Bradley entertains with Civil War lore

Michael Bradley (T-G Photo by Micky Pietkiewicz) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Michael Bradley, a professor at Motlow State Community College since 1970 and an author of several books about the Civil War, was the guest presenter. He displayed not only his sense of humor but his knowledge about the war and some of its local heroes.

Bradley opened with a story about the provost marshal of Shelbyville.

"Before you went to the grocery store you had to get a license to shop from him. Some of you would have been very good friends with him," said Bradley, with much laughter from the crowd.

What seemed to be his favorite story involved a man from North Carolina who signed up for the army. He was known to be a man of integrity.

"He told his mother he would always do two things: First, he would always tell the truth, and second, he would never touch liquor," Bradley said. "This man was seriously injured after being sent to the front lines in July 1862, and was found alive after being neglected in a hospital for three days. He went back home, taught school and returned to the cavalry unit several years later. After returning, he refused to drop his gun in a battle and was taken to Castle Green in New York as a prisoner of war.

"One day, he jumped into the Hudson River and swam ashore. He acquired 25 cents and went to a couple museums in the city and then returned back to Castle Green, since he was tired and sleepy."

A few days later he was released and returned home.

In 1866, the man -- Sawney Webb -- opened The Webb School, which he eventually moved to Bell Buckle.

Bradley recently received a phone call from Webb's cousin and he told him that Sawney had told his story time and time again, and always ended with, "Always tell the truth, even in the case of deception."

Bradley was an engaging speaker and had the attention of everyone in the room.

Club president Nancy June Brandon closed the meeting with, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."

Clare Doyle gave the devotional at the meeting's opening. The club's theme this year is "smiles."

"A smile costs nothing but gives much. It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give," Doyle read.