Hi Jim!
'Lee surrendered, I didnt'
: )
I was in CAP in the 70s, and whenever we had an encampment, I had to be careful not to mix southern and northern cadets from rural areas in the same Flight. Amazingly, the war was ideologically still going on for them.
Puerto Rico has been an US territory for more than a century, and yet some locals are still fighting the SAW of 98'. If you visit Spain, you'll see how the Left and the Right are coming back to very same old Boxing Ring.
ca plus le change...
The sword was logically given after the event. What I wonder is, what happened to Wallace himself after the battle?. His femur was broken, that kinda' wound would either incapacitate him for active duty for at least a year, or require amputation. What happened to the poor guy afterward?
Also, the fallen Captain of Company A was named William Wallace. Brothers? Cousins? John had been with the 61st since its creation in 62, so it wouldn't surprise me if he brought a blood-relative to command Co. A. All were from Norfolk County, VA.
Best, and Merry Xmas to y'all!
M
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jim McDougall
Wow!! Manolo, that is incredibly impressive and I'm glad you showed us the rest of the sword. Obviously an extremely nice commemorative sword issued at some point later to either Captain Wallace or his survivors, and to the importance of that event.
I wouldn't spend a great deal of money on a book that esoteric simply to establish a single reference, especially these days with the computer etc. It was rough in the old days  when we did it that way, ouch!
I would get hold of a reenactment group, who have thier historians for particular units constantly researching those who served in the units. Geneology groups are especially good as well, with Virginia being profoundly thorough. Often it is easier to obtain the capsulated unit histories of the regiments that are more focused and far less costly as far as I know.
My great great grandfather was in the 2nd US Sharpshooters in the Civil War, and I dropped a bundle to obtain a couple of books on this unit.....all I found was a single line where his name appeared. Interesting history, but none specific I could relate to him, and this was a key unit, one of only two known as Berdan's Sharpshooters.
Also I would contact historical societies near the location of that battle. If I recall correctly from that research long ago, my grandfather was there as well. When I lived in Nashville there was Civil War history everyplace!!! and I was often corrected that it was 'The War Between the States' , not the Civil War, and of course the motto, 'Lee surrendered, I didnt' everyplace
History lives passionately in many such places, and I'm sure such records should be reasonably accessible without such expensive books.
As impressive sabre Manolo, well worth the research to pursue.
All the best,
Jim |