Cold weather turns Hammerhaid toward his books.
While reading the “Annals of the Army of the Cumberland,” he stumbled across an interesting anecdote about the Beecher family.
In case you didn’t know, the Beechers were among America’s best-known abolitionists.
Henry Ward Beecher, a clergyman, was probably the best known of this liberal, social reform family. His sister, Harriet Beecher Stowe, was the author of “Uncle Tom's Cabin.” Abraham Lincoln called her the “little lady” who started the Civil War.
So ....
Hammerhaid was interested to discover the black sheep of the Beechers.
Yep, there was a Beecher in gray at the Battle of Stones River.
John Fitch related the story:
During the battle, Dr. Charles Bunche, of Galesburg, Ill., was “captured” by a group of Confederate officers while tending to the wounded on the battlefield. After the introductions were made, there was pleasant conversation between the surgeon and the Rebs.
Bunche said he was surprised to find even New Yorkers among the Southern officers.
“‘Worse than that, sir,’ said a bystander. ‘In me you see a man from Massachusetts and Illinois. My name is Edward A. Beecher, son of Edward Beecher, president of Knox College at Galesburg, Illinois. Henry Ward Beecher is my uncle.’
The Illinois doctor was surprised.
“‘Why, Galesburg is my town, and I know your father well,’ replied the Illinois doctor.”
Beecher was a prominent lawyer in Memphis and serving as quartermaster in Gen. Frank Cheatham’s Division.
“He was not at all bitter in his feelings nor harsh in his views, yet withal a most determined rebel,” Fitch wrote about the “Rebel Beecher.”
* * *
Once upon a time, Hammerhaid weathered cold snaps by studying his favorite seed catalogs. That was in the day before the Internet made such things obsolete.
Nowadays, he’d rather look at plans, magazines and TV shows about building a retreat, aka, a cabin. He is quite consumed about the idea and even has the perfect site. He and Betty Lou even discuss possible names like Hammerhaid’s Shed or Betty Lou’s Folly. There’s no cute romantic names on his short list unless you think Led Zeppelin song titles are romantic.
But upon hearing the above anecdote about the Beecher family, a look of horror passed over Betty Lou’s face as he jumped to the topic of cabins.
“You aren’t honestly considering ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ as a name for our little retreat?” she asked, being all too familiar with his way of thinking.
“Heck no ... never even thought of that one. It is amusing in a twisted way, but I wouldn’t consider it, no more than I would call the place Beauvoir,” he grinned. The name means beautiful view and the house overlooks the Gulf. Hammerhaid pronounces it “Bull-regard.”
Betty Lou didn’t bite on that one. She had already heard the story about how Hurricane Katrina stripped the place and the faithful restored it. Ya-da-ya-da-doo.
“The beach is beautiful at Biloxi,” he commented, but she said not a word.
* * *
Cooking is another thing Hammerhaid enjoys during cold weather. Unfortunately most of his cold weather recipes involve the musical fruit.
“Where’s the crock pot?” he mumbled, digging around in the kitchen cabinets.
“No beans!” responded Betty Lou, “and don’t even think about trying to pass off pintos as lentils.”
“You love sausage and lentil soup,” he pointed out.
“I do if Carrabba’s makes it. They don’t use country sausage and pinto beans in the recipe,” she said.
“I was just experimenting. How about some chili?” he asked.
“Texas style,” she insisted. “Texans don’t put beans in their chili.”
“Why do you hate beans so much?” Hammerhaid asked.
“I don’t hate beans. I just hate you and beans,” she explained.
T-t-t-t-t-t-t-that’s r-r-r-r-r-ight. |
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