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I find it magnanimous of you to have given such a well considered reply...

Thank you. He described himself in terms better than any condemnation I dared yet utter in an open forum and not get banned. ...In my case, it was Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, and South Carolina to count the kissin' cousins. Not a northerner in the bunch. My great grandfather never wore blue...

Interesting family oral tradition also spoke of our great, great grandfather Andrew to the day he died, never wore blue either. He also never took the pledge, ever the unrepented rebel. Although not legally suppose to vote, he did get a ballot in the elections after Tennessee was readmitted to the Union. Attended many divisional reunions( Forbes Bivouac, 14th Ten. infantry) Not as sure of the other five brothers and assorted cousins and uncles.( 14th Ten. infantry and 49th Ten. infantry) They fought everywhere from Ft Donelson(escaped with Forrest) to Lee in Gettysburg and finally Appomattox. (Walked home from Orange County Courthouse in Virginia)

Contrary to opinion of many here, not every, I dare say not even the majority of former rebels were fire breathing hate mongering Klansman bent on the genocide of the freedmen.

Most just went about the business of every living as best they could. our family never allowed the bitter war to interfere with relations with the former slaves population. Being lower to middle class farmers they hired several freedmen throughout the years and worked beside them. They (and we remain)were very cordial with black families in the community. Even went to the same Presbyterian church. Although I must confess at the time it was segregated with the the back bench reserved for the Freedmen.

I have an old photograph on the wall of Andrew and his son Curtis with Uncle Henry and his brother, two of his workers sitting on mules in the front of the old family homestead.

This is just part of our family's travail throughout history and we didn't need no damned fool historical revisionist to tell us what happened back in those foreboding days.

Being lower to middle class farmers they hired several freedmen throughout the years and worked beside them

Thank you for your comments, I see we share much in our heritage. Until this generation, in my experience, there were farm communities of families black and white, who had been together for generations. Surely, there was an abhorrent societal discrimination, but not a subjugation in these islands of rural cohabitation and commerce. There was a closeness, of "Uncle" and "Mammy" relationships, and a love between families that can never be understood by those not sharing the experience. I am the last of my blood to have known such. Most outside the south cannot claim as *family* - for generations - those of another race.

That time, alas, has passed.