Blog
Pickett’s Charge: Treating the Wounded
By the time the smoke cleared and combatants left the field after Longstreet’s Assault on July 3, 1863—popularly known as Pickett’s Charge—the carnage was horrific. All told during three bloody days in July, the Union Army saw an estimated 23,049 casualties: 3,155 killed, 14,529 wounded, and 5,365 missing/captured. According to the American Battlefield Trust, 1,500 Union soldiers were wounded or killed during the assault alone—and among them was twenty-one-year-old Captain Wells Waite Miller. Despite the severity of his wounds, unlike many of his comrades in battle, Wells survived. While there’s no way to definitively know why he did when so
Commemorating Lives: The Lorain Tornado
By Kelly Boyer Sagert with inspiration from Ryan Sagert Though a hundred years have passed, Yesterday’s lives are present. We honor their memories, sharing their stories today. (ring a bell) A hot summer day in June: people were cooling off in the refreshing waters of Lake Erie as winds strengthened. Though a hundred years have passed, Yesterday’s lives are present. We honor their memories, sharing their stories today. (ring a bell) People were gathering to celebrate a lovely home on Fifth Street before they ran to the basement for shelter. Though a
Soldiers Monument in Castalia Cemetery
Today, my husband and I went to Castalia Cemetery where we put a rose on Wells Waite Miller’s grave and decided to investigate the Soldiers Monument. The Soldiers Monument was created by Hughes Granite and Marble Company of Clyde, Ohio. This was, at the time, apparently a well known granite company with its records now stored at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museum. The cost of Castalia Cemetery’s monument? $2,500. This didn’t account for the $500 needed to prepare the site and create the monument’s foundation, though, so the true cost was $3,000. The dedication took place in
Susan Eberhart Was Sinned Against
Susan Eberhart Was Sinned Against On a gloomy day in May 1873 Susan wore a lovely white dress described as cambric-flushed. Susan was perfectly willing to die. Susan wore a lovely white dress paid for by the sheriff. Susan was perfectly willing to die cheerful, confident and composed. Paid for by the sheriff Susan wore a calico sun bonnet. Cheerful, confident and composed Susan was escorted to the gallows. Susan wore a calico sun bonnet even though the day was gloomy. Susan was escorted to the gallows after making peace with God. Even though the day
Kinswomen Poem
Kinswomen Blood of kinswomen throbs through my veins twisting strands of shared DNA from women I’ve never known except when they whisper to me in my dreams. Oh, kinswomen, I’ve missed you. Welcome Home Home is where kinswomen linger after they have left the Earth still embracing loved ones shared memories connecting their inner hearts, spirits, and souls remembering lifetimes together Photo by Sandra Seitamaa on Unsplash
Wells Waite Miller: Filling in the Gaps, Part 2
I continue my research into forgotten Civil War hero Wells Waite Miller thanks to a book titled Margaretta Township and Castalia Village: Past and Present (Cold Creek Girl Scouts, 1976). You can find part one here where I fill in some gaps in my knowledge. Here’s the next set. Wells Waite Miller: Short Teaching Career After being seriously wounded at Gettysburg in 1863, Wells served in the position of captain in the Veteran Reserve Corp, effective April 1, 1864. He wanted to return to the regular Army but was denied the opportunity during the rest of the Civil War and