An Ordinary Man Who Did Extraordinary Things

(I have always, since I first heard of the man and his exploits, been fascinated by the British explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton. What follows is a summary of those exploits, but which can never do him justice).

Ernest Henry Shackleton was born on 15 February 1874 in County Kildare, Ireland. His father was a doctor. The family moved to London where Shackleton was educated. Rejecting his father's wish that he become a doctor, he joined the merchant navy when he was 16 and qualified as a master mariner in 1898. He travelled widely but was keen to explore the poles.

In 1901, Shackleton was chosen to go on the Antarctic expedition led by British naval officer Robert Falcon Scott on the ship 'Discovery'. With Scott and one other, Shackleton trekked towards the South Pole in extremely difficult conditions, getting closer to the Pole than anyone had come before. Shackleton became seriously ill and had to return home but had gained valuable experience.

Back in Britain, Shackleton spent some time as a journalist and was then elected secretary of the Scottish Royal Geographical Society. In 1906, he unsuccessfully stood for parliament in Dundee. In 1908, he returned to the Antarctic as the leader of his own expedition, on the ship 'Nimrod'. During the expedition, his team climbed Mount Erebus, made many important scientific discoveries and set a record by coming even closer to the South Pole than before. He was knighted on his return to Britain.
In 1911, Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen reached the South Pole, followed by Scott who died on the return journey. In 1914, Shackleton made his third trip to the Antarctic with the ship 'Endurance', planning to cross Antarctica via the South Pole. Early in 1915, 'Endurance' became trapped in the ice, and ten months later sank. Shackleton's crew had already abandoned the ship to live on the floating ice. In April 1916, they set off in three small boats, eventually reaching Elephant Island. Taking five crew members, Shackleton went to find help. In a small boat, the six men spent 16 days crossing 1,300 km of ocean to reach South Georgia and then trekked across the island to a whaling station. The three who made the trek mused later it was as if a 4th Man accompanied them, and helped them cross the rugged mountains wearing the barest of essentials; nails driven through their boots for traction on the ice. (A modern group of seasoned climbers duplicated the trip across the island, and actually required a longer amount of time to do so). The remaining men from the 'Endurance' were rescued in August 1916. Not one member of the expedition died. 'South', Shackleton's account of the 'Endurance' expedition, was published in 1919.

Shackleton's fourth expedition aimed to circumnavigate the Antarctic continent but on 5 January 1922, Shackleton died of a heart attack off South Georgia. He was buried on the island.

Excerpt from "BBC History"

The Correspondence Between Ulysses S. Grant & Robert E. Lee

 **Note: I posted well over the maximum 100 blogs which titles are listed for the month of December. In order to see these earlier posts, drop down to the bottom of the last blog for which a title appears for the month, (actually, this blog) and click on "Older Posts". As you read each one, continue to click the Older Post icon, and the next one will come up.


Following is the text of the correspondence which occurred between Gen. Grant and Gen. Lee in the vicinity of Appomattox, Virginia just prior to the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia

I include this correspondence for my descendants, as I am related to Gen. (& U.S. President) Ulysses S. Grant through my maternal grandfather’s line, and ultimately trace my lineage back to Richard Warren of the Mayflower. Other descendants of Richard Warren to whom Grant (and yours truly) are related are: Pres. Franklin Roosevelt, the writer, Laura Ingalls Wilder and the actor, Richard Gere.

Interestingly enough, I regularly have lunch with a direct descendant of Gen. Robert E. Lee. Since both Dennis and I are relatives of the generals from the two sides of the Civil War, I often joke that we are commemorating the surrender at Appomattox each time we meet.

Following is the text of the correspondence which occurred between Gen. Grant and Gen. Lee in the vicinity of Appomattox, Virgina just prior to the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia to the Union Army.

 On April 9, 1865 Robert E. Lee, commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, surrendered his beleaguered Confederate forces to Ulysses S. Grant and the Union Army.  Lee's army, after the fall of Richmond and Petersburg, had been attempting to escape to the west so that he could link up with another Confederate army under Joseph E. Johnston.  Unfortunately for the Army of Northern Virginia, the fast moving Union Army of the Potomac positioned itself to cut off Lee's bedraggled army as it moved towards Lynchburg, Virginia. 

At the Battle of Sailor's Creek on April 6, 1865, it was becoming clear that the once vaunted Army of Northern Virginia was dissolving. Rather than pursue a path of more bloodshed, Grant reached out to Lee asking for his surrender on April 7, 1865.  Lee, still not ready to surrender, continued to hold a dialog with his nemesis Grant while holding out hope that he could escape the growing Union stranglehold.  Only after his defeats at Appomattox Station on April 8, 1865, where critical supplies were captured, and Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865 did Lee finally accede to Grant's surrender terms.

The correspondence below follows the letters of Grant and Lee as they seek to find an honorable and acceptable end to this bloody war.
 

Ulysses S. Grant, as photographed by Mathew B. Brady (National Archives)

APRIL 7, 1865

General R. E. LEE:

The result of the last week must convince you of the hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia in this struggle. I feel that it is so, and regard it as my duty to shift from myself the responsibility of any further effusion of blood, by asking of you the surrender of that portion of the C. S. Army known as the Army of Northern Virginia.

U.S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General

_____

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
APRIL 7, 1865

Lieut. Gen. U.S. GRANT:

I have received your note of this date. Though not entertaining the opinion you express on the hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia, I reciprocate your desire to avoid useless effusion of blood, and therefore, before considering your proposition, ask the terms you will offer on condition of its surrender.

R. E. LEE,
General.

________

APRIL 8, 1865

General R. E. LEE:

Your note of last evening, in reply to mine of same date, asking the condition on which I will accept the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, is just received. In reply I would say that, peace being my great desire, there is but one condition I would insist upon, namely, that the men and officers surrendered shall be disqualified for taking up arms again against the Government of the United States until properly exchanged. I will meet you, or will designate officers to meet any officers you may name for the same purpose, at any point agreeable to yell, for the purpose of arranging definitely the terms upon which the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia will be received.

U.S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.

________

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
APRIL 8, 1865

Lieut. Gen. U.S. GRANT:

I received at a late hour your note of to-day. In mine of yesterday I did not intend to propose the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, but to ask the terms of your proposition. To be frank, I do not think the emergency has arisen to call for the surrender of this army, but as the restoration of peace should be the sole object of all, I desired to know whether your proposals would lead to that end. I cannot, therefore, meet you with a view to surrender the Army of Northern Virginia, but as far as your proposal may affect the C. S. forces under my command, and tend to the restoration of peace, I should be pleased to meet you at 10 a.m., to-morrow; on the old stage road to Richmond, between the picket-lines of the two armies.

R. E. LEE,
General.

________

APRIL 9, 1865

General R. E. LEE:

Your note of yesterday is received. I have no authority to treat on the subject of peace; the meeting proposed for 10 a.m. to-day could lead to no good. I will state, however, general, that I am equally anxious for peace with yourself, and the whole North entertains the same feeling. The terms upon which peace can be had are well understood. By the South laying down their arms they will hasten that most desirable event, save thousands of human lives, and hundreds of millions of property not yet destroyed. Seriously hoping that all our difficulties may be set-tied without the loss of another life, I subscribe myself, &c.,

U.S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.

__________

Robert E. Lee (Library of Congress)

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
APRIL 9, 1865

Lieut. Gen. U.S. GRANT:

I received your note of this morning on the picket-line, whither I had come to meet you and ascertain definitely what terms were embraced in your proposal of yesterday with reference to the surrender of this army. I now ask an interview in accordance with the offer contained in your letter of yesterday for that purpose.

R. E. LEE,
General.

___________

APPOMATTOX COURT-HOUSE, VA.
April 9, 1865

General R. E. LEE:

In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of the 8th instant, I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia on the following terms, to wit: Rolls of all the officers and men to be made in duplicate, one copy to be given to an officer to be designated by me, the other to be retained by such officer or officers as you may designate. The officers to give their individual paroles not to take up arms against the Government of the United States until properly exchanged; and each company or regimental commander sign a like parole for the men of their commands. The arms, artillery, and public property to be parked and stacked, and turned over to the officers appointed by me to receive them. This will not embrace the side-arms of the officers, nor their private horses or baggage. This done, each officer and man will be allowed to return to his home, not to be disturbed by U. S. authority so long as they observe their paroles and the laws in force where they may reside.

U.S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.

__________

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
April 9, 1865

Lieut. Gen. U. S. GRANT:

I have received your letter of this date containing the terms of surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia as proposed by you. As they are substantially the same as those expressed in your letter of the 8th instant, they are accepted. I will proceed to designate the proper officers to carry the stipulations into effect.

R. E. LEE,
General.

Note: Many point to Robert E. Lee's surrender on April 9, 1865 as the end of the American Civil War.  This claim ignores the fact that other Confederate armies were still in the field and fighting after Lee's surrender.  On April 26, 1865, Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston would surrender his forces to William T. Sherman in North Carolina.  General Richard Taylor's forces in Alabama surrendered on May 4th.  On June 2, 1865 General Edmund Kirby Smith surrendered the Confederate Department of the Trans-Mississippi.  And on June 23, 1865, General Stand Watie surrendered his Cherokee forces to the Union army in Oklahoma.

Source:  Official Records of the War of the Rebellion

I'd Rather Have Jesus

In 1922, a woman named Rhea F. Miller wrote a poem. In 1932, an insightful mother placed that poem on her parlor organ; hoping her 23 year old son would set it to music.

Miller's poem immediately caught her son’s attention. The words on the paper rang true to the cry of his heart. And so, he set them to music. That young man’s name? George Beverly Shea. Upon hearing her son singing this testimony of commitment, George's mother came in from the kitchen, with tears in her eyes, and encouraged him to sing the new song in church the following Sunday.

As the congregants listened to George's deep voice sing out I'd Rather Have Jesus, than silver and gold, little did they know that the song was destined to become one of the most well-known of all contemporary Christian songs.
.
A few years later, George joined forces with another young man - Evangelist Billy Graham. Together they traveled the world. Billy would preach and George would sing. His two favorite songs were How Great Thou Art, and his signature song, I'd Rather Have Jesus.

At this writing, one half of the famous evangelistic duo, the Reverend Billy Graham, is frail, and in his mid-90’s. And though George Beverly Shea has gone on to his reward, he lived to be 104, and he continued to minister in song ‘til God called him home.

“I'd Rather Have Jesus”

I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold,
I'd rather have His than have riches untold;
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands,
I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand

I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause,
I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame,
I'd rather be true to His holy name

He's fairer than lilies of rarest bloom,
He's sweeter than honey from out the comb;
He's all that my hungering spirit needs,
I'd rather have Jesus and let Him lead

Refrain:

Than to be the king of a vast domain
And be held in sin's dread sway;
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.” (Philippians 3:8).

 

Sitting at the Feet of a Servant

As I was listening to BBC Radio tonight, the host of the program was involved in an interview with a talented story teller, Robbie Robertson.

Strangely enough, Mr. Robertson is the product of two ethnic groups which are rarely referred to in one breath. His mother is of Mohawk (Native American) heritage, while his father is a Jew. Almost a contradiction in terms. And when I learned of his unusual blend of ethnicities, it seemed I could all too well identify since, among several other nationalities, some of my own ancestors were Jewish, and Native American.

Speaking of stories, Robbie tells what is, perhaps, his favorite of all childhood stories.

“When I was a boy of 7 or 8 my father took me into what is known as a ‘Longhouse.’ I mean, I was just along for the ride. I was totally oblivious to what was coming up. Suddenly, an elder of the tribe appeared, and sat down in a twisted birch limb chair which was covered with the fur of a bear. The chief began speaking in our native language, and I can tell you that got my attention. And when he finished the brief introduction, he continued speaking in English, and told the story of the 6 nations; a story of our forebears, those who came before us, and who lived on our sacred land before the white man appeared in this hemisphere.”

(and)

“Even as a child I had been thinking about where I would go and what I would do as an adult. Perhaps an astronaut. Perhaps a rock band member. But I can tell you that after I listened to that storyteller in the longhouse, his melodious voice, his compelling tale, I found myself musing, ‘I want to be a storyteller. I simply want to tell stories.’”

And as it fallen together, Robbie has not only embraced the role of storyteller, and has written books for children, but he is also a guitarist, and composes Native American music.

So much like my previous example of Laura Hillenbrand and that selfless young man, and how the ad-lib story he shared with a few children became a catalyst for excellence.

Throughout the course of countless generations there have been a myriad of times and seasons in which obscure, unknown individuals become a stimulus for greatness in another; someone who in their lifetime may glean so much more status, riches and (most importantly) impact than he or she who was the catalyst for change, progress and maturity in their lives.

 

By William McDonald, PhD. Excerpt from "(Mc)Donald's Daily Diary" Vol. 17. Copyright pending

If you wish to share, copy or "save" this blog, please include the credit line, above

 

 

 

‘

Planting Seedlings. Growing Trees

Laura Hillenbrand, the author of “Seabiscuit,” gave an interview sometime after her book was written, and had sailed to the top of the New York Times Best Seller List. I will never forget the book, or the interview. I have long since misplaced my copy of the book, and I haven’t been able to locate the portion of the interview which contains the following account. As a result, it has been necessary for me to rewrite a summary of her words from memory in order to share the following with you tonight.

It seems that when Laura Hillenbrand was a little girl she happened to be at the neighborhood pool one day, the same activity I also used to enjoy. Well, after she had swam awhile, a thunderstorm arose, and the majority of the children ran for cover into a screened-in porch; adjacent to the pool. As the kids sat bare-legged on the floor, a well-meaning young man, a lifeguard, offered to read the children a poem; not just any poem, but one of the longest, and most poignant poems of all time, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.” You can imagine that many of the children opted to collect their things, and head off for home, in spite of the light rain and thunder. But Laura, and a few of her young companions remained, and were soon engrossed in the young man’s grisly tale.

The lifeguard read stanza after stanza of the poem, and the more he read, the more horrendous and awe-inspiring were the words. The rain fell in droves now, and it seemed to Laura that the crack of lightning, and the boom of thunder, served to accent the dark adjectives which so easily rolled off the young man’s lips.

You see, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” recounts the fictional voyage of a couple hundred unfortunate sailors on an old sailing ship. Not so different from Paul’s account in the Book of Acts, the ancient vessel is overcome by an intense storm, but in this case, there is a significant loss of life.

As the young fellow finished reading the poem, and put down the book, the children seemed to sit silently for a brief moment, as if to transcend the hundred, or so stanzas which had so transfixed them. And then it was time to head home.

Laura picked up her towel, and began the short walk to her house. In spite of the depth and darkness of the subject matter, this young girl who left shallow footprints on that old dirt road which took her home, was suddenly very unlike the child who had sat down cross-legged on that cold tile floor. Her very soul thrilled within her to realize, even at this young age, what she wished to do with her life; what she had to do with her life. As surely as the account of lightning in the old poem mirrored the actual lightning which enveloped the afternoon sky, Laura was filled to overflowing with insight. She would become an author.

And the world renown author commented at the end of this particular segment of the interview, “I never knew the name of that young man who selflessly offered to read to a few young children on a little porch by a neighborhood pool, but what he did for me that day, though of course he had no way of knowing, the time and topic he shared with me that day, well, it made all the difference in my life. I would not, could not, have been the same person I am today. My life would not have turned out as it has, without the momentary contribution of that selfless young man.”

 

By William McDonald, PhD. Excerpt from "(Mc)Donald's Daily Diary" Vol. 17. Copyright pending.

If you wish to share, copy or "save" this blog, please include the credit line, above

 

Political Correctness

America is fixated on a phrase referred to as “Political Correctness.”

I mean, we’ve gotten to the point where if you dare have your own opinion, and it doesn’t happen to match the opinion espoused by the Politically Correct among us; God help you.

Take the display of the Confederate Battle Flag, for instance.

We just got done with a “steam roller,” “Let’s all jump on the band wagon,” “get ‘er done” program leading to the lowering of this symbol of our southern heritage in South Carolina. All because some demented fool decided to shoot up some innocent people in a church; a man who happened to assign a different meaning to the flag under which the common Confederate soldier fought and died. I mean, I’m not a racist, not a member of the KKK or skinheads, but two of my ancestors died during the War Between the States; fighting for the southern cause. Believe me, they weren’t so taken up with the issue of slavery, as they were the defense of their wives and children, and what they thought of as the aggression of their northern enemy.

And speaking of Political Correctness, take abortion for another “for instance.”

Planned Parenthood decries a recent shooting on their Colorado Springs “campus” in which three were killed.

When interviewed, the liberal, “fat cat” regional representative of this organization responded with, (paraphrased)

“It’s one of those recurring episodes with our organization. People perpetrating violence on our clinics, doctors and clientele. It’s just simply horrendous. It’s just unacceptable in our day and time that anyone would take it on themselves to play God.”

(Come again)?

Violence? Horrendous? Unacceptable? Playing God?

The last time I checked those adjectives pretty well characterized the afore-mentioned organization.

And yet, if I or anyone else in America embraces and espouses a “Pro-Life” agenda, they “catch hell” for doing so. And when the feedback is directed my way, and I remind Jim, Jane, or Suzie that boys and girls are taught about birth control in the 6th grade,... well now, that just won't do.

They want to talk about “Reproductive Rights,” but strangely enough, they never seem to talk about “Reproductive Responsibility.” I mean, we know what causes unplanned pregnancy. It’s not like it can’t be prevented. C’mon folks.

And for the sake of the argument, I can “buy into” a few exceptions to the rule; rape, deformity and “the life of the mother,” but these exceptions (contrary to what some would have us to believe) account for a small percentage of the amazingly large one and one half million abortions a year in this country.

Different opinion? I’m sorry, you “ain’t got a right” to have a different opinion in this country, or you’ll be called to account for it.

And then we have the example of a recently well-worn phrase.

“Black Lives Matter.”

Well, yes they matter. They matter A LOT. But c’mon folks, all lives matter. As the old gospel hymn reminds us,

“Red & Yellow, Black & White, they are precious in His sight. Jesus loves the little children, (as well as adults) of the world.”

Liberal cable channels such as CNN devote countless hours on a multi-day basis to the coverage of “Blue on Black” scenarios in which a policeman, having reported to a crime scene, has taken the life of an African-American individual. Never mind, that in the majority of these cases the so-called victim has perpetrated criminal behavior. And never mind that the individual has, when ordered to comply, refused to cooperate with police. Given these variables, accidents happen, and  unfortunately, people get shot.

In retrospect, when three black men recently invaded an Indiana home and raped and killed a white minister’s wife, CNN (and the other liberal “news” networks) devoted comparatively little time and effort to televising coverage of the matter.

Black Lives absolutely matter. But lives of all skin tones matter.

Don’t talk to me about Political Correctness.

When we are all forced to “march to the same drummer” in this country, and we are all expected to believe and speak the same thing, we are marching too close to the margins of political tyranny and absolutism, and are too close to marching in lock step with some of the radical mindsets which gave us “people” like Hitler, Stalin and Hussein; (though, to be sure, our modern mindsets take on a slightly different flavor).

In a recent interview, a CNN “news” anchor, (can you tell I like CNN) berated the Rev. Rick Warren for his Biblical view on homosexuality. You would think he killed her best friend on earth. But true to form, Rev. Rick refused to bow down to the god of Political Correctness.

We live in a Democracy. We are guaranteed, (at least thus far) our 1^st Amendment right to free speech. I will not be silenced. I will not march in lock step with the majority, (if indeed, the majority embrace a philosophy I abhor,) I will not embrace or espouse Political Correctness for the sake of Political Correctness, or because someone casts derision upon me, or my fellow American believes that I should.

 

By William McDonald, PhD. Excerpt from "(Mc)Donald's Daily Diary" Vol. 17. Copyright pending.

If you wish to share, copy or "save" this blog, please cite the credit line, above

 

 

 

 

 

O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

0 SACRED HEAD, NOW WOUNDED

Although Bernard was one of the most influential Christians of the Middle Ages, settling disputes between kings and influencing the selection of popes, he remained a devout monk, single-minded in his devotion to Christ. Even the great reformer Martin Luther, who as a rule disliked medieval theologians, said, "Bernard loved Jesus as much as anyone can."

In his own day Bernard was known as a preacher and churchman; today he is remembered for his hymns of praise. "0 Sacred Head, Now Wounded" comes from a poem originally having seven sections, each focusing on a wounded part of the crucified Savior's body-His feet, knees, hands, side, breast, heart, and head. The text of this hymn compels us to gaze at the cross until the depth of God's love overwhelms us. Bernard's hymn pictures God's love, not as an abstract theological statement, but as a profoundly personal and awesome vision of the suffering Christ.

0 SACRED HEAD, NOW WOUNDED

0 sacred Head, now wounded,

With grief and shame weighed down,

Now scornfully surrounded

With thorns Thine only crown:

How pale Thou art with anguish,

With sore abuse and scorn!

How does that visage languish

Which once was bright as morn!

What Thou, my Lord, has suffered

Was all for sinners' gain;

Mine, mine was the transgression,

But Thine the deadly pain.

Lo, here I fall, my Savior!

'Tis I deserve Thy place;

Look on me with Thy favor,

Vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

What language shall I borrow

To thank Thee, dearest Friend,

For this Thy dying sorrow,

Thy pity without end?

0 make me Thine forever;

And should I fainting be,

Lord, let me never, never

Outlive my love to Thee.

 

Attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153)

Translated from Latin into German by Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676)

Translated into English by John Waddell Alexander (1804-1859)

Hymn #286