Old is New and New is Old
its prominence as a shipping center, Plymouth was the site of much contention during the Civil War. The confederate ram “Albemarle” was sunk here in 1864 on the Roanoke River. I heard about this reenactment the last time I was at the Museum ......
It was fascinating and different in a lot of ways. I love the sailors’ uniforms. Some of the displays are unique to the sea battles, very different from the land battles I’m used to. They have a 1/16th model of the ironclad USS Albemarle in the water. I realize it’s not as large as the real one, but terrifying looking even as a small version. There are no windows. I’m claustrophobic just thinking about being closed up in this dark metal can, being pummeled by cannon and mortar. Were they crazy? I think I’d rather hide behind a hay bale.
Here I met the youngest reader I’ve ever met. He’s four and half years old. He picked up Avery’s Battlefield and read it aloud. I don’t mean he sounded out the words, I mean he read it, stopping now and again to discuss what he’d just read. He’s about the size of my three year-old petite granddaughter. He was dressed completely in confederate reenactment attire, including official eyeglasses. His backpack was made of duct tape. His mom said this is all his idea. He’s quite gregarious and spoke to all the demonstrators and sutlers, asking astute questions and patiently listening to their answers.
If you ask a naval engineer a question about his model engines that power the ironclads, the answer is going to be involved. Never ask an engineer a little question unless you have a lot of time for the answer. This little guy soaked in every word.
He said he’d like to keep my card and when he was old enough he’d buy the book and read it all the way through. “I think I will like it,” he said. I asked where he’d keep the card so he wouldn’t lose it. “I have a file for my future plans and things,” he said. Oh, of course.
The rest of the story on Monday.