General de Karckere and his Winning Team

By way of closing out the 2020 Self Hibernation Campaign, an award is to be presented to the winning player (Mike Newman), which is a miniature diorama of Generals de Krackere, Holt-Oglwthorpe, Starbuck and Banks at the 'Battle of Petersburg'.

General de Krackere and his leadership Team at Petersburg

General Nathaniel Banks, in close support 

General John Holt-Oglethorpe, pointing the way forwards

General Nathan Starbuck, 'Are you sure that's the only way to get there?'

The figures are from First Corps and specially obtained for this prestigious award, they were painted and affixed to the diorama stand by your friendly Umpire, Mike W. The physical presentation will be sometime in the not too distant future - Covid allowing.

Looking at the figures, I'd like to start with that of General Paul de Krackere himself, a fabulously rich individual, head of his own, self named, company - like many men of his ilk - he dresses really quite humbly, not wanting to waste money in unnecessary frills and impracticalities.

Paul de Krackere, pondering his opportunities

The other view

de Karackere wears a standard issue 'Sack Coat' with infantry piping added to each sleeve and three gold stars on the collar. He has standard sky blue trousers tucked into socks and wears utilitarian army issue brogues. This attire being much better suited for comfort and ease of movement around the trench works..

As a Corps commander, de Krackere has allowed himself the luxury of a gold waist sash to denote his rank. He is depicted here, looking out thoughtfully over the enemy lines on one of his regular morning reviews of the troops. On his black slouch hat he wears a gold star, representing the badge of the XX Corps.

Next under the spotlight is General John Holt-Oglethorpe, an experienced commander born in Vermont but who had previously had military experience in continental Europe, mostly the smaller German states. Holt-Olethorpe has followed in de Krackere's style but toned down the flamboyance of infantry piping and waist sashes to adhere to his own command's sense of decorum.

John Holt-Oglerthorpe, directing his troops, man bag on clear show

From the rear

For most of Holt-Oglethorpe's troops were mostly pious German and Dutch immigrants, they were not noted for their sense of humour or love of anything outrageously frivolous! 

On the collar of his standard issue sack coat are the two gold stars of a Divisional Commander, he carries a Colt Army pistol and his true love - a model 1850, Infantry Sword. In Holt-Ogethorpe's opinion, this is  all that a good officer should need to convey his wishes during a conflict situation.

On his hat is the blue star of 2nd Division, XX Corps.

Holt-Oglethorpe is depicted here waving his sword at a subordinate officer to ensure that a potential 'gap' in the lines is dealt with as soon as possible.

Holt-Oglrthorpe is a practical man, he carries a canteen of water, a habit he picked-up from his days in Europe and he also carries a small 'Man Bag', attached to his waist belt with some rations, first aid  dressings and other personal items.

Unlike de Krackere, Holt-Oglethorpe has gone for the 'mutton chops' look, feeling it is more distinguished looking with his now greying hair.

General Nathaniel Banks, on the other hand has copied de Krackere's hefty moustache look, being a slightly younger man he feels he can carry this look off even better than de Kracker himself....

Banks, is depicted in the uniform of his beloved 5th Massachusetts Cavalry, a Shell Jacket with yellow arm of service trim plus the single star of a Brigade commander on each collar. As part of this fine 'rig', Banks wears sky blue trousers with a yellow stripe plus regulation issue Cavalry Boots.

On his hat is the white star of 1st Division, XX Corps.

Nathaniel Banks, in his Cavalry Rig

The other view

Bank's wears the red sash of a Field Officer, de Krackere, preferring the gold version for Divisional Commanders and senior... 

Hanging from his regulation waist belt is the ubiquitous Army Colt  - Bank's having considered a sword an unwanted encumbrance in the Petersburg trench lines. 

Banks is depicted, waiting on orders from de Krackere, he was always a loyal servant of the Iowan, who recognised and acknowledged Bank's deep bond with his open troops.

Finally we have General Nathan Starbuck, known as the 'Italian Stallion', reluctant hero of Bull Run and many more battles. He is depicted here in the uniform he adopted on taking Command of his New York Italian Brigade.

Starbuck has gone for a cheeky goatee beard look, befitting his European origins and reflecting the fashion amongst his Central and Southern European troops.

Starbuck at the crouch, poised like a spring to react to incoming fire

Originally he would have worn a Frock coat, as did his men, but practicalities of combat convinced him that he would be more agile in a shortened coat, he had his tailor cut down a frock coat to make this shell jacket to wear in the field.  

On his hat is the blue star of 2nd Division, XX Corps.

The blanket roll was an addition after the Gettysburg fight, the thick roll of blanket, wrapped around a rubberised ground sheet, worn over the shoulder, body and neck was shown to have provided some protection against enemy sabre slashes, anything to increase his battlefield survivability!

As a nod to the panache of his Italian troops, Starbuck's jacket has red collar and cuffs and his red trousers are tucked into white gaiters, over regulation army brogues, again he found the gaiters to be vey supportive of his slightly weak ankles on the battlefield.

From the rear...

Starbuck's rank is denoted by a single red star on each collar and by the gold braid of the Hungarian Knots on each sleeve of his jacket. His once famous ostrich feathers have by now been lost from his hat and you can see Starbuck depicted in his favourite battlefield stance - 'at the crouch' -  ready to dodge for cover as soon as is necessary!

The eagle eyed amongst you will notice Starbuck's final piece of 'equipment', in this case a bloody dressing on his hand, the wound discreetly self-inflicted and although in no way of any medical threat, prominent enough for onlookers to notice and surmise that he has been in the thick of the action already this day.

In the Diorama, de Krackere is in front, protected by his faith in the right of his cause, he is backed-up ably by his favourite Divisional Commander Holt-Oglethorpe, who is signalling to his troops with his sword. Just behind de Kracker is one of his former Brigade commanders, General Nathaniel Banks, who is assessing how he'd be doing things differently, utilising the open space in the flanks - if he were in charge - but loyal to de Krackere to the end. Starbuck is there, as one of Holt-Oglethorpe's  Brigade commanders, very weary of potential incoming ordinance in the area, he is squinting to see any Rebel activities opposite their position.

Original First Corps General Set

XX Corps Burns Nights – January 1865

By Hardy Kenwright

The first Burns Night celebration was held by Robert Burns’ friends on 21^st July 1801, the 5^th anniversary of his death. It then became a regular event on the anniversary of his birth, originally thought to be 29^th January. In 1803, the Ayr parish records were found to show that his real birthday had been on 25^th January.

M.G. Paul De Krackere decided that XX Corps would hold three Burns Night Celebrations on 25^th, 26^th and 27^th January, once for each Division. This ensured that each Division in turn would be excused fatigues for a night, cover by their colleagues in the other Divisions.

Highlanders escort the Haggis

International singing sensation Barbara Cerville had been invited to visit the Corps and attend all three events. I was pleased to be invited to attend each evening too.

Piping in:

Bandsmen Tom Brone and Rusty Horne demonstrated their piping skills to greet the guests.

 Host's welcoming speech

The Division Commanders, acting as host at their own Division’s Dinner, welcomed the guests and said the Selkirk Grace.

Some hae meat an canna eat,

And some wad eat that want it;

But we hae meat, and we can eat,

And sae the Lord be thankit.

 

The Haggis Guards

Menu:

Cock-a-leekie

(Entrance of the Haggis)

Haggis served wi tatties an neeps (with potatoes and swede)

Tipsy Laird (whisky trifle

Oatcakes and cheeses

All washed down with the "water of life" (uisge beatha), Scotch whisky.

Entrance of the Haggis:

Everyone stood as Col. Róng Wài brought in the Haggis to the top table, being piped in by Tom Brone. That night’s host then recited the Address to a Haggis.

 

	Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face, Great chieftain o' the puddin-race! Aboon them a' ye tak your place, Painch, tripe, or thairm: Weel are ye wordy o' a grace As lang's my airm.	(fa = befall, sonsie = jolly/cheerful) (aboon = above, a' = all) (painch = paunch/stomach, thairm = intestine) (wordy = worthy)
	The groaning trencher there ye fill, Your hurdies like a distant hill, Your pin wad help to mend a mill In time o' need, While thro' your pores the dews distil Like amber bead.	(hurdies = buttocks)
	His knife see rustic Labour dicht, An' cut you up wi' ready slicht, Trenching your gushing entrails bricht, Like ony ditch; And then, O what a glorious sicht, Warm-reekin, rich!	(dicht = wipe, here with the idea of sharpening) (slicht = skill)       (reekin = steaming)
	Then, horn for horn, they stretch an' strive: Deil tak the hindmaist! on they drive, Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve, Are bent like drums; Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive, "Bethankit" hums.	(deil = devil) (swall'd = swollen, kytes = bellies, belyve = soon) (bent like = tight as) (auld Guidman = the man of the house, rive = tear, i.e. burst)
	Is there that o're his French ragout Or olio that wad staw a sow, Or fricassee wad mak her spew Wi' perfect scunner, Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view On sic a dinner?	(olio = stew, from Spanish olla/stew pot, staw = make sick) (scunner = disgust)
	Poor devil! see him ower his trash, As feckless as a wither'd rash, His spindle shank, a guid whip-lash, His nieve a nit; Thro' bloody flood or field to dash, O how unfit!	(nieve = fist, nit = nut, i.e. tiny)
	But mark the Rustic, haggis fed, The trembling earth resounds his tread. Clap in his wallie nieve a blade, He'll mak it whistle; An' legs an' arms, an' heads will sned, Like taps o' thristle.	(wallie = mighty, nieve = fist) (sned = cut off) (thristle = thistle)
	Ye Pow'rs wha mak mankind your care, And dish them out their bill o' fare, Auld Scotland wants nae skinkin ware That jaups in luggies; But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer, Gie her a haggis!	(skinkin ware = watery soup) (jaups = slops about, luggies = two-handled continental bowls)

 A haggis, cut open

At the line His knife see rustic Labour dicht, the host drew and sharpened a knife. At the line An' cut you up wi' ready slicht, he plunged it into the haggis cutting it open from end to end.

At the end of the poem, a whisky toast was proposed to the haggis.

Haggis Chef

Speeches:

The hot gave a speech remembering an aspect of Burns's life or poetry. A toast to the Immortal Memory of Robert Burns then followed.

Address to the Lassies:

Given by the senior Brigade Commander.

Reply to the Laddies:

Given by guest Barbara Cerville.

Close:

Paul De Krackere gave a vote of thanks then all joined in to sing Auld Lang Syne to bring the evening to an end, although the Whisky continued to flow for a good while after.

Self Hibernation Campaign Rankings

At present the Campaign Rankings are:

LIEUTENANT GENERALS:

John                     68 CPs

MAJOR GENERALS:

Mike                     70 CPs

Paul                     65 CPs

Mark                     60 CPs

Dave                     56 CPs

BRIGADIER GENERALS:

Rupert                   36 CPs *

Phil                     16 CPs *

TEAM RANKINGS

Team CSA                 3.0 
Team USA                 3.0 

I have published rankings at one of the key player's request, so that you guys can make the best choices on what to do in this final stage to jockey for position to be overall campaign winners as determined by your Charisma Point level.

Overall positions have not changed since last update but CP spread has pulled everyone together, more than in previous rounds.

I have changed calculation on CSA/USA Rankings as Rupert seems to have parked his campaign bus in the lay-by of life and it wold be unfair to drag down Mark & Mike's results. Thus overall the two warring parties are actually neck & neck.

There will be a 1865 Campaign Rewards Phase but this will not be as extensive as the ones so far....

Minor victories can be claimed by being on the Winning Side!

Self Hibernation Campaign Rankings

At present the Campaign Rankings are:

LIEUTENANT GENERALS:

John                     65 CPs

MAJOR GENERALS:

Mike                     67 CPs

Paul                     60 CPs

Mark                     55 CPs

Dave                     50 CPs

BRIGADIER GENERALS:

Rupert                   34 CPs

Phil                     16 CPs *

TEAM RANKINGS

Team CSA                   3.0 
Team USA                 4.0 

I publish the rankings now - before 1864 Campaign Rewards Phase so that players can make the best choices on what to spend their rewards on, remember overall campaign winners is determined by your Charisma Point level.

There will be a 1865 Campaign Rewards Phase but this will not be as extensive as the ones so far....

Minor victories can be claimed by being on the Winning Side!

Self Hibernation Campaign - McClellan runs for White House

By Robert Hope

George Brinton McClellan aims to ascend the steps to the White House

As a southern paper we are able to independently report that George Brinton McClellan has openly declared his entrance on to the political stage, to be nominated by the Democrats to run against Ab Lincoln the current incumbent in the 1864 US presidential election. This announcement follows the recent Union debacle at Cold Harbour which saw the common union soldier being sent to their slaughter against prepared fortifications by unthinking, uncaring commanders.

We understand from sources that McClellan has not resigned his commission so technically he is still a Yankee general. Should he ascend to the steps to the White House, insiders’ state that he will resign his commission. Though personally he supports the continuation of the war and the restoration of the Union (but not the abolition of slavery), the Democratic party has however called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a negotiated settlement with the Confederacy.

On this important issue of a peace with honour agreement, on behalf the Confederacy General Green said:  

“In the north, to ever increasing numbers, the current President’s non compromising attitude to galvanising the war effort against our southern values is increasingly being seen as an impediment to every lasting peace. This is the opportunity for the great silent major of fellow Americans to vote for an honourable, permanent and happy peace.

From reports in northern papers it is clear that Abe Lincoln continues to try out news brooms. However, a new broom sweeps clean. It is the old broom such as McClellan that knows every corner. In order to bring hostilities to a swift and honourable end, we invite the support of the great silent majority. We trust and hope that they will vote Democrat in the forthcoming presidential election.

Self Hibernation Campaign - From Iron-Horses to Iron-clad in a week

By Huw Carnaby Wright

Approval expected for Railway extensions:

In my role as Transport correspondent, I have been following the progress through Parliament of the ‘Lancashire Union Railway Act’. This legislation, which is expected to be enacted sometime in July, will authorise a line from the Blackbrook branch of the St Helens Railway to Adlington on the Bolton-to-Preston line of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (LYR) near Chorley. 

John Lancaster

In the course of this process I have interviewed on several

occasions, John Lancaster, Chairman of the Lancashire Union Railway (LUR).

Scourge of American Shipping:

You may recall my articles last year investigating the mysterious disappearance of the ‘Herald’ and the false claims by her owners of piracy by the United States. You can imagine my interest when news reached London that the Confederate Commerce Raider ‘CSS Alabama’ under Capt. Raphael Semmes had docked for repairs in Cherbourg on 11^th June.

The CSS Alabama, built in 1862 by John Laird, Sons & Co. of Birkenhead for the Confederate States Navy, has made seven expeditionary raids, spanning the globe, before heading to France for refit and repairs. At sea for 534 days out of 637, she has captured and burned 65 United States mainly merchant vessels. In all this time, CSS Alabama has never entered a Confederate Port.

On 14^th June the USS Kearsarge under Capt. John Winslow had arrived off Cherbourg, and was awaited Capt. Raphael Semmes’ next move. Our Gibraltar office confirmed that the USS St. Louis, an old Sloop of War, had been summoned via telegraph to hurry north, both to bring provisions and to assist in the blockade, however it arrived too late to impact events.

I got permission to travel to France to witness these events unfold and with the hope of interviewing Capt. Raphael Semmes himself.

An unexpected arrival:

When I reached Cherbourg, I found the CSS Alabama docked and undergoing hurried repairs and her crew being drilled. Capt. Semmes, although civil, was not willing to acquiesce to my request for an interview, or to permit me onboard. I noted two British owned yachts, the ‘Hornet’ and the ‘Greyhound’, were moored nearby.

Capt. Evan Parry Jones

I spoke several times with Capt. Hewitt of the Hornet and Capt. Evan Parry Jones of the Greyhound, who both confirmed that, aside from the usual pleasantries, there was no communication between them and the CSS Alabama.

The yacht Deerhound was built in 1858 for the Duke of Leeds at the ‘then’ John Laird & Son shipyard in Birkenhead. She is a three-masted vessel, built of steel, with a screw-propeller, with a tonnage of about 190, and engines of a nominal power of seventy horses. When in her usual trim, she steamed twenty knots, being about two knots beyond the speed of the CSS Alabama, currently docked nearby. Shortly after construction, Greyhound was bought by a wealthy Lancashire businessman and now cruised with his family under the Royal Mersey Yacht Club banner.

On Saturday 18^th Captain Jones returned from the Railway Station with the family of the owner of the ‘Greyhound’, who turned out to be none other than Mr. John Lancaster of the LUR. Mr. Lancaster was very pleased to see me and generously invited me to join them on board his yacht.

The CSS Alabama seemed to be preparing for an oncoming battle and refused the Lancaster’s a courtesy visit. Recognising the imminent departure of the Alabama, the family held a meeting and discussed whether to sail after her to get the best view of the expected battle as possible. It was put to a vote and Miss. Catherine Lancaster, aged 9, gave the casting vote for sailing out. I must point out that the choice put to Miss. Lancaster was that they could either attend Church that Sunday or watch the naval battle!

Gauntlet thrown down:

Having no desire to see his worn-out ship rot away at a French dock while quarantined by Union warships and given his instinctive aggressiveness and a long-held desire once again to engage his enemy, Capt. Semmes chose to fight. After preparing his ship and drilling the crew for the coming battle over several days, Semmes issued, through diplomatic channels, a bold challenge (or hoped-for intimidation) to the USS Kearsarge's commander,

"my intention is to fight the Kearsarge as soon as I can make the necessary arrangements. I hope these will not detain me more than until to-morrow or the morrow morning at farthest. I beg she will not depart until I am ready to go out. I have the honor to be Your obedient servant, R. Semmes, Captain."

Battle is joined:

On June 19, CSS Alabama, with nowhere else to go, ran up the Stars and Bars and exited the harbour to attack Kearsarge. She was escorted by the French Navy ironclad Couronne, whose mission was to ensure that the ensuing battle occurred outside the French harbour. Behind the warships sailed the Deerhound and the Hornet.

As Kearsarge turned to meet her opponent, Alabama opened fire. Kearsarge waited patiently until the range had closed to less than 1,000 yards. The two ships steamed on opposite courses in seven spiralling circles, moving south-westerly with the 3-knot current, each commander trying to cross the bow of his opponent to deliver a heavy raking fire (to "cross the T"). The battle quickly turned against Alabama due to the superior gunnery displayed by Kearsarge and the deteriorated state of Alabama's contaminated powder and fuses. I learned later that her most telling shot, fired from the forward 7-inch (178 mm) Blakely pivot rifle, hit very near Kearsarge's vulnerable stern post, the impact binding the ship's rudder badly. That rifled shell, however, failed to explode. If it had done so, it would have seriously disabled Kearsarge's steering, possibly sinking the warship, and ending the contest. In addition, Alabama's too rapid rate-of-fire resulted in frequent poor gunnery, with many of her shots going too high, and as a result Kearsarge benefited little that day from the protection of her outboard chain armour. Semmes later said that the armour on Kearsarge was unknown to him at the time of his decision to issue the challenge to fight, saying he would have never fought Kearsarge if he had known she was armour-clad.

Not quite a Full Metal Jacket:

USS Kearsarge's hull armour had been installed in just three days, more than a year before, while she was in port at the Azores. It was made using 120 fathoms (720 ft) of 1.7-inch single link iron chain and covered hull spaces 49 feet 6 inches long by 6 feet 2 inches deep. It was stopped up and down to eye-bolts with marlines and secured by iron dogs. Her chain armour was concealed behind 1-inch deal-boards painted black to match the upper hull's colour. This "chain-cladding" was placed along Kearsarge's port and starboard midsection down to the waterline, for additional protection of her engine and boilers when the upper portion of her coal bunkers were empty (coal bunkers play an important part in the protection of modern steam vessels, such as protected cruisers).

However, a hit to her engine or boilers could easily leave Kearsarge dead in the water and vulnerable, or even cause a boiler explosion or fire that could destroy the cruiser. Her armour belt was hit twice during the fight: First in the starboard gangway by one of Alabama's 32-pounder shells that cut the chain armour, denting the hull planking underneath, then again by a second 32-pounder shell that exploded and broke a link of the chain armour, tearing away a portion of the deal-board covering. Had those rounds come from Alabama's more powerful 100-pounder Blakely pivot rifle, they would have easily penetrated, but the likely result would not have been very serious, as both shots struck the hull a little more than five feet above the waterline. Even if both shots had penetrated Kearsarge's side, they would have completely missed her vital machinery. However, a 100-pound shell could have done a great deal of damage to her interior and nearby crewmen; hot fragments could have easily set fire to the cruiser, one of the greatest risks aboard a wooden vessel.

According to my calculations and those of over witnesses, Alabama fired 370 rounds at her adversary, averaging one round per minute per gun, a very fast rate of fire, while Kearsarge's gun crews fired less than half that number, taking more careful aim. A little more than an hour after the first shot was fired, Alabama was reduced to a sinking wreck by Kearsarge's powerful 11-inch (280 mm) Dahlgrens, forcing Captain Semmes to strike his colours and to send one of his two surviving boats to Kearsarge to ask for assistance.

I later learnt from her officers that, prior to this, she had her steering gear compromised by shell hits, but the fatal shot came later when one of Kearsarge's 11-inch (280 mm) shells tore open a midsection of Alabama's starboard waterline. Water quickly rushed through the defeated cruiser, eventually drowning her boilers and forcing her down by the stern to the bottom. As Alabama sank, the injured Semmes threw his sword into the sea, depriving Kearsarge's commander Captain John Ancrum Winslow of the traditional surrender ceremony of having it handed over to him as victor.

During the confusion of battle, five more rounds were fired at Alabama after her colours were struck. (Her gun ports had been left open and the broadside cannon were still run out, appearing to come to bear on Kearsarge.) Then a hand-held white flag came fluttering from Alabama's stern spanker boom, finally halting the engagement.

Counting the Cost:

Immediately after USS Kearsarge ceased firing on the stricken cruiser, the Deerhound sailed to offer assistance and Capt. Jones reports that Capt. Winslow signalled him, asking him to render all assistance possible to the drowning crew.

Three men were wounded aboard the USS Kearsarge, one of whom died the following day. Of her 170 crew, the CSS Alabama suffered 40 fatalities, (9 killed in action and 10 drowned) and 21 wounded. Another seventy or so were picked up by USS Kearsarge. 42 were rescued by Deerhound, including Capt. Semmes and fourteen of his officers, while others were rescued by three French Pilot-boats.

Instead of delivering the captured Confederates to USS Kearsarge, Mr. Lancaster had Deerhound set a course for Southampton, thus enabling Capt. Semmes to escape. This act severely angered USS Kearsarge's crew, who begged their captain to allow them to open fire on the British yacht. Happily, Capt. Winslow would not allow this, so the Confederates got away and avoided imprisonment, whilst I survived to write this report. In fact, as they had been rescued under a neutral ship, there was no obligation to hand them over. That evening, the Deerhound landed at Cowes, and after a short interlude of harbour formalities, the Alabama crew was landed at Southampton. James Mason the unofficial Confederate representative to Great Britain and France, (who, you may recall, had been seized but then released by the US Navy in the ‘Trent Affair’), later came to visit and personally thanked Mr. Lancaster and his family for his kindness and humanity.

Time on their hands:

The yacht Hornet, owned by Mr. James Bryant of the Royal Western Yacht Club, was also in close proximity to the naval action and had managed to secure the seventy or so chronometers of the Alabama. Lt. Arthur Sinclair describes that just before leaving Cherbourg Capt. Semmes ordered the chronometers to be transferred to Capt. Hewitt.

We do know that on Monday 28th June 1864 there were 68 chronometers forwarded to Mr. Benjamin Nicholson of Messrs Camper and Nicholson in Portsmouth from the Hornet. Each one of them was engraved with the name of the ship from which they were taken. Where they went from there needs to be investigated.

Lt. Sinclair informed me that Capt. Semmes had wanted to sell them in Cherbourg, but was forbidden to do so by the French authorities.  

Crew members of the Deerhound and Lancaster family:

Mr. John Lancaster, Mrs. Euphemia Lancaster (wife), Catherine Lancaster (daughter), John Lancaster Jr. (son), Robert Lancaster (son) G.G. Lancaster (son), Miss. Wilson (niece).

Robert Durham (Cook), William Roberts (Steward), Miss. Brown (Maid).

Evan P. Jones (Captain), Robert Hughes (Mate), William Bell (Engineer), William Jones (Fireman), Harry Adams (ABS), J Page (ABS) John Roe (ABS), Robert Broderick (ABS), Robert Ferris (ABS).

Huw Carnaby Wright (journalist & guest)