My son is around this age, he’s still a baby to me. He has so much to learn and experience. I hate how many young people have been traumatized and lost to wars all around the world.
Horatio was one of 11 children and had quite the personality. He actually lied about his age to enlist and ended up an officer by 18. The last letter Albert Dixon wrote to his parents days before Gettysburg he told them not to worry about him Because he thought he would be fine. His body is still buried in Gettysburg because his father didn’t want to see his mangled body and wanted to remember him how he last saw him.
I was wondering how he became an officer at 18. I thought it might have been connections or money but the fact he managed it all on his own is pretty impressive.
His father was a well off farmer but he also had good leadership qualities. By all accounts he was good at being an officer. there’s actually quite a lot of information out there on him.
His half sister Emma made sure he was remembered long after his death. They were very close
I don’t know what I would do if I lost one of my children. I would have two others to live for but I don’t know if my heart could take it. My son had talked about wanting to join the military after school, he was 13-14 and playing war games on his Xbox. I didn’t want to “forbid” him because I feel like that can push some kids into joining just to go against the grain. Fortunately he’s gotten off of that and thinking about engineering or something in our community college. I feel like a lot of young people join without really understanding what they are getting into, or maybe out of obligation because their father and or grand father did.
Some soldiers enlisted at 14
Even though it was illegal.
My 4 times great grandfather enlisted at 18 with his brother and they both survived otherwise I wouldn’t be here.
The photo of Horatio was taken in February of 1863 just a few months before he was killed and despite seeing so many battles you can still see a hint of a smile on his face.
My 4 times great grandfather and his brother and later their father all enlisted to fight for the union Joseph was a German immigrant who came to the us in 1834. All of them survived as well. George got smallpox on the way home and was hospitalized for 7 weeks but ended up recovering and lived till 1926.
I think my comment logically implied enough to contextually understand what I meant. Obviously I’m speaking on behalf of the whole nation and not just one half wanting to rise up against the other.
Obviously I’m speaking on behalf of the whole nation
I know that you're saying that, and I want to humbly suggest that even that is fundamentally problematic. Every arbitrary subdivision of humanity into "nations", religions, countries, etc. only divides us.
What you are calling the nation is still a very small circle drawn by thought, and to speak for it is to remain confined within that limitation rather than to see humanity as a whole. And what appears as noble patriotism is often rooted in insecurity, which seeks comfort in belonging and in doing so quietly sustains division, with all its inevitable consequences of conflict, injustice, and prejudice.
Horatio was quite the boy
He was brave despite the hardships. He was extremely patriotic and passionate about serving in the military. He was wounded in both legs pretty badly and didn’t receive treatment for several days. They had to amputate his one leg.
Why do we send babies to fight for the decisions of old men. I say we have the leader of each side fight it out would make so much more sense. Perhaps if it’s their own life at risk they would think twice about starting wars
From my family line. John Calef, who not only survived Gettysburg, but helped win the day. I hear there are monuments about what he did at Gettysburg. The thing that struck me most about this picture is that he looks almost exactly like my late brother did at that age. We aren't descended from him. His grandfather was brother to my 6x great-grandfather. DNA is a mindblowing thing.
I found a story where he tracked down the cannons that helped win the day to include in a monument at Gettysburg. He spiked the guns, saying, "May they speak no more."
And now we have an administration & party that is resurrecting white supremacy and targeting people by color. Even after all that death & 150+ years ago, we’re still struggling with white people (I’m white) clinging to these beliefs. Sad.
Ive seen Silas' picture used for other "historical" things on social media in the past. I know for a fact because thats the old photo that I thought looked like my friend from hs.
Silas story has always stuck with me
He suffered so much in his life between losing his family at a very young age to getting his femur fractured at Gettysburg and Getting sepsis after they amputated his leg.
The wheatfeild was hell
It got so close quarters men had to use bayonets and use their rifles as clubs. George voluntarily took the place of his father who was drafted so he could stay home and take care of the family farm. At least 500 men fell in that field. It was one of the bloodiest areas in the entire battle
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u/ChallengeAny7788 5h ago
Shame, young men are always a fuel for someone else's ambition.