The leg bone and cannon ball belong to Major General Daniel Sickles. The first person to guess part A was Letisha Scharff. Congratulations you will be receiving a gift card.
Part B has not been answered correctly.
Major General Daniel Sickles, Medal of Honor recipient, was one of those fascinating characters from history. Politically prominent in New York at 35 he married a beautiful 15 year old. He raised a Union regiment in the Civil War, and was known as a “fighting General” who was fearless. He was at a key point in the battle of Gettysburg. For years scholars have argued that he almost lost the battle by moving his troops from a position on Little Round Top forward to the Peach Orchard, directly into Confederate General Longstreet charge for Cemetery Ridge – the defining battle of Gettysburg. During this onslaught, greatly outnumbered, a cannon ball took his leg off while leading the troops. He had his mangled leg tied off and sat up on the stretcher puffing a cigar yelling encouragement to his men.
Modern historians see Maj. Gen. Sickle advance to the Peach Orchard as a spoiling attack against Gen. Longstreet’s main offensive drive for Cemetery Ridge that blunted his ferocious attack; thereby turning the tide of the Battle of Gettysburg. So, depending on the historian, he won the battle of Gettysburg… or almost lost it.
Maj. Gen. Sickles was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions.
Major General Sickles was also notorious… he made national news for murdering Francis Scott Key II (yes, the son of the author of our national anthem) for having an affair with his beautiful but errant wife. Mr. Key was the Attorney General of the United States and was shot down in broad daylight, in Lafayette Park in Washington DC in front of witnesses.
Interestingly, he was the first person to use the defense “innocent by reason of temporary insanity” and walked away acquitted. He was nationally known at this time.
Maj. Gen. Sickles after the war served as a Military Governor of the Carolinas, protecting former slaves right to vote, as well as eliminating discrimination related to wages. He also served as Congressman, Ambassador, special US envoy at different times, and it was through his efforts that Gettysburg is now a national monument. He personally drew the map of the parks borders.
Interestingly he donated his leg to the military medical museum and went for many years to visit his leg on the anniversary of its loss.
His relationship to our club, is not based on any quotes. I have told this story several times at some club dinners, hunts and etc. Sickles is Leann Collins – the club’s vice president’s maiden name. Maj. Gen. Sickles was her great great grandfather. Yes I know this was a tricky one… that’s why we pitched in and raised the stakes!
Good luck on next months !
