Bullet Points:
** My friend, Claudio, took a ride on the Virtual Mirage wayback machine and shares this reflection.
** Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, December 27, 2025: Russian forces are currently unable to build out a strategic reserve and will therefore likely be constrained to grinding, slow advances at their current rate and scale in the coming year.
** Teach a man to fish, and he eats for a day from your pond. Deport a man, and you never have to feed him again.
** “When any great object is in view, the popular mind is roused into expectation, and prepared to make sacrifices both of ease and property. If those, to whom they confide the management of their affairs, do not call them to make these sacrifices. The object is not attained, or they are involved in the reproach of not having contributed as much as they ought to have done towards it, they will be mortified at the disappointment, they will feel the censure, and their resentment will rise against those who, with sufficient authority, have omitted to do what their interest and their honor required.” – George Washington, Letter to Joseph Reed, President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, Headquarters, Bergen County, July 4, 1780
** (WSJ) Kids in elementary school learn—or are supposed to learn—how to add fractions and round numbers. But many students at the University of California, San Diego can’t do either, writes Allysia Finley.
** (Bloomberg) — Russia and Ukraine struck each other’s Black Sea ports overnight, damaging infrastructure, including an oil refinery. A drone attack on the Russian coastal city of Tuapse hit a berth at the port and the local refinery, according to the emergency services. A crude-processing unit at the plant, as well as pipelines and loading equipment at the marine terminal, were affected, RBC Ukraine news service said, citing people it didn’t identify. Bloomberg couldn’t independently verify the damage. Rosneft PJSC, which owns the refinery and the terminal, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment sent during the New Year holiday in Russia. Fires at the port and the refinery were put out, while several residential buildings were also damaged, and two people were hospitalized, according to the emergency services. The Tuapse refinery has a processing capacity of 12 million tons a year, or about 240,000 barrels a day, and produces mainly fuel oil, naphtha, and diesel for export. The nearby terminal has a transshipment capacity of about 17 million tons a year. It is primarily used to export fuels from Rosneft’s Tuapse, Saratov, Achinsk, and Samara plants, according to the company’s website.
** President Donald Trump has issued the first presidential vetoes of his second term, overriding two bills that had won unanimous approval in Congress. One of them is the Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit (AVC) Act, intended to help fund a major water-distribution project in Colorado. In his letter to Congress on the veto, Trump said he blocked the measure to prevent “American taxpayers from funding expensive and unreliable policies.”
** US Navy vs PLAN – Who is ramping up for war?
** From Pink Floyd – Time – Should all acquaintance be forgot. For auld lang syne or something like that. sic transit gloria mundi.
A Thought for the New Year
BRM discusses an assassination on his blog. More here. When I lived a far more public life than I do now, there was an understanding among those I worked with that, should I catch a round or should the brakes in my car fail, there would be a remorseless response to those responsible (including them). I understand that some of you are aghast at the notion that I would have an insurance policy of that sort. I’m afraid that something like that is necessary in some quarters. It doesn’t speak well for me or for the world, but it kept people who might have done me harm in check. Even now, in the White Wolf Mine, there is the implicit suggestion that there are people best left alone. It doesn’t mean I live, or would enjoy living, the life of a hermit. And I don’t. But the article reminded me that people need to understand that walking softly and carrying a big stick is something not to be taken lightly.
We were visiting family, and they wanted to see a movie I wanted to see too. It wasn’t showing in many locations in Southern California. I vetoed some of the places by saying I’d need to bring a handgun AND two magazines if we went there, and the jungle vibe didn’t lend itself to an enjoyable experience. MRSLL said, “Don’t be ridiculous, LL.” I had to remind her (and my daughter) of a movie-going experience some years ago when two at-risk inner-city youth attempted to rob all three of us at knifepoint in a parking lot (next to my BMW-M5) after seeing a movie. The inner city youths regretted arming themselves with knives when I was armed with a Colt 1911. MRSLL reflected for a moment and then said, “Yes, Papa is right.” MRSLL feels that I’m not a good Christian at times because I have no problem drinking from an enemy’s skull. I suspect that the Pagan Ethos makes me less of a “strike me on one cheek and then on the other” sort of man.
But I’ve also lived to tell the tale. Advice for 2026. Peace through superior firepower.
Deuteronomy 20: 12-14 – Drink from the skulls of your enemies? It doesn’t say that exactly, but neither does it beat around the bush.
Seven Years Ago Today
I moved into the hovel at the White Wolf Mine, where I live today. It has been a fascinating journey.
In History
December 30, 1780, at Hammond’s Store (Williamson’s Plantation), Laurens County, South Carolina.
American Colonel William Washington’s seventy-five 3rd Continental Light dragoons, a handful of 1st Continental Light dragoons, and two hundred South Carolina mounted state troops came upon the two hundred and sixty Tory partisan unit along the road leading to Hammond’s Store, about 25 miles from the British post at Ninety Six. The assembled loyalist force saw about 150 men killed or wounded. The patriots took 40 prisoners and captured 50 horses, without a single loss.
Illustrated by renowned historical artist Don Troiani Historical Artist
***
Remittances
Remittances from the U.S. are a significant pillar of Mexico’s economy, accounting for 3.5%-4% of GDP, with figures reaching over $64 billion in 2024. However, recent data show slight dips due to economic uncertainty and concerns about immigration policy. While representing a significant share of national income (around 4% of GDP), they’re even more crucial regionally, sometimes accounting for 18% of a state’s GDP in poorer areas, and are the second-largest source of foreign exchange after the auto industry.
I’ll refer you to this CSIS brief for more details, and I’ll comment on the overall situation.
The US can stop the remittances with the flip of a switch. BRM commented on this blog the other day that it might be better to tax them more significantly than to kill them (Tiberias Caesar: Better to shear the sheep than flay it).
Mexico is a narcostate. Everyone knows it. Officially, it’s run by the Morena Party, which is to say they’re communists. (Is Morena worse than the PRI or PAN parties? Good question) Mexico’s current President is Claudia Sheinbaum, a communist, who took office on October 1, 2024, becoming the country’s first female president and succeeding Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), also a communist.
The communists rule with the approval of drug trafficking and manufacturing organizations that have an international reach. Narcos in Mexico are more than just that. They are bankers, they own most construction companies, have interests in tourism and other industries, and have a heavy hand on agriculture, which still represents a massive part of the Mexican economy. In short, they are Mexico.
The Communist Chinese have had a strategic interest in Mexico for a long time because, (Long March), they are at war with the USA, even if we’re not at war with them. There are “Chinatowns” in many Mexican cities that have been in place for generations. These La Chinescas (barrio chinos) are often poorly understood in the US. I have made a study of them, but won’t belabor the issue here, today. The Communist Chinese were never able to make inroads to the extent they wanted to because there is very little in common between bario chino and Beijing. Many of these Chinese nexuses are critical to the functioning of the remittance network as it is currently established.
My point is that the issue of remittances, national stability, and political survival in places like Mexico is far more complicated than it might appear to be at first blush.
***
On this day in history: 1862/3 – The Battle of Parker’s Crossroads.
On New Year’s Eve, Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest narrowly escaped capture during a daring raid at Parker’s Crossroads in western Tennessee. Forrest and his men had spent the week of Christmas operating in Union-held territory, destroying 50 bridges and rendering the Mobile and Ohio Railroad useless for the remainder of the war, significantly disrupting General Ulysses S. Grant’s supply lines for the Vicksburg campaign.
During this raid, Forrest and his men were involved in many Skirmishes and rode over 300 miles, confiscating tens of thousands of dollars of supplies. By the end of December, several Union forces were bearing down on Forrest’s cavalry, trying to cut Forrest off from withdrawing across the Tennessee River. As the Confederates approached Parker’s Crossroads, they detected a Yankee force under the command of Colonel Cyrus L. Dunham. Instead of retreating, Forrest launched an aggressive multi-pronged attack.
After Confederate artillery gained an early advantage, Forrest utilized frontal attacks to occupy the Federals while sending mounted and dismounted troops to attack their flanks and rear.
During a lull, Forrest sent a demand for an unconditional surrender. Dunham refused and was preparing for Forrest’s next attack when another Union brigade arrived from the north and surprised the Confederates with an attack on their rear. The arrival of the Union brigade surprised Forrest’s troops from the rear, placing Forrest’s 1,800-man force between two Union brigades totaling approximately 3,000 men. Forrest famously responded to the crisis with the command: “Charge ’em both ways!”
Outnumbered nearly two to one, the Rebels split and attacked both fronts, causing enough confusion to escape and cross the Tennessee River. Both sides claimed victory, but the Confederates escaped what should have been a perfect trap. Unfortunately for the Union forces, Forrest lived to fight another day.
Forrest’s daring Tennessee campaign was one of the most brilliant and successful of the entire Civil War. He returned with more men, weapons, and supplies than he started with, having captured or killed approximately 2,500 Union soldiers and paroled over 1,300.
The state of Tennessee “had” 32 dedicated historical markers linked to Nathan Bedford Forrest, more than are dedicated to all three former Presidents associated with the state combined: Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk, and Andrew Johnson. Today, many of these historical markers and monuments related to Nathan Bedford Forrest have been removed in Tennessee, including his grave. Forrest’s remains are now at the Sons of Confederate Veterans’ headquarters in Columbia, TN, a private location where people can now safely visit.
Happy New Year!
I thank you for the abundance of Mr. Troiani’s work here recently, nd the snippets of background accompanying each. I learn so much!
nd have an especial fondness for reading on NBF.
CDRSAL- in my mind, a national treasure.
re: remittances, foreigners ( regardless of legal status)
this is an alien planet from Lovecraft or such, compared to the country I was born in in 1956.
In spite of that, may The Lord bless, preserve, prosper all who meander through here nd their loved ones in 2026.
Juan
Yes, Juan. The place we have today would not be recognizable in 1956.
Amen.
X2
Comment regarding WWM- Amazing how the builders of your hovel were able to pattern the covered porch/kitchen area dirt floor to mimic a brick or stone pattern.
Happy New Year to All!
If it doesn’t look like a dirt floor, it feels less like one. I try to keep table scraps off the floor so the shoats rooting around don’t get aggressive.
Been thinking of your reply regarding dirt floor, scraps, and shoats. Brings back some long ago East Texas Piney-woods memories of people that lived that exact lifestyle with a dog trot down the middle of the house. Imagine a whole tree trunk in the living area with one end in the fireplace and as the fire burned down just shove the non-burning end of the trunk toward the firebox. Always one eye turned to the trail coming in the event game wardens or other law enforcement showed up.
Time; h/t for the 2023 remix! Auld Lang Syne was sent to me as the new year rang in from our SIL. A legal Canadian immigrant of Scottish descendancy who has made his way here with a proprietary business. They gladly pay their taxes for “their American heritage” including the liberty to exercise 1A and 2A rights which he fiercely and fearlessly expresses.
–
From Floyd, ” And then one day you find ten years have got behind you…The sun is the same in a relative way, but you’re older,
shorter of breath and one day closer to death”
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Should old acquaintances be forgotten and never brought to mind? For old times sake we share a cupa kindness. For some, the broad seas have roared between us, since the days long ago.
–
Looking forward to what lies ahead in 26, I’m grateful for real life relationships in locale as well as friends and family afar, of which the V.M. community, ( h/t L.L. ) brings witt, learning, and humor to carry on.
Just put one foot in front of the other until that six-foot drop and the mouth full of dirt.
💯…well said GFW2.
Dang, Larry! Over the past week or so, you keep dredging up memories of my somewhat misspent youth. First it was HMS Londonderry, and now threats to potential enemies that help keep you alive.
I did the same thing in a black township near Johannesburg, South Africa, back in the 1980’s. It was a catastrophic time for the nation; rolling unrest amounting at times to civil war, massive social disruption, economic woes, you name it. The “liberal” forces (calling themselves the Mass Democratic Movement or MDM at the time, which was a thinly disguised front for the terrorist African National Congress, today South Africa’s government) established shadow governing structures for many townships, “taxing” the residents, controlling political activities, and generally doing what Chicago and New York seem to regard as normal these days.
I’d gone to that township as part of my efforts to help those affected by the ongoing violence (a task I’ve discussed at length on my blog from time to time). I was “summoned” to talk to the local ruling MDM junta. They confirmed that yes, they knew about me from other reports, and yes, I was known to be not a racist: but I still had to pay them “protection” if I and my colleagues wanted to work in “their” township. I told them I wasn’t able to do that, as we were all volunteers and didn’t have anyone paying us to do what we did. Within a day or two, some unknown SOB sneaked up behind me and stuck a knife in my back. I was able to … ah … persuade him to stop, shall we say (I was more direct-action-oriented then, not like the sweet, lovable choirboy I am today), and get to a hospital where they stitched me up.
While I recovered, I went to see a lawyer in Soweto. He was widely known to be a force in most of the criminal gangs of the region. If you wanted protection from them, or to recover stolen property, this could be arranged for a suitable fee. Human life was cheap then: you could have almost anyone killed for the equivalent of $50 or so. He and I discussed terms, and I handed over the equivalent of about $200 and received four signed contracts in exchange (couched in very vague and inconsequential terms, which could never be pinned down in court, but nonetheless clear to those who understood “street justice” back then).
When I went back to the township concerned, I walked into the house that had been commandeered by the junta. I’m sure they gleefully thought that I’d gone mad and was offering myself up for execution, but I simply laid those contracts on the table and advised them to read them. They immediately understood what they implied. If anything happened to me (even death from an infected ingrown toenail, or a traffic accident, or whatever) those contracts would immediately be implemented – and they knew the lawyer concerned, and knew he could not be bribed or threatened to ignore them. If you bought him, he stayed bought – an honest (albeit very criminal) lawyer. Four contracts. Four members of the junta. Got the idea?
From then on, whenever I and my colleagues went into that township, an armed escort (complete with AK-47’s) materialized out of thin air from almost the moment we arrived. Their job was to make darn sure that nothing and nobody bothered us, because the junta knew damned well that if I was at risk, they were doubly so. We had a very peaceful time from then on…
A few years later, there were also aid convoys to parts of Africa a long way further north. Mission organizations were mostly know for being peaceful, and therefore easy to rob and intimidate. The local warlords weren’t accustomed to a mission worker who hired the most vicious local gang he could find to protect his convoys, and even bought them fresh ammunition to replace the battlefield pick-up dregs they mostly used. My convoys were seldom bothered by other gangs, and when they were, things got entertaining for a while (except for the attackers).
Memories!
The circles you two (and others here) operated…Wow. […as I slink away feeling like a sheltered life wuss.]
Machine Gun Preacher.
I’m more like A Hobo with a Shotgun…..
It’s not that we want to do those things. In extremis, they become necessary if you decide that you want to live. Peace – through superior firepower.
Paying for protection; This might seem off subject. I’ve been getting notices for the last few months that “support” for windows 10 ends around the 1st of this year. If the device is new enough, free upgrade. If not, new laptop purchase recommended. “Support” being protection from malware. Would a subscription to Norton, ect. work or best to invest in new?
Consider a change to Linux or some such (see Borepatch 12/29). Linux Mint feels like Windows and the price is far better than Microsoft’s.
If you want a Windows-like experience, use the KDE Desktop Environment. I run Kubuntu, and it’s damn near flawless.
‘Happy’ New Year…guess we’ll find out…pretty sure there are forces out there working hard to undermine happiness and joy WTP are afforded in pursuing. Yet for me and mine, lots of plans and…life is forward, never stop moving until as LL says you are forced to when the meter runs out. (Geez, now I’m starting to sound like an old guy who’s on the other side of life’s centerline.)
***
WWM: Excellent use of varied textures…and the rock retaining walls look well done by your sub, anchoring the structure to the site using local materials…gives it that little extra. The driveway drain is an excellent idea…gotta keep the vehicles power washed after driving a bit of muddy road.
***
Peace through superior firepower: Does not make anyone a ‘bad’ Christian to protect oneself or loved ones by taking proper precautions, I contend it would be the opposite to not do so. That would be like putting your hand into a flame while praying to God to not get burned. Yeah…No. Protection makes one a smart Christian…because Christians would offer that first bit of mercy…unless otherwise left no choice. The OT is rife with strength through superior weaponry and tactics, God does not demand from us mere mortals that we lose our lives foolishly or passively.
+1
Assassination – the Anitfa mobs appeared to have kill squads, complete with spotters. Anyone surprised the same power mongers would remove anyone threatening their rice bowl?
I just read the mayor of NYC took his oath of office on a stack of Qurans. WTF is going on! What a disrespect to my brothers who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the wars post 9/11.
-STA Lethal in 2026
…in an abandoned subway no less…metaphorical to Hamas in tunnels. (yeah, I said it)
Wow.
Are you sure it was in a subway tunnel and not in a sewer where he would have been more comfortable?
In today’s NYC the two are synonymous..at least that is what WTP have witnessed when Dems rule/lord over these cities, I swear they all believe themselves to be King George and Marie Antoinette rolled into one persona, “What’s yours is mine” married to “Let them eat cake”.
WTF is going on? Wouldn’t that make his Oath of Office invalid? Not that it matters much anymore, but yow…what a slap in the face.
I’m not convinced Boelter was “manipulated” to kill that particular legislator (and her husband) in Minnesota, or the other in the Senate, or the many others on the list in his vehicle.
I think his moral compass went uncalibrated.
But I don’t know.
There’s been so many that one can hardly be judged for believing these were brainwashed folks who ‘got activated’. Charlie Kirk’s killer, was he merely a ticked off homosexual who took his rage out on the Christian doing good? Or was he allowed to be on that rooftop? Same with Crooks in Butler…massive oversight by the protection detail…coincidence or purposeful.
(PS. Hoping your New Year is medical rough patch free.)
A very good year (healthy and wealthy) I wish to one and all.
My only other wish for the coming year is that grade schools (beginning with Kindergarten) begin to teach American values and the significance of “America” as the living concept it was to the (legal) immigrants who came here from Europe in the post-WWI period
I have two daughters (in California) who do that, and they have me come into their classes as a guest lecturer. I can’t speak to the rest of the United States.
👍
Imagining you as the grade school guest speaker…every boy in class would be at rapt attention and certainly not goofing off.
The girls liked my presentations as well. It started when my girls were in high school and I complained to school administration that the section of history on the War of Northern Aggression/War Between the States – was based on fabricated bullshit. The gauntlet was dropped – “Could you do better?” Why yes, as a matter of fact I could. It evolved into an AFTER SCHOOL history class that I taught in the evening. The school thought that kids wouldn’t show up at 7pm for a voluntary class but there was standing room only for my ten part series power-point aided class. This is before the Ken Burns Civil War History was produced.
Paying it forward…nice.
I also have a California teaching credential, which lent weight to the program, and I did it without charge.
When I was in college, I took a course in Civil War History. (Taught by a retired military officer, so it was great.) Some where along the way I read that Nathan B. Forrest captured many tons of supplies from the evil Yankees. He was appalled at the poor quality of the supplies, and how the evil Yankee manufacturers were cheating the evil government with horrible quality materials. Forrest wrote a letter to the War Department chiding them for the poor quality and encouraging them to do better.
True or not, it sounds like him.
By the way, I was born, raised, and will die as part of the area that lost The War. If you can’t tell.
Ed
I’m a huge fan of General Forrest. Bryce’s Crossroads in Mississippi is a better example of the same situation. Forrest, outnumbered by 3 Union armies closing on his position, defeated each in detail on one day at Bryce’s Crossroads. I’ve visited the battlefield. It’s a study of Forrest’s genius. And yes, I’m sure he wrote the letter.
• ★ Happy ★* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★ New Year ★。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚｜ 田田 ｜門｜ ˚
* Wishing you Joy, Laughter & Good Health ♪♫•*¨*
LL… did the trench drain in the driveway fix the problem of water and mud flowing into your garage you had a few years back?
*
There are so many interesting stories from the Civil War era. Thanks for sharing more about Forrest.
*
Happy New Year to all.
The 12″x12″ drain in the driveway was part of my design from day one. The flood happened three years later. And since you asked, I’ll share details.
.
MRSLL and I were out of town for a week or so in the summer, and during that time, there had been a few (3-5″) of rain. We had not yet experienced the Arizona Summer Monsoon, which is considerable. It was during COVID that I had kidney stones and was in significant pain and was bleeding (over about 2 years), and nobody would treat me because of COVID. When we came home, the 12×12 drain trench had been filled with oak leaves, pine needles, and mountain detritus because of the monsoon. I was too sick to remove the grates and remove the fill. Then we got another 3″ of rain over about 30 minutes and that washed over the drain and into the garage.
.
I have a 24″ conduit under the driveway to take water away from the house. By of remediation, I added 30′ of 24″ conduit extending farther along the road to keep the flow moving. Since then, we haven’t had a problem. Two surgeries (the first one botched) later, with daily medication, the kidney stone problem is no more. Two urologists said to my wife, “It’s like he was delivering a baby every day for two years. I don’t know why he didn’t kill himself.”
.
Thanks, Red China and COVID.
.
It was a larger problem than just the drain. My ability to function was severely impaired. I like to think that I can take whatever pain is dished out, but that – over such a long time – including a botched surgery that was frigging brutal – meant that I wasn’t able to manage the tasks that one is faced with living on a remote mountain. Normally I don’t complain to anyone about physical ailments, but to understand the flood we experienced, you have to also appreciate the significant pain I was in, with nothing to control it but ibuprophin, and it did nothing. Eventually I received Oxy 10s and the pain peaked over those. So I ate the pain until the second surgery, 11 months after the botched one.
PS – The pain was so significant that I’d black out at times. I’m personally surprised that it didn’t trigger a heart attack. But it didn’t. I’ve lived with pain in the past, but that was a whole different layer of hell. And I blogged through the entire thing as I was able.
SISU LL…your super secret Finnish name.
Yikes, or gads. Medical crap sucks.
And mostly, there’s not much to be done about it in the short term.
I was that way pretty much all of 2023 and early 2024. It just went on, and on, and on.
.
Don’t know what I would have done without my little military Bible…..
I’m sorry to hear that, DRJIM. I knew you were hurting but not for that long.
Happy New Year, everyone!
– Kle.
Gen. Forrest is interred about a mile from where I grew up in Columbia. Beautiful area. I left 50 years ago to join the military. OK, it was the USAF ( quit laughing). But it was a great career.
Happy New Year to LL and all present!
I love the party image at the top, just made it my background.
Your hovel looks beautiful, I like the drainage on the driveway for the melting snow.
Here on the wet coast it’s 39 F on Jan 1st, so no snow except on the mountains! Thank you glow ball worming.
Interesting ammo review, all theoretical up here of course, but if able I would carry the Springfield SA35.
I live vicariously through my American online friends, then I pretend that I live in a free country.
Well, maybe we’ll move to Alberta, unless we are liberated by the US first. I’m just an optimist, LOL.
Kids in public school. Can’t recall the details now, but read recently about cell phones being banned in a school (good!) whereupon it was discovered that the majority of the student body could not tell time from the analog wall clocks.
I think that’s true. Some elementary schools are teaching longhand English writing again. There is a generation that can’t read or write in longhand.
Jumping Ship? https://www.facebook.com/reel/2579068795844224
Soon the Cartels will need to give up on boat drug transportation…not going so good for them lately with a proper no nonsense President sitting in the Oval Office.
“MRSLL feels that I’m not a good Christian at times because I have no problem drinking from an enemy’s skull.”
Don’t forget that Jesus also said: “I come not to bring peace, but a sword” and “he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.”
re: Deut. 20:12-14. I just finished “The Two Swords of Christ”, Raymond Ibrahim’s accounting of the Crusades. What that scripture orders is exactly what the Muslims did when they conquered places. Although there was torture and rape before the taking of captives and selling them on the slave markets or making them slaves themselves.
The enslavement was much worse than people imagine. Any person considered old or infirm was killed. Any useful male above the age of 12 was castrated and possibly blinded or had their thumbs removed or such other disfigurement. Any person surviving capture was raped, repeatedly, whether male or female. Male children under the age of 13 were kept as sexual slaves and then ‘modified’ once they ‘aged out’ of catamount status. Only females of childbearing age or younger were kept, as sexual slaves and baby factories.
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Gee… sounds like today in Minneapolis, doesn’t it?
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Copulating stone-age savages.
Agree with Tom 235, and Happy New Year to you and yours, and everyone else on here!
Happy New Year! And I’m a bit perplexed that you smuggled a camera into the Compound’s kitchen to “capture the scene.” Dark arts?
Virtual Mirage is an informative blog. Nobody is safe.
Just make sure to keep my ‘file’ up to date and in a fireproof safe.
Nathan Bedford Forrest experienced a significant religious conversion to Christianity in the 1870s, late in his life, influenced by his wife Mary Ann and a former subordinate, Baptist pastor Raleigh White, culminating in a profession of faith in 1875; this spiritual awakening, detailed in Shane Kastler’s book Nathan Bedford Forrest’s Redemption, allegedly softened his racial views and led him to speak in favor of Black civil rights.
There are some doubters, but there always are.
One of the last things he was recorded as saying was ” There are no clouds that now separate me from my Heavenly Father.”
Yes, that’s an important part of his story. The war ended. He embraced life and Jesus Christ with an open heart, and was born again, a different man than the terrifying general and warrior. There are many of us who can relate to that personally through our own experiences – and who are we to doubt Nathan Forrest’s sincerity?