Research Arsenal

The answer to our What's it Wednesday this week is Signal Rockets. Here is the full entry from the 1862 Ordnance Manual:

"Signal-Rockets.

Rockets for signals are composed of a paper case charged with composition, a pot filled with ornaments, and a light stick to give direction. Rockets are denominated by the interior diameter of the case. The most common sizes are the .75 inch, 1 inch, and 1.5 inch.

To Make the Case:

Materials.—No. ​4 paper; paste; strong twine.
Implements.—Awl; ruler; knife; sandstone; rolling-bench; press and crank ; choking -machine ; gauge for the case ; paste-brush."

Photo shows a very rare unfired Civil War Army & Navy signal rocket pictured on the bottom.
Photo: https://history.army.mil/Army-Museum-Enterprise/Army-Artifacts/Civil-War-Signal-Corps-Kit

Although the National WWII Museum is a bit further forward in time than Civil War collectors, the concept of preserving uniforms, fi****ms, photographs, and paper, is much the same. Their website is a fantastic resource for the private collector, so I thought it would be helpful to distill some of their key collection preservation tips down for Civil War collectors.

Collection Preservation Tips From The National WWII Museum | Research Arsenal I have distilled some of the the National WWII Museum's key collection preservation tips down for Civil War collectors. From uniforms to fi****ms, and more.

For our What's it Wednesday this week, can you identify the item this portion of the 1862 Ordnance Manual is describing?

"composed of a paper case charged with composition, a pot filled with ornaments, and a light stick to give direction. The most common sizes are the .75 inch, 1 inch, and 1.5 inch.

To Make the Case:

Materials.—No. ​4 paper; paste; strong twine.

Implements.—Awl; ruler; knife; sandstone; rolling-bench; press and crank ; choking -machine ; gauge for the case ; paste-brush."

Post your guesses below and check back Friday for the answer...the photo may be a bit of a hint...

Photo: https://app.researcharsenal.com/imageSingleView/69029

Charles Walbridge was born in 1841 in Buffalo, New York. He wrote these letters to his brother, George Walbridge, who was named after their father. Before the war, Charles Walbridge worked for Pratt & Co., a hardware dealership. He enlisted in the 100th New York Infantry in September, 1861, and was appointed 2nd lieutenant of company H.

On January 28, 1863, Charles Walbridge wrote from the Steamer Cahawba at Beaufort Harbor, North Carolina. By this time he had become captain of company H. Charles Walbridge knew the regiment would soon be moved somewhere, but their final destination remained a mystery. He hoped that the Union forces would soon seize Charleston and that that would be where they were headed.

“We have been all ready for sea for two days but have been delayed by a very high wind. The latest orders are to go to sea at high water which will be in about two hours (three o’clock). I intend to send this ashore by the pilot [boat] when he goes. I received the copy of your letter but not the original.

My trunk, instead of going home, got in with the baggage of the 8th New York and I received it all safe, thanks to having my name on it.

We are still in the dark as to our destination. My opinion is that it is not Wilmington. I think that it is nothing less than Charleston. Wouldn’t that be a big thing?”

Read the rest on the blog here!

Research Arsenal Spotlight 72: Charles Walbridge 100th New York Infantry | Research Arsenal Charles Walbridge was born in 1841 in Buffalo, New York. He wrote these letters to his brother, George Walbridge, who was named after their father. Before the

The answer to our Where's it Wednesday is Fort Monroe in Virginia. For at least 400 years, the point of land known as Old Point Comfort that now includes Fort Monroe has served as the key defensive site at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. You can learn more about the site on their website here: https://fortmonroe.org/

Fully tagged photo: https://app.researcharsenal.com/imageSingleView/67755

The Research Arsenal is proud to be digitizing and adding historical records of Civil War regiments held at the National Archives to our online database so that researchers and historians can access material that previously required a trip to Washington D.C. The 49th Indiana Infantry is one of the many regiments that has been added to our database.

RG 94 Spotlight: 49th Indiana Infantry | Research Arsenal The records from the 49th Indiana Infantry from the National Archives are one of the many regiments that has been added to our database.

Our What's it Wednesday this week is a "Where's" it Wednesday. Can you identify this location from the photograph? Hint: it has over 400 years of history....

Post your guesses below and check back Friday for the answer!

Abraham Crumbecker was born in 1829 to Isaac and Hannah Crumbecker of Carroll County, Ohio. He was first married to Mary C. Eakin and, after her death, married Hannah Pennock. He was thirty-two years old when he enlisted in the 32nd Ohio Infantry in August, 1861. He was commissioned as 1st lieutenant of company A.

After being organized in Mansfield, Ohio, the 32nd Ohio Infantry was then sent to Grafton, West Virginia (still considered Virginia at the time) and then onward to Cheat Mountain. Abraham Crumbecker’s first letter was written on September 20, 1861, and he describes their journey so far, noting the Battle of Laurel Hill fought several months previous and that the regiment still about eighteen miles out from Cheat Mountain.

“We started from Webster on Tuesday for this place. In coming here, we came through Belington and Laurel Hill where our forces had a fight with the rebels at which place General [Robert S.] Garnett, the Rebel Commander, was killed. You probably remember of hearing me read of the Battle of Laurel Hill. Today we are encamped within 4½ miles of Rich Mountain—the place where the 19th [OVI] Regiment under Beaty had their fight. Mr. Yost pointed out the range of mountains today and if we stay here long enough, we are going up to see the place. We are now within 18 miles of Cheat Mountain Gap—the place of our destination when we were ordered to move from Camp Dennison, but upon arriving here we were ordered to halt and are now here awaiting further orders. The rebels have retreated from their former position. Well, yes, I suppose they heard that the 32nd Ohio Reg. was coming and we have the reputation of being a crack regiment. But I do not write the sentence for truth. I will say the boys are here and anxious for a brush whenever the opportunity offers.”

Read the rest on the blog! https://researcharsenal.com/abraham-crumbecker-32nd-ohio-infantry/

This week for our What's it Wednesday, we asked you what six-pounder spherical case shot could also be used for. According to the 1862 Ordnance Manual: "Six-pounder spherical case shot may be used for hand grenades, and shells of any calibre for rampart grenades."

These were often standard artillery shells with short fuses that could be tossed or rolled onto the enemy. Gr***des were used by both sides during the war, and the improvised grenades were often just as dangerous to the soldier throwing it. At Vicksburg, the Confederates made use of grenades from spherical case shot.

You can read more about grenades in the Civil War at this article:

Gr***de! The Little-Known Weapon of the Civil War Gr***des were used in the Civil War from Vicksburg to Petersburg, but they were often as dangerous to their users as to their targets.

The Research Arsenal is proud to be digitizing and adding historical records of Civil War regiments held at the National Archives to our online database so that researchers and historians can access material that previously required a trip to Washington D.C. The 99th Ohio Infantry is one of the many regiments that has been added to our database.

RG 94 Spotlight: 99th Ohio Infantry | Research Arsenal The 99th Ohio Infantry is one of the many regiments that has been digitized and added to our database from the National Archives.