Smoke Signals and other news
The town of Byhalia is growing so quickly. Many reports of what is being built have appeared in the articles written in the Byhalia Town board meetings.
The building at Highway 309 and Highway 178 is being renovated. One hundred seventy-four townhouses are being built on Hwy 309 behind Rosies. More than three hundred homes and another gas station are being built south of Interstate 22.
My front and back porches got badly needed coats of Thompson Water Seal over the last couple of weeks. The back porch has everything back in place and the front porch is close to being complete. The ceilings both need scraped and repainted and new ceiling fans are needed on the front porch.
As with most homeowners, I find there is always something that needs to be done inside and out. It would take up the entire column if I listed the required work in and around my home. I cannot do a lot of work, which does not help.
There were many outstanding Veterans Day programs held on Friday. I attended the one at the Veteran’s Home in Oxford, where my husband, Doug, resides. It is sad to see the condition of some of the brave men and women who ensured our freedom, but at the same time, it is good to know there is a place that takes such excellent care of them. I have seen my share of elder care facilities and the treatment given to the residents, and while no place is perfect, most of the staff at this facility seem to genuinely care for the patients. They are cared for physically but also provided activities such as bingo, singing by various groups, movies, dominos, karaoke, raised bed gardening, “penny auctions” where they can use chips provided to bid on a variety of goodies and visits by groups that bring them gifts.
Still, another Confederate report of the Collierville assault and subsequent retreat through Byhalia reads in part: HEADQUARTERS THIRTEENTH TENNESSEE CAVALRY Water Valley, October 18, 1863. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by my regiment in the recent operations of the Confederate cavalry in North Mississippi: On the 10th, a detachment of 43 men, under the command of Captain Thomas and Lieutenants Strayhorn and Hicks, was sent with other detachments, under the command of Colonel Marshall, to break the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. The detachment did not join the regiment again after the attack on Collierville. On the morning of the 11th instant, we took up the line of march from Byhalia to Collierville, my regiment being in advance of the whole command. About 10 o'clock, Captain (now Major) Thurmond, commanding the advance guard consisting of his own company (G) and Captain Cox's company (A), drove in the enemy's pickets (capturing most of them) in gallant style. About the time the picket firing commenced, the order of attack was changed, and I was ordered by the colonel commanding to move with my regiment and take possession of the hill to the west of Brown's house and immediately in front of the enemy's fortifications and field it until the artillery could come up. When we reached Abington's house (the picket stand), I moved at doublequick by the right flank up the Holly Springs Road about a mile and then, filing to the left, charged up the hill spoken of and drew up in line of battle in full view of the depot buildings and fortifications. A train of cars loaded with troops was halting at the fort as we came in sight. After the batteries had come up with other troops, I was ordered farther to the left and took up position in a tiny skirt of flat woods just to the left of the depot buildings and not far from the rear of the railroad train. I immediately threw out skirmishers and found the enemy posted in a strong position behind the railroad embankment in my front and to my left. My troops kept up a brisk fire upon the enemy's position and the train. I was not long in advancing my line and took up a position in an old field about 80 or 100 yards from the railroad. When the whole line was ordered to advance, I charged the enemy's position and advanced my line to about 40 yards of the enemy's fortifications, taking possession of the railroad train and bringing off 15 or 20 prisoners.
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.