Bon Voyage

On this day, 20 years after Columbus "discovered" North America, a Spaniard, Juan Ponce De Leon "discovered" the fountain of youth, and named it La Florida.  Where he landed has been disputed for centuries, some say near where St. Augustine is today, others say just north of Miami.  Like most disputes the claimant with the loudest voice or fattest wallet wins, historical accuracy be damned. St. Augustine is good enough for me.

One of the earliest explorers of the gulf side of Florida was Hernando De Soto in 1539.  He and his men  eventually passed near Mayberry.  It was they who introduced European diseases to the local Mississippian populations wiping out many, and whose cruelty created the widespread antipathy of the locals for white men everywhere they went.

In need of stone crab claws, Mrs. T and I  leave today to see for ourselves where Cortez's first landed in Florida  then onto Captiva, Florida a lovely barrier island, a million miles away from memories of snow and ice.    

Postings will be sporadic for the next week, but we will be thinking of you.

Love to all,
Toad

Richmond Captured - April 3, 1865

The end of the Confederacy is near.

While sitting in his usual pew in St. Paul's Episcopal Church, the sexton handed President Davis a telegram the war Department had received from General Lee. "... lines broken. There was no hope of repairing the damage.  He must retreat at once to save the army.  Richmond must be evacuated tonight."

The fall of Richmond, orders to destroy war material, cotton and tobacco stored in the city and the surrounding chaos is a particularly fascinating tale, well told by Nelson Lankford in Richmond Burning: the last days of the Confederate Capital.  Check your library.

Toad