Follow this link to a press release announcing two awards recently given to me, OK, really to Carman, but he is dead. 
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hagerstowncc.edu%2Fnews-events%2F110622%2Fhcc-professor-wins-two-awards-civil-war-work&h=50b7f
As some of you may know, Carman only very obliquely mentioned Christian’s desertion as his brigade was going into action. Here is a sampling of the descriptions from men in the brigade:
George Watson, 90th PA said he “heard Christian say ‘He had a perfect horror of these shell’ and shortly after he passed to the rear.” Lt. W.H. Holstead, 26th NY, remembered “…as shells burst over our heads … he (Christian) would duck or dodge his head and go crouching along. He soo resigned on account of this.“
William Gifford, also of the 26th NY described “Col. Christian, who commanded the 26th “showed the white feather, and when we received the first fire he turned and fled to the rear and almost caused a stampede among troops in the rear.” Perhaps the most colorful is John Vautier, 88th PA, who wrote this; “…when the fire got very hot he (Christian) ‘walked spanish;’ cut and ran, an example that fortunately was not followed by the brigade.” Yet Carman only says the shelling “demoralized some senior officers of the brigade.” Again, is he being too kind, or recognizing that everyone in combat has a breaking point? Interesting.
I will be in Harpers Ferry next Sunday, April 17, signing books at the Author’s tent in the lower town. If you’re in the area, stop by!
A Sgt. in the 4th Penna. Reserves, John Burnett, mentions he was posted on the left of his division as they marched through Middlekauf Farm, just north of Joseph Poffenberger’s farm on Sept. 16. He noted that a lone Confederate soldeir emerged from the Middlekauf house and was captured. He mentioned the skirmish with Hood’s division in progress, and tearing down fences, with Middlekauf himself assisting. Most interesting is that in three letters he insists he saw McClellan at this time, riding near the Middlekauf farm with a few aides. What is interesting is that he says he has never seen McClellan’s book, and everything he has read says McClellan never crossed the creek until Sept. 18, but he is sure he saw McClellan on Sept. 16 near the front during the fighting. Interesting??!!
Reserve Volume 1: South Mountain with the Publisher.
Spring Schedule
I will be speaking at a Civil War seminar at Longwood College, VA, on March 3, 2012. I am looking at a couple of other events, and post them here when confirmed.