Thank you for that story. Will have to see if I can find that rerun.

May have to see what I can find out about Lt. Randolph Ridgely.

Thank you,

Russ

I hope that you and all the gentle readers here are preparing for a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration.

Antiques Roadshow is rerunning the 2009 Atlantic City episode during which a 3x great-grandaughter of Lt. Randolph Ridgely brought the sword awarded posthumously by the citizens of Baltimore for his bravery during the Mexican-American War.

You may read the full transcript at this link and may want to check the tv guide online for the schedule of the program throughout this week in your area. Warm regards, Sharon

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/archive/200901A25.html

“And this was given as a token of esteem for something that a young officer did a long way from home, and he lost his life. If we look at the scabbard, it says, “The Citizens of Baltimore to Lieutenant Randolph Ridgely, 3rd Artillery, USA, Palo Alto”– that’s the name of the battle– “Resaca de la Palma”– that’s the name of a battle. And then, it gives the dates that these happened. And then here in this panel, “‘The terrible fire kept up by Lieutenant Ridgely.’” And I believe that was probably in a dispatch or something that was written by his commanding officer, explaining his participation in these two battles. These were very awkward battles for the young U.S. Army, and they found themselves in and out of different levels of trouble. At the Battle of Palo Alto, he goes out of his way, he’s in terrible fire, he does things that other soldiers aren’t willing to do. He takes command after his commanding officer is killed. At the Battle of Resaca de la Palma, he finds his flying artillery out in front of the entire army, being assaulted by the Mexicans. He continues to fire. They take charge of the situation in time for the regular army and the dragoons to come up. As you said, unfortunately, he dies not long after that. He had an accident with his horse and fell off, but if that had not happened, he probably would have been one of these major figures in the American Civil War because he was well regarded while he was alive and he is what we would typically call a hero. Now, there are some interesting facets to this sword. This is a very high-grade sword.”

I saw that but haven’t had a chance to look into that statement further. I know where were other Union Maryland units from the Eastern Shore.

I am in the process of reading the entire book, I only looked by “my guys”.

Thank you for the reminder.

Russ

I know little about these Worthingtons beyond the fact that this specific family ended up in Virginia near Kilmarnock where James Palmer was from.

Thank you for your comments. Could the Lt Howard be McHenry Howard?

I am not sure about the “George Howard”. There was a George Howard in the Union Army at Gettysburg. I spoke to the Guide that I mentioned at Gettysburg about George Howard and he was from Maine. One of the roads in the battle field is named after him.

The 1st Maryland, that these Howard’s were in did not go to Monocacy. I was just there last week and asked that specific question.

I have some notes “Recollections of a Confederte Soldier” by McHenry Howard, and he was an officer under Major Bradley T Johnson. I couldn’t see the image of that letter to help you with that. I will try again a little later.

Louisa Worthington sounds familiar, but couldn’t find the connection. However, in Western Maryland, Charles Town (WVA / VA), Westmoreland, PA was another Worthington Line. I wonder it Thomas, Lousia, and Jane Jamieson Worthington were in the line that started in West Jersey and headed west to Ohio.

Thank you for the two links. I have subscribed to your Blog.

Russ

Worthington also shows up in my husband’s family. His 2nd great-uncle John Palmer married a Louisa Worthington from western Maryland, daughter of Thomas and Jane Jamieson Worthington, in 1870.