George E Pickett CSA

Confederate General – George E Pickett [1825-1875] – Married a Native American Woman! (17.12.2024)

ostensibly to fight Native American Indians. By this time, George Pickett was already a widower – his first wife having died in childbirth when he was stationed in Texas. He was stationed at Fort Bellingham when, in 1857, he married a “royal” Native American “Haida” (teenage) woman. Such a mixed-race union was forbidden under the laws of Washington Territory – with the marriage ritual probably being Native American. Although no photographs of “Morning Mist” are known to exist – she did leave a Chinese Tea Chest to her son – James Tilton Pickett. When “Morning Mist” died – George Pickett ensured his wife was the first “indigenous” woman to be buried in a Cemetery designated for “White” Christian people only. This which would have caused a considerable public outcry at the time. The grave of “Morning Mist” has been lost to time.

CSA Navy Department

Confederate States of America [1861-1865] – Evolution of Flags! (24.11.2024)

Flags, or “Banners” – have been used for thousands of years – in one form or another, to distinguish one group of humans from another. Each such entity conveys “difference” of intent and identity. Each flag is designed to gather together those who “belong” – and “push-away” those who do not. Like the tribal body-markings of the Celts and Picts, each piece of material containing pictures and coloured sections serve as an identifier of “sameness” and a marker of “difference”. As the “Confederate” States of America (CSA) viewed itself as the “true” and “genuine” conveyor of the authentic 1776 “Revolution” – the flags chosen to represent this reality were similar to – but different from – the “Stars and Stripes” as carried by the “United States” of America (USA). There were many “unofficial” flags flown by the citizens and military of the Confederacy – due to the democratic (free) nature of its society and culture. These popular flags were flown alongside (and parallel to) the “official” flags designed and adopted by the government of the CSA. Indeed, these “local” flags lasted throughout the entire war and influenced all the official designs.

An Injured Stonewall Jackson!

How Confederate General “Stonewall” Jackson Overcame Disability! (20.11.2024)

The Ancient Greek idea of inner strength – mediated through a cultivated wisdom – was the Classical model Stonewall Jackson used to enhance his own health and social standing. Due to his honesty and humility, those who personally encountered his personality were always drawn toward his charisma. Although his family were not willing to “waste” money on a military education for their son, a friend of the family was made aware of an unusual Scholarship being offered which permitted “one” successful candidate to enter West Point to train as an “Officer” in the US Army. Around five very clever men competed for this Scholarship – and it was predictably won by an impoverished “Lawyer”. However, this “Lawyer” came from a privileged background and lasted just one-day when subjected to military discipline at West Point. The Scholarship was once again thrown open to the four remaining men – through another round of examinations – and Stonewall Jackson prevailed. This is how Stonewall Jackson gained access to West Point.

Judah P Benjamin - Jewish Confederate!

British Judah P. Benjamin [1811-1884] – “Jewish” Confederate Attorney General! (16.11.2024)

Many who knew Judah, however, have stated that his legal arguments and his personal views were two different things. In reality, Judah, his family, and his broader community in the South were generally in favour of slave-ownership. He believed that slaves were “property” and that a government had no right to interfere in the ownership of property. Particularly a “property” guaranteed in the 1776 Constitution. He thought that freeing slaves was impractical because this population had no idea of how to survive as free-functioning individuals. Such a transition, if it could happen at all, would take a very long time involving preparation. For those who supported slavery, these attitudes were common amongst the “White” community. Another justifying argument involved the idea that Biblical texts justified the enslavement of Africans – with slavery being god’s will. In 1862, Judah P. Benjamin was appointed Confederate Secretary of State, and he pursued the foreign policy of attempting to pursued Great Britain and France to recognise the Confederacy. In 1864, Confederate General Patrick Cleburne (of the Army of Tennessee) suggested that all the slaves in the South should be freed and immediately armed – to form “Black” Regiments in the Confederate Army. Jeferson Davis vettoed this idea (even though Judah P. Benjamin had been discussing this since 1863).

P. G. T. Beauregard - Creole

Brigadier General P. G. T. Beauregard: How a “Mixed-Race” Confederate General Defeated the North! (14.11.2024)

Indeed, many of his aunts and uncles were White people who had inter-married with Black, Mexican, and Native American partners. Indeed, whilst serving in the US Army prior to the war – P. G. T. Beauregard – his advancement was blighted by the fact that the US Military Authorities purposely discriminated against him on the grounds that he was “Not Trustworthy” – as he was the product of a family that deliberately “Race-Mixed”. This judgement kept him out of West Point as a Teacher (he had trained there in his youth – but was not permitted to pursue a substantive career in that institute) – until he was mistakenly posted as an “Instructor” at this College of Officer-Training in the US during 1861 (just prior to the breakout of hostilities). His appointment lasted just one-day until the mistake was realised by a Union pen-pusher. P. G. T. Beauregard was immediately removed on the grounds that the US does not allow any but “pure-raced” individuals exercising direct influence over the developing generations of US Military Officers. Indeed, the US Authorities applied this judgement by continuously referring to P. G. T. Beauregard as a “Creole” – implying that he was psychologically and physically “inferior” due to “race-mixing”.

The wide-field X-ray telescope on the EP satellite detected over 6,800 X-ray sources distributed across the celestial sphere (under Galactic coordinates). [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

China: Tian Guan [天关] “Einstein” Probe Detects Mysterious Celestial Object [EP240408a]! (1.11.2024)

In addition to detecting individual events, the EP has conducted repeated sky surveys, successfully generating China’s first all-sky X-ray map. Yuan said the satellite contributes data that represents over 30 percent of all information available on global platforms for the study of transient and eruptive phenomena.

The EP team annually solicits research proposals from Chinese scientists and provides data access to international researchers one year after acquisition.

China’s recorded interest in transient phenomena dates back to the Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD). In 1054, astronomers from the Song Dynasty (960-1279) documented the “Guest Star of Tian Guan,” later known as the Chinese Nova, a supernova explosion considered among the most significant astronomical observations in history.

Yuan said the Einstein Probe, known as Tian Guan in Chinese, honours this legacy and seeks to inspire future contributions to world astronomy.

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