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Inspired by Cerebel
Aug. 12th, 2007 04:56 pmCerebel posted recently about a letter she found hanging on the wall of her late grandmother's apartment, written by an ancestor who served in the Civil War, and that reminded me of a similar letter that's come down in my family from one of my ancestors on my mother's side, Victor Stirling. The letter was written by his brother Hugh.
I don't have the details to hand, but, flaming trains aside, this was a minor skirmish late in the war. As far as I know, it was the only time Hu Stirling saw action in the war--he was commanding a small force of reserves, and he and his men were, I think, equipped with surplus muskets left over from the war of 1812.
None of my father's ancestors fought in the Civil War, though some did fight at Bunker Hill in 1775. More recently, both my grandfathers served, though never fought, in World War 2, and my father was in the reserves at the end of the Korean war. My uncle did two tours in Viet Nam, though he fortunately never had to participate in a fire fight. Neither I nor any my relatives of my generation are serving now. I don't know anyone serving now in Iraq. A pity that I am exception, and not a rule.
( Dear Vic )
I don't have the details to hand, but, flaming trains aside, this was a minor skirmish late in the war. As far as I know, it was the only time Hu Stirling saw action in the war--he was commanding a small force of reserves, and he and his men were, I think, equipped with surplus muskets left over from the war of 1812.
None of my father's ancestors fought in the Civil War, though some did fight at Bunker Hill in 1775. More recently, both my grandfathers served, though never fought, in World War 2, and my father was in the reserves at the end of the Korean war. My uncle did two tours in Viet Nam, though he fortunately never had to participate in a fire fight. Neither I nor any my relatives of my generation are serving now. I don't know anyone serving now in Iraq. A pity that I am exception, and not a rule.
