On the 22nd and 23rd of May I will be in New Orleans to visit Jackson Barracks and Robinett’s gravesite. I am looking forward to meeting LTC Tommy Ryan, the LA National Guard historian. On the 24th I will be in Vicksburg to check out where HCR’s battery was positioned and his role in the siege. On the 25th I will be in Corinth for the same purpose. Corinth is obviously the pivotal engagement for Harry for better or worse.
I have been trying to sort and arrange his letters from the University of the Pacific. In one he states:
“I went personally to the Secretary of War and obtained my appointment. I could, I suppose as well have gotten a 1st Lieutenant as a 2nd but I preferred the later in consideration of age etc, etc.”
Interesting, how did he manage to get in to see Secretary of War Stanton?
It is very hard to read some of the letters as they have been taped together or torn. Such your life in primary sources.
Here is an interesting one. When he was attending DMA they were required to write to their fathers and detail their progress. Note Colonel Hyatt’s comment at the bottom. Harry would have been about 16-17 at the time.
Wilmington Dec. 23, 1857
Dear Father,
As it was the request of our much beloved Teacher, I will state the studies which I have been pursuing through this last Quarter, my success in them, also my general conduct during the Quarter. My studies have been (1) Latin (2) Chemistry (3) Algebra (4) Composition (5) Penmanship (6) English Grammar. I think as far as I am able to judge that I have succeeded very well in Latin, also in Chemistry. I have improved in Algebra, I have improved very much in Composition; in my writing I have made a great improvement. I have done well in Grammar. In my general conduct and deportment,
I believe I have been perfect and conducted myself properly towards my Teacher. This I believe to be a correct statement.
Your Affectionate Son
Henry Clay Robinette
The above is a correct statement, your son has not received a single mark this quarter, he is very gentlemanly in his conduct and most faithful in his studies.
Theo Hyatt
Keep History Alive
bs
Showing posts with label University of the Pacific. Show all posts
Showing posts with label University of the Pacific. Show all posts
Monday, May 11, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
This Week’s Progress
I accomplished a good bit this week. The Columbia County Library had a couple of books I needed but better yet I have 8 on the way from other libraries in the system and about 25 from interlibrary loan. 
The Southern Historical Association faxed me two articles from about two decades ago. So, lost to read and notes to take. http://www.uga.edu/~sha/
More long distance progress. Word Pro has finished transcribing the HCR letters from the University of Pacific collection. I should receive them this week. I talked to Trish Richards one of the archival specialists at Pacific and she help me to understand the photos she sent me. I also talked to the folks down in Plaquemines Parish Louisiana where Fort Jackson is located (near Venice, LA). Ft. Jackson is where HCR was stationed after the war and is where he committed suicide. It came through Katrina relatively unscathed but is, at this point closed. You can walk around it but not get inside. I am trying to get permission to do just that when I am in NO next month. We will see; I am waiting for a call from one of the Parish councilmen so we can talk.
From Vonnie S. Zullo. She has found TWO court martials for HCR. It seems we was first on trial in December of ’65: found guilty, “conduct unbecoming” in a bar. The second was a year later, same charge, and this time in a Theater. She is copying the files (58 & 100 pages) and sending them to me. They should make for great reading.
More long distance progress. Word Pro has finished transcribing the HCR letters from the University of Pacific collection. I should receive them this week. I talked to Trish Richards one of the archival specialists at Pacific and she help me to understand the photos she sent me. I also talked to the folks down in Plaquemines Parish Louisiana where Fort Jackson is located (near Venice, LA). Ft. Jackson is where HCR was stationed after the war and is where he committed suicide. It came through Katrina relatively unscathed but is, at this point closed. You can walk around it but not get inside. I am trying to get permission to do just that when I am in NO next month. We will see; I am waiting for a call from one of the Parish councilmen so we can talk.
From Vonnie S. Zullo. She has found TWO court martials for HCR. It seems we was first on trial in December of ’65: found guilty, “conduct unbecoming” in a bar. The second was a year later, same charge, and this time in a Theater. She is copying the files (58 & 100 pages) and sending them to me. They should make for great reading.
NARA got back to me; they do not have any records for JRL. I asked Vonnie if she would research his service record for me.
Finally, I now have the history of the 1st U.S. Infantry during the war. I can now track HCR until he joins Grant’s staff after Vicksburg. Next week, I will finalize my plans for my trip to Corinth, Vicksburg, and New Orleans. I will be at the Society for Military History conference in Murfreesboro, TN from Thursday until late Sunday so I guess I will not get much research done. http://www.smh-hq.org/
Keep History Alive
Finally, I now have the history of the 1st U.S. Infantry during the war. I can now track HCR until he joins Grant’s staff after Vicksburg. Next week, I will finalize my plans for my trip to Corinth, Vicksburg, and New Orleans. I will be at the Society for Military History conference in Murfreesboro, TN from Thursday until late Sunday so I guess I will not get much research done. http://www.smh-hq.org/
Keep History Alive
bs
Monday, March 16, 2009
University of the Pacific
Trish sent me all they had in their collection in reference to Robinette. Great stuff. I JANUS we use a company called Word Pro out of ATL to transcribe the interviews we conduct. I am sending them the letters tomorrow so they can do the heavy lifting for me. It will save me a lot time trying to read them. Usually HCR had great penmanship, I would give him a 100. But he must have run out of paper at one point and wrote on both sides and the paper bled through. It will take them some time to get through that one.
What have I learned so far? I can now pinpoint some of Robinette’s movements during and just after the war:
St. Joseph, MO, 24th OCT 1861
(picture from mocivlwar.org)
Corinth, MS October, 1862
(picture from harpers Weekly-sonofthesouth.net)
Milliken’s Bend, LA 12 APR 1863
(picture from harpers Weekly-sonofthesouth.net) [Note HCR was there before the Battle of some noteriety]
Vicksburg July 1863
(sonofthesouth.net)
What have I learned so far? I can now pinpoint some of Robinette’s movements during and just after the war:
St. Joseph, MO, 24th OCT 1861
(picture from mocivlwar.org)
Corinth, MS October, 1862
(picture from harpers Weekly-sonofthesouth.net)
Milliken’s Bend, LA 12 APR 1863
(picture from harpers Weekly-sonofthesouth.net) [Note HCR was there before the Battle of some noteriety]
Vicksburg July 1863
(sonofthesouth.net)
(civilwaralbum.com)
His letter of January 19th shows no signs of depression and indeed is very optimistic and uplifting. Leads to more questions, no?
I should be receiving Lincoln materials from Iowa State any day.
Things are moving right along.
I should be receiving Lincoln materials from Iowa State any day.
Things are moving right along.
Keep History Alive
bs
Friday, March 6, 2009
Progress!
Well this week has been a busy one. Every evening I worked on developing a good solid bibliography. So far I have over 70 secondary sources and only 11 primary. Not good. I know some of my students are following this blog and are saying, “Wow, that sounds like plenty.” Well no, it is not. My rule of thumb is to collect as many sources as possible before drawing conclusions. For my students, especially the deployed soldiers, “as possible” is quite a bit different than my definition. So my search is not complete and won’t be for some time. As I move from source to source they will lead me to other sources and different directions.
The good news is that I had a wonderful conversation with Trish Richards at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. from the Special Collection Department of the library. They hold the Robinette Family Papers (what there is of them).
Henry’s brother Theodore who ended up in San Francisco as a ship captain after the war. The collection contains numerous photographs, letters, and other documents that pertain to Henry including a “Civil War Scrapbook” and some letters written by Henry during the war. She is going to copy them and send them to me. That will save me a trip to Cali which I can spend on other trips and resources. Students take note: research like this costs money. If I went there obviously hundreds of dollars. I will be sending them money for the duplicating costs and shipping when it is all said and done.
More good news. I also talked to Michele Christian at Iowa State University, Special Collection Department where they hold the papers of James R. Lincoln. We had another wonderful conversation. It is always nice to talk to people interested in your work. Lincoln ended up in Iowa a few years after the Civil War. They have SOME of his papers including his Civil War military service records. She too is making copies and sending me what they have.
It is my hope that these papers will lead me to others as my work progresses. What’s in store of the rest of this Month? Beginning my initial research. That means putting my hands on some of the sources I have identified as possibly helpful. I am going to begin with the issue of loyalty during the 19th century. I know good bit about this already but it is time to document my knowledge and gain more.
One of my students asked what technique I use to actually collect the information I need. Most of the “kids” now a day seem to simply copy the material and then highlight what they need or type it into their computer.
I am old school and will stay with what I do because it is the method whit which I am most comfortable. I use note cards. In the “old days” I had two sets: notes and bibliography cards. This time as I actually use a source I will transfer it from my working to actual bibliography. I will include a code for the title so I can tell where the notes came from. The notes cards will have only ONE main idea. My goal is not to fill the card but rather take notes that can be arranged and rearranged as I actually prepare to write. Each card will include the code for the course and the page number. That way if I find the need I can footnote the sources. 
So, as my cards grow I will begin to divide them into categories for the writing process. The order does not matter, that will come later. Does that make sense? I hope so. If you have another method and would like to share feel free to comment. If you wish to suggest any sources also feel free.
Keep History Alive.
bs
The good news is that I had a wonderful conversation with Trish Richards at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. from the Special Collection Department of the library. They hold the Robinette Family Papers (what there is of them).
Henry’s brother Theodore who ended up in San Francisco as a ship captain after the war. The collection contains numerous photographs, letters, and other documents that pertain to Henry including a “Civil War Scrapbook” and some letters written by Henry during the war. She is going to copy them and send them to me. That will save me a trip to Cali which I can spend on other trips and resources. Students take note: research like this costs money. If I went there obviously hundreds of dollars. I will be sending them money for the duplicating costs and shipping when it is all said and done.More good news. I also talked to Michele Christian at Iowa State University, Special Collection Department where they hold the papers of James R. Lincoln. We had another wonderful conversation. It is always nice to talk to people interested in your work. Lincoln ended up in Iowa a few years after the Civil War. They have SOME of his papers including his Civil War military service records. She too is making copies and sending me what they have.It is my hope that these papers will lead me to others as my work progresses. What’s in store of the rest of this Month? Beginning my initial research. That means putting my hands on some of the sources I have identified as possibly helpful. I am going to begin with the issue of loyalty during the 19th century. I know good bit about this already but it is time to document my knowledge and gain more.
One of my students asked what technique I use to actually collect the information I need. Most of the “kids” now a day seem to simply copy the material and then highlight what they need or type it into their computer.
I am old school and will stay with what I do because it is the method whit which I am most comfortable. I use note cards. In the “old days” I had two sets: notes and bibliography cards. This time as I actually use a source I will transfer it from my working to actual bibliography. I will include a code for the title so I can tell where the notes came from. The notes cards will have only ONE main idea. My goal is not to fill the card but rather take notes that can be arranged and rearranged as I actually prepare to write. Each card will include the code for the course and the page number. That way if I find the need I can footnote the sources. So, as my cards grow I will begin to divide them into categories for the writing process. The order does not matter, that will come later. Does that make sense? I hope so. If you have another method and would like to share feel free to comment. If you wish to suggest any sources also feel free.Keep History Alive.
bs
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