Posted on 04/13/2011 3:25:29 AM PDT by MadMitch
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/features/Scots-and-the-American-Civil.6750042.jp
IN May, 1864 a young Glaswegian by the name of Bennet Graham Burley stared at the dark, dirty water rising up through a grille and flooding over the floor of his cell and considered his alternatives, neither of which were good. He could remain in this dank, filthy cell in the Union prison on Pea Patch Island in the middle of the Delaware
Same old Sassanachs in the Souf’ although they’ve recently begun styling themselves as authentically Scottish, but they ain’t!
The south never had an ammo shortage, the domestic supply was more than adequate. Small arms also. The south's shortages were in man power and clothing and food. Even up to the last day there were no ammo shortages.
“Born Fighting” was an interesting book. Went a long way toward explaining the ‘redneck culture’. My Daddy was a product of that culture, with a little Cherokee thrown into the mix. ;o)
But he stole the Stone of Destiny from Scone!!!
That did it...!
This happened primarily after the battle of Culloden and the subsequent pursecution of Highlanders by Butcher Billy.
Many were indentured servants in the Colonies...
we have a rich history of Scots/Irish in this country...
Ditto! Thanx..
Another book on the subject was written by our (ahem) present crapola senator from VA, Jim Webb.
“I wonder what the gain was for a Scotsman to fight in the American Civil War?”
I think there was a certain percentage of Scots in the nineteent century that simply could not resist the temptation to join into a bonny fight, regardless of where. There were Scots that fought on both sides during the ACW. As I recall, there was even a Union regiment made up of Scots immigrants who had kilts as part of their uniform.
Yup, served under Grant. Moved on over to serve under Sherman and burn some stuff down ~ lots of stuff.
These guys all descended from the alternating William Alexander/Benjamin Alexander lines all the way back to some desolate hillside in Scotland.
Senator Webb thinks they were Souvrn'rs but, of course, he is wrong as usual.
Way back when, the Brits began dumping boatloads of Scottish POWs (or just people rounded up on village streets) in the Potomac near what is now called Alexandria.
They'd traveled in chains all the way to America, and were tossed naked and still in manacles overboard and left to swim for shore.
No doubt there was a high death rate.
The Scots began hiking upstream to get as far away from the Brits as they could. Their journey took them quickly beyond Pocahontas's old village at Great Falls, and on up to the Spanish landmark at Point of Rocks. Eventually they arrived at the headwaters and crossed over a mountain pass into another major river valley in what became known as Alexander county. They do those Scottish games there every Summer ~ a great event ~ everyone should visit.
The Great Trek from Smuggler's Creek is generally unknown ~ the historians prefer to focus on Baltimore where someone bothered to keep track of how many Scots came in.
The American Revolution began on the shores of the Potomac and was well underway by 1705. These guys were making firearms and steel hatchets in those Carolina mountains prepared to take the war to the enemy forces.
I suppose if the Brits had been more decent to the Scots when they dumped them here they'd have avoided the millennial anger they fostered in those men and women.
I gave that book as a Christmas present many years ago, and the the recipient loved it. It was also on sale on Amazon..
“The fact that Edinburgh is the only city outside the United States to have a monument to Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War would lead to the swift conclusion that Scots sided with the Union North, but the evidence is that our greatest support, like the actions of Bennet Burley, favoured the South and the slave-owning classes. “
The things I learn even today.
“Born Fighting” is the book written by Jim Webb.
They just like to fight. They’re good at it too.
Other than that and a bit of blockade running, the French were backing a puppet ruler in Mexico and involved in a very severe fight there.
That was well done.
The 69th New York I think. Certainly a New York regiment.
Besides, we love a wee scrape now and again! ;-)
Nice work! Did you work in CMYK — or in RGB?
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