General Warren's Headquarters at Spotsylvania, Virginia - Whig Hill - Then and Now

NOTE: the property described here, Whig Hill, is private property, and is posted against trespassers. Please respect the owner's right to privacy by observing only from the public thoroughfare.    

     Ten years ago this spring, I had the great, good fortune of visiting the house used by Union General Gouverneur K. Warren as his headquarters during the second week of the battle of Spotsylvania. Situated just over a mile northeast of the Confederate line in front of the Courthouse, it was the residence of Francis Corbin Beverly, a forty year old tobacco farmer that had served briefly as a Captain in the 9th Virginia Cavalry in the first year of the war. The estate is known formally as "Whig Hill". The date of the house is not totally certain, with some sources dating it to the mid 1700's and others to the first half of the 1800's.

     When I say "good fortune", I mean it in every sense of the phrase. The present owner of the property is a very private individual that is quite guarded as to those that access his home. I happened to be parked near his mailbox that morning, at the end of his 300 yard driveway. I was taking photographs of a house and property across the street from his. Having observed me at a distance, he came out to approach me and question my purpose. I introduced myself and explained my reasons for what had apparently been suspected as suspicious activity. I freely presented my interest and efforts to document a photograph taken from his property in 1864, that looked in the direction of the house across the street.  Much to my surprise, and delight, he said I sounded like I knew what I was talking about, and thus invited me to come see his house up close when I had the time. "I have the time right now, if that's not inconvenient.", I said, and he kindly consented. From everything I had been previously told about this gentleman, this was a rare exception. My host was very happy to show me around the grounds and allowed me to make a few then and now comparison images utilizing two Timothy O'Sullivan stereoviews taken on May 19, 1864, as well as a photograph from the 1950's, taken as part of the Historic American Buildings Survey.  There have been some modifications to the house since Warren's temporary occupation, chiefly in the addition of windows to a northwest wall, flanking an interior chimney, and the enclosing of a porch that sits inside the "L" built into the southern exposure of its gable-front & wing design.

       Interestingly, prior to Warren's headquarters, the house was used as an observation post by officers of the 34th Battery, New York Light Artillery. In an account written by Captain Jacob Roemer, he describes being sighted by the Confederates while on the roof of the "Beverly House". He states that the enemy fired a "number of shots at us from their batteries," and after leaving his perch for safety, through a skylight, "almost instantly afterwards the whole chimney came down with a startling crash."  This incident was said to have happened on May 12. Oddly, as NPS historian Noel Harrison pointed out in 1989, the photograph taken by O'Sullivan does not show this kind of destruction to either chimney, seven days later, if O'Sullivan's dating of his image is correct. One must wonder about such anecdotal material and the potential of embellishment for dramatic impact. A drawing done on the spot by newspaper Special Artist, Alfred Waud, gives no indication of chimney damage as well. Waud's work is dated two days prior to O'Sullivan's photographic exposures. Both images include what has previously been assumed to be O'Sullivan's darkroom wagon, parked to the left, with enclosed sides and back, made of a waterproof canvas with small windows. The question arises, was O'Sullivan's wagon parked at Whig Hill for at least three days, or is either date incorrect? Several scenarios are possible. O'Sullivan may have spent several days camped at this site during what had been extensive periods of on and off rain since the 12th. One must also fairly speculate if this is in fact not O'Sullivan's wagon. The vehicle is identical to Army ambulances in use at the time. There is indication, from other sources, that photographers refit ambulances for darkroom use to provide smoother rides for their delicate glass negatives and chemical bottles. The ambulances had better suspension systems so that wounded soldiers wouldn't be jostled so severely as they would have been in the back of a baggage wagon. All this aside, we have some wonderfully detailed images of this historic property, rarely seen by present day enthusiasts. The only previous publication of then and now pairings taken of this house was by photographic historian William Frassanito for his 1983 volume, Grant and Lee, the Virginia Campaigns, 1864-1865. During Frassanito's visit, the property was under prior ownership.

     Now, on to the images. Click any image for larger viewing.                                                                                                                                    

Above, a detail from O'Sullivan's view dated May 19, 1864.

Above, my 2004 view of the same angle, looking eastward.

1950's HABS view looking southward. 

2004 view from approximate same angle.

O'Sullivan's second view. The camera has been turned to look

across the property in a northerly direction. 5th Corps HQ baggage

 wagons are in the foreground. In the distant field at right, the Union

 reserve artillery is parked, per Frassanito, ready to be sent north.

My 2004 view from approximately the same camera position.

Note, the field in the middle distance was converted into a pond

in the 1950's, not long after the HABS images were taken.

The field where the reserve artillery was parked, beyond a

 screen of trees, is still preserved today, although it is

 surrounded by a berm, masking a subdivision.

     Aerial view of Whig Hill and surrounding neighborhood today. Originally 300 acres, the property has been subdivided, with the house remaining on roughly 20 acres. The house is outlined in red near lower middle, and O'Sullivan's approximate camera position is marked with the red tab, labelled "C". As stated above, the pond seen in the middle was created in the 1950's. The field where the Union Reserve Artillery was parked is labeled in red. On the north side of modern route 208, at upper left, is the site of Stevenson's Ridge, a premier special events facility as well as delightful overnight accommodations. 

Waud's sketch of Warren's Headquarters

New York State Library, Manuscripts & Special Collections Unit.

Sesquicentennial New Year Approaches : 1864-2014, Fredericksburg, VA

    Tuesday, May 20 , 2014, will mark the 150th anniversary of the day photographer James Gardner took the image inspiring the "then and now" mashup below. Gardner's original caption for this view indicated the banner draped building, now extensively modified, served, along with its then adjoining twin, as the "Store-rooms of the U.S. Sanitary Commission." Fredericksburg residents will recognize the location today as the busy 300 block of William Street, home to numerous restaurants, offices, and specialty shops. In May 1864, much of the town served as hospital space to the Union Army which was hotly contesting Confederate forces to the west of town, in the Spotsylvania County countryside. The Sanitary Commission maintained their facilities in town as a relief agency for the sick and wounded. Click any of the images for larger inspection. The original Gardner image is in the collection of the Library of Congress.

     Earlier in the year, I posted additional mashup images related to the Sanitary Commission operations at the intersection of William and Charles Streets. 

That post can be found by clicking this link.

Wishing all my readers a happy and prosperous New Year.

See you in 2014!

MERRY CHRISTMAS from Spotsylvania Civil War Blog

Wishing all the joys of the season to my readers.

Merry Christmas, one and all.

Photo copyright 2009 by John F. Cummings III

Gallant Pelham Remembered - December 13, 2013

     On the one hundred and fifty-first anniversary of the Battle of Fredericksburg, the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust dedicated a replica Napoleon 12-pounder at the site of Confederate Major John Pelham's fabled stand against the Federal advance during the early, fog-enshrouded morning of December 13, 1862. Pelham's guns boldly delayed that advance for several hours, buying critical time for the bolstering of the southern defensive position along Prospect Hill.  Click any image for larger viewing. A previous post regarding Pelham's position can be found here.

 The ceremony commenced shortly after 11:00 AM along the preserved acre in front of Family Dollar.

 Dr. Michael P. Stevens, president of the CVBT, commanded the ceremony.

     The gun crew from the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park wheels their piece into position for a commemorative round.

 The proud gun crew from F&SNMP listen to the presentation after their opening salute.

 Park historian Frank O'Reilly provided the background of Pelham's bold actions.

O'Reilly is the author of one of the best volumes on the Fredericksburg Campaign.

 The new, silent sentinel, guards the intersection at 10744 Tidewater Trail, Fredericksburg, VA. 

Gettysburg's Battlefield Hotel - An interesting view, circa 1870

     I'm not saying I "discovered" this image, since it is in the collection of the Library of Congress, but I only happened upon it while browsing the Prints and Photographs Online Catalog the other day. Perhaps it has gone unnoticed till now. I have no idea, but I have not seen other published references. There is nothing in the catalog listing that specifically says "Gettysburg" that I can see, but it is quite clearly the structure that occupied the intersection of Baltimore Street and Emmitsburg Road, and was called the Wagon Hotel in 1863. It is well known to have been occupied by Union sharpshooters during the battle, and was promoted as such by the sign on the corner post at the stairs. The second floor windows are later additions to the southeast wall of the building as well as the extended porch which may have served as a loading dock, serviced by the side door which was a window in 1863. A northward view of this building, taken in 1865, is available for comparison on pages 96, 97 of William Frassanito's Gettysburg - A Journey In Time, published in 1975. Renamed the Battlefield Hotel to capitalize on its historic value with tourists, the original structure was unfortunately destroyed by fire in 1895. Click on this and any of the other images for larger viewing.

The left half of the stereoview, seen in its entirety below.

No photographer's identification is apparent either on the front,

or the back of the card, seen below.

     Below is a view taken some years later (note the growth on the trees in front), from the GNMP's files according to Michael Waricher who posted it on his facebook page, Michael Waricher Battlefield Perspectives. 

     Below is a view of the same intersection as it appeared around 1948, also posted by Waricher, and assumed to come from the same Park files. This building was destroyed in 1949 and today the site of a convenience store and gas station, the Gateway Minimart, at 517 Baltimore Street. Emmitsburg Road, branching off to the right in these southward views, is known as Steinwehr Avenue today.

     Below, a variation of the previously mentioned photo examined by William Frassanito, and borrowed here for educational purposes, from an uncredited source posted in the website: Gettysburg Daily, in 2008. It is assumed to be from the same 1865 exposures attributed to Gardner, and is further discussed by Frassanito in his book, Early Photography at Gettysburg, published in 1995. The wartime structure is the dark brick building, seen on the left side of the image. The view is looking northward from Baltimore Street. Note as discussed previously, the absence of the second floor windows, and the first floor window that apparently was converted into a door for the later built side porch/loading dock.

Gettysburg Address - Contrasts - 150 year anniversary challenge

     Leading up to the Sesquicentennial Anniversary of the Gettysburg Address, which was this past Tuesday; documentary filmmaker Ken Burns laid out a challenge, of sorts, to today's notables and the public at large, to learn the words, and meaning, behind Lincoln's near two minute remarks. Lincoln received five spontaneous bursts of applause from the audience which brought his total presentation to under three minutes. When he finished, some say, there was an uncomfortable silence before it was realised he had concluded, and then there was a "long continued applause". In the long run, Lincoln's ten sentences have eclipsed the two hour presentation of the keynote speaker that day, orator Edward Everett, becoming one of America's iconic documents.
     Growing up in the 1960's, my first exposure to the printed words of the Gettysburg Address came from the back of Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, in an appendix section demonstrating printer proof marks. The challenge to memorize them was instilled early on by my father who, as a Lincoln buff, naturally took pride in reciting them aloud. It became a thing we'd do together. Unscheduled, always, but something nonetheless that we'd enjoy, and will still do to this day. So when I saw a flood of YouTube videos being posted recently as a result of the Ken Burns challenge, I took notice, but hesitated in watching them, as I was interested in recording my own and did not want an external influence to alter how I have come to know it. Thus, on the 19th, I recorded my first take from my home computer, and posted it to YouTube, my first venture into that medium. From there it went to my facebook page. I found that what I had recorded was a mashup of the five "official" manuscript versions in Lincoln's handwriting. My most notable "variation" seemed to be the omission of "under God", which apparently was not in his original copy, but ended up being added on the fly that day, since the Associated Press, on-site version that made it to the newspapers of the period contained it. Because of that, I re-recorded it the next day, also wearing a collared shirt instead of my first take's t-shirt casualness.
     Today I began to watch some of the Burns PBS videos and found Jerry Seinfeld with Louis CK struggling to get it together. Seinfeld seemed to be playing the straight man. I don't know if CK truly has an appreciation for what he's learning. He never seems to come across as genuine. But perhaps that's the intent. Still, either way, I found no humor in it.

     Here are the two videos, starting with the PBS bit with Seinfeld and Louis CK, and then mine. Contrasts for sure.

Manassas National Battlefield Park, October 31, 2013

     A visit to Northern Virginia allowed for some time spent yesterday along the Bull Run and surrounding battlefield. Pleasant, mid-fall temperatures made the journey comfortable, and the thinning foliage cleared some other times difficult views. Slightly overcast skies provided soft lighting, unburdened by strong shadows. A colorful, and reflective day upon the landscape of history. 

     All images can be clicked for larger viewing.

 All photographs copyright 2013 by John F. Cummings III

Yorktown Images Pose Questions, Reveal Details

     This past weekend, the Center for Civil War Photography held their annual conference/seminar down on the Virginia Peninsula. Rainy weather and National Park Service closures put a damper on the program but only to a limited extent, said CCWP vice president, Garry Adelman. Your blog host enjoyed the CCWP annual events in 2004 and 2005, but has had scheduling conflicts regularly since then. This year's event would have been particularly enjoyable for me since I have earlier this year begun a more thorough examination of period images taken in and around Yorktown, Virginia. I have family living in the vicinity and this has provided good reason to spend extended visits to the sites. A previous post, found at this link, came out of my first trip to Yorktown in April. It is an intriguing place, made doubly so by the overlapping use of the battlefield and town by Revolutionary War and Civil War engagements. 

     One group of photographs, taken by James F. Gibson in May 1862, depicts the area surrounding General Fitz John Porter's headquarters at or near the "Allen Farm House" the supposed location of French general, Lafayette's headquarters, prior to the Siege of Yorktown eighty-one years before. Based on maps of both eras, the location of the Allen House sits southeast of the town of Yorktown, nestled alongside the fingers of Wormley Creek, now the subdivision of "Marlbank Cove", on the south side of the York River.

     Garry Adelman of the CCWP has stated on Facebook that he has the location of this structure, "nailed down to the square yard and will assemble all and publish soon." I certainly look forward to that information. It's always a rush  to put a photo mystery to rest.

     Intrigued as I have been by these images, I reexamined the files of the Library of Congress photograph collection and continued to hunt for more details. The first view below, taken from the original stereo pairs, shows the Allen House and " Headquarters of Gen'l Porter, Farnhold's House and York River in the distance", according to the caption written on the glass negative's sleeve. If this is accurate, the "Farenholdt" (correct spelling based on period maps) House is barely discernable on the left middle horizon. This is all very well and good, and possibly true, but interestingly, another image by Gibson clearly depicts the same location, but with the camera turned to the right, perhaps 45 or 50 degrees, and mounted on an elevation, with a downward, broader view of the sprawling camp in the fields beyond. The odd thing about this view is that the caption  from its negative's sleeve states it shows, "Hdq. Gen. McClellan Camp Winfield Scott, in front of Yorktown, May 7, 1862." Based on the period maps, the two general's headquarters were approximately a quarter of a mile apart, not a simple step to the right. Perhaps an oversight or confusion on the part of Gibson or whoever wrote the sleeve caption. It is known to happen. It does apparently firm up the date it was taken. The result either way provides a panoramic view of the landscape beyond this structure said to be Allen's House in two other views. Within both images are a few interesting details which we will examine here shortly. I have taken the left and right sides of the two stereo exposures and created an expanded view for each, revealing edges that aren't fully depicted together, in either side alone. These are the complete pictures now shown below.  Click any image for larger viewing. 

Below, I have placed both exposures side by side to demonstrate the broader view they provide combined.      Do remember however, the right image is not simply turned, but also elevated, thus the horizon line and foreground can not be married together cleanly. There are some uniting elements that do link them indisputably though, the four board fence, one or two seemingly fresh graves, and one distant tent.

Below are some enlarged details extracted from from the two.

Note the draped fence, and the freshly turned, marked grave at center, seen from the left hand view.

 Also make note of the distant wall tent. This is what I will call the anchor tent, linking the images.

Now, the right hand view of the draped fence and grave. Note the anchoring wall tent at upper left.

An even closer shot of the fence corner and grave.

The right view reveals perhaps a second grave, or a head maker as well as a foot marker.

This view also supplies an additional detail, leaning against the fence...

...that appears to be a stretched canvas. Is this a painting "liberated" from the home of a secessionist?

     One wonders if it survived and hangs on someone's wall today? That mystery may never be solved.

     Something else to note from the larger full view, are the seeming piles of brush or deliberate planting running just behind the first row of tents in the middleground. Whatever their intended purpose, photographer Gibson utilized at least one in the photograph below as a backdrop for Brigadier General Randolph B. Marcy and fellow officers. Marcy was serving as chief of staff to son-in-law George B. McClellan during this time.

     One more detail, since I mentioned it at the beginning, is what I believe is the distant Farenholdt House, seen on the horizon of the left image of the united pair, as well as a full view of the said residence, also taken by Gibson. I have indicated the Farenholdt House in the detail with the letter "F" placed just above it. Again, click these images for larger viewing. Note the suggestion of the observation platform in the distant detail, compared to the full view of the house. It certainly looks right to me.

The cluster of signalmen is discernible between the two chimneys.

     If we can determine the orientation of the original structure (apparently no longer standing), we can best position the line of sight for the "Allen House" structure. ADDITION - The Farenholdt House is still standing! Very happy to figure this out. I have added a modern view after the 1862 view below. Realize, this is PRIVATE PROPERTY, so please respect owner's privacy.

"Farnhold's House, with part of Federal Battery, No I. In the distance. May 1862."

as indicated on the original negative sleeve in the Library of Congress collection.

This is the best view I can provide at this time, taken from the Google Earth Streetview. 

I will be returning to Yorktown in early November. Perhaps I will be able to do some further investigations.

I hope so.