Civil War Blog

Posted By Brian Tomlin on January 31, 2014

January 11.  Charing Cross railway station, a central London railway terminus in the City of Westminster,opened. The original station building was built on the site of the Hungerford Market by the South Eastern Railway. The station was designed by Sir John Hawkshaw, with a single span wrought iron roof arching over the six platforms on its relatively cramped site. It is built on a brick arched viaduct, the level of the rails above the ground varying from 13 feet at the north-east end to 27 feet at the bridge abutment at the south-east end.

January 21.The Tauranga Campaign starts during the Maori Wars in New Zealand. The Tauranga Campaign was a six-month-long armed conflict in New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty in early 1864, and part of the New Zealand wars that were fought over issues of land ownership and sovereignty. The campaign was a sequel to of the invasion of Waikato, which aimed to crush the Māori King (Kingitanga) Movement that was viewed by the colonial government as a challenge to the supremacy of the British monarchy.

January 29. Early photographer Julia Margaret Cameron creates her first successful print: “Annie, my first success.” Julia Margaret Cameron (née Pattle; 11 June 1815 – 26 January 1879) was a British photographer. She became known for her portraits of celebrities of the time, and for photographs with Arthurian and other legendary or heroic themes. Cameron’s photographic career was short, spanning eleven years of her life (1864–1875). She took up photography at the relatively late age of 48, when she was given a camera as a present. Although her style was not widely appreciated in her own day, her work has had an impact on modern photographers, especially her closely cropped portraits.

January 30. National Gallery of Ireland opens to the public in Dublin in a building designed by Francis Fowke based on early plans by Charles Lanyon. The photograph at right was taken in 1913.

Category: Culture | Comments Off on Events of the World: January 1864
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Posted By Norman Gasbarro on January 29, 2014

According to the history of the 96th Pennsylvania Infantry, the following was undertaken by the regiment during the winter months of 1863-1864:

The command went into camp near the confluence of the Aestham with the Rappahannock, and with the exception of the movement to Mine Run, and in support of the cavalry in the reconnaissance to Robertson’s River, it remained in quarters here during the winter, a considerable number of the regiment re-enlisting, in the meantime, as veteran volunteers.

During these winter months, Henry Keiser of Gratz Borough and Lykens, maintained his diary as he had done throughout his service in the regiment and would continue to do so through the remaining time in the 96th Pennsylvania Infantry.

Henry Keiser (1840-1933)

The physical location of the Rappahannock River Basin is shown on the map below from VirginiaPlaces.org:

Click on map to enlarge.

Selections from the months of December and January are presented here from a newly transcribed version of the diary completed by the Civil War Research Project.  The selections offer some insight into how the “down time” was spent in and around the camp during the winter months.   The number at the beginning of each selection is the cumulative number of days Keiser had served in the 96th Pennsylvania Infantry.  In addition to those days of service, it has been previously noted on this blog that he served in one of the 90-day regiments (10th Pennsylvania Infantry) from April to July 1861, so that number (not counted in the diary entry) would have to be added to his total days of military service.  It is not believed that Keiser kept a diary for that prior service.

The diary entries show that there was no interruption of mail service, that news came to camp frequently in the form of current newspapers, that the soldiers occupied themselves by hunting local game.  No skirmishes were reported, but news of one death was indicated.  The “Miss Sallie” referred to frequently by Henry Keiser was his lady friend who later became his wife.

821.  Wednesday, December 23, 1863.  Snowed some last night, but was soon melted.  We were again busy all day cleaning up in and around camp.  Gen. Bartlett of our Brigade rode around camp after cark and was loudly cheered.

822. Thursday, December 24, 1863.  Very cold last night.  Was detailed for Camp Guard at 9 a.m. and got charge of the first relief.  The Suttler came to camp this evening.

823.  Friday, December 25, 1863.  Was not relieved from guard until 12 o’clock last night and at 9 a.m. came off of guard.  It was again very cold.  J. Alvord received a box from home in which were two shirts for me.  Wrote a letter to mother and sent part of my Diary – written on short papers.  Got an order on the Suttler from our Lieutenant for $2.00  Jno. Shollenberger had a box from home this after-noon and we had sausages for supper.

824.  Saturday, December 26, 1863.  Very cold last night, but seemed nice and warm today.  Again fresh bread.

825. Sunday, December 27, 1863.  Raining a little this morning.  Had camping Inspection this morning with knapsacks at nine this forenoon.  Rained this afternoon.

826. Monday, December 27, 1863.  Rained all last night.  Some wild turkeys flew over our camp today.  Elias Stahl and myself went after them, but did not get to see them.  It rained all day and we were wet to the skin.  Seen some fine hogs in the woods.

827.  Tuesday, December 29, 1863.  It rained some last night but is clear this morning.  Elias Stahl, H. Romberger, W. D. Ferree and myself went out to shoot a hog.  We got a fine one weighing about 150 pounds.  John Beard and his brother received a box from home.

828.  Wednesday, December 30, 1863.  Fine this morning.  Had to place a corduroy pavement in front of the officer’s tent and along Company Street.  Did not get finished.

829.  Thursday, December 31, 1863. It began raining last night and kept it up all day and it is very muddy in camp, Lieutenant Col. Fessig returned from home this evening.

828.  Wednesday, December 30, 1863.  Fine this morning.  Had to place a corduroy pavement in front of the officer’s tent and along Company Street.  Did not get finished.

829.  Thursday, December 31, 1863. It began raining last night and kept it up all day and it is very muddy in camp, Lieutenant Col. Fessig returned from home this evening.

830.  Friday, January 1, 1864.  Went on camp guard at 9 a.m. and got the first relief.  Received a letter from Sister Mariah also one form mother with a receipt for a box from mother which was sent by express.  It was quite warm toward evening, when it became cold.

831.  Saturday, January 2, 1864.  It was very cold last night.  Was on guard from 8 p.m. until 12  m. last night  Old[?] Guard relieved at 9 a.m.  Elias Stahl and myself went out after a hog and succeed in getting a good one.  Day fine and warm.

832.  Sunday, January 3, 1864.  Cold last night.  Company inspections at 9 a.m.  The officers were again trying to get us to re-enlist but the fish do not seem to bite very well.  Wrote a letter to Mariah and received one from Levi Workman. Day was fine.

833. Monday, January 4, 1864.  Cloudy this morning.  Commenced snowing at 10 a.m.  This evening the snow is 5 inches deep.  My box came to hand this afternoon with eatables in good condition.  The box was on the way since the 24^th December.

834.  Tuesday, January 5, 1864.  After revile, Henry Romberger, Elias Stahl, and myself went out after the rabbits.  Were out all day and only got four.  Today was fine.

835.  Wednesday, January 6, 1864.  Wrote a letter to Miss Sallie and one to Levi Workman and one to mother.  Received one from Miss Sallie.  Drawed a pair of pants.  Cold and cloudy all day.

836. Thursday, January 7, 1864.  Thirty-six of our Regiment re-enlisted and were sworn in last evening, four enlisting in our company.  It was cold and cloudy all day and commenced snowing after dark.

837.  Friday, January 8, 1864.  Three inches of snow on ground this morning.  Wrote a letter to Miss Sallie.  John Beard and Elias Stahl caught eight rabbits and three gray squirrels today.  The veterans received their bounty and back pay.  Day was fine.

838.  Saturday, January 9, 1864.  John Beard, Elias Stahl and myself went out after rabbits today and caught eight.  Jacob Alvord and H. Romberger caught seven.  Corporal Jonathan Bear and J. M. Ferree were promoted to Sergeants and Private J. Jerome Miller and Joseph Workman to Corporals yesterday.  Day was fine.

839.  Sunday, January 10, 1864.  It was very fold last night.  Had company inspection at 9 a.m.  Clear all day.

840.  Monday, January 11, 1864.  I was detailed for picket at 7 a.m. and reached picket line at nine.  I was placed on the reserve post.  Had general inspection in —–.  Day fine.

841.  Tuesday, January 12, 1864.  Cloudy last night and today.  Relieved from picket at nine and reached camp at ten a.m. according to orders pickets are to stay out 3 days hereafter.  Received letter from Lizzie.

842.  Wednesday, January 13, 1864.  It was very cold last night. Issued fresh bread today.  Cold and story, but clear all day.

843.  Thursday, January 14, 1864.  Wrote a letter to Elizabeth and sent her a shawl made out of bone.  Received a Harrisburg Telegraph from father.  Cloudy all day but not cold.

844.  Friday, January 15, 1864.  Received a letter last night.  Issued two rations of bread.  Finished corduroy pavement today.  Cloudy all day.

845.  Saturday, January 16, 1864.  It was very cold last night.  Detailed for Camp Guard at 9 a.m. and for first relief.  Received a letter from Miss Sallie, and one from Levi Workman.  Clear but cold.

846.  Sunday, January 17, 1864.  Was on duty from 8 to 12 last night and relieved at 9 a.m. Company Inspection at nine and at eleven a.m.  Colonel Upson inspected quarters.  I was excused from inspections on account of just coming off guard.  Wrote a letter to Miss Sallie and one to Levi Workman.  The day was fine.

847.  Monady, January 18, 1864.  Received the Philadelphia Daily News from father yesterday.  It rained all last night and has been raining all day.

848.  Tuesday, January 19, 1864.  Rained some last night.  Lieutenant Fessig received a letter which stated that nine men were to be detailed to build a log quarters for him.  Bought a Diary from John Glass for $1.00.  Cold and windy all day.

849.  Wednesday, January 20, 1864.  It was very cold last night.  Lt. Fessig received a letter shich stated that Henry C. Cook had died at his home in Hamburg, Berks Co., Pennsyvlania.  Received a Philadelphia Daily News from father.  Cold and windy – clear all day.

850.  Thursday, January 21, 1864.  Detailed for three days picket duty at nine this morning.  I with six privates, got on the second post from the left, and was on duty from seven to nine this evening.  The day was fine.

851.  Friday, January 22, 1864.  I stood post from three to four this morning.  John Renee went to camp and when he returned he brought me a letter from mother.  The day was fine.

852.  Saturday, January 23, 1864.  I stood post from twelve to one last night.  It was very cold.  Lewis Rominck went to camp and when he returned he brought me a loaf of bread.  Day was fine.

853.  Sunday, January 24, 1864.  I stood post from one to ten p.m. last night.  Were relieved at 9 a.m. and when we arrived in Camp Company Inspection was over and a Philadelphia Daily News and a Harrisburg Telegraph awaiting me.  Col. Upton inspected quarters at 11 a.m.  Wrote a letter to mother telling her to send me another box.  I also wrote a letter to Cousin Lucy and one to father in Harrisburg.

854.  Monday, January 28, 1864.  Warm last night and today.  Got the loan of one dollar from Sergeant Hooker of Company B.

855.  Tuesday, January 26, 1864.  Elias Stahl and myself went out into the woods today and caught an opossum and two gray squirrels.  The opossum was very poor and we put him into a box to fatten up.  Warm all day.

856.  Wednesday, January 27, 1864.  Elias Stahl, John Perley and myself went out today and caught three gray squirrels and two flying squirrels which we sold to the Suttler for fifty cents apiece.  The Regiment had dress parade but we came to camp too late to participate..    The day was fine.

857.  Thursday, January 28, 1864.  Had company Drill at 10 a.m. and two p.m.  Bought some letters and a corp badge for fifty two cents.  Received two Harrisburg Telegraphs dated January 25 and January 26.

858.  Friday, January 29, 1864.  Had company drill at 10 a.m. and Battalion Drill at two p.m.  Received Report of Surveyor General of Pennsylvania for year 1863 from father.  Dress Parade at 5 p.m.  The day was fine.

859.  Saturday, January 30, 1864.  Detached as company guard at 9 a.m.  Sat the first relief.  Received a letter from Miss Sallie, one from Levi Workman, and Philadelphia News.  Had dress parade at 5 p.m.  The day was fine.

860.  Sunday, January 31, 1864. Went on duty from Eleven until three last night and relieved at nine this morning.  Rained some last night.  Wrote a letter to Miss Sallie and one to Levi Workman.  Received a letter from father and one from Elizabeth.  Cloudy today.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | Comments Off on The Henry Keiser Diary – Selected Entries from Early Winter 1863-1864
Tags: Gratz Borough, Lykens

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on January 26, 2014

The war record of James B. Storey was spelled out in the notice of his death which appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer on 29 October 1889:

MAJOR JAMES B. STOREY

A Brave Sodier Who Earned Promotion in the War – His Record

HARRISBURG, 28 October 1889 — Major James B. Storey, of the Auditor-General’s Department, died here to-day of heart failure.  He came here from Butler County in 1882 under Auditor-General Lemon.

Major Storey enlisted in his nineteenth year as Private in Company H, One-hundred-and-second Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers [102nd Pennsylvania Infantry] and for his soldierly qualities and bravery displayed in different engagements he was promoted to First Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain and Major.  He re-enlisted with his regiment 19 December 1863, for three years more, and was engaged in many of the great battles of the war, among them the Siege of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Malvern, Second Bull Run, Chantilly, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Mars Hill, Gettysburg, and Mine Run.  He received a slight wound in the head at Cold Harbor and was shot through the left side and lost his left arm in the battles before Petersburg, June 1864.

On account of the wounds he was discharged December 1864.  Major Storey was for a number of years Captain of Company A, 13th Regiment, Pennsylvania National Guard, and was promoted to the rank of Major and again to Lieutenant-Colonel of the same regiment.  He was elected sheriff of Butler County, and when General Lemon assume the office of Auditor-General, in 1882, he appointed Major Story to an important desk in his office, which he retained without solicitation on his part under Auditor-Generals Niles, Norris and McCamant.

Slightly different information about the military service of Col. Storey was presented in the obituary which appeared in the Harrisburg Patriot on the same day.

JAMES B. STOREY

A Well-Known Veteran Passes to His Long Rest

The death of James B. Storey occurred suddenly at an early hour yesterday morning at his residence, No. 1208 North Second Street [Harrisburg], aged 47 years.  His stalwart form was a familiar figure upon our streets, and of his illness there were but few aware.  The immediate cause of his death is supposed to have been heart failure from wounds received in the army or sickness precedent thereto.

Col. Storey was a native of Butler County.  At 16 years of age he became a soldier in the Civil War, in which throughout he served with gallantry.  He enlisted as a Private and rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.  At the Battle of Petersburg he lost his left hand and shot through the side.  This latter wound has ever since been a cause of trouble and pain, and partially to this is to be attributed his death.  Previous , however, to the war he had suffered from white swelling [tuberculosis of the bones and joints, in this case probably the knee].  In fact, he threw away his crutches to enlist.

At the conclusion of the civil strife he was elected sheriff of Butler County at the age of 24 years, the youngest man ever elected to that position in that county.

In 1881 he was appointed to a position in the auditor general’s office under General John A. Lemon, and ever since has been retained in that department.  At the time of his death he was a bank clerk under Auditor-General McCamant.  He was an industrious, efficient and intelligent official, and enjoyed the respect of every one connected with the department.

In Grand Army circles he was prominent.  He was Past Commander of Post 105 of Butler, from which he withdrew his card to become a member of Post 58 of this city.

Two or three years ago he became senior member of the mantle works of J. B. Storey and Company on Market Street, beyond the canal.  His partner was his eldest son.

He leaves a wife and three children.  His funeral will take place on Thursday next, at 2 o’clock p.m., and the interment will be at the Harrisburg Cemetery.

For his service at the Battle of Gettysburg, James B. Storey was recognized on the Pennsylvania Memorial plaque for the 102nd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company H, at the rank of Sergeant.

An interesting question results from the examination of the Pension Index Cards available on-line (Fold3 and Ancestry.com).  In referencing first the military record card found at the Pennsylvania Archives, it is seen that James B. Story was discharged for wounds received at Cold Harbor, 3 June 1864.  There was also a James H. Storey in the same company and regiment, serving as a Private, who was killed at the Wilderness on 6 May 1864.  It is noted that this latter James H. Storey does not appear in the list of Privates on the Pennsylvania Memorial (pictured above).  Then, it is noted that the widow of James H. Storey who died at the Wilderness applied for a pension on 30 May 1864, and later for her minor children.  This James H. Story (or Storey) is buried at Fredericksburg National Cemetery.

The Pension Index Card (above) gives the name of Margaret E. Story as the widow and Margaret E. Riggins as the guardian of the minor children (possibly the same person, who later re-married).

The Pension Index Card for James B. Storey (below) indicates that he applied for an invalid pension on 21 January 1865 – his pension for loss of a limb in the war – but there is no widow’s application noted on the card.

Was James B. Storey survived by a widow as was stated in the Harrisburg Patriot obituary?  Information in Ancestry.com family trees gives her death date as 31 October 1905.  So, why didn’t she apply for a widow’s pension?

Another Pension Index Card, found on Fold3, shows that a widow did apply (see below) but was not awarded a pension.

Widow’s names are found on the Pension Index Cards available at Ancestry.com.  But the card on found on Ancestry.com does not indicate that a widow applied.  The application number on the Fold3 card (#411802) does not match any of the numbers on the card for James H. Storey (or Story), so this clearly a different application and one that was most likely made by Ada Storey.  Why didn’t she get a pension?

The final confusing data that need to be examined are the grave markers.  At the Harrisburg Cemetery, there is a marker for James B. Storey:

James B. Storey is buried at Harrisburg along with his wife Ada and son.  See: Findagrave.

Then there is the previously-mentioned stone at Fredericksburg National Cemetery:

So there it is – there were two different persons named James Storey (or Storey) – one was wounded at Cold Harbor and is buried at Harrisburg – and the other died at the Wilderness and is buried at Fredericksburg.  The man who died in Harrisburg in 1889 was the same man who was the Sergeant in the 102nd Pennsylvania Infantry, not the one who was a Private and was killed in the war.  If there were two different persons, then why is there a third grave stone (below) in North Side Cemetery, Butler County, for James B. Storey who was a Sergeant in the 102nd Pennsylvania Infantry?  See:  Findagrave.

According to the application for the stone (see below) to the War Department, it was not placed at the North Side Cemetery until 1936.

The stone at Harrisburg is for the Sergeant who died in 1889.  The stone at Fredericksburg is for the Private who died in 1864 in the war.  Who then is the stone at Butler for? And is there someone buried there?

An examination of pension records may help clarify this mystery. Were there two persons with the same name – or only one?  And who ordered the military-issue stone for the North Side Cemetery in Butler County in 1936 – and why?

Perhaps someone who has obtained all the above pension application files can clear up this mystery.

—————————–

News clippings are from the on-line resources of the Free Library of Philadelphia.  The headstone application is from Ancestry.com.

Category: Research, Resources, Stories | 2 Comments »
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Posted By Norman Gasbarro on January 24, 2014

The name of Benjamin Huff appears on the Millersburg Soldier Monument, but very little is known about him other than some general information about his military record.

According to information on the Pennsylvania Veterans’ Index Card, available from the Pennsylvania Archives, Benjamin Huff was 20 years old when he enrolled in the 7th Pennsylvania Reserves (also known as the 36th Pennsylvania Infantry) on 4 June 1861, making his year of birth about 1841.  The enrollment took place at Liverpool, Perry County, Pennsylvania.  On the 27 July 1861, he was mustered into service at Washington, D.C., as a Private in Company B.  The descriptive physical information states he was 5 foot, 8 inches tall, had red hair, grey eyes, with a light complexion.  His occupation was coachmaker and his residence was Millersburg.

On 12 March 1863 he was promoted to Corporal and on 1 January 1864 he was promoted to Sergeant.  On 5 May 1864 he was reported missing in action at the Wilderness.

A summary record available on Ancestry.com (pictured above) references another source which states that he was captured as a prisoner of war and taken to Andersonville Prison in Georgia.  No grave number is given is the summary record.  It is likely therefore that he survived Andersonville and was released sometime afterward.  At this time, it is not known when that occurred.

The summary record of his military service from Ancestry.com is given in the database, U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles.  This information, primarily from Bates, History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, confirms that he was a prisoner of war, that he survived the war, and that he was mustered out of service with his company on 13 June 1865, per General Order #77 of the War Department (as stated on the Veterans’ Index Card, at top).  There is no indication on when he returned to his regiment from prison, or in what condition he was in at the time he returned.

Click on document to enlarge.

In checking with another secondary source, the Registers of Pennsylvania Volunteers, also available at the Pennsylvania Archives (36th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company B), the name of Benjamin Huff appears with the confirming information that he enrolled at Liverpool and that he was mustered into service at Washington, D.C.  However, it is not possible to tell from the specified age of Benjamin Huff whether he was 20 or 30.  If he was thirty at enlistment, that would suggest a birth year of about 1831.

At this point, the research comes to multiple dead ends.  No Pension Index Card has been located for him. There is no good match for any census from 1850 onward.  There are no burials in Oak Hill Cemetery for anyone named Huff which could be even close to Benjamin in age.  And, a search of the available on-line newspapers from the 19th century produced some results, one of which is a match, and the other of which is a remote possibility.

The match was a list of those from the 7th Pennsylvania Reserve who were killed and wounded at the Battle of South Mountain, 14 September 1862:

In the list, which was printed in the Philadelphia Inquirer‘s 2 September 1862 edition, there is a Benjamin Huff, Company B, who was wounded.  This information was not previously known.

The remote possibility connection is from an article that appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer on 2 July 1896 and is as follows:

AN INSANE MAN’S DEED

Shoots His Daughter-in-Law and Then Kills Himself

LAPORTE, Indiana, 1 July 1896 — Benjamin Huff of Bootjack, this county, while temporarily insane, shot and fatally wounded his daughter-in-law and then instantly killed himself by shooting through the temple.  The tragedy occurred at the family home this morning, the woman being shot from behind while washing dishes.

Huff was aged 58 and was an old soldier. He was eccentric and had often threatened to kill himself and wife by poison, last week being refused a purchase, at a neighboring drug store.

Cora Huff, the daughter-in-law, was shot in the small of the back, near the spine, and fell across the threshold, completely paralyzed.  She is expected to die at any time.  Huff leaves a widow and four children.

There are persons named Benjamin Huff who served in Indiana regiments during the Civil War – so they would have to be researched to be eliminated if this Benjamin Huff could be considered to be a match with the Millersburg one who is the subject of this blog post.  One possible elimination is that there was a Clara Huff who applied for widow’s pension in August 1896 based on the service of her deceased husband, Benjamin Huff, who served in the Indiana Light Artillery.

The one curious, possible connection to this Indiana incident is that there is another man named Huff, also from Millersburg, who re-located in Indiana after the war – George W. Huff – whose Veterans’ Index Card is shown below:

This George W. Huff, who served as a Captain in the 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry, has been located in the 1860 Census for Millersburg, where he is listed as a 28 year-old boatman.  It is a documented fact that he moved to Indiana after the Civil War.  As a boatman residing in Millersburg in 1860, he would have had a direct connection with Perry County (just across the Susquehanna River) – which is where Benjamin Huff enrolled. At this point in the research, there is too much speculation and conjecture.  Hard facts are needed to confirm a relationship, if one exists, between George and Benjamin.  George did not die until 1915 – one year after the Millersburg Soldier Monument was dedicated.  Strangely, his name does not appear on the monument – but the name of Benjamin Huff does appear – and other than the residence reference found on the Pennsylvania Veterans’ Index Card, no other connection has been found with Benjamin and Millersburg.

This mystery is presented here in the hope that some reader has the missing information.  Who was Benjamin Huff and was he related to anyone of that surname from Millersburg?  What happened to Benjamin Huff after the war?  Did he move to Indiana and was he the “old soldier” described in the 1896 article?  Why is his name not on the Millersburg Soldier Monument?

Comments may be added to this blog post or information may be sent via e-mail.

Category: Queries, Research, Stories | 4 Comments »
Tags: Millersburg, Upper Paxton Township

Posted By Brian Tomlin on January 20, 2014

“The elegance with which a dinner is served is a matter that depends, of course, partly on the means, but still more upon the taste of the master and mistress of the house. It may be observed, in general, that there should always be flowers on the table, and as they form no item of expense, there is no reason why they should not be employed every day.” Mrs. Isabella Beeton, 1861

Walls. During the middle of the nineteenth century, warm colors dominated the decoration of dining rooms. And most likely, that would have been a shade of red. Wallpapers began their long reign of popularity in homes in the dining room. During this period the wallpaper would have been from celing to the baseboard. The more elaborate schemes of walls divided into sections (chair rails, wainscoting, etc.) came later.

Ceilings. Ceilings were a bit more elaborate in dining rooms than the rest of the house. They might be tinted witha color of paint, wallpapered, or had medllions or other decorations applied to them.

Flooring. During the Civil War, dining rooms were mostly carpeted, using large patterned designs with floral or geometric motifs.

Windows. Elaborate window treatments were the rule during the Civil War. Layers of different kinds of window treatments would be piled on top of one another. Most typically, sheer lace curtains were place against the window itself and were often called “glass curtains” for that reason. On op of that floor length draperies made of velvet, brocade, or other heavy fabrics would be added with tie backs.  Patterned and ornately decorated valances would go on top of the whole thing, along with tassels and ropes and heavy rods. Even more modest homes would likely do some form of all this in the parlor and dining room  if nowhere else.

Furniture. By the 1850s, the style of dining furniture that became popular was called Renaissance Revival. This furniture featured turned and fluted legs, raised or inset burled panels, heavily carved finials and crests, inset marble tops, and cookie-cut corners. Many pieces are further decorated by black and gold incising, marquetry inlay and bronze or brass mounts. These pieces were often gargantuan – ideal for the Victorian “more is more” philosophy. The preferred wood was walnut. As in other rooms, sets or suites of furniture were specially sold. a huge, elaborate sideboard (or more its facsimile in modest homes) was the starring piece.

Decorations. Like the other rooms used for public entertaining, the dining room was a symbol of the status and class of the family. Laces (especially lace tablecloths), decorative objects, silk cording  and all sorts of other items were used to convey this sense of achievement.

Lighting. Candles were certainly used, and ceiling chandeliers were mostly candle powered.  Wall fixtures or sconces were very commonly used in dining rooms.

Menus. Cookbooks and housekeeping books from the mid-nineteenth century are full of chapters devoted to sample menus, with many offering a suggested menu for every day of the year. The following is from Mrs. Beeton’s Guide to Household Management (1861) and offers a “dinner menu for January for six people:”

First Course: Julienned Soup, Soles a la Normandie

Entrees: Sweetbreads, with Sauce Piquante; Mutton Cutlets with Mashed Potatoes

Second Course: Haunch of Vension; Boiled fowls and Bacon, Garnished with Brussels Sprouts

Third Course: Plum Pudding, Custards in Glasses, Apple Tart, Fondue a la Brillat Savarin

Dessert

One suggestion for a typical “family” meal for a Tuesday in  January:  1. Boiled neck of mutton, currants and mashed turnips, suet dumplings and caper sauce: the broth should be served first, and alittel rice or pearl barley should be boiled with it along with the meat. 2. Rolled jam pudding.

Category: Culture | Comments Off on Victorian Home: Dining Room (Part 8)
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