behind AotW

Cuban born American chief-of-the-great-clan Emilio Louis Fanjul (1924-2008) returned to the boundless deep yesterday afternoon at 3:15pm. Fine son, husband of endless love, father of many daughters, he made the good exit in the heart of his family at Haddonfield, New Jersey after the long dance with Alzheimer’s.

In yellowed photographs he smiles forever.

He lived in joy and honor, and will forever in us.

And to the last generation.

_____________

Philadelphia Inquirer obituary (6/4/08)

… we’ll be right back.

Sorry to keep you two up in the air.

We’re not gone, just interrupted by events in the non-virtual world. In the odd minute free I’m compiling more about our Captain Gibson, looking at a set of coworker’s ancestors all in Gray, and beginning to get a handle on the Great Antietam Roster (or not, as is to be seen) – all fodder for posts soon.

In the meantime, sorry for the disappearing act and I hope Laurie will be merciful and let me slide another few days.

James F. Gibson, of Mathew Brady’s Washington studio, took a lot of photographs as he traveled with the Federal Army on the Virginia Peninsula in early summer 1862. Among these are a number with particular interest in artillery and artillerymen. Well represented among them are Horatio Gates Gibson and his command, the combined Companies C and G of the Third United States Artillery.

Capt. H.G. Gibson, 3d US Artillery, June 1862 (James F. Gibson, Library of Congress)

This is Regular Army Captain Gibson in the midst of his command in June 1862. It’s a detail from a stunning picture of the entire battery of six 3-inch ordnance rifles and the nearly 100 officers and men who were present on campaign. Gibson and many of these were in action from the Peninsula through Antietam and Gettysburg to Appomattox Courthouse with the Army of the Potomac.