Submitted by cornellgoldw@fo... on Tue, 2013-07-09 16:58
The funeral ceremonies for Issetibbeha include "almost a hundred guests" who travel in wagons and on foot to the plantation from elsewhere (331) - when the food runs out "the guests returned home and came back the next day with more food" (336), which may mean they are Indians from other tribes or clans. They are "decorous, quiet, patient" (331), and the descriptions of them repeatedly mention the "stiff European finery" and the "bright, stiff, hard finery" they wear for the occasion (331, 339).
Submitted by william.teem@gm... on Tue, 2013-07-09 16:57
The top sergeant in the Union troop that arrives at Sartoris is named Harrison. He may be the Yankee who is first spotted by Ringo and Bayard looking at the plantation through field glasses; if so, it is his horse that they kill attempting to shoot him. He was clearly angered by that shooting, which cost the regiment "the best horse in the whole army" (29). Much more hostile to Rosa Millard than his commanding officer, he orders other soldiers to search the house in search of the "little devils" who did the shooting (29).
Submitted by william.teem@gm... on Tue, 2013-07-09 16:41
Joby is the oldest among the family of slaves who serve the Sartorises. His role in this story is a small one, as he helps the white family to hide their livestock and silver from the Yankees.
Submitted by william.teem@gm... on Tue, 2013-07-09 16:31
Born into slavery, Louvinia serves as the cook for the Sartoris family. She is Ringo's grandmother, Joby's wife, Loosh's mother, and Philadelphy's mother-in-law. In this first Unvanquished story, she acts a disciplinary figure for the children (Ringo and Bayard), and even for her own grown son Loosh, whose rebelliousness against his enslavement makes her very uncomfortable.
Submitted by william.teem@gm... on Tue, 2013-07-09 16:13
Ringo, the same age as Bayard Sartoris, stands as Bayard's constant childhood companion. Ringo holds a special place in the Sartoris household: although a slave he is treated by the whites in some respects as one of the white children. Ringo plays in the "Civil War" childhood battles with Bayard. He takes an active part in the spotting of and the shooting at the Yankee soldier. He encourages Bayard with chants of "Shoot the bastud! Shoot him!" as Bayard aims and fires the musket.
