Reflections of An Uncommon Common Man

Vicksburg was a tough nut to crack. Grant had originally started his first Vicksburg Campaign in November 1862 by starting out from LaGrange Tennessee. His goal was to take Vicksburg from the eastern side of the Mississippi. He eventually had to turn back because Nathan Bedford Forrest and Earl Van Dorn destroyed his supply lines in West Tennessee and Holly Springs Mississippi. Grant was forced to march back after a failed attempt by Sherman to take Vicksburg by attacking Chickasaw Bluffs. Sherman learned a valuable lesson on this failed campaign. The Union Army didn't need supply lines because they could live off the land. He applied this principle in his later Meridian Campaign and his March to the Sea. All through that winter of 1863 Grant tried various ways to take Vicksburg but with no success. Even though he wasn't hopeful of success he was able to keep his troops active and healthy during a season that is usually unhealthy for inactive troops in winter quarters. Then...

SARAH  PRITCHARD                                                                                                                                                           SARAH PRITCHARD  Women fought on both sides. Sarah Pritchard joined the Confederate Army with her husband who passed her off as his 20 year old brother by the name of Sammy Blalock. Sarah's husband Keith told her to stay close to him and they fought in three battles. She was wounded in the shoulder and her identity was discovered. Her commander called over the surgeon and said "Oh surgeon, have I a case for you". She was...

 The Communists in our educational system are teaching our children that America was founded by a bunch of racist and sexist White men. Yes, they were a product of their time but for the most part these men were exceptionally smart and brave. Even though you don't hear about it that much their women were very influential in their lives. There was no greater political and marital relationship than the marriage of John and Abigail Adams. Abigail could be listed as one of the earliest and most influential feminists. Blacks made up a large part of Washington's army. They also served as spies and at least for a few years free Blacks enjoyed a degree of freedom in this country. I heard a great analogy the other day about American history. A Conservative professor, which are rare these days, compared the American experience to a relay race. The Founding Fathers started the race very well and handed the baton off to the next generation. From there each generation of Americans has ha...

Each year my oldest son Rob, his wife Lisa, sons Robbie and Blaine come home for the holidays. They live down in Vero Beach Florida. One year they come in for Thanksgiving and the other for Christmas. This year was their year for Thanksgiving and we visited the ice exhibit at Opryland in Nashville. My daughter Melanie, her husband Kenny, son Gabriel, daughter Donie and son Russell were also with us. This years theme was A Christmas Story.