PROVIDENCE JOURNAL:

Article Written By Daniel Barbarisi: Providence Journal Staff Writer, 2003.

Journal Article Web Edited, Amended & Summarized By: G.A. Mierka, Camp 7 Webmaster, 2003.
Additional Resources: "Deeds of Valor", Beyer & Keydel, 1992; and "Memoirs of Rhode Island Officers", Bartlett, 1867:

The Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame inducted 12 new members Sunday, focusing on prominent moral and military crusaders from the Civil War era.   There are more than 460 total members including the new ones.   This year’s inductees are:

Christina Carteaux Bannister (1822 – 1902): An abolitionist of African & Native Americam ancestry, who founded what is today the Bannister Nursing Care Center.

Major George Newman Bliss (1837 – 1928): Commanded Troop C, 1st Rhode Island Volunteer Cavalry.   Awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, for heroism and his actions on 27 September 1864, durning a fierce mounted engagement at Waynesborough, Virginia.   At one point in the fight, alone and cut off from his men, he charged a Rebel Cavalry force of about 55 men with only a sabre and pistol.   When his horse was killed from under him he fought on foot until he was wounded by a Rebel sabre in the back.   Totally surrounded and knocked to his knees, as the Rebels closed in and were about to kill him he held his hand up in surrender and asked for protection as a "Free Mason".   Hearing his request he was saved by the Rebel Commander, who was also a Mason.   This experience gave true meaning to "Brother Against Brother".   A link to his "Rhode Island's Own", biography and "War Papers", personal narratives, by "RI MOLLUS"-RI Soldiers & Sailors Historical Society, coming soon.

Major General Ambrose Everett Burnside (1824 – 1881): Commander of: The Army of the Potomac, The Army of the Ohio, The Union Army 9th Corps, and a pre-Civil War Rhode Island industrialist-arms manufacturer-designer of the famous Burnside Carbine.   He also was the only Rhode Islander to be elected to serve as Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), the Civil War Veterans organization, and he served as Governor of Rhode Island (two terms), and a term as U.S. Senator from Rhode Island until his sudden and unexpected death while in office in 1881.   Burnside was also the founder and first National President of the National Rifle Association (The NRA).   His facial hair inspired the term "sideburns".   During the Civil War, in 1862, he led the "Burnside Expodition" to capture the coast of North Carolina.   As Commander of the Army of the Potomac, after his loss at the Battle of Fredericksburg and political infighting in Congress, which led to his replacement, both President Lincoln and Secretary of War Staton told Burnside he was too valuable to retire and did not blame him for the Union defeat.   A few months later they put him in command of the Army of the Ohio and the 9th Corps and Burnside went on to capture all of East Tennessee and liberate Knoxville in 1863, which he held for the Union against great odds.   After the Civil War, while on a trip to Europe to help promote busniess in Rhode Island he was asked to broker a peace treaty in France during the Franco-Prussian War by French King Louis-Napoleon, III and Prussian (German) Count Otto Von Bismark, and risked his life at least 8 times crossing the lines of battle.   Both European leaders held Burnside in the highest regard and his efforts eventually led to an end of hostilities at the Prussian seige of Paris.   Even though President Garfield lay mortally wounded due to an assassin's bullet, the United States Congress declared a memorial recess to observe the passing of Burnside and honor his memory.   Eulogies to Burnside were offered in Washington, Boston and throughout Rhode Island by many of the country's most prominant public figures, as well as his former Confederate adversaries.   All declared that Rhode Island and the nation had lost one of it's greatest friends of the common man, and all echoed each other saying that Burnside was the most honest, patriotic, reliable, likable, fair and trusting (sometimes too trusting for his own good) men and friend they ever met.
To learn more about Burnside click the link on his name above or the Camp 7 "Back Button" at the bottom of this page, then scroll down and click the "Rhode Island Own" link button to get to the acclaimed RI MOLLUS "Rhode Island's Own", biograpghy on A. E. Burnside and other biographies.   From there you can also access the RI MOLLUS-RI Soldiers and Sailors Historical Society "War Papers" or personal Civil War narratives about Burnside, originally published by Sidney Rider, copyright MOLLUS and Broadfoot Press.   The subjects of all "Rhode Island's Own" material by RI MOLLUS hold the distinction of being the primary educational and biographical resource link for Wikipepia.   All RI MOLLUS "Rhode Island's Own" material features period MP3 music, enjoy.

Paulina Kellogg Wright Davis (1813 – 1876): An abolitionist, suffragist, and publisher of the first magazine devoted to the "Elevation of Women".

Congressman Thomas Davis (1806 – 1895): An abolitionist, manufacturer, state legislator, who left his estate (Davis Park) to the City of Providence.   It is now the site of the Veterans’ Administration Hospital.

George T. Downing (1819 – 1903): An abolitionist, and Civil Rights advocate who fought to end segregation in public schools.   The Boston Globe eulogized him as, "the foremost colored man in the country".

Major General George Sears Greene (1801 – 1899): An instructor of mathematics and engineering at West Point, and Division Commander, who fought at Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, severely wounded at the Battle of Wauhatchie Creek, during operations to relieve the Army of the Cumberland in Chatanooga, Tennessee, 1863. Greene commanded the the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 12th Corps, Army of the Potomac on Culp's Hill, out numbered 5 to 1 at the Battle of Gettysburg and saved the Union Army from defeat July 2nd & 3rd, 1863.
To learn more about G. S. Greene click the link on his name above or the Camp 7 "Back Button" at the bottom of this page, then scroll down and click the "Rhode Island Own" link button to get to the acclaimed RI MOLLUS "Rhode Island's Own", biograpghy on Greene and other biographies.   From there you can also access the RI MOLLUS-RI Soldiers and Sailors Historical Society "War Papers" or personal Civil War narratives about Greene, originally published by Sidney Rider, copyright MOLLUS and Broadfoot Press.   The subjects of all "Rhode Island's Own" material by RI MOLLUS hold the distinction of being the primary educational and biographical resource link for Wikipepia.   All RI MOLLUS "Rhode Island's Own" material features period MP3 music, enjoy.

Rowland Gibson Hazard (1801 – 1888): An abolitionist, state legislator and writer, who was the leader of the "Free Soil Party", and played an important role at the first Republican Party national convention in 1856.

Julia Ward Howe (1819 – 1910): An abolitionist, women’s rights advocate, and author of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic", the music you are now hearing.   A link to her "Rhode Island's Own", biography, by "RI MOLLUS"-RI Soldiers & Sailors Historical Society, coming soon.

Colonel Elisha Hunt Rhodes (1842 – 1917): Rose from private to colonel (2nd R.I. Volunteers), serving in every campaign with the Union Army of the Potomac.   He was with the 2nd Rhode Island at the 1st Battle of Bull Run in 1861 and led the regiment at the surrender of Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army at Appomattox Virginia in 1865.   His diary was described by film producer Ken Burns as, "One of the most incredible Union diaries I have read…this came to represent better than any other diary I found, the spirit of the Union Soldier".   To learn more about Rhodes click his name above.   A link to his "Rhode Island's Own", biography and "War Papers", personal narratives, by "RI MOLLUS"-RI Soldiers & Sailors Historical Society, coming soon.

Brigadier General Isaac Peace Rodman (1822 – 1862): A state legislator, commanded a brigade of Burnside’s 9th Corps, and mortally wounded at the Battle of Antietam, the greatest one day battle in American History.   The results of the Battle of Antietam allowed President Lincoln to issue the "Emancipation Proclamation" and prevented the US Government in Washington D. C. from falling under a Union Military Dictatorship.   Isaac Rodman was the highest ranking Rhode Island Officer to die in battle, in the Fall of 1862.   Earlier, during the highly successful "Burnside Expedition" on the coast of North Carolina, Rodman was recognized for meritorious service and bravery for his actions under heavy fire durning the Battle of New Berne, in the Spring of 1862.   General Burnside his commander, called Rodman the bravest and best Brigade Commander of the Union 9th Corps under fire and mourned his loss for the remainder of the Civil War.   A link to his "Rhode Island's Own", biography and "War Papers", personal narratives, by "RI MOLLUS"-RI Soldiers & Sailors Historical Society, coming soon.

Major General Francis P. "Frank" Wheaton (1833 – 1903): A career soldier and graduate of Brown University who served on the John Russell Bartlett US Boundry Commission serveying the border between the United States and Mexico after the War with Mexico.   For his actions he was commissioned a 1st Lieutenant in the 1st US Cavalry officer and served on the western frontier during the 1850s.   When the Civil War began he helped form the 1st & 2nd R.I. Volunteers.   His father Dr. Francis L. Wheaton served as 1st and 2nd Regimental Surgeon of the Rhode Island Brigade under A. E. Burnside.   Due to the death of Colonel John Slocum, Frank Wheaton (the son) received a battlefield promotion to Lieutenant Colonel in action at Matthews Hill during the First Battle of Bull Run.   Frank was placed in command of the 2nd R.I. Volunteers under fire by Colonel A. E. Burnside.   After 1st Bull Run he was promoted to full Colonel and placed in perminent Command of the 2nd R.I. Volunteers.   During the remainder of the Civil War he rose in rank to Brigadier General commanding the 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 6th Corps, to Major General commanding the 3rd Division, 6th Corps, Army of the Potomac.   After the war he commanded the U.S. Military Department of Texas to guard against a possible invasion from French Occupied Mexico and retired from the U.S. Army after the Spanish American War having served longer than any other officer in the History of the United States Army.   He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor and to this day still holds the distinction of being the longest serving honorably discharged "General Officer" in the history of the US Army, who did not graduate from West Point.   A link to his biography coming soon.   A link to his "Rhode Island's Own", biography and "War Papers", personal narratives, by "RI MOLLUS"-RI Soldiers & Sailors Historical Society, coming soon.

We thank the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame Selection Committee for having the wisdom to induct all 12 of the 2003 candidates and the Providence Journal for reporting it.   This action will help teach future generations about the important role the State of Rhode Island played in the American Civil War, 1861 – 1866.   It demonstrates that many Rhode Islanders were deeply involved with the cause of freedom in America for all, prior, during and after the Civil War.   We also thank all of you (our Internet viewers & supporters) who responded to the call and helped get the long over-due recognition of the 12 inductees for 2003.   RI SUVCW Elisha Dyer Camp No. 7 will continue to promote the recognition of additional outstanding Rhode Island Civil War era citizens each year.   Thank you again for your overwhelming response to our request over the past 4 years to voice your support and for your kind compliments concerning our Website.