The Unfettered Curmudgeon

July 3, 1863 ...GETTYSBURG, THE LAST DAY The night of July 2 nd settled over Gettysburg but the smoke of battle hung in the air as though it were a shroud for the thousands of dead and wounded who lie on the field of battle. Some suffered in silence, others called out for their wives or their mothers, while others moaned plaintively for someone to come and end their misery. On the eastern slope of Cemetery Ridge, Commanding General George Meade held a “council of war” in his headquarters building, a tiny two-room farmhouse belonging to the Widow Leister. By the light of a single oil lantern, the Union generals analyzed the battles of the last two days and then discussed what was to be done the next day, July 3 rd , if Robert E. Lee decided to attack again. Meade anticipated another attack. He knew Lee had committed himself despite the lack of any decisive victory. Given the heavy casualties his side had suffered, the decision was made to stay on the defensive; furthermore...

A DIFFERENT FOURTH OF JULY The July 4 th holiday is upon us with its barbecues, parades, fireworks, as well as its grand auto and furniture sales! To be quite honest, I really resent that! My patriotism does not include buying a sofa or a pick-up truck on the 4 th and I am tired of being bombarded by TV advertisements to buy things as if were my patriotic duty! That having been said, especially of late, my thoughts on the 4 th of July have extend in a different direction ― more toward considerations of our War of Independence, the Declaration of Independence and the promises it held, and the Constitution, particularly the Preamble . I have been doing a lot of research for a novel I am writing, a western novel, which has its roots not in the Wild West but actually in the Civil War, and it is because of this research that my thoughts today, and over the next few days this year, will, focus more on that; particularly on the Battle of Gettysburg. In early 1863 the Army...