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the forgotten

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Tomorrow is an official state holiday in North Carolina.  It is Confederate Memorial Day, but there are no plans for official ceremonies or recognition of any kind in Raleigh.  Not a one.  Apparently, it doesn’t matter that over 40,000 North Carolinians lost their lives during the war for the confederacy--more than three times the number of tarheels that were killed in all wars fought previously or since, combined.  By 1865, almost 1 in 3 men of military age in the state were dead.  Hardly a single family was untouched by the loss of a father, son, or several sons in many cases. 

The magnitude of this loss is inconceivable to us today, but it was the harsh reality that our ancestors had to cope with, on top of losing their homes and possessions.  One would think that this sort of disaster would be impossible to shake out of our collective consciousness, but we appear to have done just that.

“Southern Soldier Boy”

(performed by Sallie Partington, 1863)

Bob Roebuck is my sweetheart's name,
He's off to the war and gone;
He's fighting for his Nannie dear,
His sword is buckled on,
He's fighting for his own true love;
His foes he does defy;
He is the darling of my heart,
My Southern soldier boy.

Oh, if in battle he were slain,
I know that I would die,
But I am sure he'll come again
To cheer my weeping eye.
But should he fall in this our glorious cause,
He still would be my joy,
For many a sweetheart mourns the loss
Of her Southern soldier boy.

I hope for the best, and so do all
Whose hopes are in the field;
I know that we shall win the day
For Southrons never yield.
And when we think of those who are away,
We look above for joy,
And I'm mighty glad that my Bobby is
A Southern soldier boy.