Benton's Battery, Louisiana, Field and Staff Officer's.

Captain - Thomas O. Benton

Charleston Infantry Battalion, South Carolina, Field and Staff Officer's.

Lt. Colonel - Peter Charles Gaillard (born 1812, died November 11th, 1889, he is buried at Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, South Carolina)

Fort Sumter, Charleston, South Carolina, April 12th, 1861.

The War Between The States began today April 12th, 1861 when Confederate Forces fired on Union held Ft. Sumter, in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina.

Carlos Eire, Quote "Waiting for Snow in Havana".

“The world changed while I slept, and much to my surprise, no one had consulted me. That’s how it would always be from that day forward. Of course, that’s the way it had been all along. I just didn’t know it until morning. Surprise upon surprise : some good, some evil, most somewhere in between. And always without my consent." - Carlos Eire, “Waiting for Snow in Havana”

44th Virginia Infantry Battalion, Field and Staff Officer's.

This unit was also known as the Petersburg City Battalion.

Major - Peter V. Batte (born 1841 ?, died November 21st, 1893). He is buried at "Stockton Rural Cemetery" in Stockton, California.

8th Texas Infantry, Field and Staff Officer's.

Colonel - Alfred M. Hobby
Lt. Colonels - John Ireland and Daniel D. Shea
Major - John A. Vernon

The Catcher In The Rye, Quote.

"I was half in love with her by the time we sat down. That's the thing about girls. Every time they do something pretty, even if they're not much to look at, or even if they're sort of stupid, you fall half in love with them, and then you never know where the hell you are. Girls. Jesus Christ. They can drive you crazy. They really can." - Holden Caulfield, Chapter 10, The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger

General Robert E. Lee, Quote.

"I like whiskey. I always did, and that is why I never drink it.” - General Robert E. Lee

Reinaldo Arenas, Quote.

"The difference between the Communist system and the Capitalist system, is that although both give you a kick in the ass, in the Communist, they kick you and you have to applaud, and in the Capitalist they kick you and you can scream, and I came here to scream". -- Reinaldo Arenas

Corporal Frank Buckles, Last American World War One Veteran, Passes Away.

Frank Woodruff Buckles (born February 1, 1901, died February 27, 2011) was the last surviving United States World War I Veteran. He was born in Bethany, Missouri, in 1901 and enlisted in the United States Army, in August 1917, at the age of 16. He was sent to Europe aboard the R.M.S. Carpathia (which was the ship which rescued the survivors of the Titanic, in 1912) and spent the War as a Motorcycle and Ambulance Driver. He served in the Army until January 1920. He was once again caught in war when Japan invaded the U.S. Territory of The Philippines, where he worked for a shipping company, in Manila. He was detained by the Japanese and held as a prisoner at Los Banos Prison Camp, from 1942 to 1945. He returned to the United States and married Audrey Mayo, in 1946. He lived at Gap View Farm, in Charles Town, West Virginia, and was the Honorary Chairman of the World War I Memorial Foundation. Frank Buckles reached the rank of Corporal during World War One and for his service was awarded the World War I Victory Medal, the Army of Occupation of Germany Medal and he was also awarded by French President Jacques, the French Legion of Honor. His death signifies the true end of an era. May He Rest In Peace / Que En Paz Descanse.

Captain William M. Walker, Confederate States Army, Buried in Church Street Cemetery, Mobile, Alabama, 1863.

Captain William M. Walker, of the Confederate States Army, was buried in Church Street Cemetery, in downtown Mobile, Alabama, on September 10th, 1863. (He was born in Huntsville, Alabama on July 21st, 1821).

Jefferson Davis named Provisional President of The Confederacy, 1861.

Jefferson Davis was named "Provisional President" of the Confederate States of America, on this date (February 9th, 1861), in 1861. He was Officially Inaugurated on February 18th, 1861, in Montgomery, Alabama.

State of Texas Secedes from Union, 1861.

The State of Texas seceded from the Union, on February 1st, 1861.

Jose Marti, Quote

Jose Julian Marti-Perez was born on January 28th, 1853, died May 19th, 1895. This quote of his is so sadly true, "Our Wine is Bitter, But It Is Our Wine".

State of Louisiana secedes from Union, 1861.

The State of Louisiana seceded from the Union on January 26th, 1861. The Flag on the left is the Independent State of Louisiana Flag. The Flag was adopted after it was bought to vote by Secession Convention Delegates John Kingsberry Elgee, André Bienvenu Roman and Claiborne C. Briscoe.

State of Georgia secedes from Union, 1861.

The State of Georgia seceded from the Union, on January 19th, 1861. It was the 5th State to secede.

State of Alabama secedes from the Union, in 1861.

The State of Alabama seceded from the Union, on January 11th, 1861. Alabama was the fourth state to secede.

State of Florida secedes from the Union, in 1861.

The State of Florida seceded from the Union on January 10th, 1861. It was the third State to secede after South Carolina, on December 20th, 1860 and Mississippi, on January 9th, 1861.

State of Mississippi Secedes from the Union, in 1861.

The State of Mississippi seceded from the Union on January 9th, 1861. Mississippi was the second State to secede, South Carolina being the first on December 20th, 1860.

Fort Marion (Castillo De San Marcos), St. Augustine, Florida occupied by Confederate Forces, in 1861.

Confederate Florida State Troops occupied Fort Marion at St. Augustine, Florida on this date in 1861.

Fort Marion was the name which at the time was given to "Castillo De San Marcos", built by the Spanish during the Spanish Colonial Era, in Florida.

Confederate forces seize Fort Pulaski, Georgia on this day, in 1861.

On January 3rd, 1861 Fort Pulaski near Savannah, Georgia was seized by forces of the Georgia State Troops.

South Carolina Secedes from the Union, December 20th, 1860.

The State of South Carolina officially seceded from the Union on December 20, 1860, which was exactly 150 years ago today. This led other states to secede and led to The War Between The States (The Civil War) which ended in 1865.

Joseph Vella, A "Forgotten" French Confederate Soldier, of Selma, Alabama.

Joseph Vella was born in France, in 1834. He enlisted on March 15th, 1864 as a Private at Selma, Alabama. He was a Cigar Maker by trade and served in the Dallas County, 2nd Class Militia, Alabama Home Guard. He is described as being 5'8, dark hair, dark eyes, dark complexion and lived in Selma, Alabama. // If anyone has any other information on Joseph Vella, feel free to email me. I am interested in the name of his wife and children as well as the location of his grave site. 

Quote of Ex-Confederate General Wade Hampton, at the start of the Spanish American War, 1898.

".. as old as I am, I can still ride on horseback and wield a sword; and if her quota (S. Carolina) is not filled, if there is one name lacking to make it full, I myself will volunteer. This is our country and it is our duty to make it the champion of freedom for all time to come." - ex-Confederate General Wade Hampton, 1898 outbreak of the Spanish American War, "The State" Newspaper, South Carolina (courtesy of Brother K. Robison, Sons of Spanish American War Veterans)

Hispanic Confederate, Colonel Santos Benavides.

Hispanic Confederate, Colonel Santos Benavides, of Texas was born on this date (November 1st), in 1823, in what was then Mexico. He was one of over 400 Hispanic's who served as Officer's, in the Confederate Army and Navy. The majority (not all but most) of Hispanic Confederate Officer's served from Alabama (Mobile, Alabama), Florida (Pensacola and St. Augustine), Louisiana (New Orleans) and Texas. // The photo at the top is that of Santos Benavides.