Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Editor's Corner

April 2014

Although this issue is being released to the public on the first day of April, it is certainly not a joke. There are several rather serious subjects and surprisingly more than one hark back to former military actions.

Perhaps the violent weather tragedies are affecting the mood of the authors, and all can agree the deadly mudslide in the Northern state of Washington is an ongoing frightening incident. Then there is the lost Malasian airplane -- unbelievable that can occur with all the modern tracking systems.

Thomas F. O'Neill writes of such technology and the 'intel wars' the world is facing in "Introspective." Eric Shackle's Column, by that title, harks back to a WWII Army Newspaper and how it scooped all the bigger World newspapers.

Mattie Lennon, (Irish Eyes) introduces us to another usually somber subject: wakes, then shows us how a real Irish Wake is different. Michael John Fierro (By the Numbers) brings us another numerological key to ourselves with how the first vowel of our birth name affects us forever.

There is hope though as we welcome back Peg Jones with her column "Angel Whispers" in which she discusses how the angels want us to bring humor into our daily lives to relieve stress. Happy to bring her into our magazine again.

For a special guest column we present "Cooking with Brandy, Kizer that is" with the author bearing that name sharing some interesting adaptations on a recipe that you will want to try.  John I. Blair's column "Always Looking - People Who Made A Difference XVI, features Robert Gould Shaw telling his story and why you may already know of him.

Blair also includes four poems this month: "Green Song," "Fresh Milk," "First Rain of Spring," and "Friends in The Making."  Bruce Clifford penned "The Cold War," (there's that word War again) and Phillip Hennessy has two: "I'm Thinkin' and Drinkin'," and "Dilemma.  Then we have two stories to pique your thoughts: "One Hundred Years Before The Marriage," by Melinda Cohenour; "New School, First Day," by Cayce B. Shelton.

We again thank Mike Craner, webmaster extraordinaire, for his insights and patience with keeping us going. We thank all our authors and look forward to continuing our association. It is a joy to know that many who started out publishing in our ezine have become published book authors. Both experienced and beginning writers find Pencilstubs a good vehicle for finding and keeping their audience.

We will be seeing you in May right here in Pencil Stubs Online!

Click on Mary E. Adair for bio and list of other works published by Pencil Stubs Online.
This issue appears in the ezine at www.pencilstubs.com and also in the blog www.pencilstubs.net with the capability of adding comments at the latter.

Always Looking XVI: Robert Gould Shaw

 

Meet Robert Gould Shaw

A member of a prominent and wealthy abolitionist family, Robert Gould Shaw was born in Boston in 1837 and grew up in a privileged life. As a young man working in an uncle’s office in New York City he had come to consider himself a failure. But after he enlisted in the Union Army at the outbreak of the Civil War, he soon distinguished himself as a soldier. He was one of the troops defending Washington against attack in 1861 and in 1862 fought as part of the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry in the battle of Antietam, being wounded twice in combat.

Shaw, by this time a captain, was one of the officers recruited in 1863 by Massachusetts Governor John A. Andrew to raise and command one of the first regiments of black troops for the Union, the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. The regiment was composed primarily of free African Americans, from several states, and included two sons of famed abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Shaw was initially unenthusiastic about this assignment, but the dedication of his men deeply impressed him and he grew to respect them as fine soldiers.

Robert Gould Shaw

He was rapidly advanced in rank, first to major, then colonel so that he could lead the regiment into combat. When the troops were trained, they were assigned to the front in Georgia and South Carolina. The unit performed poorly in its first military engagement, at Hilton Head, South Carolina. In July 1863, however, the troop performed ably, holding off Confederate forces at James Island, South Carolina, until leaders could organize a defensive retreat.

Troops Marching Streets of
New York City before Deployment

Shaw then volunteered his troops to join in an attack on Battery Wagner, the first step in an assault on Charleston. Although the attack, on July 18, 1863, failed, the Fifty-fourth fought valiantly; 272 were killed, wounded, or captured, including Shaw, who died leading the attack. The dead, including Shaw, were buried in a mass grave. The exemplary performance by the unit helped to dispel the idea that blacks lacked the intelligence or the discipline to perform well as soldiers.

Later pic of
Robert Gould Shaw

In 1897 a bronze and stone memorial designed by Augustus St. Gaudens and Stanford White was dedicated on the Boston Common across from the Massachusetts State House. (See below) Upon its unveiling, William James, as part of his dedicatory speech, proclaimed “There they march, warm-blooded champions of a better day for man. There on horseback among them, in his very habit as he lived, sits the blue-eyed child of fortune upon whose happy youth every divinity had smiled.”

Shaw is well-known for the over 200 letters he wrote to his family and friends during the war, now preserved at Harvard University. The book Blue-Eyed Child of Fortune, edited by Russell Duncan, includes most of his letters and a brief biography. They are also quoted liberally by Ken Burns in his documentary miniseries The Civil War. In 1989 the story of Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts was dramatized in the movie, Glory, with Shaw portrayed by Matthew Broderick. In music, Shaw, the 54th regiment, and the Boston memorial are the subject of a segment of Charles Ives's well-known piece Three Places in New England. New England poet Robert Lowell referenced both Shaw and the Shaw Memorial in his major poem “For the Union Dead.” In it appear the lines:
Shaw's father wanted no monument
except the ditch,
where his son's body was thrown
Drawn from several sources including www.harvardsquarelibrary.org , www.civilwarhome.com, and www.en.wikipedia.org

Click on John I. Blair for bio and list of other works published by Pencil Stubs Online.
Pic Below shows the famous monument in Boston

 

By The Numbers


THE FIRST VOWEL IN YOUR NAME - What it represents

The first vowel in the spelling of your birth name is something of a driving force in your Soul Urge (the number derived from the vowels in your entire name). This is an indication of the direction of your spiritual outlook in life and how you approach such things, as well as your reaction to outer influences. The first vowel represents how one will think, act and behave. If there is an abundance of the particular vowel in the name this can create either great strengths or, it can create areas of difficulty calling for particular attention and effort for improvement.

The 'sound' of the vowel also has influence on the manifestation of the letter. Vowels can either be positive, receptive, or dual. Positive vibrations comes from letters that are long vowels such as the 'A' in Jane. A receptive vowel would be the short 'A' in Janet. A dual vowel would be in a name in which two vowels are together in the spelling of the name, such as the 'A' and 'U' in Paula. A positive vibration is at its strongest and it is imperative that this vibration is tempered somewhat by the individual; a receptive vibration may be weaker, less dynamic and, a much weaker energy although, at times, it may be too receptive. With a dual vowel, the strength of the vibration would be divided between the two vowels in question. In all situations, look to other facets of the chart in the Major Numbers to more clearly understand the influences.

A – 1. Mental. Planet: Mars. When 'A' is the first vowel, you will be authoritative, ambitious, active, strong and forceful. Other attributes may include being progressive, independent, original and adventurous. You will be one who pushes ahead with zeal and enthusiasm holding strong convictions about that in which you believe. This vowel has great emotional content, also. You will be one who has an interest in new things, new ideas, and new concepts especially those that are of your own original creating and conceiving. If you believe in something you will defend your view against the world. You are more likely to accept the advice of others if it re-reinforces your current thinking.
In many ways you enjoy being different.

You are a person that wants to be the creator of new ideas and you trust yourself to know what is best and hold to the thought that others will eventually follow your lead. At many times you may not care what others think about you or your ideas. Another part of you invites new contacts, opportunities, and activities involving change. You are more inclined to want to break away from the tried and true and enter the world of the unknown. It is important that you guard against being too dominant, or too opinionated and that you avoid any sense of false pride. While it is important that you learn to be tolerant, it is equally important that you don't lose your individuality. Too many 'A's' in a name may create a domineering and controlling person as well as lending itself to sarcasm, cynicism, intolerance and criticism towards others. There is a health caution in that too many 'A's' may also create health issues with the head.

POSITIVE – You can be quite set in ways and you cannot accept anything new or different. Because of this you may miss much and not progress. Beware of being overly dominant and egotistical. RECEPTIVE – There may be a tendency of being scatter-brained. You might also be frustrated by life and circumstances in part due to your being an Idle dreamer. You may also consider new things without much thought. DUAL – You may hold no true beliefs of your own and consequently give off a false sense of self.

E – 5. Physical. Planet: Venus. When 'E' is the first vowel in the name, your relation to the five senses can be deep so you must overcome temptations and excessive indulgences in pleasures of the senses, especially sex. Your relationships and home may suffer because of erratic and changing behaviors brought on by your somewhat impulsive behavior. For you with an 'E' as the first vowel, life's experiences are something of which you choose to partake. It is a letter of experience as it occurs more often than all other letters. This can create an element of needing to expect the unexpected. The versatility of the 5 energy may bring about many exciting adventures and opportunities, and you will remain current and ready for anything. You are not particularly bound by convention and you enjoy being different. To others you may seem restless and bored although they will look to you for new and different thoughts and ideas in part because you appear to be knowledgeable and you use your intellect. You have great energy and you need to keep busy.

You are an individual that likes variety, change and action. You can be quite progressive, enthusiastic, versatile and adaptable. Your natural curiosity leaves you open to, and cherishing new ideas and willing to investigate what comes along. You should look to create connections between the physical and the spiritual as it will be necessary to maintain a balance between the intellect and the spirit. In many instances there may not be much middle ground. Above all else, you want freedom yet you should beware of taking hasty action. The 5 energy of the 'E' brings much contact with others and a love of travel. At times you may be too restless and changeable especially in the realms of love and relationships, as well as in the world of speculation. Too many 'E's' in the name can make one unfocused and they can make one unfocused and unable to maintain anything of length. Money comes and goes and 'easy come, easy go' is a mantra in life. Too many 'E's' can indicate health problems with the throat, kidneys, and nerves (stomach) resulting in indigestion and ulcers as well as making you unstable and nervous.

POSITIVE – You must learn to control any nervous tension. You may miss much because of a quick changing series of events. Learn to appreciate what you have as a search for something new may lead to regrets. RECEPTIVE – This creates situations in which you look so hard for things may miss them. You may also lose control easily and again be nervous or unstable. DUAL – You must guard against being too easily confused, frustrated, or irritated. At times you may be too flighty with your movements and activities being non-stop.

I – 9. Intuitive. Planet: Saturn. With the letter 'I' as the first vowel in your name, it is important for you to cultivate universal attitudes of love, understanding, sympathy, philanthropy, altruism and humanitarianism and, you should be interested in the welfare of others. By nature you are a generous person and you may not be interested in things of the material realm although you certainly understand the laws of attraction and return. As a loving individual who seeks to comprehend the human condition, you will have many friends and others will see you as one who understands. You may hold many unorthodox beliefs and a spectrum of extreme opposites ranging from quiet and energetic to erratic and selfish. The more positive and balanced your are, the more sympathetic you will be, and you will be a good servant of humanity. You are a person who can attract wealth and protection when needed. You understands others and can gain success in the pursuit of things that are beneficial to the many.

You are a person who dislikes petty and small-minded actions and behaviors. You may be quite emotional and if you have many 'I's' you may be sensitive and somewhat touchy. Your heart and passion rule your mind and in most instances you are guided by emotion instead of reason. One of your mantras is “if it feels right, do it.” You can be quite intuitive and your intuition can often lead you in the right direction. Although you may appear to be intense, you are also in possession of a magnetic personality and are a law unto yourself. It is important that you perfect what it is you know and stick with it. A very talented individual, you may become bored with things even though you may not necessarily like change or anything new.

If you tend towards the negative you will be self-centered, selfish and self-indulgent. Also, beware of being too moody. You may also be overly sensitive, petty, and easily offended. It is important that you curb your impulsive tendencies. Be aware that if you become too optimistic you can bring on failure and mistakes in your endeavors. You can be a creative talent if your intuitive abilities are developed. If your feelings are strong about something, then you should move forward with it. With 'I' as the first vowel, you may encounter health issues concerning the brain, heart, structure of the body (bones, etc) and ears.

POSITIVE – You can achieve greatness in any area if you apply yourself. It is important that you beware exhibiting cruelty and selfishness towards others. RECEPTIVE – You may be easily bored and become selfish and indifferent. You may have no control of your emotions or reactions to others thus you must develop logic and judgment. DUAL – You may be a bit of an extremist. It is important for you to strengthen and maintain your positive aspects.

O – 6. Emotional. Planet: Jupiter. Having 'O' as the first vowel in your name, you are emotional, balanced and very responsible. You are a person who knows how to maintain a proper perspective on things. You may be somewhat conventional and dogmatic while believing that you are always right. You only want to see things your way, consequently you are very strong-willed and you don't necessarily give in to others. You like to prove to others that you are right even though you run the risk of antagonizing people. You also like to see that justice is served in situations and this makes you push for right solutions to problems. With this in mind, it would be a good thing if you can avoid arguments. To a degree, you are an innate problem solver and mediator of differences. With 'O' as the first vowel you are one who loves to give advice and counsel others. Serving others may very well be a driving force in your existence.

You come across as someone who is poised, reliable and trustworthy. You are sympathetic to the needs of others and can be quite helpful if others need you, as you strongly desire to be useful. It is important that you learn to reveal and use your hidden qualities for the benefit of others. With your strong moral values, you make an excellent parent or teacher. You are a person who needs to carry some responsibility in order to feel important and it is your desire is to be someone who is looked up to in the home and community. As such, you are also someone who is constantly looking to make improvements in situations. You love to be the host or hostess of gatherings and may possess some talent as a party or event planner. If you use your abilities and energy in a positive fashion you may uncover a talent for music, the arts or poetry.

It is important that you learn to relax. You must understand that what you desire will come your way as long as you participate in the process. You are desirous of settling down, and once you have settled down, you do not wish to leave. In many ways you are quite traditional in your beliefs. Those with the first vowel of 'O' need to be surrounded by harmony and beauty. You may have a natural affinity for gardening and this would be a peaceful pursuit in which to become engaged. If you have too many 'O's' you may have a tendency towards stubbornness, slowness and despondency. Health issues that may need your attention would be in the realm of the blood and circulation.

POSITIVE – You may be quite artistically or musically gifted. Beware of being dominant, selfish, unfair, or argumentative. RECEPTIVE – You may have a tendency to be quite emotional. Beware of creating disharmony and unpleasantness in your environment. Do your best to stay clear of criticism and despondency. DUAL – You may possess great understanding and tolerance although you may have difficulties in exercising these qualities and how to best act, think or believe. If indecisiveness is prevalent, you may have a difficult time accomplishing anything.

U – 3. Emotional. Planet: Moon. The 3 energy of the 'U' make you a carefree, happy and jovial individual. You possess the gift of words and as such, you are a good speaker. You are well liked and are a good friend for others to have in their lives. You come across as an optimistic, friendly, peaceful and inspired person who is fun to be around. You are a source of positive vibes and quite charming which makes you a popular person. You are talkative and can be the life of the party. You are a lover of things of beauty which comes from your emotional core. You can be idealistic at times and you must be careful of losing touch with a realistic view of things. You may attract unusual situations that cause suffering. You are a lover of nature and someone who has a green thumb when it comes to growing flowers and plants. You also have a knack for being a good judge of elegant and beautiful things.

You should cultivate and trust your intuition. You intuitive nature helps mold your beliefs although it is imperative that you don't let your it get out of hand or you will lose control of situations. It is therefore important that you stay open to receiving all the necessary information that can be gathered even though you place great value on your own knowledge. If you become stressed you may attract the 'unusual' to you. In some instances you may not question something because of your concern of what others may think. It is in these situations that you present an acceptable front as opposed to being true to yourself. Something else you must do is learn to accept your limitations while using your talents and abilities the best you can. You possess a fondness for study and analysis and your creativity can help bring about success.

You must be careful to not become too clinging in interpersonal relationships. Another realization to keep in mind is that you may have unconventional love affairs that don't fit your idea of what one should be. The more that you fear loss the more likely it is to come about. Learn to use your willpower to fight excessive emotions. Self-improvement should be something that you work on regularly. You are also someone who looks to do many different things. If you are well developed you will look to help humanity. If you are negative you may be quite selfish and narrow-minded. Health issues of concern would be in the area of the nervous system, mental stability, asthma and stomach illnesses.

POSITIVE – It would be wise to heed your insights to teach and write. It would be quite beneficial if you maintain balance in your desires and nature. RECEPTIVE – You can be uplifting if you are not distracted by selfishness or secrecy, narrow-mindedness or conservatism. DUAL – You may be torn between the extremes of confusion and indifference, and being too carefree. It will take work to create and maintain balance.

Y – 7. Intuitive. Planet: Mercury. Because the nature of the letter 'Y' is dual (it can be either a vowel or a consonant) you may possess a bit of duality in your personality. This will be especially true if you have more than one 'Y' in the spelling of your name and because of this condition you may often have to make a decision between two paths or two choices. With 'Y' as the first vowel in your name you are quiet, reserved, thoughtful, refined and somewhat mysterious. You are a person who likes form, theory and ritual and you would tend to be analytical with a scientific or mathematical perspective on things. You search for the truth but may not necessarily believe that which you find and because of that you continue to search, although once you are sure of your knowledge, you should look to share it confidently. You will willingly share with others only if you believe they will value what you share. Possessing a keen intellect and intuitive sense your advice is valued by others. You hold deep beliefs that have been well examined and studied for you are truly a person who wants to know and understand and you may question much. You have your own sense of logic as well as loving to dig deeply to learn and understand.

There may be a certain aloofness or enigmatic quality about you leading others to misread you and find you difficult to understand. While you may be quite intelligent, you may have a difficult time fully expressing yourself and you may not believe that your abilities and talents are as strong as they actually are. You are a person that knows when to speak and when to keep quiet. Some of this behavior may be intentional as you may feel the need to protect and insulate yourself from the world. You may have a strong intuitive sense and you should look to develop it and learn to trust your instincts. To others you may seem material while actually being quite spiritual or, you may appear reflective while being studious. You can be quite introspective and introverted and you value your privacy. It is important that you learn to develop and use tact and diplomacy to help things move along.

You need quiet time for meditation and reflection and nature is a great respite for recharging your batteries and regaining your perspective on life. You may keep things to yourself and you should make an effort towards learning to share. You must also learn to be discriminating, for if you are not using your intelligence and intuition you may be deceived by appearances. Personal growth and development is the result of study, meditation, learning, prayer and observation. If you are very negative you will lack tact and may be sarcastic. With the first vowel of 'Y' your health issues may be associated with reproduction organs, arms, hands and lungs.

POSITIVE – You can be quite receptive if left to your own devices. If pushed by people or circumstances you may shut down. RECEPTIVE – You are one who needs facts, logic and patience. You should be careful to avoid secrecy and introversion. DUAL – The qualities of the 'Y' are usually overruled by first vowel. You must learn to overcome uncertainty, indecision and confusion.

Understanding the meaning of the first vowel in your name should assist you in better understanding yourself although for optimal understanding, the entire chart must be taken into consideration for the deepest level of comprehension. If there is a dominant vowel appearing many times in your name, and the number of the vowel is one of the Major Numbers in your chart, then the characteristics, qualities, and negative aspects will most certainly be magnified. As with all Numerology, a complete profile reading will provide the greatest insights and progress.

Blessings of Love and Light.
Look up your numbers!
Michael John Fierro

© 2014, Michael John Fierro. Reproduction in whole or part without the author's written permission is prohibited.


Click on Michael John Fierro for bio and list of other works published by Pencil Stubs Online.

Cooking with Brandy, Kizer that is

 
Brandy Kizer is our guest cooking columnist for April. She has plenty of opportunity and demand to learn new recipes and adapt them to the taste that will please her twin sons, teens, at that. This is how she does it.

Easy and Wonderful

See the pic at bottom of page for one of Brandy's own versions of this particular recipe.

1.5 cups of vegetable oil
2 cups of sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp Vanilla
3 cups flour
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
1 - 16 ounce can of any pie filling you want.

Beat the wet ingredients (minus the pie filling) until smooth and fluffy.
Mix or sift the dry in a separate bowl.
Combine with the wet mixture.
Stir to combine.
Stir in the pie filling.

Grease two bread pans.
Bake at 350 for 70 minutes.

I've tried blueberry, cherry, apple, raspberry, lemon cream, and strawberry. The Apple is great with nuts. They've all turned out great. Original recipe came from Pinterest and I doubled the soda because the bread would fall a bit.

Click on Kizer for bio and list of other works published by Pencil Stubs Online.

 

Introspective

 
There is an old saying that knowledge is power and our government’s ability to gather intelligence data both domestically and abroad is a means of protecting our National Security and safe guarding our national interests.

How the U.S. spy agencies have been gathering their intelligence data, though, has been highly criticized both in the U.S. and by citizens abroad.

A recently leaked document provided by former National Security Agency contractor and fugitive, Edward Snowden, reveals that the U.S. National Security Agency has been secretly tapping the Chinese telecoms and Internet giant, Huawei, and various other Chinese corporate networks.

The NSA for years has been accessing, Huawei's email archive, communications between top company officials, and even the secret source code of some of its products. The original intent of the NSA’s Operation “Shotgiant” was to search for links between the Shenzhen-based tech giant and the Chinese military, according to Snowden’s leaked documents.

The Chinese military has been accused also of electronically stealing and hacking corporate and U.S. Government secrets for years. Other nations have also been on the receiving end of China’s cyber intrusions. How those stolen trade secrets are being utilized by the Chinese military can pose a direct threat against our National Security.

The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and the NSA has long seen, Huawei, as a security threat due to perceived links to the Chinese military, which the company denies, and both the United States and Australia have barred, Huawei, from involvement in broadband projects due to espionage fears.
The U.S. has penetrated Huawei’s communication products sold to third countries out of fear that such products were being used to “gain access to networks of interest” across the globe.
The U.S. National Security Agency defended its intelligence-gathering operations, which it maintained were focused only on “valid foreign intelligence targets.”   It also insisted that their intelligence gathering activities “are focused and specifically deployed against — and only against — valid foreign intelligence targets in response to intelligence requirements.” 
 
The NSA is also pushing back against suggestions by Snowden and others that spy agencies were waging an industrial espionage campaign on behalf of U.S. businesses.“We do not use foreign intelligence capabilities to steal the trade secrets of foreign companies on behalf of — or give intelligence we collect to — U.S. companies to enhance their competitiveness,” according to a released NSA statement.

The Chinese telecommunication company, Huawei, disagrees with all activities that threaten the security of their networks. They have gone on record, “….. to willingly work with all governments, industry stakeholders and customers, in an open and transparent manner, to jointly address the global challenge of network security….”
 
The U.S. Government, however, will continue to perceive the Chinese telecommunications giant, Huawei, as a potential security threat due to their close ties with the Chinese military. Our U.S. intelligence community will continue to closely monitor and prohibit, Huawei, from any and all involvement in broadband projects within the U.S. due to potential threats of espionage.

I enjoy telling my students at the Suzhou International Foreign Language School, in Suzhou, China - that the new technological wonders that science produces, can be our greatest gift or our greatest fear, depending on the hands that are using it.

This Intel tug of war between China and the U.S. can in all reality develop into something much greater than just perceived threats. It can very well progress into full blown cyber-attacks by simple clicks of a computer mouse. That in my opinion would be something that most people are quite incapable of fully comprehending. The devastation of such full-blown cyber-attacks by world powers is not something sane individuals would want to bring on the world.

I often bring up in my Cultural Diversity classes here in Suzhou, China - how I have difficulty fathoming where technology will progress, especially, when my students are my age and what the world will be like then - if I ever live that long but I suppose time will only tell …….
    Always with love from Suzhou, China
    Thomas F O’Neill
    U.S. voice mail: (800) 272-6464
    China Cell: 011-86-15114565945
    Skype: thomas_f_oneill
    Email: introspective7@hotmail.com
    Other articles, short stories, and commentaries by Thomas F. O'Neill can be found on his award winning blog, Link: http://thomasfoneill.blogspot.com

    Click on Thomas F. O'Neill  for bio and list of other works published by Pencil Stubs Online.

Angel Whispers

Humor and our angels

"Angels have a sense of humor…The angel’s wants us to enjoy life. Have a good laugh at yourself every now and again for taking life seriously. Then take time to laugh with the angels!" 
-Margaret Neylon 

When I found this quote tonight, I felt that this would be a good thing to talk about how sometimes we are so very serious about our life and our path that we may forget to have a sense a humor.

Sometimes, it seems like we even forget about laughter, having fun with family and friends.
The angels always remind me that when I am not laughing and being very serious about every aspect of my life, that it’s time to take some time out, to find more humor in my life.. They make many suggestions for how we can do this.
  • Go out with friends for a night of fun, see a funny show or watch a funny movie
  • Watch old reruns of shows from your youth
  • Listen to you favorite comedian on tv or cd
  • Go dancing with partner or with friends
  • Talk to an old friend, the kind of friend that if you hadn’t seen them in a month you could pick up right where you left off from last time you spoke
  • read some jokes on the internet
  • sing old songs out loud
  • be with kids and do something fun with them
  • listen to old songs that are silly write your own parodies on something you see as quite strange
  • watch a old comedy show or go to a play that is a comedy
The angels always let me know, when I haven’t smiled in a while, and when I am taking my life, too seriously. The show humor through songs, I may hear, and can relate to, or through print, or something I saw as I was driving to or from a destination. Sometimes, I will be reading, and I read something that is completely hilarious; and suddenly I feel better, and my energy has been brought to a lighter vibration.

When stress gets to best of us, the angels will remind us to settle down, relax and to just live in the moment. I have found, that when we don’t take this time, we will be reminded, over and over, to take this time for ourselves.

The angels will help us, with recognizing the importance of taking care of ourselves. The thing is, we have to recognize their presence. The angels do believe in respecting our free will, of whether or not, we would like them to guide us in some way. Once we say, “Yes, please assist me.”, they will be there, for us, right away.

The angels that help us are the archangels and the angels. The archangels are the angels that work hard, at helping mankind on the earth plane. They each have specific specialties, or jobs, to help to heal, in so many, different ways. They are the healing angels for all of mankind. And they love to be of service to us. Many times, I will hear….
    “Call us for free.”
    “Service with a smile”
So when you are feeling that laughter has been lacking in your life, know that your angels are working hard to help you with this stress, relationship or career or healing issue, anytime you ask, for assistance. All you have to do is just call on them to help you.

The angels also like to work with your guides. And from what, I have experienced when the guides and the angels work together, along with a few loved ones or friends, I know, the appropriate help, is on its way.

They remind us that, when we trust in them, that trusting the process, is of utmost importance. They remind us, in so many different ways, that we are never truly alone. They love to have us smile, and to bring the humor back into our lives, when we are at a low point in our life. So when we need to find this laughter or this joy, to just ask, you would like to feel joy or humor, in your life, again.
Peg Jones, is an Angelic Life Coach, and loves to help others to learn and communicate with their angels. She teaches an Angel Communication Class at Spiritualists online network. Her next classes will be starting on, March 31, on Tuesday nights, at 7 pm, EST. She will also be leading an Angel circle for the month of April, on Fridays at 11 am EST in the Open Circle chat room at Spiritualists Online network.

Click on Peg Jones for bio and list of other works published by Pencil Stubs Online.

Irish Eyes

THE IRISH WAKE

In the nineteenth and early twentieth century the party held before a person departed for the USA was known as an American Wake. This was because, whatever about the person’s siblings seeing them again, it was highly unlikely that the parents would ever set eyes on that son or daughter again.

Of course when an Irish person died in America an Irish Wake would be held there. This prompted the great Seanachi, Eamon Kelly, to say, “The best American wakes were held in Ireland and the best Irish wakes were held in America.” 
 
At home the traditional Irish Wake was held up until about forty years ago. When the body of the dead person was “laid out” (there was usually one person in the area who traditionally did this) friends and neighbours would arrive. Nowadays when there is a house-wake the deceased is usually in a coffin but in olden times the corpse was left in a bed dressed in a brown habit. The smell of wax-candles would fill the room and Holy water from a dish would be sprinkled by each visitor.

There would be lots of food and plenty of drink to be consumed. Clay pipes, tobacco and snuff would be distributed. The simile “like snuff at a wake” has entered the lexicons of expressions. People would come and socialise and remember the departed person's life. Unless it was the tragic death of a young person it would be more of a party than a funeral. The “parlour games” sometimes boisterous, were not perceived as disrespectful of irreverent but as a means going some small way to help the bereaved deal with their grief. It was the traditional Irish way of celebrating one's life and ensuring that they had a good send off. People adhered to the maxim “speak well of the dead.” Cynics might say that this was carried to the point of hypocrisy. In Sean McCarthy’s song you’ll find the lines;
    O’ gra o chroi twas sad to see the poor man on the bed.
    A mane oul craytor when alive but a fine man now he’s dead.
And according to his fellow county man, that great chronicler of rural life, the late, great John B. Keane, one departed man was remembered thus; “He responded neither to prayers nor to priestly touch and since they could not countenance his damnation in the presence of outsiders they felt it was in order to construe his final fart as a deathbed conversion.” On another occasion the famous Listowel man had this to say, “How proud we would be if we could see previews of our funerals. What a shame the deceased cannot acknowledge the regard of those who loved him not in life but lauded him in death.” 
 
In his book 'Irish Wake Amusements', folklore author Sean O Suilleabhain gave a detailed account of what went on at wakes after the Rosary was recited at midnight; From songs that couldn’t be sung in the presence of a maiden aunt to games bordering on the obscene. All sorts of tricks were played, mixing pepper with the tobacco, tying old men’s coats to chairs hiding under the bed of the corpse and shaking it to frighten those of a nervous disposition. Sometimes the Rosary would be recited more than once. The Rosary would usually be 'given out' by an important figure - teacher or leader who would recite the first decade then the relatives would take part.

Charlie Reilly lived with his father in Ballynultagh, an isolated and thinly populated glen in the heart of the Wicklow mountains. The nearest shop was in Lacken three miles away. One day Charlie set out for Lacken to buy provisions. When he arrived he found that a local person had died and a wake was in progress. He partook of the hospitality of the wake-house and stuic around for the funeral; taking the corpse to the Church in the evening and the burial next day.

By the time the funeral was over another person had died and Charlie attended that wake and funeral and all that went with it. It was almost a week before he arrived back home. When his father asked where he was he was told, “I was at two funerals in Lacken; how is it we never have a funeral here”?
But the Irish wake is not dead (pun intended.) Two different Funeral Directors in a town in Donegal set up funeral parlours. They didn’t catch on. In the words of one local Undertaker , “The wake in the family home is still even to this day the way people express their condolences to the bereaved family.”
 
Steven Smith, a Columbus, Ohio native, is a "different" Irish American. He is an 'Irish Wake Instructor,' teaching people about the Irish way of dealing with death, in particular the tradition of wakes in 19th century Ireland. Sometimes described as “the eccentric Irish American” he believes Irish wakes are “the healthiest way for the mourners to participate in the send- off of the deceased.”
He doesn’t use the term 'Irish Wake Instructor' himself. He told me, “It is difficult to come up with an accurate term for what I do; I think of myself more as a keeper of the old ways and a disseminator of the same.”
 
Steven, who works in a tent made up as an Irish cottage, tells his audiences , “Irish wakes became more like parties because it was illegal for Irishmen to be together at the one time, in case they were planning a rebellion against the British Government. The exceptions to this rule were weddings and funerals. So they really made the most of those times.” He says that many funeral parlours contact him for advice on preparing an Irish wake. “It is a real celebration of life, and the life of the person leaving the community,” he says.

©By Mattie Lennon.

Click on Mattie Lennon for bio and list of other works published by Pencil Stubs Online.See Below:Commemorating at an Irish Wake

 

Eric Shackle's Column

The Army Newspaper That Scooped The World

Giant air transports dropped food, tobacco and copies of Guinea Gold. If anything, this little newspaper was more eagerly sought than rations. To troops practically marooned in the thick of the jungle swamps this link with news of the outside world came almost as tidings from another planet. – From the book “Jungle Warfare” (1944)

Newspaper scoops are no longer possible. Today’s instant worldwide communication means that any important news breaking story is immediately copied, rephrased or translated, to be posted on thousands of news Web sites in dozens of languages within minutes.

But 66 years ago, in World War II, in the tropical jungle of Papua-New Guinea, where Allied troops were fighting Japanese invaders, a unique newspaper called Guinea Gold published a record number of world scoops.

That was because US General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in the South-West Pacific, had given Guinea Gold permission to publish his communiques 20 hours before the news was released for the rest of the world’s media.

New Guinea was the only war zone where the US armed forces did not produce a local edition of their own newspaper, Stars and Stripes. Guinea Gold, with separate American and Australian editions, fully met their needs.

Earlier in 1942, Melbourne Herald war correspondent Reg Leonard had suggested that the Australian Army should produce its own daily newspaper. Promptly crowned a major, he became Guinea Gold’s foundation editor.

Years after the war had ended, Mr R.B. Leonard, O.B.E., managing director of Queensland Newspapers Pty. Ltd., said that Guinea Gold’s success was due very largely to dedicated people below officer rank – men who toiled uncomplainingly and for long hours in the ramshackle buildings that housed its overworked plant.

He spoke of soldiers intercepting radio news by matchlight during bomber raids, some who set type by hand when mechanical equipment broke down, and others “whose brawny arms provided power for the presses when the electrical power failed.”

That was the memorable occasion when Japanese bombers attacked Port Moresby powerhouse at 2 a.m.

Horace (“Chis”) Chisholm, the paper’s last editor, also recalled the event: “Officers and men and natives toiled and sweated together as they turned the heavy press over by hand, but every unit received its share of the 5,000 copies they produced.

“Overcoming incredible production problems, the newspaper came out seven days a week without missing a single day, from November 1942 to June 1946. Its 1,320 days’ continuous publication was easily a world record for service publications. At its peak in 1944, it produced 64,000 copies (US edition 37,000, Australian 27,000). Maximum readership was estimated at 800,000.

“The front and back pages concentrated on up-to-the-minute news from around the world, including coverage of major sporting events on the back page. Page 2 was devoted to extracts from Australian and US newspapers published a few days previously, which air transport crews delivered to Guinea Gold.

“Soldiers with newspaper experience, who had been transferred from other units when Guinea Gold was established, wrote news stories by taking shorthand notes of shortwave radio bulletins from Australia, the US Armed Forces station in San Francisco, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), All-India Radio, and others.

“At Lae, the second-hand Miller high-speed flatbed press ran 20 hours a day, printing 34 million copies in little more than two years. When it was retired after the war, it had 50 welds. It’s now an exhibit at the National War Museum in Canberra.”

Writing in Sydney’s Weekend Australian Magazine in 1982, Chisholm recalled:
The worst crisis in Guinea Gold’s life was the day that the Port Moresby linotype and the Dobodura press broke down simultaneously.

The problem was overcome by having the type set in Dobodura, flying the type 100 miles over the Owen Stanleys [mountains], and the paper printed on the Moresby press. Papers for the northern edition were then flown back over the Owen Stanleys.

It was a good example of the co-operation received from the air forces. RAAF pilots flew almost daily over the Japanese lines to drop small bundles to forward fighting areas, and the day after the American forces landed at Cape Gloucester, New Britain, Flying Fortresses dropped Guinea Golds to them.

Always we thought of the men we served: men fighting in the lonely, dank, rugged, slimy jungle depths, hauling guns up steep mountainsides, repairing shell-torn signal wires under fire.
On a lighter note, “Chis” recalled that when the newspaper promoted a “Girl I Left Behind” contest, 1,700 photos of wives, sweethearts and baby daughters swamped the editorial office.

It was a beauty contest, with full-page portraits of gorgeous girls on the front pages of a Sunday supplement, and smaller photos daily. It proved so popular that it ran for more than four months. An Australian/US judging panel decided the winners were (Australian) Miss Dorothy Faull, Federal Capital Territory, friend of Leading Air Craftman M.J. Jones, RAAF and (US) Mrs G. B. Osmun, wife of Captain G. B. Osmun, US Army.

Among his other memories, “Chis” wrote: “On one occasion a consignment of crossword blocks and clues failed to arrive from the mainland. Staff-Sergeant E. Shackle (the Telegraph, Sydney) solved the current one and compiled one on a pattern previously used.” *FOOTNOTE

A few years after the war ended, one of Guinea Gold’s printers, Paul Jefferson Wallace, of Sydney, compiled and published a 32-page history of the newspaper, which is now one of my most prized souvenirs. It also provided useful material for this article.

Wallace reported that on moonlight nights in its early days, production of the newspaper was often interrupted by air raids, but deadlines were still met. Blow-lamps were used to melt linotype metal during frequent power supply breakdowns.

Because the hand-set type was so badly worn, it had to be packed with layers of gummed paper underneath, to raise it to type height. On one occasion, the printers ran out of T’s. A native Papuan chiselled some out of wood. When there was a shortage of R’s, editor Reg Leonard added tails to P’s by cutting them from L’s.

Wallace also explained why an Army newspaper was needed in New Guinea. “In 1942, isolation was a morale-destroying disease in New Guinea” he wrote. “Radio sets were few and far between, men were cut off from day-to-day news.

“The result was a flood of false rumours which swept along the Owen Stanley trail when Australian troops were just starting to push the Japanese back from their mountain strongholds.

“From the first edition on Nov. 19, 1942, until the presses rolled to a stop on June 30, 1946, with the enviable record of 1,320 days of continuous publication, Guinea Gold daily brought to the news-hungry men of the Australian and American forces serving in the steaming jungle, topics of interest to allay their boredom and boost their morale.”

In all, 237 Australian soldiers worked on Guinea Gold for varying periods. Not one of them was there for the full three and a half years’ life of that unique and vital newspaper.

*FOOTNOTE. Greg Ray described reporter Eric Shackle’s army career, in a 2004 feature story in the Central Coast Weekend Herald.
Written by Eric Shackle - Published on November 15, 2013; Permalink
Shown in the English webzine "Open Writing"
©2013 Eric Shackle

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I'm thinkin' and drinkin'

I'm thinkin' and drinkin'
but not gettin' drunk
It's mad and it's bad
cuz the bottle ain't sunk

My mind is all over
and done with it now
But my body says more
and I get it, somehow.

Sometimes it's a gift,
and sometimes a curse
if you don't get the lift,
it just makes it worse

I can do it all over,
and over again.
At the end of it all,
I still get the pain

So shuck it, I'm dead
it don't matter none
No one will know
my resurrection

A born again person
With no axe to grind
and a sensible feeling
the World will be kind.

I'm done with this now,
I was done with it then
I'm so frickin' sure
That I'll do it again

And again and again
till I can't take no more
They'll find me one day
in a heap. On the floor.

How much lower
does it get than dead
Six feet more
and on your head.

Up to heaven
Down to earth
you're not long here,
for what it's worth

Been there, done it,
All before.
Here we go,
Let's get some more!

©May 2012 Phillip Hennessy

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The Cold War

See them fly
See them try
Watch them run
Watch them die

Feel their pain
Feel the same
Hear them cry
See them die

The red one or the green one
The body bags and scars
The endless parade of marching bands and cars

The new one and the old one
The materials compromised
The energy we made was the key to our demise

See them laugh
See them them cry
Watch them fall
Watch them die

Feel their pain 
Feel the rain
Hear them sigh
See them die

©3/1/14 Bruce Clifford

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First Rain of Spring

It is the Ides of March;
And, lying here in bed
Feeling sorry for myself
About a painful tooth,

I hear the sound of rain,
First hard rain of the year.
Wind moans in the yard
Past corners of the house,

Ringing mellow chimes
That rarely sing
Since I hung them
In an angle of the deck.

Fat drops drum fast
Upon the roof, misting my view
Of plum and quince,
Wisteria and rose.

Trees, still bare of leaves,
Creak a bit; squirrels scold
From under eaves; well-fed birds
Chirp within the hollies by the path.

As sweet as anything
By Brahms or Liszt
This soothing melody –
This symphony of Spring.

©2014 John I. Blair

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Friends in The Making

You don’t know me
Nor I you;
We only just have met.

Certainly
We do not look alike . . .
My eyes dull blue, yours
The deepest brown;

Your face like molten caramel,
Mine old rose petals
Blotching in the sun.

Yet in the end
We both came here
From a time and from a place
Essentially the same.

We just took different paths.
If we remember that
We can be friends.

©2014 John I. Blair

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Green Song

Much has been sung
Of new flowers in Spring,
Bright reds, pinks, blues.
But these are just grace notes;
The fundamental melody
Is in the key of green.

After autumn’s golden hymn
Black winter can be borne
Only with bells and carols.
But, in March first one,
Then thousands, millions
Of buds, sprouts, leaves
Transpose the tune.

That’s when we really know
That Spring is here,
That life had never gone
But just lay hidden,
Waiting to be warm,
Waiting to perform
The symphony of green again.

©2004 John I. Blair

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Dilemma

Easy to get,
and Hard to give up
Easily led,
and Far too long dead.

Too young to die
and too old to live
Too mad to cry
too mean to forgive

Dilemma, Dilemma,
it's all a Dilemma
The choices are few
the answers are many

Dilemma, Dilemma,
it's all a Dilemma
The time comes for you
you got to stay steady.

It's all too much
Too little, Too late
Too cold to touch
Too big to relate

Choices, choices,
Big divisions,
angry voices
Big decisions

What will it be,
What will it be,
Safety net,
....or Destiny,?

It's Easy to get,
and Hard to give up
We're Easily led,
and Far too long dead.

©May 2012 Phillip Hennessy

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Fresh Milk

 
“This milk isn’t getting any fresher”

Said my wife, to mutual relief,

For if the contrary were the case

Our world would veer beyond belief.

©2007 John I. Blair

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New School, First Day


Thirty minutes late to start with and thirty minutes waiting for the Principal, Missus Lane, had put me in a bad mood. Granny seemed less perturbed than I, but then again, she didn’t have to stay all day. And, me, I was faced with the same thing that happened last year, a new school, a new room full of ugly babies and at least one bully.

Then, the new third grade with a room full of ugly babies, all at least six months younger than me, and a crone for a teacher. After the introduction, Granny left and I took the indicated seat at the rear of the room, the only one vacant.

“Uh, Miss Crone,” I asked as I held up my hand as I had so diligently learned to do in the first grade, “I cain’t see way back heah.” The room filled with laughter and I got mad real quick.

“Well, CB, you will have to stay there until we can re-arrange the room just for you,” Miss Crone piped. More laughter and now I was really mad cause I just knew she was making fun of me. I glared around the room.

“But, Miss Crone, I cain’t hear way back here, either,” I cried out.

“Now, CB, you are going to have to sit there until we finish the lesson and then we will see what we can do,” she said, waving a ruler at me. I hated rulers.

“Well, I ain’t gonna set back here ‘cause I cain’t hear and I cain’t see good. I’m going home,” I screamed, and gathered my Big Chief notebook and two yellow #2 pencils and my black lunch pail together and got out of the desk chair. I still don’t know why that damn chair fell over with a loud bang. By the time I got halfway to the door old Crone had hold of my arm.

“The only place you are going is to Miss Lane’s office, young man,” she griped, dragging me through the door. She damn near tore my arm off afore we got to the Principals office. The old hag done sacred hell outta me, you know.

A half hour waiting for Missus Lane to chew me out for being a bad boy let me get a little nap. I heard 'bout half of what she said and then it was down to Mrs. Brown’s room, Second Grade. I had been put back again. Last year I went from low second to high second to low third and back to high second all in the span of eight months. Didn’t learn a damn thing. And, now, gotta take second grade over cause I was a bad boy and couldn’t handle third grade, again.

I learned later that LaVega School was about two years ahead of South Waco School, academically, so being put back just one grade was a blessing I guess. I was only eight, to be nine in November of that year. And since I had learned to read and write before I had ever gone to school, I was far ahead of any of the LaVega kids anyway.

“Mrs. Brown, this little boy is CB and he needs to join your class,” Missus Lane told Mrs. Brown. And I was looking at the most beautiful elderly woman, outside of my own grandmother, I had ever seen. I knew she and I were going to get along a lot better than Miss Crone and me across the hall.

“Well, CB, it is so good to have you. Class, let’s all say hello to CB, shall we?” Mrs. Brown said as she held my shoulder so I could not run away. Then in chorus, almost, about thirty kids younger than me, whom I would later graduate high school with, cheered a hearty hello to me. I felt at home.

Mrs. Brown led me to a stool in the front of the room and she and I carried it over to the front row of desk chairs. I grinned as I sat there on that stool looking at Mrs. Brown and holding my Big Chief tablet and pencils. I looked around and all the class was watching Mrs. Brown as she talked. No body laughed at me here.

Just a little later, I heard Mrs. Brown say, “Is there anyone that would like to read this,” speaking about the ‘Run Spot Run’ book she held up to the class. I was the only one that held up a hand and I held it high for I wanted to be the one to read the book, a book I almost knew by heart.

“Oh, CB, can you read,” asked Mrs. Brown, looking at me with a white-toothed smile.

“Yes, Ma’am, I can read and write real good”, I said, beaming. Mrs. Brown motioned for me to come to her. Me being just a little sixty pounds grinning boy, Mrs. Brown helped me to her knee and positioned the book on her desk so that I could read it.

The whole room was silent as I easily read the entire book, giving emphasis to certain words. When I finished, the room filled with the sound of clapping as the kids cheered my reading. Mrs. Brown and me just grinned and beamed back at the class.

By the end of the first day in Mrs. Brown’s second grade class at my new school, I had shown my new lifelong friends that I could add and subtract numbers as well as draw pictures on the blackboard of the ones in the ‘Run Spot Run’ book. Life was wonderful right then. I walked home with about a half dozen new friends.
 END
©Cayce B. Shelton

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One Hundred Years before the Marriage

 
In the course of researching separate branches of the family tree on my maternal line, one of those remarkable realizations occurred that makes the combination of historical and genealogical research so rewarding. A cousin provided me with a link to a website that is devoted to the life and times of one Joseph Bullard. This link first led to my realization that Joseph Bullard (5th Great-Grandfather) and Martin Davenport (our 4th Great-Grandfather) actually joined forces in the Battle of King's Mountain in the early days of the Revolutionary War. They were mountain men whose descendants would not co-mingle their blood lines for 100 years and 19 days from the 7th of October 1780 when they both fought in the Battle of King's Mountain until the 26th of October 1880 when Malinda Ellen Hopper {my namesake) married William Henry Bullard, but whose lives left an indelible mark on those who would follow, not only by their bravery in meeting this challenge and the daily dangers inherent in pioneering in an adversarial territory, but by the essential goodness in their character - the core of their belief system.

Following are the bits of key information that surfaced in researching these family Revolutionary War heroes. Background information has been provided to permit the reader insight into the specific point in time when these two progenitors of our family shared a common cause in an historic battle which was elemental in establishing the birth of our nation as an independent entity. How astonishing to imagine the confluence of events that led to these two brave frontiersman as they approached one battleground from their separate cabins, Joseph Bullard from the Washington District of North Carolina (what is now northeast Tennessee) under the command of his friend and fellow patriot, John Sevier, and Martin Davenport as one of the Overmountain Men from the Wilkes County, North Carolina colony (now southwest Virginia and northeast Tennessee) under the command of the Virginia militia leader, William Campbell. I have relied heavily on the information provided by a Bullard cousin for the biographical information of Joseph Bullard, as noted in citations below.

Battle of Kings Mountain

The Battle of Kings Mountain was a decisive battle between the Patriot and Loyalist militias in the Southern campaign of the American Revolutionary War. The actual battle took place on October 7, 1780, nine miles south of the present-day town of Kings Mountain, North Carolina in rural York County, South Carolina, where the Patriot militia defeated the Loyalist militia commanded by British Major Patrick Ferguson of the 71st Foot.
On September 2, Ferguson and the militia he had already recruited marched west towards the Appalachian Mountain hill country on what is now the Tennessee / North Carolina border. By September 10, he had established a base camp at Gilbert Town, North Carolina and issued a challenge to the Patriot leaders to lay down their arms or he would "lay waste to their country with fire and sword." North Carolina Patriot militia leaders Isaac Shelby and John Sevier, from the Washington District (now present day northeast Tennessee), met and agreed to lead their militiamen against him. Patriot leaders also sent word to a Virginia militia leader, William Campbell, asking him to join them. Campbell called on Benjamin Cleveland to bring his Wilkes County North Carolina militia to the rendezvous. The detachments of Shelby, Sevier and Campbell were met by 160 North Carolina militiamen led by Charles McDowell and his brother Joseph. Campbell's cousin, Arthur Campbell, brought 200 more Virginians. About 1,100 volunteers from southwest Virginia and today's northeast Tennessee, known as the "Overmountain Men" because they had settled into the wilderness west of the Appalachian Mountains ridgeline, mustered at the rendezvous on September 25, 1780, at Sycamore Shoals near the modern city of Elizabethton, Tennessee.
SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kings_Mountain
My 5th Great-Grandfather Joseph Bullard entered the Battle of King's Mountain alongside his friend and compatriot, the commander John Sevier, with whom Joseph shared a remarkable and striking resemblance - so great a resemblance that when an Indian raiding party killed Joseph Bullard in 1788, they first celebrated their defeat of the famous John Sevier. (Please see biographical sketch of *John Sevier at the bottom of this narrative.)  As stated in the wonderful Narrative of the Life and Times of Joseph Bullard by one of my cousins (at www.Bullardgenealogy.com):


"In 1788, while on an Indian raid at Lookout Mountain near present day Chattanooga, Tennessee, Captain Joseph Bullard was shot and killed in an ambush by a Chickamauga war party under the leadership of Indian chief, Dragging Canoe. Joseph was ~56 years old. 

"When Joseph Bullard was killed at Lookout Mountain, the Indian warriors thought they had killed John Sevier, the well known Tennessee pioneer, Indian fighter and first governor of the state. They dug up Joseph’s body and held an all night war dance over it. Historians have mentioned a strong resemblance between John Sevier and Joseph Bullard. Sevier’s physical description is well documented as being well proportioned, of slender build with strong marked features and brown hair. This could well surmise the physical appearance of Joseph Bullard. On John Sevier’s further appearance… 

"On his first appearance among the settlers of North Holston and Watauga, Sevier attracted considerable attention on account of his handsome face, manly bearing and remarkably winning manners. No man ever had a more symmetrical, well-knit frame. He was five feet nine inches in height and weighed one hundred and ninety pounds. His complexion was ruddy, indicating his perfect health; he had small, keen, dark-blue eyes, expressive of vivacity and fearlessness; his nose was prominent; his mouth and chin, the model of firmness; his hair, fair, and his face was expressive of sympathy for humanity. 

"Joseph Bullard stood about 5 foot 8 inches tall. It is unknown how much of John Sevier’s description fits Joseph Bullard, but it is does give a glimpse into Joseph’s overall outward appearance. Physically,… Sevier… was some 3 or 4 inches under 6 feet in height…he was well-proportioned, hard-muscled, and lithe. 

"There are many historical documents and events paralleling the life of Joseph Bullard and John Sevier. Early court documents put both men in the same courtroom on the same day. It is reasonable to assume many of John Sevier’s battles and adventures were collectively shared with Joseph Bullard. It would be unreasonable to assume their lives crossed only in brief encounters. Both men not only knew each other, but lived in the same area for many years. Both were mounted riflemen, fierce Indian fighters, ranchers; both fought beside each other at the Battle of Kings Mountain and numerous Cherokee Indian campaigns." 
 

SOURCE: www.Bullardgenealogy.com /The Life and Times Narrative of Joseph Bullard (~1732-1788).

My 4th Great-Grandfather Capt. Martin Davenport, Jr. was one of the Overmountain Men, who came to the battle as a sharpshooter of some fame under the command of Colonel Benjamin Cleveland and at the request of the Virginia Militia Leader William Campbell. Martin Davenport's family was instrumental in the domestication of Wilkes County, Avery County and Burke County, North Carolina as evidenced by the many landmarks bearing the Davenport name.

Shortly following the successful Battle, during the transport of the prisoners taken in that battle, it occurred to some of the impassioned Patriot militias that some redress should be sought against those Tory's who had engaged in a pattern of terror and brutality levied upon the wives, mothers, daughters and sons of the militiamen as they were encountered during the absence of the Patriots. The so-called courts martial resulted in the convictions of 36 loyalist Torys and the summary judgment rendering of execution against 9 of those convicted before Isaac Shelby brought an end to the proceedings.
"On October 14, the retreating Patriot force held drumhead courtmartials of various Loyalists on various charges (treason, desertion from Patriot militias, incitement of Indian rebellion). Passing through the Sunshine community in what is now Rutherford County, N.C., the retreat halted, perhaps not coincidentally on the property of the Biggerstaff family. Aaron Biggerstaff, a Loyalist, had fought in the battle and been mortally wounded. His brother Benjamin was a Patriot and was being held as a prisoner of war on a British ship docked at Charleston, S.C. Their cousin John Moore was the Loyalist commander at the earlier Battle of Ramsour's Mill (modern Lincolnton, N.C.), in which many of the same troops had participated on both sides."
SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kings_Mountain
The family was also memorialized in the book "King's Mountain and Its Heroes: History of the Battle of King's Mountain, 7th October 1780, and the Events which Led to It" Lyman Copeland Draper, Anthony Allaire, Isaac Shelby.January 1, 1881 - P G. Thomson - Publisher
The family was also memorialized in the book "King's Mountain and Its Heroes: History of the Battle of King's Mountain, 7th October 1780, and the Events which Led to It" Lyman Copeland Draper, Anthony Allaire, Isaac Shelby.January 1, 1881 - P G. Thomson - Publisher
Among those tried on that fateful day was one John McFall, a notorious Tory, who with his men arrived at the domicile of Martin Davenport, Jr. while Martin was away with the militia.
"Heading a party of mounted Loyalists, McFall dashed up to the house of Martin Davenport, on John's river, hoping to capture or kill him, as he was a prominent Whig, and had, more than once, marched against the Tories, under Colonel Cleveland and Major McDowell."
Finding Martin away, McFall and his men took out their spleen against Martin's hapless wife, redressing and abusing her mightily (in ways not set forth in the narrative of the book) ending with their demand that she prepare a breakfast for the rogue company. Before partaking of the food so prepared, McFall ordered the young son, William Davenport, then but a lad of ten to
"procure corn from the family corn cribs"
and carry it to the troughs to feed the band's horses. After emerging from the cabin and finding the horses yet unfed, McFall turned on the young William in anger, demanding to know why his orders to feed the horses had not been carried out. William, in his most rebellious tone is reported to have replied,
"You want your horses fed, feed 'em yourself!"
whereupon McFall took a switch and beat the lad smartly. When John McFall's hearing was held, the legal representative for McFall's home area of Burke County, William McDowell, was not inclined to favor the death penalty. However, upon hearing McFall's name, Colonel Cleveland, one of the presiding justices, lifted his attention from the documents he was working on and loudly said:
"That man, McFall, went to the house of Martin Davenport, one of my best soldiers, when he was away from home, fighting for his country, insulted his wife, and whipped his child; and no such man ought to be allowed to live."
His fate was sealed by this revelation; but his brother, Arthur McFall, the old hunter of the mountains, was saved through the kind intervention of Major and Captain McDowell, believing, as he had been wounded in the arm at King's Mountain, it would admonish him not to be found in the future in bad company.

(*) John Sevier (September 23, 1745–September 24, 1815) was an American soldier, frontiersman and politician, and one of the founding fathers of the State of Tennessee. He played a leading role, both militarily and politically, in Tennessee's pre-statehood period, and was elected the state's first governor in 1796. Sevier served as a colonel in the Battle of Kings Mountain in 1780, and commanded the frontier militia in dozens of battles against the Cherokee and Chickamaugas in the 1780s and 1790s.


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