In the Farmsteads book, there's an allusion to a letter between William Roulette
and a Mary A. Hubbard in 1862. In it, after dropping off his family at the Manor
Church, William Roulette returned to the property in order to gather more
supplies, tend to his livestock, and check on his farm. According to the book,
he was literally caught between the lines, with Confederate soldiers in his yard
and outbuildings firing at Federals preventing him from going anywhere except
for his cellar.

Additionally, the discussion on the Roulette farm in the Farmsteads book
includes a quote from the 14th CT's chaplain:

"Mr. Roulette had removed his family to a safe place in season, but returning
himself to a look after his stock he was held in limbo by the rebs..."

Hope this helps!

- Adam Zimmerli

Gerry,

Regarding the discrepancy in the total number of Roulette children, Ernst
correctly concluded that some sources likely pulled directly from the 1860
census and therefore failed to include the youngest Roulette daughter, who was
born after the census was taken.

The 1860 census lists five Roulette children: Ann, John, Joseph, Susan and
Benjamin.

However, a sixth child, Carrie May Roulette, was born on Feb. 23, 1860. She died
shortly after the battle, in October 1862. Factoring in Carrie May, the
Roulettes had six children living with them in September 1862.

William Roulette himself confirmed this figure. Here's an excerpt from a
12/31/1862 letter that he wrote to the family of Private Robert Hubbard:

"Allow me to introduce to you my family, wife and 5 children, 2 girls and 3 boys
of which the oldest Ann Elizabeth 13-years-old. Our youngest died since the
battle - a charming little girl 20-months-old Carrie May just beginning to talk.
The battle caused considerable destruction of property here. My nearest neighbor
[Samuel Mumma] lost his house and barn to fire. I lost valuable horses, some
sheep and hogs. Please write as soon as you receive this and inform me whether
all is right."

Steve


--- In TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com, "G E Mayers" <gerry1952@...> wrote:
>
> Guys;
>
> Good discussion points! I also have GOB and here is the source information:
>
> Footnote 29, in my softbound copy, is on page 257:
>
> 29. Souvenir of Excursion to Battlefield by the Society of the Fourteenth
Connecticut Regiment (Washington, 1893), pp. 51, 56, 57.
>
> Not sure if this helps? Also, since I have Kathleen Ernst's book "Too Scared
to Cry," I looked up her mention of the Roulette incident and found some
interesting information:
>
> 1. The full mention of her comment re the Roulette family that she made in her
talk during the 150th anniversary weekend is on page 121 of her book and says,
"Confederates advised William and Margaret Roulette to leave, as well. [This was
September 15, two days before the battle.--My note as per information from pg.
119 of her book.]The couple had five children, ranging in age from two to
thirteen, but they decided to risk the battle and stay rather than abandon their
home to the foraging Confederates." Taken in this light, it sounds entirely
different does it not?
>
> 2. On pg. 143 of her book, Ernst says: "The Roulette family--William,
Margaret, and their six children ranging from twenty months to thirteen
years--had found dubious shelter among pickle barrels and potato bins in the
cellar, already enduring several hours of ferocious battle. Suddenly the cellar
door banged opened and a group of Confederate skirmishers plunged inside, chased
by men of the 14th Connecticut, who gleefully barricaded the door behind them."
>
> Two things jump out to me here:
>
> a. There appears to be an error in the number of children the Roulettes had on
September 15-17, 1862. Was it five or was it six?
> b. Ernst is seemingly confirming the quote in GOB by Murfin from the 14th CT.
>
> The footnote for the above quote in Ernst says, "Some records indicate that
the Roulettes had five children at the time of the battle, but their youngest
child was probably born after the 1860 census was taken; she died in October
1862 and therefore does not appear on late records."
>
> All that does is confirm the discrepancy in the number of children, nothing
more.
>
> However, O T Reilly, in Battlefield of Antietam, has a mention of the Roulette
incident. Does anyone have that?
>
> Yr. Obt. Svt.
> G E "Gerry" Mayers
>
> "True patriotism sometimes requires of men to act exactly contrary, at one
period, to that which it does at another, and the motive which impels them--the
desire to do right--is precisely the same. The circumstances which govern their
actions change; and their conduct must conform to the new order of things." --
Robert E. Lee
>
>
>
>   -----Original Message-----
>   From: TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com [mailto:TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com]On
Behalf Of cowie_steve
>   Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2012 2:57 PM
>   To: TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com
>   Subject: [TalkAntietam] Re: Was Roulette's family at the farm during battle?
>
>
>
>   Hi, Tom.
>
>   Murfin in GOB, p. 256, wrote that "William Roulette himself was keeping an
eye on developments for his family had been prisoners in their own home since
early morning, unable to leave for the firing." I'm unable to look up Murfin's
source at the moment but I wanted to pass this info along. Also, I'm curious to
know if this topic is mentioned the Antietam Farmsteads book. I've yet to
purchase a copy, but hear that it's excellent.
>
>   Steve
>
>   --- In TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com, RoteBaron@ wrote:
>   >
>   >
>   >
>   >
>   > I recently� finished an exhausting series of trips to Antietam, with most
recent being full day guiding a bus of 58 people around the battlefield. Great
fun!�  Now I've got some questions to pose.
>   >
>   >
>   >
>   > I know Wiliam Roulette stayed at his farm during the battle. It was my
understanding that hi s wife Margaret � and their children headed north and were
not present on Sept 17. �  Yet, during her talk at Antietam on anniversary
weekend,�  K athleen Ernst mentioned that the family was there.
>   >
>   >
>   >
>   > Anyone have the definitive answer?
>   >
>   >
>   >
>   > Tom Shay
>   >
>   > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>   >
>
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

I too may have mis-counted the Roulette children – can’t recall whether or
not I factored in Carrie May’s later birthdate.

FWIW, here’s the text of the story as I submitted it – there were slight
edits made for the published version, but nothing major, IIRC.

“
When he realized that the men streaming past his home were Union soldiers and
not the Confederates who had been in the fields the past two days, William
Roulette  burst out of his cellar door: “Give it to ‘em,” he shouted to
troops of the 14th Connecticut, “Drive ‘em!  Take anything on my place, only
drive ‘em!”  While the Second Corps of the Army of the Potomac would
eventually drive the Confederates from their line in the sunken Hog Trough Road
that separated his farm from that of his uncle Henry Piper to the south, they
would do so while very nearly taking Mr. Roulette up on his offer fully.

When the armies of Robert E. Lee and George McClellan met just north of
Sharpsburg in Maryland’s Washington County on September 17th, 1862, on what
would become known as the bloodiest day in U. S. history, they did so on
farmsteads that were predominantly well established and prosperous.  Much of the
area was settled in the first half of the 18th century by families who relocated
from Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County.  One of those families was that of John
Reynolds, who in 1761 purchased a part of “Anderson’s Delight”, including
a house that was constructed as early as 1748.  By 1800, two additions were
complete resulting in a frame, stone, and log dwelling of more than 2,000 square
feet, not insubstantial even by today’s standards.    In 1804, the farm was
purchased by John Miller, Jr. of a prominent area family.  In 1851 and after
John’s death, his heirs sold the farm and widow’s dower for $10,610 to
son-in-law William Roulette (sometimes spelled Rulett), who had married John’s
17-year-old daughter Margaret in 1847.  William was the grandson of French
immigrants to Washington County, and a son of the sister of neighbor Henry
Piper.  In 1862 he and Margaret were raising corn on his 180 acre farm, along
with five children ranging from under two to thirteen years of age.  Living with
the Roulettes was Nancy Campbell, a former slave of Margaret’s uncle Peter
Miller.  At 37 William, a successful farmer with a paid servant, was also
serving as a unionist Washington County commissioner.

The Army of Northern Virginia concentrated in the fields north of the village of
Sharpsburg and on September 15th. Despite obvious signs of impending danger,
William determined to ride out the storm with his family in his home.  But as it
became more obvious that his farm was likely to be in the thick of things, he
removed his family some six miles to Manor Dunker Church where they were taken
in by a minister.  At some point on the 17th, he returned to the farm to look
after his stock and became trapped between the defensive line established by
Confederate General D. H. Hill’s division and the rapidly approaching division
of Union General William French.  First Mr. Roulette took refuge in his basement
and then, after emerging to shout his encouragement and offer up his worldly
possessions to the boys in blue, headed north to the rear.

The fighting in this sector of the battlefield of Antietam, during what is
referred to as the middle phase of the battle, was some of the most severe of
the war.  Two Federal divisions advanced over the Roulette farm fields and
hurled themselves against the stoutly fortified but outnumbered Confederates in
the sunken farm lane.  The Confederates were finally driven south across the
Piper farm, but damage to the Roulette place was extensive.  An artillery shell
ripped through the west side of the house, travelling upward through the first
floor ceiling.  At least one bullet fired from the vicinity of the sunken road
entered though a second story bedroom window and passed through two walls and a
closet in a middle bedroom (this damage can be seen today).  Another shell upset
beehives in the yard to the rear of the dwelling, causing confusion among the
green troops of the 130th PA.   Chaplain H. S. Stevens of the 14th CT recalled:
“During the battle the rooms were stripped of their furnishings and the floors
were covered with the blood and dirt and litter of a field hospital.”  Dead
and dying men lay scattered across the farm, filling the outbuildings.  When the
Roulettes returned after the battle, they found crops trampled, fences down, and
personal property, including food, carried off.  Soldier’s graves dotted the
landscape.

On October 3, 1862, Mr. Roulette filed his first claim against the United States
for damages to his property.  Over the years his claims would include items
large a small; fences and crops, featherbeds and carpets, structural damage, one
beehive (and bees), chickens, blackberry wine.  Claims were also made for nine
acres of farmland ruined by the passage of men and equipment, and additional
“buriel [sic] ground for 700 soldiers”.  The grand total for his final
claims filed in February 1864 was $3,500.  In the 1880’s he received $371 for
a hospital claim, but only minimal other payments.  He was paid nothing for
damages to his home and outbuildings.

William Roulette was well off before his farm became the center of a storm of
men, horses, and lead on September 17, 1862.  Despite his failure to collect
significant reimbursement from the Federal Government for the taking of
“anything on my place”, he and his family would recover – for the most
part.  About a month after the battle, the youngest Roulette child, Carrie May,
described by William as “a charming little girl twenty months old…just
beginning to talk”, died of typhoid fever.  The sting of this loss was
softened a bit 24 months later, when Margaret gave birth to the couple’s last
child, Ulysses Sheridan Roulette.  Despite the damages, William’s heart was
still with the Union.

The farm remained in the possession of the Roulette family until 1956, and in
1998 the National Park Service acquired the property via The Conservation Fund. 
Restoration of the exterior of the house and the first floor interior to their
1862 appearance is planned pending funding.”


From: cowie_steve
Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 4:44 PM
To: TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [TalkAntietam] Re: Was Roulette's family at the farm during battle?


Gerry,

Regarding the discrepancy in the total number of Roulette children, Ernst
correctly concluded that some sources likely pulled directly from the 1860
census and therefore failed to include the youngest Roulette daughter, who was
born after the census was taken.

The 1860 census lists five Roulette children: Ann, John, Joseph, Susan and
Benjamin.

However, a sixth child, Carrie May Roulette, was born on Feb. 23, 1860. She died
shortly after the battle, in October 1862. Factoring in Carrie May, the
Roulettes had six children living with them in September 1862.

William Roulette himself confirmed this figure. Here's an excerpt from a
12/31/1862 letter that he wrote to the family of Private Robert Hubbard:

"Allow me to introduce to you my family, wife and 5 children, 2 girls and 3 boys
of which the oldest Ann Elizabeth 13-years-old. Our youngest died since the
battle - a charming little girl 20-months-old Carrie May just beginning to talk.
The battle caused considerable destruction of property here. My nearest neighbor
[Samuel Mumma] lost his house and barn to fire. I lost valuable horses, some
sheep and hogs. Please write as soon as you receive this and inform me whether
all is right."

Steve

--- In mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com, "G E Mayers" <gerry1952@...>
wrote:
>
> Guys;
>
> Good discussion points! I also have GOB and here is the source information:
>
> Footnote 29, in my softbound copy, is on page 257:
>
> 29. Souvenir of Excursion to Battlefield by the Society of the Fourteenth
Connecticut Regiment (Washington, 1893), pp. 51, 56, 57.
>
> Not sure if this helps? Also, since I have Kathleen Ernst's book "Too Scared
to Cry," I looked up her mention of the Roulette incident and found some
interesting information:
>
> 1. The full mention of her comment re the Roulette family that she made in her
talk during the 150th anniversary weekend is on page 121 of her book and says,
"Confederates advised William and Margaret Roulette to leave, as well. [This was
September 15, two days before the battle.--My note as per information from pg.
119 of her book.]The couple had five children, ranging in age from two to
thirteen, but they decided to risk the battle and stay rather than abandon their
home to the foraging Confederates." Taken in this light, it sounds entirely
different does it not?
>
> 2. On pg. 143 of her book, Ernst says: "The Roulette family--William,
Margaret, and their six children ranging from twenty months to thirteen
years--had found dubious shelter among pickle barrels and potato bins in the
cellar, already enduring several hours of ferocious battle. Suddenly the cellar
door banged opened and a group of Confederate skirmishers plunged inside, chased
by men of the 14th Connecticut, who gleefully barricaded the door behind them."
>
> Two things jump out to me here:
>
> a. There appears to be an error in the number of children the Roulettes had on
September 15-17, 1862. Was it five or was it six?
> b. Ernst is seemingly confirming the quote in GOB by Murfin from the 14th CT.
>
> The footnote for the above quote in Ernst says, "Some records indicate that
the Roulettes had five children at the time of the battle, but their youngest
child was probably born after the 1860 census was taken; she died in October
1862 and therefore does not appear on late records."
>
> All that does is confirm the discrepancy in the number of children, nothing
more.
>
> However, O T Reilly, in Battlefield of Antietam, has a mention of the Roulette
incident. Does anyone have that?
>
> Yr. Obt. Svt.
> G E "Gerry" Mayers
>
> "True patriotism sometimes requires of men to act exactly contrary, at one
period, to that which it does at another, and the motive which impels them--the
desire to do right--is precisely the same. The circumstances which govern their
actions change; and their conduct must conform to the new order of things." --
Robert E. Lee
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com
[mailto:mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of cowie_steve
> Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2012 2:57 PM
> To: mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [TalkAntietam] Re: Was Roulette's family at the farm during battle?
>
>
>
> Hi, Tom.
>
> Murfin in GOB, p. 256, wrote that "William Roulette himself was keeping an eye
on developments for his family had been prisoners in their own home since early
morning, unable to leave for the firing." I'm unable to look up Murfin's source
at the moment but I wanted to pass this info along. Also, I'm curious to know if
this topic is mentioned the Antietam Farmsteads book. I've yet to purchase a
copy, but hear that it's excellent.
>
> Steve
>
> --- In mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com, RoteBaron@ wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > I recently finished an exhausting series of trips to Antietam, with most
recent being full day guiding a bus of 58 people around the battlefield. Great
fun! Now I've got some questions to pose.
> >
> >
> >
> > I know Wiliam Roulette stayed at his farm during the battle. It was my
understanding that hi s wife Margaret  and their children headed north and
were not present on Sept 17. Â Yet, during her talk at Antietam on anniversary
weekend, K athleen Ernst mentioned that the family was there.
> >
> >
> >
> > Anyone have the definitive answer?
> >
> >
> >
> > Tom Shay
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

OMG<I am sure that that is him.How tragic.I knew he was younger than me.The day
I speak of,he was waiting on his bike next to mine when I came out of the
visitor center.He noticed the touring paniers on my bike and was curious,and
introduced himself.Oh thats just awful,that I finally have a chance to reconnect
with him and he is gone.I had told him I had ridden into the valley over
Thornton gap a few days earlier,and wasnt looking forward to another long day
back over the Blue ridge,when he suggested the tow-path.We discussed the route
of A.P.Hills march,which I was still frustrated from an argument with a park
ranger over,and he took me to the Sharpsburg PO so I could send home a
souvenier.After which we rode together back to Harpers Ferry where he put air in
my tires,and gave me a Tow-path cap which I rode,wearing the rest of the trip.I
have never forgotten his hospitality.


--- In TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com, RoteBaron@... wrote:
>
>
>
> Keith,
>
>
>
> Perhaps it was Kurt Detwiler, who authored numerous cycling books including
"Bicycling Through Civil War History: In Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania
and Virginia".
>
>
> If so, be advised that he passed away in Sept 2012.
>
>
>
> A link to his obit is below (includes photo in case you can identify him as
person you were seeking)...
> http://times-news.com/obituaries/x1831852773/KURT-B-DETWILER-Frostburg
>
>
>
> Tom Shay - avid cycl er in Cressona, PA
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
>
> From: "Gesso4u2" <kalborg54@...>
> To: TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2012 6:09:03 PM
> Subject: [TalkAntietam] cycling tour books
>
>  
>
>
>
>
> hey guys,
> In 2000,i was touring in that area on my bicycle and met a local guy,also on a
bicycle,at the Antietam VC.He rode with me back to Harpers Ferry and put air in
my tires,for me.He also introduced me to the towpath and I had a great 60 mile
ride on it the next day.I know he has published a few cycling tour books,one
about Civil War sites.Can anyone help put me in touch with this guy?I cant
remember his name,but perhaps it rings a bell with someone?
> thank you,
> Keith in Florida
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Speaking of Hills march,are there threads that I can refer to with this?I seem
to be at odds with a number of folks as to his route on Sept 17,not the least
those park rangers at the Battlefield.

Harry and Steve,

Great posts guys!

Gerry

   -----Original Message-----
   From: TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com [mailto:TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com]On
Behalf Of Harry
   Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 5:15 PM
   To: TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com
   Subject: Re: [TalkAntietam] Re: Was Roulette's family at the farm during
battle?



   I too may have mis-counted the Roulette children – can’t recall whether or
not I factored in Carrie May’s later birthdate.

   FWIW, here’s the text of the story as I submitted it – there were slight
edits made for the published version, but nothing major, IIRC.

   “
   When he realized that the men streaming past his home were Union soldiers and
not the Confederates who had been in the fields the past two days, William
Roulette burst out of his cellar door: “Give it to ‘em,” he shouted to
troops of the 14th Connecticut, “Drive ‘em! Take anything on my place, only
drive ‘em!” While the Second Corps of the Army of the Potomac would
eventually drive the Confederates from their line in the sunken Hog Trough Road
that separated his farm from that of his uncle Henry Piper to the south, they
would do so while very nearly taking Mr. Roulette up on his offer fully.

   When the armies of Robert E. Lee and George McClellan met just north of
Sharpsburg in Maryland’s Washington County on September 17th, 1862, on what
would become known as the bloodiest day in U. S. history, they did so on
farmsteads that were predominantly well established and prosperous. Much of the
area was settled in the first half of the 18th century by families who relocated
from Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County. One of those families was that of John
Reynolds, who in 1761 purchased a part of “Anderson’s Delight”, including
a house that was constructed as early as 1748. By 1800, two additions were
complete resulting in a frame, stone, and log dwelling of more than 2,000 square
feet, not insubstantial even by today’s standards. In 1804, the farm was
purchased by John Miller, Jr. of a prominent area family. In 1851 and after
John’s death, his heirs sold the farm and widow’s dower for $10,610 to
son-in-law William Roulette (sometimes spelled Rulett), who had married John’s
17-year-old daughter Margaret in 1847. William was the grandson of French
immigrants to Washington County, and a son of the sister of neighbor Henry
Piper. In 1862 he and Margaret were raising corn on his 180 acre farm, along
with five children ranging from under two to thirteen years of age. Living with
the Roulettes was Nancy Campbell, a former slave of Margaret’s uncle Peter
Miller. At 37 William, a successful farmer with a paid servant, was also serving
as a unionist Washington County commissioner.

   The Army of Northern Virginia concentrated in the fields north of the village
of Sharpsburg and on September 15th. Despite obvious signs of impending danger,
William determined to ride out the storm with his family in his home. But as it
became more obvious that his farm was likely to be in the thick of things, he
removed his family some six miles to Manor Dunker Church where they were taken
in by a minister. At some point on the 17th, he returned to the farm to look
after his stock and became trapped between the defensive line established by
Confederate General D. H. Hill’s division and the rapidly approaching division
of Union General William French. First Mr. Roulette took refuge in his basement
and then, after emerging to shout his encouragement and offer up his worldly
possessions to the boys in blue, headed north to the rear.

   The fighting in this sector of the battlefield of Antietam, during what is
referred to as the middle phase of the battle, was some of the most severe of
the war. Two Federal divisions advanced over the Roulette farm fields and hurled
themselves against the stoutly fortified but outnumbered Confederates in the
sunken farm lane. The Confederates were finally driven south across the Piper
farm, but damage to the Roulette place was extensive. An artillery shell ripped
through the west side of the house, travelling upward through the first floor
ceiling. At least one bullet fired from the vicinity of the sunken road entered
though a second story bedroom window and passed through two walls and a closet
in a middle bedroom (this damage can be seen today). Another shell upset
beehives in the yard to the rear of the dwelling, causing confusion among the
green troops of the 130th PA. Chaplain H. S. Stevens of the 14th CT recalled:
“During the battle the rooms were stripped of their furnishings and the floors
were covered with the blood and dirt and litter of a field hospital.” Dead and
dying men lay scattered across the farm, filling the outbuildings. When the
Roulettes returned after the battle, they found crops trampled, fences down, and
personal property, including food, carried off. Soldier’s graves dotted the
landscape.

   On October 3, 1862, Mr. Roulette filed his first claim against the United
States for damages to his property. Over the years his claims would include
items large a small; fences and crops, featherbeds and carpets, structural
damage, one beehive (and bees), chickens, blackberry wine. Claims were also made
for nine acres of farmland ruined by the passage of men and equipment, and
additional “buriel [sic] ground for 700 soldiers”. The grand total for his
final claims filed in February 1864 was $3,500. In the 1880’s he received $371
for a hospital claim, but only minimal other payments. He was paid nothing for
damages to his home and outbuildings.

   William Roulette was well off before his farm became the center of a storm of
men, horses, and lead on September 17, 1862. Despite his failure to collect
significant reimbursement from the Federal Government for the taking of
“anything on my place”, he and his family would recover – for the most
part. About a month after the battle, the youngest Roulette child, Carrie May,
described by William as “a charming little girl twenty months old…just
beginning to talk”, died of typhoid fever. The sting of this loss was softened
a bit 24 months later, when Margaret gave birth to the couple’s last child,
Ulysses Sheridan Roulette. Despite the damages, William’s heart was still with
the Union.

   The farm remained in the possession of the Roulette family until 1956, and in
1998 the National Park Service acquired the property via The Conservation Fund.
Restoration of the exterior of the house and the first floor interior to their
1862 appearance is planned pending funding.”

   From: cowie_steve
   Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 4:44 PM
   To: TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com
   Subject: [TalkAntietam] Re: Was Roulette's family at the farm during battle?

   Gerry,

   Regarding the discrepancy in the total number of Roulette children, Ernst
correctly concluded that some sources likely pulled directly from the 1860
census and therefore failed to include the youngest Roulette daughter, who was
born after the census was taken.

   The 1860 census lists five Roulette children: Ann, John, Joseph, Susan and
Benjamin.

   However, a sixth child, Carrie May Roulette, was born on Feb. 23, 1860. She
died shortly after the battle, in October 1862. Factoring in Carrie May, the
Roulettes had six children living with them in September 1862.

   William Roulette himself confirmed this figure. Here's an excerpt from a
12/31/1862 letter that he wrote to the family of Private Robert Hubbard:

   "Allow me to introduce to you my family, wife and 5 children, 2 girls and 3
boys of which the oldest Ann Elizabeth 13-years-old. Our youngest died since the
battle - a charming little girl 20-months-old Carrie May just beginning to talk.
The battle caused considerable destruction of property here. My nearest neighbor
[Samuel Mumma] lost his house and barn to fire. I lost valuable horses, some
sheep and hogs. Please write as soon as you receive this and inform me whether
all is right."

   Steve

   --- In mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com, "G E Mayers" <gerry1952@...>
wrote:
   >
   > Guys;
   >
   > Good discussion points! I also have GOB and here is the source information:
   >
   > Footnote 29, in my softbound copy, is on page 257:
   >
   > 29. Souvenir of Excursion to Battlefield by the Society of the Fourteenth
Connecticut Regiment (Washington, 1893), pp. 51, 56, 57.
   >
   > Not sure if this helps? Also, since I have Kathleen Ernst's book "Too Scared
to Cry," I looked up her mention of the Roulette incident and found some
interesting information:
   >
   > 1. The full mention of her comment re the Roulette family that she made in
her talk during the 150th anniversary weekend is on page 121 of her book and
says, "Confederates advised William and Margaret Roulette to leave, as well.
[This was September 15, two days before the battle.--My note as per information
from pg. 119 of her book.]The couple had five children, ranging in age from two
to thirteen, but they decided to risk the battle and stay rather than abandon
their home to the foraging Confederates." Taken in this light, it sounds
entirely different does it not?
   >
   > 2. On pg. 143 of her book, Ernst says: "The Roulette family--William,
Margaret, and their six children ranging from twenty months to thirteen
years--had found dubious shelter among pickle barrels and potato bins in the
cellar, already enduring several hours of ferocious battle. Suddenly the cellar
door banged opened and a group of Confederate skirmishers plunged inside, chased
by men of the 14th Connecticut, who gleefully barricaded the door behind them."
   >
   > Two things jump out to me here:
   >
   > a. There appears to be an error in the number of children the Roulettes had
on September 15-17, 1862. Was it five or was it six?
   > b. Ernst is seemingly confirming the quote in GOB by Murfin from the 14th
CT.
   >
   > The footnote for the above quote in Ernst says, "Some records indicate that
the Roulettes had five children at the time of the battle, but their youngest
child was probably born after the 1860 census was taken; she died in October
1862 and therefore does not appear on late records."
   >
   > All that does is confirm the discrepancy in the number of children, nothing
more.
   >
   > However, O T Reilly, in Battlefield of Antietam, has a mention of the
Roulette incident. Does anyone have that?
   >
   > Yr. Obt. Svt.
   > G E "Gerry" Mayers
   >
   > "True patriotism sometimes requires of men to act exactly contrary, at one
period, to that which it does at another, and the motive which impels them--the
desire to do right--is precisely the same. The circumstances which govern their
actions change; and their conduct must conform to the new order of things." --
Robert E. Lee
   >
   >
   >
   > -----Original Message-----
   > From: mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com
[mailto:mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of cowie_steve
   > Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2012 2:57 PM
   > To: mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com
   > Subject: [TalkAntietam] Re: Was Roulette's family at the farm during battle?
   >
   >
   >
   > Hi, Tom.
   >
   > Murfin in GOB, p. 256, wrote that "William Roulette himself was keeping an
eye on developments for his family had been prisoners in their own home since
early morning, unable to leave for the firing." I'm unable to look up Murfin's
source at the moment but I wanted to pass this info along. Also, I'm curious to
know if this topic is mentioned the Antietam Farmsteads book. I've yet to
purchase a copy, but hear that it's excellent.
   >
   > Steve
   >
   > --- In mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com, RoteBaron@ wrote:
   > >
   > >
   > >
   > >
   > > I recently finished an exhausting series of trips to Antietam, with most
recent being full day guiding a bus of 58 people around the battlefield. Great
fun! Now I've got some questions to pose.
   > >
   > >
   > >
   > > I know Wiliam Roulette stayed at his farm during the battle. It was my
understanding that hi s wife Margaret  and their children headed north and
were not present on Sept 17. Â Yet, during her talk at Antietam on anniversary
weekend, K athleen Ernst mentioned that the family was there.
   > >
   > >
   > >
   > > Anyone have the definitive answer?
   > >
   > >
   > >
   > > Tom Shay
   > >
   > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
   > >
   >
   >
   >
   >
   >
   >
   > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
   >

   [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

IIRC, Hog Trough Road was from Too Afraid to Cry but did not have a cite for its
origin. Am I correct? Thanks.

--- In TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com, "Harry" <hjs21@...> wrote:
>
> I too may have mis-counted the Roulette children �" can’t recall whether or
not I factored in Carrie May’s later birthdate.
>
> FWIW, here’s the text of the story as I submitted it �" there were slight
edits made for the published version, but nothing major, IIRC.
>
> “
> When he realized that the men streaming past his home were Union soldiers and
not the Confederates who had been in the fields the past two days, William
Roulette  burst out of his cellar door: “Give it to ‘em,” he shouted to
troops of the 14th Connecticut, “Drive ‘em!  Take anything on my place, only
drive ‘em!”  While the Second Corps of the Army of the Potomac would
eventually drive the Confederates from their line in the sunken Hog Trough Road
that separated his farm from that of his uncle Henry Piper to the south, they
would do so while very nearly taking Mr. Roulette up on his offer fully.
>
> When the armies of Robert E. Lee and George McClellan met just north of
Sharpsburg in Maryland’s Washington County on September 17th, 1862, on what
would become known as the bloodiest day in U. S. history, they did so on
farmsteads that were predominantly well established and prosperous.  Much of the
area was settled in the first half of the 18th century by families who relocated
from Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County.  One of those families was that of John
Reynolds, who in 1761 purchased a part of “Anderson’s Delight”, including
a house that was constructed as early as 1748.  By 1800, two additions were
complete resulting in a frame, stone, and log dwelling of more than 2,000 square
feet, not insubstantial even by today’s standards.    In 1804, the farm was
purchased by John Miller, Jr. of a prominent area family.  In 1851 and after
John’s death, his heirs sold the farm and widow’s dower for $10,610 to
son-in-law William Roulette (sometimes spelled Rulett), who had married John’s
17-year-old daughter Margaret in 1847.  William was the grandson of French
immigrants to Washington County, and a son of the sister of neighbor Henry
Piper.  In 1862 he and Margaret were raising corn on his 180 acre farm, along
with five children ranging from under two to thirteen years of age.  Living with
the Roulettes was Nancy Campbell, a former slave of Margaret’s uncle Peter
Miller.  At 37 William, a successful farmer with a paid servant, was also
serving as a unionist Washington County commissioner.
>
> The Army of Northern Virginia concentrated in the fields north of the village
of Sharpsburg and on September 15th. Despite obvious signs of impending danger,
William determined to ride out the storm with his family in his home.  But as it
became more obvious that his farm was likely to be in the thick of things, he
removed his family some six miles to Manor Dunker Church where they were taken
in by a minister.  At some point on the 17th, he returned to the farm to look
after his stock and became trapped between the defensive line established by
Confederate General D. H. Hill’s division and the rapidly approaching division
of Union General William French.  First Mr. Roulette took refuge in his basement
and then, after emerging to shout his encouragement and offer up his worldly
possessions to the boys in blue, headed north to the rear.
>
> The fighting in this sector of the battlefield of Antietam, during what is
referred to as the middle phase of the battle, was some of the most severe of
the war.  Two Federal divisions advanced over the Roulette farm fields and
hurled themselves against the stoutly fortified but outnumbered Confederates in
the sunken farm lane.  The Confederates were finally driven south across the
Piper farm, but damage to the Roulette place was extensive.  An artillery shell
ripped through the west side of the house, travelling upward through the first
floor ceiling.  At least one bullet fired from the vicinity of the sunken road
entered though a second story bedroom window and passed through two walls and a
closet in a middle bedroom (this damage can be seen today).  Another shell upset
beehives in the yard to the rear of the dwelling, causing confusion among the
green troops of the 130th PA.   Chaplain H. S. Stevens of the 14th CT recalled:
“During the battle the rooms were stripped of their furnishings and the floors
were covered with the blood and dirt and litter of a field hospital.”  Dead
and dying men lay scattered across the farm, filling the outbuildings.  When the
Roulettes returned after the battle, they found crops trampled, fences down, and
personal property, including food, carried off.  Soldier’s graves dotted the
landscape.
>
> On October 3, 1862, Mr. Roulette filed his first claim against the United
States for damages to his property.  Over the years his claims would include
items large a small; fences and crops, featherbeds and carpets, structural
damage, one beehive (and bees), chickens, blackberry wine.  Claims were also
made for nine acres of farmland ruined by the passage of men and equipment, and
additional “buriel [sic] ground for 700 soldiers”.  The grand total for his
final claims filed in February 1864 was $3,500.  In the 1880’s he received
$371 for a hospital claim, but only minimal other payments.  He was paid nothing
for damages to his home and outbuildings.
>
> William Roulette was well off before his farm became the center of a storm of
men, horses, and lead on September 17, 1862.  Despite his failure to collect
significant reimbursement from the Federal Government for the taking of
“anything on my place”, he and his family would recover �" for the most
part.  About a month after the battle, the youngest Roulette child, Carrie May,
described by William as “a charming little girl twenty months old…just
beginning to talk”, died of typhoid fever.  The sting of this loss was
softened a bit 24 months later, when Margaret gave birth to the couple’s last
child, Ulysses Sheridan Roulette.  Despite the damages, William’s heart was
still with the Union.
>
> The farm remained in the possession of the Roulette family until 1956, and in
1998 the National Park Service acquired the property via The Conservation Fund. 
Restoration of the exterior of the house and the first floor interior to their
1862 appearance is planned pending funding.”
>
>
> From: cowie_steve
> Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 4:44 PM
> To: TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [TalkAntietam] Re: Was Roulette's family at the farm during battle?
>
>
> Gerry,
>
> Regarding the discrepancy in the total number of Roulette children, Ernst
correctly concluded that some sources likely pulled directly from the 1860
census and therefore failed to include the youngest Roulette daughter, who was
born after the census was taken.
>
> The 1860 census lists five Roulette children: Ann, John, Joseph, Susan and
Benjamin.
>
> However, a sixth child, Carrie May Roulette, was born on Feb. 23, 1860. She
died shortly after the battle, in October 1862. Factoring in Carrie May, the
Roulettes had six children living with them in September 1862.
>
> William Roulette himself confirmed this figure. Here's an excerpt from a
12/31/1862 letter that he wrote to the family of Private Robert Hubbard:
>
> "Allow me to introduce to you my family, wife and 5 children, 2 girls and 3
boys of which the oldest Ann Elizabeth 13-years-old. Our youngest died since the
battle - a charming little girl 20-months-old Carrie May just beginning to talk.
The battle caused considerable destruction of property here. My nearest neighbor
[Samuel Mumma] lost his house and barn to fire. I lost valuable horses, some
sheep and hogs. Please write as soon as you receive this and inform me whether
all is right."
>
> Steve
>
> --- In mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com, "G E Mayers" <gerry1952@> wrote:
> >
> > Guys;
> >
> > Good discussion points! I also have GOB and here is the source information:
> >
> > Footnote 29, in my softbound copy, is on page 257:
> >
> > 29. Souvenir of Excursion to Battlefield by the Society of the Fourteenth
Connecticut Regiment (Washington, 1893), pp. 51, 56, 57.
> >
> > Not sure if this helps? Also, since I have Kathleen Ernst's book "Too Scared
to Cry," I looked up her mention of the Roulette incident and found some
interesting information:
> >
> > 1. The full mention of her comment re the Roulette family that she made in
her talk during the 150th anniversary weekend is on page 121 of her book and
says, "Confederates advised William and Margaret Roulette to leave, as well.
[This was September 15, two days before the battle.--My note as per information
from pg. 119 of her book.]The couple had five children, ranging in age from two
to thirteen, but they decided to risk the battle and stay rather than abandon
their home to the foraging Confederates." Taken in this light, it sounds
entirely different does it not?
> >
> > 2. On pg. 143 of her book, Ernst says: "The Roulette family--William,
Margaret, and their six children ranging from twenty months to thirteen
years--had found dubious shelter among pickle barrels and potato bins in the
cellar, already enduring several hours of ferocious battle. Suddenly the cellar
door banged opened and a group of Confederate skirmishers plunged inside, chased
by men of the 14th Connecticut, who gleefully barricaded the door behind them."
> >
> > Two things jump out to me here:
> >
> > a. There appears to be an error in the number of children the Roulettes had
on September 15-17, 1862. Was it five or was it six?
> > b. Ernst is seemingly confirming the quote in GOB by Murfin from the 14th
CT.
> >
> > The footnote for the above quote in Ernst says, "Some records indicate that
the Roulettes had five children at the time of the battle, but their youngest
child was probably born after the 1860 census was taken; she died in October
1862 and therefore does not appear on late records."
> >
> > All that does is confirm the discrepancy in the number of children, nothing
more.
> >
> > However, O T Reilly, in Battlefield of Antietam, has a mention of the
Roulette incident. Does anyone have that?
> >
> > Yr. Obt. Svt.
> > G E "Gerry" Mayers
> >
> > "True patriotism sometimes requires of men to act exactly contrary, at one
period, to that which it does at another, and the motive which impels them--the
desire to do right--is precisely the same. The circumstances which govern their
actions change; and their conduct must conform to the new order of things." --
Robert E. Lee
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com
[mailto:mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of cowie_steve
> > Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2012 2:57 PM
> > To: mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: [TalkAntietam] Re: Was Roulette's family at the farm during battle?
> >
> >
> >
> > Hi, Tom.
> >
> > Murfin in GOB, p. 256, wrote that "William Roulette himself was keeping an
eye on developments for his family had been prisoners in their own home since
early morning, unable to leave for the firing." I'm unable to look up Murfin's
source at the moment but I wanted to pass this info along. Also, I'm curious to
know if this topic is mentioned the Antietam Farmsteads book. I've yet to
purchase a copy, but hear that it's excellent.
> >
> > Steve
> >
> > --- In mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com, RoteBaron@ wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I recently finished an exhausting series of trips to Antietam, with most
recent being full day guiding a bus of 58 people around the battlefield. Great
fun! Now I've got some questions to pose.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I know Wiliam Roulette stayed at his farm during the battle. It was my
understanding that hi s wife Margaret  and their children headed north and
were not present on Sept 17. Â Yet, during her talk at Antietam on anniversary
weekend, K athleen Ernst mentioned that the family was there.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Anyone have the definitive answer?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Tom Shay
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Steve,

No, I don’t think I got that from Kathy’s book. I’ll look for that. But
first:

I have two sources that say the family evacuated to Manor Church –the first
being 14th CT Chaplain Stevens, who said the family had left but the father had
returned. The second is in “A History of Washington County, Maryland, From the
Earliest Settlement to the Present Time” by Thomas J. C. Williams, and I think
his source was Benjamin Roulette but it’s not clear.

As for the road name, I think I may have heard that from Ted or Keven. Looking
into it now, though, the road may not have been known by that name until later,
as Benjamin Roulette went into the hog raising business in a big way by the turn
of the 20th century.

Harry

From: Stephen Recker
Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 8:50 PM
To: TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [TalkAntietam] Re: Was Roulette's family at the farm during battle?


IIRC, Hog Trough Road was from Too Afraid to Cry but did not have a cite for its
origin. Am I correct? Thanks.

--- In mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com, "Harry" <hjs21@...> wrote:
>
> I too may have mis-counted the Roulette children â€" can’t recall
whether or not I factored in Carrie May’s later birthdate.
>
> FWIW, here’s the text of the story as I submitted it â€" there were
slight edits made for the published version, but nothing major, IIRC.
>
> “
> When he realized that the men streaming past his home were Union soldiers and
not the Confederates who had been in the fields the past two days, William
Roulette burst out of his cellar door: “Give it to ‘em,” he
shouted to troops of the 14th Connecticut, “Drive ‘em! Take anything
on my place, only drive ‘em!” While the Second Corps of the Army of
the Potomac would eventually drive the Confederates from their line in the
sunken Hog Trough Road that separated his farm from that of his uncle Henry
Piper to the south, they would do so while very nearly taking Mr. Roulette up on
his offer fully.
>
> When the armies of Robert E. Lee and George McClellan met just north of
Sharpsburg in Maryland’s Washington County on September 17th, 1862, on what
would become known as the bloodiest day in U. S. history, they did so on
farmsteads that were predominantly well established and prosperous. Much of the
area was settled in the first half of the 18th century by families who relocated
from Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County. One of those families was that of
John Reynolds, who in 1761 purchased a part of “Anderson’s
Delight”, including a house that was constructed as early as 1748. By 1800,
two additions were complete resulting in a frame, stone, and log dwelling of
more than 2,000 square feet, not insubstantial even by today’s standards.
In 1804, the farm was purchased by John Miller, Jr. of a prominent area family.
In 1851 and after John’s death, his heirs sold the farm and widow’s
dower for $10,610 to son-in-law William Roulette (sometimes spelled Rulett), who
had married John’s 17-year-old daughter Margaret in 1847. William was the
grandson of French immigrants to Washington County, and a son of the sister of
neighbor Henry Piper. In 1862 he and Margaret were raising corn on his 180 acre
farm, along with five children ranging from under two to thirteen years of age.
Living with the Roulettes was Nancy Campbell, a former slave of Margaret’s
uncle Peter Miller. At 37 William, a successful farmer with a paid servant, was
also serving as a unionist Washington County commissioner.
>
> The Army of Northern Virginia concentrated in the fields north of the village
of Sharpsburg and on September 15th. Despite obvious signs of impending danger,
William determined to ride out the storm with his family in his home. But as it
became more obvious that his farm was likely to be in the thick of things, he
removed his family some six miles to Manor Dunker Church where they were taken
in by a minister. At some point on the 17th, he returned to the farm to look
after his stock and became trapped between the defensive line established by
Confederate General D. H. Hill’s division and the rapidly approaching
division of Union General William French. First Mr. Roulette took refuge in his
basement and then, after emerging to shout his encouragement and offer up his
worldly possessions to the boys in blue, headed north to the rear.
>
> The fighting in this sector of the battlefield of Antietam, during what is
referred to as the middle phase of the battle, was some of the most severe of
the war. Two Federal divisions advanced over the Roulette farm fields and hurled
themselves against the stoutly fortified but outnumbered Confederates in the
sunken farm lane. The Confederates were finally driven south across the Piper
farm, but damage to the Roulette place was extensive. An artillery shell ripped
through the west side of the house, travelling upward through the first floor
ceiling. At least one bullet fired from the vicinity of the sunken road entered
though a second story bedroom window and passed through two walls and a closet
in a middle bedroom (this damage can be seen today). Another shell upset
beehives in the yard to the rear of the dwelling, causing confusion among the
green troops of the 130th PA. Chaplain H. S. Stevens of the 14th CT recalled:
“During the battle the rooms were stripped of their furnishings and the
floors were covered with the blood and dirt and litter of a field
hospital.” Dead and dying men lay scattered across the farm, filling the
outbuildings. When the Roulettes returned after the battle, they found crops
trampled, fences down, and personal property, including food, carried off.
Soldier’s graves dotted the landscape.
>
> On October 3, 1862, Mr. Roulette filed his first claim against the United
States for damages to his property. Over the years his claims would include
items large a small; fences and crops, featherbeds and carpets, structural
damage, one beehive (and bees), chickens, blackberry wine. Claims were also made
for nine acres of farmland ruined by the passage of men and equipment, and
additional “buriel [sic] ground for 700 soldiers”. The grand total for
his final claims filed in February 1864 was $3,500. In the 1880’s he
received $371 for a hospital claim, but only minimal other payments. He was paid
nothing for damages to his home and outbuildings.
>
> William Roulette was well off before his farm became the center of a storm of
men, horses, and lead on September 17, 1862. Despite his failure to collect
significant reimbursement from the Federal Government for the taking of
“anything on my place”, he and his family would recover â€" for the
most part. About a month after the battle, the youngest Roulette child, Carrie
May, described by William as “a charming little girl twenty months
old…just beginning to talk”, died of typhoid fever. The sting of this
loss was softened a bit 24 months later, when Margaret gave birth to the
couple’s last child, Ulysses Sheridan Roulette. Despite the damages,
William’s heart was still with the Union.
>
> The farm remained in the possession of the Roulette family until 1956, and in
1998 the National Park Service acquired the property via The Conservation Fund.
Restoration of the exterior of the house and the first floor interior to their
1862 appearance is planned pending funding.”
>
>
> From: cowie_steve
> Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 4:44 PM
> To: mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [TalkAntietam] Re: Was Roulette's family at the farm during battle?
>
>
> Gerry,
>
> Regarding the discrepancy in the total number of Roulette children, Ernst
correctly concluded that some sources likely pulled directly from the 1860
census and therefore failed to include the youngest Roulette daughter, who was
born after the census was taken.
>
> The 1860 census lists five Roulette children: Ann, John, Joseph, Susan and
Benjamin.
>
> However, a sixth child, Carrie May Roulette, was born on Feb. 23, 1860. She
died shortly after the battle, in October 1862. Factoring in Carrie May, the
Roulettes had six children living with them in September 1862.
>
> William Roulette himself confirmed this figure. Here's an excerpt from a
12/31/1862 letter that he wrote to the family of Private Robert Hubbard:
>
> "Allow me to introduce to you my family, wife and 5 children, 2 girls and 3
boys of which the oldest Ann Elizabeth 13-years-old. Our youngest died since the
battle - a charming little girl 20-months-old Carrie May just beginning to talk.
The battle caused considerable destruction of property here. My nearest neighbor
[Samuel Mumma] lost his house and barn to fire. I lost valuable horses, some
sheep and hogs. Please write as soon as you receive this and inform me whether
all is right."
>
> Steve
>
> --- In mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com, "G E Mayers" <gerry1952@> wrote:
> >
> > Guys;
> >
> > Good discussion points! I also have GOB and here is the source information:
> >
> > Footnote 29, in my softbound copy, is on page 257:
> >
> > 29. Souvenir of Excursion to Battlefield by the Society of the Fourteenth
Connecticut Regiment (Washington, 1893), pp. 51, 56, 57.
> >
> > Not sure if this helps? Also, since I have Kathleen Ernst's book "Too Scared
to Cry," I looked up her mention of the Roulette incident and found some
interesting information:
> >
> > 1. The full mention of her comment re the Roulette family that she made in
her talk during the 150th anniversary weekend is on page 121 of her book and
says, "Confederates advised William and Margaret Roulette to leave, as well.
[This was September 15, two days before the battle.--My note as per information
from pg. 119 of her book.]The couple had five children, ranging in age from two
to thirteen, but they decided to risk the battle and stay rather than abandon
their home to the foraging Confederates." Taken in this light, it sounds
entirely different does it not?
> >
> > 2. On pg. 143 of her book, Ernst says: "The Roulette family--William,
Margaret, and their six children ranging from twenty months to thirteen
years--had found dubious shelter among pickle barrels and potato bins in the
cellar, already enduring several hours of ferocious battle. Suddenly the cellar
door banged opened and a group of Confederate skirmishers plunged inside, chased
by men of the 14th Connecticut, who gleefully barricaded the door behind them."
> >
> > Two things jump out to me here:
> >
> > a. There appears to be an error in the number of children the Roulettes had
on September 15-17, 1862. Was it five or was it six?
> > b. Ernst is seemingly confirming the quote in GOB by Murfin from the 14th
CT.
> >
> > The footnote for the above quote in Ernst says, "Some records indicate that
the Roulettes had five children at the time of the battle, but their youngest
child was probably born after the 1860 census was taken; she died in October
1862 and therefore does not appear on late records."
> >
> > All that does is confirm the discrepancy in the number of children, nothing
more.
> >
> > However, O T Reilly, in Battlefield of Antietam, has a mention of the
Roulette incident. Does anyone have that?
> >
> > Yr. Obt. Svt.
> > G E "Gerry" Mayers
> >
> > "True patriotism sometimes requires of men to act exactly contrary, at one
period, to that which it does at another, and the motive which impels them--the
desire to do right--is precisely the same. The circumstances which govern their
actions change; and their conduct must conform to the new order of things." --
Robert E. Lee
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com
[mailto:mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of cowie_steve
> > Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2012 2:57 PM
> > To: mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: [TalkAntietam] Re: Was Roulette's family at the farm during battle?
> >
> >
> >
> > Hi, Tom.
> >
> > Murfin in GOB, p. 256, wrote that "William Roulette himself was keeping an
eye on developments for his family had been prisoners in their own home since
early morning, unable to leave for the firing." I'm unable to look up Murfin's
source at the moment but I wanted to pass this info along. Also, I'm curious to
know if this topic is mentioned the Antietam Farmsteads book. I've yet to
purchase a copy, but hear that it's excellent.
> >
> > Steve
> >
> > --- In mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com, RoteBaron@ wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I recently finished an exhausting series of trips to Antietam, with
most recent being full day guiding a bus of 58 people around the battlefield.
Great fun! Now I've got some questions to pose.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I know Wiliam Roulette stayed at his farm during the battle. It was my
understanding that hi s wife Margaret  and their children headed north and
were not present on Sept 17. Â Yet, during her talk at Antietam on
anniversary weekend, K athleen Ernst mentioned that the family was there.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Anyone have the definitive answer?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Tom Shay
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Harry and Steve,

As I have Ernst's book, I took a peek. Here is what I found:?

1. Hog Trough Lane is mentioned in the Index of Ernst's book as being on pg.
151, but that is a typo as there is no mention of it on the actual page.
2. The actual mention occurs on page 143 of the book thus:
"The Roulette property was separated from the Piper farm by a narrow, rutted
farm lane known locally as Hog Trough Road, or the Sunken Road. Years of travel
by heavily laden farm wagons and washout from hard rains had worn the lane into
a natural trench."

As a matter of fact, I use "Hog Trough Road" many times in my novel, especially
where Generals Lee and Longstreet talk about the terrain surrounding Sharpsburg.

Hope this helps!

Gerry


   -----Original Message-----
   From: TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com [mailto:TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com]On
Behalf Of Harry
   Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 9:23 PM
   To: TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com
   Subject: Re: [TalkAntietam] Re: Was Roulette's family at the farm during
battle?



   Steve,

   No, I don’t think I got that from Kathy’s book. I’ll look for that. But
first:

   I have two sources that say the family evacuated to Manor Church –the first
being 14th CT Chaplain Stevens, who said the family had left but the father had
returned. The second is in “A History of Washington County, Maryland, From the
Earliest Settlement to the Present Time” by Thomas J. C. Williams, and I think
his source was Benjamin Roulette but it’s not clear.

   As for the road name, I think I may have heard that from Ted or Keven. Looking
into it now, though, the road may not have been known by that name until later,
as Benjamin Roulette went into the hog raising business in a big way by the turn
of the 20th century.

   Harry

   From: Stephen Recker
   Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 8:50 PM
   To: TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com
   Subject: [TalkAntietam] Re: Was Roulette's family at the farm during battle?

   IIRC, Hog Trough Road was from Too Afraid to Cry but did not have a cite for
its origin. Am I correct? Thanks.

   --- In mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com, "Harry" <hjs21@...> wrote:
   >
   > I too may have mis-counted the Roulette children â€" can’t recall
whether or not I factored in Carrie May’s later birthdate.
   >
   > FWIW, here’s the text of the story as I submitted it â€" there were
slight edits made for the published version, but nothing major, IIRC.
   >
   > “
   > When he realized that the men streaming past his home were Union soldiers
and not the Confederates who had been in the fields the past two days, William
Roulette burst out of his cellar door: “Give it to ‘em,” he
shouted to troops of the 14th Connecticut, “Drive ‘em! Take anything
on my place, only drive ‘em!” While the Second Corps of the Army of
the Potomac would eventually drive the Confederates from their line in the
sunken Hog Trough Road that separated his farm from that of his uncle Henry
Piper to the south, they would do so while very nearly taking Mr. Roulette up on
his offer fully.
   >
   > When the armies of Robert E. Lee and George McClellan met just north of
Sharpsburg in Maryland’s Washington County on September 17th, 1862, on what
would become known as the bloodiest day in U. S. history, they did so on
farmsteads that were predominantly well established and prosperous. Much of the
area was settled in the first half of the 18th century by families who relocated
from Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County. One of those families was that of
John Reynolds, who in 1761 purchased a part of “Anderson’s
Delight”, including a house that was constructed as early as 1748. By 1800,
two additions were complete resulting in a frame, stone, and log dwelling of
more than 2,000 square feet, not insubstantial even by today’s standards.
In 1804, the farm was purchased by John Miller, Jr. of a prominent area family.
In 1851 and after John’s death, his heirs sold the farm and widow’s
dower for $10,610 to son-in-law William Roulette (sometimes spelled Rulett), who
had married John’s 17-year-old daughter Margaret in 1847. William was the
grandson of French immigrants to Washington County, and a son of the sister of
neighbor Henry Piper. In 1862 he and Margaret were raising corn on his 180 acre
farm, along with five children ranging from under two to thirteen years of age.
Living with the Roulettes was Nancy Campbell, a former slave of Margaret’s
uncle Peter Miller. At 37 William, a successful farmer with a paid servant, was
also serving as a unionist Washington County commissioner.
   >
   > The Army of Northern Virginia concentrated in the fields north of the
village of Sharpsburg and on September 15th. Despite obvious signs of impending
danger, William determined to ride out the storm with his family in his home.
But as it became more obvious that his farm was likely to be in the thick of
things, he removed his family some six miles to Manor Dunker Church where they
were taken in by a minister. At some point on the 17th, he returned to the farm
to look after his stock and became trapped between the defensive line
established by Confederate General D. H. Hill’s division and the rapidly
approaching division of Union General William French. First Mr. Roulette took
refuge in his basement and then, after emerging to shout his encouragement and
offer up his worldly possessions to the boys in blue, headed north to the rear.
   >
   > The fighting in this sector of the battlefield of Antietam, during what is
referred to as the middle phase of the battle, was some of the most severe of
the war. Two Federal divisions advanced over the Roulette farm fields and hurled
themselves against the stoutly fortified but outnumbered Confederates in the
sunken farm lane. The Confederates were finally driven south across the Piper
farm, but damage to the Roulette place was extensive. An artillery shell ripped
through the west side of the house, travelling upward through the first floor
ceiling. At least one bullet fired from the vicinity of the sunken road entered
though a second story bedroom window and passed through two walls and a closet
in a middle bedroom (this damage can be seen today). Another shell upset
beehives in the yard to the rear of the dwelling, causing confusion among the
green troops of the 130th PA. Chaplain H. S. Stevens of the 14th CT recalled:
“During the battle the rooms were stripped of their furnishings and the
floors were covered with the blood and dirt and litter of a field
hospital.” Dead and dying men lay scattered across the farm, filling the
outbuildings. When the Roulettes returned after the battle, they found crops
trampled, fences down, and personal property, including food, carried off.
Soldier’s graves dotted the landscape.
   >
   > On October 3, 1862, Mr. Roulette filed his first claim against the United
States for damages to his property. Over the years his claims would include
items large a small; fences and crops, featherbeds and carpets, structural
damage, one beehive (and bees), chickens, blackberry wine. Claims were also made
for nine acres of farmland ruined by the passage of men and equipment, and
additional “buriel [sic] ground for 700 soldiers”. The grand total for
his final claims filed in February 1864 was $3,500. In the 1880’s he
received $371 for a hospital claim, but only minimal other payments. He was paid
nothing for damages to his home and outbuildings.
   >
   > William Roulette was well off before his farm became the center of a storm
of men, horses, and lead on September 17, 1862. Despite his failure to collect
significant reimbursement from the Federal Government for the taking of
“anything on my place”, he and his family would recover â€" for the
most part. About a month after the battle, the youngest Roulette child, Carrie
May, described by William as “a charming little girl twenty months
old…just beginning to talk”, died of typhoid fever. The sting of this
loss was softened a bit 24 months later, when Margaret gave birth to the
couple’s last child, Ulysses Sheridan Roulette. Despite the damages,
William’s heart was still with the Union.
   >
   > The farm remained in the possession of the Roulette family until 1956, and
in 1998 the National Park Service acquired the property via The Conservation
Fund. Restoration of the exterior of the house and the first floor interior to
their 1862 appearance is planned pending funding.”
   >
   >
   > From: cowie_steve
   > Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 4:44 PM
   > To: mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com
   > Subject: [TalkAntietam] Re: Was Roulette's family at the farm during battle?
   >
   >
   > Gerry,
   >
   > Regarding the discrepancy in the total number of Roulette children, Ernst
correctly concluded that some sources likely pulled directly from the 1860
census and therefore failed to include the youngest Roulette daughter, who was
born after the census was taken.
   >
   > The 1860 census lists five Roulette children: Ann, John, Joseph, Susan and
Benjamin.
   >
   > However, a sixth child, Carrie May Roulette, was born on Feb. 23, 1860. She
died shortly after the battle, in October 1862. Factoring in Carrie May, the
Roulettes had six children living with them in September 1862.
   >
   > William Roulette himself confirmed this figure. Here's an excerpt from a
12/31/1862 letter that he wrote to the family of Private Robert Hubbard:
   >
   > "Allow me to introduce to you my family, wife and 5 children, 2 girls and 3
boys of which the oldest Ann Elizabeth 13-years-old. Our youngest died since the
battle - a charming little girl 20-months-old Carrie May just beginning to talk.
The battle caused considerable destruction of property here. My nearest neighbor
[Samuel Mumma] lost his house and barn to fire. I lost valuable horses, some
sheep and hogs. Please write as soon as you receive this and inform me whether
all is right."
   >
   > Steve
   >
   > --- In mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com, "G E Mayers" <gerry1952@>
wrote:
   > >
   > > Guys;
   > >
   > > Good discussion points! I also have GOB and here is the source
information:
   > >
   > > Footnote 29, in my softbound copy, is on page 257:
   > >
   > > 29. Souvenir of Excursion to Battlefield by the Society of the Fourteenth
Connecticut Regiment (Washington, 1893), pp. 51, 56, 57.
   > >
   > > Not sure if this helps? Also, since I have Kathleen Ernst's book "Too
Scared to Cry," I looked up her mention of the Roulette incident and found some
interesting information:
   > >
   > > 1. The full mention of her comment re the Roulette family that she made in
her talk during the 150th anniversary weekend is on page 121 of her book and
says, "Confederates advised William and Margaret Roulette to leave, as well.
[This was September 15, two days before the battle.--My note as per information
from pg. 119 of her book.]The couple had five children, ranging in age from two
to thirteen, but they decided to risk the battle and stay rather than abandon
their home to the foraging Confederates." Taken in this light, it sounds
entirely different does it not?
   > >
   > > 2. On pg. 143 of her book, Ernst says: "The Roulette family--William,
Margaret, and their six children ranging from twenty months to thirteen
years--had found dubious shelter among pickle barrels and potato bins in the
cellar, already enduring several hours of ferocious battle. Suddenly the cellar
door banged opened and a group of Confederate skirmishers plunged inside, chased
by men of the 14th Connecticut, who gleefully barricaded the door behind them."
   > >
   > > Two things jump out to me here:
   > >
   > > a. There appears to be an error in the number of children the Roulettes
had on September 15-17, 1862. Was it five or was it six?
   > > b. Ernst is seemingly confirming the quote in GOB by Murfin from the 14th
CT.
   > >
   > > The footnote for the above quote in Ernst says, "Some records indicate
that the Roulettes had five children at the time of the battle, but their
youngest child was probably born after the 1860 census was taken; she died in
October 1862 and therefore does not appear on late records."
   > >
   > > All that does is confirm the discrepancy in the number of children,
nothing more.
   > >
   > > However, O T Reilly, in Battlefield of Antietam, has a mention of the
Roulette incident. Does anyone have that?
   > >
   > > Yr. Obt. Svt.
   > > G E "Gerry" Mayers
   > >
   > > "True patriotism sometimes requires of men to act exactly contrary, at one
period, to that which it does at another, and the motive which impels them--the
desire to do right--is precisely the same. The circumstances which govern their
actions change; and their conduct must conform to the new order of things." --
Robert E. Lee
   > >
   > >
   > >
   > > -----Original Message-----
   > > From: mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com
[mailto:mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of cowie_steve
   > > Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2012 2:57 PM
   > > To: mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com
   > > Subject: [TalkAntietam] Re: Was Roulette's family at the farm during
battle?
   > >
   > >
   > >
   > > Hi, Tom.
   > >
   > > Murfin in GOB, p. 256, wrote that "William Roulette himself was keeping an
eye on developments for his family had been prisoners in their own home since
early morning, unable to leave for the firing." I'm unable to look up Murfin's
source at the moment but I wanted to pass this info along. Also, I'm curious to
know if this topic is mentioned the Antietam Farmsteads book. I've yet to
purchase a copy, but hear that it's excellent.
   > >
   > > Steve
   > >
   > > --- In mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com, RoteBaron@ wrote:
   > > >
   > > >
   > > >
   > > >
   > > > I recently finished an exhausting series of trips to Antietam, with
most recent being full day guiding a bus of 58 people around the battlefield.
Great fun! Now I've got some questions to pose.
   > > >
   > > >
   > > >
   > > > I know Wiliam Roulette stayed at his farm during the battle. It was my
understanding that hi s wife Margaret  and their children headed north and
were not present on Sept 17. Â Yet, during her talk at Antietam on
anniversary weekend, K athleen Ernst mentioned that the family was there.
   > > >
   > > >
   > > >
   > > > Anyone have the definitive answer?
   > > >
   > > >
   > > >
   > > > Tom Shay
   > > >
   > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
   > > >
   > >
   > >
   > >
   > >
   > >
   > >
   > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
   > >
   >
   >
   >
   >
   >
   > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
   >

   [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Yeah, thanks guys. I know it's in her book, I am just wondering where she got
it. Harry, that is an interesting theory about Benjamin naming it later. I
helped Ted with his latest book, finding the origin of that name. All I could
find was her book.

--- In TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com, "G E Mayers" <gerry1952@...> wrote:
>
> Harry and Steve,
>
> As I have Ernst's book, I took a peek. Here is what I found:?
>
> 1. Hog Trough Lane is mentioned in the Index of Ernst's book as being on pg.
151, but that is a typo as there is no mention of it on the actual page.
> 2. The actual mention occurs on page 143 of the book thus:
> "The Roulette property was separated from the Piper farm by a narrow, rutted
farm lane known locally as Hog Trough Road, or the Sunken Road. Years of travel
by heavily laden farm wagons and washout from hard rains had worn the lane into
a natural trench."
>
> As a matter of fact, I use "Hog Trough Road" many times in my novel,
especially where Generals Lee and Longstreet talk about the terrain surrounding
Sharpsburg.
>
> Hope this helps!
>
> Gerry
>
>
>   -----Original Message-----
>   From: TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com [mailto:TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com]On
Behalf Of Harry
>   Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 9:23 PM
>   To: TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com
>   Subject: Re: [TalkAntietam] Re: Was Roulette's family at the farm during
battle?
>
>
>
>   Steve,
>
>   No, I don’t think I got that from Kathy’s book. I’ll look for that.
But first:
>
>   I have two sources that say the family evacuated to Manor Church �"the
first being 14th CT Chaplain Stevens, who said the family had left but the
father had returned. The second is in “A History of Washington County,
Maryland, From the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time” by Thomas J. C.
Williams, and I think his source was Benjamin Roulette but it’s not clear.
>
>   As for the road name, I think I may have heard that from Ted or Keven.
Looking into it now, though, the road may not have been known by that name until
later, as Benjamin Roulette went into the hog raising business in a big way by
the turn of the 20th century.
>
>   Harry
>
>   From: Stephen Recker
>   Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 8:50 PM
>   To: TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com
>   Subject: [TalkAntietam] Re: Was Roulette's family at the farm during battle?
>
>   IIRC, Hog Trough Road was from Too Afraid to Cry but did not have a cite for
its origin. Am I correct? Thanks.
>
>   --- In mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com, "Harry" <hjs21@> wrote:
>   >
>   > I too may have mis-counted the Roulette children â€" can’t recall
whether or not I factored in Carrie May’s later birthdate.
>   >
>   > FWIW, here’s the text of the story as I submitted it â€" there were
slight edits made for the published version, but nothing major, IIRC.
>   >
>   > “
>   > When he realized that the men streaming past his home were Union soldiers
and not the Confederates who had been in the fields the past two days, William
Roulette burst out of his cellar door: “Give it to ‘em,” he
shouted to troops of the 14th Connecticut, “Drive ‘em! Take anything
on my place, only drive ‘em!” While the Second Corps of the Army of
the Potomac would eventually drive the Confederates from their line in the
sunken Hog Trough Road that separated his farm from that of his uncle Henry
Piper to the south, they would do so while very nearly taking Mr. Roulette up on
his offer fully.
>   >
>   > When the armies of Robert E. Lee and George McClellan met just north of
Sharpsburg in Maryland’s Washington County on September 17th, 1862, on what
would become known as the bloodiest day in U. S. history, they did so on
farmsteads that were predominantly well established and prosperous. Much of the
area was settled in the first half of the 18th century by families who relocated
from Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County. One of those families was that of
John Reynolds, who in 1761 purchased a part of “Anderson’s
Delight”, including a house that was constructed as early as 1748. By 1800,
two additions were complete resulting in a frame, stone, and log dwelling of
more than 2,000 square feet, not insubstantial even by today’s standards.
In 1804, the farm was purchased by John Miller, Jr. of a prominent area family.
In 1851 and after John’s death, his heirs sold the farm and widow’s
dower for $10,610 to son-in-law William Roulette (sometimes spelled Rulett), who
had married John’s 17-year-old daughter Margaret in 1847. William was the
grandson of French immigrants to Washington County, and a son of the sister of
neighbor Henry Piper. In 1862 he and Margaret were raising corn on his 180 acre
farm, along with five children ranging from under two to thirteen years of age.
Living with the Roulettes was Nancy Campbell, a former slave of Margaret’s
uncle Peter Miller. At 37 William, a successful farmer with a paid servant, was
also serving as a unionist Washington County commissioner.
>   >
>   > The Army of Northern Virginia concentrated in the fields north of the
village of Sharpsburg and on September 15th. Despite obvious signs of impending
danger, William determined to ride out the storm with his family in his home.
But as it became more obvious that his farm was likely to be in the thick of
things, he removed his family some six miles to Manor Dunker Church where they
were taken in by a minister. At some point on the 17th, he returned to the farm
to look after his stock and became trapped between the defensive line
established by Confederate General D. H. Hill’s division and the rapidly
approaching division of Union General William French. First Mr. Roulette took
refuge in his basement and then, after emerging to shout his encouragement and
offer up his worldly possessions to the boys in blue, headed north to the rear.
>   >
>   > The fighting in this sector of the battlefield of Antietam, during what is
referred to as the middle phase of the battle, was some of the most severe of
the war. Two Federal divisions advanced over the Roulette farm fields and hurled
themselves against the stoutly fortified but outnumbered Confederates in the
sunken farm lane. The Confederates were finally driven south across the Piper
farm, but damage to the Roulette place was extensive. An artillery shell ripped
through the west side of the house, travelling upward through the first floor
ceiling. At least one bullet fired from the vicinity of the sunken road entered
though a second story bedroom window and passed through two walls and a closet
in a middle bedroom (this damage can be seen today). Another shell upset
beehives in the yard to the rear of the dwelling, causing confusion among the
green troops of the 130th PA. Chaplain H. S. Stevens of the 14th CT recalled:
“During the battle the rooms were stripped of their furnishings and the
floors were covered with the blood and dirt and litter of a field
hospital.” Dead and dying men lay scattered across the farm, filling the
outbuildings. When the Roulettes returned after the battle, they found crops
trampled, fences down, and personal property, including food, carried off.
Soldier’s graves dotted the landscape.
>   >
>   > On October 3, 1862, Mr. Roulette filed his first claim against the United
States for damages to his property. Over the years his claims would include
items large a small; fences and crops, featherbeds and carpets, structural
damage, one beehive (and bees), chickens, blackberry wine. Claims were also made
for nine acres of farmland ruined by the passage of men and equipment, and
additional “buriel [sic] ground for 700 soldiers”. The grand total for
his final claims filed in February 1864 was $3,500. In the 1880’s he
received $371 for a hospital claim, but only minimal other payments. He was paid
nothing for damages to his home and outbuildings.
>   >
>   > William Roulette was well off before his farm became the center of a storm
of men, horses, and lead on September 17, 1862. Despite his failure to collect
significant reimbursement from the Federal Government for the taking of
“anything on my place”, he and his family would recover â€" for the
most part. About a month after the battle, the youngest Roulette child, Carrie
May, described by William as “a charming little girl twenty months
old…just beginning to talk”, died of typhoid fever. The sting of this
loss was softened a bit 24 months later, when Margaret gave birth to the
couple’s last child, Ulysses Sheridan Roulette. Despite the damages,
William’s heart was still with the Union.
>   >
>   > The farm remained in the possession of the Roulette family until 1956, and
in 1998 the National Park Service acquired the property via The Conservation
Fund. Restoration of the exterior of the house and the first floor interior to
their 1862 appearance is planned pending funding.”
>   >
>   >
>   > From: cowie_steve
>   > Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 4:44 PM
>   > To: mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com
>   > Subject: [TalkAntietam] Re: Was Roulette's family at the farm during
battle?
>   >
>   >
>   > Gerry,
>   >
>   > Regarding the discrepancy in the total number of Roulette children, Ernst
correctly concluded that some sources likely pulled directly from the 1860
census and therefore failed to include the youngest Roulette daughter, who was
born after the census was taken.
>   >
>   > The 1860 census lists five Roulette children: Ann, John, Joseph, Susan and
Benjamin.
>   >
>   > However, a sixth child, Carrie May Roulette, was born on Feb. 23, 1860.
She died shortly after the battle, in October 1862. Factoring in Carrie May, the
Roulettes had six children living with them in September 1862.
>   >
>   > William Roulette himself confirmed this figure. Here's an excerpt from a
12/31/1862 letter that he wrote to the family of Private Robert Hubbard:
>   >
>   > "Allow me to introduce to you my family, wife and 5 children, 2 girls and
3 boys of which the oldest Ann Elizabeth 13-years-old. Our youngest died since
the battle - a charming little girl 20-months-old Carrie May just beginning to
talk. The battle caused considerable destruction of property here. My nearest
neighbor [Samuel Mumma] lost his house and barn to fire. I lost valuable horses,
some sheep and hogs. Please write as soon as you receive this and inform me
whether all is right."
>   >
>   > Steve
>   >
>   > --- In mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com, "G E Mayers" <gerry1952@>
wrote:
>   > >
>   > > Guys;
>   > >
>   > > Good discussion points! I also have GOB and here is the source
information:
>   > >
>   > > Footnote 29, in my softbound copy, is on page 257:
>   > >
>   > > 29. Souvenir of Excursion to Battlefield by the Society of the
Fourteenth Connecticut Regiment (Washington, 1893), pp. 51, 56, 57.
>   > >
>   > > Not sure if this helps? Also, since I have Kathleen Ernst's book "Too
Scared to Cry," I looked up her mention of the Roulette incident and found some
interesting information:
>   > >
>   > > 1. The full mention of her comment re the Roulette family that she made
in her talk during the 150th anniversary weekend is on page 121 of her book and
says, "Confederates advised William and Margaret Roulette to leave, as well.
[This was September 15, two days before the battle.--My note as per information
from pg. 119 of her book.]The couple had five children, ranging in age from two
to thirteen, but they decided to risk the battle and stay rather than abandon
their home to the foraging Confederates." Taken in this light, it sounds
entirely different does it not?
>   > >
>   > > 2. On pg. 143 of her book, Ernst says: "The Roulette family--William,
Margaret, and their six children ranging from twenty months to thirteen
years--had found dubious shelter among pickle barrels and potato bins in the
cellar, already enduring several hours of ferocious battle. Suddenly the cellar
door banged opened and a group of Confederate skirmishers plunged inside, chased
by men of the 14th Connecticut, who gleefully barricaded the door behind them."
>   > >
>   > > Two things jump out to me here:
>   > >
>   > > a. There appears to be an error in the number of children the Roulettes
had on September 15-17, 1862. Was it five or was it six?
>   > > b. Ernst is seemingly confirming the quote in GOB by Murfin from the
14th CT.
>   > >
>   > > The footnote for the above quote in Ernst says, "Some records indicate
that the Roulettes had five children at the time of the battle, but their
youngest child was probably born after the 1860 census was taken; she died in
October 1862 and therefore does not appear on late records."
>   > >
>   > > All that does is confirm the discrepancy in the number of children,
nothing more.
>   > >
>   > > However, O T Reilly, in Battlefield of Antietam, has a mention of the
Roulette incident. Does anyone have that?
>   > >
>   > > Yr. Obt. Svt.
>   > > G E "Gerry" Mayers
>   > >
>   > > "True patriotism sometimes requires of men to act exactly contrary, at
one period, to that which it does at another, and the motive which impels
them--the desire to do right--is precisely the same. The circumstances which
govern their actions change; and their conduct must conform to the new order of
things." -- Robert E. Lee
>   > >
>   > >
>   > >
>   > > -----Original Message-----
>   > > From: mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com
[mailto:mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of cowie_steve
>   > > Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2012 2:57 PM
>   > > To: mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com
>   > > Subject: [TalkAntietam] Re: Was Roulette's family at the farm during
battle?
>   > >
>   > >
>   > >
>   > > Hi, Tom.
>   > >
>   > > Murfin in GOB, p. 256, wrote that "William Roulette himself was keeping
an eye on developments for his family had been prisoners in their own home since
early morning, unable to leave for the firing." I'm unable to look up Murfin's
source at the moment but I wanted to pass this info along. Also, I'm curious to
know if this topic is mentioned the Antietam Farmsteads book. I've yet to
purchase a copy, but hear that it's excellent.
>   > >
>   > > Steve
>   > >
>   > > --- In mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com, RoteBaron@ wrote:
>   > > >
>   > > >
>   > > >
>   > > >
>   > > > I recently finished an exhausting series of trips to Antietam,
with most recent being full day guiding a bus of 58 people around the
battlefield. Great fun! Now I've got some questions to pose.
>   > > >
>   > > >
>   > > >
>   > > > I know Wiliam Roulette stayed at his farm during the battle. It was my
understanding that hi s wife Margaret  and their children headed north and
were not present on Sept 17. Â Yet, during her talk at Antietam on
anniversary weekend, K athleen Ernst mentioned that the family was there.
>   > > >
>   > > >
>   > > >
>   > > > Anyone have the definitive answer?
>   > > >
>   > > >
>   > > >
>   > > > Tom Shay
>   > > >
>   > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>   > > >
>   > >
>   > >
>   > >
>   > >
>   > >
>   > >
>   > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>   > >
>   >
>   >
>   >
>   >
>   >
>   > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>   >
>
>   [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

I found two other sources that reference Hog Trough Road, although neither was
included in Ernst's selected bibliography. Both books were first published in
1972.

The Barrons in "History of Sharpsburg", p.31, wrote "Hog Trough Road [was] a
shortcut road from the Hagerstown Pike to the Boonsboro Pike, put in around
1795."

Schildt in "Drums Along the Antietam", pages 36-37, wrote that the "'Sunken
Road' or 'Bloody Lane' as it is called today led to the Orndorff plantation and
mill. Some say the road was used so heavily by wagons going to the mill that
deep ruts resulted in the nickname 'Hog Trough Road.' Early farmers felt their
animals could make it alone to the mill because repeated trips made the route
familiar. Farmers jokingly told one another, 'Just place a sack of wheat on old
muley, and send him on his way. He'll know where to go.'"

Steve

--- In TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com, "Stephen Recker" <recker@...> wrote:
>
> Yeah, thanks guys. I know it's in her book, I am just wondering where she got
it. Harry, that is an interesting theory about Benjamin naming it later. I
helped Ted with his latest book, finding the origin of that name. All I could
find was her book.
>
> --- In TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com, "G E Mayers" <gerry1952@> wrote:
> >
> > Harry and Steve,
> >
> > As I have Ernst's book, I took a peek. Here is what I found:?
> >
> > 1. Hog Trough Lane is mentioned in the Index of Ernst's book as being on pg.
151, but that is a typo as there is no mention of it on the actual page.
> > 2. The actual mention occurs on page 143 of the book thus:
> > "The Roulette property was separated from the Piper farm by a narrow, rutted
farm lane known locally as Hog Trough Road, or the Sunken Road. Years of travel
by heavily laden farm wagons and washout from hard rains had worn the lane into
a natural trench."
> >
> > As a matter of fact, I use "Hog Trough Road" many times in my novel,
especially where Generals Lee and Longstreet talk about the terrain surrounding
Sharpsburg.
> >
> > Hope this helps!
> >
> > Gerry
> >
> >
> >   -----Original Message-----
> >   From: TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com [mailto:TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com]On
Behalf Of Harry
> >   Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 9:23 PM
> >   To: TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com
> >   Subject: Re: [TalkAntietam] Re: Was Roulette's family at the farm during
battle?
> >
> >
> >
> >   Steve,
> >
> >   No, I don’t think I got that from Kathy’s book. I’ll look for that.
But first:
> >
> >   I have two sources that say the family evacuated to Manor Church �"the
first being 14th CT Chaplain Stevens, who said the family had left but the
father had returned. The second is in “A History of Washington County,
Maryland, From the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time” by Thomas J. C.
Williams, and I think his source was Benjamin Roulette but it’s not clear.
> >
> >   As for the road name, I think I may have heard that from Ted or Keven.
Looking into it now, though, the road may not have been known by that name until
later, as Benjamin Roulette went into the hog raising business in a big way by
the turn of the 20th century.
> >
> >   Harry
> >
> >   From: Stephen Recker
> >   Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 8:50 PM
> >   To: TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com
> >   Subject: [TalkAntietam] Re: Was Roulette's family at the farm during
battle?
> >
> >   IIRC, Hog Trough Road was from Too Afraid to Cry but did not have a cite
for its origin. Am I correct? Thanks.
> >
> >   --- In mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com, "Harry" <hjs21@> wrote:
> >   >
> >   > I too may have mis-counted the Roulette children â€" can’t recall
whether or not I factored in Carrie May’s later birthdate.
> >   >
> >   > FWIW, here’s the text of the story as I submitted it â€" there
were slight edits made for the published version, but nothing major, IIRC.
> >   >
> >   > “
> >   > When he realized that the men streaming past his home were Union
soldiers and not the Confederates who had been in the fields the past two days,
William Roulette burst out of his cellar door: “Give it to ‘em,”
he shouted to troops of the 14th Connecticut, “Drive ‘em! Take
anything on my place, only drive ‘em!” While the Second Corps of the
Army of the Potomac would eventually drive the Confederates from their line in
the sunken Hog Trough Road that separated his farm from that of his uncle Henry
Piper to the south, they would do so while very nearly taking Mr. Roulette up on
his offer fully.
> >   >
> >   > When the armies of Robert E. Lee and George McClellan met just north of
Sharpsburg in Maryland’s Washington County on September 17th, 1862, on what
would become known as the bloodiest day in U. S. history, they did so on
farmsteads that were predominantly well established and prosperous. Much of the
area was settled in the first half of the 18th century by families who relocated
from Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County. One of those families was that of
John Reynolds, who in 1761 purchased a part of “Anderson’s
Delight”, including a house that was constructed as early as 1748. By 1800,
two additions were complete resulting in a frame, stone, and log dwelling of
more than 2,000 square feet, not insubstantial even by today’s standards.
In 1804, the farm was purchased by John Miller, Jr. of a prominent area family.
In 1851 and after John’s death, his heirs sold the farm and widow’s
dower for $10,610 to son-in-law William Roulette (sometimes spelled Rulett), who
had married John’s 17-year-old daughter Margaret in 1847. William was the
grandson of French immigrants to Washington County, and a son of the sister of
neighbor Henry Piper. In 1862 he and Margaret were raising corn on his 180 acre
farm, along with five children ranging from under two to thirteen years of age.
Living with the Roulettes was Nancy Campbell, a former slave of Margaret’s
uncle Peter Miller. At 37 William, a successful farmer with a paid servant, was
also serving as a unionist Washington County commissioner.
> >   >
> >   > The Army of Northern Virginia concentrated in the fields north of the
village of Sharpsburg and on September 15th. Despite obvious signs of impending
danger, William determined to ride out the storm with his family in his home.
But as it became more obvious that his farm was likely to be in the thick of
things, he removed his family some six miles to Manor Dunker Church where they
were taken in by a minister. At some point on the 17th, he returned to the farm
to look after his stock and became trapped between the defensive line
established by Confederate General D. H. Hill’s division and the rapidly
approaching division of Union General William French. First Mr. Roulette took
refuge in his basement and then, after emerging to shout his encouragement and
offer up his worldly possessions to the boys in blue, headed north to the rear.
> >   >
> >   > The fighting in this sector of the battlefield of Antietam, during what
is referred to as the middle phase of the battle, was some of the most severe of
the war. Two Federal divisions advanced over the Roulette farm fields and hurled
themselves against the stoutly fortified but outnumbered Confederates in the
sunken farm lane. The Confederates were finally driven south across the Piper
farm, but damage to the Roulette place was extensive. An artillery shell ripped
through the west side of the house, travelling upward through the first floor
ceiling. At least one bullet fired from the vicinity of the sunken road entered
though a second story bedroom window and passed through two walls and a closet
in a middle bedroom (this damage can be seen today). Another shell upset
beehives in the yard to the rear of the dwelling, causing confusion among the
green troops of the 130th PA. Chaplain H. S. Stevens of the 14th CT recalled:
“During the battle the rooms were stripped of their furnishings and the
floors were covered with the blood and dirt and litter of a field
hospital.” Dead and dying men lay scattered across the farm, filling the
outbuildings. When the Roulettes returned after the battle, they found crops
trampled, fences down, and personal property, including food, carried off.
Soldier’s graves dotted the landscape.
> >   >
> >   > On October 3, 1862, Mr. Roulette filed his first claim against the
United States for damages to his property. Over the years his claims would
include items large a small; fences and crops, featherbeds and carpets,
structural damage, one beehive (and bees), chickens, blackberry wine. Claims
were also made for nine acres of farmland ruined by the passage of men and
equipment, and additional “buriel [sic] ground for 700 soldiers”. The
grand total for his final claims filed in February 1864 was $3,500. In the
1880’s he received $371 for a hospital claim, but only minimal other
payments. He was paid nothing for damages to his home and outbuildings.
> >   >
> >   > William Roulette was well off before his farm became the center of a
storm of men, horses, and lead on September 17, 1862. Despite his failure to
collect significant reimbursement from the Federal Government for the taking of
“anything on my place”, he and his family would recover â€" for the
most part. About a month after the battle, the youngest Roulette child, Carrie
May, described by William as “a charming little girl twenty months
old…just beginning to talk”, died of typhoid fever. The sting of this
loss was softened a bit 24 months later, when Margaret gave birth to the
couple’s last child, Ulysses Sheridan Roulette. Despite the damages,
William’s heart was still with the Union.
> >   >
> >   > The farm remained in the possession of the Roulette family until 1956,
and in 1998 the National Park Service acquired the property via The Conservation
Fund. Restoration of the exterior of the house and the first floor interior to
their 1862 appearance is planned pending funding.”
> >   >
> >   >
> >   > From: cowie_steve
> >   > Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 4:44 PM
> >   > To: mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com
> >   > Subject: [TalkAntietam] Re: Was Roulette's family at the farm during
battle?
> >   >
> >   >
> >   > Gerry,
> >   >
> >   > Regarding the discrepancy in the total number of Roulette children,
Ernst correctly concluded that some sources likely pulled directly from the 1860
census and therefore failed to include the youngest Roulette daughter, who was
born after the census was taken.
> >   >
> >   > The 1860 census lists five Roulette children: Ann, John, Joseph, Susan
and Benjamin.
> >   >
> >   > However, a sixth child, Carrie May Roulette, was born on Feb. 23, 1860.
She died shortly after the battle, in October 1862. Factoring in Carrie May, the
Roulettes had six children living with them in September 1862.
> >   >
> >   > William Roulette himself confirmed this figure. Here's an excerpt from a
12/31/1862 letter that he wrote to the family of Private Robert Hubbard:
> >   >
> >   > "Allow me to introduce to you my family, wife and 5 children, 2 girls
and 3 boys of which the oldest Ann Elizabeth 13-years-old. Our youngest died
since the battle - a charming little girl 20-months-old Carrie May just
beginning to talk. The battle caused considerable destruction of property here.
My nearest neighbor [Samuel Mumma] lost his house and barn to fire. I lost
valuable horses, some sheep and hogs. Please write as soon as you receive this
and inform me whether all is right."
> >   >
> >   > Steve
> >   >
> >   > --- In mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com, "G E Mayers" <gerry1952@>
wrote:
> >   > >
> >   > > Guys;
> >   > >
> >   > > Good discussion points! I also have GOB and here is the source
information:
> >   > >
> >   > > Footnote 29, in my softbound copy, is on page 257:
> >   > >
> >   > > 29. Souvenir of Excursion to Battlefield by the Society of the
Fourteenth Connecticut Regiment (Washington, 1893), pp. 51, 56, 57.
> >   > >
> >   > > Not sure if this helps? Also, since I have Kathleen Ernst's book "Too
Scared to Cry," I looked up her mention of the Roulette incident and found some
interesting information:
> >   > >
> >   > > 1. The full mention of her comment re the Roulette family that she
made in her talk during the 150th anniversary weekend is on page 121 of her book
and says, "Confederates advised William and Margaret Roulette to leave, as well.
[This was September 15, two days before the battle.--My note as per information
from pg. 119 of her book.]The couple had five children, ranging in age from two
to thirteen, but they decided to risk the battle and stay rather than abandon
their home to the foraging Confederates." Taken in this light, it sounds
entirely different does it not?
> >   > >
> >   > > 2. On pg. 143 of her book, Ernst says: "The Roulette family--William,
Margaret, and their six children ranging from twenty months to thirteen
years--had found dubious shelter among pickle barrels and potato bins in the
cellar, already enduring several hours of ferocious battle. Suddenly the cellar
door banged opened and a group of Confederate skirmishers plunged inside, chased
by men of the 14th Connecticut, who gleefully barricaded the door behind them."
> >   > >
> >   > > Two things jump out to me here:
> >   > >
> >   > > a. There appears to be an error in the number of children the
Roulettes had on September 15-17, 1862. Was it five or was it six?
> >   > > b. Ernst is seemingly confirming the quote in GOB by Murfin from the
14th CT.
> >   > >
> >   > > The footnote for the above quote in Ernst says, "Some records indicate
that the Roulettes had five children at the time of the battle, but their
youngest child was probably born after the 1860 census was taken; she died in
October 1862 and therefore does not appear on late records."
> >   > >
> >   > > All that does is confirm the discrepancy in the number of children,
nothing more.
> >   > >
> >   > > However, O T Reilly, in Battlefield of Antietam, has a mention of the
Roulette incident. Does anyone have that?
> >   > >
> >   > > Yr. Obt. Svt.
> >   > > G E "Gerry" Mayers
> >   > >
> >   > > "True patriotism sometimes requires of men to act exactly contrary, at
one period, to that which it does at another, and the motive which impels
them--the desire to do right--is precisely the same. The circumstances which
govern their actions change; and their conduct must conform to the new order of
things." -- Robert E. Lee
> >   > >
> >   > >
> >   > >
> >   > > -----Original Message-----
> >   > > From: mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com
[mailto:mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of cowie_steve
> >   > > Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2012 2:57 PM
> >   > > To: mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com
> >   > > Subject: [TalkAntietam] Re: Was Roulette's family at the farm during
battle?
> >   > >
> >   > >
> >   > >
> >   > > Hi, Tom.
> >   > >
> >   > > Murfin in GOB, p. 256, wrote that "William Roulette himself was
keeping an eye on developments for his family had been prisoners in their own
home since early morning, unable to leave for the firing." I'm unable to look up
Murfin's source at the moment but I wanted to pass this info along. Also, I'm
curious to know if this topic is mentioned the Antietam Farmsteads book. I've
yet to purchase a copy, but hear that it's excellent.
> >   > >
> >   > > Steve
> >   > >
> >   > > --- In mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com, RoteBaron@ wrote:
> >   > > >
> >   > > >
> >   > > >
> >   > > >
> >   > > > I recently finished an exhausting series of trips to Antietam,
with most recent being full day guiding a bus of 58 people around the
battlefield. Great fun! Now I've got some questions to pose.
> >   > > >
> >   > > >
> >   > > >
> >   > > > I know Wiliam Roulette stayed at his farm during the battle. It was
my understanding that hi s wife Margaret  and their children headed north
and were not present on Sept 17. Â Yet, during her talk at Antietam on
anniversary weekend, K athleen Ernst mentioned that the family was there.
> >   > > >
> >   > > >
> >   > > >
> >   > > > Anyone have the definitive answer?
> >   > > >
> >   > > >
> >   > > >
> >   > > > Tom Shay
> >   > > >
> >   > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >   > > >
> >   > >
> >   > >
> >   > >
> >   > >
> >   > >
> >   > >
> >   > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >   > >
> >   >
> >   >
> >   >
> >   >
> >   >
> >   > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >   >
> >
> >   [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>

Steve,

I really like the second mention from Schildt. That has more of a ring of truth
than the first account. Good stuff!

Gerry

   -----Original Message-----
   From: TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com [mailto:TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com]On
Behalf Of cowie_steve
   Sent: Saturday, November 03, 2012 8:39 AM
   To: TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com
   Subject: [TalkAntietam] Re: Was Roulette's family at the farm during battle?



   I found two other sources that reference Hog Trough Road, although neither was
included in Ernst's selected bibliography. Both books were first published in
1972.

   The Barrons in "History of Sharpsburg", p.31, wrote "Hog Trough Road [was] a
shortcut road from the Hagerstown Pike to the Boonsboro Pike, put in around
1795."

   Schildt in "Drums Along the Antietam", pages 36-37, wrote that the "'Sunken
Road' or 'Bloody Lane' as it is called today led to the Orndorff plantation and
mill. Some say the road was used so heavily by wagons going to the mill that
deep ruts resulted in the nickname 'Hog Trough Road.' Early farmers felt their
animals could make it alone to the mill because repeated trips made the route
familiar. Farmers jokingly told one another, 'Just place a sack of wheat on old
muley, and send him on his way. He'll know where to go.'"

   Steve

   --- In TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com, "Stephen Recker" <recker@...> wrote:
   >
   > Yeah, thanks guys. I know it's in her book, I am just wondering where she
got it. Harry, that is an interesting theory about Benjamin naming it later. I
helped Ted with his latest book, finding the origin of that name. All I could
find was her book.
   >
   > --- In TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com, "G E Mayers" <gerry1952@> wrote:
   > >
   > > Harry and Steve,
   > >
   > > As I have Ernst's book, I took a peek. Here is what I found:?
   > >
   > > 1. Hog Trough Lane is mentioned in the Index of Ernst's book as being on
pg. 151, but that is a typo as there is no mention of it on the actual page.
   > > 2. The actual mention occurs on page 143 of the book thus:
   > > "The Roulette property was separated from the Piper farm by a narrow,
rutted farm lane known locally as Hog Trough Road, or the Sunken Road. Years of
travel by heavily laden farm wagons and washout from hard rains had worn the
lane into a natural trench."
   > >
   > > As a matter of fact, I use "Hog Trough Road" many times in my novel,
especially where Generals Lee and Longstreet talk about the terrain surrounding
Sharpsburg.
   > >
   > > Hope this helps!
   > >
   > > Gerry
   > >
   > >
   > > -----Original Message-----
   > > From: TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com [mailto:TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com]On
Behalf Of Harry
   > > Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 9:23 PM
   > > To: TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com
   > > Subject: Re: [TalkAntietam] Re: Was Roulette's family at the farm during
battle?
   > >
   > >
   > >
   > > Steve,
   > >
   > > No, I don’t think I got that from Kathy’s book. I’ll look for that.
But first:
   > >
   > > I have two sources that say the family evacuated to Manor Church �"the
first being 14th CT Chaplain Stevens, who said the family had left but the
father had returned. The second is in “A History of Washington County,
Maryland, From the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time” by Thomas J. C.
Williams, and I think his source was Benjamin Roulette but it’s not clear.
   > >
   > > As for the road name, I think I may have heard that from Ted or Keven.
Looking into it now, though, the road may not have been known by that name until
later, as Benjamin Roulette went into the hog raising business in a big way by
the turn of the 20th century.
   > >
   > > Harry
   > >
   > > From: Stephen Recker
   > > Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 8:50 PM
   > > To: TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com
   > > Subject: [TalkAntietam] Re: Was Roulette's family at the farm during
battle?
   > >
   > > IIRC, Hog Trough Road was from Too Afraid to Cry but did not have a cite
for its origin. Am I correct? Thanks.
   > >
   > > --- In mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com, "Harry" <hjs21@> wrote:
   > > >
   > > > I too may have mis-counted the Roulette children â€" can’t recall
whether or not I factored in Carrie May’s later birthdate.
   > > >
   > > > FWIW, here’s the text of the story as I submitted it â€" there
were slight edits made for the published version, but nothing major, IIRC.
   > > >
   > > > “
   > > > When he realized that the men streaming past his home were Union
soldiers and not the Confederates who had been in the fields the past two days,
William Roulette burst out of his cellar door: “Give it to ‘em,”
he shouted to troops of the 14th Connecticut, “Drive ‘em! Take
anything on my place, only drive ‘em!” While the Second Corps of the
Army of the Potomac would eventually drive the Confederates from their line in
the sunken Hog Trough Road that separated his farm from that of his uncle Henry
Piper to the south, they would do so while very nearly taking Mr. Roulette up on
his offer fully.
   > > >
   > > > When the armies of Robert E. Lee and George McClellan met just north of
Sharpsburg in Maryland’s Washington County on September 17th, 1862, on what
would become known as the bloodiest day in U. S. history, they did so on
farmsteads that were predominantly well established and prosperous. Much of the
area was settled in the first half of the 18th century by families who relocated
from Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County. One of those families was that of
John Reynolds, who in 1761 purchased a part of “Anderson’s
Delight”, including a house that was constructed as early as 1748. By 1800,
two additions were complete resulting in a frame, stone, and log dwelling of
more than 2,000 square feet, not insubstantial even by today’s standards.
In 1804, the farm was purchased by John Miller, Jr. of a prominent area family.
In 1851 and after John’s death, his heirs sold the farm and widow’s
dower for $10,610 to son-in-law William Roulette (sometimes spelled Rulett), who
had married John’s 17-year-old daughter Margaret in 1847. William was the
grandson of French immigrants to Washington County, and a son of the sister of
neighbor Henry Piper. In 1862 he and Margaret were raising corn on his 180 acre
farm, along with five children ranging from under two to thirteen years of age.
Living with the Roulettes was Nancy Campbell, a former slave of Margaret’s
uncle Peter Miller. At 37 William, a successful farmer with a paid servant, was
also serving as a unionist Washington County commissioner.
   > > >
   > > > The Army of Northern Virginia concentrated in the fields north of the
village of Sharpsburg and on September 15th. Despite obvious signs of impending
danger, William determined to ride out the storm with his family in his home.
But as it became more obvious that his farm was likely to be in the thick of
things, he removed his family some six miles to Manor Dunker Church where they
were taken in by a minister. At some point on the 17th, he returned to the farm
to look after his stock and became trapped between the defensive line
established by Confederate General D. H. Hill’s division and the rapidly
approaching division of Union General William French. First Mr. Roulette took
refuge in his basement and then, after emerging to shout his encouragement and
offer up his worldly possessions to the boys in blue, headed north to the rear.
   > > >
   > > > The fighting in this sector of the battlefield of Antietam, during what
is referred to as the middle phase of the battle, was some of the most severe of
the war. Two Federal divisions advanced over the Roulette farm fields and hurled
themselves against the stoutly fortified but outnumbered Confederates in the
sunken farm lane. The Confederates were finally driven south across the Piper
farm, but damage to the Roulette place was extensive. An artillery shell ripped
through the west side of the house, travelling upward through the first floor
ceiling. At least one bullet fired from the vicinity of the sunken road entered
though a second story bedroom window and passed through two walls and a closet
in a middle bedroom (this damage can be seen today). Another shell upset
beehives in the yard to the rear of the dwelling, causing confusion among the
green troops of the 130th PA. Chaplain H. S. Stevens of the 14th CT recalled:
“During the battle the rooms were stripped of their furnishings and the
floors were covered with the blood and dirt and litter of a field
hospital.” Dead and dying men lay scattered across the farm, filling the
outbuildings. When the Roulettes returned after the battle, they found crops
trampled, fences down, and personal property, including food, carried off.
Soldier’s graves dotted the landscape.
   > > >
   > > > On October 3, 1862, Mr. Roulette filed his first claim against the
United States for damages to his property. Over the years his claims would
include items large a small; fences and crops, featherbeds and carpets,
structural damage, one beehive (and bees), chickens, blackberry wine. Claims
were also made for nine acres of farmland ruined by the passage of men and
equipment, and additional “buriel [sic] ground for 700 soldiers”. The
grand total for his final claims filed in February 1864 was $3,500. In the
1880’s he received $371 for a hospital claim, but only minimal other
payments. He was paid nothing for damages to his home and outbuildings.
   > > >
   > > > William Roulette was well off before his farm became the center of a
storm of men, horses, and lead on September 17, 1862. Despite his failure to
collect significant reimbursement from the Federal Government for the taking of
“anything on my place”, he and his family would recover â€" for the
most part. About a month after the battle, the youngest Roulette child, Carrie
May, described by William as “a charming little girl twenty months
old…just beginning to talk”, died of typhoid fever. The sting of this
loss was softened a bit 24 months later, when Margaret gave birth to the
couple’s last child, Ulysses Sheridan Roulette. Despite the damages,
William’s heart was still with the Union.
   > > >
   > > > The farm remained in the possession of the Roulette family until 1956,
and in 1998 the National Park Service acquired the property via The Conservation
Fund. Restoration of the exterior of the house and the first floor interior to
their 1862 appearance is planned pending funding.”
   > > >
   > > >
   > > > From: cowie_steve
   > > > Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 4:44 PM
   > > > To: mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com
   > > > Subject: [TalkAntietam] Re: Was Roulette's family at the farm during
battle?
   > > >
   > > >
   > > > Gerry,
   > > >
   > > > Regarding the discrepancy in the total number of Roulette children,
Ernst correctly concluded that some sources likely pulled directly from the 1860
census and therefore failed to include the youngest Roulette daughter, who was
born after the census was taken.
   > > >
   > > > The 1860 census lists five Roulette children: Ann, John, Joseph, Susan
and Benjamin.
   > > >
   > > > However, a sixth child, Carrie May Roulette, was born on Feb. 23, 1860.
She died shortly after the battle, in October 1862. Factoring in Carrie May, the
Roulettes had six children living with them in September 1862.
   > > >
   > > > William Roulette himself confirmed this figure. Here's an excerpt from a
12/31/1862 letter that he wrote to the family of Private Robert Hubbard:
   > > >
   > > > "Allow me to introduce to you my family, wife and 5 children, 2 girls
and 3 boys of which the oldest Ann Elizabeth 13-years-old. Our youngest died
since the battle - a charming little girl 20-months-old Carrie May just
beginning to talk. The battle caused considerable destruction of property here.
My nearest neighbor [Samuel Mumma] lost his house and barn to fire. I lost
valuable horses, some sheep and hogs. Please write as soon as you receive this
and inform me whether all is right."
   > > >
   > > > Steve
   > > >
   > > > --- In mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com, "G E Mayers" <gerry1952@>
wrote:
   > > > >
   > > > > Guys;
   > > > >
   > > > > Good discussion points! I also have GOB and here is the source
information:
   > > > >
   > > > > Footnote 29, in my softbound copy, is on page 257:
   > > > >
   > > > > 29. Souvenir of Excursion to Battlefield by the Society of the
Fourteenth Connecticut Regiment (Washington, 1893), pp. 51, 56, 57.
   > > > >
   > > > > Not sure if this helps? Also, since I have Kathleen Ernst's book "Too
Scared to Cry," I looked up her mention of the Roulette incident and found some
interesting information:
   > > > >
   > > > > 1. The full mention of her comment re the Roulette family that she
made in her talk during the 150th anniversary weekend is on page 121 of her book
and says, "Confederates advised William and Margaret Roulette to leave, as well.
[This was September 15, two days before the battle.--My note as per information
from pg. 119 of her book.]The couple had five children, ranging in age from two
to thirteen, but they decided to risk the battle and stay rather than abandon
their home to the foraging Confederates." Taken in this light, it sounds
entirely different does it not?
   > > > >
   > > > > 2. On pg. 143 of her book, Ernst says: "The Roulette family--William,
Margaret, and their six children ranging from twenty months to thirteen
years--had found dubious shelter among pickle barrels and potato bins in the
cellar, already enduring several hours of ferocious battle. Suddenly the cellar
door banged opened and a group of Confederate skirmishers plunged inside, chased
by men of the 14th Connecticut, who gleefully barricaded the door behind them."
   > > > >
   > > > > Two things jump out to me here:
   > > > >
   > > > > a. There appears to be an error in the number of children the
Roulettes had on September 15-17, 1862. Was it five or was it six?
   > > > > b. Ernst is seemingly confirming the quote in GOB by Murfin from the
14th CT.
   > > > >
   > > > > The footnote for the above quote in Ernst says, "Some records indicate
that the Roulettes had five children at the time of the battle, but their
youngest child was probably born after the 1860 census was taken; she died in
October 1862 and therefore does not appear on late records."
   > > > >
   > > > > All that does is confirm the discrepancy in the number of children,
nothing more.
   > > > >
   > > > > However, O T Reilly, in Battlefield of Antietam, has a mention of the
Roulette incident. Does anyone have that?
   > > > >
   > > > > Yr. Obt. Svt.
   > > > > G E "Gerry" Mayers
   > > > >
   > > > > "True patriotism sometimes requires of men to act exactly contrary, at
one period, to that which it does at another, and the motive which impels
them--the desire to do right--is precisely the same. The circumstances which
govern their actions change; and their conduct must conform to the new order of
things." -- Robert E. Lee
   > > > >
   > > > >
   > > > >
   > > > > -----Original Message-----
   > > > > From: mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com
[mailto:mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of cowie_steve
   > > > > Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2012 2:57 PM
   > > > > To: mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com
   > > > > Subject: [TalkAntietam] Re: Was Roulette's family at the farm during
battle?
   > > > >
   > > > >
   > > > >
   > > > > Hi, Tom.
   > > > >
   > > > > Murfin in GOB, p. 256, wrote that "William Roulette himself was
keeping an eye on developments for his family had been prisoners in their own
home since early morning, unable to leave for the firing." I'm unable to look up
Murfin's source at the moment but I wanted to pass this info along. Also, I'm
curious to know if this topic is mentioned the Antietam Farmsteads book. I've
yet to purchase a copy, but hear that it's excellent.
   > > > >
   > > > > Steve
   > > > >
   > > > > --- In mailto:TalkAntietam%40yahoogroups.com, RoteBaron@ wrote:
   > > > > >
   > > > > >
   > > > > >
   > > > > >
   > > > > > I recently finished an exhausting series of trips to Antietam,
with most recent being full day guiding a bus of 58 people around the
battlefield. Great fun! Now I've got some questions to pose.
   > > > > >
   > > > > >
   > > > > >
   > > > > > I know Wiliam Roulette stayed at his farm during the battle. It was
my understanding that hi s wife Margaret  and their children headed north
and were not present on Sept 17. Â Yet, during her talk at Antietam on
anniversary weekend, K athleen Ernst mentioned that the family was there.
   > > > > >
   > > > > >
   > > > > >
   > > > > > Anyone have the definitive answer?
   > > > > >
   > > > > >
   > > > > >
   > > > > > Tom Shay
   > > > > >
   > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
   > > > > >
   > > > >
   > > > >
   > > > >
   > > > >
   > > > >
   > > > >
   > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
   > > > >
   > > >
   > > >
   > > >
   > > >
   > > >
   > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
   > > >
   > >
   > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
   > >
   > >
   > >
   > >
   > >
   > >
   > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
   > >
   >






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

SHAF workday is two weeks from today!

Meet at 9:00 AM at the flag pole outside of the Visitor's Center.  Dress
appropriately - bring work gloves and water!

SHAF needs PEOPLE - and President Tom Clemens will be available to sign your
copy of his new edition of Volume II of Carman's history of the Maryland
Campaign.

Non-members can participate, and have the rare opportunity to join SHAF in the
process!!!


Tom Shay – Cressona, PA


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Dear gang,

I'm doing work on an article that looks at the civilians at Antietam and how
they were able to survive economically in the aftermath of the battle. I'm
really looking at civilians selling lead, land, and horse bones (or at least,
those are the first thoughts I've had based on my research on other
battlefields), but have run into a problem.

A few years ago, when I was doing research for my MA (which examines the growth
of the battlefields at Gettysburg and Sharpsburg), I came across a story that
stated that an angry, southern-leaning local farmer had deliberately either a.)
planted a cabbage patch over a Union mass grave, b.) constructed a roadbed over
a Union mass grave, or c.) all of the above.

Anyone familiar with this story? If so, any citations?

Thanks!

- Adam Zimmerli

Found it!

--- In TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com, "gtmcftsotcwgrad" <azimmerli@...> wrote:
>
> Dear gang,
>
> I'm doing work on an article that looks at the civilians at Antietam and how
they were able to survive economically in the aftermath of the battle. I'm
really looking at civilians selling lead, land, and horse bones (or at least,
those are the first thoughts I've had based on my research on other
battlefields), but have run into a problem.
>
> A few years ago, when I was doing research for my MA (which examines the
growth of the battlefields at Gettysburg and Sharpsburg), I came across a story
that stated that an angry, southern-leaning local farmer had deliberately either
a.) planted a cabbage patch over a Union mass grave, b.) constructed a roadbed
over a Union mass grave, or c.) all of the above.
>
> Anyone familiar with this story? If so, any citations?
>
> Thanks!
>
> - Adam Zimmerli
>

Gang;

Best wishes to all for a great Thanksgiving. If any are traveling this holiday
to family and friends, safe journeys and looking forward to more discussions.

Yr. Obt. Svt.
G E "Gerry" Mayers

"True patriotism sometimes requires of men to act exactly contrary, at one
period, to that which it does at another, and the motive which impels them--the
desire to do right--is precisely the same. The circumstances which govern their
actions change; and their conduct must conform to the new order of things." --
Robert E. Lee




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Same to you Gerry and all the rest of the Talk Antietam family.



Paula



----- Original Message -----


From: "G E Mayers" <gerry1952@...>
To: "CWDG" <cwdg@yahoogroups.com>, "TalkAntietam Group"
<TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2012 9:59:21 PM
Subject: [TalkAntietam] Re Thanksgiving

Gang;

Best wishes to all for a great Thanksgiving. If any are traveling this holiday
to family and friends, safe journeys and looking forward to more discussions.

Yr. Obt. Svt.
G E "Gerry" Mayers

"True patriotism sometimes requires of men to act exactly contrary, at one
period, to that which it does at another, and the motive which impels them--the
desire to do right--is precisely the same. The circumstances which govern their
actions change; and their conduct must conform to the new order of things." --
Robert E. Lee




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Gang;

With today being Thanksgiving and thinking of all the service personnel
scattered so far and wide and away from their families, I am reminded of what
Rufus R Dawes, Captain commanding Company K of the Sixth Wisconsin Volunteer
Infantry in 1861 wrote about the day in the field:

"On the twenty-eighth of November, the regimental mess, composed of the field,
staff and line officers, had a Thanksgiving dinner. We had built a large log
dining hall, which was very comfortable, although home made. Our dinner was no
small affair. Colonel Cutler also made each company in the regiment,
the happy recipient of twenty mince pies, about a quarter of a pie to each man.
I here obtained a leave of absence for ten days, for a visit to Ohio."

On this day, as we gather to give our thanks, let us remember all our service
men and women who would wish nothing more than to be gathered with their
families and friends. Let us pray they all return to us, safe and sound.

Yr. Obt. Svt.
G E "Gerry" Mayers

"True patriotism sometimes requires of men to act exactly contrary, at one
period, to that which it does at another, and the motive which impels them--the
desire to do right--is precisely the same. The circumstances which govern their
actions change; and their conduct must conform to the new order of things." --
Robert E. Lee




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Subject: Happy Thanksgiving





   Happy Thanksgiving to you Antietam ers and your Family on this great American
Holiday !!


   May your stuffing be tasty
   May your turkey plump,
   May your potatoes and gravy
   Have never a lump.
   May your yams be delicious
   And your pies take the prize,
   And may your Thanksgiving dinner
   Stay off your thighs!


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Gerry,
  Just a note. I finished your book a bit ago and never got around to writing
you. I thought it was well done and entertaining. I am not a Civil War fanatic
but I do know who is who on either side. I am Virginia born and have lived in MA
almost all of my life. As my wife says about my Civil War wanderings, "they are
all dead, your side lost, get over it". Obviously, not a Civil War fan. I have
spent quite a bit of time hiking in the area so I know the lay of the land. It
was interesting to put the places in the book to places today. All in all, great
effort.

History seems more interesting from a personal standpoint.

thanks again and great effort.
Jeff Lamoureaux

So, whatever happened to the good looking lady in Frederick.


________________________________
  From: G E Mayers <gerry1952@...>
To: CWDG <cwdg@yahoogroups.com>; TalkAntietam Group
<TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2012 12:20 PM
Subject: [TalkAntietam] Thanksgiving


 
Gang;

With today being Thanksgiving and thinking of all the service personnel
scattered so far and wide and away from their families, I am reminded of what
Rufus R Dawes, Captain commanding Company K of the Sixth Wisconsin Volunteer
Infantry in 1861 wrote about the day in the field:

"On the twenty-eighth of November, the regimental mess, composed of the field,
staff and line officers, had a Thanksgiving dinner. We had built a large log
dining hall, which was very comfortable, although home made. Our dinner was no
small affair. Colonel Cutler also made each company in the regiment,
the happy recipient of twenty mince pies, about a quarter of a pie to each man.
I here obtained a leave of absence for ten days, for a visit to Ohio."

On this day, as we gather to give our thanks, let us remember all our service
men and women who would wish nothing more than to be gathered with their
families and friends. Let us pray they all return to us, safe and sound.

Yr. Obt. Svt.
G E "Gerry" Mayers

"True patriotism sometimes requires of men to act exactly contrary, at one
period, to that which it does at another, and the motive which impels them--the
desire to do right--is precisely the same. The circumstances which govern their
actions change; and their conduct must conform to the new order of things." --
Robert E. Lee

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Jeff,

Thank you.. please post a review on whichever site you purchased the novel from
if you can.

I wrote None But Heroes to be entertaining etc for the avid CW buff as well as
someone more like yourself.

As to your question, which good looking lady in Frederick were you asking about?
I started a blog on the novel's historical background and will be going through
the novel and posting on the actual historical incidents etc that are in the
novel, whether whole or in part.

Yr. Obt. Svt.
G E "Gerry" Mayers

https://www.amazon.com/author/gerardemayers

http://nonebutheroes.blogspot.com/

"True patriotism sometimes requires of men to act exactly contrary, at one
period, to that which it does at another, and the motive which impels them--the
desire to do right--is precisely the same. The circumstances which govern their
actions change; and their conduct must conform to the new order of things." --
Robert E. Lee



   -----Original Message-----
   From: TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com [mailto:TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com]On
Behalf Of Jeff Lamoureaux
   Sent: Monday, November 26, 2012 9:49 AM
   To: TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com
   Subject: Re: [TalkAntietam] Thanksgiving



   Hi Gerry,
     Just a note. I finished your book a bit ago and never got around to writing
you. I thought it was well done and entertaining. I am not a Civil War fanatic
but I do know who is who on either side. I am Virginia born and have lived in MA
almost all of my life. As my wife says about my Civil War wanderings, "they are
all dead, your side lost, get over it". Obviously, not a Civil War fan. I have
spent quite a bit of time hiking in the area so I know the lay of the land. It
was interesting to put the places in the book to places today. All in all, great
effort.

   History seems more interesting from a personal standpoint.

   thanks again and great effort.
   Jeff Lamoureaux

   So, whatever happened to the good looking lady in Frederick.

   ________________________________
   From: G E Mayers <gerry1952@...>
   To: CWDG <cwdg@yahoogroups.com>; TalkAntietam Group
<TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com>
   Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2012 12:20 PM
   Subject: [TalkAntietam] Thanksgiving



   Gang;

   With today being Thanksgiving and thinking of all the service personnel
scattered so far and wide and away from their families, I am reminded of what
Rufus R Dawes, Captain commanding Company K of the Sixth Wisconsin Volunteer
Infantry in 1861 wrote about the day in the field:

   "On the twenty-eighth of November, the regimental mess, composed of the field,
staff and line officers, had a Thanksgiving dinner. We had built a large log
dining hall, which was very comfortable, although home made. Our dinner was no
small affair. Colonel Cutler also made each company in the regiment,
   the happy recipient of twenty mince pies, about a quarter of a pie to each
man. I here obtained a leave of absence for ten days, for a visit to Ohio."

   On this day, as we gather to give our thanks, let us remember all our service
men and women who would wish nothing more than to be gathered with their
families and friends. Let us pray they all return to us, safe and sound.

   Yr. Obt. Svt.
   G E "Gerry" Mayers

   "True patriotism sometimes requires of men to act exactly contrary, at one
period, to that which it does at another, and the motive which impels them--the
desire to do right--is precisely the same. The circumstances which govern their
actions change; and their conduct must conform to the new order of things." --
Robert E. Lee

   [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

   [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi, Folks.

Can someone kindly identify which bridges were supported by the two sets of
stone ruins on the Potomac between the Route 34 bridge and the Norfolk Southern
Railroad bridge? From what I've read:

The first covered bridge was burned by Confederates in 1861.

The second covered bridge, built by John Wood in 1871, was destroyed in the 1889
flood.

An iron bridge replaced John Wood's bridge, but was destroyed by the 1936 flood.

A bridge dedicated to James Rumsey was built in 1939; when the current bridge
opened in 2005, the 1939 bridge was destroyed with explosives.

One set of ruins is just east of Route 34, while the other is farther east,
located just before the railroad bridge.

Thanks,

Steve

Comparing the Michler map from LOC with Google Earth, today's Canal Rd. is the
old alingment of the Boonsboro-Shepherdstown Pke (Rt. 34). That means the piers
were from an earlier road bridge likely the bridge burned by Jackson in 1861.
The piers closer to today's RR bridge are probably an earlier RR bridge but I
haven't found corroboration. The RR wasn't built there in 1867 or earlier.

--- In TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com, "cowie_steve" <cowie_steve@...> wrote:
>
> Hi, Folks.
>
> Can someone kindly identify which bridges were supported by the two sets of
stone ruins on the Potomac between the Route 34 bridge and the Norfolk Southern
Railroad bridge? From what I've read:
>
> The first covered bridge was burned by Confederates in 1861.
>
> The second covered bridge, built by John Wood in 1871, was destroyed in the
1889 flood.
>
> An iron bridge replaced John Wood's bridge, but was destroyed by the 1936
flood.
>
> A bridge dedicated to James Rumsey was built in 1939; when the current bridge
opened in 2005, the 1939 bridge was destroyed with explosives.
>
> One set of ruins is just east of Route 34, while the other is farther east,
located just before the railroad bridge.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Steve
>

I believe that Pleasant Valley is the name given to the valley between South
Mountain and Elk Ridge given all the sources I've read. The valley to the east
of South Mountain between it and the  Catoctin Mountains I've seen named
Middletown Valley or Catoctin Valley. If anyone has sources showing otherwise,
please let me know. I know that standing on places on the Catoctin Mountains and
looking west to South Mountain, the pleasant valley between should be renamed
Pleasant Valley.

Also, opera lovers to the contrary, our famous authority re the Maryland
Campaign is spelled "Carman" not "Carmen." Easy mistake to make.

I'm still finding typos, etc., in my cav book, which I plan on correcting in my
second edition.

Larry

Hi, Larry.

Thanks for your input. I did some further searching and your theory about the
railroad bridge is correct: the current RR bridge spanning the Potomac is the
Norfolk Southern, built in 1904. The piers next to it supported an earlier
railroad bridge that was built in 1880.

Thanks,

Steve

--- In TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com, "eighth_conn_inf" <eighth_conn_inf@...>
wrote:
>
> Comparing the Michler map from LOC with Google Earth, today's Canal Rd. is the
old alingment of the Boonsboro-Shepherdstown Pke (Rt. 34). That means the piers
were from an earlier road bridge likely the bridge burned by Jackson in 1861.
The piers closer to today's RR bridge are probably an earlier RR bridge but I
haven't found corroboration. The RR wasn't built there in 1867 or earlier.
>
> --- In TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com, "cowie_steve" <cowie_steve@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi, Folks.
> >
> > Can someone kindly identify which bridges were supported by the two sets of
stone ruins on the Potomac between the Route 34 bridge and the Norfolk Southern
Railroad bridge? From what I've read:
> >
> > The first covered bridge was burned by Confederates in 1861.
> >
> > The second covered bridge, built by John Wood in 1871, was destroyed in the
1889 flood.
> >
> > An iron bridge replaced John Wood's bridge, but was destroyed by the 1936
flood.
> >
> > A bridge dedicated to James Rumsey was built in 1939; when the current
bridge opened in 2005, the 1939 bridge was destroyed with explosives.
> >
> > One set of ruins is just east of Route 34, while the other is farther east,
located just before the railroad bridge.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Steve
> >
>

Dear All,

I would like to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a most blessed New Year.
Now that we have (apparently) all survived the Mayan Apocalypse and the start of
the 14th Baktun heralding a new age and a new beginning, let us be thankful for
our friends, family and mutual interests.

May 2013 be more than just a year to commemorate Chancellorsville, Vicksburg,
Gettysburg and Chickamauga... may we see a redoubling of efforts at preservation
of endangered Civil War sites, large and small.

Yr. Obt. Svt.
G E "Gerry" Mayers
https://www.amazon.com/author/gerardemayers
http://nonebutheroes.blogspot.com/

"True patriotism sometimes requires of men to act exactly contrary, at one
period, to that which it does at another, and the motive which impels them--the
desire to do right--is precisely the same. The circumstances which govern their
actions change; and their conduct must conform to the new order of things." --
Robert E. Lee

Same to you Gerry and everyone else.


Paula

----- Original Message -----
From: "G E Mayers" <gerry1952@...>
To: "CWDG" <cwdg@yahoogroups.com>, "TalkAntietam Group"
<TalkAntietam@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 25, 2012 12:34:17 PM
Subject: [TalkAntietam] Christmas Wishes

Dear All,

I would like to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a most blessed New Year.
Now that we have (apparently) all survived the Mayan Apocalypse and the start of
the 14th Baktun heralding a new age and a new beginning, let us be thankful for
our friends, family and mutual interests.

May 2013 be more than just a year to commemorate Chancellorsville, Vicksburg,
Gettysburg and Chickamauga... may we see a redoubling of efforts at preservation
of endangered Civil War sites, large and small.

Yr. Obt. Svt.
G E "Gerry" Mayers
https://www.amazon.com/author/gerardemayers
http://nonebutheroes.blogspot.com/

"True patriotism sometimes requires of men to act exactly contrary, at one
period, to that which it does at another, and the motive which impels them--the
desire to do right--is precisely the same. The circumstances which govern their
actions change; and their conduct must conform to the new order of things." --
Robert E. Lee



------------------------------------


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Happy Holidays to all Talk Antietam members and fellow ACW enthusiasts.

Larry

Gang,

After the New Year I plan to start a companion novel to my first novel None But
Heroes. This second novel will examine the same Maryland Campaign but through
the eyes of a veteran of the Irish Brigade, part of Richardson's division of the
2nd Corps, Army of the Potomac.

I have some questions I need some assistance with answering:

1. Did the 2nd Corps under Sumner take any active part at all in the 2nd Bull
Run campaign? If it did, what role did it play and to what extent?

2. IIRC the 2nd Corps helped anchor the left flank of the advance of the AoP
from Washington City, thereby securing the Potomac River part of Maryland from
any feared Confederate invasion of Washington City. (This was a big bugbear for
General in Chief Halleck as well as Secretary of War Stanton.)

3. When did the 2nd Corps concentrate near Frederick and what was sits order of
march when the 9th Corps made its advance towards Turner's and Fox's Gaps on
South Mountain and the subsequent fighting there?

4. Where was the 2nd Corps and Richardson's division in the line of march during
the pursuit of Longstreet and Hill following the CS withdrawal from Turner's and
Fox's Gaps on the morning of September 15th?

5. Where did the 2nd Corps generally bivouac in the hours leading up to the
battle on September 17th?

I already know that Mac held Richardson's division back as a sort of general
reserve pending the arrival of Morrell (IIRC) with his division; this was the
primary reason why (again IIRC) it did not support Sedgwick's advance into the
West Woods sector of the fighting.

Does Vince Armstrong's book "Advance the Colors" answer these questions?

Thanks for your help!

Yr. Obt. Svt.
G E "Gerry" Mayers
https://www.amazon.com/author/gerardemayers
http://nonebutheroes.blogspot.com/

"True patriotism sometimes requires of men to act exactly contrary, at one
period, to that which it does at another, and the motive which impels them--the
desire to do right--is precisely the same. The circumstances which govern their
actions change; and their conduct must conform to the new order of things." --
Robert E. Lee

Hi Gerry:

In answer to your #1 question, the 2nd Corps was the last to reach the
Washington area, arriving in Arlington on August 28th. (From the  Peninsula
campaign)  They were designated by Mac to guard the  approaches to the city,
and on the 30th they began the move to Centerville,  arriving there on the
31st. They then participated in the retreat back to  Washington.

That was pretty much the extent of their involvement in the 2nd Bull Run
campaign.

Hope everyone had a wonderful and safe Christmas.
Mike Lavis


In a message dated 12/29/2012 3:00:08 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
gerry1952@... writes:

Gang,

After the New Year I plan to start a companion novel  to my first novel
None But Heroes. This second novel will examine the same  Maryland Campaign but
through the eyes of a veteran of the Irish Brigade, part  of Richardson's
division of the 2nd Corps, Army of the Potomac.

I have  some questions I need some assistance with answering:

1. Did the 2nd  Corps under Sumner take any active part at all in the 2nd
Bull Run campaign?  If it did, what role did it play and to what extent?

2. IIRC the 2nd  Corps helped anchor the left flank of the advance of the
AoP from Washington  City, thereby securing the Potomac River part of
Maryland from any feared  Confederate invasion of Washington City. (This was a
big
bugbear for General  in Chief Halleck as well as Secretary of War Stanton.)

3. When did the  2nd Corps concentrate near Frederick and what was sits
order of march when the  9th Corps made its advance towards Turner's and Fox's
Gaps on South Mountain  and the subsequent fighting there?

4. Where was the 2nd Corps and  Richardson's division in the line of march
during the pursuit of Longstreet  and Hill following the CS withdrawal from
Turner's and Fox's Gaps on the  morning of September 15th?

5. Where did the 2nd Corps generally bivouac  in the hours leading up to
the battle on September 17th?

I already know  that Mac held Richardson's division back as a sort of
general reserve pending  the arrival of Morrell (IIRC) with his division; this
was the primary reason  why (again IIRC) it did not support Sedgwick's advance
into the West Woods  sector of the fighting.

Does Vince Armstrong's book "Advance the  Colors" answer these questions?

Thanks for your help!

Yr. Obt.  Svt.
G E "Gerry"  Mayers
https://www.amazon.com/author/gerardemayers
http://nonebutheroes.blogspot.com/

"True  patriotism sometimes requires of men to act exactly contrary, at one
period,  to that which it does at another, and the motive which impels
them--the desire  to do right--is precisely the same. The circumstances which
govern their  actions change; and their conduct must conform to the new order
of things." --  Robert E.  Lee



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