Key Civil War Generals

Baptisms were often conducted in makeshift settings due to the war’s disruptions. Many soldiers sought spiritual solace through baptism as a response to the horrors of battle. I absolutely LOVE seeing old pictures of river baptisms. They are beautiful to me. I know it’s a practice and folk tradition Baptist of all – white and black — and usually perform in rivers, bayous, and lakes.

This artwork is dedicated to my dear friend David Chaltas, who has faced struggles like I have. He portrayed Robert E. Lee in Civil War reenactments, and we often crossed paths during these events. He has always been very kind to me and was the person who married my wife and me at the Battle of Aiken in Georgia. However, this is not the reason he is depicted in the painting. It shows Robert E. Lee kneeling to show respect at a man’s baptism. My appreciation for David grew when HK Etchison passed away. Although I wanted to attend the funeral, it was held far away in North Carolina, so I chose to watch the video provided by the funeral home. I was saddened to see that only a few people attended HK’s funeral, but David was there. After the funeral, he was met outside by a few others with slashed vehicle tires. He spoke to me about it calmly and did not express any disapproval of the people around the funeral home; he simply accepted it as it was.