Conflicting Sources I recently discovered two Find-A-Grave memorials for David W. Ketchum. The memorials contain conflicting information. Memorial #16296735 lists his date of birth as October 13, 1838, and date of death as April 19, 1893. The memorial has a photo of Ketchum’s tombstone with the birth and death dates inscribed on it. The other… Continue reading Sorting out the Facts for Captain David Ketchum
Tag: 51st North Carolina Officers
51st North Carolina Officers on Duty by Month
I have spent the past few weeks refining PFD (Present for Duty) data for the regiment. The results for the officers are below. My apologies for the small size, but I wanted to publish it as one page. You can open it in a new tab to get a better view of the data. I… Continue reading 51st North Carolina Officers on Duty by Month
Chaos in Command: More Information
I know, I know! I keep posting on this topic. But I found more information in the Clingman Papers about the Fifty-First’s command debacle in 1863. Summary of the Situation in January 1863 On January 6, 1863, Lieutenant Colonel William Allen, commanding the 51st North Carolina, submitted his resignation [the letter is dated January 5].… Continue reading Chaos in Command: More Information
“He is hard to fool and to catch”
On May 21, 1863, Lieutenant Lemuel Keith, Company G, 61st Regiment North Carolina Troops, was put in charge of a detail to find and arrest Lieutenant John McAllister. McAllister, 51st North Carolina, Company A, was absent without leave after overstaying his sick furlough. Keith and his detail searched near McAllister’s home at Hilton in New… Continue reading “He is hard to fool and to catch”
Rounding Up Deserters in Robeson County
In early February 1863, a Mr. Swann of Lumberton wrote a letter to General Whiting in Wilmington requesting military assistance in Robeson County. Bands of deserters, hiding in the swamps, were terrorizing the county’s citizens. Local militia seemed unable to protect the residents or their property. Whiting ordered General Clingman to send an armed force… Continue reading Rounding Up Deserters in Robeson County
Snapshot: Condition of the 51st North Carolina on August 31, 1863
The Inspection On August 31, 1863, the 51st North Carolina was camped on Sullivan’s Island near Charleston. Captain W. Gordon McCabe performed a “muster inspection” of the regiment on that date. His inspection measured the Fifty-First’s readiness as a combat unit. Staff Officers On the day of McCabe’s inspection, Colonel McKethan and Lieutenant-Colonel Hobson were… Continue reading Snapshot: Condition of the 51st North Carolina on August 31, 1863
Guarding the Wappoo: Lt. Watson Gets in Hot Water
The Wappo Cut is a waterway southwest of Charleston that connects the Ashley and Stono rivers. During the Civil War, traffic between James Island and Charleston had to cross the Cut. Two bridges spanned the waterway: the New Bridge and a pontoon bridge. During April 1863, the 51st North Carolina was tasked with guarding the… Continue reading Guarding the Wappoo: Lt. Watson Gets in Hot Water
What’s for Dinner? Feeding a Regiment
In late June 1862, the 51st North Carolina moved to Fort Johnston, near Southport. Conditions at the fort were much better than those at the camps the regiment had previously occupied. The men were housed in barracks. They had a ready supply of good drinking water. All the regiment needed to do was feed the… Continue reading What’s for Dinner? Feeding a Regiment
Chaos in Command, Part 3: The New Field Officers
In an earlier post, “Feuding in the Officers’ Ranks,” I described the squabbling among the Fifty-First’s officers that left the regiment with only one field officer for almost four months. In this three-part series I add further details gleaned from documents contained in the NARA compiled service records of some of the officers involved during… Continue reading Chaos in Command, Part 3: The New Field Officers
Chaos in Command, Part 2: Lt. Col. Allen Resigns
In an earlier post, “Feuding in the Officers’ Ranks,” I described the squabbling among the Fifty-First’s officers that left the regiment with only one field officer for almost four months. In this three-part series I add further details gleaned from documents contained in the NARA compiled service records of some of the officers involved during… Continue reading Chaos in Command, Part 2: Lt. Col. Allen Resigns