On this trip down the Mississippi, I carried a small notebook and scribbled notes furiously. Visiting this national park, I was especially overcome by the enormity of this battle. The notes are mine and the facts as I understood from our guide.
Soon after Christmas, 1862, Grant, under orders from President Lincoln, came down personally from Memphis “to get the job done!” His 43,000 man army was on the west side of the Mississippi and it took two days to ferry the troops, horses and armaments, across the river. It did help Grant’s cause that the Confederate generals were in-fighting; Johnston abandoned the town of Jackson as Grant approached. But Pemberton’s troops were well entrenched in a semi-circle around Vicksburg. As well as the Confederate army, there were 3500 citizens there. As the Union forces fought their way to Vicksburg, the net closed around the town, the resistance and battlements repulsing Grant four times. But Grant had way more men and Lincoln was re-supplying him with everything and anything he needed… “with bodies for the fire.” Finally, after losing many men, Grant decided upon a siege as his only option.
On 25 May 1863, the siege of Vicksburg began. Grant held the superior position; he could call for help. Pemberton was just the opposite; his army was trapped and he had all those civilians to think about. Grant had 200 canons and they commenced firing one by one, every fifteen seconds around the clock. The 3500 non-combatants fled the city down to the bluffs along the river to live in tents and caves, anything to avoid the canon fire. Survival was on their minds, not battles nor politics. (Pause to imagine life in a muddy cave, with nothing to eat or drink, hearing cannon balls tearing your home and city apart.)
First the cows disappeared, then the horses. Next were the dogs and when, after 47 days, the troops and the citizens were reduced to eating rats, Pemberton surrendered on 4 July 1863, the same day as the Battle of Gettysburg ended, signaling the end of the war. Union deaths from start to finish during the taking of Vicksburg were about 10,000 men. The Confederates lost about 9000. These figures might reflect men killed, wounded or AWOL.
After Vicksburg, Lincoln realized that Grant had the guts to fight, versus so many other of his appointed Union generals (due to in-fighting and politics) that Lincoln appointed Grant to be General of the Army to finish the job of causing the Confederacy’s will to fight to crumble.
This is the field our guide was referring to. As we bus-toured the Vicksburg battlefield, our very knowledgeable guide paused at one point to help us imagine it as it was: Imagine a hilly-up-and-down field covering several football fields in length. You are told to charge (RUN!) from here to there in the sweltering July heat, carrying your nine pound rifle, being rather weak from too little food, and with iron balls fired from both sides raining down on you. The slaughter was horrible, “utter insanity,” said the guide.
Where There Is – or Isn’t – a Will — Where there’s a will, there’s a probate. And often when there isn’t a will, there’s still a probate. Understanding the process and finding the records created when our ancestors died can help break through those brick walls.
Property Rights and Wrongs – African-Americans at the Courthouse — From being treated as property to having their children and their property stolen by those who used the law against the freedmen, African Americans’ experience at the courthouse had only one bright spot: it created records for the genealogist-descendants of enslaved and enslavers alike.
Linking the Generations with Court and Land Records — It’s the single biggest issue genealogists face: how do we connect one generation to the next with evidence we can rely on? Vital records are excellent documentation, but they often don’t exist for the time and place we’re researching. That’s when we have to find workarounds to make sure we’re not simply putting people into family lines because they share the same names. Using court and land records, we can often find the evidence we need to link the generations accurately.
“Don’t Forget the Ladies” – A Genealogist’s Guide to Women and the Law — In early America, women were all too often the people who just weren’t there: not in the records, not in the censuses, not on juries, not in the voting booth. The common law relegated women to “protected” – second-class – status, and understanding how they were treated under the law provides clues to finding their identities today.
Judy G. Russell, The Legal Genealogist®, is a genealogist with a law degree who provides expert guidance through the murky territory where law and family history intersect. An internationally-known lecturer and award-winning writer, she holds credentials as a Certified Genealogist® and Certified Genealogical Lecturer℠ from the Board for Certification of Genealogists®. Her blog is at https://www.legalgenealogist.com.
This month, instructor Winona Laird offers a “Vital Records” class – free for SKCGS members and $20 per class for non-members. This is a great opportunity to brush up on skills or learn something new. More information at https://www.skcgs.org/meetings-events/classes.
For SKCGS members, March 20, 2023 is the first meeting of the 12-month online study group using the book “Research Like a Pro with DNA” by Diana Elder, Nicole Dyer, and Robin Wirthlin. Details can be found at https://www.skcgs.org/areas-of-interest/study.
At the May 2023 General Membership Meeting, SKCGS will hold its annual election for the positions of President and Treasurer. The Nominating Committee is pleased to share the slate of candidates and invite additional nominations. Learn more at https://www.skcgs.org/home/nominees.
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PROGRAM UPDATES
All meetings are online via Zoom except the in-person Research Group and Genealogy Help at the Auburn Library
Live transcription (captioning) is available during our Zoom meetings by request
Online meeting participants need to register for SKCGS Zoom meetings. Register at our website skcgs.org or use links below. Upon registration, Zoom will send a confirmation email with instructions on joining the meeting.
Saturday, March 4, 2023, 10:00am – 12:00pm PT Family Tree Maker Users Group (online) Question & Answer. Each month, we will learn about using the features of FTM. Register in advance for this Zoom meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYsdu6uqzgiGdDn7eCsOAgkvdOXktX127sz After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Subscribe to the free SKCGS FTM email list for meeting reminders and discussion: https://skcgs.groups.io/g/FTMUG
Monday, March 6, 2023, 11:00am PT Beginning Genealogy Class: Vital Records (online via Zoom) More details at https://www.skcgs.org/meetings-events/classes Tuesday, March 7, 2023, 6:30pm PT SKCGS Board of Directors Meeting (online) All SKCGS members are invited to attend; only Officers and Directors may vote. Write to Board@skcgs.org for the meeting link.
Wednesday, March 8, 2023, 6:30pm PT Beginning Genealogy Class: Vital Records (online via Zoom) This is a repeat of the March 6th class More details at https://www.skcgs.org/meetings-events/classes Monday, March 13, 2023 ⋅ 1:00pm – 3:00pm PT Genetic Genealogy/DNA Interest Group (online) “Ancestry DNA: Use All the Tools” Ancestry.com provides lots of powerful tools. We’ll make our way through them as time allows, and revisit the topic in April if necessary. Most important: link your test to yourself on your tree: https://support.ancestry.com/s/article/Linking-an-AncestryDNA-Test-to-a-Tree?language=en_US
Sort matches using the dots
Filters, Searches, sorting
Using “Common ancestor”, unlinked trees
Using the Notes on each match page
“Do you recognize them?” – make that work for you
Shared matches with known cousins
Messaging your matches – what to say?
Tagging DNA matches in your tree, and adding DNA facts
Quickly finding your DNA matches in the tree (view match)
ThruLines
Ethnicity Estimates
Register in advance for this meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIucuCvqTsqHNcN7wBEC0fB_3-TRYD1rZLm After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Subscribe to the free SKCGS Genetic-Genealogy email list for meeting reminders and discussion: https://skcgs.groups.io/g/Genetic-Genealogy Friday, March 17, 2023, 1:00pm – 3:00pm PT Research Group (in-person) For SKCGS members Kent FamilySearch Center 12817 SE 256th St., Kent, WA Seating is limited RSVP REQUIRED to Winona at w.laird@skcgs.org Saturday, March 18, 2023, 9:30am PT social time; 10:00am – 11:30am PT program SKCGS General Meeting (online) Steven Morrison presents “Start Writing – Your Ancestor’s Legacy Depends upon YOU!” Register in advance for this meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMlcO2sqD0qEtEWuEfG8dL8lsLH_l2odD6v After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. This meeting will be recorded for playback by members.
To some genealogists ‘the hunt’ is everything. Learn how to shift gears and to write a cohesive story about your ancestor. Writing helps you refocus your thinking. You might even surprise yourself, realizing you’ve bagged your ancestor without knowing it!
Steven Waltz Morrison is the past-president of the Puget Sound Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the Olympia Genealogical Society. He attained a Master’s degree from The Evergreen State College where he taught for seven years as an adjunct faculty. In 2018 Steven coordinated Exploring Quaker Records-At Home and Abroad at SLIG, in 2020 co-coordinated Exploring American Quaker Records at GRIP, and in 2021 coordinated Quaker Records of North America, Ireland and the British Isles for ISBGFH. He’s addressed international audiences on Quaker topics at the Ulster American Heritage Symposium in Omagh, Ireland & Toronto, Canada, and the Yearly Meeting of Friends in Ireland. In 2016, the American Society of Genealogists awarded him their Scholar Award.
Monday, March 20, 2023 ⋅ 1:00pm – 3:00pm PT Technical User Group (online) “How to Make FamilySearch Family Tree Work for You” The Family Tree is a powerful tool; we’ll begin today and return to the topic in April. 1. Create a free account 2. Create a profile for yourself, then add your parents and if necessary, grandparents
Profile view, and Tree view (hints)
Searching for records from the profile
Source Linker
Accessing linked sources and contributor/relatives/relationships
Merging profiles
Troubleshooting
Register in advance for this meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAucuigqj4uH92bWWD2uycX9Z1uSsRLY4K6 After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Subscribe to the free SKCGS Tech User Group email list for meeting invitations and discussion: https://skcgs.groups.io/g/TUG Thursday, March 23, 2023 ⋅ 11:00am – 1:00pm PT Genealogy Help with SKCGS at the Auburn Library(in-person) Genealogy questions? SKCGS offers one-on-one help with a volunteer 1102 Auburn Way S Auburn, WA 98002 Registration not required. In-person event. Safety guidelines and current protocols followed. More information at King County Library, email kcls-auburn@kcls.org Monday, March 27, 2023 ⋅ 1:00pm – 3:00pm PT Genealogy Chat(online) Meet up and chat about genealogy subjects and topics. We have no agenda; we just like one another! Register in advance for this Zoom meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUud-uqpzoiGtEMxlqDBQ_fUeS8oZjScF71 After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Subscribe to the free SKCGS email list for meeting invitations and discussion: https://skcgs.groups.io/g/Society
Saturday, April 1, 2023, 10:00am – 12:00pm PT Family Tree Maker Users Group (online) Question & Answer. Each month, we will learn about using the features of FTM. Register in advance for this Zoom meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYsdu6uqzgiGdDn7eCsOAgkvdOXktX127sz After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Subscribe to the free SKCGS FTM email list for meeting reminders and discussion: https://skcgs.groups.io/g/FTMUG
Monday, April 3, 2023, 11:00am PT Beginning Genealogy Class: Census Records (online via Zoom) More details at https://www.skcgs.org/meetings-events/classes Tuesday, April 4, 2023, 6:30pm PT SKCGS Board of Directors Meeting (online) All SKCGS members are invited to attend; only Officers and Directors may vote. Write to Board@skcgs.org for the meeting link.
Wednesday, April 5, 2023, 6:30pm PT Beginning Genealogy Class: Census Records (online via Zoom) This is a repeat of the April 3rd class More details at https://www.skcgs.org/meetings-events/classes Friday, April 7, 2023, 12:30 – 2:30 pm PT EGS German Interest Group (online) “Researching the Eastern European German Diaspora” Presenter Mark Rabideauwill focus on the populations of Germans in Eastern Europe scattered in former German communities. Visitors welcome and more information at https://egsgermangroup.wordpress.com
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MEMBERSHIP: We welcome guests to our meetings and special interest groups, which are free. Naturally we hope that visitors will want to become members. Support like yours helps us to educate and engage with our community to foster interest in family and local history. Regarding our programs, even if and when we can meet again in person, we will continue with some virtual programs. You can find more information about membership at our website at https://www.skcgs.org/support-skcgs/membership.
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Genealogists and family historians, your help is needed to save access to historical immigration records!
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has proposed a substantial fee hike to access millions of historical immigration records held exclusively by its genealogy program. This could effect you so it is really important that you post your comments and write to your Senators and Representative.
The comment deadline is now March 13th so please submit your comments by then. Please share this deadline with your networks, too. Encourage them to comment and contact their Senators and Representative. If genealogists don’t comment, USCIS will think we don’t care how long it takes to get records or how much it costs.
A nice bit of publicity in The Columbian for CCGS! This appeared under “Letters to the Editor.” It was written following a story about a local man who successfully searched for his enslaved ancestors. Apparently, the writer didn’t know about, or think to mention CCGS. Perhaps that was because the interviewee has not availed himself of CCGS resources. Hopefully, more will after this!
Find the speaker, save on registration The International German Genealogy Partnership conference June 9-11 is a hybrid event being held in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and online. Our wonderful slate of presenters will speak on a range of topics helpful for those researching German-speaking ancestors. This is one of the few occasions on which you will hear from, and connect with, people focused only on German genealogy.Although the early bird discount for IGGP 2023 has ended, you can play our new discount code game, “Who’s the Speaker,” to receive $50 off your registration.Each week through the end of March, we’ll provide a couple clues to one of our presenters. Visit the presenters page, find the speaker based on the first clue and click to view the speaker profile. The second clue allows you to confirm you’ve got the right person. Then use the speaker’s first name in the discount code box to receive $50 off.You’ll get to meet our wonderful speakers and save money, too! Here are the clues for this week (through March 10). Try it out: Who’s the Speaker!One of our speakers enjoys wearing tall hats.And this speaker lives in the oldest house in his town.Details. #IGGC2023
Alert your favorite librarian!Registration has also opened for the first LIBRARIANS’ DAY at the IGGP conference. Share our flyer with your local library, archive or historical society.This special day on June 8, again in-person or virtual, is being organized by the Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library. The speakers will provide advice on finding genealogy resources, information that librarians can use to help their patrons who are doing German research. The fee is a budget-friendly $10. Librarians’ Day details. (Note that this event will not address personal research questions.) For those attending the IGGP 2023 conference, convenient access to the Allen County Public Library is one of the perks! You can visit the Genealogy Center, get research help from its genealogy librarians or do your own research in the collections.
Copyright (C) 2023 International German Genealogy Partnership. All rights reserved. You subscribed to receive news about IGGP and its activities. Use the links below to change your subscription preferences or unsubscribe.
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Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized over 600 outstanding volunteers and teams, nominated by their local society or genealogical organization for their service and dedication. These volunteers are the backbone of their local society, giving their time and expertise, to the organization and the field of genealogy. In the coming months, you will be introduced to each of the 2022 award recipients and learn why they received the 2022 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.
Celia McNay
Today we’re introducing Celia McNay of North Bend, Washington, who was nominated by the Eastside Genealogical Society (EGS).
Celia has served for four years (2016-2020) as the president of the EGS, and continues to be the driving force behind the recruitment of new members. She also has fostered closer relationships with other local, regional and national genealogical societies and organizations and participated in outreach meetings with the public at large.
She spearheaded the digitization of the paper records of the EGS including newsletters and minutes so that the society’s history is both preserved and accessible for the future.
Celia organized highly successful week-long research trips to the Family History Library in Salt Lake for EGS members in 2018 and 2019. Only COVID prevented a third such research trip in 2020.
Here, closer to home, Celia has been a speaker in both genealogical workshops and genealogy classes for the Bellevue Regional Library both in person and later on Zoom. She continues to serve actively in the society as a member of the nomination committee and the membership committee chair. Celia is very personable and a dedicated genealogist, generous with her time and always willing to assist others. Not surprisingly she is active in her local FHC as well. She is an outstanding volunteer with a special grace and a smile.
For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Info@wasgs.org. Please type “Volunteer Award” in the subject line.
On this trip down the Mississippi, I carried a small notebook and scribbled notes furiously. Visiting this national park, I was especially overcome by the enormity and importance of this battle. The notes are mine and the facts as I understood from our guide.
For nearly 200 years, men have been attempting to “tame” the mighty Mississippi River but “Mother Mississippi” has slapped back most all attempts through the years. Throughout history, the Mississippi has been a vital commerce and travel “highway” draining most all the American Midwest.
The river was of special importance during the Civil War. In 1837, Robert E. Lee was given the task of “taming” the Mississippi River. That meant he started clearing the floating trees and wrecked boats from the river. He was trying to clear a navigable channel, not clear the entire river. Lee pioneered the revetment for erosion control. This was putting “stuff” along the river bank to hold the bank. First was woven willow branches weighted with mud (today they use concrete slabs). Lee also introduced dredging.
All Mississippi River cities were originally ports for farmers to ship grain and other products. During the Civil War, the Mississippi River was all important………. For this reason it was the key to winning the Civil War. The Union strategy was to completely surround the Confederacy (why there were two armies, the Army of Virginia and the Army in the West). The plan for the Mississippi was to blockade all the posts and then go after the cities along the river, one by one.
Admiral David Farragut was sent upriver from New Orleans (which was Union held since April 1862) to bombard Vicksburg into submission but they would not surrender. Farragut was firing uphill and the town was firing downhill. The town did realize they would be attacked again so the troops and the townspeople began cutting trees and building up an eight-mile encircling defense for the east side, “sort of stacking Lincoln Logs,” thinking that would keep them safe. As would the bluff would keep them safe from river attacks. President Lincoln knew otherwise.
Quoting from a National Park brochure, “Vicksburg posed the most significant remaining obstacle to complete Union control of the Mississippi.” Vicksburg had to be taken; Grant was the man for the job. New Orleans was first, April 1862; it fell in one day. Memphis was next in June 1862; again in one day. Ditto with Baton Rouge. Natchez was next and it capitulated……. Many Northerners had settled there to profit from their hundreds of plantations, so they had lots to lose during a battle. Next upriver was Vicksburg.
Vicksburg sat on the eastern side of the river atop a high bluff on a hairpin turn of the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers. It was easy for Confederate Gen. John C. Pemberton to fire down upon any Union river-attempt to take the city from the river (as he had repulsed Farragut).
Memphis, east side of the river and north of Vicksburg was a swampy delta, nearly impossible for an army to march across. So Grant couldn’t come from the North. The Confederates held Jackson (state capitol to the east of Vicksburg). Pemberton was told by President Jefferson Davis to “hold Vicksburg at all costs.” So he dug in and did his best but Vicksburg did fall in the end.
Legacy Family Tree SIG Meeting Mar 7th, 2023, 7:00 pm
This week we will be reviewing a series of short videos presented by Geoff Rasmussen that are free and available from the Legacy Family Tree Webinars site.
How to customize Legacy’s Family View
How to make a backup of your Legacy family file
Legacy software tip: How to unlink a child, spouse or parent if needed
How to Import a Family Tree Maker file into Legacy
How to make a Family Calendar using Legacy Family Tree software
Creating a Migration Chart with Legacy Family Tree software
Working with gaps in Legacy Family Tree
Legacy QuickTip: How to create a Mother’s Chart
Blank Forms in Legacy Family Tree software
We hope to see you this coming Tuesday, March 7th!
Our meetings are held on the 1st Tuesday of each month from 7:00 pm until 8:30. The link to the reoccurring Zoom Meeting is located at the bottom of this page.
The first half of each meeting we will work thru training videos, watching, and then pausing to talk about the section we just watched before moving on to the next section. The second half will be used for open discussion of topics related to using Legacy. This could include any questions or problems we are having with the program or tips and features we have discovered. If you think of something you would like to bring up, please write it down so you can share it with the group.
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