I tried hard to imitate, and copy my mothers views, along religious lines, which was hard for me to do, for the reason that she had an emotional nature, while I was radicaly the opposite. Obeying my mothers teachings, I early identified myself with the methodist church, of which she was a member for more than fifty years, and I tried hard to enter the holy of holies, from which I believed that she received her sublime inspritation, but I could not never do it. Any undue exhibition of religious excitement invaribly chiled, whatever emotional feelings I was able to work up, and on the shores of doubt, and uncertainty, but inspite of all of my doubts, and misgivings I maintained an honorable standing in the church and conducted my walk so circumspectly, that many of the old members of the church picked me out for the ministry, but I never for a moment believed that I had the necessary qualifications to become an exponent of the christian religeon as towght in that day, which was entirely emotional, and a misister who failed to awaken in the hearts of his bearers those feelings was concidered a dismal failure. I recognized the fact that a peculiar influence could onley be felt, and injoyed when the altar was crowded with seekers, of very devoted people, suggested to my mind that it might be a magnettic influecne, that semed to me all to{o} human. For many years I struggled with, and studied these manifestations, of what was called the divine power. I always defended the bible, believing as I did that it made some people better, and made people more civilized, and better citizens. I examined the many new "cults" that have been introduced in my day, but in them I found nothing that satisfied my mind. Speritial manifestations were introduced, and practicied in my immediate vicinity, to which I gave very little attention. I reasoned that if my mother was in the speritual world, and was concious of what was going on upon the earth, she would in some way communicate with her friends, but not through a medium, or person, who was of questionable charactor. Scsience has thrown much light into the dark places. The wonderful development in electricity in my day, and the fact that we are now able to communicate with friends who are thousands of miles away, through the air that we breathe, suggests to my mind that it is possible that there is still hidden, a force that will eventualy lead us on to a higher plain of religious thought, and experience. That it is possible that human beings may find the connecting link that connects the creator with the created, but when we look at the possibility of these things through the light that comes to us through the ceintific annalisis of the physical forces of the system of worlds to which we belong, we get problems, and possibilities that are incomprehensible, and I have settled in my mind, that inasmuch as we cannot understand these wonderfull propositions we had better attend to the things that we know of, and let those things we do not alone. We are borne into this world, not of our volition, but through the intreposition of a force that is trancendantly beyond our explenation, or comprehension, and as we find that we are endowed with trates of character that may be used by us for our weal, or woe. It is encumbent upon us to go forward in the exercise of these faculties, and use them so that we will be able to obtaine the greatis amount of good for our selves, and for those around us, and leave it with the crator to take care of us when we go hence, I take it that thers I a responsibility resting upon us to improve the talents that have been given us which must have been for a purpose, and it is our duty to improve in some way. To my mind the grandest declaration to be found in the whole bible is that which commands us to do unto others, as we would be done by. If we practice this principal, we will have fulfilled the law, that was intended to govern us while in this state of existence, What we see and know in our earthly life, is all that we can comprehend, as to the existance of another, according to the light and knowledge that he has been able to gather. Then let us be honest, be faithful, love our neighbor as our self, in this life, and we will not be denied any good thing in the life to come, what ever that life may be. VALEDICTORY I hereby dedicate the foregoing otobyography to my son Albert S. Carter, to be used by him in anyway that he may think best, and say as a matter of explenation, and excuse of having writen a short sketch of my life, that I have not done it because of any great act that I may have performed, but mostly on account of the fact that I have had little elce to do this winter. I would be glad if I had something of greater importance to write. My life from early boyhood up to the present time has been of the most streneous character, and I do not recall any considerable time that I have not been burdened with hardships, or sorrow. My life a very earley period has been a very busy one. I could never tolerate absolute idleness. My home has been an earthly heaven, and when not engaged I have made it a point to spend my time at home, and while I have been deprived many times of the privelege of enjoying real home life. I had a place to which I could go, and get away from business and from the world, so to speak. My social qualities have never been what average people call brillient, or fairly good. Life with me has been something of a tragedy. I became a little man when I was onley eight years old, and so exacting was the duties that were forced upon me, that it chilled the enthusiasm that usualy inspres the young mind. I have often said that I never was a boy in the general acceptance of the term. I helped to raise my mothers family, and ere I had completed the job I took upon myself or friends, being now well along in my 76th year, and I am glad to be able to say that I feel like that I may survive for some time yet. I have writen these momors from memory without notes, or correction, and without repeating a single line. I opine that there are mistakes in arthography, and gramatical construction, but I think that the work will pass reasonably well for one of my age. My eyesight has been too dim for me to look up, and ascertain if they are artographicaly correct. Good Bye Omaha, Feb 19, 1912 Signed, James B. Carter {This American character died Dec 2, 1916} Some Terms Used During the American Civil War Artillary - Large guns such as mortars and cannons; the word "artillery" is also the name of the units armed with these guns Battery - Usually, six guns, each attached to a limber which is a two wheel ammo chest, drawn by three pairs of horses in tandem. A standard battery consisted of 155 men with various jobs to perform. Cannons are said to be in-battery while in use. Bivouac - The Civil War term defined by the U.S. Army in 1861: "When an army passes the night without shelter, except such as can be hastily made of plants, branches, etc., it is said to be in bivouac" Bounties - A monetary sum of money, sometimes $500 for short term enlistment and $1500 for a three year enlistment to augment the armies of both the North and South. The bounty system was riddled with problems. Men would often enlist, then jump regiment hoping to reenter with another unit. The Federal government and local governments paid 600 million in bounties during the war. Breastworks - Chest-high fortifications made of dirt and wood Brigade - The common tactical infantry and cavalry unit of the Civil War. The brigade had 4-6 regiments, sometimes less, sometimes more. Operated by the brigade general, the brigade could be commanded by a colonel, dependant on its size. Brigades were not of equal strength on both sides of the war. The Confederate brigade was said to have greater numbers than the Northern brigade. Bummers - The term applies to foraging or marauding soldiers in the war. Military rules often disallowed foraging but when allowed, supposedly, had strict rules. A discreet officer was placed in charge; soldiers could not use threatening or abusive language; they could not trespass in a private dwelling and must leave enough for family subsistence. Too often, these soldiers became marauders, answering to no one as they gathered their spoils of war with their own methods. Camp Follower - A broad term simply meaning anyone who followed armies for profit and employment. It applied to sudlers, laundress's, bakers, barbers and the like. It also applied to prostitutes, card dealers, illegal whiskey sellers Canister Shot - A type of artillery shell designed to explode upon firing, spraying out the lead or iron shot that was packed within the canister. It was a cruelly effective antipersonnel weapon, generally used at close range. Case Shot - Spherical case - a cannon round invented by Henry Shrapnel, English artilleryman in 1784. The round is an antipersonnel round, fired at close range. The load breaks apart shortly after firing and smaller balls devastate close-by combatants Cavalry - Sword-carrying troops who rode horses into battle Company - Normally consisted any unit of 50-100 men, commanded by a Captain. 10 of these generally made up a regiment. Companies had 4 squads made up of a sergeant or corporal. Most had colorful names and mascots Dysentery - an infection of the lower intestinal tract producing pain, fever, and severe diarrhea, often with the passage of blood and mucus; the number one killer in the Civil War Earthworks - Defensive fortification with wooden frameworks and dirt in front; see breastworks Foraging - A Civil War term meaning to "live off the land." The term also applied to plundering. Receipts were often exchanged for goods taken and these in turn, would be owed or paid by the quartermaster. Too often, the term is more accurately applied to stealing by undisciplined officers and soldiers alike. Many soldiers felt the goods taken were payment for their fighting in the war. It has been said, cavalry was more prone to foraging than infantry. This is because the infantry normally was followed by supply wagons, sudlers and the like. This system of supply was not practical to the cavalry since they were so mobile. Furlough - Any leave granted to a soldier by his superior. A soldier on furlough left his arms and accoutrements behind. He carried furlough papers detailing his leave dates, assignment and return to duty date. Since photos were noticeably absent, such furlough papers gave a physical description of the man. Grape shot/cannister - An artillery round. Usually 9 shot placed between two iron plates. Canister, was iron plates having iron balls with 4 tiers and packed with sawdust. Both of these rounds were used in close quarters combat and were highly effective and gruesome in their use. Charging infantry were virtually eliminated as they approached these batteries. Very few walked away. Batteries changed over to grape and canister when the position appeared to be overrun or had the potential of being overrun. Grub - Slang term for food, often disliked food (see hardtack) Hardtack - A quarter inch cracker made of unleavened flour. It was a staple of Northern and Southern soldiers alike. Often worm infested, the cracker was unpopular and unpalatable, but it had shelf life... Haversack - A cotton or linen bag for a soldier's rations Hot Shot - Used during the Civil War were solid iron shot, heated in a furnace and fired at wooden vessels of war. Shot furnaces were found aboard ships and at coastal fortifications. The projectile would embed itself in the ship, smolder and then set the vessel on fire. Howitzer - A relatively shorter-barreled cannon with a chamber at the base of the bore, designed to take a smaller charge. Its range is shorter than that of a gun, and the trajectory of the projectile shows more arc Infantry - Soldiers who fought on foot, equipped with small arms (weapons) Interval - Distance between platoons, companies, regiments, etc. Line of Battle - The position of troops drawn up in their usual order without any determined maneuver Line of March - Arrangement of troops for marching Minie Bullet - Developed in the 1840's by French captains Henri-Gustave Delvigne and Claude- Etienne Minie, was the standard projectile of the Civil War. Unlike the musket, the Minie allowed quicker loading and greater accuracy. It is generally thought to be the device that caused appalling battle casualties in the war. Mortar - A short chambered gun with a large bore for throwing shells, etc. into fortifications Noncombatants - The Civil War term for surgeons, nurses, chaplains, sudlers and citizens travelling with the armies. Persons captured having this status were released immediately, unconditional and unilaterally by both sides of the conflict. This was arranged by Confederate army surgeon, Hunter H. McGuire. History records no violation of these accords. Ordnance - Weapons and related supplies; ordnance is also the name of the branch of the army responsible for weapons and related supplies Parapet - A barrier of earth to intercept the fire of an enemy Picket - A person placed on guard duty at the front lines and during the Civil War, a synonym for a guard or sentry Pontoons - Small boats to aid in the formation of bridges Ration - A soldiers daily allowance of food Roster - List of officers and men, by which to regulate their duties. e.g., Duty Roster Reserve - Select body of troops retained in the rear Running The Guard - A Civil War term for desertion. Also known as "flanking the sentinel." Desertion was high when Civil War soldiers were stationed close to or campaigned near their homes. Siege - To surround a city or enemy army, cutting off supplies, in order to force surrender Shells - Hollow balls filled with explosive material which are fired by a fuse Shoddy - An inferior wool cloth issued in the form of uniforms during the early days of the war. The term later became the word used to describe inferior government equipment. It literally fell apart in a few weeks of being issued. Shot - Solid iron balls shot from a cannon Skirmish - A loose, desultory kind of engagement between small detachments Surgeon - Army doctor Sutler - A peddler who followed the armies to sell food and supplies to the soldiers Vidette - Another term for picket, but one usually found on horseback I hope you have enjoyed this series. 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