The
Black Plume
The
1st Virginia Cavalry, Company D
The
Washington Rifles Newsletter
July, 2010
Number 7; Volume 2
The Battle of
Boone
West Jefferson, North Carolina
Christmas in July Festival
July 2nd, 3rd and 4th, 2010
Hosted by Company D of the 1st Virginia Cavalry
Friday Evening Skirmish in the Streets
Saturday Living History and Battle
Sunday Morning Church Service
Contact
Captain Monte Baker @
mbaker004@centurytel.net
h
The living history at West
Jefferson starts on Friday evening with a salute in town to start the
festival and a small skirmish fought in the streets back to the town
park where the encampment will be set up. Saturday is a living history
with camp tours all day. The Battle of Boone will be reenacted at 3:00
pm on Saturday. There will be a Sunday morning church service. The
festival includes crafts, music and fun for all the family. Check out
the event on line at www.christmasinjuly.com. This is the 6th annual
event.
Christmas in
July will be the Washington Rifles next event in 2010 and will be held
in West Jefferson, NC. This is a Company D 1st Virginia
Cavalry sponsored event and Major Baker will be in command. Attending
will be David Chaltus as Robert E. Lee, author and historian (and 1st
Virginia member) Jerry Brown who will help Ashe County residents search
for their Civil War roots. There will be at least one sutler present and
many other units. Major Baker has informed “The Plume” that we could
have over 100 reenactors present. There will also be artillery on hand
for the public to view.
The theme for this
years Christmas in July is Sharing Our Mountain Heritage.
Christmas in July is a free-admission event featuring the very best in
traditional mountain music, handmade crafts from throughout the
Northwest Mountains of North Carolina and of course our Civil War
encampment. There will also be an excellent array of food available and
festivities for the entire family. Christmas in July is one of the top
summer festivals in the South and draws more than 20,000 visitors each
day.
Christmas in July is a
huge event in West Jefferson and Ashe County and it is nice to be
invited back for another appearance there. Each year the reenactors have
been treated like special guests by the wonderful citizens of Ashe
County. There has always been a great interest in our encampment and we
have had large numbers of visitors to the camp.
This year we will set
up in the West Jefferson Park where we camped last year. The camp site
has many shaded spots with a beautiful little stream running through it.
It is located in the middle of the festival and there is only a short
walk to the town square. Remember this is a 1st Virginia
Company D sponsored event.
All vendor spaces are
filled for this year. Only craft vendors are accepted. No flea market
items or general merchandise. This should be a great festival and a
rewarding opportunity to teach the public about the war years.
Christmas
in July Schedule of Events
Friday
Set up camp all day
7:00 pm Opening
Ceremony and March to town to fire a salute
7:30 pm Skirmish in
Town
Saturday
9:00 am Officers call
Companies will
report on participation in the Civil War games.
10:00 am – 12:00 noon
Civil War Games
followed by individual and company awards
A.
Load and Fire Contest – Two members from each
company
B.
Fallen Comrade Contest – Two Members from each
company
C.
Captains and Sergeants – Three leg race
1:00 – 2:30 pm
Ladies
Fashion Show and Southern Women as Spies
3:00 pm
Battle
of Boone Reenactment
4:30 pm
North
Carolina and Ashe County during the Civil War
Civil
War Civilians
7:00 pm
Bushwacking of the Union or Confederate Camp
Sunday
10:00 am
Church Service in the Park
The public is welcome to attend
Ongoing events all day
Friday and Saturday include camp tours, meet and talk to the Generals
(Generals Lee, Grant, Jackson, Wheeler and Breckenridge), a Civil War
sutler and self guided Camp Tours.
Directions
to West Jefferson, North Carolina
From Abingdon, Virginia
Take US 81 toward
Roanoke, Virginia
Take Exit 45
Turn right on Hwy 58
and 16
Travel about 20 miles
and you will come to the Mouth of Wilson
Turn right on HWY 16 –
You will see a sign that says Jefferson
Travel to Jefferson,
North Carolina
Turn Right on Hwy 221
(at the 3rd traffic light-a 4 way)
This will take you to
West Jefferson.
There will be signs to
the festival and encampment site at the West Jefferson Park
Lodging at West Jefferson
The Nations Inn at West
Jefferson – 1-800-801-3441
The Hampton Inn at West
Jefferson – 1-336-846-4000
Park Vista Hotel at
West Jefferson- 1-336-877-2750
Battles at Wise
History Comes Alive in Wise, Virginia
July 9, 10 and 11, 2010
Reenactments of
The Burning of Gladeville
And
The Battle of Cranesnest
This
will be the next event on the 1st Virginia Company D schedule
in 2010. Everyone that attended the event last year are excited about
returning this season for what I am sure will be another great event. In
past the amenities at this event have included 3 days of passes to the
Municipal Pool, nine showers at the pool, restroom facilities with flush
toilets and running water, one dinner and one breakfast catered by
Mosby’s Restaurant, one pound of powder for reregistered reenactors,
water, ice and firewood. Camping will be where it was last year at the
Addington Middle School.
Registration must be in
by June 30, 2010. To register and receive up to date information on the
event go to
www.townofwise.net.
Direction to Wise, Virginia
From Abingdon, Virginia
Take US 19 toward
Bluefield
Turn Left on US 58 at
Hansonville
Travel about 36 miles
Turn Right on US 23
toward Wise, Virginia
Lodging at Wise, Virginia
Best Western at Wise –
276-328-3500
The Ramada Inn –
800-228-3344
Days Inn at Norton –
276-328-5340
Carriage Inn –
276-328-8071
Super 8 – 276-679-0893
The Skirmish in Smyth County
Saltville, Virginia
A New Event
July 16, 17 and 18, 2010
This is a new event
that will be held during the Salt Days Celebration and Festival at
Saltville, Virginia. It takes the place of the event that has been held
a Hungry Mother Park for several years in the past. The annual
Saltville will be held on the 3rd weekend in August
(20, 21 and 22).
The new event is
sponsored by the Blue Gray Historical Group and the Town of Saltville.
There will be no sutler fees, no bounties paid and will be free to
reenactors and the public. The August event is on the 1st
Virginia schedule but the July event is not. The planning of the event
took place after we voted on our schedule in February. Some of us will
be attending and we will get a roster together at an upcoming event.
Other Events at Salt
Days:
A Golf
Tournament Home Run Derby for
Women
Tours of a Paleo-Dig
Excavation Night Bass Fishing
Bike
Ride Lecture on
Salt Production
Night 5K
Run River Tubing
Salt Making
Demonstration River Kayaking
Message from Terry Hunt
Please do not think
that this is our big reenactment .Our regular reenactment is on August
20th thru 22nd.
This one is the one
that we used to do at Hungry Mother.Please pass the word around .
We also need some help
on this one.
Thanks.
Terry
The Skirmish of Smyth County
Civil War living history encampment and reenactment
July 17th and 18th.
By Terry Hunt
The Blue Gray
Historical Group along with other reenactors will host
The Skirmish of
Smyth County Civil War Lliving History and Reenactment. The reenactment
which was held at the Hungry Mother Arts and Crafts Festival for the
past several years has moved to Saltville this year to go along with the
Saltville Salt trail day’s celebration. This event will take place at
the Saltpark site in Saltville on July 17th and 18th. Admission is free
to the public all weekend. Living histories will be presented all day
along with a skirmish at 1 pm each day.
We’ll be salt making,
camp cooking, bullet molding, drills and equipment displays and much
more. The W A Stuart home will also be open to the public for tours on
the 17th and 18th.W A was the brother of J E B Stuart and part owner of
the salt works in Saltville. The home was occupied by some of the
Northern troops during the December 1864 battle. Bring all the family
and spend the day or weekend to smell the smoke, taste the salt
And hear the echoes of
battle .You can also see the other sites that Saltville has to offer
.The Museum of the Middle Appalachians, the Hardy Roberts Wave pool, The
Palmer Mill, The Battlefields and much, much more. Bring your family to
the Salt Park and travel back in time to Saltville 1864 .The trip is
free once you get here. For further info on the Blue Gray Historical
Group you can go to www.bluegrayhistoricalgroup.org.
1st Virginia Cavalry Company D
The Washington Rifles
2010 Reenactment Schedule
July 2, 3 and
4 Christmas in July;
West Jefferson, NC; Christmas in July; Battle of Boone, N. C.; This is a
1st Virginia Cavalry, Company D sponsored event; Christmas in July is
one of the top summer festivals in the South and draws more than 20,000
visitors each day; The camp site where the living history is held is in
a nice shaded park with a beautiful little stream running through it;
Living History and Battles on Friday and Saturday; Church Service on
Sunday; Contact
mbaker004@centurytel.net or 706-313-5876
July 9, 10
and 11 Battles at Wise;
Wise, Virginia; Battle of Wise/Cranesnest; In 2009 the event took place
on the 2nd weekend in July; Free registration for reenactors; Living
History on Friday and battles Saturday and Sunday; Dinner Saturday and
Breakfast catered; Church Service on Sunday; Pool Passes for reenactors
and showers available at the pool. Reenactors are ask to register
individually at
www.townofwise.net
as soon as possible.
August 20, 21
and 22 Battle of Saltville;
Saltville, VA; Battle of Saltville; This a 13th annual event
and the 146th anniversary of both Saltville battles; The 1st
Battle of Saltville was fought on October 2, 1864 and the 2nd Battle on
Saltville was fought on December 20 and 21, 1864; Contact Captain Hunt
at terryhunt05@comcast.net;
September 10,
11 and 12 Battle of Middle Creek, Kentucky;
Prestonsburg, KY: Battle of Ivy Mountain and Middle
Creek; Registration will begin at noon on the 10th; battles
to be held on Saturday and Sunday; ladies Tea; firewood; city water;
Saturday evening soldiers ball; Saturday evening meal for reenactors;
Hosted on the actual battlefield; Contact
http://www.friendsofmiddlecreek.org/
October 1, 2
and 3 Battle of Ararat, Virginia;
Reenactment at Laurel Hill; Property owned and maintained by the JEB
Stuart Birthplace Preservations Trust Inc: Battles Saturday and Sunday:
Food, Sutlers, Period Music; Historical Demonstrations, Living History,
Fashion Show, Ghost Walk, Candle Light Tour; Church Service on Sunday
October 8, 9
and 10 Battle at Fort Sanders, Tennessee;
Blaine, TN; 3rd Battle of Fort Sanders at Knoxville,
Tennessee; This is a third annual event to be held at a reconstructed
fort which stands as a monument to the men that met in battle at Fort
Sanders in 1863; Confederate reenactors storm the fort and Union
reenactors defend the breastworks; private entrance for reenactors;
battles Saturday and Sunday; Church service on Sunday; Great sutlers;
This season the number of reenactors will be limited to 600; We
need to send in our registration early; Contact
www.battleoffortsanders.com or
sclapp44@gmail.com; Last seasons reenactment was one of the years
highlights
November 5, 6
and 7 Battle of Zollicoffer;
Bluff City, TN; The Battle of
Zollicoffer; This event has been held on the 1st week in November each
year; Battles Saturday and Sunday; Hosted by the 61st
Tennessee and the James Keeling Camp 52 of the Sons of Confederate
Veterans
December 4 or
5 1st Virginia Company D Christmas
Dinner; Location, date and time to be set at a later date
Alternate Events
August 6, 7 and 8
Battle at Jenkins, Kentucky; Thunder on the Mountain, the
Return of John Hunt Morgan; Free registration; Living History on Friday
with battles on Saturday and Sunday; Ghost Roast; Pound Gap Monument
Dedication Service Sunday at 12:00 noon; One meal provided Saturday and
Sunday; Church service on Sunday; Contact R.
brown-brown58@bellsouth.net
or the old general; davidrelee1807@aol.com
September 18
Living History at Cedar Bluff, Virginia; Third Saturday in September
each year; 9:00 am to 6:00 pm; Downtown Cedar Bluff, Virginia; free
Admission; All tents and exhibits must be set up by 8:00 am; festival
held rain or shine; Several thousand visitors each year tour the towns
streets; This year the Hunley exhibit will be on display: We have
reserved a spot to set up our living history near the Hunley
December 4, 5 and 6 Living
History at Abbyville, North Carolina
Butternut Brigade
Civil War Period String Band
The “Butternut Brigade” is the top
Civil War period band in our area. They play period music on period
instruments. They offer “Ole Timey Country Music and Entertainment”. The
members of the band are from the 50th Virginia and our own 1st
Virginia reenactment companies. To contact the “The Butternut Brigade”
about future performance or to contact the band about appearing at your
event email Robby Spencer at:
robby@robbyspencer.com
or telephone at 423-538-7700.
Sutler of the Month
Hawkins Historical Publications
Owner: Anthony Hawkins
Email:
benjhill@hotmail.com
www.ofsavagefury.com/bookshop/index.php
Mr Hawkins specializes in books
about the Civil War, but at the request of his customers has now started
stocking titles relating to the history of Kentucky, Tennessee,
Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina. His goal is to be a one stop
shop for Civil War and Appalachian History. Please check the website
often as he is adding new titles on a daily basis. and he gives you free
shipping on all books!
Mr. Hawkins is a local sutler
specializing in historical books and publications with an emphasis on
the Civil War, Appalachian history and culture. He lives in Ashcamp,
Kentucky and can be seen at many of our events. “The Plume” has met him
several times and he can help you with find books that can be difficult
to find at other sites.
Letter from the Cedar Bluff Heritage Festival
Living History for September 18, 2010
Registration Conformation
2010 Festival
The Cedar Bluff Heritage Festival
Committee has received your festival registration and has reserved a
space for group.
The Festival date this year is
September 18th; the third Saturday in September. Festival
hours are 9:00am to 6:00pm. All booths must be set up by 8:00am and must
not be dismantled prior to 6:00pm.
Festival volunteers will be
available on site at the Cedar Bluff Town Square after 4:00 pm on Friday
before the festival and at 6:00am on the day of the festival for early
set up. Festival volunteers will direct registrants to pre-assigned
spaces. Space location information will be available after 4:00pm on
Friday before the festival.
Registrants are asked to come as
early as possible to avoid the heavy traffic near festival starting
time. Be advised that you are responsible for the security of your
booth. No festival security is provided for Friday night before the
festival.
The Festival is held rain or
shine.
Anyone that can put this event
on their schedule would help us put on a good show.
Anna Ella Carroll
Union Pamphleteer
Encouraged by a war department
official, Anna Carroll (1815-1893) published pamphlets in 1861 and 1862
justifying Lincoln’s wartime assumption of executive prerogative.
Mary Boykin Miller Chestnut
Journalist
Mary (1823-1886) was the wife of
South Carolina’s James Chestnut Jr. an officer in the Confederate army.
The journal kept by Mary in Richmond is one of the most sensitive
chronicles of the wartime Confederacy. It was published in 1905 under
the title of Diary from Dixie.
The Gatling Gun
This rapid-fire weapon, powered
first by a hand crank and later by an electric motor, saw limited
service in Virginia by the Union Army during the war. The army did not
formally adopt the weapon until 1866. It fired .57 caliber and latter
.45 caliber bullets out of multiple barrels.
Message from Dr. Gary Crumb
On Saturday June 12, 2010, I did a
historical music presentation at the H.A. Carrington Chapter #1055 of
the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) in Charlotte Court House,
Virginia. This was a program I had previously done in 2008 for the Sons
of Confederate Veterans chapter (“The Charlotte County Grays”), and was
similar to that one around here in local libraries last year and for the
school children at last month’s re-enactment of the Skirmish at
Jeffersonville in Tazewell County.
To my surprise, following my
presentation Saturday I was awarded the Jefferson Davis Historical Gold
Medal. This award is given for "excellence in history, essay writing,
declamation and other points of special attainment in the preservation
of Southern history," and is the highest award bestowed by the UDC to
nonmembers.
I praise God and the UDC for such
an unexpected honor.
Gary Crum, PhD
Member, “Washington Rifles,” 1st
Virginia Cavalry, Company D.
Dr. Gary Crumb
1st Virginia Company D
Receives Award
The UDC joint Jefferson Davis
luncheon, hosted by the H. A. Carrington Chapter 1055
was held on Saturday, June 12,
2010 with much success. It was attended by members
from Boydton Chapter, Chase City
Chapter, Halifax Chapter, Lunenburg Chapter, Charlotte Court House
(Carrington) Chapter, special guest of honor Dr. Gary Crum
and his wife, Millicent from St.
Paul, Virginia, Carolyn Parsons, Lunenburg County
General Registrar, Mr. And Mrs.
Marshall Tucker of Drakes Branch, Virginia,
and their nephew visiting from
Illinois and Patsy Brazil, William Taylor DAR chapter
and her daughter Peggy. The
highlight of the event was bestowing the Jefferson Davis
Historical Gold Medal to a very
surprised Dr. Crum, who was attending to present his
musical program for the guest.
This medal is the highest award that the United Daughters of the
Confederacy can bestow. Dr Crum received the medal for developing a
program on the music of the Confederacy, with power point presentation,
for the Carrington Chapter which he calls “Southern Harmonies: The music
of Southern women and their fighting Men”; which he presents in period
uniform using period instruments. Since he created the program 2 years
ago, he has gone on to present it as part of living history to school
groups, re-enactments, at libraries in southwest Virginia, and at UVA-Wise.
Dr Crum said that he was surprised by this honor, thanked the UDC, and
said that he felt very humble and truly blessed by the award. The
Charlotte County Grays #1964, SCV, posted the colors for this event and
did an excellent job of serving the ladies their lunch.
Message from John Sawyer
Past Commander Virginia SCV
The June issue of the Old Dominion
Voice has been posted on the Division Web site. Go to the home page
located at http://www.scvva.org and click on the "ODV" button in the
left column. Locate the June 2010 issue and click on it to download the
2.3 MB PDF of this issue of the ODV. If your camp has an upcoming fund
raiser or event, please send your announcement to Division Commander
Mike Rose and then follow up with
photos and a short article after your event. Our thanks go to ODV Editor
Mike Rose for his dedication to publishing the ODV on a monthly basis.
Please send articles and photos to Mike Rose at commander@scvva.org for
possible inclusion in the next issue of the
Old Dominion Voice.
John Sawyer, Past Commander
Virginia Division SCV
P.S. The June issue of the ODV is a little late because we sent Cmdr.
Rose additional photos at the last minute to include. He graciously
reworked the ODV to include these photos.
Drive Under Way to Build Civil War Monument
By
Mark Sage
Published: June 8, 2010
By WAYNE QUESENBERRY/Staff
When James Christman was a child,
his grandfather told him about the family’s participation in the Civil
War. That history was lost on him until a recent visit to the
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park in Georgia.
The Grayson County resident came away with a mission to place a monument
on the battlefield in honor of the 63rd and 54th Virginia Infantry
Regiment, which joined Tennessee’s Confederate troops to fight a major
battle at Chickamauga, Ga. Christman’s relatives were part of the
regiments whose members were from Carroll, Floyd, Grayson, Smyth, Wythe,
Pulaski and Montgomery counties.
“I looked at all the monuments on the battlefield and there was no
marker for the 54th or the 63rd regiment,” said Christman, a paramedic
with the Wythe County Rescue Squad. “When I got home, I got to thinking
about it. Other states had markers but Virginia didn’t. I called back
and talked to a ranger at the national park about what had to be done.”
Library of Virginia records, he said, indicated a monument was approved
in 1895 but appropriation committees declined funding three times. After
talking to the director of tourism at Chicamauga, Christman learned
Virginia had to grant permission to the national park service for the
monument.
He then contacted Delegate Bill Carrico, who introduced Joint House
Resolution 275, which passed about three weeks ago. Knowing there were
no state appropriations for the estimated $60,000 project, Christman
formed the 63rd and 54th Virginia Military Descendants Association.
“Our hope for the project is for all descendants of these veterans to
pull together to set up the monument,” Christman said. “Any descendant
of either regiment can join for a one-time $50 membership fee. All the
money goes to building the monument.”
He pointed out he and the group’s board of directors are all volunteers.
The nonprofit organization has a website at 63rdand54thvainf.com.
“We hope to have the monument erected on the battlefield park in time
for the 150th anniversary celebration in 2013,” Christman noted.
According to him, the 63rd Virginia Infantry Regiment was made up of men
from Carroll, Grayson and Wythe counties and from Sullivan County,
Tenn., and Monroe County, W.Va. “The Royal Blues,” a company from Floyd
County, also were assigned to the regiment.
The 63rd, Christman stated, was active throughout Virginia, West
Virginia and Kentucky before becoming part of the Army of Tennessee in
August 1863. The regiment remained there until the end of the Civil War,
he said.
The 54th Virginia Infantry Regiment, according to Christman, was
mustered into service on Sept. 6, 1861. It was composed of men from
Carroll, Floyd, Montgomery and Pulaski counties along with the Roanoke
Guards, he reported.
Christman noted the regiment served throughout Kentucky, Tennessee and
West Virginia for their first two years of service before becoming part
of the Army of Tennessee in August 1863. He said the group stayed there
until the end of the war.
The two regiments, Christman said, first saw action with the Army of
Tennessee at Chicamauga, Ga., in September 1863. Heavy losses of both
regiments resulted in combining them to form the 54th Virginia Infantry
Battalion on April 9, 1865, he reported.
“We are authorized through the Joint Resolution which Delegate Carrico
introduced,” Christman commented, “to be authorized by the state to be
the state agent in designing, funding and building the monument. A lot
of work has taken place and a lot more work will have to be done. We’ve
got three years to do this which is not a long time. It’s a good project
– a well-deserved project for the regiment. I have not found any
monument in honor of the regiments anywhere.”
An account for the organization is at Grayson National Bank.
Wayne Quesenberry can be reached at 228-6611 or
wquesenberry@wythenews.com
.
In His Own Words
(I)…Hath been in many places of
Asia and Europe, in some of Africa and America, but of all hold Virginia
by natural endowments, the fittest place for an earthly paradise.
Captain John Smith – 1613 –
London, England
Champ Ferguson
Champ Ferguson was born on November 29,
1821 in Clinton County, Kentucky. He was the oldest child of William R.
and Zilphia Huff Ferguson and was named after his grandfather, Champion
R. Ferguson. On May 12, 1844 at the age of 22, Champ married Eliza
Smith. The couple had one child but both mother and son died within
three years of the marriage.
On July 23, 1848 Champ married
Martha Owen. The couple had one child, Ann Elizabeth Ferguson. The
couple moved to White County, Kentucky and settled in the Calfkiller
River Valley. He was a farmer, a skilled hunter and land speculator. His
hunting trips gave him an intimate knowledge of the mountains of Eastern
Kentucky and Southwest Virginia.
The mountain country of Kentucky,
Tennessee and Virginia was a land of split loyalties when the war begin
in 1861. Many families had men who fought on both sides and partisan
groups of “home guard” fought a fierce fight against their neighbors. No
one was allowed to not take a side and defend his position. Champ was a
rebel from the start.
Champ enlisted just prior to the
Battle of Mill Springs in 1861 as a private in the independent cavalry
command of Captain Scott Bledsoe. In April of 1862, Champ received a
commission of Captain and begin raising an independent company of
partisan cavalry in the Kentucky border country In June of 1862
Ferguson’s unit was attached to John Hunt Morgan and they acted as
scouts in Morgan’s Kentucky raids.
At various times during the war
Champ and his men were attached to armies fighting under General John C.
Breckenridge and General Joseph Wheeler. During most of the war however
Champ and his men were an independent cavalry command operating in
eastern Kentucky. His leadership ability and personnel knowledge of the
mountains helped his men elude the Union Guerillas and regular Army that
hunted him relentlessly. He was a crack shot and is said to have killed
over 100 Union men.
On May 23, 1865 Chap and his men
surrendered after being given a verbal promise of parole. On May 26 he
was taken prisoner by Union cavalry at his home and he was taken to
Nashville, Tennessee for trial. Many of the charges against him were a
result of the murder of Union soldiers at the Battle of Saltville. In a
“show trial” in which Champ was not allowed to present an adequate
defense he was found guilty of “war Crimes” and hung on October 20,
1865.
A Citizen Soldiers Journal
Private Will “The Weaver” Osborne
The 1st Virginia Cavalry Company D
june 5 rusell co va i am well
rested and want to put to words some of the things that has happened
since i last rote after that bloody fight at jeffersonville we were sent
west to gard the gaps coming out of kentucky because word is that a
large army of federals are in the piketon area we were near the pound
gap when word reached us that the yankes were not far across the ken
border and all confederate forces in the area were gathering to repail
them i wasnt so sure about invading another state but sure as we did not
they would come on and try to take the saltworks which is our duty to
defend it started raining when we left in the late evening and i never
seen it rain so hard in my entar life i could not see the rider in front
of me even when the litening lit up the sky with Gods handiwork all nite
we rode and how we got there i dont know when the sun come up the sky
cleared and the rain stopped and it got hot as the blazes we were at a
place called elkhorn and the yankes were near it seems the yankes were
camped near a beautiful river and were so content in their lazy ways
that during the nite the river rose so they were trapped on an iland
that was bottomland the day before the rain that we had cursed all nite
had been a blessing to us we ate some hardtac and fell into a colum of
tos and marched to wards the sound of gunfire we met some pioner troops
falling back and we thought them runing but no they had secured the only
bridge that led to the stranded yankes and said it was up to us to cross
it for the yankes were hoping for reinforcements and were fighting hard
to keep us back and if the river receded they could escape we marced a
short distance and i saw the little bridge and confederates on one side
and federals on the other and both sides fireing at each other as fast
as they could if we had of had a batery of cannon we could have forced a
surrender i beleve but we didnt there was a large force of yankes
holding that iland we went into line of battle and started hurling
minies at the yankes and they paid us back in kind then we were ordered
back into colum of tos and marched towards the little bridge and i knew
what was coming and i thought a walk across that bridge is a death walk
because the yankes were defending it with a hail of gunfire but before
we reached it the ole 29th was ordered acrost first and not all but most
made it we were orded across right on their heals and we had some fall
also when we reached the other side we were ordered to the right and
this was some deadly fighting the yankes fought as hard as i have ever
seed i could not see hardly anything but fire where i thought i spied
blue or a puff of smoke and the gunfire never seemed to slaken from
either side battle lines were tangled but our officers kept ordering us
right forward right wheel left wheel and all the time fireing as fast as
we could then through the smoke we were right upon some rifel pits the
yankes had fell back to we were ordered to charge them which we did
because to stand there would be inviting death the next thing i knowed
we were up and over the top and the fireing began to let up and the
yankes started putting up their hands and throwing down their weapons
and giving up i captured a big mouth sgt from indiana that was about my
footsize and me and him made a trade of footware there on the spot i
also releved him of his haversack before i turned him over we were
ordered back across the bridge to our horses and we ate some of the
captured vittles and i went to sleep to be awakened some hours later by
sgt meade he was ordered to get a detail of twelve men to take six of
our prisoners across the mtns to va and turn them over to some infantry
that was coming our way by hyters gap these was some officers we had
captured and they wanted them sent to richmond i recken and they also
wanted us to scout the way up the russel fork river to make sure no
yankes had slipped through during the battle because there is still a
large army of lincolites somewhere in the area our trip was uneventful
and we are here resting and waiting on our comrades we heerd that they
fought another battle after we left if true i hoped they whipped the
theeving yankes good
A Letter Home
My Loving wife
i hope this letter finds everyone
well i am happy to report that i am well and unmarked from our recent
encounter with the confederate forces here in kentucky i wish you could
see this strange land maybe after the war we can come back together and
see it unlike ohio where everything sits flat with grass covered gently
flowing hills everything here stands on its edge swift flowing streams
flow through deep gorges in the earths surface mountains stand as high
as the sky and forests are as thick as corn in a field fierce animals
roam the forests panthers wolves and bears abound but the most
dangerous are the confederate partisans who know these mountains and
valleys like the back of their hand they appear out of nowhere fire a
few rounds then disappear as they are swallowed up by the forest roads
or what passes as roads here in the wild mountain breaks along the
kentucky virginia border are impassable when it rains and not much
better in dry weather to step off the trail is to lose your way but the
country is beautiful in spite of its danger
three companys of the 12th
ohio and one company of indiana men left piketon on may 27 and took up
position in the hamlet of elkhorn on the russell fork river our company
crossed over a rough plank bridge and occupied the part of town on the
south side of the river we camped in a field owned by a mr. and mrs
aragon i believe them to be confederate sympathizers but they were
cordial to us we helped ourselves by liberating several hams in their
smoke house and potaters from their root celler I must confess that I
have grown right fond of the tobacco that is raised here in these
mountains but promise not to bring the habit home with me on may 29 our
pickets came in contact with confederate pickets just outside of town
our company and the indiana boys were pulled back to an island in the
river that allowed us to keep the southern boys from using the ford and
bridge that connects one side of the town to the other this provided
protection for the main body and allowed us an avenue for retreat if
need be there we dug rifle pits and waited for developments there was
only one way to advance on our position and that was across the bridge
late in the evening sharp shooters begin to fire on our position but the
thick trees on the island and our well dug rifle pits and bomb proofs
kept us protected then they came upon us with their flags flying and
screaming the rebel yell to the tops of their lungs that battle flag as
red as if it was dipped in blood tells you right up front that the men
following it mean business but you can be proud of us because the boys
from the buckeye state were also ready for a scrap three time they
charged us and each time we repulsed there efforts the last charge the
boys in gray reached one of front trenches but after a brief but deadly
hand to hand battle they were forced back to their lines someone told me
later they were Virginia boys some infantry and some like us dismounted
cavalry we slept on the island that night surrounded on three sides with
our back to the only way out of elkhorn during the night our artilary
came up and was placed along the river bluff on our side of the river
also the other 2 companys dug pits and occupied buildings along the
crest they were unseen by the rebels who seemed to believe we were alone
here on the russell fork we heard their drums at first light on sunday
may 30 we heard their drums calling them to the line they made a
despirate charge to take the ford and cut us off and at the same time
charged across the foot bridge in our front the mountain howitzers
opened up on them and so did our boys along the edge of the river bluff
we were all firing as fast as we could load and shoot mini balls were as
thick as bees around a bee hive when the first round of artilary shells
hit their line it wavered but continued on and on they came defiant to
the death that we delivered until their line could take no more and they
slowly reteated back the way they came on june 1 captain alzarod sent
out pickets who returned saying the rebels had evacuated the town and
were fortified at the hamlet of grundy we then rejoined the main force
along the bluff and started our triumphant journey back to piketon the
brigade lost 20 killed 15 lost and 35 or more wounded what devastation
we heaped upon the confederates i do not know we did capture 12 of their
number who will sitting out the rest of the war at least some of them
will they were kentucky men and some of them stepped out in line during
the march to piketon and disappeared in the woods i must close now my
love to you and our children tell mack to plant the river field half in
corn and half in oats watch for raiders and don’t let them steel our
cows and horses that devil morgan and his demon brothers duke giltner
and prentise are still alive and up to no good i wish i could eat a
dozen of your biskets and be with you and the children once more in our
home pray this war will be over soon it can not go on much longer human
endurance can not stand it
your loving husband george
Living History
St. Paul farmers Market
August 28, 2010
St. Paul, Virginia
Mark this day on your calendar and
come out to help with this living history at the St. Paul, Virginia
farmer’s Market on August 28, 2010. This is the second year for the
event. Come in period dress and bring your rifle and a few rounds. We
will drill in the street and fire a few rounds. Ladies will demonstrate
activities on the home front during the period.
Message from Teddy Mullins
Teddy Mullins former 6th
Brigade Virginia SCV Commander contacted “The Plume” to say that there
will be a 6th Brigade meeting of SCV members at the Wise,
Virginia reenactment on Saturday, July 10th. A final time has
not been set as of press time but it will be set before the battle. As
soon as the time is confirmed the editor will pass along the time via
email. The 6th Brigade has been without a Brigade Commander
for several years and it is hoped that we can, in this meeting, lay the
framework to have one appointed by the Virginia State SCV. Mr. Mullins
has been in contact with the state and has some information to pass
along to the division membership.
Reenactment Plans at Mosheim, Tennessee
The Town of Mosheim and The Battle
of Blue Springs Planning Committee announces that discussions are now
underway to define and develop a Battle of Blue Springs Education Day
and Reenactment schedule in planning for the upcoming 150th Anniversary
years for the American Civil War. Of particular and targeted interest
will be the Sesquicentennial event for the fall of 2013. As for the
Battle of Blue Springs - 2010, there will be no battle.
Cancelled Events for 2010
The Virginia Highlands Festival;
Abingdon, Virginia; The Washington Rifles will not be taking part in a
living history at this event in 2010.
The Battle of Bulls Gap; Bulls
Gap, Tennessee; This event scheduled for April 23, 24 and 25 has been
cancelled by the organizers for the 2010 season. This is the 2nd
year the event has been planned and cancelled.
The Battle of Blue Springs;
Mosheim, Tennessee; There has been an effort to revive this event for
2010 however this event will not be held. The organizers are working to
have the event for the 150th anniversary of the battle in the
fall of 2013.
The Skirmish on the Holston at
Webber City, Virginia; There are no plans at this time to revive this
event that was held for many years at Webber City between Gate City and
Kingsport, Tenn.
The Washington Rifles and Washington County
July 1861
July 3, 1861 The Washington Rifles
leave Abingdon for the Civil War
July 16, 1861 The 1st
Virginia Cavalry is formed into service
July 9, 1861 Abingdon saloons
requested not to serve soldiers
July 21, 1861 The Battle of Bull
Run
By July 26, 1861 Washington County
had nine companies of troops in the CSA service
Elkhorn City Area Heritage Council
The Elkhorn City Area Heritage
Council, Inc. a nonprofit civic organization was officially incorporated
on February 9, 1999. The mission of the council is to protect and
preserve the history of the Elkhorn City area and surrounding
communities. The Council meets the third Thursday of each month at 6:00
PM, at the Elkhorn City Public Library. These are the people that put on
the reenactment at Elkhorn each year. They need new members. Membership
is only $10.00 per year and it will help keep our reenactment there
alive and well. Membership can be sent to:
Elkhorn City Area Heritage Council
Box 1332
Elkhorn City, Kentucky 41552
Message from Capt. Joey Verbal
50th Virginia Infantry
This Saturday is the Christmas in
July Celebration in West Jefferson, N. C., sponsored by the 1st Va. You
can arrive on Friday night if you plan on camping, and the event will go
all day Saturday, they normally don't do anything except a prayer
service on Sunday. The 1st does a great living history, with a small
skirmish for the crowd, and let me tell you, there will be a crowd. The
town shuts down the whole back street bordering the park were Monte and
them camp, and it is full of craft and food vendors. I am going to drive
up Saturday morning, and I hope to see some of you up there, let's all
get out and
support the 1st in this event.
A Closing Message from “The Plume”
I hope the readers will enjoy
this issue of “The Black Plume”, The Washington Rifles Monthly
Newsletter. I have sent it out a few days before the next event on July
2, 3 and 4 at West Jefferson, North Carolina. It is certainly our hope
that all of our members that can attend will attend as many events as
possible. Also men and women from other reenactment groups are welcome
to join us. We can all learn and have fun together. Always remember this
is a hobby first. Come when you can. Reenacting must be fun first and
should never become anything else.
Please forward this issue to
anyone on your email list that may be interested in its content. If you
have comments, an article or information about a Civil War related event
coming up in your area and you would wish to include it in a future
issue please forward to “The Plume” at
csreenactor@verizon.net.
Also any SCV and UDC events can be added to upcoming issues.
Until we meet again good
luck and good health to our readers. May God bless America, the
Commonwealth of Virginia and protect our troops, police, firefighters
and medical emergency personnel who are in harms way protecting our
freedom and safety.
