Posted by Eleanor on 7/3/2002, 10:15 am BTW, over the last two weeks it has been pointed out to me by generous cousins that my Great-Great Grandfather and his son, dozens of their brothers, children, uncles, cousins, and inlaws fought in the Civil War. So, here's to the company or two of kin who wore the Grey, and the dozens who wore the Blue -- it's been a pleasure to meet you all. We found a dead Confederate soldier lying on his back, his outstretched fingers stretched across the stock of the rifle lying at his side. He was one of the Rogers Texans. Fifty-seven of them we had found lying in the ditch of Fort Robinette. From Viewpoint of the Union Soldier, written by Mrs. Don Watkins. To quote the introduction of Mrs. Watkins article: This is the article written by the Rev. Robert J. Burdette, who was a Union Soldier. This incident occurred at the Battle of Corinth. The writer [Mrs. Watkins] found this article in a book at the local library, and it was taken from the Booneville Banner, Booneville, Mississippi, in the July 11, 1912 issue of their newspaper. The full quote and text of the Rev. Burdette may be found at http://www.freedom2000net.com/userpages/genealogy/Alcorn/alcw.html Please note that in the original text, acorn is spelt acron. I have changed it for ease of reading in this presentation, and have edited the quote as indicated.
No political message intended, just an historical anecdote never more appropriate than on the 4th of July -- especially since it's the 2nd, and the 2nd is when The United States _actually_ declared its Independence. My great compromise with reality and perception is to celebrate from now until the 4th. :-)
I covered his face with a slouch hat and took off the haversack slung to his neck, that it might not swing as we carried him to his sleeping chamber, so cool and quiet and dark, after the savage tumult and dust and smoke after that day of horror.
Empty, isnt it? asked the soldier working with me. I put my hand in and drew forth a handful of roasted acorns; I showed them to my comrade.
Thats all, I said.
And he has been fighting like a tiger for two days on that forage, he commented. We gazed at the face of the dead soldier with new feelings.
By and by he said, I hate this war and the things that caused it
. I love the Union as I love my mother better. I think that this is the wickedest war that was ever waged in modern times. But this, and he took some of the acorns from my hand this is what I call patriotism
.
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