i recently read 'the battle rages higher: the union's 15th kentucky infantry regiment' and, thankfully, as i always try to do when i read something ... i learned a whole heck of a lot.
for those unfamiliar, the united states was once engaged in a civil war, lasting from 1861 until 1865 ... granted (no pun intended), this war happened a long time ago, so who could blame you if you don't know anything about it ... but let me preach a bit ... you should know something about it. some 620,000 american soldiers and sailors died (from the federal forces and confederate forces, combined) and an undetermined number of civilians ... we can at least say more than a million americans died in this war, though we may never know the true number ... so by this reason alone, americans should care that the union was nearly lost ... the united states as it exists today would not be so if just a couple of battles had gone differently.
and this can be argued, but in my opinion (which is highly uneducated), even if the confederate states had defeated the U.S., they would have been begging by the turn on the 20th century to be let back in ... while the agricultural base was high in the south, the industrial base belonged to the north, which would have led to such high tariff on imports and exports going both ways, the south could have never survived ... so bocephus can sing all he wants 'if the south woulda won' but i just don't think the south could have sustained in a win, even with england on their side.
but back to the book ...
even though kentucky was considered a border state and a bit of a neutral, the commonwealth still had tens of thousands of soldiers enlist for the union ... in the first two months of the war, more kentuckians volunteered for the union cause than did for the south in the entire war ... nevermind that kentuckians were democrats (and largely remain so) and lincoln was a republican, kentuckians were proud of their place in the united states and took it as an affront to that paternal nature of government prevelant in the early years of our nation.
the 15th kentucky was drawn from around louisville and central kentucky, enlisting citizens who were mainly agrarian in background and irish, scottish and german in heraldy ... most of the 980 plus men that served in the unit over its three-year existence were immigrants to the united states, causing a bit of turbulence with the 'native-borne' soldiers ... kind of sounds a lot like today doesn't it?
the 15th fought at perryville (kentucky's major battle), the battle of nashville, stone's river, chickamauga, chattanooga and took part in the siege of atlanta, most of the time facing across the field into the rifle sights of the first kentucky of the CSA, the 'orphan brigade' ... that unit was also drawn from the same geographic region, so many in both units had friends, family and neighbors in common ... it was a rather unique situation.
more than fifty percent of the unit ended up as a casualty, either killed, wounded or mustered out due to wartime sickness and ailments ... only 30 other units, out of hundreds of union regiments, had higher casualty rates.
after reading the book, even while reading, i was blown away by the history that sits all around us east of the mississippi and at some points west of the big river ... these soldiers camped, trained and fought in fields and villages that are now our backyards and subdivisions ... civil war forts sit all around us, many of them overgrown and forgotten to time ... some communities do well to preserve their history (such as tiny sacramento in webster county or glasgow and their fort williams, which is featured in my default pic) ... others simply allow the remnants of our past to erode and decay, never to be considered again.
in kentucky, the civil war is still a bit of a sore spot for some ... both president lincoln and president jefferson davis were born here, barely 100 miles apart ... we have the jeff davis memorial just to the west of us in fairview in todd county and old abe is 200 in 2009, but i just don't think kentucky is getting with the program ... there is still a bit of work to be done.
we get bent out of shape over high schools with rebel mascots, turn our cannons all sorts of directions to avoid pointing it towards 'the friendly side', our squares contain both confederate and union memorials, we preserve musket balls in home's walls, yet we still do not try to teach our young people just how important the outcome we received in the civil war was and is today. in this part of the country, we have battle re-enactments and there is always a larger number of confederates actors than union, though the state was largely pro-union ... it is certainly fashionable in our part of the world to wear the 'stars and bars' and pledge your undying loyalty to the CSA, even if you have no idea what it all meant.
if there is a point to this blog, it is this ... there are plenty of 'sources' of knowledge out there, but nothing beats getting out and learning on your own ... read a book and then visit the sites it talks about ... ask some of the older folks around where the battles and campsites were; they know these things. it is up to you to learn, because if you are relying on someone else for the truth, you might end up like atlantans waiting for a savior from richmond ... under immense fire and not a prayer in hell, save the pity of god himself.
Showing posts with label kentucky. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kentucky. Show all posts
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
kentucky's wild fruit bounty, the blackberry
It is mid-July and in Kentucky - other than thunderstorms and 100-degree heat indexes - this means blackberry-picking time. And no, tech-savvy readers, I am not talking about a day of hijacking other folks' mobile data devices ... I speak of course of the delicious fruit of our state's wild brambles.
Chances are, unless you have someone you buy your already-picked berries from or you are the proud owner of a bramble trellis in your backyard, you are going to need to head out into the edges of fields, by the shoulders of country roads or into the electric company's rights-of-way to find your blackberry yield.
Picking the blackberry is not for those without fortitude and determination. Seems like blackberries never grow anywhere it is easy to get to, so prepare yourself for much tramping and tromping to find the best brambles. And the bramble does not give up its fruit easily, so there is a bit a preparation you need to keep in mind before you head into the brush.
Long pants, long sleeves, a hat (baseball cap works best) and ankle-high leather boots are always my 'musts.' If the thought of wearing long sleeves seems a bit much for middle-of-summer attire, consider that the wild blackberry bramble is thorny and enjoys each of every opportunity to grab, prick, slap and scratch at exposed skin.
Once you have your picking spot chosen, how do you know what is ripe for picking? Well, folks, these are 'black'berries, so you want the ones that are a deep black and appear glossy in sunlight. A berry that is black but appears flat in direct light, is most likely overripe. These types of berries are fine if you making a jam or cobbler, but if you plan on snacking on the fruit, overripe is not going to do it. Specimens that appear with bits black and others reddish or purple are fine for picking, but will taste a tad bit more sour than glossy, black berries.
Picking the actual fruit is going to be a test of your pain threshold. The thorns of the cane are small and sharp. Most brambles will be of the type with angled thorns, which will grab and not want to let go. The best remedy is to make slow and steady movements in the bramble. Sudden movements tend to bring blood to the picker, even through clothing. If you move slowly, your clothing should protect you. You may be tempted to wear gloves. Don't bother. How are you going to handle the delicate fruit of the bramble if you can't feel it between your thumb and forefinger?
When moving into a bramble, understand that to get the best berries, you are going to have to work. You must be willing to move into the middle of thickets. This is accomplished mostly with your feet and legs. Push briars and weeds down and out with your feet, being mindful to not tramp down the blackberry brambles. You may want to come back to this spot next year.
Once to a prime picking area, pick first those berries you can see while standing upright. Once those berries are gone, try squatting underneath the bramble. It is important to reach into the bramble for berries you see, because sometimes going for one berry will reveal the location of several more. Grabbing multiple berries at once is possible, but understand when the fruits are ripe, they are very easily knocked to the ground with slight touch or shaking the bramble. Squatting will help you catch a few, but nothing is more frustrating to the berry picker than to have a three-quarter-inch jewel of juiciness fall out of reach just as you get to it.
Be mindful of where you are picking? Is it public land or privately-owned? If privately-owned, always ask permission. If there is an area you would like to search, ask most landowners and they might agree ... that is, for a share of bounty. Which leads to another issue ... be mindful of passers-by if on a country road. Chances are these folks know you, will know exactly what you are doing and will attempt to talk you out of your fruit. Because, you see, blackberry picking is tough business and they know it. That's why they are not in there with you. But sharing makes me feel good, so I never turn anyone down.
Depending on the thickness of the bramble and whether or not anyone else has come before you to a spot, picking a gallon or two of berries may take an hour or two. This really depends on the thickness of the bramble. To make picking easier, cut the top from a milk jug, leaving the handle. Then run a belt through the handle, so you will not be carrying your picking container and have two hands free. You should plan on needing both hands free for blackberry picking.
I picked today for about four hours and came away with three gallons of berries. Because blackberries are so tough to obtain, if you are planning on buying them from an individual, get ready to pay. Prices can range from $10-a-gallon to $20-per. Picking your berries on your own will save you some money and something about picking them yourself makes the eating so much better.
So get out there and start looking. There's probably only about a week left of prime harvest. And as always, as in anything else in Kentucky ... be mindful of snakes, wildlife and insects. You will want to shower soon after picking, as small ticks and bugs will want to be taking up residence on your person. A partner may be required for a thorough checking-out.
We made a cobbler with part of our harvest tonight ... went great with the meatloaf, mashed new potatoes, fresh cut corn and rolls.
Blackberry Cobbler
1 cup butter or margarine, divided
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 1/2 cups self-rising flour*
1/3 cup milk, room temperature
2 cups fresh blackberries
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons sugar
Directions
In a 10-in. round or oval baking dish, melt 1/2 cup butter; set aside. In a saucepan, heat sugar and water until sugar melts; set aside. Place flour in a mixing bowl; cut in remaining butter until fine crumbs form. Add milk, stirring with a fork until dough leaves sides of bowl. Turn out onto a floured surface; knead three or four times. Roll out to an 11-in. x 9-in. rectangle 1/4 in. thick. Spread berries over dough; sprinkle with cinnamon. Roll up, jelly-roll style. Cut into 1/4-in. thick slices. Carefully lay slices in baking dish over butter. Pour sugar syrup around slices (syrup will be absorbed). Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes. Sprinkle sugar over top and bake 15 minutes more. Serve warm or cold. (*If self-rising flour is not available, use 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour plus 1/4 teaspoon salt and 2-1/4 teaspoons baking powder.)
Blackberry Jam
6 cups crushed blackberries
1 package powdered pectin
8 1/2 cups sugar
Directions:
Put measured crushed berries in a pot. Add pectin and stir well. Place on high heat and stir constantly bringing quickly to a full boil with bubbles over the entire surface. Add sugar, continue stirring and heat again to a full bubbling boil. Boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and skim. Fill and seal containers. Process 5 minutes in boiling water bath.
Blackberries are used in a variety of ways, either eaten alone as a snack, baked into a cobbler (we'll give you a recipe later), stirred into yogurt, as a topping for vanilla ice cream, converted to jam (we have a recipe for this, too ... later) and, I am told (ahem), blackberries provide a wonderful mast base for homemade wine.
Chances are, unless you have someone you buy your already-picked berries from or you are the proud owner of a bramble trellis in your backyard, you are going to need to head out into the edges of fields, by the shoulders of country roads or into the electric company's rights-of-way to find your blackberry yield.
Picking the blackberry is not for those without fortitude and determination. Seems like blackberries never grow anywhere it is easy to get to, so prepare yourself for much tramping and tromping to find the best brambles. And the bramble does not give up its fruit easily, so there is a bit a preparation you need to keep in mind before you head into the brush.
Long pants, long sleeves, a hat (baseball cap works best) and ankle-high leather boots are always my 'musts.' If the thought of wearing long sleeves seems a bit much for middle-of-summer attire, consider that the wild blackberry bramble is thorny and enjoys each of every opportunity to grab, prick, slap and scratch at exposed skin.
Once you have your picking spot chosen, how do you know what is ripe for picking? Well, folks, these are 'black'berries, so you want the ones that are a deep black and appear glossy in sunlight. A berry that is black but appears flat in direct light, is most likely overripe. These types of berries are fine if you making a jam or cobbler, but if you plan on snacking on the fruit, overripe is not going to do it. Specimens that appear with bits black and others reddish or purple are fine for picking, but will taste a tad bit more sour than glossy, black berries.
Picking the actual fruit is going to be a test of your pain threshold. The thorns of the cane are small and sharp. Most brambles will be of the type with angled thorns, which will grab and not want to let go. The best remedy is to make slow and steady movements in the bramble. Sudden movements tend to bring blood to the picker, even through clothing. If you move slowly, your clothing should protect you. You may be tempted to wear gloves. Don't bother. How are you going to handle the delicate fruit of the bramble if you can't feel it between your thumb and forefinger?
When moving into a bramble, understand that to get the best berries, you are going to have to work. You must be willing to move into the middle of thickets. This is accomplished mostly with your feet and legs. Push briars and weeds down and out with your feet, being mindful to not tramp down the blackberry brambles. You may want to come back to this spot next year.
Once to a prime picking area, pick first those berries you can see while standing upright. Once those berries are gone, try squatting underneath the bramble. It is important to reach into the bramble for berries you see, because sometimes going for one berry will reveal the location of several more. Grabbing multiple berries at once is possible, but understand when the fruits are ripe, they are very easily knocked to the ground with slight touch or shaking the bramble. Squatting will help you catch a few, but nothing is more frustrating to the berry picker than to have a three-quarter-inch jewel of juiciness fall out of reach just as you get to it.
Be mindful of where you are picking? Is it public land or privately-owned? If privately-owned, always ask permission. If there is an area you would like to search, ask most landowners and they might agree ... that is, for a share of bounty. Which leads to another issue ... be mindful of passers-by if on a country road. Chances are these folks know you, will know exactly what you are doing and will attempt to talk you out of your fruit. Because, you see, blackberry picking is tough business and they know it. That's why they are not in there with you. But sharing makes me feel good, so I never turn anyone down.
Depending on the thickness of the bramble and whether or not anyone else has come before you to a spot, picking a gallon or two of berries may take an hour or two. This really depends on the thickness of the bramble. To make picking easier, cut the top from a milk jug, leaving the handle. Then run a belt through the handle, so you will not be carrying your picking container and have two hands free. You should plan on needing both hands free for blackberry picking.
I picked today for about four hours and came away with three gallons of berries. Because blackberries are so tough to obtain, if you are planning on buying them from an individual, get ready to pay. Prices can range from $10-a-gallon to $20-per. Picking your berries on your own will save you some money and something about picking them yourself makes the eating so much better.
So get out there and start looking. There's probably only about a week left of prime harvest. And as always, as in anything else in Kentucky ... be mindful of snakes, wildlife and insects. You will want to shower soon after picking, as small ticks and bugs will want to be taking up residence on your person. A partner may be required for a thorough checking-out.
We made a cobbler with part of our harvest tonight ... went great with the meatloaf, mashed new potatoes, fresh cut corn and rolls.
Blackberry Cobbler
1 cup butter or margarine, divided
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 1/2 cups self-rising flour*
1/3 cup milk, room temperature
2 cups fresh blackberries
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons sugar
Directions
In a 10-in. round or oval baking dish, melt 1/2 cup butter; set aside. In a saucepan, heat sugar and water until sugar melts; set aside. Place flour in a mixing bowl; cut in remaining butter until fine crumbs form. Add milk, stirring with a fork until dough leaves sides of bowl. Turn out onto a floured surface; knead three or four times. Roll out to an 11-in. x 9-in. rectangle 1/4 in. thick. Spread berries over dough; sprinkle with cinnamon. Roll up, jelly-roll style. Cut into 1/4-in. thick slices. Carefully lay slices in baking dish over butter. Pour sugar syrup around slices (syrup will be absorbed). Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes. Sprinkle sugar over top and bake 15 minutes more. Serve warm or cold. (*If self-rising flour is not available, use 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour plus 1/4 teaspoon salt and 2-1/4 teaspoons baking powder.)
Blackberry Jam
6 cups crushed blackberries
1 package powdered pectin
8 1/2 cups sugar
Directions:
Put measured crushed berries in a pot. Add pectin and stir well. Place on high heat and stir constantly bringing quickly to a full boil with bubbles over the entire surface. Add sugar, continue stirring and heat again to a full bubbling boil. Boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and skim. Fill and seal containers. Process 5 minutes in boiling water bath.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Kentucky's connections to space program deepen.
When NASA finally has a day the weather and its own shuttle launch systems cooperate, Kentucky will add another astronaut to its list of those who have connections here and have flown in space.
Tim Kopra, an Army colonel and astronaut, will take his first flight into space aboard the space shuttle Endeavour as soon things can come together to get STS-127 off launch pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The astronaut is married to the former Dawn Lehman of Lewisburg in Logan County.
Kopra's connection to Kentucky does not stop there, as he served three years at Fort Campbell in the western part of the state as a aeroscout platoon leader in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). It was while Kopra was serving with the Screamin' Eagles that he met his wife, who was attending Austin Peay State University in nearby Clarksville, Tenn.
Kopra is also part of the Expedition XX International Space Station mission team and is scheduled to remain on the ISS for three months, once the mission is launched.
STS-127 has met with five 'scrubs' in its launch window. Hydrogen leaks in the main external tank postponed the launch on June 13 and June 17. On Friday, July 10, lightning strikes near the launch center caused mission planners to postpone again, while the vehicle was inspected. And on Sunday, the crew of seven astronauts was already sealed in the orbiter when dangerous storm clouds gathered within the 20-mile radius around the shuttle's 'abort' landing site. The delay on Monday was again due to inclement weather.
The launch has been rescheduled for 6:03 p.m. (ET) Wednesday. NASA officials have said the new launch date will be important, as an unmanned Russian is headed to the space station on July 27.
But Kopra's connection to the tiny hamlet of Lewisburg (pop. 900) in southcentral Kentucky is not the only one for a NASA astronaut.
Col. Terry Wilcutt, a Marine, was born in Russellville, Ky., and grew up near Lewisburg before moving to Louisville and graduating from Southern High School. He completed undergraduate work at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green.
Wilcutt, who now serves as Deputy Director, Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate, Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, has flown on the shuttle four times - STS-68 Endeavour (Sept. 30 to Oct. 11, 1994), STS-79 Atlantis (Sept. 16-26, 1996), STS-89 Endeavour (Jan. 22-31, 1998) and STS-106 Atlantis (Sept. 8-20, 2000).
Two of his missions took him to the Mir space station, with his final mission filled with preparations for the first permanent crew to occupy the ISS.
He was pilot for his first two missions and commanded the last two. Wilcutt has logged 1,007 hours in space and has flown more than 17.2 million miles. He is also the recipient of NASA's Outstanding Leadership Medal and the Distinguished Service Medal.
Leroy Gordon 'Gordo' Cooper, Jr., was one of the orginal seven Project Mercury astronauts, those made famous with 'The Right Stuff.' Cooper was born in Shawnee, Okla., but spent part of his childhood in Murray in Calloway County where he attended public schools.
Cooper is perhaps best-known for being the first American to sleep in orbit and the last astronaut to launch and conduct a mission alone in space. He was an air force pilot and is one of few NASA astronauts to have ever gone on record with claims of sighting an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO). Cooper often claimed the government was covering up any evidence it had regarding UFOs.
He also flew as part of the Gemini program and was selected for flight in the Apollo program, but was pulled from the schedule after a disagreement with NASA management.
Cooper died from complications from Parkinson's Disease on Oct. 4, 2004.
Story Musgrave, was born in Boston, Mass., yet claims Lexington, Ky., as his hometown. Musgrave, a medical doctor, interned at the University of Kentucky Medical Center from 1964 until 1967 before being selected for astronaut's training. He continued to served on a part-time basis at UK until 1989.
Musgrave is the veteran of six space flights, all on the space shuttle, including STS-6 in April 1983 - the maiden flight of Challenger, which was lost with crew in January 1986. The STS-6 mission included the first EVA to test new space suits that Musgrave himself has designed.
He is the only astronaut to have flown on Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour, all of the space-flight ready of the fleet. The first glider-test vehicle is Enterprise. Musgrave was the last of the Apollo-era astronauts to retire from flight status.
Certainly, Kentucky's contribution to space flight goes beyond the astronauts connected to the Commonwealth, as there are engineers, electricians, military personnel and scientists contributing on a daily basis to the future of manned spaced flight in the United States. Engineering and science programs at the state's university's - most notably at Western Kentucky University and the University of Kentucky - help assure the Bluegrass will be contributing to the exploration of space for some time to come.
Contributing Writer: C. Josh Givens
Hey folks, Josh here.
Just wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and thank John and Anna for welcoming me aboard 'The Coulter Plough.' Seems ol' John thinks I might just be able to add something to the ongoing conversations here, so I'm gonna give it my best.
A little about me, I am Kentucky born and bred, hailing from Diamond Springs in Logan County. I have been writing and taking photographs for more than 20 years now, sometimes for pay, most times, not. Being a journalist type - and naturally-inquisitive - has allowed me opportunities to meet and write about some of the most interesting people and places our Commonwealth.
What types of posts should you expect from me?
Well, let's see ... seeing how my interests are broad, it would be safest to lay claim to a broad stroke of the keyboard when posting. I have a huge interest in Kentucky history, politics, books, writing, music and oh so, so much more. That leads me to believe we are all going to have quite a good time.
So, again, happy to be here and I hope to keep ya'll interested.
Peace.
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