Remembering Gettysburg

Dad and I watched a wonderful program on PBS the other night called "The Story of Gettysburg."  It was narration and some fabulous photography that took you through the battle step by step.  It reminded me at how significant a turning point in the Civil War it was and how easily it could have gone the other way.  In that little peaceful town in Pennsylvania, the war that has shaped this country ever since it happened probably had it's most significant battle.

The number killed during the battle is mind boggling especially those killed during Pickett's Charge.  I think they said that 13,000 made the charge and less than half returned.  There are characters from history like Robert E. Lee and Abraham Lincoln who are certainly memorable but there were other men who are memorable to me. Col Joshua Chamberlain up on Little Round Top preventing the Confederates from taking the flank with bayonet charge or General Longstreet knowing that he was sending his army to their deaths on Pickett's Charge.  He was following the orders of his commander but he knew what was about to happen...or the friendship of General Winfield Scott Hancock and General Louis Armistead on different sides and one laying wounded several feet away while the other lay dying.  Neither one knew they were that close to each other.

I was very young when we visited Gettysburg and there are a lot things that I don't remember well.  I can remember driving through the park but not really knowing what the statues signified.  I understood about the Gettysburg Address because I just memorized it that school year so when we came across the monument about the recitation of the address by Abraham Lincoln - that meant something to me.

Today is the 150th Anniversary of the dedication of the cemetery where Abraham Lincoln made his famous address.  I can honestly say that I have stood on that spot and have recited the Gettysburg Address myself...click below to read the the story:

A Trip to Gettysburg

Civil War Stories

The Revolutionary War was a battle for the establishment of what we would later call the United States of America – the Civil War was fight to try to preserve that union.  So many expectations of mine have been proven false when I have looked at my Civil War ancestors.  My mother’s family primarily lived in the South so I expected them to probably be Confederates and I expected my father’s family to be fighting for the Union and to be fairly numerous because of their history of fighting in our countries battles.  I found that I was mostly wrong.

My great grandfather’s Gage and Gallup ancestors stayed primarily out of the Civil War from what I have been able to ascertain.  Perhaps they were needed for their farming or manufacturing ability.  I don’t find evidence that my great grandmother’s Shawver and Pitsenbarger family were involved either.  They lived in Nicholas Co., VA which later became Nicholas Co., WV – and there must have been other forces that caused problems.  However, my father’s one line that was in the South was involved…just not in the Confederacy. 

When I was in Carter Co., TN several years ago, I found a book written about the 13^th TN Calvary…I picked it up wanting to find information about my mother’s great grandfather who I know was in that unit and found that my 4^th great grandfather Moses Johnson along with his son Nicholas and son-in-law, Green Walker.  They were involved in the bridge burning that the 13^th TN Calvary did to slow the Confederate troops down. They and their families were mentioned specifically for protecting and providing for the soldiers who were hiding from the Confederate troops who were pursuing them.

Moses Friddles

Moses Friddles was an Artificer in 13^th TN Calvary.  His job was to repair muskets and artillery and keep track of the company ordinance.  The story goes in the family that his young son, Albert, spent part of the war with him.  Moses had left his two children with a family and the family had gotten sick and died of small pox.  Albert took his sister and found somewhere for her to stay and then went looking for his father.  He would have only been about 10 years old at the time.  Albert found his father and spent the remainder of the war helping out by holding the reins of the horses for visiting soldiers.  Moses survived the war as did Albert and married Mary Ann Crosswhite (his 3^rd marriage) which didn’t last.  In 1878, he married 16 year old Martha “Mattie” Brown.  He was 36 years older than she.  Their youngest son was my great grandfather, David Carl Friddle.  According to his pension, Moses was afflicted with chronic diarrhea, rheumatism, and piles.  Sounds like a pretty miserable life to me!

Jasper Bailey

Jasper Bailey was my mother’s great great grandfather.  His daughter Buena Vista Bailey was my great grandmother, Sophia (Mom Friddle’s) mother.  Jasper was a member of the 3^rd NC Infantry – a Union division.  He fought at Morgantown, Bulls Gap, and the Red Banks of the Chucky River which is where he was injured in his leg.  Jasper’s injury didn’t affect him much as a young man because he made his living as a bear hunter, but by the time he was an old man he was so crippled that he couldn’t walk very much.  He died on 1 Jan 1928 in Washington Co., VA.

My one Confederate ancestor was Alexander Monroe Dollar.  He was my great grandmother’s (Mom Friddle) other grandfather.  He was a member of the 58^th Infantry of North Carolina.  He enlisted on 20 Jul 1862, deserted on 9 Feb 1863 at Big Creek Gap, TN and then returned for duty on 10 Dec 1863.  Monroe Dollar then deserted from camp near Dalton, GA on 19 Mar 1864 and went over to the enemy on an unspecified date.  He took the oath of Allegiance at Knoxville, TN on 10 Oct 1864.  From what I have read, the 58^th North Carolina had one of the worst desertion records of any group in the Confederacy.

My last Civil War ancestor is John Lyons Tannahill.  He and his brother, Henry, found in the 7^th IA Calvary.  They enlisted in March 1864 and were mustered out in 1866.  Their primary duty during the war was guarding telegraph lines, and those traveling, escorting trains and protecting immigrants.  They primarily battled attains the Sioux Indians.  I don’t think he spent any of the war battling the Confederates just the warring Sioux along the Nebraska and the Dakotas.

My five Civil War ancestor all had unique experiences that covered the realm of experience for Civil War soldiers.  One worked as guard & protection duty, while another helped keep the artillery in working condition, another helped sabotage bridges to prevent the enemy from utilizing them for transport and still another was serving in battle and wounded and the last deserted his post and returned home.  Most of them lived to be old men except John Lyons Tannahill.   I still don’t know what he died from – he was only 33 when he died and he left behind a widow and three sons.  All of them died in their 60’s or 70’s.  I’m sure they had lots of tales to tell about their experiences…I wish I could go back in time to hear them!