I have a letter on my website he wrote to the Louisiana pension board about what he found when he got home. You can read it if you wish. He describes losing everything from his stock to his buildings and even his wife. All he had was two young children and one eye to support them with.

Jamie, you had Confederate ancestors maimed in the Civil War.
So too did I.

You had ancestors that died in that uniform.
So too did I.

Your family lost property in the Civil War
So too did mine.

Doubtless a large number of one-legged, one-eyed and one-armed Yankee soldiers went back to farms that they may have lost or simply could go longer work. Your grand father may agree with you and Mr. Pitts. Quite possible some Yankee farmers grandfathers would not. Was there large scale devastation in the South? I've never known where a large scale war took place that there was not. One aside, Mr. Joe Martin has stated that some people even lost their property to their neighbors. He don't say much, but when he does it is certainly to the point.

All of this beggars the discussion between Mr. Pitts and myself. He has discovered wide spread Northern belligerence against rural Southerners who came North after WW 11. All contained in two or was it three 60 year old newspaper articles. I admit there was some animosity. People were called hillbillies and crackers. Know what? People were being called micks, hebs, spics, spades and wops at the same time. Again Mr. Pitts has researched this subject by reading the articles enumerated and you have agreed with him. Well Jamie I lived it. Think it was Carl Perkins who said, "I was there when it happen, I guess I ought to know."

Let me ask you and Mr. Pitts...when did... or did ...members of your immediate family migrate North after the war? Any?

Mine sure did..mom, her two brothers and five sisters.

How many years did you and Mr. Pitts live in an enclave of people from the rural South in a large Northern industrial city? Any?

I live there twenty years, until I joined the Merchant Marine.

How many years did you and Mr. Pitts spend in Elementary School with a majority of students with a Northern background? Any?

9 for me. The school of course went up to the eight grade but I liked it so much I spent two in the sixth grade.

Mr. Pitts supposition is that there was large scale animosity against Southerns in these neighborhoods. My position is that all the ethnics took their shots at each other. Mr. Pitts... and you agree with him..bases this on ...again...two articles from a 60 year old newspaper. I base my view on a life experience, and on that Jamie..."I'll take my stand." Always did like that phrase.