Links to the 150th Anniversary

Friday, January 30, 2015

Song of Manassas Junction



Song of Manassas  Tobie Hoffman December 2014  One story from the Second Battle of Manassas (Bull Run)
  
A
We marched to Manassas Junction
D                                      A
To seize the depot there
         D                               A                  E     A
Our hungry men half naked and wanting
A                                                                   D                          A
Oh, the sight that greeted us brought out the Rebel cheer
 D                              A                                   E     A
As we were let  loose on the Federal bounty

D
Knock out the heads of the barrels fellas
A
Whiskey, brandy, and wine
D                                                            A                E
Streams of spirits run like water through the sands
D
Knock out the heads of the barrels , shouted
A
 Jackson  down the line
         E
Get down on your hands and knees
       E
drink greedily all you need
                    E                                       A
From the grounds of Mannass Junction

A
We pounced on oysters, biscuits, cheese,
D                          A
Sugar,  coffee, ham
         D                          A                      E                       A
Our gray and ragged uniforms a terrible sight to see
                    A                                                                   D                               A
What we stumbled on in the storehouses were splendid northern  blue
              D            A                                                E A
So we left  the buildings lookin’ like damn Yankees

Chorus
 
A
General Pope’s army closing in
          D                A
With 80,00 strong
         D                         A                             E     A
To finally beat the hide of Stonewall Jackson
                    A                                  
But we’d vanished from that blessed sight
        D                                 A
Ablaze as we marched off
  D                         A                         E A
Taking what we could without askin’

Chorus

Monday, January 26, 2015

A birthday to remember

General George Meade who lived on Delancey Street in Philadelphia celebrated his 199th birthday this year and as is the custom of the Meade Society, a party in his honor is organized on the exact day-December 31! The venue: Laurel Hill Cemetery, an historical and stunningly beautiful cemetery located on the hill above Kelly Drive. where he is buried with his family.
Unlike most of my other adventures, the day is cold, bitter cold, so even bundling up is not quite enough to keep warm from the wind.
An entourage of soldiers, representatives from veterans groups and women's groups and the rest of us in the riffraff form a parade to the grave sight accompanied by the civil war band. I wonder as I did at Gettysburg how they can play in such cold, but then again, those crazy football marching bands have the same problem. Liquor?

The ceremonies are delightfully managed as we see wreaths placed at the graves, hear the gunfire of the soldiers rifles, listen to music, and watch a short informative speech by an actual former navy captain who is, no surprise, playing a civil war naval captain. Dressed in his fancy naval plumed hat, he with his wife beside him play their parts well.


Although the celebration is my original motivation for coming out on a frigid December 31 afternoon, once again I have another 'Who knew?' moment. Who knew this cemetery was so exquisite? Who knew that just 10 minutes from my house is a hillside of such historical value? Now I do! Can't wait until spring to explore more of this Philadelphia treasure.



Thursday, January 1, 2015

Gettysburg prayer

As the sun sets
And the hymnals play
Fairest Jesus
Amazing is the grace of God
Spirits rise
As the bugle plays
A song of consolation
Song of consolation


Please forgive us
We are sorry
For those who died on this and distant battlefields
We are sorry
Please forgive us
Sweet Jesus please comfort them still

As the sun sets
and the hymnals play