Letters to the Editor — October 2018

Originally published October 2018 · p. 2

TO THE EDITOR: After reading Meg Groeling’s review of Richard Hurley’s book California and the Civil War in the August Civil War News all I could do was echo Meg’s “Huzzah!” As a longtime member of our reenactment unit here in Northern California, Co. A, 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry (the “California Hundred”), I, too, was especially pleased to see a book focusing on California’s contribution to the Civil War. For those interested I’d like to point out two other books that also spotlight the “California Hundred.” James McLean’s book, California Sabers: The 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry in the Civil War, was published in 2000 by Indiana University Press. Their Horses Climbed Trees: A Chronicle of the California 100 and Battalion in the Civil War from San Francisco to Appomattox, by Larry and Keith Rogers, appeared in 2001 (Schiffer Military History). Larry and Keith, both members of our 2nd Mass. Cav. reenactment unit, are also descendants of Abraham Loane (1839–1920), one of the original members of Co. A and the “California Hundred.” Greg Sweatt Foster City, Calif.

TO THE EDITOR: In a recently released journal from the McCormick Civil War Institute here in Winchester, one of the Notes on the authors stated: “In 2003, he spearheaded the purchase, protection, and interpretation of the Huntsberry property for Third Winchester Battlefield …” I was much surprised by this, as the implication one would innocently arrive at was that the author alluded to, Nicholas Picerno, was the sole person involved in this matter. Though I am sure he carried the ball on behalf of the Civil War Trust [now American Battlefield Trust], I would only gently aver, as part of the historical record, that the Huntsberry family offered their parcel for sale after the series of conversations I had with Mr. and Mrs. Jim and Claude Huntsberry at their realty office in Winchester. This led to a meeting with them during which I shared the battle narrative on their family’s land during the Sept. 19, 1864, fight, the OR Atlas map, and the map that existed at that time of the land acquired by APCWS. Then I gave them the pertinent contact information, which then led to the “spearheading.” For some years previous I had gone in their office to purchase topo maps and had waited on them at the Elms Restaurant as a part time job. The preservation of the battlefields at Winchester and Cedar Creek began by individuals whose efforts were then completed by the organizations. Though none seek credit, when credit is touted, it ought to include those who attached the flint to the shaft. Naturally, we ought to applaud Mr. Picerno’s efforts, for there did exist internal resistance to the Huntsberry purchase. Allan Tischler Winchester, Va. TO THE EDITOR: Irish Brigade correction from Sept. CWN, page 3, top left caption. It is an old falsehood that the Irish or anyone else was enlisted in the United States Army, as they walked off the boat or soon after. Mr. O. Blunt the Chairman of the New York County Recruiting Committee, requested that he be allowed to construct a building on the Battery by Castle Garden to enlist new emigrants off the boat from Europe. The following is the official opinion of the Emigration Commissioners. “It is the opinion of the Commissioners of Emigration New York that it is decidedly adverse to granting such a request, on the ground that it would be injurious to the country in interfering with emigration, as would be the case as soon as known in Europe; and would be confirmatory, to a certain extent, of the charges made in the British House of Commons, as well as in France and Germany, by rebel emissaries and sympathizers, that the armies were being filled by the forced enlistments of arriving emigrants.” So there you have it, that part of the caption is in error. Now as to the caption “here the new soldiers of the Irish Brigade.” There were no new soldiers in the Irish Brigade at Gettysburg. Colonel Kelley, in his after action report wrote, that whole Brigade, only numbered about 520 men. The 69th New York (Fighting 69), the 88th New York and the 63rd New York were down to two companies each. The 63rd Penn. put out about 112 men and the 28th Mass. about 224 effective’s. Steve Reilly Dallas, Ga.