General RE Lee - Horror of a United America!

CSA: Letter [1866] Penned by General Robert E Lee to England’s Lord Acton! (2.11.2026)

I consider the Confederate-era – and those decades preceding (from around the 1820s onwards – including the “Missouri Crisis” of 1819–1821) to be “Revolutionary”. From time to time, the threat to “secede” was exercised by numerous individual States (including “New England” – which opposed the 1846 invasion of Mexico – and threatened withdrawing from the Union if their men were to be drafted). Even the newly added “Texas” – although being invaded and annexed by the US – was always threatening to “secede” if the US kept enforcing despotic governance upon it (Texas [illegally] joined the Union in 1845 in defiance of Mexico sovereignty – and withdrew in 1861 to join the Confederacy). Of course, different historians ascribe varying dates as to the “threat” of “secession” being used as a political crow-bar – but used it was. If the Confederacy had prevailed – North America would have been split into the CSA, the US, and a Free Indian Territory – with all expansion westward being outlawed. This is why many Indian tribes joined the Confederate Army.

A Local Park in Gander Green Lane!

UK: Late-September – Time to go “Conkering”! (3.10.2026)

Two people would face-off in a Conkering Competition – with one holding their stringed conquer “still” – whilst the opponent “swung” their stringed conquer at it with as much force as they could muster. The impact would either do nothing – damage and/or smash the conker. The swing could also miss. I seem to remember the one strike each – or agreed number of strikes – often three-swings each. Today, children still marvel at the dropping of horse-chestnuts – but do not really know what to do with them. Kai-Lin, my ten-year old daughter, has gathered-up about 20 conkers from the local park. It seems that local schools banned Conkering due to injuries being sustained by participants and those watching. Although not officially banned – this draconian approach amounted to much the same effect.