<![CDATA[The Discher Family - Diary Of The Centuries]]>Sun, 12 Apr 2020 08:21:21 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Memories...]]>Tue, 13 Jun 2017 07:00:00 GMThttp://thedischerfamily.com/diary-of-the-centuries/june-the-year-of-our-lord-two-thousand-seventeenThis weekend marks the ten year anniversary of the Jamestown 400: Our National Treasure Hunt… one of the biggest “Ebenezer Stones” in my life…. A time to look back and remember, a time where I could see God's hand at work in so many ways. 

I learned many lessons from the trip. One of the biggest over-all life lessons was to see life as an adventure striving to have everything we'd say and do be “For His Honor and Glory”, to trust His ways and know that they are so much higher than our ways. Along with that there was the daily lessons of persevering, counting it all joy (despite little mishaps that came up), flexibility, working as team, and so on… I would love to say that in learning those lessons I mastered them then, but in that I am also like the Israelites and forget. On days where I lose sight the Jamestown 400 is a time I love to look back on and remember God's faithfulness. 
On the history side: we loved being a part of the Hunt… we always hoped to make it just one more day so we could learn as much history and experience as much of what all those that spent countless hours putting it all together had in-store… In today’s culture the knowledge of true history and importance of it seems to be diminishing as people try and rewrite history or simply not take time to look back and see God’s work.
“Give ear, O my people, to my law;
Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings of old,
Which we have heard and known,
And our fathers have told us.
We will not hide them from their children,
Telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord,
And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.”
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“It is when a people forget God that tyrants forge their chains.” Patrick Henry 
​~ M.T.~ ]]><![CDATA[Anzio, Italy]]>Fri, 04 Feb 1944 07:00:00 GMThttp://thedischerfamily.com/diary-of-the-centuries/anzio-italy
"At the time my story begins my Company had reached the furthest point the bridgehead ever reached before the break-out in May 1944, the outskirts of the little town of Campoleone. Our platoon positions were on the crest of a little rise with a narrow valley and a railway line to the north of us. Immediately to our right was a farmstead. We were in fact at the extreme point of the salient 1st Division created by their advance.
On the night of February 3rd/4th the Germans put in their first counter attack and they did the obvious thing; they nipped off the base of the Salient. My company was thus cut off from the rest of the battalion, though I didn’t appreciate this at the time.
It was like a gigantic fire-works night with coloured tracers flying in all directions. I could hear tanks moving in the valley below us and the sky was lit up when one went up in flames. The Germans then attacked us from the rear and we could hear them getting nearer and nearer. All the time they were shouting to each other, quite unlike our procedure at night. There was some answering rifle fire but not the amount I would have expected.
We (that is my section — I was section leader) were expecting it would be our turn at any moment, but it was not so; presumably they missed us in the darkness. So, one of the longest nights of my life dragged on. I remember trying to keep awake by very slowly getting through a packet of biscuits and a tin of syrup!
With the coming of daylight, the Germans apparently realised they had not mopped everyone up, because we were subjected to a sheet of machine-gun fire and a bombardment. All we could do was to crouch in our slit trenches; to have put our heads up would have been suicide. One bullet went right through my knapsack resting on the parapet of my slit trench. I thought my end had come.
The expected attack, however, did not materialise and all became deathly quiet. We had little idea as to what had happened in the night or what we were supposed to do, so as Section-leader I saw it as my duty to take some action. After a time of quiet I stealthily climbed out of my slit trench and crept on my stomach in best bird-stalking fashion back to my platoon HQ, but there was not a soul there. Carefully looking around I could see no signs of any other section either. It seemed all had gone bar the four of us.
I crept back on my stomach to my section and reported the situation as I understood it. We had no idea what to do next, but we did not have long to ponder. We became aware that a section of Germans was searching the farmstead 50 — 100 yards to our right and that there were a lot more Germans milling about at the bottom of the hill behind us. It was now quite clear that we were the last survivors and that we were well and truly behind enemy lines.
We were no suicide squad, so I gave instructions to the section to destroy their weapons as best they could. Then we put up our hands and shouted ‘Camarade’ in time-honoured fashion. The Germans searching the farmstead beckoned to us to come to them. As we dashed over to them the Germans at the bottom of the hill began firing at us. One of the section who had captured us ran out into the open and fired his rifle in the air as a signal for them to stop. I thought it was very brave of him.
They searched us for arms and ammunition, but made no attempt to take anything else from us such as watches and pens. They were far more disciplined in this respect than the average ‘Tommie’. We were then put into one of the rooms of the farmhouse with guards while they went to get instructions. The two or three guards proved very friendly. They tried to talk to us but we knew no German and they little English. All they could manage were such expressions as ‘war no good’ and ‘for you the war is over’.
After this we were given the job of carrying boxes of ammunition up to their front line. Whether this is permissible under the terms of the Geneva Convention I do not know, but we were in no position to argue the niceties of that Convention. At this point several of our shells came over. I remember thinking that the Germans seemed more scared than we were. A whole line of soldiers were strung out lying on the ground in the open and firing their rifles at random. We were told to pick up a stretcher bearing a wounded officer and carry him away from the line. As we began to do so a stray bullet from the battlefield hit and wounded one of the Germans escorting us. They were so upset that they threatened one of my section, but fortunately quickly realised it was nothing to do with us. The wounded man was given a pick-a-back out of the line.
As we walked along the German officer, quite a young man, started a conversation with me. He did not know any English and I no German, but we had both learnt French at school so we talked to each other in school-boy French. We only mentioned our homes and families, and of course did not touch on military matters. Later one or two presumably Intelligence staff joined us. They questioned us about our artillery and I was quite pleased I could honestly say I had no idea.
Eventually we reached their regimental H.Q. where we left the stretcher and its burden. An officer or Sergeant-Major gave instructions for one of the soldiers to escort us further. There then occurred an incident that caused us no little amusement (we were needing some light relief), though the Germans did not find it amusing. The soldier who had been detailed began to walk down the road with his rifle slung over his shoulder and kept looking back to make sure that we were following. The officer bellowed at the poor man and gave him a terrific dressing down. He should of course have walked behind us with his rifle at the ready.
So we walked along a long road away from the front. I had a number of letters in my pocket with the address referring to the 1st Battalion Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. As we had been instructed only to give our name rank and number if captured and not the name of our unit, as we walked along I slowly tore these envelopes to bits with my hand in my pocket, compressed each bit into a minute ball, and let it drop. In actual fact and to my surprise we were not searched again after the initial search for arms and ammunition when first captured.
At one point we passed a motorcycle lying by the road-side with a dead dispatch rider by it, presumably a victim of our shelling and a grim reminder that we were not yet out of danger. Eventually we came to a cave in the hill-side into which we were put and which was crowded with British Prisoners-of-war, presumably captured earlier.
So ended the 4th February my 25th birthday!"

~Robert Bennett Warren~
Duke of Wellington’s Regiment
]]><![CDATA[Virginia 1907]]>Fri, 26 Apr 1907 08:00:00 GMThttp://thedischerfamily.com/diary-of-the-centuries/26th-april-the-year-of-our-lord-nineteen-hundred-sevenOh God of Nations, by Thy guiding Hand
Were our forefathers led to this blest shore,
When they were seeking for some friendly land
Where Thy praise, from fervent hearts might pour

In deep libations.  They had nought to fear
From Persecutions rack, or bitter strife,
Or gross exactions, often hard to bear,
Which compassed all their daily round of life.

Their first faint act on bleak Cape Henry's shore
Was planting of the Cross, with grateful mien,
Then, with loud voice above the Oceans roar
Proclaimed their faith in what was yet unseen,

Yet well they knew had surely been decreed 
And in His own good time, would be declared,
By Him who helped them in their hour of need,
Who neither fost'ring care, nor guidance spared,

Cheered by blest Hope, sheet- anchor of the soul,
They struggled on, impelled by conscious right,
Strong in that faith, which did their acts control,
And gave them power when it was lost in sight.

On Jamestown Isle they did new alters raise, 
Crude at the first, but with high purpose bent,
And there again with heartsome hymns of praise 
They worshipped Thee, Oh God, with one consent

So thus 'tis seen, it needs not be proved, 
That in this glorious land,
Where they were free,
Their first thought was of Him, whom well they loved,
Their glory, was "religious liberty."

So now, Great God, on this our nation's day, we give Thee homage, by our sires begun;
We still would learn of Thee to watch and pray, lest, losing Thy loved care, We be undone.

We praise Thee for the gifts Thy love bestows,
On this our Country with unsparing hand;
Though underserved, it thus most truly shows
Thy watchful care o're this God favored land

On which blest liberty first saw the light,
Where it was cradled, as the World records;
Where our forefathers' faith is "lost in sight,"
Where Thou art "King of Kings and Lord of Lords!" 

~a maW el Pilgrim ]]><![CDATA[Roulette Farm Field Hospital]]>Sat, 20 Sep 1862 08:00:00 GMThttp://thedischerfamily.com/diary-of-the-centuries/september-the-year-of-our-lord-eighteen-hundred-sixty-two
​A strong, sturdy-looking Reb was coming laboriously on with a Yank of no small proportions perched
on his shoulders. Wonderingly I joined the group surrounding and accompanying them at every step,
and then I learned why all this especial demonstration; why the Union soldiers cheered and again
cheered this Confederate soldier, not because of the fact alone that he had brought into the hospital a
sorely wounded Federal soldier, who must have died from hemorrhage had he been left on the field, but
from the fact, that was palpable at a glance, that the Confederate too was wounded. He was totally blind;
a Yankee bullet had passed directly across and destroyed both eyes, and the light for him had gone out
forever. But on he marched, with his brother in misery perched on his sturdy shoulders. He would accept
no assistance until his partner announced to him that they had reached their goal - the field hospital. It
appears that they lay close together on the field, and after the roar of battle had been succeeded by that
painfully intense silence that hangs over a hard-contested battlefield; where the issue is yet in doubt, and
where a single rifle shot on the skirmish line falls on your ear like the crack of a thousand cannon. The
groans of the wounded Yank reached the alert ears of his sightless Confederate neighbor, who called to
him, asking him the nature and extent of his wounds. On learning the serious nature of them, he said:
"Now, Yank, I can't see, or I'd get out of here mighty lively. Some darned Yank has shot away my eyes,
but I feel as strong otherwise as ever. If you think you can get on my back and do the seeing, I will do
the walking, and we'll sail into some hospital where we can both receive surgical treatment." This
programme had been followed and with complete success.
We assisted the Yank to alight from his Rebel war-horse, and you can rest assured that loud and
imperative call was made for the surgeons to give not only the Yank, but his noble Confederate partner,
immediate and careful attention.

~J. O. Smith
(Roulette Farm Field Hospital)
]]><![CDATA[The Prayer Life of Our General]]>Sat, 02 May 1778 08:00:00 GMThttp://thedischerfamily.com/diary-of-the-centuries/the-prayer-life-of-our-general"While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of a Christian..."

"Direct my thoughts, words and work, wash away my sins in the immaculate blood of the lamb, and purge my heart by thy holy spirit...daily frame me more and more into the likeness of thy Son, Jesus Christ, that living in thy fear, and dying in thy favor, I may in thy appointed time obtain the resurrection of the just unto eternal life…bless the whole race of mankind and let the world be filled with the knowledge of…thy Son, Jesus Christ."

~George Washington~ ]]><![CDATA[Diary of John Adams]]>Sun, 22 Feb 1756 08:00:00 GMThttp://thedischerfamily.com/diary-of-the-centuries/diary-of-john-adams"Suppose a nation in some distant region should take the Bible for their only law book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited! Every member would be obliged, in conscience, to temperance and frugality and industry; to justice and kindness and charity towards his fellow men; and to piety, love and reverence towards Almighty God. In this commonwealth, no man would impair his health by gluttony, drunkenness, or lust; no man would sacrifice his most precious time to cards or any other trifling and mean amusement; no man would steal, or lie, or in any way defraud his neighbor, but would live in peace and good will with all men; no man would blaspheme his Maker or profane his worship; but a rational and manly, a sincere and unaffected piety and devotion would reign in all hearts. What a Utopia; what a Paradise would this region be!"]]><![CDATA[August and September 1607 -Virginia]]>Fri, 10 Aug 1607 08:00:00 GMThttp://thedischerfamily.com/diary-of-the-centuries/august-and-september-sixteen-hundred-and-sevenThe sixth of August there died John Asbie of the bloody Flux [dysentery]. The 9 day died George 
Flower of the swelling. The tenth day died William Bruster, Gentleman, of a wound given by the 
Savages, and was buried the eleventh day. 
The fourteenth day, Jerome Alicock, Ancient, died of a wound, the same day, Francis Midwinter, 
Edward Moris, Corporall, died suddenly. 
The fifteenth day, there died Edward Brown and Stephen Galthorpe. The 16 day, there died 
Thomas Gower, Gentleman. The seventeenth day, there died Thomas Mounslic. The 18 day, there 
died Robert Pennington, and John Martin, Gentleman. The 19 day, died Drue Pigasse, Gentleman. 
The two and twentieth day of August, there died Captain Bartholomew Gosnold, one of our Council: he 
was honorably buried, having all the Ordnance in the Fort shot off, with many volleys of small shot.
After Captain Gosnold’s death, the Council could hardly agree by the dissension of Captain Kendall, 
which afterward was committed about heinous matters which was proved against him. 
The four and twentieth day, died Edward Harrington and George Walker, and were buried the same 
day. The six and twentieth day, died Kenelme Throgmortin. The seven and twentieth day died William
Roods. The eight and twentieth day died Thomas Stoody, Cape Merchant.
The fourth day of September died Thomas Jacob Sergeant. The 5 day, there died Benjamin Beast. 
Our men were destroyed with cruel diseases, as Swellings, Fluxes, Burning Fevers, and by wars, and 
some departed suddenly, but for the most part they died of mere famine. There were never Englishmen 
left in a foreign Country in such misery as we were in this new discovered Virginia. We watched every
3 nights, lying on the bare cold ground, what weather soever came [and] warded all the next day, 
which brought our men to be most feeble wretches. Our food was but a small Can of Barley sod in water,
to five men a day, our drink cold water taken out of the River, which was at a flood very salty, at a low
tide full of slime and filth, which was the destruction of many of our men. Thus we lived for the space of
five months in this miserable distress, not having five able men to man our Bulwarks upon any occasion. 
If it had not pleased God to have put a terror in the Savages’ hearts, we had all perished by those wild and 
cruel Pagans, being in that weak estate as we were; our men night and day groaning in every corner of the
Fort most pitiful to hear. If there were any conscience in men, it would make their hearts to bleed to hear
the pitiful murmurings and outcries of our sick men without relief, every night and day, for the space of
six weeks, some departing out of the World, many times three or four in a night; in the morning, their
bodies trailed out of their Cabins like Dogs to be buried. In this sort did I see the mortality of diverse of
our people. 
It pleased God, after a while, to send those people which were our mortal enemies to relieve us with 
victuals, as Bread, Corn, Fish, and Flesh in great plenty, which was the setting up of our feeble men, 
otherwise we had all perished. Also we were frequented by diverse Kings in the Country, bringing us 
store of provision to our great comfort. 
The eleventh day, there was certain articles laid against Master Wingfield which was then President;
thereupon he was not only displaced out of his President ship, but also from being of the Council. 
Afterwards Captain John Ratcliffe was chosen President. 
The 18 day, died one Ellis Kinistone, which was starved to death with cold. The same day at
night, died one Richard Simmons. The nineteenth day, there died one Thomas Mouton. 
​
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"John Sabie, Egorge Flower, William Brutser, Jerome Alicock, Francis Imdwinter, Deward Moris, Deward Brown, Stephen Galthorpe, Thomas Gower, Thmoas Mounslic, Orbert Epnnington, John Martin, Drue Pigasse, Bartholomew Harrington, Georeg Walker, Kenelme Throgmortin, William Roods, Htomas Tsoody Thomas Jacob, Benjamin Beast, John Artcliffe, Lelis Kinistone, Irhcard Simmons, Thomas Mouton" ]]>