This 2 page LO is a rework of an earlier set. I realized I'd made a serious historical error having initially used deep red on the borders. The only deep red in the Confederate forces was the blood shed and, while my 2x great uncle died just before the siege of Atlanta having survived 20 major battles (including 2 of the top 10 deadliest battles - Shiloh at #6, Chickamauga at #2, surpassed only by Gettysburg), I wished to commemorate his faithfulness, courage, and service, not the bloodshed. Most people don't know that the majority of Confederate troops were drafted NOT volunteers. By the time I got done re-doing the artistic part and re-writing some of the text, I had spent longer than the initial work, and made substantial changes. Lesson learned? Get the history right the first time!
The background is paper S12 with the 1886 print Battle of Shiloh by Kurtz and Allen blended over it using a gradient mask. The prints on the left are all from the collection and are actual battles in which William fought in chronological order. Image top right is A.T. Hawthorne, and the bottom is Gordon Neill Peay. After the background, I created the scalloped borders and clipped paper S06 to them. I applied a sepia filter to the top left element. The rest was just a matter of layering then adding the text. The muster card in the right border is a digital copy of William’s card showing his death.
I have not yet decided if I will create a separate album for military service or include these types of LOs with the family pages.
See the left hand page for the unit history journaling and the right hand page for the journaling in the white columns.
Journaling reads:
Actually, little is known about William W. Wood. He was the son and first child of Handy C. and Nancy Calhoun Wood, born in Conecuh County, AL in about 1834, as was Alexander Hawthorne (top right) in 1825. The odds are more than good that they knew each other in Alabama and that A.T. was part of the 1840s migration from Conecuh to newly formed Ouachita County in the state of Arkansas. If not, they likely knew each other as young men in their new home.
William joined Company K "The Ouachita Greys" on 31 May 1861 when the unit was raised as part of the 39th Regiment, Arkansas State Militia. When the unit transitioned to the Confederate States Army, he remained on active duty with the renamed 6th Regiment Arkansas Infantry. Hawthorne was promoted to command when the first commander was killed. Lt Colonel Gordon Neill Peay (seen bottom right) was designated as the adjutant. Hawthorne commanded to war's end.
William W Wood survived the horrific Battle of Shiloh and many others until just a few months before the war ended. William fought and survived the desperate Battle of Peachtree Creek, pictured above, 20 Jul 1864, but died the following day, 21 Jul 1864, the day before Sherman mounted the Siege of Atlanta.
