Genealogy research in Washington

I've known about the Civil War service of my Great Grandfather Simpson Jones Nash for some time. He was a Confederate soldier captured at Gettysburg and imprisoned at David's Island in Long Island Sound. I also knew my maternal Great-Great Grandfather, John McIlheran, had served for the Confederates but really didn't know much about his time in the service. I decided to use my time in DC to visit the National Archives and look up his records.

The records themselves are not actually available and would be hard to use if they were. What the government has done is created a sort of event card from each entry of every sort of military record where a Confederate soldiers name appears. Some came from Confederate enlistment records, some from musters or roll calls during service, others from Confederate hospital admission and discharge records and many from Union prisoner of war records. I'm sure there are many other categories. Once these cards were complete, they were brought together as military units then sorted by name then date. This creates a mini-history for each soldier. These cards have been microfilmed in order and are available for researchers to look up and print copies.

Upon finding my McIlheran ancestor, I discovered that he had been a prisoner of war also. He joined up 11 Nov 1862, a member of the 23rd Battalion, Tennessee Infantry, Company D. He was captured on 11 September 1863 during the run-up to the battle of Chickamauga. According to the records, he went first to a prison in Louisville, KY and ended up in the Rock Island Barracks in Illinois. On May 11th, 1865, a few days after the Confederate surrender, he signed an Oath of Allegiance to the United States and was released. He lived to be 98 years old and is buried in the McIlheran Cemetery near Cowan, TN.

More Boston to Washington

The lead loco on my train was 2006, although I didn't take this picture until we arrived at Washington.

Breakfast was served at our seat, I had eggs and sausage. I think we get lunch also. We were on time until we left New Haven, there seemed to be some sort of delay getting away. We are now leaving Stamford, CT about 9 minutes late. Maximum speed I've seen to this point is 125 mph. Next stop New York City.

Arrived New York Penn Station at 12:45 pm, right on time, departed 1:01 pm, I'll call that on time. Went under the river and emerged in New Jersey.

Lunch was served ... small slices of roast beef served cold with a spicy corn and pea salad and a dinner roll.

Departed Philadelphia 2:15, 5 minutes late.

It's truly amazing how many people like to entertain themselves on the train by talking on their cellphone. I was within earshot of two and I expect there were more farther away. I'm not sure how happy the folks on the other end were as most of the talking was being done on the train and by most I mean 90 to 95 percent. I think if I were on the other end I would discover an emergency.

Out of Wilmington, DL 4 minutes late.

They actually have a "quiet" car on the Acela and on the other NEC trains. Unfortunately it's not the first class car but one of the business class cars ... no cell phones and no loud talking.

Out of Baltimore 3 minutes late.

Arrived Washington a couple of minutes early.

I never did see that 150 mph speed that was advertised. My GPS lost it's connection a few times but mostly worked. I guess we could have hit 150 during one of those misconnects but not for very long.

Found my hotel after a little misstep. It was actually closer than I thought.

The Phoenix Park Hotel, 520 N Capitol S NW is due west of the entrance to Union Station, past the National Postal Museum. I veered off to the south too much and missed the first time. Internet is not free ... $9.95 a day, but at least it starts the time you first log in, not noon to noon like at the Marriott that I just left.

Manhattan

Taken from the approach to Hell's Gate bridge.

New Haven

This where I got off to go to Hartford on the way to the convention.

Inside Acela

iPhoto of Acela First Class car.

Acela - Boston to Washington

I had planned to ride the MBTA Red Line from my hotel to Boston South Station but decided to forgo the rush hour with my luggage in tow and took a cab instead. With an over-tip it cost me $15 but I expect it was worth it. I'm now in the ClubAcela lounge, reserved for First Class passengers, and waiting for my 9:15 departure. The lounge is quite, has large soft chairs with soft drinks and snacks available as well as wireless internet. The Redcap informed me we would board at 8:45. I should be in Washington by 3:45. I hope to take a few pictures in-route and post them with my iPhone.

NSC Convention - Wrapup

Today was the n-scale manufacturers breakfast. Reps from each company get up and discuss their future plans. Usually you can get the same information from them at their booth so not much is really new.

My ride to Boston was arranged with Neal Carnaby of Neal's N-Gauging Trains so after breakfast I helped him pack up and load up his room full of merchandise. I ended up riding with his wife, Erica, and and son Norman, which was okay because Neal's van doesn't have any AC. We had a little trouble finding the hotel in Boston but Erica got directions over the phone and we were soon there. The hotel was near a shopping center which I visited then ate supper nearby. Tomorrow I ride the Acela Express from Boston to Washington, top speed 150 mph.