Another Civilian Death: James W. Jackson

James W. Jackson

       James W. Jackson was 38 years old when the Civil War arrived at his front door. James lived in Alexandria, Virginia just across the river from Washington, D.C. He was the owner and operator of the Marshall House Inn. Before Colonel Elmer Ellsworth and his 11th New York "Fire Zouaves" arrived at his inn, he was already semi-famous. James flew the Confederate (1st National) Flag atop his hotel which was clearly visible from Abraham Lincoln's office in the White House. 

James Jackson's Marshall House

       Lincoln and his cabinet had observed the large Confederate flag flying across the Potomac River and discussed it. James Jackson had been quoted as saying they would take down his flag over his dead body. When Virginia voted to secede from the union, the following day, Federal troops occupied Alexandria. Ellsworth immediately entered the Marshall House and asked a boarder about the flag. The boarder had no knowledge of the flag. Ellsworth then climbed the stairs and removed the flag from the flagpole. While making his way down the stairs, Ellsworth met James Jackson carrying a double-barreled shotgun. Jackson shot Ellsworth in the chest at close range killing him instantly. He missed with the second barrel as he shot at a Private Brownell. Brownell shot Jackson in the face and then repeatedly bayonetted his body before throwing him down the stairs. 

Private Francis Brownell (above left) and Colonel Elmer Ellsworth

       Both sides considered each man a martyr and hero. No one seemed to question the legality of soldier's employed by the Federal government trespassing and removing private property. James Jackson left behind a wife and three children ranging from ages six and twelve years old. He rests today in the city cemetery, Fairfax, Virginia. Elmer Ellsworth was 24 years old and had never married. His only brother Charley had died the year before of smallpox at age 18. Both rest today in Hudson View Cemetery, Mechanicsville, New York. 

 

The Sad End to William Bruce Mumford

 

William Bruce Mumford

       It's bad enough for a soldier to die in war, but when civilians are killed it's worse, especially when that civilian is executed. William Bruce Mumford was one of those civilians. He was forty-one years old when the Federal Navy arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana. He'd served the United States in two previous wars. He'd fought in the Seminole War and was wounded in the leg during the Mexican War. He would walk with a limp for the remainder of his life. Mumford made no bones about where his loyalty lay in the upcoming conflict and would have served the state of Louisiana had he been physically capable. 

       From the USS Pocahontas a Captain Morris and several U.S. Marine's marched to the mint in town and removed the Confederate flag and replaced it with the U.S. flag. He did this without orders, the town itself had not yet been surrendered. A crowd soon arrived and became enraged over this act. Captain Morris notified them that removing the U.S. flag would result in them being fired on by the warship. Seven men, including Mumford decided to remove the flag anyway as it had been placed there illegally. The ship did indeed open fire on the seven men, but only Mumford was wounded by a flying piece of brick. Mumford limped to the mayor's office to present him the trophy, but the angry mob tore it to shreds as he went there. Upon arrival, there wasn't much of it left. 

       When the Federal Army finally arrived three days later, Union General Benjamin "Beast" Butler heard about the incident and demanded that Mumford must pay for this "crime." He ordered Mumford arrested and tried before a military court on charges of "high crimes...against the laws of the United States. Of course, he was found guilty in this "kangaroo court." It mattered not that the city wasn't even occupied or had surrendered when he removed the flag. It mattered not that he had served the United States as a soldier in two previous wars. Butler was basically judge and jury. He ordered Mumford to be hanged, but was kind enough to allow Mumford to decide the spot he would die. Mumford chose to be executed in the courtyard of the mint where the so-called "crime" had occurred. 

       Mary Mumford, William's wife asked General Butler to visit her and he complied. Despite the pleading of Mary and the children, Butler refused to save the man. Despite repeated pleas from different citizens, Butler remained unmovable on granting clemency. 

The Site of Mumford's Execution

       Butler allowed Mumford to say a few words before his execution. He proclaimed his devotion to the Confederacy, but he also spoke of his love for the U.S. Flag and what it's original meaning before it waged an unconstitutional war against weaker states. He proclaimed his love for the original U.S. Flag and his support for it through two of it's wars. After he was hanged, Louisiana Governor Tom Moore called him a hero. His body was left hanging in front of the mint for almost an hour. General Robert E. Lee demanded of General Henry Halleck why a civilian was hanged for removing a flag before a city had officially surrendered. President Jefferson Davis went a step further. Due to Butler's proclamation which basically called all New Orleans women "ladies of the night" and Mumford's hanging, he ordered that Butler was to be treated as a war criminal and if captured to be executed on the spot without a trial. 

       There is a funny irony to this part of the story. Prior to the presidential election of 1860, Butler believing that a moderate candidate could save the Union, had nominated Jefferson Davis for president fifty-seven times to no avail. Years later, Butler would arrange a job for Mumford's widow in Washington, D.C. Mumford was originally placed in a vault in Cypress Grove Cemetery, but he rests today at the foot of a Confederate monument in Greenwood Cemetery, New Orleans, Louisiana. He left behind a wife and five children ranging from age's five to thirteen. 

Mary Mumford

Mumford's Grave

A Tale of Two Brothers

 

Lieutenant Nicholas "Nick" A. Caufield

       The Caufield brothers lived in New Orleans, Louisiana when the Civil War began. The oldest Nick worked as an accountant. His younger brother William worked as a clerk. Both enlisted in Company F, 5th Louisiana Infantry which was sent for service in Virginia. Nick was elected lieutenant, while William served as a private. Nick was absent back home in New Orleans from November 1861 until February 1862 where he was recruiting for the regiment. 

       Not a lot is known about the two between February of 1862 and the Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam) in September of 1862. We know they were both present for 2nd Manassas and Chantilly. It was at Sharpsburg in Maryland that the brother's, serving in Brigadier General Harry T. Hays's Louisiana Infantry Brigade, were posted in the "Bloody Cornfield." It was there that Hays had his men lie prone on the ground because of all the incoming artillery fire. 

Private William Caufield

       As they lay on the ground, William lay in front of his brother, reclining on his elbow and talking to a Lieutenant Gubbins. A Lieutenant Fitzpatrick beside them was wounded and Nick asked if he was hit. A moment later a shell struck hitting William passing completely through his body. The same shell cut off one of Private Fitzsimmons's legs, then cut off both of a Private Jenkins feet before striking Nick in the lower part of the back and exiting his chest. Nick's heart was torn from his chest. One Federal shell had killed Nick Caufield, William Caufield, and Private Fitzsimmons and wounded Private Jenkins. 

       The burial location of these three men are unknown, probably originally buried on the field and possibly removed to a cemetery later. Nick Caufield was 26 years old. His brother William was just 21. 

The Baptist Interpretation of the Bible

Alabama State Representative Will Dismukes

       I'm so happy that I'm not a Baptist. It seems their "politically correct" version of the Bible doesn't read like everyone else's. Will Dismukes went to a party celebrating the birthday of Confederate General and hero Nathan Bedford Forrest. The democratic party can't fathom why he did this, but the truth is, their party has no hero worth mentioning in the same sentence with General Forrest. You expect such ridiculousness from the democrats because they will use anything for a vote. The Baptist Church shouldn't have surprised me either. 

       In case you are wondering why I'm blaming the Baptists, they forced Will Dismukes who happens to be a Baptist preacher to resign because of his attending the Forrest party. Now why would the Baptist church do this? After all, doesn't the Bible teach forgiveness. Following the war, General Nathan Bedford Forrest became a member of the church and asked for forgiveness for all of his sins. According to the Bible, God forgave him of those sins, but the Baptist church obviously doesn't forgive. 

       For anyone who would like to know the truth about Forrest's salvation, I highly recommend the book called "Nathan Bedford Forrest's Redemption" by Shane E. Kastler. Mr. Kastler is amazingly a Baptist preacher, although once that denomination finds out about the book he's written, he'll probably be forced to resign. Mr. Kastler did some painstaking work tracing General Forrest's entry into the church and according to the Baptist General Forrest was saved. Now what will all these modern day Baptist do if they were to meet General Forrest in heaven. I suppose they will resign and ask God to send them elsewhere. 

       Let us look at a few Bible verses the Baptist need to read and learn. In Luke 6:37 Jesus says, "Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven." Again from the book of Luke, 17:3-4 Jesus says, "Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' forgive him." 

       In Mr. Kastler's book, General Forrest confessed his sins and asked for God to forgive him, yet the Baptist refuse to accept this. They should try reading 1 John 1:9 it says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Matthew 6: 14-15 Jesus says, "For if you forgive others for their transgressions, you heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions." 

       I happen to have a friend who is a Baptist preacher, although I'm not sure which sect he is a part of, but I happen to know he thinks like Will Dismukes and forgives those who have asked for forgiveness. So please don't think I'm bashing all Baptists, but it seems the main leaders of that church are so politically correct they choose to please men over God. I would like one of them to explain to me how Will Dismukes deserves to be treated the way he was for celebrating the birthday of a man who completely changed his life and asked his Savior to forgive him his sins, yet they refuse to. 

       

Christy S. Coleman and the American Idiocracy: If you'll follow...

Christy S. Coleman (the all knowing obviously)

       I recently agreed to a debate with Christy Coleman, even against her and her minions, by myself. Who won, well, I'll let you decide. Christy chose to debate me in private and left her minions out of the parts that didn't suit her agenda. Therefore, it was all Christy and her minions in public, but was it all Christy during the debate? I'll let you be the judge. According to Christy and her minions, she is the foremost expert on the American Civil War and it is all about the most "Holy" north versus the "Evil" South. Before debating Christy, I had no idea that the "holy" north only agreed to have slaves prior to the American Revolution as a means to appease the South (that's right, holy northern states embraced slavery as a means to kiss a Southerners ass according to Christy, this one truly cracks me up). You heard me right, her most "holy" north hated slavery, but accepted it to appease the Southern states, and according to her minions, she is the genius on that time period. All bow to the great Christy Coleman, the expert (in her own mind) on slavery all the way back to father Abraham, Useless Grant or anybody else who owned slaves. It's all the South's fault, right Christy?

       Hey, you Christy followers, you need to line up and drink her Kool-Aid, don't ask what's in it, you don't have the intelligence to understand what she is serving, just drink it, you idiots. Don't worry, Christy has BLM and the NAACP on her side, who cares about the truth when it comes to our nations history. She has the Federal government giving her and her self-righteous group 10 million dollars a year, how much do the rest of us get from the government. Oh, that is right, we just pay in, Christy just withdraws, welcome to the idiocracy of 2020. Pay these idiots to do the thinking, let the government take all your money and give to these idiots so they can get a vote. Oh, Christy told me that we agreed on most points except the war was only about slavery. The Federal government loved the African race and believed in what the constitution preached so much, that they went and wiped out the American Indians just ten years after freeing the Africans and declaring all men are equal. In this "shit-poor" country, all men are created equal as long as you have enough of your race to count in an election. Welcome to the world of Christy Coleman and her ignorant minions. 

The Reckoning

Chickasaw Chief George Colbert

       For those of you who have forgotten another race of mistreated people, allow me to introduce you to the Native Americans. You don't see anything about them on CNN or any other news channel because there are only a million of them left. There aren't enough of them to count in an election, therefore their lives don't matter. You rarely hear them crying about the hand their ancestors were dealt, although they have far more right to be offended today. Can you imagine what this country would look like if the government caved in to the things that offend these people. 

       You won't see large groups of ignorant misinformed white people bowing down to worship or beg for forgiveness to these people because the television doesn't teach these weak minded people to do so. Isn't it amazing how a small box plugged into the wall of a home can completely brainwash the weak minded. That box controls American lives because it takes energy to think for one's self. It's much easier to let the box do our thinking for us because we don't want to expend any energy using our brains. 

Only one race matters anymore

       I happen to be a Christian and you will not find me bowing to any man, ever. I will take my knee to my Father in heaven. Laugh all you want, but I'm not worshiping a race of people because a box plugged into the wall told me to do so. I can think for myself and I have the energy to do so. 

       My upcoming book is called "The Reckoning" and it is about the Cherokee and Chickasaw tribes battling the encroaching Europeans in the American South. The struggle was a long and bloody one between two fiercely militant races, the Native Americans and the Celtic people of Ireland and Scotland. Most Southerners alive today have a mixture of Native American and Celtic blood flowing through their veins. I'm reminded of a repeated story from lots of my friends who've served in the U.S. Military. Drill instructors to this day will repeat the fact that they'd prefer to have a unit of Southern soldiers over northern soldiers any day. 

       Among the warriors I cover in my book are a couple of fierce chiefs named Doublehead (Cherokee) and George Colbert (Chickasaw). Both fought valiantly for the land they'd always lived on, only to be cheated out of it by encroaching Europeans. It reveals a group known as long hunters led by the famous Thomas "Bigfoot" Spencer who stood six feet, five inches and weighed almost 300 pounds. The Alabama version of Davy Crockett named Sam Dale who happened to be an Indian fighter, but also became close personal friends with Chief Doublehead. I was slightly reprimanded for not proclaiming a hero and an antagonist in my book, but I wanted the reader to figure out for himself which side was correct in that war. 

       The way things are headed today, that part of our history may be erased from our history books and there may be another race placed in their place as having things so much worse. Maybe I stated that a little too late, because I'd say we are already there. 

Police and the Law

       I support Confederate veterans and because of that I have repeatedly been called a racist. People have stated that I support the idiot that killed George Floyd. Believe me, there is no love lost for this police officer. I don't think he deserves jail time, just announce to the public where he will be released and drop him off there. Justice will quickly be served. Trust me, you don't have to be black to have problems with some of these "Clint Eastwood" police officers. They tend to forget they work for us and are there for us. I've heard that George Floyd was on drugs, etc, but does this give a civil servant the right to kill him? This is not the kind of America the founding fathers envisioned when they formed this government. 

       Having explained to everyone my personal feelings on the matter, I would like to explain what we have serving as police officers in this country. During the recent shut down of the state of Alabama, Huntsville Police took action against a salon for operating without being an essential business. Three such businesses were cited. Now fast forward to when the shutdown is over and look at the city of Birmingham, Alabama. A Confederate monument was attacked and damaged against state law by rioters and the police are too afraid to intervene. Oh, they are a cocky bunch against hair dressers and store owners, but when they face a real challenge, they are nowhere to be found. Doesn't that remind you of the bullies you faced in school. They are extremely tough when they face the weak, but when they face a challenge, they always back down. Welcome to our police force today. Scared of their shadows unless they outnumber their opponents five to one. 

Tuscumbia Prosecutor Hal Hughston III

       Let's take this all a step further. My mom was in city court in Tuscumbia, Alabama and asked for a trial. (City courts in Alabama are make believe courts to obtain these small towns money and that is all they are concerned with). The prosecutor named Harold Hughston III had been through a rough day (according to him). I was representing my mom because she was almost deaf and couldn't hear. He instructed me to inform her that there would be no trial, she was going to pay the court cost and be done with it. I told him that she wanted a trial and that was her right under the U.S. Constitution. He replied, "I already told you, there is not going to be a trial, I've had a long day!" I began to argue with him when he turned to the city judge named John Kennemer (a local lawyer) and instructed him to throw me out of the courtroom. I don't know what Kennemer said because I turned and headed for the door. Just before reaching the door, a Tuscumbia police officer pushed me in the back almost sending me through the glass doors. This officer is one of those police officers like Derek Chauvin and believes he is the next Dirty Harry. His name is Steve Higginbotham and he is the type who wears his uniform about five sizes too small so he can show off his muscles. My dad always referred to him as Tuscumbia's version of "Barney Fife." We all know his type. 

Officer Higginbotham the "badass"

       I know nothing about this super cop with the enormous ego who works in this small town and probably makes little more than minimum wage, but I've been told many rumors about him. None are very appealing. I was told he had been a New York police officer by a volunteer firefighter near town and he couldn't cut it there, so he had to come to Tuscumbia, Alabama to get a job. I have no idea and I don't care. Everyone in the area refers to the Tuscumbia Police Department as America's version of the Soviet police. They heard a rumor that someone was growing marijuana on Colbert Heights Mountain outside of their jurisdiction and they got all dressed up in combat gear and raided this man's farm to no avail. They also traveled west about fifteen miles to Cherokee, Alabama to write a ticket to the mayor's wife for driving a golf cart on the street. It sounds like they have little to do. Another citizen of the town of Cherokee had an arrest warrant over some small affair. He didn't know he had this warrant. He was pulled over and handcuffed by Tuscumbia Police and then beaten up. He was on crutches with a broken leg because of these super cops, yet there was nothing he could do about it. They are extremely tough when they have someone handcuffed or alone and outnumber their opponent, the rest of the time, you won't see them. Another episode occurred a little over a year ago when they were going to arrest a man named Howard. They shot his house full of tear gas and one of the canisters caught the house on fire. They then told the media that he started the fire himself. Remember Waco? We've heard this story before. So, who do these super cops answer to? Nobody, because, just like in my case, the mayor Billy Shoemaker sent my dad to the city prosecutor Kennemer for a copy of the video. Kennemer sent dad back to the mayor and the mayor sent dad back to Kennemer. Kennemer informed my dad that he couldn't release the video because he was instructed by the mayor not to and he had to work for these people. Enough said. When are we going to stand up to these overbearing, thieving local and state governments. All they want is for us to give them our money and shut up.