Category Archives: Civil War

Knoxville 1863

Posted on June 2, 2010 | Comments Off on Knoxville 1863

Continuing the marketing of my battle novel “Knoxville 1863,” I discover that it’s been previewed at Bull Runnings, Pennsylvanian Harry Smeltzer’s popular ACW blog, which is primarily devoted to First Manassas (Bull Run in Union terminology). Thanks, Harry.

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Posted in Blogosphere, Civil War, Library

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Murder in the Home

Posted on May 31, 2010 | Comments Off on Murder in the Home

Things weren’t always peaceful at the state’s home for poor and disabled Confederate veterans, at 1600 West Sixth Street in Austin. More than 2,000 lived there, from 1887 to 1953—ironically quite close to Clarksville, a neighborhood of frame bungalows and freed slaves.

Here’s the tale, taken from a 1904 issue of the Dallas Morning News. The flight of the 74-year-old Rebel perp to downtown still wouldn’t be hard. It’s just a short walk, east across  Lamar Boulevard and a dozen blocks more. He was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon: a chair.

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Posted in Blogosphere, Civil War, Scribbles

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Grant’s papers to Mississippi

Posted on May 21, 2010 | Comments Off on Grant’s papers to Mississippi

Here’s irony. As we approach the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War, 2011-2015: Unconditional Surrender Grant is still buried in Grant’s tomb, as the old joke has it, in New York City.

But his correspondence and other papers have journeyed from Southern Illinois University to Mississippi State University. At least  State has now put them on the Web for the benefit of researchers everywhere. But still. Gen. Grant to the Rebs? Oh my.

Via TOCWOC.

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Posted in Blogosphere, Civil War, Scribbles

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Knoxville 1863

Posted on May 17, 2010 | Comments Off on Knoxville 1863

I’ve been fortunate in already having received two good reviews of my new historical Civil War battle novel.

Claude Cooper, a retired Army colonel and a former professor of military science at Appalachian State University, had this to say about the novel at Amazon: “Other writers and historians have touched on this battle, but I’m not aware of any who have addressed it in this depth. For that reason, and because it is well written, I believe that this is an important novel that will be appreciated by civil war buffs and enjoyed by anyone.”

Jim Miller, whose Civil War Notebook is a popular site with war buffs, concluded: “Mr. Stanley has certainly done his homework; his novel rests on a solid foundation of historical facts. It is well written & a joy to read.”

See the entirety of their comments here at the novel’s Amazon page.

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Posted in Blogosphere, Civil War, Library

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Short’nin’ Bread

Posted on May 10, 2010 | Comments Off on Short’nin’ Bread

Woke up early to get Mr. B. off to school with the chorus to the old plantation song “Short’nin’ Bread” running through my weary mind. Lyrics go like this:

“Put on the skillet,
Slip on the lid,
Mama’s gonna make
A little short’nin’ bread.
That ain’t all
She’s gonna do,
Mama’s gonna make
A little coffee, too.

“Mama’s little baby loves
Short’nin’, short’nin’,
Mama’s little baby loves
Short’nin’ bread,
Mama’s little baby loves
Short’nin’, short’nin’,
Mama’s little baby loves
Short’nin’ bread.”

Rest is here. It was the kind of thing you might hear on television now and then, back in the Dark Ages  before political correctness set in. Why yes, I’m sure you wanted to know, and now you do.

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Posted in Civil War, Mr. Boy, Rancho Roly Poly, Texana

This is not Mexican Independence Day?

Posted on May 5, 2010 | Comments Off on This is not Mexican Independence Day?

Nope. That’s September 16. Cinco de Mayo is both simpler and more complicated, being at root a commemoration of a Mexican peasant army’s 1862 defeat of an invading contingent of the French Foreign Legion. Nowadays, it’s more of a family celebration among Mexican-Americans, with only a look-back at the old country, where it’s hardly observed at all.

One of the best explanations of the history of it that I’ve seen is by Austinite Don Miles. His 296-page non-fiction Indie book, Cinco de Mayo: What Is Everyone Celebrating, is a fascinating adventure story involving a pathetic Austrian royalist and his nervous wife, poorly-armed Mexican revolutionaries, some die-hard Confederates, Unconditional Surrender Grant, and much more. You really should get the book. (A used copy goes for just $2.84 plus S&H) Too bad it’s not an e-book. At least, if it is, I can’t find a copy.

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Posted in Civil War, South of the Border, Texana

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Here’s a thought

Posted on May 2, 2010 | Comments Off on Here’s a thought

“In Victorian America, death was discussed open and honestly, but the topic of sex was considered taboo.  In the United States today, it is just the opposite.” –from Widow’s Weeds and Weeping Veils.

Via TOCWOC.

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Posted in Blogosphere, Civil War, Genealogy, Library, Obituaries

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