Forget Hell

In honor of my Confederate Ancestor who was captured at Gettysburg I decided to take a trip and retrace his steps. Stephen A. Corker was captain of Company A, Burke Guards, 3rd Ga. Regiment. He led the 3rd Ga charge on July 2, 1863. He was captured and sent to Johnson's Island prison and spent the rest of the war there.

Previously I had retraced Corker's steps at Sharpsburg, the bloodiest day of the war which occurred September 17, 1862. I was able to get a Park guide there to show me the battle field and he even handed me a map showing the precise movements of the 3rd Georgia that day by timeline. Corker had his sword shot in two that day. The minnie ball killed the man next to him and wounded another.

At Gettysburg the 3rd Georgia went further than Pickett's charge the day after. This plaque is located on the Gettysburg battle field in front of the hill that was charged. It explains what happened.

I decided to beat the 150th crowd so I went to Gettysburg on June 21st. In addition to honoring my ancestor I am writing a book about Corker's letters. Hence the reason behind trips to Sharpsburg and Gettysburg as they both played a pivotal part in Corker's activities during the war. His letters detail life in the South from the period right before the war all the way through his term in the 41st US congress in 1871 and during reconstruction.

When we arrived at the visitor center I milled around and approached the front desk. A portly park ranger was at the desk. As I tried to ask some questions he made motion for me to step aside as there were people behind me. I was surprised at the lack of interest in my wanting to gain knowledge. But this was nothing compared to my interaction with a guide who just happened to be sitting nearby at the front sitting by himself at a small table.

I approached the man and recognized his official looking status. He had a uniform on and was a park guide. I asked if I could sit with him and he obliged. No sooner had I sat down that he said I was "Wearing the wrong hat." He was referring to my Confederate Kapi. He then stated that it was the "Loser's hat." I of course took it in stride as I felt he surely was jesting.

I then pointed to my shirt which features the 3rd Ga Battle flag. I only wear this shirt on special occasions because of the good quality of the shirt. Here I am wearing the shirt at the point where the 3rd Ga advanced at Bloody Lane at Sharpsburg.

This flag never had the stain of the enemy on it per my historical research for my book and was saved at the surrender of the 3rd Ga at Appomattox.

When I asked the guide if he knew what regiment the Confederate Flag was he called it "A rag". Now I was beginning to wonder how much of this man's "kidding" I was going to take. 

He proceeded to open up a white binder with pictures of his union ancestor who won the congressional medal of honor at Gettysburg. I of course was interested in the history behind his ancestor but waited patiently to discuss the rudeness of his comments to me. Before I could confront the gentleman he got a call for his next tour. As he quickly gathered his things and left he said "We are all Americans by the Way."

Now I understood what he had said and done. He was serious about his comments and basically put the South and my ancestor down. Obviously he has not forgotten the war!

 It was never my intention to put forth my Southern Partisan feelings. I wish I had a chance but this man made off before he could be dressed down properly. I certainly did not want to hear about his ancestor who fought mine. I only was being nice doing my research.

I subsequently made comments about this incident online and was told by another former guide that I needed to apologize for putting the guides at Gettysburg in a bad light. That did it. 

I subsequently decided that the person who needed to apologize was the proud yankee. So I contacted the US park service and this is the response I got below.

Subsequent to this letter I wrote back stating that surely they had a schedule and could pin point a guide who had an ancestor who won the congressional medal of honor. But alas, the apology is not forthcoming per my last conversation.

Many years ago I owned a store in Roswell, Georgia. I had an elderly gentlemen who was a customer from a state up north. One day I was joking around about the war between the states and made a comment. His response was as cold as Ice and made me realize that sectional feelings still run deep especially in older generations still connected to that past time. While the standard mention of Forget Hell speaks of Southerners continuing to fight the war, It appears that Forget Hell is not just a Southern Thing.

PS : I did find out that park guides are not employees of the National Park system. They are outside contractors who go through training and are not supposed to be partisan. Apparently this one is and while I won't be getting my letter of apology I hope he eventually will be called out and terminated as a park guide. Let that be my response to his boasting of his ancestor so he won't be able to shove it in another Southerner's face. Meanwhile I will finish my book and proudly recount Captain Corker's fighting for Dixy.

My home is an 1873 Confederate Veteran's home. Click here to see the blog on the restoration.

http://hardysmithhouse.blogspot.com/

Paula Dean

Lizzy and I ate at Lady and Sons which is Paula Dean's restaurant in Downtown Savannah. We live in Dublin which is only a couple of hours away up I-16.

The reason Paula Dean is famous is mainly for one thing, her food. Like most Southern women I knew growing up in the South, including my mother, they were good cooks. Paula is from Albany, Georgia. In Dixy it is pronouced................. Allbanny. I went to Valdosta State in South Georgia. Above you can see me wearing my VSU t-shirt.

There has been such a fuss about Paula using the word nigger 30 years ago. If you were born and raised in the South you have used that word at least once in your life time. Recently, while walking my doberman in stubbs park in Dublin, two black kids were on the bridge over the creek at Stubbs park. When they saw Max and I one of them said "Nigga why didn't you tell me that dog was coming." In the black community, the word nigger or nigga is common place.

At the restaurant most of the staff is black. These are dark skinned blacks. You don't see them complaining. They worked hard and were pleasant to us. They have jobs. Customers were black. They like the food too.

Here is what I had at the buffet and my comments on each:

1) Fried Chicken......light, fluffy and delicious
2) Cabbage.....cooked just right..not too hard ..not too soft
3) Grits....perfect
4) Yams.....candy flavored with the right amount of sugah
5) Black eyed peas......wonderful
6) Collards.....my only complaint....little too salty
7) Rice and sausage gumbo.......a little taste of New Awleans...just right
8) Fried perch.......tasty

And finally...the best Sweet Tea I have had in a while with a piece of mint in the glass!

In talking with the waitress....a native of Savannah who lives on Tybee Island (Savannah's beach) business is up from last year. I had to ask after witnessing some of the customers...yes most are Yankees!....Folks from Ohio seem to come the most. This waitress has been working for 10 years at Paula's since they moved to this old former Cotton Exchange building. We ate on the 3rd Floor. The atmosphere fit the food and the feel of Savannah for sure.

We got lucky yesterday getting in. Our wait was about 30 minutes. School is back and so traffic at the restaurant was a little slower than a couple of weeks ago. But it was packed.

So, a little word from a "Native Southerner." Paula will do just fine. The reason for all the fuss is Paula is a Southerner and successful. All I can say is, "It's a Southern Thing and y'all wouldn't understand."

My Savannah, Georgia Roots. 2nd Lt. Cole. Olgelthropes light infantry. This tin type is in my possession and is pre-war Georgia Militia. It was taken in a studio in Savannah.

John Barrow - Statesman or Politician?

John Barrow US Congressman 12th Congressional District

January 8, 2013

John Barrow was in Dublin, Georgia today having town hall  gathering. There were about 60-75 folks in attendance  I had a chance to take notes on several issues that were discussed and then asked my own questions face to face after the meeting.

Highlights of the meeting and some of the questions asked are below. I have paraphrased some of the following:

1) Why are you a Democrat?

A) Because I was raised and democrat and it is part of my heritage.

2) What about the fiscal cliff?

A) Good things such as permanent tax law changes...bad things no spending  tackled..kicked down the road two months.

3) From an old civil rights era black man...it seems there are many who are attacking everything the president does. Why is this?

A) Nothing new...the same attacks happened to George Bush..it's politics.

4)What about the gun control debate and taking guns?

A) Not under my watch.

5) What about NDAA and the detainment of American Citizens?

A) Only applies outside of the US.

6) Did you vote for Obama Care?

A) No.

7) What about support for Israel and Egypt?

A) I support both due to the strategic situation having a democracy in the middle east and the middle east peace accord between the two countries. In addition support for both mean jobs in the us through the defense department.

8) Why can't congress get anything done?

A) Partisanship is more prevailant than it was back in the 70's when Barrow did an internship.

There were other issues discussed but the above were the main focus. My take on Barrow is he is a rare one.....more statesmen than politician.....I loved when his Southern accent came out. He is from the Athens, Georgia area. He is a blue dog Democrat which means he is conservative. He is new to Dublin as our congressman. The republicans tried to get rid of him in redistricting this last election but it says something when he got re-elected. The only caveat is this from my ancestor's letter dated September 5, 1872 "Politics is hateful & stirs bad blood." Captain Corker of the CSA served one term in the 41st US Congress in 1871.

Lynyrd Skynyrd Last Rebel Tour

February 1993

Basement of the Fox Theater, Atlanta, Georgia

Greg Person far right, Charles lundsford next to Greg and John Hall left with Tie. Gary Rossington to Johnny Van Zant's left and Billy Powell nex to Johnny.

Letter to Mr. Brusco, Manager for the Lynyrd Skynyrd Band written before the concert at the Fox requesting giving the band our Georgia Flag.

The Free Bird Comes to Georgia

Clip from the show

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGE6J0moMJo

Watch the show in this link....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjcpqxOgVRo

Free bird with this one!

Traveling Musicians New Home - Madison, Georgia

The quest to find my childhood memory

The Traveling Musicians are in Madison, Georgia at the Morgan County Library.

Yes it is a strange sculpture but it now has a home where it can be appreciated. When I was a child my mother took me to Lenox Square. This statue was at the top of the stairs near the post office.

Here is the plaque that is being planned for the statute and the other brer rabbit "Critters"

This is the area it now sits. Bricks await paving for the final display

The critters are in front of the library. Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox and Brer Bear

Here is the front of the library. Brand new dedicated on July 26, 2012

The Traveling Musicians were the last to leave Lenox Square. Previously the critters were tossed by Atlanta to make way for "progress". We don't want to offend anyone now do we? In their place I bring you once again a fine example of Atlanta's progress.......A Police sniper tower. Happy shopping y'all.

1996 Atlanta Olympics and the Georgia Flag

A FLAG THAT WITHSTOOD THE OLYMPIC EFFORT TO CHANGE IT IN 1996

Now 16 years later it is said that 

"Our flag issue concerned the old state flag, which resembled the Confederate battle flag. State flaggers - whatever happened to them? - claimed they would sneak the flag into the venues and wave it during the competitions and raise a little hell. They never did."

By the Celtic Blood in me and my ancestors who fought to defend their homes from the invading Yankees in 1861 the following story tells a different tale.

Billy Payne

Maynard Jackson

Marvin Arington

Eat More Chicken

It's A Southern Thing

Chick-Fil-a is a company based in the South. Atlanta, Georgia is where it all started back in 1967.

My son got married July 28, 2012 in Dahlonega, Georgia. His first date with his bride was at a Chick-Fil-A restaurant.

In honor of this he and his bride had a Chick-Fil-A Groom's cake.

The current debate about Gay marriage has come to "Roost" on the Chick-Fil-A Company. The president of the company Dan Cathy, son of the Founder, Truett Cathy, stated ”Chick-fil-A is “very much supportive of the family,” according to Dan Cathy, president of the popular fast food chain. That is, “the biblical definition of the family unit,”

He said in the interview when asked about Chick-fil-A’s backing of families led by a man and a woman.“Well, guilty as charged.

Gay marriage is not accepted in Dixy and is found outside of the South. Most folks in the South are Christian.

My son's marriage is a testimony to our Southern Heritage and I am very proud of him. If you have a problem with Chick-Fil-A then don't eat there.

There are many instances where the gay lifestyle is a part of what someone does. My favorite example is Freddie Mercury of Queen. I have always loved their music and to this day am sad he is no longer with us. The fact that he was gay never got in the way of me enjoying Freddie and Queen. It is time for the Gay Community to Grow up and Eat More Chicken.