I did some research on how the tradition of eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day was started. It seems the theory started during the Civil War. It related directly to Sherman's Bloody March to the Seas in late 1864. It was called The Savannah Campaign and was led by Major General William T. Sherman. The Civil War campaign began on Nov. 15, 1864 when Sherman's troops marched from the captured city of Atlanta, Georgia and ended at the port of Savannah on Dec. 22. When the smoke cleared, the southerners who had survived the onslaught came out of hiding. They found that the northern aggressors had looted and stolen everything of value and everything that could be eaten including all livestock. Death and destruction were everywhere. While in hiding, few had little to eat, and starvation was now upon the survivors. The Northern army had taken everything they could carry and eaten everything they could eat. The devastated people of the south found for some unknown reason that Sherman's bloodthirsty troops had left silos full of black-eyed peas. At the time, the lowly black-eyed pea was only used to feed stock. The troops saw it as the thing of least value. Taking grain for their horses and livestock and other crops to feed themselves, they left the black-eyed peas in great quantities assuming it would be of no use to the survivors, since all the livestock it could feed had either been taken or eaten. If not for the good luck of having the black-eyed peas to eat, the southern folks would have faced starvation in the New Year. From New Years Day forward, the tradition grew to eat black-eyed peas on New Year's Day for good luck.

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Happy Birthday to Kristine Lee Kalebaugh on Saturday, Jan. 14th. A very Happy Anniversary to Kirby and Conni Bailey on Sunday, Jan. 15th. In addition, a Happy Birthday for Toni Ladiges on Wednesday, Jan. 18th.

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I would still like to hear from you. Have you taken a trip? Have you had out of town visitors? Let me know of family birthdays, anniversaries and new arrivals to your family. Whatever you want to add to the Farmington News is welcome.

Please contact me if you have items for the Farmington News column. E-Mail me at farmingtonnews@gmail.com or phone 896-6697.