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Subject: Re: Sherman, et al.
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In a message dated 8/31/01 3:40:42 PM Central Daylight Time, 
ev23@umail.umd.edu writes:

<< But to try to wrest some classical content into this thread, our discussion
 here
 has reminded me of  "three-generation reachback" in oral tradition,  and its
 importance for (inter alia) Herodotean studies.  I was delighted and 
fascinated
 
 to learn that at least  two other list-members are great-grandchildren of
 Confederate soldiers. (Normally when I tell someone that I'm a Confederate
 soldier's great-granddaughter, the response is "Oh, you must mean
 GREAT-great-granddaughter!" But I don't; I mean my father's grandfather.) >>

        As non-classicist lurker I can count myself of the same third 
generation and maybe (with help from the List) inveigle some classical 
content.  My great-grandfather joined up in Tennessee just in time for 
Stone's River (winter  of '62) whence he got transported prisoner to Camp 
Douglas in Chicago.  He was released to go to Camp Chase (Columbus), hear his 
father's last words ("Always tell the truth, Tawm, to a hahr's breadth") and 
bury him there.  Tom came out to Texas and raised cattle til the year I was 
born, telling tales.  A memorable one dealt with his thirst on the long trek 
out west.  He found water in the deep crater of a fallen tree, climbed down 
and drank his fill.  Climbing out again, he discovered a cow's carcass on the 
other side.  Said it was the sweetest water he had ever drunk.
        Now some years ago, while reading about Alexander, I learned that he 
had recounted the same experience, but a footnote cast some doubt, saying 
that Darius (or Cyrus) tells the story of himself.  Since that reading, I 
have tried to find my way back to the reference, but cannot.
        So there is my excuse for emulating my great-grandfather as teller of 
tales.  Does history repeat itself?  Or just the tales?

Hoping for help,
J.W. Worthy
Sipe Springs, Texas  
.