The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Confederate Color Guard at Burial of Slave's Daughter-- Part 1

From the October 19, 2014, Goldsboro (N.C.) News-Argus, AP

Mattie Clyburn Rice Wanted to be Buried in Her Father's Grave.

When her ashes were buried Saturday in her father's grave in North Carolina, there was a color guard of Confederate re-enactors, representatives of the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) as well as members of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

What made this ceremony really interesting was that Mattie Clyburn Rice's father had been a slave.

"That the daughter of a man enslaved in the 1800s should live toi see the 21st century seems almost extraordinary enough-- but equally remarkable is the record of her father, who went to war to cook for his master, saved the man's life and ended up drawing a pension for his wartime service."

Her father was in his 80s when Mattie was born.  Members of the SCV, who knew her very well, said that Mattie always considered her father a Confederate soldier., but historians say that is not necessarily true because he went to war to serve his master.

Of Course, There Were Others Who Were Drafted to Go Off to War, Often Against Their Will.  --Old Secesh

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