quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Thanks for the information, gents.

If he was buried where he was hit, there is no way it was an aimed shot from "a federal musket in the valley." But, as noted above, perhaps a Union soldier took a blind shot knowing there were Confederates on the mountain in that vicinity. The only other plausible explanation is that a Union picket or scout climbed the mountain and fired an aimed shot from relatively close by, though that seems more unlikely.

quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Thanks for the information, gents.

If he was buried where he was hit, there is no way it was an aimed shot from "a federal musket in the valley." But, as noted above, perhaps a Union soldier took a blind shot knowing there were Confederates on the mountain in that vicinity. The only other plausible explanation is that a Union picket or scout climbed the mountain and fired an aimed shot from relatively close by, though that seems more unlikely.

Since it says he slept in his duty location before being shot, I think it unlikely that he was buried in the exact spot he was shot. Another man would have taken the duty position and Disney would have been carried to someplace more out of the way.

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ORIGINAL: MakeeLearn

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bearcat2

The 66th Ill [4 x Missouri Companies, 3 x Illinois Companies, 2 x Ohio Companies, 1 x Michigan Companies] the western counterpart to the Eastern Berdan sharpshooters, was present and they had around 150 of the Dimick Rifle [55cal, octagonal barrel], these were specialized target rifles. There is a difference between effective range and maximum range, Whitworth had a maximum range of 1050 yds, the Springfield rifle was 900 yds; do not know what the Dimick's maximum range was, but it was originally designed for long range shooting on the plains and very few were made. Most of the 66th at that time were armed with 16 shot Henry repeaters.

This shows 66th Illinois Infantry Regiment time frame on Feb.24, 1864 as being in Illinois:


"January 22, the men received four months' pay and $100 veteran bounty. On the 23d, left Louisville and took cars for Chicago, where they arrived January 28, and marched to North Market Hall, Here the Regiment received its thirty days' veteran furlough.

On March 3, 1864, the Regiment re-assembled at Joliet, Ill.,"

Although, that may just be part of the unit that had returned to Illinois.

https://civilwar.illinoisgenweb.org/history/066.html

quote:

ORIGINAL: crsutton

Hey Dan, a great article today in the Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2018/03/02/temporarily-insane-a-congressman-a-sensational-killing-and-a-new-legal-defense/?utm_term=.342415895aa8

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bearcat2

quote:

ORIGINAL: MakeeLearn

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bearcat2

The 66th Ill [4 x Missouri Companies, 3 x Illinois Companies, 2 x Ohio Companies, 1 x Michigan Companies] the western counterpart to the Eastern Berdan sharpshooters, was present and they had around 150 of the Dimick Rifle [55cal, octagonal barrel], these were specialized target rifles. There is a difference between effective range and maximum range, Whitworth had a maximum range of 1050 yds, the Springfield rifle was 900 yds; do not know what the Dimick's maximum range was, but it was originally designed for long range shooting on the plains and very few were made. Most of the 66th at that time were armed with 16 shot Henry repeaters.

This shows 66th Illinois Infantry Regiment time frame on Feb.24, 1864 as being in Illinois:


"January 22, the men received four months' pay and $100 veteran bounty. On the 23d, left Louisville and took cars for Chicago, where they arrived January 28, and marched to North Market Hall, Here the Regiment received its thirty days' veteran furlough.

On March 3, 1864, the Regiment re-assembled at Joliet, Ill.,"

Although, that may just be part of the unit that had returned to Illinois.

https://civilwar.illinoisgenweb.org/history/066.html

You are correct, upon further review: the Ohio companies also went to Chicago, and then to to Ohio as their enlistment time was up.
It was the 1st Ohio SS Bn[3 yr enlistment-dec62'] that was present, the 5th Ohio SS company of that unit in 1864: "they were engaged in a protracted scout between the hostile lines in February"

Feb 26th 1864: "26 Weather pleasant and warm
report that our men had a
fight three mills this side
of Dotlon " - Diary of LaFrancis E. Hackett 5th Ohio Sharpshooters

quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Hey, thanks for the good info and thoughts, gents. There may be things I can use here, especially Bearcat2's find, right down to the weather on the day of the shooting!

Ross, that was an interesting article about Sickles. I knew he'd been involved in a shooting but didn't know the details, like he troubled marriage and Francis Key's son getting shot dead.

It seems that Sickles was a serial womanizer. That reminded me of another Yankee (ha ha) womanizer who was arrested and put on trial for his infidelities. Later, on his death bed, his final words were: "And now the great mystery." Does anybody know who he was without resorting to Google? :)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Hey, thanks for the good info and thoughts, gents. There may be things I can use here, especially Bearcat2's find, right down to the weather on the day of the shooting!

Ross, that was an interesting article about Sickles. I knew he'd been involved in a shooting but didn't know the details, like he troubled marriage and Francis Key's son getting shot dead.

It seems that Sickles was a serial womanizer. That reminded me of another Yankee (ha ha) womanizer who was arrested and put on trial for his infidelities. Later, on his death bed, his final words were: "And now the great mystery." Does anybody know who he was without resorting to Google? :)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
If memory serves, his corps got chewed up and he lost a leg.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Wasn't it Sickles that advanced his Union corps, with no support on the left or right, at Gettysburg on the second day? If memory serves, his corps got chewed up and he lost a leg. This was the fighting around the Peach Orchard? (All of this from rather dim memory.)

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ORIGINAL: Bif1961

What about Earl Van Dorn another well known Civil War womanizer.

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ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

I also think that detection played a large part in things. I'd had high levels of detection on his carriers for many days. And night search had spotted his carriers early in the turn of the carrier clash. In contrast, John didn't have any detection on my carriers until the day of the clash. That seems like an environment that would breed catastrophe.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

As the peace dividend continues, I've spent a lot of time in the woods. What I do in the woods stays in the woods. What I think about in the woods used to be John III, mostly. Not about his pasty white thighs and other Yankee-like proclivities, but what he was up to and what I'd find when I got home and ran the turn that was almost always waiting in the inbox.

So I did a ten-mile hike Thursday, on a cold, winter-like day with the wind whipping the mountains. Since I didn't have John to mull over, I waxed poetic. And knowing this audience is almost uniformly a fan of mediocre poetry, I want to share it with you:

SOUTH-FACING SLOPE

In shadows on Fort Mountain’s north side,
ice ribbons sprout from naked earth and curl back,
like wood-shavings hewn by a craftsman.
And in shade on Turkey Mountain’s lee side,
icicles drape a craggy woodland outcropping,
raggedy, like a forgetful man’s untidy beard.
The frozen wind whips each mountaintop,
tail-end of a nor’easter lashing the coast,
snatching warmth through shirt cuff and collar
and teasing between buttons.
But at noon, the sun smiles kindly
on the spongy leaf-litter cushioning
Double Knob’s south-facing slope.
An invitation is given,
unspoken, unmistakable,
to take a seat.
And I do,
for lunch.