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American West; The Murder of Sheriff Gaylord Lyman, Chariton Iowa July 12th , 1870, Edited by Gene Stevens

  The following story was compiled by John G. Pierce of 

Chariton Iowa. 

The Outlaw post card from the Authors collection

                                              INTRODUCTION BY BLOG AUTHOR

 

 Iowa is almost overlooked when it comes to the stories of outlawry in the region. However, there are many forgotten stories from the past, including the first train robbery in the west that occurred in Adair Iowa in 1873, the outlaw Frank Rande who went on a crime spree in Illinois, Iowa and Missouri and the Barrow gang shootout in Dexter Iowa in 1933. Another lessor know incident happened in Chariton Iowa in 1870, when the local Sheriff Gaylord Lyman was alerted that there was a possible horse thief heading to Chariton. A letter that was allegedly received from Northern Missouri warned him to be on the lookout. On July, 6, 1870 Sheriff Lyman confronted a suspicious character, which resulted in gunfire and the murder of Sheriff Lyman by outlaw Hiram Wilson. The booklet shown here was created by Author John G. Pierce, he gave me permission publish it directly from his work.

-Gene Stevens 

Hiram Wilson was seized by vigilantes and outraged citizens and hung . 

Frontier Justice was swift, even in Iowa

Credit Laramie's Vigilante Justice - Cavalryman Steakhouse (wyomingsteakhouse.com)

Iowa was admitted to the union as a free state under the Missouri compromise.

There were still fears that the Civil war could reignite, and they were 

on guard for several days after the shooting and subsequent hanging of Hiram Wilson.

American West; The Assassination Attempt on Mayor John Clum By, Gene Stevens

                                                 Photo from John Clum's book

                                                 It All Happened in Tombstone 

The "death list" had been prepared with the most spectacular and dramatic  ceremonial, enacted at midnight within the recesses of a deep canyon, during which the names of the "elect" had been written in blood drawn from the veins of a murderer.  Not one of those who's names appeared on this blood red "death list" would be permitted to escape from Tombstone alive.

-John Clum explains the conspiracy to murder the Earps, Doc Holliday,  Judge Wells Spicer, Tom Fitch and Marshal Williams. 

 

                                                      Assassination Attempt

 December 14th, 1881, An attempt was made on John Clums life when they tried to assassinate him between Benson and Tombstone while he rode the stage coach east. The coach was attacked by five or six men about 30 mins eastbound of Tombstone.  The coach was not transporting any bullion.  The only reason that they attacked was to kill John Clum. They managed to get away from the kill zone,   Clum separated from the coach so he would not endanger the other passengers.  He then walked 20 miles to Benson.

-John Clum's book, It all happened in Tombstone.

The Ghost's of Tombstones past still hangs heavy over the town that wouldn't die.

-The Author 

                                     John was aware that a plot existed before hand.

                         He tried to keep it a secret.  But there were many enemies in Tombstone.

The back of Clum's book

American West; Book; A Fiendish Crime, The True Story of The First Train Robbery in The West

Located between Des Moines Iowa and Omaha Nebraska, runs a lessor known historic roadway called "White Pole Road". The road is a very unique American by-way. It was once the way west in the early days of the automobile. It currently runs Parallel to the famed I-80 But for those who would prefer to avoid Interstate 80 will find themselves traveling along a quieter, more historic stretch of road. Unbeknownst to modern travelers, this part of Old US Highway 6 was not only the sight of a type of heist heretofore unheard of in the American West in Adair Iowa. 

It was also near the same road that the Barrow gang, of the famed outlaws Bonnie and Clyde were located and shot up by law enforcement and deputies near Dexter Iowa at Dexfield Park in 1933. But most significant is the train robbery of 1873. The telling of the story of this history-altering event is etched upon a modest marker just over a mile west of Adair, Iowa, located off County Road G30. Here, an upright train car wheel marks the spot where, on the summer of July 21, 1873, Jesse James and his gang pulled off the world’s first robbery from aboard a moving train. The following account of the train robbery is based upon written materials both old and new, and newspaper articles of the day.

                                           

                     42 pages, Illustrated

                    15.00  Includes shipping

                           Buy Now

04/07/2024 Update,  

"A Fiendish Crime" was accepted by the James Farm in Kearny Missouri,  and is now part of  the James Farm Research Library. 

On 04/06/2024, I met with the President of the Adair County Historical Society,  Connie Scarlett, We talked about the Jesse James, history and made many connections. And "A Fiendish Crime " will also be in the research library of the historical society in Greenfield Iowa.

04/30/2024

Published the second edition of a Fiendish Crime. Placed copy in a local book store .

                                                             

                                                                    

                                                                        

American West; The Ghost of Boothill Grave Yard, By Gene Stevens

 

The Ghosts of Boot Hill, 

Tombstone Arizona

by

Gene Stevens

Boot Hill Grave Yard, Photo by the Author   

I visited Tombstone Arizona and Boot Hill Several Times over the last few years, On my last visit in 2022, I spent some additional time walking Boot Hill and learning about its permanent residents, I picked up a pamphlet there which is featured below for the readers observation. 

The following description is from wikipedia, Its important to note that boot hill is now a tourist attraction, and has been altered for the public entertainment. Tombstone is a town of renowned legend and profound truth. Buy a true researcher can be befuddled while attempting nail down the truth in each story that is about Tombstone Arizona.

From Wikipedia

Boothill Graveyard is a small graveyard of at least 250 interments located in Tombstone, Cochise County, Arizona. Also known as the "Old City Cemetery", the graveyard was used after 1883 only to bury outlaws and a few others. It had a separate Jewish cemetery, which is nearby."Boot Hill" refers to the number of men who died with their boots on. Among a number of pioneer Boot Hill cemeteries in the Old West, Tombstone is among the best-known, and it is one of the city's most popular tourist attractions.

The author of the pamphlet notes that all available sources were used to

 verify the identities of those buried in Boot Hill

Row 2, first "Victim" Peter Smith, apparently the victim of an unsolved murder. 

Also in row #2

Are the Clanton's,  McClaury's and Old Man Clanton, all victims of

an ongoing range war, between democrats, republican factions, cattle rustlers and lawman.

According to author Glen G. Boyer, in the book Vendetta, Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday may have been responsible for the killing of Old Man Clanton. A story that may never be completely revealed.

Dan Dowd, Red Sample, Tex Howard, Dan Delaney and Dan Kelly, Hung for murder

The Bisbee massacre (a.k.a. the Bisbee murders or Bisbee raid) occurred in Bisbee, Arizona, on December 8, 1883, when six outlaws who were part of the Cochise County Cowboys robbed a general store. Believing the general store's safe contained a mining payroll of $7,000, they timed the robbery incorrectly and were only able to steal between $800 and $3,000, along with a gold watch and jewelry. During the robbery, members of the gang killed five people, including a lawman and a pregnant woman. Six men were convicted of the robbery and murders. John Heath, who was accused of organizing the robbery, was tried separately and sentenced to life in prison. The other five men were convicted of murder and sentenced to hang. Unsatisfied with Heath's sentence, a lynch mob forcibly removed Heath from jail and hanged him from a telegraph pole on February 22, 1884. The other five men were executed on March 28, 1884. They were the first criminals to be legally hanged in Tombstone. The graves of the five murderers is part of the popular Boothill Graveyard tourist attraction in Tombstone.

-Ref Wikipedia

John Heath Row 3

The hanging of John Heath 

-Wikipedia

 

Row 7;  Marshall Ed White, Killed by gunman Curly Bill Brocius, 

Curly Bill was acquitted of Whites murder.

William Brocius - Wikipedia

Row 7; Dutch Annie was a prostitute and Madam in Tombstone Arizona during the 1880's She was called the queen of the red light district.

  Dutch Annie from Discover Tombstone

Row 8;  Charlie Storms, Killed by Luke Short after a gambling dispute in the oriental saloon

On February 25, 1881, Storms had been drinking all night and made several rude remarks to faro dealer Luke Short in the Oriental Saloon. Storms had successfully defended himself several times with his pistol. He had inaccurately sized Short up as someone who, according to Bat Masterson, he could "slap in the face without expecting a return." Masterson knew both men.

wikipedia

An unconfirmed possible photo of the Luke Short, Charlie Storms Inquest. 

Photo courtesy of

Dan Oelrich

Storms' body was taken to the undertaker, where the coroner's jury was convened and testimony was heard. The jury reached a verdict that Storms died from three pistol wounds at the hands of Short, and that Short's actions were justifiable. Short was free to go, as no further legal action was taken.

 

American West; Nicholas Porter Earp, the True Story By; Gene Stevens

                                                 Known photo of Nicholas Porter Earp

                            Nicholas Porter Earp, the True Story By; Gene Stevens

To Understand Wyatt Earp, you must know Nicholas Earp.

-Scott Dyke 

Sound bites in historic documentaries, and Hollywood movies do true research a great disservice. The story of Nicholas Porter Earp the father of the famed Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp, is one figure in American history that deserves a better investigation.    

Nicholas Porter Earp was born the son of Walter and Martha Ann Earp in 1813. He married Virginia Ann Cooksey and his most famed son Wyatt was born in 1848.. Nick was an adventurer, Entrepeneur, soldier, Sergeant and political leader. For some reason, these aspects of Nick Earps life are glossed over, as juxtaposed against Wyatt Earps life, like a comma in a sentence or an abbreviation. 

 Environmental Historian Andrew Isenberg (PBS documentary on Wyatt Earp) described Nicholas Earp as " colorful, larger than life... But to round him out, he was a dead beat, and that he skipped out on debts and was a drinker".  But to describe Nicholas from the 21st century perspective is nearly impossible, and lost on the modern historian, who fails at understand how difficult peoples lives really were during this time. Nick was a strong father figure, a military Sergeant in a time when all warfare conducted on the new frontier was brutal and bloody. He had crossed the continent during war time and experienced things that very few modern men could survive. 

The Earp family was of English and Scots-Irish descent. The first Earp immigrants to arrive in the  American colonies was Thomas Earp Jr., who arrived in Anne Arundel County on July 6, 1674, as an indentured servant from Ireland. He is buried in St. Anne's Parish in Annapolis. Nicholas was named for a circuit-riding judge in Kentucky. Nicholas' father Walter Earp was born in Montgomery County, Maryland, in 1787, a fifth-generation Marylander who later became a school teacher, Justice of the Peace in Monmouth, Illinois and a Methodist Episcopal preacher.

Nicholas' mother, Martha Ann Early, was born in Avery County, North Carolina, on August 28, 1790. Nicholas was the third of ten children; his siblings include six brothers: Lorenzo Dow, Josiah Jackson, James Kelly, Francis Asbury, Jonathan Douglas and Walter C (twins); as well as three sisters: Elizabeth, Mary Ann, and Sarah Ann. When Martha Earp died at age 91, she had eight living children, 85 grandchildren, 130 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren.

Soon after Nicholas' birth, the family moved from Virginia to Hartford, Kentucky, in 1813, where Nicholas spent the rest of his childhood. As a young man, Nicholas may have served in the Black Hawk War of 1831 though, no record of this is found in the state of Illinois Black Hawk War Records online. We do however know that he served as a sergeant in the Mexican–American War. During the Mexican–American War Nicholas served under Captain Wyatt Berry Stapp of the Illinois Mounted Volunteers. Then during the Civil War, Nicholas served in Pella, Iowa, as a United States Provost Marshal for recruitment.  His sons Newton, James, and Virgil enlisted in the Union Army on November 11, 1861. 

While his father was busy recruiting and drilling local companies, Wyatt, along with his two younger brothers, Morgan and Warren, were left in charge of tending the 80-acre corn crop. Only 13 years old, Wyatt was too young to enlist, but he tried on several occasions to run away and enlist. Each time his father found him and brought him back home.

                                                    WAGON MASTER 

May 12, 1864

Forty wagons and one hundred and fifty emigrants line up at Pella, Iowa. Nicholas "Captain" Earp leads the caravan across the Missouri River into Omaha Nebraska and beyond. Sixteen year old Wyatt is in charge of Earp wagons and stock. He also draws the hunters job and with a gift from his father of an under and over combination rifle and shotgun, he is able to keep a group of twenty people in fresh meat all the way to California.

- The Illustrated Life and Times of Wyatt Earp, by Bob Boze Bell.

    The story of Wyatt's boyhood surroundings is carried to the point where his father resigns from the Army (Provost Marshall Position) and with his family begins the covered wagon journey to California.

-Letter to Ira Rich Kent, Houghton Mifflin Co, From Stuart Lake in reference to the content of Wyatt Earp, Frontier Marshall.

We know quite a bit about the Earps trip to San Bernandino California, thanks to a member of his wagon train Sarah Rousseau. She was the wife of Doctor, born into a well to do English family in 1816 by the name of Sarah Jane Daglish, according to Author Nicholas Cataldo, She "bloomed into a highly educated woman". When she came to America, she lived for a while in the Michigan area, presumably the Michigan Territory, as Michigan gained statehood in 1855.She married Physician husband James A. Rousseau and they moved to Kentucky in 1839 before eventually moving to Knoxville Iowa. 

So it's also probable that Sarah Jane at sometime in her early life encountered native Americans. This is mentioned because multiple encounters with Indians would occur in the coming months. It just so happens that sometime shortly after the move to Knoxville, they decided to risk the distant, arduous and highly dangerous trip to California by way of wagon train. And Nicholas Earps plans for moving Wyatt and his family out of the area from their home in Pella Iowa began after brother Jims discharge from the union army.  The civil war would soon be over and the flood of pioneers moving to the west, was just beginning for the ghost of manifest destiny that would drive people far into the interior of the continent. 

The Earp residence in Pella Iowa

 both photos taken by the Author Gene Stevens

Photo Courtesy of Bob Boze Bell from

 "The Illustrated Life and Times of Wyatt Earp"

The wagon train west rendezvoused in Pella Iowa and departed on May 12th 1864. It wasn't long before and early in the trip, that the people in the wagon train began to experience difficulties. It started with the Curtis's losing a cow and a horse. The cow was not recovered. Later in the journey. It started becoming apparent that the entire trip was going to be fraught with danger, as they began to encounter people that dishonest and not obliging. Upon reaching the Missouri River one of the wagon train folks, la small child fell from a wagon be pulled by mules and was run over, he fortunately recovered,. But by this time, it was becoming very apparent that they undisciplined people of this wagon train were heading into a terrible situation. The entire trip was fraught with internal fighting and lack of cooperation from the families who were onboard the wagon train.  And Sarah Jane, probably did more to aggravate the situation, rather than help. The one thing that she was good at was she documented her surroundings, the weather, birds, the temperature, the rivers, the grass, Indians, and people being sick. And the one person she disliked the most was the Wagon Master. Nicholas Earp. 

Map showing the route of the forlorn 

Wagon Train to San Bernadino California  

On July 7th and 8th, Mrs. Rousseau made the following entry;

WHILE AT FORT LARAMIE

"We have to keep a close watch day and night over the stock. Mr. Earp went out to see about the guards (Military guards)  and found that they had got up a dance. And he told them they must quit their dancing on be on duty".

Certainly a common sense request and Mrs. Rousseau understood that they needed the stock looked after, then she continued with her entry;

One of the soldiers told him to mind his own business and ordered him off. I made him awful mad and he was for killing. He used very profane language, he could hardly be appeased. But he cooled down after a while.

Could it be that Nicholas Earp actually had concern for the people in his wagon train?

Other serios issues plagued the wagon train. They had frequent encounters with Indians during the course of the journey. Upon running into Piute Indians, Sarah declared that they;

Were a tribe that is very fond of horse flesh to eat, and great hands to steal anything they can lay their hands on.

The problems with Indians continued;

"We crossed the Santa Clara 14 times today, after going twelve miles made a dry camp at Camp Springs. After filling our kegs (at) the last crossing place, The Indian Chief told the guide we must give them something for traveling through their country, to renumerate them for using water and grass. We all gave them some flour. We intend to let them have the care of our horses tonight, they are going to take cattle as well. The Chief with four others we kept as prisoners till morning when they bring back the stock... Then they will be free.

The following day Sarah Jane's diary states that they fed the Indians who were with them. Nicholas was apparently unhappy about this decision and derided the members of the wagon train . But the loss of food and stock would prove nearly deadly towards the end of the long trip. Because on the same day, they were beginning to enter a crucial stage of their travels, as Sarah Jane reported seeing unusual trees, probable Cactus, because shortly after this, Sarah Jane reported that they had entered the desert. But she erroneously blamed the situation on Nicholas Earp. A mistake that he did not make. A mistake that was done independently by the people of the wagon train and not the wagon master, who it appears was being undermined.                                                                                                                                          

We fed the five among us. All are willing to do so but Mr. Earp. He swears and cuts up about it, although (sic) he derives the same benefit as the rest of us. I fear he may cause us some trouble when we get to the muddy.                                                                                                                                           

-Sarah Jane Rouseau 

On November 16th 1864, Mrs. Rouseau reported that they were approaching an area somewhere between Las Vegas Nevada and Salt Springs California where they were traversing very difficult and sandy terrain.  And it seems that the social fabric of the wagon train members was declining as time went on.  The coming days would prove to be a test of will and survival, as they approached California. Mrs. Rousseau would document their crossing over steep mountains. 

Toward the top there was perpendicular rock some six feet to get up, besides others not so bad. We all doubled up teams but Mr. Earps wagon. He's up that started up that awful mountain with our mare and Mr. Hamilton started a span of mules after them to help them get along. they got up safely. It appeared to me that he didn't care if he killed our horses or not. If he had he wouldn't have tried to go with only two. All the Indians have traveled with us today.

The next day

Went on about ten miles, met some 30 or 40 Indians, large and small. Watered our horses ate a luncheon, went two miles further and camped. The Indians all followed on. We gave them all something to eat and they herded stock.

These astounding entries in Sarahs diary exemplifies the lack of discipline on the wagon train west. And also shows further contempt for Nicholas Earp. As an observation, conjecture did not kill the animals, but giving away supplies in the way of food could have proven to be deadly in these circumstances. 

 At this point angers were flaring. Mrs.Rousseau had made yet another entry in her diary but whether or not she ever tried to speak to Mr. Earp about her complaints was never mentioned in her diary.

November 25th

This evening Mr. Earp had another rippet with Warren ( (The youngest Earp Son) fighting with Jimmy Haten. And then commenced about all the children. Used very profane language and swore if the childrens parents did not correct their children, he would whip every last one of them. He still shows out more and more every day what kind of man he is.

By Tuesday December 6th, 1864, the members of the wagon train were in a very tenuous situation. The lack of discipline and misjudgment was taking its toll. They were low on food, starving and their live stock was giving out. They were very close to dying in the desert and they knew it. 

Oh, how my heart aches to see them. They look like skeletons, and act so pitiful begging something to eat. They try to eat the dry brush or anything they can get a hold of, we went about three miles when the stopped and couldn't travel any farther. My poor little children have walked most of the way. And how desolate we feel. We had to let the poor little boys go back with Mack and the horses to Bitter Springs where there may be some grass that may save the poor things from starving to death. What bitter tears I have shed to think of our condition.  Here in the wild desert with a small quantity of flour, enough with care to last a few days.

The Wagon train reached San Bernadino on December 17th, 1864. The families set up camp just east of todays San Bernadino County Court House. The town that greeted the newcomers was a pretty tough western town, known for its saloons, gambling halls and red light district on south "D" street. According to author Nicholas Cataldo, This was Nicks kind of town.

.

Third street in downtown San Bernadino looking east from "D" street

Known as "whiskey Point" Photo Courtesy Nicholas Cataldo, The Earp Clan

The Southern California Years.

A Sense of morals, justice, duty and the courage to apply those traits, are instilled by God and a strong father figure.

- The Author

Nicholas and family were quick to settle down in San Bernadino, The Earps rented a farm on the Carpenter ranch near the Santa Ana River. In a letter written to a friend in Pella Iowa, James Copla, the senior Earp made some small talk and bragged about California and the great weather, but then reflected on the trip from Pella to California saying; 

"I did not start from home expecting to stop here, when we got here, we are all so near run through that we would not go any longer"                                                                                    

While living on Carpenter ranch Nick Earp visited downtown San Bernadino regularly, and became a rather well known figure, championing the cause of the common man against what he defined as "the hypocrisy of big business and politicians. Nick was also elected foreman of the grand jury in 1867.                                                                                                          

But, the Earp Clan was a very restless bunch and one day son Wyatt took a little vacation, and ran away. But according to historian Glenn Boyer, Wyatt returned and was whipped by Nick. As it turns out, farm life did not appeal to the Earp boys. Sons Jim and Morgan, Earp had gone to mining towns in Montana, while Virgil and Wyatt worked for a while with a Salt Lake bound freight wagon and later for the Union Pacific.  But, by 1868, frustrated that no one would help with the farm he headed back to the Midwest. Nick looked up Virgil and Wyatt who found work at the Union Pacific Railhead in Wyoming, and they all made the trip back to Iowa. The Earps minus Virgil, James and Wyatt returned to Southern California.

The Greenback Party

Upon his return to California, Nick stopped by San Bernadino and bid on a Janitors job position in the court house, but lost to someone else. He was unable to find employment, so the family moved into a small farm community southeast of Corona. A town called Temescal. While there he did some farming and ran a grocery store there for a couple of years. While there, Nick got involved in politics and stirred up rivalries among its residents over issues of the proposed new California Constitution and the virtues of the newly formed Greenback Party.  He was an ardent follower of the Greenback party, which was organized in 1874. The group was opposed to the retirement or reduction of the greenback and favored an increase as the only paper currency. Nicholas even wrote an essay on the subject called "The Greenback Question" which was published in July of 1878.                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                   

       According to Local Press

"In Temescal they have had a political funeral. They have actually gone through the process of a political funeral, and have raised a monument inscribed as but go Mr. Earp and he will recite to you the inscription, Now is the cold fact. Mr. Earp the old man eloquent of Temescal, is in this town,. He informs us that Temescal is simply solid for the new constitution- that there is not a dissenting vote. He also informs us that the people in that precinct will vote for no man opposed to the new deal reform. That is the proper spirit."

The Old Frontiersman

Unfortunately, the Greenback party nominees lost in the election, but the state constitution that they fought for passed and is still in effect today. And Nicholas Earp had a big part in that.  During his later years in southern California, Nick was a saloon keeper, elected Justice of the Peace in Colton California in 1884. Two years later Virgil Earp ran for Constable in Colton and won. Nick was also reelected to the Justice of The Peace. He was also a chapter member of the San Bernadino Society of Pioneers in 1888. In December of 1897, the old frontiersman was seriously injured after he fell from a horse. Nick died in the Old Soldiers Home at Sawtelle, Near Los Angeles on February 12 1907. He was 93 years old.

 References

The Earp Clan: The Southern California Years, By Nicholas R. Cataldo.

Rousseau Diary 1864 San Bernadino County Museum.

 Family tree of Wyatt EARP - Geneastar

Earp, Nicholas P Rank: Sergeant Regiment: Illinois Independent Mounted Volunteers Company: Stapp US Mexican War Soldiers & Sailors Database - Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) 

 Nicholas Porter Earp - Wikipedia 

The Illustrated life and times of Wyatt Earp by Bob Boze Bell.

The Stuart Lake Letters from the collection of Glenn Boyer, Courtesy of the Arizona Historic Society. 

The Battle of Shiloh, A short Case study. By Gene Stevens

 

The Battle of Shiloh; A Case Study
Map  at The Civil War Trust
http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/shiloh/maps/shilohmap.html

In April of 1862, Generals Grant and Sherman marched into Tennessee with the intention of moving into Mississippi to begin the campaign(s) in the west. The over all strategy of the north during the civil war was to disrupt the southern trade by taking the Mississippi river and splitting the western theater and trans-Mississippi theaters of war into separate sections. A plan which would in fact be executed and would prove to be extremely successful.

But at this point in time the union army would disembark at a place called "Pittsburg Landing" near a place called Shiloh Church (Shiloh is a Hebrew word which means place peace). They would establish camp there as the commanders (Grant and Sherman) awaited the arrival of more troops under the command of General Don Carlos Buell http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Carlos_Buell.

Early on the morning of April 8th. The union troops were rising from sleep, mess cooks were preparing breakfast and soldiers were in the process of cleaning uniforms and shinning their muskets for an anticipated inspection. When suddenly Confederate forces under the command of the famed Albert Sidney Johnston http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Sidney_Johnston would come screaming the rebel yell out of the nearby woods in a full frontal attack on the center of the union lines. The rebels had achieved somewhat of a surprise, as union troops would scatter in total panic as the union officers would try to organize the troops into lines.  It would however prove to be difficult and union troops would fall back in disorder.

....and that is still commonly believed today is that the Federals had no idea that the enemy was so near. Nothing could be further from the truth. For days before April 6, minor skirmishing took place. Both sides routinely took prisoners in the days leading up to the battle. The rank and file in the Union army knew Confederates were out there — they just did not know in what strength.
-Civil War Trust

As the lines were pushed back, a stiff resistance was mounted under General Benjamin  Prentiss at a place called the hornets nest.http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/shiloh/shiloh-history-articles/battle-of-shiloh-shattering.html But the hornets nest was eventually overrun and Prentiss surrendered what remained of the troops under his command.

There is much debate what happened over the few hours of the battle. The popular story has union troops running tot he rear and cowering under the bluffs at Pittsburg Landing, though officers reports tell varying stories. One thing is clear, that Sherman's brief statement to Grant on the evening of the first days fight was a strong indicator of how things went;

“Well, Grant, we’ve had the devil’s own day, haven’t we?” . “Yes, lick “em tomorrow, though,” Union General Ulysses S. Grant. Suffering through a rainstorm after the first day’s battle where almost everything went against him, Grant vowed to fight on the next day. Perhaps no other quote better symbolizes Grant’s dogged determination.
- http://thehistoriansmanifesto.wordpress.com/2012/09/06/the-battle-of-shiloh-in-quotes/

Synopsis;
It is apparent that both armies were in contact with each other for sometime before the first Confederate assault. However, by many available sources, the magnitude of this battle was a completely new experience for both armies, whereas, there were seasoned officers (though few) on both sides. The ranks were filled with inexperienced soldiers and officers who did not understand their roles.

Intelligence and Situational Awareness;

Both armies (despite previous skirmishes) lacked the badly needed information to coordinate attacks and responses. The information at hand was immediate data and failed to take into account a larger overview or activity in the area. If the Confederate commanders were aware of Buell's pending arrival, then why commence an attack in which the enemy would gain additional superior numbers the following day? Grant most certainly held the upper hand on the second day, not due to new intelligence, but due to the fact that he already knew that reinforcements under Don Carlo Buell would soon be arriving.

Change of Command;
It's obvious that the death of Albert Sidney Johnson played a significant part in changing the course of the battle. When command fell to General Beauregard the change of command at this stage most certainly upset the continuity of command and it's a foregone conclusion that no contingency plan existed for such an event. It is highly probable that the loss of Johnston created confusion in the ranks.

Failure To Act;
After General Beauregard took command, he reported a complete victory and advised that he had Grant where he wanted him, though he planned to wait until the following day to complete the attack. Night battle during this time period were virtually unheard of. So it is easy to establish Beauregard's mind set. Though it is also obvious that the failure to follow through and attempt action despite the late hour was a tactical mistake. Even regrouping and harassing tactics may have better served the Confederates better than no action at all.

Civil War Reignites at Washington Lee By; Gene Stevens

 

Reprint from April 2014

 

Washington Lee University in Lexington Virginia has become yet another flashpoint for the proponents of liberal militancy. Several news outlets have reported that a movement began on the W.L. campus as several students demanded that the Confederate battle flags be removed from the Lee Chapel. The Lee Chapel sits in the same area where the famed and revered Confederate General Robert E. Lee and his family are buried, along with his beloved horse Traveler. The small contingent of students made demands and threatened civil unrest in the community if their demands were not met by September 1st.

 

The poorly timed protest and subsequent threats also come on the heels of other serious national problems. Including but not limited to a failed economy, a failed presidential administration, the implementation of the universally unwanted affordable health care act and in recent weeks, the threat of open insurrection in the Nevada desert at the Bundy ranch. The small group of liberal law students have concluded that  they have been offended by the flags, and  that the flags must be removed to satisfy their own misguided agenda. A student by the name of Dominik Taylor, a third-year law student at Washington Lee, said the students decided to speak out after tolerating for years symbols and events they find offensive.  He stated;  “When things such as Lee-Jackson Day happen, you’re just sort of feeling left alone and isolated and alienated.” Though no one has made any claims of having been singled out, excluded and / or threatened by any type of racist groups or individuals. And absolutely no charges of institutional racism have been brought forward.  The other issue at hand is that the small group of students have formed a group called "the Committee". Though the names of these members have not been disclosed or published in the media (except for the one aforementioned student who chose to speak to the news media and he was not identified as a member of "The Committee") and no leadership has come forward to the media to clearly explain their position or to add any details as to just exactly why  the battle flags should be removed (besides  having been offended by their presence). Another claim made by mainstream media outlets claimed that "Neo-Confederates" were allowed march on campus during "Lee-Jackson" Day.

 

On 04/24/2014, I contacted the Communications Department at Washington Lee University to  answer some questions that I had. The person who I  spoke to chose not to be quoted because there was still a lack of clear information about the intentions of "The Committee". Though they were sure that the university would not release the names of the students for obvious reasons.  But despite the lack of available information, our conversation was fruitful.

 

What I did learn, was that the flags ( that the students are demanding the removal of) are in fact authentic battle flags of the civil war. They were carried by units who served in the Confederate army. They are not a product of post war animosity. They are historic artifacts of the time period. And they are on display in the same manner that you would see an artifact displayed in a museum. And the Lee Chapel is in fact a museum in it's own right. I know this because I had the honor of visiting there some years ago.

 

Another question had to do with the allegations of Neo-Confederates marching on the Washington -Lee campus. This statement begs to be clearly answered because there are in fact several types of groups that could be improperly labeled as such. Including Civil War Reenactors and Son's of Confederate Veterans. These type of groups can in no way be classified or labeled  "Neo- Confederate" and/or racist groups.  The connotation here is, that the alleged groups who marched at Washington-Lee have a racist political agenda. Even though this allegation has not been clearly explained or the groups clearly identified.

 

I also inquired about local people's reaction to the "Committee's" demands. The contact at Washington- Lee said that the Alumni were upset.  In reference to that reaction, She simply stated; " Can you imagine"? And rightfully so, Washington -Lee, like so many other colleges are heavily dependent upon the generous donations and support of Alumni. So it seems that the concerns of Alumni may have been dismissed  by the "Committee" as they moved forward with their threat.

 

There is also a public safety aspect involved with the threats made by the "Committee", in that campus crime and violence has been at the forefront of the news for several years now. And campus authorities are now paying much closer attention to any threats that may be made against persons and property under college / university campus ownership. To add to the anxiety, Washington -Lee is close neighbors with VMI (Virginia Military Institute). Though according to W.L. University there does not appear to be any concern from VMI being expressed. However, threats of civil unrest does have the inherent possibility of raising security concerns at VMI.

 

Coincidentally April is the same month in which Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army Of Northern Virginia to General Grant at Appomattox Court House. It was due to the good manners and outstanding negotiating skills of both Lee and Grant that many years of guerilla warfare was avoided. The terms of surrender were based upon simple respect. I am including a copy of Lee's farewell to his troops.

 

Headquarters, Army of Northern Virginia, 10th April 1865.

 

General Order
 No. 9

 After four years of arduous service marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude, the Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers and resources.

I need not tell the survivors of so many hard fought battles, who have remained steadfast to the last, that I have consented to the result from no distrust of them.

But feeling that valour and devotion could accomplish nothing that could compensate for the loss that must have attended the continuance of the contest, I have determined to avoid the useless sacrifice of those whose past services have endeared them to their countrymen.

By the terms of the agreement, officers and men can return to their homes and remain until exchanged. You will take with you the satisfaction that proceeds from the consciousness of duty faithfully performed, and I earnestly pray that a merciful God will extend to you his blessing and protection.

With an unceasing admiration of your constancy and devotion to your Country, and a grateful remembrance of your kind and generous consideration for myself, I bid you an affectionate farewell.

— R. E. Lee, General, General Order No. 9 

The Confederate They'll Never Know By; Gene Stevens

                                               

     THE CONFEDERATE WE'LL NEVER KNOW

Its been 150 years since Robert E. Lee sat with U.S. Grant at Appomattox Court house and hammered out the the terms of surrender for the ragged remains of the Confederate Army. The American Civil war was a terrible and unforgiving war which took the countless lives of people from both the north and south. The physical numbers of dead and maimed have been repeated over and over in countless books and documentaries for the last 150 years. But it must be mentioned as part of this article to establish a baseline. Approximately 625,000 died in the war. And unknown number of soldiers were wounded, suffered the loss of limbs, and by 1870 approx 30% of the state of Georgia's budget went towards purchasing prosthetic limbs for Georgia Soldiers who had been wounded during the conflict. They also suffered mental anguish caused by civil war. The total numbers of Soldiers who suffered from combat related mental illness during this time will never be completely known. Though evidence suggests that the southern Soldier bore the brunt of "battle fatigue" (PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) in a post civil war territory, where military occupation by the north became a reality and the southern economy had been decimated by the war. It could be that perhaps the folklore of the half crazed southern cousin found it's roots in the thousands of returning Confederate Soldiers, who because of their war time experience had returned home with shattered mental health. Most Confederate soldiers, much like the soldiers of every war found themselves caught up in the rising tide and upheaval of a nation torn apart by severe partisan politics and the desires of special interest groups of the day. However, with that said, it is indeed very difficult (though so many try) to judge the people who lived during this time period (or any past time period for that matter). from our own time period. A time in which partisan opinion moves via the air waves and internet at light speed and personal character assassinations are given out like parking tickets. The civil war stands out in the opinion pool. The reasons for this are clear to some. Because as in every war, the victor writes the history. But the reality is that the civil war was anything but black and white. It is in fact the greatest gray area that United States history has ever witnessed.

Enter Robert E. Lee. In southern culture, Lee is indeed bigger than life and has been raised to mythical status. He is not only revered by southerners, but also to many who study military history and the American Civil War. Lee has been referred to as the "marble man". Though  he earned the nick name during his time as a Cadet at West Point due to the fact that he had a squeaky clean reputation. This title stuck after the war. Though  Lee's upbringing also played a huge part in how he conducted himself in life. After all, he had been raised by aristocracy in a time when honor, dignity and decorum were adhered to as a matter of culture.

Robert E Lee's early career was nothing short of exemplary. Lee advanced very quickly, fought in the war with Mexico, served with the prestigious Army Corps of Engineers and eventually became the superintendent of West Point Military Academy itself.

In October 1859 the enigmatic character John Brown led a band of 21 abolitionists who seized the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Browns hopes were to incite a slave rebellion. President James Buchanan gave Lee command of detachments of militia, soldiers, and United States Marines, to suppress the uprising and arrest its leaders. By the time Lee arrived that night, the militia on the site had surrounded Brown and his hostages. At dawn, Brown refused the demand for surrender. Lee attacked, and Brown and his followers were captured after three minutes of fighting. Lee's summary report of the episode shows Lee believed it "was the attempt of a fanatic or madman". Lee said Brown achieved "temporary success" by creating panic and confusion and by "magnifying" the number of participants involved in the raid. (Much in the same way that modern Americans have been lead to believe that modern day bolsheviks out number US citizens.)It was Brown's actions at Harpers Ferry Virginia and his activities in the west particularly the incident at Pottawatomie Creek Kansas, when he and his sons hacked several pro-slavery people to death with broad swords. The attack at Harper's Ferry Va, and Browns actions in the west were a direct cause of the militarization of the south. Acts of violence against not only slavery, but against the south itself and long before the first shots were fired at Fort Sumter.  John Brown was by modern standards a terrorist. And the government must have understood this as well because the government moved swiftly and Brown was tried and hung. And just like the acts of modern terrorists, Brown caused panic throughout the south.

It was On April 18, 1861, that Lee was met at the home of Francis Blair, Sr., a journalist, who told Lee that he was being offered command with the rank of Major General by Secretary of War Cameron and President Lincoln. Lee correctly anticipating that Virginia would join the Confederacy refused because it would mean that he would be leading an invasion of Virginia.  If we must judge Lee from the Present, it is important to reflect on these words from a modern President, Barrack Obama. On July 13, near the end of a campaign speech at a firehouse in Roanoke, Va., President Barack Obama told an audience that "if you've got a business - you didn't build that. Someone else made it happen." So who (someone  else) may have built Lee's life?  Surely the families and voters of Virginian did. His own family who a mere eighty years before had helped to found a nation. A nation that stepped up and stopped tyranny in it's tracks. And now Lee watched as a very strong federal entity was taking form. And Lee must have realized the cross roads at which he stood. If we must judge Lee from a modern perspective, a good choice may be to assess Lee's decisions by what lay before him and after affect, one such idea is put fourth by the Writer Stephen Covey in which he states;

Begin With The End In Mind

 ‘Begin With The End In Mind’.  This translates to understanding what is really important to you and work to achieve that, rather than a single destination.  Reflecting on who I am, some of the scripts I use to direct my day-to-day behavior I adopted from my parents. To an extent, I absorbed those scripts as I formed my Parent Ego State, therefore I have become what I am by default rather than by explicit design. To a greater or lesser extent our long term mission is shaped either by accepting scripts by default or by trying to shape how we behave and act. 

Lee certainly had a solid grip how he wanted things to unfold, what type of reputation he would have earned had he turned against his own state, his own people and his own family. And how that decision would have affected not only himself, but the well being of his family and Decendants.

Revisionists;

Enter the 21st century.  A time of destruction and character assassination. 

From our perspective today many historians are trying to bury the memory of Robert E. Lee and to place the final label of "traitor" upon his breast. Many examples of this have appeared in recent years. For example;

Fox News (Dec 18th 2013)Reported that the US Army War college was contemplating removing the portraits of both Robert E Lee and Stone Wall Jackson from public view. And they questioned why men who fought against the United States should have a place in U.S, Military history. This is an astounding revision, considering the fact that both Lee and Jackson went to West Point and Lee eventually commanded there and Jackson worked diligently and graduated 17th out a class of 59 Cadets.

Another Example;
On July 31st 2011, a writer and self identified historian by the name of Glenn Lafantasie published the article; "The Confederate We Still Don't know" 150 years after Robert E. Lee took command of the South's army, his descendants are intent on keeping his secrets.
"http://www.salon.com/2011/07/31/lee_papers_lafantasie/  The article appeared online at salon.com.  And was in response to Dr. Lafantasie's efforts to secure the papers and letters belonging to Robert E. Lee and currently under the ownership and protection of his family. Lee's Decendent's  declined LaFantasies requests for access to Lee's personal papers and writings. A fact to which LaFantasie writes;
"Still, it would nice to know more about the man who decided to violate his solemn oath to protect and defend the Constitution by taking up arms against the United States — the nation his idol George Washington and his father Light-Horse Harry Lee fought to sustain in the American Revolution. Robert E. Lee is important historically because he devoted himself to a cause that was, at its core, anti-American; yet he — among countless other Confederates — was convinced that he acted only as a paragon of patriotism. It’s the essential delusion of every traitor. The truth is, though, that we will never really know Robert E. Lee until his family allows researchers to have complete access to his papers."

Considering the plain fact, that revisionists have attempted, and will continue to attempt to erase history and to use personal information to defame Lee. Why would his decendants risk their own names and reputations and the reputation of their current families? Especially in current society that has learned how to make a quick buck on immoral thought and unethical behavior.

 For he will smile 
And give you, with unflinching courtesy, 
Prayers, trappings, letters, uniforms and orders,
Photographs, kindness, valor and advice, 
And do it with such grace and gentleness 
That you will know you have the whole of him 
Pinned down, mapped out, easy to understand-- 
And so you have.
 All things except the heart 
The heart he kept himself, that answers all. 
For here was someone who lived all his life 
In the most fierce and open light of the sun, 
Wrote letters freely, did not guard his speech, 
Listened and talked with every sort of man, 
And kept his heart a secret to the end 
From all the picklocks of biographers.

ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA
by Steven Vincent Benét

(1898-1943)




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