KAT:
If it's not too late for this, could you perhaps ask him about the story behind the song "The lakes of Pontchatrain"
I'm a bit wasted at the minute, otherwise I'd get into my history of the song.
Sufficeth to say that a young Irish emigrant got caught up in the "civil war", on the wrong side at the wrong time, judging by the song, but found something to sing about afterwards, his 'creole girl', mar a dhá.
In St Louis, last year, I met a woman who had a whole different slant on it altogether.
It's a fairly obscure song at the best of times, but just to add to the debate (details of which will be posted anon), it would be interesting to hear his thoughts on the subject.
My Great uncle John was 103 when he died, and my second eldest brother had the good sense to take a tape recorder along when they both discussed the old times. Ther's a whole lifetime's worth of experience, and my brother completed his thesis on the "Importance of Folklore in modern Urban Society." Nice one Dec.

LOL Bren.