Journal Entries
NaJoPoMo #22 - 51 Years ago today
Posted Nov 22, 2014
As I started to continue my stories today, I noticed the Date. As we traditionally hold the Journal challenge in November I have been trying to avoid 'this day in history'. It is a bit unfair to the events of the other 11 months.
But it was on this day, in 1963, America lost its innocence. Today I will direct you to one of our Entries in the Guide A3773225 - the shooting of John F Kennedy. I remember the author well from my early days here, and he wrote some very fine Entries.
Rather than trying to add anything to this report let me just add a few personal memories. I was at school, in the 6th grade, when they made the announcement over the pubic address system. We were all stunned that such a thing could happen. The President had been in Tampa only a week before he visited Dallas.
For the next several days, before the funeral, life in the US almost came to a complete halt. Schools were closed, almost all businesses reduced to a skeleton crew and only the most vital workers had to report for their duties. The rest of us sat watching our (mostly black and white) televisions, where all the regular programming had been cancelled. Instead we watched an almost continuous news broadcast, with interludes of sombre music when there was nothing left to be said.
We all watched when the accused assassin was shot to death on live television, I remember his hand dragging on the ground as they rushed him to the waiting ambulance. I did not yet realize that he was beyond caring about such things.
After laying in state in both the White House and Capitol Rotunda the funeral mass was held at the Cathedral and he was carried on his last journey to Arlington A87805605 on a horse drawn caisson.
I can still see the pathetic sight of his young son saluting the coffin as it passed him standing on the steps. The internment and the lighting of the 'Eternal Flame'.
Life did return to normal afterwards, but nothing would ever seem as secure as it was before
I have probably said enough.
I do encourage you to read a few of the links in J's Entry.
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Latest reply: Nov 22, 2014
NaJoPoMo #21 Early Expeditions in Florida
Posted Nov 21, 2014
Most accounts start with the arrival of Ponce de Leon in 1513, but he was very late to arrive.
Traces have been found of human habitation in Florida, at least as far back as 9,000 BCE. Spear points carved from the ivory tusks of mastodons have been found that match the points made by some of the earliest Americans in Clovis, New Mexico.
Although nothing remains to record the day to day life of these people, except for the archaeological record, they certainly seem to have adapted to the area. Spear points embedded in the skulls of now long extinct species also help to date when the paleoindians arrived in Florida.
Near the end of the last ice age the climate and land area of the peninsula were far different to what we see today. The lower sea level almost doubled the land area that now exists. Most of the early artefacts that have been found are at the bottoms of rivers in north Florida, at the time they were only small ponds that provided a source of water for animals and people in an arid climate.
Some of the earliest pieces found are the remains of the 'atlatls' or spear throwers. They are a simple handheld stick with a handle and a channel to hold the spear, when you learn to master the technique it adds greatly to the power and distance of your throw - much like throwing a baseball, but adding another flip of the wrist.
As the centuries passed new customs and lifestyles developed. By 7,000 BCE the big game had perished and smaller animals were hunted instead.
By 5,000 BCE they began building mounds. In the flat landscape of Florida (the highest point in Florida is only 345 feet, or 105 metres, above sea level) a mound of 30 or 40 feet is an impressive sight. Over time some were built for the location of a ceremony, or raised the village above the flood plain. Some were only a garbage heap.
The production of ceramic pottery started at about 2,000 BCE in both Florida and Georgia. 600 years latter we begin to see carved stone containers arrive that had to come from the mountains about 500 miles to the north.
In the transitional period, about 1,000 BCE, we begin to see the cultivation of crops and the introduction of new tools.
At about the time the Christian Era arrived in Europe a new type of mound was introduced as a burial place for the dead. Temples were added on the top of the ceremonial mounds, and sometimes a large home for the leaders.
By the time the Europeans arrived in the 16th century it is estimated that there were already some 25,00 people living in Florida.
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Latest reply: Nov 21, 2014
NaJoPoMo #20 Commander Leib
Posted Nov 20, 2014
Here we must leave the detailed accounts, and just summarize the events that the squadron was involved with. Although there are deck logs available for the period, they are not detailed stories, just a dry report about winds, courses steered and other mundane events.
Although the war between Mexico and the new Republic of Texas was over, American shipping and fishing interests had to be protected from the navies of both countries.
There was considerable tension between France and Mexico over claims of vandalism against some French ex-patriots by the citizens, and even soldiers, of Mexico. France demanded a huge sum of money as compensation. When the Mexican government refused the French sent a squadron of ships to Veracruz. The 'Pastry War' culminated in the Battle of Veracruz in November of 1838.
Leib had returned and was placed on leave on 13 August, 1838, so he missed the battle itself, but was probably involved in the escalation preceding it. On 14 September he was assigned again to the Naval yard at Philadelphia and remained there until April, 1843.
He was transferred to the command of the 'Receiving Ship' at New York. He remained at this position until 2 May 1844. On 22 June,1844 his promotion to the rank of Commander was confirmed, back dated to 30 March.
He had no other assignments, before he passed away on 14 July, 1851.
He was survived by his wife Caroline who died on 23 February 1893.
A few of the questions that remain
We have already mentioned the birth year and family.
There is also a question about his middle name. The earliest record that I have found is the US Navy list of the officers of the war of 1812 http://www.history.navy.mil/wars/war1812/list8.htm His listing of only being assigned to Philadelphia is consistent with his not being assigned a ship until 1816, however in he is listed as Thomas I Leib. Throughout his career he is listed as, and signs his name, Thomas J Leib. The Harrison book goes as far as to identify him as Thomas J(efferson) Leib. The tombstone clearly reads Thomas L Leib. You would think his widow, who survived him by 42 years, would have noticed these errors and had them corrected.
I hope you have enjoyed this glimpse into a man's life. Tomorrow we must go on to other things.
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Latest reply: Nov 20, 2014
NaJoPoMo #19 Lieutenant Leib Part VII
Posted Nov 19, 2014
Life at the fort consisted of receiving goods brought up from Fort Brooke by wagon train, and then dispersing them to the troops in the field. Although located on the river that flowed past Fort Brooke, shallows and rapids made any access by boat impossible.
When the fort had been built a large area was cleared of trees to create a clear field of fire for the muskets and cannons. far more timber had been cut than the logs required for construction. The remainder had been stacked as fire wood. Each night several large bonfires would be lit in the area surrounding the fort. Some the people posted there claimed they were almost as bright as daylight.
The fort was issued two cannons with 100 round of ammunition for each, a level that was to be maintained for its defence.
The fort had also been supplied with 50,000 rations (the food each man would be given for a day), and also 10,000 bushels of corn. They also had 50,000 pre rolled cartages and the supplies to make another 40,000 rounds. Tools and raw materials were also at hand. As a recognition its Naval command the general also sent a few barrels of whiskey to the fort. While all Army posts forbade spirits, the Navy still observed their daily 'grog call'. While the British Royal Navy used rum, the American sailors preferred whiskey and this was served whenever possible.
With the fort's buildings gorged with supplies, most of the men were forced to sleep outside the walls in tents. This included any units returning from the field to resupply themselves and drop off any sick or wounded who would be sent to Fort Brooke on the next wagon train. In the event of an attack they would all rush behind the walls for protection.
All was quiet at the fort until the evening of 19 January, when a party of Seminoles fired into a group of Alabama volunteers who had gathered around one on the fires. A few of the sentries who were on duty fired at the rifle flashes and the Seminoles retreated. No one knew how many were present, but the men reported seeing at least three.
For the next week or two the sporadic firing at the fort continued. On 4 February the sentries spotted a small party of Seminoles and claimed they had seen one of them carrying a pot that contained burning wood. Leib ordered one of the cannons to fire and sent several volleys of musket fire into the hammock across the river (in Florida a 'hammock' is a hardwood island located in a swampy area). This would be the last time the fort would be under attack. Whether it was because of the strong response to the attack, or the company of 50 marines that were added to the garrison, we will never know.
Leib remained in command of the fort until at least 25 March, when the Commodore's last letter was written to General Jessup requesting that his men be returned to their ships.
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Latest reply: Nov 19, 2014
NaJoPoMo #18 Lieutenant Leib Part VI
Posted Nov 18, 2014
By the time the 'Motto' returned to Tampa Bay, in early August, 1836. The 'Concord' was no where to be seen. The only government ship at the anchorage was the Revenue Cutter 'Washington'. After reporting the Army post at Fort Brooke, Leib was given orders from his captain to report to him, with his men, at Pensacola as soon as possible. He presented his orders to the captain of the 'Washington', and he agreed to transport them back to the squadron.
On the voyage to the panhandle Lieb wrote out his report to the Commodore, which has been most of the basis of the preceding few Journals.
Shortly after his arrival at Pensacola Commodore Dallas and Captain Mix traded ships. It might be that the Commodore was tired of sitting on a ship (the frigate 'Constellation') that was too large to take an active part in the action, or that Captain Mix was already beginning to suffer from his fever. Mix's death was reported on 9 February, 1839, and all the reports stated that it was caused by the effects of a fever he contracted while serving in 'tropical climates'. A87758185
In any event the next time Leib entered Tampa Bay the 'Concord 'was bearing the 'broad pendant' of Commodore Dallas. The commodore started a series of communications with Army General Jessup, who had assumed command of all the troops in Florida.
As a part of their talks, Dallas agreed to loan several of his officers, Sailors and Marines to man several of the new series of forts that Jessup had decided to construct. On 1 January, 1837 Lieutenant Leib found himself on the way to another detached duty, accompanied by two midshipmen and 40 sailors. He was to take command of Fort Alabama, a newly rebuilt stockade about 24 miles to the north east of Fort Brooke.
When the earlier stockade had been abandoned the previous spring, the departing soldiers had left a musket pointed into a cask of gunpowder. A string connected to the trigger and the door completed the booby trap. The departing troops reported that they had heard a large explosion when they were about two miles away.
When Col. William Foster retuned in early December he reported finding two or three skeletons in front of the shattered door. Rather than just restoring the old stockade on the site, he built a proper fortress with two block houses on opposing corners and a large storehouse in the centre. He also constructed a new bridge over the Hillsborough River. The original bridge had been burned by the Seminoles in December, 1835, shortly before the outbreak of war.
When Leib and his men arrived they found the name of their post had been changed to Fort Foster, as a tribute to the man who had been responsible for its construction. They were in a remote outpost, on the edge of hostile territory. They had a storehouse and bridge to defend, the Army had left a dozen men to handle the two cannons - otherwise they were on their own.
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Latest reply: Nov 18, 2014
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