I have to thank Harry Sargent of Lake Jackson Texas for this information. I met him at the museum where I did my program this weekend. As my Confederate ancestor was assigned to the Mining and Nitre department that made gunpowder, I was very interested.

The Art of Making Saltpetre

During the American Civil War,  the Confederates, to provide nitrate for making gunpowder, had to resort to all sorts of devices.  This included digging out and leaching the earth from old smokehouses, barns, and caves and making artificial beds of all sorts of nitrogenous matter.  They designated agents for the purpose in every town and city.

The officer at Selma, Ala, was particularly energetic and enthusiastic in his work and put the following advertisement in the Selma newspaper on October 1, 1863.

“The ladies of Selma are respectfully requested to preserve the chamber lye to be collected for the purpose of making nitre.  A barrel will be sent around daily to collect it.  John Haralson, Agent, Nitre and Mining Bureau, C.S.A.”

This attracted the attention of army poets and the first of the following two effusions resulted.  It was copied and privately circulated over the Confederacy.  Finally it crossed the line, and an unknown Federal poet added the “Yankee’s View of It.”

CONFERATE VIEW OF IT

John Haralson, John Haralson—you are a wretched creature;
You’ve added to this bloody war a new and useful feature.
You’d have us think, while every man is bound to be a fighter,
The Ladies, bless the pretty dears, should save their pee for nitre.

John Haralson, John Haralson, where did you get the notion,
To send the barrel ‘round to gather up the lotion?
We thought the girls had work enough to making shirts and kissing,
But you have put the pretty dears to Patriotic Pissing.

John Haralson, John Haralson, pray do invent a neater,
And somewhat less immodest way of making your saltpetre.
For ‘tis an awful idea, John, gunpowdery and cranky
That when a lady lifts her skirts, she’s killing off and Yankee.

YANKEE VIEW OF IT

John Haralson, John Haralson, we’ve read in song and story,
How women’s tears, through all the years, have moistened fields of glory.
But never was it told before, how ‘mid such scene of slaughter
Your Southern beauties dried their tears and went to making water.

No wonder that your boys were brave; who couldn’t be a fighter,
If every time he fired his gun, he used his sweetheart’s nitre.
And vice versa, what could make a Yankee soldier sadder,
Than dodging bullets fired by a pretty woman’s bladder?
They say there was a subtle smell which lingered in the powder
And as the smoke grew thicker and din of battle louder,
That there was found in this compound one serious objection—
No soldier boy could sniff it without having an erection!!

Thanks to Elinor Owens, Editor of the ACS Philadelphis Section’s Catalyst, for digging this up and publishing it first.

Once again I find myself at Panera’s drinking their fine coffee and doing some online work. For once, there’s no shortage of university work. In fact, there’s an overabundance! Maybe the reeling economy is driving folks back to school. My father was supposed to have his pacemaker battery replaced this week, but his white cell count was up due to a respiratory infection and the physician thought it needful to postpone it because the risk of infection from surgery had doubled. So after two days of dealing with the logistics of getting him to the VA in Dallas, I must plan on doing it again soon.
After our baptism in fire in dealing with the big government hospital system–worse than regular hospitals, but not as bad as one might think–I’ve got the process streamlined and figured out. I think too that my mother—a nervous wreck over it all—will do better next time as well. I spent yesterday by working two hours on college classes (again at Paneras) and then helping my mother with chores. One chore was planting two rows of 3 kinds of onions in her garden. I think she’s already planted potatoes. (Valentine’s day is potato planting day here). I think the garden is good for her. It’s exercise, and it gets her outside and close to nature. Plus, what one grows in a garden is just better for you than store-bought food.

After I do a little online work with my classes, I’m on the road to Houston. I’ll spend the night with friends and tomorrow present my programs at Lake Jackson, then back to Monroe by Sunday.  If you check my online calendar, you’ll see I’ve got a very busy spring ahead of me. I need to start booking events in June-July-August. The fall of 09 is already looking pretty busy. Peace, and to you authors, good writing.

News

Today has been busy, as tomorrow will be. I rose at 4:00 a.m., worked my online classes till 6:15 and was on the way to Oklahoma by 7. I picked up my mom and dad and brought them to my Aunt Winnie’s house in Garland. After my aunt treated us to a supper at Cheddars, I left them in her care and headed for the nearest Starbucks so I could make a post and check on my classes. Tomorrow I take my dad in for his surgery, and hopefully (if his pacemaker doesn’t need to be replaced) be on the way back to Oklahoma by tomorrow night. Thursday I’ll spend with them and help with chores, then drive to Houston on Friday. I’ll spend the night with friends there, and on Saturday I’ll make my presentations at the Lake Jackson Historical Museum. Their motto is “Dedicated to the Preservation of Our Heritage.” Here is the article the local paper is running about the event:

Rickey E. Pittman is a 1998 grand prizewinner of the prestigious Ernest Hemingway Short Story Competition. Originally from Dallas, Texas, he earned a bachelor’s degree in New Testament Greek and a master’s degree in English from Abilene Christian University. Pittman has produced numerous plays, works of nonfiction, collections of poetry, and short stories. A certified Gifted & Talented secondary English teacher, he currently teaches freshman English at Delta Community College and the University of Louisiana in Monroe, Louisiana.

The Lake Jackson Historical Museum is proud to host Mr. Pittman as he presents two Civil War programs on Saturday, February 28th at the Lake Jackson Historical Museum located at 249 Circle Way in Lake Jackson.

At 10 am, Mr. Pittman will conduct a children’s program, followed by a book-signing, based on his children’s book, Jim Limber Davis: A Black Orphan in the Confederate White House. This accelerated reader selection tells the true story of how Jim Limber, a free black orphan, was adopted by the Jefferson Davis family during the Civil War. The story offers an example of compassion during this complex time in our nation’s history. Mr. Pittman will recount the Jim Limber Story through period dress, a Civil War ‘show and tell’ table, and period music.

At 2pm, Mr. Pittman will conduct a second program, also followed by a book-signing, based on his third book, Stories of the Confederate South, an anthology of short fiction presenting a variety of Southern characters, events, and issues that capture the spirit and passion of the South. Through careful research of diaries, biographies, historical events, and social trends Mr. Pittman will summarize Texas’ role in the Civil War, discuss the techniques and difficulties of writing about the Civil War, and present a reading from his book.

The Texas 15th Infantry, a Civil War reenactors group, will also be camped outside the Museum to demonstrate life in a civil war camp.

You won’t want to miss these exciting programs! Rickey Pittman promises to captivate, educate and entertain audiences of all ages with his programs.
All books are available for purchase in the Museum gift shop or bring your own copy to have signed by the author.  For more information please call 979-297-1570 or visit www.lakejacksonmuseum.org.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Caulkins
Museum Director
Lake Jackson Historical Museum

Author Event: I’ve always loved the big sky of West Texas, as well as the people, climate, and terrain. Last year, Linda Bagwell interviewed me on her radio program that is devoted to authors and artists of all sorts. She also heads up this:

Books ‘n Authors ‘n All That Jazz VII
Weatherford College Alkek Fine Arts Center
April 25, 2009

I’ve been asked to be a part of this event this year. Here are the descriptions of my workshops, and I may be performing with my guitar as well.

Rickey Pittman: Writing About the Civil War
It’s not Gone with the Wind — there’s still much that needs to be written about the war that forever changed America’s government, culture, and people. Attend this workshop with award winning Civil War author, musician, and storyteller Rickey Pittman and learn how you can write children’s books, magazine articles, stories, family or military histories, and novels about the war America will never forget.  The author will also help you find out how to research your Civil War ancestor, show and tell various Civil War relics, and introduce some period music.

Rickey E. Pittman: How to Write Children’s Books

Children’s books are not just for kids any more. Libraries, schools, teachers, and adults are collecting and creating them. In this workshop, award winning children’s author and learn how to write a children’s book, how to write your query letter to send to a publisher, and how to best market and promote your book.  The author will discuss various types of children’s books and why, if you want to influence your world, you should be a children’s author.

If you’re near Weatherford on April 25, please drop in and see me.

Tonight I’m packing for my signing tomorrow at the Barnes & Noble in Southlake at 2:00 p.m. It will be a long day, especially when I have to combine it with online college work, but that is what I’ve signed on for. I’ve been in Monroe too long this last spell (at least a couple of weeks) and need to get back on the road. Wish me luck.

I guess it could be said that the songs we carry in our heart are the story of our lives. Having been raised in a home where music and songs had such a prominent place, I saw early, and felt early, how we can connect to certain songs and how we can come to admire certain artists. I’ve been listening night and day to a CD I just purchased by Jeff Talmadge entitled, At that much was TRUE. As a songwriter, I feel there are few who can equal Talmadge. I do hope I can see a performance of his some day, as I do so appreciate his music.  Today, I wanted to post the lyrics to a moving song on that CD, “Because of You.” I

“Because of You” by Jeff Talmadge

You can’t describe a place you’ve never been to,
Can’t escape a place that follows you around,
And you can’t tell a good thing from a bad one
When everything you know is upside down.
Everything you think is so is upside down.

You wouldn’t know a fact if it’s in your face,
You wouldn’t know a lie unless you told it.
You won’t believe that something’s gonna leave
Until you try to hold it
Until you try to hold it.

CHORUS:
And if you see her
Give her this picture
And tell her how it means what once was true
Tell her how a thousand words are missing now and
Tell her how it means because of you
Tell her how it means because of you.

So what are you gonna do
You’re always saying
Like the choices that you made
Were not a choice
In this the way you want it all to be remembered
No breath no face no voice
No breath no face no voice

Chorus:

As with last spring, this spring is chock full of book and program activity. Here’s a condensed version of what I’ll be doing and where I’ll be the next few weeks:

Legacy Books, Pajamarama 7:30 p.m. Plano, TX Legacy Books of Plano, Texas is the largest independent bookstore to open in the United States in more than 2 decades. (I’m waiting on the final word on the date of this one). It was scheduled for tomorrow, but now I think it may be in March. I’ll post a correction as soon as I know.

Saturday, Feb. 21 Barnes & Noble, Southlake, Texas (Fort Worth Area) 2:00-until . . .)

Monday Feb. 23, A Program at the Ouachita Public Library Scottish storytelling, music and my book, The Scottish Alphabet.

After my program Monday night, I’ll drive to my parents house in Oklahoma, drive to the Dallas area Tuesday so my dad can have his pacemaker worked on Wednesday. I’ll spend Wednesday and Thursday with him, and then Friday I’ll drive to Houston.

Saturday Feb. 28, I’ll be at hte Lake Jackson Historical Museum. (Houston Area) You can read about that museum here: I’ll have two presentations that day. Here’s what they say of my event:

10am: Children’s Program and Book signing This program will center on Pittman’s children’s book, Jim Limber Davis: A Black Orphan in the Confederate White House, which tells the true story of how Jim Limber, a free black orphan, was adopted by the Jefferson Davis family during the Civil War.

2pm: Book reading and signing
Mr. Pittman will conduct a reading of his third book, Stories of the Confederate South, an anthology of short fiction presenting a variety of Southern characters, events and issues that capture the spirit and passion of the South.

Thursday, March, 5, I’ll be at the McComb Public Library in Mississippi.

March 6-8, that weekend, I’ll be at the North Texas Irish Festival in Dallas, Texas.

As you can see, I’ll be very busy, but it should be interesting!  And the weeks after this are even more crazy!

The CD of Adrienne Young, Plow to the End of the Row, complete with packet of wildflower seeds, lyric booklet and Adrienne Young sticker, arrived in the mail yesterday. What a great collection of music! I had already published the lyrics of “Plow to the End of the Row” on this blog, and after listening to the CD, I decided I’d post the lyrics  to “Sadie’s Song,” a song of young, tragic love. The song is a reminder that we fall in love seeking redemption, completion, and warmth, but sometimes we only find cold, loss, and death.

“Sadie’s Song” written by Adrienne Young and Mark D. Sanders

Pretty boy, my faithless fallen angel
Took me completely in his arms
In his eyes, I saw Eden’s garden
But the serpent lay hidden in his charms
Well I used to love to sing with the sunlight in my hair
Till that fateful day when I followed him there
Chorus:

He said, climb, little Sadie higher
Spread them downy wings and fly
You will find your crown of gilded glory next to mine
Climb, little Sadie, climb.

Icy winds up on Lookout Mountain
Chilled two bodies to the bone
But for that man, I did gladly lay down my back
Upon a bed of stone
Well I used to love to sing with the sunlight in my hair
Till that fateful day when I followed him there.

Something’s wrong, I heard my voices whisper
I heard ‘em whisper something’s wrong
A single shot, he said, “Fare thee well, Sadie”
The round was cold, my breath was gone
Well I used to love to sing with the sunlight in my hair
Till that fateful day when I followed him there.

Wise Words from Adrienne Young:

Young’s site is here: She is an absolutely fascinating artist. One page of the Plow to the End of the Road CD jacket records her thoughts related to the CD title. It’s writing as good as any personal essay I’ve ever read. One voice—whether real or created persona, I don’t know—tells her, “There’s a price you pay for everything child, and I reckon there ain’t much in this world comin’ easy, nothin’ worth keepin’ anyway. It’s like truth. If it’s gonna stick, it’s got to carve itself into you deep and hard, like a scar.”

I’ve solidly become a devoted fan of Jeff Talmadge. You can find out more about this talented musician and songwriter here. Be sure and read the reviews page. The writers quoted there are far more eloquent than I can be, but I know there’s something about his music that touches the heart the way few others can. If I can, I’m going to obtain all his music. Here is a touching song I just heard on the Americana cable station. I purchased the song from iTunes. I transcribed it from that, so if I’ve made an error in the lyrics, please let me know.

“Let Her Go” by Jeff Talmadge

It’s a puzzle,
It’s a riddle
What is always here and always gone
You’re standing at the end
But you couldn’t see the middle,
Now the shortest distance seems so long.

CHORUS:
You gotta let her go
Oh, let her (it) go
Put her smiles behind you
Put some miles behind you
Put those miles behind you
Let her go, oh, let her go

What’s the sound of
One heart beating
And if a tear falls in a forest?
Does anybody hear?
And when your dream is stolen
There’s no sleeping
You can’t hang on to
Something that’s not here

CHORUS:

SHORT BRIDGE:

There’s just one thing that last forever
She’s not coming back.

The sun still shines and the rain still falls
When you wake up tomorrow,
The wind’s still going to blow
And I know it’s true those nights can last forever
But they’ll get shorter if you’ll only let her go.

CHORUS:

I was listening to a CD of Johnny Cash, and I was reminded of this song, one I intend to add to my Americana show. Cash’s voice was one of the voices frequently heard in my house. Come to think of it, growing up I probably knew the names of more country singers than I did Presidents. Anyway, this song has always meant something to me, so I decided to post it. Several others have done good versions of it as well (Emmylou Harris for one).

“I Still Miss Someone” by Johnny Cash and Roy Cash, Jr.

At my door the leaves are falling
A cold wild wind has come
Sweethearts walk by together
And I still miss someone

I go out on a party
And look for a little fun
But I find a darkened corner
because I still miss someone

Oh, no I never got over those blues eyes
I see them everywhere
I miss those arms that held me
When all the love was there

I wonder if she’s sorry
For leavin’ what we’d begun
There’s someone for me somewhere
And I still miss someone

SATURDAY, FEB. 14, VALENTINE’S NIGHT AT THE DIXIE THEATRE! We had a grand time. Our band, Angus-Duhbghall, opened for Legacy, the award winning Irish band.  I’ve been a little behind on my posts, due to a busy schedule at the colleges, my beloved iBook dying suddenly, and practicing for the Celtic Valentine Night, but I’ll get back on task and promise to try to make some quality posts. As soon as I get some photos of the event, I’ll post them.

Those who know me, know that I’ve been a fan of Jed Marum’s music for years. Fortunately, Jed agreed to an interview. I am so impressed with this talented, charismatic, passionate artist, as I hope you will be too after you read this interview. I know that songwriters can learn much from Marum. This interview may be freely printed and distributed in its entirety with acknowledgment and listing of this blog’s address, http://southernmissive.booklocker.com and of Jed Marum’s website http://www.jedmarum.com/

Ten Questions for Jed Marum: Celtic and Civil War Songwriter

1. How many songs have you written?

I have published 43 original songs. I don’t know how many I have written, certainly twice that number.

2. Is songwriting a part of your daily schedule?

I always have songs in the works. I always have ideas for songs or for collections of songs that I am working in my head. The writing part is usually quick for me – a few hours one day, a few hours the next. Most of the work is in the “fermentation” process, which is the time I work the ideas in my head.

3. I know you’re an avid reader. How does your reading affect your songwriting? What are you reading these days?

I often read now-a-days, with an eye for background on a song. I’ve been asked to write a couple of songs for a new film about the life of the Bushwackers – so I researched the subject and read two books: THE DAY DIXIE DIED by Tom and Deb Goodrich, BLACK FLAG also by Tom Goodrich – and I researched some particular detail in other histories.

I also watched a couple of the songs featured in the films, RIDE WITH THE DEVIL and BLOODY DAWN (documentary).

I liked to be “steeped” in the subject when I write. Even when I’m reading for non-writing purposes, I often find inspiring stories that make me consider writing.

As for what I’m reading; I just read LANDSCAPE TURNED RED by Stephen W. Sears and ROBERT E. LEE by Emory M. Thomas. I also read another great bio on Lee by James J Robertson Jr. call ROBERT E. LEE: Virginian Soldier, American Citizen. And I just read NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS: An American Slave. I have just started CO. AYTCH by Sam R. Watkins and will read ElishaHunt Rhodes’s ALL FOR THE UNION after that.

I have a collection of favorites that I hang on to, which I keep on the bookshelf for reference and occasional rereading.

4. What songs of yours have gone over well in Ireland?

On my first album, STREETS OF FALL RIVER I recorded an Irish favorite called GRACE about the execution of one of the Easter Rebellion’s leaders. That song was the #25 most played single on Ireland’s Country music charts in 2001. My FIGHTING TIGERS OF IRELAND album and its title track have played enough in Ireland to make the charts as well, but I am unsure of just how to quantify that airplay. I do sell albums and MP3s in Ireland regularly – and most of those sales are from my two Civil War albums.

5. You’ve written some songs that have made it into the movies. Tell my readers about those songs.

My first album was licensed by Blackhawk Productions for use in a TV Series they sold to HBO and the Playboy Channel. I know the series ran on the Playboy Channel in Europe, UK, Ireland and Canada. I don’t know if it played elsewhere or if it will rerun. The series was called TRUE LIVES (you can find them on the Web, certainly at Myspace).

I licensed songs and recordings to an independent film, a documentary called BLOODY DAWN by Lone Chimney Films that ran at a series of film festivals and independent theaters and that has just been licensed by PBS to run in several of its markets later this year. That same film company has asked me to write and perform music for its next film, BLACK FLAG that is expected to begin filming late in 2009. I will produce the whole soundtrack for the film.

I also have an offer to produce the sound track for a feature called LOST WARRIOR, TIES THAT BIND (working title). This is a project by Film Services of Louisiana and Joshua International. They’ve asked me to base the sound track on my SOUL OF A WANDERER album. If this project actually gets funded and in production it will probably be a full year of my time. I have my fingers crossed!

6. When you write a song, which comes first: The words or the melody?

The rhythm. Songs for me usually develop in a bit of a fog. I’ve developed the ideas of the song, those few points I want to make – and then I have a feel for how the story wants to be told; is it bluesy? is it melancholy? is it marching? waltzing? driving? Or is it pretty? Is it told through a beautiful air? I make all those decisions before I am serious about developing a melody or setting lyrics. Now when I have all those kernels set, I sit down with my guitar and have the basic “feeling” of the song in my head – my first thought is the rhythm – then I decide on the key and the instrument (I write on banjo and guitar mostly). A melody begins to develop out that process. Sometime I purposely write to sound like something you’ve heard before … to tie the new song tightly to a known genre – and sometimes I want the melody to be entirely original sounding.

Every time I pick up an instrument I am toying with new melodic ideas. Sometimes I do develop one of those melodic phrases into a true melody and think about what kind of song it might become. So in these cases, the melodies come first. This is the way I used to write when I first started. But now when this happens, if I actually fully develop the new ideas into a full melody (with multiple parts and dynamic ideas) I often hang onto those melodies for a very long time, waiting for the appropriate story or motivation to complete the song. I have a few of these in my “quiver” right now.

7. Who are some song writers that you admire?

Robert Burns, Brian McNeill, Stan Rogers, Andy M. Stewart, all come to mind right away. There are a handful of songs that just stand out in mind as true works of genius, as well – for various reasons: SEVEN SPANISH ANGELS is a song that gives every listener a whole two-hour movie image with a simple two-verse song. What genius to tell such big rich story so simply and so beautifully. Percy French was a popular songwriter in early 19th Century Ireland who wrote such very very clever lyrics – beautiful, rich language full of Irish culture and humor. Then I look at songs like SWING LOW SWEET CHARIOT or even YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE – these are two songs that everybody respond to instantly and immediately. I can sing SWING LOW SWEET CHARIOT in a bar full of hard partiers at midnight, and they will always stop what their doing and sing along! What makes songs like that so universally loved?

8. How did you become a song writer?

I’ve always loved music. I’ve always loved singing. I never intended to be a songwriter, and in my early days as a musician, didn’t write or didn’t wrote much. Eventually I started writing songs that I wanted to hear and wanted to sing. Just a few at first – and then that increased over the years.

9. What advice would you give song writers today?

Jump in the deep end. When I decided to go back to performing music (I had stopped performing for 15 years) I decided to go back to it full-time. I gave up the day job and was forced to take my music seriously. Advice? Listen a lot to the songs and the performers that turn you on. Read, analyze your music and that of others. Just do it!

10. What was the first song you wrote?

The first song I wrote after I returned to music, (and this is the point at which I consider my music career begins) was LOOK AHEAD TOMMY – the story my great grandfather told my father about his emigration to America.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Music is the heart of my songwriting interest. I never set out to be a songwriter. I love music. I love to sing and I love to play guitar and banjo. The songwriting thing just sort of followed naturally in the wake of my overall music experience.