The Woodcutter

As the letters of John Stewart Walker clearly demonstrate, for most soldiers, most of the Civil War was about marching around, setting up camp, marching some more, and being bored.  While camp-life doesn't make for a very interesting wargaming, I am glad that several figure manufacturers have looked past that and offered some non-combatant figures for sale. I recently painted one up to accompany the Army of Oxford. This guys is off to cut some wood took keep the camp-fires going. 

J. S. Walker's Thirtieth Letter

Camp Deas, near Youngs Mill,

Warick Co., Post Office

Yorktown, 4^th Oct. 1861

My dear Wife:

                I must write you a hurried letter as I have the opportunity of sending it to Williamsburg to be mailed. Your last enclosed one from Charles’ wife. I have written you pretty regularly and I am surprised you have not received them. I had not the opportunity of paying postage and put my name on the back so the postage could be paid at Richmond. These letters may not have been sent. I continue remarkably well, notwithstanding the unfavorable cold weather, very heavy rains which flood our camp.

                From what I can learn, we will soon have to build log huts in which to winter near this place. We will be very close to James River and no doubt will have facilities of getting up and down the River by Steamer, as well as getting packages down. I hope you got my letter ordering my winter clothing down by Taylor and that you sent them. We are not advised as to what our future movements will be. We have to live each day and have to ourselves a military life not knowing what a day may bring forth. I only wish as a Christian I could so live trusting alone in the Lord, but sin, that marrer of all mankind, will creep in, but then the blood of Christ cleanses from all sin, thanks be to his atoning sacrifice.

                Kiss the dear children and give love to all.

                                                                Yours most affectionately,

                                                                                Jno. S. Walker

Mississippi Naval Academy Brigade

As I'm nearly finished assembling the Confederate Army of Oxford, I wanted to added a couple of unique units to give the army a bit more color. Inspired by the Virginia Military Academy cadets who fought at the battle of New Market, I thought it would be fun to add a similar unit to my army.

Here's the story. With the outbreak of hostilities in 1860, Mississippi assembled its own naval academy, knowing that control of the river would prove crucial. However, by 1864, with the river completely under Union control, the cadets were re-equipped and retrained to fight as infantry, but kept their distinct uniforms.

The miniatures are by Empress Miniatures and are intended to be British soldiers during the Maori War. They are really top-notch miniatures, and it is definately worth finding an excuse to work them into your army. (Click on the images to get a larger view)

J. S. Walker's Twenty-Ninth Letter

Camp near Youngs Mill

Warwick Co., 19^th Sept., 1861

My dear Wife:

                I received yesterday yours dated 17^th relative to Boggs, and asking if I would give to the Missionary Cause. Yes, give $20.

                Since writing from Camp DeSoto we have twice changed and are now the advance post towards the enemy, being only eight miles from Newport News. Those in command here are daily expecting an attack from Gen. Wool, but I think they are mistaken. I think the old man has too small a force and is only playing a little brag game with us. He may, however, come, and if so I hope we will give him a Bethel setting back. Our Regiment needs very much a head. Col. August is alone with us and I hope Col. Stuart will soon appear. We are at last receiving reinforcements down here and will soon be able to give old Wool a fight. I thank the Lord my trust is alone in Him and not in the weak arm of flesh. I hope he will continue with us and still more signally prove that he is Lord and host in battle, but our soldiers as a genera thing are very immoral and profane and I fear if his blessings don’t turn them to Christ and turn them from their evil way that in love for their souls he may chastise them.

                Pray for the convicting grace to descend upon our army. I have the opportunity of writing, and am thankful today I am still well. I read Thompson Brown got home.

                Kiss the dear children.  Love to all.

                                                                Yours very affectionately,

                                                                                Jno. S. Walker

Have you gotten your winter coal, if not, write to Mr. Wooldridge to have 250 bus. sent you and keep coal house locked.

Marching with Great, Great, Great Granddad

As it turns out, Santa Claus does read blogs, and this year, under my tree, was a prettily wrapped present containing For Cause and For Country by Eric Jacobson and Richard Rupp. I’ve only just started reading this account of 'the Affair at Spring Hill and the Battle of Franklin', but I’m already very much enjoying it.

Basically in late 1864, after the Confederates had abandoned Atlanta, General John Bell Hood led the butternuts on their last major offensive in the Western Theatre. After a chapter of introduction, the book gets down to business with the Confederate advance into Tennessee.  Leading that advance was Cheatham’s Corp, which contained Brown’s Division, which in turn contained Gist’s Brigade, which included the 16th South Carolina Volunteers, led by Col. James McCullough .   While individual regiments rarely get mentioned in large campaign histories, I can easily follow my ancestor's basic course as part of the larger organizations.

As the Confederates started off into Tennessee, they were caught up in a terrific snowstorm. I’ve read numerous accounts of marches through bad weather, but there was something different knowing that those snowflakes stung the face of my ancestor. I could imagine the scene like never before.

I can’t wait to see what the rest of the book will bring.

J. S. Walker's Twenty-Eighth Letter

Warwick C. H., 16^th Sept., 1861

My dear Wife:

     I write to let you know that after a sojourn here of one day with all the trouble of pitching our tents, we have to pull up and pitch again five miles below here, near Young’s Mill, seven miles from Newport News. Our commanding officers anticipate an attack from Gen. Wood very soon, tho I do not.

     You must expect great irregularity in hearing from me, as I will be a long way from a post office.

     I am in excellent health, and tho the sickness of the Regiment increases daily, I am as well as usual, but if I get sick you may rest assured I will get home, as there are no facilities here for making a sick man comfortable.

     Kiss the dear children and remember me affectionately to all friends.

                                                Yours very affectionately,

                                                                Jno. S. Walker

In haste.

The Confederate

One of my best Christmas presents this year actually came a week or two prior to the holiday, when my co-worker P- presented me with this piece of artwork. P- has a lot of contacts among military artists and, knowing my love of the Civil War, and especially Confederate history, he convinced one of them to paint this for me.  The piece is by Fabien, a man best known for his work in French comic books. 

What I really like about the piece is how much the figure resembles a 28mm miniature like the ones I am fond of painting.  It is just waiting for a suitable frame.