Like some of us I too can be a last minute shopper when it comes to holidays, birthdays, and other special occasions. I have found that the ability to find a great deal, or something unique and useful to be the most important. Personally, a great mug, cozy warm sweater or blanket, and access to great genealogy tools online are always welcome gifts. 

It's an early morning in October 1863 and the White House is quiet. The nation has won a long and hard-fought battle at Gettysburg. The only sound inside of Secretary of State William Seward's office is the scratching of his pen as it flows across a piece of paper. 

The purpose of this vignette is twofold: Familiarize the reader with the American Revolution’s Southern Campaign of 1780-81; and provide a snapshot of a “Militia-on-Militia” battle that took place during a time when the outcome of the American Revolution was in serious question.  

We often see them during drives through our small mountain communities in northwestern North Carolina. Old farmhouses, small wooden cabins, and homes with large wrap-around porches, and expansive views. Many have been abandoned or are falling victim to time. 

Every now and then as a genealogist I have come across individuals who display a coat of arms. These family crests go back generations from their lives in Europe and can occasionally be seen on their family trees.