Mike In The Wilderness

Here is another from John Salyer also recorded by his sons. Suzy Thompson, renowned California fiddler, suggests it may refer to Confederate Brigadier General Micah Jenkins, who was killed by “friendly fire” at the Battle of the Wilderness in Spotsylvania Co. Virginia in May of 1864. Salyer is the sole source for this tune. He carried on the family tradition with tunes he learned from his father and others including Patrick Risner (b. 1857) and is the “oldest known local source of this tradition.” (Titon) He remained a farmer all his life, refusing to make commercial recordings because too little proceeds went to the fiddler and too much went to the recording company. Chris and Andi double fiddle: aeae.