This week, from today until Thursday, I’ll be attending the Louisiana Library Conference in Shreveport. This will be an ideal time for me to see what’s going on in school and public libraries and to meet librarians to introduce them to the various programs I present. You can read a little more about the conference here: http://www.llaonline.org/ne/lla_conference.php

Book Signing News:

This Friday, I’ll be at the Tyler, Texas Hastings Bookstore and the Tyler Barnes & Noble.  Saturday, March 8, I’ll be at the Barnes & Noble 4801 Overton Ridge Blvd. in
Fort Worth at 2:00 p.m.

Civil War Vocabulary: Commutation – A form of exemption from the draft in the North, enacted on March 3,  1863, exempting those who paid the government $300 or who provided the government a substitute. According to one source I found, military records indicate that 86,724 men bought their way out of the military. Obviously, Lincoln’s war was not as popular as we have been led to believe. Did you see the movie, Gangs of New York? The movie had scenes dealing with the draft riots and the enlistment of the Irish into the Yankee Army as soon as the boat landed. The words to Paddy’s Lamentation were in the background. I’ve included the words to this old song here:

Paddy’s Lamentation

Well it’s by the hush, me boys, and sure that’s to hold your noise
And listen to poor Paddy’s sad narration
I was by hunger pressed, and in poverty distressed
So I took a thought I’d leave the Irish nation

Here’s to you boys, now take my advice
To America I’ll have ye’s not be going
There is nothing here but war, where the murderin’ cannons roar
And I wish I was at home in dear old Dublin

Well I sold me ass and cow, my little pigs and sow
My little plot of land I soon did part with
And me sweetheart Bid McGee, I’m afraid I’ll never see
For I left her there that morning broken-hearted

Well meself and a hundred more, to America sailed o’er
Our fortunes to be made [sic] we were thinkin’
When we got to Yankee land, they shoved a gun into our hands
Saying “Paddy, you must go and fight for Lincoln”

General Meagher to us he said, if you get shot or lose your head
Every murdered soul of youse will get a pension
Well meself I lost me leg, they gave me a wooden peg,
And by God this is the truth to you I mention

Well I think meself in luck, if I get fed on Indian buck
And old Ireland is the country I delight in
With the devil, I do say, it’s curse Americay
For I think I’ve had enough of your hard fightin’