Notes and Queries

NOTES AND QUERIES Edited by Boyd B. Stutler 517 Main Street Charleston, West Virginia This department is designed as an open forum for researchers into Civil War themes and for readers of Civil War History in general. It is open for questions on and discussions of phases of the Great Conflict and its personnel. Also, we welcome notes on newly discovered, little known, or other sidelights of the war. Contributions are invited: address Notes and Queries Editor, 517 Main Street, Charleston, West Virginia . QUERIES No. 75—Field Officers of Consolidated Confederate Regiments: I am collecting materials on regimental organizations in the Confederate service and their commanding officers, which I hope to develop into a volume of regimental histories and biographical sketches of the field officers. Most of the Southern States have in some way or another published lists of their regiments and field officers, but I have come upon one perplexing problem. On or about April 9, 1865, the Army of Tennessee was reorganized by the consolidation of several regiments from the same state, the original units being too small for effective field duty. Some, if not all, of these consolidated regiments were given a new numerical designation and most of them a new commanding officer. Some of the new colonels had already held that rank in another regiment, but several officers rating as low as major were promoted to colonel by General Joseph E. Johnston. Twenty-eight of these consolidated regiments were formed, and I have identified by name the colonel commanding all but seven of them. The highest officer I have found for these regiments is lieutenant colonel. The seven regiments and the lieutenant colonels are (1) 1st Florida Infantry, E. Marshburn; (2) 1st Texas Infantry , W. A. Ryan; (3) 1st Tennessee Infantry, O. A. Bradshaw; (4) 2nd Tennessee Infantry, George W. Pease; (5) 15th Mississippi In199 200CIVIL WA R HISTORY fantry, Thomas B. Graham; (6) 19th South Carolina Infantry, C. Irvine Walker; and (7) 58th North Carolina Infantry, T. Coleman. Query: Can any reader supply the name of a higher ranking commanding officer of any of these regiments? Gerald Wayne Mogren No. 76—Field Maps and Plot To Capture General Grant: 1.I have a number of field maps, lithographed, made during the Civil War, one of which bears the imprint of J. Bien. The Dictionary of American Biography says: "During the Civil War itself Bien made an active contribution by equipping a field map printing outfit for Sherman on his march to the sea. . . ." Also, a photographed map with imprint : "Photographed by Brown and Ogilrie." I think this was a New Orleans outfit, or at least located in Louisiana. Query: Can anyone furnish information on Bien and his field plant, and on the location and work of Brown and Ogilrie? 2.In Famous Adventures and Prison Escapes of the Civil War a letter from Major General Sterling Price to Captain George L. Baxter, commanding Beauregard Scouts, dated August 6, 1862, Tupelo, Mississippi , refers to a plan to capture General Grant. The letter was found after the surrender of Vicksburg, and is as follows: "The Major General commanding directs me to say that he submits it altogether to your own discretion whether you make the attempt to capture Gen. Grant or not. While the exploit would be very brilliant if successful, you must remember that failure would be disastrous to you and your men. The Gen. commends your activity and energy, and expects you to continue to show these qualities." Signed by Thomas L. Snead, Assistant Adjutant General. The same letter, without comment, is printed in Official Records, Ser. I, XVII, pt. 2, p. 667. Query: Was any attempt made to carry out Captain Baxter's plan, or any effort made during the Mississippi and Vicksburg campaign to capture General Grant? R. K. Haerle No. 77—Did Any Confederate Outfit Wear Kilts? The West Virginia Highlanders—a pipe band with color and cannon party—has been invited and will participate in Civil War centennial observances. The group wears authentic Scottish Highland military dress and would prefer to wear this uniform in appearances in parades and other observances, but will conform to the requirements of each occasion. We...