The Great March on Washington

Warren K. Leffler, courtesy of Library of Congress

Two score and 10 years ago, The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom took place in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 1963. It was one of the largest political rallies for human rights in United States history and called for civil and economic rights for African Americans.

You probably know that Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his historic "I Have a Dream" speech while standing in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

However, what you probably did not know is that women barely had a role. Not only did they march on Independence Avenue while the men marched down Pennsylvania Avenue, but according to CNN:

It was only after pressure from Anna Arnold Hedgeman, the only woman on the national planning committee, that a "Tribute to Negro Women Fighters for Freedom" was added to the official program.

It took further convincing to have a woman lead it.

Daisy Bates spoke in the place of Myrlie Evers, the widow of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers. Bates, president of the Arkansas NAACP who played a key role in integrating schools in Little Rock, told the crowd: "We will walk until we are free, until we can walk to any school and take our children to any school in the United States. And we will sit-on and we will kneel-in and we will lie-in if necessary until every Negro in America can vote. This we pledge to the women of America."

Women had been central to the civil rights movement -- Diane Nash, Ella Baker, Dorothy Height and many others -- but were only included in the program that day after one woman spoke up.

What's that saying?

Oh yes, "Well-behaved women seldom make history."

 

This week in the Civil War: Aug. 25, 1863

South Carolina fighting, violence in Kansas

The Associated Press reported in a dispatch dated Aug. 25, 1863: "The bombardment of (Fort) Sumter still continues, and the south wall has been demolished almost to its base." For weeks now, Union forces have been attempting to smash through heavy Confederate defenses on islands ringing Charleston Harbor off South Carolina's coast. The AP dispatch added that rebel batteries have answered the Union's artillery bombardment with bursts of return fire at short intervals. Federal forces reported that their casualties are few and that "every confidence in success is felt by the officers and troops." At one point the bombardment became so intense, AP reported, that the entire southwest side of Fort Sumter has been reduced to rubble — "nothing but a heap of ruins." Even the Confederate flag flying above the fort was shot away during one barrage, The AP reported. In Kansas, meanwhile, authorities report the discovery 150 years ago this week of 28 bodies — part of the sectarian violence that the war has touched off in the West. Witnesses said in dispatches that the discovery of murdered civilians in one town was "heart-rending and sickening."

For whom the Bell's Palsy tolls

Honestly, I don't know what Momma would do without me.

First she got sick three times this summer - including a possible case of pneumonia.

Her latest medical misadventure?

Two days in the hospital with Bell's Palsy and high blood sugar.

Sigh.

Bell's palsy is a form of facial paralysis resulting from a dysfunction of the facial cranial nerve VII causing an inability to control facial muscles on the left side. 

Named after Scottish anatomist Sir Charles Bell in 1821, he described the trajectory of the facial nerve and Bell's Palsy.

I'm starting to think I'll never get out of this nursing outfit.

This week in the Civil War: Aug. 18, 1863

Siege prolonged at Fort Sumter, S.C.

Federal forces have positioned artillery batteries on a barrier island near Charleston Harbor, S.C., and begun firing on Confederate-held Fort Sumter 150 years ago this week in the Civil War. The prolonged bombardment will continue for weeks, though the Confederates remain stoutly entrenched in the massive-walled fort where the Civil War began in 1861. The move comes as Union forces hope to penetrate the Charleston Harbor defenses and seize the city as part of a tightening blockade on Southern river and seaports. The Associated Press, in a dispatch titled "Latest from Charleston" reported on the artillery barrages. It said "the bombardment of Sumter ... proceeds sluggishly" as Union fighters fortified their positions near the harbor. In between bouts of firing, there is calm, "everything perfect quiet except the occasional boom of the guns."

This week in the Civil War: Aug. 11, 1863

Shelling near Fort Sumter, S.C., Confederate sub to Charleston

Federal forces continued to lay siege to Confederate forces holding defensive positions in South Carolina's Charleston harbor area. From late July of 1863 until early September of that year, Union forces were intent on reducing Confederate fighters defending Charleston - where the Civil War broke out at federally-held Fort Sumter in 1861. The prolonged federal siege began after a failed assault July 18, 1863, on Confederate defenses at Fort Wagner - led by a courageous black regiment which suffered heavy loss of life. It would not be until Sept. 7, 1863, that Confederate foes would abandon Fort Wagner when their position there became untenable. This week 150 years ago in the Civil War, the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley arrived by train at Charleston after its construction in Mobile, Ala. It was billed as the world's first successful submarine and seen as a secret weapon for the South in fighting Abraham Lincoln's wartime blockade of Southern seaports.

This week in the Civil War: Aug. 4, 1863

Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee offers to resign

Barely a month after his army's defeat at Gettysburg in Pennsylvania, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee offered to resign 150 years ago this week in the Civil War. Lee, whose military leadership was being questioned after the heavy casualties at Gettysburg, was under the spotlight of trenchant criticism in Southern newspapers. Lee only recently had said he alone shouldered any blame for the defeat _ that in a letter days earlier to Confederate President Jefferson Davis. On Aug. 8, 1863, Lee again wrote Davis, this time offering to resign. "I have been prompted by these reflections more than once since my return from Pennsylvania to propose to Your Excellency the propriety of selecting another commander for this army. I have seen and heard of expression of discontent in the public journals at the result of the expedition. I do not know how far this feeling extends in the army ... I, therefore, in all sincerity, request Your Excellency to take measures to supply my place." Davis declined to accept the offer. In fact, Davis responded that he could find no other "more fit to command" and a general who also had the confidence of his troops.

The Civil War Chronicles of Capt. William H. Huls Part 3

Here is the third and final part of a handwritten account by Momma's great-great-grandfather about his Civil War experiences.

This is a personal account of Captain William Harrison Huls' Civil War service hand written in April of 1917 as part of his request for a pension for his war service. The reader is advised to keep several facts in mind to maintain historical perspective.

First, the matter of the request for the Medal of Honor. At the time, this was the only medal issued by the United States Government. (The Order of the Purple Heart had been discontinued and had not been reinstated.) As it was the only medal issued by the military it had been issued rather liberally by the services during the Civil War.

Second, please keep in mind that this was written by W.H. Huls 53 years after the events described occurred.

Third, bear in mind that a pension of $10 a month would keep a man in bread, butter and steak in 1917.

Fourth, in reading this account please understand W.H. Huls had a good education for his day, he had even been a school teacher before the war, but his opportunities were limited by the times. This is especially important as I have copied his words exactly as he put them down in pencil on a yellow sheet of tablet paper 96 years ago.

 ***

Third Army Service for Medal of Honor

Showing the risk of my life in being So willing to do my duty for my country and in obeying my superior officers.

On the third day of March 1864 I was detailed as officer of the guard to take rebel prisoners from Vicksburg, Miss to New Orleans. When the set time came for the steamboat to leave the wharf I went to the place but the steam boat had Left the wharf a moved two miles down the river on the other side loading on wood for steaming purposes. I took thought for a moment and believed I could cross the river on floating ice and reach the boat before it would push out. So I started on a run and was very successful until I almost reached the other shore when I found the ice was parted and I could not land. I waited a few moments and to my great surprise I saw a large cake of ice coming down filling up my much needed space. The very moment the space was closed, I rushed to the shore when may people at Vicksburg on the hill waived their hats and hankerchiefs (today nearly 53 yeas ago,) I at once went to a colored man who was hauling wood to the bank of the river I said to him what will you charge to take me horseback to that boat? (now about one mile and a half down the river) he said 50 Cents. I paid him the money got on his large mule behind his back and trotted lively and soon reached the boat thirty minutes before it pushed out. After that I had a very Successful voyage down and back to Vicksburg.

William H. Huls

The Civil War Chronicles of Capt. William H. Huls Part 2

Here is the second of three parts of a handwritten account by Momma's great-great-grandfather about his Civil War experiences.

This is a personal account of Captain William Harrison Huls' Civil War service hand written in April of 1917 as part of his request for a pension for his war service. The reader is advised to keep several facts in mind to maintain historical perspective.

First, the matter of the request for the Medal of Honor. At the time, this was the only medal issued by the United States Government. (The Order of the Purple Heart had been discontinued and had not been reinstated.) As it was the only medal issued by the military it had been issued rather liberally by the services during the Civil War.

Second, please keep in mind that this was written by W.H. Huls 53 years after the events described occurred.

Third, bear in mind that a pension of $10 a month would keep a man in bread, butter and steak in 1917.

Fourth, in reading this account please understand W.H. Huls had a good education for his day, he had even been a school teacher before the war, but his opportunities were limited by the times. This is especially important as I have copied his words exactly as he put them down in pencil on a yellow sheet of tablet paper 96 years ago.

 ***

Second Army Service for Medal of Honor

After the regiment met with a heavy loss at Fort Morgan, Miss. In a bayonet charge where many of soldiers, two corporals, orderly sergeant and our Capt of Co. H were killed.

General Grant  transferred our regiment on several gunboats to open up the Mississippi River. Company H was ordered on the Gunboat Pittsburgh. We ran the blockade at Vicksburg passing seventy or more heavy Siege Guns and water batteries on the night of April 16, 1863. and on the morning of April 29, 1863 at Grand Gulf Mississippi, Genl Grant with about 4000 were anchored the river waiting to take the fort, soon as the gunboats would silence the batteries. Here I believe I am entitled to sufficient honor to Secure the medal.

The Gunboats entered the fight at ten o'clock in the morning; fought continuous until near four o'clock in the afternoon, without silencing a gun. We piloted Grant's army across the river in the evening, when the rebels left the fort the next morning without firing a gun. I was ordered to scale or climb to the fort with my company and to our surprise there stood burning on it's carriage the Great gun called "Whistleing DICK" which had helped kill and wound more than thirty men on our boat "Pittsburgh" I will remember that four of my home Ohio boys just as good young healthy and Gallent Soldiers as our Government could enlist laying cold in death today. Who made this sacrifice for their country on the 29 day of April 1863 at Grand Gulf Mississippi.

I remember Gotlieb Slinger, a brave soldier was "Gun Swabber". In those days we had to swab the muzzle of the gun when run out the porthole; exposing the soldier's person while standing in the porthole swabbing everyload.

I had occasion to pass him when I saw he was shot by a Sharp Shooter from the hillside. He placed his eyes on me and fell in my arms and never took them off (of me) until I gently laid him down in the "dead room" when he closed his eyes a died without a struggle.

I will give another instant of a gallant Soldier by the name of Absolem E. Leffler. He was an excellent young man; everybody loved him. He was one of our home Ohio boys. A "Gunner" and while manning his gun a ball come in porthole striking him in the left Shoulder & Side, who fell on the deck with his shoulder and Side almost torn from his body. I remember clearly that his beating heart fell almost naked on the deck and leaped with life. I ran quickly and gathered it up with my hands and gently placed it in his wounded bleeding body and carried him back to the dead room - and here are other comrades Joseph A. Fartig, William H., Springer and others all young men of our boyhood days now all sleeping in death from the 29 of April 1863 while fighting for our country almost six dreadful hours on the Gunboat Pittsburgh. The same day we steamed up crossing over to the Louisiana Shore where we buried them with many others, now awaiting further orders.

To be continued...