Interview with Dixie Broadcasting 

Tomorrow, at 9:00 p.m. Central-Standard Time, and of course 10 p.m. (EST) I’ll be interviewed by Ray McBerry with Dixie Broadcasting.  The interview will be focussed on my newest book, Stories of the Confederate South, my writing, and of course, the South. You can go to this link, click on “Listen Now” and hear the interview. If you are a Southerner who is proud of his or her heritage, you need to make this station a regular part of your schedule.

Fort Worth Fort Trails Muster

I was so impressed by this Fort Worth event. As usual when I attend anything connected to  “Living History”, I learned more than I intended.  Here are some more photos, illustrating what you can experience and learn at such events. First, here is a photo of Buffalo Soldiers.  They are top-notch reenactors, very knowledgeable and eager to teach young and old about soldier life on the frontier.  They operate out of Fort Concho, at San Angelo, Texas.

Next is a fellow with an exact replica of the famous “Come and Take It” six-pounder cannon at Gonzales, thought to be the first battle of the Texas Revolution. I’ve also included a flag that Texas ladies made in defiance of the Mexican Army who demanded the cannon be returned to them.  “Come and take it” became a motto of the Revolution.

Here I am manning a hand-cranked Gatling Gun, invented by a Mr. Gatling in 1861. It was used only a few times in the Civil War by the Yankees. The South never used one, though I’ve been told they had some automatic type weapons of their own they were looking at using. The gun’s owner has the red cap and the red trim on his uniform, indicating he is with artillery.

Here I am with one of the four cannons fired at the event. Every time a cannon was fired, car alarms began singing from blocks away!  As always, folks were fascinated in the artillery and listened to the reenactors with interest as they explained the basic facts of firing Civil War period artillery.