Strange Stories From the Cemeteries

(Not woman soldier related)

This installment comes from the Knoxville National Cemetery and concerns an unknown soldier buried in grave 275.

2nd East Tennessee Cavalry

The South wasn't as solidly pro-Confederate as one might be led to believe.  Every state in the Confederacy, except South Carolina, had units in Federal service.  Over 50 of these were raised in Tennessee, an especially divided state.  One of these regiments was the 2nd East Tennessee Cavalry, which was also referred to as the 2nd Tennessee Cavalry.   The following photograph at the Tennessee State Library and Archives shows soldiers of Co. D.  Click to enlarge.

Welcome to Smashville!

Every year at this time, Music City is transformed into Smashville as hockey returns to Bridgestone Arena.  The term is quite accurate to describe what goes on there.  It's a brutal sport where blood is commonly spilled.

Bodies have been banging against the boards since 1998.   The concept of "Smashville" goes back further than that, however.  Over 135 years prior, the city of Nashville was a rough place plagued by violence and vice.  In the surrounding rural areas, savage guerrilla acts were committed by both sides as well as those with no loyalty other than to themselves. An article in the Nashville Daily Union newspaper on September 9, 1862, reported that “companies of outlaws belonging to neither side, taking advantage of the anarchy which prevails in the country, roam about for the sole purpose of plunder. These bandits prey on secessionists and loyalists alike.”

"The Lady Lieutenant" and "Castine": Two Wartime Novels Featuring Women Soldiers

The female warrior motif in literature was nothing new by the outbreak of the Civil War.  By that time, writers had been included them in their works for hundreds of years, their stories including tales of daring young ladies who boldly stepped outside the domestic sphere to experience adventure denied their gender.  Two novels published during the war exemplified this genre.

Cat Fight at Ten Paces....or....Oh No She Didn't!

The first recorded duel in what would become the United States occurred between Edward Doty and Edward Leister, two servants, in 1621, a year after the Mayflower landed.  More face offs occurred in the subsequent years to settle disputes and by 1777, duelists were following the code of duello, which was written by Irishmen to provide guidelines for the conflicts.  An "Americanized" version was published by South Carolina governor John Lyde Wilson in 1838. A variation of this code is still utilized in sports today, particularly among hockey players.

My Talk for the Jackson Military Road Chapter of the DAR

I ended this year’s talks in the same place where I started, my home state.  But unlike the first, my last scheduled presentation didn’t deal exclusively with women who fought in the Civil War.  This time I ventured into new territory as I spoke to the Jackson Military Road chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in Purvis, Mississippi.   I was very honored to be invited by Carolyn Ruegger who taught me math at Pearl River Community College.  Her daughter, Anita Morrow, also taught me math.  Throughout my life, God has placed influential people in my path who have helped mold me into the person I am today.  Mrs. Carolyn and Mrs. Anita are among these. 

Winds of War, Winds of Fate: a Brief History of Mississippi Antebellum Hurricanes

Today marks the 10^th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.  Forgive me as I delineate from the focus of this blog.  As a survivor, my thoughts have been on that particular event in my life.   Katrina was a historical event indeed, one that I will never forget.  But speaking of history, we don’t tend to think about weather that much.  But, of course, our ancestors had to deal with the elements as we do.  And that includes hurricanes here on the Coast.   Closer to our own history, I can remember my daddy telling me about a time when he was a boy and asking his grandpa about a big pile of dirt.  “Oh, a bad storm caused that,” was the reply with a shrug.  He was referring to the hurricane of 1947, a “bad storm” indeed that had hit several years prior.  

Aftermath of the 1947 hurricane
Mississippi Gulf Coast
Hancock County Historical Society

Ship Island

Named by French explorers in 1699, Ship Island is located approximately 12 miles off the Mississippi Gulf Coast and lies about equidistant between Mobile and New Orleans.  The barrier island was initially used as a port of entry by colonists and has been called the “Plymouth Rock” of the Gulf Coast. 

AAR From the Gardendale and Jasper, Alabama Talks

Back in March, I gave two talks in Alabama (click HERE for a recap) where I met a couple of nice folks who invited me to speak for their respective organizations, which I did so this past weekend.  

Boscobel AAR

I consider myself semi-retired from reenacting.  The only event I generally attend a year is Muskets

Photo by Tom George Davison

and Memories in Boscobel, Wisconsin held annually the first weekend in August.   I still can't get over how cool Wisconsin is this time of year.  While my friends and family are drinking the air in Mississippi, I'm typically freezing under a wool blanket.  I campaign, which means I only bring what I can carry on my person and sleep under the stars with no tent.  In that regard, you get a sense as to what the soldiers experienced.  I am in the infantry and, as a lifelong athlete, enjoy the physical challenge of it.  You definitely get a good workout!

Mark is the overall Confederate commander at this event and helps design the battle scenarios, which he typically researches months in advance.  He, and a lot of others, put a lot of time and effort into it, which results in a good event that typically draws large crowds.  The small town embraces it as well.


This year, the event organizers wanted to honor Alonzo Cushing who was recently awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Gettysburg.  He had local ties, having been born in Delafield, Wisconsin.  (Boscobel itself had a Medal of Honor winner who served with a woman soldier.  Click HERE to read about them.)