4th Virginia memorabilia for sale

Ran across the following item that remained unsold at auction: a Confederate medical certificate of discharge for Thomas Halsey, Co. A, 4th Virginia Infantry.

The catalog description reads as follows:

Oct. 27, 1864. Surgeon's certificate attesting that Thomas Halsey, Co. A, 4th Virginia Infantry (Confederate) is "wholly unfit for the performance of military duty, because of a wound on the left groin (ball not extracted) received at Gettesburg." The 4th Virginia was part of the famed Stonewall Brigade and lost almost 50% of the 257 effectives (mostly at Culps Hill) who entered the battle at Gettysburg. The regiment surrendered there, with only 17 of the 45 who gave themselves up even carrying arms.

Written on Confederate paper, but an attractive relic of the turning point of the Civil War.

Estimated value is $1000-$1500. Anyone interested?

To purchase contact: Cowan's Auctions Inc.
6270 Este Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45232 Tel: (513)871-1670
Reid Sikes at: reid@cowans.com

Southern VT Primitive Biathlon Results are in!

Our Commander just got back from a weekend of black powder competition at the Southern Vermont Primitive Biathlon event in Manchester, Vermont. He opted not to physically run the course on snow shoes (good call, Tom) but instead walked the 1.5 mile course on foot. His score was as follows:

WOODS WALKERS

Rank	Name	Home Town	Hits	Points
1	Ben Morse	Arlington, VT	9	185
2	John Cole	Ferrisburgh, VT	8	165
3	Brook Aldrich	Florence, VT	8	160
3	Scott Marsh	Orford, NH	8	160
3	John Monti	Randolph, MA	8	160
3	David Price, Sr	Contoocook, NH	8	160
3	Roy Sims	Wells, VT	8	160
4	Anthony Hart, Jr	Watervliet, VT	7	142
4	Rollo MacWilliams	Sunapee, NY	7	142
5	Tom Witham	Holbrook, MA	7	140

As you can see Tommy placed in the top ten in the woods walker class. Good job Tommy! Smoothbore team, watch out.

On this day in the Civil War . . .

from This Day in the Civil War :

Saturday, Feb. 15 1862
DOOMED DONELSON DEFENDERS DEFEATED

One of the most stunning examples of Confederate defeat snatched from the jaws of victory occurred today at Ft. Donelson on the Cumberland River in Tennessee. The gunboats of Flag Officer Foote prevented the Rebel forces from taking to the river in large numbers to escape, so they did the only thing they could: they put up a fight fierce enough to break a hole in the Union line of attack. McClernand’s right flank was blown completely away...so what did Gen. Pillow do? He pulled the victorious troops back into the fort and debated who should have the honor of surrendering the garrison. Gen. Floyd, the official commander, decided to decline, as did Gen. Pillow, so they took a handy rowboat and saved themselves to fight another day. The honor of surrender they left to Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner who, they reasoned, having been a prewar friend of Gen. U.S. Grant, would get the men better terms anyway. They were wrong.

On this day in 1861 . . .

Jefferson Davis was named President of the Confederate States of America. The linked article states:

"In conformity with a resolution of the Confederate Congress, Davis immediately appointed a Peace Commission to resolve the Confederacy's differences with the Union. In March 1861, before the bombardment of Fort Sumter, the Commission was to travel to Washington, D.C., to offer to pay for any Federal property on Southern soil, as well as the Southern portion of the national debt, but it was not authorized to discuss terms for reunion. He appointed General P.G.T. Beauregard to command Confederate troops in the vicinity of Charleston, South Carolina. He approved the Cabinet decision to bombard Fort Sumter, which started the Civil War. When Virginia switched from neutrality and joined the Confederacy, he moved his government to Richmond, Virginia, in May 1861. Davis and his family took up his residence there at the White House of the Confederacy in late May."

Jefferson Davis's Inauguration

The rest, as they say, is history.

Thanks for setting up the page. Looks great.

4th Virginia winter meeting

Hi Everybody!! Tom has asked me to pass along to you that our meeting will be on Saturday, February 27 at 3:30pm. We'll meet at Al O's house and go out to dinner afterward. For anyone who needs the address--contact me, Tommy, or Al.

Also--wanted to pass along this info that I learned tonight: In response to the Bulletin Board being yanked off the N-SSA website--there is now a New England Region Facebook page set up. I went on and joined--looks like everyone has a new place to keep in touch--and of course make fun of each other!!

I'm sure a lot of people don't know how to do Facebook--but it's really easy and anyone can do it. Go to Facebook.com and follow the simple steps. It's really easy to find friends and post photos and things. Just click around and see what stuff is--you can't mess it up. Let me know if you need any help.

See you soon!

Denise

Carbine A team at 119th Nationals

119th Spring Nationals N-SSA 4th Va Inf Carbine Team "A" 50 yard tiles



thanks to Bill "O'Malley" Lomeli for posting this on YouTube.

Welcome to the blog of the Grayson Dare Devils!

Enjoy.