In Honor of the USMC's Birthday Today: The Confederate States Marine Corps

The official birthday of the USMC on November 10, 1775.  On this day, the Second Continental Congress established the Continental Marines.  All across the world, Marines, current and retired, will be celebrating today.

There was also a little-known second Marine Corps and that was the CSMC, The Confederate States Marine Corps from 1861 to 1865.  It was set up the same way as the USMC.

I was preparing a list of Confederate States Navy and Marines captured at Fort Fisher from Richard Triebe's book "Confederate Fort Fisher: A Roster 1864-1865"and will list some of the Marines today.

**  Ranson J. Adcock, private, Co. B, CSMC.  Duty on CSS Tallahassee.

**  James Barrett, Co. E, CSMC.  Duty on CSS Savannah  (Sailors and Marines from the Savannah Station were transferred to Wilmington after that city fell to Sherman)

**  Michael Bow, private, Co. B, CSMC, Duty on CSS Richmond and CSS Tallahassee.  Wounded in breast and bowels.  Not sent to prison.  Died of wounds at Fort Fisher Jan. 17, 1865.

--Old B-Runner

Richard Triebe's Book on Fort Fisher to Elmira-- Part 3: Two Readers Had Ancestors There

This is a big book with 455 pages and you can buy it from Amazon for $24.95 and free shipping with total order of $25 from Amazon.

I found much interest in two comments.

**  Randy Rogers wrote that his great great grandfather and two brothers had enlisted from Bladen County, N.C., and stationed at Fort Fisher together.  All three of them were captured and sent to Elmira.

One brother died there and is buried in the prison graveyard; the other brother was returned back to the James River, Virginia, where he was exchanged, probably from the poor health from the prison.

My gg-grandfather endured the atrocities of Elmira.  His records and those of his brothers are in the book.

**  Harold Singletary wrote that he liked the book because it involved his great great grandfather who was there when the battle ended and was taken to Elmira and survived that hell hole.  Lived to be 93 years young.

--Old B-Runner

Richard Triebe's Book 'From Fort Fisher to Elmira'-- Part 2: Why Did 46% of Fort Fisher Confederates Die Within Five Months

A Confederate prisoners touching letter to his wife caused historian Richard H. Triebe to launch an investigation as to what happened to the Confederates captured at Fort Fisher and sent north

His research  provided the answers he sought, but it also uncovered an even  greater mystery.  Of the 1,173 Fort Fisher Confederates sent to Elmira Prison Camp 46% would be dead from disease in five months.

Obviously something was wrong with figures like that.  But what was it?

Join the author as he explores that causes that led to such a high death rate.   Find out what was  responsible for creating such a dangerous prison environment.

***************************

The Confederates called Elmira Prison Camp "Hellmira" and for good reason.  Was all the suffering intentional?

--Old B-Runner

Richard Triebe's Book 'Fort Fisher to Elmira: The Fatal Journey of More Than Five Hundred Confederate Soldiers'-- Part 1

Review in Amazon.

Fort Fisher to Elmira contains a dramatic description of both battles of Fort Fisher.  The fort fell to Union forces in January of 1865 and closed the port of Wilmington, North Carolina, to blockade running.  The importance of this loss cannot be overstated.  General Robert E. Lee no longer had an open supply line to feed and equip the Army of Northern Virginia.

His prophetic words when he heard Fort Fisher was under attack were, "Wilmington must be held!  If it falls, the Army of Northern Virginia can no longer protect Richmond."

Barely three months later his words came true  and the Confederacy was forced to surrender.

--B-Runner

Six Reasons to Visit Fort Fisher This Weekend-- Part 3: Big Guns, Experts and Descendants

4.   LOTS OF BIG GUNS:

In addition to the scores of Civil War-era rifles, artillery crews will fire several cannons including a recently refurbished replica of a rifled and banded 32-pounder.

5.  MEET THE EXPERTS:

Nationally respected author Rod Gragg ("Confederate Goliath:  the Battle of Fort Fisher") will deliver the keynote address at 11 a.m. followed by local historian and author Richard Triebe at 2:30 p.m..

6.  ALL IN THE FAMILY:

If you can trace your family heritage back that far, Fort Fisher descendants are invited to gather for a reunion 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Courtyard Carolina Beach Oceanfront Marriott.  Noted Fort fisher expert Chris Fonvielle will speak.

--Sure Woulda liked To have Been there.  --Old B-Runner

152nd Second Battle of Fort Fisher to Be Commemorated This Saturday

From the January 2, 2017, Port City Daily "Watch cannons fire and listen to historians during the 152nd anniversary of the Second Battle of Fort Fisher."

This to be held Saturday, January 14, 2017, at the Fort Fisher State Historic Site and will feature a lot of living.  The program is "Desperate Bravery and Brilliant Valor: the 152nd Commemoration of the Second Battle of Fort Fisher" and will be from 10 to 4 p.m.  Artillery units will conduct drills and periodic firing of the fort's 32-pdr and 12-pdr Napoleon and Parrott Rifle cannons.

There will be  guided tours, kids activities and period photography by Harry Taylor who will have his 1860s traveling wet plate photography studio on site.

In addition, noted Fort Fisher scholars and authors Rod Gragg, author of "Confederate Goliath: The Battle of Fort Fisher" will be the keynote speaker at 11 a.m..  Then, at 2:30 p.m., historian and author Richard Triebe will speak.  Both will sell and autograph their books afterwards.

Sure Wish I Could Be There.  --Old B-Runner