Sandra Merville Hart's Blog, page 45
February 17, 2021
Euphemia Goldsborough, Confederate Nurse at Gettysburg
Ambulance outside Lutheran Seminary, Gettysburg.
by Sandra Merville Hart
Euphemia Goldsborough learned of the terrible battle at Gettysburg that took place July 1-3, 1863, and wanted to help nurse the wounded.
She lived in Baltimore, Maryland, and it wasn’t an easy place for a Southern sympathizer to live in 1863. Citizens leaving the city were required to take an oath of allegiance to the Union before a pass would be issued.
General Robert E. Schenck, who commanded the Middle Department and VIII Corps in Baltimore, declared martial law in Baltimore on June 29, 1863. The next day he made it mandatory for anyone leaving the city to have a pass signed by the provost marshal.
Union and Confederate wounded were brought to Baltimore after the battle. Anyone visiting the hospitals had to be completely loyal to the Union. Another order, passed on July 10th, stated that no Confederate soldiers could be entertained in homes or any place other than his assigned hospital.
Under those circumstances, Euphemia’s devotion to the South didn’t allow her to nurse wounded soldiers in Baltimore. She decided to go to Gettysburg.
It’s unclear how she and dozens of other women accomplished leaving Baltimore because the railroads had suspended travel. She also needed a pass—after taking an oath of allegiance—to leave by boat on the Patuxent, Potomac, or West River. Perhaps she disguised herself or hid with the supply wagons headed to the battlefield.
Valley where Pickett led a charge, Gettysburg Battlefield
Regardless of how she got there, she was a nurse at the temporary hospital at Pennsylvania College Hospital by July 18th. Wounded soldiers, some missing limbs, lay on bare floors without pillows.
Colonel Waller T. Patton, 7th Virginia, was one of the wounded there. An artillery shell ripped part of his jaw away during Pickett’s Charge on July 3rd. To aid his breathing, the unconscious man had to be propped up to have any chance to live. Unfortunately, there was no way to prop him.
Euphemia volunteered. She sat on the floor with her legs stretched out in front of her. Surgeons placed his back against hers. Fearing her slightest movement might cause the officer to suffocate, she fought the numbness that soon set in. All through the long night, she sat motionless in the candlelight.
Despite heroic efforts to save him, Colonel Waller T. Patton died on July 21st. His obituary in Richmond’s Daily Enquirer mentioned that he’d been tenderly nursed by a Baltimore woman. Perhaps the article was speaking of Euphemia. When she met the officer’s family in Richmond a few months later, they offered her the hospitality of their home while she was in their city. She thanked them but refused the gracious offer.
Civil War nurses made many sacrifices for their heroic patients. Gettysburg wounded were soon moved to Camp Letterman, a large tent hospital outside town where Euphemia had one hundred patients—fifty Union and fifty Confederate soldiers. She kept hospital books that were autographed by some of her patients. She also had letters and poems from them.
WWII General George S. Patton is a name many recognize. Colonel Waller T. Patton was his great-uncle.
Sources
Conklin, E.F. Exile to Sweet Dixie: The Story of Euphemia Goldsborough Confederate Nurse and Smuggler, Thomas Publications, 1998.
“Waller T. Patton,” Wikipedia, 2021/01/28 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waller_T._Patton.
Wilson, Laurel. “A Gun with a Story: Waller Patton’s Civil War Pistol,” Gettysburg Compiler, 2021/01/28 https://gettysburgcompiler.org/2017/05/10/a-gun-with-a-story-waller-pattons-civil-war-pistol/.
February 16, 2021
Widow’s Weeds and Weeping Veils, Revised, by Bernadette Loeffel-Atkins
An interesting book!
The author has included fascinating traditions about mourning the death of loved ones during the nineteenth century.
For instance, locks of hair from the deceased family member were often woven into pictures and paintings or used in needlework samplers. Birds, angels, flowers, and weeping willows were some of the symbolic images portrayed.
The book also shows that the traditional period of time to wear mourning clothes or “widow’s weeds” depended on one’s relationship to the deceased.
I also was fascinated to learn that images depicted on gravestones hold symbolic meaning. An image of dog meant courage, vigilance, and loyalty. Calla lilies were symbolic of marriage.
Definitely recommend for lovers of history and authors of historical novels!
-Sandra Merville Hart
February 9, 2021
Marriage Conversations by Cathy Krafve
From Co-existing to Cherished
What a wonderful book about communicating in marriage relationships!
Krafve compassionately tackles tough topics in her book such as divorce, abortion, pornography, self-worth, and the definition of marriage. She writes specifically to women yet men will also benefit from reading the book.
Krafve ends each chapter with thought-provoking sections geared to shift readers’ focus to their own situation: Understanding your needs, Identifying your worth, and Envisioning your future. I was touched by the prayers she has written for her readers at the end of every chapter.
I love the honesty in which the author shares examples from her own family to illustrate her points. Gems of wisdom are sprinkled throughout the book. Insightful advice on how to make small changes to improve communication makes it a great learning book.
I highly recommend this book to married and engaged couples seeking to improve their communication skills.
-Sandra Merville Hart
February 7, 2021
Cherry Cake
by Sandra Merville Hart
I’ve been watching The Great British Baking Show and learning a lot about dishes that are new to me. Even more helpful is The Great British Baking Show Masterclass, where talented bakers Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry demonstrate their own recipes.
Mary Berry demonstrated a recipe for cherry cake. I watched it a couple of times. It looked so delicious that I had to make it.
I didn’t find red glace cherries as suggested by Mary’s recipe so I bought maraschino cherries instead. I found a recipe to make these candied for use in the cake. This took about an hour.
Once the candied fruit was cool, I sliced about a cup of them into quarters. This took a few minutes. I rinsed the quartered fruit, dried them with a paper towel, and then set them aside.
I had extra cherry juice left over from the maraschino cherries so I added ¼ cup of it to the batter. Otherwise, I followed the recipe.
Unfortunately, my cake stuck to the Bundt pan even though I had buttered it well. Not well enough, apparently. Also, I think the cake needed to cool a few minutes longer so I’ll give it an extra half hour next time before turning it out.
The lemon icing was delicious with the cherry cake. Everyone who tried it enjoyed the flavor of the candied fruit that didn’t overpower the cake.
A very nice cake! I will bake it again.
I’m so glad I tried it. Let me know what you think if you make it.
Sources
“Cherry Cake,” PBS.org, 2020/11/243 https://www.pbs.org/food/recipes/cherry-cake/.
DIY Candied Cherries, King Arthur Baking Company, 2020/11/24
https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/diy-candied-cherries-recipe.
February 3, 2021
Children’s Authors and Illustrators Week
by Sandra Merville Hart
Children’s Authors and Illustrators Week is February 1-7 in 2021. It’s an annual event held in the first week of February.
Authors and illustrators of children’s books from Children’s Authors Network (CAN!) tell stories and teach writing workshops at schools, libraries, and children’s shelters.
They hope to instill a love of books in the young readers.
As a novelist myself, I love this idea! I remember the first time I entered a library with my third-grade class. It thrilled me to see all those bookshelves lined with books in my elementary school’s library. Then I learned that students could check out two books to read and then return them in two weeks—what a privilege! I didn’t know where to start. Thankfully, the librarian had suggestions.
If you have a young reader in your life and don’t know where to turn for wholesome, fun stories for them, here are a few suggestions:
Junie B. Jones Series by Barbara Park
Berenstain Bears Series by Jan Berenstain and Mike Berenstain
Otis the Tractor Series by Loren Long
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. Long
Magic Treehouse Series by Mary Pope Osborne
Chronicles of Narnia Series by C.S. Lewis
Little House on the Prairie Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Anne of Green Gables Series by L.M. Montgomery
Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
Trixie Beldon Series by Julie Campbell
Taxi Dog by Debra Barracca
My Friend Flicka by Mary O’Hara
My Friend Bear by Jez Alborough
Over the River by Derek Anderson
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson and Donna Diamond
The Wish Giver by Bill Brittain and Andrew Glass
Behind the Attic Wall by Sylvia Cassedy
Authors of children’s books:
Tasha Tudor
Max Lucado
Jill Roman Lord
Beverly Lewis
Dandi Daley Mackall
Michelle Medlock Adams
Kathie Lee Gifford
Burton Cole
Eddie Jones (geared to middle-grade boys)
Clyde Robert Bulla
Graeme Base
Roald Dahl
Parents, it’s a good idea to keep a watchful eye on what your children are reading. There may be inappropriate language or topics in books, even those found in the children’s section of the library.
I hope you find some gems for your child!
Sources
“Celebrate Children’s Authors and Illustrators Week,” Read Write Think, 2020/12/14, http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/calendar-activities/celebrate-children-authors-illustrators-20675.htmlC.
“Children’s Authors and Illustrators Week,” childrensauthorsnetwork!, 2020/12/14, https://www.childrensauthorsnetwork.com/childrens-authors-and-illustrators-week.html.
February 2, 2021
A Rifle by the Door by Dan L. Fuller
What a great book!
Twelve-year-old Dave Foster is proud of the way his pa stands up to the men threatening him when he refuses to sell their ranch. Then his pa is shot in the back, leaving him and his older sister, Jenny, to face the future alone. They know nothing about surviving Colorado’s brutal winters. Jenny worries they’ll starve.
Help arrives when John Beck, an old friend of their father’s, comes to the ranch. Jenny isn’t certain they can trust the tough man who knows how to fight and handle a gun, but Dave figures they need him.
I love the characters in this book. John is complex, courageous, and keeps to himself. He’s as believable as the brave boy who finds himself in an impossible situation. Jenny is a Christian, and is as spunky as she is beautiful.
Told from the boy’s perspective, this story is filled with one adventure after another … as well as tragedy.
If you love Westerns, you will enjoy this story.
Definitely recommend! I will look for more books by this author.
-Sandra Merville Hart
January 26, 2021
Bash and the Chocolate Milk Cows by Burton W. Cole
Beamer stays at his aunt’s farm for a week and Bash, his adventurous cousin, is full of schemes. This just happens to be the week of April Fool’s Day. Bash doesn’t just plan tricks for the actual day and Beamer joins in on some of the planning.
One crazy prank follows the next as the boys and some friends from the neighborhood move closer to their biggest trick of all—getting chocolate milk from the cows on the farm!
I have to confess that snagged my attention, even as an adult. How were they going to pull off that trick?
This is a fun novel for elementary children.
One of the grils is thinking about getting baptized as it talks about in the Farmin’ and Fishin’ Book (other folks call it a Bible) and it starts Beamer to thinking about it too.
The book is geared to children 8 – 12. As a chapter book, it also is a great book for parents to read to their children at bedtime.
I will look for more books by this author.
-Sandra Merville Hart
January 24, 2021
Keto Chocolate Mousse
by Sandra Merville Hart
I planned to make dessert for a family gathering over the holidays. My son-in-law, who has been following the Keto diet for months, asked me to make something he could eat without cheating.
Since I was making a frozen chocolate mousse pie for everyone else, I decided to make a version for him that he felt good about eating.
Searches online revealed lots of possibilities. I settled on a Quick Keto Chocolate Mousse, partially because I had all the ingredients in my fridge or pantry.
I melted unsweetened baking chocolate and used it instead of cocoa powder. My zero-calorie sweetener was Sweet’N Low because the package contained a great chart showing exactly how many packets equaled ¼ cup, 1/3 cup, ½ cup, and 1 cup of granulated sugar. The original recipe calls for ¼ cup powdered zero-calorie sweetener.
To ensure there was leftover dessert, I tripled the recipe.
What an easy dessert to prepare! My son-in-law was thrilled to enjoy chocolate mousse while everyone else ate pie.
You might prefer a different sweetener.
I’m so glad I tried it. Keto lovers, let me know what you think if you make it.
Sources
“Quick Keto Chocolate Mousse,” Allrecipes, 2020/11/26 https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/270598/quick-keto-chocolate-mousse/.
January 20, 2021
Winnie the Pooh Day
by Sandra Merville Hart
Of all the characters in children’s books I’ve read, Alan Alexander Milne’s Winnie the Pooh may be my favorite. This character was based on the author’s son’s teddy bear. In fact, the boy’s collection also included a tiger, a donkey, a piglet, and two kangaroos. Christopher Robin, his son, is the boy in the stories. Owl and Rabbit lived only in Milne’s imagination … and now in ours.
Even the story’s setting is real—the Hundred Acre Wood is patterned after the Ashdown Forest near Milne’s East Sussex home. Milne walked through the woods with Christopher. E.H. Shepard, the books’ illustrator, used the Ashdown Forest as inspiration for his drawings.
Readers sense the love and wisdom within the pages of Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner from a “Bear of Very Little Brain.” Christopher Robin is a sweet, compassionate boy with unending patience for the scrapes in which his best friend Winnie the Pooh finds himself.
Poor Eeyore is always gloomy yet lovable. Piglet is often afraid. Roo is always ready to play. Tigger is full of enthusiasm that grates on Rabbit’s nerves. All of them rely on the wisdom of Owl, who is perhaps not as wise as he thinks.
Milne created a lovable cast of everyday characters that live on today. Though he wrote humorous stories, plays, screenplays, poems, and a detective novel, it is his stories for children that have endured.
Yet Milne stopped writing children’s stories. His son had been an inspiration for them and he was growing older. The fame of the real Christopher Robin appalled his father. It was far more publicity than he desired for his young son.
A.A. Milne’s amazingly successful Winnie the Pooh made it difficult to write in other genres. He simply wanted to write whatever he wanted. That door closed.
Upon his death, the family received rights to his Pooh books as well as the Westminster School, the Royal Literary Fund, and the Garrick Club. Over the years, the beneficiaries eventually sold their interest to Disney Corporation.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame gave a star to Winnie the Pooh in 2006, an honor that Milne likely never imagined.
January 18th is known as Winnie the Pooh Day as a celebration of A.A. Milne’s birthday on that day in 1882.
Sources
“A.A. Milne,” Wikipedia, 2020/12/14, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._A._Milne.
“A.A. Milne: 5 Facts About ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’ Author,” Biography, 2020/12/14 https://www.biography.com/news/winnie-the-pooh-author-biography-facts.
“Winnie the Pooh,” Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2020/12/14 https://www.britannica.com/topic/Winnie-the-Pooh-childrens-stories-by-Milne.
January 19, 2021
Three Little Things by Patti Stockdale
Hatti Waltz comes to town to cheer for and say goodbye to local soldiers. It’s 1917, and Arno Kreger is one of the brave men heading for boot camp. She wishes she could forget him as easily as it seems he forgot her.
Arno wants to carry Hatti’s promise to write him. He wants to court her but her father doesn’t like him. He’s been warned away.
The war in Europe is against the Germans. Arno, an American with a German heritage, doesn’t have an easy time with fellow soldiers. His fists have landed him in trouble in the past, but that’s not the way to win Hatti’s heart.
This story highlights the conflict German-American soldiers faced on the home front and the power of letters to connect two hearts that long for one another.
The characters are believable with plenty of surprising twists that are true to the time. What intrigued me most was learning that the story is loosely set on the author’s grandparents.
A good book for lovers of American history and World War I.
-Sandra Merville Hart
