The Outpost 
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE SALT CREEK CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE 
VOLUME XLIV No. 5 January 2007 
397th Regular Meeting 

DATE: 5th January 2007
PLACE: Fairview Village, 200 Village Dr., Downers Grove, Il.
TIME: 8:00 P.M.
SPEAKER: Richard T. Crowe
TOPIC: “Civil War Ghosts”


“Civil War Ghosts” looks into the ghostlore and folklore of America’s bloodiest 
conflict. Just what constitutes a “ghost” encounter? Types and varieties of experiences 
will be explained and explored. Examples of haunted battlefields, ghosts of the famous 
and infamous, and classic “haunted houses” will be discussed. Is Abraham Lincoln the 
most active ghost of the Civil War? Gettysburg: America’s most haunted battlefield? 
Civil War connections of Louisiana’s Myrtles Plantation: America’s most haunted 
house? The strangest Civil War ghost story?: the presidential funeral train. And more. 

Richard Crowe is the founder of the Chicago Supernatural (Ghost) Tour, the first bus 
tour business devoted strictly to haunted and legendary sites. He is a lifelong south 
sider, who earned a BA and MA in English Literature at De Paul University where his 
minor was Geography. Crowe became an active student of the Civil War during the 
centennial years and has specialized in the popular supernatural beliefs and customs of 
that era, especially classic haunted house tales. Although born in the North, he is a pro-
southern Copperhead in philosophy. His father was from Ludlow, KY. where John 
Hunt Morgan landed after crossing the Ohio River during his daring escape. The 
SCCWRT extends its warmest welcome to this member, distinguished scholar, and 
pioneer in a historically neglected field. 

1



DECEMBER MEETING 
BY 
CINDY INTRAVARTOLO 
Guest Columnist: Jan Rasmussen (Thanks, Jan!) 

On December 1, Ron Carlson 
presented, “Citizen Soldier, Alpheus 
Starkey Williams”, before 37 members 
and guests who braved the snowy 
weather at the 396th regular meeting of 
the Salt Creek Civil War Roundtable. 
Prior to the presentation, the election of 
officers for 2007 was held. Those elected 
were: President-Rick Zarr, vice 
president-Gil Mitchell, Treasurer-
Brenda Grazis (Special Editor’s Note-
Thanks to Bill Hupp for his-what was it 
Bill? 16, 17 years? -service as Treasurer. 
His assistance in producing this 
newsletter has been invaluable, and I 
am very glad that that part of his service 
will continue. He has to be the longest 
serving officer in SCCWRT history!), 
and Secretary Jan Rasmussen. The 
Board of Directors includes Cindy 
Heckler, Chuck Kurz, Mary Lord, Len 
Overcash, and Paula Walker. 

Alpheus Starkey Williams was a top 
citizen-soldier, beloved by his troops 
and highly regarded by fellow officers. 
Though he led with distinction in battles 
and campaigns that were crucial to 
Union victories, he was never promoted. 
His lack of promotion was likely due to 
his not having connections with the 
West Point “clique” and his Democratic 
politics. 

A.S. Williams was born in Deep River 
CT. on Sept. 20, 1810. His parents died 
when he was young, leaving him with a 
$75,000 inheritance. The money enabled 
him to study law at Yale and travel in 
Europe. He moved to Detroit in 1836 
and established himself as a lawyer. He 
married Jane Hereford. They had five 
children, two of these dying at a young 
age. Jane died in 1848. He was not to 
re-marry until 1875. He was elected 
judge and published a Whig newspaper. 
In 1837, he had joined the Brady 
Guards, a local militia. He fought in the 
Patriot War of 1838-9 and also served as 
a Lt. Colonel in the Mexican War. 

In May 1861, Williams was appointed 
Brig. General and was placed in 
command of a brigade in the 2nd Corps 
(Army of VA.) under Nathaniel Banks 
in the Shenandoah and Second Bull Run 
Campaigns. On Sept. 13, 1862, troops 
under his command found Lee’s famous 
“Lost Order” detailing the objectives of 
the Army of Northern Virginia. On 
Sept. 14, at Antietam, Gen. McClellan 
replaced Williams as commander of the 
XII Corps with Gen. J.K.F. Mansfield, a 
veteran West Pointer. Mansfield was 
killed early in the battle and Williams 
skillfully led the corps for the rest of the 
day but received no particular 
recognition. In May of 1863, Williams 
was at Chancellorsville where, although 
his troops fought hard and helped stem 
the Confederate tide, no kudos were 
forthcoming. He arrived at Gettysburg 
on July 1st, where he was once again 
placed in command of, by now 
Slocum’s, XII corps. His command 
withstood repeated assaults at Culp’s 
Hill but was overshadowed by more 

2



highly publicized actions at Little 
Round Top and Cemetery Hill. After 
Gettysburg, the general was sent to 
Sherman’s Army and fought with 
distinction at Resaca, New Hope 
Church, Kolb’s farm, and Peachtree 
Creek. He went with the March to the 
Sea and was at the Grand Review. He 
served as military administrator in 
Arkansas until he resigned in 1866. 

He returned to civilian life in 
Michigan only to face financial 
problems. He became minister to El 
Salvador. In 1870 he ran, 
unsuccessfully, for governor, but was 
elected to Congress in 1874 and 1876. 
He died in 1878. His grave is in 
Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit along 
with 28 other Union generals. There is a 
statue of Williams on his beloved horse, 
“Plug Ugly”, on Belle Island near 
Detroit. They shared many adventures 
during the war, but the horse gave out 
during the Atlanta Campaign, was sold, 
and died shortly thereafter. 

Most of the information for this talk 
came from a collection of letters Gen. 
Williams wrote to his daughter. They 
were published in 1959 in “From the 
Cannon’s Mouth; The Civil War Letters 
of Alpheus Starkey Williams”. Another 
source was “Neglected Honor, the Life 
of General A.S. Williams of Michigan 
(1810-1878) “ by Michigan State 
University Prof. Jeffrey Charnley. 

The SCCWRT wishes to thank Ron 
Carlson for shedding some light and 
recognizing Gen. Alpheus Starkey 
Williams as a truly unsung hero of the 
Civil War. 


PRESERVATION REPORT 
by LEN OVERCASH, SR. 

CHATTANOOGA, TN.-The city 
Variance Board recently voted 7-1 to 
approve a 150 -foot cell tower at the 
Ridge Cut of historic Missionary Ridge, 
despite vocal opposition from neighbors 
and several groups. However, the 
project by Wireless Properties still must 
clear one more hurdle. The state 
Historical Commission earlier said it 
had no objection. Officials said that was 
based on a report from Paul 
Archambault of the Southeast Tennessee 
Development District. Mr. Archambault 
recently issued a new opinion citing 
problems with the site and saying he 
did not have full information earlier. 
(Chattanoogan.com TN) 

WV-Local preservationists are about 
one-third of the way toward their goal 
of saving a significant portion of the 
Sheperdstown Battlefield for future 
generations. On Friday, conservation 
easements through the Jefferson County 
Farmland Protection Board were 
established on 59 acres of the nearly 300acre piece of history, located east of 
Trough Road along the Potomac River. 
“We’re trying to save what amounts to 
half the battlefield,” said Ed Dunleavy, 
President of the Sheperdstown 
Battlefield Preservation Association. 
(Martinsburg WV Journal). 

Source for above articles is: Civil War 
Interactive (www.civilwarinteractive.com) 
“The Daily Newspaper of the Civil 
War” 

3



WILSON”S CREEK, MO-Through 
negotiations with regional developer 
Missouri Partners, Inc., CWPT and the 
Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield 
Foundation were able to forge a “winwin” deal at Missouri’s most important 
Civil War battlefield. More than 150 
acres of core battlefield land, inside the 
park’s new boundary were saved. 

BENTONVILLE, NC. -a partnership 
between CWPT, the North Carolina 
Natural Heritage Trust, and the 
Bentonville Battlefield State historic Site 
has helped save 580 additional acres at 
the site. 
Source: The Civil War Preservation 
Trust 


ALL 

FOR THE 

UNION 

The SCCWRT has been offered 
participation in a two-day excursion to 
the Abraham Lincoln Presidential 
Museum and Springfield from Fancy 
Free Holidays. Tour highlights include: 
A meeting with Abe, New Salem, Old 
Sate Capital, Lincoln Law Offices, 
Lincoln Home, and Lincoln Tomb. 
Departure would be 6/7/07. Interested? 
Contact Mary Lord at 200 Village Dr. 
Apt. 341, Downers Grove 60516 Phone: 
630-769-6182. 


EDITOR’S 

NOTES 

The next board 
meeting will be held at the home of 
Mary Lord, 200 Village Dr., Apt. 341, 

Downers Grove, Illinois at 7:30 P.M., 
1/2/07. Phone No. 630-769-6182. 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS 

February 2-Norman Stephens-
Stonewall Jackson’s Valley Campaign 
March 2-Mary Carol Farber-Women’s 
Movement during the Civil War. 
March 30-Gordon Ramsey-Hot Air 
Balloons and the First Air Force 
May 4-What are you Reading? General 
Book Discussion. 
June 1-Annual Banquet at Lisle Hilton-
Patrick Brennan on the Battle of 
Nashville 
September 7-Marshall Krolick-Council 
of War, July 2, 1863 
October 5-Paula Walker-Major General 
Gouverneur Kemble Warren and the 
Battle of Five Forks 
November 2-Annual Battlefield 
Preservation Auction at the DuPage 
Historical Society 

The Salt Creek Civil War Roundtable 

www.saltcreekcwrt.org. 
President: Rick Zarr 
Vice-President: Gil Mitchell 
Treasurer: Bill Hupp 
Secretary: Jan Rasmussen 
Historian: Cindy Intravartolo 
Sgt. At Arms: Ron Kumnick 
Meeting Liaison: Mary Lord 
Newsletter Editor: Dan McCarthy, 4358 
Lawn Ave., Western Springs, IL,60558. 
708-246-7873, macarthaig@aol.com 

Newsletter Staff: Cindy Intravartolo, Len 
Overcash Sr., Jan Rasmussen 

4