So how does a Florida/South Carolina guy get interested in the New York Sharpshooters?
__________________ "There must be more historians of the Civil War than there were generals figthing in it... Of the two groups, the historians are the more belligerent." David Donald, Lincoln Reconsidered (1961)
1st Battalion NYSS wasn't very well known. If you go to the Atlanta Historical Center, you'll see one of their jackets and a hat. The hat was modified by the addition of a brass screen vent (diamond shape) to allow for circulation.
Well, one of the sharpshooters is my wife's gggrandfather. Several items which he collected during the war, mostly during the Overland Campaign, remain in the family. Then, when I kept running into roadblocks trying to find out something about the battalion, I decided to do some serious research. Found three diaries, several letters, scoured the OR, etc. Interesting story of the unit too.
While in Suffolk I did not see (that I know) Riddicks folly. I was using a map drawn by a CT soldier to locate the area where the NY sharpshooters camped, etc. I recall going into a local Chamber of Commerce office and asking about the area of the union occupation during the Civil War and the young lady indicated to me that it never happened!!!
Welcome aboard lad, and Godspeed in your future efforts. You mentioned the lady indicating your event didn't happen. I had a similar experience recently at the huge, really nice, interpretative center operated by the NPS in Corinth, Mississippi where none of the folks present had any idea the entire (what was left of it) Army of Tennessee camped in their neighborhood in January 1865. Much has been forgotten about this war. If we don't remember and make an attempt at teaching those to follow us, little more will remain.
__________________ Ancestors in US Army: 13th TN Cav; 10th TN Cav; 3rd NC Inf
Ancestors in CSA Army: 48th VA; 63rd VA, 5th NC Cav; 37th NC
Wife and Grandson's CSA: 15th AL, 51st GA, 41st TN; 36th TN; GA Mil 1197 Dist
Thanks Larry - and I agree on the remembering issue.
We had an interesting experience at a small local history center in Culpeper as well. The AoP encamped there from late 1863 through the start of the Overland campaign. We asked the very sweet, older southern lady who was docent that day if she had any idea where the Union army encamped. She looked back at me like I had slapped her. Then, after we mentioned we were from Florida, she allowed as how she in fact did have a map!!! She undoubtedly remembered what she was taught. Which reminds me, I need to post the photo we took of the area where the NY sharpshooter battalion encamped on my blog. I took a guess from the descriptions in the diary, but later that year found a contemporaneous sketch prepared by one of the soldiers -- our guess was good.
John
My interest is in the New York State Sharpshooters.
My blog, linked in my signature line, contains some photos taken at Suffolk and later in camp near Culpeper.
Hoping to learn more from the forum posts.
JohnB
Welcome aboard from Central Texas.
__________________ Don
******************* "We Can, We Will" Website:http://www.myspace.com/dhpatrick Member of: American Legion, VFW, SCV Served with: 1st Sqdn, 9th US Cav Regt * 4th Sqdn, 9th US Cav Regt * V US Corps Ancestors with:
2d Miss Inf Regt * 2d Miss Inf State Regt * 26th Miss Inf Regt
32d Miss Inf Regt * 50th Ala Inf Regt * 58th Ala Inf Regt
8th Ga Inf Regt * 40th Ga Inf Regt * 4th Ark Inf Regt
3d Regt Arizona Bde (Tx State)
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