The Writings of Carol A. Buchanan

One day last week a happy reader who met me on the street asked, "What is a mudsill?" After I told him, he said, "OK, then what is a grubstake?" Not until I had explained the meanings of three more words did he tell me he'd better get back to work.

Most of my readers can't meet me on the street where I live, so for them and local readers who haven't met me out and about, I've written this glossary. As I think of other terms I should define that I haven't put in the list yet, I'll add them as I think of them.

copperhead, n. -- a type of poisonous snake commonly found in the South. Also an insult used by loyal Unionists for Northerners sympathetic to the Confederate cause.

greenback, n. -- the first paper money, issued during the Civil War to pay the Federal armies. Congress passed the first Legal Tender Act in February 1862, and the second and third Legal Tender Acts in 1863.

grayback, n. -- a louse. Also an insulting term for a Confederate, soldier or not, in a play on words because the Confederate soldiers' uniforms were gray. Nicknamed "greenback" because the backs of the bills were green.

grubstake, n. or v. -- money paid to a prospector to be used for supplies and other expenses involved in prospecting for gold. If the prospector located a promising claim, he and the person who grubstaked him would share in the expenses and profits of developing the mine.

legal tender, n. -- anything that can be exchanged for something of value or to pay a debt, as long as it is recognized as lawful by both sides of the transaction. During the American Civil War, in response to the banks suspending payment in gold, and to prevent totally depleting the supply of specie (gold and silver coins), Congress passed three "Legal Tender" acts in 1862 and 1863 that authorized the printing of paper money to pay the Federal armies and to be used by ordinary people for purchasing goods and payment of debts. When it came to paying taxes and customs duties on incoming goods, however, because the money from those activities went directly to the Federal Government, only gold was allowed.

mudsill, n. -- insulting term for a Union sympathizer. Before entering a house, a polite person scraped his boot or shoe on the mudsill to keep dirt out of the house.

road agent, n. -- an outlaw or desperado. A highwayman.

rough, n. -- short for roughneck, one of the criminal element.