“I will not perform the ungrateful task of comparing cases of failure.”

Again and again I find myself drawn to the engagements at the Rappahannock river crossings in the week prior to the battle of Second Bull Run.  While some of my first posts dealt with Fauquier White Sulphur Springs, today’s post … Continue reading →

“The first news is the best and most read.”

This will be my last post on Colonel Kozlay and the 54th New York for a while. I promised in my previous post that we would look at how Kozlay recalled the battle of Cross Keys in his regimental journal. … Continue reading →

Colonel Kozlay’s Journal – Part 2

In this post, we’ll continue to look at Colonel Kozlay’s journal through the 1862 Valley Campaign. The quality of leadership is referenced in Kozlay’s journal again and again, and the 1862 Valley Campaign is no exception.  On April 15, 1862, … Continue reading →

Colonel Kozlay’s Journal – Part 1

Colonel Kozlay’s regimental journal (http://dmna.state.ny.us/historic/reghist/civil/infantry/54thInf/54thInfKozlayJournal1.htm) is a fascinating document.  It is not what one would expect and challenges the preconceptions of who the “German” soldiers were.  We rejoin Kozlay and the 54th New York in October 1861.  Kozlay was originally … Continue reading →

The 54th New York Infantry, the “Hiram Barney Rifles”, the “Schwarze Yaeger”

With the new school year starting, I’ll be switching over to semi-monthly postings.  My next series of posts will deal with the 54th New York Infantry, another of von Gilsa’s units present at Blocher’s Knoll and East Cemetery Hill during … Continue reading →