Smoke Signals and other news

There are no words to describe the heat we have endured the last week or so. Please stay hydrated and take cooling-off breaks for those working in these extreme conditions. The small amount of time I find myself in this undescribable heat and when I do it has made me even more grateful for the invention by Willis Carrier, an American engineer best known for inventing modern air conditioning.

Carrier invented the first electrical air conditioning unit in 1902. In 1915, he founded Carrier Corporation, a company that manufactures and distributes heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. You may be familiar with the company now based in Collierville, Tenn. Many people in our area are employed there. I was one of those employees for forty years.

Take your child by the Byhalia Library between now and Labor Day to create a unique card or craft to give to their favorite Byhalia Community Worker! They can also be featured on the Library’s Facebook page in a short video to give workers a “shout of thanks.”

For those with school-age children, I read this recently and thought it was worth passing along:

Sit down with your child for five minutes and explain that there is no reason to make fun of someone for being tall, short, chubby, skinny, black, white, Hispanic, or autistic. There is nothing wrong with wearing the same shoes every day. Explain to them that a used backpack carries the same dreams as a new one. Teach them not to exclude anyone for “being different” or not having the same possibilities as another. Explain to them that teasing hurts and that school is for learning. You and I are worth the same. Education starts at home.

More pages from the past. Jackson’s Tennesseans were to approach from the north, preventing possible reinforcements from Bolivar as well as watching the road from Memphis on the west. As we neared the town, Pinson’s regiment (First Mississippi) rode through in a sweeping gallop, ignoring the infantry. Many of them awakened, startled by the charge, and ran out of their tents in night attire and fired into our column, wounding nearly every horse in the advance guard and some of the men. As we approached the Fair Ground, where we expected to find the Cavalry (Federal), the gallant men of the Second Illinois, under Colonel Neill and Major Mudd, were in line answering to roll-call, prepared to go and look for Van Dorn, as they had heard he was coming. Courageous as they were, they boldly charged upon us with drawn sabers. I shall not describe all that occurred but mention some of the things that came under my observation. Little Jere Baily, a lad of 15, was just about to be cut down by a stalwart Federal when Lieutenant Day shot the bold rider. Our Major Wheeler had his thumb cut off in a saber duel with a Federal officer, Adjutant General Lawrence Yates, who was seriously cut in the forehead. My horse had been shot twice as we came through the infantry camp, and here he received the third and fatal bullet and fell lifeless to the ground. I simply made the breastwork of the dead animal until I could catch the horse of the Federal with whom I had been personally engaged and who had been shot by some Confederate. I soon mounted the captured horse with the regiment chasing the routed enemy. Pistols in the hands of the Confederates had proved superior to sabers yielded by the hardy sons of Illinois. Many thrilling deeds were done by Federals and Confederates on that day that will remain unknown forever. It may be said that the First Mississippi and the Second Illinois met foemen worthy of their steel, for as great nerve was required to make as to receive that charge. Few of our men were killed, though many were seriously wounded. As victors, we arranged to have the wounded as well cared for and to send our disabled men south by detour eastward.

Please share your news with me at jchwagg@gmail.com or text or call 901 246-8843. You can message me on Facebook as Clair Wagg.