Even though the recording is not of the best quality it is very valuable to those of us that wish to preserve the sound of the authentic Rebel Yell!

  Here is a great rendition of Goober Peas preformed by the 97th Regimental String Band.  Goober Peas would have been a song that was commonly heard in Confederate Camps in the latter part of the war.  The songs title refers to the peanuts that were often issued to the Southern troops as an emergency ration. The men most commonly enjoyed this delicious treat boiled!  Boiled peanuts are still considered a delicacy in the South to this day. 

GOOBER PEAS – Lyrics

Verse 1

Sitting by the roadside on a summer’s day

Chatting with my mess-mates, passing time away

Lying in the shadows underneath the trees

Goodness, how delicious, eating goober peas.

 

Chorus2x

 

Peas, peas, peas, peas

Eating goober peas

Goodness, how delicious,

Eating goober peas.

 

Verse 2

When a horse-man passes, the soldiers have a rule

To cry out their loudest, "Mister, here’s your mule!"

But another custom, enchanting-er than these

Is wearing out your grinders, eating goober peas.

 

Chorus

Verse 3

Just before the battle, the General hears a row

He says "The Yanks are coming, I hear their rifles now."

He turns around in wonder, and what d’ya think he sees?

The Georgia Militia, eating goober peas.

 

Chorus

Verse 4

I think my song has lasted almost long enough.

The subject’s interesting, but the rhymes are mighty tough.

I wish the war was over, so free from rags and fleas

We’d kiss our wives and sweethearts, and gobble goober peas.

 

Chorus

 

This is truly my favorite Southern patriotic song and stands only next to Dixie in my heart. I hope you enjoy this outstanding rendition of The Bonnie Blue Flag

Cover of sheet music for "The Bonnie Blue Flag" words by Harry Macarthy, New Orleans: A.E. Blackmar & Bro., 1861

From Wikipedia:

The Bonnie Blue Flag", also known as "We Are a Band of Brothers", is an 1861 marching song associated with the Confederate States of America. The words were written by Ulster-born entertainer Harry McCarthy, with the melody taken from the song "The Irish Jaunting Car". The song’s title refers to the unofficial first Flag of the Confederacy, the "Bonnie Blue Flag that bears the "single star" of the chorus.

"The Bonnie Blue Flag" holds special significance to the Texas brigade. The song was premiered by lyricist Harry McCarthy during a concert in Jackson, Mississippi, in the spring of 1861 and performed again in September of that same year at the New Orleans Academy of Music for the First Texas Volunteer Infantry regiment mustering in celebration.

The New Orleans music publishing house of A.E. Blackmar issued six editions of "The Bonnie Blue Flag" between 1861 and 1864 along with three additional arrangements. The "Band of Brothers" mentioned in the first line of the song is a reference to the St. Crispin’s day speech in William Shakespeare’s play Henry V.

The Bonnie Blue Flag

Lyrics – Common Version

We are a band of brothers and native to the soil
Fighting for our Liberty, With treasure, blood and toil
And when our rights were threatened, the cry rose near and far
Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star!

Chorus:
Hurrah! Hurrah!
For Southern rights, hurrah!
Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star.

2. As long as the Union was faithful to her trust
Like friends and like brethren, kind were we, and just
But now, when Northern treachery attempts our rights to mar
We hoist on high the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star.

Chorus

3. First gallant South Carolina nobly made the stand
Then came Alabama and took her by the hand
Next, quickly Mississippi, Georgia, and Florida
All raised on high the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star.

Chorus

4. Ye men of valor gather round the banner of the right
Texas and fair Louisiana join us in the fight
Davis, our loved President, and Stephens statesmen rare
Now rally round the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star.

Chorus

5. Now here’s to brave Virginia, the old Dominion State,
With the young Confederacy at last has sealed her fate,
And spurred by her example, now other states prepare
To hoist high the bonnie blue flag that bears a single star.

Chorus

6. Then cheer, boys, cheer, raise a joyous shout
For Arkansas and North Carolina now have both gone out,
And let another rousing cheer for Tennessee be given,
The single star of the Bonnie Blue Flag has grown to be eleven.

Chorus

7. Then here’s to our Confederacy, strong we are and brave,
Like patriots of old we’ll fight, our heritage to save;
And rather than submit to shame, to die we would prefer,
So cheer for the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star.

Chorus

     Ringgold Telephone Company and the City of Ringgold are proud to host the First Annual Ringgold Gap Civil War Festival, featuring the unveiling of a life-size bronze statue of Confederate General Patrick Ronayne Cleburne.

     The events will be held in historic Ringgold, Georgia on Saturday, October 3rd. It was November 1863, Ringgold, GA. The Confederate Army was in retreat and pursued by Federal forces. Confederate General Patrick Cleburne was charged with the task of holding off the approaching Union troops, so the Confederates could safely withdraw. Cleburne sent his 4,100 men into Ringgold Gap to occupy the bluffs above the very narrow pass, unbeknownst to the approaching union troops. Hooker and his troops of 21,000 began their pass through the gap. After several assaults from Hooker’s men, Cleburne’s troops were able to hold the gap until all the Confederates had safely withdrawn.

     For his service, the Confederate Congress voted a resolution of thanks. Now, with help from renowned sculptor Ron Tunison, and with financial support from Ringgold Telephone Company and the General Patrick Cleburne Society, the revered Civil War hero, General Patrick Ronayne Cleburne, will again stand guard in Ringgold Gap.

     The unveiling and dedication of the statue of Cleburne will be held Saturday, October 3, at 10:00 a.m. in Confederate Park, off Highway. 41, Ringgold, GA. Due to limited space, people wishing to attend the ceremony will be required to park on Robin Rd. Shuttles will be provided to the statue site.The Ringgold Gap Festival will be held in conjunction with the unveiling ceremony. Storytellers, historical lectures, sutlers, plays, an experience camp, and an appearance of the Hunley submarine replica, will all be included in the festivities.

     The events, which will take place on Robin Rd., are free to the public. The festival grounds will open at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 3. To conclude the day’s events, a period ball will be held at 7:00 p.m.

For information about activities, directions, festival maps and schedules, visit www.RinggoldGapFestival.com.

Contact: Marcy Cirlot Ringgold Telephone Company (706) 965-1249 Mcirlot@rtctel.com

By Calvin E. Johnson Jr.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Originally posted on the SCV Blog

Monday, July 13th, in the year of our Lord 2009, is the 188th birthday of American legend and Southern Hero–Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest.

President Obama continued a century-old tradition, on Memorial Day, by honoring American Servicemen and women buried at Arlington National Cemetery and sending a wreath to the Confederate and Black Union soldier’s section.

Some criticized Obama for remembering the Confederate soldiers buried at section 16 but, like his predecessors, the president did the historically-correct and Patriotic thing in remembering ‘All’ American Veterans.

Almost a century earlier, on June 4, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson spoke at Arlington National Cemetery on the occasion of the unveiling of a new Confederate Monument by the United Daughters of the Confederacy. His speech echoed praise for the Confederate soldier and he received applause from a crowd of thousands that included Confederate and Union Veterans.

Will the circle, of remembering our American family, be unbroken?

Some, today, seek to ban the Confederate Battle flag, the blood-stained soldier’s banner of many hard fought battles, from Veterans Day events and the soldier’s monument at South Carolina’s State Capitol. There is also a push to ban the Confederate flag at all NASCAR races.

Some groups claim the Southern flag is offensive to Black people.

But, what do they say to Black folks who call the Confederate flag a symbol of Southern Pride like Nelson Winbush of Florida who is a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans—www.scv.org? Mr. Winbush speaks truthfully and from the heart about the War for Southern Independence, 1861-65, and of his grandfather who fought for the South. He may even ‘proudly’ show you a picture of himself, as a child, with his Grandfather, Louis Napoleon Nelson, who rode with Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest in Company M of the 7th Tennessee Cavalry and was buried with his Confederate uniform and Confederate flag draped casket.

Gen. Forrest said of the Black men who rode with him, “These boys stayed with me … and better Confederates did not live.”

You might also ask Black Southern-Historian H.K. Edgerton who marched across Dixie from North Carolina to Texas attired in Confederate uniform, carrying the Confederate flag and educating many Black and White people along the way about their Southern Heritage. Edgerton is also past president of the local NAACP Chapter in Asheville, North Carolina.

Was Gen. Forrest an early advocate for Civil Rights?

Forrest’s speech during a meeting of the Jubilee of Pole Bearers is a story that needs to be told. Gen. Forrest was the first white man to be invited by this group which was a forerunner of today’s Civil Right’s group. A reporter of the Memphis Avalanche newspaper was sent to cover the event.

Miss Lou Lewis, daughter of a Pole Bearer member, was introduced to Forrest and she presented the former general a bouquet of flowers as a token of reconciliation, peace and good will. On July 5, 1875, Nathan Bedford Forrest delivered this speech.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, I accept the flowers as a memento of reconciliation between the white and colored races of the Southern states. I accept it more particularly as it comes from a colored lady, for if there is any one on God’s earth who loves the ladies I believe it is myself. (Immense applause and laughter.) I came here with the jeers of some white people, who think that I am doing wrong. I believe I can exert some influence, and do much to assist the people in strengthening fraternal relations, and shall do all in my power to elevate every man, to depress none. (Applause.)

I want to elevate you to take positions in law offices, in stores, on farms, and wherever you are capable of going. I have not said anything about politics today. I don’t propose to say anything about politics. You have a right to elect whom you please; vote for the man you think best, and I think, when that is done, you and I are freemen. Do as you consider right and honest in electing men for office. I did not come here to make you a long speech, although invited to do so by you. I am not much of a speaker, and my business prevented me from preparing myself. I came to meet you as friends, and welcome you to the white people. I want you to come nearer to us.

When I can serve you I will do so. We have but one flag, one country; let us stand together. We may differ in color, but not in sentiment. Many things have been said about me which are wrong, and which white and black persons here, who stood by me through the war, can contradict. Go to work, be industrious, live honestly and act truly, and when you are oppressed I’ll come to your relief. I thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for this opportunity you have afforded me to be with you, and to assure you that I am with you in heart and in hand.” (Prolonged applause.) End of speech.

Nathan Bedford Forrest again thanked Miss Lewis for the bouquet and then gave her a kiss on the cheek. Such a kiss was unheard of in the society of those days, in 1875, but it showed a token of respect and friendship between the general and the black community and did much to promote harmony among the citizens of Memphis, Tennessee.

Some people have claimed that Forrest was associated with the Ku Klux Klan but he officially denied participation. He encouraged the friendly reunion of North and South and the remembrance of both the Confederate and Union Dead.

Forrest died on October 29, 1877, in Memphis, Tennessee and is buried with his wife at Forrest Park.

Lest We Forget!!

A native of Georgia, Calvin Johnson, Chairman of the National and Georgia Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Confederate History Month Committee—Scv.org lives near the historic town of Kennesaw and he’s a member of the Chattahoochee Guards Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans. He is the author of the book ”When America Stood for God, Family and Country.” Calvin can be reached at: cjohnson1861@bellsouth.net

June 1, 2009 05:06 PM

Original post found – Here

RALEIGH — The N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh is home to one of the nation’s largest collections of Confederate flags. However, conservation of these banners requires expensive, specialized textile treatment. To help fund this need, the museum has formed a thriving partnership with the 26th Regiment N.C. Troops, Reactivated, the state’s largest Civil War re-enactment group.

The 26th Regiment recently unveiled the second flag it has helped conserve: the battle flag of the 52nd Regiment N.C. Troops. Carried into the Battle of Gettysburg, the banner was captured during the Pickett-Pettigrew-Trimble charge on July 3, 1863, by a soldier from the 14th Conn. Volunteers. The regiment’s colors were sent to the U.S. War Department in Washington, D.C., and returned to North Carolina in 1905. It is currently on exhibit in A Call to Arms: North Carolina Military History Gallery.

“Our goal is to be able to raise enough money each year to restore at least one battle flag from the museum’s collection,” says Skip Smith, colonel of the 26th Regiment. “Simply put, we feel it is our duty to preserve for future generations these battle flags that guided many a Tar Heel boy.”

The organization’s first flag project resulted in conservation of 26th Regiment N.C. Troops’ colors that were captured at the Battle of Burgess’ Mill near Petersburg, Va., on Oct. 27, 1864. A third banner is undergoing conservation, and funds for a fourth flag are being raised by the group through a statewide grassroots effort.

“We are most grateful for the conservation funding provided by the 26th,” says Tom Belton, curator of military history. “Their help is more essential than ever.” Each flag costs approximately $7,500 to conserve, and the 26th Regiment is covering the entire cost. Now other Civil War remembrance organizations are joining the 26th Regiment by adopting additional museum flags for conservation projects.

The 52nd Regiment, part of Brig. Gen. James Johnston Pettigrew’s Brigade, suffered most of its losses on July 3, the final and bloodiest day at Gettysburg. The regiment had 46 men killed in action and 64 wounded. Another 140 were wounded and captured, and 91 nonwounded soldiers were captured.

“There are many members in our unit who had ancestors in the 52nd Regiment who fought under this flag during the Battle of Gettysburg,” adds Smith, whose organization believes conserving battle flags is the best way to leave something behind for generations to follow.

“Although we could raise money to restore a uniform coat, it would only honor one person,” he states. “A battle flag, on the other hand, represents the whole regiment and the sacrifices of all the men who marched under the folds of that flag. We are proud to partner with the North Carolina Museum of History to preserve these important artifacts.”

The colors of the 52nd and other regiments are being conserved in preparation for the N.C. Civil War Sesquicentennial. From 2011 to 2015, the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources will be presenting programs in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War in North Carolina.

For more information about the museum, call 919-807-7900 or access ncmuseumofhistory.org. To learn more about the 26th Regiment N.C. Troops, Reactivated, go to www.26nc.org.

The Museum of History is located at 5 E. Edenton St., across from the State Capitol. Parking is available in the lot across Wilmington Street. The museum is part of the Division of State History Museums, Office of Archives and History, an agency of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, www.ncculture.com.

       The two flags shown below were the Naval Jacks of the Confederate States of America.  A naval jack is the flag that is flown from the bow of a ship and is flown in addition to a national flag.  The national flag is flown from the stern of a ship as a sign of respect.  Commissioned ships of the Confederate Navy flew the Stars and Bars (First National Flag) on their stern from 1861 through 1863. The naval jack was a rectangular version of the blue canton of the First National with the stars arranged in the same circular pattern.

 

All major maritime power granted the CSA recognition as a "belligerent", meaning, in effect that the CSA was acknowledged to exist for but not yet granted "diplomatic recognition". CS vessels (naval and mercantile) were frequent visitors to ports in Britain and her colonies (including South Africa and Australia), as well as France, Spain, Brazil and others. The first time a CS naval vessel visited Cuba (The CSS Sumter in 1861) questions were raised about her flag, but once the colonial authorities were pointed to the Spanish royal government’s declaration of recognition of the CSA as a "belligerent" all was well.
Devereaux Cannon, 18 January 1999

     After the Second National flag in 1863, the Naval Jack changed to the rectangular version of that canton. The Second National then replaced the First National flag for the stern.  Thusly, the naval jack also changed to a rectangular version of the new flags canton.

    Selma, Alabama was a sleepy little cotton town at the beginning of the Civil War but soon rose to become the manufacturing powerhouse of the entire Confederacy. From the time of the creation of the Confederate Arsenal there in early 1862, Selma’s importance continued to grow. By the end of the war it manufactured nearly every item that could be used by the Confederate Army.

     During the last half of the war the town of Selma had manufactured nearly half the cannons and two-thirds of the ammunition used by the Confederacy. At the close of the war Selma was the only Confederate source of ammunition other than the Tredager Iron Works in Richmond.  Selma produced many varied items such as Swords, Cannons, Rifles, Gunpowder, Ammunition, Percussion Caps, Canteens, Knapsacks, Clothing, Horse Harnesses, Chain, and Ironclads amongst many other essential items. Along with the Arsenal, Selma also hosted a Naval Works and Nitre processing facility.

   Selma was selected as the site of this immense manufacturing center because of its position far from enemy lines and its location in the center of the Confederacy.  Natural resources around Selma were plentiful with nearby production of Coal, Iron, Sulfur, Nitre, Cotton, Wood, Livestock, Grain, and Spring water. The Alabama River provided the town with a year round deep water port which allowed for an convenient method in which to ship its wares.

     The first arsenal was first equipped for manufacture with machinery removed from the former U.S. Arsenal at Vernon, Alabama.  As the war dragged on more machinery was brought in from evacuated facilities throughout the Confederacy. By the war’s end Selma manufacturing facilities had grown to cover 50 acres and provided jobs of around 10,000 residents all in the manufacture of essential war supplies. A few of these workers were skilled German craftsman but the vast majority were slaves, women and children.

   Upon Selma’s capture on the same day that Richmond was being evacuated General Edward Winslow was ordered to destroy everything of value in the city.  He passed down a detailed list of items destroyed in the limited amount of time he had.

Selma Arsenal – Consisting of twenty-four buildings, containing an immense amount of war material and machinery for manufacturing the same. Very little of the machinery had been removed, although much of it was packed and ready for shipment to Macon and Columbus, Georgia. Among other articles here destroyed were fifteen siege guns and ten heavy carriages, ten field pieces, with sixty field carriages, ten caissons, sixty thousand rounds artillery ammunition, one million rounds of small arms ammunition, three million feet of lumber, ten thousand bushels coal, three hundred barrels resin, and three large engines and boilers.

Government Naval Foundry – Consisting of five large buildings, containing three fine engines, thirteen boilers, twenty-nine siege guns, unfinished, and all the machinery necessary to manufacture on a large scale naval and siege guns.

Selma Iron Works – Consisting of five buildings, with five large engines and furnaces, and complete machinery.

Pierces Foundry, Nos 1 and 2 – Each of these contained an engine, extensive machinery, and a large lot of tools.

Nitre Works – These works consist of eighteen buildings, five furnaces, sixteen leaches, and ninety banks. Powder Mills and Magazine – Consisting of seven buildings, six thousand rounds of artillery ammunition, and seventy thousand rounds of small arms ammunition, together with fourteen thousand pounds powder.

Washington Works – Small iron works, with one engine.

Tennessee Iron Works – Containing two engines.

Phelan and McBride’s Machine Shop, with two engines.

Horse Shoe Manufactory – Containing one engine; about eight thousand pounds of horseshoes from this establishment were used by our army.

Selma Shovel Factory – This factory contained one steam engine, eight forges, and complete machinery for manufacturing shovels, railroad spikes, and iron axletrees for army wagons.

On the Alabama and Mississippi Railroad – One roundhouse, one stationary engine, and much standing machinery, together with twenty box and two passenger cars.

On the Tennessee Railroad – One roundhouse, with machinery, five locomotives, one machine, nineteen box and fifty platform cars.

In the Fortifications – One thirty-pound Parrot gun, four ten-pound guns, eleven field pieces, ten caissons, two forges, and five hundred rounds of fixed ammunition.

 

      Today, nothing of the arsenal remains as the area is now a residential community of early 20th century cottages called Arsenal Way.

Bibliography:
Selma: Her Institutions And Her Men by John Hardy 1879
Selma, The Queen City of the Black Belt. By Alston Fitts III 
Alabama Civil War Times – www.myselma.net

     Come join us at the annual reenactment of the Battle of Ocean Pond or as it as sometimes known, The Battle of Olustee!   The battle was the largest land encounter fought in Florida during the Civil War.  It was fought in February of 1864 and was a Confederate victory.  The battle repulsed an effort by the Yankees to cut Confederate supply lines, recruit Negro soldiers, and bolster unionist support within the state.

     Brigadier General Truman Seymour set out from Jacksonville with about 5,500 men and attempted to drive westward across North Florida with the possible objective of capturing the state capital at Tallahassee.  Confederate general P.G.T. Beauregard suspected that the Federals might be trying to capture Florida and detached reinforcements from Georgia to help in the state’s defense.  These 5,000 defenders under the command of Brigadier General Joseph Finegan met the Yankee incursion near Ocean Pond and drove them back with heavy losses. 

     The battle was fought primarily in open pine woods and lasted nearly the entirety of the afternoon until Finegan put in the last of his reserves and the Union line collapsed in confusion.  The Federals attempted to flee back towards Jacksonville and were harried by a small band of Confederates.  Eventually the pursuit was broken off after being repulsed by the 54th Massachusetts Colored Volunteer Infantry and the 35th United States Colored Troops.

     Union losses were listed at 203 KIA, 1,152 Wounded, and 506 missing as well as the loss of 6 artillery pieces.  This totaled about 40% of their entire force.  Confederate losses amounted to 93 KIA,  847 Wounded, and 6 missing which came to about 20% of the defending force.  The ratio of the number of Union losses compared to the entire number of troops involved made this the third bloodiest battle of the war.

   The South saw this rout as a morale booster and one Georgia newspaper said the Yankees had  walked “forty miles over the most barren land of the South, frightening the salamanders and gophers, and getting a terrible thrashing”

    The annual reenactment of the battle features thousands of reenactors from across the country and oversees. Friday is a “School Day” when many students come to spend the day watching demonstrations and listening to people discuss different aspects of everyday life during the 1860s.  Saturday and Sunday are open to the public with Saturday featuring a skirmish reenactment and the main battle occurring on Sunday.

You can click here to learn more about the battle and reenactment!