Heroes.
I have only a few from the CW. I admire many, but only revere one or two. Lincoln, for sure. Sam Houston (although he did not fight, he tried unsuccessfully to keep Texas in the Union). Then there's George Thomas, the Rock of Chickamauga.
He is a hero to me because he sacrificed so much for what he believed in. I often wonder what I'd done during that crisis. Would I have sided with what would have been most of my family, friends, and community? Probably. I probably would have been a product of the time like everyone else. Or...would I have been the same person I am now and no lover of slavery or prejudice of color? Would I have had the guts to do what George Thomas did, that is go against my heritage, family, and culture?
Wow, what a man he was. He stood up for what he believed in and sacrificed all for it. Family, friends, community, church. His sisters didn't even attend his funeral years after the war. It was attended by presidents, present, past, and future.
He probably wasn't fully trusted by his contemporaries because of his ties to the South. Yet, he was a hero. He was my kind of hero. I love non-conformists. He was one in spades!
He also was one of the best generals the North had. Admired by Lincoln and even mentioned specifically by him in praise of his actions at Chickamauga. No markers at his birthplace. No statues in his home state. The only statue of him is in Washington, DC.
I hope to visit that statue this summer.
I admire his stand against the norm. I admire his convictions. I admire his sacrifices.
I plan to get several books about him and his exploits so I can elaborate more on what I've discussed here!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Campaign Literature
Campaign books are a category in itself. Mostly, the book will pass or fail muster on the writer's merits and style. Many of the campaign books I've read have been well researched and documented. That is not the complete criteria. A writer must "take you there, make you smell the powder and hear the thunder of the cannons".
This achieved, you can now place yourself squarely in the action and find relevance and character in the story. All good stories have unique participants and circumstances. The writer must intertwine all the leading parts into a symphony of action. Some of the campaign studies I've read have read like fiction; they're that good. It's almost as if the writer had to make up some of the plot.
I think the historian knows that truth is quite often stranger than fiction. The good writer points out these irregularities and any idiosyncrasies or flaws of character to the forefront of the story. I quite often tell people who are interested in a subject that they are not reluctant readers; they just haven't found any writer worth reading yet. All subjects have good writers. You have to dig to find them. Unfortunately, sometimes that means wadding through some tedious stuff .
I was lucky to run across a few good writers from the beginning that so piqued my interest that later I had the patience to endure the struggle to find more. And more I found!
I read books today that are totally fascinating to me, but others find very boring or unattractive. I suppose it's because these early books increased my maturity to the point that now I can almost read anything. Indeed, it's been awhile since I left a book I started unread. It may take a month or two, but I'll get through it.
Writing this journal has helped me verbalize many of my thoughts on this subject. I've always told my students that journals or letter writing will improve your reading and thinking skills. I'm practicing what I'm preaching! Amazing, that. My mom always had more confidence in my writing that I did. If she could see me now...
This achieved, you can now place yourself squarely in the action and find relevance and character in the story. All good stories have unique participants and circumstances. The writer must intertwine all the leading parts into a symphony of action. Some of the campaign studies I've read have read like fiction; they're that good. It's almost as if the writer had to make up some of the plot.
I think the historian knows that truth is quite often stranger than fiction. The good writer points out these irregularities and any idiosyncrasies or flaws of character to the forefront of the story. I quite often tell people who are interested in a subject that they are not reluctant readers; they just haven't found any writer worth reading yet. All subjects have good writers. You have to dig to find them. Unfortunately, sometimes that means wadding through some tedious stuff .
I was lucky to run across a few good writers from the beginning that so piqued my interest that later I had the patience to endure the struggle to find more. And more I found!
I read books today that are totally fascinating to me, but others find very boring or unattractive. I suppose it's because these early books increased my maturity to the point that now I can almost read anything. Indeed, it's been awhile since I left a book I started unread. It may take a month or two, but I'll get through it.
Writing this journal has helped me verbalize many of my thoughts on this subject. I've always told my students that journals or letter writing will improve your reading and thinking skills. I'm practicing what I'm preaching! Amazing, that. My mom always had more confidence in my writing that I did. If she could see me now...
Saturday, October 11, 2008
26th Mississippi Infantry
Years ago I started to investigate my CW ancestors. I remember seeing my Mom's ancestor's grave at Mackey's Creek near Booneville, Mississippi, when I was a youngster. He has a confederate stone on his grave. His name was W.A.H. Shackleford and was a captain in the 26th Mississippi Infantry. Several years ago I requested his military records and have an idea of his service. Because he was an officer, there's some supplemental material too.
What this did was to give me a connection to my past, my roots, and to the conflict that I was so interested in. I have also connected with the 26th Miss Inf. site on the Internet and have made connections there, too. I underestimated the power of the past. I was surprised to find such an emotional connection. After all, he was long gone by the time I showed up. What's the deal? Quite often we don't understand something until we've immersed ourselves in the details and subject matter. That's the case with me.
Once I started on my past, I enjoyed finding Terri's , friend's, and other people's ancestors. I found that they were interested in their past and connection to all this, as well. Many people have this passion. Our reenactment unit has done several grave dedications to our ancestors. Quite moving, actually.
Although I ambivalent to the "lost cause" stuff, I do not deny my connection to the South. Who is to say what side I'd been on? Real heroes often fight their own as well as the enemy. They sacrifice everything for what they believe in. See George, the Rock of Chickamauga, Thomas, for a case in point. He is a real hero to me. My friends have all done genealogies, and it is fun to learn about their past. Some are completely taken by the "cause". Funny, quite. To each his own.
What this did was to give me a connection to my past, my roots, and to the conflict that I was so interested in. I have also connected with the 26th Miss Inf. site on the Internet and have made connections there, too. I underestimated the power of the past. I was surprised to find such an emotional connection. After all, he was long gone by the time I showed up. What's the deal? Quite often we don't understand something until we've immersed ourselves in the details and subject matter. That's the case with me.
Once I started on my past, I enjoyed finding Terri's , friend's, and other people's ancestors. I found that they were interested in their past and connection to all this, as well. Many people have this passion. Our reenactment unit has done several grave dedications to our ancestors. Quite moving, actually.
Although I ambivalent to the "lost cause" stuff, I do not deny my connection to the South. Who is to say what side I'd been on? Real heroes often fight their own as well as the enemy. They sacrifice everything for what they believe in. See George, the Rock of Chickamauga, Thomas, for a case in point. He is a real hero to me. My friends have all done genealogies, and it is fun to learn about their past. Some are completely taken by the "cause". Funny, quite. To each his own.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Reenacting
I have been reenacting on and off since 1975. 33 years. Wow. My friends reenact a lot more than I do these days. I guess in my later years I find the clothes too uncomfortable and my knees unable to handle the stress. I do enjoy the companionship of our unit. I seem to be too busy, however, to find the time to go to the events. Several years ago I enjoyed a couple of grave dedications (veterans who were reinterred). Our unit's main event always falls on the same weekend of ACU's homecoming or Terri's birthday. So the conflict of scheduling is an issue.
My first reenactment was at Bracketville in March of '75. I was a Mexican soldier. Sacrificial lamb, actually. I got blown away by Travis, Crockett, or whomever. A Houston PBS station was there and filmed it. That film was at the Alamo in SA for several years. I saw it in '81 or so with Terri. I was hooked for good after that experience. We were once young and vigorous!
After a several year hiatus, I got back in the hobby with Jim Williams, a fellow teacher then at Hutcheson Jr. High. Dan Pyle got into it, too. Since, he has added several members to the group. So in a way, I helped the group grow. Although, like I said, lately I've been out of the loop.
I have enjoyed getting into uniform for some pictures at the NMP's and for portraits. Fun stuff, that.
My first reenactment was at Bracketville in March of '75. I was a Mexican soldier. Sacrificial lamb, actually. I got blown away by Travis, Crockett, or whomever. A Houston PBS station was there and filmed it. That film was at the Alamo in SA for several years. I saw it in '81 or so with Terri. I was hooked for good after that experience. We were once young and vigorous!
After a several year hiatus, I got back in the hobby with Jim Williams, a fellow teacher then at Hutcheson Jr. High. Dan Pyle got into it, too. Since, he has added several members to the group. So in a way, I helped the group grow. Although, like I said, lately I've been out of the loop.
I have enjoyed getting into uniform for some pictures at the NMP's and for portraits. Fun stuff, that.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
'09 CW Trip
I'm looking forward to this year's CW trip. Dan, Jim, and I will be probably going it alone. Others are busy with commitments. As the current financial woes continue maybe we'll have to abridge our trip, too. Anyway, we hope to do a bit more of DC this time. Last time it was a one day whirlwind! More GNMP will be wonderful. There's the new visitor center/museum/cyclorama to investigate. Of course the gun/relic/book fair is fun. Also, of course, more Franssanitos to do! We are planning to go to Charleston, SC, to see the sights there. Andersonville, GA. More of the Petersburg area. Dan said we might not be staying in Gett. for 13 days this time. I think he said just a week. We'll be on the move a bit more. I plan to take my MP3 and laptop. Looking forward to it! Just 9 months!!
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