Civil War History - General DiscussionFor Discussions on Civil War Era Personalities, Politics, Issues, Campaigns, Battles, and more. Serious Civil War Discussions Only Please! All other posts will be deleted.
The Passing of Richard "Dick" Poplar
Petersburg Index-Appeal
May 23, 1886
There died in this city Saturday morning at the residence of Mr. James Muirhead, a Virginian who cast his fortunes with the Confederacy, and endured many months of weary imprisonment rather than desert his friends and comrades in their misfortune. He was an honest, industrious man, highly esteemed by old Confederate friends and comrades.
When he was taken sick a short time ago he was given a home and kindly treated by Mr. James Muirhead. His wants were supplied and the best medical attention also provided by a gentleman whom Richard cooked for during the war who was a member of the famous Sussex Light Dragoons, and with whom Richard was imprisoned with for nineteen months.
When the Sussex Dragoons were formed at the beginning of the war, and when they became Company H, of the Thirteenth Virginia Cavalry, Richard attached himself to the command. The Sussex Dragoons were a wealthy organization, and each member of the company had his own servant along with him. From April 1861, until the retreat from Gettysburg, Richard remained faithfully attached to the regiment. On the retreat, together with many members of the command, he was captured and carried to Fort Delaware, at which place he was confined as a prisoner for five months. He was taken to Point Lookout and kept there fourteen months, making his prison life nineteen months in all.
He was a prisoner at the same time with many old comrades. During his confinement he was held in high esteem by both Confederates and the Federal troops who acted as the garrison. He extended many courtesies to the reserves who were captured on June 9, 1864, and carried to Point Lookout. He was often asked to take the oath of allegiance, release from prison being offered as an inducement. He stood firm to his convictions, however, and loyally remained with his friends, sharing their prison life.
Richard was exchanged March 1, 1865, and returned to Petersburg, where he spent the remainder of his life. His funeral will take place this (Sunday) afternoon from the Union Street Methodist Church at 4 o'clock, and six gentlemen who were Confederate soldiers will act as pall bearers, namely: Capt. E.A. Goodwyn, Capt. J.R. Patterson, Gen. Stith Bolling, Col. E.M. Field, and Mesrs. Jesse Newcomb and R.M. Dobie. The remains will be interred in Blandford Cemetery near the plot where now are buried many Confederate dead.
All acquaintances, both white and colored, especially the old Confederate soldiers who knew and esteemed him in the brave days of "auld lang syne" are invited to attend the funeral.
OK, I went to Rebelgray's link and that's something I found. Now, my question. When he was exchanged, what was he exchanged with? A white yankee and if so, was there a ratio like in the Revolutionary War (x amt of privates to one officer)?
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
Yes, I found the site to be a very good one that led me to other sites that will help with my research and such.
Good to know you post there.
Sincerely,
Unionblue
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
The Confederates still lost the war, so that must be why the ancestors of confederate soldiers of color, were discriminated against through the 1960's.
Of all the Confederate statues and monuments I saw in the South, I never saw of statue of a soldier with colored features. I do recall one statue was refused by a Georgia city, as the soldier looked a "dutchman." A Yankee Dutchman. Dang if they were going to use a statue that didn't look like a Confederate.
How do you distinguish between a "dutchman" and Georgian? If I recall correctly, Longstreet was of dutch extraction. Ditto if dutchman was, as was common in those days, a German (deutsch).
Didn't look rebel enough?
Ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Whitworth: Go to Arlington National Cemetery and look at the Confederate Monument there. There's a uniformed black man among the soldiers. He probably represents a manservant. Most blacks who served did so as menservants, teamsters, musicians, cooks and laborers. Every now and then, someone would pick up a gun and use it - but that did not make them in the eyes of a Confederate a soldier.
Whitworth: Go to Arlington National Cemetery and look at the Confederate Monument there. There's a uniformed black man among the soldiers. He probably represents a manservant. Most blacks who served did so as menservants, teamsters, musicians, cooks and laborers. Every now and then, someone would pick up a gun and use it - but that did not make them in the eyes of a Confederate a soldier.
I don't know why so many people believe blacks wouldn't be willing to defend the South. They obviously did help defend the South and they deserve the credit due them for it.
The official Confederate policy disallowed blacks from serving as soldiers, but that didn't stop them from picking up a rifle once they joined as a laborer, cook or whatever other position available to them. It doesn't matter much what they were called. What matters is what they did and if they fought like soldiers, they were soldiers. Neither were blacks segregated from white soldiers. Black and white people's lives were closely intertwined in the South in spite of the social structure. It was a complex society that is often misunderstood.
Regards,
Rose
__________________ "Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names".--J.F.K.
The War Between the States established... This principle that the Federal Government is, through its courts, this final judge of its own powers.
-- Woodrow Wilson
CivilWarTalk.com -
A free and friendly Civil War community. 
Linear Mode
