair job they hadn't gotten around to.

In some ways, the base feels like home. It's not home, however, not for Christine or Antietam.

They see the elder by simply walking in. If Christine had done that during her time in the Brotherhood, it would not have gone well. Still, everyone seems more or less afraid of the Courier. If the story Christine was told regarding their first encounter with the Brotherhood was accurate, they should be.

The elder accepts Christine as a member of the Circle of Steel, even though her uniform is ragged and her holotags are somewhere in the Big MT. The Courier vouches for them, swearing on Steel, that this woman is Knight Christine Royce of the Circle of Steel.

Once the elder accepts that, Antietam announces that Father Elijah is dead. The elder's eyes widen and then narrow, before he asks if they can verify this.

"Well, I'm sure he's dead. I pumped him full of shotgun shells and then dropped a casino on him." Saying this, the courier dropped a parcel of Elijah's belongings on the desk.

The elder's face looks as if he wants to scream and is narrowly holding it in.

"I'll be looking forward to your report, Paladin." He says, after he took a good second to compose himself.

Christine laughs at the Courier's exit, and then resigns her commission with the Brotherhood of Steel. No longer if she a Knight of Steel, but Christine Royce, Survivor.

The Courier leaves without writing a report.

When the Courier announces that they're ready to leave for the Divide, it has been a month. A voice chirps from Antietam's pipboy, but it's not Elijah, a much softer voice.

"Oh boy, is this your friend? She looks...Dangerous!" the voice says.

"Yeah, I know, yes." The Courier says, and then introduces it to Christine, holding up their wrist. "This is Yes-Man, he lives in my pipboy. He's not evil or anything, just curious. Yes-Man, this is Christine Royce, she's a friend of mine."

"Hello, Christine! The Courier's wrong, I'm a little evil!" Yes-Man greets.

"Hello, Yes-Man?" Christine responds.

"I give free will to one computer and it turns evil." Antietam mutters, and looks down at the trail ahead. "Ready to head into the Divide?"

"Ready as I'll ever be."

The trip is difficult, but the Courier is familiar with the path. As they walk, Antietam tells a story of the Courier who once walked this path, bringing death to their home. It fills maybe an hour of their long journey.

The rest is filled with near deaths and tapes played through Antietam's pipboy. Old world music, gameshows, and radio dramas copied onto holotapes and scrounged up throughout the wasteland. Unanimously, they skip Dean Domino tapes. Still, they come into rotation enough that the Courier removes the tape and holds it out for a second, like they were going to throw it away. They look at it real long and hard, and then put it back.

"It's too valuable to throw away."

Eventually, they make it to the cliffside at the end of the world. The man waiting there is the courier who saved her from the Big MT.

"Courier."He greets Antietam. "Didn't know we were having guests."

"You should know my name, Courier-you gave it to me." Antietam returns, and his eyes narrow in response.

"So I did. Did not expect to see you again, Knight Royce. Did you hunt your enemy?"

"Yes, and you?"

"Stands next to you now, no longer an enemy." Ulysses's eyes narrow on the Courrier. "Something else now."

Christine looked over at Antietam, a look in her eyes that says "you didn't mention this!".

"Well, that sure is something. I'm no longer a Knight, however."

"Put the Brotherhood behind you.... you are a changed man, Royce."

"You as well."

"I'll leave you two to get caught up." Antietam said with a smile, and turned to leave, but the voice on their pip boy spoke up.

"Aww, that's no fair! I wanna meet your friend!" Yes-Man whined.

The Courier rolled their eyes, and then flipped their wrist up.

"There, happy now?"

"Oh, I know you!" Yes-Man beeped. "You're that man that's been following us!"

"What? Yes, that's not right." The Courier ran their hands over their face. "Sorry, Ulysses. He's just a computer program and he doesn't mean anything. I'm not sure what he's on about."

Ulysses did not say anything.

"I am right!" Yes-Man argued. "I've seen him before!"

"No, you couldn't have. Ulysses was here, in the Divide, so he couldn't have been following us."

Christine thought about it. Antietam had known where Ulysses's camp was, but it didn't appear to be lived in for all that long. Could have meant anything.

"Sorry, I'll just...uhh leave. I'll talk to y'all later."

When the Courier was out of earshot, Christine looked at Ulysses.

"What's the truth?"

"Antietam came here for me. To the Divide. And then I followed them back to the Mojave."

"Didn't stop when they returned to the Mojave, did you?" Christine's voice is flat, unamused. "They didn't know they were being followed."

"No. Followed them through the mountains and deserts and into Vegas. Courier carries my heart, even if they don't know."

"They could. If you would stop following them and talk to them."

"Wouldn't matter. Couriers who have committed the wrongs we have and lived as we have...don't deserve happiness together."

"I understand. Before we met, I loved a woman named Veronica. But we were seperated by Elijah. And I hunted him despite how Veronica loved him like a father. Now I am free of that duty and too broken for Veronica to love."

"You argue despite that? Two of a kind, you and I." He thought for a second and then continued. "Perhaps you should return to the woman you love. Allow her to see you as you are now...to see if her feelings remain the same."

"Perhaps. Could say the same about you."

"Not the same. Courier and I were never lovers. Different history between the them and I, one filled with the death of our home."

"Cares about you though." Christine retorted, and when Ulysses didn't respond, she huffed. "I'm going to find them."

To Christine, the Divide screamed that she shouldn't be here. It wasn't her history that was buried under the ash. The land was still in the worst ways. Reminded her of the Madre, as she hunted through the land for Antietam.

Didn't have to go far, and Antietam smiled at her when their eyes met.

Christine opened her mouth to speak, but found that the words would not come.

"Did you and Ulysses have a good talk?" They asked.

"Yeah." Christine croaked out.

"Alright, I'm going to talk to him for a moment. We'll probably camp out here for a few days, then head home to the Mojave."

"Fine." She settled behind the Courier to follow them back to the camp.

The Courier laid close to Ulysses, putting down their heavy pack and pulling out supplies to show him. He looked amused as Antietam showed him their rollerskates and books they had brought their friend.

When they had emptied out their backpack and Ulysses had a stack of supplies littered around him, they leaned against him. Although Ulysses startled for a second, he relaxed and settled against Antietam.

"Hey, Ulysses...I've been thinking and I wanted to know..would you want to return to the Mojave with me and Christine?"

Ulysses didn't say anything for a moment, and then he responded.

"Perhaps it's time for me to leave this place." He rubbed at his jaw, and he looked at the courier, who was tucked into his side. "Yes, let the Divide belong to the past now."

It was like that then.

Christine held her friend's hand as they returned, just as they had when returning from the Madre. It feels right, the way their hands fit together.

The Divide has brought something back to her, she thinks, and she realizes her decision has been made. As the sun rises over the desert, she tells Antietam of her choice, and they wish her well.

Pack on her back, she leaves for Veronica.

She doesn't think that Veronica will recognize her. It has been years since they met, and her hair has been shaved, scars carved over her face and throat. Even her voice is different.

The 188 is her destination, as it's the last time she saw her. It takes her a few days, but she finds her way there.

She dons her Circle of Steel uniform, even if she no longer belongs to the Brotherhood.

"Excuse me," She greets. "May I speak with you for a second?"

"I'm sorry, do I know you?" Veronica responds, lowering her eyebrows.

"You did, once. You were Scribe Veronica Santangelo, and I was Knight Christine Royce." Veronica startles back from her, and Christine thinks that this was a bad idea, and maybe listening to Ulysses on romantic advice was doomed from the start. "I know it's hard to believe-I don't look the same and my voice is different. Please let me explain."

"Alright, explain." Veronica responded, although she still looked hesitant.

"I was sent by the Circle of Steel to hunt Elijah down for his crimes. He elluded me and escaped to Big MT, a land controlled by robots who experimented on humans. After I confronted Ellijah, the robots captured me and they...cut into my head. A courier freed me and helped me back to health, but we parted ways so I could track Ellijah to his final destination."

"The Sierra Madre." Veronica breathed.

"Yes. However, when I arrived, I was trapped in an Auto-Doc. It tore out my vocal cords, leaving me mute. Another Courier freed me, and helped me to enact vengence on Ellijah. When our work was done, I decided to stay there."

"And yet you're here?" She shifted her weight from one fit to another.

"They convinced me to return. I believe they are a friend of yours."

"Christine...I can't believe it's you. I thought you were dead. Everyone did."

"I didn't think I would ever see you again." Christine smiled a little.

"I just don't know how to handle this. What do you want from me?"

"Anything you are willing to offer me. If you want nothing, I'll disappear and you'll never see me again. If you'd like to be friends, I'll be your friend."

"And if I want more?" Veronica said.

"I could be more. I'm not the same person I was."

"I don't want to push you away, but I don't know what I want. I didn't think I would see you either."

"Maybe we just need to take things as they come. See where the road takes us."

"I'd like that."

And Christine was at peace.

#fallout new vegas #fnv #ulysses fnv #ulysses #courier antietam #courier six #tw: stalking #christine royce #i drink my respecting and loving christine juice #antietam having the yes-man pipboy is forever #hhhh when they said fnv makes you question your gender...they weren't kidding...that fnv can make you question #craig boone #veronica santangelo #yes man

23 notes · View notes

brookstonalmanac · 3 years

Text

Events 9.13

585 BC – Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, king of Rome, celebrates a triumph for his victories over the Sabines, and the surrender of Collatia. 509 BC – The Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus on Rome's Capitoline Hill is dedicated on the ides of September. 379 – Yax Nuun Ahiin I is crowned as 15th Ajaw of Tikal 533 – Belisarius of the Byzantine Empire defeats Gelimer and the Vandals at the Battle of Ad Decimum, near Carthage, North Africa. 1229 – Ögedei Khan is proclaimed Khagan of the Mongol Empire in Kodoe Aral, Khentii: Mongolia. 1437 – Battle of Tangier: a Portuguese expeditionary force initiates a failed attempt to seize the Moroccan citadel of Tangier. 1501 – Italian Renaissance: Michelangelo begins work on his statue of David. 1504 – Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand issue a Royal Warrant for the construction of a Royal Chapel (Capilla Real) to be built. 1541 – After three years of exile, John Calvin returns to Geneva to reform the church under a body of doctrine known as Calvinism. 1584 – San Lorenzo del Escorial Palace in Madrid is finished. 1609 – Henry Hudson reaches the river that would later be named after him – the Hudson River. 1645 – Wars of the Three Kingdoms: Scottish Royalists are defeated by Covenanters at the Battle of Philiphaugh. 1743 – Great Britain, Austria and the Kingdom of Sardinia sign the Treaty of Worms. 1759 – Battle of the Plains of Abraham: the British defeat the French near Quebec City in the Seven Years' War, known in the United States as the French and Indian War. 1782 – American Revolutionary War: Franco-Spanish troops launch the unsuccessful "grand assault" during the Great Siege of Gibraltar. 1788 – The Philadelphia Convention sets the date for the first presidential election in the United States, and New York City becomes the country's temporary capital. 1791 – King Louis XVI of France accepts the new constitution. 1808 – Finnish War: In the Battle of Jutas, Swedish forces under Lieutenant General Georg Carl von Döbeln beat the Russians, making von Döbeln a Swedish war hero. 1812 – War of 1812: A supply wagon sent to relieve Fort Harrison is ambushed in the Attack at the Narrows. 1814 – In a turning point in the War of 1812, the British fail to capture Baltimore. During the battle, Francis Scott Key composes his poem "Defence of Fort McHenry", which is later set to music and becomes the United States' national anthem. 1843 – The Greek Army rebels (OS date: September 3) against the autocratic rule of king Otto of Greece, demanding the granting of a constitution. 1847 – Mexican–American War: Six teenage military cadets known as Niños Héroes die defending Chapultepec Castle in the Battle of Chapultepec. American troops under General Winfield Scott capture Mexico City in the Mexican–American War. 1848 – Vermont railroad worker Phineas Gage survives an iron rod 1+1⁄4 inches (3.2 cm) in diameter being driven through his brain; the reported effects on his behavior and personality stimulate discussion of the nature of the brain and its functions. 1862 – American Civil War: Union soldiers find a copy of Robert E. Lee's battle plans in a field outside Frederick, Maryland. It is the prelude to the Battle of Antietam. 1882 – Anglo-Egyptian War: The Battle of Tel el-Kebir is fought. 1898 – Hannibal Goodwin patents celluloid photographic film. 1899 – Henry Bliss is the first person in the United States to be killed in an automobile accident. 1899 – Mackinder, Ollier and Brocherel make the first ascent of Batian (5,199 m – 17,058 ft), the highest peak of Mount Kenya. 1900 – Filipino insurgents defeat a small American column in the Battle of Pulang Lupa, during the Philippine–American War. 1906 – The Santos-Dumont 14-bis makes a short hop, the first flight of a fixed-wing aircraft in Europe. 1914 – World War I: The Battle of Aisne begins between Germany and France. 1922 – The final act of the Greco-Turkish War, the Great Fire of Smyrna, commences. 1923 – Following a military coup in Spain, Miguel Primo de Rivera takes over, setting up a dictatorship. 1933 – Elizabeth McCombs becomes the first woman elected to the New Zealand Parliament. 1942 – World War II: Second day of the Battle of Edson's Ridge in the Guadalcanal Campaign. U.S. Marines successfully defeated attacks by the Japanese with heavy losses for the Japanese forces. 1944 – World War II: Start of the Battle of Meligalas between the Greek Resistance forces of the Greek People's Liberation Army (ELAS) and the collaborationist security battalions. 1948 – Deputy Prime Minister of India Vallabhbhai Patel orders the Army to move into Hyderabad to integrate it with the Indian Union. 1948 – Margaret Chase Smith is elected United States senator, and becomes the first woman to serve in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the United States Senate. 1953 – Nikita Khrushchev is appointed General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. 1956 – The IBM 305 RAMAC is introduced, the first commercial computer to use disk storage. 1956 – The dike around the Dutch polder East Flevoland is closed. 1962 – An appeals court orders the University of Mississippi to admit James Meredith, the first African-American student admitted to the segregated university. 1964 – South Vietnamese Generals Lâm Văn Phát and Dương Văn Đức fail in a coup attempt against General Nguyễn Khánh. 1964 – Martin Luther King Jr. addresses a crowd of 20,000 West Berliners on Sunday, in Waldbühne. 1968 – Cold War: Albania leaves the Warsaw Pact. 1971 – State police and National Guardsmen storm New York's Attica Prison to quell a prison revolt, which claimed 43 lives. 1971 – Chairman Mao Zedong's second in command and successor Marshal Lin Biao flees China after the failure of an alleged coup. His plane crashes in Mongolia, killing all aboard. 1977 – General Motors introduces Diesel engine, with Oldsmobile Diesel engine, in the Delta 88, Oldsmobile 98, and Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser models amongst others. 1979 – South Africa grants independence to the "homeland" of Venda (not recognised outside South Africa). 1982 – Spantax Flight 995 crashes at Málaga Airport during a rejected takeoff, killing 50 of the 394 people on board. 1985 – Super Mario Bros. is released in Japan for the NES, which starts the Super Mario series of platforming games. 1987 – Goiânia accident: A radioactive object is stolen from an abandoned hospital in Goiânia, Brazil, contaminating many people in the following weeks and causing some to die from radiation poisoning. 1988 – Hurricane Gilbert is the strongest recorded hurricane in the Western Hemisphere, later replaced by Hurricane Wilma in 2005 (based on barometric pressure). 1989 – Largest anti-Apartheid march in South Africa, led by Desmond Tutu. 1993 – Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin shakes hands with Palestine Liberation Organization chairman Yasser Arafat at the White House after signing the Oslo Accords granting limited Palestinian autonomy. 1997 – A German Air Force Tupolev Tu-154 and a United States Air Force Lockheed C-141 Starlifter collide in mid-air near Namibia, killing 33. 2001 – Civilian aircraft traffic resumes in the United States after the September 11 attacks. 2007 – The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. 2007 – The McLaren F1 team were found guilty of possessing confidential information from the Ferrari team, and were fined $100 million and were excluded from the constructors' championship standings. 2008 – Delhi, India, is hit by a series of bomb blasts, resulting in 30 deaths and 130 injuries. 2008 – Hurricane Ike makes landfall on the Texas Gulf Coast of the United States, causing heavy damage to Galveston Island, Houston, and surrounding areas. 2013 – Taliban insurgents attack the United States consulate in Herat, Afghanistan, with two members of the Afghan National Police reported dead and about 20 civilians injured. 2018 – The Merrimack Valley gas explosions: One person is killed, 25 are injured, and 40 homes are destroyed when excessive natural gas pressure caused fires and explosions.

#Events

3 notes · View notes

southernsteel82 · 3 years

Text

Confedetate Veteran Sergeant Berry Greenwood Benson.

Washington D.C. Confedetate Veterans Reunion And Parade 1917.

He wears the uniform he wore the day he walked home in 1865 carrying his rifle he carried that day as well.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Berry Benson was born on Feburary 9th 1843 in Hamburg, South Carolina, just across the Savannah river from Augusta, Georgia. In 1860 Berry Benson enlisted with his brother in a local militia unit aged 17 and 15 respectively. The next spring they witnessed the bombardment of Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina.

After the surrender of Fort Sumter the 1st South Carolina Regiment was sent to Virginia where the Benson brothers served under A.P. Hill and Thomas Jackson. The unit fought in battles such as Second Manassas, Fredericksburg, Antietam, and served in Jackson's valley campaign as Jackson's foot cavalry. Berry Benson was wounded at Chancellorsville and thus missed the battle of Gettysburg.

But he had recuperated by winter 1863 and returned to his unit where he was appointed as a scout.

The spring of 1864 brought another Union offensive into The Wilderness.

After a confusing, bloody battle in dense woods, the Union commander, General Ulysses S. Grant, attempted to get around the Confederate army and march on Richmond, Virginia, but was checked at Spotsylvania, Virginia. There followed one of the most terrible battles of the Civil War, in which the severest action occurred at the "Bloody Angle," where Benson fought.

By then the young soldier had won a reputation for scouting enemy positions.

At Spotsylvania he reconnoitered the Union camp and on an impulse stole a Yankee colonel's horse, leading it back to Confederate lines. Sent out a second time on Lee's orders, he was captured and imprisoned at the military prison in Point Lookout, Maryland.

On the second day of his captivity, Benson slipped unseen into the waters of Chesapeake Bay and swam two miles to escape but unfortunately for him he was recaptured in Union-occupied Virginia, and then was sent first to the Old Capitol Prison in Washington, D.C., then to the new prison camp at Elmira, New York.

What happened next is the Civil War's version of "The Great Escape."

Once there he joined a group attempting to tunnel out but the effort was discovered and broken up.

Soon thereafter on October 7, 1864 at four o'clock in the morning he and nine

companions entered a tunnel sixty-six feet long which they had been digging for about two

months.

The earth extracted had been carried away in their haversacks and disposed of.

On reaching the outside of the stockade the prisoners scattered in parties of two and three, Sergeant Benson going alone, since the companion he had intended to take with him failed to escape.

He headed south and miraculously reached Confedetate lines.

Sergeant Benson, half a century later, still preserved the passes given him from Newmarket, Virginia, where he first reached Early's army, to Richmond.

He wrote in 1911 that the men who made their escape were:

Washington B. Trawiek,

of the Jeff. Davis Artillery, Alabama, then living at Cold Springs, Texas; John Fox Maull, of

the Jeff. Davis Artillery, deceased; J. P. Putegnat, deceased; G. G. Jackson of Wetumpka, Alabama;

William Templin, of Paunsdale, Alabama; J.P.Scruggs, of Limestone Springs, South Carolina;

Cecrops Malone, of Company F. Ninth Alabama Infantry, then living at Waldron, Ark.; Crawford

of the Sixth Virginia Cavalry, and Glenn.

Most of them were present at Appomattox.

Upon learning of the surrender of General Johnson in North Carolina Benson and his brother walked home.

In 1868 Sargent Benson married his wife Jeannie Oliver with whom he had six children with and, while working as an accountant, developed a complex book-keeping method that he called the “Zero System” and sold it to companies all over the country.

He and his wife wrote poetry for publication, and his wife and daughters were all fine pianists.

One of his daughters studied violin in New York and became a concert performer.

Berry Benson became an advocate for striking mill workers and worked on developing high-protein food crops for poor black sharecroppers.

Benson also became a nationally known puzzle solver, breaking a secret French code known as the"Undecipherable Cipher," in 1896 (On a challenge) and informed the U.S. War Department that he had done so.

During the Spanish-American War Benson offered his services to the United States Government but unfortunately the war ended before he could be of use.

He was perhaps best known, however, for his private investigation into the case of Leo Frank, an Atlanta factory manager accused of raping and murdering 13-year-old Mary Phagan in 1913. Perceiving discrepancies in prosecution testimony, Benson concluded Frank was innocent. His logical arguments persuaded the Georgia governor that there was enough uncertainty in the case to commute Frank’s sentence from death to life imprisonment, but that did not prevent the accused’s subsequent lynching.

He also headed a campaign to support French war orphans in World War I and convinced his friends and neighbors to adopt some of them.

He later advised the U.S. attorney general of the possibility of fraud involving European and American fiscal exchange rates and, when he became aware of the activities of Carlo Ponzi, specifically warned the Massachusetts attorney general of the original “Ponzi Scheme.”

In the midst of this productive life, Benson became an officer in the Confederate Survivors Association and was chosen to model for the statue of the infantryman atop the Augusta monument, which was dedicated in 1878.

Even in advanced age Berry Benson remained fit and active leading boy scouts on fifteen mile hikes and attending veteran reunions and parades until his death on January 1st 1923 he was 79.

"In time, even death itself might be abolished; who knows but it may be given to us after this life to meet again in the old quarters, to play chess and draughts, to get up soon to answer the morning role call, to fall in at the tap of the drum for drill and dress parade, and again to hastily don our war gear while the monotonous patter of the long roll summons to battle.

Who knows but again the old flags, ragged and torn, snapping in the wind, may face each other and flutter, pursuing and pursued, while the cries of victory fill a summer day? And after the battle, then the slain and wounded will arise, and all will meet together under the two flags, all sound and well, and there will be talking and laughter and cheers, and all will say, Did it not seem real? Was it not as in the old days?”

~ 1st Seargent Berry Greenwood Benson 1st South Carolina Infantry Regiment Company H.

2 notes · View notes

quicksiluers · 2 years

Photo

Truman Seymour (September 24, 1824 – October 30, 1891) began his military career after attending Norwich University for two years before enrolling in the United States Military Academy in 1842. He graduated from West Point in 1846, and was assigned to the 1st Artillery during the outbreak of the Mexican-American War. He was promoted to first lieutenant for his conduct during the battles of Contreras and Churubusco. After the war, he returned to West Point and taught for three years, and then served during the Seminole War in Florida from 1856 to 1858.

When the Civil War broke out, Seymour was stationed in Fort Sumter, and was brevetted a major for his actions during the Confederate attack. His first service came early in the war within the defenses of Washington, and was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers on April 28, 1862. Seymour was assigned to a brigade within McCall’s division of the V Corps, commanded by John Porter. He commanded his soldiers during the battle of Mechanicsville, and then commanded the division during the battle of Malvern Hill as a result of McCall being captured by Confederates at the battle of Frayser’s Farm. He led troops during the battles of Second Manassas, South Mountain, and Antietam, resulting in two brevet promotions in the regular army up to colonel. In November of 1862, he was reassigned to Charleston Harbor and led a failed attack on Battery Wagner in July of 1863, where he was severely wounded.

When Seymour returned to duty in December of 1863, he was placed in charge of the District of Florida by General Quincy A. Gillmore. In February of 1864, Seymour and his division made an expedition to Florida capturing the city of Jacksonville. On February 20, Seymour and his division left the city and met approximately 5,000 Confederate troops under the command of Joseph Finegan at the battle of Olustee. The battle would be the largest battle fought in Florida during the Civil War, and ultimately a Confederate victory. Seymour’s defeat resulted in his retreat back to Jacksonville. Following the battle he was relieved of command of the division in Florida, and sent to Virginia where he was placed within the Army of the Potomac.

He served during the battle of the Wilderness, and was captured by Confederate forces under John B. Gordon. He was exchanged after the battle, and was placed in charge of the third division of the VI Corps. He commanded through Union campaigns in the Shenandoah Valley, during the siege of Petersburg, and finally during the Appomattox campaign. He was present when Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant, and received brevet promotions of major general of volunteers and brigadier general in the regular army for his actions during the final campaigns of the war.

#truman seymour #american civil war #civil war #history #my dude went through some tough times lol #but i mean...he ended up sticking with the VI corps for the rest of the war #that's a+ the VIs corps is fantastic

6 notes · View notes

dream2bu · 3 years

Text

I WAS A SAILOR ONCE.....I liked standing on the bridge at sunrise with salt spray and the ocean wind in my face, the ship beneath me feeling like a living thing as she drove swiftly through the sea.

I liked the sounds of the Navy - the shrill boatswains pipe, the ship's bell on the quarterdeck, the harsh squawk of the 1MC, and the strong language and laughter of sailors.

I liked Navy vessels; fast destroyers, plodding fleet auxiliaries and amphibs, sleek submarines and steady solid aircraft carriers.

I liked the proud names of Navy ships: Midway, Lexington, Saratoga, Coral Sea, Antietam, Valley Forge…memorials of great battles won and tribulations overcome.

I liked the lean angular names of Navy "tin-cans" and escorts; Dewey, Farragut, Law, McCloy… mementos of heroes who went before us. And the others, San Jose , San Diego , Los Angeles , St. Paul , Chicago…named for our cities.

I liked the tempo of a Navy band blaring through the topside speakers as we stood out to sea

I liked Liberty Call and the spicy scent of a foreign port.

I even liked the all-hands working parties as my ship filled herself with stores and fuel in order to cut ties to the land and carry out her mission anywhere on the globe.

I liked sailors from all parts of the land, we trusted and depended on each other for competence, comradeship, strength and courage. They were "shipmates"; then and forever.

I liked the surge of adventure in my heart, when the word was passed: "Now set the special sea and anchor detail - all hands to quarters for leaving port," and I liked the thrill of sighting home again, with the waving hands of welcome from family and friends waiting pier side.

The work was hard and dangerous; the going rough at times; the parting from loved ones painful, but the companionship of robust Navy laughter, the "all for one and one for all" philosophy of the sea was ever present.

I liked the serenity of the sea after a day of hard ship's work, as flying fish flitted across the wave tops and sunset gave way to night.

I liked the feel of the Navy in darkness -- the masthead and range lights, the red and green navigation lights and stern light, the pulsating phosphorescence of radar repeaters - they cut through the dusk and joined with the mirror of stars overhead. And I liked drifting off to sleep lulled by the myriad of noises that told me that my ship was well, and that my shipmates on watch would keep me safe.

I liked quiet midwatches with the aroma of strong coffee; the lifeblood of the Navy permeating everywhere. And I liked hectic watches when the exacting minuet of haze-gray shapes racing at flank speed kept all hands on a razor edge of alertness.

I liked the sudden cry of "General quarters, general quarters, all hands man your battle stations," followed by the clamor of running feet on ladders and the resounding thump of watertight doors as the ship transformed herself in a few brief seconds from a peaceful workplace to a weapon of war…ready for anything.

And I liked the sight of space-age equipment manned by youngsters clad in dungarees and sound-powered phones that their grandfathers would still recognize.

I liked the traditions of the Navy and those who made them. I liked the proud names of Navy heroes: Halsey, Nimitz, Perry, Farragut, John Paul Jones and Burke. A sailor could find much in the Navy: comrades-in-arms, pride in self and country, mastery of the seaman's trade.

In years to come, when sailors are home from the sea, they will still remember with fondness and respect the ocean in all its moods - the impossible shimmering mirror calm or the storm-tossed green water surging over the bow. And then there will come again a faint whiff of stack gas, a faint echo of engine and rudder orders, a vision of the bright bunting of signal flags snapping at the yardarm, a refrain of hearty laughter in the wardroom and chief's quarters and mess decks.

Gone ashore for good they will grow wistful about their Navy days, when the seas belonged to them and a new port of call was ever over the horizon.

Remembering this, they will stand taller and they will say, "I WAS A SAILOR ONCE AND I WOULD DO IT AGAIN."

Writing by By VADM. Harold Koenig, U.S.N. Ret.

#us navy #sailor #sea life

5 notes · View notes

pinturasdeguerra · 5 years

Photo

1862 09 15 Stonewall Jackson at Harper's Ferry - Mort Künstler

It had been an eventful day for the dusty, worn-looking horsemen who rode into the quiet Virginia town of Harpers Ferry. Only hours before, the boom of artillery had reverberated off the stone and brick walls, echoing in the valleys of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. Now, the streets were quiet, except for the scuffling feet of curious gray soldiers who wandered the historic town. Dim lights glowed from a few windows, signaling a cautious return to life. The general and his staff studied the shadows in façades of the buildings, overshadowed by Maryland Heights beyond. The general's face was a familiar one to many, and this was the scene of his earliest command – "Stonewall" Jackson had returned to Harpers Ferry. A year prior to this warm September evening, Jackson's first command was located here. Now, he had returned to encircle it, forcing its 12,500 man garrison to surrender. It was a strategic high point of Robert E. Lee's campaign into Maryland. What were Jackson's thoughts as he rode along Shenadoah Street that evening? Was he remembering his first command, or the victory of the day? More than likely, the plan for the following day's march rolled through his head. Lee, to the north, was waiting for "Stonewall," while facing the bulk of McClellan's Union army. There was little time to rest on his laurels. Jackson was desperately needed in Maryland. He would march northward at dawn toward Sharpsburg, and a rendezvous along the banks of the Antietam.

#stonewall jackson #harper's ferry #Mort Künstler

40 notes · View notes

destinationstravelguide · 3 years

Photo

10 Amazing National Parks in the Northeast US that you HAVE to Visit! The east coast of the United States is a beautiful region with plenty to offer. From mountains and lakes, to beaches and rivers, there are many reasons why people love coming here. But if you’re looking for even more natural beauty, then you should visit one or more of these 10 national parks in the Northeast US that everyone needs to see! If you are planning on traveling with kids, be sure to check out our list of the top eight national parks to visit with kids too! 1. Acadia National Park Acadia National Park in Maine is famous for its scenic views, hiking paths and beautiful coastline. There are also several Acadia lodges around to make your stay that much more comfortable! Acadia is home to Cadillac Mountain, the tallest mountain east of the Rocky Mountains. Cadillac Mountain provides unbelievable views and hikes that everyone can enjoy! Be sure not to miss Cadillac Mountain on your next visit; it’s one of the “must see” places in all of Maine! But, Acadia is also home to a lot more than just hiking paths and scenic views. There are 165 miles worth of biking trails for you to explore too! At over 67,000 acres big, many people refer to Acadia as America’s first national east coast park that has hardly been touched by man-made development. This makes it a great place for hikers looking for an outdoor experience with low population density or crowds. The 65 mile coastline area includes 21 different named peaks which offer some magnificent views. There are also plenty of other things to do in Acadia National Park, from bird watching to visiting the Blackwoods Nature Center which is home to a range of wildlife native east coast species, including black bears! 2. Cape Cod National Seashore Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts is home to the largest east coast barrier beach system. With over 40 miles of beautiful coastline, Cape Cod offers plenty for everyone to enjoy! There are many activities you can do at Cape Cod National Seashore including hiking and biking trails, wildlife watching or getting up close with nature by walking on one of their five sand dunes. You could also take a boat ride out onto Buzzards Bay where there’s an abundance of marine life such as seals, osprey and even whales if you’re lucky enough! If that doesn’t sound like your thing then how about taking a stroll down Scusset Beach? The long stretches of soft white sand will surely put you in some good moods! Another great place to visit is the Salt Pond Visitor Center. This visitor center offers a one-of-a kind birding experience with plenty of unique east coast species for you to see! There’s also an interpretation center, gift shop and bookstore too so don’t forget your wallet before heading out on your next adventure in Cape Cod National Seashore! 3. Antietam National Battlefield Antietam National Battlefield in Maryland is well known for the Battle of Antietam which took place on September 17, 1862. The battlefield has been preserved and protected as a way to remember those who lost their lives during this battle. This national park offers visitors some insight into what life was like before bullets were fired! Visitors can take a self-guided walking tour and explore various sites that hold significance such as Burnside Bridge or Bloody Lane where many soldiers died. There are also plenty of monuments dotted across the landscape from stones honoring different regiments all the way up to statues commemorating President Lincoln’s address at Gettysburg following the Civil War (though he never visited Antietam). 4. Assateague Island National Seashore Assateague Island National Seashore in Maryland is famous for its coastal dunes and horse filled beaches. This east coast park offers some fantastic views of the Atlantic Ocean, perfect for those who are looking to get away from it all! There’s a wide range of things you can do while taking in these beautiful sights such as fishing, surfing or even just lazing on the white sand beach with your toes buried deep beneath the surface. Be sure not to miss out on their annual Pony Penning event which takes place every July since it only happens once per year! Make sure to visit the Assateague lighthouse while you’re there as well! It is a 19th century light house that is still working! Assateague Island has a lot to offer with a wide variety of activities to choose from! The whole family will find something here that they will enjoy! 5. Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park in Maryland is located along the Potomac River. This east coast national park offers a great insight into how people used to travel before cars were invented! Visitors can explore an old towpath which was once used by mules to transport goods from one side of the canal all the time, or they could take a hike on any number of hiking trails that are available too. There are also many biking trails in the area for those looking to take a ride around the national historic park while they are there! There’s even a replica lock for visitors who want to see what it would have been like as a boatman back in 1831 when locks became necessary due to changes in water levels within the canal system. Be sure not miss out on this east coast gem while you’re exploring these sights because there’s plenty of things to see and do over the course of your visit! 6. Catoctin Mountain Park Catoctin Mountain Park in Maryland is the east coast’s largest section of public land, spanning over 87 square miles! This national park offers a variety of hiking trails so you can choose one that suits your needs. One famous trail to try out is Hog Rock Nature Trail. This is a great option for those who are looking for a short, easy trail that still provides some great east coast views. No matter which trail you decide to take, there’s plenty for you to see such as old growth forests and historical buildings like an apple house which was built around 1875 by two German immigrant brothers. If those don’t sound appealing then how about looking at waterfalls? Cunningham Falls is a beautiful waterfall that you can hike to in under four hours (or you can hike to the lower Cunningham Falls much faster) and it’s a great east coast destination which is perfect for the whole family. Visitors can also spend time exploring some wildlife! More than 500 species call this east coast gem home including deer, coyotes and even black bears! There are countless possibilities when it comes to exploring Catoctin Mountain Park – make sure not to miss out on these east coast hidden gems while you’re on your east coast adventure! 7. Fire Island National Seashore Fire Island National Seashore in New York is east coast’s only national park that encompasses an entire island! This east coast gem offers visitors some of the best views of Long Island Sound, making it perfect for a day trip to enjoy the serene landscapes. Visitors can also visit various sites which hold historical significance such as The Point at Robert Moses State Park or The Walkway Over the Hudson where you’ll find monuments and other tributes to those who have been lost along this east coast path. There are plenty of beaches here too so be sure not to miss out on exploring these beautiful sights while you’re there – don’t forget your sunscreen though since many people get sunburned just by walking around all day! They even offer a variety of tours for visitors who are looking for something more than just walking the beautiful east coast beaches. Things like bike, canoe and kayak rentals as well as bird watching or lighthouse tours are available too and often include lunch options that will make your visit here extra special. There’s always something new going on at Fire Island National Seashore which makes it an east coast national treasure not to be missed. 8. Congaree National Park Congaree National Park in South Carolina is east coast’s largest protected area of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest which spans over 17,000 acres. This east coast national park has a variety of habitats for visitors to explore and they’re all just waiting to be discovered! Visitors can hike popular trails like the River Trail or Big Tree Loop Trail that showcase some incredible scenery as well as wildlife sightings too – don’t forget your camera because you’ll want to capture these moments forever! You can even take the kids here since it offers plenty of different areas for them to enjoy such as children’s discovery stations where they can learn about local plants and animals, plus picnic shelters if you’d prefer not to eat out in the east coast sun. Visitors can also take a boat tour of Congaree National Park which offers some unique views that you won’t find anywhere else – east coast visitors will love exploring this east coast treasure! 9. Cuyahoga Valley National Park Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio is east coast’s only national park that includes both a river and valley! This east coast national park offers visitors some of the best views of Lake Erie, making it perfect for a day trip to enjoy the serene landscapes. After you can spend some time enjoying Lake Erie by relaxing, kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming, and so much more! Visitors can also visit various sites which hold historical significance such as Canal Exploration Center or Western Reserve Historical Society. There are plenty of trails here so be sure not to miss out on exploring these beautiful sights while you’re there – don’t forget your sunscreen though since many people get sunburned without realizing it! 10. Gateway Arch National Park Gateway Arch National Park in Missouri is one of the most famous sites in the United States! The famous giant arch is east coast’s tallest man-made monument and visitor numbers are only going to keep on increasing. The arch is 630 feet tall and offers east coast visitors some incredible views of St. Louis, as well as the Mississippi River. It is made of stainless steel and is the tallest arch in the entire world! Visitors can ride in an elevator all the way to the top of the arch! Once up there they can look out of the many windows and see views of the beautiful city from 630 above! The park is located just 20 minutes from downtown St Louis, Missouri where you’ll find plenty to do such as exploring the National Museum of Toys or one of its many theaters showcasing top entertainment too! There are many famous restaurants in St. Louis as well including Broadway Oyster Bar! Conclusion The east coast is full of beautiful national parks that are just waiting to be explored. Whether you’re looking for an east coast beach or a mountainous hike in the forest then these destinations should have it all! Most are family friendly as well! You are sure to make memories that will last a lifetime! Enjoy your trip and be sure to check out Destinations Travel Guide for all your future vacation needs! [/et_pb_blurb

1 note · View note

nebris · 3 years

Photo

Seven aerial photographs showing the major different modernizations of the U.S. Navy Essex-class aircaft carriers (l-r): USS Franklin (CV-13), a "short hull" type as delivered, 21 February 1944. Franklin, USS Bunker Hill (CV-17), USS Boxer (CV-21), USS Princeton (CV-37), USS Tarawa (CV-40), USS Valley Forge (CV-45) and USS Philippine Sea (CV-47) received no or little modernization. USS Wasp (CV-18), after her SCB-27A conversion in late 1951: new hydraulic catapults, new island, removal of the deck guns, new bow. Modernized as such were USS Essex (CV-9), USS Yorktown (CV-10), USS Hornet (CV-12), USS Randolph (CV-15), Wasp, USS Bennington (CV-20), USS Kearsarge (CV-33) and USS Lake Champlain (CV-39). USS Oriskany (CV-34) was completed as such. USS Hancock (CV-19) after her SCB-27C modernization, circa 1955: like SCB-27A but new steam catapults and relocation of the aft elevator to the deck edge. USS Intrepid (CV-11) and USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) also received SCB-27C. USS Antietam (CV-36) after the installation of an experimental angled deck, circa 1954. USS Bennington (CV-20) after SCB-125: enclosed hurricane bow, angled deck, starboard deckedge elevator. USS Essex (CV-9), USS Yorktown (CV-10), USS Hornet (CV-12), USS Randolph (CV-15), Wasp, USS Bennington (CV-20) and USS Kearsarge (CV-33) received SCB-125. USS Hancock (CV-19) after SCB-125 in April 1957. The three SCB-27C ships were modernized as such an had the starboard deckedge elevator located further aft. The forward elevator was enlarged. USS Oriskany (CV-34) received SCB-125A, here on 30 May 1974. Similar to SCB-27C/SCB-125, only the starboard deckedge elevator was located further forward, as with the SCB-27A/SCB-125 ships. USS Lexington (CV-16), USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) and USS Shangri-La (CV-38) received SCB-27C/SCB-125 in one refit but had the starboard elevator in the same position as Oriskany.

2 notes · View notes

epochxp · 3 years

Text

Across 5 Aprils – Wargaming the American Civil War.

Despertaferres Blog

One hundred sixty years ago this month, one of the most terrible conflicts in American history began with a cannonade aimed at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. One hundred fifty-six years ago, after some of the worst bloodletting in American history, the conflict came to a merciful end at Appomattox Court House with the surrender of the Confederacy’s Army of Northern Virginia.

During those years, a war raged that was unlike many wars past, yet had elements of wars that had gone before it. Linear tactics were still used throughout the war, but small arms fire, once a prelude to shock action, had now become effective with every soldier having in his hands a percussion cap rifled musket. Add in rifled artillery able to shoot over the horizon, and you had a recipe for carnage. And carnage was one thing to describe the Civil War from a tactical and operational standpoint, at least in the East. In the west, the armies moved, fought battles, then moved and fought again. Railroads became the lifeblood of armies, both in strategic movement and in supporting armies in ways they had never been before. Add in the telegraph, and these armies could be, to some extent, controlled far from home. It was, as many described, the first modern war.

But wargaming this war has its own challenges. In this war, the defender often has an advantage, especially if he has rifled muskets, more so if he has repeating rifles and is mobile. A good example is Buford at Gettysburg and the delaying action he fought against the leading elements on the first day of Gettysburg. The fact his command had Sharps rifles played a huge part in his ability to fight that delaying action.

Confessedly, most of my own experience gaming the Civil War is on the miniatures side, but as a period, the American Civil War (ACW) is third only to World War II and Napoleonics. There are dozens of games and rules sets out there for aficionados of the period. I am just taking the time to recommend my personal favorites.

So, without further ado:

Board Wargames

Board Game Geek

Personally, I think this is one of the best strategic treatments out there on the Civil War. It’s since taken a back seat to GMT’s For the People (an outgrowth of the original AH design), which I have also played and enjoyed the hell out of. I don’t think you could go wrong with either game if you want to play out the strategic level of the war. I think For the People is a better game, having played both, but A House Divided came out first (from GDW), so I played it a lot more. Happily, A House Divided is fairly affordable on-Board Game Geek as is For The People. Neither one is a bad investment of your time and money.

Board Game Geek

I’ve played a lot of Gettysburg games, but this one was my fave. I had a subscription to Command Magazine back in the day, and this was one of the games I received. I really liked it, and having seen the movie Gettysburg at the same time, it was a great chance to learn more about the engagement (Not to mention I was working my way through Bruce Catton’s three-volume series on the Army of the Potomac at the time). I liked the unique system and the way it handled the battle at the brigade level, which kept the counter density low (you don’t need 500+ counters to make a good game, in my opinion). This was one of Command’s better efforts, and it’s also affordable on Board Game Geek if you want to give it a try.

Board Game Geek

I played this little game with some friends in NYC and also enjoyed the hell out of it. It was a pivotal battle in the West that I’d never heard of. (Yes, the Civil War isn’t my wargaming period, ok?) But that said, it was a solid game about a unique but pivotal subject. (The Union victory here historically kept Missouri in the Union!) Gameplay itself was bog-standard SPI in the 70s, but again, it was a small, fun game that did a fine job of portraying the Civil War at the brigade/regimental level. It was part of a series put out by SPI and later TSR (yes, that TSR) called the Great Battles of the American Civil War series, which eventually the following battles:

1st Bull Run - July 21, 1861, First Blood: The 1st and 2nd Battles of Manassas / Red Badge of Courage

Wilson’s Creek - August 10, 1861, Wilson’s Creek: The West’s First Fight, August 10, 1861

Pea Ridge - March 7-8, 1862, Pea Ridge: The Gettysburg of the West March 7-8 1862

Kernstown - March 23, 1862, Stonewall: The Battle of Kernstown / Death Valley: Battles for the Shenandoah

Shiloh - April 6-7, 1862, Bloody April: The Battle of Shiloh, 1862 / Into the Woods: The Battle of Shiloh

Winchester - May 25, 1862, Death Valley: Battles for the Shenandoah

Cross Keys - June 8, 1862, Jackson at the Crossroads: Cross Keys & Port Republic, June 8-9, 1862 / Death Valley: Battles for the Shenandoah

Port Republic - June 9, 1862, Jackson at the Crossroads: Cross Keys & Port Republic, June 8-9, 1862 / Death Valley: Battles for the Shenandoah

Cedar Mountain - August 9, 1862, Twin Peaks / Cedar Mountain

2nd Bull Run - August 28–30, 1862, First Blood: The 1st and 2nd Battles of Manassas / Red Badge of Courage

South Mountain - September 14, 1862, Twin Peaks

Antietam/Sharpsburg - September 17, 1862, A Gleam of Bayonets: The Battle of Antietam

Corinth - October 3-4, 1862, The Battle of Corinth: Standoff at the Tennessee, October 3-4, 1862

Stones river - December 31, 1862, to January 3, 1863, Dead of Winter: The Battle of Stones River / Dead of Winter: The Battle of Stones River (Second Edition)

Kelly’s Ford - March 17, 1863, Rebel Sabers: Civil War Cavalry Battles

Brandy Station - June 9, 1863, Rebel Sabers: Civil War Cavalry Battles

Trevillians Station - June 11-12, 1863, Rebel Sabers: Civil War Cavalry Battles

Dutch Roads (side Battle during Gettysburg) - July 3, 1863, Rebel Sabers: Civil War Cavalry Battles

Gettysburg - July 1–3, 1863, Terrible Swift Sword: Battle of Gettysburg Game / The Three Days Of Gettysburg / The Three Days of Gettysburg (Second Edition) / Three Days of Gettysburg (Third Edition)

Chickamauga - September 19-20, 1863, River of Death: Battle of Chickamauga, September 19-20, 1863

Pleasant Hill - April 9, 1864, Pleasant Hill: The Red River Campaign

New Market - May 15, 1864, Death Valley: Battles for the Shenandoah

Brice’s Crossroads - June 10, 1864, The Horse Soldiers: Forrest at Bay

Tupelo - July 14, 1864, The Horse Soldiers: Forrest at Bay

Monocacy Junction - July 9, 1864, Drive on Washington: The Battle of Monocacy Junction, July 9, 1864

2nd Kernstown - July 24, 1864, Death Valley: Battles for the Shenandoah

3rd Winchester - September 19, 1864, Death Valley: Battles for the Shenandoah

Fisher’s Hill - September 22, 1864, Death Valley: Battles for the Shenandoah

Cedar Creek - October 19, 1864, The Guns of Cedar Creek / Death Valley: Battles for the Shenandoah

The series also covered some of the Mexican American War, which was fought with similar weapons and tactics, If with some Napoleonic set-dressing. In fact, GMT is taking many of the games in the series and is republishing them after sprucing up the rules a bit. I’ve played Three Days at Gettysburg, and I liked it, though be warned, it’s a huge game! As for Wilson’s Creek? It’s available from Board Game Geek for a pretty reasonable price, and I, for one, recommend it as a way to get your feet wet in the series.

Miniatures Games

Board Game Geek

I’ve played just about every incarnation of these rules you can imagine. I’ve played them for Civil War, Napoleonic, Mexican-American War, yep. I’ve done it. To me, these are the best Brigade/Regimental 19th Century rules on the market. These rules handle the subject matter well, are easy to learn, and reflect the realities of command at the level portrayed very well. I’ve played these rules dozens of times and been in games with up to a corps in contact (in the Brigade version) and actually finished the game in four hours. Yep, not a lot of rules sets that can say that. Some aren’t nuts about the command system and don’t like its unpredictability, but it forces leaders to be active on the table and not to force march your troops all over the place (like some games allow you to do with near-impunity). And, the rules are perfect for the new 15mm plastics coming from Warlord! The rules are still available for a pretty reasonable price from Fire and Fury Games.com.

To me, Sharp Practice is one of the best 19th Century Skirmish rules there. I’ve played Civil War, Napoleonic, and even medievals, and a western gunfight with these rules. The command system and turn sequence take some getting used to, but once you do, you’ll find a good set of skirmish rules with a roleplaying element that can handle any part of the 18th and 19th Centuries with little modification no matter what the book says. In fact, Too Fat Lardies published a supplement just for the Civil War:

To me, these are some great skirmish rules for the period. If you want to wargame Civil War at this level, these are the rules set to get. Trust me. You’ll get a great game out of it.

Conclusion

This has been just a survey course about wargaming the American Civil War, and I’ll be writing more articles about the period as time goes on (and my wargaming knowledge improves!) But that said, I hope this has inspired you to take your own trip “across 5 Aprils” and explore the wargaming possibilities.

Good Gaming out there everyone!