013 Seventy times

Winchester Occupied

Any visitor to Winchester who is interested in the Civil War (and probably many who aren’t), has heard that Winchester changed hands over 70 times during the war.

There were quite a few local diarists who kept track of who was in town. Why did it matter so much to keep track? Because even if the military units that followed each other through town were from the same side, the rules of occupation were not the same. Inhabitants had to know the rules about walking the countryside to get produce, about whether their homes would be appropriated, about how to get food and clothing, about getting the mail, and so on.

There are many poignant descriptions of the occupations of Winchester. One that particulary strikes me is from Cornelia McDonald, who lived at Hawthorne on Amherst Street during most of the year.  She told of sitting outside her house, using it to protect her and her children from artillery shelling during 2nd Winchester in June 1863. All around her on the porch are her enemies—Union soldiers—who are also sheltering from cannon fire:

“ . . . [the Union soldiers] avail themselves of the only spot the shells did not reach, the angle of our house. I retreated there with my children when the shot and shells began to fly so fast, and burst all around the house; then as I sat on the porch bench, men came crowding in. Now a surgeon bringing in a wounded man . . . I tried to comfort the wounded man who sat on the bench by me, but he was past comfort; a ball was lodged in his throat and he sat with his poor wretched face distorted by pain through all those weary hours. . . . All the while the batteries thundered, and the booming of the cannon, the screaming of the shells (who has heard that scream can ever forget it?), and the balls of light go shooting over our heads, followed by that fearful explosion.”     pp.157-158, A Woman’s Civil War.

Winchester and Frederick County natives often debate whether 70 times is correct.

It is true. The city did not change from Confederate to Union 70 times but it was occupied by different troops of soldiers at least that many times. In fact, I heard a speaker this weekend at Shawnee Springs say Winchester changed hands 84 times. I have not heard that number before.

We know about the many occupations of the town from the diaries kept by many local women, some who were Southern sympathizers while others supported the Union. In an often reprinted 1955 publication of the Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society, Diaries, Letters & Recollections of the War Between the States, Lewis N. Barton wrote an article that went through Julia Chase’s diary and listed each troop occupation that she had recorded. I counted and there were at least 70.

Winchester was, and is, at the center of roads leading to Washington, Richmond, Maryland and Pennsylvania so it was advantageous to hold it. When Lee went to Gettysburg, it was part of his supply and retreat line. Winchester was too close to Washington for Lincoln’s comfort and many attempts were made to take it.

But with many roads intersecting, mountain passes nearby, and multiple hilltops suitable for artillery placement, Winchester was difficult to hold.

In the fall of 1863, after the Battle of Gettysburg in July of that year, here is what life was like for civilians in Winchester:

“September 19    Federal Cavalry passed through town.
  September 25   Confederate Cavalry occupied Winchester.
  October 8         Imboden with 800 cavalry [Confederate] passed through town.
  October 13       Federal Cavalry passed through town.
  October 13      Confederate Cavalry passed through town.
  October 16      Confederate Cavalry in Winchester.
  October 18      Federal Cavalry in Winchester.
  October 20      Federal Cavalry in Winchester.
  October 26      Confederate Cavalry in Winchester.
  October 27      Federal Cavalry made a raid into Winchester.”

Diaries, Letters & Recollections, p.11.

Silly, I checked the calendar for 1863 to see if October 13 was a Friday. It wasn’t, but for Winchester residents, every day must have felt like Friday, the 13th.  We are fortunate in this community to have so many diaries and recollections of the Civil War and you can see many in original or published form in the Stewart Bell Jr. Archives at Handley Library.

If you want to read one local diary, I recommend the book Winchester Divided, the Civil War Diaries of Julia Chase and Laura Lee, edited by Michael G. Mahon.  The narrative alternates day by day the accounts of Julia Chase, who was a Union supporter, and Laura Lee, who was a stanch Confederate. Local residents had no idea of what was going on outside their community as Julia and Laura illustrate in their entries. For example, Julia would say that the Union troops were nearby and coming to town while Laura said that “our boys” will be here for a long time since no Yankees were anywhere close. They really had no idea—only hope for their side!

Winchester is unique in the number of occupations. I have tried to imagine living through the war in Winchester but cannot. At times, the residents dealt with battles outside their home, with huge numbers of soldiers looking for food and housing, with sick and wounded filling every building in the city, and with many, many deaths. That is why changing hands 70 times matters.

Trish Ridgeway    

012 Reunion

The 50th reunion

It is ten p.m. on Saturday night at the George Washington Hotel. We committee members are packing up the memorabilia we displayed for our 50th class reunion. We are not hugging goodbye for we will be attending church together on Sunday morning. Our small class had only 75 members, 17 have passed away, but we had 47 at church! 

What to say about a reunion? Plenty! First, it is bittersweet to see our old classmates.  Many innocent memories and a few shameful events flash through the mind when you 

recognize someone you may not have seen for 20, 30, 40 or 50 years. I do wonder how many of the thoughts are accurate. Does the storytelling over the years embellish or omit details? I am guessing some of each. 

Our committee of 16 began meeting last spring. We looked at old pictures, told stories, and assigned members to find “lost” classmates. WE DID IT. We found them all spread out all over the country. We did the entire event planning necessary for a gala event weekend. When? Where? Accommodations? Activities? Etc., etc., etc. Got it all done.

I was impressed with the willingness and hours put in. Now we all have a DVD of grades 1-12 with a sound track that includes “Bali Ha’I” from the prom and, of course, “Pomp & Circumstance” for the end.

Some class members have gained over the years (money, weight, ex-spouses); some

Some of the reunion jokes do apply. 

others have lost over the years (hair, mainly). Some of the athletes (aka: jocks) don’t look nearly as good as the geeks do now. I have adapted sociological theory based on this. 

We know little girls mature faster than boys. The girls read earlier, are more polite, and well behaved. The boys did “stuff,” acted out, and got more attention. Hmmpf!  Eighth grade boys-- those few willing to dance at parties-- came about shoulder high to most girls. Girls talked on the phone--a lot--and had sleepovers. The boys were outside--being active. Geeks were essentially ignored. Seems it was not until after high school, that these folks turned into intelligent, interesting, taller people. But we were no longer in the same community when they matured. Seems too bad. We may have ignored some of the really great. No wonder high school angst is so high! 

So, here is my unsolicited advice to all our blog readers: 

GO to your reunion--whether you want to or not! It will be worth it. We are senior citizens even if we don’t feel like it. When I look in the mirror, I wonder how all years slipped away. We may not see these old classmates or recall the old memories ever again. According to the Bureau of National Health Statistics, our class is right on the actuarial table with 22% gone. That means that we need to embrace our “old” selves now. It is a scary truth, but some of us might not be here for the next reunion. While we may not be exactly the same as we were in high school, this is where we got our start, intellectual seeds were sown, and basic principles learned. So, please, Go! Celebrate life! Give homage to your past. Share your memories. 

In some cases, we aged
better than the photos!

I found the April 1964 agenda of our class’s senior trip to New York City. We left at 6:45 a.m. and took a bag lunch for the bus. Was there no fast food available? I even have the room assignments. On the trip I went to see “Funny Girl” on Broadway starring Barbra Streisand. She is somewhat of an icon to me still. 

As I remember this moment, I think of her song “The Way We Were.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?V=n-KPGhwysw 

 I believe the words will speak to you, too, as Barbra sings about how “mem’ries, light corners of my mind.”

Glenne White    

011 Interviewing Willie

A second chance from Willie Nelson

Reactions to meeting celebrities can be very unpredictable --- intense heart palpitations, quickening of breath, over-the-top comments gushing forward, as well as screaming and fainting.

I found out I don’t react that way at all when I had the opportunity to interview a famous singer.

Reporters working for small town newspapers don’t get too many chances to interview big-time celebrities. But lucky me, I was given such an assignment several years ago.

I was writing a preview story for a concert Willie Nelson was headlining in Winchester, Virginia. He was coming for the first Patsy Cline Classic, a concert held in honor of Winchester’s native daughter. He knew her, her husband, and wrote one of her hits, “Crazy.”

The local promoter gave my cell number to Willie’s manager and I was told I would get a call. Usually it takes a couple of days for a call to be made with a time decided and contact person making the call. At least that was the case with other big wigs I had interviewed---authors, newscasters, singers, etc. So I thought it will be days before I hear from him or his staff.

But that was definitely not the case this time.

My cell phone rang a few hours later after I had left work. I was headed to the check-out counter at the grocery store. The name of the caller popped up as private so I am thinking it is a telemarketer

It wasn’t. It was none other than the legendary singer himself, not a secretary or publicist to set up a time for the interview.

It definitely sounded like him with that distinctive voice, and he was calling me by name. “Frances, I heard you wanted to talk to me.”

I was so shocked and flabbergasted and totally thrown off balance I told him it was a bad time since I was at the grocery store and could he call me later.

Well, he said, he was busy that evening – he had a concert and it would be pretty late.

I thanked him and said I hoped to hear from him that evening.

(Did I really just tell Willie Nelson I was too busy?)

Once I hung up the reality of it set in, and I thought I’ll never get that interview. I kept my cell phone close by but no calls came from the celebrity I had told I was too busy to interview.

I began to beat myself up mentally for not taking advantage of the call -- who tells Willie Nelson she is too busy grocery shopping to talk to him!

I got no sympathy from family, friends, or co-workers, who didn’t hesitate to tell me how crazy I was and how foolish I had been.

I back tracked and talked to the local promoter to contact the publicist again and please, please ask for a reprieve and a second chance.

Several days passed and still no call. I was sleeping with the phone and kept my notepad and pencil with me every second of the day and night.

Finally, the phone rang and the word private popped up again. Could it actually be him?

Sure enough, Willie’s melodic voice answered. I immediately apologized. He said “You must have been pretty busy when I called before.”

The interview commenced as it should have the first time and I got the story. Willie was a true delight. Listening to the voice I had heard so often in song was a real thrill.

He gave me great information about his relationship with Patsy and her family, explaining that was why he was coming to this small town at the top of Virginia.

He was absolutely gracious and a real gentleman, especially after I had put him off the first time he called.

Several years later, a story showed up on the Associated Press wire about a reporter who frequently received calls from Willie. He elaborated on when the call came he never refused it often causing him delays and even missing flights. I realized then I was in some pretty good company.

I don’t know why I reacted as I did. It was a gut reaction that couldn’t be explained. If I had it to do over (which never happens of course), I would have sprawled on the floor of the grocery store, taken out my reporter’s pad, and started firing the questions.

But due to his really nice disposition and evidently forgiving nature, he gave me a second chance! I am eternally grateful.

Frances C. Lowe

010 Walking Tootsie

Just a-Walking the Dog

My dog Tootsie and I have been helping Frances map out walking trails in the area.

It is not difficult for me to get ready—clothes, shoes, hat, sunscreen, phone and I’m done. Gearing up Tootsie and me with all the puppy accoutrements is more difficult.

Tootsie checking out
poopy bags at PetSmart.

One necessity for modern-day dog walking is the poopy bag. You can buy rolls of bags and poopy bag holders at the pet store—designer colors and patterns, scented bags (good scents, I mean). Recyling grocery-store bags works for me. When I want a more designer look, I switch to a gray Walmart bag or a lovely yellow one from some other store. One important thing to check before you take the bag is to make certain it has no holes. Don’t try to imagine the consequences . . . Tootsie is a four-year old Jack Russell Terrier and a strong puller when we walk. It is hard to believe how much pulling strength a fifteen-pound dog has. Cesar Milan, famed television Dog Whisperer, states that the dog owner should be the pack leader and be in front of the dog. I bought a harness that has the lease connection on the front of the chest instead of the top of the dog’s back, which makes pulling impossible.

I consult the printed instructions before each walk because I do not have harness engineering background. Each time I try without the instructions, the harness is hanging loose around the side of her neck and Tootsie is in the alpha dog position again.

In the summer, of course, Tootsie needs water. I have a plastic bottle with an attached bowl. I fill that bottle from the tap, but I have a dog-walking buddy who gives her dog Juno, a Boston terrier, bottled water at home and on walks. I am not sure why because when we walk around her neighborhood, Juno stops at every drain and drinks as much standing water as he can before she can jerk him away! Maybe the expensive water helps rinse him out.

When it looks like it may rain, I take an umbrella for me. I used to put Tootsie’s raincoat in my pocket to use in a heavy rain. We were once caught in a downpour. I juggled my umbrella, the raincoat, Tootsie and her harness in the pouring rain and eventually got her suited up. She stood there in her cute pink raincoat and refused to move. I pulled the lease and dragged her a few inches, but she would not lift a foot off the ground. She now walks in all rain conditions in her natural fur coat.

I also need a pocket full of doggy treats for walks. My husband started this habit on his walks with Tootsie. Whenever anyone wants to pet her, he gives each person a yummy to give to Tootsie. I think she makes some people nervous. When anyone passes, she stops and gives them a fixed stare. I probably don’t help the dog-phobic when I say, “Watch out for Killer.” They must think she sees them as a tasty bite, but the hard stare merely signifies a hunt for doggie treat distributors. It does affect the speed of the walk since Tootsie insists we stop for every possible yummy distribution. I have to carry many treats.

Once we get moving, walks are fun with Frances leading the way as she seeks out new and different walking paths. Tootsie gets very excited when we pull up to a walking site as the video below shows.  Check her out on youtube:  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pDPuch5KLc

I think Tootsie's favorite walking path is Third Winchester.  She also likes Shawnee Springs, Sherando Park, and the Clarke County park.  She is happy wherever we walk--as long as The Pack (Tootsie, Frances & Trish) stay together.

We are ready for out next excursion, Frances!