W. Richardson
Captain
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2011
- Location
- Mt. Gilead, North Carolina
"For every Southern boy fourteen years old, not once but whenever he wants it, there is the instant when it's still not yet two o'clock on that July afternoon in 1863, the brigades are in position behind the rail fence, the guns are laid and ready in the woods and the furled flags are already loosened to break out and Pickett himself with his long oiled ringlets and his hat in one hand probably and his sword in the other looking up the hill waiting for Longstreet to give the word and it's all in the balance, it hasn't happened yet, it hasn't even begun yet, it not only hasn't begun yet but there is still time for it not to begin against that position and those circumstances which made more men than Garnett and Kemper and Armistead and Wilcox look grave yet it's going to begin, we all know that, we have come too far with too much at stake and that moment doesn't need even a fourteen-year-old boy to think This time. Maybe this time with all this much to lose than all this much to gain: Pennsylvania, Maryland, the world, the golden dome of Washington itself to crown with desperate and unbelievable victory the desperate gamble, the cast made two years ago."
William Faulkner, novelist
Many, many years before I knew of this quote, I did in fact live it. As a young Southern Boy, that loved Civil War history, from the age of 8 to probably around 13, I relived Pickett's charge many times. I fought many a Civil War battles in the pastures and corn fields. I met the Blue bellies, although they were make believe, on the crest of the ridge, as Pickett urged us on. I have fought Pope's army at the 2nd battle of Bull Run, fought up the slopes of Malvern Hill against McClellan's Blue hoard , in the Hornet's Nest at Shiloh against some guy named Grant and his sidekick Sherman, met that Grant fellow again in the woods of the Wilderness....................Most of the times we Johnny Rebs sent them Blue Bellies to running as we carried the day, but there were times when that Blue hoard was just too great, even for the likes of Stone wall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, JEB Stuart, A.P. Hill, Pete Longstreet, D. H. Hill, and Wade Hampton............
So yes, my urge to honor my Confederate Heritage does run deep...............................But there also lies another flag I do so love.........The Stars and Stripes, the old red, white, and blue......................
At almost 60 now I still have my memories of so many years ago, when I was but a Southern Lad.........................Now as the days ahead are shorter than the days behind, I still close my eyes and I see Pickett's Charge as the reach they crest of the ridge, and the Battle Flags fall, I do know that America is a better America because of that lost day so many, many years ago.
What are you remembrances of your early childhood Civil War interactions?? Don't be shy for remembrances are what dreams are made of. They are what keeps old hearts young.
Respectfully,
William
One Nation,
Two countries
William Faulkner, novelist
Many, many years before I knew of this quote, I did in fact live it. As a young Southern Boy, that loved Civil War history, from the age of 8 to probably around 13, I relived Pickett's charge many times. I fought many a Civil War battles in the pastures and corn fields. I met the Blue bellies, although they were make believe, on the crest of the ridge, as Pickett urged us on. I have fought Pope's army at the 2nd battle of Bull Run, fought up the slopes of Malvern Hill against McClellan's Blue hoard , in the Hornet's Nest at Shiloh against some guy named Grant and his sidekick Sherman, met that Grant fellow again in the woods of the Wilderness....................Most of the times we Johnny Rebs sent them Blue Bellies to running as we carried the day, but there were times when that Blue hoard was just too great, even for the likes of Stone wall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, JEB Stuart, A.P. Hill, Pete Longstreet, D. H. Hill, and Wade Hampton............
So yes, my urge to honor my Confederate Heritage does run deep...............................But there also lies another flag I do so love.........The Stars and Stripes, the old red, white, and blue......................
At almost 60 now I still have my memories of so many years ago, when I was but a Southern Lad.........................Now as the days ahead are shorter than the days behind, I still close my eyes and I see Pickett's Charge as the reach they crest of the ridge, and the Battle Flags fall, I do know that America is a better America because of that lost day so many, many years ago.
What are you remembrances of your early childhood Civil War interactions?? Don't be shy for remembrances are what dreams are made of. They are what keeps old hearts young.
Respectfully,
William
One Nation,
Two countries
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