ArmyJoe
New member
Backyard History (and a challenge)
I installed the Up & Out Mirror Extensions and 4" risers on my Spyder today. Being broke and having only a few hours to explore, I tested the gear by visiting some of the local Civil War sites.
The first stop was the site of the Confererate Powder Works in Augusta, Georgia, the only permanent structure built by the CSA. This site was chosen primarily because it sits between the Augusta Canal and the Savannah River. By diverting some of the canal water, which sits higher than the river, they could use it to power machinery.
The original buildings are long gone and the Sibley (cotton) Mill was built in it's place in 1880.
However, the original powder work's obelisk chimney still stands as a memorial to Confederate soldiers.
The plaque on the chimney reads:
This Obelisk-Chimney, sole remnant of the extensive powder-works here erected under the auspices of the Confererate government, is, by the Confederate Survivors Association of Augusta, with the consent of the city council, conserved in honor of a fallen nation, and inscribed to the memory of those who died in the Southern armies during the War Between the States.
From here, I rode about 20 miles to Aiken, South Carolina. I read that Aiken was the site of a "battle" during the Civil War (more info here). With all due respect to the locals, it was more of a skirmish. As Sherman's army moved north from Savannah, Georgia towards Columbia, South Carolina, their western flank, commanded by Brig. Gen. Hugh Judson Kilpatrick, met Southern forces commanded by Gen. Joseph Wheeler.
Though the fighting went back and forth for a while, it's generally accepted that this was a Southern victory since they held the field at the end of the day. The casualty numbers fluctuate wildly depening on who's telling the story, but Wheeler admitted to 50 killed and wounded, while Kilpatrick admitted to 25 killed and wounded. Other interpretations say total Union casualties were between 45 and 495, while the Confederates lost between 50 and 251.
Twenty Union soldiers are buried in the cemetery of the First Baptist Church, with four of them being unknowns.
I have not found a listing of them on the web, so I record them here in case some future family historian should find this site. All are from various Companies of the 5th US Calvary. Some of the names are difficult to read as the markers are severely weathered, but here's my best attempt.
Corp'l Henry Buhbrick
Martin Kelly
Dan'l Steele
J. H. Reilly
Jos. Vanszeptal
G. M. Curtis
Wm. Jackson
Corp'l J. C. Burceh
Corp'l Wm. Stonne
Matthew Ivory
Wm. Driscoll
James Massey
Fred'k Sweitzer
Otto Unrein
W. I. Wiley
Fred'k Maple
It was 6 o'clock and I was starving because I hadn't eaten all day. I headed a few blocks away to Aiken Brewing Company, the only brew-pub in the CSRA.
I had the Powder House Porter and a grilled chicken sandwich, though I didn't really come here for the food. The Porter was excellent and I'm sure I'll be back, especially since they sell growlers!
About 7:30 PM, I headed home. Just as I pulled into my parking space, the skies opened up with heavy rain. Made it home just in time!
Mission complete.
Joe
PS - Here's the challenge: Take a ride, document some of the history in your neck of the woods, and start your own thread.
I installed the Up & Out Mirror Extensions and 4" risers on my Spyder today. Being broke and having only a few hours to explore, I tested the gear by visiting some of the local Civil War sites.
The first stop was the site of the Confererate Powder Works in Augusta, Georgia, the only permanent structure built by the CSA. This site was chosen primarily because it sits between the Augusta Canal and the Savannah River. By diverting some of the canal water, which sits higher than the river, they could use it to power machinery.
The original buildings are long gone and the Sibley (cotton) Mill was built in it's place in 1880.
However, the original powder work's obelisk chimney still stands as a memorial to Confederate soldiers.
The plaque on the chimney reads:
This Obelisk-Chimney, sole remnant of the extensive powder-works here erected under the auspices of the Confererate government, is, by the Confederate Survivors Association of Augusta, with the consent of the city council, conserved in honor of a fallen nation, and inscribed to the memory of those who died in the Southern armies during the War Between the States.
From here, I rode about 20 miles to Aiken, South Carolina. I read that Aiken was the site of a "battle" during the Civil War (more info here). With all due respect to the locals, it was more of a skirmish. As Sherman's army moved north from Savannah, Georgia towards Columbia, South Carolina, their western flank, commanded by Brig. Gen. Hugh Judson Kilpatrick, met Southern forces commanded by Gen. Joseph Wheeler.
Though the fighting went back and forth for a while, it's generally accepted that this was a Southern victory since they held the field at the end of the day. The casualty numbers fluctuate wildly depening on who's telling the story, but Wheeler admitted to 50 killed and wounded, while Kilpatrick admitted to 25 killed and wounded. Other interpretations say total Union casualties were between 45 and 495, while the Confederates lost between 50 and 251.
Twenty Union soldiers are buried in the cemetery of the First Baptist Church, with four of them being unknowns.
I have not found a listing of them on the web, so I record them here in case some future family historian should find this site. All are from various Companies of the 5th US Calvary. Some of the names are difficult to read as the markers are severely weathered, but here's my best attempt.
Corp'l Henry Buhbrick
Martin Kelly
Dan'l Steele
J. H. Reilly
Jos. Vanszeptal
G. M. Curtis
Wm. Jackson
Corp'l J. C. Burceh
Corp'l Wm. Stonne
Matthew Ivory
Wm. Driscoll
James Massey
Fred'k Sweitzer
Otto Unrein
W. I. Wiley
Fred'k Maple
It was 6 o'clock and I was starving because I hadn't eaten all day. I headed a few blocks away to Aiken Brewing Company, the only brew-pub in the CSRA.
I had the Powder House Porter and a grilled chicken sandwich, though I didn't really come here for the food. The Porter was excellent and I'm sure I'll be back, especially since they sell growlers!
About 7:30 PM, I headed home. Just as I pulled into my parking space, the skies opened up with heavy rain. Made it home just in time!
Mission complete.
Joe
PS - Here's the challenge: Take a ride, document some of the history in your neck of the woods, and start your own thread.
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pps:
