Broomsticks to Battlefields

Why So Long...?

2012-01-19T08:30:00.000-05:00

Why have I allowed this to lapse? Guess one reason is I use Facebook far more now to communicate with folks. Another reason is I have put my research of DMA/PMA on the back burner due to financial considerations, work responsibilities, and elbow surgery. It lingers in the back of my mind and nags me to return...we will see. If you are interested in meeting some of the PMC grads we have over 200 (which is quite amazing since the youngest are over 60) on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/65268157912/

Write Here Write Now

2011-09-19T13:04:00.000-04:00

In case you missed it on Facebook, at the Decatur Book Fair Tim Morrison did an interview of me about my Robinett book. You can find it here scroll down to number 25.

http://writeherewritenow.businessradiox.com/Decatur-Book-Festival-2011/

Decature Book Fair

2011-08-30T17:53:00.000-04:00

Come join Deeds Publishing @ the Decatur, GA book fair this weekend:

http://www.decaturbookfestival.com/2011/index.php

The Street Fair and book selling is from 10:00 to 6:00 on Saturday and Noon to 6:00 on Sunday. Our booth area is between the City Hall and New Court House, a fairly compact area so we'll be easy to find.

New Piece in North - South

2011-08-29T14:54:00.000-04:00

You can find a new piece I wrote in North - South Vol. 13 - 3.

Incidents of War: A Fight for the Colors, Gettysburg, July 1, 1863.

Onward and Upward

2011-08-05T14:32:00.000-04:00

Well changes are coming. Today is my first day working for The Angelo Group, Inc. I am project manager and historian for an effort for the Military Intelligence Branch. We will be creating three documentaries on MI history. Should be quite fun.

Professional Historians and the Black Confederate Myth: Part One

2011-06-24T14:04:00.001-04:00

Interesting piece!

http://cwcrossroads.wordpress.com/2011/06/18/professional-historians-and-the-black-confederate-myth-part-one/

http://cwcrossroads.wordpress.com/2011/06/20/1661/

Civil War in Memory

2011-06-22T07:17:00.000-04:00

For Americans, at least, no historical event is so constantly reassessed and reinterpreted as the American Civil War.

http://chronicle.com/article/Civil-War-History-an/127926/?sid=cc&utm_source=cc&utm_medium=en

sets out a good argument against the desire to interpret the motivations of people going to war in light of the consequences of the war. In this case, the ACW resulted in emancipation, and the idea of the Union is no longer of great interest--but this does not mean that people in 1860 saw things this way--claims John David Smith, writing about a new book by Gary Gallagher.

Now on Kindle!!!

2011-05-19T09:37:00.002-04:00

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_6_27?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=broomsticks+to+battlefields&sprefix=broomsticks+to+battlefields

An AHA Moment about Vickers and Freemasonry

2011-04-29T13:24:00.000-04:00

I was talking to four Freemasons this week about both Robinett and Vickers. They indicated that when a mason is removed from the organization every mention of them is purged for all records. That could MEAN, in the case of Vickers that is what happened to him and why I cannot find where he was raised. BUT, then why was he buried in a Masonic cemetery?

Every question answered always generates new questions.

Keep History Alive
bs

New Review

2011-04-22T10:22:00.000-04:00

Al Nofi has posted a review of Robinett on Strategy page. You can view it here:

http://www.strategypage.com/bookreviews/590.asp

Georgia Military College

2011-03-12T10:49:00.000-05:00

Well, good news here. I am no an adjunct professor at GMC. I will be teaching the US Military History course starting in August.

Okay, so now what?

2011-03-04T12:16:00.000-05:00

Manuscript finished, at least the first draft. I will make some modifications before I make it publicly available.

Dr. Harris, at Widener has indicated there is no funding for my next proposal: a study of PMC from 1945 until the end of the Corps.

Guess I can kick back and relax now.

Manuscript Complete!

2011-02-15T18:52:00.001-05:00

Well, draft is complete and sent off to AMU. Now I can relax a bit and work on the next draft at my own pace. This will not be published like Robinett was. I will make copies available to those who are interested for a nominal fee. More on that later.

Robinett and Vickers

2011-02-06T08:37:00.000-05:00

AS the first draft of my manuscript winds down it is becoming quite obvious that the two had far more in common that simply DMA. It now that David Vickers shared the same psychological issues: PTSD and Narcissism. Hard to say for sure as long distance psychiatry is difficult at best and in Vickers' case he left so little in the way of personal papers.

North & South Magazine

2011-02-05T10:38:00.000-05:00

The current issue of North & South magazine, Vol 12, # 6, March 2011 has an article I wrote about Henry C. Robinett, "When All But Life and Honor's Lost." Be sure to pick up a copy.

Almost FInished!!!

2011-01-31T20:03:00.002-05:00

Well, the first draft of my manuscript is almost finished. I should wrap it up this week.

Progress!

2011-01-16T20:49:00.000-05:00

Well, another weekend of writing is gone and I have made significant progress. It is amazing how it is all coming together. Still not sure what had a greater influence on Vickers, his time as a POW or Judson Kilpatrick. My gut says Judson. We will see where it leads. If so, here is a snap shot of Kilpatrick:

He reacted rashly under pressure, striking out blindly against adversaries without thinking of the possible consequences. He was not a man that one would want to follow into battle. Another shortcoming was his arrogance, his feeling that he was not subject to the same rules as others, that he could steal, take bribes, or use his office for personal advantage with impunity...Kilpatrick had no loyalty to his command. He was quick to abandon his responsibilities if he saw a brighter future looming elsewhere.

That is from Samuel, J. Martin. Kill-Cavalry: The Life of Union General Hugh Judson Kilpatrick. ( Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2000).

And then there is this from General Sherman as he was beginning is march to the sea:

Summing up Kilpatrick in 1864, Sherman about to undertake his march to the sea said, “I know that Kilpatrick is a hell of a damned fool, but I want just that sort of man to command my cavalry on this expedition.

So, after the war Vickers hitches his star to a man such as this. Why?

20,000 Words...

2011-01-02T18:08:00.000-05:00

and I am just getting to Vickers and the 3rd New Jersey enter the war at the firs battle of Bull Run or Manassas for your Southern folks!

2010-12-29T10:09:00.001-05:00

Now it is on to a solid outline and then the first draft. Things are moving on at a good pace since I took the week off work to do this! Here is a short time line of David Vicker's life:
Timeline of David Vicker's Life
1840 DV born-Camden NJ
1858 DV enters DMA
1861
     DV graduates DMA
     1LT Co. B, 3rd NJV Infantry May 25, 1862
     Promoted Capt Co A June 6, 1861
1862
    July/Aug Typhoid Fever
    November - resigns for 3 NJV- recommended for dishonorable discharge - denied
1863 Various campaigns in Virginia including the "Mud March" & Fredericksburg
    April - recruitment duty & draft command
    Misses Chancellorsville & Gettysburg
    September - Promoted Major and assigned 4th NJV Regimental Adjutant
1864
    May 6 taken prisoner at the battle of the Wilderness
    Libby Prison in Richmond
    Camp Oglethorpe, Macon, GA
    Charleston Jail, SC
    Camp Sorghum, Columbia, SC
    Camp Asylum, Columbia, SC
1865
    February, Goldsboro, NC
    March paroled
       Promoted to Col of 4 NJV
       Dept of War overrules due to being paroled not exchanged.
      Finally exchanged in 26 March-no room for a COL in 4 NJV
      "shows him suffering from General Disability following chronic diarrhea."
     May discharged from Army
     June Promoted to Brigadier General for "meritorious service."
    December, leaves Philly w/ Gen. Kilpatrick for Chile
1866
    November marries Amelia (niece of future president of Chile)
    Late November returns to Philly
1869
    David II born
1870
    Helen E. Tyson born
1871
    DV engaged in various enterprises causing him to be away from family
1873 Hamilton Vickers born
1874 Affiliated with Freemasons in Camden
1875 Appointed Commissioner to an International Expedition of Chile--family moves to Chile
1876
   March daughter Maria Amelia born in Santiago
    September DV leaves Chile for US
1877-80 Editorial writer of West Jersey Press & possible NY Tribun
1878 Expelled from Freemasons for nonpayment of dues
1880 Letter to Dr Frelinghuysen (Sec of State) for nonpayment of support
1881 Appointed US Consul in Matanzas
1884 DV sends last letter to wife Amelia
1885 Suspended on the "grounds of bad moral character" from position.
    Returns to Camden lives with Aunt
1888 Marries Helen E. Tyson - seventeen
    Immediately leaves Philly for the west
1898
    Appointed Inspector General w/ rank of Major of Idaho Natl. Guard for Sp Am war
    July becomes ill at camp Chickamauga, GA
    Nov honorably discharged
1899
    January arrives in Boise - ill
    February diagnosed with heart disease
1900-1907 Extremely ill, mostly bedridden
1908 June 27 David Vickers dies

harum-scarum

2010-12-26T12:38:00.000-05:00

I am working almost non-stop on coalescing my research. I came across a very interesting assessment of David Vickers by a special examiner ordered to investigate his past upon his death and thougt I woudl share segments of it here:

"I have not been able to obtain anything more than a fragmentary history of soldier's life. There are none of his relatives living in Camden….All had heard that he had married a Chilean wife and had left her, or she him. The letter from his half sister, Mrs. Bates, gives one version of the separations. There were various rumors that I heard, the one most common being that after losing his diplomatic post he had no means to support her, and he either left her on her sister, or she had to go to here sister for support. One rumor had it that she left him in Philadelphia after he had purloined and disposed of some of her jewelry."

"Soldier is said to have been a very bright, intelligent, fine-looking , and fascinating man. But he was a high-roller & free-spender, one of the kind who would blow in forty or fifty dollars for a wine supper to friends, if it took his last dollar and he did not know where the next was to come from. He was also a confirmed roué (A man devoted to a life of sensual pleasure; a debauchee; a rake), and I was told broke up at least two families in Camden while living there. One man said he heard of his receiving three inheritances two of them running into the tens of thousands but he went through them in a hurry. As to whether he would have committed bigamy, there is a difference of opinion among his acquaintances. It is conceded that the moral features would not have given him concern. Some say that he would have been reckless enough while others say they think it improbable that a man of his experience and standing and knowing that tropical temperament of his wife, would have laid himself liable to the charge."

"Of the Idaho claimant, none of his acquaintances had ever heard except his cousin, and he knew nothing as to her identify. I made a careful search of the Philadelphia marriage records, and also the license records in Philadelphia & Montgomery Counties, but the name of David Vickers does not appear in the indexes. The stated license law, making obtaining of a license compulsory, went into effect in 1885. The claimant does not hown whether a license was obtained and cannot produce even a marriage certificate. I thought is was worth while to look into her antecedents, and found her mother one of the most ignorant and unintelligent Pennsylvania Dutch women I ever came across. I asked her if she was a widow, and she replied "No, she had never been married," and told me that Amos Tyson, whom claimant named as her father, was her mother's father."

"Coming from such a house and parentage, and a soldering being the kind of man he was, it is not too violent a strain on the imagainat8ion to suppose, in absence of proof to the contrary, that there was no marriage ceremony between them (By the way, her mother says her name is Ella not Helen). She must have been an intelligent, adaptable, woman to have fitted into the life of a man like Vickers who, whatever his faults, would have required a woman of brains to hold him loyal for twenty years."

I'll leave it to you to determine why entitled this harum-scarum

Good News!!!

2010-12-17T11:49:00.000-05:00

Well, I am just about finished compiling my research. Other than the VA Pension records it is all in. Turns out that Vickers was far more complex than I first thought-soldier, diplomat (with some renown), and businessman (both in Chile and in Idaho). He blew at numerous inheritances and was married twice-at the same time, it turns out! His last years were quite rough as he was bedridden with heart and liver disease.

His rather bizarre actions for the rest of his life after the war are quite interesting. The key question is how much did his time as a POW during the Civil War impact his post-war behavior? I have yet to determine that to my satisfaction.

Hopefully in the next few weeks I can sort that all out. I have almost none of his writings and no letters of his. Quite a bit different that Robinett as his letters were a window into his soul.

Good News!!!

2010-11-07T13:23:00.001-05:00

AMu has granted me a grant extension until 15 FEB, now I can get this done the right way!

Camp Sorghum

2010-10-30T15:15:00.000-04:00

Vickers spent a some time outside Columbia, SC at Camp Sorghum as Sherman's Army marched towards Savannah and then into South Carolina. It was a temporary camp, not even having walls. Rough planks were laid as a dead line manned by boys from the Armory & old men. Many escaped, Vickers did not. He signed a petition protesting the conditions there which were Spartan, to say the least; no shelter, sorghum and molasses for food, exposed to the weather with no relief.

I went to the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum today [http://crr.sc.gov/] in the hopes of learning more about the camp. Nice museum, well done, if you are in Columbia I recommend a visit but unfortunately nothing on Camp Sorghum. Just across the Saluda River is the approximate location of Camp Sorghum so it was my next stop. It's exact location is lost to time, at this point but nestled in an older neighborhood of middle class houses is an abandoned radio station and antenna field just about where it should be. The camp was positioned on a rise about 100 yards above the river. The pictures are below.

Cliff Notes version ....

2010-10-24T20:29:00.000-04:00

Okay, here is a short and sweet capsule of what I found so far:

• After the war Vickers accompanies Judson Kilpatrick to Chile-he claims as Secretary of the Legation, State Department says maybe unofficial secretary for Kilpatrick

• Kilpatrick marries cousin of President of Chile

• Vickers does same (Amelia) and becomes Kilpatrick’s brother in law.

• DV returns to Philly with his wife. They have two boys

• DV likes to party and blows through TWO inheritances!

• DV & Amelia return to Chile as part of a special legation

• DV & Amelia have a baby girl in Chile

• DV leaves for Philly-family stays in Chile, he says he'll send for them or return himself

• DV goes to Cuba are consul--write Amelia not to come due to yellow fever

• DV (40 at the time) returns to Philly, meets a 17 yr old PA Dutch girl (Helen) and within in week "marries" her.

• DV & Helen head west

• DV tells Helen his first wife is dead

• DV returns to service in the Spanish-American War as Inspector General for Idaho and goes @ Chickamauga

• After war returns to Idaho, seriously ill - heart & cirrhosis of the liver. Spends years in debilitating pain and suffering, cannot leave his room.

• Dies in 1908-Amelia had not heard from him in decades but gets a newspaper clipping announcing his death from a friend.

• She applies for widow pension

• Helen applies for widow pension and learns he was still married to Amelia

• Helen's petition is refused, Amelia grants widow's pension.

There is lots more but that is his life after the War of Rebellion in a nutshell.
Questions:

1. How much did his experiences as a POW in the war influence his actions after the war?

2. How much did Judson Kilpatrick influence his actions?

3. How did his expereinces @ Chickamauga

4. What does all this tell us about his mental state?

4. What else do I need to know and look for?

Interesting stuff!

FINALLY!!!

2010-10-23T13:52:00.000-04:00

Thanks to the persistent efforts of my Congressman, Paul Broun's office, the VA has finally coughed up David Vickers file. I filed a FOIA request in FEBRUARY!!! Looks like close to two inches of documents to pour through for the next few weeks. I will be asking AMU for an extension on my project. It is due 1 DEC and there is no way I can meet that now. Fun stuff!

Charleston Jail

2010-10-11T20:35:00.000-04:00

Visited the Old Charleston Jail this past weekend. Vickers spent some time there between Camp Oglethorpe in Macon and Camp Sorghum in Columbia.

Battle of the Wilderness

2010-09-23T19:19:00.002-04:00

I just realized I forgot to post these. David Vickers was captured during Gordon's flank attack at the Wilderness. Here are the shots I took while visiting there in August.

There's a deer on the trail!

CSA Trench

Mine "Road"

PMC Alma Mater

2010-08-26T12:16:00.001-04:00

Becky Warda was kind enough to share these from her archive:

Here are various iterations of the Alma Mater thanks to Becky Warda.

1933-from The Sabre & Sash
Thy loyal sons, old P.M.C.
     We raise to the our song.
O Alma Mater, fair and free!
     O Mother, kind and strong!

When first we came -- each one a youth,
     With youthful dreams -- to thee,
Thou ledst us in the paths of truth,
     And light and loyalty.
To work, to strive, to fighter -- we vow
     These boons we knew not then;
We came to the as boys, and thou
     Didst mold us into me.
And so we now all praise they name
     And laud thy works and ways.
O may our lives help swell they fame
     Until the end of days!

1949 words & music by Rukard Hurd '78

Now let our voices raise
To Alma Maters praise,
Give a rousing three times three,
Dear old PMC
In the front ranks of life's story
Are thy sons, and to thy glory
All they have bravely fought
As thou has taught.
Chorus:
Hail to thee! Grand honors be,
Salute and peal artillery,
Proud are we,
Thy sons of thee,
Alma Mater PMC.

Adopted 1952-Words by H. Nearing Jr., Music by Charles A. Bartlett III

Beneath the dome of PMC
The men in gray march by
The banners of our loyalty
Held ever bright and high
When weary years have called us forth
On home or foreign sod;
The truth you taught shall hold us fast
To country and to God.

Alma Mater, Alma Mater,
ever shall there be,
One corner of our hearts we keep,
In loyal pledge to thee.

And also a Fight song from the 1920s sung to The Caisson Song ("Over hill, over dale...)

Through the line, around the end, and a line that never bends
As the Gray team goes plunging along
In and out, not a doubt as to what it's all about
As the Gray line goes plunging along.

Then it's Hi, Hi Hee, fight for PMC
Shout out your signals loud and strong
       FIGHT     FIGHT
Where 'ere you go, you will always know
That the Gray team is winning again. (Keep them winning)
That the Gray team is winning again. (FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT)

Through the dust through the fight
Formation left --- formation right
As the Gray team goes plunging along
To the front, never rear and we give a lusty cheer
For the Gray team is winning once more

(At finish of song---Yah Team!)

Good news

2010-08-13T09:45:00.000-04:00

"This book has been nominated for the 2010 Tom Watson Brown Book Award through The Society of Civil War Historians."

The VA Drives Me Nuts!

2010-07-14T12:31:00.000-04:00

They want a Social Security number for David Vickers!! Who taught these folks history?

His records are in Baltimore but they will not give me a phone number or e-mail address to contact them directly.

I have been trying since FEBRUARY to get them to send me his records.

Man what a mess they are!

Things are Moving VERY slowly.

2010-06-28T10:51:00.000-04:00

Well, here we are half way through the year and it is time to take stock. My research is no where near as far along as last year. The VA is dragging their feet on getting me his records. I have talked to them twice now and am still waiting. The Freemasons in New Jersey are about the same, it seems. This project lacks primary sources related to Vickers other than State Department records and I really want to keep the focus upon the Civil War.

Time will tell, there are always surprises in historical research.

Robinett Family Association Gathering 2010

2010-06-17T12:52:00.000-04:00

What a wondeful time in Fulton, MO. They were very interested in learning more about Henry C. and his experiences in the war and his untimely death.

A Christopher Wrens design, St Mary Aldermanbury church in the City of London, is first mentioned in 1181 but was destroyed by the Great fire of London in 1666. Rebuilt in Portland stone by Sir Christopher Wren, it was again gutted by the Blitz in 1940, leaving only the walls. In 1966 these stones were transported to Fulton, Missouri, by the residents of that town, and rebuilt in the grounds of Westminster College, Missouri as a memorial to Sir Winston Churchill. Churchill had made his Sinews of Peace, "Iron Curtain" speech in the Westminster College Gymnasium in 1946.

Off to Fulton,MO!

2010-06-10T11:49:00.002-04:00

I leave for the Robinett Family gathering in Fulton tomorrow morning. I will be speaking to them about Henry on Saturday.

Pioneer Cemetery, Boise, Idaho

2010-06-02T11:48:00.001-04:00

Sheila Coleman came through BIG time. I am glad the tradition continues on.

Continuing a Memorial Day Tradition

2010-05-27T15:29:00.001-04:00

Again this year I will have flowers placed on the graveside of David Vickers. He is buried in Pioneer Cemetery in Boise, Idaho. Shelia Coleman, of of City Cemeteries & Special Services will take some pictures for me. My guess is his flag has never had a flag on it for Memorial Day let alone his picture and flowers, as he is not in a military cemetery, so this will be a first. Pictures will follow next week.

More About VMI

2010-05-24T13:04:00.001-04:00

Saturday, in the rain, we went on a ride to the New Market Battlefield, 'holy ground" for all VMI cadets and alumni for it was here that the "New Market" cadets from VMI made a name for themselves on 14 May, 1864. Called upon by Confederate General John C Breckinridge, the VMI cadets (over half of whom were "rats" or first year cadets) marched 81 miles to join in the engagement.

A New Market Day ceremony is an annual observance held at VMI in front of the monument "Virginia Mourning Her Dead." The names of all of the cadets in the Corps of 1864 are inscribed on the monument, and six of the ten cadets who died are buried at this site. The ceremony features the roll call of the names of the cadets who lost their lives at New Market, a custom that began in 1887. The name of each cadet who died is called, and a representative from the same company in today's Corps answers, "Died on the Field of Honor, Sir." A 3 volley salute is executed by a cadet honor guard, followed by an echoing, solemn version of Taps played over the parade ground. To culminate this ceremony, the entire Corps passes "Virginia Mourning Her Dead" in review.

Annually, the newly matriculated Rat Mass travels to the battlefield and recreates the charge of the VMI Cadets across the "Field of Lost Shoes." Four days prior to that, a march team consisting of first classmen (seniors) representing all companies and cadet government organizations depart from the VMI and march the 81 miles.

The service of the Corps of Cadets during the 1864 Battle of New Market marks the only time in the nation's history when an entire student body fought as a unit in pitched battle. That service entitles VMI cadets to parade with fixed bayonets.

Quite a moving story.

While there, Colonel Gibson, who conducted the tour told me he remembered a New Market cadet that had a connection to PMC. We went to the book store and consulted "Virginia Military Institute Cadets at New Market" and found Jonathan Edward Woodbridge. I quote:

Born Jan 16, 1844. When he was a second classmen he was cadet sergeant major, the highest ranking noncommissioned officer in the corps and in that capacity served in the battle of New Market.

" 'At-ten-tion-n-n! Battalion forward! Guide Center-r-r' shouted Shipp (Lt. Col. Commandant of Cadets) and up the slope we started. Fromt he left of the line, Sergeant-Major Woodbridge ran out and posted himself forty paces in advance of the colors, as directing guide, as if we had been upon drill-ground. That boy would have remained there, had not Shipp ordered him back to his post; for this was no dress parade."

Woodbridge later wrote:

On Saturday night, April 1, 1865, the cadets were called from their barracks in Richmond (having been evacuated there) to go on the lines below the city, taking place of Lee's veterans who had been withdrawn to the south side of the river. As adjutant of the corps, I took out the last order to evacuate the lines below Richmond. After marching into the city Sunday night to our barracks, we were disbanded and told to take care of ourselves....I with several other cadets started at midnight to make our way to join Genl. Lee. I got up to the army at Appomattox late Saturday evening. On Sunday morning I learned of the probability of surrender, so went to Lynchburg, thinking a stand might be made there.

The autumn of 1865 (September) ( went to Chester, Penna., entering the shipbuilding yard of Reany Son & Archbold...covering a period of 20 years. In a885 I entered the US Government service in a civil capacity. For forty years I was employed as naval architect and mechanical engineer during which time I was engaged in the construction of many of the largest and finest vessels of the American Merchant Marine, as well as most of the great fighting ships of the United States navy.

On May 23, 1876 I married Louise, only daughter of John O. Deshong, a wealthy and influential citizen of Chester. In April of 1905 I retired from active work and have devoted my time to my private affairs and travel."

The books ends his entry: :He is not living at 1401 Potter Street."

Check out the pictures. PMC cadets will remember this house!
http://www.oldchesterpa.com/woodbridge_home.htm

Here are a couple photos of in John:
http://www.oldchesterpa.com/biographies/woodbridge_jonathan_edwards.htm

Small world!

Society For Military History @ VMI

2010-05-21T18:20:00.000-04:00

Well, here I am at VMI for the next few days. I must admit I have a strange feeling here thanks to my very close contact with the Citadel. I made a point not to bring any Citadel wear as I think that would be rude.

The campus is well done, the parade ground VERY large and nicely kept. At the moment it is in much better shape that the parade deck at the 'del. Not sure why as each are used for the whole year for training.

I had a wonderful chat with the VMI Sergeant Major, Neel. He is an 82nd Airborne guy and have been here for the last 10 years. Great guy, great example of what the Army is.

The conference, for me, kicked off today with an interesting sessions on Logistics from the last 1700s to the Civil War. Nicely done.

Then a session in the George C. Marshall Library on the Army in the Pacific during WWII. It started with an informative overview of Army education in the inter-war years. Then Pete Mansoor (some of you may know of him) spoke about the 1st Cavalry in the Pacific. It was one of the premier divisions there.

In the afternoon, I attended a session chaired by Rob Citino called: "What is Victory?" All the presenters are from USMA and they provided a comprehensive picture of the difficultly of defining victory in the current war.

I finished my session day with a wonderful discussion of the Southern way of War. I especially enjoyed Susannah Ural's paper on The Texas Brigade and the Lost Cause.

I also went to the VMI museum and the Washington & Lee chapel where Lee and all teh distinguished members of his family are buried, including Traveller!

I will be posting pictures on Facebook when I get back. As an aside, I HATE typing on a lap top so apologies for the shorten comments.

Tomorrow it is off to the New Market battlefield where cadets from VMI played fought and died and played a pivotal role.,

Vickers at DMA

2010-05-18T14:15:00.001-04:00

Came across some interesting information today. In Buxton's book on PMC he quite a Judge Grubb another DMA graduate:

"In the military department I was second in command of the cadets while David Vickers of Camden, N. J., a man of fine military figure, was first in command. Vickers, who was a brother-in-law of General Kilpatrick the famous Union cavalry leader, went through our Civil war, and afterwards was retired with the rank of brigadier general."

It also turns out that Robinett was the cadet sergeant Major that year as well. They just had to be good friends, I am supposing!

I am off to the Society for Military Conference at VMI this Thursday, maybe I will get a chance to poke around their archives a bit!

Keep history Alive.
bs

More Vickers Progress.

2010-05-04T13:36:00.000-04:00

Things are moving along nicely. Janet Burkitt reports:

"I talked to a State Dept. archivist and reviewed the RG 59 finding aids. It appears that there is quite a bit of potentially relevant material and most (if not all) of it is on microfilm, which is great.

"The only indication I found of any potential scandal on his part while he was consul at Matanzas involved a dispute with Spanish officials over a fine that the Spaniards imposed on an American ship that Vickers argued should be waived; the ship was evidently missing some cargo it was supposed to have and it sounded like the Spaniards were making some accusations of fraud.

"I don't know yet if this incident, which happened in January and February 1885, led to his suspension in May. But whatever precipitated the punishment, it does appear that Vickers' reputation was ultimately restored, as he was appointed major and inspector-general of the U.S. Volunteers during the Spanish-American War. He also appeared to be considered a prominent authority on Cuba, judging from newspaper references, but I never saw any more mention of 'bad moral conduct.'"

I am looking forward to seeing the primary source documents soon.

Update of Vickers Research

2010-04-21T13:56:00.000-04:00

Things are moving along but not as well as I would like. I have been pouring through the records from the National Archives and can now paint of when/where picture of his Civil War experiences. I am still waiting for the VA pension records to arrive; they sure are SLOW!

I am drawing a blank trying to locate any personal records/letters of his having received no response from anyone associated with any Vickers gemological groups.

Two very positive notes: Clyde Tinklepaugh PMC '71 has agreed to help me by combing the records in Wilmington and Camden. Clyde is very active in organizing and categorizing PMC artifacts for the PMC Museum and is on the Museum Committee as well.

I addition I will be working with Janet Burkitt a freelance writer, editor, and historical researcher who has access to the NARA archives at College Park, MD. That is where the State Department records from the period reside.

That is about it for now.

Keep History Alive!
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Another Photo Contest

2010-04-19T11:06:00.001-04:00

For my (HIST101 D014 Win 10) students---5 points added to your final grade! Be the first to identify this fascinating photo. Post the correct location here and how you figured it out. Sorry Dain, you got last week's you are not eligible for this one. Enjoy! PLEASE no help from the Peanut Gallery here but you can take a guess on my FB page.

Okay, Here we go, This week's Photo Contest!

2010-04-13T10:20:00.000-04:00

For my (HIST101 D014 Win 10) students---5 points added to your final grade! Be the first to identify the photo. Post the correct location here and how you figured it out. I'll post another one next week. Enjoy! PLEASE no help from the Peanut Gallery here but you can take a guess on my FB page.

If you win this week you are ineligible next week.

It's OUT!!!

2010-04-01T15:27:00.003-04:00

I am pleased to announce that Deeds Publishing has just released my new book: Broomsticks to battlefields. To paraphrase Al Nofi:

Bill Speer has done something interesting. He has used Robinett’s life to throw some light upon several aspects of the American experience and society in the mid-nineteenth century that have not yet been fully explored.
Unlike many who returned to civilian life after the war, Robinett pursued a career in the Regular Army. That career, however, was marred by increasingly erratic behavior that ended in his suicide just three years after the war - the result of complex psychological problems that are carefully discussed in the book. From Broomsticks to Battlefields gives us a little more insight into the extent to which the horrors of war affect the personality and reminds us that historians and psychologists have barely begun to study the question of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury among Civil War veterans.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy you can go to the Deeds website: http://www.deedspublishing.com/ and place your order. I am very interested in hearing what you have to say about this piece.

Almost Here!

2010-04-01T13:56:00.002-04:00

This is Mark Babcock, editor of Broomsticks to Battlefields: After the Battle.

David Vickers & the Army

2010-03-29T11:09:00.000-04:00

Well I did a good bit of work on Vicker's military records this weekend. Twice he seems to have a bit of conflict with his superiors and the War Department. The first was before his capture, while a Captain when he attempted to resign. His resignation was refused and his commanding officer recommended a dishonorable discharge. That is all I have on found so far about his. Hopefully I can find some family papers that will reveal more.

The second was after his release from captivity. It appears as if he desired a promotion to Colonel and command of his regiment (4th NJ Vols.). A series of telegrams and letters flowed about his exact condition upon promotion. Was he an exchanged or paroled officer? If he was exchanged then the promotion was valid, if not, it was not. The War Department determined he was an exchanged prisoner not paroled and the promotion was denied. I will look into this in greater detail in the upcoming weeks.

I am still on the lookout for any family geniological organizations nor any of his descendants yet.

Keep History Alive!
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Broomsticks to the Printer!

2010-03-02T10:31:00.001-05:00

Well, Broomsticks to Battlefields is to the printer. I should see a proof by next week. In the mean time I have been working on David Vickers as much as I can. Vonnie has found some interesting information that needs closer examination.

It seems he tendered his resignation on 13 NOV 1862 for some reason, It was disapproved by his commanding officer and he "strongly recommend that he be immediately dishonorably discharged." This did not happen so I will need to look into this further,

It appears that he took ill with typhoid fever in August of 1862.

It also appears he was a POW in three places now: Camp Oglethorpe (Macon, GA),. Charleston Jail, and then Camp Sorghum (Columbia, SC). This makes sense as the officers were evacuated from Macon as Sherman began his march through Georgia.

He was brevetted to Brigadier General at the end of the war for "meritorious service." Later he returned to service as Major and an Inspector General in Idaho during the Spanish American War.

Finally, I need to find out how he became so close to General Judson Kilpatrick.

That's it for now.

Keep History Alive!
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What is Loyalty?

2010-03-01T09:10:00.000-05:00

This is an open-ended discussion on my blog for both my students at AMU and all that are interested (even the peanut-gallery) so feel free to chime in.

What is loyalty? To whom you owe loyalty to first? (family? country? unit?) What about shifting loyalties; under what conditions? Our focus is American History to 1870 so examples from the period would be helpful to prove your points.

New Title?

2010-02-18T17:29:00.002-05:00

Al Nofi has a new title for my book with some modifications by me:

Broomsticks to Battlefields, being the True and Concise History of Henry Clay Robinett, Captain, USA, in the late Rebellion, with some comment on the social mores of mid-century Americans, the state of military education in the United States, and sundry other subjects, among which may be the First U.S. Infantry, General Ulysses Grant, the battle of Corinth, New Orleans, Freemasonry, Delaware Military Academy, with additional information on courts martial, and military suicide, with some supporting maps and details never before seen in print, published by Mr. Robert Babcock and Deeds Publishing, purveyor or fine offerings in military history.

What do you think?

One more for the class!

2010-02-16T19:56:00.000-05:00

Okay, Michaela, this time you can't play, sorry!

Okay, Here we go, This week's Photo Contest

2010-02-15T18:36:00.002-05:00

For my (HIST101B016 Win 10) students---5 points added to your final grade. Be the first to identify this photo by posting the correct location here. This is a tough one and darn well worth your effort! One again, no help from the Peanut Gallery please!

An Experiment

2010-02-11T08:31:00.000-05:00

While I was in San Diego at the American Historical Association conference I talked to someone who raved about Evernote. ( http://www.evernote.com/ ). This is an online access point (think cloud computing here) that allows you to take notes from any computer and deposit them into a central database, but it is much more than that. You will have to check it out yourself to get the details. The basic service is free. Right now I see no need for the advanced services but some of you might. What I especially like about it is that I can sort and arrange my note cards in any number of ways.

I will let you now how it works for me in the upcoming months.

A Challenge for my HIST101B016 Win 10 Class

2010-02-09T14:57:00.003-05:00

Okay, here is the challenge. Be the first to identify this Civil War location. Post your ideas here.. This is worth 5 points on your final exam! You can click on the image for a larger view. PLEASE no help from the peanut gallery!

A New Project Begins

2010-02-06T15:52:00.000-05:00

Well here we go. My book about Robinett is almost complete; it is time to start focusing upon Vickers. Vonnie Zullos of Horse Soldiers Research is going to assist me once again by seining the Archives in WDC for his records. I am going to, once again, line up one of LTC Peterson’s cadets from the ROTC program at Widener to do some leg work in New Jersey and Delaware. In the mean time, I am developing a bibliography of sources I will need to put my hands on.
Let the fun begin!

Keep History Alive!

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Broomsticks to Battlefields

2010-01-28T08:48:00.001-05:00

Here is a nice photo from PMC Cadet Life 1914, Widener University Archives.

Nice, eh?

A Challenge for My Students in HIST101 D004 Fall 09

2010-01-14T08:16:00.004-05:00

Here is a good Civil War Challenge for extra credit on your final. First person to correctly post identifying the battlefield and specific location BOTH earns 5 extra points! of this site:

AT the time:

TODAY:

Keep History Alive!

Research Plan

2010-01-13T14:35:00.003-05:00

Well here we go again, another year a new plan.

For my students, please note that it is imperative that you have a plan before you begin. No plan ever survives contact with the enemy so it is okay to make changes but you MUST have a plan.

Here are the steps you need to do to develop a successful project and I suggest you do the same:

1. Plan a weekly/daily/monthly plan with deadlines and try to stick by it.
2. Develop a series of questions that you wish to answer from your research.
3. Develop a preliminary bibliography-separate by primary & secondary.
4. Collect your sources.
5. Use each source by taking notes
I prefer note cards for much of my work but on last year's project I also put information into a spreadsheet/timeline with various tabs for events. This proved very effective in keeping long quotations etc as my handwriting now leaves something to be desired.
6. Develop an outline.
7. Organize your research according to your outline.
8. BEFORE you beg the first rough draft make sure you now develop an effective Thesis Statement. Without one your historical writing will lack focus and direction.
9. Right a rough draft.
10. Review the draft-PRINT IT OUT-you will be amazed what you cannot see on a computer screen for some reason. READ the paper out loud, again you will be amazed.
11. Have someone else read it to see if your Thesis Statement is proven in your paper.

Sound like a lot of work? To answer that, I guess it boils down to how good do you want it to be!

For me, this week I will be spending time developing my plan for the next 11 months.

Keep History Alive.
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Let the New Year Begin!

2010-01-05T18:14:00.003-05:00

I just received word that AMU has, once again, approved my research grant for 2010!

So, David Vickers Jr. of Camden, NJ. Vickers is another interesting cadet from DMA, you are my project for this year! He was in the 3rd and 4th New Jersey Volunteers and was eventually captured at Spotsylvania Court House, take to Macon, GA and Camp Oglethorpe. When Sherman’s forces approached, he was moved to Camp Sorghum near Columbia, SC. He was brevetted to brigadier general in 1865 and after the war served as a diplomat in Cuba. During the Spanish American war he was an inspector general. Upon his death his will was contested by a second wife from Chile. He should make for a very interesting story.

Happy New Year

2009-12-31T12:57:00.003-05:00

Wishing all of you a very happy and prosperous New Year.

Margaret Junkin Preston was the sister of Elinore Junkin Jackson, the first wife of Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson. Elinore met Jackson while he was a professor of natural and experimental philosophy and artillery tactics at the Virginia Military Institute and married him in August of 1853.
The newlyweds set up housekeeping with Elinore's family on the campus of Washington College, where Elinore and Margaret's father, the Rev. Dr. George Junkin, was president. Margaret formed an immediate attachment to her sister's new husband and remained close to him even after Elinore died in childbirth 14 months later. Margaret eventually married a VMI professor, J.L.T. Preston, in 1857, the same year that Jackson entered into his second marriage with Mary Anna Morrison.
When the War Between the States broke out, Dr. Junkin , a staunch Unionist, left Lexington and returned to his former home up north. Margaret remained loyal to the Southern cause and stayed with her husband in Lexington. She went on to achieve some postwar reknown as a poet and has been anthologized in several early 20th century collections of Southern poetry.

ACCEPTATION
by Margaret Junkin Preston (1820-1897)

We do accept thee, heavenly Peace!
Albeit thou comest in a guise
Unlooked for--undesired, our eyes
Welcome through tears the sweet release
From war, and woe, and want,--surcease,
For which we bless thee, blessed Peace!

We lift our foreheads from the dust;
And as we meet thy brow's clear calm,
There falls a freshening sense of balm
Upon our spirits. Fear--distrust--
The hopeless present on us thrust--
We'll meet them as we can, and must.

War has not wholly wrecked us; still
Strong hands, brave hearts, high souls are ours--
Proud consciousness of quenchless powers--
A Past whose memory makes us thrill--
Futures uncharactered, to fill
With heroisms--if we will.

Then courage, brothers!--Though each breast
Feel oft the rankling thorn, despair,
That failure plants so sharply there--
No pain, no pang shall be confest:
We'll work and watch the brightening west,
And leave to God and Heaven, the rest.

((http://www.civilwarpoetry.org/authors/preston.htm))

More Homecoming

2009-12-10T13:09:00.002-05:00

Here are a coup0le of more shots from Homecoming:

Progress

2009-12-02T12:40:00.003-05:00

Well, I have submitted by research to AMU. Now I have only one thing on my plate: working with Deeds Publishing to come up with a good marketable print edition. Then, towards the end of January, I should hear about next year's grant.

More news when it is available.

Keep History Alive!
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And the Decision Is...

2009-11-25T08:46:00.005-05:00

Well, I have decided. I am going to apply for another grant from AMU and will continue this project this coming year. I have discussed the project with Bob and Mark Babcock of Deeds Publishing http://www.deedspublishing.com/ and they both believe that a series has merit. So, the title of the series shall be: Broomsticks to Battlefields: The Cadets of Delaware Military Academy in the Civil War. Robinett will be the first published in the series.

The second will be David Vickers Jr. of Camden, NJ. Vickers is another interesting cadet from DMA. He was in the 3rd and 4th New Jersey Volunteers and was eventually captured at Spotsylvania Court House, take to Macon, GA and Camp Oglethorpe. When Sherman’s forces approached, he was moved to Camp Sorghum near Columbia, SC. He was brevetted to brigadier general in 1865 and after the war served as a diplomat in Cuba. During the Spanish American war he was an inspector general. Upon his death his will was contested by a second wife from Chile. He should make for a very interesting story.

Of course the pace of my research will be greatly enhanced if I receive a grant from AMU. Failing that , I will continue the project but at a slower pace.
That is the story for now. My Robinett project is due next Tuesday so this would holiday weekend will be spent putting the finishing touches on him and his story.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

and remember...

keep History Alive!
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I Have Decided...

2009-11-23T14:34:00.002-05:00

more later.

Vickers or Robinson?

2009-11-17T14:07:00.003-05:00

Robinson's Military Service Record doesn't include anything about him being arrested before enlisting. The Confederate Papers Relating to Citizens and Business Firms have there was nothing on him.

Vickers didn't have a General's Papers File or and Appointment, Commission & Personal (ACP) File. He had a Letters to the Commission Branch (CB) File and that was it

Decisions, decisions.

Grant Deadlines

2009-11-06T10:30:00.006-05:00

Well, December 1 is my dead line for both submitting my paper and for next year's grant proposal. Sounds like a busy month ahead

I am not totally convinced I should do another project next year. I had 18 months to work on this one, next year, only 11. That makes a big difference in research

I am toying with two possible guys to investigate: George Julian Robinson “Jules Robinson” or David Vickers. I am going to put James R. Lincoln aside for now, I am not convinced there are enough sources for his experiences during the war

A bit on Robinson: DOB: May 27th, 1838, Georgetown, Delaware
Enlisted in October 1861, in Company A, 5th Texas Infantry, CSA
None of this is yet confirmed: When traveling with a relative, Robinson and relative were arrested by the Confederate army as spies. They were sent to Richmond VA for trial and execution. Robinson convinced the judge that they were not there as spies but rather to enlist in the Confederate Army. Robinson and a relative enlisted and were released from charges.
Robinson was wounded at Battle of Gaines Mills also saw action at Antietam, Second Manassas, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg
Promoted to Sergeant Major
-Wounded at Battle of Wilderness. The wound shot through both cheeks, tongue mangled and jaw shattered
After the war, lived in Texas for a number of years before returning to Georgetown in 1882. He died in 1887 and was buried at St. George’s Chapel

David Vickers

Brevet Brigadier General. During the Civil War, he served as a captain in the 3rd New Jersey Infantry and was promoted to colonel in the 4th New Jersey Infantry. After the war, he served as a diplomat in Cuba. On May 31, 1865, he was made a brevet brigadier general "for faithful and meritorious services" during the war . He was captured and served time in Rebel POW camps in Georgia. The picture below is the best I can do, sorry

From the American Civil War Research Database:
David Vickers, Jr
Residence was not listed; 22 years old.
Enlisted on 5/25/1861 as a Private.
On 5/25/1861 he mustered into "B" Co. NJ 3rd Infantry
He was discharged for promotion on 9/29/1863
On 9/29/1863 he was commissioned into Field & Staff NJ 4th Infantry
He was Mustered Out on 5/15/1865
He was listed as:
* POW 5/12/1864 Spotsylvania Court House, VA (Confined at Macon, GA & Columbia, SC)
Promotions:
* Capt 5/31/1861 (As of Co. A)
* Major 9/29/1863 (As of 4th NJ Infanrty)
* Colonel 3/21/1865 (Not Mustered)
* Brig-General 5/31/1865 by Brevet
Intra Regimental Company Transfers:
* 6/6/1861 from company B to company A
Other Information:
born 12/21/1840 in Camden, NJ
died 6/27/1908 in Boise, ID
Buried: Pioneer Cemty, Boise, ID
(Signed Petition Complaining of Camp Sorghum Conditions)
Sources used by Historical Data Systems, Inc.:
- Register of Officers and Men of New Jersey in the Civil War 1861-65
- Dyer: A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- Heitman: Register of United States Army 1789-1903
- Brevet Brigadier Generals in Blue
- Photo courtesy of HDS Subscriber
- Research by Jack Lundquist
(c) Historical Data Systems, Inc. @ www.civilwardata.com

I would like to do a Confederate soldier this time BUT Vickers and his experiences as a POW also hold merit. Your ideas are welcome.

Keep History Alive

2009-11-02T13:39:00.001-05:00

I worked all day Sunday re-reading my draft. I am not quite done but getting there. Later this week, I will be mailing it to Al Nofi and Susannah Ural, both outstanding historians in the hopes that they can get me on the right track, presentation & style wise. Susannah works at Southern Miss. where she is an Associate Professor & Senior fellow @ the Center for the Study of War & Society. We met a about 4? years ago at a conference. Al, well I have known him quite a while. He is now retired from teaching but is not really retired (after all, what teacher can afford to do so?). He has his hands in many endeavors: writes for StrategyWorld.com, has numerous publications to his credit, back in the day he designed numerous wargames with Jim Dunnigan and others, he is also a defense consultant and, unless it has changed, currently works for the Navy. He helped my students in Texas on a few projects as well; most notably a trip to Bracketville, TX and the "John Wayne" Alamo where we worked on a project for the Institute of Texan Cultures. I will also be sending various excerpts to others including Tom Parson at the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center.

On the downhill side and hope to have the "final" draft for AMU by the end of Thanksgiving weekend.

Keep History Alive.

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Back to Work

2009-10-23T12:15:00.002-04:00

Well, this Sunday I will be back at work on my second draft. Thanks to last weekend at PMC/Widener I have numerous items I wish to add to the project.

AMU is asking for next year's grant applications by 1 December. That means I must decided if I wish to do this again and if so how. The options are:

1. Don't apply, chill for the year - NOPE - doesn't sound like me.
2. Apply and expand Robinett in a full biography - not sure that is really interesting to anyone as I have the most critical events in this one.
3. Make Robinett volume one of a series on the cadets of DMA/PMA in the Civil War. This hold great merit as no work has been done on them and there are a ton of interesting cadets involved in the war. I am leaning towards this for my grant proposal. Your ideas are greatly appreciated.

I have been talking to a friend of mine, Bob Babcock who owns a publishing company and is also an accomplished historian himself. He think s the best potential is for a series of mini-books on these guys. You can check out his works here. What Now Lieutenant? is a great read and still relevant for today. He has also written a nice work on the 4th ID in OIF 1.

http://www.deedspublishing.com/

Keep history Alive!
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Homecoming 2009

2009-10-20T19:30:00.008-04:00

Well, I have never been to Homecoming before and I must say, the ROTC cadets and the Class of '54 were the high points.

The modern Battery Robinett (2nd LT Keith Bright on left)

Me at Battery Robinett

Me & Class of '54

LTC Peterson

LTC Peterson presented me with a brick from the Amory built in 1920. I consider this a high honor.

Class of '54 & LTC Peterson

ROTC Cadets

LTC Peterson

Cadets & '54

Cadets & '54

Barbershop Group

2009-10-16T20:45:00.003-04:00

The class of 1954 met the current ROTC cadets for 2 hours today. There were some great conversations! After that both groups got to hear about Henry C. Robinett and how his experiences relate to our soldiers today from me---good stuff. LTC Peterson gave me a Commander's Coin which I greatly appreciated. THEN he gave me a brick from the old Armory they tore down (1920-2008) last year--WOW, something special! It was a good day.

Keep History Alive
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First Rough Draft is Complete

2009-10-13T11:50:00.003-04:00

Well, the first draft is completed. It is very rough. special thanks to Becky Warda and Jim Timmerman for looking it over for all my typing/spelling errors. I am an abysmal typist and when I write something this large I just keep going unless it is obvious.

Making a few copies to take with me to Homecoming at Widener/PMC this weekend. It is going to be COLD and WET. Some fun. Be nice to get some good shots of the Broom Drill at halftime of the game.

Next week, I will begin editing the draft and completing the sections I don't fell are just right.

Keep History Alive
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Big Push This Weekend

2009-10-09T10:42:00.002-04:00

Well, a three day weekend is upon us and I plan of finishing the first draft by Monday evening. I have discovered some more interesting connections between Robinett and the people of power in Wilmington, interesting stuff.

If you would like to read and help proof/critique the first draft just let me know.

Good Weekend!

2009-10-05T10:24:00.001-04:00

I wrote most of the weekend, through Corinth, past Vicksburg and on to Grant’s staff. I wanted to get further but 10,000 words is a good number for two day’s work. This week and next weekend I will FINISH the first draft.

I want to have it ready to take to PA for Homecoming the following week.

Keep History Alive!
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Time Marches On!

2009-09-30T09:56:00.003-04:00

My writing is going well, despite the fact that I was "forced" to go fishing Sunday!

By the end of this weekend I plan on having a complete draft. I would like to have it finished before I go to Homecoming at Widener. I will be speaking to the ROTC cadets and members of the class of '54 so I want to have something in hand at that point.

After the draft is complete I need to add the graphics.

Right now, I am pleased with what I have written, it is flowing better and better. The key is to make sure I am telling an interesting story AND making it relevant for readers.

Who can blame more for fishing on a day like this?

Keep History Alive!
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More Progress

2009-09-28T15:31:00.004-04:00

Got Henry to "his" day at Corinth, all out push this week to complete the first draft.

I stumbled across his nemesis at his two major courts martial.

Isaac Denniston DeRussy is buried in Arlington. From their site:
"Appointed from New York, Second Lieutenant, 26 April 1861; First Lieutenant, 14 May 1861; Captain, 27 February 1862;

4th United States Infantry, 29 September 1879; Lieutenant Colonel, 14th United States Infantry, 1 July 1885; Colonel, 11th United States Infantry, 19 May 1891; Brigadier General, 1 April 1902; retired 15 April 1902;

Breveted Major, 13 March 1865 for faithful and meritorious services during the war.

Isaac D. DeRussy was born in 1840 at Fort Monroe, Virginia. He began his service as a Second Lieutenant with the 1st United States Infantry and by the end of the Civil War was a Captain. He participated in the siege of Corinth in May and June of 1862 and was breveted Major in 1865 for faithful and meritorious service during the war. He served with the 4th, 14th and 11th United States Infantry regiments. While commanding the 11th regiment as a Colonel, he also commanded Fort Huachuca, Arizona, in 1891 and 1892. On 10 August 1898 he led his regiment against Spanish forces near Hormiguero, Puerto Rico. He was retired on 1 April 1902 as a brigadier general and died on 17 February 1923 in New York City. He was buried in Section 3 of Arlington National Cemetery. His wife, Laura Requa DeRussy, who died in 1929, is buried with him.

What is most interesting is the fact that Robinett claims he never actually "served" during the war. Hmmmm....must check the ORs tonight.

4,700 words...

2009-09-23T11:03:00.002-04:00

and I am just getting into Henry joining the Army and the 1st U.S. Infantry. This is going to be much longer and more detailed than I expected but that is not a bad thing.

This Weekend

2009-09-13T13:14:00.002-04:00

Well, much is being accomplished this weekend. I have completely fleshed out my outline, formatted the paper itself according to AMU guidelines (note my students, yes we use Chicago Manual of Style/Turabian as you do), and I am organizing my note cards.

I have found the easiest thing to do it to sort your cards into stacks (I am working on the Delaware & DMA cards as I write) with the stacks. Then arrange the stack in the order you wish to write about them and finally, order the cards within the stacks.

Following this method, you can then simply stack your cards and write from card to card.

An interesting aside. I determined yesterday that the poem, After The Battle, Harry quoted in his last court martial defense was written by Sir Thomas Moore.

This weekend there have been numerous distractions to keep me from concentrating. Things are not moving forward as rapidly as I hoped.

The Writing Process

2009-09-09T13:42:00.003-04:00

I thought I would pause here and share some thought on the writing process with my students.

Recall, in the beginning of this, I first looked about to see if indeed there was enough information available to make an interesting topic; there was. Then I developed a list of questions based on what I THOUGHT I was going to examine; as you all know the project evolved into a study of just Robinett.

Research completed I am not ready to begin writing. But where do I start? Thinking, that is where. For the last month I have been thinking about how to approach the organization of this and what themes to use. Last week I jotted down some ideas, nothing formal to see where I was with both.

Then I placed my ideas in an general outline:
I. Introduction
II. Delaware Military Academy
III. Early Military Career
IV. Corinth
V. Home
VI. Vicksburg
VII. 1st USI
VIII. Home
IX. Grant’s Staff
X. New Orleans
XI. Court Martial 1 & 2
XII. Court Martial 3
XIII. Disability Pension & Orders
XIV. Suicide
XV. Conclusion

After talking to a few friends and over the past few days I have developed a list of themes that I will weave into these sections:

Honor - Military Academy DMA - Military - Society? - Artillery-lack respect? - Family-Rev. War ancestors
Narcissism -Rage
Connections - Grant’s Staff - Freemason - Patrons?
Psychic/physical trauma?

I will think on these a bit more and then flesh out the outline, most likely this weekend. I find it hard to write well during the week; too many distractions with work and all. Once I have a completed outline I will begin writing the sections. Note I did not say chapters. This is will initially be an article for publication, later, who knows? I have enough to write a good article right now or a poor book; I’ll write the article, see how it is received, and see if I can get additional grants for the coming years to support anything further.

Keep History Alive
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Our Trip to Wilmington, Deleware.

2009-09-01T18:13:00.007-04:00

I have finally found some time to organize my pictures from the trip to the Delaware Historical Society and the Trinity Church. Rebecca Warda from the PMC Museum and Widener Art Gallery along with 2nd Lieutenant Keith Bright (class of ’09) accompanied me for the day. Our plan was to go to DHS and find additional information about Robinett and to hopefully find Henry’s fiancé.

What a surprise for us when we arrived! A recent donation for an estate had arrived and all the documents were about Henry C. Robinett and his family! In addition, the family presented Robinett’s ceremonial saber that was presented by the citizens of Wilmington for his service at Corinth. I cannot tell you how shocked, surprised, and pleased I was.

From a family Bible, we now know the day he was born.

HCR's commissions ALL on vellum, in prestine condition and signed by Lincon or Johnson!

"THE" Saber

Were we able to find the fiancé’s name? Yup. Elise Sherwood Starr.

Looking in the 1867 newspapers.

We then went to the church where Robinett and Starr were baptized and confirmed; Elsie just before her premature death.

Now, it is on to writing!

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HCR's Request for a Disability Retirement

2009-09-01T09:54:00.001-04:00

The last bit of research Vonnie Zullos sent me revealed some interesting information. Robinett appeared before a disability retirement board in May/June 1867 about 10 months before his suicide. While the board rejected his request the surgeon's documents provided in support of his request are enlightening.

"This is to certify that I attended Luiet (Now Bvt Maj) H.C. Robinett, 1st U.S. Infy. Who was wounded on or about the 4th day of October, 1862 at the battle of Corinth, Miss-He was wounded by a musket ball transing the entire length of the top of his head from before, backwards-completely exposing the bone-No evidence of fracture, could be discerned-He was under my care at Corinth, Miss-until sent North. J.L.G Happensett CPT, Asst. Surgeon

"I humbly certify that I have had the aforesaid, Bvt Major Robinett, Captain 1st U.S. Infantry under my professional care-and have carefully examined him and found that he is laboring under disability resulting from a gun shot wound of the scalp received as he states at the battle of Corinth, Miss. The cicative ?? of the wound extends from the anterior to the posterior frontalobe. I am unable to ascertain with any certainty whether any fracture existed at the time or not. He suffers from frequent and intense cephalalgia. Especially in exposure to the sun or serving under changes of temperature; an extreme sensitiveness to the action of alcoholic stimulants-which has only existed since he was wounded-considerable loss of memory-and great depression of spirits. I am of the opinion that a Southern Climate exerts an unfavorable impression in his case and that he would perhaps be able to do duty more efficiently at some station further north." Major Henry Preson Asst Surgeon

"I feel that I have become incapacitated for the performance of the duties required of a Regimental officer, in this climate. In consequence of a wound received in my head at the battle of Corinth, Oct. 4th, 1862. I suffer greatly, at all times, from the effects of excessive heat upon my wound, and when exposed to the heat of the Sun in this climate my suffering is almost unbearable. I can no longer endure any considerable mental or physical exertion without intense suffering. I have at times been affected mentally in a manner which admonishes me that farther continued exertion and exposure to the excessive heat of the Sun in a Southern climate, consequent upon the performance of the duties of an officer in the Army, may produce the most serious results." Robinett

Medical Cert of Bvt Major Asch Asst Surgeon USA "The track of the wound was in mainly the medial line from left to right. Maj. Robinett has been under my observation since the later part of 1865 and it is my opinion that the effects of said wound renders him unfit for duty in this climate. Extremely hot weather-a mental excitement- renders him nervous and excitable to such a degree as at times to induce fear that the brain my be temporarily affected. Further residence in this climate must do his permanent harm. It is a question whether life in a colder climate will entirely remove the disability."

"Personally approved before me W.D. Waller a Notary Public, Brevet Lieut. Col. George A Williams Major 6th U.S. Infantry and made oath as follows. On the 4th of October 1862 I commanded the 1st U.S. Infantry at the battle of Corinth. The Regt was used as Heavy Artillery. One battery (Battery Robinett) was commanded by 1st Lieut H.C. Robinett 1st U.S. Infantry which battery the enemy charged upon during the battle. 1st Lieut H.C. Robinett was struck by a ball on the top of his head cutting away the scalp and creasing the skull and from which injury he was obliged for a time to retire from the field. Lieut Robinett's conduct during the battle was admirable. He fought his battery very gallantly have had 13 of 26 officers and men who manned the battery either killed or wounded" Capt. Williams 1st USI

The surgeons that examined him for the board found:

Surgeons report: "Find a scar on the median line of the scalp result of a gunshot wound received at Corinth, Miss. Oct. 4th 1862. There is no evidence of any fracture of the skull. From the personal appearance of Major Robinett and from the medical evidence in the case we are of the opinion that he is not incapacitated from performance of active duty, though service in a hot climate may give use to unpleasant sensations."

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One Final Bit of research

2009-08-28T14:37:00.004-04:00

Well, as much as I would like to keep digging, it is time to start the writing process. Vonnie found one additional set of documents for me, HCR applied to a retirement board in 1867 and claimed a disability due to his wounding at Corinth. It was denied and he returned to New Orleans and active duty.

I have never been able to find anyone who definitively said, “I saw Lieut. Robinett be wounded at Corinth.” There have only seen second–hand accounts of his wounding and one friend of his even speculated that he fabricated the wounding in his mind to justify his behavior.

Perhaps this set of documents will clear this up.

One final plug for Horse Soldier Research: http://www.horsesoldier.com/research.html

Vonnie has been a Godsend. There is no way I could have gotten off work enough days to search the National Archives like she has. Without her research this project would have been a dead end.

Next week I will be dismissing the writing process and how I hope to approach this study,

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On Vacation

2009-08-16T18:04:00.004-04:00

Just a quick update. I spent 1 1/2 hours on Friday before I left with the four doctors. Boy are they sharp. They saw things I had never imagined and I am deeply appreciative of their time. I don't have much time to write now but here are a few new questions:

1. Was HCR a narcissist?
2. Was he depressed?
3. Did his sense of an officer's honor drive much of what he did in New Orleans?

I am in Ocean City, NJ for some R&R so that is it for now. Thursday I will be @ the Delaware Historical Society Archives to wrap up my research.

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Rounding out my Research.

2009-08-12T09:56:00.002-04:00

The next two weeks will round out my research. I am a couple weeks behind my plan but that is why you build in some extra time.

This Friday I will be able to get a better handle on HCR’s possible PTSD. I prepared a list of symptoms, etc for Shook Over Hell (See an earlier post) and here is what I found:

Symptoms of PTSD

Questions:
Undergo hardships & trials in the military? YES
In a situation where he experienced anxiety & fear? YES
Exposed to combat, to death & mutilation of his comrades? YES
Exposed to the slaughter of enemy soldiers? YES
Encounter disease that might have weakened his psychic defenses? UNKNOWN
Bonds with friends & family ameliorate his problems or enhance? Death of fiancé
Did a warm homecoming wash away the pain & deaths? UNKONOW

“Sometimes this fear was so intense that men would fall to the ground paralyzed with terror, bury their face in the grass, grasp the earth, and refuse to move.” CORINTH

Many experience a sense of disembodiment and become oblivious to their own bodies and needs. Shell or gunshot wounds could bring a man back to the reality of his own body and sense of vulnerability. CORINTH

The pounding and concussion from cannonading can be overwhelming. CORINTH

Infuriated and obsessed with battle a man can screen out all the horror of death. Concentrate on the matters at hand and put personal safety aside and belatedly react to the horrific scenes they have witnessed CORINTH

Terrifying noise of shells over head could lead to nervous habits never fully overcome-startle reactions CORINTH

Artillery fire & the sights and sounds of battle could be unnerving in the extreme CORINTH/VICKSBURG

“Perhaps the most horrific aspect of the Civil War experience was the scene of the battlefield after the firing had subsided. Mangled men, dead and dying, littered the landscape.” CORINTH/VICKSBURG

Burying the dead can be equally as traumatic CORINTH

Symptoms – delayed stress:

Intrusive recollection-nightmares & flashbacks UNKNOWN
Disoriented thinking YES
Startle reactions UNKNOWN
Social numbing YES

Depression (melancholy) YES
Anxiety Yes
The “mental distance” from family can be overwhelming YES
Critical to this issue is social support UNKONWN
Fear CORINTH/VICKSBURG
Strangers ???
Going outside JACKSON BARRACKS
Refuse to leave room for days JACKSON BARRACKS
Shun company JACKSON BARRACKS

Fear of recurrence of some great calamity – Think something horrible is going to happen to them UNKNOWN
Descent into “into a kind of permanent psychotic state” POSSIBLE
Sit for hours alone staring off into space—startled when spoken to JACKSON BARRACKS?
Dread of calamity, cognitive disorders. JACKSON BARRACKS
Parades and welcome home to family does not wash away the “tangle of emotions of devotion, horror, honor, fear, excitement, anger, and boredom.” UNKNOWN
Crying spells, anxiety symptoms JACKSON BARRACKS

Nervous behaviors, trembling, shaking, irritability & hyperactivity JACKSON BARRACKS

Cognitive disorders
Problem with memory or thinking JACKSON BARRACKS

Inability to concentrate or remember JACKSON BARRACKS

Loss of memory not associated with any neurological deficit.
Apathetic JACKSON BARRACKS
Non-military factors –most potent mental shock DEATH OF fiancé
Gunshot wounds in service Corinth
Psychological consequences of wound JACKSON BARRACKS

Restless, sleepless, suicidal JACKSON BARRACKS

“One suspects that many cases of men behaving in a disorderly manner or refusing to obey orders … also involved soldiers who had reached the limits of their endurance, and could easily have been considered psychiatric causalities of war; however these men were punished severely” —treated as disciplinary problems. NEW ORLEANS

“…many Civil War veterans resorted to suicide as a mean of dealing with intolerable mental and physical pain….” YES?

Post CW suicide no loner regarded as a heinous crime-tended to disguise or deny the act. YES
Pensions grated for suicide due to war wounds. YES?

Obviously these are my layman’s observations. We will see what the experts have to say after I lay out all the evidence. The most telling information I have is from his father’s pension application after his death. In it are letters numerous people who know HCR and their observations of him are quite telling.

Next Thursday, the 20th of August, Becky Warda, and Keith Bright will be travelling with me to the Delaware State Historical Society archives and the Old Swedes Church where I will conclude my research.

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Robinett, PTSD, Suicide, and Delaware Freemasons

2009-08-04T10:47:00.002-04:00

I will be the first to admit I am no expert on the subject. I contacted the folks at Eisenhower medical Center on Ft. Gordon and found some folks who are. On the 14th I will be meeting with Dr. Bruce A. Leeson, PhD, Clinical Psychologist; CPT Kyle Grohmann, currently immersed in suicide research data; Dr. John Albrecht, a clinician-researcher who has been focusing on PTSD as long as many folks have been in practice; and Ms. Susanne Jones is a psychometrician (the measurement of an individual's psychological attributes, including the knowledge, skills, and abilities a professional might need to work in a particular job or profession)

I hope after meeting with them to have a much better handle on his state of mind

More good news.

In his last court martial, as he was taken out of the Theatre he was heard to remark that he was a Mason. I contacted the Grand Lodge of Masons in Delaware for confirmation and there is was. He petitioned the Lafayette Lodge No. 14 on 18 November 1862, was crafted AND raised on 28 November 1862. That in itself is quite remarkable for its speed. It is also about a month after the Battle of Corinth.

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This has been a busy two weeks

2009-07-26T19:38:00.003-04:00

I have been grading research papers and finals from my classes in addition to trying to wade through the final court martial transcript. I have finally finished the transcript, all 164 pages of it!

What a case. It has it all. An officer accused of conduct unbecoming etc. A pro-Southern crowd in the Varieties Theatre in New Orleans threw him out with the aid of the police. In the process he was bitten on the thumb and stuck in the head.
Whom does he run into when returned to a camp of the 1st US Infantry? Captain DeRussy, his old nemesis from the previous court martial. This provokes another incident and HCR tells him to “go to Hell” and offers that if he will come out of his tent “I will shoot you through the heart!”
Most telling in some ways was his written defense. He opens with a few comments on honor. They are included below.

"In order to fully comprehend the consequences of your decision in such a case, particularly if it be unfavorable to the accused, you must know the appropriate value and price of a Soldier's honor! A Soldier is the only man of all men, who feels himself rich indeed "when all but life and honor's lost!"

This is an Irish song from HYLAND'S MAMMOTH, AFTER THE BATTLE

Night closed around the conqueror's way.
And lightnings showed the distant bill.
Where those who lost that dreadful day
Stood, few and faint, but fearless still!
The soldier's hope, the patriot's zeal,
Forever dimmed, forever crossed.
Oh, who shall say what heroes feel,
When all but life and honor's lost!

The last sad hour of freedom's dream
And valor's task moved slowly by,
While mute they watched, till morning's beam
Should rise and give them light to die.
There's yet a world where souls are free,
Where tyrants taint not nature's bliss;
If death that world's bright opening be.
Oh, who would live a slave in this?

The last sad hour of freedom's dream
And valor's task moved slowly by,
While mute they watched, till morning's beam
Should rise and give them light to die.
There's yet a world where souls are free,
Where tyrants taint not nature's bliss:
If death that world's bright op'ning be,
Oh! who would live a slave in this?

Powerful stuff!

He continues:

“but to the Soldier All things Else sink into insignificance in comparison to his honor! Now, gentlemen, depriving the Soldier who has Sustained his own and his Country's honor on more than one hard and desperately fought-field of battle-learning the Evidence of his devotion to Country and of his own heroism to much the battle plain--of his hard earned reputation, by degrading him; strip him of all his well earned honors and his Soldierly pride, by passing a sentence in severity greater that the Criminality of the Offense. 'per se' would justify, then you send back to 'civil society' a person, who, if not forever afterwards deprived of, is forever prohibited....By sentencing away his character his former life as a Soldier, and his future history, whatever it may be, that time can never effase! You take from him a Soldier's all 'his honor'.”

"The affair at the Varieties Theatre....was a sheer and wanton violation of the rights of a gentlemen, and stamps it as an uncalled for, brutal, outrageous and cowardly and shameful attack upon an Officer of the United States Army. The incentives to such an outrage, and the cause of the perpetration thereof, being the deeply rooted, prejudices engendered in the bitter five years War of the Rebellion of the Southern States.”

"It is clearly shown…that the accused was laboring under a high state of mental excitement ? Under and by the brutal, unhuman, cowardly and shameful treatment he received…Treatment that would have almost made frantic and maddening with anger any gentleman who possessed the spirit worthy of a Soldier! What true man, what Soldier, we ask, would brave the indignities and insults offered to and the outrage perpetrated upon the person of the accused....and in consequence - of have been almost bordering upon madness itself....those who are so high-spirited and repellant in their natures that they cannot brook with indifference an affront or shameful and disgraceful indignity, but who loose entire control of that Devil-attribute of our nation-passion-and there commit acts which others of a cooler and more phlegmatic nature would never be guilty of."

He also cites in conclusion all the battles he served in, I need this as it was incomplete in my mind.

“Purdy Bridge May 2d 1862
Siege of Corinth-Battle of Corinth 3&4 1862,
Champion Hills and Big Black River in the Miss. Campaign of 1863
Siege of Vicksburg being interruptedly engaged and under fire for 45 days and on duty each day of the protracted Siege
New Market Heights 25 Sept 1864, where for the first time a permanent advance position was gained on the north side of the James,
First Hatcher Run
movement of the Army of the Potomac about Petersburg to the left by the Brotherton Plank Road Oct 25th 1864
Second Hatcher's Run Feb 6th 1865
Battles around Petersburg 30 - 31st March and 1 & 2nd of April1865.
The pursuit of the Rebel Army of Northern Virginia the finale of that brilliant and wonderful 21 days.
In each of the above battles and engagements the accused has borne an honorable part. And has received the approval and commendation therefore of his different immediate commanding officers, and in several instances of the Commanding Generals."

In the next few weeks, I will be meeting with a Army behavioral psychologist along with an expert on military suicide, and a neuropsychologist.

Court Martial # 1, 2, 3

2009-07-14T19:19:00.010-04:00

Yes three. I have put Corinth aside for a while as I await some more documents in the mail. For the past week I have been looking at the three times HCR was in serious trouble with the Army.

I'll let the documents speak for themselves:

Charge CM #1 Camp St., LA @ the Brook's House Charge 1 "Conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline." HCR said "I will put my baggage in this wagon." When told by Major M. Maloney that his baggage could not be put into the wagon, did repeat the same words, and that he "would like to catch any person putting it out." And make use of other words in a disrespectful manner. Charge 2 "Using contemptuous and disrespectful language to his superior officer" When MAJ Maloney told him to consider himself under arrest HCR said in presence of Officers & Citizens, that "You are not my Commanding Officer," and that 'I will not respect your authority,' and did further say 'you are a damned fool.' or words to that effect.

"The Major General Commanding (Sheridan) trusts that the rebuke given ... will be sufficient warning to him of the enormity of his offense, and regrets that he should be obliged thus publically to reprimand an officer of a Regiment noted for its discipline, for so gross an offence as disrespect to an officer greatly his superior, in both years, rank, and experience."

Believe it or not, before this case was settled he was brought up on charges again:

Charge CM #2 Camp & Lafayette St, NO, Saloon incident "Conduct unbecoming on Officer and gentleman. In this that Lieut. Henry C. Robinette…while in a state of intoxication, enter the saloon of one Andrew Kiplinger on the corner of Camp and Lafayette Streets, with two enlisted men of his Regiment and call upon the barkeeper to give said enlisted men something to drink and upon being refused by the said Barkeeper did forcibly and by means of threats cause said Keeper to come from behind his bar, upon which he, 1st Lieut. Robinett went behind said bar and did use such violent and ungentlemanly language and threats as to cause the Barkeeper to call to his Assistance the "Officer of the `Day" on duty at Headquarters Mil. Div. of the Gulf."

"Conduct to the prejudices of good order and Military Discipline…did say to two enlisted men of his Regiment when ordered by Captain J.D. De Russey 1st US Infantry to leave the saloon, "You are not going to obey that order are you?" or words to that effect, thereby prejudicing the authority of said Captain De Russy and inciting a mutinous spirit on the part of the said enlisted men"

HCR was found guilty and dismissed from the service. EXCEPT:

"The recommendation [to be reinstated] of Lieut. Genl Grant is approved. Referred to the Adjutant Genl to issue order. by order of the Sec of War [Stanton]"

And then #3 about a year later:

"While is a state of intoxication behave in a manner so unbecoming (as to disrupt and annoy the audience and actors in the said theater); and when requested by the usher And police officer in attendance to desist from such conduct, did persist in making a disturbance (and did use loud and insulting language to said usher and police-officer), and did continue to behave in such an unbecoming manner (as to interrupt the performance on the stage) and to cause the said usher and police-officer to forcibly eject him from the said theatre, and to take him as a prisoner to the First district police station."

Again found guilty and dismissed from service.

But wait:

"Sec. of War respectfully submits report of the JAG in the case of Capt & Bvt. Maj Henry C Robinett to the President."

"Judge Advocte General advises that the sentence be mitigated to suspension from rank and pay for a limited period. Respectfully returned to the Secretary of War whose attention is called to the action of the President [Johnson]."

Yes, all three in New Orleans after the war. Yes, Grant stepped in on the second and President Andrew Johnson on the third.

Much more to read in the records...more later.

Thursday morning: October 4, 1862 @ Corinth

2009-07-07T17:37:00.004-04:00

I spent the last three full days pouring through the sources for the events surrounding Battery Robinett on that day and I am still not done! I wanted to share a few snippets from the primary sources. These few hours were some of the most brutal, bloody and vicious in the war.

"All the night we lay under the brightest moon I ever saw. Under the same moonlight, and only 600 yards away from us, also lay the victorious rebel army. They believed Corinth as good as taken but they had only taken our outer line of forts. Yet it looked bad for us....out there lay thousands of others in line, only waiting the daylight to be also mangled and torn...."

"With the earliest dawn of day, the enemy's [CSA] battery in front opened its fire. What a magnificent display! Nothing we had ever seen looked like the flashes of those guns. No rockets ever scattered fire like the bursting of those shells!"

"Lieut. Robinette did not respond for some twenty minutes; in the meantime, training his guns to the point of attack so as not to send one useless shot"

"After Lieut. Robinette opened his battery of Parrot guns the scene soon changed - as only a few shots were necessary to drive the Rebels from their position."

"Suddenly we heard something, almost like a great whirlwind….amazed to see a great black column, ten thousand strong, moving like a might storm-cloud out of the woods and attacking the troops and forts to our left. Instantly we changed direction a little and, without further firing, witnessed one of the greatest assaults of any war. It was the storming of Fort Robinett....These recklessly advanced on the forts, climbing over the tress and bending their heads against the awful storm of grape and canister from all our cannon....Even an enemy could feel pity to see brave men so cruelly slaughtered."

“In front of us was the most obstructive abattis that it was my misfortune to encounter …, “the forts belched destruction into our ranks; yet our men did not waver or halt …. when about half through the abattis, Robinett changed shells for grape and canister on us. Our yells grew fainter and our men fell faster, but at last we reached the unobstructed ground in front of the fort …”

"Upon the advancing lines the 47th were pouring a deadly enfilading fire with telling effect, the guns of Robinett were double charged and the redoubt was a circle of flame. Magnificently mounted and bearing the Confederate colors aloft, Colonel Rogers of Texas [2nd Texas Infantry-leading the charge on Robinett] led the line of gray, led them to the very edge of the ditch which he was in the act of leaping when the Ohio Brigade arose and delivered a murderous fire, before which the Confederates recoiled …”

"I shall ever remember looking at the face of the rebel Col. Rogers, when not more than 30 paces, and noting the peculiar expression it had, He looked neither to the right or left, neither at his own or our men, but with eyes partly closed, like one in a hail storm, was marching slowly and steadily upon us."

"The fighting in front of Robinett was desperate in the extreme. Many of the gunners from the 1st Inf. were disabled, and when the cannon ceased to belch forth its hail it was soldiers from Capt. Spangler's co. A. 43rd Ohio, who sprang into the fort and assisted in manning he guns until the close of the struggle"

“It seemed as though hell was holding a jubilee." "It was a bloody contest and we could see men using their bayonets like pitch forks and thrusting each other through"

"Lieut. Robinett, of the battery, severely wounded in the head, fell senseless under one of his guns. At this most of his men ran to the rear. A moment later, some of the men of Co. A. of the 43rd Ohio, entered the battery, aided the few brave fellows who had stood their ground, to man the guns.”

“Oh we were butchered like dogs,”

"When the assault had failed and the noise of the battle was stilled, I hurried down in front of Robinett. My canteen was full of water and I pressed it to the lips of many a dying enemy--enemy no longer. Our grape shot had torn whole companies of men to pieces. They lay in heaps of dozens, even close up top the works."

"The rebel dead lay every few feet from the embrasures of Ft. Robinette, a mile to the front."

"In front of Fort Robinett the Confederate dead lay piled from three to seven deep; for a hundred feet the bodies lay so close it was almost impossible to walk between them.”

"They had been cut to pieces in the most intense meaning of that term. Such bravery was never been excelled on any field as the useless assaults on Robinette."

"That night I stood guard under an oak tree. On the battlefield under the unburied dead. Many of the wounded, even, had not yet been gathered up. The moon shone as brightly as the night before, while thousands who had laid there under its peaceful rays before the battle were now again sleeping, never to awaken again."

Battery Robinett

COL Rogers (w/ beard) & Confederate dead.

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Old Swedes Church

2009-06-29T19:52:00.002-04:00

Those of you who have been following this blog will know Keith Bright. He graduated from Widener this year with a history degree and was commissioned in the U.S. Army. Keith has been doing some research for me and this past weekend he went to Old Swedes Church in Wilmington, DE. Robinett was baptized there so Keith went to find out more and boy did he.

He found burial records that indicate Harry MIGHT have been disinterred at Chalmette Cemetery in New Orleans and reburied on 28 March 1869 almost a year after his suicide. I am now searching for confirmation. Numerous other family members are buried there including his sister.

The church has a long and rich history. Established as a Swedish Lutheran Church, the church building was constructed in 1698-1699. The church was placed under the jurisdiction of the Protestant Episcopal Church in 1791. It flourishes today as the nation's oldest church building still standing as originally built. It is still in regular use for worship.
You can check out the church here:

http://www.oldswedes.org/

Thanks Keith for another job well done!

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Robinett’s wounding at Corinth

2009-06-22T18:49:00.004-04:00

Thanks to Vonnie Zullos of Horse Soldier Research, I have in my possession the first eyewitness to indicate Harry was wounded at Battery Robinett. In the National Tribune on May 23, 1901 in a piece entitled “Fighting Them Over. What the Veterans have to Say About Their Campaigns. Battle of Corinth.” Captain W.H.H. Minturn, 89th Ohio of the Ohio Brigade wrote this:

"Lieut. Robinett, of the battery, severely wounded in the head, fell senseless under one of his guns. At that most of his men ran to the rear.”

He continues with a sad event, “A moment later, some of the men of Co. A, of the 43rd, entered the battery, aided the few brave fellows who had stood their ground, to man the guns. The enemy was now retreating and in the excitement a little drummer boy passed directly before the battery and jumped upon a log to see the rebels run. A piece had just been aimed, and “ready-fire” followed before the little fellow was discovered. When the smoke cleared up we saw that both legs were torn off. Somehow there seemed a ting in the recollection that men of his own regiment had fired this shot.”

He also commented upon Col. Rogers, “I shall ever remember looking at the face of the rebel Col. Rogers, when not more than 30 paces, and noting the peculiar expression it had. He looked neither to the right nor left, neither at his own or our men, but with eyes partly closed, like one in a hail-storm, was marching slowly and steadily upon us.”

All in all much of my research could not have been accomplished without Vonnie. I could not afford the time nor money to travel to WDC to find these gems.

New Questions Arise

2009-06-16T11:32:00.005-04:00

At the beginning of this project, my students will recall I posted a series of questions to guide my research (and I strong urge you to do the same for your papers). Much has changed since then. I am no longer focusing upon James Rush Lincoln this year; I will save him for another time.

Some new and very interesting questions about Robinett keep running through my mind.

Why did he go to Sec. of War Stanton and ask for a commission rather than signing up with one of the volunteer units forming in Wilmington?

How did his DMA experiences shape his time in the military?

Did he plan on a military life and a career all along or was that decision made later in the war?

Why did he stay in the Army after the war?

How did his family react to the news of his suicide?

What prompted him to take his life when he did?

Where did his personal effects mentioned in a fellow officer’s letter end up?

Did he keep a diary? If so, does it survive?

Where did all his influence come to have his courts martial overturned?

How common was suicide for veterans still on active duty?

Is this really a case of PTSD?

And the big one: What kind of wound did he receive (if any) at Corinth?

I will spend most of time in the next two months trying to answer these questions.

It’s time to starting putting it all together

2009-06-14T19:12:00.001-04:00

June is my time to put all my research together and to see where there are gaps that need filling. I created a timeline of Robinett’s life including a timeline of DMA and one for the 1st US Infantry. Then I created another timeline for Corinth and one for Vicksburg. It takes a good while to input all the information I have collected. The one BIG missing link so far is his head wound at Corinth. He says he was wounded, his commander in his official report of the engagement says HCR was unconscious under one of his guns when the 2nd Texas overran the redoubt. I have yet to find an eye witness to verify anything. Captain Maloney was too far away to see what was happening in the redoubt so his account has to be considered second hand information. No medical records exist for HCR which is unusual if he was wounded. In addition, the doctor that performed his autopsy said there was no sign of and old head injury. So for now it is a mystery that I need to solve.

In the mean time, I am getting ready to get into Harry’s head. July I will be meeting with various experts on PTSD and military suicide to see if we can get a handle on that aspect of his life.

So, that is where it all stands right now.

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Corinth, Where it all Began

2009-06-04T18:16:00.011-04:00

This is where it really all began for Henry C. Robinett and I intentionally saved it for last on my trip. In fact, you may have noticed I started where he died and then went backwards in time.
Corinth is a very interesting engagement. It had it all, personality conflicts; intense, vicious hand-to-hand combat; supreme bravery; and as always in combat, luck.
I am not going to detail the engagement here. Suffice it to say, the battle could have gone either way, numerous times. Jefferson Davis considered control of Corinth and its railroad crossroads critical to the war effort, but it was not to be after October ‘62. The defeat of the Rebels forced the end of Braxton Bragg’s Kentucky Campaign and opened the door for Grant and his Vicksburg Campaign.

I met the Park Ranger, Tom Parsons, on a damp, drizzly, and humid Memorial Day. I was here when the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center first opened but was just passing through and didn’t stay long. It is one of the newer centers in the NPS system and very well done. Unlike Chalmette what few graves there are at the site had flags for Memorial Day.

Tom spent many hours with me; we walked the field and talked about Robinett’s role in the battle. They have a very nice research room and Tom provided me access to some excellent primary sources that will definitely help my research.

Tom also showed me the grave of BG Joseph L. Hogg
[http://scvlonestardefenders.homestead.com/Gen_J_L_Hogg.html]from Texas (Yes, he is an East Texas boy) and told me the “story” behind the removal of the redoubt. He died during the Union siege of Corinth in April and May of 1862. His most famous descendent?
Ima Hogg [http://www.famoustexans.com/imahogg.htm] the "The First Lady of Texas."

Colonel William P. Rogers, commander of the 2nd Texas fell in the assault. In a remarkable tribute to Rogers's personal bravery, General Rosecrans ordered his burial attended with full military honors, a ceremony normally reserved only for Confederate general officers. In 1912 the United Daughters of the Confederacy together with several Rogers family descendants, dedicated a white marble obelisk to mark his gravesite atop a hill overlooking the battlefield.

I left Corinth with a much greater appreciation for the importance of the position of Battery Robinett and Harry’s role. Battery Robinett was the fulcrum of the rebel attack. The 2nd TX made a valiant attempt to take the position and, at one point, overran the works. Battery Williams (HCR’s commander) actually fired two rounds at the redoubt. One hit the works and another exploded above the works. HCR was “wounded” here and according to Captain Williams’ account he was lying unconscious during the counter-attack that drove the 2nd TX out and finished the Rebel chances. What kind of wound? Harry said it was a head wound; yet there was no sign of an old wound in the top of his head in his autopsy. Was he knocked unconscious in the hand-to-hand combat within the redoubt? Did this “wound” contribute to his suicide? One of his friends at Jackson Barracks felt harry “talked himself” into a head wound.

So far no answers.

Inside the Battery Robinett looking towards the Rebel approach

View from the Rebel approach towards the redoubt

Inside the redoubt looking towards the town

Inside the redoubt looking towards the Rebel approach

There was a covered way here back to the railroad.

A view from near the end of the covered railroad.

My final stop was downtown Corinth and the Rogers monument there.

The rest of this month I will be finishing my research; the plan for July is to get inside his head as best I can with all the available evidence and consulting with some PTSD experts from the Army.

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Vicksburg on a Rainy Day

2009-06-01T18:13:00.008-04:00

Robinett’s second major engagement was the siege of Vicksburg. Somewhere between Corinth and Vicksburg the 1st US Infantry gave up their 20 pound Parrotts for 30 pounders. I am not sure how/when/why yet. He received 2 Dahlgren 8" siege guns.

I spent Sunday at the battlefield trying to locate various positions. Harry was positioned with C Company across from today’s Visitor Center near Maloney Circle (his commander); Nothing there but here is where he was.

Railroad cut behind Robinett's position

This slab is where an artillery trail was positioned. Sometime in the past the guns were moved somehwere else. Most likely to Fort Donelson or Henry when they were established as national parks.

I was able to find where Maloney was stationed near “The Crater.” Here his unit participated in the assault the 3rd LA Redan. He had 30 pound Parrotts here as well.
According to the NPS site:

“Late in the siege, Union troops tunneled under the 3rd Louisiana Redan and packed the mine with 2,200 pounds of gunpowder. The explosion blew apart the Confederate lines on June 25, while an infantry attack made by troops from Logan's XVII Corps division, followed the blast. The 45th Illinois Regiment (known as the "Lead Mine Regiment"), under Col. Jasper A. Maltby, charged into the 40-foot (12 m) diameter, 12-foot (3.7 m) deep crater with ease, but were stopped by recovering Confederate infantry. The Union soldiers became pinned down while the defenders also rolled artillery shells with short fuses into the pit with deadly results. Union engineers worked to set up a casemate in the crater in order to extricate the infantry, and soon the soldiers fell back to a new defensive line. From the crater left by the explosion on June 25, Union miners worked to dig a new mine to the south. On July 1, this mine was detonated but no infantry attack followed. Pioneers worked throughout July 2 and July 3 to widen the initial crater large enough for an infantry column of four to pass through for future anticipated assaults. However, events the following day negated the need for any further assaults.”

It was raining and it took a good deal of effort to get to the position. Here it is:

Towards the crater & 3rd Louisiana Redan

3rd Louisiana Redan

The White House behind Logan's line.

This is a wartime view of Shirley House and bombproof shelters of the 45th Illinois

Finally, I found the 2nd Texas Lunette. Yes, the same unit that was decimated in the charge on Battery Robinett. Not much there now. As soon as I got there I recalled eating lunch at the tables there about ten years ago. Small world for both Robinett and myself.

Curiously enough, the NPS folks rotate the flags flown each day.

Guess whose flag was up for my visit?

Next post later in the week about my visit to Corinth.

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New Orleans, Jackson Barracks, Chalmette Cemetery, and the National World War II Museum

2009-05-27T20:34:00.012-04:00

My trip to New Orleans was extremely successful. LTC Tommy Ryan LA National Guard historian was my host on Friday and what a wonderful host he was. I meet him at Jackson Barracks and after explaining more about my project we went on a trip around the entire original Barracks. It was built in the 1830 and most of it still exists today, in spite of the years, urban growth, and Katrina.

I was able to walk where Robinette walked and see what he would have seen. As LTC Ryan said, “If a soldier from the 1830s was here today he would recognize the place and feel at home. The barracks themselves have been converted in individual quarters for some time and some are currently being restored. The original was is still in existence in some places and in others you can see it’s “shadow” on the buildings.

Orginal Wall-the wall was build originally in case of a slave insurrection.

CG quarters

Original side gate.

View of the Barracks

Parade Ground

Barracks-upstairs were the quarters, down, common room and mess hall

Barricks upstairs--the only stairs were on the outside.

Original fireplace with modifications.

Original wall and original French drains that still work as designed!

One of two surviving towers.

Original wall

1830s graffiti-Clavin Co C, 5th Inf

After a morning of touring the facility I picked up the flowers I ordered and went to the Chalmette Cemetery. The cemetery is closed due to reconstruction from Katrina but I was able to get in with an escort. They had cleaned the stone and the sun came up in time for me to get some great pictures. I said a prayer for him and all the soldiers buried there. I talked to him a biut, yeah I know, and promised him I would do everything in my power to tell his story and determine what led him to his untimely demise.

The Park Service decided NOT to place flags on the gravesites this year. They said since it was closed there was no need. I could not DISAGREE more. The flags were to honor the soldiers buried there NOT to the live but for the dead to be remembered. I thought it was a disgraceful thing to do.

That evening LTC Ryan invited me to dinner at the New Orleans Cooking Experience: http://www.neworleanscookingexperience.com/ It is located at The House on Bayou Road: http://www.houseonbayouroad.com/ The home was built as the main house to an indigo plantation just prior to the turn of the 19th century. This restful inn is just minutes from the French Quarter. The guest quarters are appointed with fine linens and elegant furnishings. The main house of this historic site was built in 1798 by physician/diplomat Domingo Fleitas. Coming originally from Tenerife in the Canary Island, Sr. Fleitas had his Indigo plantation's 'maison principal' built in the West Indies Creole style with wide galleries and many French doors opening onto flowering patios.

The chef for the evening was Janice “Boo” Macomber (macomberjanice@yahoo.com) and boy could she cook up a storm:
Boo’s Amuse Bouche (Aligator Suace Piquante)
Rosemary Shrimp
Chicken & Sausage Gumbo
Crawfish Stew & Crawfish Loaf on Dirty Rice
And for dessert: Bananas Foster.
What a wonderful experience. BTW, Boo has a recipe book for sale!

The next day I was up bright and early so I could go to the National World War II Museum: http://www.ddaymuseum.org/
My dad fought in WWII and my sister and I have a brick there in his name.
PY 305 is there as well. I helped work on her and her sister ship PT 309 while living in Houston. Unfortunately, funds do not allow for her restoration at this time. I just wish they would cover her up to protect her from the weather.

Well, that was my time in NO and off to Vicksburg for Sunday.

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Jackson Barracks & Chalamette Cemetery

2009-05-23T18:31:00.006-04:00

Jackson Barracks & Chalmette Cemetery.

Well, I left NO today and am now in Jackson, Mississippi. When I am home I will write much more and provide details. Suffice it to say LTC Tommy Ryan, LA National Guard Historian was an outstanding host. We toured Jackson Barracks and I took a lot of pictures which I will post next week. Here is one of the pictures for the Barracks. It is the side gate that Harry must have walked through hundreds of times.

I got to eat my first Po Boy in a long time at lunch. I then went to find Robinett’s grave site. The folks at the cemetery had cleaned the stone, which I much appreciate. I placed two flags, Harry’s picture, and placed a nice bouquet of white roses (see Tuesday, April 28, 2009 post). I took some more pictures and will post them next week as well.

I was quite moved at the grave site and will write more on that experience next week. I leave you tonight with one picture.

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A Time to Remember

2009-05-20T08:40:00.003-04:00

As you know, I will be traveling for my research project during the next 5 days but wanted to share a piece I found by Rick Atkinson, noted military historian, it is from a larger piece on the 10 things all students should know about World War II. Please excuse the length but some things cannot be said in "Twitter bites."

War is a clinic in mass killing, yet there's a miracle of singularity; each death is as unique as a snowflake or a fingerprint. The most critical lesson for every American is to understand, viscerally, that this vast host died one by one by one; to understand in your bones that they died for you.

Among those fighting in the ferocious battle in mid-December 1943 for San Pietro in central Italy, midway between Naples and Rome, was Captain Henry T. Waskow. Waskow was from Belton, Texas, born on a farm, and while he was a student at Trinity College he had joined the Texas National Guard.

The Texas Guard was federalized and became the 36th Infantry Division, and Henry Waskow eventually became commander of Company B, in the 143rd Infantry Regiment. He survived Salerno, but on December 14, 1943, while leading his company up Monte Sammucro, above San Pietro, he was killed by shellfire. His body lay on the mountain for several days until the company runner could get a mule from the valley below and bring Capt. Waskow down. At the foot of the mountain was, by chance, Ernie Pyle, the great warcorrespondent. Here's part of Pyle's account of that scene:

"I was at the foot of the mule trail the night they brought Capt. Waskow's body down. The moon was nearly full at the time, and you ould see far up the trail, and even part way across the valley below. Soldiers made shadows in the moonlight as they walked. Dead men had been coming down the mountain all evening, lashed to the backs of mules. They came lying belly-down across the wooden packsaddles, their heads hanging down on the left side of the mule, their stiffened legs sticking awkwardly from the other side, bobbing up and down as the mule walked.
The Italian mule-skinners were afraid to walk beside the dead men, so Americans had to lead the mules down that night. Even the Americans were reluctant to unlash and lift off the bodies at the bottom, so an officer had to do it himself, and ask others to help.
The first one came early in the morning. They slid him down from the mule and stood him on his feet for a moment, while they got a new grip. In the half light he might have been merely a sick man standing there, leaning on the others. Then they laid him on the ground in the shadow of the low stone wall alongside the road. I don't know who that first one was. You feel small in the presence of dead men, and ashamed at being alive, and you don't ask silly questions.
We left him there beside the road, that first one, and we all went back into the cowshed and sat on water cans or lay in the straw, waiting for the next batch of mules.
Somebody said the dead soldier had been dead for four days, and then nobody said anything more about it. We talked soldier talk for an hour or more. The dead men lay all alone outside in the shadow of the low stone wall.
Then a soldier came into the cowshed and said there were some more bodies outside. We went out into the road. Four mules stood there, in the moonlight, in the road where the trail came down off the mountain. The soldiers who led them stood there waiting. 'This one is Captain Waskow,' one of them said quietly.
Two men unlashed his body from the mule and lifted it off and laid it in the shadow beside the low stone wall. Other men took the other bodies off. Finally there were five lying end to end in a long row, alongside the road. You don't cover up dead men in the combat zone. They just lie there in the shadows until somebody else comes after them.
The unburdened mules moved off to their olive orchard. The men on the road seemed reluctant to leave. They stood around, and gradually one by one I could sense them moving close to Capt. Waskow's body. Not so much to look, I think, as to say something in finality to him, and to themselves. I stood close by and I could hear. One soldier came and looked down, and he said out loud, 'God damn it.' That's all he said, and then he walked away. Another one came. He said, 'God damn it to hell anyway.' He looked down for a few last moments, and then he turned and left.
Another man came; I think he was an officer. It was hard to tell officers from men in the half light, for all were bearded and grimy dirty. The man looked down into the dead captain's face, and then he spoke directly to him, as though he were alive. He said: 'I sure am sorry, old man.' Then a soldier came and stood beside the officer, and bent over, and he too spoke to his dead captain, not in a whisper but awfully tenderly, and he said: 'I sure am sorry, sir.'
Then the first man squatted down, and he reached down and took the dead hand, and he sat there for a full five minutes, holding the dead hand in his own and looking intently into the dead face, and he never uttered a sound all the time he sat there.
And finally he put the hand down, and then he reached up and gently straightened the points of the captain's shirt collar, and then he sort of rearranged the tattered edges of his uniform around the wound. And then he got up and walked away down the road in the moonlight, all alone.
After that the rest of us went back into the cowshed, leaving the five dead men lying in a line, end to end, in the shadow of the low stone wall. We lay down on the straw in the cowshed, and pretty soon we were all asleep."

But Capt. Waskow had the last word. In a final letter to his parents, one of those just-in-case letters that soldiers sometimes write, he told them this: "I would like to have lived. But since God has willed otherwise, do not grieve too much, dear ones. I will have done my share to make this world a better place in which to live. Maybe, when the lights go on again all over the world, free people can be happy and gay again. If I failed as a leader, and I pray I didn't, it was not because I did not try." He added: "I loved you, with all my heart."

Our first duty is to remember. We have an obligation to the Captain Waskows of World War II, and all our wars, to remember.

COMMISSIONING CEREMONY Widener University David W. McNulty, Esquire, PMC Class of 1963, to 2nd Lt. Myles W. Durkin

2009-05-15T12:23:00.007-04:00

David presented the Saber to 2nd Lieutenant Myles Durking at commissioning. It was quite moving to see and I hope you enjoy reading it below. 2LT Durkin, at the end of the presentation sheaths the saber as was done at the end of each year at PMC. Good stuff.

One of my researchers 2LT Keith Bright was commisioned. I was able to watch via a webcast.

Another cadet a combat veteran, Chris Housel, 24, of Easton, performed route-clearing of improvised explosive devices in Iraq with the 1st Cavalry Division, 458th Engineering Battalion in 2004 as an NCO.

The guest speaker, Brig. Gen. Frederick Hodges, deputy chief of legislative liaison for the Office of the Secretary of the Army in Washington, D.C., reminded the cadets of the importance of their oath to defend the Constitution, complete the mission and lead their soldiers.He also reminded those in attendance that even after observing the war on terror for the last eight years, these cadets still chose to join, and help lead, the nation’s military.“That gives me a lot of hope that there are still young people out there willing to do that,” he said. “I want you to know how proud I am of you and your parents. Looking at you, you are going to be terrific.” DE County Daily Times 15 MAY article.

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COMMISSIONING CEREMONY Widener University, May 14, 2009
David W. McNulty, Esquire, PMC Class of 1963, to:2nd Lt. Myles W. Durkin:
It is my honor and my privilege to be asked to participate in this service today.
It is a deeply moving and sentimental time for me, for this is the forty-sixth anniversary of my graduation from this institution which was then known as Pennsylvania Military College, “PMC”, the 2nd oldest military college in the nation.

It is also the forty-sixth anniversary of my commissioning as a young 2nd Lt. on the parade field behind Old Main.

I come to you as a voice from the past bringing you a message of insight and truth for your future. It is the same message that we received as incoming Freshmen Cadets in 1959.
That timeless message is this, that “character counts”. It counted then and it counts today more than ever.

Dr. Harris’ predecessor from generations past, Col. Hyatt, coined an epigram of truth for all young cadets at this institution. It is part of the Wisdom literature of PMC and Widener that has stood the test of time and the devolution of our modern mores. His proverb was as follows:

“When wealth is lost, nothing is lost. When health is lost, something is lost. When character is lost, all is lost.”

In the opening line of our PMC Alma Mater, we sang:
“Beneath the dome of PMC the “Cadets” in gray march byThe banners of our loyalty held ever bright & highThough weary years have called us forth From home to foreign sodThe truths you taught will hold us fast to country and to God.”

Weary years have called me and my classmates from home to hostile foreign sod, and yes, the truths we were taught under this Dome, as symbolized by this sabre, have indeed held us fast to country and to God.

Two of my classmates paid the ultimate price for the preservation of these truths by their combat service in Vietnam. On the plaque behind us you will find their names. John Lance Geoghegan, affectionately known as “Jack”, and William James Stephenson, affectionately known as “Buddy”.

My friend Jack was the top cadet and President of our class. He was the Brigade Commander. He was a man of character and integrity, one of the most distinguished military students in the entire nation in 1963.

Like you, Jack was the recipient of this sabre 46 years ago. In an historic ceremony behind Old Main, retired President and former Five Star General, Dwight D. Eisenhower, reviewed the Pennsylvania Military College Corps of Cadets prior to our commissioning ceremony.
In return Jack Geoghegan presented another ceremonial sabre to President Eisenhower and we, the Cadet Corps, were saluted and blessed by the Supreme Allied Commander of World War II and President of the United States.

Today as a member of the Freedom Battalion you are the continuing heir and benefactor of that salute and blessing by General Eisenhower. By my presentation of this sabre I link you back in time to that historic event.

Two years later Jack would be killed in Vietnam in the battle of the Ia Drang Valley.
Jack’s heroic story is portrayed in the Mel Gibson movie, “We Were Soldiers”.

Jack’s death was like his life, virtuous and noble. He received the Silver Star for gallantry in action trying to save the life of one of his wounded troopers.

It is with the sacred honor and cherished memory of Jack and Buddy from my class, Captain Nathan Raudenbush Class of ‘05 killed in Iraq, and on behalf of all the members, living and deceased, of the long gray line of PMC and Freedom Battalion Cadets, that this sabre shall be passed on to you.

There is one caveat, however.

The sabre comes heavy with responsibility and symbolism. The good news is that it is lightened by the heart felt prayers of your loved ones and all the members of the Cadet Corps that have preceded you.

Receiving this sabre is very much like unto the anointing of a Knight. On behalf of all of your fellow officers you are being sanctified, set apart for a noble and decent purpose.

General Eisenhower told us, “History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid.”

In “Saving Private Ryan”, Captain John Miller whispered in the ear of Private James Ryan, “James. Earn this. Earn it”.

In WWI in Flanders Field, Dr. John McCrae passed the torch to a new generation saying; “If ye break faith with us who die, We shall not sleep.”

On behalf of all those who have gone before, Jack and Buddy and Nathan, and all those yet to be commissioned, I charge you to “earn it”, do not “break faith with us”.
I charge you to be a person of firm character.
A lieutenant of unshakeable ethic.

An officer of unmatched integrity.

George Washington said, “When we assumed the soldier, we did not lay aside the citizen.”

You are to be a leader beyond reproach. A servant of inexhaustible patience and grace.
A patriot aglow with zeal and passion for your country and constitution and a model citizen and alumnus of the highest virtue and nobility.

May God bless you, Lieutenant Durkin and keep you in His care.

Here is a Press Release from Widener about the event:

Widener's Freedom Battalion to Commission 15 ROTC Cadets
Chester, Pa. (May 8, 2008) -- Widener University's Freedom Battalion will commission 15 cadets as second lieutenants of the U.S. Army on Thursday, May 14 at 1:30 p.m. by the Veterans Memorial at Widener's Old Main building, 14th and Melrose Ave., Chester, Pa. In addition to Widener University, this year's ceremony will feature cadets from the Abington Campus of Pennsylvania State University and Villanova University.

Widener serves as the host for Army ROTC activity at the Abington and Brandywine campuses of Pennsylvania State University, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, Neumann University, Villanova University and West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Widener's Freedom Battalion currently has 122 cadets actively enrolled. The cadets who will participate in the May 14 commissioning include: Keith M. Bright of Glenolden, Pa., Widener University; James J. Doherty of Haverford, Pa., Villanova University; Myles W. Durkin of Towson, Md., Villanova University; Robert F. Gold of Hammonton, NJ, Widener University; Franklin G. Guth of Northampton, Pa., Widener University; Tyler D. Harvey of West Chester, Pa., Widener University; Christopher S. Housel of Easton, Pa., Widener University; Meghan N. Housel of Easton, Pa., Widener University; Brendan M. Kane of Carlisle, Pa., Villanova University; Alexander C. Lamb of West Chester, Pa., Widener University; Sarah M. Painter of Mechanicsburg, Pa., Widener University; Michael A. Quaglia of Bensalem, Pa., Penn State Abington; Caroline H. Smith of Bloomingdale, NJ, Widener University; Edmund H. Waldeyer of Berwyn, Pa., Widener University; and Adam W. Wiley of Dover, Pa., Widener University.

"These cadets have proven themselves as students, athletes, and most importantly, as leaders," said LTC Jon Peterson, battalion commander and professor of military science. "They have earned the honor and privilege to lead our nation's soldiers in service of our country.

"US Army Brigadier General Frederick B. Hodges, the Deputy Chief of Legislative Liaison for the Office of the Secretary of the Army, will deliver the keynote address at the commissioning ceremony. A graduate of the United States Military Academy, Hodges has served the US Army for about 30 years, rising in rank and earning multiple awards and decorations. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, he led assignments as commander of the 1st Brigade, 101ist Airborne Division, and as assistant chief of staff of the CJ3, Multi-National Corps. In his current position, he acts as an advisor on legislative aspects of Army policies, plans, programs and the political climate regarding Army issues.