Apparently, some guy got shot last night while attending a play at Ford’s Theatre in downtown DC. The victim died early this morning at a nearby boarding house.
The main suspect is an actor, often seen at the theatre. He was last seen jumping from a balcony to the stage in a dramatic fashion, addressing the crowd, and disappearing to the rear of the theatre. He remains on the loose and is wanted for questioning. A massive manhunt is being organized reaching into rural Maryland and northern Virginia. A judge for the District Court for the District of Columbia has warned those organizing the manhunt to be cognizant of the suspect’s rights if and when found. “This man is innocent until proven guilty and should be treated as such” the judge stated.
This is a developing story; we caution that the information released so far is preliminary and could change as the investigation continues.
Weather Report
Well – after about 4 days of heavy rain, a day of sunshine. It rained so much, so hard,. so fast that I-84 had to be closed down due to flood waters.
We don’t get rain like this … usually.
Not as heavy as hurricanes in Virginia but still.
There is more snow on the peaks I can see out my back door that we saw all winter .
The grass is growing so fast that by the time it dries out enough to cut, I’ll need to weed-whack it first or the mower will plug up.
Mrs DT finds gardening peaceful; she’ll sit out until dark pulling weeds as meditation.
She ought to be quite mellow here pretty soon.
I’m quite the opposite.
And that’s how my day’s going. With no complaints.
The grass won’t dry out soon; more rain predicted for tonight and tomorrow. And maybe Thursday.
I guess I have plans for the weekend.
Update: This evening’s short-term weather forecast just came out on the news. Winter at last!
Tunesday: Joe Byrd & The Field Hippies – Sub-Sylvian Litanies
A sample of some obscure – and maybe not obscure – tunes from my strange and off-the-wall collection.
Today’s selection: Joe Byrd & The Field Hippies – “Sub-Sylvian Litanies” 1969
Today’s selection takes up roughly ½ of the first side of “The American Metaphysical Circus“
Described as “an entire acid trip in 11 minutes“, this “psychedelic” album was one of the first compositions utilizing synthesizers. It has been compared to some of the earlier experimental works of Pink Floyd (also among my favorites).
I ended up with two copies of this LP. One I bought at a record/head shop; the other I obtained from the local “underground” FM station when it went under.
A far different world …
1+2+3=4
a story to post from ghostsniper via comments
New Maff
We spent more money today than in the past 6 months.
(house was paid off last Dec)
First, the income tax, both fed and state, went out in certified mail.
20+ years ago we got slammed between the criminal IRS and the criminal USPS with the result being a $1300 penalty for not paying our taxes on time even though we did. We sent them in by the regular mail like we always did before. But the USPS dragged it’s feets and the IRS didn’t receive the payment until after the deadline. We tried, but found out, you simply cannot argue with the criminals. I’ll not disclose how much was sent today because the very though ignites all my fibers.
Next up.
The vehicle insurance for 2 rides. I pay by the year because it’s less expensive overall. Almost a thou. Then, about 2 months ago very high winds tore through here and knocked over 2 white pine trees about 100′ tall. One hit the ground but the other one got hung up on a 40 degree angle in a very large beech tree. Very dangerous, and our power pole was within the arc.
So:
1 cherry picker
2 trees
3 experienced doods
4 thousand of my favorite legal tenders
made the problem go away.
We’re not used to the idea of spending that kinda money, and not getting anything for it. We already owned the trees, and we still have them, but they are now cut up and no longer live and function like the did for all of their lives. So yeah, money for nuthin and the sticks for free. or sumfink like that…
Anyway, the doods did a good job, took only about 3 hours, and though we paid them with a check, I gave them a $100 cash tip.
Further, the owner asked what I do and I told him I’m an arky and he said he may have some work for me. So there’s that.
Phrasing
“A crowd of rowdy teenagers swarmed the Navy Yard waterfront in Washington, D.C.“
Yesireebob. We all know what “crowd of rowdy teenagers” means, don’t we?
And the photos prove it … once again.
Can’t say it out loud though – might hurt someones phe-e-e-e-lingz.
What does one do with feral humans?
April 13, 1865
Union Major-General William Tecumseh Sherman’s armies entered and occupied Raleigh. Raleigh was the ninth of eleven state capitals to be occupied by Union forces. Only the state capitals at Tallahassee in Florida and Austin in Texas remained in Confederate hands.
Confederate Brigadier-General Henry Harrison Walker formally announced the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia to President Jefferson Finis Davis. At 10 am, Confederate President Davis reconvened the military conference adjourned the day before in Greensboro. The remaining Cabinet members met first, and all the members present, except for Davis and Secretary of State Judah Philip Benjamin, clung to the belief that further resistance was feasible. When General Joseph Eggleston Johnston and General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard joined the meeting, the President invited their views on how to continue the war. Johnston gave an unflinching statement of the impossibility of continued resistance because of desertions from his dwindling army, the lack of resources, the hopeless military situation, and the exhaustion of the people. Beauregard concurred with his views. Davis was finally forced to concede permission for Johnston to meet with Union Major-General William Tecumseh Sherman to discuss the terms of surrender. Davis dictated a letter for Johnston to send to Sherman, requesting an armistice.
April 12, 1865
Confederate General Joseph Eggleston Johnston arrived at Greensboro for a military conference with President Jefferson Finis Davis and General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard. Davis introduced the meeting with a discussion of the available military resources and a plan for continuing the war by rounding up deserters and enforcing conscription. Johnston responded by requesting authority to begin a correspondence with Union Major-General William Tecumseh Sherman for a truce. This was dismissed out of hand by the President. The meeting was adjourned to await the arrival of the Secretary of War, Major-General John Cabell Breckinridge, with definite news from Virginia. Breckinridge arrived during the evening and brought the unwelcome confirmation of the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia. Johnston and Beauregard urged Breckinridge to support them in seeking permission from the President to request a suspension of hostilities at the council of war to be resumed in the morning.
Union Major-General George Stoneman’s cavalry bypassed Greensboro and attacked Salisbury, rounding up 1,300 prisoners and destroying the depots accumulated to supply the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia for its anticipated retreat into North Carolina. They also captured 10,000 small arms and fourteen guns The defence of Salisbury was commanded by Confederate Lieutenant-Colonel (formerly Lieutenant-General) John Clifford Pemberton. Stoneman’s cavalry engaged in the destruction of the railway bridges along the track between Greensboro and Charlotte. The destruction of the railroad meant that the Confederate President and Government currently in Greensboro would be denied the benefit of railroad travel for the next stage of their flight.
Confederate General Robert Edward Lee held a final review at which he gave his formal farewell to his troops and officially disbanded the Army of Northern Virginia. Union Brigadier-General Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was appointed to receive the formal surrender of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia from Confederate Major-General John Brown Gordon at Clove Hill near Appomattox Court House. After the formalities were concluded, Lee departed for Richmond.
Not Yet Over
Noah Brooks:
“Outside was a vast sea of faces, illuminated by the lights that burned in the festal array of the White House, and stretching far out into the misty darkness. It was a silent, intent, and perhaps surprised, multitude.
Within stood the tall, gaunt figure of the President, deeply thoughtful, intent upon the elucidation of the generous policy which should be pursued toward the South. That this was not the sort of speech which the multitude had expected is tolerably certain.“
Abraham Lincoln:
We meet this evening, not in sorrow, but in gladness of heart. The evacuation of Petersburg and Richmond, and the surrender of the principal insurgent army, give hope of a righteous and speedy peace whose joyous expression can not be restrained. In the midst of this, however, He from whom all blessings flow, must not be forgotten. A call for a national thanksgiving is being prepared, and will be duly promulgated. Nor must those whose harder part gives us the cause of rejoicing, be overlooked. Their honors must not be parcelled out with others. I myself was near the front, and had the high pleasure of transmitting much of the good news to you; but no part of the honor, for plan or execution, is mine. To Gen. Grant, his skilful officers, and brave men, all belongs. The gallant Navy stood ready, but was not in reach to take active part.
By these recent successes the re-inauguration of the national authority — reconstruction — which has had a large share of thought from the first, is pressed much more closely upon our attention. It is fraught with great difficulty. Unlike a case of a war between independent nations, there is no authorized organ for us to treat with. No one man has authority to give up the rebellion for any other man. We simply must begin with, and mould from, disorganized and discordant elements. Nor is it a small additional embarrassment that we, the loyal people, differ among ourselves as to the mode, manner, and means of reconstruction.
. . .
“The speech was enigmatic, inconclusive, and perfunctory, and did not laud the victory so much as look forward to the necessity of making a peaceful reunification of the nation. He was soon beset by critics and more ardent Radicals and Abolitionists to pursue a more punitive post-war policy.”
. . .
“Confederate President Jefferson Finis Davis arrived in Greensboro with the remnants of the government and received the first unconfirmed reports of the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia. Davis met Confederate General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard, who had arrived the previous day. Beauregard reported that Confederate General Joseph Eggleston Johnston had been forced to evacuate Smithfield, and was retreating towards Raleigh from a Union force three or four times greater than his own. Beauregard suggested that Lee’ surrender meant that the war was surely lost but Davis insisted on continued resistance, summoning Johnston to Greensboro for a strategic conference to be held the following day.”
. . .
The war was not yet over.
Fateful Meeting
Lee meets Grant At Appomattox Court House
General Order
No. 9
After four years of arduous service marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude, the Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers and resources.
I need not tell the survivors of so many hard fought battles, who have remained steadfast to the last, that I have consented to the result from no distrust of them.
But feeling that valour and devotion could accomplish nothing that could compensate for the loss that must have attended the continuance of the contest, I have determined to avoid the useless sacrifice of those whose past services have endeared them to their countrymen.
By the terms of the agreement, officers and men can return to their homes and remain until exchanged. You will take with you the satisfaction that proceeds from the consciousness of duty faithfully performed, and I earnestly pray that a merciful God will extend to you his blessing and protection.
With an unceasing admiration of your constancy and devotion to your Country, and a grateful remembrance of your kind and generous consideration for myself, I bid you an affectionate farewell.
— R. E. Lee, General, General Order No. 9
The End Of American Digest
One year ago today, the faithful readers of American Digest logged on to find the plug had finally been pulled.
We were all lucky really; per Gerard’s instructions, American Digest could have gone dark in January.
Another year later and the site is still missed.
I wonder if Gerard and Ol’ Remus got together …
Thanks for the extra time, Neo … and the books.