
It's letters like these that make it all worthwhile...
Subject: A job well done!!!
Date: Mon, 08 Sep 1997 19:34:42 -0500
From: James Boyle <00219013@bigred.unl.edu>
Organization: UNL
To: 34thtxcav@usa.netHello,
My name is James Boyle, and I am a member of the 1st Nebraska Vol. Inf. I just got finished reading the page on the letters that people sent you. I couldn't help but laugh at the last letter. The one from the gentleman who insisted that non-whites fought for the Confederacy. I couldn't help but notice his arrogance and stupidity when handed perfect documentation but still able to deny it.
I applaud your work and what you do. I can say that by reading your page, you have educated me in many ways. I had heard about blacks fighting for the Confederacy, but I only thought that was in the VERYlate stages of the war. Through reading your page, I have learned otherwise. On a technical note, your page is very well done. Your graphics are excellent, and your writing is a pleasure to read. I thank you for what you are doing for the Civil War Reenacting hobby, and for history in general. Good luck in your future endeavours, and maybe someday, we'll find each other on the battlefield.
Sincerely,
James Boyle
1st Nebraska
http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Trails/4160
More of those "lies" the so-called "scholars" hate!
Subject: I like your page!
Date: Tue, 2 Sep 1997 09:25:47 -0500
From: ksconfed@kansas.net
To: 34thtxcav@usa.netCompatriots:
You have a really outstanding page and I salute you. I reenact as 2lt Co A, 1st Bn Mo Cherokee Partisan Rangers. When I researched my family tree, I found my Great Grandfather commanded a Company of Colored Home Guard CSA, Caldwell Co, NC. Keep up the good work!!
In the Bonds of the Old South.
Jesse R. Estes ks@tfsksu.net
Even some of those "other folks" can see clearly!
Subject: Terrell's Cavalry Uniforms
Date: Sun, 31 Aug 1997 01:09:52 -0400
From: tom bryant <tombryant@muskegon.com>
To: 34thtxcav@usa.netGentlemen,
You have a wonderful website! Thank you for attempting to set the race record straight. As a lifelong Michigan Yankee (or is it Yooper, I get confused) I am incensed and angered at the "Political Correctness" of Hillary, Bill, and Rev. Jesse Jackson. People like this have attempted to redefine all of the heroism of southerners who fought and died for their homes as racists and bigots. These "Confederates" obviously all held slaves and hated blacks. Its apparent isn't it? It should be the "politically correct way". I say hooey! Good show, Keep working on your end I'll Keep working on mine.
On another note, I am a miniatures wargamer and I am currently painting 15mm Civil war miniatures and I need some information on the uniforms of Terrell's Cavalry so that I might make an accurate attempt at this multiracial cavalry unit.
Thank You Very Much! Tally Ho!
Thomas H. Bryant
To show the value of researching MULTIPLE sources...
My Great-great Grandfather, Lawson A. Kelley (b. 1837 - d. 1881), served with the 20th Battery,VA Heavy Artillery; and the youngest of the three brothers, Charles O. Kelley (b. 1842), served with the Appomattox Rangers of the 2nd VA Cavalry in 158 engagements between 1861 and 1865. However, when I went tracking the third brother, Lorenzo Kelley (who had supposedly served with the 20th Battery and the 36th VA Infantry), I had a challenge to find the facts.
According to the published regimental history of the 36th VA Infantry, Lorenzo was captured twice and eventually "galvanized" in 1864 at age 26. That would have been mighty hard to do, since I knew Lorenzo died in service in 1862 at age 40. Seems there was a need to check a few more sources.
My Great-great Granduncle, Lorenzo Dow Kelley (the only "L.D. Kelley" in Confederate service) is listed by the Dept. of the Interior, National Park Service (also confirmed by the VA Historic Structures Report of May, 1959) as the owner of the Kell(e)y Farmhouse at the Appomattox Surrender Grounds in 1860, age about 38, and having died in service sometime in 1862 at age 40. His Confederate service record confirms his "died in service" status ("fever") in 1862 and his Will was probated in 1863 (Appo. Co. Court Records). While U.S. Census records of 1850 (Family 170, Appo. Co, VA) and 1860 (Family 368, Appo. Co. VA, p. 49) and the Auth. Appo. Co. Deed Bk. (#1, P. 206), list his date of birth as 1822; the person whom the unit history of the 36th VA Inf. erroneously lists as Lorenzo Kelley was cited as being 26 years of age in 1864.
The final solution came with a check of the Virginia Confederate Service Records. There is a card listing "L.D. Kelley" as a member of Company A, 20th Battery, Virginia Heavy Artillery...and right next to it there is a listing for an "L.W. Kelley" as a member of the 36th Virginia Infantry. A little sloppy research work on the part of the folks compiling the 36th VA regimental roster was the whole explanation.
Your Obedient Servant,
Michael Kelley, Captain
Commanding
34th Texas Cavalry, Co. C - K, CSA
![]()
An Important UpdateWhile compiling the list of Confederates of Color who died with their comrades at Camp Morton, Indiana, I found a startling listing:
KELLEY L.D. 23RD MS INF MAY 30 1862 While we do not know how or why Lorenzo Dow Kelley came to be with the 23rd Mississippi Infantry, at least we know now where he has rested with his Confederate comrades of all colors for 137 years.
Subject: Klan
Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 13:55:05 -0400
From: Pat Jenkins <pat.jenkins@business.gatech.edu>
To: 34thtxcav@usa.netHey!
I noticed that you attach a picture of Klan members carrying a US flag. I found this one and thought you might 'like' it.
Notice, no Confederate flag in the picture.
Later,
Pat Jenkins
From the National Office of the SCV
Subject: Re: Rational Proportions
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 1997 02:31:58 -0400
From: "John W. Adams" <johnereb@gdi.net>
To: 34thtxcav@usa.netMichael,
BRAVO!!!
It sounds like the work you all are doing is making a difference. I applaud your "open arms" policy. Your efforts will go a long way towards changing folks' minds about the Confederate symbols.
I have not received one single letter from a person of color complaining about the SCV site, and we have had over 110 thousand visitors. I have received two or three idiots complaining about the Black History month page, and one or two that were pissed when I refused to link to their ecessionist/racist sites.
I look forward to collaborating with you on these issues. Keep up the good work, you really do have more support than you realize.
I have a photo of the 1927 United Confederate Veterans (the real vets) held in Tampa, Florida. There are 4 black men in Confederate Uniform, sitting on a bench together.
John Adams
SCV Webmaster
http://www.scv.org
From "The Confederate American"
Subject: Black Confederates
Date: Sun, 15 Jun 1997 09:47:44 -0500
From: Ron Ainsworth <rona@BellSouth.net>
To: Michael Kelley <mkelley@gcip.net>You don't know how proud I am of the 34th. You guys have come a very long way. When I first got involved with your efforts there were only 5 members. By now you should have just about the longest membership list in re-enacting. Very impressive.
Sincerely,
Ron Ainsworth
The Confederate American
http://www.ronacorp.com/conam
History stands on its own merit...
Subject: Re: You are cordially invited...
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 1997 08:06:20 -0400 (EDT)
From: BuffaloBen@aol.com
To: mkelley@gcip.netMike,
Thank you for sharing and for standing for History.
Ben Hawley
54th Mass Co B
Each little step...
Subject: Re: Addition to the Southron Ring queue...
Date: Sun, 01 Jun 1997 01:05:28 -0400
From: "Dennis Parker" <dparker@kih.net>
To: mkelley@gcip.netI found something interesting about one of our unit portrayals while researching today. The 1st Kentucky Cav., CSA actually attempted to mount and put into the battle line a black soldier. Briefly, his name was Anderson, and he was a servant to one of the soldiers who traveled with the unit (not an unusual thing, as you know). At one point, Anderson said that he was ready to fight the Yankees. So the First Cavalry armed and mounted him, apparently on a paint pony. According to the story, in his first encounter they saw him rapidly riding for the rear. When he returned he said that it was the horse that fled, and not him. In any case, he did not again ask to return to the line, so the First did not send him there. This was in 1863, I believe.
In any case, even though it did not end up very successfully, I thought that it was significant that a white Confederate unit was willing to put a black into the line with them, and well before the great pressure to put blacks into service in the later stages of the conflict.
Regards,
Dennis
1st Kentucky Adjutant
Uh Oh! Another "flame"!
Subject: Yahhoooo!
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 1997 23:08:22 -0700
From: WDJIII <arvie@feist.com>
Organization: ACE-TAC
To: 34thtxcav@mail.miserv.comI am and always will be a "Reb", my color (black) is of GOD, my attitude (gray) is mine! Glad to know you're out there!
Subject:
Date:Thu, 17 Apr 1997 12:08:05 -0700
From: Ellis Harper <ellis_harper@geocities.com>
To: 34thtxcav@mail.miserv.comSirs,
Mighty impressed with your web pages. Why don't we see more about non white Confederates? I am sure you are a member of the Sons of the Confederacy. Maybe you could get them onto this track?
Are there other web sites like yours, or people you know who do research on black CS soldiers?
Thank you.
Ellis Harper
Gallatin, TNP.S. I am working on my own web page, and would like to have your advice on good stuff to include about Black and Hispanic southerners, if you have time.
Subject: Web Page
Date: Thu, 17 Apr 1997 14:37:22 -0500
From: "Enter_Username_Here" <username@i-55.com>
To: <34thtxcav@mail.miserv.com>Corporal Michael Kelley:
I certainly enjoy reading and hearing your Web Page. I play it and the Confederate American at least twice a day. Yours is one of the better Web Pages I have run across.
Sincerely:
Roy S. Lilley
Judge Advocate
John Slidell Camp
No. 1727 SCV
Company B, 31st Louisiana Infantry
Caldwell Avengers
This is from John O'Donnell-Rosales, author of "Hispanic Confederates of the Gulf Coast States"
Feb.2, 1997
Dear Lt. Kelley,
I received your letter dated Feb. 17/97 and found it very interesting. I ran across the 34th Cavalry (Terrell's) and knew of its sizable Hispanic membership during the War. I toyed with the idea of documenting TX, LA, Miss. and Ala and Florida's Hispanic Confederates but only did LA, Miss. and Alabama's.. My "book" is really a roster in alphabetical order of all the Hispanics who fought from those states.. They are listed as follows - last name, first name, rank, company and unit. Louisiana has over 1000 men, Miss., two dozen or so and Alabama approximately 100 or so. I gave up on Texas after I was 1/2 done and had over 6000 names. I have documentation for Hispanic Confederates from every state and territory in the Confederation as well as one from Maryland. But except for Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia they don't make up but 10 or 20 men for each of the remaining.
Yours in the bonds of the Old South,
John O'Donnell-Rosales
Editor's comment:
Considering that the "official" Federal figure for Hispanic Confederates is "approximately 2,550," it would appear that somebody either didn't check ALL of the existing Confederate service records or just doesn't want to admit that between 13,000 and 15,000 Hispanic Confederates served.
I heard about the 34th Texas Cavalry through my friend Rob Goldman of the 54th Mass. in Boston, and am interested in learning more about the group. I am a free-lance writer and graduate student in anthropology, currently completing a two-year research project on Civil War reenacting. I hope to write a commercial book on the subject, as well as making it the focus of my master's thesis.
For the past two seasons I have been in the field as a reenactor myself; I do a musician impression and have traveled with several infantry and artillery groups here in New England. (I'm sorry to say I haven't spent much time with cavalry units, which are scarce up here, although I _have_ played "Garryowen" several thousand times by request!).
I'm very intrigued by the ways in which reenactors approach the issues of historical authenticity, and so your efforts to revive the memory of Confederates of Color are of interest to me. Might you (or someone in the unit) be willing to correspond with me, by e-mail or some other method, to let me know more about your activities? I would like to find out more about the background of the original men of color who fought with the unit and also the background of the black and Hispanic reenactors currently enlisted with the group.
I can be reached by post at:
1139 Chestnut Street
Athol, MA 01331-2932I look forward to hearing from you, and to learning more about the 34th.
With all best wishes,
Cathy Stanton
Dear Sir,
Bravo to you and your unit.
I am so glad to finally see someone breaking PC bonds and recreating units as they truly were. I would love to see more Confederate reenactors of different races portray the truth. There was a gentleman who observed Lee's army leaving Pennsylvania after Gettysburg (I believe) and noted several thousand blacks marching with the whites and just as fully uniformed and armed as the whites. Yet I fail to see black Confederates at reenactments today.
Again, thank you for your dedication to the truth.
Darrin Dickey
Murfreesboro, TN
I enjoyed your home page. Actually, I visited your site before now but appreciated your invitation nevertheless.
You might be interested to know that today (hopefully), I will be putting the muster roll of the Louisiana Native Guards, C.S.A., on the internet as part of my home page <www2.netdoor.com/~jgh>. This list of approximately 1000 free men of color will be the largest accounting of African Americans who served on the Southern side, albeit temporarily, during the Civil War.
I said today, hopefully. If you do not find it when you check, keep trying. Formatting such a long list is taking more time than I thought it would when I began the project.
Jim Hollandsworth<jgh@netdoor.com>
I am an African-American Civil War Historian/Folksinger who is interested in receiving information (historical and present) on your organization. I have recorded an album "The Blue and Gray in Black and White" which I perform extensively for schools, folk festivals, historical sites, etc.
I would like this information for my archives and for the general public's knowledge.
Sincerely:
James "Sparky" Rucker
RUCKWEB@aol.com
PO Box 5443
Maryville, TN 37802-5443
From: Walter Hill <walter.hill@arch2.nara.gov>
Good Afternoon,
My name is Walter B. Hill, and I am the subject specialist for African-American History at the National Archives. I am also the Chief Historianfor the African American Civil War Memorial. There were no African-Americans who fought for the Confederacy. I am associated with the Freedom and Southern Society Project based at the University of Maryland, History Department, and very familiar with the federal documentation of the USCT. There is this notions [sic] that African Americans fought but our records show their use as labor troops. The USCT website is with the National Parks Service. NARA does not have one; however, if you are interested in this question, it most certainly can be explored at NARA.
WBH
*Editor's Note:
When provided the reference of "On the Altar of Freedom," collected letters of Corporal Henry Gooding of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Colored), in which Gooding described fighting and capturing several fully-armed, fully-uniformed Black Confederate sharpshooters prior to the assault on Fort Wagner, Morris Island, SC, Dr. Hill's "academic response" was:
"I don't debate this historical misrepresentation."
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