The trail began in 1821,
as duly recorded in stone,
and ended in 1872.

On the same spot,
not more than 20 feet away,
is a marker announcing Tour Stop C.

It is a spot of many markers.

Tour Stop C is a cast iron plaque
telling how Moonlight's Union Cavalry Brigade
formed a line right on the spot,
or rather, a line that went right on through this spot,
that met the Confederate soldiers on
11 AM October 21, 1864,
until they were driven back to Independence.

I must confess:
I have no idea who Moonlight was.

Ironically, both markers are on a dead end road
cut short in life by the four lane divided highway,
that US 24 has now become,
at least as it passes through here.

It's still a nice spot
to eat a donut
and drink some coffee,
to waste time
until heading to my aunt's house
and then on to Buckner,
where after the rosary and prayers
and the appropriate accolades,
my uncle's ashes will be brought back to the house
that he never got to live in
and spread beneath a tree
where he never saw the shade.

October 1996