Strange Kentucky Travels

Strange Kentucky Travels
My book is on Amazon! You should buy it!!!!!
Showing posts with label Mississippi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mississippi. Show all posts

Saturday, October 5, 2024

"Finding Daniel Boone" by Ted Franklin Belue

I read "Finding Daniel Boone:  His Last Days in Missouri & the Strange Fate of His Remains" by Ted Franklin Belue and I really enjoyed this one.

Most people in Kentucky and Missouri learn in elementary school that the remains of Daniel Boone and his wife were moved from Missouri to Kentucky years after his death.  Very briefly, some people from Frankfort hoped to sell some plots in their cemetery by getting Boone reburied in the state.  Through some slick talking (and promise of a new, grand memorial) they convince Missouri to let the remains go.

As the story progressed, a rumor starts that, instead of taking Daniel's remains, the remains of someone else were taken.  The rumor does reek of racism, as the story involves slaves, and Kentucky taking the remains of a black man instead of Daniel.  Also, multiple stories lead to this rumor, including confusion about where is grave was, and deception in other stories.

Many know the basics of the story, but Belue gets credit for tracking down the sources of the legends...  He tracks down who said what, and when.  He finds two source descriptions of the coffins (that are different).  He also tells how the transfer happened, and he paints a picture of the crowded city of Frankfort, when Daniel and Rebecca Boone are buried again.

MORE INPORTANTLY, he covers the fact that a cast and copies of parts of Daniel's skull were made.  He gets opinions from experts about whether or not the skull could have come from an elderly Caucasian. 
 

Monday, February 26, 2024

Mississippi State University 2023


We stopped by Mississippi State University on our recent road trip!  

Saturday, February 24, 2024

Confederate Cemetery and other Civil War Buildings on the Ole Miss Campus


Ole Miss has a lot of ties to the Civil War...  including a Confederate Cemetery.

Friday, February 23, 2024

Movie: "Mysterious Circumstance: The Death of Meriwether Lewis"


 After our adventure driving through Mississippi, I picked up the DVD copy of "Mysterious Circumstances:  The Death of Meriwether Lewis".  I saw a huge banner for the movie in Baldwyn Mississippi- I believe some of the movie was produced there.  AND, we visited the actual death and burial site of the legendary explorer.

Plus, as a fan of the "Dukes of Hazzard" I saw that John Schneider was in the film!

I should mention I saw some not so favorable reviews of the movie....  but, who cares?

The film is a bit unconventional.  It kind of tells the same story in several different ways, speculating how the death of Lewis went down.  It is still a big mystery to this day.  I liked the way that the film handled covering a lot of ground, and I ended up really enjoying this one.

Thursday, February 22, 2024

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

"The Battle of Brice's Crossroads" by Stewart L. Bennett

I picked up a signed copy of Stewart L. Bennett's "The Battle of Brice's Crossroads at visitor center in Baldwyn.

Bennett makes the battle easy to understand, and the book has a very nice flow.

Roughly, Sherman was hoping that the CSA's Nathan Bedford Forrest could be kept occupied and away from his forces and plans....

The Federals had General Sturgis available for the job, who had mixed reviews as far as success goes.  He would keep Forrest occupied, but he would ultimately suffer an embarrassing defeat at this battle.  Like many union leaders, he would greatly overestimate his opponents numbers.  

Forrest, of course, was great at fooling his opponents into thinking his forces were much bigger.  Art the end of the day, his roughly 3500 man force chased and soundly defeated a US force of around 8000.  Sturgis would report that Forrest must have had 15-20,000.

The heat and mud worked against the soldiers, specifically the federals - but the crafty Confederate Forrest was the star of the fight.

Bennett gives all of the important details of the battle and I am really glad I picked this volume up about the Battle of Brice's Crossroads.

 

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Baldwyn Mississippi 2023


Baldwyn Mississippi was a great little town we were lucky enough to find on our recent trip through the great state.


Saturday, February 17, 2024

"Hold on with a Bulldog Grip: A Short Study of Ulysses S. Grant"

I purchased a nice, signed copy of "Hold on with a Bulldog Grip: A Short Study of Ulysses S. Grant" while visiting the Grant Presidential Library on the campus of Mississippi State University.  Several authors collaborated on this fun book.

This is a nice book to have to go along with my visit, and its a really pleasant, brief intro to the famous General/President.  If you have studied up on Grant, you will likely know most of the material, but there were some nuggets I wasn't familiar with myself (there is an interesting relationship between the Grant family and John Brown).

AND, the book ends with a wonderful story explaining how the Grant Library became established...  well, in the South (and in the state of General Grant's signature victory during the Civil War).  If you have studied Grant, you know that there were some tight friendships and bonds he had with members of the CSA before and after the war.  Well, Confederate Stephen D. Lee, the 1st president of Mississippi State University, will forever be linked to Grant.  The last few pages of the book explaining this sweet connection make the book a must.
 

Friday, February 16, 2024

US Grant Presidential Library Mississippi State University 2023


We were able to visit the US Grant Presidential Library in Starkville, Mississippi!

Thursday, February 15, 2024

"William Faulkner" by M. Thomas Inge

I wanted to mention a nice little short biography I picked up at Square Books while in Oxford Mississippi.  "William Faulkner" by M. Thomas Inge give a very nice, short intro to the author.

It is a quick read coming it at around 100 pages, and there are plenty of photos.

I honestly did not know a lot about Faulkner before this trip, and I am glad I picked this volume up to go along with the visit to Oxford, and to Faulkner's home, Rowan Oak.

The author tells a good bit about the Mississippian's personal life, his work, relationships, etc.  He also gives info about his releases, and the critic's reactions to Faulkner's works at the time of release.

Inge does mention that he briefly met Faulkner at one time....  I would have liked to have heard more about this, but he said that Mr. Faulkner patiently answered a few questions for him...  which is probably as complete of a story as he could provide.

 

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Monday, February 12, 2024

Shuttle Ride in Oxford Mississippi July 2023


We had an interesting shuttle ride from our hotel to town in Oxford Mississippi!

Saturday, February 10, 2024

Thursday, February 8, 2024

Ole Miss/University of Mississippi Campus 2023


We had a great few days hanging out on the campus of Ole Miss!

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Tupelo National Battlefield in Mississippi 2023


Here is a brief look at the Tupelo National Battlefield in Tupelo Mississippi!

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center Tupelo Mississippi 2023


Here is a quick look inside of the Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center in Tupelo Mississippi!

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

"Oxford in the Civil War" by Stephen Enzweiler

After our recent trip through Mississippi, mostly to see Civil War sites, I wanted to know more about the area.  AND, we spent several nights in the Oxford area....So I was glad to find a book about Oxford in the Civil War.

Stephen Enzweiler has put out a very nice book explaining the locals, politics, and general feelings going on in Oxford at the time of the Civil War.  He writes a very nice story about the Civil War OVERALL, from the perspective of Oxford.

This is a fascinating story.  Local politicians influential in southern politics are introduced, and, of course, Mississippi heavy weights (Jefferson Davis) are discussed as they rise to power.

You get a lot of small scale stories too...  Some of these tales are touching and interesting.  Some, I want to follow up on more.

A few interesting notes that really struck me:  Edwin Stanton considered an assassination plot to kill President Davis.  A soldier writes a letter to his mom as he is dying at Gettysburg. Also at Gettysburg, the unit from Ole Miss, the University Greys are beaten to the point of no longer existing. 

As you can guess, the campus of Ole Miss is greatly affected, as students go to war and never return.  The area accepts wounded from Shiloh, and the Union plays the villain in town, looting and burning.

I definitely appreciated "Oxford in the Civil War" by Stephen Enzweiler after our visit.


 

Saturday, December 16, 2023

The Square Oxford Mississippi 2023


I have gone on and on about how great of a time we had in Mississippi.  Oxford was an especially spectacular town with culture and plenty to do.  We REALLY enjoyed our visit to their main Square area, and we will be back



Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Square Books Oxford Mississippi


We had a surprisingly good time in Oxford Mississippi, and I was thrilled to find the great bookstore, "Square Books" right in the middle of everything!

They had regional books, and an interesting selection of collectible books too.  

Check out my youtube video!