New Book is Out!

Okay folks, the time has come.  My newest book has just arrived! You can purchase it here: Deeds Publishing    Amazon has the Kindle version.  Get'em while they last! ;)

Good news!  The draft of Broomsticks to Battlefields 2nd edition has been submitted to my publisher, Deeds Publishing. www.deedspublishing.com/.

This edition includes additional research on Delaware Military Academy and Henry C. Robinett.  It also includes a class mate of Robinett's, David Vickers.  Vickers was captured at the battle of the Wilderness and imprisoned at Camp Oglethorpe in Macon, GA, then moved as Sherman's march began.  His story after the war is quite intriguing.  More to follow.

Henry C. Robinett

David Vickers

Delaware Military Academy

Okay, so now what?

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.

A New Project Begins

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!

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Broomsticks to Battlefields

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

Nice, eh?

More Homecoming

Here are a coup0le of more shots from Homecoming:

Homecoming 2009

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

First Rough Draft is Complete

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.

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Our Trip to Wilmington, Deleware.

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

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.

Keith Bright

Today I enlisted the research services of a senior History major at Widener. He will be researching DMA, Robinett, and Lincoln in Wilmington for me. I’ll let him speak for himself:

“I always enjoy speaking with PMC alumni when they visit Widener University. I have met many PMC graduates through either our Veteran’s Day ceremonies, our Vietnam moving wall ceremony that occurred two years ago, or while working in the PMC museum on select Saturday mornings. As a senior history major and Army ROTC cadet, I have a vested interest in your topic. I have done work in the past concerning the history of the PMC and my cadets still carry on our Battery Robinett tradition at the home football games….

I am currently serving as the Freedom Battalion BN CDR and am set to branch infantry as an active duty 2nd LT on 14 May. I am also finishing up my senior seminar paper under Dr. Norton [Widener History Dept. Head] and have many other classes to work on. As you expected, I am busy as the academic year is coming to a close. Throughout the month of May, however, I will not have any work to do and can commit the necessary time to this project. I will ensure that it gets done prior to the end of May.

I would like to thank you for this opportunity and I look forward to helping you conduct this research.”

Thanks for your help Keith and your future service to our country.

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NARA & Tom Reed

Some of my students have asked me about finding military service records. Sometimes, that is not an easy thing to do. First, if it is WWII you are looking for, good luck! Depending on who you believe either many were destroyed in a fire or the place is such a mess they cannot find anything. All I know is that when I contacted the St. Louis office for my father’s WWII records they said they had been destroyed and asked me to send what I knew!

So where do you go for records? The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/other-methods.html


If you follow the link you will be at a page where you can seek access to military records. You can visit in person, request records via mail or online.
(NARA Photo)

There is no guarantee they will find anything but it is the first place to go. I have requested both HCR & JRL’s records. We will see what I get. Lincoln’s Civil War records will be the hardest to get my hands on because he served in the Confederate army. His career after the war will be easier. Robinett was in the regular Army so there is a good chance they have them; maybe even his court martial records. Court martial? Yes, I have no primary source evidence yet but there is some evidence that he was. We will see.

I also talked to Tom Reed author of Untying the Political Knot: Delaware during the War Between the States. Tom is a professor of law at the Widener Law School.

We had a nice chat about DMA and I look forward to meeting him in the future to continue our discussions.

(Photo from Widener U)

More good news. Today I ordered the ORs. What are they? Well, their formal title is: THE WAR OF THE REBELLION: A COMPILATION OF THE OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE UNION AND CONFEDERATE ARMIES PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR, BY BVT. LIEUT. COL. ROBERT N. SCOTT, THIRD U.S. ARTILLERY AND PUBLISHED PURSUANT TO ACT OF CONGRESSA PPROVED JUNE 16, 1880. Published from 1880-1891.

ORs for short. As wikipedia says (yes, there is a time and place for Wiki, just not in yoru research!) 'They include selected first-hand accounts, orders, reports, maps, diagrams, and correspondence drawn from War and Navy Department records of both Confederate and Union governments."

(photo from Amazon.com)


"As finally published, the records consist of 138,579 pages with 1,006 maps and diagrams assembled in 128 books, organized as 70 volumes grouped in four series" That's a lot to print! I have it coming to me on a search ble CD. These records are not perfect, not completely accurate but they are an excellent start and quite fascinating to read. You just have to remember they were written by the folks who were there and their particular slant may not be the true account. They aren't cheap but vital to doing civil war research. You can also find them on line at: http://cdl.library.cornell.edu/moa/browse.monographs/waro.html But they are not the easiest document to use online.


That's it for now. I have started reading some of Robinette's letters, quite interesting. Today I read one he sent to his father in 1857 reporting on his grades and conduct. He stated his grades were good and his conduct perfect. At the bottom is a not from COL Hyatt indicating that young Harry was correct in is assessment.


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