I am feeling overwhelmed after having spent most of the day following the story of Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts here in Beaufort, South Carolina. I was fortunate that NPS historian Christopher Barr blocked off his schedule to take me around. His knowledge of this history and the broader history of the Civil War and Reconstruction in and around Beaufort is extensive and his passion was evident at every step.
This is truly a moving piece. I can’t imagine how it must’ve felt to be there, walking on that ground. It was an emotional experience just reading about it.
I have long loved Charles Reason’s quote, but until I read your blog, I didn’t have a name to attribute it to.
We visited the area and the cemetery last January on our way to snowbird in Florida. Planning to stop again this coming January. It does get emotional walking through and reading the plagues and head stones. My wife does a pay forward type job of taking pictures of headstones requested on the web site find- a-grave. People can't always travel and would like a photo of the burial site. Did it there for the first time last year. Have not had any request for USCT yet. That would be interesting research. We did about a dozen cemeteries this year.
The brother of my great-great-great grandfather is one of the "Martyrs of the Race Course". Isaac Rice and his twin brother Abraham were POWs in Andersonville and were moved to Charleston when Sherman was getting close. Isaac died in Charleston September 24, 1864 and was buried along with others in an unmarked grave. He now lays in Beaufort with the others. He is mistakenly identified as M.L. Rice
Great stuff, Kevin. That park needs more publicity. I'm surprised, given the location, how reasonable the hotel costs are. We have an unscheduled trip to that part of the country in our indefinite future, and I may insist on a detour there. Looking forward to the book.
I have a photo (that I can't obviously post here) of the 1989 re-interment at Beaufort of the 55th soldiers found on Folly Beach. Will email it to you for your records.
This is truly a moving piece. I can’t imagine how it must’ve felt to be there, walking on that ground. It was an emotional experience just reading about it.
I have long loved Charles Reason’s quote, but until I read your blog, I didn’t have a name to attribute it to.
We visited the area and the cemetery last January on our way to snowbird in Florida. Planning to stop again this coming January. It does get emotional walking through and reading the plagues and head stones. My wife does a pay forward type job of taking pictures of headstones requested on the web site find- a-grave. People can't always travel and would like a photo of the burial site. Did it there for the first time last year. Have not had any request for USCT yet. That would be interesting research. We did about a dozen cemeteries this year.
Mike
The brother of my great-great-great grandfather is one of the "Martyrs of the Race Course". Isaac Rice and his twin brother Abraham were POWs in Andersonville and were moved to Charleston when Sherman was getting close. Isaac died in Charleston September 24, 1864 and was buried along with others in an unmarked grave. He now lays in Beaufort with the others. He is mistakenly identified as M.L. Rice
Thanks for sharing, Ralph.
Great stuff, Kevin. That park needs more publicity. I'm surprised, given the location, how reasonable the hotel costs are. We have an unscheduled trip to that part of the country in our indefinite future, and I may insist on a detour there. Looking forward to the book.
It would be hard not to be emotional when walking the ground you walked. There is simply no substitute for walking. the. ground.
I couldn’t agree more.
I have a photo (that I can't obviously post here) of the 1989 re-interment at Beaufort of the 55th soldiers found on Folly Beach. Will email it to you for your records.
Thanks, Vally.