tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46983325777369671182024-03-02T12:31:21.394-05:00One More ShotTracing the History of the First Georgia Volunteer Infantry (Ramsey’s) and the commands to which it belonged.George W. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13680194083800671935noreply@blogger.comBlogger146125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4698332577736967118.post-33756100199010750922024-03-02T10:24:00.004-05:002024-03-02T10:27:53.576-05:00Time to say goodbye...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTi3QCiyrvZOMi8319EhxmwzdZar3xa6oS2KAN37IIfLJPZFpxMqWgw9OgFEkpcBFAR5nU_kj2yCwwr1c27yBOHhqSi-qCek3tltw0Mtah06bYvFW03KkelKlazTr1WVSAc2yESnl1M530hfg51NZlscWXNFEtjLnr-EYQWJthuY6C6EKpQ0RFD4YNZslU/s524/one%20more%20shot%20cover.bmp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="349" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTi3QCiyrvZOMi8319EhxmwzdZar3xa6oS2KAN37IIfLJPZFpxMqWgw9OgFEkpcBFAR5nU_kj2yCwwr1c27yBOHhqSi-qCek3tltw0Mtah06bYvFW03KkelKlazTr1WVSAc2yESnl1M530hfg51NZlscWXNFEtjLnr-EYQWJthuY6C6EKpQ0RFD4YNZslU/w116-h174/one%20more%20shot%20cover.bmp" width="116" /></a></div><br /> My book, "I Will Give Them One More Shot: Ramsey's 1st Regiment Georgia Volunteers" was originally published by Mercer University Press in 2011, and has had a very long run. To make room for the multitude of new books that MUP will be publishing, "One More Shot" will be discontinued. I want to thank Director Marc Jolley and the entire staff at the press for their kindness and enthusiasm for my work. Having had an ancestor in this regiment, this was very much a labor of love, and I am grateful to MUP for helping me fulfill my dream to become a published author. I would also like to thank the multitude of people who assisted me in researching this story. <br /><p></p>George W. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13680194083800671935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4698332577736967118.post-42500383826326144342014-03-15T17:32:00.001-04:002024-03-02T10:08:53.792-05:00The Flag of the Gate City Guard<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">During the desperate retreat of the First Georgia from Laurel Hill, the flags borne by several companies of the regiment were lost. One of those banners was the flag of the Gate City Guard, lovingly sewn and presented by the ladies of Atlanta to the company before their departure in early 1861. The wagon carrying the flag was wrecked by sliding into a ravine during the muddy slog over Pheasant Mountain, and the banner was retrieved by pursuing Federal troops. At some point after the war it was returned to Gate City Guards in Atlanta. It now resides in the collection of the Atlanta History Center, and can be viewed <a href="https://oldguard-atlanta.org/gate-city-guard-flag-at-ahc" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a>.</span><br />
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">The story of how the flag was returned to the Gate City Guard has been obscured in history. Quite by accident, I recently came across an article from the May 29, 1901, edition of the Mansfield Ohio News, which describes in detail the transfer of the flag from a veteran in that city to the old company. </span><br />
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>LONG LOST BATTLE FLAG<br />
RETURNED<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>TO SURVIVING SOUTHERN<br />
SOLDIERS.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">----------------------------------<b style="font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>A Silken Banner Restored to<br />
an Atlantic Company by<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>George L. Emminger.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">------------------------------------<i style="font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>The following story from recent issues of the Atlanta Journal is not only appropriate to the Memorial day anniversary as seeking to show the passage of the old-time sectional hate and prejudice, but will have special interest to the old soldiers and to Mansfield people in general on account of the fact that George L. Emminger, who returned the southern banner, was, until recent years, a resident of this city.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>When the old Gate City Guard went to war in the stirring times of ’61, they carried a beautiful flag presented to the company by the ladies of Atlanta, through Miss Henlieter, daughter of the late C. R. Hanlie<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>ter, editor and publisher of the Southern Confederacy. The flag, after a time, went to the enemy, and all trace of it was lost. Now, after nearly forty years, the scarred flag has been found, and will be restored to the Gate City Guard organization, which is still maintained.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>Yesterday Mr. H. H. Cabiness received a letter from Mr. George L. Emminger, of Toledo, O., to whom the organization is indebted for the return of the flag. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>Mr. Emminger wrote that an old lady of his acquaintance, some time before her death, gave to his son the staff and remnants of a regimental flag captured by her brother, at what battle he did not remember. From the remaining inscription he saw that it had been presented by the ladies of Atlanta to the Gate City Guard.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>“I do not know if there are any of the members of this organization yet able to answer “roll-call” in your city or section,” said Mr. Emminger, “but if so, they would like a return to the memories of the stirring times of ’61 and ’62 by a sight of that which led them. They can have it by the mere expression of the desire.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>Mr. Emminger stated that there was a large portion of the silk gone, but enough is left to recognize it by.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>In reply to the letter of Mr. Emminger, Mr. Cabiness stated that the company would joyfully receive the flag and would (unreadable) much pleasure in associating his name with the incident of its return. He was asked to express the flag at the expense of the company to Mr. Harry Krouse.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>Mr. Krouse was a member of the Gate City Guard,<br />
the company which left Atlanta in April, 1861, belonging to the First Georgia<br />
regiment of volunteers. Mr. Cabiness had three brothers in the regiment, one a captain from Dahlonega, another a lieutenant of a company from Forsyth, and still another one who left college to join the Forsyth company. After a little service in Pensacola, Fla., this company was sent to northwest Virginia and encountered McClellan’s forces. The First Georgia regiment, together with the other Confederate troops, retreated from a position called Laurel Hill in crossing Cheat river. It was here a battle was fought and the flag<br />
was lost. </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>--------------------------------<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>THE BANNER RESTORED.<o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>Last night, in their armory, the Gate City Guard received the battle-scarred banner that waved over the company when the cause of Confederacy called southern troops to the field of chivalrous valor. It was the same flag that Atlanta ladies made with their fair hands when fathers, brothers and sweethearts enlisted for the cause in ’61. It differed from that emblem presented to the company more than thirty years ago only through its rent and ragged aspect, eloquent evidence of the fierce encounters which befell those who followed it in battle.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>The members of the old Guard were out in force to see the flag come home. Men were present who saw the banner presented to the company by the ladies who made it. They saw it later as it rolled down the steep side of Cheat mountain, in Virginia, when the gray clad boys were running from the Yankees, and it was the last glimpse of the flag they had until they looked<br />
on its folds last night.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>The entire membership of the active Guard was present. Governor Candler and his staff were present, and there were members of the Confederate Veterans, Sons of Veterans, Daughters of the Confederacy and members of the Ladies’ Memorial Association. The spacious hall of the<br />
armory was filled with the infantrymen and their friends.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>The flag was returned to the company through H. H. Cabiness, who learned of its existence from a personal friend in Toledo, O. The Ohio gentleman was George Emminger, who wrote to Mr. Cabiness, stating that the flag was in his possession. Through Mr. Cabiness’ efforts the flag was sent to Atlanta to be returned to its original owners.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>SEVERAL SPEECHES MADE.<o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>Governor Candler made the introductory remarks to the presentation exercises last night. He extolled the bravery of Confederate soldiers in general and the members of the Gate City Guard in particular.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>Mr. Cabiness requested F. H. Richardson to make the presentation speech. Mr. Richardson referred in the happy memory of his childhood, of the departure of the Gate City Guard to join the Confederate army, and of how firmly their gallant appearance (unreadable) his faith in the invincibility of the southern cause. He then paid a tribute to their record both in war and the work of the righteous reconstruction of the south. Speaking of the tattered<br />
battleflag he was to present to Captain O’Neill in behalf of his company, he<br />
rejoiced in the fact that it had never been the flag of oppression or a flag<br />
that represented anything but the highest courage of men, the noblest virtues<br />
of women and the sweetest hopes of both. In this connection he deplored the departure of our government from the principles of the Declaration of Independence and the constitution of the United States. He condemned the drift towards imperialism and militarism and predicted that there will be a return to those ideas of civic liberty and justice on all men which was never so nobly illustrated as they were to the men of the south who constituted the grandest army that ever stepped on God’s (unreadable), in which there were no better or more heroic soldiers than the Gate City Guard. </i></span><br />
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>THE FLAG ACCEPTED.<o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>Captain James F. O’Neill received the flag for the company in an eloquent speech. His sentiments went straight to the hearts of the assembly, and his speech was considered by the entire audience as one of the best that has ever been made in Atlanta on a similar occasion.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>Harry Krouse, who was a member of the company during the war, and who followed the flag from the time it was presented to the company until it was lost on the retreat at Cheat mountain, gave a history of the organization. It was both interesting and eloquent, and the audience was greatly entertained by the recital of the narrative. </i></span><br />
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>MR. CARBANISS SPEAKS.<o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>Governor Candler then called on Mr. Cabaniss for a speech. Mr. Cabaniss, in the center of his remarks, said: <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>Mr. Cabaniss spoke briefly and said that during frequent visits to the cities of the south, northwest and west, it had been his good fortune to meet a large number of representative people of those sections. He had not found any trace of the bitterness which had formerly existed toward the people of the south; that the good people there not only entertained the kindest, feelings toward the people of the south, but manifested such friendship, frequently in a very substantial manner.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>One of the gentlemen he had met was a prominent citizen of the state of Ohio, George Emminger, who in coming into possession of this battle-scarred and time-worn flag. It was his first impulse to send it to its proper owner. For this kindly act I honor him.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>The men who fought under this flag were heroes and those who opposed them were heroes. It was American against American from 1861 to 1865, and the great destructiveness of the battles waged proved that each side had brave, loyal and unconquerable soldiers.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>I thing </i>[sic]<i> this flag, and all other Confederate flags should be furled, never to be unfolded upon the battlefield. They are mementos, peerless relics, to be guarded with sacred care and undying love.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>But all other American battles must be fought<br />
under the our American flag, the Stars and Stripes. It is our flag as much as anybody’s, and of it the late Senator Hill said:<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>“Southern breezes kiss it; southern skies reflect it; southern sons will fight for it, and southern heroes will die for it.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>We drop a tear as we consider the past, but we must look to the future and its reunited union, under a restored flag, as one people we will do our part in maintaining a common country in its proud position as the greatest nation in the world and aid it with all our strength in pressing forward to the beauty and majesty of its missions.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>OTHER SHORT TALKS.<o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>Colonel Robert J. Lowry, Colonel Andrew J. West, Captain T. H. Jones, a Confederate veteran who came to Atlanta several years ago from Kentucky, and Captain W. L. Ezzard, who commanded the company during the war, made short speeches.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>Refreshments were served during the evening. As the active Guard were marching to the upper room with the old flag in their midst, a (unreadable) moment occurred.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>A lady who was standing near the door as the line of uniformed soldiers marched through, grasped the folds of the tattered flag and imprinted a kiss on it. She was one of the ladies who made the flag and presented it to the company in 1861. The incident was witnessed by the entire assembly and there were many in the crowd who could not restrain tears at the spectacle of extreme love and devotion to the lost cause and the flag by which it was represented last night.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>The Gate City Guard will keep the flag in their archives. It is (unreadable) as one of the most valuable relics in the possession of the command.</i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i><br /></i></span></div>
George W. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13680194083800671935noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4698332577736967118.post-86269940249484664612014-02-22T14:48:00.000-05:002024-01-17T11:05:01.789-05:00Olustee 150<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggP3Sz5CIMEkckG3Oeu3cmMDIGVfen7VWGwXAsiHbiBWRNycFMHzSz788Sx0q56l0kbNqcEWtVYYaOBL8Caiy1X8l5Z2Tes2ig6NJEr8aCcc9OryZkj7gHmjG5WZ3kvXTbNQGV5_badTF/s1600/Olustee2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggP3Sz5CIMEkckG3Oeu3cmMDIGVfen7VWGwXAsiHbiBWRNycFMHzSz788Sx0q56l0kbNqcEWtVYYaOBL8Caiy1X8l5Z2Tes2ig6NJEr8aCcc9OryZkj7gHmjG5WZ3kvXTbNQGV5_badTF/s1600/Olustee2.jpg" height="118" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last weekend I had the extreme pleasure of attending the 150th Anniversary recreation of the Battle of Olustee. Though not well known, the engagement which took place on February 20, 1864, was the largest land battle to occur in the state of Florida, involving roughly 4500 troops on either side. A Confederate victory, the battle ended Union attempts to occupy the capital at Tallahassee. The famed 54th Massachusetts Infantry, recently transferred to Florida after their fight at Fort Wagner, was involved in the action.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWNNW5p7KxOagpPZBrQkDoZAmM3q8MawWaEhYvscaO3ai0F5TasTQAAjqE68BCdGQ-6vSYxxLlp7Qhsn_ciV9aYnxzfz7YG0NMStBufdLtsYTyDRMptDaP8TLnYLbaFLKoJ71jkgk65_O/s1600/Olustee1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWNNW5p7KxOagpPZBrQkDoZAmM3q8MawWaEhYvscaO3ai0F5TasTQAAjqE68BCdGQ-6vSYxxLlp7Qhsn_ciV9aYnxzfz7YG0NMStBufdLtsYTyDRMptDaP8TLnYLbaFLKoJ71jkgk65_O/s1600/Olustee1.jpg" height="164" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFNPlqqr-vXKwi8rYRQ40gY3xAr5VERIX6FCoJrawjwJf8VLfXIB8L42JxxzmaRaOebcUH848FL1-x-0H6ozrWloaOZmvzrrv58x9-ebnxiChPiMcvZzR0RGrSdRRud2lH1MBb97ZjoG5/s1600/P021514_1027B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFNPlqqr-vXKwi8rYRQ40gY3xAr5VERIX6FCoJrawjwJf8VLfXIB8L42JxxzmaRaOebcUH848FL1-x-0H6ozrWloaOZmvzrrv58x9-ebnxiChPiMcvZzR0RGrSdRRud2lH1MBb97ZjoG5/s1600/P021514_1027B.jpg" height="200" width="122" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I was honored to be allowed to join my old comrades from the 7th Florida Infantry, Company F. It was great to see old friends, many of whom I had not seen since I moved out of Florida many, many years ago. Unfortunately, I was not able to participate in the battle itself due to a bad foot, but I did march with the battalion to morning colors on Saturday morning. Thanks to Lt. Willie Evans for allowing me to rejoin the company for the weekend. It was a joyful reunion with Col. Don Bowman, Mike, Jimmy, Wayne, Frank, Gary and all the others who made me feel welcome.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">It was a thrill to be back in uniform, and though my reenacting days are behind me, I will cherish the memories of the men with whom I served.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
George W. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13680194083800671935noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4698332577736967118.post-8144761652218610182013-12-25T09:42:00.000-05:002024-01-17T11:04:55.090-05:00Merry Christmas!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hxUuZnvVl1dA9xR3HgNhSvzl8RDVS-DlY0bpM3Jf-AA6VPpCIDebeQS7l-mZMqBsn0BI4JOXscxB6t6Xxb-qnwfghh8IcEgagpFkrV6dHyqZ0i2ILC39W_BgDxbOHMKbrJNcr2-zw-6e/s1600/Christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hxUuZnvVl1dA9xR3HgNhSvzl8RDVS-DlY0bpM3Jf-AA6VPpCIDebeQS7l-mZMqBsn0BI4JOXscxB6t6Xxb-qnwfghh8IcEgagpFkrV6dHyqZ0i2ILC39W_BgDxbOHMKbrJNcr2-zw-6e/s320/Christmas.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From the Martin family to yours, a very Merry Christmas, and the happiest of New Years!</span><br />George W. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13680194083800671935noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4698332577736967118.post-24762855034507222492013-10-13T11:47:00.000-04:002024-01-17T11:04:55.971-05:00Time Flies . . . <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAw5RigJdX9EVBkTxi0R_2voTZuSmQ_v4E27Eweeebu6VSzVxVXchjxUREBiSIfwe8-WOb9wUuqii7ysF3Xx-kC500M0wPnfP3pHKKC9Ms2lmcsfnd3PZ4iUnpzfuS85dMI5JN-cLbELj/s1600/clock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAw5RigJdX9EVBkTxi0R_2voTZuSmQ_v4E27Eweeebu6VSzVxVXchjxUREBiSIfwe8-WOb9wUuqii7ysF3Xx-kC500M0wPnfP3pHKKC9Ms2lmcsfnd3PZ4iUnpzfuS85dMI5JN-cLbELj/s200/clock.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. . . and gets away from you before
you realize how much of it has passed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Between needed repairs around the house, medical issues and other
distractions (including being a little burned out on writing), this blog and
its readers have not received the attention they are due.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Truth be told, it will probably continue to
be this way for awhile.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am finally beginning to
put together an outline for a sequel to my novel <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My Brother, My Friend, My Enemy</i>, as well as continuing to collect
material toward a possible book on the Seventh Florida Infantry, so what
writing I do over the next several months will be aimed toward these pursuits.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I do not intend to
abandon <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">One More Shot </i>as some others
have done with their blogs; rather, I will continue to keep it active, and do
intend to post occasionally as my circumstances permit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been pleased to see that my older
postings have continued to be read.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My thanks to those who
visit <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">One More Shot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>I sincerely hope that my writings have
been enjoyable and of use.</span></div>
George W. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13680194083800671935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4698332577736967118.post-60360106171249819812013-06-29T19:21:00.002-04:002024-01-17T11:04:59.106-05:00Gettysburg: From Centennial to Sesquicentennial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5sOJw9hoHU9U0xTd4drpOoYqTFK25wId1z5R_zW9YIhrRcPYnuDlfH9UfrIvVIfBTpmokdb3kMcFDSH5fohd7maKRV6sgssgqemqpyXvDxGILbhBkWxgUR2QTGokwc1quMvoe80PMd_XB/s549/gettysburg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5sOJw9hoHU9U0xTd4drpOoYqTFK25wId1z5R_zW9YIhrRcPYnuDlfH9UfrIvVIfBTpmokdb3kMcFDSH5fohd7maKRV6sgssgqemqpyXvDxGILbhBkWxgUR2QTGokwc1quMvoe80PMd_XB/s320/gettysburg.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 1963, National Geographic produced a commemorative issue featuring articles about the Centennial of the Battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg, including a forward written by Carl Sandberg. Living on a farm in the far northern state of New Hampshire at the time, and all of eight years old, I would carry that magazine with me everywhere I went, marveling over the full-color maps showing the troop movements during each day of the battle which took place on the hills and valleys surrounding the small town in Pennsylvania.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During a family trip south the following year, I was thrilled when my parents stopped for two days in Gettysburg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still carrying that now rather worn and tattered magazine, and wearing a plastic cavalry belt from which hung a plastic saber, I spent hours exploring the rocks at Devil’s Den, peering down from the edge of Little Round Top, and trying to read the inscriptions on every monument on the field.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Over the years that followed, I would take every chance available to me to visit Gettysburg, now coming from the south after moving with my family to Florida when I was eleven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I even contemplated moving there after traveling to Pennsylvania late one fall to take the Licensed Battlefield Guide test.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I did pass, but just barely, receiving a score of 70.)</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 1988, I was privileged to take part in the 125<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>th</sup> anniversary reenactment of Gettysburg along with several units making up what was known as the “Florida Brigade.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A group photograph of the Florida troops, taken by period photographer Fritz Kirsch, shows a stern-looking group of soldiers, some of whom had come from as far away as Germany to participate with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During “Pickett’s Charge,” several of us formed what we called the “cannon fodder” group – at the right moment during the advance, we all flung ourselves in different directions following the report of a Union fieldpiece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(We must have done it fairly realistically – several nearby spectators actually thought we were hurt.)</span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 1991, one year after our marriage, my wife Cathy and I visited Gettysburg during a vacation trip, spending the night at the Farnsworth House Bed and Breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Six years later, now living in North Carolina (coincidentally living just a few miles from Carl Sandberg’s home), I was invited by a friend still living in Florida to join with his artillery unit to participate in the 135<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>th</sup> anniversary reenactment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The old thrills still enveloped me as I took part in the artillery bombardment of the third day, and watched in awe as the Confederate ranks passed our guns as they swept up the rise toward the Federal position. This would prove to be my final reenactment, as the years and medical issues combined to preclude me from joining the ranks again.</span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two weeks ago, during another family vacation, this time myself, my wife and our two daughters, I once again visited the battlefield.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found the changes made by the National Park Service to be amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gone is the old visitor’s center, where I watched the Electric Map of the battle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gone is the old gray round Cyclorama building from Cemetery Ridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also gone was the horrendous tourist tower that once intruded on every view from all corners of the field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mixed emotions filled me as we toured the new visitor’s center – I was extremely impressed with the restored Cyclorama painting and the museum, while finding the film very interesting. I was somewhat dismayed to find the gift shop overflowing with tourist “junk” (get your gigantic 150<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>th</sup> Anniversary Chocolate Bar!), though I spent quite a bit of time browsing through the book section.</span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Leaving the visitor’s center, we followed roads leading us to Cemetery Ridge, parking near the famous Copse of Trees that was the focal point for Longstreet’s Assault on July 3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I stood there, looking out across toward the Emmitsburg Road, I turned to watch my twin daughters, now 21 years old, reading the inscription from the marker placed at the point where General Lewis A. Armistead was mortally wounded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could not help but think of that eight-year old boy who, fifty years earlier, had begun a lifelong fascination of the American Civil War, and how that battle had influenced his own life.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">P.S. I don't have that tattered old National Geographic any more, but I did manage to find another copy of that issue, which I treasure today.</span></div>
George W. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13680194083800671935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4698332577736967118.post-72877582117581641362013-05-26T08:26:00.002-04:002024-01-17T11:05:00.552-05:00Happy Memorial Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWg7zozDXhqkXRPfsrEYUmX9tDSphUPWqX0-sgtXR7jMRoMaBTqKqYw86L6OWdvEqnrxyCYmaa8vAbxu1b6ZXLDpGEXnQ1LilbXjcbx9SYuofIKbvD32Mb4rzsnnP0ls4YiFmbe0UJAnf/s1600/Flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWg7zozDXhqkXRPfsrEYUmX9tDSphUPWqX0-sgtXR7jMRoMaBTqKqYw86L6OWdvEqnrxyCYmaa8vAbxu1b6ZXLDpGEXnQ1LilbXjcbx9SYuofIKbvD32Mb4rzsnnP0ls4YiFmbe0UJAnf/s320/Flag.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Martin family wishes you and yours a very safe and enjoyable Memorial Day Holiday. Our thanks and prayers go out to all those in uniform serviing their country, whether here at home or on far distant seas and fields.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">------------------------</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I would like once again to offer my article on the origins of Memorial Day. It can be read <a href="http://1stgeorgia.blogspot.com/2010/05/first-memorial-day.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a>.</span>George W. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13680194083800671935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4698332577736967118.post-70870635585752046542013-05-05T18:05:00.000-04:002024-01-17T11:05:00.258-05:00Comfort From Home<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As with soldiers of all wars, the men of the First Georgia Volunteers quickly felt pangs of homesickness; longing for home and for correspondence from their loved ones. Wanting to offer the troops from Washington County a bit of comfort and encouragement, an unnamed young lady penned a touching note to the men, replete with patriotic flourishes, which was printed in the Sandersville <em>Central Georgian </em>of May 15, 1861:</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>For the Central Georgian.<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>To the Washington Rifles,
near Pensacola,</em></span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></b><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Florida.<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><em>“But few shall part where
many meet,</em></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></span><span style="font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>The
sand shall be their winding sheet,</em></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>And
every turf beneath their feet</em></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><span style="font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Shall
prove a soldier’s sepulcher.”</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><em> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></em></span><span style="font-size: small;"><em>Thinking perhaps it would be
interesting to you at camp to see something from home, I have concluded to
write you a short communication, to let you know that you are not forgotten by
us—notwithstanding I am aware of the fact, that nothing would be interesting
from my pen, but from the fact it is from </em>Home<em>.</em></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><em></em></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em> </em>Home?<em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many pleasant memories linger around the word.</em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><em></em></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em> It has been said that the three
sweetest words in the English language are,</em> Mother, Home, and Heaven<em>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No doubt all of you can realize more
fully the meaning of those words since you left Old Washington—the birthplace
of many of you, the adopted home of many others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have forsaken friends, </em>Home<em>, and
many of the comforts and luxuries of life for the toils and hardships of peril
and camp life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You seem to be in great
danger; but put your trust in the God of Battles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He will be with us in six troubles and in
the seventh He will not forsake us.”</em></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><em></em></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We are rejoiced to hear you are
holding prayer-meetings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neglect them
not; call upon God to assist you in all your undertakings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“If the Lord be for us, who can prevail
against us.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray for yourselves,</em> <em>and
the prayers of Mothers, Sisters, Pastor and Friends, (whose homes and rights
you have so gallantly gone forth to defend), will daily ascend the throne of
grace in your behalf—for the preservation of your lives and health, and to
spare us from the calamities of civil war—brother fighting against brother.</em></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><em>We would not call you back though
our heart-strings should burst asunder at parting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will say,</em> Go!<em> And may the God of
our forefathers of the Revolutionary war go with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We pray God that he will bring you safely
back to us: but if it is His will that you should fall “mid the clashing of
steel and the roar of cannon,” we feel confident that you, the</em> “Washington
Rifles,”<em> will never disgrace the honored name you represent, but will nobly
defend by “Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation,” the beautiful flag you bear, and </em>never<em>
suffer it to trail in the dust, or “Yield it to our country’s foes,”</em> until
your very heart blood is spilled in its defence.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><em></em></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Rest assured that you will not be forgotten
by those you have left behind you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
remembrance of your loved forms, and the happy hours we have spent in your
society, will ever be “green spots in our memories garden.”</em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><em> </em></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We unhesitatingly place in your
keeping the honor of our noble Empire State, knowing you will defend the rights
of our country, even at the point of the bayonet.</span></span></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><em></em></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In conclusion, we would say, we hope
and pray for your safe return to your “Mothers and Homes;” and if it is not the
will of God that you should return home, may we all meet in that eternal </em>Home<em>,
Heaven, where parting is unknown.</em></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><em></em></span> </div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><span style="font-size: small;">A DAUGHTER OF WASHINGTON.<o:p></o:p></span></em></span></span></div>
George W. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13680194083800671935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4698332577736967118.post-52968199564590097212013-03-17T13:01:00.000-04:002024-01-17T11:04:58.303-05:00Another Roster Correction<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Happily, I continue to
receive emails regarding members of the First Georgia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks to George Stanholtz for providing the
burial location of Private Wesley Pressley of the Dahlonega Volunteers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pressley’s amended roster entry is as
follows:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Pressley,
Wesley: Enl. 24 July 1861. D. Romney, VA 31 January 1862. B. Indian Mound Cemetery,
Romney, Hampshire Cty, WV.</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"></span></i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">I'd also like to thank
Wendy Hockenberry, a descendent of several First Georgia soldiers, for
contacting me regarding her relations from Company I, the Walker Light
Infantry. In my research for the rosters, I found in my sources entries for two
John M. Weigels, one born in 1811 and another in 1841. Other than these dates,
the information for the two men is almost identical; thus, the following
entries in <em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">I Will Give
Them One More Shot</span></em>:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"></span><em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Weigel, John M. (2):
Enl. 1 August 1861. Enl. Co. A, 12th Bn., GA Art. 13 July 1862. Converted to
Co. A, 13th Bn. GA Art. October 1862. Co. converted to Co. A, 63rd Inf. Regt.
December 1863. Appt. 11th Cpl. July [August] 1863. WIA Kennesaw Mountain, GA 27
June 1864. D. from wounds 13 July 1864. [Other records show enl. Augusta
Battery.] B. 1841. Bd. Magnolia Cemetery, Augusta, Richmond Cty.</span></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"></span></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"></span></em><em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Weigel, John M. Sr.,
(2): Enl. 1 August 1861. Enl. Co. A, 12th Bn., GA Art. 13 July 1862. Co.
converted to Co. A, 63rd Inf. Regt. December 1863. WIA Kennesaw Mountain, GA 27
June 1864. D. from wounds 11 July 1864. B. 29 May 1811. Bd. Magnolia Cemetery,
Augusta, Richmond Cty.</span></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"></span></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"></span></em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">With information provided
by Ms. Hockenberry, it appears that the two were not father and son, but were possibly
related.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, burial records show a
slightly different spelling of the last name. One was born in Maryland in 1842
and lived until 1907, while the other was born in Richmond County (Augusta) in
1841 and died of wounds in 1864.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">The corrected roster
entries for the two read as follows:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"></span><em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Weigel, John [Weigle] (2):
Enl. 1 August 1861. Enl. Co. A, 12th Bn., GA Art. 13 July 1862. Converted to
Co. A, 13th Bn. GA Art. October 1862. Co. converted to Co. A, 63rd Inf. Regt.
December 1863. Appt. 11th Cpl. July [August] 1863. WIA Kennesaw Mountain, GA 27
June 1864. D. from wounds 13 July 1864. [Other records show enl. Augusta
Battery.] B. [29 May] 1841. Bd. Magnolia Cemetery, Augusta, Richmond Cty.</span></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"></span></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"></span></em><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Weigle,
John Michael [Weigel], (1, 2): Enl. 16 December 1863 Capt. Holleyman’s Co., 1st
Regt. Local Troops (Augusta). Elected 2nd Corp. Reenl. 24 July 1864 when Co.
converted to Co. C., 1st Regt. Local Troops. Prom. 5th (Orderly) Sgt. Listed on
muster rolls as “Exempt as practical printer” through April, 1864. B. 23
February 1842.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>D. 20 November 1907. B.
Magnolia Cemetery, Augusta, Richmond Cty.</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">These entries will be
corrected in any future editions of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I
Will Give Them One More Shot</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has
always been my desire to make the rosters as accurate as possible, and I continue
to encourage any descendents of First Georgia soldiers to contact me with
updates.</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>George W. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13680194083800671935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4698332577736967118.post-52594236427029046092013-03-07T09:48:00.000-05:002024-01-17T11:04:58.230-05:00More "Shameless Self-Promotion"<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>My Brother, My Friend, My Enemy</em> is now available in Nook format through Barnes and Noble. The listing is available <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-brother-my-friend-my-enemy-george-winston-martin/1113840853?ean=9781477687710" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">This book has been very much a labor of love for me. I started it over 16 years ago following a conversation with my aunt Cecil Costine about ancestors who served in the Civil War. During the research for the novel, I became enthralled with the story of the First Georgia Volunteers, so this manuscript ended up on the shelf while I completed that book. I finally resumed rewriting just about a year ago, and am thrilled to finally have it out. I hope everyone enjoys it. </span>George W. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13680194083800671935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4698332577736967118.post-59565712132691068742013-02-17T11:49:00.000-05:002024-01-17T11:04:58.960-05:00What If?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On February 17, 1862, the First Georgia, along with two Tennessee Regiments, received transfer orders. They were to head west to join the forces under General Albert Sidney Johnston. Excitement prevailed in camp, as written by a correspondent for the Atlanta <em>Southern Confederacy:</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>CAMP MASON, NEAR
Winchester, Va.,</em></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>February 17, 1862.</em></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Editors Southern Confederacy:</em></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Great
excitement and activity prevails this morning throughout the camp of Gen.
Loring’s whole former command.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
officer was recently promoted a Major-General, and no doubt, will be assigned
to another Department of the Army.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His
former Brigade have all been transferred from the Valley District to other
Divisions of the army; and have been disposed of as follows:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 1st Georgia, 1st and 3rd Tennessee
Volunteers, received orders late yesterday evening to report without for delay
for duty, in Gen. A. S. Johnston, at Knoxville, Tenn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Orders were issued at the same time to the
3rd Arkansas, 7th and 14th Tennessee Volunteers to the effect that those
Regiments should report forthwith to Gen. Holmes, commanding the Aquia
District, at Fredericksburg, Va.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
remainder of Gen. Loring’s late command, comprising the 21st, 23rd, 37th, 42nd,
and 48th Virginia Volunteers, together with Maj. Munford’s Battalion of Irish
Regulars, are ordered to report immediately to Gen. Joseph E. Johnston at
Manassas.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></em></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This is a
complete re-organization of Brigades, and I havn’t, as yet, been able to learn
under whose immediate command the several Brigades will be placed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learn Geo. Kirby Smith’s Brigade are
marching hither from Manassas, to supply the place of the troops before
mentioned in the Valley District.</em></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We will
leave this place for our several points of destination as soon as we can get
transportation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quartermasters are
actively employed this morning devising means of transportation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wagon-masters and teamsters are equally as
busy in getting their wagon trains and teams ready for the march.</em></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There is an
expression of joy resting on every countenance at the prospect of leaving this
frigid, rigorous climate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is not a
single regret in the heart of any one of us at the thought of leaving the
snow-clad mountains of Northern Virginia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The truth is, we’ve performed such hard service, and experienced such
intense suffering in this field of military labor, that we were willing and
anxious to be transported to some other department of the army.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We now go with cheerful hearts to meet the
ruthless invader of our soil in new and different fields.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clothed with justice and right, our valiant
boys, with strong arms and brave hearts, will meet the Hessians successfully on
any field in which anything like an equal number is engaged on either side.</em></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We’ve had
one or two considerable snows here of late.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is cold and disagreeable day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is sleeting very heavily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
will march to Strasburg, 18 miles distant; thence we will go by Railroad to our
point of destination.</em></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Please
change my paper to Knoxville, Tenn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
while away many hours profitably and pleasantly perusing your almost invaluable
paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will hear from me again
soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Haven’t time to write more at
present.</em></span></div>
<em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 10;"> </span>NESTOR.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Verdana;">-----------------------------------</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></em><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The First Georgia would not make it to Johnston's army. Landslides on the railroad halted the regiment. Because the First was close to the end of its one-year term of service, it was decided to divert the regiment back to Georgia to muster out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I have often wondered what would have happened if the tracks had not become blocked. Would the First Georgia have joined General Johnston's army? Would they then have been held in service long enough to participate in the horrendous Battle of Shiloh? </span><br />
George W. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13680194083800671935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4698332577736967118.post-89057620810762745412013-02-02T10:33:00.000-05:002024-01-17T11:05:02.580-05:00Thanks to the Visitors<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who visit this blog. As of this week, <em>One More Shot</em> has had over 10,000 pageviews! By far, the most visited page is one of my earliest posts, entitled "WHICH First Georgia?" (located </span><a href="http://1stgeorgia.blogspot.com/2010/04/which-first-georgia.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">). I sincerely hope that over the past three years that I have been able to provide good information to my visitors. Many Thanks!</span>George W. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13680194083800671935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4698332577736967118.post-25200167784793170192013-01-20T09:24:00.000-05:002024-01-17T11:04:56.046-05:00Witness To Suffering<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On January 19, 1862, Lieutenant Evan P. Howell of the Washington Rifles wrote home to his uncle of the suffering his company had endured during the march from Winchester to Bath and then on to Romney. The letter was published in the February 5 edition of the Sandersville <em>Central Georgian.</em></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>3 MILES WEST OF ROMNEY, Va.,</em></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>January 19, 1862.</em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Dear Uncle:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have had nothing of much importance to write up to
the first of this month; and since then we have been moving from place to place
so that I could not write.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>On the 1st of January, as you have
heard from the newspaper, we left Winchester, taking a western course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three days match, camping at night without
tents or blankets on the snow-covered ground, brought us to Bath, where the
celebrated Berkley Springs are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here
there was quite a large force of the enemy, but on our approach they ran off,
leaving their sick, a number of tents, provisions, stores, &c.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our troops double quicked through the town in
pursuit of them, but were unable to get but twenty prisoners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These belonged to the 39th Illinois Regiment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw them and was near by when one was
captured.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had charge of the Ordnance
train on that day, and had gone forward to know what to do with it when a
little fellow run down to the road and said there was a Yankee at his house,
which was about two hundred yards distant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We sent up some men who found the Yankee under the bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He appears very well satisfied with his
situation.</em></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>At Bath our troops were
divided,--Col. Rusk, of the 3rd Arkansas Regiment, took his Regiment and the
37th Virginia and went west of Bath towards the Capon Bridge with the object to
burn this bridge, which is on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad while the balance
of our troops went north toward Hancock, Maryland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We arrived at that place in a short time—or
more properly opposite it, for it is on the other side of the Potomac—stayed
there for two days without anything to eat or a blanket to sleep on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We shelled the town to our satisfaction, and
Col. Rusk returning after having accomplished his object, we all turned back,
having, I presume, done all we intended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We came twelve miles from Bath where we camped three days to recruit our
health.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the experation of that
time we took up our line of march for Romney, where there</em> <em>were 4,000 of the
enemy under Gen. Kelly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We reached
Romney after a march of five days and found the Yankees had left just as soon
as they heard we were advancing on them, notwithstanding they were strongly
fortified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got a considerable lot or
stores from them here but not as much as we got at Bath and Hancock.</em></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><em></em></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Now I have told you what we have
done I will next tell you what it has done for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our Regiment left Winchester with seven
hundred men and brought to Romney only two hundred and forty men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Washington Rifles left Winchester with
sixty-two men and now have twenty-five.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Two-thirds of our Regiment are now sick enough to be in the
Hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I notice that the army
correspondence from Manassas think it is hard for their sick to lay in the
horrid Hospitals, and speak of the hardships their troops undergo in winter
quarters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what would they think of
our fix?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the bleak climate of North
Western Virginia, the ground covered one foot deep with snow, with the meager
protection of a common tent and half the time not even that, traveling in the
day over the rough frozen road, some men with their bare feet on the
ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is no exaggerated picture,
we see it every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I marched day
before yesterday seven miles with my toes on the icy road, having worn out the
second pair of shoes since I left Winchester.</em></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><em></em></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>It would move the heart of any one
who is not in the army (for all of us are used to it,) to go through this camp
and hear the terrible coughing—some coughing until they vomit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet we have no Hospital for our sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Few men at home have any idea what we are
undergoing, nor is it possible to tell all we have stood.</em></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><em></em></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Yours affectionately,</em></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>E. P. HOWELL.</em></span></span>George W. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13680194083800671935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4698332577736967118.post-57004384371367993032013-01-06T11:09:00.000-05:002024-01-17T11:04:58.815-05:00Research - Use Your Local Library<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Without a doubt, one of
my most valuable resources while researching material for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Will Give Them One More Shot </i>was the research department of my
local library.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The staff there was
extremely helpful in tracking down multitudes of obscure books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As mentioned in a previous post, period
newspapers can be a goldmine of information when doing research. The folks at
the research desk were able to obtain a multitude of microfilm rolls for old
newspapers from libraries and archives from across the country, saving me precious
time and money that would have been spent traveling to these repositories. Here
are just a few examples of newspaper microfilm which I examined at the
facilities of the Henderson County (NC) Public Library:</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Atlanta Daily Intelligencer</i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i></i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Atlanta Gate City Guardian</i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i></i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Atlanta Southern Confederacy</i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i></i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Augusta Daily
Constitutionalist</i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i></i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Columbus Daily Enquirer</i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i></i></span><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Columbus Daily Sun</span></i></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<i></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Columbus Daily Times</i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i></i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Columbus Weekly Times</i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i></i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Cumberland Evening Times</i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i></i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Macon Daily Telegraph</i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i></i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Macon Weekly Georgia
Telegraph</i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i></i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Sandersville Central
Georgian</i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i></i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Savannah Republican</i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i></i></span> </div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i></i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Most public libraries can
also provide their patrons with log-ins for various research sites. For example,
the Henderson County Library is associated with the NC LIVE program (North
Carolina Libraries for Virtual Education) through which I was able to access
sites such as Heritage Quest (</span><a href="http://www.heritagequestonline.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">www.heritagequestonline.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">)
which contains census records and old books.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lastly, one more
fantastic online resource is at </span><a href="http://www.archive.org/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">www.archive.org</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
– this wonderful site contains a multitude of digitized public books which can
be accessed by a fairly easy search engine. Among the public domain works to be
found on this site, and which were used as sources in my book, are Isaac
Hermann’s <i>Memoirs of a Confederate Veteran 1861-1865</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">, originally published in 1911, and Oscar
Cantrell’s 1864 book <i>Sketches of the First Regiment Georgia Volunteers.</i>
The books on this site can be either read online, or downloaded in various
formats, such as .pdf, DjVu, or even Kindle. Archive.org can even find defunct
websites using its “Wayback Machine” search engine.</span></span></div>
George W. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13680194083800671935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4698332577736967118.post-54851879880015702662012-12-24T09:09:00.003-05:002024-01-17T11:04:58.521-05:00Merry Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lVUNNas3DWvbjcB0nyJFsRUNdyjeeh7U63EYyxXWNm1-yIi45_aGsoObRcEIGscoQLtk8BkTe2sFWqMkyrYfZktYchpPPUSzXaFxatSM5KExljABxEaMNpObflq64FNXr2BSFqJxYDUz/s1600/snowingonpicket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lVUNNas3DWvbjcB0nyJFsRUNdyjeeh7U63EYyxXWNm1-yIi45_aGsoObRcEIGscoQLtk8BkTe2sFWqMkyrYfZktYchpPPUSzXaFxatSM5KExljABxEaMNpObflq64FNXr2BSFqJxYDUz/s320/snowingonpicket.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From myself and the rest of the Martin family, I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, and a most happy and prosperous New Year.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">P.S. Please visit my new website at <a href="http://www.georgewinstonmartin.com/">www.georgewinstonmartin.com</a>!</span>George W. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13680194083800671935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4698332577736967118.post-64410432803590383132012-12-06T07:22:00.003-05:002024-01-17T11:04:59.252-05:00Free Book<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just a reminder - <em>My Brother, My Friend, My Enemy </em>is available for free today for Kindle on Amazon.com. You can find the listing <a href="http://www.amazon.com/My-Brother-Friend-Enemy-ebook/dp/B00ACMHBZI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1354796069&sr=8-3&keywords=my+brother%2C+my+friend%2C+my+enemy" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a>.</span>George W. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13680194083800671935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4698332577736967118.post-86531845191698429962012-11-29T09:50:00.000-05:002024-01-17T11:05:01.862-05:00Free Kindle Book<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5euDaXeXmDxrT0rSCWCbRbs32Kp4n-GMLJ-Q9LawOjhX1g7rONCXRElHRuBs767cN2Tom1aT5rpELOyQW-2lDknayM3jrAVjhy-aupYK41f3P4-wSWO4LaPrPz4TmoV_wlx9onqvJ2U2u/s1600/My_Brother,_My_Frien_Cover_for_Kindle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5euDaXeXmDxrT0rSCWCbRbs32Kp4n-GMLJ-Q9LawOjhX1g7rONCXRElHRuBs767cN2Tom1aT5rpELOyQW-2lDknayM3jrAVjhy-aupYK41f3P4-wSWO4LaPrPz4TmoV_wlx9onqvJ2U2u/s200/My_Brother,_My_Frien_Cover_for_Kindle.jpg" tea="true" width="133" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On December 6, I will be offering <em>My Brother, My Friend, My Enemy</em> as a free download on Amazon.com's Kindle. I would love to hear any comments about the book. Please feel free to leave a review on Amazon. You can find the listing <a href="http://www.amazon.com/My-Brother-Friend-Enemy-ebook/dp/B00ACMHBZI/ref=la_B003O59EV4_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1354200384&sr=1-3" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">P.S. You can go to the site now and download a sample of the first five chapters.</span>George W. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13680194083800671935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4698332577736967118.post-1344317885235905772012-11-22T16:05:00.000-05:002024-01-17T11:04:54.365-05:00Happy Thanksgiving!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My wife, twin daughters and I would like to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving. Please be safe as you travel to be with your loved ones this holiday.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">---------------------------------</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I am very pleased to announce that <em>My Brother, My Friend, My Enemy </em>is now available on Amazon.com, and will be out on Kindle within the next couple of days. The paperback edition is available <a href="http://www.amazon.com/My-Brother-Friend-Enemy-American/dp/1477687718/ref=la_B003O59EV4_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1353618047&sr=1-2" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a><span style="color: red;">.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;">--------------------------------</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;">Update - the Kindle edition is now available <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ACMHBZI" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a>.</span>George W. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13680194083800671935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4698332577736967118.post-29160273173670295092012-11-10T11:19:00.000-05:002024-01-17T11:04:56.410-05:00More Online Sources<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As mentioned in a previous post, period newspapers are a gold mine of information when doing research for a particular place, person or organization. There are many online sources of material, some free, some available for a fee. The following are some of the sites I used in researching <em>I Will Give Them One More Shot</em>, and am going back to for my research for my upcoming novel <em>My Brother, My Friend, My Enemy</em>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Fold3.com: Formerly Footnote.com, this subscription site contains a wealth of military records covering the entire history of the United States, including the Compiled Service Records from the National Archives. <a href="http://www.fold3.com/" target="_blank">http://www.fold3.com/</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Augusta Chronicle Online Records: This site contains archives for the Augusta, Georgia, <em>Chronicle and Sentinel </em>newspapers. A search of newspapers can be done for free, but the site charges a fee of $19.95 for a one month pass (download up to 200 articles), or a one day pass at $9.95 (download up to 50 articles). <a href="http://www.augustaarchives.com/" target="_blank">http://www.augustaarchives.com/</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Another fee-based service is Newspaper Archive.com, with subscriptions ranging from monthly to annual. <a href="http://www.newspaperarchive.com/" target="_blank">http://www.newspaperarchive.com/</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The University of Virginia hosts a free research site called <em>The Valley of the Shadow</em>, which "details life in two American communities, one Northern and one Southern, from the time of John Brown's Raid through the era of reconstruction." This archive includes access to letters, newspapers, diaries and a multitude of other records for the years just before, during and after the Civil War. <a href="http://valley.lib.virginia.edu/" target="_blank">http://valley.lib.virginia.edu/</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
George W. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13680194083800671935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4698332577736967118.post-30227445970639214662012-10-20T11:27:00.000-04:002024-01-17T11:04:56.483-05:00New Civil War Novel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZu__sHSkHJMM7lnCuONMwUJcm7_QqvTSjWGi0VZvmEoRJbUtxagEvSDII25nAsl2I1o8_K4WTSYKV55KHkbYjmBWYrsWBr2-g0N7a6_2rQvvd9VmlwWW1Bj2p_omPi8U1msFC5mrTPH1/s1600/my+brother2-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZu__sHSkHJMM7lnCuONMwUJcm7_QqvTSjWGi0VZvmEoRJbUtxagEvSDII25nAsl2I1o8_K4WTSYKV55KHkbYjmBWYrsWBr2-g0N7a6_2rQvvd9VmlwWW1Bj2p_omPi8U1msFC5mrTPH1/s320/my+brother2-001.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am very pleased to present the cover art for my novel entitled <em>My Brother, My Friend, My Enemy. </em>Based very loosely on part of my family history, this is the story of two brothers who find themselves fighting on opposite sides during the American Civil War. Much of the research done for <em>I Will Give Them One More Shot</em> was also used in the novel. Copyedit work is underway, with the intention of having the book ready for release by Thanksgiving. It will be available through Amazon.com and Kindle.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGA8fKHheIV9afUce6KdSG9hpVqVjz1jsJTLDhK4D45B_m_NSs1b4OjzYbnps2pozixNlQCAdnRGQloNVV6Y2UKJ17pLwZYc9Hk1qcbii1w4gtzJide_SWZ8wBKydwuc92Y_RSMaDPghYR/s1600/Cover3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</a></div>
George W. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13680194083800671935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4698332577736967118.post-81002818250783432292012-10-18T20:13:00.000-04:002024-01-17T11:05:00.918-05:00Great Honor and Great News<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've just returned from a trip to Atlanta, where I was greatly honored to receive the 2012 Award for "Excellence in Research Using the Holding of an Archives," presented by the Georgia Historical Records Advisory Board (GHRAB). Once again, I would like to thank Ralph Bass of the Monroe County Historical Society for nominating <em>I Will Give Them One More Shot</em> for this honor.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was all set to add a plea to all my Georgia friends to please contact their legislators and the governor to request that the Georgia Archives remain open to the public. As I sat down to write this, I came across a news item saying that partial funding has been restored, allowing the Archives to remain open to the public for two days a week, with no appointment needed for access. This is really great news for researchers. The article can be read <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/uproar-ga-officials-back-off-archives-plan-212841740.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">While I am happy to pass along the good news about the Archives being kept open, I would like to temper that with the awareness that the staff has been reduced to just three employees, with the rest having been laid off. The shortage of staff to assist researchers will still cause restrictions in accessing records. Hopefully, funds can be found to give these employees their jobs back. </span>George W. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13680194083800671935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4698332577736967118.post-67503759111003206692012-10-06T10:53:00.000-04:002024-01-17T11:04:59.968-05:00Online Research<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With the closure of the Georgia Archives, many historians are searching for other research sources. During my research for <em>I Will Give Them One More Shot</em>, I was fortunate to stumble on many online sources of information. Over the next several posts, I would like to share these in hopes that they might prove useful to others.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Newspapers were an especially rich source - full of news items, posted letters and even advertisements. The Digital Library of Georgia site gives views of several important Georgia newspapers, including the Atlanta <em>Southern Confederacy</em>, Milledgeville <em>Federal Union</em>, Columbus <em>Enquirer</em>, Macon <em>Telegraph</em> and many others. This website can be accessed <a href="http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/MediaTypes/Newspapers.html?Welcome" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a>. You will need a DjVu player installed on your computer to read the files - the player is a free download <a href="http://www.caminova.net/en/downloads/download.aspx?id=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a>.</span>George W. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13680194083800671935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4698332577736967118.post-88044233224161736412012-09-18T16:18:00.000-04:002024-01-17T11:05:02.008-05:00Georgia Archives To Close<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The following quote is from the <em>Atlanta Business Chronicle</em>, dated September 13:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>The Georgia State Archives in Morrow, Ga., will close to the public Nov. 1 in a budget-cutting move announced by Secretary of State Brian Kemp Thursday.</em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>In a prepared statement, Kemp said the decision to reduce public access to historical documents was difficult but necessary.</em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>“To my knowledge, Georgia will be the only state in the country that will not have a central location in which the public can visit to research and review the historical records of their government and state,” he said. “The employees that will be let go through this process are assets to the state of Georgia and will be missed.”</em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Kemp said Gov. Nathan Deal’s Office of Planning and Budget has instructed the secretary of state’s office to cut its budget by $732,626 during the remainder of the current fiscal year and in the fiscal year that starts next July.</em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>The reductions are in keeping with 3 percent cuts ordered by Deal across state government to offset slower than anticipated growth in tax collections.</em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Kemp said public access to the archives after Nov. 1 will be by appointment only. However, the number of appointments could be limited based on the schedules of the remaining employees.</em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The article can be found <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2012/09/13/georgia-archives-closing-due-to-budget.html" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: red;">here</span></a>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Granted, we are passing through tough economic times, but to close off such a treasured resource from researchers would be a shame. For myself, as one who travels from out of state, it is difficult enough to arrange research trips with the limited hours now. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A petition drive, asking the governor and secretary of state to reconsider, is under way through Change.org. To sign it, click </span><a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/the-governor-of-ga-leave-our-state-archives-open-to-the-public" target="_blank"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span>George W. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13680194083800671935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4698332577736967118.post-85497306148168250292012-09-02T16:22:00.000-04:002024-01-17T11:05:01.643-05:00Research Award<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKwoS6Q0wE3oC9-SDJQsxT88B6R2KA-OR1q1X6hJXdlQlXgD4obj9cYNNXcJnFLhrNQ4BQFvWg0b5wsi77b3_KrQvBs-T8YniwsSFuVYd6m2MDQxKu-hCze7QQcQGkvFDZdGSQkYpH-Hc/s1600/ghrab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKwoS6Q0wE3oC9-SDJQsxT88B6R2KA-OR1q1X6hJXdlQlXgD4obj9cYNNXcJnFLhrNQ4BQFvWg0b5wsi77b3_KrQvBs-T8YniwsSFuVYd6m2MDQxKu-hCze7QQcQGkvFDZdGSQkYpH-Hc/s200/ghrab.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am pleased, proud and humbled to announce that <em>I Will Give Them One More Shot: Ramsey's 1st Regiment Georgia Volunteers </em>has won the 2012 award for "Excellence in Research Using the Holdings of an Archives." This award is one of twelve presented each year by the Georgia Historical Records Advisory Board (GHRAB), a division of the Georgia Archives. I would especially like to thank President Ralph Bass and the rest of the Monroe County Historical Society for nominating <em>I Will Give Them One More Shot</em> for this award. My wife and I will be traveling to Morrow, Georgia, (just south of Atlanta) in October for the awards presentation.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many hours were spent sifting through information at the Georgia Archives, and I would like to thank Dr. Steven Engerrand and his staff for their excellent assistance. More information about the Archives can be found <a href="http://sos.georgia.gov/archives/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a>, and for the various awards presented by GHRAB <a href="http://www.sos.ga.gov/archives/who_are_we/ghrab/awards_program.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a>.</span>George W. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13680194083800671935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4698332577736967118.post-44583208874623525562012-08-26T10:20:00.000-04:002024-01-17T11:04:57.790-05:00Busy, Busy, Busy<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My apologies for the lack of posts over the past month or so. Between my regular day job, necessary work and repairs around the house, and all the everyday challenges that life brings, I've been rather preoccupied. That, coupled with a fast trip to Florida for a high school reunion (Mount Dora High School, Class of '72) and concentration on my novel rewrite has not left me much time to post. Hopefully I will have the next draft of <em>My Brother, My Friend, My Enemy</em> completed and ready for an editor within the next few weeks.</span>George W. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13680194083800671935noreply@blogger.com0