A Young Man and His War Legacy

The Civil War was a terrible and devastating division in our country's history. Brothers often fought brothers, and sons fought fathers. Families were split, and some never healed.

A young man with musical talent was sent to a music school in the South just before the war started. His family thought he would be safe, as he was from the North and only studying in the South.

His father was Captain Ellicombe in the Union Army.

One day his troops came to a field called Harrison's Landing, in Virginia, after a battle had been fought. The captain ordered his men to bury the Confederate soldiers.

The captain looked at the young faces and saw his son's. Why his son left school and joined the Confederacy, the captain didn't know. With love, he searched his son's pockets and found a scrap of paper with music notes on it. After the captain asked for and received permission to give his son a special burial, he gave his bugler the music, and it was played at the funeral.

The music drifted over the countryside, giving everyone the chills.

The division commander, General Daniel Butterfield, heard the haunting tune and inquired who wrote it. Captain Ellicombe gave the scrap to the general, who had it copied and gave it to his bugler, Oliver Morton, and ordered him to use it as a new bugle call. Before the Civil War was over, both sides of the conflict were playing the piece at the gravesites.

It is still played today for military funerals. It is called "Taps." "...it signals the end of a soldier's struggle as he is laid to rest."

At all military funerals, we are reminded of the heartbreak of war by the music of one young man.

From the book Shocking Secrets of American History by Bill Coate

Please let me know if these history tidbits are interesting. Shall I continue? Shall I stop?

Email pstinson23@comcast.net. 

 

                                            U.S. History

                    

                    Not Satisfied! Wanting More!

Robert Morris financed the American Revolutionary War on credit. He controlled the tobacco market and a vast banking and shipping empire. He wanted more. His thirst for more money led him to a scheme to build a large town along the Potomac River. The land was cheap, a town could be developed, and lots could be sold at prices that would yield astronomical profits. 

His problem was that he needed more capital. He decided to enlist Light-Horse Harry Lee, the father of General Robert E. Lee, to help finance the project. 

Light Horse Harry Lee was known as a brilliant general in the Revolutionary War, a governor of Virginia, and a member of Congress. He said the famous words at George Washington's funeral, "irst in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen."

Light Horse Harry Lee invested his entire family fortune.

It turns out that a technicality prevented the land titles from being obtained. (I have no idea what the technicality was.)

Mr. Morris and Mr. Lee were sent to a debtor's prison.

Congress acted and passed the Bankruptcy Act in 1800. This allowed Morris and Lee to go free. Morris died soon after his release, but Lee was humiliated at home. He abandoned his family and went to the West Indies. In 1818, he decided to return home, but he was stricken with typhoid fever and died at sea. The ship's crew buried him on Cumberland Island, Georgia.

Resource: Shocking Secrets of American History by Bill Coate

 Our 250 Year Birthday

On July 4th, we celebrate Independence Day, or should we celebrate Horsefly Day?

 

July 4th is the day we celebrate our independence. However, it was on June 7th that Richard Henry Lee of Virginia petitioned the Second Continental Congress to break from England. On July 2nd, Thomas Jefferson and four other delegates wrote the Declaration of Independence.

John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, The Second Day of July, 1776, will be memorable in the history of America. I am apt to believe it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the Great Anniversary Celebration."

On July 4th, the windows were opened to let a slight breeze in. However, as houseflies from a stable invaded the room in droves, the delegates were in battle, swatting the houseflies. After a few minutes, the delegates gave up and voted to accept the document as written. After it was seconded, they all fled the building. The document wasn't signed until August 2, 1776. 

So, instead of celebrating Independence Day, maybe we should celebrate National Horsefly Day.

(From the book Shocking Secrets of American History by Bill Coate.)

Depression and Hope

This beautiful work of art is by Stephen Fox ( called Foxy). He lives in Australia. His mother's side had mental health issues and autism. He started painting in 2020. He started working with the award-winning poet and children's author, Eileen Moynihan of Ireland.

They put together a book entitled All Things Bright and Beautiful. 

In Eileen's words, "Although the pictures and poems reflected depression, loneliness, and isolation, they were also hopeful, colorful, and beautiful."

The following poem was written by Eileen to accompany the picture above. 

                                 The Many Colours of Love

                                                        (colours is the English spelling of colors)

Many colours make a beautiful image,

The same outlines give unity,

A pattern of sameness, but colour

Shows difference and diversity.

When teardrops fall we are all the same.

Give me your hand, and I'll take yours,

Many hands of different shades

Reach out to another human,

Sharing what is in each heart.

When teardrops fall, we are all the same.

Like falling leaves of many colours,

Our teardrops and joys, mix and mingle,

Showering the world with humanity,

Kindness, love, hope and empathy.

When teardrops fall we are all the same. 

This is a positive book of poetry and art. It is available on Amazon.com. 

The title is All Things Bright and Beautiful (subtitle is An Artistic Journey Through Mental Health) by Eileen Moynihan & Stephen Fox

(My apologies. I could not get a better copy of the painting on the blog. My skills are limited, as you can see. It is much better in the book.)

                                      February 14th, A busy day!

On February 14th, we do not have just Valentine's Day to celebrate.

It is also: 

Frederick Douglass Day

Gold Heart Day

Have a Heart Day

International Book Giving Day

International Winter Bike to Work Day (Not for me!)

League of Women Voters Day

Library Lovers' Day

Madly in Love With Me Day.

National Black Literacy Day

National Call-in Single Day (Not a mistake. It is not call in sick day. Who do you call?)

National Cream-Filled Chocolate Day (My kind of day.)

National Ferris Wheel Day (They are fun.)

National Organ Donor Day (It is on my driver's license, but who would want my old organs?)

Pet Theft Awareness Day 

Quirky Alone Day (My kind of day.)

Read to Your Child Day  (Good Idea.)

World Sound Healing Day  (How does sound heal? )

I wanted to add some Valentine images, but I cannot work my scanner. Sorry.

Also, someone hacked into my email and sent messages supposedly from me asking for account numbers and/or money. I've changed my password, so the email should be safe now. I never email people asking for account numbers or money. It is a scam. 

 

                           Bits and Pieces

This blog is a hodgepodge of items.

Did you have ancestors from Europe? I did.

If they came from England, they came because of the large population made competition for housing and Jobs. Then, a horrific winter in 1709, the coldest in 500 years, destroyed crops and led to food shortages

That same winter in Germany caused seas to freeze, crops were devastated, and yes, it was so cold the trees exploded. The water in the sap could not handle the cold. Starvation and disease spread. And Germany still felt the effects of the Thirty Years' War.

I had ancestors from England and Germany

I should also be candid. My grandfather came from Canada. He was a logger in Ontario and came across the border. He met my grandmother and they started a family. Did he become an American citizen. I don't know. He may have been illegal. Does that make me a docka {sp} ?

Second Tidbit

Did you ever read Don Quixote? It was written in 1605 by Miquel de Cervantes, a Spanish writer. He wrote about 10 books. He is considered the first modern novelist. Some authors think Don Quixote is the best book of all time and the most central work in world literature. 

He also wrote, "It ill becomes you to assail one who cannot defend himself."

I'm sorry I could not find any pictures to go with this blog. I hope you found it interesting anyway. 

 Coming soon to your computer will be my next blog about the day of February 14th.

                     Thoughts for 2026

I came across these little items while cleaning out my files. I did not intend to do any cleanup as a New Year's Resolution but a circumstance happened that caused my three days of work.  You may think the same as I do or disagree, however I think they are interesting.  I don't know the authors' names, but I don't think they will mind if I share.

God is like a Bayer Aspirin

   He works wonders

God is like Ford

   He's got a better idea

God is like Dial Soap

    He gives round the clock protection

God is like Coke

    He is the Real Thing

God is like Pan-American

    He makes the going great

God is like Scope

    He makes you feel fresh

God is like Hallmark cards

     He cared enough to send the Very Best!

                                                          Worth

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill.

In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?

Hands went up.

He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this."

He proceeded to crumple the bill.

He then asked, "Who still wants it?  The hands stayed up.

"Well," he said, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the round and ground it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty. "Now who still wants it?" The hands went into the air. "My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It is still worth $20. Many times in our lives, we are dropped crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value in God's eyes. To him, dirty or clean, crumpled or creased, you are still priceless to Him.

Thought: The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we are but by WHOSE WE ARE1

You are special. Have a great day!