He and His Union Regiment Lost the Most Men In Any One Action During the War
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- čas přidán 30. 07. 2024
- Today's story begins with an email from subscriber Tanya Brien, who sent me a wartime portrait of her ancestor, David Braley of the 1st Maine Heavy Artillery. Tanya wished to know if I could tell by looking at the photo if it in fact was really him. Here's my findings.
"Life on the Civil War Research Trail" is hosted by Ronald S. Coddington, Editor and Publisher of Military Images magazine. Learn more about our mission to showcase, interpret and preserve Civil War portrait photography at militaryimagesmagazine.com and shopmilitaryimages.com.
This episode is brought to you in part by The Excelsior Brigade, dealers in fine Civil War memorabilia. See their latest additions at excelsiorbrigade.com.
Image: Library of Congress.
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wow. What a sobering and moving presentation. TY. So grateful for Tanya and her family to have this information. As a fellow Mainer, I feel the sense of loss and tragedy for her. Though much smaller scale of Pickett's grand charge, but ironically similar in both leading up events and ghastly results. TY again. You did a really great job in production and presentation.
Petersburg was a foreshadow of WW1.Can you imagine the field carnage to Braley and the boys from Maine. Great content Ron.
Thanks for this important context. Much appreciated.
Cudos to you and all your research to tell so many interesting stories of the individual soldiers,their regiments, etc. David Braley's story is a good one, especially with his surviving that terrible charge when so many of his buddies were slaughtered.
Well done
Outstanding research and summary. I have a Don Troiani print of the charge and this background makes that print more emotionally hard hitting. Thank you. Fascinating.
I can not imagine remaining brave in light of the total destruction and killing going on around you. Incredible.
Heroic work, Ron! You bring these images to life and reclaim identity.
What a well written account of that Petersburg charge.
If I recall correctly Bruce Catton wrote that there were calls from the more battle-wise ranks on both sides of the 1st Maine to "Lie down you dam fools, you can't take them forts."
The regiment had as many men as most brigades when the marched out of Washington. They didn't when they finally marched back the next spring.
I walked the site of the charge several times in years past. They should have listened but they had been taking gaff from veteran units about being bandbox soldiers and probably were trying to prove a point.
The Bangor Historical Society has (or had a few years ago) diaries of several officers and enlisted men offering some insight.
My grandmother's uncle survived that day only to be taken prisoner at the 'skedaddle' at Jerusalem Plank Road an finished the war at Salsbury POW Camp.
Great work, very interesting.
Thank you for such a great CZcams channel.
Great work!!
Vinal Flye Hooper was a member of Company G 1st Regiment Maine Heavy Artillery that June day. If you look at the table of casualties Company G suffered 74 of them (24 dead with 50 wounded) the most losses of any company during that charge. The colonel who ordered the charge, according to one account, was later seen crying uncontrollably seated on a log as the remainder of regiment dragged wounded and other survivors streamed past him.
The colonel was killed while surveying the field one evening. I have the newspaper account of my great uncle Vinal Flye Hooper who was on picket duty warning the colonel that he was needlessly exposing too much of himself as Confederate bullets whizzed by. "My boy, the bullet that is supposed to kill me hasn't even been made yet." I'm George Hooper
It truly was no joy being in Ulysses S Grants army. He managed to lose about a quarter of his army in every engagement. Little wonder he, and Lincoln, were the two most hated individuals in North America by the end of the war!
Great story about the heavy artillery. A somewhat derided group of soldiers, you showed their courage and spirit in attacking earth works under fire. I have a few civil war ancestors. Kieth Boswell being rather well known as stonewalls engineer died at Chancellorsville with Jackson but his brother in the Va cavalry, my gggrandfather lived lucky for me.
Capt Elijah Hyatt Wittinghill of the 17th Kentucky was a captain in company D of the Union army - Any good sources for a history of this outfit ?? I watch almost all your researches with interest , excellent content and pro presentation Thanks from us all.
I wish I could find out more information on my 2 ancestors, Charles and Frederick Hartwick who both served in Co. F of the 52nd Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Unfortunately they never kept any journals or wrote any letters home that I know of. I really enjoy the experiences of the common CW soldiers.
Seems like those two Hartwick boys were illiterate. Not leaving a written record, can only be the truth of the matter.
@@carywest9256 They both signed their muster sheets with beautiful signatures, so they weren't illiterate. You sure are presumptive with out knowing shit.
I really enjoy this channel! And for those who like me might also regularly use an iPad for online reading and viewing, I’ve found a nifty trick that works really well. I quick take a simple screenshot as the video begins. As Mr. Coddington here tells the story he’s researched I crop and zoom in on the photo to fill my screen. As his narration proceeds underneath this screenshot I am able to quickly pinch in and out on details - like the belt buckle or here for instance the letters on the cap he points out. I move around at will pinching in and out as the story goes along, and inevitably, as the soldier pictured grows more and more real with each detail, I will finally zoom in closely on his somber face captured for the ages. This can be quite moving. If it’s a Federal soldier I thank him for his service in saving the Union; and if it’s a CSA soldier I shake my head in sorrow and say a little prayer.
Me too
You mention that the 1st Maine had the second highest percentage of casualties in the War. Was the 1st Minnesota at Gettysburg the highest percentage of casualties?
In a single battle, the claim of the 1st Minnesota is the highest. However, recent research by historian Andy Roscoe has raised legitimate questions about the 82 percent figure.
@@lifeonthecivilwarresearchtrail Samuel Pryce, adjutant of the 22nd Iowa, claims a 92% casualty rate for that regiment in the second assault on Vicksburg. I'm curious if you've ever heard that claim? Thanks for the excellent channel!
@@aaronfleming9426 Hey Aaron, I'm not aware of this claim. Will look into it. Thanks!
@@lifeonthecivilwarresearchtrail The claim is made in his regimental history "Vanishing Footprints". Enjoy! And thanks again for the great channel!
The Union attack at Petersburg was akin to Pickett's charge . Tactically senseless .
Pickett's Charge was not senseless. What most don't know is that Stuart was set to attack the Union rear on the third day but was prevented. This bit of important history is played down because he was stopped by GA Custer and seeing Custer as anything but a villain has been in vogue for the past 60 years. You can find books on it. (Custer at Gettysburg, etc.)
The US Civil war was very much a defensive one. The only thing missing was machine guns and modem artillery that made up early WW1 battles. It's funny how little the US Army had learned from its civil experience going into WW1.
They were actually a green unit in that attack. A veteran unit might not have, probably would not have pushed themselves to destruction. Nice to receive flanking fire, on the way to an attack, and then have to wheel the unit under fire, to line up for the attack. At this time of the war, the only way to get a veteran unit to do it, would be the unit's knowledge it must be done or the entire Army is lost.
Use the 850 number, which probably is more accurate, because of soldiers on sick call, excused because of night time pickets, and other military reasons for not being included in the attack. Then 632 form 850 gives dang near 74.5% casualties. A veteran unit would only do it, if it understood it's destruction would save the Army. Darn it, already said that. Good story, especially liked the run down on the photograph, which I thought for sure fake. thanks
Which is exactly what happened with the 1st Minnesota on the 2nd day of Gettysburg. 1500 Comfederates broke through the Peach Orchard and headed for the undefended center of the Union line. 285 vs 1500, and accounts from one of the 38 survivors said every man knew the order to charge meant their death. But it saved the Union Army, and gave General Hancock time to bring in more reinforcements. Since only 38 came back that resulted in 86% casualties. An example of the extreme bravery of Union Troops.
How about zooming in on the details you are talking about
Fredericksburg part II