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| Heading out of town Gettysburg, PA OAFS Photo |
It was a nice vacation, but as all things must, it has ended. We're back on the road to head north to see what springtime always brings ...
Work in the yard.
Dead branches to be bundled, pond to be cleaned, and preparing the yard for summer - and all that entails.
It's the first year since I was nobbut a youth that there is nowhere I have to be, nothing I have to do for someone else, and all the time in the world to do what we want/need to do.
I'm sure The Missus Herself has some very firm ideas as to what needs doing, after all, they're her gardens and yard - I just live here. But whatever she wants done, she'll be doing the bulk of the work, she always does. Me?
After the trip to Gettysburg, I feel the need to scribble some historical fiction. I'm pretty certain it will be set in the years 1861 to 1865, on the North American continent, and having something to do with that war.
How not to be political? Well, tell soldiers' tales, leave the politicians and the generals out of it. I have some thoughts on the matter, but why ruin a good story?
We shall see. Long drive today, stuff that needs doing on the morrow, we'll see how it goes.
Until then ...
Might I suggest before you put quill to inkpot that you reread Hardtack and Coffee https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/72532 or https://archive.org/details/hardtackcoffee00bill , It offers insights, through the memory of a man who had seen the elephant, a good look at Army Life of that era.. A bit from the description of how soldiers might store their coffee ration: "But your plain, straightforward old veteran, who had shed all his poetry and romance, if he had ever possessed any, who had roughed it up and down " Old Virginny," man and boy, for many months, and who had tried all plans under all circumstances, took out an oblong plain cloth bag, which looked as immaculate as the every-day shirt of a coal-heaver, and into it scooped without ceremony both his sugar and coffee, and stirred them
ReplyDeletethoroughly together.
There was method in this plan. He had learned from a hard experience that his sugar was a better investment thus disposed of than in any other way; for on several occasions he had eaten it with his hardtack a little at a time, had got it wet and melted in a rain, or, what happened fully as often, had sweetened his coffee to his taste when the sugar was kept separate, and in consequence had several messes of coffee to drink without sweetening, which was not to his taste. "
"as immaculate as the every-day shirt of a coal-heaver," What a great turn of phrase.
"Hardtack and Coffee" was a good story! That's where he talked about tearing down the fences for firewood & so many other things I had not thought of!
DeleteJoe - I might, but I've lived some of that, other than the getting shot at part.
DeleteRob - Soldiers will grab anything that burns when they want to build a fire.
DeleteHave found that working out in the yard seems to clear the head a bit yet it's a bit early in these parts to do much other than pick up branches. Over the weekend International Falls received seven inches of the white stuff while ice went out of the lake near me, lake surface sure was sparkling with that Northwest wind yesterday. Safe travels Sarge.
ReplyDeleteI worked for Buster in Bemidji Minnesota and he let the snow just melt if it fell AFTER Mother's Day, until then it was moved. Mother's day is late but the snow has it's own schedule.
DeleteNylon12 - For me working in the yard does nothing more than pi$$ me off. I need to unlearn that.
DeleteRob - In Little Rhody if you wait a bit, a lot of it is going to melt within a day or so. Doesn't matter the time of year. Winter is weird here.
DeleteSarge, looking forward to your next story. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeletejuvat
We'll get there, eventually.
DeleteSarge, one of the biggest transition points for young people, be it after high school or college, is the idea that things like Summer vacation and Spring Break and Christmas Break are no longer a thing and (gasp) you have to work through all of those. Another big transition point is when one leaves the workforce and suddenly realizes that in a sense, every day is Summer Vacation (with tasks, of course).
ReplyDeleteIn your writing of it, I realized that for the first time in 25 years I have no yard work to do this year (other than sweep off the balcony, I guess). It was never my favorite thing, but at least it was a sign of the changing seasons.
Looking forward to your next literary endeavor. Your ability to write + relatively close access to things like museums and battlefields (as opposed to Napoleon's campaigns) = Something to look forward to with my mug of morning coffee.
You don't (I didn't) realize that your last summer off from school was between 11 & 12th grades until you graduate and realize play is over, life started and you have to go to work.
DeleteTB - I would hate not having a yard.
DeleteRob - I saw that coming from afar, while many of my friends worked in high school, I stuck to my paper route. I knew life was coming, and coming fast.
DeleteThere is some thought (in some corners) that when you're retired you can spend as long as you want doing tourist type research...it does take a bit of planning but it can be done. Just saying...
ReplyDeleteTourist type research? My wife likes that sort of thing, I don't. If it ain't military-related (battlefields, museums), I tolerate it. Barely.
DeleteI was thinking that this Gettysburg trip was tourist type research...
DeleteNot really, battle research.
DeleteLife is good! You are master of your destiny, so choose wisely, or at least choose something. If it doesn't develop as you like, you can chose something else.
ReplyDeleteWhen I get time, I will throw something Gettysburg related your way. A Colonel from one of "them damn black hatted fellows" in the Iron Brigade, with a bit if biography of him, and his soldier son. It was common for officers to come from families with traditions of service, and this father son was especially interesting to me for reasons which will be explained in due time.
JB
Chap named Arthur?
DeleteJB - I look forward to it!
DeleteScott - Wrong theater.
DeleteThought I had something to say, decided to stay quiet. Rather than "saying" something stupid.
ReplyDeleteNow I'm intrigued!
DeleteSo, you did not succumb to seeing more Civil War battlefields? Antietum was only 46 miles away. To this day still the bloodiest one day battle we've ever had. They were still finding bodies in the fields a year later
DeleteAnyway, thanks for the tour!
Went to Antietam two years ago.
DeleteThis is on the fly stream of consciousness...
ReplyDeleteSweat stung his eyes, he was confused. He barely understood the language. "Secure these mounts" . He held three horses, along with another troop from Ireland, Wales? Couldn't understand him either. The "fighting" troops were desperate but not panicked. Over the hill the firing picked up. Mounted warriors in two's and fives started showing, whooping and hollering, mock rushing, then full on charging at the pairs of solders holding mounts. Horses panicking, bolting, men overwhelmed by fire, loading, returning fire and dying. The sounds from just over the crest of the hill, changed... fewer rifle/ carbine shots. More single revolver shots. And more warcrys... the screams were, horrible. He could see some of the "handlers" getting shot down, horses run off, coup being counted. He saw the terror in his partner's eyes, he let loose the reins and fired his carbine as fast as he could at anything that didn't look like a friendly. He heard the thud of the bullet and the groan of Peter, he might have been called. He turned to see his backup rolling onto his side, bleeding front and back. High pitched whoops and yips started intensifying, making him shudder. Load and fire, load and fire, now he was alone. They were coming.
Could probably flesh that out to a chapter.
Please be kind, I haven't "written" for a long time, and it is 0300 on my day off.
DeleteDV #1 - I felt that passage, heck, I could smell the dust of the prairie and the horses. I could hear those yips and shouts. You put me there. All I can say is ...
DeleteMore please.
DV #2 - That's fine writing for well-rested, fully caffeinated, middle of the day writing, let alone 0300!
DeleteWell done!
Good you mention the smells. That is part of the sensory scene I could flesh out with a full chapter. The times I've been there, "Last Stand Hill" and that area ... the grass smell is sweet, with a hint of sage.
DeleteBlack powder sulfur, sweat, blood and bowels.
The sounds... I believe the screams of the horses would be worse than those of the men, though I've never heard someone scalped alive...