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From: "Thomas Lee Allman, Jr." <>
Subject: [VA-SOUTHSIDE-L] History
Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2000 19:33:02 -0400


J. D.,

My great great grandfather lost two sons in the War Between
the States (or Civil War as the victors style it).

He didn't even own a small patch of land and certainly no
slaves. I don't even know if his father was white though
the evidence I have leans that way. His son and grandson in
my line didn't own land either, but my father and a brother
were Doctors of Medicine and their other four brothers were
lawyers. go figure ...

On the other hand, my lawyer in Charlottesville hs a picture
of his great great grandfather and his four or five sons in
the uniform of Confederate Army Officers. None of them
survived the war!

All wars have more officers than soldiers and officers,
until recently, came from the upper class. I respectfully
disagree with your contention that "The rich and powerful
from the North and South, started a war that they themselves
would not shed one drop of blood for." It may have some
validity in the North where buying substitutes was common
and "Mr. Lincoln's War" was about as popular as Mr.
Johnson's.

I too am what I am due to my ancestors, be they rich or
poor. Some of the distaff lines were well to do if not
rich, but I don't try to hide the record on the Allman line!

I can't agree with your conclusion that the Confederate flag
should be displayed. Yes, atrocities were committed under
the Stars and Stripes but your argument doesn't sway me. You
are certainly free to state it, though, and I spent nine
years in the Navy to insure that you can.

Tom Allman

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