Who inspires you and why?

[M E Wolf]

Dear Scribe;

I would say that the 1st Minnesota Infantry out shines so many ways what real sacrifice is.

Knowing they will perish--they do it because it needed to be done for the greatest good. Beyond self.

Wonderful post Scribe. Thank you for your fine examples of inspiration.

Respectfully submitted,
M. E. Wolf

[DHPatrick]

All,

Maybe I should add the 8th Georgia Infantry Regt to my list. If you've read the 'The Scythe of Fire', you'll understand why. If for no other reason consider their heroism in the First Manassas.

[M E Wolf]

Dear DHPatrick;

I could add the 8th Georgia Infantry as well as the Bat. of the US Marines. They hadn't learned their facings, just raw recruits -- marched all the way to Manassas and fought there rather well.

Southern Historical Society Papers.
Vol. XIX. Richmond, Va. 1891.
History of the First Battle of Manassas and the
Organization of the Stonewall Brigade.
[From the Winchester, Va., Times, January 14, 1891.]
HOW IT WAS SO NAMED.
BY D. B. CONRAD, KANSAS CITY, MO., FORMERLY U. S. AND C.S. NAVY.
[excerpt]
Colonel Jackson and his troops, by his memorable words to his own command: "Close up, men, and stand your ground. Colonel Jackson with five regiments of Virginia troops is standing behind us like a stonewall, and will support you." Thus was the name of "Stonewall" given to General Jackson and his famous brigade. General Bee was killed the next moment. Our entire line lay in the pine thickets for one long hour, and no man, unless he was there, can tell how very long it was to us. Under fire from two batteries throwing time-shells only, they did not do a great amount of killing, but it was terribly demoralizing. Then there was a welcome cessation; and we were wondering why, and when the fighting would begin for us. After nearly half an hour the roar of the field pieces sounded louder than I had yet heard, and evidently very near us; this was the much criticised movement of Rickett's, who had ordered his battery down the opposite hill, across the pike and up the hill we were on, where, wheeling into battery on the level top, opened with grape and canister right into the thicket and into our exposed line. This was more than Colonel Jackson could stand, and the general order was--" Charge and take that battery!" Now the fight of Manassas, or Bull Run, began in earnest--for the position we held was the key of the field. Three times did our regiment charge up to and take this battery, but never held it; for though we drove the regiment supporting it, yet another was always close behind to take its place. A gray-headed man, sitting sideways on horseback, whom I understood to be General Heintzleman, was ever in one spot directing the movements of each regiment as it came up the hill; and his coolness and gallantry won our admiration. Many fragments of these regiments charged on us in turn as we retreated into the pines, only to be killed, for I do not think any of them went back alive. The green pines were filled with the Seventy-ninth Highlanders and the red-breeched Brooklyn Zouaves, but the only men who were killed twenty or thirty yards behind, and in the rear of our line, were the United States Marines. Many of these I had sailed with, and they called on me by name to help them as they lay wounded in the undergrowth. "Water, water!" "Turn me over!" "Raise my head, and remove me out of this fire!" were their cries. I then saw what was afterwards too often the case--men with wounded legs, unable to move out of the fire, mortally wounded while lying helpless Our entire brigade thus fought unaided and alone for at least an hour--charging, capturing, retreating, and retaking this battery, resisting the charges of each fresh regiment as it came forward at quick-step up the slope of the hill, across the table-land, on its top and into the pine thickets where we were, until we were as completely broken up into fragments and as hard pressed as men ever were. It had gotten down to mere hand-to-hand fighting of small squads, out in the open and in the pines. There was no relief, no reinforcements, no fresh troops to come, or to fall back on. [end of excerpt]

It was briefly featured in the DVD Gods and Generals.

But, I must say in summary -- nobody was short of courage in the Civil War. By time the honeymoon phase was over, those who were weak were long gone--only veterans remained.

Those 'little' unsung battles also hold stories of what heros are; but--due to the lack of size and luster; they often go unnoticed and deeds rarely noted.

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

[DHPatrick]

Originally Posted by M E Wolf

Dear DHPatrick;

I could add the 8th Georgia Infantry as well as the Bat. of the US Marines. They hadn't learned their facings, just raw recruits -- marched all the way to Manassas and fought there rather well.

M. E. Wolf

M. E. Wolf

Semper Fi - didn't know the Marines participated at Manassas. Learn something new every day.

[fl_below]

Originally Posted by M E Wolf

Dear List Members;

All of us have individuals to whom inspires us. At times, we copy inspiring people as they are the example of everything an individual may wish to have; such as qualities, virtue, valor, standards, etiquette and or manners, discipline, knowledge, carriage/bearing.

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

I would have to say Confederate President Jefferson Davis.

Appointed to a job he did not want, this former wounded in action war hero saw "thorns innumerable" in the Confederate presidency, and took the job, anyway, as a duty when he would have 'loved to head the army" instead.

His country was destroyed systematically, civilians and slaves and all, and still had no guile for either Lincoln or his cronies.

Even Thad Stevens said, "He is a gentlemen. He is incapable of Assassination."

After the war, Northerners were coming to his aid, and
offering millions in bail. O'Conor offered his entire estate
as collateral.

Northern abolitionists were trying to come to his aid, and
the US Government was falling all over itself NOT to have to try Secession as TREASON.

Davis walked out of prison as free as the apostle Paul, yet was never beheaded.

Davis is still not championed openly, but he did beat the US Government, once the armies were all done playing.

My Vote goes to him.

Sir.

U.F. Below

[M E Wolf]

Dear FL_Below,

I think Jefferson Davis had many good qualities as a man and, like any man will be human. As a human; mistakes, poor choices just as much as good choices and brilliant ideas exist.

Like most men -- they did what they thought was right (correct). However, emotionally driven and or compulsive choices do not always remedy the over all situation. Patience is required in many cases.

Now, if President Davis did not wish the Presidency; he could have declined and another would have been installed. However, he did not.
With having been the Secretary of War at one time; even directing McClellan and others overseas as to update the tactics of the US Military by studying Hungarian, French, German, Prussian, English and Spain's military; it was a brilliant idea on his part to follow General Winfield Scott's suggestion to take advantage of peace time to send McClellan and others overseas to study the 'arts' of war.

Col. Walter H. Taylor, AAG to General Robert E. Lee mentions in his book:
Four Years with General Lee; that it would have been much better if President Davis was either a President or the Commanding General of all the Armies of the CSA--not both.

We, in general, will never know why Jeff Davis found it necessary to micro-manage the government and military at the same time. I would think it would be a great cause for a major headache and a burden that should not be on one set of shoulders.

I do realize that Jeff Davis' nephew; General Joseph Robert Davis served as a Colonel on the President's staff and was a lawyer as well; so I would think Davis at that point had good advice. General Joseph Davis would go on to fight at Gettysburg leading a brigade in Heth's Division and survived the Civil War uninjured.

Though President Davis and cabniet were captured and did not surrender; they were held as Prisoners of War. The Confederate Government ceased to function and desolved.

Now, as far as Treason goes -- I personally feel that he would have met the criteria for Treason, even under the laws of the Confederate States of America's version of the Constitution and or the US Constitution and or Laws. But, what is interesting--is that the Government Prosecutor is the only one to bring charges against someone and then to the courts. If he would have been tried for Treason, it would be under Southern born/raised President Johnson, who followed in Lincoln's shoes after the assassination.

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

[fl_below]

Originally Posted by M E Wolf

Dear FL_Below,

I think Jefferson Davis had many good qualities as a man and, like any man will be human. As a human; mistakes, poor choices just as much as good choices and brilliant ideas exist.

Like most men -- they did what they thought was right (correct). However, emotionally driven and or compulsive choices do not always remedy the over all situation. Patience is required in many cases.

Now, if President Davis did not wish the Presidency; he could have declined and another would have been installed. However, he did not.
With having been the Secretary of War at one time; even directing McClellan and others overseas as to update the tactics of the US Military by studying Hungarian, French, German, Prussian, English and Spain's military; it was a brilliant idea on his part to follow General Winfield Scott's suggestion to take advantage of peace time to send McClellan and others overseas to study the 'arts' of war.

Col. Walter H. Taylor, AAG to General Robert E. Lee mentions in his book:
Four Years with General Lee; that it would have been much better if President Davis was either a President or the Commanding General of all the Armies of the CSA--not both.

We, in general, will never know why Jeff Davis found it necessary to micro-manage the government and military at the same time. I would think it would be a great cause for a major headache and a burden that should not be on one set of shoulders.

I do realize that Jeff Davis' nephew; General Joseph Robert Davis served as a Colonel on the President's staff and was a lawyer as well; so I would think Davis at that point had good advice. General Joseph Davis would go on to fight at Gettysburg leading a brigade in Heth's Division and survived the Civil War uninjured.

Though President Davis and cabniet were captured and did not surrender; they were held as Prisoners of War. The Confederate Government ceased to function and desolved.

Now, as far as Treason goes -- I personally feel that he would have met the criteria for Treason, even under the laws of the Confederate States of America's version of the Constitution and or the US Constitution and or Laws. But, what is interesting--is that the Government Prosecutor is the only one to bring charges against someone and then to the courts. If he would have been tried for Treason, it would be under Southern born/raised President Johnson, who followed in Lincoln's shoes after the assassination.

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

Wolf;

According to the book PURSUIT, by Clint Johnson, the problem with calling the act of Secession as Treason is that Secession is not in fact Treason!

The South was not trying to overthrow the North and the US, merely to be 'quit' of them.

Each state declared it was dissolving its own compact with the Union. None threatened to invade and capture the Northern nation's capital.

Article IV Section 3 forbids West Virginia, period.

So, if the North wants to secede, or form new states out of old seceded ones, that's perfectly fine.

If the South wants to follow suit. tough luck.

They didn't say SIMON says!

Attny Genl James Speed, Lincoln's 'bunk mate' for four years, wanted no part of a Treason Trial. (Lincoln wanted him to ESCAPE, for heaven's sake!)

Salmon Portland Chase wanted no part of it.

Judge Underwood wanted no part of it.

Andy Johnson wanted no part of it.

And when the late and much celebrated Beowulf tried to have Davis tried before this august board, none of you wanted any part of it, either.

So, how do you see him being convicted of a charge that does not apply to him?

Just wondering.

U.F. Below

[johan_steele]

This is a thread about who inspires you, leave the politics elsewhere. No thread hijacking Beowulf.

[fl_below]

Originally Posted by johan_steele

This is a thread about who inspires you, leave the politics elsewhere. No thread hijacking Beowulf.

I do indeed beg pardon, sir.

I was merely trying to get his take on the Treason issue.

sincerely,

U.F. Below

[M E Wolf]

Dear FL_Below;

Clearly obvious, that no where in my response was there the 'politics' --

Treason is defined as:Sedition disloyalty treachery subversion betrayal duplicity. And, you can go further to define the afore listed words defining treachery if one wishes.

Treason does not require politics -- just actions/deeds.


Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf