Thursday, March 19, 2015

Ones you would want on your side.

Via u_96

8 comments:

  1. White armbands....White Army? Shades of 1917.

    Hbbill
    Somewhere behind enemy lines,
    Peoples Republik of Kommiefornia

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    1. Didn't think of that and reminds me of Dr. Zhivago, what a wonderful movie.

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  2. That's the "don't shoot me I'm your buddy " armband. Stonewall Jackson wanted to use those for a night attack. Asked Dr. McGuire if he had plenty of bandages he could spare. Funny how things repeat through history. WWMCD
    Red in OleVirginny

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    1. Interesting and I have a letter from my great grandfather which mentions that they took off their shirts for the night time attack against Ft. Stedman, so they could identify each other from the foe. Check out the links on the right side of the blog. Thanks.

      3rd North Carolina, Fort Mahone/ "Fort Damnation" Petersburg, Virginia
      Requiem Aeternam - Eternal Rest Grant unto Them

      My second great grandfather was killed in action on May 3, 1863 at the Battle of Chancellorsville.

      My great grandfather and great uncle knew all the men in the "Civil War Requiem" video as they were part of the 53rd NC which was the sole unit defending Fort Mahone. (Fort Mahone was named "Fort Damnation" by the Yankees) *Handpicked men of the 53rd (My great grandfather was one of these) made the final, night assault at Petersburg in an attempt to break Grant's line. This was against Fort Stedman which was a few miles to the slight northeast. They initially succeeded, but reinforcements drove them back. This video is made from photographs which were taken the day after the 53rd evacuated the lines the night before to begin the retreat to Appomattox. I have many more pictures taken by the same photographer, one of these shows a 14 year old boy and the other is the famous picture of the blond, handsome soldier with his musket.

      *General Gordon promised the men a gold medal and 30 days leave if they accomplished their task and many years after the War my great grandfather wrote General Gordon, who was then governor of Georgia about this incident. They exchanged several letters which I have framed. See first link below.

      *The Attack On Fort Stedman
      "His Colored Friends"
      Lee's Surrender
      My Black NC Kinfolks
      Punished For Being Caught!

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  3. So much sacrifice. I've been to the very spot you're speaking of. It's not that far from my Tidewater home to Petersburg. Our great grand children will speak of our victory.
    Red in OleVirginny

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  4. Thanks and I pray. The Tappahannock area?

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  5. A little further south - between Williamsburg and Norfolk.

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  6. I see, my sister and her children live in Virginia Beach.

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