FYIs - short history lessons, trivia and facts by Sue Brown (Other CVHRI members are invited to make contributions. Email to webmaster@cvhri.com)
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Did You Know????
(April 09) Abraham Lincoln had a brother in law that served during the War. He was Confederate Brigadier Benjamin Hardin Helm. Helm, (who was married to Emilie Todd, the half-sister of Mary Todd Lincoln), was commissioned a colonel on October 19, 1861, and served under Brig. Gen.. Simon B. Buckner in Bowling Green Kentucky. He was promoted to brigadier general on March 14, 1862, and was given command of the 1st Kentucky “Orphan” Brigade several months later. He was mortally wounded September 21, 1863 at the Battle of Chickamauga. He died on the battlefield the following day, with his last word being "Victory." Following his death, Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln went into mourning at the White House and allowed Emilie Todd Helm safe passage to the White House in December 1863.
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So you think????? (March 09)
With times being tough today,
you think prices of things are crazy… but look at comparisons of 1864
prices!!!! Rampant inflation and growing shortages showed in the high
prices! Towards the end of the war in
Food stuffs: Flour $1,500 per barrel ($6.00), Eggs $150 per dozen, Beef $15 per lb, Ham $350 each, Bacon $20 per lb (12 ½ cents), Chickens about $50 while Turkeys brought a little more $50 - $100 each, Butter $15-$20 per lb (20 cents per lb), Corn $10/ dozen ears (75 cents a bushel), Cabbage $10 a head, Watermelon $20 and the all essential coffee, if you could get it, was $50 per lb( 35 cents per lb). Clothing: Calico $30 - $35 per yd., nice wool dress $800, Cloak $1,000 - $1,500, Balmoral Boots $25 per pair, French Kid Gloves $125 per pair, Ladies hats $600- $1,500, New Bonnet $200 but you could buy a used bonnet for $70. Needles were $5 for a sheet of them, Spool of Thread $4.00. High prices considering that a Confederate Soldier earned $11 per month which was later $18.00 per month. Southern workmen made $4.00 per day. By ’63 a workman was up to $30 per day. When money ran out or not accepted, people resorted to bartering whatever they had, animals, furniture, clothing, etc.
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Did you know??? (February 09)The Medal of Honor was first issued during the Civil War, and since it was the only military award for valor during that war, 1,527 medals were awarded. Of those 1,527, 48 recipients of the Medal of Honor were men who served in Vermont regiments or were Vermont natives serving in the Regular Army. They included two U.S. Colored Troops captains, a boatswain’s mate and two members of the 1st Regiment, U.S. Sharpshooters.
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