Rabbie Burns and Alexander "Skander" Burnes

[macwilkin]

As an aside, Cabool, Missouri, which is about 80 miles to the east of Springfield, was named for Kabul, Afganistan -- the story goes that an ex-British soldier working as a surveyor for the railroad named the town because the hills around town reminded him of his time in Afganistan.

Several years ago there was a very interesting book entitled "The Man Who Would be King: The story of the First American in Afganistan" about a soldier-of-fortune named Josiah Harlan. It's worth adding to your reading list.

This thread has put one of Kipling's poems in my mind:

When you’re wounded and left on Afghanistan’s plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
An’ go to your Gawd like a soldier.
Go, go, go like a soldier,
Go, go, go like a soldier,
Go, go, go like a soldier,
So-oldier of the Queen!


Thanks for posting this, Kid.

Todd