- Joined
- Apr 18, 2019
- Location
- Upstate New York
My great-great-grandfather Ralph was a reluctant soldier but did, when it became unavoidable, join a Confederate cavalry unit. Duty meant he had to be away from home and leave his family unprotected at a time when Northeast Mississippi was full of raiding parties. One day as he saddled up he told his oldest child she should do one thing if the Yankees showed up - take whatever valuables the family owned and stow them safely under the house.
When next he returned Ralph found the Yankees had indeed come and Sarah had followed his instructions perfectly. What, he asked, did she hide? The books! she told him. Her father, a teacher and a great believer in education, was surprised and thrilled to find that his 7-year-old daughter thought that books were the family's most valuable possession.
One thing at least was stolen during the raid - Ralph's razor. He swore to never shave again and, as you can see from the photo below, he didn't.
When next he returned Ralph found the Yankees had indeed come and Sarah had followed his instructions perfectly. What, he asked, did she hide? The books! she told him. Her father, a teacher and a great believer in education, was surprised and thrilled to find that his 7-year-old daughter thought that books were the family's most valuable possession.
One thing at least was stolen during the raid - Ralph's razor. He swore to never shave again and, as you can see from the photo below, he didn't.