Its time for the news and boy do I have some this trip around!!! It seems our familys getting bigger all the time but more on that later

In the last issue I tried a lot of new graphics, if yours came all distorted please let me know so we can make corrections, there is so much to learn on these machines. I'll have a picture added and a few text boxes this time, if they are moved about on the page let me know and if any of you can educate me on why this happens or how to fix it

I got a note from Dan McConnell, which is more, I think, than Terry gets. Dan is Terry's youngest son and has recently put his pilot training on hold and moved back with his mother, Judi, to go back to college. Dan said he didnt have any concrete plans on his direction at college but is taking core classes at Gainesville College and then plans to transfer to UGA, I believe his words were, once I figure out what I want to be when I grow up. He's an interesting, but quiet, guy that I had the pleasure of meeting last summer. Susan and I enjoyed his company while at Terry's last year. His email address has changed pilotbunk@bellsouth.net.

His mother, Judi, filled in the rest.

"We are doing well and trying to stay warm......sheepskin slippers are extremely helpful! Dan has been really getting into his classes at Gainesville College and is hoping to go from there to UGA. I am really enjoying having him home. It is great to have someone to cook for again. One weekend I made 8 qts of chili (don't ask, it just happened!) and I had 2 big crock-pots going at once. By Sunday evening I had 2 cups of chili left! My strays (Dan's friends at other colleges) just happened to "hear" that I cooked and stopped by with their previously issued gladware containers for refills. I am seriously considering buying stock in Gladware..........it is my friend. Although, I did just buy one of those Food Saver vacuum bag machines, and quite like it. One thing I did for my "boys" is cook up 3 lbs of gr beef w/ taco seasoning. I divided it into regular muffin pans and froze the pan. I then "popped" out the meat and froze it into the freezer bags. The boys like to put taco meat into Velveeta for their cheese dip, and this makes it easier to parcel out. I told Dan I may have to charge nominal rent to make up for differences in my grocery bill. One of my favorite strays, Brandon, a senior at GA Tech offered to put my name and phone # on the dorm wall saying I could start a small side business. I laughed and said he could set me up on a website as "homecooking.com". I quickly said "JUST KIDDING!" but the boys think its a great idea."

"On the new email address, I don't get to check it often, as Dan has purloined my 'puter. He set up his "study" in our 3rd bedroom and my computer and desk have been moved in there. I get permission to come in and check email or play spider solitaire about once a week. I may seriously consider getting another one for my own use."

Judi's email has changed as well; she got DSL for Christmas Whatever that is mcco5826@bellsouth.net

Ann wrote that shes back playing cards again no need to call Gamblers Anonymous; its not Poker this time. Shes back playing Bridge again and recently played in a Bridge tournament with her partner in Atlanta. She also said little Mac is walking alone now. Mac is her oldest daughter, Arlenes son. Mac is short for McNaughton, Robert McNaughton Vinci; Mac will be 1 this month. I hope well get to meet Mac and his father Peter at this years reunion. Peter is going into Real Estate and Arlene is working in Interior Design.

Trey, Sarah Margaret Matthews son, who will be 1 in July, is starting to take some steps Ann says. But Sarah will get no rest, as I hear it, and neither will Ann because Sarah and Rick are due again in October. I hope they can make the reunion so we can give them our congrads and sympathy!

Also, please keep little Trey in your prayers as Ann says hes having a non-functioning kidney removed this month. Sarah and Rick can be reached at: Sarah Ashmore Matthews olddomin@aol.com

Thats not all; On Rhondas news, Ann reports,

I am not sure where I left off with Rhonda's news. She married a man she met at her church. He is John Edward Hammans. He has two children, a boy, 18, named Chance and a daughter, 21, Constance who is married and expecting a baby. Rhonda is expecting also, in June. She is having another little girl. We are told she will be named Gillian.

Please send your congratulations to Rhonda: jrashmore@charter.net

The Rutledges have gobs of news to report about babies on the way and the girls often send pictures, one of which Ive tried to include here. This is old but, hey, its a great picture.

Clockwise from the top are Theresa and Dorothy, both Rogers daughters. The young man at the far right is Joey Clarke, Dorothys son. The two youngsters at the bottom are Chandler and Chesney both the children of Theresa. The picture is from last Christmas and I hope more of you will send pictures I can include.

Ronnie Rutledge and Theresa have both written about the new arrivals due in Virginia. Dayna and Chris Winslow, Ronnies oldest daughter is expecting a boy in August. Dayna and Chris have two now Tonya who will be 9 in October and Chris Jr., 7 in November.

Both of Raymonds girls, Adrian and Charlie Tiedeman and Melanie and Robin Loomis are expecting. Melanie, already the mother of Cierra, is also due in August and Adrian in September, (her first). Ronnie says it must be the water but those of us that are better educated know different, don't we GIRLS?


In our home there has been little change since I last wrote. Ive been busy at work and writing in the hope of publishing some of our family history. Its been fun, also, watching Susan catch the genealogy bug as she makes discoveries in her own family tree. Susan's Aunt Nena Moseley Feagle was the last living confederate widow in the State of Florida; she died in 1985. In researching the records we came across the pension application of a widow, by the same last name, who applied for a pension in 1939; theres no relation but the story was so colorful and fit so well with our family history in this addition of the Newsletter that I just had to add it. (See below).

An Act Granting Pension to Mrs. A.J. Moseley of Columbia County, Fl.

Danny Day has finally done it. We have an up and running WEB Page. Danny's learning as he goes and asked that you pitch in and help. We need current pictures, information and lots of suggestions. If you know anything about this and how to help put it together please get in touch.
Check out the site at: Day Family Website

Included in the last Addition of the newsletter was a letter written By Jack (John T.) Blount Jr., to Granny Day about her efforts to become a member of the Daughters of the Confederacy. The letter written in 1906 recounted the service of the Blount brothers during the War. I will recopy the letter here again for those of you who missed it last time.

George Madison Blount was Adjunct General to George Harrison, (not of the Beatles), the commander of the 32nd Georgia, which fought in the Battle at Olustee. George Blount was later killed in the Battle of Bentonville. I had long since ignored the festivities here in our area, as the conflict in North Florida did not play a large roll in the War. Then I learned that we had a relative who was wounded here and took interest.

The inclement weather kept us from much that I wanted to see but I learned a great deal. Can you even guess at the largest city in Florida in 1860? Can you believe that only 3 towns sported populations of over 2000? Key West followed by Pensacola and then Jacksonville.

In 1864 General Lee, and The Confederacy being pressed by Grant from the north found themselves with Dwindling supply lines and were steadily more dependant on Florida for beef and salt and other food supplies. Federal troops from Jacksonville, hoping to cut these supplies and force Florida back in the Union sent a force of about 5500 to capture Lake City and on to Tallahassee. Many of these troops were colored soldiers including the 54th Massachusetts, (the 1st colored regiment) renowned for their courage in the assault on Battery Wagoner in South Carolina but you will remember them from the movie Glory, (please tell me you saw that movie). George Blount was at Battery Wagoner as well.

They were met by an opposing force of about 5000 Confederate soldiers under the command of General Finegan and General Colquitt, (of the A J Moseley Letter above). During the battle the Southern troops ran out of ammunition but held the line for over 30 minutes. Officers including our uncle G M Blount rode horses about half a mile to get ammunition for the faltering Confederate line. It was in this service that Col. George Harrison reported in his Memoirs that George Blount was, shot from his horse. The wound was not mortal, the Confederates recovered and routed the Federal troops and they beat a hasty retreat back to Jacksonville. With almost 1900 casualties, Federal troops never again attempted to cross the peninsula.

East Point, GA

May 3,1906

Dear Louise-

In reply to yours of April 27, fear cannot furnish any information of much interest. Joe holding a commission in the regular army of the Confederacy was liable to be assigned to any army duty or with any command. He was first connected with the Sixth S.C. Volunteers as adjutant, but did not belong to any company of that regiment. Afterwards he was transferred to the artillery branch of the service and connected with a battery from Lynchburg, VA. as First Lieutenant. On the promotion of Capt. Girardeau he was promoted to Captain and commanded the battery until subsequently promoted to Major and given command as such of a battalion of artillery consisting of several companies with which he served until the surrender of Appomattox. He was however just about the close of the war promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. George was a cadet in the Georgia Military Institute at Marietta when the war began in 1862, when the tide of patriotism in the South was at the flood the Cadets organized themselves into a company for active service, and elected George Captain. They all went home after agreeing to rendezvous in Macon in a few weeks and go to Virginia to join Lees army. But the persuasion of their fathers and mothers, reinforced perhaps, by their fears of Yankee bullets, so wrought upon them that George was the only on of the number that kept tryst in Macon. He proceeded to Savannah and joined the 32nd Ga. whose Colonel George P. Harrison was formerly a cadet with him and a personal friend. Col. Harrison appointed George Adjutant of the regiment with the rank of First Lieutenant, which position he held until his brief but glorious career was cut short by a soldiers death at Bentonville NC in March of 1865.

I only held the humble position of private Corporal Sergeant and Second Lieutenant during the war. Hoping the forgoing will prove satisfactory. Affectionately.

Uncle Jack

P.S. It occurs to one to add, that no braver soldier than brother George wore the gray in the bloody sixties. In the battle of Olustee on Ocean Pond the men of his regiment exhausted their ammunition. George as Adjutant being mounted galloped to the ordinance wagon and filling his haversack with cartridges returned to the line of battle and riding along the front of the regiment under a tempest of balls distributed the contents of his haversack among the men. Being shot through the leg in this service the shouted, They have shot me men but charge them - Some years ago we had a letter about George by Frank Fontaine, which I have always regretted, we did not preserve. After speaking in terms of the highest eulogy of George, Frank wound up by declaring him the hero of Bentonville. He was indeed of such stuff as heroes are made of, and in thinking of him the old saying spontaneously rises to my mind, viz, death loves a shining mark else George had not died an early death. Ever since have I suffered a cup of anguish half so bitter as the tidings of his death occasioned. Had it been possible, gladly would I have volunteered to go in his place to that unknown shore. Damon and Pythias were not truer friends, or more inseparable than he and I in our boyhood days. Living in Talbotton in a block of the public square we almost never went up town. We went to, and came from school together, often supper we studied or read until after 9 oclock in the evenings and then would take a long walk of a mile or more from home. On Saturdays and during our vacations, taking our guns or fishing rods we spent many happy days in the woods, or upon the creeks around Talbotton together. You know, Louise, I am one of the those who do not believe much, but who hope great deal, and, I hope that upon some brighter, better sphere than this poor earth with its poor denizens, George and I will yet meet again and spend countless eons in a happy companionship to which, very fine I have ever known will be admitted. For, not bonds of men, nor even ties of blood suffice to knit two souls together in a warm and generous sympathy. But I do not say, or write what I have herein put down, to many so, as girls enjoy having secrets you can make one of this. P.S. With best wishes I am ever affectionately

Uncle Jack

Those of you who have never watched a battle reenactment should take the time to see these actors perform. I'll be sending pictures down the road. I have one of me with Abe Lincoln, (the imposter).

(Some of you may have noticed that I missed February Birthdays entirely; I apologize to those of you who had Birthday and wish you the very best.)


Help! Help! Help!

Hey guys, I could use some HELP here. Family birthdays have become an important way for us to recognize one another and Im having trouble keeping up. With the reunion 2003, the Day Newsletter and the research Im trying to do Im falling behind and not doing a good job. I would ask that one of you take over the Birthday notices for a few months. Three to Six months would be a great help. I will supply you with everything you need and all the back up a person could use. Its easy just send out the Birthday notices to the family. Once a week would do fine. How about it, some one help me out here!!

Thanks
Clayton

The Day Family Reunion for 2003 is upon us and I hope youre making final plans to be there at beautiful Amicalola Falls State Park Friday July 11th thru Sunday July 13th. We'll be in the North Ga. Mountains.

I can email you the reservation form or you can call the State Park and get information on the Day family Reunion. Both Cabins and Lodge rooms are available but its time to let me know what your plans are. Hope to see you there.

Our Great Great Great Grandparents buried in Talbotton,Ga.