Civil War Reenactments, Army of the Southwest 2024 Season Photos

 

                                                         ARMY OF THE SOUTHWEST

                                                                     2024

                                                              Season Photos

Event Report; Winterset Covered Bridge Celebration, Civil War Reenactment. By Gene Stevens

 
                                                        EVENT REPORT 

                     ARMY OF THE SOUTHWEST

                           WINTERSET IOWA

                  Winterset Covered Bridge Celebration

                             OCT 12 & 13 2024

Photo by the author

Winterset Iowa is situated in the beautiful rolling hills of Madison County Iowa. The bucolic location gained prominence for its history and its famed covered bridges, which was made famous by the book and subsequent movie, "The Bridges of Madison County." Winterset is also the hometown of the birthplace of the famous American Actor, John Wayne, and the John Wayne Birthplace Museum.  

Photo courtesy of Kevin Schmitt

The Civil War Reenactment

Army of The Southwest

Civil War Reenactors from all over the Midwest gathered at the Madison County Historical Museum in Winterset to both educate and entertain the public. The event was also very well attended by the wonderful people of Madison County Iowa. The Army of The Southwest recreated the civil war for the public by setting up educational displays, artillery demonstrations, and battle skirmishes. The battle scenarios were reenacted during the daytime, and a night battle and artillery fire on Saturday night after sunset. The Sunday battle was held at noon and many people came to the historical museum grounds to see the reenactment.  A big thank you to the Madison County Museum Staff for providing meals and creature comforts to the Reenactors. 

 

                                                           Following photos by the author

Early Kansas Lawman J.G Graber circa 1900;

 

Taken  approximately 1900 in Moundridge, Kansas. Is a photo of  the City Marshal. He is ID'd as J.G. Graber, Marshall. His name is written on the back of the image in contemporary pencil. He has his billy club, badge, handgun and handcuffs. Photo was taken in a studio. This is a fascinating photo and gives an idea of the transition of the Frontier Lawman, to organized Police Departments of the early 20th Century.

Photo courtesy of Emory Cantey

Short list  of Lawman from the Kansas Historic society

John J. Graber (1848-1895) - Find a Grave Memorial

Genealogical information

History of Moundridge Kansas

History | Moundridge, KS

"The largest population boom in the state (of Kansas) came with two waves of European immigrants to McPherson County. Swedish Lutheran people fleeing from a famine in their homeland settled the Lindsborg region. An even larger group, German-speaking Mennonites from Russia, came to the southern part of the county. Leaving Russia because of increasingly harsh governmental policies, they were part of an estimated 11,000-12,000 Mennonites coming to this state, chiefly to McPherson, Marion, Harvey and Reno counties. Names included Graber, Kaufman, Schrag, Wedel, Waltner, Gaeddert, Koehn, Schmidt, Jantz, Friesen and more. 

Frank James, Outlaw, Gentleman.

Many of the researchers that I've spoken to over the years, agree that Frank James was frequently a voice of common sense. It's hard to sort it all out, difficult to separate Frank from his guerilla past.  But unlike his brother Jesse James. Frank lived a longer life and left us things to contemplate about his life, such as the above short clipping of a conversation with him, and the long letter below, that tells us what Frank's thoughts as he begged the Governor of Missouri for a pardon, and tried to explain what happened in the civil war and what they saw as a fight their freedom and what he fought for. One researcher that I spoke to, told me that Frank had eventually become a Republican. This is understandable because of the path that the south had taken. Franks letter to Governor Crittenden is very poignant, and heavy hearted. 

FRANK JAMES SURRENDERS

Articles from Newspaperarchive.com

 

Indian Wars, In the East Civil War 1863 By Gene Stevens

An unknown Indian woman wearing a union frock coat

ARMED INDIAN CONFLICT IN eastern Tennessee 

14th Illinois Cavalry

Thomas' Legion, also known as Thomas' Legion of Cherokee Indians and Highlanders

                                 Civil war Pension Record of John L Hoover 14th Illinois Cavalry
 

I'm an avid Genealogist, and I have been digging up my ancestry for well over 35 years. I'm so pleased to have so many historic records now being published online. And thanks to social media, and Ancestry.com. I've been able to make many more connections. While researching my ancestors, I located an ancestor, a Gr, Gr grand parent by the name of  John Lewis Hoover, who served in the 14th Illinois Cavalry in the eastern theater during the civil war. 

14th Illinois Cavalry

The units extensive history, told the story of the units pursuit and engagement with "Thomas Legion" of whites and Cherokee Indians. Thomas Legion was running operations in Eastern Tennesse. Thomas' Legion, also known as Thomas' Legion of Cherokee Indians and Highlanders, was a unit of the Confederate Army in the American Civil War. The formation was organized in 1862 by William Holland Thomas and fought in the last skirmish of the war in North Carolina before surrendering in May 1865.

Synopsys 

"The regiment was unusual in several respects. Thomas, the only white chief of the Cherokee Indians, recruited a sizable number of Cherokees. In addition, like a few other Civil War formations, it was a true legion, that is a combined arms unit, consisting of infantry, cavalry, and artillery. The Thomas Legion was organized under the command of Colonel William Holland Thomas. Thomas was Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the only man of European descent to become a chief of the Cherokee. The Legion was a true combined arms organization. It included an infantry regiment of ten companies of infantry under the command of Lieutenant Colonel James R. Love II, of which Companies A & B were all Cherokee. Lieutenant Colonel William C. Walker commanded a cavalry battalion from Cherokee County, and a Cherokee Battalion was made up entirely of Cherokee. An artillery battery was added in April of 1863.The Legion was assigned to the Department of East Tennessee, intended for local defense.

Ref  History of the Thomas Legion (North Carolina) in the Civil War (civilwarintheeast.com)

On December 24, 1863, the 14th Illinois Cavalry was consolidated under General Sturgis. At Dandridge Tennesse, a severe battle was fought. January 30, 1864, the Fourteenth alone, out of a large number of regiments in the Corps, was designated to fight "Thomas' Legion" of whites and Cherokee Indians in North Carolina. February 2, with the brass pieces, after following a mountainous old Indian trail, it surprised the Legion, killing and capturing the greater part. General Grant in a special dispatch highly complimented the Regiment for this work. May 27, at Cittico, Thomas having re-organized his command, attacked a portion of the Fourteenth guarding the mountain passes, but was handsomely repulsed.

References

History of the Thomas Legion (North Carolina) in the Civil War (civilwarintheeast.com)