Appalachian History

Confederate Memorial Day is May 10. On May 12, 1909 the 4th Ohio Cavalry Association returned the Rifle Scouts’ Civil War battle flag to the state of Alabama at the Elk’s Theater in Huntsville. Note the presence of Tallulah B. Bankhead –not the famous actress, who was 7 years old at the time, but rather [...]

John Denton fought for the Confederate Army, but deserted it. Then he joined the Union Army, but deserted it even faster. And that was just the beginning of his troubles. Denton volunteered for Company B (Monroe County, TN), 3rd Tennessee Regiment of Confederate Volunteers in Knoxville, TN on May 23, 1861 and fought at Manassas. [...]

Barbara Frietchie’s story has been immortalized in plays, poems, and local Frederick, MD lore. The story relates that a 96 year old widow draped the Union flag from her window as Confederate troops rode by. Stonewall Jackson saw the display and ordered his troops to shoot the flag. Frietchie is reported to have said, “Shoot [...]

CEDAR BLUFF “REBEL” SOLDIER HALE AND HEARTY AND NEARING 100. — Cedar Bluff, May 19 – Today, in our town, one of our grand old veterans of the ’61 gang passed the 96th milestone of his journey through this ever-changing world. “Uncle George” —as he is familiarly known— Burnett, one of the few remaining veterans [...]