Norman Gasbarro | May 6, 2011
The Veteran Reserve Corps (originally the Invalid Corps) was a military reserve organization created within the Union Army during the Civil War to allow partially disabled or infirm soldiers (or former soldiers) to perform light duty, freeing able-bodied soldiers to serve on the front lines. The Invalid Corps Much importance is attached, by military men, […]
Norman Gasbarro | May 5, 2011
Today is Cinco de Mayo (Fifth of May), a holiday that had its origins during the American Civil War. It commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over the French forces of Napoleon III at the Battle of Puebla. The holiday was actually created by Mexicans living in California who supported the cause of Mexican freedom. Ironically, […]
Norman Gasbarro | May 3, 2011
The popular name, “The Hill Church” was given to St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, because it is situated on a hill about a quarter mile south of Berrysburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and from the church and cemetery the surrounding countryside can be seen for many miles in each direction. According to its 1780 date of […]
Norman Gasbarro | May 2, 2011
Click on picture to enlarge From 1863 to 1865, four drafts took place in the United States. The draft call of 1863 required registration of eligible men between the ages of 20 and 45, divided into two classes as described below in the Ancestry.com data base, U.S. Civil War Draft Registration Records, 1863-1865: This […]
Norman Gasbarro | May 1, 2011
In July of 1863, President Lincoln issued a proclamation ordering a draft to raise five hundred thousand men for the Union army. It was the first compulsory draft in American history. The draft was intended to encourage enlistment, but in many cases it had the opposite effect. Federal troops had to be called out in […]
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