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“As this letter is being read, I will be trudging my way through Texas with my trusty mule in tow. The reason for my journey, as I'm sure many of you know, is to follow in the footsteps of my
ancestor, Colonel Arthur Fremantle, whose memorial site you are now honouring and celebrating. I am sorry to be missing out on this great occasion, but hope that Arthur would understand my reason for sticking to his
route, rather than flying back. I also think he would be hugely proud and flattered, by all the exceptional fundraising efforts of the Civil War re-enactors on his behalf.
Arthur's adventures
in the Southern States are described by the historian Walter Lord, as 'one of the best accounts we have of American frontier life'. I agree with him. My ancestor's diary may not be the most scholarly,
but it is certainly one of the most action packed and readable. His ability to mix with the Confederate top-brass, as well as share polecat and tobacco with regular soldiers around the campfire, is one of the great
strengths of his writing. His description of the fray at Gettysburg has become one of the seminal accounts of that noble but terrible battle. Through my journey I hope to better understand Arthur, and indeed the
American Civil War as a whole. It will be interesting to give his journey a contemporary slant, and although I hope I do not have to eat polecat I certainly wouldn't mind reliving some of Arthur's more
pleasurable experiences. Such as chatting with Southern belles, and drinking blood warming moonshine.
Most of all, I hope to return to the simplicity of Arthur's day. Camping out at night with
my mule; experiencing the thrill of being on the open road; dealing with extremes of temperature; the bouts of exhaustion, coupled with the elation of fine scenery and sparky conversation. Perhaps more than
anything, I look forward to meeting all those strangers on the road, some of whom I hope will have hearts just as generous as in the Colonel's time.
I would like to wish you all a wonderful
day. Once again, a big thank you to all those who have put so much effort into making the occasion reach such a happy conclusion. Especially to my ancestor's alter ego, Roger Hughes, who has been instrumental in
keeping Arthur's memory alive through the years. Also Neville Wantling and his group, Officers of The Blue and grey.
One of the first things I will do on my return from America, is visit this gravesite. It makes me proud just to think of it, and I'm sure that today, watching all of you celebrate his life, Arthur
would be brimming with pride also.
My best wishes to all.”
TOM FREMANTLE.
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