Some New News About an Old War.
1. NAVAL SYMPOSIUM-- I see that the National Civil War Naval Museum in Columbus, Georgia is holding their first-ever symposium Jan. 10th. The topic is "From Manassas to Casio: Civil War Ironclads in Construction and Combat." The Manassas and Casio were names of ironclads. Sounds like a good one, but considering that's the wife's birthday, I don't think I'd better attend.
2. CANNONBALL DETONATED-- The Jan. 1st Winston-Salem (NC) Journal reports that a Civil War era cannonball was detonated on Dec. 31st. The Davidson County Historical Museum had received it as a donation and it was determined to still be charged. Police took it to their firing range where it was detonated by the Greensboro Police bomb squad. Best be careful with those desk paper weights.
3. LUCKY BLACK-EYED PEAS-- KAMR in Amarillo, Texas reports that eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day to bring luck (actually, I was told a dollar for every one you eat) dates back to the Civil War. Union forces burned all crops they could find, but not the black-eyed peas, which they mistook for weeds. This kept a lot of southerners from starving so is now considered to be lucky. Uh-oh, I forgot to eat any. Not a good way to start the new year.
4. ALABAMA'S CANNONS-- The Jan. 2, 2009, Charlotte Observer reports that two cannons from the Confederate Raider CSS Alabama are being preserved at the same South Carolina lab where the Hunley is located. The wreck was found in 1984 and eight years later, two 32 inch cannons were retrieved from the wreck. The hardened sediment on the guns was scraped away and they are now soaking in chemicals.
The Navy may allow one to be displayed at the planned Hunley Museum.
Now, You Know. --Old B-Runner
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
