The Smoke Jumpers

    I would like to begin by crediting this work to my father.   In times of tragedy and loss, things can be taken or stolen from us.  This book was meant to be published after my father passed.  My father passed of cancer in 2012; in the loving hands of his family in the house that took my parents eight years to build.       This book meant the world to my father.  Sometimes, it takes a while; to find the things that are taken from you and put them back in the right place.  Joe Nations, my father worked many jobs in his life time.  He always kept food on the table, and not only that; he could light up a room.  He worked as a millwright from the time I was 16 until he died.  You would have to understand the life of these workers, due to the local economy and lack of work these men work in different States to support their family.  They are often gone for months at a time, living on the road supporting themselves and their family at home.  Often working as a supervisor, he would cook the men he supervised a meal.    While they ate he would tell stories.  There are recordings of these stories, and its sad that it is only a few of the stories that the told.     The book that my father wrote was not based on the laughter he provided at work, but of my family heritage.  This story is based on events during the civil war era.   The Smoke Jumpers Introduction     I would like to tell you a little about myself, before I tell you who Billy Joe was.  I am his grandson of the fourth generation; more simply put, he was my grandfather's grandfather.  Billy Joe died in 1922, when my grandfather was 26 years old. My grandfather's name was Emmett and before Billy Joe passed he told Emmett everything that happened in the Civil War era.     After doing much research on the subjects based in this book, I have found no flaws in these stores.  In fact I have brought up historical facts that were documented in the seventies, by the State of Mississippi.  In all cases this includes the burial sites of entire units of soldiers of the North and South.  History is written by the victors of war.  The oppressed remember the misdeeds that failed to print in the history books.  The evils that happened by a victorious army will only be remembered by those who lived it.       My grandfather told me that Billy Joe could shoot his black powder revolver with extreme accuracy.  He was an expert horseman, and marksman.  He preferred a pistol when on horseback. He could should the gumballs off of trees or thrown tomatoes with out any effort.  This could be done on horse back at full gallop or propped on a tree stump when he was in his 60s.       Billy Joe was riding horses at the age of 8, at the age of 10 he was loading and shooting guns.  By the time he was 12 he could hold his own with the best of men, whether it was riding or shooting.  He joined The Second Mississippi Calvary in Summit, Mississippi at the age of 15 with his father James.  They were assigned to company F Ballentine's Unit.  Billy Joe and his father brought their own horses because James had some of the best horses in the state at the time.  They also took four six shooter pistols that were purchased in Jackson two years before, although they were black powder they were strictly top of the line. The Confederacy issued them .577 Caliber Enfield rifles which had a range of a half mile, They were outfitted very well between the state and James contributions.   With honor, they answered the call of the Confederacy, and they were proud to serve her.  James was loved by all of his sons, and Billy Joe was no exception.        As you can imagine, life was simple.  In this day and age there was no electricity, internet, phones, cars, and certainly no paved roads.  Most people never traveled over thirty miles from where they were born and raised.  News traveled slowly, most went into town only once a month.  In these times, there was no income tax, and they held no social security number.  This was truly a generation of self efficient, and strong willed  people.