That’s Augustus Kotka from Indiana – his headstone I mean – acting as flag-bearer in the background. The foreground is the headstone for 9163, Unknown U.S. Soldier, Marietta National Cemetery.
This final resting place for northern citizen-soldiers caught-up in the War Between the States ~ the US Civil War 1861-65, might be considered a long way from home. Not necessarily though, as the flag they carried into battle had the Georgia star (and all other states in rebellion) still on it.
This final resting place for northern citizen-soldiers caught-up in the War Between the States ~ the US Civil War 1861-65, might be considered a long way from home. Not necessarily though, as the flag they carried into battle had the Georgia star (and all other states in rebellion) still on it.
Not far away from Kotka and 9163, maybe a mile or so, is Marietta Confederate Cemetery. Here unknown citizen-soldiers dominate. The Union cemetery feels as if ten percent of the burials are unknown; this one feels like ninety percent.
The above headstone is for five unknown citizen-soldiers caught-up in the same debacle, our uncivil war. Two unknown citizens from Missouri and three fellows from Maryland interned far from what they might have considered home.
The war itself isn’t over if the wounds haven’t healed. We still have some healing to do in order to make a more perfect Union ~ one for all the people of We the People.
The above headstone is for five unknown citizen-soldiers caught-up in the same debacle, our uncivil war. Two unknown citizens from Missouri and three fellows from Maryland interned far from what they might have considered home.
The war itself isn’t over if the wounds haven’t healed. We still have some healing to do in order to make a more perfect Union ~ one for all the people of We the People.
War Cry Heal Union
The Series
EwPublishing Summer 2014
Landings
Augustus Kotka gave a war cry on 11 August 1864; he was killed during the siege of Atlanta. It wasn’t a battle day. His death is noted in a diary from his unit, the 99th Indiana Regiment: it parenthetically states, “Augustus Kotka, Company C, killed.”
I found Kotka’s federal marker headstone in Pulaski County, IN; I then went to visit his burial headstone in Marietta National Cemetery.
This series began with the question, “Who killed Kotka?”
To get to that answer we’ll take a look at citizenship and representation; here I mean all citizens, future slaves to be citizens and also the southern citizens. In the series War Cry Heal Union, all the people of We the People are grouped together ~ northern and southern, for example, in the term “The Unrepresented.”
The series is outlined below and runs from 19 June to Constitution Day on 17 September. The ten postings vary in topics (ranging from war to peace to free speech) and build on James Madison’s idea that representing We the People according to our numbers is not only the American way ~ it’s our constitutional way.
This August is the 150th anniversary of Kotka’s final day in Georgia. Here is the opening to the August posting, “Johnny Reb and Gus Kotka Have a Talk” ~ and the full schedule for the series follows:
Johnny Reb: Whatcha’ wanna know Yank?
Augustus Kotka: Who killed me?
Johnny: That’s the same question for 150 years ~ with the same answer ~ you did.
Augustus: No, really, who got me shot?
Johnny: I did then.
Augustus: You always say that ~ this year things are different though …
~
War Cry Heal Union ~ The Series
JUNE
19 June 2014
Slavery is usurpation: usurpation is slavery.
27 June 2014
150th: War cry ~ 27 June 1864.
28 June 2014
100th: Empires crumble and Others build.
JULY
19 July 2014
Willy-Nicky and willy-nilly Emperors.
20 July 2014
150th: A Private, an Officer and a battle flag in Georgia, 20 July 1864.
27 July 2014
Factions heard not silenced: Henry Lee III, the Unrepresented and the First Amendment.
AUGUST
11 August 2014
150th: Johnny Reb and Gus Kotka ~ Georgia, 11 August 1864.
26 August 2014
Silent words: Napoleon, Johann Philipp Palm and 26 August 1806.
SEPTEMBER
16 September 2014
Virginian slavers at Harlem Heights NY: sacrifice and 16 September 1776.
17 September 2014
Constitution Day, Antietam and Heal Union ~ Sharpsburg MD: 17 September 1787, 1862 and 2014.
Happy Memorial Day All!
Bryan W. Brickner
The Series
EwPublishing Summer 2014
Landings
Augustus Kotka gave a war cry on 11 August 1864; he was killed during the siege of Atlanta. It wasn’t a battle day. His death is noted in a diary from his unit, the 99th Indiana Regiment: it parenthetically states, “Augustus Kotka, Company C, killed.”
I found Kotka’s federal marker headstone in Pulaski County, IN; I then went to visit his burial headstone in Marietta National Cemetery.
This series began with the question, “Who killed Kotka?”
To get to that answer we’ll take a look at citizenship and representation; here I mean all citizens, future slaves to be citizens and also the southern citizens. In the series War Cry Heal Union, all the people of We the People are grouped together ~ northern and southern, for example, in the term “The Unrepresented.”
The series is outlined below and runs from 19 June to Constitution Day on 17 September. The ten postings vary in topics (ranging from war to peace to free speech) and build on James Madison’s idea that representing We the People according to our numbers is not only the American way ~ it’s our constitutional way.
This August is the 150th anniversary of Kotka’s final day in Georgia. Here is the opening to the August posting, “Johnny Reb and Gus Kotka Have a Talk” ~ and the full schedule for the series follows:
Johnny Reb: Whatcha’ wanna know Yank?
Augustus Kotka: Who killed me?
Johnny: That’s the same question for 150 years ~ with the same answer ~ you did.
Augustus: No, really, who got me shot?
Johnny: I did then.
Augustus: You always say that ~ this year things are different though …
~
War Cry Heal Union ~ The Series
JUNE
19 June 2014
Slavery is usurpation: usurpation is slavery.
27 June 2014
150th: War cry ~ 27 June 1864.
28 June 2014
100th: Empires crumble and Others build.
JULY
19 July 2014
Willy-Nicky and willy-nilly Emperors.
20 July 2014
150th: A Private, an Officer and a battle flag in Georgia, 20 July 1864.
27 July 2014
Factions heard not silenced: Henry Lee III, the Unrepresented and the First Amendment.
AUGUST
11 August 2014
150th: Johnny Reb and Gus Kotka ~ Georgia, 11 August 1864.
26 August 2014
Silent words: Napoleon, Johann Philipp Palm and 26 August 1806.
SEPTEMBER
16 September 2014
Virginian slavers at Harlem Heights NY: sacrifice and 16 September 1776.
17 September 2014
Constitution Day, Antietam and Heal Union ~ Sharpsburg MD: 17 September 1787, 1862 and 2014.
Happy Memorial Day All!
Bryan W. Brickner
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