Rob's Historic Sites

Here's 4 different historical signs from 4 different states. They help illustrate and contrast how differently the northern Yankees behaved and waged warfare than southerners. I'm finally catching up on some pre-Covid travels & photos. Excerpt from the sign in Morganton, North Carolina: “Selina L Norwood wrote, “They [Yankees] tore everything to pieces at Uncle Avery’s, held pistols to the ladies’ heads, drove them out of the house and took what they liked.”” Excerpt from the sign in Doswell, Virginia: "The fighting also affected nearby civilians as Union soldiers plundered houses, carried off furniture and artwork, destroyed libraries, and scrawled graffiti on walls." Excerpt from the sign in Jackson, Georgia: "Federal [Yankee] stragglers looted the estate. Following their devastation there was little to eat at Sylvan Grove except scraps of potatoes and a little corn. The only furnishings remaining in the house were in Lucy Buttrill's room plus thr...

Here's a few stories from 3 different historical markers I've visited regarding how southern Americans/Confederates treated defiant border-state civilians waving Union flags. And, 1 story about how Yankees reacted. ------------------------- In Middletown, Maryland: Excerpt from the historical marker: As Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson rode through Middletown on September 10 1862, two very pretty girls with ribbons of red, white, and blue in their hair and small Union flags in their hands ran out to the curbstone, and laughingly waved their colors defiantly in the face of the General. He bowed and lifted his cap with a quite smile and said to his staff, “We evidently have no friends in this town.” –Henry Kyd Douglas, I Rode with Stonewall (this historical marker and others have since been removed). -------------------------------------------------------- In Frederick, Maryland, Excerpts from 2 historical markers: Marker #1: “Feisty local Unionists-mostly women-ta...

Lincoln’s re-election of 1864 has been called the most fraudulent, corrupt, and anti-American in our history. These historical signs in front of the Caroline County Courthouse in Denton, Maryland help explain why. Can you imagine this happening again someday? ** Excerpt from the historical marker in front of the Courthouse: “Maryland slaves were not freed by the Emancipation Proclamation (EP) of 1863, which excluded states that remained in the Union [slavery was more protected in the north than south after the EP]… more than half of the eligible voters in Caroline County did not attempt to vote for fear of arrest by Union soldiers; potential opponents of the constitution were closely interrogated and forced to prove their loyalty; opponents of emancipation were denied the right to vote; protesters were arrested; and half the votes against the constitution in Denton were deliberately destroyed. 89 men signed an affidavit supporting the latter assertion. When disfranchised citize...

This is the oldest continuous Protestant church/parish in America. St Johns Episcopal Church in Hampton, Virginia was founded in 1610 less than 3 years after the first settlement was established in nearby Jamestown. This 4th building was erected in 1728 with 2-foot thick walls which helped it survive extensive damage inflicted during the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and unCivil War. The 1618 Communion Silver used today is the longest continuously used church silver in America. Needless to say, some of the earliest colonists in America and Revolutionary war vets are buried in this graveyard. Near the front door is a 20-foot monument with the inscription “Our Confederate Dead”, dedicated as a memorial to the 145 local American military veterans buried there. Included are photos of the church from both my visit and century old historic postcards. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ADDITIONAL READING: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._John%27s_Episcop...

Visiting the remarkable location in Front Royal, Virginia where brother literally fought against brother. It was here in 1862 that a young Confederate man actually captured his own Union/Yankee brother on the battlefield. Both young men were recruited from the same town and county so it was literally became a matter of former friends from the same families, church, schools, and neighborhoods shooting and fighting against one another on the battlefield. The North and South each had organized a Maryland 1st Regiment of which each brother joined. One historical marker tells of roommates from the same military school fighting against each other during the battle and attending each others weddings while on leave. Of course, most of the time families were fighting on the same side which was actually more traumatic. Letters reveal that nearly every soldier had to bury their own family members and friends after each battle. I also included photos of my visit to Union Mills, Maryland wher...