From a professional storyteller…
As a 90-year-old, Watson discusses long-ago events of the Civil War

James, now more than 90 years of age, slowly and reluctantly recalls those events of long ago.

It began when, at age 16, he ran off to join the Confederate army, incensed when the Blue Coats kidnapped his brother to fight for the Union.  The narrative ends with a final battle as James shoots a Yankee soldier who, he discovers, is his own brother. He holds his sibling in his arms as he dies.

Bill Watson has been telling stories professionally for more than 20 years. “My Name’s James” is an emotional and personalized account of the Civil War from the standpoint of one of the boys, who, by the thousands, joined to fight for either the North or the South.

“To me, nothing is more rewarding than to see the delight on a young child’s face or watch someone older recall their own life experiences as they listen to a story,” Watson said. “To hear laughter or see an audience hold back a tear tells me we have connected.”

The Henderson native who grew up in Owensboro has been connecting with audiences for some time, having retired in 2009 as an ordained minister. He says he’s been telling stories, such as those about young James, “as long as I can remember.”

Some three years ago, Watson began work on first-person Civil War presentations and made application to the Kentucky Center for The Performing Arts. He auditioned before a nine-member jury and was awarded a spot in history and drama for students in grades five through 12.

Since then, he has told the “James story” across the state in schools, libraries and historical societies, plus storytelling festivals and other venues.

Watson became interested in Civil War stories after reading “A Stillness at Appomattox” when he was age 10. After that, he immersed himself in Civil War books, period motion pictures and television presentations.

“I don’t dwell on battles in my story,” he explained, “but I keep eluding to the battles I’ve been in and tell briefly about my last battle. I focus on things people don’t usually think about or know.”

During his 45-minute performance as James, Bill covers various aspects of the war, including where and how it began and how a civil war differs from other wars. He also notes the many names given to the war, battles that have two names, the cost of human lives, how women were affected, camp life, Abe Lincoln stories and humorous events.

“At the end of the story, I switch from James to Bill Watson and invite the audience to ask any questions they have about me or the program,” the storyteller said.

Bill doesn’t define himself as a Civil War scholar and when someone asks a difficult question he says “in my old man’s voice that I honestly don’t know or have simply forgotten.”

His only problem is that some want his performances free of charge. However, storytelling is now a business for Bill and he requires a fee to cover time, travel and housing. His basic fee is $400, a total, however, that is open to negotiation, depending upon what is required and the audience.

The Transylvania University alumnus resides in Perry Park near Frankfort. He can be contacted at P.O. Box 142, Perry Park, KY 40363, called at 501-514-1061 or e-mailed at billwatson.storyteller1@gmail.com.

- Ed Ford