Dear Readers,
At the risk of making myself sound crazy (okay, crazier…), I am going to share a story with you. It is something that I have not often spoke about and, in fact, today I shared it with a couple of classes for the very first time. Seeing as how I wasn’t laughed out of the room, I guess it went okay. You see, Dear Readers, it involves something that there really isn’t any logical explanation for, or at least one that makes sense. I don’t know how to explain it, other than to say that perhaps there are some things that simply defy our puny attempts to explain and define them. So here goes.
It all started on the night of November 29/30, 1986. I was a young lad of eight years old. I awoke in the middle of the night from a particularly vivid dream. In my dream, I was present at a Civil War battle, though at that time I didn’t know which one. When I say it was a vivid dream, I could still smell the smoke from the gunpowder when I woke up. Black powder has a distinctive smell and, given my age, I didn’t know that. However, the smell matched what I would later smell on many a field as a reenactor. I guess I chalked the dream up to an overactive imagination. Until the next year when I had the same dream on the same night. And the next year. And the next. And every year that followed. No doubt on Friday night, I’ll have the dream again at the age of 41.
As I got a bit older, I learned that I was dreaming about the Battle of Franklin and was seeing the battle through the eyes of Confederate soldier. I could describe the battle in such a way that it would appear as though I had been there and I knew details about the battle that I could not have learned in any other way (since I had not, at that time, read anything about it). So how, Dear Readers, can one explain this? I admit that I’m at a loss for words. Some have told me that I must be remembering a past life, but if we truly live multiple lives, why can I only remember this one? Another explanation, and one that intrigues me, is that I am actually seeing the memories of an ancestor who was present at the battle and, for some reason, he has seen fit to gift me his memories. Though the dream is fairly traumatic and I could do without it, to be honest. But is there some other answer?
And for the record, the actual battle took place on November 30th, and so I have the dream each year on the night before the battle. Odd, don’t you think?
L.H.
Ghosts of the Past 
I totally understand! I definitely see it as a spiritual experience. Have you written about this battle yet? If so, could there be more to be told, perhaps even from another person’s perspective, maybe someone in relationship with the ancestor(s)? If not, sounds like your ancestor(s) is/are waiting to be heard. You certainly seem to be at a place where you are moved and willing to speak. We all look forward to it!!💕🙏😊🏆. P.S. Do you get these posts? I just wondered if they all find you. You must have so many. I would love to hear some of your reader’s replies.
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Yes, I do get your replies. I’ve written about the dream before, or at least wrote a description of it. It was quite some time ago. https://leehutchauthor.com/2017/07/06/all-hell-exploded-in-our-faces-a-firsthand-account-of-the-battle-of-franklin/
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Many thanks for your reply. I hope you don’t find my comments about spirituality off the wall. I can only imagine the mail you get sometimes. I am 65, a retired elementary teacher in San Antonio, (put in 27 years) and still working as a volunteer, mentor, substitute, and tutor. (I even used to tutor k- college student and this years makes 38 years in education for me.). I simply really relate to you as a teacher, the sensitivity in your writing, and your unique experiences, love of history and historical fiction as well. I also have /do experience health issues that can really interfere with my life. I love cats and animals. My husband was in the navy during the Vietnam years. He is 73 and a talented musician and works as a substitute now in elementary. I really appreciate your willingness to share your thoughts and talents with us. I am also glad the woman with the red fur on her head and Anastasia are so supportive of you as well. What blessings! Thanks for accepting my chat and we all look forward to your work and insights, and often comical comments: brightens our days. Prayers for blessings for you and yours!😊💕🙏🏆
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I often read further into things you share, such as the Battle of Franklin. Thanks so much for helping me to better understand and “experience it” through your writing and other data I find, God bless soldiers, their families, and their support in the many firms it takes. God bless also thecpeople like you that continue to make sure their service, contributions, stories, and voices are still known and heard. Such a gift for us! 😊💕🙏🏆
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Well, I tried to fix my typos, no luck…😳, so sorry!😊
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