This week in the Civil War: Oct. 27, 1863

Skirmishes in Tenn., girding for more major fighting

With Ulysses S. Grant on the scene in Chattanooga, Tenn., federal forces in late October 1863 quickly began resupplying and adding new troops in the city besieged by Confederate forces on high ground nearby. This week 150 years ago in the Civil War saw skirmishing at scattered locations in Tennessee as Confederate and Union forces sized each other up as major fighting appeared to be only a matter of time. The New York Times, among leading East Coast publication, lauded Grant's rise to the new Military Division of the Mississippi — in command of three armies. "The first work of Gen. Grant will doubtless be to combine these armies, as far as possible, into one active body." Added The Times: "This army, massed and properly handled ... were it wielded and directed by one strong hand, guided by a broad brain, could trample out any Southern army, or march to any point, or achieve any object in the Confederacy." For now that one strong hand for the Union would be found in Ulysses S. Grant. In the fall of 1863, he was beginning to unify the huge fighting force in a bid to smash through Confederate defenses and lay the groundwork for later campaigns against Atlanta and beyond.

An offer I can't refuse

Jill Thompson

Don't worry, now that I am back online I shall post about my weekend adventures upon the Queen Mary.

However, I was thrilled to spot today one of my favorite children's books, Scary Godmother, is being developed into a doll.

First published in 1997, author Jill Thomson described Scary Godmother this way: “Scary Godmother is like your fairy godmother, but for Halloween. There’s really nothing scary about the Scary Godmother. She’s fun and macabre; reminiscent of childhood with a little bit of social commentary mixed in."

(Sound like someone you know?)

Scary Godmother is a tall, skinny, pretty-looking fairy-witch with long curly red hair, pale green skin, and small bat wings on her back.

According to Thompson's Kickstarter website, the doll "comes dressed in her signature bodysuit, tutu, striped hat and tights and spiderweb shoes. Her hair is curly and long enough for you to style into an updo, if that’s your thing! Her wings are removable for ease in the changing of her clothes. She has 15 points of articulation just like other popular fashion dolls! She is accessorized with a lovely pumpkin purse and her ghost cat, The Boozle. The Boozle is made of a smokey translucent plastic with a lil handle so you can hang him from a wire and make him fly."

Of course I missed the Sept. 12, 2913 deadline for contributing to the product design, but I simply cannot wait to get my hands on my newest ghoulfriend.

Techno terror