JPK Huson 1863
Brev. Brig. Gen'l
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2012
- Location
- Central Pennsylvania
Camp Stoneman, a small group watching the band resolved itself into a woman and baby- and husband and son
Promise not to become too wordy but need a few! Have camped with small children, like an idiot. Only the very young achieve it with babies, no electricity, flashlights a plus, standing to walk a fusser out in mosquitos, bumping toes on logs and wondering where that bear might be after dragging away the garbage night before last.
Still slightly blown up from the original Camp Stoneman, LoC photograph, they are more evident here
I'm flattened with admiration, our ancestors, determined to keep families together. Sumter's first shots hurt no one but sank hearts North and South. Behind patriotic fervor lay fear. Fear takes many paths- one was the decision by some women, come proverbial heck or high water, to share war's fortunes as far as they might with spouses that could be lost, oh, so quickly. A choice for some, a necessity for others. Some women, unable to maintain a home without breadwinners also followed men to war. Children came with them.
There are deeper stories here, rank, privilege, place, side and time but this does not concern any of that. Children discovered in these camps is a fairly delightful and surprising event, 150 years later. It's ok, recognizing it with the wonder deserved in each case.
Continued........ another delightful surprise at Stoneman