This week in the Civil War: May 12, 1863

Fighting in Mississippi

On May 16, 1863, Union and Confederate forces clashed at the Battle of Champion Hill in Mississippi, dueling with artillery and rifle fire. Amid fierce combat, Union fighters swept across the top of Champion Hill, forcing Rebel forces into chaotic retreat before a Confederate counterattack was mustered. But stubborn Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant ordered his forces to push back again and a Union assault was launched with fresh troops arriving on the scene. That counterattack forced the Confederates into all-out retreat toward Vicksburg, Miss. The fighting in Mississippi 150 years ago during the Civil War marked the prelude to Grant's siege of Vicksburg, which would open days later in May 1863. Grant would ultimately force the surrender of Confederates garrisoned in heavily fortified Vicksburg later in 1863. It would mark one of the turning points of the war as Union forces wrested away full control of the Mississippi River, splitting the Confederacy and propelling Grant toward overall command of Union forces.

Liquid wisdom

I humbly ask your pardon. It has been so long since I last wrote, but it has been quite the week.

Momma got a new part-time job, and Grandmomma and my Big Sister both got sick!

However, today Grandmomma, Momma, and I went to a Mother-Daughter Tea at our church.Tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world after water. Tea is an aromatic beverage created by pouring hot or boiling water over dried leaves of the tea plant, Camellia sinensis.

Drinking tea was first recorded in China in the 10th century B.C. Tea was introduced to Portuguese priests and merchants in China during the 16th century. 

The British introduced tea to India, in order to compete with the Chinese monopoly on tea. Drinking tea became popular in Britain during the 17th century, and eventually named their evening meals after it.

The term "high tea" was first used around 1825 and was served in the early evening at the dining, or kitchen, table.

The term "high tea" was used as a way to distinguish it from afternoon, or low, tea. Afternoon tea, or low tea,  was served in the garden when possible; otherwise it was usually taken inside on low tables placed near sofas or chairs. 

Tea eventually made its way to England's North American colonies. After the Boston Tea Party on Dec. 16, 1773, coffee became the drink of choice in the newly formed United States.

It has been theorized that tea lead to the popularity of Chinese workers on U.S. railroads in the 19th century. Most American railroad workers would drink water from any source - and would frequently get waterborne illnesses such as cholera and typhoid fever.

The Chinese workers rarely got ill and quickly became popular as a source of cheap labor. Why? They almost always boiled their water for tea, instead of drinking water.

Let that be your lesson: Boiled water = healthy water.

This Week in the Civil War: May 5, 1863

More fighting in Virginia, Death of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson

The Second Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., was fought 150 years ago in May 1863 in and around Fredericksburg, Va. Thousands of Confederate forces clashed with Union foes anxious to press onward to the gates of Richmond, capital of the Confederacy. Union troops overran and captured Marye's Heights at Fredericksburg in fierce combat that included hand-to-hand fighting with Southern rivals, many of whom were killed or fled on foot. But Lee countered May 4 with a fierce assault of his own, retaking that strategic high ground and forcing a Union withdrawal. The chaotic series of days would close out with the death May 10, 1863, of the mortally wounded Confederate Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. He had contracted pneumonia after having his left arm amputated after being mistakenly shot by his own men May 2, 1863. Confederate Robert E. Lee was famously quoted as saying of Jackson's wounding: "He has lost his left arm, but I have lost my right arm." Jackson, gradually growing weaker at a house where he was taken, was with his wife and their infant daughter at his bedside when he died. Jackson would be buried in Lexington, Va., mourned throughout the Confederacy.