For Helen

Woody enlarged for Helen!

Woody

Flying Finch

Road to Fishing Spot

This bend between the trees is the road to Larry's fishing spot where he always puts up a tarp for shade...the entire area is under water.

Galla Lake is Full

Galla Lake is no longer low. Now it is running over.

Two Feet High and Rising

Pond is full!

New Hair Style & Make Up

I tried one of those make over things. It was free. What do you think?

White Crowned Sparrow

I am not real crazy about sparrows but all God's creatures need to eat. This is the Sparrow that I have eating at my feeders. Thanks, Larry for the picture.

More birds

Two more birds visiting my yard. The bottom is a Mockingbird. They stay in my front yard and very seldom venture to the back. They are not interested in the bird feeders I have filled with sunflower seeds and song bird feed. The top picture is a new bird at my feeder. I am not sure what it is. I hope someone can tell me what bird is this?

Easter

Thank you Lord for family at Easter and all year round!

I took this Iris picture at Laura's house. Thanksgiving was great at Erin's and Easter was wonderful at Laura's. The best thing about having 2 good girls is they invite you to THEIR house to have dinner!!! Laura's rolls and ham were so good. We had a tasty salad, too. Desserts were delicious.

Flags

Old timers call Iris Flags! I guess because they come up on a stalk and wave in the wind. Larry's Mom loved them and we have a bunch. I am going to try to save the ones over taken by weeds. I believe that God knows our path and even if we are thrown into a bed of weeds and stickers he will see us through. That is why we should pray that His will be done and not my own....His will --will be done--so we might as well pray for it!

Precious Memories

Facelift Continued

Front

All they lack on our roof is the gables and the side porch screen door. There is a lot of paint on the brick. Larry said an intoxicated darkie painted the house, but those are not the words he used.

Side porch and other side of the house

Back of the house

Back porch and front porch

Side porch with new screen door still in the box

Finches

Last year I did not have any Finches but now I enjoy both the Yellow and the House Finch. My favorite it still the little Blue Bird, but I have learned that they are mean little birds....

I Am Getting a Facelift!!!!

Well, my facelift is on the fascia and soffet on our farm house. I am excited to get rid of all those wrinkleso!

Astrid's New Room

Astrid redid her room. She picked a lighter color for her walls and painted her iron bed brown. She gave her old cowboy spread to Clayton. I like her new look.

Iris

Promises to Keep

Camp

Astrid is at 5th grade camp. Laura and Erin both went when they were in the 5th grade. There was a big storm but I bet they are just fine. She took her birthday money and went shopping. Here is one of her spring shirts. She modeled all of the things she bought.

Sigrid Sings

We bought Sigrid a pink Ipod for her birthday. Here she is singing along with a song. You can see the pink head gear if you look closely!

Company!

Had some good company today!

Chained Bird

I bought a new bird feeder and hung it from my Ash tree near the house. We had our swing there last year, but this kept the grass killed so we are moving it under our side shed. I have had a few Yellow Finches but after getting the second feeder, Siggie and I saw several. I think the bigger birds keep them ran off from the other feeder.

I filled my Hummingbird feeder and thought it was leaking until I saw the Hummingbirds there. So I refilled it today. I use a cup of water to a fourth cup of sugar and boil it just a little.

It is windy but not bad here today.

Benjamin F. Coxsey

Grandma Powell's Grandfather Coxsey served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. The area where the Coxsey's lived was devastated after the war. He is hard to research because of the corruption of his name. This is what I found about the unit he was in--

Name:	Benjamin F. Coxey
Side:	Confederate
Regiment State/Origin:	Tennesee
Regiment Name:	5 (McKenzie's) Tennessee Cav.
Regiment Name Expanded:	5th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry (McKenzie's)
Company:	E
Rank In:	Private
Rank In Expanded:	Private
Rank Out:	Private
Rank Out Expanded:	Private
Alternate Name:	Benjamin F. Coxsey
Film Number:	M231 roll 10

5th (McKENZIE'S) TENNESSEE
CAVALRY REGIMENT

Organized December 16, 1862 by the addition of two companies to the 13th (McKenzie's) Tennessee Cavalry Battalion, which was originally 1st (Rogers') East Tennessee Cavalry Regiment, paroled as part of General Joseph E. Johnston's Army at Greensboro, North Carolina May 1865.

In October and December, 1862, two independent companies of cavalry were ordered by General Bragg to report to the 13th (McKenzie's) Tennessee Cavalry Battalion, and on December 16, 1862, by order of the Secretary of War, the battalion was raised to a regiment, and officially designated as the 5th (McKenzie's) Tennessee Cavalry Regiment.

FIELD OFFICERS

• Colonel-George W. McKenzie, formerly Lieutenant Colonel, 13th Battalion.
• Lieutenant Colonel-John G. M. Montgomery, formerly Major, 13th Battalion.
• Major-J. L. Blackwell, formerly Captain Co. "A", 13th Battalion.

CAPTAINS

• J. L. Blackwell (to Major), A. J. Reagan, Co. "A". Originally "F" 1st (Rogers') then "F", later "A", 13th Battalion.
• James M. Kincaid, John Blyfhe, Co. "B". Originally "H" 1st (Rogers'), then "H", later "B", 13th Battalion.
• W. O. Martin, D. C. Blevins, Co. "C". Originally "B", 1st (Rogers'), then "B", later 'C", 13th Battalion.
• A. W. Beagles, Co. "D". Originally Co. "I" 1st (Rogers'), then "L", later "D", 13th Battalion.
• Thad. M. Carder, Co. "E". Originally "D", 1st (Rogers'), then "D", later "E", 13th Battalion.
• Thomas Gorman, A. L. Mims, Co. "F". Originally "E", 1st (Rogers'), then "E" later "F", 13th Battalion.
• John W. Graham, Co. "G". Originally "K", 1st (Rogers'), then "K", later "G", 13th Battalion.
• William W. Mullendore, Co. "H". Originally "G", 1st (Rogers'), then "G", later "II", 13th Battalion.
• William W. Lillard, Co. "I". Organized July 19, 1862 at Shiloh, Hawkins County; men from Meigs and Hamilton Counties. Ordered to 13th Battalion as Co. "I", October 9, 1862.
• Dewitt C. Ghormley, Co. "K". Organized July 4, 1862 at Maryville, Blount County. Originally "F", Thomas' North Carolina Legion. Ordered to 13th Battalion in December 1862, when it was raised to a regiment.

On November 20, 1862, in a report of the forces in East Tennessee, the 5th Tennessee was listed as unattached, with an estimated strength of 300 men. On December 27, just after the organization of the regiment it was reported in Scott County. A regimental report dated March 14, 1864 at Tunnel Hill, Georgia, gave the following account of its activities up until that time "We were kept on duty in East Tennessee and the border counties of Kentncky until July 25, 1863, when we were ordered by Colonel Scott (our Brigade Commander) to proceed into Kentucky, participating in the fight at Richmond, Kentucky, July 27. We moved on immediately and reached Paris, Kentucky, the following evening, where we were repulsed and cut off from the brigade, and did not come up with the brigade again until we reached Tennessee. At the evacuation of East Tennessee August 20, we brought up the rear of General Buckner's Army. We had a fight with the enemy at Loudon, and held them in check until the bridge was burned. We followed after the army, and fought the enemy at Ringgold, Georgia, on September 11, 1863. We had several skirmishes during the following days preceding the Chickamauga Battle. We participated in that fight the 19th and 20th September. On the 24th, we were ordered under General Forrest into East Tennessee, driving the enemy hack as far as Philadelphia. We were then ordered to Cottonport and crossed the Tennessee River October 1, participating in the fray at McMinnville, and had a very severe fight in Shelbyville on the 7th October. We recrossed the Tennessee River at Courtland on 11 October, and moved up to Dalton, and thence back to East Tennessee and participated in the fight at Philadelphia under Colonel Morrison, and then back to Dalton, and were engaged with the enemy at the time of their advance on Dalton February 25, 1864, and are now encamped near Tunnel Hill, Georgia."

During this period the regiment was reported in Colonel John B. Palmer's Brigade at Big Creek Gap on February 20, and March 19, 1863. On April 25, it was reported in Colonel J. S. Scott's Brigade, which was on outpost and special duty. In Scott's Brigade at the time of the expedition into Kentucky on July 25, were the lOth Confederate Cavalry, 1st Louisiana, 2nd (Ashby's), 5th (McKenzie's) Tennessee Regiments, the 5th North Carolina Battalion, and MarshalFs Battery. At Chickamauga, Scott's Brigade was in Brigadier General John Pegram's Division, and was composed of a detachment of John H. Morgan's Command, 1st Louisiana, 2nd, 5th Tennessee Regiments and Robinson's Louisiana Battery. The 5th reported 16 casualties. The attack on Philadelphia under Colonel Morrison was made by Morrison's and Dibrell's Brigades on October 20, and the 5th had been detached from its own brigade for this expedition.

At Dalton November 19, 1863 Brigadier General W. Y. C. Humes was given command of a brigade in Major General Joseph Wheeler's Cavalry Corps composed of James T. Wheeler's, James E. Carter's, Ashby's, Baxter Smith's, and McKenzie's Regiments. All of the brigade except McKenzie's Regiment was reported as serving at the time with Lieutenant General James Longstreet in East Tennessee, as part of Brigadier General Frank C. Armstrong's Division. On December 31, the regiment was reported in Brigadier General H. B. Davidson's Brigade, of Major General John A. Wharton's Division. This brigade was reported as consisting of Wheeler's, Ashby's, Baxter Smith's, and McKenzie's Regiments, the first three having returned from Longstreet's East Tennessee campaign. By April 30, Humes had been given command of a division, and Colonel James T. Wheeler was in command of the brigade in Humes' Division with the same members, plus the 9th Tennessee Cavalry Battalion, under Major Akin. By June 30, Colonel Henry M. Ashby had been given command of the brigade, and it was known from this time on as Ashby's Brigade.

In General Wheeler's report of the fighting around La Grange) and Newnan, Georgia in late July, 1864, he makes mention of Ashby's Brigade as being engaged, and states he sent Colonel McKenzie, with his own and the 3rd Arkansas Regiments "to gain the front of the enemy moving toward Franklin," and that McKenzie captured 200 or 300 prisoners.

A report from Co. "A" dated at Hardeeville, South Carolina December 31, 1864, stated only: "This company has been in every general engagement of General Wheeler's command since the last muster." Co. "B" gave a more detailed report of its movements during November-December 1864: "Leaving Cads-den, Alabama November 1864, marching by way of Talladega, Alabama to La Grange, Georgia, thence to Griffin, Georgia; learning there that the enemy was making a road in the direction of Macon, Georgia, we moved there, remaining one day. From there to Dublin, to Millen, Georgia. Engaged enemy November 28 near Buckhead Church. Engaged December 4 near Waynesboro, Georgia. From thence, marched in direction of Savannah, from thence crossing the Savannah River to South Carolina, scouting and picketing near 'Hardyville,' South Carolina."

On January 31, 1865, Ashby's Brigade, with the same members, was reported in Lieutenant General Hardee's Department of South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia. On Februarv 2, the 5th was reported as the only regiment at the headquarters of Humes' Division. On February 8, Major General C. L. Stevenson stated; "The 5th Tennessee Cavalry, now at Branchville, South Carolina, is subject to my orders. Hold them there for the present so as to cover a movement of Cummings' Brigade should it be necessary to retire from the river." On March 6, Brigadier General Robertson wrote: "Express to Captain Lillard and his gallant Tennesseans my thanks for their handsome behavior yesterday." On March 8, a detachment of the 5th under Lieutenant Colonel Montgomery was driven back by Sherman's advance cavalry at the bridge over the Lumber River.

On April 9, 1865, in the Organization List of General Joseph E. Johnston's Army in North Carolina, McKenzie's Regiment was listed as a part of Lieutenant General Wade Hampton's Cavalry Corps.

As part of Hampton's Cavalry Corps, the 5th was included in the terms of the convention which General Johnston made with General Sherman for the parole of his forces on April 26, 1865 at Greensboro, North Carolina.

Improving

Our house has rotten facia. It looks really bad, but this week we are getting a face lift. I will show you when it is finished. The rain may make it take longer. One side is finished and looks so much better.

I am feeling better too. I guess the anemia is going away. I can stay up until 9 or 10 and get up at 6 before my surgery. I went to bed at 7 or 8 at night and was so tired I could barely go. Sometimes I did not wake up until about 7 in the morning but in the night I might be awake 3 hours...I am doing better. The iron pills are nasty. So I may try geratol.

Fried Crappie

Helen, I forgot to take a picture, but I searched the net and these crappie look more like the ones I cooked. I have a fish cooker Larry bought off the internet. I cook the fish on the back porch because they are good but make the house stink. We had hush puppies and french fried and green onions from the garden. The fish was really good. Crappie is pronounuced Crop ie here in Arkansas. The fish is really white and they don't have a strong odor. Really good. I cooked twelve. They were not big or little...just right. They just have a bone down the middle and are easy to eat. None were wasted--all were eaten!

What's for Supper?

Crappie tonight! Hushpuppies and french fries! Wish I had some cole slaw!

Garden is Growing

Onions are growing and our potatoes are up.

Tower Martin House and Gourds

One of our squirrel hunting friends shared photos of his Martin houses. Siggie is growing us some gourds so maybe we can have some out of gourds next year.

Easter if Just Around the Corner

Happy Birthday Sam!

Sam's birthday is today. Patsy make him a cake. Born in 63 so he is getting OLD. Today was Aunt Lovetta's bday too. Next week, Missy will be triple 3 and her little niece will be single 3!