SCV Gen. William J Hardee Camp #1397

08/01/2022

Archaeologists discovered an unexploded cannon shell from a Civil War battle in Georgia’s Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, where Union and Confederate forces fought from June 19 to July 2, 1864.

archaeology.org/issues/474-2207/digs/10611-georgia-civil-war-parrott-shell

(Cobb County Police)

07/16/2022

If you are going to the National SCV reunion, Please share your photos.

05/28/2022

Hollowed Grounds on this Anniversary

05/25/2022

158 years ago...
Paulding County, GA | May 25 - 26, 1864
After Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston retreated to Allatoona Pass on May 19-20, 1864, Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman determined to move around Johnston’s left flank rather than attack the strong defenses in his front. On May 23, Sherman set in motion Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas's Army of the Cumberland toward Dallas, a small crossroads town 30 miles northwest of Atlanta. Johnston anticipated Sherman’s move and blocked the Federals at New Hope Church. Believing the Confederates were merely a token force, Sherman ordered Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker’s XX Corps to attack on May 25. Advancing over rough terrain, later dubbed the "Hell Hole" by Hooker's men, the Federal soldiers were severely mauled in front of the Confederate earthworks by infantry and artillery fire. Both sides dug in, and skirmishing continued throughout May 26. The next day, Sherman ordered a withdrawal and concentrated his efforts toward the Confederate right flank, resulting in the Battle of Pickett's Mill.
Painting by Rick Reeves

03/31/2022

02/17/2022

At just before 9pm, 17 February 1864, Housatonic, commanded by Charles Pickering, was maintaining her station in the blockade outside the bar. Robert F. Flemming, Jr., a black landsman, first sighted an object in the water 100 yards off, approaching the ship.[2] "It had the appearance of a plank moving in the water," Pickering later reported. Although the chain was slipped, the engine backed, and all hands were called to quarters, it was too late. Within two minutes of the first sighting, the Confederate submarine H. L. Hunley rammed her spar torpedo into Housatonic's starboard side, forward of the mizzenmast, in history's first successful submarine attack on a warship. Before the rapidly sinking ship went down, the crew managed to lower two boats which took all the men they could hold; most others saved themselves by climbing into the rigging which remained above water after the stricken ship settled on the bottom. Two officers and three men in Housatonic died.[3] The Confederate submarine escaped but was lost with all hands not long after this action; new evidence announced by archaeologists in 2013 indicates that the submarine may have been much closer to the point of detonation than previously realized, thus damaging the submarine as well.[4] In 2017, researchers at Duke University [5] further established through simulation that the Hunley's crew were most likely killed immediately at their posts by the blast's pressure wave damaging their lungs and brains.

02/09/2022

On this day Feb 9th 1861, Jefferson Davis elected provisional President until the elections in November.

02/03/2022

The 33rd Massachusetts Infantry Regiment was organized in Springfield, Massachusetts on August 6, 1862. They served on duty at the Defenses of Washington D.C. before moving to duty into Virginia. The unit served in the Chancellorsville Campaign, the Gettysburg Campaign and at Brandy Station before marching south.
The Atlanta Campaign occurred from May to September 1864. Atlanta was one of the most important cities in the South and its defense was critical to the survival of the Confederacy. By May of 1864, William Sherman’s Union forces began battling Joseph Johnston’s Confederates. The Union Army eventually moved 30 miles from Atlanta to the town of Dallas.
Johnson predicted Sherman’s movement and blocked the Federals at New Hope Church. Sherman believed the Confederates to be a small force and ordered the XX Corps to attack on May 25th. They advanced through rough terrain, which later became known as the “Hell Hole,” and ran directly into Confederate entrenchments. They were beaten back by infantry and artillery units.
The Confederate’s defensive victory at the Battle of New Hope Church came at the loss of 300 to 400 men. The Union XX Corps lost 1,600 men, 300 of whom were captured.

01/18/2022

Since we had Lee and Jackson Day this past week, Here is the Stone Mountain half dollar.

01/17/2022

Happy Robert E. Lee day

01/08/2022

THE BLACK KNIGHT
Lt. Colonel Turner Ashby
Western Virginia, January 1862
Artwork by John Paul Strain

Of the many charismatic and colorful leaders produced by the War Between the States, none shine brighter than Turner Ashby. Raised in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, an area noted for its superb horses and accomplished riders, he became at an early age an expert rider and trainer of horses. Ashby was well known for winning many riding tournaments in Virginia. In these contests he often used the title, Knight of the Black Prince. It was said that during the war he rode the two best horses of the army, one was white and the other black. The Black Knight of the Confederacy led his dashing command through the mountains and valleys of Virginia spreading havoc among the invading Union forces.

In January 1862, General Thomas J. (Stonewall) Jackson implemented his plan to launch an attach and capture the Federal garrison, strategically located in the town of Romney. The 7th Virginia Cavalry, consisting of nearly 500 horsemen led by Lt. Colonel Ashby would be the eyes and ears of Jackson's army.

As Jackson's troop began their march in January 1, the pleasant weather suddenly turned cold as a norther blew in. Temperatures dropped and snow began to fall. Ashby and his cavalry led the way through the snow-covered mountains and valleys of northwest Virginia to Jackson's objectives.

Jackson's troops drove the Federals out of Bath and took the B&O Stations at Alpine, Sir John's Run, and burned the bridge at Great Capacon. As the main body of Jackson's army approached the occupied city of Hancock, Maryland, Jackson sent Lt. Col. Ashby and his men with a flag of truce to demand the town's surrender. General Lander had earlier rushed Federal troops to reinforce the garrison, and refused the demand. Jackson's men shelled the town and marched to Romney. Romney fell without resistance and Jackson now had control of the area. General Jackson had achieved his objective with the able assistance of his Black Knight.