Soldier Stories

Dear Reader, as if I didn't trouble you enough, I have created a new blog: http://soldierthenandnow.blogspot.com/ Please visit and contribute. I spent today on business at Fort Leavenworth and heard Gen. Bill Caldwell, who is in charge at the Fort, and British Gen. Simon Mayall address the students. I will be sharing interviews with some of the British officers visiting the post as well as the students who are in residence there.

While there, I ran into John Reichley, historian extraordinaire, who knows just about everything about this historic post and town. He reminded me that Scott Porter is speaking to the Leavenworth Historical Society (Frontier Army Museum) next Thursday, March 20, and is then conducting a battlefield tour on Saturday morning following. We're meeting John at the bar just before hearing Scott speak. Come join us, and stay tuned!

Abraham and Mary Lincoln Letters

From Antiques and the Arts Online:

R.M. Smythe & Co., Inc, held one of the most successful autograph auctions in its 125-year history on January 17. The sale, featuring the collection of Steven Lee Carson, saw more than 75 percent of the offered lots sell; and, in the end, bidders on the floor, on the phone and at their computers were able to take home a remarkable variety of historical autographs and Americana.

Not surprisingly, the highest hammer price was achieved by a letter written by President Abraham Lincoln, asking Secretary of War Edwin Stanton to approve the resignation of a cavalry captain at the request of the officer's wife. Lincoln, typically a "soft touch" in such cases, makes the argument that "we are rapidly getting an over-proportion of officers." The letter sold for $16,675.

Keeping it in the family, a pair of 1869 letters (one incomplete) from Lincoln's widow, in which she refers to him as having been "from my eighteenth year — Always — lover — husband — father and all, all to me — truly my all," brought $14,950.

We were on the same seminar schedule with Steven Lee Carson a couple of years ago and enjoyed him so much. Steven Lee has delivered addresses in The White House, The Kremlin, The U.S. Capitol, The Lincoln Memorial, Ford's Theater, The Smithsonian Institution, The National Archives, The Library of Congress, The Belfast (Northern Ireland) Parliament, over the Voice of America and throughout the United States. Most of the famous personalities covered in his speeches include the celebrities he has dealt with at The White House or as a member of The National Press Club. I enjoyed his stories immensely. What an incredible collection he has sold!

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More on Hillbillies

From fellow blogger, Byron, comes this link for Hillbilly Savants, a great site.http://hillbillysavants.blogspot.com/2008/02/whats-in-stereotype.html. Seems lots of folks are in an uproar over the prospective film depicting West Virginians as albino and hunchbacks.

Blogger Confusion

In my previous blog, I announced that fellow blogger Dimitri Rolov found my blog "feisty and entertaining." Afterwards, I received a comment from fellow blogger Drew Wagenhoffer and it was Drew who plugged Tom's book, Bloody Dawn, and commented on my blog. Drew publishes Civil War Books and Authors and Dimitri posts Civil War Bookshelf. I read and enjoy them both and apologize for the confusion. Drew was such a gentleman, and I apologize for putting words into Dimitri's mouth, or blog.

Politically Correct Targets

If you're an albino or a dwarf or a giant, preferably one with a goiter or slant eyes, and have a hillbilly accent, have we got a job for you.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Pennsylvania) ran an article about a film company's seeking odd extras to portray West Virginians. "Holler" people to be exact.

"Some of these 'holler' people -- because they are insular and clannish, and they don't leave their area -- there is literally inbreeding, and the people there often have a different kind of look. That's what we're trying to get," said a company executive in the newspaper. According to the Tribune-Review, the press release said:

"Extraordinarily tall or short. Unusual body shapes, even physical abnormalities as long as there is normal mobility. Unusual facial features, especially eyes. . . . a 9-12-year-old Caucasian girl with an other-worldly look to her. . . .Could be an albino or something along those lines -- she's someone who is visually different and therefore has a closer contact to the gods and to magic. 'Regular-looking' children should not attend this open call.'"

For some reason, West Virginians are offended. So am I. Virginia has always considered traitorous and untrustworthy those counties that seceded from the Commonwealth after the Commonwealth seceded from the United States. West Virginia has been the butt of our jokes since 1863. But there are many commonalities among the mountain folk, many family ties, much culture and tradition in common.

I understand a film company's wanting unusual looking people; what irks me to no end is that they appear to believe their warped view is reality. Also, pity the poor child whose hopeful stage mother drags him or her to this audition, proudly pointing out, "See, my boy's crosseyed!"

My Grandpa worked in the coal mines in West Virginia as a young man, the 1910s and 1920s. He worked alongside Greeks, Italians, Russians, Czechs. The population was as diverse in some areas as New York City. And what about the places without diversity? The places where the same mountain folk lived and struggled since before the American Revolution?

Well, those are my people. I come from the same culture, pretty much the same gene pool, and I'm not apologizing to Hollywood or anyone else. And you know what? I am sick and tired of every body in the world being off limits to ridicule except white Southerners. I don't care who you are, it's okay to pick on them. And I only knew one albino family growing up. Okay, maybe two.

Read the story and the followup comments: Film's casting call wants that 'inbred' look - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review At top, National Geographic photo of albino pygmy monkey twins, born not in West Virginia, but in Sweden. Perhaps there's a role for them. . . .
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Pitiful Criminals

The Civil War Bookshelf, authored by fellow blogger Dimitri Rotov, recently linked to a most interesting crime story. Seems a guy in Monroe, Georgia, held up a Kangaroo convenience store by brandishing a “hand cannon,” a Civil War-era cap-and-ball revolver which had a 9-inch barrel. The suspect made off with $55. Turns out he is homeless--but thankfully he kept his highly collectible gun. He should have contacted Ed Kennedy or Dave Chuber who would have offered him more than fifty bucks for the weapon. Would-be crooks--there is a socially acceptable way to show off your Civil War era firearms. Call me next time and I'll put you in contact with a gun nut, er, collector. Okay, okay. . . I'm furthering the Southern stereotypes. . . . Sometimes the shoe just fits.

Speaking of the Civil War Bookshelf, Dimitri recently plugged one of Tom's books and mentioned my blog as well. He said it was "feisty and entertaining." I am so tickled. It has been my lifelong ambition to be considered "feisty and entertaining."

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Listen Up

. . . "thou bawdy flap-mouthed whey face!" I'm not exactly sure what a "whey face" would look like, but it doesn't sound pretty. From our friend, Norman Marshall, comes this link for Shakespearean insults. Priceless!!

http://www.william-shakespeare.org.uk/a2-shakespeare-insult-generator.htm

St. Paddy's Day in Philly

Let's face it. Nothing says "we are blessed" better than a beer company sponsoring a cemetery tour on St. Patrick's Day. Wish we could be with our friends in Philly for this one. We'll toast you from Topeka with Bailey's, dear lads and lassies!

Is It March Already?

My God, where did February go?

There are so many things coming up, I hardly know where to start.

Got our Pony Express Mail from the Patee House, St. Joseph, Missouri. Their 150th anniversary dinner is set for April 12 in the newly renovated grand ballroom. Tickets will be $25 each with the social hour being held in the Buffalo Saloon at 6 p.m. Email patee@ponyexpress.net for more information. Much of the success and survival of the Patee House is attributed to Gary and Mary Chilcote who have devoted most of their married lives to this historic site. The Chilcotes celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary at the Patee House on March 30. Their son, Doug, daughter, Carolyn, and granddaughter, Hillary, have made the Patee House their obsession as well. We all reap the benefits of their hard work and dedication. Happy Anniversary, Gary and Mary! (Above, right, Gary on the far right, visits with our tour goers at the Patee House.) Other anniversary events will be held throughout the year so stay tuned.


By the way, True West Magazine named St Joseph the "Number 1 Western Town" for 2008. Number 5 on their list was Dodge City. We're proud to have these historic towns so close.
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Civil War Missouri/Kansas

From Scott Porter, Command and General Staff College, per my inquiry:

Deb,

"Action at Camden Point: 1864" is the Fort Leavenworth Historical Society monthly presentation at the Frontier Army Museum. On 20 March, it starts at 7PM. On 22 March, we will rally at the same museum at 0900 and drive to Camden Point. At Camden Point ,we will tour the battlefield and the Confederate Monument (right). Ed Kennedy will be in his Confederate uniform and discuss the weapons used during the battle.

-Scott

DG-It's always a treat to see Ed wearing his Confederate uniform while brandishing weapons. We hope to join you on both days!
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Jay Jackson at SAR

Another bud is speaking this Saturday, so plan accordingly! Jay Jackson, local historian and superintendent of the Missouri City Schools, will be addressing the William C. Corum Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. They meet at 9 a.m., Saturday, in the Pryor Leadership Center at William Jewell College in Liberty. Jay will discuss the Liberty Arsenal, which is thought to be the site of the first Civil War action in Missouri. The breakfast meeting is open to guests. For more information, call 816-781-0614.
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Topeka SCV

And on Saturday morning, March 15, I'll be speaking to the local Sons of Confederate Veterans here in Topeka. The meeting is held at Westside Christian Church, 6th and Lindenwood, at 10 a.m. It is interesting, free, and Denver Erickson's wife sends cookies.

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Missouri SCV

On March 29, the Missouri Sons of Confederate Veterans are having their annual meeting in Blue Springs, Missouri, and our friend, Ed Kennedy, will be speaking on Black Confederates. Email me for more details on any of these events.

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Denver Custer Symposium

On April 18, our friends Doug Scott and D. K. Clark are among the presenters at the Denver Custer Symposium.

Topics and speakers include: Eli Paul, "The 1854 Grattan Fight: Prelude to Blue Water Creek"
Ron Nichols, "The Hilltop Fight: Was Reno in Command?"
Paul Hedron, "The Scourge of Alcohol in the Old Army: Case Studies from the Black Hills Road in 1876"
Doug Scott, "Custer's Heroes: The Little Bighorn Medals of Honor in the Context of the Indian Wars"
Lori Cox-Paul, "A Frontier Army Fourth and Other Holidays"
Dennis "DK" Clark, "The Lost Site of Beecher's Island"

As I told D. K., they always save the best for last. A few years ago, I was scheduled last with my presentation, "Stand By Your Man: Army Wives on the Frontier."
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Kansas Cowboy

. . . arrived in the mail a few days ago. The "Official Publication of the Cockeyed Old West Band of Yahoos Society" is published in Ellsworth, one of the state's wickedest cowtowns by the historic cowboy himself, Jim Gray. Jim and his wife, Kassi, operate Drover's Mercantile in downtown Ellsworth and they're the real deal. They ain't just playing cowboy, they walk the walk. Well, mostly Jim tells tall tales but that's a big chunk of COWBOY life! Visit them in Ellsworth or online at http://www.droversmercantile.com/. We ran into Jim and Kassi in January at the premier of Bloody Dawn in Wichita. It's always good to see good folks and we just don't get enough of an opportunity. Jim commented that watching Bloody Dawn was "like Old Home Week cuz jest about everybody in the film was someone that had crossed our paths at one time or another." I agree. We live in a small world, spread out though we be.

Kassi and Jim (left) host the annual "Spring Gather" April 21 - 23, and if you're hankering for a taste of the real cowboy life, this is your chance. Tell them we said "hey."

Black Confederates

Byron from Tennessee reports that all of Knox County has the hacking, hocking, malady from which I have been suffering. Sales of moonshine must be through the roof! "Government liquor," as Grandpa called it, just doesn't have quite the same medicinal quality. . . .

Major Melissa Tune, currently assigned to the Army's Command and General Staff College, is also a TV personality in Augusta, Georgia. She recently interviewed my bud LTC (ret) Ed Kennedy and myself for a special segment on black Confederate soldiers. Also weighing in on the discussing was Ethan Rafuse, from the CGSC's history department. She did an overview of of the subject as well as another story on the removal of a Confederate soldier's headstone in a Missouri cemetery.

It seems that someone called the cemetery claiming to be the descendant of John Noland, a black man who rode with William Clarke Quantrill. The descendant said that Noland was neither black nor Confederate and asked that the stone be removed. Actually, both Noland's race and his service are fairly well documented. Police were called and the incident is under investigation, but let me assure you, the local Sons of Confederate Veterans are outraged that a mere phone call could uproot a memorial marker.

While Tom and I were researching The Day Dixie Died, we stopped in the Augusta Public Library and were reading old newspapers on the microfilm. A black woman and her daughter sat next to me to work on a school project. Being unfamiliar with the machine, the lady asked me if I could help her thread the film. I hoped she wouldn't notice that on my screen was an ad for a slave auction in Augusta, in mid-April 1865. Listed for sale was a girl about the age of her daughter. I was so overcome I had to bite my lip to control my emotions.

And, lest any of you doubt the experts at my beck and call, this email from Col. Kennedy describes the photo at the top of the page:

Deb,

GREAT Photo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Post-war reunion photo:

#1 Not "Battle Flag" but the "Ensign"

#2 Shoes are 20th Century

#3 Canteen is Model 1885 U.S. Army canteen used until 1910

#4 Hat is Model 1875 U.S. Army "kepi" pattern. Used by fraternal and vet organizations

#5 Age of veteran

#6 "Uniform" is veteran reunion suit

#7 Veteran reunion ribbons and medals on uniform

Regards,
Ed