Historical Note

[kiya]

On this day in 1776, my great-etc.-grandfather inaugurated one of the most hallowed American traditions: the Congressional recess for the July Fourth holiday.

(Okay, he may have left on the second, so it may have been on yesterday in 1776. The New York delegation didn't have permission to vote for the Declaration of Independence, and so they went back to get it.)

Comments

[lylythe-strega.livejournal.com]

So, your ancestors were forces of nature too, is what you're saying? :>

[kiya]

I come from a long line of the nearly famous. Frequently, 'nearly famous' was 'prevented from fame due to incompetence, insanity, or illness'. ;)

My favorite ancestor in that mode was the Civil War era one who was (probably brevet) promoted to brigadier general on one day, went on patrol on the next, and was relieved of duty due to nervous breakdown on the day after and spent the rest of the war at a desk job.

History does not inform us what happened on patrol.

[lylythe-strega.livejournal.com]

"Pickett's Charge", or an experience of that ilk, would be my guess.

"My goodness me - I believe my second cousin's cannonball-severed leg just flew over my left shoulder! I do believe I'll be having a nervous breakdown right about now..."

Yep. If it'd been me, I'd be one of the first in line for raving and drooling on myself, thanks very much. Apparently, one of my ancestors survived Gettysburg, but there's not much reporting what became of him after that, apart from "begetting"... ;>

[lysana.livejournal.com]

Was he the one who abstained courteously? ;)

Yours,
The great-&tc grand niece of William Henry "absolute-"Lee