The backwoodsman of Kentucky was the first of our tall men, whose words were tall talk and whose deeds were tall tales. Romantic fiction has made much of his fierce wild courage and independence and his "rough diamond" chivalry as well as his skill with the rifle. "That murderous weapon," wrote Audubon of the Kentucky Hunters, "and the means of procuring them subsistence during all their wild and extensive rambles, and is the source of their principal sports and pleasure." It also brought them into National attention in the Battle of New Orleans, War of 1812. Bands of rugged Kentucky frontiersmen, wearing coonskin caps poured into General Jackson's ranks without guns. "Old Hickory" said to them, "Boys were are your guns?" "Got none" was the response. "Well then, what are you going to do?" asked "Old Hickory". "We'll tell you what we'll do Gin'ral, we'll follow them there Tennesseeans into battle, and ever' time one falls we'll jist inherit his gun." *No offense to Tennessee--my Kin is from there also!* In May of 1822 before a New Orleans audience of stomping, clapping, whooping people these "tough as hickory" and "coonskin voters" passed from history into legend. On this day, Noah Ludlow sang "The Hunters of Kentucky". Kind of makes one feel proud to be a Kentuckian--doesn't it? Ramona