[rustbucket]

Maybe we can both laugh at the French technology of the time:

Iron-plated vessels are not without serious inconveniences, The famous French vessel La Glorie has just laid up in dry dock, when it was found that the contact of the copper lining and the submerged iron plates had established a galvanic current which produced the effect of a voltaic pile, and was completely ruining the armor of the vessel below the water line; the hull was covered by millions of mollusks, among which was a species of shell fish hitherto unknown, and all the wine in the hold was turned into vinegar. [Source: The Daily Picayune, Feb. 20, 1863, of occupied New Orleans]

Or about some of the insanity that happens during war:

Several women ... were arrested yesterday for waving handkerchiefs, etc., at the Confederate prisoners when they went on board the steamer Empire Parish ... [Source: The Daily Picayune, Feb. 22, 1863, of occupied New Orleans]

Might make sense, I guess, depending on what the "etc." was that they were waving. A judge later set the ladies free.

[Colonel Kangaroo]

LOL. You have to watch that "etc.". A lot of the most passionate supporters of the CSA were women. I've been reading the history of the county where my folks came from and even though the region was generally Unionist, one of the eye-catching things was the devoted turnout of pro-CSA ladies waving and "etc." to the soldiers passing through on the East Tennessee railroad on the way to the front.

Been a pleasure taking part on a thread where strong disagreements are not accompanied with personal unpleasantness. Thank you.