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Ramblings... and More!

3/22/2022

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My 2nd bedroom is my home office. All things dealing with research, and especially the Medal of Honor come from the massive library, computer and stacks of files in all directions.

Over the past year if not more, I have allowed myself to pile today's stuff on  top of yesterday's on all things MOH and other research. Thus, I have had five separate piles of stuff, each coming close to half a foot in height. 

And through all of this I often have to search for  hours, to get at what I want for the next blog.

Finally, several days ago I got fed up and decided to do something about it. For 18 years I wore the uniform of a soldier. Often I would be throwing, and teaching others how to throw grenades. Now that I needed one to throw into my office, I couldn't find any.

So I had to sort by hand!.

One of the problems all along was my inability to access the bottom of a 2 drawer filing cabinet. It would not open because my printer was in  the way. With no other place for it, I had to just put up with it till a few days back.

I pulled the cabinet out, found a space in a corner, and built a shelf high enough for storage under, and the use of BOTH drawers at a comfortable level. But in the process the shelf the printer was on came smashing down. Thankfully it still works.


I've now six more shelves built and the printer in a great location so as to allow me to do what I come into the room to do. Work on my research. But all of this sorting out has prevented me from bringing you today's blog, due on Sunday.

So here goes...

This is Women's History Month in the US. A time to recognize their past struggles and those ongoing that will  make a better life for themselves, their families, and their country.

When I think of this I cannot help but tear up at the struggles those in Ukraine are dealing with today. The women in uniform, and those not serving, their children  and their parents having their homes blown apart. Struggling to find shelter and food, water and medical aid when needed, but go unnoticed by the aggressors.

Women around the world do their bit to provide assistance, many even wearing the uniforms of their countries and going into battle at the front lines with their male counterparts. Worse yet the children are also being taught how to carry and use weapons to kill.

Women in Russia, be they in  military service or otherwise,  also face all the above.

And this blog salutes all of them and prays that this horrendous carnage can soon come to an end, and the rebuilding starting ASAP. Much obviously lost forever. 

Moving along... in Feb of 1909 A National Woman's Day was held at New York. A year later in Europe over 100 delegates from 17 countries gathered in Denmark. They came away with the idea to demand a woman's right to vote and end suffrage. Europe also saw a gathering of over 1 million women in March to demand equal rights and agreed  at the creation of an International Woman's Day, starting on 28 February 1911.

Due to leap year and Julian to Gregorian calendar changes the new date to celebrate was accepting to be on March 8th, a date still in use today.

Here we see two of the European advocates for change... Clara Zetkin and Rosa Luxemburg, (on right).


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Their efforts, supported by thousands of others, are now celebrated by millions of women around the world.

Back in 1980 President Jimmy Carter signed congressional documents  proclaiming that the week containing March 8th will also he known as Women's History Week. Each year the serving President repeats this celebration by proclamation.

In 1988 President Ronald Regan signed a proclamation creating the entire month of March to be a national month of recognition and  to be known as  Women's History Month, in the US. It has also continued by proclamation by all presidents since.

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Four years later Canada got  its own Women's History Month. But it took the work of three original women, growing to about a half dozen, and a year long effort. This produced many signatures and letters of support for the federal government to create  a month annually for the women of Canada who have contributed so much to the growth of our nation.
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This is the first of two important books on Women's history in Canada, and done by Merna Forster, who I am proud to say is a friend.

Truth be told, though no doubt unknown by Merna, was the fact that the above entry fails to state that Lynne Gough's  "initiated" movement was for not a month but a week's celebration across the province. It was Kay Armstrong,  my mother, that advanced the cause as one worthy of a MONTH long period of celebration annually, and nationaly at that.  Space may not have been available to also add that my mother was a former Vice President of the International Council of Women, a world wide association, and also a recipient  of the Order of Canada.

But these notes aside, the Forster book should be a "must read" and entry in your library as well.

Moving on, regular readers of these blogs  may recall numerous mentions of the dreadful slaughter that became known around the world as the battle of the USS Monitor and CSS Merimack/Virginia. This happened on 8-9 March back in 1862, at Hampton Roads, Virginia.

The Merrimack was originally a Union vessel. It was sunk by Confederate actions earlier. But it was later reclaimed,  rebuilt and called the Virginia.

But she was build differently than all war ships around the world till that day. She was made into an iron clad vessel. her above waterlines were built on an angle and the surfaces were all lined with actual railway line iron rails.

Tackling her, the opponent could throw any shells they wanted and all would simply bounce off. It would be akin to a child with slingshot trying to take down an elephant. 

The Union had heard of its being constructed and quickly started to build a similar vessel. But that vessel, called the Monitor, arrived a day to late, literally, to save hundreds from almost instant death's.

This 1862 battle became news around the world and quite literally caused nations to start rebuilding their own fleets of "ironclads."

The very naval campaign medal for service in the Union's navy during the civil war, depicted this very battle. An image of this was shown in a blog most recently regarding Nova Scotia's Ben Jackson.

In the first day of battle, within very short order, the Union lost the sloop Cumberland, the 50 cannon frigate Congress and the frigate Minnesota which was run aground.

Due to tide lowering the Virginia had to retreat but returned for more glory on the 9th. That is when the brand new Union ironclad..the Monitor first ventured into battle. But the two ironclads spent hours teasing each other without doing and real damage to each other and finally had to back out again due to tide movements.

When all was said and done, the Confederates chalked up a major victory and had only 2 deaths on board and another 17 being wounded. At least 2 men on the ship were Canadians, one from New Brunswick and the other from Ontario. The NB sailor was the first and only death suffered by the Confederates in the 2 day battle. On the other hand the Union had well over 250 men killed and over 400 wounded.

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An artist's rendition has the Virgina at the left showing how monstrous it looked... and in fact was. While the Union's Monitor was described by several as looking like a floating piece of cheese from off at a distance. But it had a powerful punch coming from a revolving tower that permitted it to swing all around as needed.

Much detail on this battle has appeared in past blogs at this site. The search engine at upper right will help you find them.

Here is a close up picture of the Monitor's deck after the battle.


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The Virginia took over 100 hits without any significant damage. This image shows the damage caused to the Monitor's exterior by two cannon shots from the Virginia. Note the shell marks received in the battle to the left of the empty  gun port.

There are well over a dozen Canadian connections to this battle, one being  a sailor who would, later in the war, earn a Medal of Honor.

Still with March in mind, there is a Canadian connection to the Harriet Beecher Stowe's book about Uncle Tom's Cabin.

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The two volume book would become the best selling Novel and 2nd Best Book sold in the 19th century.

And finally with some more March history we can turn back the pages, a lot of them, to the year 1752 and stop at the 23rd of March. Tomorrow being the 239 anniversary... to the day.. of the very first newspaper in the history of Canada being published. It was called the Halifax Gazette, and came out of a small print shop located on Halifax NS land now occupied by the major downtown shopping and office complex known as the  Scotia Square.

The 2 page paper brought very dated world news and notices of activities in several of the British "plantations". Noting Halifax, it told the reader that the flawed character by the name of John Gorham had died in London from Smallpox. It also told of the death of King George's youngest daughter,  the Queen of Denmark had died and also made note that  Charles Morris had been appointed as  the First Justice in NS.

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Here is that first Canadian newspaper, one that still exists with a slightly different name and purpose, but still used in the province today. A net search will provide you with copies that can be enlarged to actually read each page in detail.

Here also are some of the very first newspaper adds in the history of Canada...

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Having been a free-lance writer and working with several newspapers in Canada over the years I have become aware of the fact that the publishers and editors believe the sports page, the business section, the comics  and the letters to the editor are usually the most read sections of the paper.

Here then, in the first ever published letter to the editor...back in 1852.


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With that, I shall close for today, but hope to return this Sunday and that you will join me then.

Bart

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More Belated Black History... Part ll

3/13/2022

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In my last blog I began to tell the story of  William Carney. He was a Sergeant in the famed 54th Massachusetts Infantry and earned his Medal of Honor, said to be the first ever to a Black recipient, for actions at Fort Wagner.

Prior to the attack on the heavily protected Confederate fort Carney's commanding officer called out for a volunteer. That man's job was to always be near the Colour Bearer and, if that bearer was shot down, the volunteer.... Carney... must rescue it before it hit the ground and obviously keep it out of enemy hands.

Past blogs have told you about these duties and their importance to the troop commanders, be it in simple field movements or in the face of the enemy. 

At Fort Wagner the Colour bearer was quickly shot down and Carey rushed to capture the flag and had it flying high throughout the entire battle.

Carney did this despite having already been wounded in both legs, a hand and the side of his face. After the retreat from the battle he gave back the flag to his commanding officer.


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This image shows Sgt Carney with his Regimental Colours, the very flag the regiment was presented with, back at home before they all marched off to war.
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His superior officers recommended that he be awarded the Medal Of Honor. The recommendation when up through several higher and higher authorities and was finally supported by the US Congress. The nomination now needed one final signature... The President of the United States. But that took a bit of time, as evidenced below.

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While this pension document shows the date of William Carney's heroism had been documented to have been  in July of 1863, it was actually not approved until 37 years later.

One of these days I shall investigate why the ridiculous length of the  delay occurred.

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This is a picture of Sgt Carney after his 1900 award being issued. No doubt the above earlier version shown was also presented to him. But here we see him looking quite dapper and smart and wearing a later version of the army's Medal of Honor.

He had to wait 37 years to get the medal, and only got to wear it for 8 years before  passing away in December 1908.

While the last and this blog noted that William Carney was the first Black recipient to GET the Medal of Honor, this is what most citations on the internet tell us. Each is technically not correct. While his actions resulting in being nominated predates the actions of all other Black recipients, there were in fact at least 20 other Blacks nominated and actually GETTING their Medals of Honor before Sgt Carney got his.

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Sgt Carney died at a Boston Hospital in 1908 and now rests at a cemetery in  Bedford Mass.
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This memorial in Boston depicts 25 yr.old Lt.Colonel Shaw leading his 54th Massachusetts Regiment on the march. It is part of a larger memorial depicting the famous Colonel and his troops, possibly even on the march to the gathering point where they formed up to attack Fort Wagner.
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Here is the same memorial but, stepping back somewhat.
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And here we see the state capital buildings at the top end of the heavy blue line. At the bottom end is where the Canadian Consulate General's office is located on Copley Place.. And in that immediate area stands the 54th Massachusetts Memorial.

In the days to come I will again make a contact with this office and this time advise of the importance to Canada, of the 60 or more Canadians that fought with the 54th at Fort Wagner. Perhaps a ceremony is due  for us as Canadians to honour our fallen soldiers with those of the US at this famous battle.

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Here we see another memorial to honor black Medal of Honor recipients. This one is in Wilmington Delaware and has several panels listing men from the various battles going back to Civil War days. It was created and unveiled in 1998 by the African American Medal of Honor Association Inc.

On top  two soldiers are depicted. On the right of course is Sgt William Carney holding his precious flag. Note the use of what appears to be a cane. And recall that he was wounded in both legs. The second statute depicts the first American Black soldier killed in Vietnam. His name was is Milton Olive and was with a handful of fellow airborne men going through the jungle when a grenade was tossed in at them. To protect his mates he grabbed the grenade and laid down on it to shield his comrades. 

He was only 18 years old, when he gave his life for his country.

There are several panels on this monument, containing less than 100 Black men's names. 100 Medals of Honor while the whites got about 1,450.

And among them can  be found the names of Joseph Noil, Joachim Pease, and Robert Sweeney. All men whom have been highlighted here in earlier blogs.

There is still more to be said on this topic,  but I'll save that till next Sunday.

Please join me then,

Bart

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MoreĀ  Belated Black History News

3/2/2022

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I had hoped to bring you the next blog in this series about Black History last Sunday. But life goes on and other commitments yet again stood in the way of me blogging in a timely manner.

But the story,  continuing today, need not only be brought forth during February every year. It, like so much more history needs to be put on our platters DAILY. It needs to remind us each and every day of the year about those who came before us, and those still within us. Those men, women and families who have  and continue giving so much on our behalf.

Please turn on your speakers and listen to U.S. Sgt Christian Ball tell us a little about these sacrifices.

Click below, listen and then please return to this blog.


www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dBPAmP1Sa4

Please widely distribute this blog so that others can hear that wonderful voice, the passion of the singer, and more importantly the story it tells.

Moving on, a few weeks back I received a wonderful email from a university in central Canada. The writer had not given permission for my releasing the author's name nor the university. But I was advised that information about Blacks from Canada fighting in  the US Civil War were being sought. Considerable research had already been done, and confirmation was requested regarding the numbers involved. Information about other interesting cases about Blacks fighting in the Civil War would also be most welcome.

The writer advised that a university search was made for details about Joseph Noil. (One that I believe was almost completely ignored yet again this year.)

The writer added that "no matter where I turn, your name is mentioned."  In follow up conversations I gave  information regarding the detailed role I and others played on several fronts, though seldom mentioned on the net.

Mention was given regarding my efforts, that started at least 7 years earlier, and later joined by others,  resulted in the actual verification of Joseph Noil's final resting place.

At my continued pressures, enthusiastically received by the cemetery officials, I advocated for a most formal unveiling ceremony of a new marker. A ceremony that would include the highest available government and military officials from both Canada and the US,  and that the press receive the appropriate information and invitations to attend, and where appropriate, to actually contributing to the story.

The ceremony that came to fruition also included actual descendants, who had no idea who Joseph  was, what he had done or how he was rewarded so many years earlier. All they knew was that some distant relative was a hero. But they knew little  more, till just a few weeks before the ceremony actually took place.

There has been considerable attention dedicated in earlier blogs here about this incredible story.  
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The university asked if I was familiar with this authoritative book about Blacks in the Civil War. Having over 100 books and videos acquired over the last two decades, the name did not ring any bells, though upon follow up I did find several quotes in my materials credited to this book.

It also used the research of another  historian who had done exhausted investigations into Canada's involvement with the war. Interestingly I too, had enjoyed many  communications by phone and email with this 2nd expert years ago. Sadly he has now passed away, but he went knowing of his exhaustive research and the importance it would... and has continues to play in our North America wide  historic military heritage.   

Regardless, I obtained a library copy and spent several days going through it again. I then compared the names from the book again, and combined these with other dated documents. From these I found an addition 35, by name. These now bring the numbers up to 1,850 men of colour, and a few women who went off to war from British North America to fight in the Union's army and navy during the Civil War.

Of particular interest to me where at least 277 Blacks who served as sailors in the Civil War. Some say that these Blacks served on upwards of 160 different warships, and both they and the army Blacks from British North America had participated in virtually every part of the Civil War. My records contains the names of at least 60 ships the Medal of Honor recipients connected to Canada and the civil war, served on. But the above figure is more expansive than limited to just the Medal of Honor recipients.

At least 79 of these sailors came from Nova Scotia.

As time goes on more and more names are discovered and I expect that these numbers are perhaps a lot lower than they ought to be.

I would encourage you to get a copy of this book. Sources on line tell you where to buy your own copy. The library here in Victoria had to get a copy shipped in for me.

This is a federal crime in my mind!  A copy belongs in every library in the country!

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The top map shows the Atlantic seaboard down to the area of Charleston South Carolina, indicated by the red marker. 

This major  seaport was the hotbed for secession activities, and South Carolina would become the first to actual break or secede if you will,  from the United States in 1860.  Within 2 months 6 other states would join them to form what they called the Confederate States of America.

It would be here at Fort Sumter that the first shots of the war were apparently fired in April 1861. The poorly supplied Sumter, was held by the Union's 50 men. The southerners, 500 strong, fired about 3,000 shells at them over 34 hours.

In a miracle no one was killed in the battle. But one fellow died as a result of an exploding gun or shell from within the Union's arsenal. 

(I say apparently, above, due to the fact that there were several incidents of deaths before this date. Perhaps to be discussed in a later blog.)

In the 2nd map above, Fort Sumter is depicted with the lowest red marker. Note Charleston to the left of Sumter in the above map.

And here is a much better image of that fort, built about one mile out in the harbour.

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The fort withstood the union attacks on 2 occasions, but later in the war was abandoned due to  the Southern need to move the troops elsewhere. 
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This recruiting poster resulted in just over 1,000 men stepping forward and joining the ranks of the famous 54th Massachusetts. All these Blacks were privates and lower non commissioned ranks. Yet 37 more also joined the regiment. All these men were white. And all of them were commissioned.

The recruiting poster forgot to mention that blacks would only get $10 per month. But even then, another $3 was withheld apparently for their uniforms. Worse yet, the men had to wait several months before even seeing a payday.

When the pay finally arrived, the Black soldiers were only paid at 1/2 that of white soldiers in other regiments. The Blacks refused the lower amounts, and their own officers also became so incensed that they too refused any payment till the troops were given what they were promised on day one.

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This image again shows the positioning of Fort Sumter.

But also in this photo is a triangular piece of land at the entrance to the Charleston Harbor,  right below the tip of the red marker shown. It would be here that the 54th Massachusetts Regiment  gained it's fame. A fame shared by 62 Black soldiers who called either Canada East or West, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia  or Newfoundland their home.

At the very tip of this land the Confederates has erected a very powerful fortress known as Fort Wagner. It provided critical coverage of the entrance to Charleston from the Atlantic Ocean.

To gain entrance from the Atlantic to the Charleston harbour and the important Confederate held city of Charleston, the Northern Union troops had to capture Wagner first.

After an initial failed attempt at taking the fort, a second was later tried. The would be where the 54th Massachusetts all black infantry regiment (except officers) would become famous. 


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If this map was larger it would show Fort Sumter, earlier mentioned,  to the  North West. (Upper left corner of  above image.)

Fort Wagner, being an incredibly powerful fortress, had to be taken. It would lead to a significant Union victory during the war. It was also of great importance for the Blacks fighting on either side of the war. It would shown the Whites that the Blacks were as equally brave, and loyal to their cause and that they would hold their own if just given the chance to prove themselves. Wagner was that chance!


As noted above, this was the 2nd attempt at taking the fortress. And the 54th Massachusetts Infantry were given the opportunity to lead the charge

But this was a Forlorn Hope, a phrase that in  military lingo meant... that the action was a suicide charge. It would take the lives of far too many, but the justification was in the hopes that those surviving would go on to capture this most important prize...  the very Fort itself.

The 54th new the costs would be very heavy... but they accepted their fate and moved forward.

To begin the battle the union men had to advance some  1200 yards over open territory. They would face the forts immense fire power and obstructions. Among these were 14 cannons, many capable of lobbing shells weighing 128 pounds. Then of course were the enemy infantry, some 1,700 strong firing their muskets at the Blacks who had no shelter to protect themselves.

While many were initially slaughtered some reached the fortress but then found they came across a 10 ft. wide moat filled with 5 feet of water. And at the bottom of the moat were other surprises... Mines! And in addition the Confederates had erected a barrier of sharp tipped pikes within the moat. And of course while navigating all of this them 54th were still being fired upon from within the fort. The lucky few who managed to get through all of this then reached a wall they had to scale.  A wall that was 30 ft. high.

When the slaughtering battle came to an end, the Confederates found that they had lost some 174 men. The attacking union army of 9 regiments  lost 1,515 men.

A large pit was dug later and all the Union dead were tossed in, as was the body of their 25 year old leader Lt. Colonel Shaw.

There would be further attempts to take the fort, that failed and eventually the Southerners had to abandon the fort as they were needed elsewhere during times that the war was not going in their favour.

But it was here that the first Medal of Honor to a Black man was awarded ...so history tells us! 

While the facts show the medal was the first earned, by date of battle, the recipient had to wait 37 years before the hero actually got his medal. And by that time many others had earned and been presented in person or more than likely, through the mails,  with their own Medals of Honor.

Of all the heroes that mid July 1863 was one fellow named Willy. He was an escaped slave. And being an escaped slave, Willy had no last name. His parents were also slaves but he managed to escape and make his way north with the intention of joining the army.

One story of the net tells us that as Willy was running through the countryside to escape his slave owners, he came across  and older man who had the same first name... ..Willy... or William. When asked what the younger Willy was doing the older man was told he was in search of the Union army and wanted to join up.

On learning this the older fellow told the youth that he could not join unless he had a last name... and the youth had none. So the older fellow, liking the youth, told him to us the old man's name.

And so that day Willy became William Carney ... the hero of the 54th Massachusetts.

And so it came to be that William Carney was allowed to join up with a regiment called the Morgan Guard . After a short time he heard of the 54th, applied and was accepted. And about March of 1863 he was promoted to Sergeant.

He is no doubt depicted below with troops advancing towards Fort Wagner.


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The above first image has Fort Wagner in upper right as the men of the 54th move towards it. The lower image shows the 54th's commander... Lt. Col. Shaw leading his troops before they break into a charge.

But it seems that somehow the image has been reversed. The ocean was on the regiment's right as they move forward, not on their left.

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Here we see images of three Academy award winning movies. The first...Glory tells the story of the  battle at Fort Wagner. I have sat through it three times and not once could I recall a single word being mentioned about Canada... or the fact that over 60 from the Canada of those days, fought in this historic battle.

The second regarding the Great Escape of 1944 in Germany, also fails to recognize the very significant roles played by Canadians in the events told in that movie.

And the third... Argo..., a film of 2012,  fails to acknowledge that it was the Canadian Ambassador and his staff that played such  important roles in saving the American hostages in that story.

All movies made by Americans, for an American audience. This despite the failure to acknowledge the roles Canada played in each event.

Much more to come on this story. Hopefully to appear on Sunday the 13th,

Cheers till then,
Bart

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    Author;
    Bart Armstrong, C.D.,
    Recipient, Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers 

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