The Lincoln Special

Martyred president Abraham Lincoln's body lay in state in the East Room of the White House which was open to the public on Tuesday, April 18, 1865. On Wednesday, April 19, a funeral service was held and then the coffin was transported to the Capitol Rotunda, where a ceremonial burial service was held. The body again laid in state on Thursday, April 20 and early on the morning of Friday, April 21 a prayer service was held for the Lincoln cabinet. 

At 7 a.m. on Friday, April 21, 1865, the coffin was taken by honor guard to the funeral car and at 8 a.m. the train departed. At least 10,000 people witnessed the train's departure from Washington.

The funeral train consisted of nine cars, including a baggage and hearse car which contained the coffins of Lincoln and his son, William "Willie" Wallace Lincoln, who had died on Feb. 20, 1862 at the age of 11 of typhoid fever during Lincoln’s second year in office.

Lincoln's eldest son Robert Todd Lincoln rode the train to Baltimore and then returned to the White House to be with his mother and surviving brother, Tad. (Robert took a train to Springfield on May 1, 1865 to attend his father's final funeral.) Mary Todd Lincoln, who was too distraught to make the trip, didn't return to Illinois until May 22, 1865.

The train retraced most of the route president-elect Lincoln had traveled on his way to Washington and his first inauguration in 1861, and millions of Americans viewed the train along the route in the following cities:

• Washington, D.C.
• Baltimore, Maryland, April 21, 1865
• Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, April 21, 1865
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 22, 1865
• New York City, April 24, 1865
• Albany, New York, April 25, 1865
• Buffalo, New York, April 27, 1865
• Cleveland, Ohio, April 28, 1865
• Columbus, Ohio, April 29, 1865
• Indianapolis, Indiana, April 30, 1865
• Michigan City, Indiana, May 1, 1865
• Chicago, Illinois, May 1, 1865
• Springfield, Illinois, May 3, 1865

The train passed 444 communities, 180 cities, and seven states. (Lincoln was not viewed in state in New Jersey).

However, assassin John Wilkes Booth was still on the run as of April 21, 1865.

Booth was not the hero he thought he would be. Newspapers called him an "accursed devil," "monster," "madman," and a "wretched fiend." Even in the South, Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston called Booth's act "a disgrace to the age," and Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee expressed regret at Lincoln's assassination.

Not all were grief-stricken, however. In New York City, a man was attacked by an enraged crowd when he shouted, "It served Old Abe right!" after hearing the news of Lincoln's death.

(Momma's great-great-grandfather, who had mustered out of the 58th OVI on Jan. 8, 1865, was back in Hocking County, Ohio when he heard of the assassination. When a local man cheered at the news, Momma's great-great-grandfather punched him in the face -- knocking him off the split-rail fence he was sitting upon and breaking his jaw.)

Booth would remain on the run until cornered, shot, and killed in a tobacco barn just south of Port Royal, Caroline County, Virginia on April 26, 1865.

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...

The Civil War Chronicles of Capt. William H. Huls Part 1

Momma was quite excited to recently discover a handwritten account by her great-great-grandfather.

This is the first of three parts of the 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.

 ***

Rockbridge, Ohio April 11, 1917

To the Adjutant General United States
Washington, D.C.

I William H. Huls, Of Co. H, 58 Ohio vol, Inf. Do hereby submit for your consideration the following service. While a member of said company and regiment 3 years 3 months & 9 Days

For a Medal of honor and for a pension of ten dollars per month. I wille submit to you the following three different times of Army Service.

First Army Service for Medal of Honor

On the 10 of August 1862. While my regiment was camped in the hills of Helena, Ark. Seventy miles below Memphis, Tenn. We were ordered down the Mississippi River. To free the river from the Rebels, and Rebel transports passing up and down the river. We had skirmishes all along the river, at Millikins Bend, La, Haines Bluff, Greenville, and Bolivar Landing Miss. We were ordered to attack the 31 La (Rebel) regiment camped at Millikins Bend La at daybrake and capture it by surprise; which we did. After they saw us coming on a double quick, many left all they had and fled into the country. We followed them about three miles and returned to our boat with a few prisoners. So to add what we captured in the morning would be quite a number.

We took all their cooking vessels and provisions; and captured a steamboat called "Fairplay" Loaded with army provisions as said to have five thousand stand of arms on Board. We sent the prisoners up the river and went on down the river to the mouth of the Yazoo river four Miles above Vicksburg, Miss. We ascended the Yazoo River about four miles to where the Rebels had begun to fortify the river.

We captured four small guns and destroyed two large guns and set fire to the gun carriages.

Here is the place we attacked them again on Dec 27-28-29, 1862 Called Ft. Morgan, Miss.

The Regiment returned to Helena, Ark and Camped on the old camping ground. There were many regiments in Vicksburg while we were destroying and capturing their guns on the Yazoo River. Had we not taken them by surprise we would surely have been captured.

To be continued...

When Addie comes marching home

Momma and I were so excited to spot this wonderful Sack Coat and Pants pattern by Thimbles and Acorns this morning.

During the Civil War it was not uncommon for boys as young as 12 years of age to enlist as drummer boys. Though they weren't technically soldiers, they were still close to the battle lines and often took up arms when battles became heated. This uniform is patterned after the standard pants and sack coat issued to enlisted men and is the same style worn by Johnny Clem, who at 9 years of age became the youngest soldier of the Civil War... actually, of any American war.

This pattern has been carefully researched with close attention to detailing. The pants have a fly front with a small working silver button and two front pockets. The jacket features a unique pocket in the front that is accessed through the front placket. The jacket is fully lined ... just like the original.

This Uniform was fit on an older, thicker bodied 18 inch American Girl doll body (woohoo!), but the design fits the newer, slimmer body sizes as well.

It looks amazingly like what Momma's great-great-grandfather wore during the civil war.

I don't need the pants, but I do want that coat!

And Shari say she hopes to make a pattern for a shirt and kepi cap in the near future!

The Siege of Vicksburg

Momma says it's kind of strange to know what an ancestor was doing and where 149 years after the fact.

Her great-great-grandfather, Capt. William H. Huls, is the bearded officer at the front left of this memorial photo.

The inscription reads:

History of Company "H," 58 Ohio Infantry Volunteers. 

The company was organized at Camp Medill, Ohio on the 26th of November, 1861, and non-veterans mustered out of service January 8, 1865. During the above time were in the following engagements and skirmishes. In the battle of Fort Donelson, Tenn., February 15th and 16, 1862; Shiloh, Tenn., April 7th, 1862; skirmishes at Milliken's Bend, La., Hayne's Bluff, Greenville and Bolivar Landing, Miss. Aug. 1862; in the battle of Fort Morgan, Miss., Dec. 27th, 28th, and 29th, 1862; Arkansas Post, on the Arkansas river, Jan 10th and 11th, 1863; detached on U.S. gunboat Pittsburg Feb. 7th, 1863; in action at Tolling Fork, Miss., Mar 19, 20, and 21, 1863; in action while running the blockade of Vicksburg, Miss., April 16, 1863; Fort Beauregard, La., May 10th and 11th, 1863; and inactions at Simsport, La., June 4th, '63. Rejoined the regiment at Vickburg, Miss., Oct. 12, 1863. 

Alterations of the Company Since Its Organization 

Enlisted as veterans, Jan 1863, 25; recruits from depots, 16; transferred, 2; discharged, 13; died of disease, 15; killed inaction, 10. Total number killed and wounded during the campaign ofthree years, four months, and three days, 27.

The Siege of Vicksburg (May 18 – July 4, 1863) was the final major military action in the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. In a series of maneuvers, Union Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and his Army of the Tennessee crossed the Mississippi River and drove the Confederate army of Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton into the defensive lines surrounding the fortress city of Vicksburg, Miss.

When two major assaults (May 19 and May 22, 1863) against the Confederate fortifications were repulsed with heavy casualties, Grant decided to besiege the city beginning on May 25. With no reinforcement, supplies nearly gone, and after holding out for more than 40 days, the garrison finally surrendered on July 4. This action (combined with the capitulation of Port Hudson on July 9) yielded command of the Mississippi River to the Union forces, who would hold it for the rest of the conflict.

The Confederate surrender following the siege at Vicksburg is sometimes considered, when combined with Gen. Robert E. Lee's defeat at Gettysburg the previous day, the turning point of the war. It also cut off communication with Confederate forces in the Trans-Mississippi Department for the remainder of the war.

The city of Vicksburg would not celebrate Independence Day for about 80 years as a result of the siege and surrender.

The Independence Day Mystery

I am Profoundly Confused.

Momma just told Me her great-great-grandfather (above, bearded officer to the left) was at Vicksburg on July 4, 1863.

The Siege of Vicksburg (May 18 – July 4, 1863) was the final major military action in the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. In a series of maneuvers, Union Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and his Army of the Tennessee crossed the Mississippi River and drove the Confederate army of Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton into the defensive lines surrounding the fortress city of Vicksburg, Mississippi.

She also showed me a Touching Letter written by a soldier who served with her Honorable Ancestor in Company H, 58th Ohio Infantry Volunteers (OVI).

Can it be she's a Time Traveler, too?

While I am trying to Puzzle this out, please be Thankful for your Freedom.

I know I am.