some from the area around holly springs, mississippi, and others paducah,hall see, from kentucky. most jews, notwithstanding the order, remained unaffected for a long time. i wondered why. the answer lies buried in the 130 massive volumes known as the official record of the war of the rebellion. the title hints at which side produced that official record. [laughter] there we learn that less than 72 hours after issuing general orders number 11, grant's forces at holly springs were surprised by 3500 confederate raiders led by major general earl van dohrn. grant himself was far from the scene when the raid happened, and the commanding officer -- a man named robert c. murphy -- was, according to the official record, quote, out at some entertainment which made him a trifle overbold. that's a nice way of saying that he was stone drunk. [laughter] the results proved devastating. holly springs surrendered. -- alion russians million russians burned. bales of cotton destroyed, hundreds of troops were captured, and there were simultaneous raids that tore up 50 miles of railroad track as well

owing to the war, corruption ran rampant in paducah. it was a hotbed of smuggling and recriminations abounded. not for the first time in such situations, suspicion fell particularly upon the jews. long-stereotyped as being financially unscrupulous. even though few in number, they actually played an outsized role in business and trade in paducah, and as immigrants they were easily marked by their european accents and foreign ways. unionists and confederates alike doubted their loyalties. so it was that caesar catskill, a staunch union supporter as well as all the other known jews in the city, were handed papers ordering them to leave the city of paducah, kentucky, within 24 hours. women and children were expelled, too, and in the confusion, so it was recalled years later, one baby was almost forgotten, and two dying women had to be left behind in the care of neighbors. historian johnny l. robertson of paducah preserves a somewhat dubious local tradition that citizens of his city hid some jews to prevent their being sent away. one soldier

. ♪ >> before it became charred rubble, the house was home to a long-time paducah couple, keith and julieriffith, church going, golf playing, high school sweet hearts, 36 years into a marriage that had produced two sons. aaron the older. >> they were very supportive parents. they were loving, they loved my kids. >> aaron took after his dad, athletic, easy going, level headed. younger brother zach was more of a firecracker like his mom. there was the time, for instance, in the sixth grade zach grabbed a shovel and started digging a hole for a coy pond in the back yard. >> my parents come home. they're like, what are you doing? i said we're going to have a pond. >> were they okay with it? >> they were like this is going to be a nightmare. >> when aaron and zach flew the nest, the griffiths' lives seemed to get busier. they joined a motorcycle class through their church, frequently were golf foursome with friends, craig and temple bradley. >> everybody that knew keith loved him. great guy. >> did he become your best friend? >> yeah. definitely. one of my very best friends. >> temple felt tha

east we had a number of high temperature records broke on christmas day, from tallahassee, 82, to paducahords could be broken today. so, it's really far from holiday weather across the deep south. we do have snow still in some areas to the north but, again, it's mainly a rain event sxip hear 82 in miami, where mr. and mrs. claus have their condo and plan to do deep sea fishing. >> it was incredibly warm. thank you very much. >>> next, israel responds, suspending all working ties with the 12 u.n. security council members who voted in favor of the resolution that criticized israeli settlement, in the west bank. we'll have a live report from jerusalem coming up. thope to see you again soon.. whoa, whoa, i got this. just gotta get the check. almost there. i can't reach it. if you have alligator arms, you avoid picking up the check. what? it's what you do. i got this. thanks, dennis! if you want to save fifteen percent or more on car insurance, you switch to geico. growwwlph. it's what you do. oh that is good crispy duck. volunteer for meals on wheels. we had an instant connection. what was th

some high records were just broken yesterday on christmas from tallahassee to paducah, but the colorsitions have shut down highways in north and september september all way to the womenling line. power lines are down. it's just too icy, so stay hungered down. winds will be picking up. sprinkling of sleet will quickly change to rain. all of the warnings in the northern tier states, we do want to give a big thank you and holiday wishes to the tens of thousands of road crews and power crews working in about 26 states right now. blizzard conditions still in effect parts of north and south dakota, again travel is advised against. look for the winds to kick up causing some air delays in minneapolis as well. feels like 2, but chicago it feels like 50. the records will continue to be set on the east coast, maybe looking at another 32, all in all, travel is getting much better. >> good to hear. tom sater, thank you very much. >>> 15-month-old twins have cap kurd the two hearts. the two brothers were born conjoined at the head. this holiday season, the family celebrates of success of the surger

boston will be at 32, 45 in raleigh, only 70 in orlando and paducah, kentucky, getting down to 34 degrees on friday. so the good news is the air mas east, but the bad news is, this is just the beginning. >> it is december, right? >> absolutely. >> al, thank you very much. >>> let's talk now about dueling speeches focused on national security from president-elect donald trump and president obama. mr. trump laying out his agenda at a rally in north carolina last night just hours after the current commander in chief defended his record. nbc's kristen welker is at trump tower this morning. kristen, good morning to you. >> reporter: matt, good morning to you. breakfast here in new york today, and it does come on the heels of that trip to north carolina where he officially rolled out his pick for secretary of defense, all while drawing new battle lines with the country's largest manufacturing exporter. in fayetteville, north carolina, home of the ft. bragg military base, president-elect donald trump making his pick for secretary of defense official. >> your next secretary of defense, general "m

boston at 32, 45 in raleigh, only 70 in orlando and paducah, kawasaki, down to 43 degrees on friday. the good news is the air mass news is it's just beginning. >> it is december. >>> talk about dueling speeches on national security. president trump -- president-elect trump and president obama. after the current chief defended his record. kristen, good morning to you. >> reporter: matt, good morning to you. on the heels of the trip to north carolina where he rolled out his pick for secretary of defense while drawing out new battle lines with the company's largest new manufacture exporter. >> reporter: in north carolina, home of the military base, donald trump trump making his next pick for the secretary of fe defense, general "mad dog kwats mattis. >> thank you for your confidence in me. >> he also laid out his national security goals vowing to bring up the military and even swiing at president obama for not using the phrase, "radical terrorism." >> our brave men and women are the first in line defense terrorism, words some people don't like to say. >> the tough talk coming after pres