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| Sam Watkins | Rating: 
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| Posted: Fri Apr 20th, 2007 05:32 am |
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1st Post |
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susansweet Member 
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I hate to admit it but I am just now getting around to reading Company Aytch. I love how Sam tells his story. He does have a way with words. I have a question though. After the battle of Chickamauga Sam talks about Days' brigade passing them gunless etc and they all seemed to have the 'possom grins Is this a good grin or not? He goes on to say they don't say a word. Although others yelled Yaller Hammer ,Alabama at them.
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| Posted: Fri Apr 20th, 2007 06:42 am |
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2nd Post |
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Texas Defender Member 
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Possibly, "possum grins" refers to the old legend of the shame of the possum because his tail was naked. This results in his sheepish grin. Sunstone Press - Sample Chapter
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| Posted: Fri Apr 20th, 2007 07:07 am |
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3rd Post |
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Steven Cone Member 
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Susan, Sam was referring Deas Brigade but my understanding his name ways pronounced as Days.. And at times you see it spelled that way. The Alabama state bird is the Yellow Hammer hence Alabama troops were nicknamed Btw. Deas Brigade was made of Alabama troops (19th 22nd, 25th, 39th, 50th Alabama infantry & 17th Alabama Battalion Sharpshooters.) Not sure about the Possum Grin comment. - If I recall right Deas' Brigade had more men then rifles going into the battle.. I cant recall the casualties for the brigade but .. the 22nd Alabama suffered of 50 % casualties. The Twenty-second Alabama .. Went into action with 31 officers and 340 men; aggregate 371. Killed: Officers, 5; Enlisted men 39. Wounded: Officers 10; enlisted men, 151. Missing, none. Aggregate killed, wounded, and missing 205. I had three relatives in the 22nd Alabama but only two were at Chickamauga one had died in Dec of 1862. But that's a different story. regards, Steven
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| Posted: Fri Apr 20th, 2007 07:29 am |
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4th Post |
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Texas Defender Member
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Zacariah Cantey Deas first commanded the 22nd Alabama. He spent a huge sum of his own money, something like $28,000., to equip the regiment with Enfield rifles. He was reimbursed with Confederate war bonds. It would seem that his investment did not pay off in the end. However, it seems that he prospered after the war in spite of his loss. He moved to New York City where he was a cotton broker and became a member of the New York Stock Exchange. Zachariah C. Deas (1819 - 1882) - Find A Grave Memorial
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| Posted: Fri Apr 20th, 2007 09:22 am |
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5th Post |
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susansweet Member
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Texas that makes alot of sense in context of the events Sam is talking about. Thanks. Steve thanks for the added information. My copy of Company Aytch does spell the name Days. I just checked again. I also noticed it was after Missionary Ridge that this inccident happened. Last edited on Fri Apr 20th, 2007 09:33 am by susansweet |
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| Posted: Fri Apr 20th, 2007 01:53 pm |
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6th Post |
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Steven Cone Member
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Ahh Ok thats makes more sence. At Missionary Ridge .. It is jthought that.. That that the portion of the of the battlefield broke first Nov. 25th. was the area of Deas brigade held.. Accourding to Brig. General Manigualt Who ways beside Deas. Brigade . Deas Brigade works were built upon the or near the crest of the ridge not the military crest.. So when the union army charged up the hill they were upon them before before they could fire more than volley or two and then the line broke. Manigualt Brigade had a clear view of fire and held out longer and watched Deas Brigade broke. Then of course the Deas Brigad was only a fraction of its former self after the Battle of Chickamuga Texas you are correct Deas outfited the 22nd but was only commander for a short while.. Deas briefly took command of the Brigade at Shiloh after Brig Gen. Gladden was killed and are Col Adams of the 1st La Inf was wounded and then Deas himself was wounded. The Brigade was reorganized before the battle Murfreesboro & Deas officialy took command of the Brigade (On Paper) but due to his wounds Col Loomis commanded the Brigade on the field. The Mssionary ridge event is the only shamefull act "if you call it that" Blame it on who placed them on the crest of the hill.. I think it was Hindman. Having relatives in the brigade I have followed them pretty closely through out the war. As well as Manigualt's Which I had ywo relatives in the 28th Alabama. Regards, Steven "After General Gladden was wounded the command devolved upon Colonel Adams, of the 1st Louisiana Infantry, who continued in charge, doing deeds of noble daring, until about 2 p.m., when he fell severely wounded. Colonel Deas, of the 22nd Alabama, then took command for the rest of the day, receiving several wounds, but still remaining upon the field, deporting himself as a true soldier, exposing himself to the fire of the enemy, and winning the hearts of the whole brigade." Colonel J. Q. Loomis Battle of Shiloh[size=4 PT] Last edited on Fri Apr 20th, 2007 07:29 pm by Steven Cone |
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| Posted: Fri Apr 20th, 2007 09:40 pm |
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7th Post |
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Johan Steele Life NRA,SUVCW # 48,Legion 352 
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Steven; at one time while studying Missionary Ridge I read that a portion of Deas Brigade had stacked arms and never broke stacks. I have never been able to figure this out or verify if it has any bassis in fact. It never made any sense to me; still doesn't. Any insight or ideas from your own research if what I read was just hogwash?
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| Posted: Sat Apr 21st, 2007 02:25 am |
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8th Post |
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Steven Cone Member
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First I have heard of that Shane. I find it vary hard to believe that someone would still have stacked arms with all the firing going on. Even without orders if the bullets were flying over my head I with have my gun ready. If true only thing I can think of is that that they were upon them before they could get their guns. Although I have been in the area.. I have never been on top of Missionary ridge. Could ever figure out how to get on top of of it and kept going through the tunnels through it. 
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