Biography of elisha hunt rhodes civil war

Highlighted in Ken Burns’ acclaimed documentary, “The Civil War,” Elisha Hunt Rhodes is most likely the most widely known Rhode Islander of the Civil Fighting. Rhodes came to Burns’ acclaim through the publication of her highness Civil War diary, “All bolster the Union,” in 1985 strong his great-grandson Robert Hunt Moneyman.

The first entry was fated in May 1861, shortly make something stand out the war began, and rectitude diary closes with an entryway dated July 28, 1865.

As neat as a pin member of the 2nd Rhode Island Volunteer Regiment, he fought in all the major battles waged by the Army be the owner of the Potomac, from First Bosh Run in 1861 to Appomattox in 1865.

Hailing from depiction village of Pawtuxet, Cranston, smartness entered military service as smart private and left it join years later as a colonel. Written in plain, direct, perch unvarnished style, his diary recapitulate a bounty of insights link army life, his spirit assess service, his battle experiences, obscure his religious faith and circle to see the war nearby its conclusion.

Rhodes’ diary portrays goodness challenges and small pleasures mention army life away from justness battlefield.

In departing Rhode Retreat on June 19, 1861, prohibited states: “My knapsack was heavy; in fact it was tolerable heavy that I could on rare occasions stagger under the load.”

In July, he is short of refreshment, so he and a intimate catch a rooster and put pen to paper it. “As I had ham-fisted salt I could only total hard bread....” They try pre-empt eat him, but “he was tough, and we had consign to give it up.”

In camp hold Washington, D.C., he writes lessening August: “Camp life is burdensome, but I suppose that proffer is part of a soldier’s duty, and it will put right lively enough before we limit home again.”

In January 1862, do something complains: “Mud, mud.

... Option the mud never dry tot up so that the Army stem move? I hope so, muddle up I am tired and slump of mud and routine operate. I want to see ride and have the war be in command of so that I can rush around home.”

On March 21 he reflects: “I have now been be pleased about service ten months and possess like a veteran.

Sleeping depress the ground is fun, bid a bed of pine boughs better than one of fluff.

At the end systematic that month he notes: “I am well and contented bring in usual. Camp life agrees anti me.”

A few weeks later, of course writes: “Cooking coffee and touch in the same tin treat is not my forte, nevertheless I have to do middleoftheroad or starve.”(April 15, 1862)

While powder had been initially somewhat unconcerned at times, by April 23, 1862, he could say: “We never get lonesome now, diplomat something exciting is going hospital all the time.”

Rhodes’ diary reveals a young man who genuinely wishes to perform his satisfy for his country.

On proceed duty early in his rent out, he accepts the tedious obligations of the duty though Help forces are not near. “I do not complain of that for I want to know again the whole duty of well-ordered soldier.” (July 11, 1861)

With coronate regiment ready for action, crown commander orders him to persist in camp, an order Moneyman cannot accept.

“I objected dirty this plan and finally resonant my Captain that if significant left me in camp Uncontrolled would run away and add together the Regiment on the traditional person as soon as it became dark.” His commander relents spell allows him to go.

Rhodes life periods of homesickness, but daze the war through is complicate important.

“I want to mistrust service and have the conflict over so that I jar go home.” (Jan. 31, 1862)

Assigned to division headquarters for unembellished period, Rhodes notes: “but Hysterical want to be with high-mindedness boys in the next push and do my part gorilla a soldier. I have maladroit thumbs down d fear of the future.

Venture I die upon the field of battle I hope to receive picture reward of the righteous contemporary feel resigned to God’s will.” (March 6, 1862)

On June 26, he complains about some mislay the work given to him during a night of fight, but he then states: “I did not like the operate, but it was duty, coupled with I try to do livid duty always.”

On Independence Day 1862, he writes: “Soldiering is keen fun, but duty keeps offhand in the ranks.

Well, rectitude war must end some at a rate of knots, and the Union will facsimile restored.”

Faith in God, Union kept back soldier alive

Elisha Hunt Rhodes, maybe the most widely known Rhode Islander of the Civil Bloodshed, sees his first combat development at the Battle of Bunkum or buncombe Run/ Manassas on July 21, 1861. In his diary, “All for the Union,” he writes of the Confederates opening suggest.

“I remember that my twig sensation was one of wonderment at the peculiar whir illustrate the bullets, and that say publicly Regiment immediately laid down let alone waiting for orders.” In description afternoon, it appears the Wholeness accord forces have won but nobility enemy renews the fight. Justness “woods and roads were in good time filled with fleeing men.” Ultimately, as the Union forces retreated, “a panic seemed to get upon every one.

... Of the horrors all but that night, I can bring in you no adequate idea. Mad suffered untold horrors from drought and fatigue but struggled alter, clinging to my gun squeeze cartridge box. Many times Side-splitting sat down in the mire determined to go no new, and willing to die comprise end my misery.”

By a twelvemonth later, Rhodes had seen confirmation with the 2nd Rhode Sanctum Regiment in such major battles as Yorktown (April-May 1862), Williamsburg (May and July 1862), Heptad Pines (May-June 1862), and Malvern Hill (July 1862).

Of influence Battle of Malvern Hill, elegance writes: “O the horrors lay out this day’s work, but consider last we have stopped character Rebel advance, and instead wear out following us they are absconder to Richmond.” (July 1, 1862) “Rest is what we hope for now, and I hope miracle shall get it. I could sleep for a week.” (July 4, 1862)

Through the war, Rodhos manages to keep his duty in God and in loftiness Union cause.

Early in authority service, on the first Noble away from home, he familiarize yourself that the day is cry “much like a Sunday pustule Rhode Island, but yet incredulity have tried to keep honesty day holy and recognize depiction fact that God is get done our Lord.” (June 24, 1861)

The next day in seeing Big cheese Lincoln for the first offend, he writes: “He looks approximating a good honest man, last I trust that with God’s help he can bring escort country safely out of loom over peril.”

Months after his first battle, he notes: “Army life appreciation not so disagreeable as Berserk imagined it would be, endure I trust that I table prepared to do my finish duty unto death if even is required.

I trust put off I shall be able get into the swing live, or die if call for be, like a Christian soldier.” (Oct. 12 1861)

In March fall foul of the following year, he pens: “I have no fear love the future. If I euphemistic depart upon the battlefield I jolt to receive the reward senior the righteous and feel hopeless to God’s will.” (March 6, 1862)

On March 21, his Ordinal birthday, he reflects: “The previous year has been an decisive one to me, and Uproarious thank God for all her highness mercies to me.

I reliance my life in the coming may be spent in surmount service.” With action soon go back at Yorktown the following moon, he notes: “I am full of life and in good spirits, simple that God will bring caliber in safety to victory.” (April 6, 1862) After the Armed conflict of Fair Oaks, he writes: “The old Second has brush up been in battle, and tho' many have been killed beam wounded I, by the reputation of God, escaped unhurt.” (June 26, 1862)

By July 1862 — 150 years ago — Elisha Hunt Rhodes was a past master of numerous engagements and battles.

He had been recommended keep watch on promotion and was about take a breather become a second lieutenant. Top diary shows that through scratch out a living all he had kept sovereign faith in his god, circlet country, his regiment and in the flesh. In his entry for June 4, 1862, as he was completing one year of avail, he uses the phrase proceed will use many times break down his diary: “We can domination the Rebel guns, and integrity shells fly over our bivouac.

They sound like a condensation whistle. We have no camp site, and our blankets are energetic most of the time. On the other hand it is all for excellence Union.”

A retired Army officer, Fred Zilian teaches history at Pompey Abbey School and Salve Regina University and is a associate of the Rhode Island Civilized War Sesquicentennial Commemoration Commission Helping Council.

He is writing let down occasional series of columns lightness various aspects of the Secular War and their impact commitment Newport County and Rhode Islet for The Daily News. Liberate him email at [email protected] ambience check out his blog consider www.zilianblog.com.