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As a Southerner and native of the Shenandoah Valley, I offer reflections on the Civil War-era South… and sometimes a little more. But… expect the unexpected
Browsing All posts tagged under »Clear Spring«
Otho Nesbitt: Southern Unionist, but… wanted to free slaves? Eh, not so much…
While the house you see is, in this photo, adorned for Christmas, imagine if you will… an American flag… two yards long, draped from the middle garret window. Can you envision it? In fact, in April 1861, Otho Nesbitt had hired a seamstress to make that flag for him… a statement to all those around […]
The search for family in Civil War draft records
May 20, 2011 by Robert Moore
A little sidetrack for just a bit, but, on an ancestor hunt. Earlier today, I realized that ancestry.com has Civil War draft records. So, I couldn’t wait to get home to see if for my third great grandfather, Cyrus S. Moore, by draft time, 1863, was still working his canal boat, the G.P. Lloyd, on […]
Were some Union soldiers fighting to preserve slavery?(!)
February 19, 2011 by Robert Moore
Yes, you read that correctly. Give me a little time, and I’ll set the stage… As many who follow this blog know, one of my favorite areas of study is western Maryland… most especially, the Clear Spring and Conococheague Districts in Washington County. Likewise, I spend a good deal of time researching the men from […]
Plumb Grove – home of Jonathan Nesbitt, Jr.
October 11, 2010 by Robert Moore
I’ve got some photos that I took a couple of weeks back while on my road trip to Four Locks and Clear Spring, and I thought that I might as well put them on here for everyone to enjoy. I didn’t include them in the tour that weekend because there is no known tie between […]
Remains of homes long gone
September 26, 2010 by Robert Moore
While grief likely defined their last few months here, there are other emotions that come to mind regarding the stories of my Moore ancestors at Four Locks. Other children came to Cyrus and Catherine while here. In fact, my great-great grandfather, John Howard Moore (named, I believe, for a family friend, Jonathan Hower, who happened […]
Lutheran Cemetery, Clear Spring, 6:17 p.m.
September 25, 2010 by Robert Moore
A quick drop-in to see how “old family” is doing… Photos are of the headstones of James Draden Moore, Mary Saunders Moore, and then… the twin Moore boys (Robert and James) who died at lockhouse 49. On to the lockhouse.
Looking for manumissions… on the part of my family
January 11, 2010 by Robert Moore
A couple of months ago, I purchased a book that provides information about the African-American manumissions for Washington County, Maryland. The objective… to see if I had any family members who freed slaves in the 1850s and even as late as the early 1860s, in advance of the Emancipation Proclamation. Now, as I mentioned in […]
“The Home Brigade”
January 9, 2010 by Robert Moore
Just a quick plug-in to yesterday’s post… All this talk about Unionists in western Maryland… well, what were their motivations for enlisting (those that did) and what was their intent (in regard to the manner in which they would deal with the secession crisis) after donning blue? For the most part, it may be a […]
Status of Southern Unionists Chronicles
January 6, 2010 by Robert Moore
Yes, it’s still active. Until today, I haven’t posted anything in months, but reader activity has been on and off, and, when there are comments, the discussion has proven enjoyable. What I like most is hearing from those who are descended from Southern Unionists and “can handle the truth.” It’s really refreshing. True, I get […]
Visualizing a community, and “my people’s” place in it
October 29, 2009 by Robert Moore
A couple weekends back, I had a chance to make a sweeping “history run,” starting at Loudoun Heights and ending up at Dam 5. All-in-all it was a full-bodied trip, and accomplished within seven hours. At Loudoun Heights, I finally had the chance to meet Craig Swain and his “assistant,” talked a bit, and took […]
The 1860 Presidential vote in Washington County, Maryland
October 24, 2009 by Robert Moore
As you may recall from my post from the other day, there was discussion about “Black Republicanism” playing a factor in the sweeping display of Unionism in the Clear Spring District. I mentioned in the same post, however, that only two votes were casts in the Clear Spring District for Lincoln. With that in mind, […]
Were “Black Republican Proclivities” at play in Clear Spring?
October 14, 2009 by Robert Moore
Before I start with the article, I thought that I should point out… the Hagerstown Mail was a pro-secession publication, unlike Hagerstown’s Herald of Freedom and Torch Light. Apparently, the Mail, seeing all the talk (examples here and here) of strong Unionism in Clear Spring, thought that the town’s strong leanings toward Union might be influenced by […]
The day after the Clear Spring Union Meeting… a meeting at nearby Four Locks
October 12, 2009 by Robert Moore
If you aren’t familiar with that particular part of western Maryland, Four Locks is just to the South of Clear Spring, and located on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Interestingly (at least to me), my third great grandparents Moore were listed as residents of Clear Spring AND Four Locks in the 1860 census. I suppose […]
Understanding Unionism in the Maryland “borderland”
September 30, 2009 by Robert Moore
Some are aware of my latest efforts in developing a unit history for Cole’s Cavalry, so I thought I’d occasionally share samplings of some findings. One of the things that strikes me about some of the Marylanders in the unit is the way that they considered themselves Southerners… and most really were since the majority of men […]
Considering animosity from the other side
September 5, 2009 by Robert Moore
Not long ago, I was walking through the Lutheran cemetery (St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church Yard) in Clear Spring and came across this headstone for Abraham L. Sossy [*]… I’m surprised I have never seen it before, because I have been to the cemetery several times. Nonetheless, when taking a little more time to walk […]
I like [good] pies – a personal history
September 4, 2009 by Robert Moore
Some light, simple, personal history for the day… As I said… I like good pies… apple, cherry, coconut cream, lemon meringue, etc., etc. Not only do I like good pies, but I like to make good pies. I think the older I get, the more serious I am about making good pies… better. They are […]
Marker of the week in HMDB
March 1, 2009 by Robert Moore
As I mentioned last week, I’ve been contributing some marker data to the Historic Markers Database. It’s a lot of fun, especially for someone who likes to set up tour guides and virtual tours among existing markers and locations where there should be markers. In the instance of recording the “Four Locks” marker on the C&O […]
Another form of Civil War “Memory”
December 31, 2008 by Robert Moore
I thoroughly enjoy taking this… … and coming up with this… Name: Konoginsky, Gustave (or Gustav) Unit: 41st New York Infantry, Company A Circumstances of death: MWIA 6/8/62, Battle of Cross Keys Date of Death: 6/12/62 Age: 19 Pensions received (widow/mother, etc.) based on his service: None (though 80 out of his company received pensions). … […]
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