Why is the recent discovery of the John Bell Hood papers and documents important and why should you care?

I want to start off this interview series acknowledging that Eric Wittenberg’s initial interview with Sam Hood lays the foundation for my interviews. Please start by reading Eric’s interview.

Who is Sam Hood?

Sam Hood is a graduate of Kentucky Military Institute, Marshall University (bachelor of arts, 1976), and a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. A collateral descendent of General John Bell Hood, Sam is a retired industrial construction company owner, past member of the Board of Directors of the Blue Gray Education Society of Chatham, Virginia, and is a past president of the Board of Directors of Confederate Memorial Hall Museum in New Orleans. Sam resides in his hometown of Huntington, West Virginia and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with his wife of thirty-five years, Martha, and is the proud father of two sons: Derek Hood of Lexington, Kentucky, and Taylor Hood of Barboursville, West Virginia.

Sam Hood made an exciting announcement on October 19th, 2012. Using the Historic Carnton Plantation as his backdrop for a media announcement, Sam revealed that he had “discovered” an extremely important collection of papers, documents and personal items related to Confederate General John Bell Hood. The documents are presently in private hands of a Hood descendant in Pennsylvania. Sam himself is a second cousin to John Bell Hood.

Who are the historians and authors I interviewed for this series of blogposts?

Sam Hood, William T. Davis, Steven E. Woodworth, Wiley Sword, Chris Losson and Thomas Flagel.

Why are the newly discovered Hood papers important?

The news of the documents is exciting, not only for the amount of primary resources it now provides scholars and historians, but for the potentially new interpretations that could come from examining the material.  Sam Hood says that he is absolutely sure the primary resources that have been revealed were personally used by John Bell Hood to construct his memoirs, Advance and Retreat: Personal Experiences in the United States and Confederate States Armies, “which served to justify his actions, particularly in response to what he considered misleading or false accusations made by Joseph E. Johnston, and to unfavorable portrayals in Sherman’s memoirs. (Wikipedia)”

If there are newly warranted interpretations that come from the papers, long-noted critic of John Bell Hood, author and historian Wiley Sword says that the new papers must not stand isolated, on their own:

“Since the new material must be put in context with the existing Hood materials, it should be evident from the beginning that the new documents will NOT STAND ALONE in an interpretation of Hood’s career. Hopefully, they will be a significant adjunct enabling further interpretation and insight, but care must be taken in discounting or ignoring existing original material. Once full access to the new materials (not merely their interpretation and partial reporting) is generated, we will have a better means to review what aspects of Hood’s career might be revised or reinterpreted.”

For those who would quickly conclude that the new Hood papers will significantly re-shape our understanding of John Bell Hood, esteemed T.C.U. Professor and historian Steven E. Woodworth advises:

“It’s way too early to know much about this. It might be big, might not. We just don’t know yet. I think the papers will need to be carefully studied by several well trained and/or experienced historians before we can begin to say how significant this find is.”

In the end, the Hood papers will be deemed valuable by historians from a variety of perspectives. It will largely depend on what one is (or is not) looking for.  Historian and author Chris Losson (author of a book on Confederate General Frank Cheatham) states:

“I would hope that the papers contain information which will more fully explain Hood as a corps commander but particularly as commander of the Army of Tennessee.”

What does the newly revealed collection contain regarding John Bell Hood?

According to Wittenberg’s interview with Sam Hood:

Approximately 80 letters to Hood by high and lower ranked Civil War characters, Union and Confederate, wartime and postwar. Correspondents include Jefferson Davis, Robert E Lee, SD Lee, Braxton Bragg, James Seddon, AP Stewart, WH Jackson, SG French, William Bate, Henry Clayton, FA Shoup, Mrs Leonidas Polk, William M Polk, WS Featherston, Stonewall Jackson, James Longstreet, David S Terry, Matthew C Butler, GW Smith, PGT Beauregard, Louis T Wigfall, George Thomas, WT Sherman, and numerous lower ranked officers, mostly members of commanders’ staffs.

There are 61 postwar letters from Hood to his wife Anna, and 35 from Anna to him as he traveled in his insurance business. Also included are Dr John T Darby’s two highly detailed medical reports of Hood’s Gettysburg and Chickamauga wounds, and the daily log of Hood’s treatment and recovery from the day of his leg amputation until November 24 in Richmond.

The collection also includes Hood’s Orders and Dispatches log and 4 volumes of Telegram logs for his entire tenure as commander of the Army of Tennessee. Additionally, Hood’s first and second lieutenant’s commission certificates from the US Army are in the collection, along with 4 remarkable documents: his original commission certificates for his ranks of brigadier general, major general, lieutenant general, and full general in the Confederate Army. There are also numerous photographs and other ephemera of Hood, his children, and his grandchildren.( Read Eric’s interview. )

What has been the response among historians in the field since the announcement of the collection?

Veteran and trusted author-historian William C. Davis (professor of history at Virginia Tech University and Director of Programs at Virginia Tech’s Virginia Center for Civil War Studies. ) takes a more cautionary approach:

“My immediate response is not to place too much hope for revelations in the papers, but that is based solely on the slim descriptions provided in the Tennesseean article.  I would hope for some personal insights into Hood, but that would require personal letters by him, or from those who knew him very well.  It sounds like this cache is mostly letters to Hood rather than from him.  If I had to guess, I would suspect that the bulk of these are items he gathered while writing his memoir.  As such they will be from people whow ere friends and associates most likely to support his version of events.  That is the way with all memoirs, alas.”

Historian and critic of Hood, Wiley Sword hopes the collection will shed light on some of the more controversial aspects of Hood’s career:

“Since there are many controversial aspects to Hood’s career, hopefully there will be further clarification of some of the more crucial aspects of events and his intentions. For example, Tom Connelly in his Autumn of Glory cites the clandestine Hood correspondence with the Davis administration while serving under Joe Johnston in the Army of Tennessee (pp. 322-323). Much as the president’s watch dog, Hood was informing on Johnston without the later’s knowledge, in a highly prejudiced manner. This original correspondence is in the Western Reserve Historical Collection, Cleveland, Ohio (William P. Palmer Collection of Braxton Bragg papers), and perhaps in the new materials there may be an indication or further evidence of Hood’s instructions to keep Davis and Bragg informed on Johnston, whom neither trusted well. Of course, there are many other aspects of Hood’s career that need further explaining, including his thinking during the  1864 Tennessee Campaign. This would be a much desired clarification of the many disastrous decisions Hood made.”

Historian and author Thomas Flagel perhaps says it best in terms of how the recent discovery of Hood papers’ reminds us that history is still alive:

“On the recent Hood sources, I can be certain of this: it is a magnificent find because it proves once again that History is alive, and it is quite skilled in the element of surprise. Until I get into the documents, and well after, it will be difficult to gauge their magnitude. But their discovery is yet another reason why I love this profession. These are memories lost, and now they have found their way back into the collective consciousness. A few weeks ago, most of us did not know these letters existed. Now, our past, present, and future will not look quite like it did before.”

What does a Civil War era Masonic pin look like?

I recently blogged about a true Franklin story regarding how a Union Mason saved the life of a Confederate wounded Mason. As the story goes, a Union Mason soldier noticed the Confederate was wearing a Masonic pin and thus saved his life. At first I could not imagine how a Union soldier could even recognize a small pin that the Confederate would have been wearing. Then I checked on eBay and found this.  If William F. Gibson was wearing anything like this one I can understand how the Union soldier would’ve seen it.

Masonic pin belonging to William Clark, it has a date of 1863 on it.

Read: Confederate soldier from Arkansas saved by a fellow Mason who was a Union soldier

New Civil War “timeline book” is worth every penny for the serious Civil War student

The newly released “The Library of Congress Illustrated Timeline of the Civil War” by Little-Brown is instantly the best resource of its kind on the market, and well it should be. The senior writer and editor in the Publishing Office has led an effort to produce a first-rate reference book.  Every public library should have this book and even the casual Civil War enthusiast will thoroughly enjoy perusing its pages.

It’s a typical over-sized reference book ( 13 x 9 3.4), but thin enough – with just 240 pages – to stand alongside one’s existing Civil War atlases.  The layout is consistent, pleasing, and chalked full of interesting quotes and with more than 350 color illustrations.

The illustrations are not just eye-candy for the reader either, although many of the images used in the book are very rare. A few I have to admit I’ve never seen before.  One will find

manuscripts in Lincoln’s own hand, onsite drawings made by a Civil War combat artist, maps, color lithographs, political cartoons, posters, [and] period photographs.

Margaret E. Wagner is no stranger to Civil War reference books either. She is the co-author and co-editor of “The Library of Congress Civil War Desk Reference” and “The Library of Congress World War II Companion.” She is also the author of “The American Civil War: 365 Days,” “World War II: 365 Days,” and “Maxfield Parrish and the Illustrators of the Golden Age.”

Most pages are divided into two parts. The top half (about 40% of the page layout) contains the artfully chosen illustrations to supplement the text. My favorites are images of actual hand-drawn pictures from the period.  The bottom 60% of the page contains the text based on a pertinent event for a given day of the month/year.

I was delighted to even find an entry for May 12-13th, 1862, for the escape of The Planterby Robert Smalls and his clandestine crew. The inclusion of this event shows the editor and her staff are well-informed as to an event that is normally overlooked by most resources of its kind.

The fine book retails for just $35.00 but can be purchased from Amazon for a mere $22.00 or so.

Book review: The History Buff’s Guide to the Civil War by Thomas Flagel

Professor/author/historian/preservationist and friend, Thomas Flagel has recently published a new edition of his book entitled “The History Buff’s Guide to the Civil War”.

Here are my top ten reasons to read/buy this book, although my order is not relevant?

1. It’s the best “list-kinda” book available.  Many of these kind of books have been published over the years but Flagel’s has depth, reasonableness, and uniqueness compared to similar volumes in this genre.
2. He’s starting his Ph.D., in the fall and he needs to pay for it.  Buy the book.  Buy two and give one away even.
3. His organization and taxonomy is smart, useful and broad.
4. For just under the price of a large Tuscan Six-cheese pizza from Papa Johns you will have the single resource in your hands to amaze all your friends during Trivial Pursuit night.
5. The book averages over 4-stars on Amazon reviews.
6. It just might impress the administration at Columbia State Community College, where he teaches, resulting in a significant raise, or at least a bigger classroom.
7. Because everyone should read at least one Civil War book during the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War this year, and it might as well be this book.
8. He asked me to review the book for him.
9. It’s big and fat, affordable, and will look impressive next to the worthless fiction books on your nightstand.
10. After reading it, you will be sufficiently literate to enjoy the very first Civil War Roundtable meeting you attend in your area.

From the publisher:

The publisher, Cumberland House, provided this commentary:

The 150th anniversary of the American Civil War is just months away, and the conflict’s very language still resonates within our national narrative. Texas rumbles with the sounds of secession.  “States’ rights” remains a battle cry over boarder security, civil unions, and taxation. Groundswells against federalism have given birth to a political faction.  The country still struggles with issues concerning race.

Author and historian Thomas R. Flagel offers a new and provocative perspective on the very source of these crises, through his newest edition of The History Buff’s Guide to the Civil War.

An era often referenced but rarely comprehended, the four-year maelstrom induced a trauma unprecedented and unsurpassed in the American experience. The modern nation North and South may still be contending with anger and denial, unable to graduate towards acceptance. Considering the evidence, often overlooked by other histories, our lingering divisions are understandable.

Flagel provides a deeper clarity and perspective on tough issues of the Civil War that will have you debating new and intriguing questions in no time…

• While the U.S. has lost nearly 5,600 brave Americans in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Civil War killed an average of 5,600 soldiers every twelve days.
• The “War Between the States” caused the national debt to swell 4,000%, by far the highest percentage increase in American history.
• In 1860, Mississippi was the 4^th wealthiest state in the country. By 1865, it had become one of the poorest. It has remained near the bottom ever since.
• The average age of a Civil War veteran was 26, and many suffered from “Soldier’s Heart,” known today as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
• If the war were fought today, and consume the same proportion of the population, the death toll would be approximately 5.8 million.

The History Buff’s Guide to the Civil War (Order from Amazon)

Thomas R. Flagel

Cumberland House, 2010

ISBN 978-1-58182-371-4

Paperback, 400 pages, illustrated, annotated, indexed

MSRP $16.95

Recent emails from Battle of Franklin descendants

The following emails reflect correspondence sent to me from September thru November 2011

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My great-great grandfather Robert Goff (Co. F., 50th Ohio) fought in this battle.   His name and an account is mentioned in the Carter House Facebook, see below.  Would you happen to know the source of this account or know who may know.  Thanks.

bruce.goff[at]sbcglobal.net

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My ggreat uncle is supposed to be buried at McGavock Cemetery in section 69, lot 26, Alabama. His name is Robert Allen Croxton.  He died November 30, 1864.  My ggrandfather, Henry Pleasant Yarbrough, was in the 17th Alabama with Robert, who was his brother-in-law.   My ggrandfather survived and stayed behind on the burial team.  When he made it to Tupelo, he was furloughed due to illness.  He was paroled in Montgomery, AL in 1865.

It amazes me that my 19 year old great great grandfather made it back home safely after going through the Atlanta campaign and then the Battle of Franklin.  He lost another brother-in-law from the 17th (Elijah Minter Croxton) at the Battle of Peach Tree Creek. He lost two brothers in other battles, but I’m not sure which since they were not in the 17th Alabama.  An interesting side note is that I had two great great grandfathers (both on my father’s side) fighting against each other in at least one battle, the Battle at Peach Tree Creek.  The other man fought with the 66th Ohio. 

I’ve just recently been able to connect my family to the Battle of Franklin through a book I recently purchased, The Seventeenth Alabama Infantry, A Regimental History and Roster by Illene D. Thompson and Wilbur E. Thompson.   According to the book, the 17th had 76 casualties at Franklin, with four from Company F, my family members’ company.

Thanks so much for your blog and all the information you’ve taken the time to share.  It has helped me so much.  I look forward to the pictures.

Susan Luckie
Montgomery, Alabama
susan0326[at]gmail.com

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Brigadier General John Adams (wife Georgiana McDougall Adams) was my great-grandfather. I am the grandson of John Adams (Ida Kinsella), his oldest son) and the son (only child) of Charles T. Adams (Dorothy Green). I was raised for the most part in St. Louis. All  of these descendents except for General Adams are buried in St. Louis (Calvary Cemetery). I don’t know much about Brig Gen John Adams except that he was Irish and I am a direct descendant. I would like to visit Franklin, TN, and know more about him to pass on to my sons and daughter. Thank you, Larry Adams
ladams[at]sbcglobal.net

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My Grandfather’s grandfather, G.S.W. Bell, died at the Battle of Franklin.  He was in the 29th Mississippi Infantry.

This is known by family tradition and his estate papers found in the Coffeeville, Yalobusha County, MS. courthouse. The estate record indicate he died in November, 1864, which confirms family tradition. Is there any way to add his name to the list that died and buried there??  There was no indication his body was returned to MS.  He had a Powell cousin who also died there, but his body was returned to the family at Adams, Tn. and that is documented.  These are grandsons of the John Bell harassed by the Bell Witch in Adams, TN.

Thanks-I would like to recognize G.S.W. Bell in 2014 on the 150 anniversary for the family.

Thanks.  Sharon Hamilton

Plainview, Arkansas
shamilton[at]arkwest.com

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I thank you for sending me the information on Toliver taylor being buried for sure in the grave yard. With the correct name of Taliaferro Taylor I was able to find out from a museum in Kentucky that he definately was the son of George Taylor the brother of President Z. Taylor. and the grandson of Richard Taylor. It is documented on Find a Grave memorial #3307012 which was also previously documented so I can quit bugging people. A fellow decendent also did a book on the decendents of Richard Taylor complete with pictures of the grave and the cemetary which is so nice. I do know quite a few of them and will encourage them to contact you if you want. Do I just give them this e-mail address? Sallie Hood
sallies_cottage[at]yahoo.com>

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I found you on the Battle of Franklin website.  I enjoyed the videos, both wonderful, but I’m a Van Morrison fan.I read that you were working on a map…I was wondering how hard it is to find a particular grave.  I will be bringing my 89 year old Mother to McGavock this month and wanted to find William Allen Martin (her Great-grandfather) of Henry County, VA.  He was a member of Co F, Smith’s Legion  of the 1st Georgia, Partisan Rangers.  On find-a-grave, there is something about “Oak Level” and I don’t know if that refers to an area in the cemetery.  Is there a way to find out where he is located?  I just wanted to cut down on her walking.We would love to catch you and your free 20 min tour!
Medora Johnson
medorafj[at]att.net

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I believe my great=great paternal grandfather was part of this group his name was Basil Harris he lived in tishomingo Misissippi.  He is buried at Bynum cementary. any info or if you can tell me if he fought with your ancestors,He was in the 6th MS. infantry.mY E-MAIL IS rosepetal404210[at]yahoo.com

Linda Harris

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I am wondering how much you would charge me to take a picture of A M Laney’s tombstone.  He is in section 25 Mississippi grave 51.  He never got home to see his 4 month old baby.  His wife was left with four small children to raise.  He is my husband’s great freat grandfather.  Do they have anything like this from the battle of Cornith Mississippi.  He had another great grandfather who died from wounds in that battle.  Thank You Mary Ann Carter MaryAnnVuylsteke[at]aol.com

I don’t know who Jim is.  A. M. Laney was Asa Minor Laney born 17 dec 1836 Henry co Ga to Phillip Laney and Elizabeth Wade.  They moved up to Winston Co., Miss after 1840 but never appear on a census record there until after Philip dies in 1868 his wife Elizabeth is finally in one in her sons household.  Asa married Nancy R. Brewer 6 may 1856 in Winston Co so they were there   before then.  He had a brother maried in Winston before this 1853.
Philip and Elizabeth buried two children in Henry /Campbell Co., Georgia Dec 1841.  Asa and Nancy had four children the last one after he was in service Asa Minor Jr was born 9 july 1864.  I have a copy of a letter  Asa sent to his brother  O D. Laney Aug 13th 1864 near Atlanta, Ga.  Talking about how he can’t wait to get home to see his new son.  I can send you a copy of this if interested in exchange for the picture.  He was a private 5th Ms Inf Co F (Winston Rifles).  Do you have a book available on the battle of Franklin?  I would love to find out what other battles he fought in, who his commanding officer was. Joseph Comfort Captain, Enterprise, Ms–Sam Faucett 1st Lt.  I have also been interested in the Civil War area.  Sure glad I didn’t live then.  Don’t see how any man came out of it alive they way they fought back then.  Asa had a brother in law  William McElroy killed at Chattonooga 21 August 1863 private Winston Rifles.  Nancy Brewer Laney had a brother David Jefferson/Jeff Brewer  killed or died from wounds Pensacola, Fl.  He was also a private in 5th Miss Co., F (Winston Rifles) I guess this tells me a little they were in Pensacola, Fl but don’t know when, Chattonooga, Tenn in 1863 and Franklin by 1864.  My husband had other great grandfathers who fought in the War.  He had a great grandfather Robert Forrester  died from wounds at the battle of Cornith–Hatchie Bridge   died 15 oct 1862 Holly Springs, Ms.  He was in Co C 8th Bat’n Arkansas Inf. Private. He was under Cabell’s brigade.  He left two small daughters for his wife to raise.  She remarried but Nancy Brewer Laney never did.

Richard Hanan McKay another Ms great grandfather rode with Forrest Calvary casually Co 1 5th Miss

William Patterson McGee 11Miss Cav  Perrine’s Regt

Thank you for your help

Mary Ann Carter

2118 Hwy AP

Catawissa, MO 63015  If you would like a copy of the letter please send me your address  thank you

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Did you know they named a fort after Mervin? Fort Clark, after Lieutenant Colonel Mervin Clark, One hundred and eighty-third Ohio Infantry, killed in the battle of Franklin, Tenn., November 30, 1864. Mervin Clark, 17 years old when enlisted in June 1861, Field & Staff (Lt. Col.); killed at Franklin. Buried at Stone’s River National Cemetery. He is a relative of mine.
markroymyers[at]msn.com

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My name is Steve Radel from St. Louis & my great-grandfather was Samuel Maxfield who served with the 16th Kentucky Infantry at the Battle of Franklin.  I’ve been doing some research on the Battles at Franklin & Nashville in anticipation of my visit to the area on Sept 23-24.  I kind of stumbled across your website in the process &, although I haven’t been able to read all of the info yet, I’m amazed at your research & dedication to Civil War history. I just realized today the level of the intense fighting that Samuel must have been involved in at the Battle of Franklin, as it appears that he must have been involved with the heavy hand-to-hand combat that occurred near the Carter House.  I’m certainly gald that he came thru it alive, as my grandfather was not born until 7 years after the war was over.Please add my name to your list of descendants of the battle.  I’m very interested in learning more about the history of the battle & will be surely visiting the Carter House when I’m in the area.Thanks for all of your work in preserving the history of the Civil War. Steve Radel
sradel[at]primary.net

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I have copies of discharge papers and a discharage certificate for my gggrandfather:  Corporal Oregon C Taylor of Captain William T Ogle’s (?) Company H (?), 8th Regiment of the Iowa Cavalry.  The discharge papers are dated Aug 13, 1865 at Macon, GA.  I have a photos of him but none in uniform. I am still trying to get more information on him and two other ancestors who fought…
Jenny Wakefield

jenny.wakefield[at]gmail.com

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I ran across your Battle of Franklin web site this evening and was interested in the regimental history that’s included there.  My great grandfather, Abner (“Ab”) Richard Smutz, served in the 8th Iowa Cav.  Details concerning his service appear below.  He had a brother, David, who also served in the unit.

My questions:

1)  Is there a way to confirm that Abner fought in the Battle of Franklin?  I’m assuming he did, but don’t know for sure.

2)  I have wondered about the various ranks of Corporal held by my grandfather and included in the summary below.  Do you know where one might find more information on this subject?

Thanks and all the best,

Darryl Smutz, Sandy Hook, Virginia

doubled46[at]comcast.net