Victorian Slang of the Week

Adam—often used to express a very long time ago as in, “hasn’t been a thing like it since Adam was in leading strings”.  1839.

Fact and Fiction

My latest release from The Wild Rose Press is a vampire romance, but the story is based on a real Civil War battle that took place in Fredericksburg, Virginia on December 13, 1862. It was a Confederate victory. Union soldiers were pinned down on a field below what the locals called, Marye’s Heights. Dead men froze and other men used the bodies to shield themselves, while the Confederates kept up their fire throughout the night.

One of the Union heroes of Gettysburg, Joshua Chamberlain, was among those lying out in the field all night. His story was chronicled in Jeff Shaara’s Civil War novel, Gods and Generals.

To quote a part of the scene where Chamberlain was pinned down on the battlefied: “He began to shiver, flexed his fingers, wrapped himself with his arms, and now shivered more. He raised his head just slightly and looked around him, saw a great field of black shapes. He began to move, slid along the hard ground, moved up alongside one of the shapes,  said in  a low, hoarse voice, “You there. Are you wounded?” He waited, then reached out a hand, touched the blue cloth, prodded harder, poked the man’s stiff body, and he understood.” Gods and Generals, Jeff Shaara.

So, this true life story inspired my fictional story of a fallen priest turned Union infantry captain, who finds himself on this same frozen battlefield. But my hero, Jonathan Hackett, is stalked, not my enemy soldiers, but by a vampire.

It’s fun to play around with possibilties. My latest release, Sweet Redemption is available now from The Wild Rose Press.

Thank a Veteran

This has nothing to do with the Victorian Era but I think given the day, it’s important.

 

Today is Veteran’s Day or Armistice Day around the world. It celebrates the end of World War I (or The Great War) on November 11, 1918 at 11am: the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. From The US Department of Veteran Affairs:

In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…”

Originally, celebrations were observed with parades and public meetings, and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m. Act 52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a approved on May 13, 1938, made the November 11 a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as “Armistice Day.”

Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II and after Americans fought in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting in its place the word “Veterans.” With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

On October 8, 1954 President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first “Veterans Day Proclamation” which stated:

“In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans’ organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible.”

So today, despite having off, no school, or just another day of your week, please remember those who fought, past and present, in our Armed Forces. They deserve our respect, our thanks, and our gratitude no matter what your politics are.

Victorian Slang of the Week

Action: gambling activity, as in “now that’s my kind of ‘action’”.  Used in 1887 but appears to be used mostly in the 20^th century.  As always, this is for writing.  In actual speech, especially at a gaming table or among gamblers, it may have been used for often.

A MATTER OF CONVENIENCE

I’m sharing a couple of my photos and stories of the life in Placerville, California in the gold rush era that began around 1849 and, in some circumstances, is still alive now.  These two buildings have quite an interesting history as one gave immediate gratification in the form of a drink and the second in the form of lust fulfilled.

The Soda Works building was constructed in 1852 and is one of the oldest buildings in Placerville.  Soda water was bottled using a carbonation machine — which is still on display — and sold to miners as ordinary water was polluted due to the mining.   The building is still open today and over the years it has seen many different types of businesses inside its doors.  I had the opportunity to enter the tunnel that remains open at the back of the building.  It is narrow with cold rock along the edges.  I had to stoop over to keep from banging my head.  There is a cool draft as you proceed deeper into the dark and I can imagine it might have been an unnerving experience for the men who headed to the other end to find the Chinese bordello.  Up until a couple of years ago when there was a rockslide at the bordello end of the tunnel, it was till fully functional.  The tunnel started at one end of town and went nearly the entire length of Placerville’s Main Street, inside a mountain of rock.  If you didn’t know about it, you would never suspect it was there.

 I stepped inside the bordello several years ago to have a video copied.  That was the current business that was operating in the building.  The owner showed me their historical holes in the wall.  I wish I had taken photos, but at the time didn’t think to do it.  Along a hallway there are niches cut into a rock wall that were about five foot long and maybe 2 1/2 to 3 feet deep.  Apparently when the men finished with their drinks, they would walk the length of the tunnel from the soda works to visit the bordello.  Now, I am not sure how long that walk was, but I’d guess at least a quarter mile.  When the gentleman reached the end of his walk, he was expected to shower before spending time with the girl in that small cubby hole cut into the wall.  What can I say except that they had to be tough and they had to be a bit desperate.  The saving grace of visiting the girls in that manner is that nobody knew you were there, if that is something you wanted to keep to yourself.

Victorian Slang of the Week

Ace–the best one, or a thing held in high esteem.  First used 1840, in The ‘Spirit of the Times’.   Contrary to what one might think, however, this word does not appear to be in widespread use, at least in written word, until the 20^th century.  That doesn’t mean that it wasn’t used in spoken word, though. 

“Ace high” was first used in 1885.  Again, I’m not certain if there wasn’t more widespread use verbally, especially among gamblers.

Victorian slang of the week

Several years back my husband found me a book called the Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Volume 1, letters A-G, by J.E. Lighter.  It’s huge, full of all sorts of wonderful words, and is one of my most prized of all my research books.  I’ve been asked by a few people how I made some of my character’s speech sound authentically Victorian.  I’ve blogged about this now and again, mentioning combing through Victorian novels and finding words and phrases.  This, book, though is the backbone of much of my phrasing.  I’d happily advise any one who wants to write in this period to buy this book and the followup, if money is allows (they aren’t cheap or weren’t when I bought them). 

For everyone else who is only interested in the era, but not in the nitty gritty language, I’ve decided to start a “slang word of the week” post for every monday.  I’m culling only words that are from the 19th century and have several references attached to them.  For every word or phrase Lighter cites date and the publications in which the words appear.  It’s assumed that the slang itself did not hit written word until it had been used quite often in spoken language, perhaps as much as 5-10 years. Whether or not an author wants to use that word in earlier or later years is up to how he interprets it.

I’ll cite the word/phrase, the meaning, write a sentence if I don’t think it’s clear (and only if I can come up with a sentence that makes it clear).  I’m going to try not to copy verbatim, but at times it is difficult not to.  To be clear–all the words are from this book.  That doesn’t mean there aren’t other bits of Victorian American slang or phrases, just that it isn’t in this book, or I chose not to include it for whatever reason (often to avoid vulgarity).  Anyone who is interested is certainly welcome to email me with questions about certain words or information about the books at victorianromance@comcast.net.  I’ll get back as quickly as time allows.

Quick note–the first book is 1001 pages long.  52 chosen words (for each week) didn’t get me past the b’s.  It’ll take a LONG time to get to the end of the two books.  Unfortunately, the third book, P-Z was never published that I could find (although I’ve signed up at Amazon for an email alert if it does become available).  So it’ll take a little less time!

 Absquatulate –to run, flee, run away, abscond–first appeared 1830, used througout the period.  “Your horse has absquatulated”.  There are a number of other words associated with it, like absquatulation, 1847, absquatulator, 1842, absquatulize.

New excerpt from Angel of My Dreams

It’s my turn to post here again and I’ve already done my history post for this month, so I thought I’d share a new excerpt from my novella-length story in the anthology Northern Roses and Southern Belles. And read the newest review! A 4.5 book rating from Long and Short Reviews!

When Civil War reenactor, Kyle Dalton, keeps seeing a beautiful woman on the battlefield tending to soldiers, he thinks she’s another reenactor. But when she disappears into thin air, he starts to believe he’s seen a ghost. Did he have a past life with this woman?

Excerpt:
     
A chill ran down Kyle’s spine. Josie, that’s the name Derek said he’d been calling out last night.
     
“What reenactment group you with?”

She bit her lip. “I’m afraid I don’t understand your question, sir.”

“You’re not with a group? How about one of the civilian groups?”

“Oh, no. I’m here on my own. I want to help in whatever way I can.”

Kyle decided to take a different track. “Do you live near Philadelphia?”

“I live in the city, on Chestnut Street.”

He glanced at her ring finger. Empty. “Most ladies in my group come with their husbands or boyfriends.”

“No. As I said, I’m here on my own.”

“Well, can I walk you back to camp? Or are you staying off-site?”

She frowned again. “I stay with the other nurses.”

“Great. Lead on, and I’ll walk you back.”

She smiled, and he reached for her arm. His hand closed on air.

“What the hell?”

She gazed at him. “I can’t stay.”

She dissolved before his eyes.

Angel of My Dreams, part of Civil War romance anthology, Northern Roses and Southern Belles, available now from The Wild Rose Press.

To purchase http://www.thewildrosepress.com/northern-roses-and-southern-belles-p-3578.html?zenid=3c2ecae5e1c99338dc3430a1c3bd4419

For more info on this anthology and to read excerpts from other stories, visit http://nrandsb.wordpress.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sarah Emma Edmonds

Sarah Emma Edmonds was born in New Brunswick, Canada in 1841. She grew up on a farm, so along with her sisters, she participated alongside her one brother to perform the hard physical work of farming. She tended to the animals, chopped wood, milked cows, planted and harvested. She also learned to ride horses, hunted and fished.

Her upbringing caused her to develop a lean, masculine-looking physique.

In 1860, she was nineteen. She moved south into the United States dressed in men’s garb. Pretending to be a man, she called herself “Franklin Thompson.” She worked in Hartford, Connecticut as a publishing agent, selling Bibles in Canada and Michigan.

In 1861 the Civil War began. She enlisted in Company F of the 2nd Michigan Infantry Volunteers, signing up for three years.

As Franklin Thompson, Sarah spent her first months of military service at the regimental hospital, serving as a “male” nurse. She then became postmaster and then a mail carrier.

One of her superior officers, General O. M. Poe, recalled that “Frank Thompson was effeminate looking, and for that reason was detailed as a mail carrier, to avoid taking an efficient soldier from the ranks.” All the Daring of the Soldier: Women of the Civil War Armies, p. 171.

As a mail carrier, Edmonds carried two or three bushels of mail over a distance of 50 or 60 miles.

In her own words: “I was often compelled to spend the nights alone by the roadside. It was reported that the bushwackers had murdered a mail carrier on that road and robbed the mail, and there seemed to be evidence of the fact, for, in the most lonely of spots of all the road the ground was still strewn with fragments of letters and papers, over which I often passed when it was so dark that I only knew it by the rustle of the letters under my horse’s feet.” All the Daring of the Soldier: Women of the Civil War Armies, p. 171-172.

She was also engaged in combat starting with the battle of First Bull Run in July 1861.

According to a Congressional report: “Franklin Thompson, gave his heart and soul to the regiment, sharing in all its toil and privations, marching and fighting in the various engagements in which it participated… (He was) never absent from duty, obeying all orders with intelligence and alacrity, his whole aim and desire to render zealous and efficient aid to the Union cause.” All the Daring of the Soldier: Women of the Civil War Armies, p. 172-173.

While serving, Sarah became good friends with a young medical steward and assistant surgeon for the 2nd Michigan. She fell in love with the man, confessing that she was female. She felt rebuffed when he told her he was betrothed.

Besides soldiering, Sarah also served the Union as a spy. She disguised herself as a male fugitive slave wearing a wig and coloring her skin with silver nitrate. At other times she portrayed a female Irish peddler by the name of Bridget O’Shea. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Edmonds

In Kentucky in the spring of 1863, Sarah fell ill with chills and fever. She feared a hospital stay would expose her sex, so, after a request for a leave of absence was denied, she deserted the army. She checked herself into a civilian hospital, planning to return to the army once she’d recovered.

On learning that Franklin Thompson was wanted for desertion, she donned women’s clothes, resumed using her real name and returned to the army to serve as a female nurse for the remainder of the war. All the Daring of the Soldier: Women of the Civil War Armies, p. 178

After the war ended, she published her autobiography, Nurse and Spy in the Union Army under the pen name of S. E. Edmonds. “In 1887, she married L. H. Seelye, a Canadian carpenter with whom she had three children.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Edmonds

For more on Sarah Edmonds and other women soldiers of the American Civil War…

Sources: All the Daring of the Soldier: Women of the Civil War Armies by Elizabeth D. Leonard

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charlotte “Charley” Parkhurst

She chewed tobacco, smoked “two-bit” cigars, and was one of the best “whips” in the West.  Her name was Charlotte “Charley” Parkhurst, a woman who, for reasons of her own, masqueraded as a man for almost 50 years. 

Charlotte Darkey Parkhurst was born around 1812 in New Hampshire.  She was placed in a Massachusetts orphanage at an early age and grew up surrounded by poverty and a lack of love.  When Charlotte was about 15, she borrowed male attire and ran away from the institution disguised as a young boy.  Since all the children’s hair was cut short, it was easy to pass as a male.  Charotte obviously discovered that life was much less difficult for men than for women, so she adopted the name of Charles D. Parkhurst, and eventually became known as “Charley.”

Charley applied for work and was immediately hired to clean stables, pitch hay and care for horses.  She was fond of horses and learned how to handle a team, becoming proficient with the reins and became one of the most popular drivers.  Her instinctive talent and skill with the horses earned Charley the title of “Whip.” 

In the early 1850s she arrived in California and soon became known throughout the Sierra as a fearless stagecoach driver.  The early trails of California were no place for a lady…and nobody ever accused her of being one.  Her face was weathered by sun and wind, and brown tobacco stains, from the large chaw she always had in her cheek, could be seen on her chin.

Charley was of medium build and height with a voice that could be described as a whiskey tenor.  She had broad shoulders and was clean shaven with a scraggly moustache.   She wore pleated blousy shirts with wide belts.  Her trousers were expensive, as were her buffalo skin coat, fancy high-heeled boots, broad Texas hat, and the embroidered buckskin gloves which covered small, but strong hands.  The gloves were necessary for the task of handling the teams on her long runs.

She lost her feminine looks when an obliging horse kicked her in the eye.  She was deprived of her sight in the eye and started wearing a black patch.  That’s when she gained the name of “One-eyed Charley.”

Although she drove like a person possessed and would extend her team and passengers to the limits of their endurance, she was still a popular whip.  Her rides were hair-raising, but Charley had a feel for the road that brought her through safely.  On many occasions she would cover 60 miles a day on roads knee-deep in mud or water, and make the return trip as well.

Taken from Women of the Sierra by Anne Seagraves