Spiff's World

Book review - Gardner's Photographic Sketch Book of the Civil War.

2012-02-06T14:45:00.003-06:00

Unlike most of the books I review, I do not own this one. It and the next book were both lent to me by a friend.

Alexander Gardner was a photographer during the mid-1800's. He began his career working for the famous Mathew Brady and then struck out on his own. The pictures he took during the Civil War made him a household name. After the war Gardner was in need of funds, the result was this book.

The version of Gardner's Photographic Sketch Book of the Civil War that I read was a reproduction of the original work that was put out by Dover Publications in 1959. With the exception of an introduction and an index, the work remained as it was when it was initially published.

There are 100 "plates" or pictures in the book with accompanying descriptions. While I had seen many of the photographs previously I found the descriptions to be interesting. Many of the pictures that I had seen were presented in other works as something different that Mr. Gardner labeled them. Also of note was the famous faked photograph from Gettysburg. In Mr. Gardner's book the same body is seen twice - once in an open area and once in a sharp-shooter's nest. The supposition has always been that Mr. Gardner moved the soldier in order to get a more dramatic shot in the second photograph. After comparing the pictures I would have to agree that something is fishy.

There's nothing fishy about this fine collection of Civil War pictures though. Whether one is an avid Civil War buff or is just wanting to take a glimpse into the past this book is well worth your time.

Book review - Alexander Hamilton.

2012-01-04T16:04:00.001-06:00

Wow, it's been quite awhile since I last posted. I guess the best excuse I can come up with is that I was reading Broadus Mitchell's two volume biography of Alexander Hamilton. The two books that make up Alexander Hamilton were printed in 1962. The book subtitled Youth to Maturity covers the years from 1755-1788 and runs 465 pages. The second book is subtitled The National Adventure, covers the years from 1788-1804 and runs 555 pages.

Mr. Mitchell's writing style is thorough but at times is over detailed and less than gripping. Still, I found this set to be interesting and informative. Mr. Mitchell is obviously a Hamilton partisan but reveals Hamilton's warts along with his achievements. From the outset it is clear that Alexander Hamilton was a young man of great promise and talents. By the end of the book it is clear to see where that promise had been fulfilled and where it had not. Also clear are the examples in his life of both use and misuse of his impressive talents.

As one who has been less than impressed by Alexander Hamilton I was looking forward to reading the set to further round out my knowledge of the father of the American financial system. In some areas my doubts about Hamilton were enforced - his economic collectivism and his conduct towards John Adams. In other areas I was more favorably impressed - his energy and organization in financing the War for Independence and the young republic. All in all I remain less than impressed with Hamilton than I am with the work of Mr. Mitchell. I recommend Alexander Hamilton with one caveat; to fully appreciate the read the reader must be familiar with the founding of the United States and must be interested enough in the subject matter to deal with the length of the combined works.

After action report - Lexington, Missouri.

2011-09-26T18:15:00.003-05:00

Took off for Lexington, Missouri on the 16th to take part in the 150th anniversary reenactment of the battle of Lexington. I had initially thought I would skip this one due to work. My brother requested that I make it though to get one last event in before he and his family made their move to California.

Made the four hour drive without difficulty. The reenactment site was well marked and found without difficulty. Check-in went smoothly. There was some confusion as to the location of civilian camp. The reason for the confusion quickly became apparent - there was no civilian camp. Instead, each battalion's civilians were attached to them and camped a short distance away.

Quickly located the battalion and got Mrs. Spiff and myself set up. Camp was in a cornfield. My brother showed up and got unloaded. After that we took a quick trip into Lexington for a meal at McDonald's and a supplies run for Bro. By the time we returned to camp other members of the Ninth were starting to filter in. All told I believe there were 15 men and the captain reporting for duty before the weekend was out. All through the evening men arrived. Went to bed fairly early and slept well.

Saturday dawned cool and overcast. Rain on and off throughout the day. Most managed to stay warm and dry though. Following morning parade the battalion engaged in some much needed drill. Worked on several different maneuvers that we needed to brush up on. After drill I was detailed to take a couple of new recruits out for some firing practice. One had been at Wilson's Creek and the other was a quick study. I felt comfortable with their proficiency within two or three rounds. Spent some time answering questions from members of the public who had arrived and were watching.

Arrived back in camp to find Mrs. Spiff and the kiddos up and around. We all took a trip up to sutler's row. Several good sutlers for the size of the event. Bro picked up a few clothing items for his son. We also ran into a couple from the town we live in. Had a good conversation with them. In spite if the rain they seemed to be enjoying themselves. Got back to camp just in time to beat the call to formation for the battle.

After some of the required standing around we marched into battle. As the main infantry body we quickly came under fire from the Federal earthworks at the far end of an amphitheatre type depression. Three pushes were made to try and dislodge the Federals. None were successful. Heavy casualties were taken. I went down during the second assault.

Following the battle we cleaned muskets. After that I took another run up to the sutler's with Mrs. Spiff. Dinner was a delicious stew prepared by Cpl. Albert with fixings provided by the men of the Ninth. The usual campfire merriment followed. At least one card game was observed in progress. Later in the evening word began to filter in that a major storm was on the way. The stars disappeared and lightening could be seen in the distance. Preparations were made for a big blow. Those campaigning headed for a nearby barn to seek shelter. I went to the civilian camp and assisted Mrs. Spiff in readying her tent. Then it was back to camp where Bro and I added straw to the outside of our tent and lined the doorway with small logs to assist in turning aside any water. All things ready, several members of the company gathered in the street. A gust of wind and a smattering of rain broke up the group. As everyone settled in the rain began to fall. Bro and I managed to stay dry and warm again and I fell asleep as the thunder moved in.

Sunday broke clear but with more clouds moving in. Attended church call with the family. Began to gather up gear. More rain. Spent time laying in bed and listening to the rain on the canvas. Ordered to form up about an hour prior to the battle. By this time the rain had dropped off to a light sprinkle. Moved out to the staging area only to be told that the event organizers had postponed the battle for half an hour. The battalion was then put at rest and allowed to mingle while we waited for the guns to open.

When they finally opened, the artillery was impressive. We quickly formed up and moved into position. Taking cover behind small round hay bales (used in place of the hemp bales in the original battle) we opened a brisk fire on the enemy's works. At intervals we rolled the bales forward and again fired from a new position. After we had closed in several times the Federals felt the pressure and waved a white flag for a parley. Much shouting from our side. Private Sutton was so overcome with emotion that he mounted a bale and taunted the Federal troops. This was rightfully greeted with much support from his comrades. Eventually word came down that the Federals had surrendered. Many loud cheers greeted this news. Lexington had been freed from Federal oppression!

Following the battle we were marched past the spectators and then dismissed. The great skedaddle began. Took some time to get everything packed and loaded but we eventually got out without too much trouble.

All in all Lexington was a great event. Both battles were pretty well done for the number of troops involved. As has been noted, finding the site and registration was very easy. Plenty of reenactor parking was provided at a convenient distance from the camps. Water, wood, and porta-johns were in abundance and continuously refreshed. While I was unsure about the camping area it turned out to be just fine and never did become the quagmire I feared. I have also had a spectator tell me since the event that the battles were very good and that they felt the event was spectacular. The only possible gripe to the event was provided by some modern buildings in the area of camp and that could not be helped. The biggest downside to the event was the cars in the camp. While this is partially the organizer's responsibility, it is more the reenactors who must bear the blame. All things considered I give Lexington an A. It is definitely an event that I would be interested in attending again in the future.

After action report - Wilson's Creek, Missouri.

2011-08-19T12:52:00.002-05:00

Spent this last weekend at Wilson's Creek near Springfield, Missouri. This year the event was marking the 150th anniversary of the actual battle and was billed as a national event. I heard one estimate of about 3,000 reenactors present. Never did hear spectator numbers.

Going into this event I was excited. It promised to be a good one and would be Gator's first time out. At three months old she hasn't had much of a chance to get out. It didn't take long though for me to start to get concerned. First was the registration. Pre-registration was the only available option, absolutely no walk-ons. Firm deadline. I paid up $20 each for me and Mrs. Spiff, the young ones were free. No confirmation email. We did not appear on the list of registered participants within the promised two to three days. Emailed to find out why. Over two weeks passed. Finally an email back saying we were good and should be on the list. We were. In the meantime the "firm" deadline for registration had been extended. Then it was announced that walk-ons would be accepted at $25 a head. Such waffling and poor coordination on the registration did not bode well.

Arrived on site at about 1330 on Friday the 12th. Registration had been moved and seemed to be in disarray. More foreboding. A helpful staff member pointed out where I needed to go to get set up in the Missouri State Guard (MSG) camp. I asked where the civilian camp was so I could drop off the family. A blank stare. Not good. Another staff member finally said she guessed that the civilian camp would be near the MSG camp and to go in the same way. Nobody seemed sure of the exact location or existence of a civilian camp.

Finally found the civilian camp. Greeted by the "mayor" who proceeded to ask way over 20 questions about our impression. Seemed to be checking our accuracy. Gave us three options of where to set Mrs. Spiff and the kiddos up at. Tried one and found it too small. Moved the tent. Told that we couldn't set up there. Yelled for someone in charge on the double. Mayor gone. Objections died down. Tent set up. Mayor returns, tells me I can't visit family during the weekend (no military in camp). Seriously consider decking the man. He finally backs down. Not a good start.

Arrived at the Ninth's camp very hot and sweaty. Civilians camped throughout the military camp. Some at least were refugees from the mayor. Set up. Tried to take family back to civilian camp to change. Mayor blocks road. No admittance because the battle is about to start. Point out to mayor that battle was not scheduled to start for almost two hours. No dice. Drive to the parking lot and change.

Got into camp in plenty of time. Spent some time visiting before the call came to form up. Formed up and stood in the sun. Very hot. Finally marched out to stage for the battle. Ended up inside a treeline behind the artillery. Battle sounded great. Ordered to fire volleys in the air to "add to the battle." Declined to participate. About eight volleys all told - straight up and out of site of the crowd and battle both. Finally marched out to engage the enemy. Fired a volley. Looked as reloading and noticed that there were no enemy troops on the field anywhere. Marched back to camp shortly thereafter. Went to the civilian camp to eat with the family. After dinner there was some probing back and forth between the armies but nothing of significance developed. Rained most of the night with some heavy lightening. Fortunately the ground was so dry that it all soaked in and so there was minimal mud.

Saturday morning dawned clear. Warm day. Got some breakfast before morning parade. Drilled afterwards. Worked with some of the new recruits following drill. Had a short break after that and then it was time to form up for the morning battle.

After standing in the sun for quite awhile we were gratified when the battle finally started. Unfortunately there were too many men for the field we were fighting on. An unusual problem. The result was very limited engagement for each battalion. Probably fired eight rounds total. Just not much action.

Following the battle I cleaned my musket and grabbed some lunch. Mrs. Spiff put on an appearance with the wee ones and a pitcher of lemonade. Much appreciated by all. After lunch I accompanied the rest of the non-commissioned officers and the captain to sutlers' row for a period photograph. Also grabbed some powder and caps for future events.

Formed up in plenty of time for the afternoon battle. Once again there was ample sun and heat to stand in. This time we were actually staged behind some of the spectators. Previous to the battle we had been told that we would make two advances on the enemy lines. Both would fail and we would be pulled out of action after the second. I decided not to wait for the second advance and abandoned the field with great haste as the first withdrawal commenced. Several other soldiers also joined in the route.

Decided against cleaning my musket after the battle since I had fired just two or three rounds. I had just put dinner on the fire when Spiff Jr. made an appearance. He had a message from his mother that she had extra dinner in her camp. I sent a reply that I appreciated the offer but had already started my meal preparations. After dinner I obtained leave and visited the family. Gator seemed to be a bit fussy but Spiff Jr. was having a ball with some other boys he had met. Sis and Bug were also doing well. Stayed for awhile before heading back to camp. Got back there just in time to join in a probe against the Federal camp. Nothing doing as the Yankees weren't up to playing. Hit the sack and slept well. Heavy dew but no rain.

Sunday was also clear. Company smaller with early departures. Attended church call and moved my gear to Mrs. Spiff's camp.

Prior to the battle my company was detached to the civilian camp. Acting on intelligence provided by Mrs. Spiff the Colonel had sent us to see if we could capture some Federal brass. After laying in wait while the Federal column passed we were gratified when a small group of their officers entered the camp. The surprise was complete but the Yanks were light on their feet. The net haul came to three - two captains and a major. Good enough to get the thanks of our colonel and general. After questioning by the general the prisoners were paroled and we returned to our battalion.

The battle was a very good one. Lots of heavy action. Pushed the Federals hard up the hill but they gave ground grudgingly. Fired over thirty rounds and the company was decimated. I took a hit just as we crossed through a field of corn. Very good fight.

Dismissed right from the battlefield. Said my goodbyes and got the van. Loaded up without incident and left. Had an uneventful trip home.

Overall I would give Wilson's Creek an event grade of D. The successful raid in defense of the civilian camp and the Sunday battle saved the event from an F.

While I heard that the event was originally supposed to have twice as much land as it did there was plenty that could be directly attributed to the administration of the event. Friday and Saturday's battles were poorly coordinated disappointments. Registration was confusing. No straw. Barely adequate water and few porta-johns. Cars allowed in the military camp all weekend. Civilians camping in the military camp. Not a good showing for the high registration fee.

Book review - The Ezekiel Option.

2011-06-24T12:23:00.004-05:00

The Ezekiel Option by Joel C. Rosenberg is a 2005 follow-up to his earlier novel, The Last Jihad. The 414 page book is set in the near future and deals with a growing crises involving Israel and the United Nations. Much of the book reads like a Tom Clancy novel but with much less drinking and no sex. Both improvements in my opinion.

The book starts off with a gripping account of a mid-air hijacking of an airliner. This throws the U.S. president on the horns of a dilemma with no good alternative. From there the plot weaves through an international storyline and several twists and turns. The end of the book follows Biblical prophecy but still leaves one final twist before the close of the back cover.

What I found interesting about this book was its believability. The chain of events foretold by Ezekiel unfolds in modern times. The story is not far-fetched and really doesn't call for many chance occurrences. No suspension of belief is needed to stay on board the train of thought.

Overall I would give The Ezekiel Option two thumbs up. The story is riveting and very well written. I found that I had a hard time putting the book down. Thoroughly enjoyable and thought provoking at the same time. Rush Limbaugh, Tim LaHaye, and U.S. News & World Report are right - Joel Rosenberg is a gifted author and his books are not to be missed.

Book review - Daniel Webster.

2011-06-21T21:29:00.003-05:00

Daniel Webster is a 352 page biography written by Henry Cabot Lodge. The copy I read was part of a larger set of biographies of American Statesmen and was printed in 1899. The original release of the book was in 1883.

Lodge is well known as a prolific biographer of famous persons, mostly from American history. This volume is the first I have read by him and I was interested to see if he could live up to his press. I must say that my initial impressions are mixed.

Mr. Lodge skims quickly over Mr. Webster's childhood and personal life. Most of what he concentrates on is Webster's political career. The book is well written but does drag a bit from time to time. It is obvious from the book that it was written with the memory of Mr. Webster still fresh in the national memory.

Mr. Lodge presents a mostly unvarnished portrait of his subject. He finds Webster's early political stands against compromise with the South to be admirable and credits him with laying the groundwork upon which the North rested in the course of the Civil War. While giving him credit for this and for his great intellect Mr. Lodge does not spare Mr. Webster criticism. In particular he finds fault with Webster's March of 1850 speech advocating compromise with the South.

Mr. Lodge skewers Mr. Webster for reversing his earlier stands on the issue of compromise. He states that the speech irreparably damaged Mr. Webster's reputation and legacy. That it may have. I found the criticism to be somewhat inconsistent on Mr. Lodge's part though. Early in the work he cites Mr. Webster's inconsistency as an evidence of his great mind, stating in part that consistency is "the bugbear of small minds..." Later in the book this inconsistency is pointed to as proof of flaws and moral failings in Mr. Webster's character. A reversal indeed.

All in all I found Daniel Webster to be an interesting read. Mr. Lodge presents a clear picture of Mr. Webster's political career. While I found the lack of personal details to be disappointing I still learned a lot from the book. It fills many gaps in the period between the Founding Fathers and the Civil War. An interesting read and one that anyone would be wise to take advantage of.

Book review - The Vanishing American.

2011-03-27T13:56:00.003-05:00

The Vanishing American is a 308 page novel by Zane Grey. The copy I read was released in 1925.

After the last Zane Grey book I read, I approached The Vanishing American with high hopes. Sadly, I was bound to be disappointed. The plot of the book follows a young American Indian from about 1916 to 1920. The main theme appears to be the downfall of his tribe due to the reservation system and corrupt agents and missionaries. Along the way a young white woman falls in love with him and moves to the reservation to attempt to help the tribe.

Corrupt agents and the reservation system definitely did severe harm to American Indians. The main character in Grey's book sees this happening. However, he does nothing of note to stop it. Instead he wanders tragically back and forth while stringing along the woman who loves him. This in spite of her repeated statements that he needs but to ask and she will marry him. He does enlist in the army and fights in World War One. We are told he fought heroically but no details are given. After the war he returns to the reservation for a short time before experiencing a mystical encounter and then dying of unknown causes under murky circumstances. The young lady is left to watch the other Indians ride into the distance as the book closes. The bad guys are never called to account in any meaningful way, love is left unrequited, and no heroic stand is taken by the hero.

The poor plot combined with unconvincing characters who are never fully developed make The Vanishing American a rather dull read. I would recommend that this book be placed on the skip list to free up time for better material.

Book review - Hebrews: The Journey of Faith.

2011-03-24T12:24:00.003-05:00

Hebrews: The Journey of Faith is a 93 page book by Zane Hodges. The book was released by Victor Street Bible Chapel in 2010.

Having read several of Hodges' books in the past I was expecting the usual well-written exposition on a topic or book - in this case Hebrews. This book is not that. Instead it is a transcript of several messages that Zane delivered to a church in 1983. As as result the style is much different than that Hodges uses in his writing. The discussion is much more informal and uses many more illustrations. I found the difference to be enjoyable. I appreciate Hodges' writing style but I never had the opportunity to hear him preach. This book delivers his style and substance well.

In addition to the format I also found the topic to be of interest. Zane obviously comes from the viewpoint that the book of Hebrews is written to believers and deals with the need to walk according to the calling of Jesus. As such he touches on the reasons for doing so and the warnings against falling away. In particular I found his discussions of Hebrews 6:7-8 and 10:28-31 to be of great interest.

Hodges' sermons were well done and an enjoyable read. The message was easy to follow and the passages used were clearly given. There were a few scattered footnotes explaining some of Zane's illustrations and quotes. These notes were helpful. The book did lack any kind of appendix of passages cited. Such a listing would be helpful for future reference.

All in all I highly recommend Hebrews: The Journey of Faith for anyone who has any interest in Hebrews and would like an overview of the book and its message.

Book review - The Last of the Plainsmen.

2011-03-22T19:09:00.002-05:00

The Last of the Plainsmen is a 314 page book written by Zane Grey in 1908. The hardback version that I read had been released in 1936. The book follows an adventure that Mr. Grey had with Buffalo Jones in the southwestern part of the United States.

The book follows Jones and his party as they attempt to rope and capture a cougar. Not a particularly great-sounding idea but a feat that Jones had pulled off before. In fact, as detailed by several detours in the story, Jones was quite the roper of wild animals. Two adventures in particular are related; that of roping buffalo calves and Musk Oxen calves. The tale climaxes with the roping and capture of a real live cougar.

I must admit that I had read a couple of Mr. Grey's books previous and had not been terribly impressed. However, I found The Last of the Plainsmen to be engaging and a ripping good yarn. The book is well written and reads quickly, I got through it in a few days. The fact that it's true only made it better for me. Well worth the time for nature lovers, history buffs, and those who simply like a good adventure.

Book review - The Road to Reward.

2011-03-20T12:48:00.003-05:00

Recently finished The Road to Reward by Bob Wilkin. The 148 page book was published by Grace Evangelical Society in 2003.

The book is subtitled Living Today in Light of Tomorrow and deals with the doctrine of eternal rewards. The book is divided into four sections with a fifth section consisting of appendices. In the first section Dr. Wilkin deals with the question of eternal life being a reward in and of itself. Dr. Wilkin concludes that the answer is no. Eternal life is a gift. Rewards are earned. They are clearly not the same and should not be confused.

The next two sections deal with the rewards themselves - what they are and who receives them. I found the section dealing with what eternal rewards are to be of particular interest. The fourth section deals with how this should impact our lives now. In dealing with each issue or question Dr. Wilkin is careful to ground his answers in Scripture.

After the main body of the book come three appendices. I must admit that I skimmed the one dealing with the question of all believers being rewarded equally. I did find the next two to be of great interest though. The second one answers the question of if the rewards given will result in jealousy in the Kingdom. In the third Dr. Wilkin addresses the question of what eternity will be like. Having asked these very questions myself I appreciated the opportunity to read Dr. Wilkin's take and to see which Scripture passages he looked to for the answers.

The book is well written and thought-provoking. The subtitle is apt. After all, if we will be rewarded in eternity for what we accomplish for God now, shouldn't that effect how we live? Bob Wilkin clearly believes that the answer is yes and he convincingly makes his case from the Bible. The Road to Reward is a must read for anyone who has questions about why we should live a life that pleases God when we are already saved.

Book review - Story of the Great American West.

2011-03-07T12:26:00.002-06:00

Story of the Great American West is a 371 page book put out by Reader's Digest in 1977. The book actually starts in the East shortly after the arrival of the first colonists and follows the frontier as it moves westward. The final chapter concludes in the early 1900's.

Because of the length of time covered in the book most events are summarized. Very few things are covered in detail. Although the book was well-written I found myself somewhat distracted by this. It seemed that several times stories were left open as the narrative moved on. A few more details would have been nice.

In spite of the shallow level of information, the book was an interesting read. I found it to be a decent overview of the expansion of the United States. While it is hardly a reference book, it will be well worth the while to read for those unfamiliar with anything beyond cowboys and Indians in the American West.

Book review - The Hungry Inherit.

2011-02-17T20:51:00.003-06:00

The Hungry Inherit is a 128 page book written by Zane Hodges. The copy that I read was published in 1972. In his forward Charles Ryrie says that the purpose of the book is to "distinguish clearly salvation and discipleship." This the book does and does well.

The book is a departure from Hodges' normal writing style and is much more informal than he normally writes. Starting at the encounter at the well of Sychar and moving through Jesus' earthly ministry the book concludes in Revelation. All of the points are tied together in a story-telling type of format. In spite of the change in style, Mr. Hodges does not fail to support what he is saying with frequent Scripture citations. There are no footnotes though.

There were three things that I found particularly interesting in the course of the book. The first is the beginning scene at the well. Mr. Hodges' assessment of Jesus' words is done in light of the culture of the time. He brings the conversation to life, explains why the woman asked the questions she did, and correctly points out that Jesus had one conversation but in two parts with two different audiences. The woman he calls to salvation, the disciples to reformation and His work. The messages are clear, connected, and separate.

The second area that I found of special interest was Hodges' take on the parable of the soils or of the sower. I don't know how many times I have read or discussed this parable. In all those times I missed that the thorny soil does produce fruit, just not as it should have - to perfection. My take on the parable did not change in its essence but the point was well taken.

The third area that I found enlightening was Hodges' discussion of Revelation 21:8. In that passage a list is given of those who will inhabit the Lake of Fire. That list has caused many to say that if one habitually engages in such sins one is unsaved. Zane points out that believers can still engage in such sins, perhaps habitually. However their character, as viewed by God, is not defined by those failures but is defined by His grace. Comforting thought.

Overall I give this book a hearty recommendation. In spite of the laid back style, or perhaps because of it, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and learned much. While not a theological dissertation, the book does an excellent job of breaking the truth down so as to be easily absorbed.

Book review - Witnesses at the Creation.

2011-02-01T19:27:00.003-06:00

Witnesses at the Creation by Richard B. Morris is subtitled Hamilton, Madision, Jay, and the Constitution. As might be surmised by the subtitle, the 261 page book is an account of the Constitutional Convention and the three men's role in bringing it about, drafting the Constitution, and pushing for its ratification. The subjects of the book were chosen due to their roles in writing The Federalist Papers.

Mr. Morris begins with a brief background of each man. That helps explain the development of their political thought and their relationship with each other at the time. Following that, each man is followed through the crises leading to the Constitutional Convention. James Madison was especially key in bringing about the convention although Alexander Hamilton also played a large role.

Using Madison's notes and those of other participants, Mr. Morris recreates the convention with emphasis on the parts played by the three men. Madison is often called the father of the Constitution but he could not have claimed the title without the assistance of others, in particular John Jay.

During the ratification fight Jay and Hamilton worked together in New York with the advantage that the Union was pretty much an accomplished fact by the time the were debating the matter. On the other hand Madison led the fight in Virgina and had to do so against formidable odds. In addition to the fact that ratification was not certain, none other than Patrick Henry led the opposition. After a grueling debate, the ratification party carried the day.

After the ratification all three men moved on to immediate well-known success. Madison to a leadership post in the first House of Representatives, Jay to the Chief Justice position on the United States Supreme Court, and Hamilton to an appointment as Secretary of the Treasury. The three would part ways before their public lives were finished but what they had accomplished still stands.

All in all I found Mr. Morris' book to be an interesting one. He obviously has a very nationalistic tilt to his political thought and gives it free reign for most of the book. Alexander Hamilton in particular benefits from this as his many authoritarian views are explained away. In contrast Patrick Henry and others of his school of thought are not allowed the same luxury. In spite of this, Witnesses at the Creation is worth the read for those interested in the political sausage-making that went into the document that our nation still lives by today.

Book review - Days of Infamy.

2010-12-26T14:59:00.000-06:00

Days of Infamy opens just minutes after Pearl Harbor ends and picks up the story without a hitch. Newt Gingrich and William Forstchen are back at their excellent work in this 369 page book that was published in 2008.

Following up on the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor the United States still has two carrier groups out to sea. What those carrier groups do and how the Japanese navy deals with it are the story in this book. By the time this book opens there is little left in common with actual history. That matters little though since the book is well-written and very believable. Momentarily forgetting that it isn't the actual account is easy as the events of the book unfold.

Once again the narrative is delivered to the reader through the eyes and thoughts of those involved on both sides. America has been hit and hard but she isn't down and definitely not out. Japanese Admiral Yamamoto knows this as he races to try and entrap the elusive American carriers. Now that the ball is rolling he feels that he has no option but to keep it going.

Equally determined is the American Navy and Admiral Halsey. Japan has the edge and momentum going in but the result is far from a sure thing. The U.S.N. is out for blood and revenge. Someone is going to pay for the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and soon.

Much like Pearl Harbor this book is a very fast read. Just as before I finished it in a little more than a day. The style and quality of the writing make it easy to read. The story reaching out and grabbing the reader makes the reading urgent. Days of Infamy is a book you won't want to put down until you regretfully finish the last page.

Book review - Pearl Harbor.

2010-12-23T17:00:00.000-06:00

Pearl Harbor is another alternate history book by Newt Gringrich and William Forstchen. This time the setting is in the years and days leading up to the fateful attack on the U.S. Naval base at Pearl Harbor in 1941. The book runs 366 pages and was published in 2008.

I have to say that after reading Josephus, this book was a very light read. In fact, I finished it off in just a little over a day. It helped that the story was gripping and well-written. Both authors know their military history and both are excellent writers.

The book is written in the style of Jeff Shaara's excellent novels, with the reader inside the heads of various men on either side of the conflict. Starting in 1934 the book follows a nice selection of characters as the tension between the United States and Japan develops. The final climatic moment is the attack on Pearl.

As is usual with Gingrich and Forstchen, only a few key decisions are changed. Moving from that the differences between actual and alternate history start small and rapidly enlarge. Events overtake those involved and the outcome hangs by a hair at times. An excellent read for the history buff, World War 2 scholar, or anyone interested in a ripping good yarn.

Book review - The Works of Josephus.

2010-12-22T12:15:00.003-06:00

So the reason I haven't posted a review in awhile is because it took me quite a bit of time to read The Works of Josephus as translated by William Whiston. Of course the original author is the Jewish historian Josephus but Mr. Whiston has collected his writings and translated them into english.

Josephus wrote much of his history during the reigns of the Roman emperors Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian. His two main works cover history in general up to that time and the Jewish wars against Roman occupation. There are other smaller books covering his own biography, his take on Jesus, Hell, and other topics, and a refutation of a rival historian.

The Antiquities of the Jews follows the Biblical account of creation as it starts out. Some additions are made and a few things left out. It isn't until after the Babylonian Exile that it strikes off from where the Old Testament leaves off. The accounts of the return and the wars of the Maccabees are very interesting as is the rise of Herod the Great and the takeover by Rome. The account then dovetails back in with the New Testament for a short time before moving past that period of history. It ends with the beginning of the Jewish revolt against Rome.

A History of the Jewish Wars covers some of the same ground the Antiquities ends with and then moves into an account of the revolt against Rome. Vespasian scores some early successes and then is called to Rome to become Emperor. His some Titus takes over and completes the taking of Jerusalem and the burning of the temple. He then returns to Rome. The taking of Masada and a few small actions then occur and the war is finished.

All in all I found this book to be fascinating. The historical context for the Bible alone makes it worth the read. The additional history is also well worthwhile. It is a bit slow though and somewhat confusing as Josephus writes in a slightly disordered way at times and seems to be a bit prone to exaggeration. There are places where it is hard to connect individual events to the overall picture. Of course, there is a Roman bias. This is needed both to explain Josephus' survival after taking part in the revolt and to keep him in the emperors' favor and ensure his continued survival. I found it interesting that Josephus himself mentions this on several occasions. The translation and occasional notes by Mr. Whiston seem to be well done.

I would recommend this book with the caveat that one needs to be prepared to take the time to read it. It isn't easy reading but it is very informational, enlightening and well worth the time.

The Dawn Treader gets lost at sea.

2010-12-11T16:50:00.003-06:00

Warning: This review may contain spoilers if you haven't seen this movie.

Well, the family and I went to see the third Chronicles of Narnia movie last night. I've got to say I wasn't sure what to expect. I had heard of some problems with the production and I knew that Prince Caspian had strayed from the storyline of C.S. Lewis' book. Still, I hoped that perhaps the makers of the film would use it to steer the series back to the books. Sadly, I was wrong.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader starts off right as Lucy and Edmond Pevensie are drawn back to Narnia along with their pest of a cousin, Eustace Scrubb. The Dawn Treader looks as it is described by Lewis and Reepicheep is once again spot on. Caspian is as we remember him as he helps rescue the cousins and get them on board. Then it's off to the Lone Islands.

The first stop of the ship is where the film gets off track. The sequence of events had to be shortened for the silver screen but this time it is completely changed. Lord Burn is not living in quiet seclusion, he is in prison. Slavery is a problem but not the main one. Instead the inhabitants of the islands are being offered as sacrifices to a mysterious green mist that comes up out of the sea. Lord Burn explains that the other lords of Narnia sailed east in an attempt to locate the source of the mist. He also gives Caspian a sword that Aslan had given to Caspian's father who had given it to him. He explains that each of the lords had been given such a sword. Nice storyline but completely different from the book and it only gets worse.

Over the course of the rest of the movie we follow the ship from island to island in its journey. The sequence of the islands has been changed and some are combined. As the voyage unfolds, the adventurers learn that the green mist comes from "Dark Island" and that the only way to defeat it is to lay all seven swords from the lords of Narnia on Aslan's table. At that point some secret magical power will be released and destroy the mist. Until that point evil has the upper hand. Complete divergence from Lewis' tale.

After much adventuring and more mutilation of Lewis' work the final battle is enacted against a monstrous sea serpent and ghostly renditions of evil. Aslan belatedly restores Eustace to his human form and he places the final sword on the table. A blue light surges forth and defeats the evil green mist. The final scene at the end of the world incorporates Caspian but is otherwise faithful to the book, even to Aslan's remark that the Pevensies know him in our world by another name. A nice nod to the book but too little too late.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader isn't really a bad movie I suppose. The acting is well done and the effects are great. The problem is that it just isn't true to C.S. Lewis' work and is held out as a movie adaptation of such. I understand that things sometimes need to be abridged due to budget constraints. I don't understand the complete overhauling of the storyline. Why add in the mystical elements and magic swords nonsense? I can see no clear reason. The additions turn out to be subtractions when the film is viewed against the backdrop of what it could have been.

After action report - Prairie Grove, Arkansas.

2010-12-07T19:31:00.003-06:00

This last weekend I once again made the trek to what is probably one of my favorite reenactments, Prairie Grove, Arkansas. Like Pilot Knob, Prairie Grove is a state-run park. As a result we get the real treat of camping where the armies camped and fighting where they fought. This also happens to be the site of my first ever reenactment after I enlisted in the Ninth and so holds many fond memories. The event is held every two years.

I arrived on site late Friday afternoon. Out of habit I drove to the Latta barn - the normal registration site. A sign on the door directed me to the museum. Once at the museum I found that registration was $10 and that I had to register twice, once as a participant and once to be able to fire a weapon. Only one fee though. With maps and official event badge in hand I headed off into the gathering darkness to find the Ninth.

Due to the excellent map I was able to quickly locate camp. A short time later the tent was up, the gear unloaded, and I was back in the army again. As other members of the company showed up we learned that the captain and first sergeant were not coming. Corporal Downey thus moved up to captain for the weekend and Corporal Albert to first sergeant. Both did an outstanding job. Other than the command, numbers were fairly decent for the Ninth. Counting Captain Downey there were eleven men present for duty. An addition of 2nd Kansas recruits (learning to fight on the right side) added another 13 or so men and an officer. Most of the 2nd were fresh fish and so required some drilling and shepherding but all did well. An added treat was the appearance of a former captain and my brother. Both have been absent from the Ninth for some time due to moves.

Saturday dawned cool but did warm up to about 45 degrees or so before the day was out. Roll call followed by breakfast preceded morning parade and drill. A weapons inspection was performed for the benefit of the park service. At the inspection the full strength of Confederate arms for the weekend was revealed. Three infantry battalions, a battery of guns, and a small handful of cavalry. Just over 250 total I estimated. The Federals would later appear in similar numbers.

Following drill and weapons inspection we were released. My brother and I headed for the sutlers but didn't make it there before stopping by an old comrade's tent in the civilian camp. The former Ninth man was there to sell his remaining gear. We helped him out a bit before moving on. At sutler row we hit several tents but made no purchases. A chance encounter with men from the Red River Battalion Ninth proved enjoyable. Carbonated caffeine was also procured.

Shortly after lunch the battalion was formed for battle and moved to the battle area. Spectator presence was heavy but not as heavy as at Pilot Knob. The battle was fairly well done. My only complaint was that the artillery were a bit flippant about leaving their guns as we were driven back past them. Just as the tide turned I went down. From the sounds of things though the yankees were driven back down the hill and we retook our guns.

After the battle Mrs. Spiff and the little ones stopped by camp. Spiff Jr. managed to get in on pay call. The visit was short though as temperatures were dropping and the family started to get cold. The spirits of the Ninth were not cooled though and we enjoyed our evening around the campfire. Among other note-worthy occurrences was a reading from a book on the Ninth Texas Cavalry by Private J. Ralph. This was interesting as well as enjoyable.

Saturday night got down to about 18 degrees. I stayed warm for the most part but did awaken a couple times and had to readjust my blankets. My brother pulled out before dawn due to work commitments but advised prior to leaving that he had enjoyed getting out once again.

In spite of the cold, breakfast was enjoyable and the men soon warmed up. After roll call and morning parade there was a cold drill session. Following that there was battalion church call. This was cold but welcome even though a member of the Ninth violated the Articles of War by his behaviour in the vicinity.

Sunday's battle kicked off about 1300. This was a better fight in my view than the day before. I am not sure why this was the case. The scenario was the same as we were pushed up the hill and lost our guns before turning the tide around the Borden House and thrashing the Federals back down the hill. The battalion was dismissed from the battlefield. After a quick packing session the event was over the army dissolved once again.

All in all Prairie Grove once again lived up to its reputation. The event was enjoyable and the battles well done. Water and porta-johns were plentiful and wood was adequate. I was disappointed that no straw was provided for the infantry except what was to be had by raiding. For the steep $10 registration fee and considering the weather, there should have been some. Still, an A+ event in my book and one that I look forward to returning to in two years.

After action report - Brownville, Nebraska.

2010-10-12T20:53:00.003-05:00

Loaded up the family on October 8th and headed off to tiny Brownville, Nebraska. No battle took place in Brownville during the war but they wanted one to take place there during a street festival they were having. We arrived with daylight left after a fairly smooth 3.5 hour drive. The town is hilly and suitable camping space is sparse so the Confederate camps were fairly widely separated. After registering we were given directions to the camps we needed.

Got Mrs. Spiff and the wee ones set up in the yard of an antique shop/book store before heading off to a hilltop park to locate the CS infantry camp. Little trouble with either since the reenactment numbers were less than 150 total. That done we headed off to a nearby town to hit up a Subway for dinner. After dinner I took the family back to their camp and left the car nearby. Hiked up the steep hill to my camp about a mile away. Passed a comfortable night Friday night. Got a little cool once but the weather was nice all things considered.

Saturday dawned clear and nice. Got some breakfast and discovered that no other members of the ninth save a new recruit and the acting major were present. After breakfast I helped drill the new recruits. Mid-morning we headed into town for the promised tactical fight. After some reluctance on the part of the Federals the battle was joined. Saving the downtown area and church grounds, the entire town was in play. Made for an interesting battle as we fought through yards and a walking trail area. Spectators watched from wherever they could find a vantage point.

Following the tactical we reformed and then broke ranks for lunch. Walked to the civilian camp and ate with the family. They had seen part of the tactical but had returned to camp before it was over. Spiff Jr. had several questions. Sis and Bug were enjoying the nice weather and were busy feeding their dolls. Walked back up the hill after lunch to refill my cartridge box.

The scripted battle occurred along the Missouri River. The area was mostly sand and the scenario was poor. In addition the Federals were less than aggressive and I suffered major damage to my uniform pants. Not an impressive battle. Stopped by the civilian camp to switch out pants before returning to camp. Cleaned my musket and played cards for awhile before returning to the civilian camp to eat dinner with the family. Another pleasant evening Saturday night. Slept very well.

Sunday dawned just as pleasant as the day before. After breakfast I was tabbed to act as defense counsel in a field court-martial. In spite of what I thought was a spirited defense I was unable to get the accused acquitted. The poor lad was convicted of insubordination, desertion, and treason. The sentence was a public parade and execution. This was carried out before lunch in downtown Brownville. The spectacle was impressive and well-attended by the public.

Sunday's battle was a repeat in reverse of the day before and not much more impressive. Following that we packed up and headed off for home.

In summary, the event was enjoyable and one I would recommend should the town repeat it. In spite of the battle flops I had a great time, as did the family. The town was hospitable and welcoming and the powder ration was much appreciated.

After action report - Pilot Knob, Missouri.

2010-09-28T21:35:00.003-05:00

Spent this last weekend at a Civil War reenactment at Pilot Knob, Missouri. The event was a recreation of the Battle of Fort Davidson. The assault took place in 1864 as part of Sterling Price's raid into Missouri. The reenactment took place on the same ground as the original fight. The Federals spent part of the reenactment battles inside the original earthworks.

Left home fairly early Friday morning since the drive was a little over eight hours. Had a decent trip across Missouri and managed to get into the event with plenty of daylight. Got Mrs. Spiff and her new wall tent set up in the civilian camp. Then it was off to the Confederate camp. Had little trouble locating battalion staff. They informed me that I was the first member of the 9th to check in and showed me where to locate the company street.

After stepping off the necessary area for the 1st Sergeant's tent, I got my own canvas up. Another member of the 9th showed up while I was locating my tent. I offered to help him set up as well but he demurred. Captain Cox and several other men showed up around dusk. Helped him and the guys with him unload and get set up. By this time it was dark. Conferred with Mrs. Spiff and we headed off to the local Subway for a quick dinner. After dinner I got Mrs. Spiff and the kiddos situated at their tent and then parked the van before heading back to camp.

When I got back in I found that several more men had arrived. Participation was looking good. Got caught up with those present and then decided to hit the sack. Had a good night's rest even with a couple of interruptions from late-arriving troops.

Saturday dawned clear and cool but didn't take long to warm up decently. Following roll call we had a quick breakfast and then Mrs. Spiff arrived. She was not having a good morning. Sis had not adjusted well to being out again and now bedding had to be washed. I ended up with the three wee ones while Mrs. Spiff did clean-up duty. While I was watching the small fry drill time rolled around. Had Spiff Jr. take over the supervision of his sisters with strict instructions to stay in camp. He did wonderfully and was relieved by Mom during drill.

Drilled as a company and as a battalion. Good to knock the rust off. Nice to see the new recruits catching on quickly. There were two men who were at their first event and one who had but two outings previously. After drilling for well over an hour we were released to our own devices. Took Mrs. Spiff and the young ones to sutler row. Seemed like we could only walk short distances before being stopped. Seemed that everyone wanted to take pictures of the kids - especially the girls. Quite the compliment to Mrs. Spiff's sewing abilities.

Browsing at the sutlers done, I ate lunch with the family in the civilian camp. More people asking to take pictures during the meal. After eating I returned to camp. Hadn't been back long before the orders came down to form up for battle.

The artillery opened the battle dueling with the Federal pieces inside and outside the earthworks. The cavalry skirmished as we deployed through our guns. Once past the artillery the infantry fight commenced. As in the original battle we pushed the Yankee infantry back into the fort. Once they were bottled up we launched our assault. After being repulsed twice with significant losses we formed up for a final push. Up to the very walls of the fort we went. I went down in the last assault in a canister hit with what remained of the 9th. Following the battle there was a pause for respect and reflection.

Back in camp we were met by Mrs. Spiff. She had her traditional post-engagement lemonade for us as well as some very good pound cake. After that refreshment we headed off to the period photographer to get a company image struck. Took awhile but it came out well. Back to camp and time to clean muskets and refill cartridge boxes and cap pouches. That done it was time to consider dinner.

Following dinner I walked up to the civilian camp to see if Mrs. Spiff was interested in attending the dance. She was and so we went. Big crowd. Danced for about three quarters of the time before Mrs. Spiff got too tired to go on. She enjoyed herself though and we got to see the Federals blow up the powder magazine in the fort halfway through the dance. Following the dance the family went to bed and I returned to camp to visit for awhile before bed. Watched an epic card game that was in progress when I returned.

Very early Sunday morning the rain began. I managed to stay mostly dry and get some more sleep as did the rest of the company. The rain let off before reveille. Up and out for roll call. More drill after breakfast and then church call. The family joined me for church call on the battalion headquarters line. After church I packed up most all of my gear and transported it to the civilian camp to be stored in Mrs. Spiff's tent until time to leave.

Formed up for the battled at one o'clock. Colonel Amend announced that the event organizers had told him that approximately 20,000 spectators had attended to that point. Wow! No wonder the place had seemed so crowded. Very nice turnout. The Sunday battle followed the same general lines as the Saturday one. Did manage to make it to the walls of the fort and rescued the colors before falling back. Once again there was a moment of silence following the battle. This time a bagpiper played Amazing Grace. Very nice.

Following the battle the rain began again. Got loaded up ok but most all of our gear got at least damp. Oh well, part of the game I suppose. About nine hours later we were home. Tired but having had a good time.

Overall this was a great event and I was glad to be able to go. The site is a little modern but the ability to fight on the actual field makes up for that. The public supported the event well and the organizers took very good care of us. The next scheduled Pilot Knob is in 2014 and despite the long drive I am looking forward to attending again.

Sean Hannity is uninformed - at least on one issue.

2010-09-15T21:43:00.005-05:00

While driving today I had the radio on and tuned into the local talk station. Sean Hannity was on and caught my attention. He was getting pretty wound. Apparently Sean doesn't care for the GOP's response to the recent primary upsets.

In particular Hannity mentioned Christine O'Donnell's defeat of Mike Castle in Delaware and Carl Paladino's downing of Rick Lazio in New York. Several high-ranking Republican officials - including Karl Rove - had expressed their dissatisfaction with the outcomes of the elections. Rumors are flying that the GOP will not support their nominees since the conservative beat out the moderates.

Hannity was livid over this possibility. He claimed that he had never heard of such a thing and that it is unimaginable that the party will not support their nominees. He complained about Republicans "eating their own" and was very clear in his displeasure.

I don't really know anything about O'Donnell or Paladino. I do know that Sean Hannity is out of touch when it comes to this topic. Liberal and moderate Republicans have been expecting support in the general from conservatives for a long time. They have also been unwilling to return the favor. Hasn't Hannity ever heard of Tim Shallenburger? An excellent example of the double standard.

Shallenburger ran as a conservative in the 2002 Kansas Republican gubernatorial primary. He beat several moderates to win the nomination. Term-limited sitting GOP governor Bill Graves had crushed his Democratic opponents in both of his elections. Shallenburger looked to be the next governor. Then it happened. Liberal and moderate Republicans jumped ship. Claiming that the GOP nominee was too conservative they flocked to Democrat Kathleen Sebelius' banner. Not just the rank and file either. Governor Graves refused to endorse Shallenburger. His Lieutenant Governor endorsed Sebelius. Various Republican leaders followed suit. Sebelius handily beat Shallenburger to become governor. Of course she wouldn't even serve out her first term as she moved to Washington to assist President Obama with healthcare reform.

So you see Sean Hannity, GOP backstabbing has been going on for awhile and with some dire consequences. Some of the same geniuses who betrayed Shallenburger are now crying for the repeal of Obama's healthcare plan. I doubt not that the same type of thing will now happen in Delaware and New York. More of the same Sean, welcome to what those of us in flyover country have been experiencing for years.

Book review - Straw.

2010-08-31T20:56:00.003-05:00

Straw is Darryl Strawberry's autobiography. The book runs 237 pages and was published in 2009. The copy that I recently read is the hardback version.

The book starts with Darryl's drunken father threatening his family with a shotgun. Unknown to the Strawberrys at the time the gun was not loaded. Darryl would deal with plenty of other loaded situations in his life though before the subtitle of Finding My Way would be applicable. Several of those situations would result in far greater injuries than he feared from his father that terrible night.

From early childhood through retirement from baseball it is interesting to see the development of Darryl's struggles and the man he has become today. Interesting but heartbreaking at times. Straw has little to nothing positive to say about his alcoholic father who left the family on the night detailed at the start of the book. The lack of a father's influence laid a tragic foundation. Through drug, alcohol, and sex addictions, domestic violence, suspensions from Major League Baseball, injuries, and three marriages the rocky path goes.

I remember Darryl being a huge splash with the Mets in the eighties. I remember his failings and less than stellar reputation. I knew the what, I didn't know the why. The rough and tumble background of the man. I didn't know the end of the story. The faith and rehab that helped him get his life back on track. His founding and work with the Darryl Strawberry Foundation to address the problem of autism.

Darryl's come a long way and the trail is an eye-opening one. While I found the explanation of Darryl's faith to be a little confusing I would still recommend that anyone who is a Mets or Darryl Strawberry fan read Straw: Finding My Way.

Book review - Conciliation with the Colonies.

2010-08-10T19:04:00.003-05:00

Conciliation with the Colonies was published in 1920 and contains the text of a speech by the same title. The speech was delivered by Sir Edmund Burke to the British House of Commons on March 22, 1775.

This is a very interesting speech and it pays to keep in mind when it was being delivered. Relations between the American Colonies an the English government were extremely strained and full-fledged hostilities were not far in the future. Various taxes, penalties, and occupations had been imposed by The Crown in an attempt to regain control of the American situation. None had been successful.

Burke courageously takes an unpopular position and calls on the House of Commons to pass a resolution recognizing that the Colonies have been mistreated. Burke traces the failures of the British policy to that point.

After explaining the current situation he states that there are but three options to deal with the current spirit among the colonists. One is to change it, the second is to outlaw it, and the third is to comply with it. Mr. Burke then discounts the first two options as impracticable and ineffective and urges that third be pursued.

Using the examples of Wales, Ireland, and Chester Mr. Burke clearly shows how conciliation by way of concession can breed loyalty rather than disloyalty. He urges representation for the colonists as is their right under English law. He argues that power must not always need be exercised to its utmost in order to be maintained and that certain concessions will not weaken the position of the government.

The speech is powerful, thoughtful, and wise. Had the British government followed Burke's advice I have a feeling that we would still be looking to London as either our actual or titular capital. This speech is well worth the read.

Some of the quotes that I particularly enjoyed were:

"Peace implies reconciliation."

"The use of force alone is but temporary. Conciliation failing, force remains; but force failing, no further hope of conciliation is left."

"Obedience is what makes government, not the names by which it is called."

"It is not what a lawyer tells me I may do but what humanity, reason, and justice tell me I ought to do."

"Freedom, not servitude, is the cure for anarchy."

"A great empire and little minds go ill together."

Book review - Kidnapped.

2010-07-28T13:26:00.003-05:00

Just finished Robert Louis Stevenson's Kidnapped. The copy I read was a paperbacked edition printed in 1971 and ran 271 pages. Having often heard of the tale I was looking forward to reading it for myself.

Kidnapped is the fictional story of a young man who comes into an inheritance only to be betrayed by his uncle and sent off by boat for the American colonies. The ship wrecks before leaving the coast of Scotland though and young David Balfour must make his way across Scotland and home to reclaim his inheritance. In route he gets caught up in a murder and the ensuing manhunt.

Stevenson weaves an interesting yarn and incorporates actual historical figures in his narrative. The murder actually took place and was much as described in fact as in fiction. The accused murderer plays a central role in the story and several other historical figures make appearances. The addition of a map on the back of the copy I was reading helped to make sense of the places mentioned in the book.

If you are looking for a quick and entertaining read I recommend Mr. Stevenson's Kidnapped.

Book review - When the French Were Here.

2010-07-27T14:32:00.003-05:00

Sorry to be so long in writing. Things have been pretty busy lately and it slowed my reading down. I did recently finish When the French Were Here by Stephen Bonsal. The book is subtitled A Narrative of the Yorktown Campaign and focuses on the role played by the French expeditionary force toward the close of the war for American Independence. Published in 1945 the book runs for 247 pages.

Mr. Bonsal manages to keep the book moving along and provides an interesting look at an often over-looked aspect of the War for Independence. While I was well aware of the role played by the French in the war I did not ever consider the events as seen through the eyes of the French troops and officers. Mr. Bonsal does this very well as he draws from contemporary writings and records. The struggle of the French to understand the Americans and the interest they showed in our people and culture rings true of any soldiers deployed to a foreign land. Several of the officers kept copious notes and inscribed their impressions of not only the American military but the American people as well.

A frequent point in these observations is the idea that the liberty bug was catching. Many of the French seemed to understand that what was happening in America was a new idea for their times. They sensed that it could carry across the oceans and change even their homeland. In private they seemed to approve of the idea. It is ironic that Mr. Bonsal traces several of these men to their deaths at the hands of the maniacs who ruled revolutionary France just a few short years later.

Over all I enjoyed Mr. Bonsal's work. Anyone who is either a student of our War for Independence or of French history would be well served by reading When the French Were Here.

Book Review - Autobiography.

2010-05-31T11:31:00.002-05:00

Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography runs 235 pages in the 1923 edition that I read. It is an inside look at Franklin's early life from his perspective. Well, maybe his perspective. With Benjamin Franklin you can never be sure, he may have been writing what he thought people would want to read.

Dr. Franklin never finished his Autobiography. The book ends at the firing of colonial Governor Denny by the proprietaries of Pennsylvania. It still gives a fascinating look at Franklin's rise from poverty to the renown which most associate with him. Of course there is also the man's personality and belief system peeking out through the pages.

The Autobiography is referred to in any major book about Benjamin Franklin. For that reason alone it should be read by anyone interested in this founding father. As an added bonus it is well written and gives an insightful look into the formation of one of the leading personalities of the revolutionary era. A recommended read for anyone wanting to meet Benjamin Franklin.

Book review - The Sinking of the Bismarck.

2010-05-17T12:03:00.003-05:00

William L. Shirer's The Sinking of the Bismarck is a 169 page account of the sea battle that ended with the destruction of the German battleship Bismarck in 1941. The book was published by Random House in 1962. Mr. Shirer explains what sources he drew from in writing the book but since it is primarily aimed at the younger set he does not have footnotes.

The book begins with the notification to the British naval command that the Bismarck has sailed. What follows is a broad search for the elusive ship as it breaks out into the Atlantic Ocean. Mr. Shirer does a good job of setting the stage for the coming confrontation as the German ship is located and the British close in.

An initial battle results in the sinking of the Hood with almost all hands and the crippling of the Prince of Wales. Things look grim for the British. What follows is a chase on the high seas as more British ships converge and the Bismarck attempts to return to port.

The final showdown is well written from both perspectives on the battle. Using captured German records Mr. Shirer is able to partially reconstruct what was going on with the Bismarck as the battle progressed. Of course, the outcome is given in the title.

The Sinking of the Bismarck is engaging and well written. The style is such that it will easily hold the attention of its target audience. Serious scholars of World War II will likely find little to hold their interest. However, those not familiar with the war or those just beginning to delve into history will find themselves learning much.

Book review - To Try Men's Souls.

2010-05-16T18:34:00.003-05:00

Received Newt Gringrich and William Forstchen's To Try Men's Souls for Christmas. This is a 336 page historical novel covering the Trenton campaign during the Revolutionary War. Unlike the pair's previous offerings, this book is not an alternate history. It is along the lines of Jeff Shaara's offerings and while good does not quite reach to his level. Nevertheless it is still a fine book.

The book follows four characters through the Continental Army's attack on the Hessian outpost at Trenton, New Jersey. Much of the narrative takes place on December 25th and 26th of 1776 although there are several flashbacks. Care must be taken to note the dates and locations that head each section.

Most of the flashbacks involve Thomas Paine and his writing of his pamphlet The Crisis. His wrestling within himself and doubts about what to write are the focus of his character. He is also at least partially intoxicated for most of the book. With the assistance of Dr. Benjamin Rush he finally gets the pamphlet into print just days before the campaign opens.

The second character the book follows is General George Washington. I actually found this to probably be the least interesting part of the book but it was well done. Washington has so much exposure that it is difficult to bring him to life without dropping into cliches. Gingrich and Forstchen make an admirable effort however and the result is a well done picture of a commander under the gun and out of time.

The third character is a well-drawn fictional member of the New Jersey militia from Trenton. This young man is dealing with some doubt but still believes what Thomas Paine has written. He is also struggling with his physical weaknesses as the march drags on and his body breaks down. Lastly, there is a terrible family conflict that he must face as the army attains victory. This young man could perhaps illustrate many members of the Continental Army.

The fourth character is perhaps a puzzling choice at first glance but is one that I truly enjoyed reading about. Colonel Johann Rall was the commander of the Hessian garrison at Trenton. He was a professional soldier who had been born and bred to the profession. I know little about him from history. In this book he emerges as a rigid man who demanded much of his men but tried to take care of them as well. He has the professional's disdain for the American army and is sick and tired of America in general. This isn't his war and he longs to return to Europe and the land and people he knows.

All in all To Try Men's Souls is well-written and is an enjoyable read. The narrative sticks to the historical facts while putting a human face on them. The story is interesting and flows well. Anyone interested in the founding of the United States would be well-served by reading this book.

Memorial Day.

2010-05-15T10:57:00.003-05:00

May 15th is Law Enforcement Memorial Day. This year it caps off National Police Week. During the past week ceremonies have taken place at various memorials to fallen officers around the United States. Sadly, new names have been added to those memorials since last year's observances. According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, line of duty deaths are up by 36% over this time last year.

Book review - Six Secrets of the Christian Life.

2010-05-13T20:24:00.003-05:00

Recently picked up a copy of Six Secrets of the Christian Life by the late Zane Hodges. I had read several of Hodges' books on a couple of other topics and enjoyed them so I looked forward to reading this book. I am always a little leery of books that purport to show some magic formula for instant success in living. Knowing how Zane wrote I doubted this was the case but decided to keep an eye open anyway.

In the 75 pages of this small book Hodges shares what he feels are six important concepts regarding victorious Christian living. There are no quick fixes and no snappy slogans. What is shared are down to earth Biblical principles. In fact, most believers probably already know at least one or two, if not more, of the "secrets" outlined. There is really very little earth-shattering information here. Instead Zane clearly shows from Scripture how to move towards a more Christ-like life. I found the book to be challenging and helpful.

At the end of the book there is a helpful index of the passages cited. This is very helpful in re-enforcing that Hodges' is not out on his own here but is drawing what he says from Scripture. That is crucial in determining if he is on the right track or not. It seems that he is. Six Secrets of the Christian Life is a thought provoking read that I highly recommend to anyone who finds themselves struggling in their Christian walk.

Book review - The Critical Period of American History.

2010-05-03T20:49:00.003-05:00

Just finished up John Fiske's book The Critical Period of American History. This 350 page book was published in 1888 and covers the time in American history from 1783 to 1789. Mr. Fiske does an excellent job with his topic.

The book starts off with a brief summary of the effects of the Revolution on both the United States and Great Britain. Mr. Fiske then explores the weaknesses and problems that were associated with the Articles of Confederation. Soon it becomes obvious that something must be done. The last part of the book covers the Constitutional Convention and the battle to ratify the United States Constitution. George Washington is inaugurated as the first president on the final page. I found one passage in the book to be of particular interest:

While speaking of the fear of a centralized government, "To the familiar state governments which had so long possessed their love and allegiance, it was super-adding a new and untried government, which it was feared would swallow up the states and everywhere extinguish local independence. Nor can it be said that such fears were unreasonable. Our federal government has indeed shown a strong tendency to encroach upon the province of the state governments, especially since our late Civil War. Too much centralization is our danger today..." Very interesting coming just 20 short years after the close of the war and over 120 years before the present. Seems to solidify the contention that the war effectively ended states rights and that the Federal Government has been broadening its power since.

All in all The Critical Period of American History was well written and flowed smoothly. Mr. Fiske wrote a book well worthy of anyone interested in the founding era of our nation. This book gets two thumbs up.

Responding to a challenge: Five things in my wardrobe that I wouldn't be without.

2010-04-22T16:18:00.005-05:00

Writing this in response to Pierre who thought I wouldn't. Originally it was supposed to be titled "Meme." I looked up that word though and discovered that Richard Dawkins coined it and that it is very evolutionary in its origin and meaning. Thus I ditched that title. OK, on with the list.

1. Underwear - I am not Jesse Ventura. I don't go commando. Pierre does though. Check his list. See underwear? Didn't think so.

2. Shoes - I walk across the house without shoes and my legs hurt all the way up. If I'm gonna walk or be on my feet some kind of footwear is essential.

3. Belt and pants - While I wear underwear I don't like to show it off. Droopy drawers look kind of cute on a kid but are absolutely gross on anyone over five. Besides, there has to be somewhere to hang the...

4. Handgun - Never leave home without it. I prefer a Glock 27 for casual wear. Small but it's still a .40 cal and has ten rounds if you count the one in chamber. I highly recommend that everyone consider this item. Extra ammo is also a consideration.

5. Baseball jersey, sweatshirt, jacket, or fleece - To conceal aforementioned handgun.

Here are the rules from Pierre's blog:

Title your post- Meme: Five things in my wardrobe that I wouldn't be without. [Edit: Since this is a blog title, please use proper capitalization. Thank you.]
Tell us who linked you.
List your 5 wardrobe items.
Paste these rules at the bottom.
Tag 2 or 3 others to join in the fun!

So I broke the title one. Told you who asked me to do this. Wrote the list. Pasted the rules. Gonna have to break the last one. I know, it'll break the chain and bring me bad luck. I like to live on the edge though.

Book review - Old Fuss and Feathers.

2010-04-10T15:55:00.003-05:00

After reading Zachary Taylor's campaign biography I decided to tackle something on Winfield Scott next. Old Fuss and Feathers by Arthur D. Howden Smith was published in 1937 and runs for 376 interesting pages.

The book is well written and moves along well as it covers Scott's life from birth to death. The author presents a very realistic picture of his subject. General Scott's strengths and flaws are mentioned and explained. While his shortcomings are not minimized he still comes across as a great man who almost lives up to his own ambitions and expectations.

Being familiar with Scott's connection with the Civil War and somewhat with his deeds in Mexico I was particularly interested in his early service. I was unaware that he was a lawyer prior to entering the military. His service on the Canadian border during the war of 1812 was well detailed in the book and was the springboard for his later career.

I found Mr. Smith's assessment of Scott as a good regular army general who distrusted volunteers to be interesting. In part this accounted for his clashes with Andrew Jackson and Zachary Taylor. The clashes also sprang from each man's ambitions and from political differences with Jackson.

Old Fuss and Feathers was an easy and informative read. The one drawback was the lack of documentation and footnotes. Still, Arthur D. Howden Smith deserves and thumb and half up on this interesting book.

Book review - Life of General Taylor.

2010-03-27T10:22:00.003-05:00

Just finished another book from my Grandfather's library. Life of General Taylor by J. Reese Fry is a 325 page biography of General Zachary Taylor. Having given only brief attention to The War with Mexico and General Taylor's part therein, I was interested in reading this book. Another thing that served to whet my interest was the fact that it was published in October of 1847. Since General Taylor would win the presidential election of 1848 I wonder if this could be considered a campaign biography.

The book was of course positive to General Taylor but it did not come across as fawning. The General's early years are quickly summed up and the book really starts to pick up steam at the beginning of his military career. Incidents are recounted from the Blackhawk war and the Second Seminole conflict in Florida. These take up some space in the book and are interesting foundations laid leading up to General Taylor's rise to national prominence.

The emphasis of the book by far is The War with Mexico. General Taylor was the commanding general of U.S. troops along the border prior to the war and his actions there are carefully laid out. His movements once the war broke out are also detailed. The book covers the siege of Fort Brown, and the battles of Palo Alto, Resaca de La Palma, Monterrey, and Buena Vista. The narrative ends shortly after Buena Vista with General Taylor in his camp preparing for the next action.

The book is of particular interest for several reasons. It shows the American view of the war and General Taylor at the time. I found this to be interesting. It also includes reprints of much of General Taylor's reports and correspondence with the War Department. These are valuable primary sources that help explain some of what went on and why. The final reason I found the book interesting was what was not in it. Only very sparing mentions were made of President Polk and General Scott. This seems to confirm the possibility that this book was originally published with the intent to further General Taylor's presidential possibilities.

All in all Life of General Taylor was well-written and an interesting read. It needs to be read for what it is, the biography of a presidential candidate prior to election. Still, I heartily recommend this book to anyone who can find it.

Book review - catching up.

2010-03-13T11:48:00.003-06:00

Have recently read several small books. Because they are each so short I have decided to combine the reviews here.

The first book was George Sullivan's Baseball's Boneheads, Bad Boys, & Just Plain Crazy Guys. This 62 page book is aimed at the younger set and is illustrated. It is still an interesting read. Mr. Sullivan starts off with a disclaimer that most of the stunts discussed in the book should not be attempted. Sound advice. In the course of the book we see one player jump from a hotel window and another lock himself in a drink cooler. There are also the stories of players doctoring the ball and making wacky or absent-minded plays. Overall a neat little book of fun baseball stories.

Second up is another baseball book. Like Father, Like Son is Sarah Gardiner White's 151 page contribution on Major League Baseball families. She covers mostly famous families like the Alous and Ripkens. The DiMaggio brothers come in for a mention as do the Bretts, Alomars, Griffeys, and several others. The book is written to junior high kids and is a little dated. Not too bad a read all the same.

The last book is The County Sheriff America's Last Hope by Sheriff Richard Mack. Sheriff Mack was one of the sheriffs who successfully challenged parts of the Brady Bill. His subsequent fame lead to him writing several books and this 49 page book/booklet is one of them. The book is fairly well written and flows well. Sheriff Mack contends that the county sheriff is the last hope of a free America and that only if the sheriffs begin to stand up to unconstitutional laws will the country survive. He does an excellent job of rallying the troops to the call. His reasoning behind the call is a little less well done. Aside from the fact that sheriffs are elected by the people Sheriff Mack never explains quite what gives them this power to take on the Federal Government. He also neglects to mention what a sheriff should do when the Federal Government decides not to play along with his defiance. Beside these two weaknesses I found the book to be an interesting read. Sheriff Mack is definitely not shy about what he believes.

Coming soon to a country near you?

2010-03-13T11:45:00.002-06:00

Interesting article at the Times Online. Seems to me that this is just a natural extension of the encroachment of government on every area of life but specifically in the area of health care. After all, if the government pays for your health insurance shouldn't it be allowed to engage in health assurance?

Book review - The Historical Atlas of the Civil War.

2010-02-14T16:41:00.003-06:00

One of the books that I got for Christmas was The Historical Atlas of the Civil War by John Macdonald. The book is a 383 page coffee table volume that claims "Maps and photographs chronicle the fascinating and dramatic story of the Civil War." I was excited to get this book, maps are often small or poorly drawn in smaller books.

I was bound to be disappointed in Mr. Macdonald's work. The book was poorly laid out with each chapter covering a specific battle or series of events and the chapters not all falling in sequential order. The maps were not very detailed and did not show the progression of events well. Those were the high points.

The pictures were not as numerous as might be expected and quite a number were misidentified. Some simply had the wrong names as in the picture of General George Custer on page 198 that is identified as Kit Carson. Others are simply not what they are purported to be. On page 366 a part of the Gettysburg cyclorama painting is labeled as being from 1861 and showing a field hospital of the time. On page 110 a picture is labeled as showing the CS battle flag. There isn't a picture of any CS flag anywhere in the picture. Page 129 shows the damage to the USS Monitor following the battle with the CSS Virginia. The damage is attributed to "the guns of the Union craft." Pictures on page 138 of the US army supply depot on the Virgina peninsula are labeled as showing "the Union Army encamped near the Mississippi River." There are more examples than just these but they suffice to demonstrate the problem.

As bad as the photograph captions are, the text is even a bigger disappointment. Sometimes there are obvious typos, other times outright mistakes. On page 72 the author has the Seven Days ending with the Union forces driving the Confederates back into Richmond. On page 165 we are introduced to CS General "Kirkby" Smith. The name should be Kirby. In case this be mistaken for an isolated error, "Kirkby" is repeated several times on pages 166 and 167 as well. On page 248 General Ulysses S. Grant commits treason by laying "siege to Petersburg, Pennsylvania." There are many more examples but the above sample should give you a good idea.

While the concept for The Historical Atlas of the Civil War is an excellent one the execution falls short of the goal. The layout, picture captions, and text all combine to give this book one thumb down overall.

Book review - No Less Than Victory.

2010-01-09T19:50:00.004-06:00

For Christmas my in-laws gave me No Less Than Victory, a novel about World War II. This is the latest book in Jeff Shaara's series and follows The Steel Wave, finishing the war in Europe. The book keeps some characters from the previous volume, drops some, and adds new ones. As is expected by now, Mr. Shaara's writing is intense, gripping, and historically accurate.

The book starts off with a bombing raid on Berlin from the perspective of one of the airmen involved. It then moves into a discussion among the Allied high command of the next step to take now that the German army has been pushed out of France and most of Belgium. Of course the Germans have other ideas and they launch the offensive that came to be known as the Battle of The Bulge. The book follows the offensive's course and the downward spiral of Germany's fortunes as the Third Reich stumbles towards its doom.

Mr. Shaara does an excellent job recreating the war from the American side. The British and Germans have smaller but equally well-done voices. The Russians are a force beyond the horizon, a rumor to be pondered and shuddered at. This technique adds to the reality of the American soldier's view. Once again the characters are convincingly drawn in a way that clearly shows their strengths, weaknesses, hopes, and fears.

There is a warning though. As the Allied forces advanced into Germany they uncovered the true consequences of Adolf Hitler's mad dream. The descriptions of German war atrocities are chilling. The description of the liberation of a concentration camp shook me to my core.

You must read this book as well as the rest of the Shaara series. Mr. Shaara has a gift and he uses it. This is not a textbook, it is history coming alive. If you think history is boring you owe it to yourself to read this book and as many others of the series as you can track down. It won't be boring when you're done. No Less Than Victory easily scores an unreserved two thumbs up.

Book review - Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.

2010-01-08T15:55:00.003-06:00

Wow! Been awhile since I wrote. Sorry about that. Holiday traveling and all. Have finished two books in the past few weeks. The first is Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown. This interesting 446 page book is subtitled "An Indian History of the American West." I had long heard of Mr. Brown's work and looked forward to reading it. While it did not totally live up to expectations it was still a very good read. The book was well-written and moved along quite smoothly. The documentation seems to have been as good as the circumstances allowed.

Mr. Brown begins his narrative in 1860 and follows white expansion across the plains of the United States until 1890. The story is told from the perspective of the American Indians rather than the settlers and soldiers. This aspect alone makes the book worth reading. As tribe by tribe fight and fall it is clear to see the divisions and gut wrenching decisions that they underwent. Treaties were broken and atrocities committed by the United States military. Whole peoples were forcibly removed from their homes. Hearing about these events from the view of the people who underwent them is enlightening and somewhat sorrowful.

In spite of all the good points to the book, Mr. Brown did stub his toe several times. He accused the whites of magnifying Indian atrocities while minimizing their own. He then proceeded to do just the same thing in reverse. In like manner he (and the tribesmen of which he wrote) holds the United States accountable for the actions of rouge officers and free-lancers even while complaining that the whites all too often held the Indians accountable for the unsanctioned actions of hot-blooded young braves. Mr. Brown also condemns Philip Sheridan's statement that the only good Indian is a dead Indian. However, I was unable to ever find a good white man in the book.

Overall Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee is an interesting and well-written read. If one keeps in mind the obvious double-standard frequently displayed there is much knowledge to be gleaned from the pages. I give the book one and a half thumbs up.

Christmas thanks.

2009-12-24T19:13:00.002-06:00

Christ is the center of a reason for Christmas. Sometimes though I think it is a good thing to say thanks to those who help insure that we can continue to celebrate His birth in freedom. Too many of those folks are away from home and hearth this night and I wanted to say thanks. I know this poem is copied but I am not sure who wrote it. It says things better than I can though.

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear..
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.."
" So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

Book review - Uncommon Sense.

2009-12-10T22:14:00.003-06:00

Cal Thomas' 278 page book Uncommon Sense was published in 1990. It is subtitled as "A Layman's Briefing Book on the Issues." The book is divided into three major sections. Within each section are several issues sections that consists of a briefing on each issue and a collection of Cal's commentaries on each. An introduction and prologue start and finish the book.

While some of the issues are dated, the principles and concepts that Mr. Thomas discusses are not. Cal lays out a brief history of each issue and presents a road map of where he thinks we should head from that point. It is very interesting to see just how correct he has been in the last 19 years as far as the dangers of mishandling the issues facing America. It is also a spur to correct, if possible, some of the mistakes that we as a nation have made. As far as the issues that are still open, the book is a nice call to action in those areas.

In spite of the time lapse between the publication of the book and now Uncommon Sense is still very relevant. I give two thumbs up to this concise and engaging volume.

After action report - Elmore City, Oklahoma.

2009-12-08T10:39:00.003-06:00

Went down to Elmore City, Oklahoma this past weekend for what was billed as a tactical event for reenactors only. The information that I had received stated that the U.S. and C.S. camps would be separated and that the area for maneuvering would consist of about 160 acres. The action was supposed to kick off at 0600 on Saturday and continue with only one truce until Sunday afternoon. Sounded like a great finish to the season so I decided to go. Only two other guys from my battalion were able to make it but we figured we could fall in with another unit.

When I arrived Friday evening the other two guys were already in camp and set up. I quickly unloaded and got my gear set up and squared away. Then I noticed the blue. Blue uniforms that is, around the campfire. I inquired as to the reason. Only one camp I was told. So much for pickets or any attempted surprise raids. Confident that things would look better by daylight I decided to retire to my tent for the evening.

Before turning in I asked who was in command. Nobody seemed to be sure, there was no clear chain of command or organization. On that doubtful note I turned in.

I woke on Saturday morning to the sound of women conversing by the campfire. I was under the impression that this was a military only event. I rolled over and grabbed my watch. 0730! Reveille hadn't sounded, never would in fact. I jumped up, got dressed, and out of the tent. Two women in sweatshirts and blue jeans were sitting by the fire talking. A Federal sergeant was in a chair by the fire warming his brogans up. He was wearing house slippers and a hooded sweatshirt while he waited. Across from him sat a Folgers' coffee can with the plastic lid on. A plastic jug of water was thawing by the fire and the hiss of propane heaters emanated from several tents in the street. Nobody seemed to be moving in any particular direction. Beginning to doubt the wisdom of my trip I made breakfast and waited to see what would develop.

The event coordinator showed up in his uniform, and tennis shoes. He remarked that the camp did not look very authentic but that since there was no public we would not worry about it. Hmm. Not a good sign.

Finally formed up at 0930 for safety inspection. Moved out for the tactical at about 1000. Had a nice little fight that ended around 1200 when the truce was called. Headed into town for lunch. This was expected from the original information. Talked over things with my battalion mates. We decided that theme camping was not for us. One of the other guys told the event coordinator that we would be heading out. He replied that he hated to see us go since we would miss the adult beverages that would be passed around that evening. That sealed the deal. Alcohol and tactical events cannot co-exist. After lunch we loaded up and headed home.

While the event was disappointing there were a few bright spots. The terrain was awesome and lived up to every expectation. The concept was spot on, if it had been adhered to the event would have been an overwhelming success. Perhaps in future years the tactical will become a reality, authenticity will be enforced a bit more, and the camps will be separated. If that occurs I would look forward to returning.

They said it.

2009-12-03T09:44:00.004-06:00

"At the Constitutional level where we work, 90 percent of any decision is emotional. The rational part of us supplies the reasons for supporting our predilections."

- Justice William O. Douglas, USCT

"I find nothing in the language or history of the Constitution to support the Court's judgement. . . . As an exercise of raw judicial power, the Court perhaps has the authority to do what it does today; but in my view its judgement is an improvident and extravagant exercise of the power of judicial review."

- Justice Byron White, USCT

Dissenting opinion on Roe v. Wade.

"If this is all that judges do then their authority over us is totally intolerable and totally irreconcilable with the theory and practice of democracy."

- Professor Alexander Bickel

Came across these quotes the other day and have been thinking them over. I guess they explain much of what has occurred in the history of The Supreme Court and other courts. They seem to sum up perfectly the source and problems with the courts that we now have in this country.

Catching up.

2009-12-02T10:40:00.002-06:00

Woohoo! Been a busy last week or so.

Had the Thanksgiving Day in there, hope everyone had a good and grateful one. Had Mrs. Spiff's family up for that, they were cold even though we weren't. It was in the 50's but they're from Texas and were having a hard time with the temperature change.

Started hauling out the Christmas decorations for Mrs. Spiff. I don't really mind this but don't care for the actual decorating. I do enjoy the end result though. Advent started last Sunday at church so it's easy to get into the reflection mode of the season.

December looks to be a busy month but I'll try to keep up on the posting.

Book review - The Anti-Federalists.

2009-11-25T11:04:00.004-06:00

Jackson Turner Main's book The Anti-Federalists is subtitled "Critics of the Constitution 1781-1788." The 286 page book was published in 1961.

I had always been interested in the ratification battles concerning the U.S. Constitution so I was eager to read Mr. Main's book. While I did find the read to be tedious at times I was not disappointed. Mr. Main first lays the political foundation for the ratification fight and then breaks down the ratification battles by state. While his delving into state by state politics makes the book drag at times it remains an interesting read.

I was previously aware that such notables as Elbridge Gerry, Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, and George Mason had opposed the Constitution as establishing a too powerful Federal Government. I was not aware that the they did not have a problem with strengthening the Federal Government as it then existed. Their concern was that the Constitution, as written, gave too much power to what they perceived would be a National, not Federal, government. In fact, several opponents called themselves "real Federalists." They did this because they felt that the true issue was whether or not the United States would have a national government or federal one. A national government was perceived as overshadowing and eventually absorbing the states. A federal system was perceived as the states delegating certain powers to a very limited central government but maintaining their rights to govern their internal affairs as they saw fit.

The proponents of the Constitution countered by stating that the proposed government was not national in nature but federal and would never trample on the states. This won over some anti-federalists but most remained concerned. As intervening history has proven, they had good cause to be so concerned.

Another division that Mr. Main explores is the financial one. Most federalist were well off while the anti-federalists were generally the working class. The middle class was mostly evenly split. This led to some heights of rhetoric which I was surprised at. Some of the opponents of the Constitution called for redistribution of wealth. Somewhat of a contradictory view for those who were concerned about an overreaching federal government.

All in all I give The Anti-Federalists a half a thumb up. While the subject matter is of great interest Mr. Main often becomes bogged down in the minutia of the fight. This leads to his well-researched volume dragging at some key times. A good book for anyone interested in the origins of the Constitution and those who have ever wondered why The Federalist Papers needed to be written.

Allergic reaction.

2009-11-19T11:10:00.003-06:00

When I first got into emergency services I actually started as a volunteer EMT. Less than a year later I moved onto the Police Department but kept up my by then heavy involvement in EMS.

I can't recall if I was on the Police Department yet or not on the night in question. I was on the overnight call shift which ran from seven at night until five the next morning. Because the town is fairly small we were not required to be at the station while on call, just have our pagers on. I turned my pager on at seven that evening and a few hours later turned my light off and hit the sack.

Sure enough, in the middle of the night the pager tones woke me up. Woman with difficulty breathing. I pulled on my EMS uniform, stumbled out to my car, and drove the the shed. There I met Larry and Ringo. Larry was the patrolman assigned to that night shift and he was starting the ambulance up. Ringo was the other EMT on call and he looked about as sleepy as I felt. Off we went.

Once on scene we encountered an elderly woman who was panting as she tried to catch her breath. After getting a quick history we decided to start the woman on oxygen to try and alleviate her distress. Ringo thought a mask would be good so I set it up. Ringo told the woman what he was going to do and placed the mask on her face. Panic set in. Ringo pulled the mask off. The woman calmed down. Ringo explained again, in more detail. Mask back on, panic. Mask off. Explain. Mask on. Panic. Mask off.

So far Ringo, Larry, myself, and the woman's son had all tried to explain to her about the oxygen. She was coherent and said she understood but didn't want the mask on. She claimed that oxygen was no good for her. What? She had no medical condition that made oxygen use dangerous. No matter, it just wasn't good for her she said. Larry escaped by going out to the ambulance to get the cot. Ringo talked the woman into allowing him to hold the mask next to her face and let the air blow across her nose and mouth. Not as good as if the mask was on but better than nothing.

Larry returned with the cot. The woman wouldn't sit on it. Said she couldn't. We brought the back all the way up. No dice. We tried to talk her onto the cot. Nope. I looked at Ringo. He looked like he was in the middle of a long night. Larry was looking at the ceiling. The woman's son asked if she could ride in a seat in the ambulance. Worth a try. The woman agreed that she could do that. Progress!

We carried the woman out on a dining room chair because she was too weak to walk. As we set her down beside the ambulance she stated that she could not ride in the ambulance because it was too high. Larry assured her that this was not a problem because we would lift her in. No we wouldn't she replied, it was too high. That was her final say in the matter, she would not ride that high up. Nothing we could say was going to change that. Larry looked like a man who wanted to swear but knew he couldn't.

Ringo asked the woman what she wanted to do. She stated that her son could take her to the hospital in his car. The son looked like he might faint at the suggestion. He pointed out that Mom was not doing well in the breathing department. This concerned him. Ringo stepped in, the important thing was to get the lady to the doctor. What about if we EMTs rode in the car with the woman and her son? That would work said the woman.

Grabbing a jump kit and the oxygen we piled into the back seat of the car (the woman would only ride up front). Larry followed in the ambulance. I kept in radio contact with Larry and documented the proceedings. Ringo leaned over the front seat and held the oxygen mask to blow across the woman's face. Whenever he got the mask too close she would push it away and remind us that oxygen was not good for her.

It was a long ride to the hospital. A long explanation to the ER staff as to why our patient wasn't on board the ambulance when we came in. A long report. It will also be a long time before I forget the woman who was allergic to oxygen and the four door car that became an ambulance.

Book review - The Twelve Caesars.

2009-11-18T10:21:00.003-06:00

The Twelve Caesars is Michael Grant's 260 page study of the first twelve Roman emperors. The book is divided into an introduction, twelve biographical sketches of the rulers, and a conclusion. The style of writing is engaging without being needlessly dramatic.

In the introduction Mr. Grant explains that his biographical pictures of the emperors will lack detail due to the time that has passed since they lived and the loss of primary sources. Such sources as go exist are somewhat compromised as well by the necessity of the author's survival (the living emperor would be closely monitoring the contemporary historians). This makes them somewhat biased. Mr. Grant also warns that the emperors must be seen in the light of their times to be understood. He claims that what seems depraved and evil to us today was accepted in their time and so they were not necessarily any worse than any of their fellow citizens. The main difference was the lack of restraint imposed. An interesting point but one that gives rise to the question, is evil wrong because it is evil or because it is viewed as such?

In spite of the dearth of source information, Mr. Grant does an admirable job of tracing the creation of the Roman Empire by Julius Caesar through the end of the reign of Domitian. Mr. Grant is careful to clarify what he can reasonably confirm as fact and what is mere legend. Each chapter follows one emperor and the length of each is regulated by the information available as well as by the length of the emperor's reign. For the three who lasted less than three months each there is not much to be said. In contrast, the chapters on Agustus and Tiberius are longer.

In the conclusion the author briefly sums up the impact each emperor had and the lessons that can be drawn from their performances. He also quotes Lord Acton's observation that, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are always bad." Mr. Grant takes the corruption spoke of in this statement to be the physical breakdown due to the stress of the job. He also contends that the Caesars were no more bad than any other hero or leader and that they "demand our awed respect and admiration."

I give The Twelve Caesars a half a thumb up. While I learned much about the men and events of the period I was dismayed at the author's attempt to gloss over the atrocities committed by many of these rulers. I was somewhat confused by this tendency until I read the conclusion and discovered his misunderstanding of Lord Acton and his rationalization of evil. While these men may have scaled the utmost heights of power and glory, in the end they gained the whole world but lost their souls.

Book review - Theodore Rex.

2009-11-16T11:19:00.003-06:00

Edmund Morris' Theodore Rex is a 555 page study of Theodore Roosevelt's presidency. The book begins with the notification of President McKinley's death and closes as TR leaves Washington following the inauguration of President Taft. In between the two events Morris clearly traces Teddy's actions and outlines the political environment he was operating in.

The first President Roosevelt was a much more complicated figure than he appears in most textbooks. His habit of sounding one way and then another in the same speech confused his opponents and allies alike. His actions though are clearly the forewarning of another Roosevelt who would later assume the presidency.

Mr. Morris' personal beliefs are hard to determine but he concisely lays out TR's populist tendencies and correctly classifies him as one of the first progressives. Roosevelt's policies on railroads and his later war on capitalism are two examples of such tendencies.

By his second term, TR's expansionism had moderated and he was focusing more and more on domestic issues. This did not prevent him from brokering peace between Russia and Japan though. Initially an admirer of Japan, TR began to suspect that a future war was likely. His policy of peace through security helped to stave off that war for a few decades.

All in all President Theodore Roosevelt could be viewed merely as a light version of his more well-known relative, Franklin D. Roosevelt. His policies tended to the socialist side of things, he was an adroit politician with a huge ego, and he had trouble letting go of power. It would have been well had he adhered to his own statement concerning his duties as President, "I do not represent public opinion: I represent the public. There is a wide difference between the two, between the real interests of the public, and the public's opinion of those interests."

One thing is for sure; Edmund Morris serves the public interest well with Theodore Rex. I give this well-written book two thumbs up.

Off the Tallahatchie bridge.

2009-11-15T08:30:00.003-06:00

So when I came to work this morning the radio was playing "Ode to Billie Joe" by Bobbie Gentry. I asked the night shift officer what he thought the girl singing and Billie Joe had thrown off the bridge. He stated that he didn't know but had often wondered himself. We discussed the various possibilities for a couple of minutes before he got out of the car.

According to Wikipedia, we're not the only ones who have wondered what got thrown off the bridge. Apparently it was big news at the time the song was originally released and even involved police questioning. There seems to be no clear answer as to what Bobbie Gentry meant when she wrote the song and she has never cleared the matter up very well either.

So, what did get thrown off the bridge? Did that have any connection to Billie Joe's later jump? What is your theory?

Book review variety show.

2009-11-13T14:32:00.004-06:00

Ok, so I was planning on reviewing each of the books that I have read in the past few months. Problem is, I still have six books to go. At my present rate that will take me forever since I am still reading. As such I have decided to take a shortcut and do quick reviews of each book. Here we go:

Adams vs. Jefferson by John Ferling - Excellent read about the election of 1800. Ferling does a superb job of laying the foundation and explaining the issues. I learned a lot. Much about Jefferson, more about Adams and his term as president.

Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose - An overview of the Lewis and Clark expedition with the focus being on Meriwether Lewis. I had never read any of Ambrose's work and knew only the basic facts about the Lewis and Clark adventure. Learned much about both. The information was fascinating but I am not sure I share others' enthusiasm for the author.

Benjamin Franklin, An American Life by Walter Isaacson - This book was a very revealing look at America's original inventor. I knew little about Franklin outside his participation in the founding of the United States. This work filled in his background nicely and made his decisions and actions understandable.

Andrew Jackson, His Life and Times by H.W. Brands - Andrew Jackson was an intriguing figure in American history. Brands brings him to life and gives a clear picture of his life, service, and presidency. I was able to glean a lot about Jackson in reading this and it solidified my view of him as one of the worst presidents we have had.

The Second World War by John Keegan - Handy overview of the war by a British historian. The British take on the war was very interesting. While that was not Keegan's purpose in writing the book, it did show through at times. His method of dividing the war into theatres and segments was also interesting.

Mathew Brady by Barry Pritzker - As is fitting the subject matter, this is a nice coffee table type book. The author mixes text containing Brady's biography in with photos containing his work. Being familiar with Brady's Civil War works I was particularly impressed by some of his other pictures. Relaxing and interesting read.

Whew! So there we are, all caught up. I'll try and not let that happen again. If you have any questions about these six books or want more information on them just give me a shout.

Book review - The Late Great Planet Earth.

2009-11-11T08:42:00.003-06:00

The Late Great Planet Earth by Hal Lindsey was written in 1970 and the copy I read was printed in 1973. The topic is Biblical prophecy concerning the last days. As a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary Mr. Lindsey is familiar and comfortable with his topic.

While the references to current events are obviously dated, I found the book to be an interesting read. Mr. Lindsey starts by addressing why Biblical prophecy should be taken seriously. He points out the many instances where it has been borne out in other areas. He convincingly contends that this record of accuracy lends credibility to the predictions about the end times. This was actually the part of the book that I found to be most interesting.

Mr. Lindsey stumbles a bit when addressing future events. The most obvious reason for this was the time in which the book was written. For example, while there are certain prophecies directed roughly at Russia, Mr. Lindsey attempts to apply them to the Soviet Union as he knew it at the time of the writing. While this might have made sense in 1970 it hardly does so now. In other instances Mr. Lindsey gives credence to some of the United Nations bilge on overpopulation and such. Since Mr. Lindsey avoids specific applications the effect of these flaws, though jarring, is not fatal to his work.

Overall I give The Late Great Planet Earth a thumb and half up. Mr. Lindsey does an excellent job of exploring the end time prophecies and laying the foundation as to why those prophecies should be taken seriously. This book is well worth the reading in spite of the Cold War flavor of some passages.

Book review - Days of Our Years.

2009-11-10T14:10:00.003-06:00

I have actually read several books since the last review I posted. My Grandfather passed away in June and so I have inherited quite a few books and look to receive more. My Grandfather was a voracious reader who kept almost everything he read. His literary interests were varied and his library vast. I will try and catch up with my recent reading as time permits.

The latest book from the collection that I read was Days of Our Years by Pierre Van Paasen. When I started reading I had no idea who Mr. Van Paasen was, the book was published in 1939 though and promised to be an interesting read about the period between the World Wars. A note written on the title page in my Grandfather's handwriting further piqued my curiosity. In it he stated that the book was of the type that "nearly justifies the burning of books." I do not share my Grandfather's political or religious views so the note was more of an invitation than warning.

In the book Mr. Van Paasen writes of his childhood in Holland, his family's immigration to Canada, and his service in the Canadian army in World War One. That is just the background. He then proceeds to lay out various experiences he had while working as a newspaper reporter.

While I found his sketches of rural French life, his account of being detained at Dachau (yes, the concentration camp), and his travels in French Morocco to be of interest, they paled against his telling of the Italian invasion of Ethiopia, the conflict in the British mandate of Palestine, and his interviews with Benito Mussolini.

In Ethiopia Mr. Van Paasen was befriended by Emperor Haile Selassie. This allowed him to see and recount the Ethiopian side of the invasion. The accounts of Selassie's views and hopes concerning international intervention is of great interest. In one particularly vivid account Mr. Van Passen recalls walking in on the Ethiopian Minister of War as he was holding his youngest son who had just died after being gassed by the Italian troops.

Mussolini comes across as just the type of egotistic buffoon who would jump at the chance of invading a stone age country and then try to claim glory from the endeavor. Mr. Van Passen had a couple of interviews with The Duce and came away with a good understanding of him. He missed though in predicting that Benito would not stay tied to Hitler and would ally himself with Britian and France in any coming war.

In Palestine Mr. Van Paasen spoke with Jewish leaders, the Mufti of Jerusalem, the British governor, and common folks of all stripes. What he reveals about the Arab leadership's duplicity and the British complacency is almost shocking.

All in all I would give Days of Our Years one thumb up. While the accounts of travels and events are very interesting and Mr. Van Paasen is a skilled observer and story teller, he is hampered in two respects.

First, as an avowed Socialist he gives the Soviet Union, and communism in general, a free pass on many things. In one instance he states that the USSR is moving forward and that the end will justify the "discomfort" experienced in the process.

The second area that I found Mr. Van Paasen lacking in was his understanding of human nature. Strange since he was a reporter of human events. Mr. Van Paasen's view that humans are naturally good at their core blinds him to the cause of the events he is recording. He tends to try and blame circumstances and conditions for human atrocities. While circumstances and conditions can affect human viewpoints and strategies every man must still give account for his actions. Mr. Van Paasen misses this and his otherwise insightful work suffers from the loss.

After action report - Pawnee City, Nebraska.

2009-09-29T21:05:00.003-05:00

Went to a reenactment this past weekend in Pawnee City, Nebraska. It was small and not based on any actual battle in the area but I hadn't been out all year and was missing the wool. Mrs. Spiff and the three youngsters went along as well. The event was sponsored by the local museum and took place on the grounds and adjacent property.

We left home on Friday afternoon around 4:00. The drive was only about three hours but took a little longer due to some stops for provisions. Nice to have that short of a trip. On our arrival there were few reenactors (a permanent situation) and much confusion. After attempting to register as per instructions we were told that there was no Friday night registration. The registration took place on Saturday morning, a bit awkward.

First order of business was to get Mrs. Spiff and the family set up. We located the civilian camp and got the tent set up and gear unloaded with no problem. While the setting was less than authentic, the civilian camp offered a nice location for camping.

A short drive into the boondocks brought us to the C.S. camp. I was able to quickly locate my company and begin unloading. As we were doing this the rain that had been falling off and on began again. Fast movement prevented any significant wetting of my bedding. The rain continued most of the night but all stayed dry. A quick shower the next morning would be the last of the rain for the weekend.

Reveille sounded before sunup on Saturday. After dodging the brief shower we lined up for roll-call. That done, breakfast was attended to with rapidity before morning parade. Following parade I was assigned to picket duty. That was uneventful save for a brief encounter with an arrogant cavalry civilian. After getting relieved on picket I was able to get a pass to go up to the civilian camp and check on everyone. Things seemed to be going well and all were surviving. Bug appeared to be enjoying her first event as she crawled around and looked at grass and leaves. Spiff Jr. and Sis being the veterans they are were having a ball. Had lunch while I was up to visit.

Spent the early afternoon practicing for some hand-to-hand combat centered around a Union gun. Took a few takes but we got it down. The fight went well and the hand-to-hand went as planned. A couple of the guys who watched said it looked pretty good.

Following the battle we cleaned up and relaxed for awhile. Then came some dinner and a visit to town. After that I again visited the civilian camp and chatted with the family for awhile before bidding them good night and heading back to camp. A late night offensive was contemplated by command and we were told to prepare before bed. I did so but the movement was inexplicably called off. Slept soundly.

Awoke Sunday morning to a crash of gunfire. Surprise attack and Billy Yank was on the offensive. Scrambled out of bed and into line as we got them stopped just short of the camp. Managed to push them back to their camp and outflank them to gain the edge of their camp before a truce was called. Great skirmish and well played by the Blue-bellies. Somewhat surprising to find them so aggressive.

Following the fight we returned to camp for breakfast. I then packed out some of my gear before church call. Attended a mutual service in the museum chapel. Good sermon. C.S., U.S., civilians, and spectators all present. Nice.

Walked the family back to their tent after the service and then returned to camp. Packed out the rest of my gear. Battle at 1:00 p.m. Not quite as impressive as the first day. We were supposed to repeat the hand-to-hand but never got the chance. Got whipped badly.

No trouble at all getting out of the event. Packed up pretty quickly and hit the road. Faster trip home with fewer stops.

Overall it was a fun little event that I would like to repeat is possible. The forces were small but the setup was acceptable and the powder ration did much to make up for any shortfalls. For its size it was well done and well attended by the public.

Don't forget.

2009-09-11T20:46:00.003-05:00

I still remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when I heard about the planes flying into the World Trade Center. I pray that everyone will always remember that day and those who died.

To drive a big red truck.

2009-04-30T09:03:00.003-05:00

I was getting ready for work the other night and visiting with Spiff Jr. as I did so. We often do that when I am working third shift, me preparing to start my day and he winding his down. During these times I get the scoop on the latest happenings in the world of a four year old. Sometimes he surprises me.

On this particular evening he made an announcement as he put his toothbrush away and headed out the bathroom door. He knew what he was going to do when he got older. "I'm going to be a firefighter Dad, because they don't have to work night shift." He then trotted off down the hall to his room.

I smiled. Partially because he used the word "firefighter" rather than "fireman". Partially because I know that the fire-dancers do work third shift, in a manner of speaking. At least they get to sleep through their nights if no calls come in.

As I walked into my bedroom, my wife went to tuck the kiddos in. I heard Spiff Jr. repeat his new found direction in life. His mother was practical and let him know that firefighters do work nights. This perplexed him. He thought for a minute. "Well, are there any emergency vehicles that don't work night shift?" None, came the answer. "Why not?" People need help at night too. This satisfied him. He was still not as sure as to his life's calling as he had been but was able to get to sleep with the comfort of knowing that there is really a reason for night shift.

Game changer.

2009-04-21T01:25:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was the tenth anniversary of the Columbine school shooting in Littleton, Colorado. Hard to believe is has already been ten years since that event that changed so many things. Many who are more literary than I have already paid tribute to those who died and survived there. I'll settle for a quick thought on the day.

Barely a week or two go by that I don't think about Columbine. I wasn't involved and don't know anyone who was, but it still impacted me. I remember exactly where I was when I first learned of the tragedy.

I was sitting in an Applebee's with about five or six academy classmates. We were celebrating the survival of an exam and were in good spirits. With six months experience I was perhaps the most seasoned cop in the group and that isn't saying much. As we laughed and joked someone suddenly said, "Hey, what's that?" Looking up to the TV mounted near the ceiling we saw swat officers moving cautiously behind a firetruck. The crawl across the bottom announced that the footage was live from Littleton. We embryonic coppers were transfixed by any swat team anywhere and continued to watch. The story unfolded over the course of dinner and we caught the full impact by the time we finished. Sobered, we sat there trying to absorb what this meant. One of the other members of the group summed it all up as we left, "It's now a different game than we signed up to play when we started."

Spring.

2009-04-18T10:39:00.003-05:00

Spring has finally sprung and boy am I glad. It always seems to me that Spring doesn't really start until Easter weekend, regardless of what the calender says.

In addition to baseball, the weather is getting warmer. I sure am glad to get out of the arctic temps that we "enjoyed" this last winter. I like my job but the whole working out in the elements sure gets old sometimes.

Spiff Jr. and Sis are pretty glad as well I think. Time to play outdoors again. Picking dandelions, throwing balls for the dogs, and swinging are the current rages among the younger set. Mrs. Spiff is enjoying having the kiddos out of the house as well.

To Troll or not to Troll...

2009-02-28T17:47:00.004-06:00

About a week ago I received an email notice that one of my posts had received a comment. Since such notices are few, I immediately logged on to see what had been said. The post was one of my political ones so I was prepared for disagreement or agreement. After all, robust debate is part of our political system.

I was not quite prepared for what I found. An anonymous user who identified herself (I take their word for their gender) as "Lynore" had taken umbrage at my views on abortion. While that is not unusual, what struck me was the way she went about expressing her views. In an opening comment she dragged out the moth-eaten line that I cannot have or express an opinion on abortion simply because of my gender. She then accused me of being simple-minded and obsessed with women's breasts. Strange way of expressing one's views. I responded. She answered none of my points, confused the abortion debate with the war in Iraq, and accused me of being judgemental. Very odd way of discussing any issue.

Following that, she left comments on several of my other posts. She brought up issues that were not in my posts, implied that I do not understand my job and lack sufficient training to do it and said that I "scared" her. In addition, she went after a previous comment left by a reader who does not post on this blog.

All of this left me wondering, is "Lynore" a true believer in the far left, or a Troll trying to stir up hate and discontent? Is there any difference?

Book review - The Steel Wave.

2009-02-18T16:37:00.003-06:00

Finished reading The Steel Wave this morning. This is the latest in a series written by Jeff Shaara and brings the series up through the D-Day landings in Normandy.

Mr. Shaara started writing this series after the production of the movie Gettysburg, which was based on his father's book, Killer Angels. He first finished the Civil War and then went back to Revolution. Two books on the revolution and one on the Mexican War bring the series to the three books on the Civil War. After that is one one WW1 and, so far, two on WW2. Officially labeled as historical fiction, the series is very close to a historical rendering of events.

I have found all of Mr. Shaara's work to be excellent and The Steel Wave is no exception. Once again, war is viewed through the eyes of those who fight it. From Eisenhower, Patton, and Rommel, to the fictional characters in the enlisted ranks; each has their own story and unique vantage point. They all have different motives and ideas about fighting the war.

While the Allied players are perhaps more familiar, I found Rommel to be particularly intriguing. Historians have long debated whether he knew about the Holocaust and his exact involvement in the plot to assassinate Hitler. Shaara has apparently concluded from his research that Rommel knew little of the plot and was only beginning to become aware that something was dreadfully wrong in the treatment of the Jews. Trapped by his perceived duty to obey but nagged by his conscience, Rommel is torn as to a course of action. In the end he does nothing but still cannot escape. In one passage he asks himself about the world that his son will inherit because nobody had the courage to say no to Hitler earlier. He then asks himself if anyone has the courage now. He leaves the question unanswered.

In summary, Mr. Shaara has again lived up to the high bar he has set for himself in his previous work. The Steel Wave is a must read for any history buff, those interested in human psychology, and everyone who appreciates a ripping good yarn. You would do yourself a favor though to start with the founding of the nation and the beginning of the series.

Bloody irony.

2009-01-24T11:26:00.004-06:00

President Barack Obama has lifted the ban on Federal funds being used overseas to promote or provide abortions. The ban, often referred to as the Mexico City Policy, was first put in place by Ronald Reagan. It was lifted by Bill Clinton and reinstated by George W. Bush. Most of the funding for abortion counseling and provision will be directed at third world countries.

President Obama's action is not surprising given his previous pro-death record concerning the unborn. It is a bit ironic though. A man who stated on the campaign trail that determination of the unborn's right to life was above his pay grade has now determined that they have no right to life. Was his pay grade raised? Perhaps. Was he simply lying to avoid a difficult question? More likely.

I find the lifting of the ban by America's first black president to be somewhat fascinating, much like watching a car wreck take place. To see any minority promoting any type of pro-abortion agenda is enough to warm the heart of ethnic cleansing proponents such as Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger.

In America today, blacks make up approximately 13 percent of the population. They account for 33 percent of abortions performed. Some sources estimate that one in two black babies are killed in the womb. The majority of abortion clinics are located in either black or Hispanic neighborhoods. The two ethnic groups together account for over half of all abortions performed in the United States.

Sanger would be thrilled were she still alive. As a proponent of eugenics, she agreed with Adolf Hitler about the weaker races and the need to cull them. However, she thought that he was too broad in his scope and too brutal in his methods. The current situation fixes that problem. Rather than round up the minorities, let them gradually kill themselves off. After all, if it's their idea, who are whites to argue?

All in all, the entire situation is incredibly sad. It does beg one question though. Since President Obama is apparently now pulling down enough to make determinations regarding the life and death of the unborn, just how much is he being paid to be one of the top white supremacists in America today?

After action report - Prairie Grove, Arkansas

2008-12-10T17:12:00.004-06:00

Traveled down to Arkansas this past weekend to participate in the reenactment of the battle of Prairie Grove. Fortunately my folks live about 45 minutes away in eastern Oklahoma so Mrs. Spiff and the youngsters had a warm place to stay over the weekend.

Arrived at my parents' Thursday evening and caught a last rest in a real bed before the event. On Friday morning my brother called and let me know that he would be unable to make the trip to join me. Undaunted, I headed off into the December afternoon with the intent of getting set up in the daylight. Amazingly I did just that, got some wood gathered, and started a fire prior to the arrival of anyone else in my unit. As the evening wore on various men from the 9th trickled in but nowhere near the numbers that we had been told to expect.

Saturday dawned bright and cool. Not as cold as forecast. Surprisingly I had remained warm and comfortable all night. Soon the fire was going and morning salutes taken care of. That done we settled down to burn and devour breakfast. A rations issue followed and then brigade drill for most of the morning. During drill Mrs. Spiff and the young fry arrived. Spiff Jr. enjoyed performing his own drill with his wooden musket. Following drill it was back to camp for a quick lunch. Spiff Jr. was quick to show off his new shirt and vest to the members of the 9th and then it was time to fall in for the battle.

For most of the battle we waited in reserve. After the Yankees had gained the crest of the hill in front of the Borden house we were called up and hit them square in the flank. Down they tumbled and we pursued to the bottom of the hill where our formations were broken up by Federal artillery stationed across the field. We returned to the top of the hill and reformed. That ended the combat for the day.

Following the battle we had word that the paymaster had reached the army. Spiff Jr. managed to rejoin us for this and received his full two months pay of six dollars Confederate. Needless to say, he was thrilled. Then we were called back into formation for mail call. Period letters were passed out and some were quite amusing. Then it was time to clean muskets. As I finished this task the shadows began to lengthen and the temperature started to drop. The family headed off to warmer quarters and I joined the rest of the unit in preparing a stew that turned out quite well. After some fellowship around the fire I headed off to bed.

Sunday morning was actually a bit warmer than Saturday although the night had been cooler. I managed to stay warm all the same. Following morning formation and breakfast we had church call. Decent sermon and welcome as always. Then it was off to a rapid-fire competition. Much to my surprise I managed to pull off a first place finish.

Shortly after noon we again formed for battle. This time we were the lead battalion. We advanced down the slope to meet the Yanks in the open field and carnage followed. We slugged it out with infantry and artillery before falling back to the base of the hill. Our ranks were thinned and the enemy pressed us. All appeared lost. The color sergeant removed the flag from the staff, stuffed it in his jacket, and took to his heels. I followed suit. We remained at the top of the hill until the end of the battle.

Following the battle it was one final formation and then off for home. I drove back to my folks and managed to get in before dark.

Overall it was a good event. Extra welcome since I had been unable to get out to any of the others this year. The weather cooperated and there were many familiar faces. Prairie Grove is also always special because we get to reenact on the actual battlefield. That is a rare treat and much appreciated.

Murderous irony.

2008-11-15T09:29:00.004-06:00

I find it amusing that a large number of today's pro-choice politicians were once active in the Vietnam peace movement.

In the 1960's and 70's the John Kerry and Jane Fonda types made life miserable on soldiers, sailors, and airmen returning from Vietnam. Meeting the returning servicemen in the airports, they would scream and spit at them. By the mid 1970's returning veterans were being told not to wear their uniforms on the flight home.

One of the favorite labels that the peace protesters hung on the military was the thread-bare "Baby Killer" tag. How ironic. The same folks who shouted "Baby Killer!" at soldiers returning with honor now defend a woman's "right" to kill her child for any and all reasons or for none at all. These same people who cursed and reviled the military refuse to stop doctors from stabbing infants in the back of the head with scissors.

Apparently the hippies of the sixties have now devolved into the hypocrites of the new millennium.

Hold that thought.

2008-11-12T12:56:00.002-06:00

I was working a case and telephoned dispatch to ask for some information on the suspect. The dispatcher started on what I needed and then asked if she could put me on hold. Sure, I said.

After a few seconds my in-car radio crackled to life. It was dispatch calling me. The same dispatcher who had me on hold. I checked to make sure I was still on hold. Yup. Ok, keyed up the mic and let dispatch know that I was tied up on the phone with dispatch. Click, the phone picked up. Sorry about that, the dispatcher said. She told me that she knew she had someone on hold but had forgotten it was me.

Say what?!?!

Good deal?

2008-11-11T09:54:00.005-06:00

It's been awhile since I posted. In the interim, Barack Obama was elected President of the United States. I must say that I have never been so embarrassed or ashamed to be an American as I was watching the election results come it.

My reaction was sparked in part by Mr. Obama's color. Not his skin color, the red of his politics. Mr. Obama's socialist tendencies are well documented and must have the Founding Fathers spinning in their graves.

It is hard for me to see how Mr. Obama's plan to "spread the wealth around" can co-exist with any sense of freedom and personal responsibility. When the government is willing to take care of one's family, a sense of duty is lifted. No longer does a breadwinner have to make decisions based on what will best provide for their family. If a person wishes to do without a job or take a job that cannot pay the bills, that is fine. The government is there to make sure that the "wealthy" help out their fellow man. With everything from food to clothing to medical care, the citizen may rest easy, the government is there.

Admittedly some of this is already in place, but Mr. Obama has proposed the biggest expansion of government entitlements since FDR's New Deal. Like FDR, Mr. Obama is not planning on letting the lagging economy stand in his way. Rather he intends to use it as an excuse to "take care of" the American people.

There is perhaps one small catch to such an increase in government largess. It may do us well to remember that the government that is powerful enough to provide you with any service will also be powerful enough to require any service from you. Perhaps we will find that government benefits do not come cheap.

Interesting take.

2008-09-04T16:01:00.004-05:00

"We of the North couldn't make it [slavery] pay, so we are convinced that it is the sum of all villainy. Our plan is more profitable; we take care of no children or sick people except as paupers, while the owners of slaves have to provide for them from birth till death. So how we view the issue depends on what kind of glasses we use.

If we of the North were called upon to endure one half as much as the Southern people and soldiers do, we would abandon the cause and let the Southern Confederacy be established. We pronounce their cause unholy, but they consider it sacred enough to suffer and die for. Our forefathers in the Revolutionary struggle could not have endured more than these Rebels.

A nation preserved with liberty trampled underfoot is much worse than a nation in fragments but with the spirit of liberty still alive. Southerners persistently claim that their rebellion is for the purpose of preserving this form of government."

- Private John H. Haley
17th Maine, US

A couple of fascinating points here. Private Haley seems to think that the North's opposition to slavery had little or nothing to do with moral concerns. He last paragraph is one which concisely sums up the views of the South about the war. Much more need not be said.

Child custody dispute.

2008-07-26T11:26:00.002-05:00

The young woman wanted a police officer to accompany her to her mother's house and retrieve her child. The grandmother had been keeping the child and now would not return him to his mother. I asked the young mother for her name and her mother's name. She gave them to me and I immediately recalled the grandmother.

Grandma had come into the Police Department a month or two earlier. She explained to me that her daughter had left her grandson in her care and had taken off with no explanation as to where she was going, how to contact her, or when she would return. Grandma wanted to know what to do to be able to keep the child. I told her to immediately contact an attorney and inquire about getting custody. From what I had heard about her daughter and was now observing with her and the little boy, he was better off with Grandma. I stooped to talk to the little guy, about the age of my own son. I then wished Grandma luck on getting custody. She thanked me and left. Now I was on my way to her apartment with her daughter and hoping she had gotten the paperwork done, or at least started.

As soon as Mom and I started up the walk, Grandma came out of the apartment. She didn't want us on the premises. I asked her if the woman with me was Mom. She admitted that she was. I then asked her for any paperwork giving her legal custody of her grandson. She had none. I would have settled for anything to muddy the water a little and allow me to leave the boy with Grandma. There was nothing. She hadn't even called a lawyer. I was incredulous and out of options. I told her she would need to turn the lad over to his mother. She protested, pointing out rightfully that she was the better guardian. I explained that I had no choice without some kind of legal paperwork to back me up. We entered the apartment.

Mom gathered up the boy and some of his clothes and started out the door. The child began to cry and call for Grandma. Mom carried him out the door as I looked at the floor. It wasn't right, Mom taking this child, but it was legal and I had no options. Right at my feet was a toy hammer identical to the one that my own little boy would be playing with when I returned home. Mom carried the young one to the car, buckled him in, and drove away without a backward glance. She hadn't even told Grandma goodbye or how to contact her.

I had Mom's contact information and decided to pass it on to Grandma. She would need it if she decided to pursue custody. I cleared my throat and began to speak. Grandma cut me off. She began to yell at me that I shouldn't have let her daughter take her grandson. I tried to explain that I had no choice. Unheeding, she got louder. I didn't care about children at all, she explained. I was probably corrupt anyway on top of it all. If the child died or was injured as a result of her daughter's lack of care she would be sure to let me know since it would be my fault and should rest on my conscience. Of course I probably didn't have one. I could leave now that I had put her grandson in danger, probably had donuts to eat or bribes to collect anyway.

That was enough. After five minutes of the tirade I cut Grandma off. My turn I told her. Shut up and listen. She had been told previously to get the paperwork in order to avoid just such a situation as this. She didn't do it. Not my problem. Having a boy of my own of the same age I understood her frustration and did care.

That seemed to catch her by surprise but she quickly rallied. What she had or hadn't done didn't matter. I had no right to let the boy's mother take him. Having my own lad didn't insure my sensitivity, my boy was undoubtedly white and her grandson was black. I just hated black children and it didn't matter to me if they lived or died. I was a racist and didn't value her grandson as much as I would have a white child in the same circumstances. Had the boy been white I would have acted differently.

I turned, walked back to my car, and left. As I pulled away from the curb I called dispatch and advised them that I was done with the call.

Paul Revere where are you?

2008-07-21T16:25:00.003-05:00

I have come to the conclusion that we need a modern day Paul Revere. Someone to sound the alarm. To wake a sleeping populace to the danger that marches on them.

Paul warned the colonists of the danger of the British troops approaching. It was the middle of the night and the Redcoats were on the move in secret. The sleeping colonists were sitting ducks. We're in the same situation. Obama polls higher all the time. He is on the move. Christians and conservatives are sleeping. Some are considering voting for him. Where is the alarm?

Obama is proposing some of the most massive and invasive government expansion since the New Deal. Notwithstanding his recent nods to the unborn, he is not pro-life. Any judges he appoints will be liberal. He plans to lose the war in Iraq as well as put us in increased danger from radical Islamists. All of this is on the record. We as Americans should be terrified. We aren't. Why?

Some say that a McCain administration would not be what we are looking for. I for one agree. Remember this though, only about ten years after Revere's ride the Americans scrapped their new government and started over. The system of government that the colonists tumbled out of bed to fight for was not what they were looking for. It was easier though for them to fix a government they controlled rather than an oppressive one that would consolidate its' power and increase its' grip on the daily lives of the people. Perhaps we are in the same situation.

Book review - They Called Him Stonewall

2008-07-18T17:00:00.006-05:00

Finished up They Called Him Stonewall last night. This biography of Thomas Jonathan Jackson was written by Burke Davis and published for the first time in 1954.

The book focuses on Jackson's wartime career and is a good read. Davis does a good job of balancing the personal life and professional accomplishments of Jackson. Using primary sources, eyewitness accounts, and Jackson's own reports; he covers Stonewall's initial Confederate commissioning, his subsequent rise to the upper levels of command, and his fatal wounding at a critical junction in the war.

Davis clearly thinks highly of Jackson but he does not attempt to whitewash the General's failings. While praise is included there are also some critiques when needed. Jackson is portrayed as a devout man who possessed a great military mind.

While an electrifying commander, Jackson did clash with his subordinates on occasion. Davis admits that the clashes were not all one-sided and that Jackson contributed. One notable incident involved General A.P. Hill. General Lee had just assigned Hill to Jackson's command and wrote him a note with advice on the best way to handle Hill. Lee urged Jackson to inform Hill of his plans. He stated that, should Jackson do so, he would would find Hill to be a superior officer. Old Jack ignored Lee's counsel and stuck with his habitual secrecy. The officers used to him played along but not Hill. The spark was struck and only death would end the feud.

All in all a good book. Written before the current trend of historical revision, the book manages to humanize Jackson without trivializing him. Whether a Civil War buff or a newcomer to the field, you will enjoy it and find it interesting.

Damp around the edges.

2008-07-13T13:10:00.003-05:00

The radio crackled at me. It was about 0500 in the morning and dispatch wanted me to respond to a report of a water leak. No problem. I'll go check it out, call the city crew, and keep anyone from driving over the broken main.

It didn't take me long to find a problem. There was no broken water main, no water coming up through cracks in the street. I wondered what was going on. Dispatch provided me with the address of the reporting party and I knocked on the door.

The woman who answered appeared to be in her 80's. She was grateful I had come. Didn't know who else to call so she called the police. I asked her what exactly the problem was. Down a narrow hall she opened the door to her utility room. Water was showering everywhere. Apparently the rubber hose coming from the faucet to her washing machine had split. The effect was like turning on a high volume sprinkler in the small room.

With a sigh I turned up the collar on my coat. Did I mention there was snow on the ground? I splashed across the room through the two or so inches of water on the floor. Five or six feet later I got to the washer and turned the faucet off. The water was dripping from the ceiling and off my nose.

I advised the lady, who had watched the show from the safety of the hall, to call her plumber sometime after 0800. She thanked me for coming. Don't mention it I said as I sloshed out of the house. On the way to the car I tried to brush off as much of the water as I could. No success. As soon as I got in the car the windows fogged up. Apparently car heaters and soaked officers don't mix.

By shift change I was mostly dried out. My replacement was amused at my appearance and laughed heartily at my tale. He was less amused when I hopped out of the driver's seat and he jumped in. I hadn't gotten out of the car since I left the call.

Parenting

2008-07-10T17:15:00.002-05:00

I was on duty and stopped by the local Stop-n-Rob to refuel the car and get a drink. It was evening, maybe 2130 or so. After pumping the gas I went inside to sign the charge ticket.

At one of the tables was a young mother and her daughter. The girl appeared to be about three years old and was apparently eating dinner. Why you would take your child to a gas station for dinner is beyond me. It also seemed to be beyond the little one as she wasn't eating. Mom was trying to talk her into it when she saw me. She pointed, "See that policeman? If you don't eat your dinner he will take you to jail."

That kind of comment gets under my skin a little. Great way to get your young one to thinking that the police are the bad guys. Misbehave a little and they are just looking for a reason to take you away from Mom and Dad and throw you in a cold cell. These are often the same parents who will wonder is several years why their kids think the police are bad and won't trust officers. I normally just shrug and ignore those types of comments. I tried that tact on this particular evening.

Mom was persistent. "You had better eat or he is going to take you away." The girl looked at me and then at Mom. "Ask him if you don't believe me." The child looked my way questioningly. I was caught. I spoke to the girl, "If you don't eat I won't arrest you. Your mother will probably give you a spanking though." Mom was shocked. She stared at me as the girl turned back to her. She stammered and then told the little girl that nobody was going to spank her but that she still needed to eat. Sorry to void your abdication of responsibility lady.

Work

2008-07-09T15:57:00.004-05:00

Ever been someplace and been asked, "So, what do you do for a living?" Yeah, me too. I generally try to avoid that question. When it comes up I give vague answers. "Well, I work for the city." Occasionally that ends the exchange, other times not. "Really, what do you do for them?" Depending on the setting and questioner I will sometimes equivocate. "A little of everything I suppose." Most times I just shrug and give in to the inevitable, "I am a cop."

That draws a wide variety of responses. I have heard all of these. "Really? I would never have guessed, you seem so normal." "Awesome! So you get to shoot a lot of people?" "I got pulled over once and the cop was a real jerk. He told me..." "How can you be a police officer and a Christian too?" These are just a small sampling. Sometimes I wish I had written down all the ones I have heard. My mother-in-law used to introduce me as, "A police officer in a small town, like Mayberry." She meant no disrespect, the town is only about 2,200 people. As dangerous as being an officer in L.A. or New York? No. As interesting? Sometimes. As hard? Yes.

Maybe some background is in order. The city is small (see above). The Police Department (PD) consists of five full-time officers including the Chief. We have one part-time officer who mostly works weekends. We provide 24-hour coverage seven days a week. All the full-time officers are required to become state certified emergency medical technicians (EMTs). This is because the Chief is also in charge of the Emergency Medical Service (EMS). The service started out all volunteer but got four full-time positions several years ago. They kept the volunteers though and so we are a mixed service of full-time EMTs and volunteers. Two of the positions are currently filled and one of the techs is cross-trained as a part-time police officer. The goal is to eventually have all four positions cross-trained. We have to do EMS, they have to do PD. While the PD covers only the city limits the EMS crew covers three quarters of the county. We drive for them on emergency runs and so often end up outside our jurisdiction. We are more than willing to backup and deputies or state troopers who need us and are also expected to help as volunteer EMTs in our off-time.

All dispatch and jail facilities are provided by the Sheriff's Office (under contract of course). The S.O. has five full-time road officers counting the Sheriff himself. For the sake of unity we'll say they provide 24-hour coverage. There are four full-time and one part-time dispatchers and several corrections officers. The total county population (including the city) is maybe pushing 6,000.

There is one other PD in the county that consists of one part-time position. Currently it is being filled by one of our officers during his time off. All the fire departments and the EMS crew responsible for the other quarter of the county are volunteer. State Troopers zip by on the highway and once in awhile drift into town. Sometimes they even wave. Once or twice a week a State Wildlife and Parks officer makes an appearance on the radio, we are lucky to see him once a month.

So that's my workplace.

British defeated, colonists have the right to bear arms!

2008-06-28T20:27:00.003-05:00

Well, the Supreme Court has handed down their decision in D.C. v. Heller. According to the big court the Second Amendment applies to individual citizens and not just to members of the "militia."

The decision makes sense to me. Some have argued that the amendment was put into place to keep the Federal Government from disarming the states ans so did no apply to the individual citizens outside of state sponsored and organized militias. I have always felt that this interpretation just didn't fit. Looking at the time period of the writing of the amendment we see that the British had recently (within 10 years) been defeated by an armed citizenry. Granted, the colonists were formed into militias during the conflict but the individuals usually owned the weapons they were using. The individual colonies, or states, did not normally supply small arms.

I also find it ironic that the weapons in question Heller were handguns. At the time of the writing of the Second Amendment sidearms were the weapons of officers and some mounted troops. The vast majority of the colonists carried muskets or hunting rifles. These were the assault rifles of the day. If the amendment is strictly construed it seems that an argument could be made for overturning assault rifle bans as well as D.C.'s handgun ban.

Book review - Lost Victories

2008-06-24T21:18:00.003-05:00

Just finished reading a book called Lost Victories: The Military Genius of Stonewall Jackson by Bevin Alexander. The book is an analysis of General Jackson's military career in the Civil War.

Mr. Alexander makes several good points in his book. He accurately points out that, in some areas, Jackson was ahead of his time in his strategy and innovative in his tactics. He covers the early war and Jackson's desire to take the war to the Northern populace. This strategy was proposed by Jackson just after the Valley Campaign while the Army of the Potomac was engaged creeping up the peninsula towards Richmond. Mr. Alexander accurately states that Lee and Davis overruled Jackson and ordered him to Richmond to take part in the Seven Days battles.

What Mr. Alexander does not discuss was the grand strategy of the Confederate States. Their aim was to be seen as defending themselves, not as the aggressor. By the time of Sharpsburg it was clear that the tactic of defense had succeeded in winning the emotional battle on the diplomatic front but a win on Northern soil was needed to firm up the deal. As Mr. Alexander properly notes, no politician likes to back a loser.

Sharpsburg is the point where Mr. Alexander makes his next unusual point. He claims that Lee's orders to concentrate at Sharpsburg effectively lost the campaign. As evidence he points out that the Army of Northern Virgina had already scored a major victory by capturing Harper's Ferry and the garrison there. By concentrating at Sharpsburg, Lee committed to a stand-up slugging match with no room to maneuver and against a heavier foe. This resulted in his army being bled white. Upon reflection it seems that Mr. Alexander has a point here.

While his Sharpsburg analysis is interesting and thought provoking, he has one major flaw. In Mr. Alexander's book Jackson made no mistakes. Those that history has attributed to him are credited to his subordinates or to Lee. Lee is knocked about pretty sharply on the strategical and tactical fronts as well. While Mr. Alexander is proper to credit Jackson with much, it may be a bit of a leap to consider him as the strategy source for the Army of Northern Virgina.

Thorny dilemma

2008-06-13T16:39:00.003-05:00

Recently Mrs. Spiff received an interesting email. It was from a fellow Believer who claims to be politically conservative. The gist of the message was that this person had found out about a third party candidate that they felt was an attractive alternative to John McCain.

While the particular candidate involved was not a decent choice in my opinion it got me to thinking. In my mind it doesn't take much to be an attractive alternative to John McCain. There are several third party candidates that would be much better than McCain, in my view. The idea of voting for one of them is indeed a powerful draw for conservatives. However, before we sign petitions, put up yard signs, or pull the lever let us consider the big picture.

History shows us that in modern times no third party candidate has ever won the presidency. Most barely break double digits in the polls. This means that, absent a concerted defection on behalf of a huge chunk of one of the two major parties, McCain or Obama will win. Given the recent failure of conservatives and Christians to act in concert in the GOP primaries, the chances of such an defection are dim indeed.

I am no John McCain fan. See previous posts if you need any doubt removed. McCain is pretty spineless and is a crackpot on several issues. While I am not a McCain fan I am very offended and worried by Barack Obama. Let's take a look at the candidates.

McCain is not a conservative but he may well choose a conservative running mate. Obama probably has the list narrowed down to Raul Castro and Raila Odinga. McCain has a pretty solid pro-life voting record. Obama is pro-abortion. McCain has stated that he will appoint Supreme Court justices in the vein of Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito. Obama probably considers the Ninth Circuit to be too conservative. McCain has clearly stated his intention to win the war in Iraq. Obama has stated just as clearly his intention to lose it.

I don't like John McCain. I have nightmares about Barack Obama. A vote for a third party candidate might send a message to the Republican Party. It might also put Obama in the White House. At this point I don't plan to vote for John McCain; I plan to vote against Barack Obama.

Unbelievable!

2008-06-01T21:12:00.004-05:00

Read this and then come back to this post. I am bothered by this on a very deep level. The disrespect shown is almost unreal.

I am sure that Obama didn't know where the porta-johns were placed. I am also sure that he is in charge of his campaign and that he would be among the first to call for a police chief's head if his officers placed porta-johns on a memorial to Martin Luther King Jr. during a police function. I am sure that Obama and his ilk would scream bloody murder and hold the chief directly responsible, even if he didn't know where the porta-johns were placed.

Aside from that aspect, what kind of people is Obama consorting with? Who would do something like this anyway? What kind of thought process leads someone to put toilets on top of a memorial dedicated to those who have died to maintain the order that allows for rallies such as this?

Perhaps we can learn more about Barack here. That should make you at least wonder about Barack and look deeper into who he is, what he stands for, and who he flushes the toilet on.

Movie time!

2008-04-28T13:47:00.003-05:00

Has anyone seen the movie Expelled? Mrs. Spiff and I went and saw it on Saturday on the recommendation of my in-laws. Excellent flick which I highly advise everyone to see as soon as possible.

Expelled is a documentary done by Ben Stein on the scientific controversy surrounding the theory of Intelligent Design. I have little information on Mr. Stein but I know he does a good job with the topic at hand. Most of what was covered I already knew or had surmised but seeing all the pieces put together was invaluable. Mr. Stein interviews several prominent Darwinists and it is fascinating to see the masks come off. These men and women truly have little to hide and no fear of retribution.

If you are looking for a movie defending Creationism then you will be disappointed. If you are concerned that there is discrimination against anyone not toeing the Darwin line then this is the movie for you to see. In my view it gets several thumbs up and is a must see for anyone, on either side of the debate, who values free exchange of ideas.

Was it something we forgot?

2008-04-07T19:33:00.002-05:00

"We have been recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown.

But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us."
- Abraham Lincoln, Thanksgiving Day Proclamation of 1863

There are few subjects that I agree with President Lincoln on; not the least of which his disregard for the U.S. Constitution. One must admit though that the man knew people. He knew Americans best of all. The above quote is over 140 years old but rings as true today about this nation as if it had been spoken yesterday.

President Lincoln hits at the heart of the matter. If we refuse to recognize God's grace then he will withdraw it. On a national level he will remove his protection. On a personal level the offer of redeeming grace can only stay open for so long.

Society

2008-03-29T13:18:00.005-05:00

"Society is an open-ended partnership between generations. The dead and the unborn are as much members of society as the living. To dishonor the dead is to reject the relation on which society is built - a relation of obligation between generations. Those who have lost respect for the dead have ceased to be trustees of their inheritance. Inevitably, therefore, they lose the sense of obligation to future generations. The web of obligation shrinks to the present tense."
- Edmund Burke

Of course we should not always emulate those who have gone before us. Rather we need to understand them as best we can and learn from their experiences. We also have an obligation to those who follow us that they be able to honor us when we are gone and not be ashamed of what we did in our short space in time.

Americans in general have forgotten what those before us did and we have no thought for those who are to come after. We live for the day by a set of ethics and standards that have no root or stability.

Spring

2008-03-01T11:47:00.003-06:00

Well, with the race for the GOP nomination all but decided it is down to the Democrat race to keep things interesting. Only problem is that it is just about as interesting as the NBA regular season. With that in mind we turn to the fact that Spring is crouching to spring.

All the Major League Baseball teams are in camp and the Spring Training games have begun. We are only 24 days from the start of the regular season. So far it is looking like the Rangers did well in obtaining Josh Hamilton from the Reds. Hitting Coach Rudy Jaramillo says that Hamilton has more power that Juan Gonzalez did. Quite the compliment. We'll have to see if Josh can make contact enough to make that power count.

Here in Kansas the temperatures have been fairly nice the past few days. This prompts young boys to ask if they can go outside and play ball. With the mud still not dry this proposal has not been a big hit with most mothers.

Mitt's out.

2008-02-07T12:36:00.000-06:00

Well, Romney withdrew this morning. The race for the GOP nomination is effectively over. There is no difference between Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum and so no reason to vote in Saturday's caucus.

I guess the Republican party is moving the center. It will pay. Ford was a moderate and lost. H.W. Bush won on Reagan's conservative record and lost when it became evident he was a moderate. Dole was a moderate and lost. There is no reason to think it will be any different with the moderate John McCain.

That's the bad news. The good news is that pitchers and catchers report in seven days.

McCain wins big on Super Tuesday

2008-02-06T15:37:00.000-06:00

I do not like John I Am,
I do not like him with green eggs and ham.

I do not like him as nominee,
I do not like him with Teddy Kennedy.

I do not like him with Lieberman,
I do not like the man.

I do not like him with Feingold,
I do not like the policies he holds.

I do not like him on taxes,
I do not like him to the maxes.

I do not like him on stem cells,
I do not like him no matter how he sells.

I do not like him with 13 others,
I do not like him stabbing his brothers.

I do not like John I Am,
Of him I am no fan.

Race tightens.

2008-02-04T10:19:00.000-06:00

Real Clear Politics shows Romney moving up in California and Georgia. McCain still seems unconcerned though and Huckabee is saying that he thinks Romney should drop out of the race. Seems like a ridiculous statement to me since Romney has been winning and Huckabee hasn't. Also, given Huck's downward movement in the polls and Romney's rise it is understandable that Romney has classified the contest as a two man race.

McCain meanwhile keeps desperately lunging to the right in an effort to keep the Republican base from waking up before it's too late. If he can keep enough of the true conservatives lulled then it will be either him or Hillary and he is certian that they will suck it up and vote GOP. McCain's biggest problem to date is that he is not a conservative and the nametag that he is wearing doesn't fit. Most people in the room realize that something is amiss if a big old biker man is wearing a tag that says, "Hi! My name is Julie." One has to wonder what is going on with the GOP base. Are we willing to trade principles for electibility?

Rudy routed - turns comand over to McCain.

2008-02-02T10:28:00.001-06:00

So, Guiliani is out of the race and did what most expected, endorse John McCain. Arnold did the same the next day. Looks like the straight-talker is picking up a lot of backing. That is what concerns many. The folks who are endorsing McCain are at least partially a liberal to moderate bunch. What does this say about McCain. If I endorse someone without qualification then I am saying they agree with me. Do we really want Rudy's social views and Arnold's social and fiscal views in the White House?

Fred drops.

2008-01-22T17:04:00.000-06:00

The GOP primary field got smaller today. Fred Thompson dropped out after placing third in South Carolina. This puts conservatives in a real pickle. Who to back now? Giuliani? Not a chance. Paul? Except for his head in the sand stand on Iraq and the fact that he has no chance then maybe. That leaves Huckabee, McCain, and Romney. McCain makes no claim to be conservative and the sting of remarks made in 2000 still rankles. Huckabee at least claims to be a conservative. He isn't though in most areas and seems to have a problem getting his positions and stories lined out. That leaves Romney. Not a first choice by any means but perhaps one of the few real Republicans left in the hunt.

SC Decides.

2008-01-21T11:29:00.000-06:00

South Carolina chose John McCain. Hunter is out of the race and it looks like Thompson is on the ropes. Romney still leads the delegate count and so is comfortable for now. He needs to follow up Nevada with additional wins though. Huckabee appears to be in about the same boat. Interestingly, both lead McCain in delegates even after South Carolina. Florida is fast approaching with its winner take all primary. McCain is leading in the polls there and if he wins that could just break Rudi. Time will tell I suppose.

Voting in Charleston.

2008-01-19T10:53:00.000-06:00

Well, South Carolina is in the process of conducting their Republican primary as I write. I am concerned to say the least. South Carolina has never really bothered me before because they are generally pretty conservative. It seems like this time though things are a bit different.

McCain has gained traction there that he never got in 2000 and Huckabee is riding high on a wave of evangelicals and homeschoolers who are emotionally tied to him. The true Reagan conservative (read: Fred Thompson) is fighting with Romney for third in the most recent polls. Fred does seem to be moving up though and I hope that even if he doesn't win he will stay in. Richard Land seems to think that evangelicals are waking up and taking another look at Huckabee and are switching to Thompson. This could account for some of the upward movement. Of course, if Fred can't afford to stay in then all the second looks at Huck could be for naught. Evangelicals and homeschoolers could find themselves out in the cold when they realize that Huckabee is not a conservative and could lay some very dangerous groundwork if elected.

As one who considers himself to be an evangelical and was homeschooled from second grade through highschool I find the Huckabee movement to be somewhat confusing. Sure the man is pro-life and pro-homeschool. I'll also give him his profession of faith and classify him as sincere and well-meaning. All that makes his misunderstanding of the U.S. Constitution, big government views, and lack of straight talk even more concerning. Sure he means well. Equally sure is that he will grow the government and make it even more intrusive than it already is. Ok, so he is a good man of faith. Who will take over from him and how will they use the machinery that he has put into place?

Romney on the rebound.

2008-01-16T11:10:00.000-06:00

Well, Mitt Romney won Michigan and Wyoming. That puts him back in the running and actually gives him more delegates at this point than either Huckabee or McCain. Boy am I glad to see Romney win one. He is really my second choice but neither Huckabee nor McCain are my first. I was fearing that they would be able to knock him out of the race without ever facing him in a true GOP primary. That would have been bothersome and might have destroyed the party.

With a possible recession looming I really don't think we need the liberal fiscal policies of Mike Huckabee. I don't doubt that he is a good man and means well but he is not a conservative on fiscal matters. He is a populist. If folks would just look at what he is saying and advocating I think the conservatives who are supporting him would have to jump ship. Sadly the Republicans seem to be following the Democrats by judging a candidate solely on his personality and likability rather than by the whole package.

Of course McCain isn't a conservative and doesn't really claim to be. He wins by drawing in the moderates, Dems, and Independents. That will end when he gets into the closed primary states. Hopefully his chances at the nomination will end there as well.

I have several questions and concerns about Romney but none to the level of McCain or Huckabee. While I wouldn't just go wild about him he is the one of the three who have won to this point that I feel most comfortable with.

Giving it a second try.

2008-01-15T12:29:00.000-06:00

Been a long while since I posted. Got to thinking and decided that I should give the blog thing another try. Not that I have much interesting to say, just think it would be a good exercise. I don't really make New Year's resolutions but if I did this would be one. Hopefully I can stick with it and come up with something interesting to post.

What are they thinking?

2004-05-09T08:24:00.000-05:00

Well, here in my state the GOP party is a bit wacky to say the least. A couple of years ago we had an election for governor. Well, the ticket on the Republican side was open and so there was a primary. The conservative won. No big deal, I didn't think. In the past when moderates have beat out conservatives in the primary then conservative voters have stuck with the party. Apparently this rule only runs one way as all the moderates defected and voted Democrat. Needless to say we now have a Democrat governor.

What really cracks me up is folks reaction to that fact. Recently the legislature passed concealed carry (yes, we are one of the 4 or 5 states that does not allow it). There was much debate and discussions as to if the governor would sign the bill or veto it. I was astounded. Are people really that stupid? She had run on a platform of vetoing concealed carry and had stated in a radio debate that she would veto any such bills. What kind of lunatics were even wondering what would happen? After she vetoed the bill I went around and patted folks on the back. You moderates must be real proud of your governor...

Of course if my candidate does not win in the primaries from now on I reserve the right to vote for and campaign for another party. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

Wet Weekend

2004-05-03T17:33:00.000-05:00

Went over to St. Louis this past weekend. There was a Civil War reenactment at Ft. Bellefontaine. It was a very interesting weekend.

I was planning on leaving after I got off of work on Friday. Late Thursday night I got an e-mail from a guy wanting a ride. I replied and told him that I needed his address, directions to his place, and his phone number by noon on Friday. He supplied his address, nothing else, so much for reading comprehension in the government schools. Good thing for him that Mrs. Spiff pulled directions off the net so I could find his place. I sent him an e-mail and told him I would be at his place at 1600. Got there and he wasn't home, all that trouble for naught. (More reading comprehension problems in the government schools?) I left a note and pushed on.

Picked up Sgt. Cox in Topeka at around 1800. Smooth trip from there to the event site. Got in between rain showers and set up tents. Laid down a thick layer of straw to sleep on and got our uniforms on. Rained all night but I stayed dry.

It was raining so much on Saturday morning that revelry was cancelled and we just got out of our tents when the rain let up. To everyone's great wonder Sgt. Cox got a fire going. This was really amazing since the camp was one big mud puddle. Got breakfast and then visited with the other guys for awhile. Nobody knew anything about the schedule. Suddenly word came down from battalion HQ to get suited up and ready to move out. We had the "honor" of moving out as pickets to find the enemy. We found him and a sharp fight ensued. The rest of the battalion came up and we were pulled back to refit. Almost got cut off and captured here. We were then sent to the right flank to guard a battery from "a couple of dismounted cavalry". Didn't take us long to realize that command was suffering from delusions. We were facing three times out number and they had Henry rifles. Made for a short fight and in the end we were all captured by mounted cav that circled around behind us. What a disaster. A whole company gone and four guns captured. General Beck captured as well, however he declared that "we won". Ok, sure. Later the color sergeant explained to me that the sheets of water coming from the sky was blowing off the trees. I concluded that anyone on battalion or brigade staff had to be suffering from RDD (reality deficit disorder). Rained half the night on Saturday night.

Sunday dawned clear and muddy. To my shock I had stayed dry again the night before. Attended to the incidentals and got called to form up for battle after Sgt. Cox and I had already packed most all of our gear in the car. Marched about a mile to battle and fought in a wonderful fight. Only thing that marred it was the lack of Yankees. Later we found out that the hardcore yanks had pulled out on Saturday night. Weird. Hopped in the car following the battle and took off for home. Dropped Sgt. Cox off in Topeka and made it safely back.

Spent part of today drying out gear... Man I love this hobby.