Oh, the shame!

[shinner]

Had to run over to Gettysburg yesterday to drop off some stuff at a friend's house. He lives pretty close to the new visitor center. Son #1 recently busted Son #2's toy musket that he got there on his school field trip. Since Son #1 had some money left over after paying his trespassing fine, I figured no time like the present to stop in to the visitor center shop and replace the musket using his money (you broke it, you bought it). They were out of muskets because it's high Touron season in Gburg but we walked through the VC as I'd not been there since it opened. This is the reason for my posting.

Right before you go into the exhibits they have a couple dummies decked out in both Union and Confederate uniforms. Behind that is a wall listing all the states that participated, breaking down the number of enlistments on either side and in some cases, BOTH.

This is what caught my eye. I knew border states like Maryland would have some recruits to both sides but what I didn't know was that some very hard line Southern states had significant enrollments in Union regiments. Alabama had something like 5,000 enlistments. NORTH CAROLINA, yes, your beloved NORTH CAROLINA, never to be confused with a YANKEE, had over 8,000 men enlist in Union regiments. Howza bout that?

Learn something new every day.

(Sorry Cooter, I didn't mean to break your heart)

[Squirrel]

You should see how many fought for the British during the Revolutionay war.

[shinner]

Originally Posted by Squirrel

You should see how many fought for the British during the Revolutionay war.

That's a whole different kettle of fish...

[Badbak]

Thats what they mean when they say there were brothers fighting on both sides. The true main issue that started the war was not slavery it was states rights. The states wanted to decide who they traded with and didn't want the Federal Govn't slapping tarrifts on imports that would hurt the export of cotton and raise prices for imported goods. Many people didn't agree and joined the union army. There were other people that figured that the south didn't have much chance of winning and they wanted to be on the winning side when the war ended so they joined the blue team too.

[shinner]

You don't need to school me on the CW.....I just never expected to see hardcore Southerners enlisting in the Union Army.

BTW, for anyone into the CW....you ought to get to Gburg and check out the new visitor's center. It's wicked cool.

[Squirrel]

Did they tear down that stupid ass tower?

[shinner]

Originally Posted by Squirrel

Did they tear down that stupid ass tower?

yep........years ago. not long after we moved here. so, probably more than 5 years...closer to 8 I think.

The odd thing is, there are quite a few observation towers on the battlefield, but there's no admission....so I guess that's why the one by the cemetery was deemed to not be kosher.

Looked it up. Imploded on July 3rd, 2000. 137th anniversary of the 3rd day of battle.

It was big news and someone even had a live webcam running of the implosion.

[Johnny Rockets]

Originally Posted by shinner

Had to run over to Gettysburg yesterday to drop off some stuff at a friend's house. He lives pretty close to the new visitor center. Son #1 recently busted Son #2's toy musket that he got there on his school field trip. Since Son #1 had some money left over after paying his trespassing fine, I figured no time like the present to stop in to the visitor center shop and replace the musket using his money (you broke it, you bought it). They were out of muskets because it's high Touron season in Gburg but we walked through the VC as I'd not been there since it opened. This is the reason for my posting.

Right before you go into the exhibits they have a couple dummies decked out in both Union and Confederate uniforms. Behind that is a wall listing all the states that participated, breaking down the number of enlistments on either side and in some cases, BOTH.

This is what caught my eye. I knew border states like Maryland would have some recruits to both sides but what I didn't know was that some very hard line Southern states had significant enrollments in Union regiments. Alabama had something like 5,000 enlistments. NORTH CAROLINA, yes, your beloved NORTH CAROLINA, never to be confused with a YANKEE, had over 8,000 men enlist in Union regiments. Howza bout that?

Learn something new every day.

(Sorry Cooter, I didn't mean to break your heart)

Can't blame them, everyone wants to be a winner.

[Squirrel]

Originally Posted by shinner

yep........years ago. not long after we moved here. so, probably more than 5 years...closer to 8 I think.

The odd thing is, there are quite a few observation towers on the battlefield, but there's no admission....so I guess that's why the one by the cemetery was deemed to not be kosher.

Looked it up. Imploded on July 3rd, 2000. 137th anniversary of the 3rd day of battle.

It was big news and someone even had a live webcam running of the implosion.

Wow, its been that long since I have been up there. I though tit really didn't fit with the battlefield. The wooden observation towers did but that big thing didnt.

[shinner]

The NPS keeps making enemies....shooting deer, cutting down trees. The enviros are going nuts.

[Panthro]

I'd be more afraid of the civil war ghosts

[Badbak]

Shinner, will they let you use a metal detector to look for relics?

I wasn't trying to school you on anything just explaining why there were so many southerners that joined the union army. My great grandfather was wounded and captured at Darbytown, VA in 1864. He was wearing gray.

[shinner]

Originally Posted by Panthro

I'd be more afraid of the civil war ghosts

Son #1 is wayyyy into that crap. He believes it all. The fools, the fools, the fools...

Originally Posted by Badbak

Shinner, will they let you use a metal detector to look for relics?

Sure, if you don't mind becoming a guest of the state.

Originally Posted by Badbak

I wasn't trying to school you on anything just explaining why there were so many southerners that joined the union army. My great grandfather was wounded and captured at Darbytown, VA in 1864. He was wearing gray.

No sweat man....I just never really thought about the both sides thing occurring in southern stronghold states. Rev war, sure, since the majority of "us" were still British and many felt a loyalty to the crown. I guess maybe it wasn't all that different after all....a new country not yet 100 years old, revolution and independence from a foreign master still on the lips of those who heard the tales from their grandparents....suppose they probably looked on the federal govt much the same way the colonists looked on the English govt.