Commemorating the Sesquicentennial of the Most Important Week in the History of the Republic

Townhall.com ^ | July 3, 2013 | Hugh Hewitt

[Biggirl]

A teaching history lesson.

[ConservativeNewYorker]

In Memory of my two great great Uncles who served at Gettysburg.

Scott S. Thornton of the 11th Mississippi Infantry Regiment and William Moore of the 124th New York Infantry Regiment.

[Netz]

What happened to them? Did they survive the battle?

[ryan71]

And John Adams and Thomas Jefferson passed away 50 years after the Declaration on July 4th, 1826.

[ConservativeNewYorker]

Scott was wounded during Pickett’s Charge, but survived and returned to Mississippi. William was killed on July 2nd at Houck’s Ridge defending Devil’s Den.

[central_va]

William Tecumseh Sherman, who is one of the generals profiled in Hanson's new "The Savior Generals".

Oh really? LOL

[ConservativeNewYorker]

I wouldn’t call Sherman the “savior” of anything.

[Netz]

Wow! That is amazing. Thanks for sharing that personal family history with all of us. How did Scott live out the remainder of his life if you don’t mind me asking?
I am blown away by your story. It makes the Civil war so damn personal!

[ConservativeNewYorker]

Scott moved to Memphis and his sister married my Great Grandfather who served as a 2LT with the 2nd Tennessee Infantry Regiment, and was wounded at Shiloh. They went into business together and were pretty successful.

[central_va]

King Lincoln and his Saintly General Staff bump.

[ConservativeNewYorker]

Sherman was the closest thing to a war criminal that existed. Benjamin “Beast” Butler gives him a run for money.

[Netz]

So Scott served with the South while William served with the North? The family was split?

[ConservativeNewYorker]

Nope. My Paternal Grandfather was from Tennessee and William was on my Mother’s side from the Hudson Valley region of New York. They were not related.

[Netz]

OK, thanks for that bit of information. It must be quite an honor to have known such detailed information on your distant family participating in such an amazing and epic conflict. Have you done research or are you a student of the Civil War?

[ConservativeNewYorker]

You are welcome, and thanks for asking. It is an honor, and I have been a student/buff of the Civil War since childhood. I am also a member of both the Sons of Confederate Veterans and Sons of Union Veterans.

[Netz]

I grew up in Michigan and my late father was a Civil War expert always referring to the 24th Michigan Regiment.

For family vacations while other kids in the neighborhood went to Disney Land and amusement parks, we went to Gettysburg, Williamsburg, Jamestown and learned history. In retropect, I appreciate so much, those summers of learning.

[ConservativeNewYorker]

The 24th Michigan, part of the famed Iron Brigade that held the railroad cut just west of Gettysburg and saved the Federal army on the first day. I vacationed in much the similar manner as you..

[Netz]

Wow, you know your stuff! I am thankfull growing up on American Colonial and Civil War history in my household. Why, my dad even had a Union cap with an original circular bugle on it along with some black leather ammo pouches and a rifle collection (all in firing condition) from 1763-1960’s. Yes, we read books, traveled to battlefields and grew up on firing old, metal carbide canons on our front porch every fourth...ahhh, great memories! We were the only ones with an unfurled flag in our neighborhood and I remember my dad saying how they were ungrateful for our freedoms. He was a WWII vet as well.
Happy Fourth of July!

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Kaslin.