Southern History
08.05.202517:30
06.05.202521:26
Journal entry of February 3, 1864 from Lt. Richard Lauren McClung, 15th Arkansas, while prisoner at Johnson's Island --
February 3rd. Where am I? Echo answers where. I am confined in a military prison, in a northern lake, surrounded by a zone of ice and icebergs loom up in the distance and bristling bayonets mounted on the rampart keeps me in. Away from all that I love.
Why am I here? Because I refused to cower like a dog and crouch at the feet of despotic power. Because I resisted tyranny. Because I was overpowered by the mighty cohorts of the foe. Because I was besieged. Because I refused to take the oath. Because my country is deluged in blood. Because my brothers are upon the field of battle. Because I love my father and mother. Because I love my country. This is where I am and why I am here and ere my heart does yield one inch, these limbs of mine must fill a prisoner’s grave. From the Virginia Flaggers
February 3rd. Where am I? Echo answers where. I am confined in a military prison, in a northern lake, surrounded by a zone of ice and icebergs loom up in the distance and bristling bayonets mounted on the rampart keeps me in. Away from all that I love.
Why am I here? Because I refused to cower like a dog and crouch at the feet of despotic power. Because I resisted tyranny. Because I was overpowered by the mighty cohorts of the foe. Because I was besieged. Because I refused to take the oath. Because my country is deluged in blood. Because my brothers are upon the field of battle. Because I love my father and mother. Because I love my country. This is where I am and why I am here and ere my heart does yield one inch, these limbs of mine must fill a prisoner’s grave. From the Virginia Flaggers
05.05.202522:12
04.05.202508:04
03.05.202512:24
Only the first ten four year regiments were issued these hand painted silk flags. They did not last long on the field and were replaced with ones made of wool bunting.
03.05.202511:54
Follows is an account of the 3rd NC at Chancellorsville: On the 29th of April, 1863, this regiment, commanded by Lt. Colonel Stephen D. Thruston, left its camp at Skinker's Neck and marched to Hamilton's Crossing, thence in the direction of Chancellorsville. On the 2nd of May, Saturday morning, was commenced that grand strategic movement which has since been the wonder and admiration of the world. Rapidly marching around the enemy's lines to his right and rear, crossing the plank road and arriving on the old turnpike about 4 o'clock p.m., two and a half miles west of Chancellorsville, having marched in all more than fifteen miles in a few hours, and about five miles in a direct line from the starting point in the morning, Lt. Gen. Stonewall Jackson's Corps had been detached from the main body of the army to make this attack. Regimental commanders were ordered to march in rear of their regiments, with a guard of strong men with fixed bayonets, to prevent straggling. Immediately on arriving at the stone road the troops were formed in three lines of battle, Brig. Gen. Raleigh E. Colston's (VA) Brigade being in the second line. The order to advance was obeyed with promptness. Rushing on toward the enemy's camp, the first scene that can be recalled is the abundant supply of beef and slaughtered rations cooking. The Federal Brig. Gen. Alexander Schimmelfennig's (PA) Brigade suffered heavily as prisoners. The whole affair was a wild scene of triumph on our part. Thus we continued the pursuit until night, when the enemy made a stand within a mile of the Chancellor house. Here great confusion ensued. The two front lines having become mingled, were halted and reformed. Shortly after, it was charged by a company of Federal cavalry, which proved to be a part of the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment. The greater portion of them were unhorsed and captured.
This was a critical period in the battle, and Lt. General Jackson seemed unusually anxious. The fighting was kept up until night, when this regiment was relieved and put in the second line, and during the first part, and even up to midnight, they were exposed to a terrific cannonading. Our men were completely exhausted from the forced march and the three or four hours of brisk fighting. Our position had to be changed from the time that we were placed in the second line until about midnight, and most of the time without avail, until the enemy's fire ceased, before our men could get any rest. They would locate our troops in the second line and so time the fuses that their shells would explode just over our heads. On Sunday, the 3rd instant, the regiment was formed on the right of the road, and, advancing, captured the first line of the enemy's works—a barricade of huge logs with abatis in front. The portion of these works that crossed a ravine and swamp, and which was favorable to the occupancy of the enemy, was assaulted three times by the Confederates before it was finally held. During one of these assaults Col. Stephen D. Thruston was wounded, and the command devolved upon Lt. Colonel William M. Parsley, who remained in command during the campaign of 1863, known as the Pennsylvania Campaign. This regiment participated in the last two of these charges. It was then that Maj. Gen. J. E. B. Stuart, who was in command (Lt. Gen. Jackson and Maj. Gen. Hill having been wounded on the evening before), ordered the whole line forward. The enemy's earthworks in front were carried by storm, and many pieces of artillery, which had occupied them, were captured. We were now in full view of the Chancellor House, and the captured guns were turned on the fleeing enemy. Soon the Chancellor House was in flames, and a glorious victory perched upon our banners.
This was a critical period in the battle, and Lt. General Jackson seemed unusually anxious. The fighting was kept up until night, when this regiment was relieved and put in the second line, and during the first part, and even up to midnight, they were exposed to a terrific cannonading. Our men were completely exhausted from the forced march and the three or four hours of brisk fighting. Our position had to be changed from the time that we were placed in the second line until about midnight, and most of the time without avail, until the enemy's fire ceased, before our men could get any rest. They would locate our troops in the second line and so time the fuses that their shells would explode just over our heads. On Sunday, the 3rd instant, the regiment was formed on the right of the road, and, advancing, captured the first line of the enemy's works—a barricade of huge logs with abatis in front. The portion of these works that crossed a ravine and swamp, and which was favorable to the occupancy of the enemy, was assaulted three times by the Confederates before it was finally held. During one of these assaults Col. Stephen D. Thruston was wounded, and the command devolved upon Lt. Colonel William M. Parsley, who remained in command during the campaign of 1863, known as the Pennsylvania Campaign. This regiment participated in the last two of these charges. It was then that Maj. Gen. J. E. B. Stuart, who was in command (Lt. Gen. Jackson and Maj. Gen. Hill having been wounded on the evening before), ordered the whole line forward. The enemy's earthworks in front were carried by storm, and many pieces of artillery, which had occupied them, were captured. We were now in full view of the Chancellor House, and the captured guns were turned on the fleeing enemy. Soon the Chancellor House was in flames, and a glorious victory perched upon our banners.
07.05.202514:40
stood shoulder to shoulder with us until now, the noble dead who have been martyred; the noble Southern women who have been wronged and are unavenged; or the noble principles for which we have fought. Conscious that we have played our part like men, confident of the righteousness of our cause,
without regret for our past action, and without
despair of the future, let us to-morrow, with the
dignity of the veterans who are the last to
surrender, perform the sad duty which has been
assigned to us.
Your friend and comrade,
Dabney H. Maury,
Major - General Confederate Army.
without regret for our past action, and without
despair of the future, let us to-morrow, with the
dignity of the veterans who are the last to
surrender, perform the sad duty which has been
assigned to us.
Your friend and comrade,
Dabney H. Maury,
Major - General Confederate Army.
06.05.202521:26
Lt. Richard Lauren McClung, 15th Arkansas
Reposted from:
History Clearinghouse 📜
05.05.202519:22
April 16, 1861- Virginia Governor John Letcher's response to President Abraham Lincoln's request for troops to "suppress the rebellion."
“In reply to this communication, I have only to say that the militia of Virginia will not be furnished to the powers at Washington, for any such use or purpose as they have in view. Your object is to subjugate the Southern States, and the requisition made upon me for such an object, in my judgment, not within the province of the Constitution or the act of 1795, will not be complied with. You have chosen to inaugurate civil war, and, having done so, we will meet it in a spirit as determined as the administration has exhibited towards the South.” (source)
“In reply to this communication, I have only to say that the militia of Virginia will not be furnished to the powers at Washington, for any such use or purpose as they have in view. Your object is to subjugate the Southern States, and the requisition made upon me for such an object, in my judgment, not within the province of the Constitution or the act of 1795, will not be complied with. You have chosen to inaugurate civil war, and, having done so, we will meet it in a spirit as determined as the administration has exhibited towards the South.” (source)
04.05.202508:04
Matt Homes writes: Lt. Colonel Benjamin Jackson Holmes of the 12th Missouri Confederate Infantry, and I honor his brother Sgt. Rufus H. Holmes of the Missouri State Guard.
Lt. Colonel Benjamin Jackson Holmes' brother was killed in 1865 as a result of a U.S. war crime. Right as Sgt. Rufus Henry Holmes was about to surrender with his 4 other men in Northwestern Arkansas, they were beaten, and then shot to death by the Yankee troops as they were surrendering. They were forced at gunpoint to put on a blindfold, and once they did Sgt. Rufus H. Holmes, and his 4 other men were shot to death. He and his men were returning home until they were victim of a Yankee Army War crime while headed back to Ripley Missouri to be with their father, his mother, his brothers, and the remainder of his kin. Sadly this heinous act didn't make it to the history books but this is one of many U.S. War Crimes committed against the Southern States.
Lt. Colonel Benjamin Jackson Holmes' brother was killed in 1865 as a result of a U.S. war crime. Right as Sgt. Rufus Henry Holmes was about to surrender with his 4 other men in Northwestern Arkansas, they were beaten, and then shot to death by the Yankee troops as they were surrendering. They were forced at gunpoint to put on a blindfold, and once they did Sgt. Rufus H. Holmes, and his 4 other men were shot to death. He and his men were returning home until they were victim of a Yankee Army War crime while headed back to Ripley Missouri to be with their father, his mother, his brothers, and the remainder of his kin. Sadly this heinous act didn't make it to the history books but this is one of many U.S. War Crimes committed against the Southern States.
03.05.202512:22
03.05.202511:54
The Confederate line was again moved forward, and executed a wheel to the left, bringing this brigade and regiment immediately to the Chancellor House, hence this brigade, which had been commanded since early in the day by Lt. Colonel Hamilton A. Brown, of the 1st NC Regiment, the other officers of the brigade out-ranking him having been wounded, was the first of the Confederate troops to reach the Chancellor House. During one of these assaults alluded to above, this brigade became detached from the division, and when it arrived at the Chancellor House was between two of Major General Robert E. Rodes' brigades. from https://www.carolana.com/NC/Civil_War/3rd_nc_regiment.html
07.05.202514:40
Headquarters Maury's Division
Camp six miles east of Meridian, Mississippi,
May 7,1865.
Soldiers - Our last march is almost ended. To-morrow we shall lay down the arms we have
borne for four years to defend our rights, to win
our liberties.
We know that we have borne them with honor;
and we only now surrender to the overwhelming power of the enemy, which has rendered further resistance hopeless and mischievous to our own people and cause. But we shall never forget the noble comrades who have
Camp six miles east of Meridian, Mississippi,
May 7,1865.
Soldiers - Our last march is almost ended. To-morrow we shall lay down the arms we have
borne for four years to defend our rights, to win
our liberties.
We know that we have borne them with honor;
and we only now surrender to the overwhelming power of the enemy, which has rendered further resistance hopeless and mischievous to our own people and cause. But we shall never forget the noble comrades who have
06.05.202515:31
4. The Southern Cross was first rejected by the Confederate government when submitted as a National flag. Thereafter It was adopted for the Army of Northern Virginia, and then subsequently put within the Second National Confederate Flag in 1863.
5. The ANV flag is the soldier’s flag—the banner in which those boys and men fought and died under. It represents their struggle which is why you might see this flag adorning graves of ANV Confederate veterans. from the Virginia flaggers.
5. The ANV flag is the soldier’s flag—the banner in which those boys and men fought and died under. It represents their struggle which is why you might see this flag adorning graves of ANV Confederate veterans. from the Virginia flaggers.
04.05.202508:35
03.05.202517:11
3 May, 1863, Chancellorsville, Va
03.05.202512:20
Not my uncle, but Private John L. Wood of Co. D, 3rd North Carolina Infantry Regiment
03.05.202511:44
CONFEDERATE NORTH CAROLINA TROOPS
3rd Regiment, North Carolina Infantry
Overview:
3rd Infantry Regiment State Troops completed its organization at Garysburg, North Carolina, in May, 1861. The men were from Wilmington and the counties of Green, Duplin, Cumberland, Onslow, Bladen, New Hanover, and Beaufort. During July part of the regiment moved to Richmond, Virginia, then was joined by the remaining companies some weeks later. After serving in the Department of Northern Virginia and the Department of North Carolina, it was attached to General Ripley's, Colston's, Steuart's, and Cox's Brigade. The 3rd fought on many battlefields of the army from the Seven Days' Battles to Cold Harbor, marched with Early to the Shenandoah Valley, and saw action around Appomattox. It reported 46 casualties at Beaver Dam Creek, 80 at Malvern Hill, 253 at Sharpsburg, 3 at Fredericksburg, and 179 at Chancellorsville. The unit lost 4 killed and 10 wounded at Second Winchester, forty percent of the 548 engaged at Gettysburg, and 7 killed and 65 wounded during the Mine Run Campaign. It surrendered with 4 officers and 53 men in April, 1865. The field officers were Colonels William L. DeRosset, Gaston Meares, and Stephen D. Thruston; Lieutenant Colonels Robert H. Cowan, William M. Parsley, and Edward Savage; and Major William T. Ennett.
3rd Regiment, North Carolina Infantry
Overview:
3rd Infantry Regiment State Troops completed its organization at Garysburg, North Carolina, in May, 1861. The men were from Wilmington and the counties of Green, Duplin, Cumberland, Onslow, Bladen, New Hanover, and Beaufort. During July part of the regiment moved to Richmond, Virginia, then was joined by the remaining companies some weeks later. After serving in the Department of Northern Virginia and the Department of North Carolina, it was attached to General Ripley's, Colston's, Steuart's, and Cox's Brigade. The 3rd fought on many battlefields of the army from the Seven Days' Battles to Cold Harbor, marched with Early to the Shenandoah Valley, and saw action around Appomattox. It reported 46 casualties at Beaver Dam Creek, 80 at Malvern Hill, 253 at Sharpsburg, 3 at Fredericksburg, and 179 at Chancellorsville. The unit lost 4 killed and 10 wounded at Second Winchester, forty percent of the 548 engaged at Gettysburg, and 7 killed and 65 wounded during the Mine Run Campaign. It surrendered with 4 officers and 53 men in April, 1865. The field officers were Colonels William L. DeRosset, Gaston Meares, and Stephen D. Thruston; Lieutenant Colonels Robert H. Cowan, William M. Parsley, and Edward Savage; and Major William T. Ennett.
07.05.202514:37
06.05.202515:31
5 facts about the Confederate battle flag
1. The formal name of the square Battle flag shown here is the ANV flag which stands for “Army of Northern Virginia.”
2. This flag is NOT the “Stars and Bars,” its nickname is the “Southern Cross.” “Stars and Bars” refers to the First National Confederate Flag.
3. There is a historical difference between the white bordered square flag shown here and the popular rectangular Southern Cross, which is actually a naval flag known as the Naval Jack (a rectangular version was also used in the Army of Tennessee as a battle flag).
1. The formal name of the square Battle flag shown here is the ANV flag which stands for “Army of Northern Virginia.”
2. This flag is NOT the “Stars and Bars,” its nickname is the “Southern Cross.” “Stars and Bars” refers to the First National Confederate Flag.
3. There is a historical difference between the white bordered square flag shown here and the popular rectangular Southern Cross, which is actually a naval flag known as the Naval Jack (a rectangular version was also used in the Army of Tennessee as a battle flag).
04.05.202508:32
Before the cultural genocide of everything Southern,
03.05.202512:28
Captain James Henry Albritton Co. A the "Greene County Riflemen" 3rd NC State Troops
03.05.202511:56
03.05.202511:42
I would like to honor my great grand uncle who was killed in action on this day 162 years ago.
James K. Polk Aldridge
Was born and grew up on his family’s farm on Tyson’s Marsh in rural Greene County, NC. He had four sisters and two brothers. His oldest brother, John Tyler Aldridge joined Company A (Greene County Rifles), 3rd NC Infantry. James was just 17 and his mother would not give him permission to join the regiment. He ran away from home and joined his brother’s regiment while it was training in Goldsboro. His mother went to Goldsboro and had the two brothers photographed and returned home. James was paid a bounty of $50 when he joined the 3rd NC. He became sick from chronic diarrhea on 2 September 1862 and was hospitalized in Chimborazo Hospital No. 5 on 11 January 1862. He was granted a furlough and returned to his family farm in Greene County. After his forty days furlough, he promptly returned to his regiment in Virginia (31 December 1862). He was present with his regiment and on 3 May 1863 in the Battle of Chancellorsville he was killed in action. His brother saw him fall, but they were given strict instructions not to stop and help the wounded. Upon returning that nigh, John found James had died. He and his friends buried him in a grave with five other soldiers from Company A. His mother went to Virginia twice to bring her boy’s body home. John tried to convince his mother to leave John buried on the battle field, but she insisted in taking him home. She took three hundred dollars with her to Virginia in order to purchase John out of the army. But he would not leave so she took James back home. I was born just two miles from where my great grand uncles were buried. John was promoted to corporal and was killed in the Battle of Payne’s Farm. His mother brought him back home and they are buried side by side. The sorrow and great loss which resulted to the family from the deaths of these two young men can not be expressed in words. All of the bright hopes for the family were crushed.
James K. Polk Aldridge
Was born and grew up on his family’s farm on Tyson’s Marsh in rural Greene County, NC. He had four sisters and two brothers. His oldest brother, John Tyler Aldridge joined Company A (Greene County Rifles), 3rd NC Infantry. James was just 17 and his mother would not give him permission to join the regiment. He ran away from home and joined his brother’s regiment while it was training in Goldsboro. His mother went to Goldsboro and had the two brothers photographed and returned home. James was paid a bounty of $50 when he joined the 3rd NC. He became sick from chronic diarrhea on 2 September 1862 and was hospitalized in Chimborazo Hospital No. 5 on 11 January 1862. He was granted a furlough and returned to his family farm in Greene County. After his forty days furlough, he promptly returned to his regiment in Virginia (31 December 1862). He was present with his regiment and on 3 May 1863 in the Battle of Chancellorsville he was killed in action. His brother saw him fall, but they were given strict instructions not to stop and help the wounded. Upon returning that nigh, John found James had died. He and his friends buried him in a grave with five other soldiers from Company A. His mother went to Virginia twice to bring her boy’s body home. John tried to convince his mother to leave John buried on the battle field, but she insisted in taking him home. She took three hundred dollars with her to Virginia in order to purchase John out of the army. But he would not leave so she took James back home. I was born just two miles from where my great grand uncles were buried. John was promoted to corporal and was killed in the Battle of Payne’s Farm. His mother brought him back home and they are buried side by side. The sorrow and great loss which resulted to the family from the deaths of these two young men can not be expressed in words. All of the bright hopes for the family were crushed.
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