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Dixie Book of Days

<h2>April</h2> The birds that sing in the leafy Spring, With the light of love on each glancing wing, Have lessons to last you the whole year through; For what is “Coo! coo! te weet tu whu!” But, properly rendered, “The wit to woo!” A wit that brings worship and wisdom too! Coo! coo! te weet tu whu— The wit to woo—te weet tu whu! The verb “to love,” in the tongue of the dove, Heard noon and night in the cedar grove, Is very soon taught where the heart is true: For the wit to woo, and the wisdom too, Lie in the one sweet syllable, “Coo!” But echo me well, and you learn to woo— Coo! coo! te weet tu whu— The wit to woo—te weet tu whu! William Gilmore Simms    [Pg 84] <big>April First</big> Hidden no longer In moss-covered ledges, Starring the wayside, Under the hedges, Violet, Pimpernel, Flashing with dew, Daisy and Asphodel Blossom anew. Down in the bosky dells Everywhere, Faintly their fairy bells Chime in the air. Thanks to the sunshine! Thanks to the showers! They come again, bloom again, Beautiful flowers! Theophilus Hunter Hill (Author of the first book published under copyright of the Confederate Government)   Battle of Five Forks, Virginia, 1865    [Pg 85] <big>April Second</big> At the critical moment A. P. Hill was always strongest. No wonder that both Lee and Jackson, when in the delirium of their last moments on earth, stood again to battle, and saw the fiery form of A. P. Hill leading his columns on. Henry Kyd Douglas   A. P. Hill killed in front of Petersburg, 1865 Albert Pike dies, 1891     <big>April Third</big> THE SOUTHERN MAGNOLIA French blood stained with glory the Lilies, While centuries marched to their grave; And over bold Scot and gay Irish The Thistle and Shamrock yet wave: Ours, ours be the noble Magnolia, That only on Southern soil grows, The Symbol of life everlasting:— Dear to us as to England the Rose. Albert Pike (“Born in Boston; but an adopted and devoted son of Dixie”)    [Pg 86] <big>April Fourth</big> We are His witnesses; out of the dim Dark region of Death we have risen with Him. Back from our sepulchre rolleth the stone, And Spring, the bright Angel, sits smiling thereon. John B. Tabb (“Easter Flowers”)     <big>April Fifth</big> We are His witnesses. See, where He lay The snow that late bound us is folded away; And April, fair Magdalen, weeping anon, Stands flooded with light of the new-risen Sun! John B. Tabb (“Easter Flowers”)     <big>April Sixth</big> His character was lofty and pure, his presence and demeanor dignified and courteous, with the simplicity of a child; and he at once inspired the respect and gained the confidence of cultivated gentlemen and rugged frontiersmen. General Richard Taylor   Albert Sidney Johnston killed at Shiloh, 1862    [Pg 87] <big>April Seventh</big> History tears down statues and monuments to attributes and deeds, unless those attributes have been devoted to some noble end, and those deeds done in a righteous cause. Col. Charles Marshall     <big>April Eighth</big> “GLORY STANDS BESIDE OUR GRIEF” Because they fought in perfect faith, believing The cause they fought for was the just, the true; And had small hope of glittering gain receiving, While following, with standard high in view, Where led their single-hearted, dauntless chief: Therefore doth Glory stand beside our grief! Victoria Elizabeth Gittings   Louisiana admitted to the Union, 1812 Telegram from Secretary Seward confirming promise (March 15) as to Sumter, 1861    [Pg 88] <big>April Ninth</big> An angel’s heart, an angel’s mouth, Not Homer’s, could alone for me Hymn forth the great Confederate South, Virginia first, then Lee. Oh, realm of tears! But let her bear This blazon to the end of time: No nation rose so white and fair, None fell so pure of crime. P. S. Worsley (England) [From lines written on the fly-leaf of a translation of the Iliad, presented to General Lee by the Oxford scholar in 1866]   Surrender of Lee at Appomattox, 1865    [Pg 89] <big>April Tenth</big> Furl that Banner, for ’tis weary; Round its staff ’tis drooping dreary; Furl it, fold it, it is best; For there’s not a man to wave it, And there’s not a sword to save it, And there’s not one left to lave it In the blood which heroes gave it; And its foes now scorn and brave it; Furl it, hide it, let it rest! Furl that Banner! True, ’tis gory, Yet ’tis wreathed around with glory, And ’twill live in song and story, Though its folds are in the dust: For its fame on brightest pages, Penned by poets and by sages, Shall go sounding down the ages,— Furl its folds though now we must. Abraham J. Ryan (The Conquered Banner)   Lee issues farewell address to his army, 1865 Leonidas Polk born, 1806    [Pg 90] <big>April Eleventh</big> Man is so constituted—the immutable laws of our being are such—that to stifle the sentiment and extinguish the hallowed memories of a people is to destroy their manhood. General John B. Gordon   We had, I was satisfied, sacred principles to maintain and rights to defend for which we were in duty bound to do our best, even if we perished in the endeavor. General Robert E. Lee   We must forevermore consecrate in our hearts our old battle flag of the Southern Cross—not now as a political symbol, but as the consecrated emblem of an heroic epoch. The people that forgets its heroic dead is already dying at the heart, and we believe we shall be truer and better citizens of the United States if we are true to our past. Randolph H. McKim    [Pg 91] <big>April Twelfth</big> From this time a clear-cut issue was formulated and presented to the States and the people. The “firing upon the flag of the nation” was made the immediate pretext for aggressive measures against the Lower South. As so heralded, it served to inflame the hearts of thousands who, it seems, had not noticed or who had forgotten, as it is forgotten to-day, that this was not the first firing upon the Stars and Stripes. The flag had been fired upon from the coast of South Carolina as early as January 9, 1861, for the same reason as that which provoked attack upon it on April 12. [From introduction to “The Battle of Baltimore,” The Sun, April 9, 1911.]   Fort Sumter fired on by Beauregard, 1861 North Carolina instructs her delegates to the Continental Congress to declare for independence, 1776 Henry Clay born, 1777    [Pg 92] <big>April Thirteenth</big> The history of the world presents no parallel to the manner in which he wrote himself upon his own age, and subsequent ages, with his pen. He was no teacher like Plato; he was not a professional litterateur like Voltaire; he was not a mere maker of books like Carlyle; and yet he put his stamp indelibly upon the minds and hearts of English-speaking people during his own day and for all time to come. Thomas E. Watson   Thomas Jefferson born, 1743     <big>April Fourteenth</big> The fact is, the boys around here want watching, or they’ll take something. A few days ago I heard they surrounded two of our best citizens because they were named Fort and Sumter. Most of them are so hot that they fairly siz when you pour water on them, and that’s the way they make up their military companies here now—when a man applies to join the volunteers they sprinkle him, and if he sizzes they take him, and if he don’t they don’t! Major Charles H. Smith (Bill Arp)    [Pg 93] <big>April Fifteenth</big> There was but one exception to the general grief too remarkable to be passed over in silence. Among the extreme Radicals in Congress, Mr. Lincoln’s determined clemency and liberality towards the Southern people had made an impression so unfavorable that, though they were shocked at his murder, they did not, among themselves, conceal gratification that he was no longer in their way. Nicholay and Hay (Life of Lincoln)   FORESHADOWING RECONSTRUCTION The Union League of America was organized in Cleveland, Ohio, during the war by friends of Thaddeus Stevens, the Radical leader of Congress. Its prime object was the confiscation of the property of the South. The chief obstacle to this program was Abraham Lincoln. Hence the first work of the League was to form a conspiracy against Lincoln and prevent his renomination for a second term. E. W. R. Ewing   Abraham Lincoln dies, 1865 Federal Government issues a call for 75,000 volunteers, 1861    [Pg 94] <big>April Sixteenth</big> I have only to say that the militia will not be furnished to the powers at Washington for any such use or purpose as they have in view. Your object is to subjugate the Southern States, and a requisition made upon me for such an object—an object, in my judgment, not within the purview of the constitution or the act of 1795—will not be complied with. You have chosen to inaugurate civil war, and having done so, we will meet it in a spirit as determined as the administration has exhibited towards the South. Governor Letcher (Virginia)    [Pg 95] <big>April Seventeenth</big> The scene [in the Virginia State Convention] is described as both solemn and affecting. One delegate, while speaking against the ordinance, broke down in incoherent sobs; another, who voted for it, wept like a child. The sentiment of the people had run ahead of their leaders. S. C. Mitchell   It may be safely asserted that but for the adoption by the Federal Government of the policy of coercion towards the Cotton States, Virginia would not have seceded.... She simply in the hour of danger and sacrifice held faithful to the principles which she had ofttimes declared and which have ever found sturdy defenders in every part of the Republic. Beverley B. Munford   Virginia secedes, 1861    [Pg 96] <big>April Eighteenth</big> Tennessee will not furnish a single man for coercion, but 50,000 if necessary for the defense of our rights or those of our Southern brothers. Governor Harris (Tennessee)   I say emphatically that Kentucky will furnish no troops for the wicked purpose of subduing her sister States. Governor Magoffin (Kentucky)    [Pg 97] <big>April Nineteenth</big> Hark to an exiled son’s appeal, Maryland! My mother State! to thee I kneel, Maryland! For life and death, for woe and weal, Thy peerless chivalry reveal, And gird thy beauteous limbs with steel, Maryland! My Maryland! Thou wilt not cower in the dust, Maryland! Thy beaming sword shall never rust, Maryland! Remember Carroll’s sacred trust, Remember Howard’s warlike thrust,— And all thy slumberers with the just, Maryland! My Maryland! James Ryder Randall   Citizens of Baltimore, objecting to coercion of the seceded States, oppose the passing of the Sixth Massachusetts, their action resulting in the first bloodshed of the War, 1861    [Pg 98] <big>April Twentieth</big> The tempting prize offered Lee in the shape of supreme command of the Army of the Union did not swerve him from his integrity for an instant. It was currently reported at the time that Gen. Winfield Scott implored him, “For God’s sake, don’t resign!” Every argument that power, luxury, limitless resources, and the untrammeled control of the situation could devise was brought to bear upon him. Henry E. Shepherd   Robert E. Lee resigns his commission in the United States Army, 1861    [Pg 99] <big>April Twenty-First</big> From the date of its settlement, Maryland became the Land of Sanctuary—the only spot in the known world where the persecuted of all lands were at liberty to worship God according to the dictates of their own hearts. Freedom of conscience was offered by Lord Baltimore to the oppressed of the Old World, thus carrying into effect the original motive of Sir George Calvert’s colonization scheme when seeking a charter from King Charles I. Hester Dorsey Richardson   Passage of the “Act Concerning Religion” by the Maryland Assembly, 1649, endorsing the principles of religious toleration promulgated by Cecilius Calvert in 1634 Independence of Texas established at San Jacinto, 1836    [Pg 100] <big>April Twenty-Second</big> The dusk of the South is tender As the touch of a soft, soft hand; It comes between splendor and splendor, The sweetest of service to render, And gathers the cares of the land. Above it the soft sky blushes And pales like an April rose; Within it the South wind hushes, And the Jessamine’s heart outgushes, And earth like an emerald glows. John P. Sjolander   Capture of Plymouth, N. C., by Gen. R. D. Hoke, 1864     <big>April Twenty-Third</big> In seeds of laurel in the earth The blossom of your fame is blown; And somewhere, waiting for its birth, The shaft is in the stone! Henry Timrod   Randall writes “My Maryland” at Pointe Coupee, La., 1861 Father Ryan dies, 1886    [Pg 101] <big>April Twenty-Fourth</big> Apropos of this last, let me confess, Mr. President—before the praise of New England has died on my lips—that I believe the best product of her present life is the procession of 17,000 Vermont Democrats that for twenty-two years, undiminished by death, unrecruited by birth or conversion, have marched over their rugged hills, cast their Democratic ballots, and gone back home to pray for their unregenerate neighbors, and awoke to read the record of 26,000 Republican majority! May the God of the helpless and heroic help them! Henry W. Grady   Henry W. Grady born, 1851    [Pg 102] <big>April Twenty-Fifth</big> Her lot may be hard, her skies may darken; To Dixie’s voice we’ll ever hearken; Look away, away, away down South in Dixie. The coward may shirk, the wretch go whining, But we’ll be true till the sun stops shining, Look away, away, away down South in Dixie. Chorus: I wish I was in Dixie; Away, away; In Dixie’s land I’ll take my stand, And live and die in Dixie. Away, away, Away down South in Dixie. Marie Louise Eve    [Pg 103] <big>April Twenty-Sixth</big> Homes without the means of support were no longer homes. With barns and mills and implements for tilling the soil all gone, with cattle, sheep, and every animal that furnished food to the helpless inmates carried off, they were dismal abodes of hunger, of hopelessness, and of almost measureless woe. General John B. Gordon   Joseph E. Johnston surrenders at Greensboro, N. C., 1865     <big>April Twenty-Seventh</big> The twilight hours, like birds, flew by, As lightly and as free; Ten thousand stars were in the sky, Ten thousand in the sea; For every wave, with dimpled face, That leaped into the air, Had caught a star in its embrace And held it trembling there. Amelia B. Welby    [Pg 104] <big>April Twenty-Eighth</big> Too much roseate nonsense has been indulged about life on the plantation or in the city in the ante-bellum days. Neither the planter nor the factor nor the lawyer led a life of idle ease and pleasure; they were workers, whose energy built up the State; they lived often rather in rude profusion than in luxury. Pierce Butler   James Monroe born, 1758     <big>April Twenty-Ninth</big> Error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it. Thomas Jefferson    [Pg 105] <big>April Thirtieth</big> To Jefferson’s initiative and farsightedness we owe it that we secured without bloodshed, for a trifling sum of money, a territory which doubled our republic, assured its expansion to the Gulf of Mexico and to the Pacific, and thus lifted us, by a stroke of genius, into a world power of the first class. Thomas E. Watson   Jefferson acquires the Louisiana territory from France, 1803 Washington inaugurated first President of the United States, 1789 [Pg 106]     <hr style="width: 50%;" /> [Pg 107] <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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