Tag Archives: Civil War

The Guns of 1864

It’s worth remembering, inĀ this sesquicentennial year of the war, that in 1864, as the May issue of theĀ American Rifleman magazine puts it “more and more repeating rifles—[seven-shot] Spencers and ‘sixteen shooter’ Henrys—made their way into Union units. “The South was … Continue reading

Posted in Battles: Berryville, Battles: First Deep Bottom, Gen. Benjamin G. Humphreys | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dice and cards

Faro, Monte, Chuck-a-luck, High ‘n Low. Such were the favored gambling games among Civil War soldiers in camp. Chess was also a favorite, as it has been for soldiers through the ages. As the war dragged on and prayer meetings … Continue reading

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The Journey: On to Virginia

William H. Hill, a lawyer and the regiment’s quartermaster clerk, wrote in his diary on July 11, 1861: “Thursday. Our regiment left Union City in the cars of the Missouri and Ohio R.R. at dusk.” Col. Barksdale, alarmed by the … Continue reading

Posted in Gen. William Barksdale, The Journey, William H. Hill Diary | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Jess McLean’s invaluable history

Undeniably the most complete work in print about the regiment is Jess N. McLean Sr.’s so-called “Official Records.” They’re official insofar as they are muster rolls and orders and after-action reports. The book also contains excerpts from private diaries and … Continue reading

Posted in Jess N. McLean | Tagged , , , , | 18 Comments