March,
1863... Confederate Munitions Explosion: Remembering the Young Girls of
Richmond.
"Though their hands were small and not hardened in battle, their service to the Confederacy looms large."
In memory of those who lost their lives in the explosion of C.S. Laboratories on Brown's Island - Richmond, Virginia, March 13, 1863. Some were as young as 11, assembling or disassembling percussion caps, friction primers, signal lights, rockets, all things explosive for the southern cause. Dozens of girls – many of them young Irish immigrants – were injured during the chain-reaction explosion at the Confederate State Laboratory munitions factory on Brown’s Island. As many as 50 died.
On March 13, 2013, a new marker was dedicated at the site of the tragedy. Va Flagger Grayson Jennings forwarded the colors and provided a Confederate presence there, and provided Confederate and Irish flags for the marker’s dedication.
That evening, we placed a flag at the monument in Oakwood Cemetery.
On Sunday, March 17th, the Va Flaggers attended a service in Shockoe Cemetery, where 14 of the girls are buried. A new marker was unveiled. Tripp and Jack Lewis were recognized as an honor guard and I carried the Hardee flag of General Patrick Cleburne in honor of his birthday. The ceremony was sponsored and attended by Richmond’s Irish community, and many were interested to learn of the flag, General Cleburne, and its connection to their Irish Heritage. Of course, we were happy to share information and educate attendees about our flags and our brave Irish Confederates. :)
150 years later, the memory of these girls lives on, in the hearts of those who honor and recognize their sacrifice. God bless the girls of the Confederate States Munitions Laboratories.
More photos here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151563053094274.1073741827.698334273&type=3
"Though their hands were small and not hardened in battle, their service to the Confederacy looms large."
In memory of those who lost their lives in the explosion of C.S. Laboratories on Brown's Island - Richmond, Virginia, March 13, 1863. Some were as young as 11, assembling or disassembling percussion caps, friction primers, signal lights, rockets, all things explosive for the southern cause. Dozens of girls – many of them young Irish immigrants – were injured during the chain-reaction explosion at the Confederate State Laboratory munitions factory on Brown’s Island. As many as 50 died.
On March 13, 2013, a new marker was dedicated at the site of the tragedy. Va Flagger Grayson Jennings forwarded the colors and provided a Confederate presence there, and provided Confederate and Irish flags for the marker’s dedication.
That evening, we placed a flag at the monument in Oakwood Cemetery.
On Sunday, March 17th, the Va Flaggers attended a service in Shockoe Cemetery, where 14 of the girls are buried. A new marker was unveiled. Tripp and Jack Lewis were recognized as an honor guard and I carried the Hardee flag of General Patrick Cleburne in honor of his birthday. The ceremony was sponsored and attended by Richmond’s Irish community, and many were interested to learn of the flag, General Cleburne, and its connection to their Irish Heritage. Of course, we were happy to share information and educate attendees about our flags and our brave Irish Confederates. :)
150 years later, the memory of these girls lives on, in the hearts of those who honor and recognize their sacrifice. God bless the girls of the Confederate States Munitions Laboratories.
More photos here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151563053094274.1073741827.698334273&type=3
After attending the ceremony, Tracy
Wright and Willie
Earl Wells were led to take up the task of getting individual
tombstones for each of these girls, who now rest in unmarked graves. The
Mechanized Cavalry/VA, 2nd Battlion, Co. A, 4th Platoon and the Sally Tompkins Chapter 2, OCR
are raising funds to complete this undertaking and are asking for your support
to make it happen.
Please send contributions to:
OCR Sally Tompkins Chapter 2 "Tombstone Fund"
c/o Teresa Piner Wells
19844 Templeton Road
Carson VA 23830
LEST WE FORGET!
Susan Hathaway
Va Flaggers
Upcoming Events:Wednesday, April 17th: Wakefield Ruritan Club, 65th Annual Shad Planking, 2:00 – 6:30 p.m., Wakefield Sportsman’s Club, 12205 Brittles Mill Rd, Wakefield, VA 23888, Tickets $25 each. More info here… http://www.shadplanking.com/
Saturday, June
8th: Annual
birthday ceremony for Jefferson F. Davis, at Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond,
Virginia. (Sponsored by the Jefferson Davis Memorial
Committee)
Saturday, June 29th: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Annual Point Lookout Pilgrimage, Confederate Memorial Park, Point Lookout, MD.
Please send contributions to:
OCR Sally Tompkins Chapter 2 "Tombstone Fund"
c/o Teresa Piner Wells
19844 Templeton Road
Carson VA 23830
LEST WE FORGET!
Susan Hathaway
Va Flaggers
Upcoming Events:Wednesday, April 17th: Wakefield Ruritan Club, 65th Annual Shad Planking, 2:00 – 6:30 p.m., Wakefield Sportsman’s Club, 12205 Brittles Mill Rd, Wakefield, VA 23888, Tickets $25 each. More info here… http://www.shadplanking.com/
Saturday, April
27th: Susan will be
traveling to Tampa, FL to represent the Va Flaggers and speak at the ceremony to
raise the "World's Largest 3rd National Flag" by Gen. Jubal A. Early, Camp #556,
SCV. http://www.tampascv.org/3rd%20national.htm
Tuesday, April
30th: 7:00 p.m. at the
Bedford County/City Museum on Main Street in Bedford, VA (across Court Street
from the Bedford Court House) Barry and
Susan will travel to Bedford, Virginia to speak to the BEDFORD RIFLE GRAYS
#1475, Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans.
Saturday,
May 4th: 10:30 a.m. - Commemoration of the
Sesquicentennial of Lt. Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson Lying in State at the
Old House Chamber, State Capitol, Richmond, VA.
(Sponsored by Va Div, SCV)
Saturday, May
11th: 11:00 a.m. - Annual
J.E.B. Stuart Memorial Service at the Yellow Tavern Monument in Glen Allen, VA,
(sponsored by the Richmond-Stonewall Jackson Chapter #1705, UDC)
Saturday, May
11th: 4:00 p.m. - Confederate
Medal of Honor Memorial Service, Blanford Church on the grounds of Blandford
Cemetery in Petersburg. (Sponsored by Robert E. Lee Camp #1589, SCV)
Saturday, June 29th: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Annual Point Lookout Pilgrimage, Confederate Memorial Park, Point Lookout, MD.
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