Good News!!!

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!!!

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

Camp Sorghum

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 ....

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!!!

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

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

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

CSA Trench

Mine "Road"

Mine "Road"

PMC Alma Mater

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

 "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!

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!