Gainesville, Georgia, the adoptive home of Confederate General Longstreet, and the statue of Confederate soldier "Old Joe" who came through the terrific 1936 tornado unscathed, might just be in for a surprise. I saw pictures of the town and square after the tornado, and there stands Joe, standing tall and gray amid a tremendous amount of devastation.
It would appear that "Joe" might be a Yankee instead of a Rebel. Just don't tell the local United Daughters of the Confederacy chapter. Old Joe's kit bag has the letters "US" on it and the rifle he holds is an 1873 Model Springfield, eight years after the war. The uniform is also like that worn by soldiers in the Spanish-American War.
It was made on a standard model by the now-defunct American Bronze Company of Chicago. The UDC chapter bought it in 1898 for $2,500 raised by bake goods and thrift sales.
Yankee or Rebel. Only "Old Joe" Knows AND, He Isn't Saying Anything. --B-R'er
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
