NEWSLETTER JUNE, 2013

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1 NEWSLETTER JUNE, Years Ago Stovall s brigade is positioned in trenches covering the Southern approach into Vicksburg. The trenches are NE of South Fort with 40 th Georgia connecting to South Fort, then the 41 st Georgia, the 42 nd Georgia was next in line followed by the 43 rd Georgia and the brigade left flank was protected by the 52 nd Georgia. Colonel Alexander Reynolds commanded the center brigade of Major General Stevenson s division and to his left was the brigade of Brigadier General Alfred Cumming. Colonel Reynolds commanded troops from Tennessee. Brigadier General Cumming commanded the 34 th, 36th, 39th, 56th and 57 th Georgia Infantry. They were supported by the Cherokee Georgia Artillery from Canton, Georgia commanded by Captain Max Van Den Corput. (6/1/1863 6/30/1863) Supporting Brigadier General Seth Barton s brigade was Pettus Flying Artillery (3 guns) from Jackson, Mississippi ; A section from Co. A, Pointe Coupee Artillery (2 guns); Co. C, Pointe Coupee Artillery (4 guns) from Louisiana. Discount Deal Preserves 152 Acres on Lost Mountain 40 th Georgia Regimental Historian Kay Borden, reporting from her base at Marietta, Georgia, sent a newspaper article on 152 acres that was preserved on Lost Mountain. In a discount land deal, $2 Million closed the purchase of 152 acres on Lost Mountain. A retired lawyer, now 96 years old, sold the property. The land was funded by the Civil War Land Acquisition Grant administered by the National Park Service s American Battlefield Protection Program. The land will have limited public access for hiking, nature observation and historical interpretation. This parcel of land runs up the northern side of the mountain, part of the crest and some of the southern slope. The land could have been developed into homes because of the extensive views from the mountain. To put the 152 acres into some perspective, it would be Ç mile square, if it was a square shape. If it was a rectangle, it could be É mile wide and 1 mile long In June, 1864, the Confederate Army moved from their positions on the Ellsberry Mountain ( near Dallas) New Hope Church Pickett s Mill Line to a new defensive position called the Brushy Mountain Marietta Defensive Line. The 10 mile line was anchored by Brushy Mountain on the northeast end and by Lost Mountain on the southwest end. By June 14, this line was established. By June 27, the Confederate Army had moved to the Kennesaw Mountain Line. So, the Brushy Mountain Line was used for about two weeks before they went on to Kennesaw Mountain. Stovall s Brigade and Lost Mountain Stovall s brigade was positioned on or near Lost Mountain. The research of Historian Emeritus Gary R. Goodson, Sr. located a letter dated June 5, 1864 from Colonel Lovick

2 P. Thomas, 42 nd Georgia, who wrote to his wife. The letter can be read on page 71 of Georgia Confederate 7,000 Part II : Letters and Diaries. He tells how his regiment skirmished for two days and nights while the Georgia Brigade moved out. I have now arrived here near Lost Mountain, Georgia and once more we are back with the Georgia Brigade. Having lost two nights of rest we are quite tired but we were sent out to drive the enemy off if possible. And we were to relieve men of the other regiments that had been driven in by the enemy. I moved on the enemy early in the morning and drove them to their main line of entrenchments and picket posts, and they then made three different trials to drive us off. But we held our positions with the exception of a little alteration I made in the center of my line by posting my men a little to the rear of an eminence ( high point of ground ). I have a sketch map showing the trace of the Brushy Mountain Line. The line runs across the middle of Lost Mountain and turns to the south of the mountain. We know by other letters that by June 8, the 42 nd Georgia had moved more to the right and by June 9 were at Big Shanty. The 42 nd Georgia was at or near Lost Mountain for at least a few days and they had rejoined the rest of the brigade and they fought there. This is an example of a position that is hard to place exactly. One has to find a sketch or a map showing the placement of the regiments or a description by someone who was there. If there was mostly skirmishing and no pitched battle, there may not be any map or sketch drawn at the time. Over time, the maps describe the positions of larger battles ( New Hope Church and Kennesaw Mountain )and fights that happened in between the larger battles get lost in the jumble of every day fighting, marches and other events. Some commander was given the responsibility of defending Lost Mountain and in doing that the construction of earthworks and assignments of regiments. He may have left a record and it has not been found yet or has been overlooked while researchers are searching for something else. That commander may have been Brigadier General Stovall. In the book about Brigadier General Stovall, Distinction in Every Service by C.L. Bragg, it is noted on page 98 that, A new Confederate line was formed on three mountains running east to west: Brush Mountain, Pine Mountain and Lost Mountain. Two miles behind this line near Marietta was the formidable Kennesaw Mountain. That is the only reference to Lost Mountain in that book. If any of our members want something to research, this would be an area to work on. We know fortifications are on the mountain, according to people quoted in the newspaper article. We have a letter placing the 42 nd Georgia in action there on or near Lost Mountain. Colonel Thomas says he has rejoined the brigade there. I think there has to be a report by some general officer of the completion and organization of the Brushy Mountain line. If it can be found, the relation of Stovall s brigade to Lost Mountain may be shown or explained. That is the challenge, and fun, of research. Our ancestors were there but where?

3 If you want to research this subject, please let me know and I will copy the map I have and send it to you. Other maps will be needed but it will be a start. A USGS topog map for that part of Georgia would be helpful too, as the land shape does not change. Discovery of Another Family Connection Marty Tant, Kingsport, Tennessee, descends from Private Harrison Tant of Co. C, 41 st Georgia. Paula Kraemer, Smyrna, Georgia, descends from her great, great, great grandfather who was also in Co. C, 41 st Georgia. Paula contacted Marty by to note that her ancestor signed Harrison s pension application in witness of his service. So, they not only survived, but they had to have marched, camped, suffered and fought together and kept in touch after the Surrender. The Confederate pensions were authorized about 1903, so those old soldiers kept in touch through all those years between 1865 and This is another example of how we are connected and how we can help each other learn what happened or learn other details. The details entered by the CSA veterans on their Pension Applications are very interesting. Paula joined our ranks after last year s Congress in Cartersville, GA. Marty had originally joined in 2004 and it now looks like he will rejoin the association very soon. Silent Auction in Florence The Silent Auction at the Congress will be held during the Mixer on Thursday, August 29. This is a change from Friday night to Thursday night. After three years of having it on Friday night during the Historian s Meeting, it was noted that the Auction had to be crowded in or fit in to a busy schedule. It was accomplished but there were drawbacks to doing it that way. The Mixer time is one of conversation, looking at photos and visiting and moving around. In that setting, I would like to try the Silent Auction at the same time. Please bring your items and prepare to see what others have brought. Officer and Historian Nominations The information concerning those who would like to serve in an Officer or Regimental Historian position for another three year term is starting to take shape. So far, the following members would like to serve in the following positions: Mike Griggs, Bremerton, WA President Robert Elliott, Grayson, GA 42 nd Georgia Regimental Historian Joe Bailey, Norcross, GA 43 rd Georgia Regimental Historian Lee Ivester, Mooresville, North Carolina 52nd Georgia Regimental Historian The above members are currently serving in the position listed. The new three year term will begin on January 1, Please let me know if you want to be added to the list. Just like our ancestors, we are all volunteers.

4 If you would like to serve in a special way please let me know. In effect, you can be appointed to a one or two person Committee. For example, the position of Webmaster is held by Don Bulloch, Riverdale, GA and our Archivest is Chip Barron, Newnan, GA. Also, Jason Stanford, Bremen, GA and Kay Borden, Marietta, GA run our Facebook page. Then we have Jack Bolen, Brandon, FL, performing the duties of Senior Recruiting Officer and Robbie Griggs, Knoxville, TN is our Nametag Producer. The list goes on. Janie and Larry Crowe, Sumner, GA, are our resident EMTs that are equipped with training and equipment to respond if needed. They also have become the association Photo Historians by their production of photo albums containing 8 X 10 color photos of past Congresses. These are brought to each Congress for others to enjoy. A number of members have helped by being Scouts and Researchers. Others have helped with gracious money donations when membership dues were not enough. All of our members are Recruiters because they know other people who might like to join. All of our members are Envoys at one time are another too, as they interact with other organizations at meetings, relic shows, reenactments and other events. Johnny Cake Recipe To my delight I came across a recipe for fried cornmeal bread or corn cake. It was handed down from an old cook on the Hashknife Ranch near Winslow, Arizona. The recipe was used by a cowboy wife for more than 50 years and she put it in her book Chuck Wagon Cookin by Stella Hughes, recently deceased. She was the cook for a large ranch in southeastern Arizona. I do not claim that this is exactly the recipe that Southern troops used, but it has to be close. Many of them went on to be cowboys in the 1860s and 1870s during the cattle drives from Texas to Kansas. They surely took their cooking skills with them as well as shooting, riding and survival skills. Here is the recipe: 4 or 5 good handfuls of yellow cornmeal Egg sized hunk of lard 2 pinches of salt 3 large pinches of sugar Boiling water Mix all together and add enough boiling water to make a batter. Fry like hot cakes; goes well with beans, black-eyed peas or turnip greens. (You will need a bucket to boil water and a skillet to fry the batter and a cooking fire. Use your Bowie knife to remove the cake. Serve hot if possible.) (If the wood is wet, you may have to have parched corn for a meal.)

5 149 th Anniversary of the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain If you are in the Atlanta area on June 29 and June 30, be aware that the 149 th Anniversary of the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain will be observed. There will be infantry, artillery, and civilian life demonstrations. For more details contact: (770) or Battle of Atlanta Speaker What the Yankees Did to Us: Sherman s Bombardment and Wrecking of Atlanta will be presented by Dr. Stephen Davis at the Cyclorama, 800 Cherokee Avenue, Atlanta, on June 27 at 6:30 PM. The event is free. For more information call (404) or visit atlantacyclorama.org/. Florence Congress Getting Closer On July 29 I have to pay the owners of Rattle and Snap plantation the entry fees that are due. To do that, I have to multiply $13.00 X the number that are coming. So far, a grand total of only four people have sent in their registration. Please get in your registration sooner rather than later. Registration forms can be obtained from the Website. They have been sent out as an attachment to past Newsletters. If that does not work for you, please let me know and I will send one to you. Helping Each Other Another case of helping each other bubbled up recently. Senior Recruiting Officer Jack Bolen, Brandon, FL, asked me if anyone could assist him in finding the cause of death of one of his great great uncles. He knew the name, rank, unit and that he had died in a Lynchburg, VA hospital in January, He knew where he was buried and knew about his headstone but not the cause of death. I immediately thought of our 40 th Georgia descendant, Daniel Crone, Dayton, OH. A quick made the request to Daniel and within a day he had the answer and additional information. Many hospital lists are now digitized and that makes research easier. He found that Captain Bennett Almand, 35 th Georgia, had been admitted to Hospital Number 3 with rheumatism. At that time, rheumatism meant persistent fever and weakness. He died of Febris Typhoides on June 6, 1864 and was buried in the Old City Cemetery. Records showed he died in June, not January. In 1864 Lynchburg, VA was a town of 6,000 and it had three railroads and numerous tobacco warehouses. The trains hauled the sick and wounded and the warehouses became hospitals. 20,000 men were treated in four years in 30 hospitals and of those, 3,000 died and 2,200 were buried in Old City Cemetery. Some 50 surgeons were assigned to the hospitals.

6 At any one time there were about 10,000 patients being cared for in Lynchburg. Daniel also found a map of the hospital locations and a list of hospital regulations.( There was to be no spitting on the floor or eating any green fruit.) The additional information gave more details to better understand what was going on in Lynchburg. It was also close to the Battle of the Wilderness. Some of the sources Daniel used were the following: Ancestry.com Fold3 Daniel noted that in general there are more records of Union hospitals and less records of CSA hospitals. Thanks, Daniel, for the rapid response and additional information. After many battles in Virginia and at Gettysburg, the 35 th Georgia surrendered with 15 officers and 121 men. New for Gary Goodson, Sr. Please note that Founder and 40 th Georgia descendant Gary R. Goodson, Sr. has a new address. If someone wants a set of the Georgia Confederate 7,000 Parts I, II, III, IV, they can contact Gary at: garyrgoodson59@gmail.com Gary receives personal mail at that address too. Just as soon as this Newsletter is sent, another item will arrive and I ll wish it could have been in this Newsletter. I have to cut it off somewhere. The next Newsletter is expected to be published in Mid-July. Mike Griggs President