Napoleon abdicated today, the 11th April, 1814. He had been ruler of 70 million people, 30 million of them French, the rest Spanish, Belgian, Dutch, some Italian and German. He had also ruled parts of Poland and Yugoslavia. Then he attacked Russia. After the disaster that was Russia he was outnumbered two to one by a coalition of Austrian, Prussian, Russians and Swedes at the battle of Leipzig, losing this battle. This too had come after the loss of Spain to Wellington(June 1813).
On the 31st March 1814 the Allies entered Paris. His Generals persuaded him to abdicate in favour of his 3 year old son. His 10 year Empire had come to a close.
He tried to poison himself on the 12th, but ended up vomiting and not dying. On the 29th he was on his way to exile on Elba.
He would return.
*BELLS RINGING* THE TIME HAS COME!
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After meeting Garg in person, I can assure you he is a dichotomy, and a great dude. Certainly not the image one could mistakenly create after only reading a few of his posts without the greater context of that which is “Villainy”!
Do make me start creating new accounts so I can multi-vote. “Win if you can, lose if you must, but ALWAYS cheat!”. Always got a chuckle from that saying……
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You wouldn’t be the first to set up a second account so as to vote for yourself.
Who is the real Lucas McCain?
Childish really.
Is dicktummy a Canadian word MrMalachiCrunch? (Wish your name were shorter!) -
MrMalachiCrunch,
After meeting Garg in person, I can assure you he is a dichotomy, and a great dude. Certainly not the image one could mistakenly create after only reading a few of his posts without the greater context of that which is “Villainy”!
I have plans for the near-future to build a Railroad History Museum (20,000+ square feet) in Shreveport, La. that will also house a Military History area. If all goes according to plan I would certainly want to host some
get-togethers/conventions with any and all of you A&A guys. And it just wouldn’t be complete without Garg’s presence there. I’ve been planning this for several years and will let ya’ll know when we get serious and start throwing dirt.“Tall Paul”
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Wow. That is fantastic. Good luck with that. Do your family know about trains or have some connection to them?
Have you been to Mansfield and seen the battlefield of Louisiana’s major Civil War battle? -
Wittman,
I was born & raised in Shreveport, although the last 12 years I’ve been a railroad conductor in East Texas. My uncle was a KCS railroad engineer in S’port, and my Dad is a big “railfan”. For me, I never had to make a choice to become a railroad historian/collector/photographer/modeller as I was seemingly pre-ordained from birth to have that interest. My Mother’s mother was a technician that worked at the La. state Museum in S’port and helped build all of their original diaramas. She was quite a researcher, also.
With my Dad being a WWII veteran, and me with my passionate interest in history, over the last 54 years I’ve become quite knowledgable concerning all aspects of railroad and much military history. I love discussing RR & Military history with others because I can usually learn from them. I try to limit myself to WWII, but I’ve read a good bit about many other conflicts. I try to limit my “exposure” to the Civil war as that is such a deep subject it can swallow one’s complete interest. I have however been to some of the re-enactments of the Battle of Mansfield and like many others know of the Red River campaign and it’s importance. Because of the battle of Mansfield the “Yankees” never took Shreveport, which at the time was HQ for the Trans-Mississippi Dept. and of the Confederate Government fleeing there from Charleston.
Yep, I’m looking forward to the future and all the railroad and military FUN we can have there. Up till now I haven’t said anything of my plans, but hopefully it’s not too far off in the future.
“Tall Paul”
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Thank you for your reply Tall Paul.
And thank you for the Mansfield response; I admit to being an Englishman with a Civil War obsession. I ask any Southerner I meet from where does he come. Excuse me. -
Wittman,
Anytime. We down here in the South are quite well-known for our “Southern Hospitality”. And I’d imagine that you(an Englishman) could teach me(an American) a thing or two concerning the American Civil War.
And BTW, my fathers ancestry comes through Prussian and English lineage. The Prussian(German) side is no doubt why we’re so tall, slender, and dark-haired. There is a “Castle Harwell” somewhere in Germany.
As far as the English side, I believe the town where your Nuclear reasearch area is called “Harwell”.
One of my Dad’s (true) war stories is that just prior to D-Day, my Dad was soo bored of being cooped-up and doing only the same routine that he jumped at the opportunity to drive to their HQ for supplies. On the way they passed a sign that indicated “Harwell-3 miles”(or so). My Dad naturally wanted to make a quick diversion to see “his” town. His Sgt. said “OK, but on the way back”. Then, when they got to HQ, they learned that D-Day was starting and they’d better “high-tail it” back to base without the supplies. He never got to see “his” town of Harwell, England.
Are you the least bit familiar with it?
To continue with your line of thinking, how do the English people Today generally feel towards the U.S. in light of our WWII efforts in assisting your country, especially regarding our “friendly invasion” of England with our “Yanks”?
“Tall Paul”
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Is interesting you say you have German ancestors as most Germans ended up in the North: the despised “Dutchmen”, with a poor fighting record, twice routed by Lee’s better troops(2nd May and 1st July 63). Do you know if your ancestors stayed in the Shrevport and TRans Mississippi Dept or if they were in one of the 10 Louisiana regiments that fought in the ANV with Lee?
I know my English Cambridgeshire born grandmother was after an officer for a husband and told me many a story of the Fighter pilots at Duxford. Grandad was a desk Sergeant. Cannot remember talking too much about Americans, but she was married with 2 children by the time you came over. Cannot help you there, sorry.
As for Harwell, my wife was born in Oxford and we have visited regularly since being in Hereford, as her grandparents remained in one of the villages nearby. Unfortunately, Harwell was not on the way, being south of Oxford and we live north of it. -
Wittman,
My Dad’s family settled in Tennessee(Deep South) for many decades before moving west to Louisiana. My Dad’s mother’s family were in Nebraska(Northern Plains) before coming South to Louisiana. All of this happened in the mid to late 1800’s.
“Tall Paul”
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BTW,
Is Gargantua anywhere around???
“Tall Paul”
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He is on an anger management course run by monks. It is a prerequisite to being a Moderator on a belligerent forum like this visited by many unstable individuals.
He’ll be back! (like Terminator). -
TallPall, thanks for the invite, very generous of you, I really appreciate it. It looks like I need to get my US entry waiver in order to enter the US. Seems I was a bad boy in my youth with that stuff a few of your states just legalized. Made the mistake of getting caught crossing the border (to get gas……) before I goy my Canadian pardon 20 years ago.
As for the long name, Mal is fine…Maladjusted, Malady, Malachi… Got the nickname playing the axis in the original Nova version. The Malachi brothers were from Happy Days and did the Malachi Crunch between the two of them. Myself it was Germany then Japan against Russia.
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Thank you Malachi.
Never realised it came from there. Did love it as a child, but like most things related to my life, have forgotten about it! Can only seem to remember historical facts and figures.
I love football and have seen many games, but can never recollect facts about sport.
Weird. It is like I have a selective memory.(Maybe like a PC, I have filled up all available space!) -
Wittman,
@wittmann:
He is on an anger management course run by monks. It is a prerequisite to being a Moderator on a belligerent forum like this visited by many unstable individuals.
He’ll be back! (like Terminator).hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! I’m not surprised, and I hope they don’t hold back on the electro-shock therapy.
“Tall Paul”
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LOL An ENTIRE Thread JUST talking about me??!?! Well I never… ;)
And 8 votes for moderator? LOL I thought 3 would have been considerable! I’m so honored. :)
A -thank you- goes out to each of you, never was so much owed by so many to so few! LOL
Infact, if ANY of my grand list of supporters would like a beer, fwd me your paypal information, and I’ll be happy to send you some compensation for your loyalty.
@Tall:
BTW,
Is Gargantua anywhere around???
“Tall Paul”
Ok I WILL admit I have been at arms length from the site for the last 2 months… but only because I’ve worked every single day, around the clock, trying to complete the project I’m on. Only recently accomplishing occupancy, and managing to take 2 half days and a weekend off for my birthday this last week.
Don’t worry though… this is my HOME, and my eyes are open ;)
TALL PAUL - I very much am looking forward to coming to your museum! How can I send you support in advance?
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Happy Birthday for last week and welcome back to your home.
Glad you have been busy. -
Garg,
A Happy Birthday to you. And I’m glad to learn the Monks didn’t (completely) fry your brain. I’m sure it’s bound to have helped.
As far as “support” or excitment, THANK YOU, but none is necesary and I hope I didn’t start an avalanche of “interest” and e-mails on the subject. Let’s just say I’m a “people person” and get a lot of enjoyment from interacting/listening to others. And making friends is always worthwhile. Add to that some FUN A&A action and it’s a win/win for me.
I’ll certainly let everyone know whenever there’s something worth mentioning. Right now I’m in a temporary “holding pattern” for the museum because of some things that are beyond my control, but it should only be a delay until I buy some land and start construction. The building is already planned and I have a good friend of 30+ years that’s an architect who I’ve already discussed things with.
I seem to be proving the “All things come to those who wait” saying right now.
It will be FUN though. I’m Sorry, but I seem to run of at the mouth when I talk about something I’m passionate about.“Tall Paul”
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IF railroads are your thing… I should invite you up to BC sometime.
Up here everyone has all but forgotten about the railroads… and the fact that some of the longest railroad tunnels in the world are here in British Columbia, and that many of the railroad systems that were built pre-ww2, were built with defense in-mind, connecting all the major civic buildings etc.
Hundreds of MILES of these railroad tunnels lay derelict under Vancouver/Burnaby and the surrounding regions, and no one talks about them. Never a -Subway- system, just traditional rail.
I’ve heard of a tunnel in the rockies that it so long, it has comparment doors and ventilation to keep oxygen in the tunnel, and that entire TRAINS dissappear into the tunnel and pass through the opening and closing compartments, insane feats of engineering - long forgotten.
That’s what I know about whats just in my backyard… and we’re small time up here… I can only imagine what YOU know!
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Hey Happy Birthday brother! You’re a big boy now! I remember when I turned 14, the LCBO was a little more lax in their ID policies back then. Ah the memories of 5 star whiskey! Seriously, hope you had a better B-Day than me. My 40th was my quit smoking day. had a couple cigars since then but no coffin nails.
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Garg,
––Yep, my main interest is Railroad History, but a close 2nd goes to my huge passion for Military History, especially WWII.
----The “Spiral Tunnels” are in you neighborhood, tracks that climb and circle around while INSIDE a tunnel. And in the last decade or so some additional fantastic tunnels were built in Western Canada.
----I’d never heard or read anything about the Vancouver tunnels under the city you mentioned. Interesting. I’m not sure I’d care to investigate several hundred miles of tunnels that noone else knows about with you, though(BIG GRIN).
----Yes, the looooong tunnels in the American “Rockies” have doors on both ends that open/close in order that huge fans may clear the tunnel of exhaust gases. I’ve read older accounts of steam engines on heavy passenger trains slipping inside of long tunnels that ended up asphixiating the crew, and then all of the passengers. Not cool.I’m sure you understand and hopefully enjoy(tolerate) my joking with you. Laughter is what makes the world go 'round my friend. And keeps us young, too.
“Tall Paul”
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