Michael Karpovage
Author, Crown of Serpents
Here's the story as it in print. I don't know the source of this story though as it was given to me from a laser print out. Am trying to dig a little deeper for more evidence that this actually happened - the Masonic connection that is. Anyone with information please contact me.
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Civil War period. Summer 1864 Sherman's March to the Sea in Georgia. Battle of Kennesaw Mountain.
Wave after wave of Federals advance towards the salient in the Rebel line on Cheatham Hill. Withering gunfire kills hundreds of boys, mostly from Illinois and Ohio. Incredibly, McCook and some of his men make it to the Rebel line, only to be shot, stabbed, or captured by the Graybacks. Later both sides would refer to this area as "The Dead Angle."
Just to the north of Cheatham Hill some woods catch on fire during the attack. Wounded Union soldiers, left during the hasty retreat, scream as they burn to death in the blaze. Observing the Masonic distress signal, a colonel from Arkansas steps on top of the entrenchments with a white flag ans calls to the opposing force, "Come and get your men, for they are burning to death!" Rifleless Federals approach and begin to remove the bodies, aided by men in gray. The two forces that had been killing each other less than fifteen minutes earlier now were working together to save the lives of the fallen men. The next day the Union commanders present the Colonel with a matching pair of ivory-handled Colt .45 pistols.
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What I've found out so far from the Kennesaw Mtn. Historical Association is that the blaze in fact did happen and the rescue did take place but that the Masonic connection is speculative. That the pistols were actually Navy .36 calibre pistols and were presented in an elaborate box. The Arkansas colonel's name given to me by the association was John H. Martin. Not sure if a full Colonel or Lt. Colonel. However, I found no evidence of a John H. Martin from Arkansas in the Confederate Roster. There is a Lt. Colonel William H. Martin with the 1st Infantry (Colquitt's) Co. F which combined with the 15th Arkansas Infantry. I haven't determined if this unit was on the field at Kennesaw at the time though. Nor if either of these men are confirmed Masons.
And there you have it! I haven't dug further on the internet on this yet. So, if anyone has some extra time on there hands any contributing information would be greatly appreciated.
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Civil War period. Summer 1864 Sherman's March to the Sea in Georgia. Battle of Kennesaw Mountain.
Wave after wave of Federals advance towards the salient in the Rebel line on Cheatham Hill. Withering gunfire kills hundreds of boys, mostly from Illinois and Ohio. Incredibly, McCook and some of his men make it to the Rebel line, only to be shot, stabbed, or captured by the Graybacks. Later both sides would refer to this area as "The Dead Angle."
Just to the north of Cheatham Hill some woods catch on fire during the attack. Wounded Union soldiers, left during the hasty retreat, scream as they burn to death in the blaze. Observing the Masonic distress signal, a colonel from Arkansas steps on top of the entrenchments with a white flag ans calls to the opposing force, "Come and get your men, for they are burning to death!" Rifleless Federals approach and begin to remove the bodies, aided by men in gray. The two forces that had been killing each other less than fifteen minutes earlier now were working together to save the lives of the fallen men. The next day the Union commanders present the Colonel with a matching pair of ivory-handled Colt .45 pistols.
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What I've found out so far from the Kennesaw Mtn. Historical Association is that the blaze in fact did happen and the rescue did take place but that the Masonic connection is speculative. That the pistols were actually Navy .36 calibre pistols and were presented in an elaborate box. The Arkansas colonel's name given to me by the association was John H. Martin. Not sure if a full Colonel or Lt. Colonel. However, I found no evidence of a John H. Martin from Arkansas in the Confederate Roster. There is a Lt. Colonel William H. Martin with the 1st Infantry (Colquitt's) Co. F which combined with the 15th Arkansas Infantry. I haven't determined if this unit was on the field at Kennesaw at the time though. Nor if either of these men are confirmed Masons.
And there you have it! I haven't dug further on the internet on this yet. So, if anyone has some extra time on there hands any contributing information would be greatly appreciated.