Research Arsenal

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.”

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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.

For our What's it Wednesday this week, according to the 1862 Ordnance Manual, six-pounder spherical case shot could also be used for what? Post your guesses below and check back Friday for the answer!

Henry Murray was born in 1836 to John Murray and Jennet (Scott) Murray of Bovina, New York. Before the war he worked as a tinsmith. He enlisted in the 8th New York Light Artillery as a corporal on September 26, 1861.

Henry Murray’s letters in our collection begin in March 1862, despite him having enlisted several months earlier. All of them were written to an unspecified brother or brothers, one of whom may have been John Murray who served in company E of the 144th New York Infantry.

After several months organizing in New York, the 8th New York Light Artillery left for Washington, D.C. On March 31, 1862, Henry Murray wrote about their march to Alexandria, Virginia and sleeping underneath their own artillery pieces.

“We are now in the land of Dixie within sight of the city of Alexandria and about a mile from it. We are encamped by the side of the railroad which leads to Manassas. We got orders to march last Friday about two o’clock and by four o’clock we were under march for Alexandria with Casey’s whole division. We crossed the Long Bridge a little after dark and kept marching until two o’clock in the morning when we encamped for the night. Taking the canvas which we have to cover our guns for beds, we laid down on the ground and slept until morning when I assure you, the camp presented rather an amusing appearance. Some were lying under the guns — others out in the open air with nothing but their blankets over them. Officers and men were all on a level then, and all glad to take mother earth for a bed and the canopy of heaven for a covering.”

A few weeks later, on April 12, 1862, Henry Murray wrote from Newport News, Virginia and revealed that the fort was dealing with some harassment from the CSS Virginia (rebuilt from the famed USS Merrimack), though the ironclad ship was currently keeping her distance.

“All is quiet around here this morning. The Merrimack [CSS Virginia] has not made her appearance again. No doubt she has made up her mind that she is safest to stay where she is as the large guns from the Fort gave her some pretty heavy guns before she got out of their range. We could see the shells as they struck the water around the old Merrimack. There was two English and one French vessels lying nearby at the time of the engagement. They were no doubt taking notes of the proceedings. They are heavy gunboats carrying some forty guns each. They have been lying near here for some time. We passed by them when we came down here.”

Read the rest on the blog!

Research Arsenal Spotlight 70: Henry Murray 8th New York Light Artillery | Research Arsenal Henry Murray was born in 1836 to John Murray and Jennet (Scott) Murray of Bovina, New York. Before the war he worked as a tinsmith. He enlisted in the 8th New

For our What's it Wednesday this week, we asked you to identify the type of hat this young Confederate soldier is wearing. The answer is an Edmand's hat, also known as the "famous military hat." This particular style was Union in design, and as one can imagine, the design did not catch on well with the troops and was quickly discarded.

Here is the link to learn more about the Edmand's hat and to see examples: https://www.militaryimagesmagazine-digital.com/2023/06/02/edmands-famous-military-hat/

Photo: Private Albert B. Martin of Co. 3, Washington Louisiana Light Artillery Battery. https://app.researcharsenal.com/imageSingleView/3057

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 21st Illinois Infantry is one of the many regiments that has been added to our database.

The Research Arsenal is proud to hold 1,263 digital scans of the 21st Illinois Infantry’s regimental history on its database. These consist of just nearly 1,250 pages of material from the National Archives Records Group 94 files. These include Regimental Descriptive books, Order books, and Morning Reports.

RG 94 Spotlight: 21st Illinois Infantry | Research Arsenal The 21st Illinois Infantry is one of the many regiments of National Archives records that has been added to our Research Arsenal database.

For our What's it Wednesday this week, can you identify this hat worn by a young Confederate soldier? Post your responses below and check back Friday for the answer!

John Madison was born in 1864 to Anthony and Harriet (Dick) Madison of Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Before enlisting in the army, he worked as a blacksmith’s apprentice. He enlisted in company A of the 96th Pennsylvania Infantry on August 22, 1861 and was a fervent believer in both God and the Union cause.

John Madison wrote his first letter in our collection on November 18, 1861, from Camp Casey, part of the defenses of Washington, D.C. In the letter he affirmed his strong conviction for the Union cause as well as his religious faith.

“It is not probable that we will get into the battle [but] if we do, we will fight to the last. We will fall with our faces towards the enemy for ’tis glorious to die for your country. If it happens to be my lot not to meet you again in this world, I hope to meet you in a greater and better world where we know no cares or sorrows. We have our Bibles with us and we do not forget them.”

On December 22, 1861, John Madison wrote from Camp Franklin, Virginia, describing a recent run in with rebel forces that resulted in several men being captured.

“On Wednesday I was about one half of a mile from the pickets and the day before that they shot at our pickets and drove them back and the rebels were drove up in line of battle to fight, but the pickets would not stand for that too strong for them. And last week there was thirteen of our men taken prisoners. They thought that the rebels was our men and the captain that was with them. Our men came to present arms to him and he came up to them and said ‘disarm yourselves, for you are our prisoners of war.’ So you can see for yourself that we know not who is our enemy for they go about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. And our pickets went through their pickets last night and burnt down the houses and someplace I do not know the name of the place.”

Read the rest on the blog!

Research Arsenal Spotlight 69: John Madison 96th Pennsylvania Infantry | Research Arsenal John Madison was born in 1864 to Anthony and Harriet (Dick) Madison of Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Before enlisting in the army, he worked as a blacksmith’s

For our What's it Wednesday this week, we asked you a few questions.

First, who is the Union general in this photo? Answer: William Rosecrans

Second, what is the item in the second photo? Answer: Canvas pontoon boat

And, how are they connected? "Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans designed a new canvas pontoon boat that was easier to maneuver across the poorer roads in that [western] theater. This so-called Cumberland pontoon, as later refined by engineer Capt. William E. Merrill, had a wooden frame that could be folded in half and transported on a standard Army wagon." Rosecrans invention was not adopted, but it served as the basis for an improved design by Captain William E. Merrill. He lightened and strengthened the original design and added hinges so that it could fold up and be carried by standard wagons. This design was also strong enough to support the weight of fully loaded wagons and even horse-drawn artillery.

To read more about pontoons in the Civil War we recommend this article: https://www.lineofdeparture.army.mil/Journals/Army-History/Archive/Summer-2024-Issue/Rivers-Rails-and-Wooden-Bateaux/

Photos: Major General William S. Rosecrans: https://app.researcharsenal.com/imageSingleView/1641

Canvas pontoon boat, 50th New York Engineers, March 1864: https://app.researcharsenal.com/imageSingleView/66780