Rounding out my Research.

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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Old Swedes Church

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

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

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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I have plan!

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

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Captain Leslie Smith

Wrote a letter to HCR’s father on May 9, 1868

"….The Major (HCR) was one of my most intimate acquaintances from the time I first met him in November of 1863 in fact I preferred his society to that of any other of my fellow officers on account of his good moral qualities such as very few young men of his age and standing in the service possess. It is therefore with painfull(sic) feelings of sorrow that I inform you that I deeply sympathize with you for the loss of a good kind and affectionate son and with his brother officers for the loss of an honest ----- courteous and gallant gentleman and officer.”

“I assume you have heard all about his sad sad end long before this. I deem it but justice to his momory to inform you that there is no doubt about his not being responsible for what he done at the time. I had noticed him for some time previous as being very much changed at times would act very singular indeed and seemed to be indifferent to what was transpiring around him."

"It should be some consolation to you in your great bereavement to know that everything was done that you could have desired and the ladies of this post tired vied with each other in decorating his remains to such an extent that his coffin was litterally(sic) covered with white roses. Poor fellow, when I took my last look at him as his remains were about being carried off he looked as if he was asleep, with a sweet smile playing over his features. I hope his soul is now where we all hope to go in a short time and where trouble and sorrow are not known."

"Believe me my dear sir when I again inform you that we all deeply sympathize with his family in their great affliction."

And I remain,
Yours Truly,
Leslie Smith
Capt 1st Infantry

The Mystery Deepens

I cannot say enough about Vonnie and Horse Soldiers Research. She was able to unearth a Pension request from HCR’s father. He claimed that Harry was his sole source of income as he was an invalid and over 70 years old. In the pension request are letters from the doctors that treated Harry before his suicide and even an officer that was his good friend who describes a conversation the night before and the events of the morning of his suicide.

I have also determined that HCR was stationed at Jackson Barracks NOT at Fort Jackson.

According to Global Security:

“Down river from the French Quarter, Jackson Barracks houses the Louisiana National Guard Headquarters. This series of fine brick buildings with white columns were built in 1834-35 for troops who were stationed at the river forts. Reportedly Andrew Jackson planned the barracks to be as secure against attack from the city as from outside forces.
Maps prepared in the mid-1800s show that the area's first development began in the 1820s. The Ursuline Nuns developed an 80-acre parcel for their convent in 1826. Sugar was a dominant crop, and the Louisiana Sugar Refinery, dated 1831, is shown along with several plantations.

The complex known as Jackson Barracks is one of the earliest and most noteworthy institutions in the area. The U.S. government began assembling land in 1833 to provide a central garrison, medical and supply point for troops sent to several coastal forts built after the War of 1812. Although only one block wide at the river, the Barracks stretch 25 blocks lakeward, with only three streets crossing the complex-Dauphine, St. Claude and N. Claiborne.

Jackson Barracks Military Museum is in the old powder magazine and in a new annex. It holds artifacts dating back to the War of 1812, and it includes items from as recently as the Gulf War. The 2000 NRA Shooting Sports Camp and Coaches School was held at Jackson Barracks June 28 – July 2, 2000”

Katrina did significant damage to the Barracks and some buildings had to be razed. I will be contacting them tomorrow to see if I can gain admittance. I wonder what buildings are left from the 1860s?

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/jackson-barracks.htm

June 2007 from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JacksonBarracks7June07B.jpg