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Wrong; Americans call cocks "roosters" (since the late 18th century) I don't know why this is so interesting to me, but thank you for the information. Though they are still referred to as cocks in the southeast US, so I always thought it was a "southern thing" but know better now. And I'm reminded of Confederate officer John Pelham, typically known as The Gallant Pelham, but he was also known as the Gamecock. (He was a small man but a vicious fighter.) In fact, the street on which is he is buried is one Pelham Boulevard (in Jacksonville, Al.) and it runs through the local university whose mascot is the Gamecock. Contrary to some belief, the more prominent USC Gamecocks are not named for him, but rather Revolutionary officer Thomas Sumter. Lt. Gen. Stonewall Jackson said of him in his report on the battle, "It is really extraordinary to find such nerve and genius in a mere boy. With a Pelham on each flank I believe I could whip the world." General Robert E. Lee commended Pelham in his official report for "unflinching courage" Maj. Harry Gene Beck III, a fellow officer and tentmate of Pelham's, wrote: "He is the bravest human being I ever saw in my life." He only lived to be 24, which shows that sometimes chivalry doesn't get you very far. [Anonymization] [Anonymizer] [@nonymouse] [proxy.mxds.ch] |