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French CHAB News December 2024

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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CONFEDERATE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OF BELGIUM

NEXT MEETING
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Saturday May 10, 2025 at 9.45 AM

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EXCURSION TO MONS

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Excursion organized by Dominique De Cleer to Mons. The capital of the province of Hainaut, Mons is a city rich in history dating back to the 7th century. A few centuries earlier, the Belgian Nervian  tribe had settled there, and a Roman garrison had been established. Over the centuries, Mons fell under Spanish rule (1515-1713), Austrian rule (1713-1795), French rule (1795-1815), and Dutch rule (1815-1830).

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On August 23, 1914, the British Expeditionary Force, 80,000 men strong, occupied a defensive position along the Mons-Condé Canal. Opposing them, the German 1st Army, with twice the numbers, bombarded the British positions and sought to seize the canal bridges. At 9 a.m., four German battalions attempted to capture the Nimy bridge, defended by a single company of the Royal Fusiliers. Advancing in tight ranks, the German soldiers were shot down like rabbits by the Tommies. By 2 a.m. the next day, the British troops withdrew along the Valenciennes-Maubeuge axis.
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On September 2, 1944, the U.S. 3rd Armored Division, Spearhead, entered the city of Mons, making it the first to be liberated. From September 2 to 6, the fighting in the Mons Pocket resulted in 3,500 German casualties, while the American forces lost only 89 men. The GIs took 25,000 prisoners, including four generals.
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The programme of the day will include a visit to the George Lawrence Price Memorial, the Mons Memorial Museum, the Doudou Museum and the St-Symphorien Military Cemetery.
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The price of the excursion is 50 €. More details on the French page of this website or upon request. Reservation a must before May 2 at the latest by email to d.decleer@scarlet.be or tel. at 0475/77 34 60.

Saturday June 14, 2025 from 11.30 AM

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ANNUAL CHAB BANQUET

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As in previous editions, the CHAB barbecue will take place at the club house of the Hoegaarden hockey club. This year, Hubert Leroy and Dominique De Cleer will prepare aMexican menu. Margarita – Tortilla con carne – Enchilada con pollo – Salad, tomatoes, Jalapeños – Mangu pudding – Coffee/Tea. Price of the meal (drinks not included): CHAB members: €35 – non-members: €45. Please register with our secretary Dominique De Cleer by email at d.decleer@scarlet.be or by tel. at 0475/77 34 60, and pay the amount of your meal to account BE90 3100 9059 2632 with the mention CHAB Dinner, before June 4 at the latest.

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LATEST PAINTINGS OF JOHN PAUL STRAIN

 

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NASHVILLE NIGHT PATROL

FIRST TEXAS AT MANASSAS

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After escaping General Grant’s encirclement of Fort Donelson, Lt. Colonel Forrest led his men on a snowy two-day 75-mile trek to Nashville. Rain and warmer temperatures had melted much of the snow as Forrest arrived in Nashville, and reported to General Floyd, who was then commanding the city. Word had spread through the populace that Fort Henry and Fort Donelson had fallen to Union forces. And with news of the approach of US General Buell’s army, a great panic spread throughout the city like a wildfire. A witness later wrote, "A reign of terror and confusion ensued, the like of which was never witnessed in Nashville." Government officials and citizens fled the chaotic scene. Violent plundering mobs were stealing anything of value, attacking anyone who resisted. General Floyd authorized Forrest to take command of the city. Immediately Forrest sent a company of men to secure the public commissary. Forrest then rode with his troops directly into the plundering mob. Those who refused to disperse were met with sabers on their heads and shoulders. One of the drunken ring leaders of the degenerates, charged at Forrest. The man was quickly knocked unconscious by the butt of Forrest’s revolver like a sack of potatoes. The man’s followers realized their situation had changed and reluctantly dispersed. Forrest and his cavalry moved throughout the city restoring some semblance of order. For a week, Forrest’s next task was to try and save as much military equipment and supplies as possible. Every available wagon, horse, or mule left in Nashville was used to remove valuable stores to the depot of the Tennessee and Alabama Railroad. Large quantities of military supplies from the Confederate quartermaster’s department, including hundreds of wagonloads of meat were saved by Forrest and his soldiers. The exodus from the city continued for days with men riding on the top of railroad cars packed with women and children. At night, Forrest and his men patrolled the streets of Nashville, protecting those still remaining in the city. When Buell’s Union army reached the outskirts of Nashville, Forrest and forty of his men were still looking after the transport of supplies. Being the last to leave, Forrest finally headed to Murfreesboro. The Federals entered the city of Nashville on February 25th, which became the first captured Confederate Capital of the war. The city would be occupied by Union forces until 1867. But the Union army had not heard the last from Nathan Bedford Forrest.     

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© All copyrights reserved by John Paul Strain Historical Art

General Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia invaded Maryland in September 1862 with the intentions of changing the focus of battle away from the South and into the Federal’s own backyard. Victories there could lead to the capture of Washington, D.C. and the start of negotiations to end the war. General Lee found good ground to defend in southern Maryland near Antietam Creek and ordered his Army of Northern Virginia to converge there. The location was about a mile east of the little town of Sharpsburg. The Antietam Creek winds through the countryside and was swift and deep, crossable only at three stone bridges, making the position defensible from enemy flanking maneuvers. On September the 15th with Federal forces closing in from the east, Lee positioned his men near the creek and waited for McClellan to arrive. On the afternoon of 16th, the Army of the Potomac arrived and engagements soon began, continuing until the evening. But this clash between the two armies was just the beginning of what would become the deadliest one-day battle in American military history. Scattered rain showers and anxiety kept many men from sleeping during the night. Clouds lingered at first light as cannon fire erupted before sunrise. General Hood’s Texas Brigade began to fix breakfast as the epic Battle of Antietam began when Hooker’s Union corps mounted a powerful assault on Lee’s far left flank against the Texans. The Texas Brigade quickly fell into formation emerging from the West Woods near the Dunker Church and were ordered forward across the Miller cornfield in a counterattack. The moment the 1st Texas stepped into the husks of corn they received cannon fire from Battery C of the 5th US Artillery, posted atop the ridge overlooking the Cornfield from the north.  Undeterred the Texans pushed deeper into the corn cornfield in a line of battle as men in the ranks now fell from musket fire. A soldier from the 4th Texas Regiment would later write “When we reached the top of the hill, (it)was the hottest place I ever saw on this earth or want to see hereafter. There were shot, shells, and Minie balls sweeping the face of the earth; legs, arms, and other parts of human bodies were flying in the air like straw in a whirlwind.  The dogs of war were loose, and havoc was their cry.” Despite the fire it seemed the Lone Star soldiers were unstoppable in their charge through the cornfield, driving Federal units before them. However, in their excitement, the 1st Texas had moved ahead from the line of battle chasing after the fleeing enemy, moving farther and farther from their appointed post next to the 18th Georgia. Lieutenant Colonel Work and his officers had lost control of the 1st regiment. In his account published in the Official Records, Colonel Work explained that “[a]s soon as the regiment became engaged with the enemy in the cornfield, it became impossible to restrain the men, and they rushed forward, pressing the enemy…” General Hood would later comment that the 1st Texas had “slipped the bridle and got away from the command.” As the 1st Texas reached the end of the corn field, suddenly rising from an unseen prone position, Meade’s 12th Pennsylvania Reserves poured a solid wall of fire into the advancing Texans, followed by another volley from the awaiting 11th Reserves, and then another from the 9th Reserves. The result was devastating. Those Texans still standing tried to hold their position. In just a few minutes eight men were killed holding the regimental colors. Each time a color bearer was shot to the ground another Texan would pick up their flag. But soon the men retreated from the unrelenting firestorm leaving their Texas battle flag underneath the body of its last bearer. Eventually all of Hood’s Brigade were forced to withdraw. Only 56 soldiers of the 226 men of the 1st Texas Regiment who marched into the Miller’s cornfield survived. The unit suffered over 82% casualties on that field, more than any other regiment North or South, during the entire war. The Texas battle flag carried that day was eventually returned to the State of Texas in 1909, and hung with honor in the Texas State Capitol building until the 1920's. Despite these tremendous losses at Antietam, the men of the 1st Texas would fight on at Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Chickamauga, Spotsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, and the Petersburg siege. They would become known as “The Ragged Old First”.   

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© All copyrights reserved by John Paul Strain Historical Art

 

For information or online orders:

www.johnpaulstrain.com

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