‘The Source’ February 2021 by Michael K. Shaffer

Vol. 41, No. 2

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America’s Monthly Newspaper For Civil War Enthusiasts

48 Pages, February 2021

Blue and Gray Education Society Donates Historical Signage for Fort Branch HAMILTON, N.C.—Saturday, November 28, saw the fulfillment of over two years of effort, running through the idea, then planning, and finally the installation of signage for Fort Branch, Hamilton, N.C. The project began with a 2017 Blue and Gray Education Society (BGES) tour’s side trip to the fort. The visitors noted the lack of adequate signs explaining the fort positions, artillery, and its history. The germ started with the visit, then a follow up to find out interest in new signage. Over the next two years, through research, job changes, the covid lockdown, and then more site visits, the final steps were in place. Individual sign sponsors generously stepped forward, the text and imagery were completed, posts were erected, and finally the signs were mounted. The Blue and Gray Education Society is a 501C-3 organization headquartered in Chatham, Va., that supports learning about our history. The Society’s mission is, among other things, to reveal our past for our future through facilitating the study and

Navy Medal of Honor sign. 38 – American Battlefield Trust 47 – Advertiser Index 10 – Black Powder, White

understanding of the American Civil War. They accomplish this by interpreting and preserving Civil War battlefields and other historically significant places and artifacts. Through the generosity of BGES members and other supporters, the Society focuses on several projects annually. The Society has prepared Preservation Reports for several threatened Civil War sites including the Mobile and Vicksburg Campaigns, as well as Price’s Missouri Raid of 1864. These reports were presented at BGESconducted conferences sponsored by the American Battlefield Protection Program, for concerned citizens and local governments affiliated with the respective campaigns. The report findings were subsequently published and used as definitive guidance for preservation and educational improvements in their locales. The Society has also created an artillery display for the Battle of Raymond, Miss., and helped the Friends of Raymond achieve their goal of being the first significant battlefield to have one restored cannon sited where every cannon was actually positioned during the May 12, 1863, battle. The Society has nearly 200 signs now posted at sites around the country. The BGES provided, in partnership with Chesterfield County, Va., over 40 interpretive markers related to the Bermuda Hundred Campaign. Other sites, supported by the generosity of BGES members, in conjunction with local supporters, include numerous battlefields such as North Anna and Cedar Creek, Va., South Mountain and Crampton’s Gap, Md., Van Dorn’s Holly Springs, Mississippi Raid, Perryville, Ky., and Grand Gulf, Miss. Doug Cumins noted that “We Smoke 40 – Book Reviews 29 – Central Virginia Battlefield Trust

L-R Dan Mastin and Holden Spain (SCV), Doug Cumins (BGES) mounting sign at river face gun position Larry Babits. visited Fort Branch on a tour. The fort is in good condition and has most of the cannon originally mounted in the fort and that is very unusual.” Len Reidel, BGES Executive Director, mentioned that Fort Branch was “a target of opportunity. It is exactly what BGES exists for.” The Society felt, that “the Fort Branch volunteers are a small group that could use assistance, and BGES is a group able to provide that assistance.” We offered our assistance because the Fort Branch folks did not know we existed, so if we didn’t volunteer our services, they would likely have never asked. The 18 signs, 12 small, 5 large, and a very large entrance sign, have information about the fort’s history and relationship to the War, the half dozen different cannon types and their particular position in the fort, changing 34 – Emerging Civil War 22 – The Graphic War 24 – Inspection, ARMS! 28 – News Briefs

military and naval technology, and the Confederate efforts defending the Roanoke River valley. Not slighting the Federals who tried to eliminate the fort, there is a marker on the river face to two Union sailors who earned the Medal of Honor whilst attacking the fort July 9, 1862. The Medal of Honor sign represents a series of coincidental events. The sign’s origin was in a chance conversation, overheard at Fort Fisher, about an ancestor who earned the medal near Hamilton, North Carolina, the nearest town to the fort. Getting his name led to information about a Union sailor who fought at Rainbow Bluff July 9, 1862. Additional research found the medal’s citation. Other researchers then went through the Official Records and discovered that two sailors earned the medal that day. 18 – The Source 8 – The Unfinished Fight 14 – This And That 6 – Trivia

Quartermaster Alexander Hand, a Delaware native, was aboard USS Ceres when it came under fire. Hand was cited for his gallantry when he “courageously returned the raking enemy fire and was spoken of for ‘good conduct and cool bravery under enemy fire,’ by the commanding officer.” Hand survived the war as did the other hero, John Kelley, Fireman Second Class. Kelly, born in Ireland in 1841, also returned the Confederate fire and was cited for “courageously carrying out his duties through the engagement.” He too was spoken of for “good conduct and cool bravery under enemy fire.” Individual BGES donors funded the signs. The smaller signs were credited to individual

H BGES

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February 2021 and images. Check the ‘Podcasts’ section now, and listen to discussions on our nation’s 16th president. Various ‘Cartoons’ from the period’s popular illustrated papers appear here, although much work lies ahead to populate thoroughly. The ‘Site Map’ offers a useful overview of the entire collection and a quick navigation method to select topics. Along with the other areas, this article’s future installment will drill into the ‘Special Features.’ The ‘Timeline’ remains under construction, and the ‘What’s New!’ section provides a great place to start when revisiting the site once bookmarked. Finally, ‘Who’s Who,’ when finished, will give an image and bio of prominent individuals: political, military, and civilian. As indicated on this site’s homepage, “If you want to truly understand Lincoln as President, you have to see the BIG picture!” So, next month, we will continue to explore The Lincoln Archives Digital Project: (http://www.lincolnarchives.org). Until then, wishes for continued good luck in researching the American Civil War!

The Lincoln Archives Digital Project

The Lincoln Archives Digital Project banner. Researchers will benefit from Lincoln as a President.” Given the vast sources available, now the magnitude of sources, rangand in the future, at The Lincoln ing from November 1860 through Archives Digital Project! (http:// late 1865, available in this growwww.lincolnarchives.org/) This ing repository, this month an writer appreciates the assistance overview of the various sections Karen Needles, the brains be- will set the stage for future artihind this undertaking, who pro- cles, which will delve into spevided helpful information for cific categories. Over 20 years this article. According to Ms. of scanning and digitization repNeedles, this effort “launched in resent the current offerings; the 2002.” The goal of the project work will continue well into the is to digitize all federal records future, so bookmark the site and created during the Presidency of check back for updates. One Abraham Lincoln, including all can also follow the Project on cabinet positions, as well as Civil Facebook and Twitter. The screenshot shown will serve War records, providing a 360-degree opportunity to truly study as a guide for this introduction.

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First, the ‘Search’ function offers a great place to start if one has a particular subject under research. A search of “Frederick Douglass” returned 13 documents of varying topics. ‘Website Tips’ provides techniques that will enhance the time spent on the site. The ‘About Us’ section offers valuable information on the project’s history and details the work ahead. (The site does accept financial contributions to assist in the endeavor!) As of December 2020, the ‘Diaries’ section contains only one, a journal from a trooper with the 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Continuing, the ‘GovPubs’— after future digitization—will house the Journal of the House, Congressional Globe, Journal of the Senate, U.S. Congressional Serial Set, Maps, Indian Land Cessions, Journal of the Congress of the Confederate States of America, 1861–1865, Biographical Dictionary of the United States Congress 1861–1865, and Statutes and Documents. The National Archives section (NARA) will eventually contain documents

Search function expandable menu.

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from various Record Groups on the American Civil War, and the ‘Newspapers’ and ‘Photographs’ categories, both now in the early stages of work, will provide direct links to many period broadsheets

Michael K. Shaffer is a Civil War historian, author, lecturer, and instructor, who remains a member of the Society of Civil War Historians, Historians of the Civil War Western Theater, and the Georgia Association of Historians. Readers may contact him at mkscdr11@gmail.com or request speaking engagements via his website www.civilwarhistorian.net. Follow Michael on Facebook www.facebook.com/michael.k.shaffer and Twitter @michaelkshaffer.

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