The Bedford Courier

Officers

Lt. Col. Phil Matteson, 161 Linwood Ave., Tonawanda, NY 14150 (716) 694-0947

Major Craig McCann, 146 Laura Dr., Rochester, NY 14626 (585) 225-8984

Captain Ron Lutz, 19 Monroe St., N. Tonawanda, NY 14120 (716) 692-1320

1st Lt. Mike Karnitz, 36 Woodstock Lane, Brockport, NY 14420 (585) 637-9069

 

The Yankees are here! Let’s whip ‘em quick like! Winter’s a comin’!

Upcoming

 

Scheduled Official Events:

9/13-15/02 Sharpsburg, MD

10/19-20/02 Cedar Creek, VA

Extra-Curricular Events: 9/7-8/02 Macedon, NY

11/16-17/02 Gettysburg, PA (Remembrance Day)

Dues

$30.00 individual – Includes insurance

$50.00 family – Includes insurance

If your dues have not yet been paid in full, be sure to make payment immediately. A new year will be startin’ in a few months. Thank you.

Lt. Colonel’s Concerns:

Due to high level preparations for Sharpsburg, the Lt. Colonels thoughts were that you enjoy the event. Also, it was noted that the entire unit showed up at Hamlin at one time or another.

 

Major’s Minute:

The major wishes that all enjoy the event and that, if your dues are not paid in full, please pay them now.

 

Captain’s Corner:

It is understood that the captain will be joining us shortly.

 

1st Lieutenant’s Observation:

Please pay any back dues at this time.

 

 

Okay men, what do we do next?

(Picture taken at Hamlin Beach August 18, 2002)

 

Picture of Sharpsburg taken 9/17/1862.

 

A real picture taken a day of the battle 140 years ago. Kinda spooky, huh.

 

Notes of interest:

It is understood that a unit called the RAMADA RANGERS attended one of our longer distant events. The question now is "Will they attend Sharpsburg?"

 

CIVIL WAR SLANG

What if you could talk to someone who lived at the time of the Civil War? Isn’t that part of our intent? Below is a list of words and phrases used during the Civil War. Let’s sharpen up our language.

1. Chief cook and bottle washer (the boss, person capable of doing many things)

2.  Sheet iron crackers (hardtack)

3. Sardine box (cap box)

4. Bread basket (stomach)

5. Greenbacks (Union paper currency)

6. Graybacks (Southern soldiers, lice)

7. Arkansas toothpick (large knife)

8. Pepperbox (multi barreled pistol)

9. Zu Zu (Zuove soldier)

10. Fit to be tired (angry)

11. Horse sense (common sense)

12. Top rail #1 (the best, first class)

13. Hunkey dorey (O.K. or good)

14. Greenhorn, bugger, skunk (officers)

15. Snug as a bug (comfortable, cozy)

16. Sawbones (surgeon)

17. Skedaddle (run, scatter, retreat)

18. Hornets (bullets)

19. Bully (hurrah! yeah!)

20. Possum (a buddy)

21. Blowhard (braggart)

22. Fit as a fiddle (in good shape, healthy)

23. Uppity (conceited)

24. Scarce as hen's teeth (rare or scarce)

25. Grab a root (have dinner, potato)

26. Tight, wallpapered (intoxicated)

27. Shine, bark juice, tar water (liquor)

28. Nokum stiff, joy juice (liquor)

29.  Hard case (tough)

30. Bluff (cheater)

31. jailbird (criminal)

32. Hard knocks (beaten up)

33. Been through the mill (endured a lot)

34. Screamers, guick-step (diarrhea)

35. Played out (worn out)

36. Toeing the mark (obeying orders)

37. Jonah (someone thought to bring bad luck)

38. Goobers (peanuts)

39. Sunday soldiers, kid glove boys, parlor soldiers (insulting words for soldiers)

40. Fresh fish (raw recruits)

41. Whipped (beaten)

 

Quiz of the month.

 

Barrel

Answers as I have them: a-caskebell knob; b-neck; c-caskebell; d-breech; e-vent hole; f-powder chamber; g-trennen; h-bore;                   i-mussel swell; j-face

 

James Longstreet


Longstreet was born in Edgefield District, South Carolina on January 8, 1821. Like most other generals of the Civil War, Longstreet graduated from West Point in 1842, and went straight into service. There he served until 1861, when he moved into the service of the confederacy. As a general, he led troops in most of the major battles in Virginia, including Bull Run, (both of them), Fredericksburg, and Chickimauga in Georgia. During the Wilderness campaign in 1864, Longstreet fell wounded. When he recovered, Longstreet returned to duty and fought until the war ended in 1865.

Along with his good friend, Ulysses S. Grant Longstreet became a Republican, and was given several positions by his presidential friend. This political connection hurt him in the eyes of ex-Confederates as did his criticism of Robert E. Lee, who had become a symbol of heroism to the South. Longstreet was blamed (unjustly it now seems) by General Jubal A. Early and others for the Southern defeat at the Battle of Gettysburg. After the war he got caught up in a large controversy as to his conduct during the war.

 

Bibliography: Aston, W.G., Tarnished Lieutenant (1987); Sanger, Donald, and Hay, Thomas, James Longstreet (1952); Tucker, Glenn, Lee and Longstreet at Gettysburg (1968). Jan. 2, 1904

 

Extracted from the web site The American Civil War