Stone South Wind - IV
A Journey to the Beginning
3
Civil Wars Becomes One
When a being of x-rays passes through matter certain proportion is scattered in all directions. The wavelength of this scattered radiation may be the same as that of the original beam or it may be longer, but in any case, it varies continuously with that of the primary and so is sharply distinguished from the characteristic radiation which may accompany it.
Of Electricity Through Gases, Volume 2: Ionization by Collision and the Gaseous Discharge
JJ Thompson & GP Thompson
Then what happened was a war – or perhaps several wars together which enter mingled with divine righteousness, as if the truth was marching on. Stirling Pittman, who had come to live with his sons, had one commandment about the war: there was to be no talking about it because different boys were on different sides of it. Moreover, the only time they were together was Christmas, and there would be no upsetting the Mother on that day. Not that she observed it, but it was time when all were together. The elder boy went to General Fremont; who in 1856 was the 1st Republican candidate and sided with the Union; two of the younger were for Sterling Price – including Pennell, who originally wanted to keep the state of Missouri neutral. But that increase was a problem – and finally, General Price decided to join the Confederacy, hoping that that would keep Missouri neutral. Some of the Cherokee sided with him – again to keep their nation out of the war. The second older one changes his name from “Stirling” to “Sterling”, to show support for his leader – and so began a tradition. That was not a topic of conversation at the farm.
It was 1862, before the battle of Antietam, when all was not lost, and Robert E Lee had not had a stirring tied of victories afterward. However, beyond the confines of the dinner table – outside in the warm night air, be the oldest brother spoke to Pennell Pittman by a dim ghastly lantern:
“You know that your cause is hopeless.” He searched his younger brother for some sign as to what he believed in, but there was no clue. But then it might have just been the moonlight that shrouded it.
“We shall see about that, we still have armies in the field – and so far you have not been doing well.” This was before every Southern boy could lay out his version of Pickett's charge – because that lay in the distance when Gettysburg was fought and won in reality – but ever afterwards it could be fought in the minds of young boys ever afterwards. You can read about it in Intruders In The Dust by Faulkner if you want. Then everything would be just where the lines converged on Gettysburg when the war was still in doubt – and every Southern boy could dream that wildest dream of the South winning the war.
“It is only a matter of time.” The older brother looked around to make sure that no one would be listening. But there were only hollows among the trees, which whispered nothings. Then a frog started to ribbit – but nothing more.
“There are 3 moments: one where England and France come in on the Confederate side, the 2nd is when the Confederacy shames your best general, and the 3rd is when the Union miss manages the war, and we will have 1864.” The younger brother looked deeply into the older brother’s eyes with particular intensity. And intensity which he would never look the same way.
“How does that help?” - that was after a long minute.
“Because in 1864 you will elect a different president, one who will be more disposed to signing a peace treaty. I think that the best chance would be General McClellan, on the Democratic ticket. There are a lot of people who think he is itching to run, already.”
“Then the Union will pull the other hand from behind our backs, and are full might will be upon you before he is inaugurated come March. The Union will not be dissolved, and we will not feel anymore more.” The older brother became angry.
“We shall see about that – you may be right in that the 1st hurdle has been passed. But there is still the problem of the Confederate Army coming north, and whipping you on your own ground.”
“Just need to find a general. Then he will hammer you until you think you are in the Valley of the shadow of death.” Countered the older brother.
“You have not yet so far, and it may be that Marsh Robert may be the only one. It is what I believe. And you half believe it, too.”
“And you are betting on that?”
“It seems like it has a 50/50 bet from this side.” And he gave a smiling smirk as if to congratulate himself on his logic.
“And what if that is wrong ?” the older brother looked away and thought he saw someone inching up in the distance.
“Then we delay until eternity sets in - and the niggers will find out just what a mean bunch of people we are. The people of the South will rise up.”
“But Negroes are people, too.” The older brother looked down as if some sort of shame overtook him as if he did not really believe that.
“That is what the war will decide, you say they are, we say they are not – and it will be God's will. And I do not know about you, but I have not talked to God, recently.”
“And you are willing to take that bet ?”
“Are you?”
“God is on my side. Not yours.”
“Everyone thinks that, but only one will be right. ” Then the younger brother made a motion at the quarters which were built after they had help from the market.
It was at that point that the older brother started to wretch. It was at that point he knew that this proposition was wrong, there was only one kind of people in the world.
At least this was the story as grandmother related it to me, and she had heard it from the youngest brother, who actually was listening on the breeze – the older brother had been right in thinking there was someone listening. It was at that point that I made up my mind, to change my name from “Sterling” back to “Stirling”. And one day during World War II, I tried to do so – but the name did not stick, and I was “Sterling” for the rest of my life – is only a few pages which told a different story. My grandson changed his name to “Stirling”. Perhaps then The Civil War will be over, who is to say?