Back in Washington

We left Savannah, GA early Friday morning and decided to skip our planned stop in Charleston, SC, so we drove straight through to Washington. Earlier in my research, I knew Lockport regiments had fought in the Cold Harbor (VA) battle; therefore we stopped briefly at the Cold Harbor Battlefield.  We arrived at Cold Harbor at 4:58 p.m. but the Information Center closed at 5:00 p.m.  The two attendants stayed an extra moment or two, long enough to advise us to return the next day when they opened at 9:00 a.m.  At that point, we were two hours from D.C. and we decided to view the battlefield but not stay overnight nor drive back down on Saturday.  The only thing we missed is the extensive book section to browse and/or buy – a significant lost opportunity. However, the tour of the battlefield was enlightening.

During the 12 days of fighting, the soldiers dug numerous trenches with their bayonets, cups, and other implements to provide cover. There were hundreds of trenches over the seven-mile front of this battle.

Close quarters with the opposition across this short field.

We had dinner in Fredericksburg and finished our 615-mile day with our 10:15 p.m. arrival in Washington.  Needless to say, we were tired.

Now, here is the interesting part and it has nothing to do with Funia. By the way, Funia has been a pleasure to have on this trip, hardly a peep out of her. However, she is a little cramped in the back seat with Jean taking up one whole seat and my suitcase taking up another seat, poor Funia has been sitting back there not complaining about a thing – not about the speed of the car, nor whether the air conditioning was to high or to low or that we needed to stop for a break or how much further until we get there, just as quiet as a mosquito on the back of the neck.  But like I said, that is not the interesting part.

Here is the good part, I rose Saturday morning and was checking my Ancestry.com account and found that a researcher in Lockport had posted an interesting document.  Now, I know this researcher and he is doing genealogy work for another descendant of Dennis and Joanna, remember them (?). I have met him and we have shared information.

The document he posted is a record of a Th E. McCarty as part of a federal prison record from Andersonville. We did not see or find this record when at Andersonville last week.  (??) So I do not know where Ancestry came up with this document but it shows Th E. McCarty from Company K, 2 NY M.

So, lets translate this document – Thomas E. McCarty (some McCarthys always had a spelling problem) assigned to Company K, 2^nd NY Mounted Rifles formed in Lockport, NY (http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/civil/cavalry/2ndMtdRifles/2ndMtdRiflesMain.htm#photos) and left NYS in March 1864. The group eventually fought at Cold Harbor, Va. For those first two weeks of June 1864. On June 2, 1864, 16 members of the Company went missing (captured).  The main prison used at this time for captured Union soldiers – Andersonville. 

All the pieces fit, but is it proof positive? No, but it is the best link and association to date. I wished we had arrived 15 minutes earlier at the Cold Harbor Information Center.  I know many books and printed material is available on line and locally.

So, you may ask – was this a wasted trip? Not at all!! First, we had a great visit with the Dorris family in Chattanooga. Second, we visited and walked the hallow ground of Andersonville, something a book cannot provide. Also, the feel of how small 16 acres for 45,000 prisoners is with no shelter and a trickle of a stream as a water source, even after all the rain we had. Thirdly, the chance meeting with Fred Chidsey and a visit with Mark Gerbino in Americus was a highlight. Likewise, Savannah on the fourth of July was great. The bonus was the by-chance decision to stop at Cold Harbor on a lark. This was a good trip.  Now, we have a couple days left of visiting in Washington and then back home. 

Touring Savannah

We are just being tourists in Savannah. We took a tour of the historical district with its many town squares.

I did not realize that pirates were so plentiful in Savannah.

Of course, we came across a pirate on the loose. In fact, he boarded our bus.

He took us captive and we had lunch at his house.

Let’s see people’s power of observation. Can anyone identify what’s wrong in this picture? I would sell it too, if I owned it.

We are looking forward to tonight's fireworks on the river -- just outside our hotel room. 

Americus, GA

We leave the Windsor Hotel in downtown Americus today for Savannah. This hotel is a beautiful turn of the century (19^th to 20^th) building with interior balconies, wood trim, ornate decorations. We also found a nice café on the corner, where we had breakfast and lunch during our stay. 

We had a pleasant farewell dinner with Mark Gerbino last night and this morning we are on the road, again.    

Andersonville Research

A sobering couple of days in Andersonville, however we stayed down the road in Americus, GA and we were met with a surprise upon our arrival.  My old partner in RPD -- Fred Chidsey also stopped in town on the same day and they were staying in the same hotel. What are the chances of that happening?  A great reunion!  We met with former Americus Police Chief Mark Gerbino for a couple of good days.

Emily, Fred, Mike and Ann

We conducted five hours of research at Andersonville with a very knowledgeable and interesting researcher. We had some hopeful moments but in the end we did not identify the prisoner (Thomas) that we were looking for.

There are 460 unknown soldiers buried at Andersonville, which is likely that Thomas is one of them. 

 This place is sacred ground for the 13,000 prisoners that died here over the 14 months that it was in operation.  They built (??) the prison on open ground (no shelter, prisoners had to provide their own shelter with a shirt, jacket or personally dug hole).

In the basin of the two slopes, a trickle of a creek flows through for prisoner use – washing, drinking, and bathing. Today, this is the warning:

On a lighter note, the girls are enjoying this historical pilgrimage, even though Funia does not want to get out of the air-conditioned car very often.    

Chattanooga visit

No blog on Friday as we traveled 600 miles to Chattanooga to meet the Dorris family. A great family and they provided a great reception as well.  We had plenty of laughs and family stories and a little bit of singing.  We also spent Saturday touring the battlefields around Chattanooga. I did not realize the major battle that took place here. In a residential area along Missionary Ridge, it is common for large historical plaques describing the regiment that fought on / attacked from that point. One house had two cannons in the front yard, one pointing at the front door. How is that for a burglary deterrent system? 

Some are still fighting.

Dorris / Atwell family photo   

Today we are off to Americus, GA and Andersonville.