Georgia at War

Boy, was I ever disappointed to see Georgia at war with Russia. Several things come to mind. First, I'm concerned about my Brother (OldBrotherWise) and my lil sis Maiinga who live just across the border in Chattanooga. Then, I wonder why Georgia lets itself get into a war in the first place. I mean, their record's not so good. They started off as a penal colony for the British. Then they got Americanized. Then they secede from the United States.

During the Civil War, one-third of the 300+ battles were fought in Virginia. One-tenth were fought in Tennessee. Tied for third most battles were Missouri and Georgia at 27 each. Three of the battles in Georgia were inconclusive. Of the other 24, the United States won 16 and the Rebels won eight. Three of the eight victories were designated as "I" after the site of the battle. In each of the three's "II" battles, the Union was victorious. One of the eight victories had a Mississippi army and the other seven victories had a Tennessee army fighting in Georgia. Far as I can determine, Georgia's troops had zero (0) victories.

Now I read in the paper that Russia has invaded and Georgia is trying to surrender and the Russians are ignoring the offer.

Back to the Tennessee armies for a minute - I was born in Tennessee, moved to Mississippi when I was two, moved back to Tennessee when I was nearly six, had my secondary education in Tennessee as well as my undergraduate education. Tennessee's decision to secede from the Union was by two votes in the Tennessee legislature. East Tennessee considered seceding from Tennessee and forming a separate state like West Virginia did - but being surrounded by Rebel governments, they thought better of it. Tennessee provided 50,000 troops to the United States, and I don't know how many Rebel troops they provided, but those troops which won in Georgia were Rebel armies, I guess from Middle and West Tennessee. Just wanted to throw that in FWIW.

Twice, Georgia and Tennessee had border disputes. Once was about what state owned Chattanooga. Tennessee won. Just superior firepower, I suppose. The second dispute also involved a train, as well as a border thing. Georgia stole a train from Tennessee. The General Jackson, I think it was called. I don't know how the story goes from the Georgia side, but in Tennessee they tell it like this:

The train was stolen sometime between midnight and 5 a.m.

Georgia boasted about acquiring the train and indicated that a lawsuit to determine proper ownership of the train and Chattanooga would follow. Georgia assured the train was secured in a locked compound with two dozen armed guards so Tennessee might as well not try to "steal" it.

Next morning, the locked compound was still locked. The armed guards had disappeared without a trace. The train was NOT in the compound and nowhere to be found in Chattanooga or in Georgia. A day later the train was in Knoxville. Two weeks later, the armed guards reappeared in Georgia. No one ever talked about what happened, publicly, at least.

End of story so far as I know.

I still can't believe Georgia and Russia are at war.

During the civil war, Sherman pretty much had his way marching across Georgia. There was one battle with an "inconclusive" decision, in which a Tennessee army "slowed" Sherman for awhile, but otherwise, Sherman stomped and burned his way across Georgia, including burning Atlanta to the ground. The only town in the path which was not destroyed was Savannah, on the Atlantic Coast. It is told that the mayor, the town council, and business and home owners met Sherman's troops 22 miles west (northwest?) of town, displaying white flags and American Flags, offering Sherman the keys to city hall, businesses and homes and with fresh food for the troops. I wonder: Is this where the "keys to the city" thing came from? Sorry I ended a sentence with a preposition, but sometimes that's easier.

Being an English major and Speech minor in undergraduate, I generally used to go to great lengths to keep from ending a sentence with a preposition. I guess I agreed with Winston Churchill who addressed the matter thusly: "That is one thing up with which I will not put." Sounds awfully stilted, doesn't it?

Those of you reading this who are not yet asleep (actually, I don't think anyone will read this but me) can read my next blog about ending sentences with prepositions. You may not enjoy it, but I did (and will).

Good luck to Georgia. I sincerely hope the fighting stops soon.