It seems popular opinion tod is to rid this country of all t Confederate. Now, however, there are many in the New Jerse State Senate who wish to remove and replace a statue honoring a Union military hero! They have already approved New Jersey Bil S-1369. It must now be approved by the NJ General Assembly before it is sent to Gov. Phil Mu for his signature; this could h pen before the end of March!
(the modern authority on Kearny the bronze statue of Major Gene Philip Kearny was placed in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capit on August 21, 1888, thanks to the efforts of Cortlandt Parker a highly respected Newark, N.J. lawyer and Kearny’s closest admirer. He began his quest to ho or Kearny in 1868, three years after the Civil War ended, because: “Philip Kearny gave his life to eradicate slavery.” Gen Kearny was killed in action lea ing his Union troops in the Bat of Chantilly, Va., Sept. 1, 186 on the heels of the Second Batt of Manassas. Parker continued, “Kearny saw early and clearly t stake of the war….he preceded all in suggesting our duty to t race. Nationality for the union freedom for the slave, these hi simple directness saw were the
issues of the strife….” At the ceremonial unveiling of the statue, one of the speak ers was U.S. Congressman Albert C. Thompson, a Civil War veteran who fought in Kearny’s command. Speaking of his old commander and his fellow Union
that of bringing up their children in that respect for authority, that reverence for the Constitution and that love of country which so distinguished them in the days of ’61.” Major General Philip Kearny, who New Jersey claimed as her citizen, fought with all his might against a Confederacy that advocated slavery and gave his life to destroy slavery and give freedom and equality to all in a reunited
His statue should not be removed from Statuary Hall. His bronze features should now compel us to bring up our children, of all races, to respect authority, revere the Constitution and love this country, the United States of America. Please, let your voice be heard by contacting the N.J. state lawmakers and governor. Don’t let them remove this American hero! – Norman A. Dykstra Charter member/Trustee – New Jersey Civil War Heritage Association Charter member/Officer – Phil Kearny Civil War Round Table of North Jersey
Vol. 42, No. 3 Battlefield Of Franklin Land Pres
By GreGory L. Wade FRANKLIN, Tenn. — What is considered the bloodiest acreage the Nov. 30, 1864, Battle of Fran is now being reclaimed as part of evolving Carter Hill Battlefield Local preservation leaders recent
from owners Reid and Brenda Lovell after a months-long proces of coordinating various funding sources for the critical 1.6 acre adjoin the Carter House, a major battle landmark. Details were recently provided a press conference led by Frankli
Charge board member Julian Bibb, who praised the “remarkable transition” of the Franklin battlefie Franklin’s Charge is a coalition civic and preservation groups who joined together more than ten yea ago to purchase local battlegroun Over 150 years ago the Army of Tennessee stepped off in a series
of charges to be virtually destro by Federals under John Schofield hopes of taking Franklin and late Nashville. At that time, most of the terr was open farmland on the outskirt of what was once a small Middle Tennessee farming community. Over time development covered much of
the battlefield with houses, ligh dustry, and small businesses. All that remained of the criti area where the Confederates temporarily broke the Federal line w the small farmhouse and a few acr known as the Carter House farm. The 1.6 acres purchased, which
adjoin the southern boundary of t Carter House property, is compris of two lots. Today, they are occu
that were turned over to the City of Franklin Parks Department by Franklin’s Charge and the Battle o Franklin’s Trust (BOFT), managers of the Carter House the nearby Car ton Plantation. The structures wil removed in coming months, possibly relocated for other use.
The purchase is only the latest in a long and arduous effort to re build the Franklin battlefield. “It had to be a miracle,” quipp Civil War Trust (CWT) President James Lighthizer, referring to the most recent acquisition. Local res ident Michael Grainger, long time
Trust board member and former chairman, said, “Local leadership has been incredible and will conti ue to be a partner [with the CWT]. In 2005, after years of frustra attempting to preserve Franklin ba tleground, local preservationists cided it would have to be done the hard way, by buying properties, of
ten with buildings on them. The largest parcel of land was originally a local golf course sla to be sold to a developer to build houses on what was the right flank of the Confederate attack north to ward the Federal lines just south the town. It was then that Franklin’s Cha
chase from private donors, the CWT the City of Franklin and others. T 110-acre segment, now fully interpreted and known as the Eastern Flank Battlefield, is what got the preservation ball rolling in Frank
Since that time nine other parc in proximity to the Carter House have been purchased and have been, or will be, turned over to the Fra
at the Lovell purchase regory L. Wade photos)
lin Parks Department, according t Bibb. But it was the land just south Carter House, long considered the most bloodied ground in Franklin, and some say in America, that was the most coveted. BOFT Chief Executive Officer
Eric Jacobson noted, “to not have this ground reclaimed and preserv would be like having Omaha Beach cut out of Normandy.” The most recent acquisition evolved when Franklin’s Charge an the BOFT began discussions with t Lovells, who have a strong sense the history of the land, having g
up in Franklin. “I was born and raised in Fran lin on ground many believe should have been a national park,” said Lovell. He recalled when visitors came to town and had to envision what happened, not walk on ground where it transpired. “My great-grandfather, who fou
here, and my parents would be pro of what we are doing here today,” said at the press conference. The Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted unanimously in February to fund part of the remaining debt on the Lovell property purchase. The previously
paid by the city on a non-interes basis over seven years. These funds will cover the bal now bridged by a local bank and w
be derived from the city’s hoteltel tax. Local banker Chuck Isaac
was instrumental in working out t loans. All the city funds are all
by his employer, First Farmers an Merchants Bank.
16,000-pound Dahlgren Guns May Reveal New Civil War-era Artifacts at Mariners’ Museum
NEWPORT NEWS, Va.—The Mariners’ Museum and Park will embark on the next monumental step in conserving USS Monitor’ Dahlgren guns. In late February and early March, the Museum wil clean out the 11-foot-long bore in each gun using a custom-made machine. Monitor’s guns are the largest guns ever bored for con servation, giving this signific step its own mark in history. T removal of the marine material is the final mechanical cleanin step before the guns can be dri and put on display. “By boring the guns, we will nally have the ability to remov trapped ocean salts from the in teriors of these massive artifa setting the stage for us to dry then put the guns on display,” Will Hoffman, the Museum’s director of conservation. “Due to the size of the guns, no one ha done this procedure at this sca so we’ve had to develop new equipment to make it happen.”
Oceanic and Atmospher Administration (NOAA) and U.S. Navy divers raised the 120-ton USS Monitor turret, the massive artifact came to The Mariners’ Museum and Park for conservation, curation, and display. Th turret was covered in thick lay ers of concretion; over time, t material was removed using hand and pneumatic tools exposing th turret itself and hundreds of a tional artifacts including the 11-inch (bore diameter) Dahlgre guns. In 2004, the guns were remov from the turret and transferred individual treatment tanks to a vance the removal of concretion