Recap on David Ross visit
Several weeks ago, we had a wonderful guest stay over from Williamsburg Scottish Festival, for a week worth of touring and speaking to various groups, none other than my good friend, Sir David Ross.
David is a well renowned author, historian and adviser/consultant to television history documentaries in Scotland other places in Europe. His first stop was the last Thursday, speaking to the Scottish Society of Richmond. The evening began with the SALPD parading in playing a few sets, and then we caught up on some old business with David. Due to illness that prevented his arrival last year at another venue, he was presented that night with the Order of the Cross & Thistle. In true fashion, we all then went through the buffet line, and David then gave his brilliant presentation to hungry ears. David is one the most brilliant orators one can listen too, and he’s a TRUE SCOT with his uncanny sense of humor and his prowess for not holding back the truth from a patriot’s point of view. I was delighted when he let me know that a certain “friend” we have across the pond, is doing well in eastern europe.
Monday morning, I picked David up and we made our way to Appomattox Courthouse. David, who’s well reknowned for his books about Scottish history and the character who shaped it, also has an avid interest in what we “True Virginians” often refer to as “The War of Northern Aggression”, more politically correctly known as the Civil War. Many of the Scot feels a common bond with the South and events that happened here, nearly 150 years ago.
Being a lover of history myself, I was in total intellectual bliss listening to David on the 92 mile drive from Richmond. His in depth research in all matters pertaining to his writings, come to life, and makes him the most splendid orator, as well as a writer.
David amazed me with a CD he had purchased from the Museum of the Confederacy narrated by Mark Ramsey and concluded by Colonel JEB Stuart the IV. The CD had actual audio recordings put to record disc from the early 20th century of several Confederate Veterans enunciating the real Rebel Yell.
Even many a Civil War enthusiast or re-enactor today probably has no clue what the Rebel Yell actually sounded like, but back in Scotland, many still know it all too well. For it is the same yell of the Highlanders. It is the Highland Yell. A guttural frenzied yelp of six notes broken in to two sets of three. Each note raising in pitch higher than the previous. The following link which I found on youtube.com can better give you an idea of what it sounded like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssLMroT2euQ
As David and I drove, we discussed my fathers ancestors who were here during the war, and his photo is shown here, with his wife Louisa. His name was John Wesley Batten, Corporal, 12 VA Cavalry, Company C. He joined in 1862 and was there on the saddest day for the Confederacy, on April 9th, 1865.
David and I arrived first at General Lee’s last Headquarters, which was situated in a wood line just north of the Appomattox River. We walked in the overcast mist of the day into the wooded area. David paused for a good 30 minutes, just taking it all in. He tried to envision as to what had to be going through not just Lee’s mind, but all his command as they had gathered about him that day when he announced that the cause had been lost, and no choice, but to surrender the Army of Northern Virginia to the Union had to be done that day, before annihilation would have taken place.
We then stopped off at the Appomattox River. There we took time to take a photo shot of David with a Confederate Cannon, before we moved on to the MacLean House. Arriving at the MacLean House, David, again took it all in. With reverence, his towering figure bent slightly to step into the door and he stood there, staring at the desk where General Lee signed the terms of agreement to General Grant. After stepping out of the building, we discussed just what emotions Lee had to been mustering to retain in his body as he signed those papers. From there, we moved on to the Museum area and on to the remaining buildings in the old village compound that had been restored for public viewing.
David at Lee's last Headquarters
- David Ross at the Appomattox Bridge, AppomatoxDescription of one of the flags from AppomattoxThe Cross of St. Andrew
Tuesday night, Dave Irvin picked David Ross up and we all went to Latane Camp of the Son’s of Confederate Veterans meeting in Mechanicsville. The SCV were delighted to have David speak and discuss the connections that Scotland shares with the Confederacy. He discussed many aspects and even touched briefly on what he and I had observed the previous day at Appomattox about a more in depth meaning to the “Rebel/Highland Yell”.
Wednesday, David was left in the confident hands of Dave Irvin. They toured the Berkley Plantation. Yesterday, Thursday morning, I picked David up for breakfast and we spent half the day talking about various things in Scotland’s history, and laughed over current happenings both local and abroad. I do hope he writes someday about the possible connections between the Viking Flag LandRavager and the Fairy Flag of the MacLeods. The man is remarkable at just how far he digs into history and leads on information that just blows the lid off modern comprehension, which all too often is over written by the political correction nazi’s of our time.
We parted giving each other gifts. He gave me one of his latest books, titled The Black Douglas, and I gave him a reproduction of my ancestor, Elam Gough’s 1st VA Regt Kepi hat. Elam’s mother, Cassie MacDonald came from Ardamurchan Point in Scotland, and hopefully, David will send me back a picture of himself standing tall and proud on the rocks, wearing the kepi hat. Cassie MacDonald and Elam Gough are also ancestors of Scott & Doug Elder of SALPD.
If you want to feel the Pride of your heritage swell within you, go to David’s web site:
