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During the nineteenth century, the Zouave was everywhere. The uniform characterized by an open, collarless jacket, baggy trousers, and a fez, originated in French Algeria, but became common amongst military men in France, the United States, and the Papal States, taking on a life of its own. Historians Carol E. Harrison and Thomas J. Brown join us to explain the often-misunderstood outfit and its connection to colonialism, race, gender, fashion, and military tactics, and dress.Essential Reading:Carol E. Harrison and Thomas J. Brown, Zouave Theaters: Transnational Military Fashion and Performance (2024).Recommended Reading:Jennifer Pitts, A Turn to Empire: The Rise of Imperial Liberalism in Britain and France (2006).John Bierman, Napoleon III and His Carnival Empire (1988).Lorien Foote, The Gentlemen and the Roughs: Violence, Honor, and Manhood in the Union Army (2010).Charles A. Coulombe, The Pope's Legion: The Multinational Fighting Force that Defended the Vatican (2008). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
15 ans, ça se fête !Aujourd'hui, nous avons rendez-vous avec Olivier Touati, le directeur (et encore un peu booker) de ZOUAVE.Et on a même eu le bonheur d'enregistrer cet épisode dans les tout nouveaux locaux et studios de tôt Ou tard, car il y a maintenant 15 ans, ce label a créé sa propre société de production de spectacles, ZOUAVE !Alors que ZOUAVE célèbre son anniversaire avec une soirée évènement le 15 mai à La Cigale, en compagnie de ses artistes et du public, Olivier s'est arrêté au micro de Sold Out pour revenir sur les 15 premières années de ZOUAVE. Depuis sa création par Vincent Frerebeau pour produire les tournées de Shaka Ponk, jusqu'à aujourd'hui, où la maison se démarque par sa diversité artistique et son approche artisanale, en produisant environ 25 artistes, dont Albin de la Simone, Dionysos, Vincent Delerm et Vianney (entre autres).On discute de l'importance de l'identité et de la relation humaine dans le travail avec les artistes. On parle de booking, d'indépendance, et même d'artistes qui se cassent la jambe, mais surtout : des 15 prochaines années à venir, car la fête ne fait que commencer
In 1843, Cathay Williams was born to an enslaved woman and a free black man, ironically in Independence, Missouri. It is hard to know an exact day, because records were not kept for the birth of slaves, and if you were born to an enslaved woman, you were born property. Cathay's childhood was spent on the outskirts of Jefferson City, Missouri, working for years as a house slave on the plantation of a wealthy planter by the name of Johnson. Union forces took over Jefferson City in the early stages of the Civil War. Slaves were released and persuaded to serve in voluntary military support roles. Captured slaves within Union lines were officially designated as contraband. When we say contraband today, usually the first thought would be illicit drugs, or something else forbidden. But back then, humans were labeled Illegal goods, “contraband.” Over 400 women served in the Civil War posing as male soldiers. Today we are talking about Cathay Williams, the only known female Buffalo Soldier. Williams was not only the first black woman to enlist, but the only documented woman to serve in the United States Army, while disguised as a man, during the Indian Wars. She was a pioneer for the thousands of American women serving in armed forces in the United States today. Season 3 features inspiring, gallant, even audacious stories of REAL 19th Century women from the Wild West. Stories that contain adult content, including violence which may be disturbing to some listeners, or secondhand listeners. So, discretion is advised. I am Andrea Anderson and this is Queens of the Mines, Season Three. As contraband, Cathay was taken to Little Rock by Col. Benton of the 13th army corps and “pressed” into serving. She did not want to go. Benton wanted her to cook for the officers, so Cathay learned the skill. At 17, her role as an Army cook and washerwoman under the service of Union General Philip Sheridan took her all over the country. She saw the soldiers burn lots of cotton. During these travels, Williams was at Shreveport when the rebel gunboats were captured and burned on Red River, and witnessed Comanche, Kiowa, Southern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes relocated to reservations during the Red River campaign in Texas. She was there for the Shenandoah Valley raids in Virginia, and saw the union defeat the Confederates, despite being outnumbered at the Battle of Pea Ridge in Fayetteville Ar. The work brought her to Iowa, Louisiana, Georgia and back home to her home state of Missouri. The lure of independence was undeniably attractive to a female young, unmarried former slave. So, in St. Louis, Missouri, she voluntarily enlisted for a three-year engagement in the U.S. army on November 15, 1866, this time to fight. Despite the prohibition against women serving in the military. The recruiter described her as William Cathay, a 5′ 9″ tall male with black eyes, black hair and black complexion. But in actuality, she was the first black female soldier to enlist with the Army. Only 4 months after Congress passed a law authorizing the formation of six all-black army units, after the Union Army had seen the value of black soldiers in the military and thought they should have the opportunity to join the peacetime army. You would think an Army surgeon should have been able to identify Williams as a woman during the cursory examination, but the Army didn't require full medical exams then. Williams said, “The regiment I joined wore the Zouave uniform,” which was a distinctive jacket, vest, sash, baggy trousers, and fez. She continued to say that “only two persons, a cousin and a particular friend, members of the regiment, knew that I was a woman. They never ‘blowed on me. These particular friends were partly the reason Williams joined the Army. She could shoot, march and stand guard with the best of them and performed regular garrison duties. A garrison is a group of soldiers whose task is to guard the town or building where they live. Soon, orders transferred the new recruits out west to protect pioneers traveling through one of the most dangerous routes to California, called Cooke's Canyon. In April of 1867, her troop marched to Fort Riley, Kansas, by July they had made it to Fort Union Mexico and arrived at Fort Cummings NM on October 1, 1867. They would remain stationed here for the next 8 months. Williams had joined the army's fight against the Indigenous people. Health struggles began to plague Cathay. She became feeble both physically and mentally, and much of the time quite unfit for duty. Smallpox was the most debilitating, but the back-to-back hospitalizations during eight months off sick leave were the most devastating. At Fort Cummings in New Mexico, her body really began to show signs of strain. Maybe it was the heat, maybe the effects of smallpox, or the years of marching. But the biggest blow came when the post surgeon discovered Cathay Williams, or William Cathay, was a woman. The surgeon informed the post commander. She said, “the men all wanted to get rid of me after they found out I was a woman. Some of them acted real bad to me.” Williams was honorably discharged by her commanding officer, Captain Charles E. Clarke on October 14, 1868 at at Fort Bayard, New Mexico, It was the end of her tenure in the Army, but her adventure as William Cathay had just gotten started. Again, dressed as a man, Cathay signed up for the 38th U.S. Infantry, an emerging, segregated all-black regiment. The 38th U.S. Infantry would eventually become part of the Buffalo Soldiers. Cathay and her fellow black comrades were named Buffalo Soldiers by the Plains Indians because they were fierce fighters, and they had short curly hair like the buffalo. The Buffalo Soldiers fought in skirmishes with Native Americans, escorted vulnerable wagon trains, built forts, mapped the territory, and protected white settlers – all with sub-par equipment. They showed tremendous skill. She is the only known black female soldier a part of the Buffalo Soldiers. Williams was adrift after the war but wanted to remain independent and self-sufficient. She was accustomed to the Military providing shelter, education and medical care. She saw it as far superior to the uncertainties of civilian life as a liberated slave. As a newly freed slave, post-war job opportunities were practically nonexistent. The inequality and lack of access was smothering, particularly in the southern states. Most had no choice but to turn to military service to survive. She went back to living under her original name and headed to Pueblo, Colorado, where her mother ran an orphanage and she was able to secure work as a cook. She was married there, but it ended fast after her husband was arrested for stealing her watch and chain, a hundred dollars and her team of horses and wagon. She had him arrested and put in jail. She moved to Trinidad, Colorado, and took on jobs as a seamstress, laundress and part time nurse under the name Kate Williams. But only after first passing as a male by the name of James Cady upon arrival. The kids in town were afraid of her, she was tall and dark with a masculine appearance. He walk had a limp due to her amputated toes. She liked Trinidad. She knew good people there and had dreams of success. She hoped to take land near the depot when the railroad finally came in. She said, “Grant owns all this land around here, and it won't cost me anything. I shall never live in the states again.” Trinidad had its own lil rush in the early 1870's when gold was discovered in the Spanish Peaks. In 1876, Trinidad was officially incorporated only a few months before Colorado became a state. There were about 50 to 60 mine shafts operating there, and one of them was owned and operated by one of Abraham Lincoln's sons. Are you enjoying the podcast? Make sure to subscribe, rate, review and find us on facebook and instagram. You can join the biggest fans behind the scenes at patreon.com/queensofthemines, or give a one time tip via venmo to, @queensofthemines Her life story went public while Williams was in Trinidad. A reporter from her home state of Missouri heard rumors of the black woman who faked her way into the army, and came to Trinidad from St Louis to meet her. She told the reporter, “I wanted to make my own living and not be dependent on relations or friends. Cathay Williams' adventures were breaking news when it was published in the St. Louis Daily Times on January 2, 1876. She became well-known to most Trinidad residents, especially the older ones. In 1891, Williams applied for a disability pension through the Army. She was now 49 years old. At 52, she was suffering from neuralgia, loss of hearing, rheumatism and diabetes. She walked with a crutch, for all of her toes had been amputated. Her pension was denied. She had lied, and posed as a man to serve the country that had enslaved her. But women would not be allowed to serve in the army until 1948. Historians argue about the time and location of her death but most signs point to Cathat Williams passing away in Trinidad in 1924 at the age of 82. It was said that she was very sick and had been without fire or food for several days. Something else that I find fascinating about Trinidad. Trinidad is dubbed the Gender Reassignment Capital of the World. Dr Stanley Biber was a veteran surgeon returning from Korea in the 1960s. He moved to Trinidad, to be the town surgeon. In 1969, he performed his first Gender Reassignment for a local social worker, did a good job and earned a good reputation at a time when very few doctors were performing the surgery. He was performing 4 gender reassignment surgeries a day in his peak years. Haskell Hooks of Trinidad, Co wants to erect a local statue to honor Cathay Williams. If you want to donate to the gofundme you can search Memorial Statue for Ms Cathay Williams, on the gofundme site. Its important to note Cathay is spelled Cathay. He has spent several years researching her story and is attempting to raise $50,000 to have the statue created by a New Mexico sculptor. He has organized several fund-raising events to cover the cost, including T-shirt sales and activities at Flo-Jo's Tavern & BBQ in downtown Trinidad and a gofundme page. I found this quite interesting, considering I just spent two days in Trinidad in November. While I was there, I had no idea who Cathay was, but I managed to stay right next to the location of her old house anyways. She lived at the corner of Second and Animas streets, and on West First Street ; the original homes no longer stand. It all leads me to wonder how far will you go to get what you want ? _____________
I sit with the Godfather of Civil War Uniforms, Ron Field. Ron Field is a leading expert on the different uniforms worn by the Civil War soldier and today we discuss a few of his favorites.Check out the website: https://untoldcivilwar.squarespace.com/Sign up on Patreon and be in the running for the upcoming raffle: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=51151470&fan_landing=truMusic is graciously provided by Craig Duncan.Support the show:(The podcast receives monetary compensation from these options.)Make a one time donation of any amount here: https://www.paypal.me/supportuntoldCWMake a monthly payment through Patreon and get the most up to date news on the podcast! Also, if you choose the 2,3, or 4 tier, you'll be able to ask the experts questions ahead of time!https://www.patreon.com/user?u=51151470&fan_landing=truThis show is made possible by the support of our sponsors. Please check them out below:The Badge Maker, proudly carrying affordable, USA made products for reenactors, living history interpreters, and lovers of history. https://www.civilwarcorpsbadges.com/Civil War Trails is the world's largest 'Open Air Museum' offering over 1,350 sites across six states. Paddle to Frederick Douglass's birthplace, follow the Gettysburg Campaign turn-by-turn in your car, or hike to mountain tops where long forgotten earthworks and artillery positions await you. Follow Civil War Trails and create some history of your own. www.civilwartrails.orgMilitary Images is America's only magazine dedicated solely to the study of portrait photographs of Civil War soldiers. In each quarterly issue of MI, readers find a mix of analysis, case studies, examinations of material culture and personal stories that offer a unique perspective on the human aspect of the Civil War.http://militaryimagesmagazine.com/The Excelsior BrigadeDealers in FINE CIVIL WAR MEMORABILIA.The goal of the "Brigade" is to offer high quality, original items while ensuring the best in service and customer satisfaction. https://www.excelsiorbrigade.com/HistoryFixCome enjoy history! Whether it's a movie, short film, documentary or site visit - come find a way to get away for a bit! Explore stories from the Middle Ages to the early 21st century. Enjoy historical content always ad free and get a 7-day free trial as you explore our site. Be sure to check in on Fridays as that's when new content is uploaded. https://www.historyfix.com/Check us out on Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube:https://www.facebook.com/untoldcivilwar/ https://www.instagram.com/untold_civil_war/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMMWxSupport the show
Vincent FREREBEAU est un patron de label indépendant heureux : tout ce qu'il signe se transforme en or : Yael NAIM, Vincent DELERM, SHAKA PONK ou VIANNEY. Et on serait prêts à parier très cher sur les succès à venir du génial Noé PRESZOW ou d'Emma PETERS. Vincent a aussi fondé ZOUAVE, une boite de production de spectacles, et c'est à ce titre que SOLD OUT lui tend le micro… même si on aurait accepté n'importe quel prétexte tant on est fans de cet homme là. C'est la première fois dans un épisode de SOLD OUT que l'invité donne son mail direct, mais ce n'est pas la seule raison pour écouter Vincent raconter son parcours et sa vision du métier : ça fait juste un bien fou… Sold Out, le podcast pour se glisser dans les coulisses du spectacle vivant. Avec le soutien de PATREON / enregistré en public au MaMA Festival 2021 Production et réalisation : Marc H'LIMI / Interview et programmation : Marc GONNET / Créations visuelles et réseaux sociaux : Emilie BARDALOU
This episode starts out on a bridge with a view of the Eiffel Tower, then heads over to the Right Bank and glamorous Avenue Montaigne. We'll talk about the Zouave & river flooding, Diana Princess of Wales, the Ballets Russes, and Josephine Baker, star & secret agent. Remember to visit my website for extra links & images. As always, Improbable Walks theme music is performed by David Symons, New Orleans accordionist extraordinaire.
Tous les samedis et dimanches à 18h20 et 19h20, Wendy Bouchard reçoit un invité au coeur de l'actualité. Pour évoquer le concert-test d'Indochine à l'AccorHotels Arena de Paris, elle interroge, Vincent Frèrebeau, fondateur des label "Tôt ou tard" et "Zouave productions", et de Jackie Lombard, productrice françaises de Madonna, Céline Dion ou encore Coldplay.
Doug Dammann: Elmer Ellsworth and His Zouaves In the summer of 1860, young lawyer Elmer Ellsworth and a civilian militia company of 50 men from Chicago set out on a twenty-city tour. In those days, volunteer militia companies held drill competitions, and Ellsworth hoped that his unit's new "Zouave" training (based on semi-gymnastic maneuvers modelled after those of French Algerian soldiers) would dominate the competition. The tour was a success beyond their wildest dreams. When war started and their training was needed on the battlefield rather than on the parade ground, the men who had accompanied Ellsworth found themselves in positions of leadership within the Union Army. Our June speaker, Doug Dammann, will explore Elmer Ellsworth's widespread influence on the northern army. Despite all of his drills and military training, Ellsworth's death, ironically, did not come in battle but rather early in the war, inside the Marshall House hotel in Alexandria, Virginia. Ellsworth succeeded in removing the Confederate flag raised by the building owner only to be shot and killed by the owner, James W. Jackson, as he descended the stairs from the building roof. Ellsworth's body would lie in state at the White House before being taken to his home state of New York for burial. Abraham Lincoln would call his close friend (almost a second son) Ellsworth "the greatest little man I ever met." Ellsworth's memory lived on throughout the war as "Remember Ellsworth" became a rallying cry for supporters of the Union. His death would spur even more volunteers to don the flashy Zouave attire Doug Dammann is the curator and site coordinator of the Kenosha Civil War Museum. A native of Lena, Illinois, and son of this Round Table's close friend Gordon Dammann, he received a BA in history from Kalamazoo College in 1996 and earned his Master's Degree in historical administration from Eastern Illinois University in 1999. Prior to coming to Kenosha, he worked at The National Museum of Civil War Medicine in Frederick, Maryland, and The National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.
Le château / Le zouave by Radio Victoria
Commençons par cette dernière formule, le « pedigree ». Vous le savez il s'agit de la généalogie d'un animal donné, par exemple d'un chien ou d’un cheval. Et par extension ce même mot est aussi utilisé pour désigner le document sur lequel est consignée sa généalogie... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Learning about the civil war can be difficult for someone new to the game, especially when it comes to military terminology. While many have casual familiarity with such terms as “regiment”, “brigade”, “division” and “corps”, they often use them interchangeably, seemingly choosing whichever word sounds “cool” to them in the moment, or, to give the novice a little more credit than that, simply confusing them because they are new terms to him or her. But these terms are not interchangeable, as cool as they may sound, and they have very specific meanings. These meanings vary from war to war and between nations, but we’re not concerned with those meanings. For our purposes here, the definitions of these terms will focus on the American Civil War-era military usage. This upload is designed to be one of many companion uploads to the main episodes of Addressing Gettysburg. This, is the Gettysburg Glossary. A few things to note before moving on are that, when discussing numbers of soldiers, there are two types of figures given here: the “on paper” figures, meaning what the respective unit sizes should be if recruited and mustered into service at full strength, and the average numbers as they were at Gettysburg. So, when listening to episode 1, Antietam to Chancellorsville, for example, a brigade’s stated numerical strength would be somewhere in between the “on paper” numbers and the Gettysburg average. Disease, including infection, was the number one cause of death during the Civil War. These diseases were contracted in various ways. Some were a result of behavior, many more were a result of camp life, and others were the result of medical treatments. Now a word about the Gettysburg average: All one needs to do is read two books on the battle of Gettysburg to find that no one truly agrees on the actual number of men involved. Throughout the fifteen and a half decades since the battle, scholars of the battle have looked at the numbers in an effort to come closer to a more realistic figure of totals. Some historians have the numbers at 95000 Union soldiers against 75000 Confederate soldiers. Some say 80000 to 60000. The minutiae of exactly how many each army had isn’t as important as recognizing that most historians seem to agree that there’s a difference of about 15000-20000 in favor of the Union. Also, it would be a mistake to assume that the Union victory at Gettysburg was mainly due to its outnumbering the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. If that were the case, the North would have won the war long before April of 1865. So when it comes to the numbers we use in Addressing Gettysburg, they are used more for illustrative purposes than actuarial figures. When our sources are conflicting with each other on these figures, we yield to the numbers used by the National Park Service of each battlefield we discuss, or the American Battlefield Trust. The terms discussed in this upload can be found, along with a multitude of others, on the American Battlefield trust’s website. We extrapolate on many of these definitions. And now, the Gettysburg Glossary. Military Units Company: A group of 50 to 100 soldiers led by a captain. 10 companies = 1 regiment. Smaller units within a company are platoons which are made up of squads. Regiment- the building blocks of the army were regiments. On paper, each regiment, was comprised of ten companies of 100 men. Those companies would be recruited in a town or several nearby towns and sent to their respective state capitals to be trained and mustered into service as part of a regiment. Regiments would be numbered in order of appearance, for the most part, for example, the First Pennsylvania Volunteer infantry, the second pennsylvania volunteer infantry, etc. This was also done for cavalry units with the word “cavalry” replacing the word “infantry”. So, there would be a first pennsylvania volunteer infantry and a first pennsylvania volunteer cavalry. They were men who answered the call for volunteers at the outbreak of the war and fell under the volunteer service. Regiments who were part of the Federal service, or “regular army”, would be numbered as the First United States cavalry or infantry and so on. As the war pressed on, these numbers diminished so that, by Gettysburg, the average size of a Union regiment was around 350 men and a Confederate regiment being slightly larger. This was not a reflection of the populations in the north and south, but, rather, a reflection of the method of integrating raw recruits into the army. Northern recruits were placed into new regiments while southern recruits were mingled into veteran units. A regiment was officially led by a field officer at the rank of colonel. When a colonel was absent due to sickness, wounding, death or being placed in command of the brigade to which the regiment belonged, lower ranking officers such as lieutenant colonels, majors and even captains moved up to command the regiment. Multiple regiments would be organized into brigades. Brigade- a brigade was typically three to five, sometimes six, regiments. On paper, its strength should be 3000 to 5000 men. But, by Gettysburg, the average Union brigade might number around 1000 to around 1500 men, while its confederate counterpart might be slightly larger. One noteworthy brigade was the Irish Brigade. At the battle of Fredericksburg in December, 1862, the brigade numbered around 1200 men and sustained about 45% casualties. In the interim months, they would sustain some more at Chancellorsville (though not nearly as many), and would suffer the typical losses from sickness and disease. All of these factors combined to whittle their numbers down to just over 500 men by the time of the battle of Gettysburg in July, 1863. Division- Once a brigade was formed, it was assigned to a division. In the Union army at Gettysburg, a division typically had between two and four brigades. In the Confederate army at Gettysburg, a division had between 3 and 5 brigades, with Pickett’s Division being an example of one with three brigades, while Rodes’ Division is one example of a division with five brigades. Union divisions were numbered and their respective corps badges would be either red, white or blue, indicating first division, second division or third division, respectively, although commonly, and in this podcast, we will refer to these divisions by the commanders’ names. Confederate divisions were named for their commanders. This could lead to some confusion when the commander for which the division is named is out of action. At Gettysburg, for example, when Pettigrew rose to command Heth’s Division after Heth was wounded on the first day, it was still known as Heth’s Division, but for simplicity's sake, Addressing Gettysburg will make note of the change in commanders and refer to it as Pettigrew’s Division when discussing its participation in the July 3rd assault on the Union center, popularly known as “Pickett’s Charge”. Corps- A very large group of soldiers led by a major general in the Union Army or a lieutenant general in the Confederate Army. Union Corps were designated by a Roman numeral while Confederate corps were also numbered, but often called by the name of their commanding general (as in Longstreet’s Corps). Two or more divisions make up a corps. At Gettysburg, the average Union Corps numbered somewhere around 10,000 men, with the Sixth Corps coming in slightly larger with between 14,000 and 16,000, depending on your source. Confederate Corps will be about double the size of its Union counterpart. Army: The largest organizational group of soldiers, made up of one or more corps. There were 16 Union armies (named after rivers, such as the Army of the Potomac) and 23 Confederate armies (named after states or regions, such as the Army of Northern Virginia). At Gettysburg, only the Union Army of the Potomac and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia would be present. Infantry- that branch of the army in which soldiers traveled by foot. Infantry was the main fighting force of the army. It was called on to take positions or hold positions. Cavalry- that branch of the army in which soldiers traveled by horse. Cavalry’s role was to gather intelligence, screen the movements of the main body of the army, guard the rear of the army, supplies, prisoners, wagon trains. It might help the listener to think of cavalry as, essentially, scouts. This is because the absence of JEB Stuart’s cavalry will play into many of the decisions Robert E Lee made during the three-day battle. Artillery- that branch of the army that organized, dispersed and operated cannon, rifled guns and mortars of the field, siege and naval classes. Artillery at Gettysburg was of the field artillery classification.At the start of the war, the U.S. Army had 2,283 guns on hand, but only about 10% of these were field artillery pieces. By the end of the war, the army had 3,325 guns, of which 53% were field pieces. The army reported as "supplied to the army during the war" the following quantities: 7,892 guns, 6,335,295 artillery projectiles, 2,862,177 rounds of fixed artillery ammunition, 45,258 tons of lead metal, and 13,320 tons of gunpowder. OTHER TERMS USED IN ADDRESSING GETTYSBURG Aide-de-Camp: A soldier who was appointed by an officer to be his confidential assistant. The aide wrote and delivered orders and held a position of responsibility which required him to know troop positions and where officer quarters were located. The aide-de-camp was an officer by virtue of his position and he took orders from his commander only. Battery: The basic unit of soldiers in an artillery regiment; similar to a company in an infantry regiment. Batteries included 6 cannon (with the horses, ammunition, and equipment needed to move and fire them), 155 men, a captain, 30 other officers, 2 buglers, 52 drivers, and 70 cannoneers. As the War dragged on, very few batteries fought at full strength. A battery can also be the position on a battlefield where cannon are located. Bivouac: (pronounced BIH-voo-ack) Temporary soldier encampment in which soldiers were provided no shelter other than what could be assembled quickly, such as branches; sleeping in the open. Border States: The states of Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, and Missouri. Although these states did not officially join the Confederacy, many of their citizens supported the South. Breastworks: Barriers which were about breast-high and protected soldiers from enemy fire. Breech-loading: Rifle-muskets that could be loaded at the breech (in the middle between the barrel and the stock) instead of from the end (by shoving gunpowder and a ball down the barrel) were called breech-loading guns Campaign: A series of military operations that form a distinct phase of the War Canister: Canister shot was the deadliest type of ammunition, consisting of a thin metal container loaded with layers of lead or iron balls packed in sawdust. Upon exiting the muzzle, the container disintegrated, and the balls fanned out as the equivalent of a shotgun blast. The effective range of canister was only 400 yards (370 m), but within that range dozens of enemy infantrymen could be mowed down. Even more devastating was "double canister", generally used only in dire circumstances at extremely close range, where two containers of balls were fired simultaneously. Carbine: [car-been] A breech-loading, single-shot, rifle-barreled gun primarily used by cavalry troops. A carbine's barrel is several inches shorter than a regular rifle-musket. Case (or shrapnel) Case (or "spherical case" for smoothbores) were antipersonnel projectiles carrying a smaller burst charge than shell, but designed to be more effective against exposed troops. While shell produced only a few large fragments, case was loaded with lead or iron balls and was designed to burst above and before the enemy line, showering down many more small but destructive projectiles on the enemy. The effect was analogous to a weaker version of canister. With case the lethality of the balls and fragments came from the velocity of the projectile itself – the small burst charge only fragmented the case and dispersed the shrapnel. The spherical case used in a 12-pounder Napoleon contained 78 balls. The name shrapnel derives from its inventor, Henry Shrapnel. The primary limitations to case's effectiveness came in judging the range, setting the fuse accordingly, and the reliability and variability of the fuse itself Caisson The caisson was also a two-wheeled carriage. It carried two ammunition chests and a spare wheel. A fully loaded limber and caisson combination weighed 3,811 pounds (1728.6 kg). The limbers, caissons, and gun carriages were all constructed of oak. Each ammunition chest typically carried about 500 pounds (226.8 kg) of ammunition or supplies. In addition to these vehicles, there were also battery supply wagons and portable forges that were used to service the guns. Charge: To rush towards the enemy. “A charge” can refer to the act of rushing the enemy’s lines by cavalry or infantry, but also the amount of gunpowder loaded into a firearm in order to send the projectile out of the gun’s barrel. Courier: A soldier who served the officers of his regiment by carrying messages. Defeat in Detail: Defeating a military force unit by unit. This occurred when units were unable to support one another, often because of distance. Dysentery: Intestinal disease causing severe diarrhea. Dysentery was a leading cause of deaths by disease. Entrenchments: Long cuts (trenches) dug out of the earth with the dirt piled up into a mound in front; used for defense. Earthwork: A field fortification (such as a trench or a mound) made of earth. Earthworks were used to protect troops during battles or sieges, to protect artillery batteries, and to slow an advancing enemy. Flank: Used as a noun, a “flank” is the end (or side) of a military position, also called a “wing”. An unprotected flank is “in the air”, while a protected flank is a “refused flank”. Used as a verb, “to flank” is to move around and gain the side of an enemy position, avoiding a frontal assault. Garrison: A group of soldiers stationed at a military post. Grapeshot- Grapeshot, by the time of Gettysburg, was relegated to a term used interchangeably with canister. While similar to canister, grapeshot originated in Naval use for firing into an enemy ship at close range in order to cut the rigging and sails and clear the decks of personnel. While grapeshot was used for a period of time in the field, canister had come to replace grapeshot’s use on land in the American Civil war. The period Ordnance and Gunnery work states that grape was excluded from "field and mountain services. Hardtack: Hardtack is a term used to describe the hard crackers often issued to soldiers of both sides during the Civil War. These crackers consisted of nothing more than flour, water, and salt. They were simple and inexpensive to make in very large quantities. However, these crackers became almost rock solid once they went stale. Haversack: Small canvas bag, about one foot square, used to carry a soldier's food. Typically, these bags were painted with black tar to make them waterproof. Howitzer: A cannon which fired hollow projectiles and was generally lighter and shorter than its solid-shot cousins. A howitzer's projectiles had a smaller powder charge. Also, canister projectiles contained more small balls than other types of canister. Howitzers were useful in defending fortifications and causing disorder within a fortification by an attacking force Interior Lines: A military strategy which holds that the fastest, most efficient maneuvers, transportation and communication are conducted within an enclosed geographic area as opposed to outside the geographic area. Kepi: Cap worn by Civil War soldiers; more prevalent among Union soldiers. Limber: A two-wheeled cart that carried one ammunition chest for an artillery piece. The artillery piece could be attached to the limber, which would allow both to be pulled by a team of horses. Also verb: The practice of attaching a piece of artillery to the limber that holds its ammunition. Militia: Troops, like the National Guard, who are only called out to defend the land in an emergency. Muster: To formally enroll in the army or to call roll. Muzzle-loading: Muzzle-loading muskets or rifle muskets had to be loaded from the end by putting the gunpowder and the bullet or ball down the barrel. The vast majority of small arms and artillery used at Gettysburg were muzzle-loading weapons Napoleon Gun: Another name for the Model 1857 gun howitzer. This lighter, more maneuverable field artillery piece fired 12 pound projectiles and was very popular with both Federal and Confederate armies Napoleonic Tactics: The tactics used by Napoleon Bonaparte that were studied by military men and cadets at West Point before the Civil War. His tactics were brilliant for the technology of warfare at the time he was fighting. However, by the Civil War, weapons had longer ranges and were more accurate than they had been in Napoleon’s day. Ordnance: The term used for military supplies, such as weaponry and ammunition. Parrott gun: A rifled artillery piece with a reinforcing band at the rear, or breech. Parrott guns were used by both the Army and the Navy, and ranged from 10-pounders to 300-pounders. They were named after their designer, Robert Parker Parrott. Picket: Soldiers posted on guard ahead of a main force. Pickets included about 40 or 50 men each. Several pickets would form a rough line in front of the main army's camp. In case of enemy attack, the pickets usually would have time to warn the rest of the force. During the Gettysburg Campaign, it was a picket line that first encountered Longstreet’s spy names “Harrison” and brought him to Longstreet’s chief of staff, Moxley Sorrel. Pontoon Bridge: (pronounced pawn-TOON) A floating bridge which was constructed by anchoring a series of large, flat-bottomed boats across a waterway and then laying wooden planks across them. The planks (the “chess”) were anchored by side rails and then covered with a layer of soil to protect it and to dampen sounds. Pontoon bridges were extremely important to the outcome of several battles, including Fredericksburg. Quartermaster: The officer who was responsible for supplying clothing, supplies and food for the troops. Reserve(s): Part(s) of the army which were withheld from fighting during a particular battle but ready and available to fight if necessary Rifle-Musket: The common weapon of the Civil War infantryman, it was a firearm fired from the shoulder. It differed from a regular musket by the grooves (called rifling) cut into the inside of the barrel. When the exploding powder thrusts the bullet forward, the grooves in the barrel make it spin, just like a football spirals through the air. Rifle-muskets were more accurate and had a longer range than smoothbore weapons. Shot: A solid, round projectile, shot from a cannon. Shell: A hollow projectile, shot from a cannon; a shell was filled with powder and lit by a fuse when it was fired. Shells exploded when their fuse burned down to the level of the powder. Depending on the length of the fuse, artillerymen could decide when they wanted the shell to burst. Skirmish: A minor fight. Spike: To make an artillery piece unusable so that it could not be used by the enemy if captured. Theater: A theater of war is a region or area where fighting takes place. Traverse: A mound of earth used to protect gun positions from explosion or to defilade the inside of a field work or fortification. Vedette(or vidette): A mounted sentry stationed in advance of a picket line Works: Fortified structures designed to strengthen a position in battle. This includes earthworks, fieldworks, entrenchments, siege lines, etc. Zouave: (pronounced zoo-ahv or zwahv) A zouave regiment was characterized by its soldiers' bright, colorful uniforms which usually included baggy trousers, a vest, and a fez in different combinations of red, white, and blue. American zouave units were found in both Union and Confederate armies. They were modeled after French African troops who were known for their bravery and marksmanship. This glossary was compiled by Matt Callery from various online sources including battlefields.org, nps.gov and with the assistance of Licensed Battlefield Guide, Lewis Trott. Be sure to visit us at addressinggettysburg.com and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @addressinggettysburg Copyright 2019, Fair use
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park historian Patrick Schroeder talked about Zouave units in the Civil War, the Appomattox campaign, and Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House.
Reposted from: www.leadonnetwork.com/wordpress This is a Day in Washington #Disability #Policy Podcast. http://dayinwashington.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/1-BlackHistoryMonth-Cathay-Williams-final.mp3 Audio File: http://dayinwashington.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/1-BlackHistoryMonth-Cathay-Williams-final.mp3 Although originally posted for Black History Month (February), Cathay Williams is great for Women's History Month (March) as well! Cathay Williams (September 1844 1892) On 15 November 1866 in St. Louis, Cathay Williams enlisted in the United States Army, 38th Infantry as a man named William Cathay. To date, she is the only documented African-American woman who served in the U.S. Army (until modern time). From the St. Louis Daily Times, January 2, 1876: €œThe regiment I joined wore the Zouave uniform and only two persons, a cousin and a particular friend, members of the regiment, knew that I was a woman. They never €˜blowed' on me. They were partly the cause of my joining the army. Another reason was I wanted to make my own living and not be dependent on relations or friends. Soon after I joined the army, I was taken with the small-pox and was sick at a hospital across the river from St. Louis, but as soon as I got well I joined my company in New Mexico. She seemed an average soldier; she performed garrison duty adequately enough. She drilled and trained with Company A, and went scouting for signs of hostile Native Americans. There was no cause for her to be remarked upon either positively or negatively in any officer reports of record. In January 1868 her health began deteriorating. On the 27th, she was admitted to the post hospital for rheumatism. She released, and then was admitted again on March 20th. During her military career, she was in four hospitals, on five separate occasions, for varying amounts of time. On July 13, she was admitted into the hospital and diagnosed with neuralgia (a catch-all term for pain caused by a nerve, or parts of the nervous system). Finally, on October 14, 1868 William Cathey was discharged with a certificate of disability. After this, she resumed her identity as Cathay Williams and worked in New Mexico and Colorado as cook, laundress and nurse. In 1890, she was hospitalized in eighteen months though no mention is given of the specific ailment. In June 1891 she filed for an invalid pension based upon her military service. She claimed loss of hearing, neuralgia, and rheumatism. Upon a doctor's examination, pension records show that all her toes on both feet had been amputated, and she could only walk with a crutch. From DeAnne Blanton's CATHAY WILLIAMS, BLACK WOMAN SOLDIER: It is unfortunate that so little is known of Cathay Williams. The information in her pension file together with the scattered references to her in military records is all that exists. The fragmentary references to her physical condition, however, provide some clues as to what may have caused of her various ailments during the course of her adult life. It is entirely possible that Cathay Williams suffered from mild diabetes. The Pension Bureau rejected her claim on the grounds that no disability existed. Resources You can read more about her here Cathay Williams, Female Buffalo Soldier: http://www.buffalosoldier.net/CathayWilliamsFemaleBuffaloSoldierWithDocuments.htm And Cathay Williams, Black Woman Buffalo Soldier:http://www.beyondblackwhite.com/cathay-williams-black-woman-buffalo-soldier/
Welcome back to rememberinghistory.com where we are remembering history and we’re making it. We’re here for another Wiki history lecture featuring the great and groundbreaking podcast series on African Americans in the United States military. November is the month that Americans remember and honor its veterans—the brave men and women who fought for freedom and liberty both within the country and around the world. Did you know that there are nearly 20 million veterans living in the United States. Of that number, more than 2 million veterans are African American. African Americans have fought in every U.S. war beginning with the Revolutionary War. Civil War: 200,000 African Americans served, mostly but not all for the Union war effort. Did you know that Harriet Tubman served as a nurse and spy for the Union Army? World War I: 375,000 African Americans served, mostly as labor: cooking, cleaning and building roads. There was also the Harlem Hellfighters—if you haven’t heard about these incredible guys, you can find their story on one of my podcasts. World War II: 1 million African Americans who fought the Nazis. The Tuskegee Airmen were displayed their bravery and skill during this great war. Most roles for African Americans though were still limited to labor. I won’t continue through all the wars but I’m sure that you send the trend! African Americans distinguished themselves and served with honor in every U.S. war. Indeed, the African American presence in the military was always strong and is continuing to grow stronger. There were difficulties, particularly racial discrimination, there were victories and triumphs, there have been heroes (lots of heroes!) and yes, there have been defeats. The history is long and varied so I think that we should get started discussing this fascinating but often forgotten history, this forgotten contribution made by African Americans. This is African American history at its finest! But you might be asking yourself: what can I learn from it? Great question. Here’s the answer: Courage. Determination. Honor. Great qualities! Everyone can benefit from these qualities—whether military or civilian, male or female, rich or poor, Black or white. These are great qualities for everyone. And these stories about African Americans in the military--their courage to face obstacles like racism, their determination to fight for their country and their freedom, their courage under fire whether it came from Nazis in 1944, from the Vietcong in 1969 or from other Americans, their honor in saving lives in their country and around the world—these stories will inspire you to transcend any hardships that might be in your own life. Since this is a wiki history lecture, we will not discuss the African American presence every U.S. war—that would take a very long time—so we will focus on discussing a few special people who distinguished themselves in the military. Remember that my belief—and the approach that we take at rememberinghistory.com—is that history is made by individuals. History is the story of how people lived, how they contributed to their world, what they dreamed of, what they fought for and what they died for. History is made by individuals. So I am absolutely going to tell the stories of a few special individuals who have served their country with honor and distinction. These people have not only helped to serve and protect us, they have also given us a path to follow. Just like the great explorers that we discussed in last month’s podcast series, these people are also role models that we can learn from. Some have distinguished themselves in combat, some by their mere presence in the military, others in unique and controversial ways. All are important. All have contributed to our freedom. And at rememberinghistory.com, we thank them all. We will discuss two such heroes in the first episode of this series on Blacks in the military. In the second podcast show in the series, we will examine the stories of Blacks in the military as shown on the big screen. That’s right, we’ll discuss movies that show various aspects of the African American experience in the military. I love movies and I’ll mention some of my favorites. If you have favorites, I would love to hear about them. So please leave comments at the rememberinghistory.com website or at the Remembering History Facebook page. If we have time, and I know that we’re bumping up against Thanksgiving (if you are in the United States), we will have one final show that will take special note of the contributions of African Americans currently serving in the U.S. armed forces. You will definitely find this important and inspirational information on the website and Facebook page. And you might also find it on podcast. Send me a message and let me know what you would like. Speaking about that, I hope that you remember the website and Facebook pages are places where you can find a great group of fun and friendly historians where you can participate in discussions, ask questions, make comments or just talk about anything that interests you. We’re open to all viewpoints and we welcome all interested people. Please also visit the Books & Stuff store where you can find books, DVDs (like the ones that I’ll mention in this podcast series) and lots of other educational and fun tools about African American history. Everything has been personally vetted by me so you can trust it all. Or you can send me your criticisms. I take full responsibility for everything on this website. Not many places where you can find personal responsibility but you can find it here. Without further ado, let’s open our great and groundbreaking podcast show about Blacks in the Military with a unique and interesting person who was determined to serve her country. Yes, that’s right. We’re opening this great and groundbreaking show with a discussion about a woman who served in the armed forces. Women in the military is very common today, which is great. But her story began more than 100 years ago—and things were different then. Oh, but I’m jumping ahead (or rather jumping back) too much. Let me tell her story properly. Cathay Williams might be a familiar name to you. But it’s not in many history books. And it’s not in the army enlistment registers either. However, in the army register, you might find the name William Cathay. In fact, I know that you will because I’ve seen it myself. William Cathay. 5 feet 9 inches in height, black eyes, black hair and a black complexion. But William Cathay did not exist. This is not a description for William Cathay enlisting in the armed forces. This is the description for Cathay William. That’s right. Cathay William. And this is her story. This is the story of an African American woman who disguised herself as a man to enlist in the army, the Buffalo soldiers to be exact. And she is the first known African American woman to enlist in the United States army and the only African American woman documented to serve in the United States army in the 19th century. Cathay William was born into slavery in 1844 in Independence, Missouri. When she was 17 years old, in 1861, she was captured and “freed” by Union troops (remember this was at the start of the Civil War). Although she was “freed”, captured slaves were considered contraband and were usually forced to work for the Union soldiers. Cathay William was no exception and she worked as a cook and laundress for the remainder of the war. After the American Civil War ended in 1865, employment opportunities were scarce for African Americans. Cathay William always wanted to support herself. She was determined not to be a burden on any family members or friends. She applied for jobs but found nothing beyond cooking and sewing. Many African Americans looked to military service where they could have steady pay but also get an education, health care and a pension. But these positions were open only to men. A male cousin of Cathay William enlisted and received all these benefits. She decided that she would also enlist—as a man. She switched her first and last names (enter William Cathay), took the medical exam and enlisted. Yes, she actually passed a medical examination as a man! She was declared fit for duty on November 15, 1866 and was assigned to the 38th Infantry Unit. This was one of the six units known as the Buffalo Soldiers. Cathay Williams was as strong as any man in the regiment and she was, in fact, the tallest of the unit. But her career in the military was short-lived. Unfortunately, she contracted smallpox shortly after enlisting the army in Missouri. Still, she marched 536 miles from Fort Harker in Kansas to Fort Cummings in New Mexico. Along the way, she had to be hospitalized 3 times. As a result of the smallpox, she suffered deafness and rheumatism. She also had 10 toes amputated because of diabetes, which caused her to use crutches to walk. In 1868 at the age of 47, she was discharged because of medical disability. No one (except her cousin and perhaps a few others in the regiment) ever knew that she was a woman. After her discharge, she worked as a cook, laundress, seamstress and nurse in towns throughout Colorado. However, she could not continue to work because of the illnesses she contracted during her military service. So she applied for a military pension and this is when the problems began. Despite her disabilities, the army surgeon declared her to be in “overall good health” and “able to work.” During this time, it was discovered that she was a woman. (The exact means of discovery are not clear.) She was denied the pension. She had to continue working as a cook, laundress and seamstress to support herself. It is not entirely clear what year Cathay William died but it is estimated that it was as early as 1892 or as late as 1900. What is known is that the denial of her pension contributed to her death because she was forced to do physical labor despite her weakened condition. Cathay Williams was a strong, brave and determined woman in an age when opportunities for women, particularly African American women, were limited. She is quoted as saying, “The regiment I joined wore the Zouave uniform and only two persons, a cousin and particular friend, who were members of the regiment knew that I was a woman. They never ‘blowed’ on me. They were partly the cause of my joining the army. Another reason was I wanted to make my own living and not be dependent on relations or friends.” She wanted to be independent. And she served her country with honor. Courage. Determination. Honor. Just a note that many women posed as men to enlist in the American Civil War. Some report list hundreds of women posing as men to serve in the army. Some were discovered because of hospital treatments. Others were not discovered during their service but only “confessed” afterwards. Cathay William is one of the few women (and the only Black woman) whose service is documented. She just wanted to make a living. But she was also making history! Wow, what an amazing woman! Too bad that she contracted smallpox so early in her career. Still she tried to persist through the debilitating symptoms. Remember she did complete that 500-mile walk. Also, it was too bad that the military did not support her after she could no longer serve. But still she was a strong woman (physically and mentally) and she remained independent throughout her life. She’s an example and role model to us all! If you want to learn more about Cathay William—and I really hope that you do—I recommend a great book called Cathay William: From Slave to Buffalo Soldier by Phillip Thomas Tucker. You’ll learn a lot more about this amazing woman and yes there is much more to learn about her. The story will inspire you. Guaranteed! Now let’s turn to another African American (this time a man) who is also great role model. In fact, he is such a great role model and a true officer and gentleman that the Military Academy at West Point gives an award EVERY YEAR in his name. Do you know his name? I hope so. But I’m gonna tell you anyway. He is Lieutenant Henry Ossian Flipper and he has an amazing story. Born into slavery in 1856, Henry Flipper was the eldest of 5 brothers. He was born and lived until his freedom in Thomasville, Georgia. At great risk to everyone, another slave on the plantation taught Henry to read and this would, as expected, play an important role throughout his life. When the American Civil War ended in 1865, Henry (because he could read and write) attended Atlanta University. He displayed a strong aptitude for math and engineering so he was sent to the Military Academy at West Point. He was not the first African American to attend the academy. In fact, there were 6 other Black men already studying there. They all experienced racial discrimination as well as physical and mental abuse. At the time, there was 1 Black cadet who had been savagely attacked by several white cadets. The cadet (not Henry Flipper) survived the attack but was later expelled for making false charges against the white cadets who had attacked him. Now this did not happen to Henry but it shows the environment in which he was suddenly cast. And Henry did experience a lot of racism and abuse from the white officers and cadets at the academy. Henry Flipper graduated from West Point in 1877. Although he wasn’t the first African American to attend the academy, he did become the first African American cadet to graduate (or be commissioned) from it. He was then appointed as a second lieutenant in the army cavalry. His first commission was to lead the 10th army cavalry regiment. Perhaps you know them as the Buffalo Soldiers. Lieutenant Henry Flipper became the first nonwhite officer to lead the Buffalo Soldiers! His first assignment was to Fort Sill in Oklahoma where he showed his skills as a master engineer. He began with engineering a ditch to drain the malaria-infested swamp. That ditch is still known today as “Flipper’s Ditch.” He also supervised the construction of roads and telegraph lines. From there, he was moved to Fort Concho in west Texas and two years later to Fort Davis, also in Texas. Unfortunately, Fort Davis is where Lieutenant Flipper would encounter the racism that would ultimately end his military career. This would be initiated by First Lieutenant William Shafter—Lieutenant Flipper’s commanding officer. Lieutenant Shafter was brought to Fort Davis, Texas to command the 24th infantry, another Buffalo Soldiers unit. While Lieutenant Shafter accepted Black troops as soldiers, he was absolutely opposed to them as officers. This placed him in direct conflict with Lieutenant Flipper. Lieutenant Shafter (later known as Pecos Bill) brought charges of embezzling government funds (based on falsified evidence) against Lieutenant Flipper, which led to court martial proceedings. It was the ultimate frame up. Fortunately, the court martial found Lieutenant Flipper innocent of the embezzlement charge. However, he was found guilty of “conduct unbecoming of an officer and gentleman”. This was based on Lieutenant Flipper’s relationship with the white daughter of a former commanding officer. (In fact, they used the letters between the Lieutenant Flipper and the C/O’s daughter as evidence against him.) Lieutenant Flipper was received a dishonorable discharge in 1882. He would spend the remainder of his life fighting the conviction and attempting to regain his commission. (By the way, Lieutenant Shafter would later be promoted and awarded the Medal of Honor.) But Lieutenant Flipper’s story is not over yet. Henry Flipper returned to El Paso, Texas where he worked as a civil engineer. He also worked in Mexico and returned to the United States to work as an advisor on revolutionary politics for Senator Albert Fall. In 1923, Henry Flipper moved to Venezuela to work as a civil engineer in the petroleum industry. In 1931, he retired in Atlanta, Georgia where he died in 1940. But, no, the story still is not over. In 1976, Henry Flipper’s descendants and supporters applied to the Army Board for the Correction of Military Records to overturn Flipper’s conviction and sentence. The board, after stating it did not have the authority to overturn his court-martial conviction, concluded the conviction and punishment were "unduly harsh and unjust" and recommended that Flipper's dismissal be changed to a good conduct discharge. In 1999, President Bill Clinton issued a full pardon to Lieutenant Henry Flipper. After his discharge was changed, a bust of Lieutenant Flipper was unveiled at West Point. Since then, an annual Henry O. Flipper Award has been granted to graduating cadets at the academy who exhibit "leadership, self-discipline, and perseverance in the face of unusual difficulties.” This is the award that I mentioned earlier and no one is more deserving of such an honor as Lieutenant Henry Flipper. Throughout his life, Henry Flipper was a prolific author, writing about scientific topics, the history of the Southwest, and his own experiences. In his book, The Colored Cadet at West Point (1878) he describes his experiences at the military academy. In the posthumously published book, Negro Frontiersman: The Western Memoirs of Henry O. Flipper (1963), he describes his life in Texas and Arizona after his discharge from the Army. You can find these books and others in the store on the rememberinghistory.com website. I also like the DVD called Held in Trust about Lieutenant Flipper. But I admit that nothing beats a book that is written by the person who has actually faced the situations. So, remember that you can find all these great resources on the website. You can decide which is best for you. Courage. Determination. Honor. Lieutenant Henry O. Flipper. So, this concludes the two stories of African American women and men who served the country with honor and distinction. You might have noticed that I chose people who had been born into slavery. People who, upon gaining their freedom when slavery ended, chose to serve their country in the armed forces. Both Cathay William and Lieutenant Henry Flipper had different stories but also similar experiences of racism, discrimination and hardship. But they also had stories of courage, determination and honor. Their stories need to be told because we all can learn from them. We can aim for these high qualities. Courage. Determination. Honor. I hope that you noticed that both of today’s history makers also had a connection with the Buffalo Soldiers. If you want more information about the Buffalo Soldiers, I have a fantastic podcast about them (which also includes a discussion about the Harlem Hellfighters) that you can find on the website. I won’t go into detail about either legendary group right now, but I really encourage you to listen to my podcast about them. They were great history makers and they deserve recognition for their service. In the next podcast show, we will examine a few of the best movies about African Americans in the military. Let’s remember our veterans this month and every month. Let’s never forget their commitment and sacrifices so that we all could be free and safe. Not all were heroes. Not all were patriots. And not all came home. But their memory endures. Because of my appreciation for their great service, I am dedicating these wiki history podcasts about Blacks in the military to a Black veterans organization called the National Association of Black Veterans or nabvets. They are an excellent resource for Black veterans and their families. They provide assistance with filing claims, have lots of information for veterans, and provide chaplain services. They have offices around the United States. Or you can visit their website at www.nabvets.org. For every person who listens to this (or any of my November wiki history podcasts), I will donate $1 to the National Association of Black Veterans Association. It is an honor and privilege to support this organization and I hope that you will too. They also have incredible volunteer opportunities so there’s another way to contribute. Remember www.nabvets.org. Remember our veterans: Honor. Courage. Determination. Great goals for us all. And please visit rememberinghistory.com. Leave your questions or comments. And I would love to hear from our veterans or women and men who are currently serving in the military. You are a great inspiration. And thank you for your service. Honor. Courage. Determination. See you next time at rememberinghistory.com where are remembering history and we’re making it. Bye for now!
A LIFE OF GEN. ROBERT E. LEE.BY JOHN ESTEN COOKE. ''Duty is the sublimest word in our language.'' ''Human virtue should be equal to human calamity.'' LEE. 1876 PART II.IN FRONT OF RICHMOND.V. Stuart's ''Ride around McClellan'' General James E.B. Stuart, who now made his first prominent appearance upon the theatre of the war, was a Virginian by birth, and not yet thirty years of age. Resigning his commission of lieutenant in the United States Cavalry at the beginning of the war, he had joined Johnston in the Valley, and impressed that officer with a high opinion of his abilities as a cavalry officer proceeded thence to Manassas, where he charged and broke a company of ''Zouave'' infantry protected the rear of the army when Johnston retired to the Rappahannock, and bore an active part in the conflict on the Peninsula. In person he was of medium height his frame was broad and powerful he wore a heavy brown beard flowing upon his breast, a huge mustache of the same color, the ends curling upward and the blue eyes, flashing beneath a ''piled-up'' forehead, had at times the dazzling brilliancy attributed to the eyes of the eagle. Fond of movement, adventure, bright colors, and all the pomp and pageantry of war, Stuart had entered on the struggle with ardor, and enjoyed it as the huntsman enjoys the chase. Young, ardent, ambitious, as brave as steel, ready with jest or laughter, with his banjo-player following him, going into the hottest battles humming a song, this young Virginian was, in truth, an original character, and impressed powerfully all who approached him. One who knew him well wrote: ''Every thing striking, brilliant, and picturesque, seemed to centre in him. The war seemed to be to Stuart a splendid and exciting game, in which his blood coursed joyously, and his immensely strong physical organization found an arena for the display of all its faculties. The affluent life of the man craved those perils and hardships which flush the pulses and make the heart beat fast. He swung himself into the saddle at the sound of the bugle as the hunter springs on horseback and at such moments his cheeks glowed and his huge mustache curled with enjoyment. The romance and poetry of the hard trade of arms seemed first to be inaugurated when this joyous cavalier, with his floating plume and splendid laughter, appeared upon the great arena of the war in Virginia.'' Precise people shook their heads, and called him frivolous, undervaluing his great ability. Those best capable of judging him were of a different opinion. Johnston wrote to him from the west: ''How can I eat or sleep in peace without _you_ upon the outpost?'' Jackson said, when he fell at Chancellorsville: ''Go back to General Stuart, and tell him to act upon his own judgment, and do what he thinks best, I have implicit confidence in him.'' Lee said, when he was killed at Yellow Tavern: ''I can scarcely think of him without weeping.'' And the brave General Sedgwick, of the United States Army, said: ''Stuart is the best cavalry officer ever _foaled_ in North America!''
Wed, Aug 13 2008 Mister Ron's Basement #1120 Q. K. Philander Doesticks, P. B. (actually Mortimer Thomson) covered the Civil War in his strangely oblique manner, which is represented here by the 1861 story of being a Zouave, 'Doesticks on 'Shoddy.'' Time: approx four and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The Philander Doesticks (Mortimer Thomson) Catalog of Stories is at: http://ronevry.com/doesticks.html