Confederate Book Review

Book Review--Abraham Lincoln & Frederick Douglass

2012-01-28T18:57:00.000-08:00

Freedman, Russell. Abraham Lincoln & Frederick Douglass: The Story Behind an American Friendship. Clarion Books, Boston, MA. 128 pages, notes, bibliography, b/w photos. 2012. ISBN 9780547385624, $18.99.

The parallels and evolving relationship between Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass is not a new subject. In fact it has been the subject of several full length books including The Radical and the Republican written by James Oakes and Giants: The Parallel Lives of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln written by John Stauffer. With that in mind is there really a need for yet another work on this subject? When you consider that this book is aimed at young readers ages 9 and up and that the author is Newberry Award winner Russell Freedman the answer is a resounding yes!

Freedman adroitly shows readers the backgrounds of both men starting with their youth and events that helped shape their views. Dougalss began life as a slave named Frederick Bailey who didn't even know his birth year. Lincoln was born to a poor farming family and lost his mother at the age of nine. We learn of the hardships endured by the young Douglass and his path to freedom where he became famous on the lecture circuit. Lincoln worked to study law without benefit of schooling and worked his way through several political offices ending with the presidency.

The paths of Lincoln and Douglass finally crossed after the election of 1860 brought Lincoln to the presidency. Despite Lincoln's anti-slavery views the abolitionist Douglass was unable to support him in the election. Lincoln and the Republican party were more concerned with outlawing the spread of slavery rather than ending it in locations where it existed.

The two men first met in 1863 when Douglass came to the White House to air his grievances regarding the unequal treatment given to black soldiers in the Union army. Both Lincoln and Edwin Stanton were receptive to some of Douglass's views and agreed to approve promotions for those recommended. After hearing Lincoln's reasoning for not moving more quickly on the issue of slavery Douglass left with a firmer understanding of where the President stood. The two met again in 1864 and worked to develop a plan to make more slaves aware of the Emancipation Proclamation. Around this time the fortunes of the Union army began to improve and Lincoln was able to easily win reelection. With reelection secured Lincoln was able to help pass the 13th amendment to the Constitution which forever abolished slavery. It was after Lincoln gave his second inaugural address that the two men met for the final time. At an event after the speech Douglass was originally denied entry but was eventually granted entrance. It was here that Lincoln is said to have spoken the words "Here comes my friend Douglass." The two embraced and talked for a few minutes. Just over a month later Lincoln was dead leaving Douglass to carry on the war for equality.

While this is certainly a work for younger students this does not mean the book is without merit. The research is sound, the illustrations are relevant and help bring life to the text, and the writing does not "dumb down" the subject but rather shows a respect for the reader and their intellect. For adults looking for a brief introduction to the relationship of these two men this would be a good read. For students in the late elementary to middle school age range this is would be an excellent read and fills a need in the Civil War literature for this age range. For those wanting to read further the notes and bibliography section are a nice addition. Public and school libraries as well as home schoolers would be advised to look for this work and to make it widely available!

University of Tennessee Press Catalog

2012-01-27T19:46:00.000-08:00

Today I received a copy of the Spring/Summer 2012 University of Tennessee Press catalog. For those of us interested in the Civil War there are three titles of interest.

A Yankee Horseman in the Shenandoah Valley: The Letters of John H. Black, Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry. Edited by David J. Coles and Stephen D. Engle and scheduled for a June release. This is the only known large collection of letters from a member of the 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry. The letters span 1862-1865 and were written to his fiance/wife Jennie Leighty Black. The letters offer an insight into not only Black's thoughts but the regiments work which included tracking guerrillas such as John Singleton Mosby. The book is scheduled to be about 200 pages and have 3 photos and 1 map. $39.95.

Lee and His Generals: Essays in Honor of T. Harry Williams. Edited by Lawrence Lee Hewitt and Thomas E. Schott. No publication date is listed in the catalog but Amazon estimates June. "In this collection, ten of those former students, along with one author greatly inspired by Williams's example, offer incisive essays that honor both Williams and his career long dedication to sound, imaginative scholarship and broad historical inquiry." Approximately 368 pages, 14 photos, 6 maps. $45.95 but is on sale already at Amazon for $30.33.

David Schenck and the Contours of Confederate Identity written by Rodney Steward. "...Steward opens a window into the heart and soul of the Confederate South's burgeoning professional middle class and reveals the complex set of desires, aspirations, and motivations that inspired men like Schenck to cast for themselves a Confederate identity that would endure the trials of war, the hardship of Reconstruction, and the birth of a New South."
Scheduled for a May release, 184 pages, 5 photos. $39 but currently on sale at Amazon for $25.74.

CWT--Cedar Creek Battlefield

2012-01-27T18:51:00.000-08:00

I received the following information from the Civil War Trust regarding an important upcoming fundraising campaign.

Media Advisory: Government Officials, Preservation Advocates Gather to Anounce Major Fundraising Campaign at Cedar Creek

(Middletown, Va.) – On Thursday, February 9, 2012, officials from the Civil War Trust, the Commonwealth of Virginia, the National Park Service and national and local historic preservation groups will gather to announce a $1.3 million fundraising campaign to preserve 77 acres of hallowed battlefield land on the Cedar Creek Battlefield in Frederick County, Va.

The news conference will be held at historic Belle Grove Plantation, a key battlefield landmark, beginning at 9:30 a.m. (rain or shine). James Lighthizer, President of the Civil War Trust, will serve as the emcee for the event. He will be joined by Diann Jacox, superintendent of Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park; Kathleen Kilpatrick, Director of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources; and eminent historian and author Dr. Gary Gallagher, John L. Nau III Professor in the History of the American Civil War at the University of Virginia.

WHAT: News conference announcing fundraising campaign to save historic land at Cedar Creek Battlefield

WHO: Virginia Director of Historic Resources Kathleen Kilpatrick, Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park Superintendent Diann Jacox, historian Dr. Gary Gallagher, and Civil War Trust President James Lighthizer

WHEN: February 9, 2012 at 9:30 a.m. ET

WHERE: Belle Grove Plantation, 336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown, Va.

The Civil War Trust is the largest nonprofit battlefield preservation organization in the United States. Its goal is to preserve our nation’s endangered Civil War sites and to promote appreciation of these hallowed grounds through education and heritage tourism. To date, the Trust has preserved more than 32,000 acres of battlefield land in 20 states, including nearly 533 acres at Cedar Creek. Please visit the Trust’s website at www.civilwar.org, the home of the Civil War sesquicentennial.

###

(For more information about Battle of Cedar Creek, visit www.civilwar.org/cedarcreek)

###

Contacts

Jim Campi, (202) 367-1861 x7205
Mary Koik, (202) 367-1861 x7231

Battlefields

Battle of Cedar Creek

Book Review--The Library of Congress Illustrated Timeline of the Civil War

2012-01-22T19:47:00.000-08:00

Wagner, Margaret E. The Library of Congress Illustrated Timeline of the Civil War. Little Brown and Co., New York, NY. 2011. 254 pages, 233 pages text. Index, bibliography, notes, color and b/w photos, maps. ISBN 9780316120685, $35.

With access to the resources of the Library of Congress the reader should expect nothing less than an exceptional book. Author Margaret E. Wagner has certainly delivered upon this expectation.

Wagner serves as a senior writer and editor in the Publishing Office of the Library of Congress and has written, co-written, or edited several other works including The Library of Congress Civil War Desk Reference, The Library of Congress World War II Companion, Maxfield Parrish and the Illustrators of the Golden Age amongst others. Her background with the available resources at the LOC makes her an obvious choice for this work.

Published in a "coffee table" format the book works perfectly as a conversation piece as well as a book that can be referred to regularly or just perused at the readers' leisure. The book is broken into four logical chapters based upon major events or shifts in the war. In a timeline work such as this though I don't really feel chapters are needed.

Being written in chronological order the reader is able to follow the war on an almost daily basis. For parents working to instill an interest in history in their children a book like this is ideal. The family can read the events of the day together. Mind you, the book is not written with children as a target market however. As would be expected some days have much more information than others. No days however dominate the book. Even the mystique that surrounds the three days of the Battle of Gettysburg does not lead it to more than it's fair share. Most days events can be read within a matter of a couple of minutes.

Wagner and "picture editor" Athena Angelos have done a masterful job in choosing the illustrations that grace practically every page. With over 350 in the book even the most hard core of Civil War historians is likely to see something new. From famous portraits, to copies of letters, to maps and artworks you will find it here. For those wanting copies for themselves there is a useful section that includes LOC image call numbers. This is invaluable for finding copies on the LOC website.

The book wraps up with a full set of notes and a large bibliography. The bibliography also includes website information for many listings that are in the public domain and that can be downloaded for free. A nice inclusion is also a section describing the various collections of Civil War material available through the LOC.

This is a worthwhile book for those with a passing interest in the war or for those who already have an in depth knowledge of events. The book is beautiful to look through and contains a wealth of information for those of all knowledge levels. While the price may seem high once you see the book I am sure you will agree the price is worth it, especially if you can find it at a discount.

Thanks to Little Brown for sending a complimentary review copy.

Civil War Cinema Announcement

2012-01-16T14:57:00.000-08:00

2nd Annual Civil War Cinema!

Join the Museum of the Confederacy and the Historic Byrd Theatre for the 2nd Edition of Civil War Cinema. The feature presentation will be "The Conspirator," Robert Redford's historical drama about the trial of Mary Surratt starring Robin Wright, James McAvoy, Tom Wilkinson and Kevin Kline. Prior to the movie, a chocolate and champagne reception will be held in the theatre's lobby and Mary Surratt biographer Elizabeth Trindal will give a short lecture after the film.

In addition, Ms. Rita McClenny from the Virginia Film Office will be making a few announcements regarding the recent filming of Steven Spielberg's Lincoln in Richmond as well as news on what the future has in store for the Virginia Film Office.

All proceeds benefit the Museum of the Confederacy and The Byrd Theatre Foundation.

Sunday, January 29th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm

$25 (includes reception, lecture and film)
$15 with student ID or 13yrs. and younger (ID must be presented at the door)

You may purchase tickets at the Museum's front desk, Chop Suey Books in Carytown, or by clicking "Buy Tickets" below.

BUY TICKETS

Date: Sunday, January 29, 2012
Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Address:
2908 West Cary Street
Richmond, VA 23221

Savas Beatie Author Interview

2012-01-06T20:07:00.000-08:00

Having recently had the pleasure of visiting Antietam National Battlefield I have gained an interest in and appreciation for this complex battle. Publisher Savas Beatie has a new book out titled Unholy Sabbath: The Battle of South Mountain in History and Memory, September 14, 1862 written by Brian Matthew Jordan. Here Jordan tells the story of an often overlooked battle that is seen by many as just a prequel to Antietam. Using many primary sources readers will be able to see the importance of the action that took place at the three gaps (Fox's, Turner's, and Crampton's) on South Mountain. If the author achieves his goal the battle will no longer be seen as just a trivial part of the Maryland Campaign that led to Antietam but will be seen as an important turning point in the campaign in and of itself. The book contains maps, photos, index, and bibliography. While I have not seen a copy of the book yet this looks like it will be a winner. Knowing the quality of other SB books this will no doubt be an attractive book as well.

For those wanting further information about the book, the author, or the author's methods and goals of the book SB has been kind enough to post an interview with Mr. Jordan. Read the full interview here.

Ocala, FL Civil War Monument

2012-01-01T16:16:00.000-08:00

Located in the Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park stands a reminder to the brave men who from Marion County who fought for the Confederacy.

Unveiling of Confederate Monument in at corner
of Ocala County courthouse grounds.

(Courtesy Florida State Archives, Florida Memory
Project, rc03941, www.floridamemory.com)

Standing 23 feet tall the monument was originally created by McNeel Marble Company from Valdosta, GA. The J. J. Dickison Chapter No. 56 of the United Daughters of the Confederacy had the memorial erected at the Marion County Courthouse and official dedication took place on May 1, 1908.

The monument stood at the courthouse, despite changes to the building, for over a century. Until recently the statue had been located in a corner of the building relegating the memorial to an afterthought rather than the tribute it was designed to be. When plans were made to build a new courthouse annex ideas were put forth as to what to do with "Johnny Reb" as the statue is affectionately called by some. Ideas included leaving the statue where it was, moving it to the entrance of the county historical museum, or moving the statue approximately two miles to a location at Veterans Memorial Park. While cost played a role in the final outcome, the decision was made to move the statue to a location in Veterans Memorial Park. With a public/private joint venture the funds were raised and the statue now sits in a prominent location at the park. A rededication ceremony took place on April 16, 2011 featuring Civil War reenactors and authentic weaponry from the war. You may read a local news article on the ceremony here.

I recently had the pleasure of seeing this monument while I was in Ocala to attend a wedding. Unfortunately it was a cloudy and rainy day when we got to the park so my personal photos are only OK at best. The gray clouds and rain spot or two on the lens didn't really make them usable here. I have managed to find better quality photos that you will see below. Thanks go out to the Florida Public Archaeology Network for the photos and some of the information used in this post.

Veterans Memorial Park is located at the corner of East Fort King Street and SE 25th St.

GPS Coordinates: N 29 11.186 W 082 06.157 elevation approximately 113 feet

View of the monument and its new setting and landscaping in Veterans Memorial Park. Photo was taken facing towards the southeast.
(Photo by William Lees, FPAN, May 2011)

The front or northwest face of the monument is the most elaborate:

1861-1865

THE SOUTH REVERES
HER WASHINGTON,
JEFFERSON, MADISON,
MONROE, ANDREW JACKSON,
AND OTHERS, WHO LAID
THE FOUNDATIONS OF
OUR GRAND REPUBLIC.
SHE HONORS HER LEE,
STONEWALL JACKSON,
STUART, JOHNSON, FOREST,
AND EVERY BRAVE SON
WHO FOUGHT TO PRESERVE
OUR LIBERTIES,
GUARANTEED BY THE FATHERS,
UNDER THE CONSTITUTION.

CONFEDERATE

ERECTED A.D. 1908
BY
DICKISON CHAPTER NO. 56, U.D.C.
IN HONOR OF
THE HEROES OF THE
CONFEDERACY

(Photo by William Lees, FPAN, May 2011)

(Photo by William Lees, FPAN, May 2011)

On April 16, 2011 the monument was
rededicated atits new permanent
location in Ocala's Veteran's Park.
(Photo by Doug Engle, Ocala Star-Banner,
April 16, 2011)

View of the soldier statue, feature a wide brimmed hat, blanket roll across his shoulder, Enfield bayonet in sheath, and standing at rest with musket on the ground in front.

(Photo by William Lees, FPAN, May 2011)

The southeast face of the monument features
crossed flags above which is "1861 - 1865."
(Photo by William Lees, FPAN, May 2011)

View of the rear of the soldier statue,
clearly showing the Enfield bayonet
in scabbard, canteen, and blanket roll
held together by a wide band.
(Photo by William Lees, FPAN, May 2011)

The southwest face of the monument
features a bas relief of a partially furled
Confederate battle flag, with "CSA" above,
and the following below the flag:

IT'S FAME ON
BRIGHTEST PAGES,
PENNED BY POETS
AND BY SAGES,
SHALL GO SOUNDING
DOWN THE AGES.
(Photo by William Lees, FPAN, May 2011)

Book Review--A Sanctuary for the Wounded

2011-12-30T19:27:00.000-08:00

Koontz, Hilda C. A Sanctuary for the Wounded: The Civil War Hospital at Christ Lutheran Church, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania*. Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Gettysburg, PA. 2009. 86 pages, b/w photos, bibliography. No ISBN. $9.95

As arguably the turning point of the Civil War it stands to reason that every aspect of the Battle of Gettysburg and the borough itself are written about. With over 45,000 casualties and more than half of these being wounded men, more than 150 local spots served as field hospitals. This book takes a look at one of these locations.

Located on Chambersburg Street, the Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church served as a Union field hospital despite being behind Confederate lines. Taking in the patients on the first day of the battle the hospital was finally closed six weeks later. Upon closing patients were transferred either to Camp Letterman or the Lutheran Theological Seminary.

This brief look at the church covers areas such as a brief history of the church, civil war medicine, use of the church as a hospital, and looks at several of the major players in the church/Civil War history. Most of these are not familiar names except to those with extensive Gettysburg knowledge. These are interesting stories however. By bringing life to men such as Horatio Howell, the chaplain of the 90th PA who was killed on the steps of the church, and women such as Martha Ehler and the book she penned, Hospital Scenes After the Battle of Gettysburg, 1863, that describes the work of the Patriot Daughters of Lancaster the authors bring a human element to the horrors of the battle.

This is an interesting book that should be enjoyed by anybody with an interest in Gettysburg history. Those interested in Civil War medicine may also take an interest. Be advised however this is by no means a definitive work on the subject. The essays are brief and the research and writing vary by author. This appears to be a collective effort by church members and not historians. Still, this is an interesting work and supports a worthy cause.

For a more in depth look at the many field hospitals at Gettysburg I would recommend a copy of A Vast Sea of Misery written by Gregory Coco.

*If you are interested in purchasing this book I highly recommend contacting Battlefields and Beyond Military Book Shoppe. Look in the Gettysburg section for this and other great books.

An Author Asks for a Second Look

2011-12-28T18:51:00.000-08:00

A while back I commented on the poor quality of a two part article published in the Surratt Courier. Please feel free to see the original post here. Today I received an email from the author of the articles in question. I won't bore readers with the long author "bio" that was included but in fairness to the author here is his rebuttal.

Dear Robert

I am somewhat surprised that you have not updated and/or revised your February 10, 2010 blog post about your "Newsletter Review" of The Surratt Courier''s January and February 2010 issues. As I am sure you're aware, per the editorial staff of the Courier, there was a serious error as regards the printing of explanatory notes of my two-part article "There's Spirits Mingling In Heaven With The Godly" [an excerpt from my forthcoming book Dixie Reckoning: A Reassessment of the Lincoln Assassination and Lost Confederate Treasury published by Progressive Press] due to and thru no fault of my own.

Needless to say, I would appreciate it if you would be so kind as to rectify your aforesaid remarks as soon as possible. Thanks & Regards,

Rick

This being said I decided to research Mr. Stelnick's book further. As far as I can tell it is still not available on Amazon or Barnes and Noble. After that I looked up the publisher of the book on Google. Here's the information I was able to find. Have a look around the publisher site if you would like and then make your own determination.

Magazine Review--Civil War Monitor

2011-12-27T20:11:00.000-08:00

Issue number 2 of the magazine Civil War Monitor is on the stands. Like the premier issue this is well worth checking your local bookstore for! This is 72 pages of top notch history.

Civil War Monitor is setting the bar for the other magazines dealing with this subject and in some cases is already leaving some behind. With a wide range of topics, qualified authors who write in an accessible fashion, interesting columns, relevant illustrations, and endnotes this is a magazine aimed at anybody with an interest in the Civil War.

I held out from subscribing after the first issue but having seen the continuing high quality of the publication it looks like I'll be getting out my checkbook. $30 for 8 issues seems to be one of the better bargains out there. If you don't want to subscribe cover price for this issue is $5.99. Prefer to read online? Check the Monitor website and subscribe to the digital version.

Highlights this quarter include:

Custer and the End of Innocence written by Glenn LaFantasie

Black Men in Blue written by Ronald Coddington A photo collection of African American Union soldiers including biographical essays on each.

Hard Times Are Common Now written by Steven Newton Ulysses S. Grant and the battle near Dandridge, TN.

Faded Glory written by James Marten The struggle of old soldiers and the enduring costs of the war.

A panel discussion on the best Civil War books of 2011 and a listing of the top selling Civil War titles of the year.

Columns:

Travels--Suggestions for those visiting the Confederate capital of Richmond, VA.

Primer--A great introduction to Civil War era canteens that is loaded with photos.

Preservation--Updates on the Civil War Trust's efforts at Gaines Mill.

In Focus--The Center for Civil War Photography and an interesting find in a photo of Robert E. Lee.

Casualties of War--General Earl Van Dorn written by Stephen Berry.

Ash Lawn-Highland Charlottesville, Virginia

2011-12-24T15:09:00.000-08:00

The front entry to Ash Lawn-Highland. This is a later addition
to the house and is known as the Massey House.

James Monroe as painted by Samuel
Morse circa 1819. The painting hangs
in the White House

Owned and operated by the College of William and Mary, Ash Lawn-Highland was the home of James Monroe the fifth President of the United States. Monroe purchased the estate in 1793 at the suggestion of his friend and near by resident Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson helped select the site and provided gardeners to help start the orchards. The Monroes moved to Highland*, as the estate was then known, in November 1799. Guests to the home included another President and his wife, James and Dolly Madison. A combination of poor health and financial difficulties forced Monroe to sell Highland in 1826.

Monroe is perhaps one of the more under appreciated of Presidents. His resume is extensive including being a U.S. Senator, he served as a minister to England, France, and Spain, he served as Governor of Virginia, and served terms as Secretary of State and Secretary of War in addition to being a two term President. Monroe played a vital role in negotiating the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 for which Thomas Jefferson is so well known. He is also famous for the "Monroe Doctrine" of 1823. This foreign policy dictate has served as a basis of American dealings with European countries for nearly two centuries.

In the years following Monroe's sale of the property it changed hands many times. Owner John Massey who purchased the property after the Civil War expanded the house to it's current size. Ash Lawn-Highland was first opened to the public in 1931 by owners Jay Winston Johns and his wife Helen Lambert Johns. The Johns bequeathed the estate to The College of William and Mary in 1974. The college reopened the home in 1975. The college continues to research and restore the home. At over 500 acres the estate is a self sustaining project that is able to contribute revenue to the college. As a still working site this is a vibrant and active destination with everything from vegetable and flower gardens to being a supporter of the arts, to having a large number of special events open to the public, and the ability for the property to be rented out for weddings and other special occasions.

With it's great views and abundant history Ash Lawn-Highland is a nice place to visit that when we were there was empty when compared to the more famous and close by Monticello. If visiting I recommend the President's Pass. This pass is good for admission to not just Ash Lawn-Highland but also to Monticello and Michie Tavern. With this pass you will get a lot of history bang for your buck.

*The property was renamed Ash Lawn after Monroe passed away. Today, both names are associated with the property.

James Monroe burial site
located in Hollywood Cemetery,
Richmond, Virginia

Some of the gardens. You can just see the top
of outlying buildings on the property. In the background
notice the unobstructed mountain views.

Statue of James Monroe
in the garden area. The large
base is approximately 5 1/2 feet tall.

Bedroom inside main house

Outlying buildings including Overseers Cottage and
Slave Quarters

Be sure to visit the Ash Lawn-Highland Facebook page.

Upcoming Post

2011-12-22T16:42:00.000-08:00

Thanks to reader and author Mark Scroggins for sending along a nice signed copy of his book Robert Toombs: The Civil Wars of a United States Senator and Confederate General.

Published this year by McFarland, the book clocks in at 230 pages including index, bibliography, and notes. The book also contains b/w photos. The book retails for $40 and the ISBN is 9780786463633.

This biography seeks to cover the whole life of Toombs including his early days as a lawyer, his time as Confederate Secretary of State, his unsuccessful time as a Confederate General, and his post war life. Though I have not read this one yet it would appear that any student of Georgia in the Civil War would want to take a look.

Scroggins is an archivist and the author of two prior books. He has previously written for America's Civil War amongst other magazines.

Lincoln Forum on C-Span

2011-12-22T15:58:00.000-08:00

I received this email from the Lincoln Forum recently and thought I would share for any interested readers. Sorry I didn't get it posted before the first airing though. Still time to see some interesting discussions though.

Dear Lincoln Forum Member:

The Executive Committee, Board of Advisors, and staff want to thank you again for setting new records at the sold-out Lincoln Forum XVI symposium. For those who want to see some of this year's stellar presentations on C-SPAN--and for those eager to view what they may have missed--here is the schedule so far:

Each broadcast is Saturday at 6 PM and repeats the next morning (Sunday) at 11 AM on American History TV, C-SPAN 3.

December 17 - William Seale, "Life in the Lincoln White House"

December 24 - Stephen Berry, "The Todd Family at War With Themselves"

December 31 - Jason Emerson, "Robert Lincoln: First Son, Presidential Confidant, and Civil War Soldier"

January 7 - Victoria Ott, "Southern Women View the North and Lincoln"

January 14 - Lincoln Forum Panel, "Why Didn't the War End in 1861?"

Jack Davis' superb opening-night address already ran--without notice to us, unfortunately. Look for it in re-broadcasts.

Other talks--and this year's panel--will be scheduled later in January, and we will send another email blast with broadcast information.

We hope you can celebrate the holiday season by tuning in to the Lincoln Forum. All of us wish you a wonderful new year.

Betty Anselmo
Administrator

Mount Olivet Cemetery--Frederick, MD

2011-12-19T19:00:00.000-08:00

During our recent vacation we had the pleasure (the cold pleasure I should say) of taking a quick visit to Mount Olivet Cemetery in beautiful Frederick, MD. Unfortunately it was during the freak late October snow and the grounds were rapidly accumulating snow and the cemetery offices were closed so we did the best we could with our limited knowledge, time, and warmth.

The cemetery was opened in 1854 and the first burial was Ann Crawford. According to it's website the cemetery now is the final resting place for more than 34,000 people with plenty more room.

Perhaps the most famous burial in the cemetery is that of Francis Scott Key. Key lived from 1779-1843. He is most remembered for having written the lyrics to "The Star Spangled Banner". Key wrote the famous words after having witnessed the bombing of Fort McHenry during Battle of Baltimore in 1814. On his way back to Baltimore, Key penned the poem "Defence of Fort McHenry" which was published in December 1814. In 1916 by executive order Woodrow Wilson declared the song to be the national anthem. In 1931 Congress authorized the same and this was signed by Herbert Hoover. In later life Key served as an attorney and helped in the prosecution of Richard Lawrence who had attempted to kill President Andrew Jackson. Originally buried in Old Saint Paul's Cemetery. Key and his wife were moved to Mount Olivet in 1866. The large monument was placed in 1898. By Congressional resolution an American flag has flown over the Key grave since May 30, 1949.

Frederick resident Barbara Fritchie has been memorialized in the poem Barbara Frietchie written by John Greenleaf Whittier. Legend has it the over 90 year old woman waved a Union flag in the face of Stonewall Jackson's troops as they marched through Frederick during the Maryland campaign. When fact confronts legend however it turns out that Fritchie was sick on the day Jackson's troops marched through Frederick and also that they did not pass Fritchie's house. Despite this her legend lives on and the Barbara Fritchie House still stands today.

Maryland's first governor Thomas Johnson is also buried here. Johnson was a member of the Continental Congress and supported a break with England. Johnson then served as Governor from 1777-1779. Johnson held many other posts leading to a nomination for the U.S. Supreme Court. He served two years before resigning due to the rigors of the old circuit court system. Johnson passed away in 1819 and was originally buried in the All Saints Churchyard. His remains were later moved to Mount Olivet.

While there we were able to photograph a few other interesting markers that were Civil War related. There is a neat memorial to the young who served and died. There is also a nice memorial to the more than 400 unknown Confederate dead from the Battle of Monocacy. There is also a large Confederate memorial that was dedicated in 1990.

Unknown Confederate dead from Monocacy

Memorial to children killed in the Civil War

Full length view of the Confederate Memorial

Close up of the soldier atop the
Confederate Memorial.

Be sure to check Findagrave or Interment for partial listings of those buried here.

Book Review--Warman's Civil War Collectibles

2011-12-15T18:26:00.000-08:00

Lewis, Russell E. Warman's Civil War Collectibles 3rd Edition. Krause Publications, Iola, WI. 2009. 399 pages, color photos, glossary, bibliography, index. ISBN 9781440203749, $32.99.

For many of us who have an interest in the Civil War our interest goes beyond reading about generals, or campaigns, or battles, to having a desire to own pieces related to a particular battle or an ancestor's regiment.

Unfortunately many of these items are costly and for many out of the budget. This is where a good general guide like this can be a Godsend. While prices are out of date before any price guide hits the shelves what a book like this can do is help novice collectors learn to focus and give collecting ideas. While a $1,000 and up musket may be out of the question this guide can show that there are related items out there that have a tie in. Can't afford the gun right now? How about collecting the many kinds of bullets available instead? For a much more reasonable cost Civil War aficionados can still feel a connection. Can't afford an officer's frock coat, try collecting buttons instead.

The book is broken down into many chapters such as belt buckles and plates, buttons, bullets and projectiles, ephemera, photos, guns (in all their varieties), medical items, and many more. Each chapter is loaded with color photos and price information that comes from various auction houses and military antique dealers. Also included is a brief outline on the subject and collecting hints pro and con.

With around 1,400 color photos, a nice bibliography for further research, a glossary of terms and a large listing of professional dealers this seems to be an ideal book for those interested in "collecting" the Civil War.

Press Release--The Shenandoah Spy E-Book Sale

2011-12-12T19:30:00.000-08:00

I received the following press release today from online friend and author Francis Hamit regarding a special sale on the e-book version of The Shenandoah Spy. Click the photo for easy ordering and further information.

For Immediate release:

BRASS CANNON BOOKS OFFERS NINETY PERCENT OFF ON E-BOOK EDITION OF

“THE SHENANDOAH SPY” FOR THE HOLIDAYS: 99 CENTS FOR 115,000 WORDS!

(Pine Mountain Club, California)

“The Shenandoah Spy”, Francis Hamit’s riveting and dramatic account of how 17 year-old Belle Boyd became a spy and scout for the Confederate Army in 1861 and ‘62 was published in 2008 and garnered many five stars reviews and other critical praise. Originally published in trade paperback and currently priced at $22.50 in that edition , it is also available as an e-book for the Amazon Kindle and the Barnes & Noble Nook e-readers at $9.99.

“We want to reacquaint readers with this exciting novel about the American Civil War and inspire them to buy the second one in our “Acts of War” series, “The Queen of Washington”, which is about Confederate spy Rose Greenhow,” Hamit said; “So in the spirit of the holidays we are temporarily marking down the e-book of “The Shenandoah Spy” to 99 cents until about January 8, 2012. Our goal is to sell at least 100,000 copies at that price.

“It’s not quite a giveaway, but if you can’t spend a dollar on this, then you just don’t know a great deal when you see one. Amazon Kindle has dramatically improved in recent years and you can read Kindle editions on a wide variety of devices. It’s now a great venue for consumers. We hear great things about the Nook as well. We have some titles which are only available in e-book format because they are too small for regular book publication or not of wide enough interest to justify the expense of a printed edition.

“ These novels do have print editions, but we understand times are hard right now and want to give people the best chance we can to read this one. We have to make something. This is a business, after all, but 35 or 40 cents net is about as low as we can go.”

The holiday sale is only offered in the USA and UK.

Hamit also hopes that customers will buy some of his other titles in these e-book formats and might even buy his new book “The Queen of Washington”, which is currently offered only in hardbound by online bookstores at a substantial discount from list price.
-30-

For further information contact:

Francis Hamit
(661) 242-1686 or by e-mail at francishamit@earthlink.net
Printed review copies available of either book upon request.

Book Review--Hollywood Cemetery: A Tour

2011-12-03T22:18:00.000-08:00

DuPriest Jr., James E. Hollywood Cemetery: A Tour. Richmond Discoveries, Richmond, VA. B/W photos, map. 1989. 28 pages. ISBN 0941087018, $12.

Hollywood Cemetery, located in the old Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia is a wonderful example of the rural cemetery movement from the mid 1800's. Overlooking the James River the cemetery is the final resting place to over 18,000 Confederate soldiers and has over 65,000 burials in total.

For the visitor to the cemetery it can be an overwhelming event. James DuPriest Jr. has written a very brief guide that will suit the visitor with limited time or those who only have limited interest. For those seeking a more in depth tour of the cemetery should look elsewhere. For what it is this booklet serves it's purpose.

In a brief 28 pages DuPriest gives a very short history of the cemetery and a quick oversight into cemetery iconography. Also included is a map spread over two pages that helps orient visitors to the 24 sites highlighted. Some of the sites discussed include historian Douglas Southall Freeman, Confederate generals William "Extra Billy" Smith, Fitzhugh Lee, George Pickett and J.E.B. Stuart, Presidents James Monroe, James Tyler, and Confederate President Jefferson Davis, the famous Iron Dog, and others.

This guide is really just the briefest of introductions to this marvel of a cemetery. Containing authors, military figures, presidents, industrialists, scientists, judges, and more this cemetery really can't be covered in a brief guide such as this. If you just need a brief guide this may be your book, if you are looking for a more in depth guide covering a wider spectrum of sites or one with color photos the reader is advised to look elsewhere.

Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum

2011-12-03T12:32:00.000-08:00

Located on South Fairfax St. in Alexandria, Virginia sits a small but interesting museum that dates from the late 1790's. The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum sits as a reminder of early medicinal and retail history.

Founded in 1792 and moved to it's current location in 1796 the family run pharmacy operated until the great depression and increased competition caused it's closure in 1933. Edward Stabler founded the pharmacy and operated it until 1819 when his son William took over management. William inherited the business when Edward died in 1831. William's brother in law John Leadbeater took over ownership in 1852.

Store records with purchases
made by Robert E. Lee

During the long and successful run of the business it served both the average citizen and the famous. Sales records detail purchases made by the likes of Martha Washington, James Monroe, Eleanor Parke Custis, and Robert E. Lee.

In addition to medicines, over the years the pharmacy sold varied products including farm equipment, surgical supplies, dental instruments, soaps and perfumes, cigars, mineral water, paints, and more. During the Civil War products such as "hot drops" were popular and sales records show that Union troops were large purchasers of this cough suppressant.

As the Great Depression destroyed business after business the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop was no exception. The shop closed for good in 1933. After closing, the shop was left in the same condition as when it operated. The Landmark Society of Alexandria then purchased the property eventually opening it as a museum in 1939. In 2004 the museum was closed for renovations. After extensive renovations it was donated to the city of Alexandria and was reopened in 2006. When reopened the museum allowed visitors to visit the second floor "manufacturing room". This room sits as it did when the original shop closed in the 1930's. Also available to visitors is the basement where the cistern is located.

I highly recommend this nice little museum to any visitor of Alexandria. It is a must see for anybody interested in retail history, pharmaceuticals, or bottle collectors. The admission charge of $5 (be sure to ask about a AAA discount) is well worth the cost.

Be sure to visit the museum's Facebook page.

Various medicines and also beautiful
glass signage below.

Row after row of medicine bottles.

Congress Water!

Various patent medicines.

George Washington bust
seen as you walk in the
front door.

Benjamin Franklin as seen
to the right of George
Washington.

An assortment of products bearing
the Leadbeater logo.

The basement cistern

Interpretive plaque discussing the
cistern.

Tanglefoot remedy for fleas.

E.S. Leadbeater and Sons Wholesale
Druggists glass bottle.

Live Near the Robert E. Lee Family...Kind of

2011-12-01T17:10:00.000-08:00

608 Oronoco in Alexandria, VA

Now remember this house itself does not appear to be historic BUT you are going to be living right across the street from Robert E. Lee's boyhood home.

Robert E. Lee's Boyhood Home

Historical Marker at Lee's Boyhood Home

While the Lee Boyhood Home is no longer open to the public you may view further information on the house here. Information on a modern sale of the house is available here.

Lee-Fendall House

If you are interested in 608 Oronoco you will also be living on the same block as the Lee-Fendall House. A nice history of the house can be found here. The property originally owned by "Light horse Harry" Lee, the Revolutionary War hero, was eventually sold to Lee's cousin Philip Richard Fendall in 1784. Fendall began construcion and the home was in the family for 118 years housing 37 members of the Lee family. After the last Lee family member to live in the house passed away in 1903 the house changed hands several times until finally purchased by the Virginia Trust for Historic Preservation. The house now serves as a museum and can be rented for weddings and other social functions.

Now that I have your interest with all the history you will be living near we'll get to the vitals. The house has 3 floors, 4 bedrooms, 4 full baths and 2 half baths. It was built in 1941 and sits on just over 1/10 of an acre. So how much will it cost you to live near all this history you ask? Why just $1,995,000 with around $18,000 a year in property taxes.

I do however recommend taking a quick look at the real estate listing. Be sure to check out the over 20 photos available. The home is really quite amazing.

Yale University Press Press Release

2011-12-01T15:16:00.000-08:00

Modern Tracks

by Yale University Press

For those of us used to traversing the country via airplane, a twenty-five mile-per-hour train ride across New York State seems fairly staid. However, for the first riders of America ’s railroads, the speed at which the train traveled was overwhelming and exhilarating.

In Leaves of Grass, Walt Whitman celebrated the power of the railroad to take us “To the free skies unpent and glad and strong,” and one new train passenger, a New England merchant called Asa Whitney, remarked that the rapid movement of the cars left the trees “waltzing.” A t the same time, though, Thoreau worried that “Men have become the tools of their tools,” voicing an anxiety that many felt in the face of such dramatic technological progress.

In his new book, The Iron Way: Railroads, the Civil War, and the Making of Modern America, William G. Thomas attempts to make sense of these various reactions, setting them along side historical records of railroad expansion and its effects. Thomas calls his project “a social history of the railroad and its role in American history,” and comments on the way in which the railroad was understood in its time to be a hallmark of modernity, allowing for personal mobility and providing concrete evidence of human progress.

Moreover, Thomas challenges conventional conceptions of the role of railroads in the Civil War, reexamining the notion that increased rail development in the North allowed for the Union victory.

Instead, Thomas looks to the expanding transportation networks throughout the country and asserts that the development of a railroad in the South served to bring the region together into a viable nation state, and thus, making the Civil War one of the first modern geopolitical conflicts.

In his prologue, Thomas connects the rapid technological developments of the mid-nineteenth century to our own changing digital age. A professor of history at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Thomas is particularly interested in digital history, a practice that, he explains, is not simply about searching through computer databases. According to Thomas, digital history is, “less archival and more exploratory, less about ensuring preservation and more about inviting and enabling inquiry,” and in this spirit, he has created a website to accompany The Iron Way, featuring models mapping railroad expansion in the mid-nineteenth century and a record of every time the world “railroad” appears in military correspondence and reports of the period. By making his sources publicly available, Thomas encourages his readers to explore the topic further, using the narrative his book offers to find their own way across the iron tracks that first brought modernity to America .

Yale University Press | November 29, 2011 at 4:10 pm | Tags: 19th century technology, American prosperity, civil war studies, digital history, economic growth, feature post, november theme, railroad history, Reconstruction era | Categories: American History, Economics | URL: http://wp.me/p1C7KR-1g3

Black Friday Idea? How About Free Books?

2011-11-24T18:07:00.000-08:00

This Thanksgiving two of the things I am thankful for is the generosity of various publishers who have sent along books for review and for you the readers of my blog!. Every now and then a publisher will send along an extra copy of a book for use as a promotional item. I have two such books that I am offering to readers free of charge. Please see below for further details. If you are interested in receiving either book please leave a comment on this posting and I will follow up with you for your address so I can get you your book. All that I ask in return for the generosity of these publishers is that you be willing to write a guest review for this blog. Fair enough?

So why fight the crowds this weekend. Drop me a line on this posting and get yourself a free book!

The Civil War: A Visual History. Published by Parragon. Please see my review here for further information.

Cold Glory. Published by Forge. Please see my post here for further information on this new Civil War related fiction release.

Upcoming Reviews

2011-11-13T19:42:00.000-08:00

A couple of books have been received from publishers recently. Thanks go out to these publishers for their generosity!

The good folks at Little Brown have been kind enough to send along a copy of the beautiful new book The Library of Congress Illustrated Timeline of the Civil War. At over 250 pages and packed with illustrations and photos this chronological look at the war is sure to find it's way on to many holiday wish lists and will no doubt fill many stockings in December. Written by Margaret Wagner, who has written other history books for the LOC, the book draws on the Library archive and features many never before published illustrations. A large coffee table sized hardcover book this one looks to have the markings of a winner.

Received recently from Forge is Cold Glory written by B. Kent Anderson. Please read the information below from the publisher website for further insight into this book. Also, be on the lookout for a contest on this site for a free copy of this new hardcover book generously provided by the publisher.
Cold Glory is the exciting start to a brand-new thriller series by B. Kent Anderson.

When the first page of a shocking Civil War-era document is unearthed in Oklahoma, history professor Nick Journey is called in to evaluate the find--and is promptly attacked by two men armed with Special Forces weapons.

Federal agent Meg Tolman's investigation into Journey's attack uncovers more troubling questions than answers. She soon finds herself joining Journey's cross-country quest to recover and protect the missing pages.

A shadowy group, the Glory Warriors, have been desperately searching for this explosive document to legitimize what is nothing less than a military coup. After their first attempt to steal it from Journey fails, they follow him, knowing that he holds the key to uncovering the long-lost papers.

They also set their plan into motion and begin assassinating key political figures. As the country plunges into chaos, Journey and Tolman search frantically for the remaining pages. And the Glory Warrior operatives are hot on their trail….

Book Review-Grant's Final Victory

2011-11-13T10:24:00.000-08:00

Flood, Charles Bracelen. Grant's Final Victory: Ulysses S. Grant's Heroic Last Year. Da Capo Press, Cambridge, MA. 320 pages, b/w photos, notes, bibliography. ISBN 9780306820281, $27.50.*

There are certain people in the world who seem to achieve success no matter what obstacle is thrown in their way. Ulysses S. Grant is an example of this type person. Charles Bracelen Flood has chosen to focus on the final turbulent year of Grant's life. In doing so he paints a picture of Grant who despite many set backs in his last year of life rises above the occasion to yet again leave his mark on the world.

In the early 1880's Grant seemingly had the world in his hands. He was the victor of the Civil War, having defeated the great Robert E. Lee. He was the former president of the United States. He and his wife Julia moved to a nearly $100,000 townhouse in New York City after having returned from a yearlong tour of the world where he was met with adulation. He was a partner in the seemingly successful financial firm of Grant & Ward.

This partnership would be the financial undoing of Grant and many others as the 40% dividends that were being paid were lies. Grant had been caught in what now is called a Ponzi scheme. Author Flood does an admirable job of explaining what happened and the resulting fall out. Faced with financial ruin many offers came to Grant in his time of need. Attempts were made in Congress to restore Grant's rank of General (forfeited when he became President) that would allow him to receive pension benefits. Individuals from across the country sent donations to the Grant family, many of these coming from soldiers he had led in battle just a few years prior. Perhaps most important was Century Magazine and their offer to publish first hand war articles from Grant.

Unknown to Grant however was that his biggest challenge was yet to come. Cancer. Grant had been a cigar smoker for years and after finally going to the doctor for a pain in his throat was diagnosed with inoperable cancer of the tongue. This diagnosis coupled with the Grant family financial situation set in motion the last great challenge of Grant's life.

Grant writing his memoirs.
Photo: Library of Congress

Here, author Charles Flood does an excellent job of describing the struggles of Grant's last year. Eventually Grant decides he must write his memoirs in order to take care of his debts and to provide income for Julia. He finally decides on a company owned by Mark Twain to publish his work. The rest of the book traces the painful journey of Grant's last months. With the help of others he wrote on average 750 words a day despite his worsening condition that forced a move to the private cottage of Joseph Drexel at Saratoga Springs, NY. In the face of his declining health he completed his work just three days before passing away on July 23, 1885.

In my view Flood leaves it to the reader to decide what is Grant's REAL final victory. Was it finishing his memoirs before cancer was able to take his life? Perhaps it was being able to repay his obligations and also leave income for his wife and family? His memoirs eventually brought the Grant family over $600,000. Could it have been the respect and admiration shown to the General from soldiers and civilians from both sides of the "late unpleasantness"? Possibly it is just the story of triumph over adversity? I highly suggest reading this book and make your own determination.

This is a book that will appeal to a wide range of readers. Those interested in the Civil War and it's participants will no doubt find this of interest. Those with an interest in Presidential history should take a look as well. For readers who like an uplifting story with a positive message this is a book for you. For book clubs there is much to discuss and Grant's Final Victory would make an ideal read.

*Information here is taken from other sources. A complimentary advance reading copy was provided by Da Capo Press. My copy did not include completed page information.

Lincoln's Tomb Vandalised

2011-11-12T19:47:00.000-08:00

I was sorry to see this online today. Goes to show what budget cuts can get you. I have added the photo of the tomb for reference.

Learn more about Abraham Lincoln's tomb by clicking on this link.

Copper sword stolen from statue at Lincoln's Tomb

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Copper thieves have struck at Abraham Lincoln's burial site in Springfield, Ill.

An employee recently noticed that a copper statue atop the tomb was missing a 3-foot-long sword. The statue is of a Civil War artillery officer.

The sword was allegedly taken sometime between September and early November. It was broken at the handle.

Dave Blanchette is spokesman for the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. He tells the (Springfield) State Journal-Register (http://bit.ly/sxWgJm ) that the theft is believed to be the first to state property stolen at the Lincoln Tomb Historic Site since the same sword was stolen more than a century ago.

State officials plan to repair the statue.

A guard used to be stationed at the tomb overnight, but Blanchette says the position was cut amid budget problems.

Recent Vacation

2011-11-11T14:55:00.000-08:00

My wonderful wife and I have returned from a nice vacation that saw us brave an unexpected and early snow storm, tour several Civil War battlefields, meet author and blogger, facebook friend, park ranger, and all around nice guy John Hoptak, visit the homes of several United States' Presidents, and see several places we had not seen before in Washington D.C.

This vacation will be providing the groundwork for many blog postings that will be coming up over the next few weeks and probably months. Of course first this means sorting through somewhere around 800 pictures and making some order out of them. Then comes sorting through the literature that we picked up so that I have a starting point for writing followed up of course by further research on the topic. Then finally actually sitting down and putting fingers to keyboard.

Seeing that these photos won't sort themselves I am keeping this brief. I have a couple of book announcements to post soon, a few book reviews that just need to be written, and as mentioned a load of historical sites to report on. Obviously the blog will be continuing! Thanks for reading.

CIvil War Trust--Gaines' Mill

2011-10-27T14:30:00.000-07:00

Read about the Civil War Trust's newest campaign to save ground at Gaines Mill. Gaines' Mill was part of the "Seven Days' Battles". The Confederate victory here helped push George McClellan and his troops across the Chickahominy River forcing them to abandon their Richmond campaign. The excerpt below is a good introduction to the goal of preserving nearly 300 acres. Click the link above for much more information including battle info, maps, photos, and a chance to donate to this most worthy cause!

"We Met Such a Perfect Storm of Lead"

That was the vivid description offered by an Alabamian who took part in the assault on the Federal left at the Battle of Gaines' Mill. Hit in the flank by heavy artillery fire coming from across the Chickahominy, then facing swampy Boatswain's Creek, and two tiers of well prepared Union defenders, Longstreet's Confederate brigades left thousands of dead and wounded on the battlefield.

Now we have the opportunity to save 285 acres of the Gaines' Mill battlefield - the very ground that Longstreet's men charged through on June 27, 1862.

Saving this ground will be one of the Civil War Trust's biggest accomplishments to date and this tract will expand the preserved section of the battlefield by more than 400%!

Press Release--Illustrated Timeline of the Civil War

2011-10-20T15:48:00.000-07:00

I received the following recently on a new book title being published by Little Brown. The Library of Congress Illustrated Timeline of the Civil War looks like it will be an interesting book being released just in time for the holiday gift giving season.

With striking visuals from the Library of Congress' unparalleled archive, THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS ILLUSTRATED TIMELINE OF THE CIVIL WAR is an authoritative and engaging narrative of the domestic conflict that determined the course of American history. A detailed chronological timeline of the war captures the harrowing intensity of 19th-century warfare in first-hand accounts from soldiers, nurses, and front-line journalists. Readers will be enthralled by speech drafts in Lincoln's own hand, quotes from the likes of Frederick Douglass and Robert E. Lee, and portraits of key soldiers and politicians who are not covered in standard textbooks. The Illustrated Timeline's exciting new source material and lucid organization will give Civil War enthusiasts a fresh look at this defining period in our nation's history.

A senior writer-editor in the Publishing Office of the Library of Congress, Margaret E. Wagner is the coauthor and coeditor of The Library of Congress Civil War Desk Reference and The Library of Congress World War II Desk Reference and author of The American Civil War: 365 Days, World War II: 365 Days, and Maxfield Parrish and the Illustrators of the Golden Age.

Gary W. Gallagher, the John L. Nau III Professor of History at the University of Virginia, is the author or editor of many books in the field of Civil War history, including The Confederate War; Causes Won, Lost, and Forgotten: How Hollywood and Popular Art Shape What We Know about the Civil War; and The Union War.

Little, Brown, and Co. has been kind enough to make a preview of the book available to readers. Just click below for a sneak peak of this interesting looking book. I'm sure you'll agree this is one worth looking for when it is released.

War of 1812 on PBS

2011-10-10T16:02:00.000-07:00

I received the following from Turner Publishing today. Might be worth checking out.

Just wanted to remind you that the PBS documentary on the War of 1812 premiers tonight on PBS.

It is scheduled for 9pm eastern time but local stations do have discretion, so please check your local listings.

Here is the website complete with clips from tonight's premier
http://www.pbs.org/wned/war-of-1812/

This is the 200th anniversary of the war that saw: The Star Spangled Banner, the USS Constitution, and the Battle of New Orleans. All important parts of what made the United States what it is today.

We are publishing the official companion book and your purchase supports PBS and helps make the programming possible.

Available at Amazon.

The War of 1812: A Guide to Battlefields and Historic Sites

Todd Bottorff
President & Publisher

The Civil War Monitor

2011-10-05T19:47:00.000-07:00

There's a new magazine on the block that looks to be raising the bar in Civil War scholarship. Welcome to The Civil War Monitor! This new quarterly magazine is the brainchild of Terry Johnson. Many may know Johnston from his stint at North & South magazine.

With an already crowded field a new magazine needs to be able to stand apart. The Civil War Monitor is doing just that. From the cleverly named cover article "It Begins" to the closing "Books and Authors" section this magazine has winner written all over it.

The issue starts strongly with an interesting section called Salvo: Facts, Figures, & Items of Interest. This issue contains a travel guide to Gettysburg, an interesting section from the Center for Civil War Photography titled In Focus, and a section called Primer. This issues Primer focuses on Civil War headgear. This is a great intro to learning the basics on the many types of hats worn during the war.

The lead article written by Russell McClintock is titled The Men & The Hour: Lincoln, Davis and the Struggle to Avert War. The odd pairing of the Army of Northern Virginia and a battalion of sailors is the subject of Derek Smith's Run Aground at Sailor's Creek. Sivlana R. Siddali presents us with Babylon is Fallen: The Northern Press Reports-With Shock and Awe-On Sherman's March to the Sea.

Three of the articles deal with death in one form or another and despite the depressing theme I found them to be some of the best of the issue. Captive Memories: Union Ex-Prisoners of War and the Work of Remembrance, written by Brian Matthew Jordan deals with the work done by former prisoners of war. Included is the changing attitude toward the war from the northern public as time went by. Also included is a chart on prison mortality rates during the war. The struggle of wives and loved ones to bring home the bodies of slain Confederate soldiers is the subject of Judith Giesberg's article The Work that Remains. In the "Casualties of War" department author Stephen Berry discusses Clara Harris Rathbone who sat in the Presidential Box at Ford's Theater on the night John Wilkes Booth shot and ultimately killed Abraham Lincoln. The psychological trauma inflicted on those in the box that night is summed up nicely in a line from the article: "...Booth's bullet had penetrated all their brains..."

With articles containing endnotes and excellent artwork and photos this magazine is showing great promise to be one that will lead other Civil War magazines to pick up their game. Be sure to check out the excellent website associated with the magazine. With blogs, photo essays, and more this promises to become a "must go to" sight for those interested in the war. The magazine also has an excellent Facebook page which I recommend you check out.

Be sure to check your local newstand for the premiere issue!

New Interviews at Civil War Trust

2011-10-01T22:29:00.000-07:00

There are a couple of new interviews posted on the Civil War Trust website that are worth checking out.

Jimmy Price discusses his new book The Battle of New Market Heights: Freedom Will Be Theirs by the Sword (VA). His book tells the story of the US Colored Troops 1864 battle against troops from the Army of Northern Virginia. 14 members of the USCT were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions here. In addition to discussing the book Price also talks about preservation efforts, or lack there of, at the battlefield.

Be sure to also check out Jimmy's blog, The Sable Arm, which is dedicated to the USCT.

Also on the CWT site is an interview with Adam Goodheart. Adam has written the book 1861: The Civil War Awakening. The book covers northern attitudes in the first year of the war with Goodheart making several interesting conclusions regarding northern views toward slavery/abolition, the crisis at Fort Sumter, the passion of northerners toward the war effort and more.

2011-09-25T16:03:00.000-07:00

The Civil War: A Visual History. Parragon, New York, NY. 223 pages, index, b/w photos. ISBN 9781445440378. $14.99.

The Civil War: A Visual History is a collection of photos and other visual items from the Library of Congress and the National Archives mixed with copies of letters and speeches in an attempt to tell a visual story of the war. These images are put together on the page "scrapbook" style occasionally overlapping or at angles. Each is given a brief description and more complete credit information, including LOC catalog numbers is at the back of the book.

The book is laid out by theme including prisons, front lines, the home front, four sections on battles, and more. Many of the images will be familiar to experienced Civil War readers including the famous seated John Burns, three Confederate Prisoners at Gettysburg, Lewis Payne, and others. Many of the images though will be new.

An area confusing to me was the set up of the index. Most individuals are listed under first name rather than the traditional last name. However, some are listed just by last name such as Lincoln...no first name provided. Devil's Den is listed separately but not under Gettysburg. If you are looking for something in particular it's best to look under all possible names.

While interesting this book is no substitute for more in depth volumes such as the multi volume works The Photographic History of the Civil War and the Image of War 1861-1865 series. That really isn't this books aim though. With the holidays quickly approaching this is more likely to be a gift you will receive from a well meaning family member who knows you are interested in the Civil War but doesn't have any idea what book you really want.

For those of you reading this review Susan Blond, Inc., who is handling publicity for the book, kindly sent me two copies of this book. I would be pleased to send one to a reader. Here's what we'll do...If you are interested please leave a comment explaining why you would like the book. The last week of October I will choose a winner and contact them to arrange sending them the book. Fair?

Book Review--Florida Civil War Blockades

2011-09-24T20:01:00.000-07:00

Wynne, Nick and Joe Crankshaw. Florida Civil War Blockades: Battling for the Coast. The History Press, Charleston, SC. 2011. 126 pages, b/w photos. ISBN 9781609493400, $19.99.

While being the third state to secede from the Union, Florida played a fairly small and limited role in the Confederacy in terms of men. With a population of less than 75,000 free citizens the state contributed only around 15,000 soldiers. In addition, being removed from the major theatres of battle little fighting took place in the state. While this makes it appear that the state was an unimportant one that is hardly the case as authors Nick Wynn and Joe Crankshaw attempt to show in their new work discussing the Union blockade of Florida's coastline.

When the Union blockade of the Confederate coast was instituted in early 1861 it seems that little thought was given to how this was going to be carried out. The Union navy at the time consisted of less than 100 ships with only a dozen or so being ready and available to cover more than 3,000 miles of coast with half belonging to Florida. In addition to a lack of ships there was also the issue of supplying the blockaders with training, food and water, and medical supplies. In addition the 1856 Treaty of Paris, which stated that for a blockade to be legal it must be effective, was a concern. With the effectiveness of the blockade in question the Union had to be concerned about the Confederacy being granted European recognition.

Wynne and Crankshaw discuss the state by geographic region. On the east coast the Union established control at Jacksonville, Fernandina, and St. Augustine forcing blockade runners to use smaller ports such as New Smyrna. The problem with such small ports was theft. This was the case with a shipment of shoes and guns that arrived via the Kate in 1862. While some of the guns were recovered the majority of supplies vanished into the hands of locals or into the interior wilderness of the state.

The west coast of the state was led by the port at Tampa. Tampa Bay proved difficult to patrol due to the large entry way. This along with the Hillsboro River that emptied into the Bay made this an attractive target for blockade runners. Charlotte Harbor and Punta Gorda also became important for Confederates.

The final area of the state was the area between Cedar Key and Pensacola, probably the most heavily populated area of the state at the time. While both areas were controlled by Union forces small ports at places such as St. Andrews Bay and Apalachee Bay allowed a continued flow of supplies in and out of the state.

The Union blockade could point to other areas of success in addition to preventing transport of goods and supplies. Salt was a valuable commodity whose price rose considerably during the war. Saltworks were vulnerable to Union blockaders on several fronts. Many saltworks, which were located near the coast, were manned by slaves. Being close to the Atlantic or Gulf made saltworks prime targets of destruction for Union troops. Former slaves or "contraband" as they were known were dealt with in a couple of different ways. Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles had authorized using the contrabands as sailors if they could be useful. Most however were taken to collection points that would serve as prime recruiting grounds later in the war. By destroying two economic drivers at once the blockade helped further pinch and already cramped state.

So do Wynne and Crankshaw think the Union blockade was effective? In their own words "Yes and no." The blockade was leaky at best. Small ports allowed quick moving runners entry into the vast array of waterways leading to the interior of the state. Despite this however around 1,500 blockade runners were stopped. These shipments prevented much needed supplies from entering the state and being shipped over land northward. It also prevented outgoing freight that was bound for ports further north to supply troops or from going to overseas ports that could have provided much needed capital. The success in lowering the production of salt and stopping of fishing vessels put a crimp in the daily lives of many Floridians. Floridians also had to be concerned about the possibility of invading troops coming from blockaders. These factors help push the scales toward a Union success.

This is a quick reading book that provides a good introduction to the topic. It is however far from definitive. Due to space constraints the book does not contain an index, proper bibliography, or notes making it difficult for future researchers to use the book. There is a small essay of suggested reading but this is really of limited value. A few minor typos, including a wrong date of secession for South Carolina, would show a need for a further proof-reading. These issues aside if you are looking for an introduction to the subject this is a book that will fit your needs until a more complete coverage is released.

Book Review--The McGavock Confederate Cemetery

2011-09-24T10:36:00.000-07:00

Jacobson, Eric A. The McGavock Confederate Cemetery: "A Revised and Updated Compilation". Self Published, 2007. 168 pages, index, bibliography, color and b/w photos. No ISBN.

In late November 1864 a vicious five hour battle took place in Franklin, TN. In these short hours nearly 10,000 soldiers were killed (including six Confederate generals), wounded, or missing, making the Battle of Franklin one of the Civil Wars most bloody battles and a further blow to the Confederacy.

Eric A. Jacobsen has written a short but informative book dealing with the carnage left on the battlefield and the people who helped bury the dead with the dignity they deserved. On December 1, 1864 burial details were sent to the field to bury the dead and bring the wounded to care. In total around 1,750 Confederates were buried in makeshift plots, many only a couple of feet deep. Most burials were arranged by state and when details were known they were carved into boards and placed at the head of the burial. By the fall of 1865 any Union dead had been removed with the majority being buried at Stones River National Cemetery.

With the war over a need to return to normalcy came over the country. For those in the Franklin area this was difficult with Confederate dead being buried in yards and farmlands. Enter John and Carrie McGavock.

John McGavock*

John and Carrie became the driving force in establishing a cemetery for the Confederate dead, even going so far as to donate two acres of land next to their own family cemetery. A burial association was formed to help raise the needed funds to find and rebury the soldiers. Funds were requested from each state with men who would be reburied. Money was also raised privately with many soldiers donating to the cause. Through a bidding process George Cupett was awarded the contract to find, exhume, and rebury the bodies of dead soldiers. For this he was to be paid $5 per body. As bodies were found records were made so they could be marked at reburial, the body placed in an oak coffin, and reburied in the new cemetery.

Once burials were completed the cemetery fell to the McGavocks to maintain. Each faithfully upheld this service until their deaths. John dying in 1893 and Carrie in 1905. Around 1925 responsibility for the cemetery was taken over by the Franklin Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

Carrie McGavock*

Jacobson has the book broken into two parts. The first which is briefly told above runs a mere 30 pages or so. The remainder is a listing of the dead buried at McGavock Confederate Cemetery.

The cemetery is broken into 103 sections and here Jacobson outlines what is known about each burial. Where known he provides name, rank, regiment, company and brigade. Notes are provided for burials where there may be further information.

Jacobson has written a short but interesting, and in some senses vital, book for anybody interested in the Battle of Franklin or for those who are doing genealogical work and find they have a relative who fought and perhaps died there. He has used primary sources including the heavily relied upon original McGavock Cemetery Book (which itself has a unique story that Jacobson passes along to readers). Newspapers and original soldier letters, one of which proves to be an excellent example outlining a "good death"** are also used, along with a selection of secondary sources.

If you are interested in this book I would recommend purchasing through the Battle of Franklin Trust website.

*Photos of John and Carrie McGavock are used from the Battle of Franklin Trust, Carton Plantation, Images website.

**For further information on "good death" I highly recommend Drew Gilpen Faust's book This Repulic of Suffering. Please see my review here.

Upcoming Posts

2011-09-08T19:01:00.000-07:00

Several new releases have been received from publishers over the last few weeks and I'd like to bring you up to date on them.

Florida Civil War Blockades: Battling for the Coast--From The History Press. Authors Nick Wynne and Joe Crankshaw discuss the Union's attempt to shut down over 1,500 miles of coastline.

Forrest's Fighting Preacher: David Campbell Kelley of Tennessee--From The History Press. Author Michael R. Bradley brings us the life of Nathan Bedford Forrest's second in command. Kelley returned to preaching after the war and also helped to establish Vanderbilt University.

Genius of Place: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted (A Merloyd Lawrence Book)--From DaCapo Press. Author Justin Martin treats us to the life of Frederick Law Olmsted "abolitionist, conservationist, and designer of Central Park".

The Civil War: A Visual History--From Parragon Press. Letters, speeches, and memoirs mixed with images from photographers, sketch artists, and reporters all in a gift book type format to be released in time for holiday giving.

Book Review: Inventing Stonewall Jackson

2011-09-05T11:48:00.000-07:00

Hettle, Wallace. Inventing Stonewall Jackson: A Civil War Hero in History and Memory (Conflicting Worlds: New Dimensions of the American Civil War). LSU Press, Baton Rouge. 200 pages, 148 pages text. Index, bibliography, notes, b/w photos. ISBN 9780807137819. $34.95.

In the hierarchy of Confederate legends perhaps only Robert E. Lee is more and has been more worshipped than Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. For a man who perished at seemingly the top of his game Jackson left a surprisingly small paper trail for historians to examine. In his new book Inventing Stonewall Jackson author Wallace Hettle rather than examine Jackson himself examines some of the most famous Jackson biographers and how their lives may tie in to their portrayal of the Confederate heroes legend.

For readers wanting to have a short introductory biography to Jackson this is not the place to look. While readers will learn about the legendary general this is really more a book for advanced students of Jackson who are widely read and looking to further their understanding of him. For those unfamiliar with the literature on Jackson this could become a difficult read.

The span of works covered by Hettle include those from Lost Cause advocates such as Robert Lewis Dabney, a fictionalized work by Mary Johnston, a work by the nationally known poet Allen Tate, the movie Gods and Generals, amongst others. This broad body of work that is examined is a strength of this book. In examining these works Hettle attempts to point out how the lives of the authors are put into their version of Jackson's life and how these works play into the entire legend that now surrounds Jackson.

Hettle has chosen a path that should probably be employed by anbody doing research on a historical figure that has had considerable material written about them. While I enjoyed this book I would have been much better prepared for it had I been more familiar with the source material. This is a book that can be recommended to the moderate to advanced student of Jackson and should be considered for any serious Civil War library. While not a large book the thorough bibliography and notes sections show the research that has gone into this work.
Thanks to LSU Press for kindly sending a complimentary review copy.

Below are links to several of the works covered by Dr. Hettle in his book.

16th Annual Lincoln Forum Announcement

2011-09-05T09:09:00.000-07:00

I recently received this reminder about the fast approaching 16th annual Lincoln Forum Symposium. Click here for further information and to download a registration form.

The 16th Annual Lincoln Forum Symposium

“Lincoln and the Homefront: The Civil War Comes to Washington”

November 16th – 18th

Gettysburg, PA

Year Two of a Five-Year Focus on the Civil War Sesquicentennial

Featuring:

Ed Bearss, Stephen Lang, Jason Emerson, William C. (“Jack”) Davis, William Seale, Stephen Berry, Victoria Ott, Michael Kline, Thomas Craughwell, Harold Holzer and Frank J. Williams

*************************************

Panel Discussions, Breakout Sessions, Author Book-Signings, Battlefield Tour, Cooking Demonstration, James Getty & George Buss Performing Lincoln’s History-Changing Words

*********************************************

The Wyndham Hotel, 95 Presidential Circle, Gettysburg, PA

(717) 339-0020 OR (866) 845-8885 (TOLL FREE)

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT OUR WEBSITE AT: WWW.THELINCOLNFORUM.ORG OR

CONTACT: BETTY ANSELMO AT ADMIN@THELINCOLNFORUM.ORG

All-Access Battlefield Tours

2011-08-27T19:56:00.000-07:00

For those of us who study the Civil War reading books is our main tie to our past. However there is little that rivals actually walking the battlefields where our ancestors fought. To truly study a battle one needs the experience of seeing and feeling the fields in person. For those with physical limitations this is unfortunately difficult at best and in many instances impossible.

Enter author, historian, blogger, film maker, and now battlefield guide, Michael Aubrecht. September 1, 2011 will mark the start of his newest venture, All-Access Battlefield Tours. AABT was born out of the needs of some friends of Michael's and his seeing the difficulty they had in enjoying their interest. AABT are tours geared toward those in wheelchairs who wish to visit Civil War sites at Fredericksburg or Spotsylvania. As Michael says "Our goal is to make sure that visitors go where they want to go, see what they want to see, and experience what they want to experience."

Congratulations Michael on your outstanding new venture. I wish you nothing but success!

For more information please see the full press release here. For further information on Michael's services please visit his website here. Michael wouldn't be able to make this a success on his own. Please be sure to visit Troy Technologies, who is helping Michael fulfill the wishes of his clients!

Footnote is Changing it's Name

2011-08-20T12:46:00.000-07:00

I received the following announcement earlier today from Footnote. They are changing their name to Fold3. See below for more details.

On August 18th, Footnote announced it will focus on offering the finest and most comprehensive collection of U.S. Military records available on the internet. As part of this new focus, the name of the site has changed from Footnote to Fold3. The Fold3 name is derived from a traditional flag folding ceremony in which the third fold in the ceremony honors and remembers veterans for their sacrifice in defending their country and promoting peace in the world.

"Traditionally, the third fold in a flag-folding ceremony honors and remembers veterans for their sacrifice in defending their country and promoting peace in the world."

Why Fold3?

We chose a name that would better show honor and respect for those who served in the military. The Footnote name was appropriate for a general historical records site, but for many people, a footnote is something of insignificance and the name is not applicable to the service and sacrifice of those who have fought for their country over the last 250 years.

Content

Going forward Fold3 will be adding millions of U.S. military records to continue to help you discover and share stories about everyday heroes, forgotten soldiers, and the families that supported them. You will still be able to access all the informative records, including non-military records, previously found on Footnote.

Account Details

Your current Annual All-Access account will let you view all the images on Fold3 and you will be able to sign in with your same email address and password you used on Footnote. Any contributions you have made to Footnote will also move over to Fold3. To accommodate our name change, we have updated our Terms of Service and Privacy Statement. Please click the following to review the new Terms of Service and Privacy Statement

We are excited for you to continue with us on Fold3, the Web's premier collection and destination for original U.S. military records.

Visit Fold3 Today

Thank you,

The Fold3 Team (formerly the Footnote Team)

Press Release--LSU Press

2011-08-13T20:04:00.001-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 9, 2011
Contact: Erin Rolfs
erolfs@lsu.edu/225.578.8282

Abraham Lincoln and Treason in the Civil War: Exposes Controversial National Policies From Treason to Presidential Powers, Jonathon White Sheds New Light on Civil War History

Baton Rouge, LA— In Abraham Lincoln and Treason in the Civil War, Jonathan White reveals how the arrest and prosecution of a little-known Baltimore farmer had a lasting impact on the Lincoln administration and Congress as they struggled to develop policies to deal with both northern traitors and southern rebels.

As White describes, Union military authorities arrested Maryland farmer John Merryman in the spring of 1861on charges of treason against the United States for burning railroad bridges around Baltimore in an effort to prevent northern soldiers from reaching the capital. From his prison cell at Fort McHenry, Merryman petitioned Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Roger B. Taney for release through a writ of habeas corpus. Taney issued the writ, but President Abraham Lincoln ignored it. In mid-July Merryman was released, only to be indicted for treason in a Baltimore federal court. His case, however, never went to trial and federal prosecutors finally dismissed it in 1867.

Abraham Lincoln and Treason in the Civil War sheds significant new light on several perennially controversial legal and constitutional issues in American history, including the nature and extent of presidential war powers, the development of national policies for dealing with disloyalty and treason, and the protection of civil liberties in wartime.

Jonathan W. White is an assistant professor of American Studies and a fellow at the Center for American Studies at Christopher Newport University.

November 2011

224 pages, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2, 13 halftones

ISBN 978-0-8071-4214-1

Cloth $49.95

SCV Grave Marker Dedication

2011-08-13T16:14:00.000-07:00

Program from the
event

On the morning of June 4 I had the honor to attend a grave marker dedication at Seville Cemetery sponsored by the Sons of Confederate Veterans. The St. Johns Rangers Camp 1360 helped put on a nice presentation on what was becoming a quite warm morning. Being honored with a Veteran's Administration marker was 5th Sgt. James Gideon Poppell of Co. I 25th Georgia Volunteer Infantry. In attendance were descendants Margaret Wiltse Poppell, Beverly Margo Poppell, and Susan Poppell, along with family friend Andrea Lee Wade.

Sgt. Poppell's new headstone and his
original stone lying in front

Sgt. Poppell's wife, Nancy, filed for a Confederate Widow's Pension in the state of Florida. The information provided by this file shows some contradictions. According to the paperwork she submitted Poppell enlisted on August 1, 1861. She claims he was captured and was a prisoner of war at the conclusion of the war. The record provided by the War Department however shows differently. After enlisting, he was captured in November 1863. In October 1864 Poppell enlisted in Co. E 3rd US Volunteer Infantry and was assigned to frontier service. Based upon this information Mrs. Poppell's pension request was denied.

Commander Byron Peavy, Fifth Brigade
Commander FL Division SCV

Commander Peavy at Sgt. Poppell's
grave site.

Poppell family descendants at the grave site with the
new marker.

Sgt. Poppell's sword

*Photos, except for event program, are courtesy of Judy Delk and Byron Peavy.

Magazine Preview--Civil War Times October 2011

2011-08-13T08:58:00.000-07:00

I received the October issue of Civil War Times in the mail this week. Here's a brief rundown of the contents.

In the Civil War Today column there's an article on Sherwood Forest, an 1810 home and 880 acre grounds near the Rappahannock River that was used by Union forces. The house is currently in a state of "tragic disrepair" and the property has been zoned for residential lots. Also included is an article about the hunt for a permanent home for Jefferson Davis's funeral carriage.

In his Blue & Gray column Gary Gallagher discusses Robert E. Lee's conflicted loyalties.

Harry Smeltzer introduces us to Stonewall Jackson's Winchester, VA headquarters in his Collateral Damage column.

Gordon Berg interviews Joseph Balicki, principal archaeologist and project manager for John Milner Associates, a firm that offers historic preservation services.

A field guide to Corinth, Mississippi includes 14 Civil War related sites.

Michael Williams article "Bullets vs. Bricks in Baltimore" discusses a clash between civilians and Union troops on their way to Washington. Williams book City Under the Guns which tells the story of the military occupation of Baltimore will be released soon.

Tom Huntington tells the story of the North-South Skirmish Association in "Commence Firing".

"Faces of an Era" lets the Liljenquist family show some of their favorite photos from the recently donated collection.
An excerpt from Justin Martin's book Genius of Place: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted is titled "Land of Contradiction". While mostly known for his landscape architecture in 1852 Olmsted was hired by the New York Daily Times to write on slavery and the South.

D. Scott Hartwig has found the original shooting location of photos taken by Alexander Gardner and Timothy O'Sullivan at Gettysburg.

The Union disaster at Ball's Bluff is the subject of William Marvel's "End of the Gentleman's War".

A collection of book reviews and Susannah Ural's "Ural on URLs" column wrap up the issue.

Confederate Flags at Cemetery Cause a Fuss

2011-08-11T16:27:00.000-07:00

Courtesy Civilwarmarkers.com

Just saw the article below about Confederate flags at Westview Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia causing problems. I understand that African-Americans may not like what they feel the flag stands for. For me though what I don't understand is didn't anybody research this cemetery where Rev. Creecy was to be buried? The cries of protest become even weaker to me when you read that some of those complaining say they have relatives buried in the cemetery. If that is the case how did they not know about this memorial? Granted this is quite a large cemetery but something like this monument didn't just pop up over night. There is hardly an old cemetery in the south that does not contain Confederate burials. These burials are almost always commemorated by local SCV groups and others who wish to honor these mens service.

For this one I have to say those wanting the flags removed are really just going a bit too far. The cemetery appears to have hidden nothing and yet the family still chose to have Rev. Creecy buried there. How about what is truly important? That is remembering the deceased and his legacy. Let a flag flying on a statue go. Ignore it like you would the other 100,000+ graves located here.

Blacks protest Confederate flags at Ga. cemetery

AP – 21 hrs ago

ATLANTA (AP) — Black protesters called Wednesday for removing Confederate flags from a monument in an Atlanta cemetery where they recently buried the late president of a civil rights group co-founded by Martin Luther King Jr.

The flags at the Westview Cemetery fly over a sculpture of a Southern solider that memorializes the 400 Confederate veterans buried in the cemetery. The flagpole has an early version of the Confederate national flag and also its last flag, which contains the familiar stars-and-bars design carried by Confederate soldiers in the battlefield.
Mourners noticed the flags on Saturday while burying the Rev. Howard Creecy Jr., who died July 28 at age 57. His death came six months after he took the helm of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which King helped found. His funeral drew civil rights leaders such as SCLC president emeritus Joseph Lowery, U.S. Rep. John R. Lewis and former Atlanta mayor Andrew Young.

"Many persons were upset and asked me to come and do something," the Rev. Benford Stellmacher, one of the protesters who gathered at the cemetery Wednesday, told WAGA-TV (http://bit.ly/qVGt31).

Some black protesters said they were particularly offended because they have family buried in the cemetery.

"For me, it is just an affront to everything that has happened for civil rights and justice for all people that are concerned that this flag still hangs," said John H. Lewis.
Cemetery officials say they understand the complaints, but added they cannot take down the flags since the cemetery years ago sold the rights to erect and maintain the monument to Confederate veterans groups. The Sons of Confederate Veterans, whose members trace their ancestry to Southerners who fought in the Civil War from 1861 to 1865, says the flags will remain.

The Civil War was largely fought over the issue of slavery, and many blacks see the flag as a racist symbol.

"Those flags have flown there for many years and will continue to fly there for many years honoring our Confederate heroes and Confederate dead," the organization told WAGA-TV. "It is not a racial issue."

19th Century Slave Cemetery Discovered Due to Drought

2011-08-10T19:09:00.000-07:00

From the ABC News website dated August 4, 2011. Written by Ben Forer.

Unfortunately this article is short on details. Mainly, what is the reasoning for this to be called a freedman's cemetery. Seems like the local historian is pretty sure on this but it still would have been nice to have some information. Still, an interesting find.

One of the worst droughts in Texas history is helping archaeologists unearth a small piece of American history, a graveyard for freed slaves.
While the heat may be taking a toll on crops, livestock and people's livelihoods, it has helped archaeologists uncover two graves that are believed to have been buried for more than a century.

"This grave was actually uncovered by erosion from the water. It was several feet deep years and years ago," Sgt. Hank Bailey of the Navarro County Sheriff's Office told ABC News Dallas-Fort Worth affiliate WFAA-TV.

Cemeteries were marked and moved before the Richland Chambers Reservoir in Navarro County, Texas, was filled in the 1980s, but this small cemetery without tombstones went unnoticed.

A 19th century slave cemetery has been revealed by the recent Texas drought

Human remains were initially discovered in 2009 by boaters when the water level was low, but the water rose quickly and archaeologists and historians have been waiting ever since for the reservoir to reveal the cemetery again.

"It's not one of the great finds of history, but it's important to us on a local level." Bruce McManus, chairman of the Navarro County Historical Commission, told WFAA-TV. "It's one of the lost cemeteries we've been looking for."

The remains that have been found will be reburied elsewhere. For now, investigators are keeping the cemetery's location a secret because they are afraid of looters.

Press Release

2011-08-10T18:48:00.000-07:00

I received the following press release today. I couldn't find the book on Amazon or B&N yet so I don't have any further information. I will let you know if I find out anything further.

For Immediate Release August 10, 2011

Media Contact:

Leslie Hermelin at Susan Blond Inc.

leslieh@susanblondinc.com - 212.333.7728 ex 131

Featuring Rare and Unseen-By-The-Public Images,

The Civil War: A Visual History

Brings the Civil War to Life on its 150^th Anniversary

Book To Be Released by Parragon Inc September 27, 2011

Interactive App To Be Released Simultaneously

2011 marks the beginning of the 150^th anniversary of the United States Civil War, arguably the most momentous and turbulent time in America's history. Parragon Books is honored to release the new book The Civil War: A Visual History, bringing the country's historical legacy to life in a new and inviting form.

The Civil War: A Visual History pulls together rarely seen photographs, lithographs, and posters from the Civil War era, unfolding a visual representation that is part historical timeline and part personal narrative. Augmented by letters, speeches, and memoir excerpts, this rich guide captures the thoughts and emotions of soldiers on the battlefield and their loved ones at home. Paired together, these mixed media representations provide a sense of history that can't be found in a simple textbook.

One of the book's chief assets is a pristine version of the Confederate Seal Proof Lithograph printed by the King of England's Master Engraver and the letter that accompanied this gift to the Library of Congress. This image of the seal is unparalleled in color and clarity and has remained largely unseen by the public until unearthed in the research for this book. Other highlights include images by the controversial artist Adalbert Volck; a private letter from Alfred Waude, one of the most prolific artists during the war; and a rare photo of Lincoln confidante Rebecca Pomeroy. In addition to a comprehensive collection of traditional wartime imagery (battlefields, soldiers, artillery, and more), The Civil War: A Visual History brings wartime culture to life with reprints of political cartoons, playing cards, collectible cards, newspaper articles, family photos and more.

Bringing our nation's history into the digital age, Parragon will also be releasing a companion app featuring exclusive video interviews on rare images of Abraham Lincoln, the Gettysburg battlegrounds, and the history of photography during the war. The app will also include a look into Civil War soldier and artist Charles W. Reed's sketchbook, digital trading cards, and musical scores from the era. The app will feature multiple navigation options through which fans can experience the breadth of the war, including search by location, by keyword, and by historical timeline.

The Civil War: A Visual History is a fresh look at America's heritage for those already well-versed in our history, and an ideal starting point for those just learning about America's past.

Book Review--The New Gettysburg Campaign Handbook

2011-08-09T19:23:00.000-07:00

Petruzzi, J. David and Steven Stanley. NEW GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN HANDBOOK, THE: Facts, Photos, and Artwork for Readers of All Ages, June 9 - July 14, 1863 (Savas Beatie Handbook). Savas Beatie, El Dorado Hills, CA. 2011. 184 pages. Maps, color and b/w photos. ISBN 978611210781, $18.95.

The dynamic duo who brought us COMPLETE GETTYSBURG GUIDE: Walking and Driving Tours of the Battlefield, Town, Cemeteries, Field Hospital Sites, and other Topics of Historical Interest (see my review here) have returned with yet another must have for those interested in Gettysburg.

Hundreds of thousands of pages have been written about the battle of Gettysburg with more being churned out each year. With that in mind you may find yourself wondering what makes this book different and why should I shell out my $20 for it. Let the authors themselves tell you why: "To the best of our knowledge a book like this--with its varied stories, facts, statistics photos, illustrations, original maps, and so much more did not exist."

This is a perfect book for an introduction to the battle no matter the age of the reader. Included within its pages are five distinct sections: Did You Know, Gettysburg Voices, the Gettysburg Campaign, Images of Gettysburg, and Gettysburg Today. While each serve as a great introduction to this complex battle there is information for those more advanced as well. Are you interested in the weather conditions during the battle? You will find it here. Did any soldiers who fought here win the Medal of Honor? Check and find out. Would you like a good basic introduction to the battle without the time commitment of Coddington, Trudeau, or Sears? This book will serve you well. Want to learn of current resources that will help in planning a trip? Let the experts show you where to begin. Did I mention a thirty plus page Order of Battle? See I told you there was something for the advanced student!

The book is nice sized and as expected from Savas Beatie it's a beaut! Printed on a nice glossy paper that is toned to make it look antique the book is loaded with period and modern photos. No fewer than two dozen maps created by Civil War Trust cartographer Steven Stanley adorn the pages and help bring the action in the text to life.

This is the type of book that can make planning a family vacation fun for everybody. There's good solid information that parents can use and the book can easily be shared with kids to help build their interest. Coupled with Petruzzi and Stanley's earlier book these should lead anybody to a full trip or give them a great start toward learning about the complex battle that took place in a small Pennsylvania town when Confederate soldiers went looking for shoes. Or did they? Read the book to find out!

Highly recommended!

I also recommend checking out the official website for The Complete Gettysburg Guide. There is a wealth of information

Thank you to my good friends at Savas Beatie for kindly supplying a complimentary review copy.

New Arrival--The New Gettysburg Campaign Handbook

2011-08-02T19:19:00.000-07:00

Today I received a much anticipated package from my good friends at Savas Beatie. They have been kind enough to send along a review copy of NEW GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN HANDBOOK, THE: Facts, Photos, and Artwork for Readers of All Ages, June 9 - July 14, 1863 (Savas Beatie Handbook) written by J. David Petruzzi and Steven Stanley.

For those who have read my review of J.D. and Steve's earlier book, COMPLETE GETTYSBURG GUIDE: Walking and Driving Tours of the Battlefield, Town, Cemeteries, Field Hospital Sites, and other Topics of Historical Interest, you know I feel their work is top notch. A quick thumb through this book shows it to have the makings of a winner as well. It has been fast tracked to the top of my reading pile and I hope to have a more full review up shortly.

Civil War Book Review--Summer 2011

2011-08-01T16:53:00.000-07:00

From the good folks at LSU Libraries Special Collections here's the Summer 2011 CWBR.

This issue of Civil War Book Review highlights several works of new scholarship that help us to look at the war and wartime generation, providing a new way of understanding the human reality of the war.

Robert Cook's Civil War Senator: William Pitt Fessenden and the Fight to Save the American Republic (Conflicting Worlds: New Dimensions of the American Civil War)
reminds us of the antebellum years, leading up to the secession crisis, when the war seemed a looming, but not necessarily present, cloud on the horizon. Cook reminds us of the role that individual politicians played in navigating the tenuous years leading up to the war.

Adam Goodheart explores, in 1861: The Civil War Awakening, the ways in which society stood up and recognized the reality of war during the first year by highlighting specific historical figures. These characters confronted the war, forced to feel their way through the uncertainty, in an effort to find their role during the course of the war.

In A World on Fire: Britain's Crucial Role in the American Civil War, Amanda Foreman explores the drama that played out in the game of international politics wherein countless people interpreted the war and its course, influencing whether or not Great Britain would recognize the Confederacy or maintain friendly relations with the United States and Abraham Lincoln.

Finally, several essays, collected and edited by Susannah J. Ural explores how important groups within society experienced a war that significantly altered the notion of citizenship for ethnic and racial groups both North and South. Civil War Citizens: Race, Ethnicity, and Identity in America's Bloodiest Conflict reminds us how deeply the Civil War affected all of American society as individuals sought to understand their role within this momentous event.

Professor Gary Gallagher graciously accepted an invitation to speak with Civil War Book Review about his new book, The Union War. Gallagher goes to great lengths to detail the concept of the word “Union” and what the war meant to the wartime generation. Furthering our understand of the actual people on the ground who deemed it necessary to don a uniform and risk death to fight during the war, Gallagher makes great strides to explain why Union soldiers chose to fight and how they described and remembered their experience.

We are thrilled to add a new element to Civil War Book Review in honor of the Civil War Sesquicentennial this quarter. Our new column, which will feature a different topic in each issue over the next four years, will seek to provide a pulse on the current historiography of that topic while providing some new avenues where we might need to push the scholarship or explore further. We hope that our readers will find this column useful with their own studies and understanding of some complicated topics. Our first installment features historian Russell McClintock who has written a fine piece on secession; we hope that the readers of Civil War Book Review enjoy this column and those to come in the future.

We also have a new columnist moving forward. Michael Taylor will be following in the footsteps of Leah Wood Jewett who has decided to hand over the reins to Mr. Taylor. We thank Leah, very much, for her insightful columns over the past years while we look forward to what Michael Taylor has in store for us. This quarter, he has chosen to introduce a new set of letters in the LSU Special Collections that highlight blockades and blockade runners in the area around Lake Ponchartrain in Louisiana, opening up new opportunities to explore a topic that has often been forgotten.

Florida Veterans Hall of Fame to Include Confederates?

2011-07-29T19:34:00.000-07:00

I received this information from my local SCV Camp. Thanks for the info Preston!

First off...I can't say I knew there was going to be such a thing as the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame. The law calls for honoring veterans who have made a “significant contribution” to the state during their time in the military or afterward. Are there plans for a building or real way of memorializing these men and (no doubt in the future)women other than a plaque on the state capital wall? Who knows. Our state government has some weird priorities and ways to show they can waste money. Oops, I mean be fiscally responsible.

Any way there's of course a big furor due to who is included on the first list of possible inductees and who isn't. The fact that sitting governor Rick Scott with his shockingly low approval rating and more than checkered past was included is the real head scratcher in my eyes. He has graciously bowed out most likely saving himself the embarrassment of not being awarded the honor.

Confederate Brigadier General
and 14th Gov. of Florida
Edward A. Perry

The real uproar of course boils down to diversity and anti Confederate rhetoric. Civil Rights advocates are against Confederate inductees who feel it fans the flames of racism. Also, "rank and file" military members do not have representation. What about women?

Here's my take on this. Ignoring the Civil War and Confederates does not and will not make the past go away. Florida was a part, admittedly a small part, of the Confederacy and these men should be recognized. Sure, maybe not all the first time around but they do need to be recognized. Throwing anger on these men however does serve to activate those who work to honor their Confederate ancestors. Pro Confederate groups will seize on this and use it to their advantage. Trying to rebury these men only gives them name recognition in a time when I would all but guarantee 90+% of Floridians would not recognize more than MAYBE one of these men.

The beauty of any "Hall of Fame" is inductees can be added at will. Not everybody deserving gets in on the first or in Bert Blyleven's case the 13th try. He did however get elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on the 14th try. To me he should have been elected earlier and Roberto Alomar probably shouldn't have gotten in this year. Heck, I'm still waiting on Iron Maiden to get into the Rock and Roll HOF. I'm pretty sure I'll be waiting a long time since there are fine groups such as Katrina and the Waves and some other ridiculous Eric Clapton project that are no doubt more deserving than any heavy metal group. But I digress.

Daniel James, the first African
American Four Star General

The news article listed some excellent candidates, including Josiah Walls and Daniel James, that are no doubt deserving. Instead of beating the dead Confederate horse why not work to get these others elected. Lobby whatever nominating board you need to. Help make their names known. Rather than pursue what you perceive to be a negative work to accentuate the positive. Remember there's always another group to be nominated. On that note, who do I contact about Iron Maiden.

New Arrivals

2011-07-24T11:02:00.000-07:00

There have been a couple of new arrivals from publishers I would like to share with readers until I can delve into them deeper.

First from History Graphics Press is Volume 2 of their Civil War Adventure series. From their website:

History Graphics Press presents a new line of graphic novels that bring the past to life with exciting stories fully illustrated by top talents in comics storytelling.

Civil War Adventures is only the first in a line of volumes dedicated to America’s bloodiest conflict and defining hour. Each book will bring you stories of the men and women on both sides of the conflict and draw you into their world through dramatic stories of courage, sacrifice, tragedy and even comedy. The epic scale of the War Between the States is fully realized on page after page of sumptuously rendered sequential illustrations from some of the very best artists in the field.

Meticulously researched and supplemented with text material, maps and period pictures, these books provide a wealth of instruction and insight as well as hours of engaging entertainment. You’ll join the 5th Virginia as it marches toward its first conflict at Bull Run. You’ll ride along with George Custer as his fabled cavalry faces impossible odds. You’ll be a passenger on an armed riverboat as it drifts into range of waiting batteries along the Mississippi. These stories are designed to make real the everyday experiences of men and women caught up in the war that decided the fate of our nation.

For the Civil War novice or aficionado, these detailed stories bring you into the action and allow you to view the events in a new and exciting way. History Graphics Press is looking forward to future volumes that will explore the Civil War and many other aspects of American history in a way that is as thrilling as it is educational.

Run by comic book veterans writer Chuck Dixon and artist Gary Kwapisz, this looks like an interesting and hopefully viable way to bring more people into the study of history. The art looks nice and if the stories go as well this should be a winner!

I was also recently sent a PDF copy of the new book And the War Came: The Six Months That Tore America Apart written by Jamie Malanowski, who has written for Spy, Vanity Fair, and the New York Times. Published by Byliner it appears this is only available digitally but should be available for whatever e-reader you own.

From the publisher website:

The creator of The New York Times’ award-winning Disunion blog tells the extraordinary story of the country’s slide into the Civil War. A riveting account of a national tragedy whose echoes are still with us today.

Confederate Paintings to Be Displayed Online

2011-07-20T17:06:00.000-07:00

Rarely-displayed paintings of Charleston during the Civil War by a Confederate soldier, including an iconic rendering of the submarine H.L. Hunley, are being made available this week on the Internet by The Museum of the Confederacy

The museum in Richmond, Va., on Tuesday goes live on its Web site with all 31 paintings by Conrad Wise Chapman, an American artist who grew up in Italy and later served with the Confederate Army.

Read the full article here.

View the online exhibition here.

Book Review--Beyond the Gatehouse

2011-07-18T19:00:00.000-07:00

Kennell, Brian. Beyond the Gatehouse: Gettysburg's Evergreen Cemetery. Evergreen Cemetery Association, Gettysburg, PA. 2000. 117 pages. Index, bibliography, b/w photos, map. ISBN 0966477200, $9.95*.

For those of us who study history it can be tough to pass up a cemetery much to the chagrin of our loved ones. Historic cemeteries are even better when you can purchase an excellent guide like the one written by Brian Kennell, second generation superintendent at Evergreen Cemetery.

In a fast reading 117 pages Kennell takes us on a brief history of the cemetery and then on a guided tour of the most famous burials located there.

The Gatehouse from across the Baltimore Pike

While the grounds are beautiful that doesn't mean it comes easy. As you walk through the Gatehouse and into the well maintained cemetery be sure to understand that much of the ground you are standing on consists of diabase rock. What is diabase rock you ask? Think both Round Tops, Devil's Den, and Culp's Hill. Now imagine trying to dig graves in the summer heat much like the pregnant Elizabeth Thorn did while her husband Peter was serving in the 138th PA Infantry. Hers is just one of many stories you will read about in this must have book for students of Gettysburg.

The book is really a brief series of biographies of the famous and important buried in Evergreen. The book rightly starts out with James Gettys, the town founder. Others that will be recognizable to Gettysburg history buffs include Virginia "Jennie" Wade, David Wills, Rev. Dr. Samuel Schmucker, John Burns, Jack Skelly, and William Tipton. For those with interests other than the Battle of Gettysburg there are the burial sites of Eddie Plank the Baseball Hall of Famer, singer and actor Oscar Shaw, and poet Marianne Moore amongst others. Also included is a nice fold up and removable map for finding the locations of the burials.

Located just southeast from the Gettysburg National Cemetery look for the beautiful Gatehouse on the Baltimore Pike. There is parking close by but be careful as sometimes traffic can be a bit on the fast side near the entrance. Both the book and the cemetery are highly recommended!

Please be sure to check out Gettysburg Daily who has a great set of posts featuring Evergreen Cemetery hosted by Licensed Battlefield Guide Deb Novotny.

* While I have included a link to Amazon the prices are really out of line. This week I acquired a nicely signed and inscribed copy through Battlefields and Beyond paying cover price. I would recommend giving Bern a call or contacting the cemetery directly through the link on their site.

Borders to Close Up Shop

2011-07-18T16:54:00.000-07:00

Well, even though this is sad who didn't see it coming. And the thought of a Borders/Books-A-Million combination does nothing but hurt my stomach. BAM just doesn't quite seem to get how to run a bookstore in my opinion but that's for a different post I suppose. I've only been in a couple of Borders...there isn't one too close to me. I did manage to meet Ted Nugent at a Borders several years ago though so I can't say they are all bad.

The article below is courtesy of Yahoo.

Borders Calls Off Auction, Plans to Liquidate

The Borders Group, the bankrupt 40-year-old bookseller, said on Monday that it will move to liquidate after no last-minute savior emerged for the company.

Borders said in a press release that it will proceed with a proposal by Hilco and the Gordon Brothers Group. That liquidation plan will be presented to the federal judge overseeing the company's bankruptcy case on Thursday.

What is left to unwind are Borders' 399 stores, about two-thirds of the locations it operated when it filed for bankruptcy in February. It currently has 10,700 employees.

Borders will begin closing down its remaining stores as soon as Friday, and the liquidation is expected to run through September.

The development came as little surprise, ever since a committee of Borders' biggest unsecured creditors rejected the company's plan to sell itself to the Najafi Companies for $215.1 million. The committee had argued that the bid by Najafi, which also owns the Books-of-the-Month Club, could have allowed the investment firm to liquidate borders without letting creditors benefit.
Najafi has since said publicly that it would not make another bid for the company.

Borders had set Sunday as a deadline to find alternatives to liquidation. But while it had held talks with the likes of Books-a-Million, the bookseller was unable to sign up another deal.

"Following the best efforts of all parties, we are saddened by this development," Mike Edwards, Borders' president, said in a statement. "The headwinds we have been facing for quite some time, including the rapidly changing book industry, eReader revolution, and turbulent economy, have brought us to where we are now."

While Borders was unable to find a buyer for most of itself, some of its rivals -- notably its bigger rival, Barnes & Noble -- have expressed interest in purchasing a few locations.

The company, which began in 1971 as a used bookstore in Ann Arbor, Mich., had fought to stay afloat for years amid a difficult retail environment, persistent management turnover and a failure to move aggressively in the e-book space. In February, it filed for bankruptcy protection and subsequently closed about one-third of its 650 stores.

Publishers were disheartened but hardly surprised by the announcement, as they have watched Borders's troubles deepen for years. According to Bowker, a research organization for the publishing industry, Borders accounted for 13 percent of the overall market share for print books in 2010. By July, that had dwindled to less than five percent, several large publishers said.

After the bookseller declared bankruptcy in February, many publishers pressed Borders for a reorganization plan, but were left unconvinced that executives had a viable way to revamp the company.

"It saddens me tremendously because it was a wonderful chain of bookstores that sold our books very well," said Morgan Entrekin, the president and publisher of Grove/Atlantic, an independent publisher. "It's part of the whole change that we're dealing with, which is very confusing."

The news exposed one of publishers' deepest fears: that bookstores will go the way of the record store, leaving potential customers without the experience of stumbling upon a book and making an impulse purchase. In the most grim scenario, publishers have worried that without a clear place to browse for books, consumers could turn to one of the many other forms of entertainment available and leave books behind.

Independent shops have closed in droves as book sales have moved online, especially to Amazon. Barnes & Noble put itself up for sale last year and has focused on expanding its digital footprint as sales of print books have sputtered.

Publishers said with Borders gone, they would plan for smaller print runs and shipments. Employees at major publishing houses worried that layoffs could be imminent, as many companies have dedicated staff members that work only with Borders.

The closing could have a particular impact in paperback sales. Borders was known as a retailer that took special care in selling paperbacks, and its promotion of certain titles could boost them to best-seller status

Book Review--Sickles at Gettysburg

2011-07-15T18:16:00.000-07:00

Hessler, James. SICKLES AT GETTYSBURG: The Controversial Civil War General Who Committed Murder, Abandoned Little Round Top, and Declared Himself the Hero of Gettysburg Savas Beatie, El Dorado Hills, CA. Index, bibliography, notes, maps, b/w photos. 490 pages, 406 pages text*, ISBN 9781932714845, $22.95

Few Civil War subjects lend themselves to as many questions and as much controversy as Daniel Sickles. Praised by some and vilified by more Sickles is as dividing a figure in Civil War history as there is. In his masterful work Sickles at Gettysburg author James Hessler, while leaving the decision as to Sickles legacy to the reader, puts him out there with all his wrinkles.

Dan Sickles life is a remarkable collection of stories that are woven together with skill in a way that makes each piece vital to the whole story. While primarily covering Sickles actions at Gettysburg, Hessler includes the rest of Sickles life and this helps show readers the pattern of arrogance that Sickles showed throughout his entire life.

Sickles' political career began when he associated himself with the Tammany Hall Democrats and continued rising with his election to the New York Assembly in 1847. During this time he was what might be called a playboy and even his 1852 marriage did not slow this down. In 1855 he was elected to the New York Senate and in 1856 was elected to the U.S. Congress. Tiring of her husband's free ways Teresa Sickles took part in an affair of her own with Philip Barton Key. Sickles ultimately murdered Key and the resulting trial produced a not guilty verdict with what now may be called a temporary insanity defense. Hessler traces the trial and evidence effectively showing the male dominated society of the time.

The Civil War is the next big event in Sickles life and here he uses his political skill to continue receiving bigger and larger appointments. Sickles contacts and recruiting abilities eventually landed himself command of the III Corps as a Major General. Sickles certainly was what would be called a political general. Sickles role at Chancellorsville and his famous role at Gettysburg are covered in depth. Sickles unwillingness to follow orders while at Gettysburg is of course legendary and his move from Meade's fishhook forward to the Wheatfield thus leaving Little Round Top uncovered will be debated as long as the Civil War is studied. It can be argued that his move was genius by tying up Longstreet's men or that it could have proven a disaster and without luck and skill from others have cost the Union the battle. Ultimately we all know what happened but Hessler gives us plenty of ammunition with which to make our own decisions.

After Sickles injury at Gettysburg much of the rest of his life is spent attempting to promote his war legacy most often at the expense of General George Meade. Post war oddities such as his late in life friendship with Confederate General James Longstreet and also the controversy of Sickles being awarded the Medal of Honor more than 30 years after the war are adequately covered as well. Perhaps Sickles great legacy however were his battlefield preservation efforts. Until 1974 Gettysburg National Military Park boundaries were set based upon maps produced by Sickles. And while Sickles himself does not have a monument (well, we all know the whole battlefield is his monument) he does have a road name after him and he was also an early proponent of there being both Union and Confederate markers on the field.

This is an excellent book that will no doubt be a starting point for future research on Sickles. A full bibliography and detailed end notes show the depth of the research Hessler has done. Illustrated with maps from Brad Gottfried and printed on high quality paper this is the standard from noted publisher Savas Beatie. Highly recommended!

Hessler is the winner of the 2009 Bachelder-Coddington Literary Award from the Robert E. Lee Civil War Round Table of Central New Jersey and was also a finalist for the Army Historical Foundation's Biography category for the 2009 Distinguished Writing Award.

For further information please check this Facebook page or the Sickles at Gettysburg web page.

* Page counts are based upon the hardcover version which is what I read. ISBN and price information is based upon the trade paperback.

Attempted Theft of Historical Documents

2011-07-12T20:32:00.000-07:00

Recently there was destruction and now outright theft. I can only imagine what is next. What is so sad is that one of the accused is a published history author. I won't include a link to his book since scum like this don't deserve to sell books. Thanks to Yahoo for the article below.

Here's a link to the Maryland Historical Society where the attempted theft took place.

NY men charged in Md. presidential artifacts theft

By SARAH BRUMFIELD - Associated Press | AP – Mon, Jul 11, 2011

BALTIMORE (AP) — A published presidential historian was one of two men caught with millions of dollars in documents from the Maryland Historical Society, including some signed by President Abraham Lincoln, according to court documents.

Baltimore police charged Barry Landau, 63, and Jason Savedoff, 24, both of New York City, on Saturday with theft of more than $100,000 and they were ordered held on Monday. The FBI is involved in the investigation under a federal statute that covers thefts from museums.

An employee told police he had been watching Savedoff and Landau for several hours, believing their behavior to be suspicious. He called police after he saw Savedoff conceal a document in a portfolio and walk it out of the library, according to court documents.

A search of a locker at the building that Savedoff was carrying a key to turned up 60 documents. That included papers signed by Lincoln worth $300,000, numerous presidential inaugural ball invitations and programs worth $500,000, a signed Statue of Liberty commemoration valued at $100,000 and a signed Washington monument commemoration valued at $100,000, court documents state.

Court records do not list attorneys for the men. A message was left at a number listed for Landau and no listing could be found for Savedoff.

Landau had signed out many of the documents police found in Savedoff's bag in the locker. Staff told police that the dozens of other documents had about the same value.
Photocopies of all the historical papers were made and the originals were returned to the historical society.

An Associated Press story written in 2007 when Landau's "The President's Table: Two Hundred Years of Dining and Diplomacy" was published notes that he was working on a trilogy was to be followed by a history of inaugurations and a volume on presidential style. The story describes vintage black and white etchings of 19th-century inaugurations on the walls of his Manhattan high-rise apartment, a cabinet displaying presidential mugs, plates, goblets and a skeleton key that fit the front door of the White House during John Adams' administration and a wall of inscribed photos of presidents.

There are careful rules dictating the procedures for viewing documents in the library and people may only check one set of documents out of the stacks at once, according to society President Burt Kummerow. First-time visitors must complete a registration form and present current photo identification and researchers must sign in and out during each visit, according to the society's website. What happened is a reminder of the value of the documents at the library, he said.

"It is one of the older libraries in the United State and is wonderful record of the story of the early United States and right up to the present," Kummerow said.

John F. Kennedy at Gettysburg

2011-07-04T11:40:00.000-07:00

With this being the 148th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg I thought I would share what I think is a very cool post from Gettysburg Daily.

The Kennedys at the Eternal Light Peace Memorial
on Oak Hill.

On March 31, 1963 John F. Kennedy and his family visited Gettysburg. One of the stops they made was at the Eternal Light Peace Memorial. Please click the link above to see some rare close up home video shot by Betty J. Ridinger Deitch. My how times have changed. It is said that Mrs. Kennedy got the idea for the eternal flame at John F. Kennedy's burial spot from their visit to Gettysburg.

Book Review--Soldiers of the Southern Cross

2011-07-03T16:57:00.000-07:00

Wilson, William Gregory. Soldiers of the Southern Cross: The Confederate Soldiers of Tallapoosa County, Alabama. Self Published, Roanoke, AL. 2011. 313 pages, 160 pages text, index, bibliography, 43 appendices, b/w photos. ISBN 9781450749626, $35.

As the Civil War continued to take it's deadly toll each state was required to shoulder it's share of replenishing troops. Whether through volunteer efforts or conscription soldiers were needed in efforts both in the east and the west. Author William Gregory Wilson has produced a fascinating and usefull book outlining the sacrifices made by a single county in eastern Alabama. Ultimately Tallapoosa County would send over 3,000 sons, fathers, and brothers to war with nearly 850 not returning.

Tallapoosa County was formed in 1832 on land once owned by the Creek Nation. The land had both good and bad areas for farming with the best land being near the Tallapoosa River. Despite the differences in land quality the county grew and as was the norm agriculture was the lifeblood with cotton being the main crop. Cotton was of course built on the back of slave labor. At the onset of the Civil War the county population of right around 24,000 contained approximately 28% slaves. As would be expected the rise of the Republican party and the election of Abraham Lincoln led to calls for secession. While not approved of by all delegates the state approved an Ordnance of Secession on January 11, 1861. With the firing on Fort Sumter the war was on and so was the race for recruits.

Wilson has divided his book up by regiments that primarily fought in the east and those in the west. If he was able to verify that soldiers from Tallapoosa County mustered in to a regiment it is included. This of course means that some receive much more in depth coverage than others. The 47th Infantry as a whole receives nearly 30 pages while other Companies from small regiments may only garner a paragraph or two. Of course the 47th took part in the most legendary of Civil War battles, Gettysburg, at perhaps the most well known location there, Little Round Top.

This book is ambitious and accomplishes a lot. It could accomplish even more with a professional editing job. Overall the spelling and grammar are fine and the overall look and feel of the book are much better than the majority of self published works. I think a professional history editor could have made the flow of the book go better and also helped make more cohesive sense of it all.

That said there is a tremendous amount of research contained within this books pages. More than 40 appendices break out each Company that had soldiers from Tallapoosa County. These men then receive a very brief biographical treatment most of which was obtained through service records. The bibliography contains many primary resources and archive collections that were referenced. Also included are photos of soldiers both from the war period and then later in the lives of these brave men.

This is a book that should be in the collections of most libraries in the state of Alabama. With its more than reasonable price genealogical societies should also own a copy and anybody with ancestors from this region of Alabama should not miss checking this book. The index contains all the soldiers referenced whether in text or in an appendix. For anybody with an interest in local Alabama history this is also a must own. While this may not have broad appeal to all interested in Civil War history this is a book that can still be strongly recommended.

Please be sure to check Mr. Wilson's website and also his Facebook page.

Thanks go to Mr. Wilson for providing a complimentary review copy.

Research Help Requested

2011-06-27T18:05:00.000-07:00

Some readers will know that I am researching the Civil War in Volusia County, FL (OK not much really happened but there's also not much written). Since there's not much out there I am also researching Confederate veterans who are buried in the county. I'm gathering my own headstone photos and getting GPS coordinates. Some burials are on private property so that will be a bit tricky but we'll work through that.

My questions regard Masons. Several of the headstones I have found have Mason symbols on them. Not being a Mason I have no idea how they are organized or how the group works. Have any of you ever used Mason lodges for research and with what success? Is there any standard form or procedure that should be followed? Do lodges have a "historian" or somebody similar that inquiries should be directed to? Any other suggestions?

Thanks for any help or guidance you can provide!

Adelbert Ames Follow Up

2011-06-26T10:09:00.000-07:00

I recently posted an article about a home owned by Union general Adelbert Ames and the repair work that is needed. You can read that post here.

While looking through old posts at Gettysburg Daily I came across this article featuring Licensed Battlefield Guide Christina Moon discussing general Ames. This is well worth reading and the site is worth a daily visit. There's always something to learn.

Book Review--A Glorious Army

2011-06-25T10:36:00.000-07:00

Wert, Jeffry D. A Glorious Army: Robert E. Lee's Triumph, 1862-1863. Simon and Schuster, New York, NY. 2011. 383 pages, 295 pages text. Index, bibliography, notes, b/w photos, maps. ISBN 9781416593348, $30.

For decades Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia have been hailed as one of the greatest fighting machines in history. What is it that has led us to this belief? What was it about Robert E. Lee that caused many of his troops to to follow his orders with such devotion and also to keep the home front supportive. Discovering the answer is the aim of Jeffry Wert's new book.

Wert convincingly argues that Robert E. Lee helped change the Confederate outlook, taking the war from a defensive one and turning it to the offensive. Using the time frame from his promotion before Seven Days through Gettysburg Wert shows how Lee searched for a large and decisive victory understanding that a long war would favor the Union. Being aggressive and showing the Union army an audacity not encountered prior to his promotion, Lee believed he could beat down northern will before their industrial and manpower advantages came into play.

Wert shows Lee as a fighter willing to take risks to achieve his goals. While Union general Grant is often called a butcher based upon the number of troops he lost Robert E. Lee lost considerable numbers as well. The problem is the Confederacy did not have the population base to replace massive losses. In addition to the losses of foot soldiers Lee and the Confederacy suffered mightily due to losses in the officer ranks. The loss of key generals such as Stonewall Jackson, William Dorsey Pender, Lawrence Branch, Maxcy Gregg, Samuel Garland, George B. Anderson, Charles Winder, Lewis Armistead, Richard Garnett, Paul Semmes, William Barksdale, J. Johnston Pettigrew, William Starke, and Thomas Cobb during the time frame discussed led to a leadership vacuum that hurt the Confederacy in the later years of the war. (p 292-293)

As Lee continued to rack up victories his confidence in his army grew to a level that was unrealistic helping cause the defeat at Gettysburg and thus the turning point of the war. The eleven month period culminating at Chancellorsville, while costing nearly 60,000 Confederate casualties saw the ANV defeat, and help lead to the removal of, Union generals George McClellan, John Pope, Ambrose Burnside, and Joseph Hooker. Only with the promotion of George Meade and later Ulysses S. Grant did Lee meet generals finally willing and able to confront the bravado shown by the ANV. While terrain was a large help to the Union and there can be no doubt that Meade did not aggressively follow the defeated Confederates Meade has gone down as the general who helped turn the battle for the Union with his victory at Gettysburg.

The book is handsomely produced including a large bibliography and notes section as would be expected from Wert. There are also numerous b/w photos and a few maps scattered throughout. The writing is clear and easy to read. While not recommended for those who do not have some background knowledge this is a book that should be in the library of any student of Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia.

Gettysburg Visitor's Center Price Increase

2011-06-23T19:02:00.000-07:00

I wanted to post a follow up to my earlier post regarding a proposed fee increase to see the museum, Cyclorama, and film at the Gettysburg Visitor's Center. The NPS has approved a fee increase of $2 per adult and has restructured the fees charged for children. Read more about this change at the Gettysburg Times website.

I know many have big issues with the Gettysburg Foundation and the fact that there is an admission charge at all. I'm not going to argue this point because there is no changing people's mind on this. My knowledge on the Foundation only goes back a couple of years so I'm not at full speed on everything that went on years ago when it was founded. Anyway, does it matter at this point? What I will say is, if you wish to visit the museum, see the Cyclorama, or the film you can become a member of the Foundation or pay the $12.50. For most reading this blog I imagine this might be something you will do once and then if you visit Gettysburg again will probably pass on.

Eisenhower Farm

Even if you don't want to tour the museum (I do highly recommend seeing the Cyclorama even though you won't get anywhere near enough time to see it before being ushered out) I think you shouldn't miss the VC at least on your first trip. There's an excellent bookstore there. Now personally I like Bern at Battlefields and Beyond, Lucas and Julie at Pages of the Past, and of course the good folks at the American History Store but the VC Bookstore should not be missed. Also, if you want to take a LBG tour it will probably start here though guides can be flexible and the two I took earlier this year started at my hotel. And let's not forget a lesser known gem at Gettysburg, the Eisenhower Farm. If you want to visit there you will need to take a bus from the VC.

Whether we as devotees of this hallowed ground agree with the Foundation it's here to stay: good or bad, right or wrong. Rather than continue to argue with and run down the Foundation maybe this energy should be put to better use. There are plenty of worthwhile groups out there that would appreciate the support.

Adelbert Ames House in Need of Repairs

2011-06-20T19:58:00.000-07:00

This article is courtesy of the Daytona Beach News Journal. A house once owned by Union General Adelbert Ames is in desperate need of repairs. So far there's no real grass-roots effort that I am aware of. Of course with it being a government owned building I'm not sure how many private citizens will be willing to put money or effort into the cause.

Sorry for the weird formatting on the photos. They came out this way when I pasted the article and after messing it up a couple of times trying to move them and make more sense of it I gave up.

Ormond Beach debates historic house repairs

By AUDREY PARENTE, Staff Writer

June 20, 2011 12:05 AM

Posted in:

Tagged:

Ames house

Ames House, used for the city attorney’s office, has problems, including leaking windows and mold. Repairs would cost the city more than $284,000. (N-J | Nigel Cook)

Gen. Adelbert Ames and his wife, Blanche, were the owners of Ames House in the early 1900s. The home and grounds stayed in the family until Ormond Beach acquired the property in 1973. The grounds are a public park. (Ormond Beach Historical Society)

Some of the repairs that need to be made at the Ames House deal with leaks around the windows. The first phase of the Ames House improvement program could begin later this year with replacement of 12 historic windows at $22,000. (N-J | David Tucker)

The gardens at Ames Park on the south side of the Ames House are “pretty well used,” including by students and photographers, according to City Attorney Randy Hayes. (N-J | David Tucker)

City Attorney Randy Hayes (N-J | David Tucker)

ORMOND BEACH -- In the early 1900s, Blanche Ames became a golf widow -- rocking her days away on the veranda of the Ormond Hotel while her husband, former Union Army General Adelbert Ames, strolled the fairways with John D. Rockefeller, the city's most famous winter resident.

She looked for something to occupy her time so she began buying real estate, including land on the mainland along the Halifax River, and a block house at 173 S. Beach St., according to historic material displayed in a gazebo there. The blocks are molded masonry designed to simulate rough-cut limestone, according to the records.

The house offers an expansive view of the water and riverfront homes on the opposite side from its location on a jut of land south of the Granada Bridge.

In 1973, the city acquired the land, now Ames Park, south of Granada Boulevard. The stone house was used for city services, and since 1999 as the city attorney's office.
But the building has problems, including leaking windows and mold. Repairs in a three-year proposed improvement plan to be considered by city commissioners would cost more than $284,000.

Commissioners will learn more about the costs at a capital improvement workshop at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the training room at City Hall, prior to a 7 p.m. commission meeting in commission chambers.

The first phase of the Ames House improvement program would begin later this year with replacement of 12 historic windows at $22,000. Masonry work, moisture protection, drywall replacement and other initial improvements would total more than $57,000, according to a report submitted by Acting City Engineer John Noble.
The second phase includes more masonry work, doors, windows and disinfecting for nearly $175,000. Phase three includes more of the same for an additional $52,000, the report said.

"It blows my mind," said Commissioner Troy Kent of the proposed cost at a recent commission meeting.

"I want to fix the Ames House, but not for $300,000," Kent said at the meeting.
Commissioner Rick Boehm said the government-required arrangement of having a single contractor for city projects has advantages but a drawback is there are no competitive bids to compare.

Mayor Ed Kelley has some different ideas for the building.

"I have been talking to an individual who would be possibly looking at a joint public/private partnership," Kelley said at the meeting. "We have more than enough vacant space at City Hall for the legal department to move into.

"It will cost us a half-a-million dollars by the time it's done, because this does not include the top floor," Kelley said.

A public/private partnership could also include restoring the MacDonald House at 38 E. Granada Blvd., home of the Ormond Beach Historical Trust, he said.
Commissioner Bill Partington said he understood repairs might be "costly because it's historic" but he would like to keep the Ames House as a city facility.

Commissioner James Stowers said at the meeting he was "inclined to keep the city attorney and his staff over there," and City Attorney Randy Hayes said he would like to "be involved in any decision to be anywhere other than where we currently are."

In a separate interview, Hayes said the park is "pretty well used," including by students and photographers. Visitors often stop by the building with questions, although it is not open to the public, he said.

"The Ames House was owned by my great uncle -- built by an artist in 1910," said T.P. Plimpton of Ormond Beach in a phone interview. Plimpton, brother of the New York aristocrat and famed writer George Plimpton, lives across from the Ames house and describes its condition as "poor."

Local attorney Greg Snell, award winner for restoration of a 1940s coquina structure at 160 E. Granada Blvd., believes promoting local history is important.

Ames House," he said. "Whether or not it remains property of the city, I would like to be involved (with Ames House). I have a lot I could contribute.

"If they are looking at a private/public partnership, there might be incentive for someone to invest," Snell said.

"It's a great building and aesthetically appealing as well," he said. "It would be great to have that restored and accessible to visitors."

New Arrivals

2011-06-18T14:09:00.000-07:00

A few new arrivals compliments of publishers have been in my mailbox over the last couple of weeks.

Courtesy of my good friends at L.S.U. Press: They have been kind enough to send along a copy of Albert Taylor Bledsoe: Defender of the Old South and Architect of the Lost Cause (Southern Biography Series).

From the front flap and Amazon:

Product Description

Albert Taylor Bledsoe (1809-1877), a principal architect of the South's ''Lost Cause'' mythology, remains one of the Civil War generation's leading and most controversial intellectuals. In Albert Taylor Bledsoe: Defender of the Old South and Architect of the Lost Cause Terry A. Barnhart sheds new light on this provocative figure.

Bledsoe gained a respectable reputation in the 1840s and 1850s as a metaphysician and speculative theologian. His two major works, An Examination of President Edwards' Inquiry into the Freedom of the Will (1845) and A Theodicy; Or, Vindication of the Divine Glory, As Manifested in the Constitution and Government of the Moral World (1853), grapple with perplexing problems connected with causality, Christian theology, and moral philosophy. His fervent defense of slavery and the constitutional right of secession, however, solidified Bledsoe as one of the chief proponents of the idea of the Old South.

In An Essay on Liberty and Slavery (1856), he assailed egalitarianism and promoted the institution of slavery as a positive good. A decade later, he continued to devote himself to fashioning the ''Lost Cause'' narrative as the editor and proprietor of the Southern Review from 1867 until his death in 1877. He carried on a literary tradition aimed to reconcile white southerners to what he and they viewed as the indignity of their defeat by sanctifying their lost cause. Those who fought for the Confederacy, he argued, were not traitors but honorable men who sacrificed for noble reasons.

This biography, the first ever published of its subject, skillfully weaves Bledsoe's extraordinary life history into a narrative that illustrates the events that shaped his opinions and influenced his writings. Barnhart demonstrates how Bledsoe still speaks directly, and sometimes eloquently, to the core issues that divided the nation in the 1860s and continue to haunt it today.

About the Author

Terry A. Barnhart is professor of history at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. He is the author of Ephraim Squier and the Development of American Anthropology and journal articles relating to the history of American anthropology and the development of regional consciousness in the Old Northwest, 1820 to 1865.

Next up is an interesting self published book that looks like it will have lots of value for anybody interested in the role of Alabama in the Confederate army and should be a must check for anybody doing genealogical work on Tallapoosa County, Alabama.

Thanks go to William Gregory Wilson for sending a nicely signed copy of his work SOLDIERS OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS: THE CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS OF TALLAPOOSA COUNTY, ALABAMA. This book discusses the various regiments that young men from a single county joined during the Civil War. Using letters, the OR, service records, and more along with period photos of some of the brave soldiers, this looks like a book that will do these men and this county proud. Included are name lists for the various regiments with brief biographical information on the men when available and also a full index which should make this easy to use for family historians. I have high hopes for this.

Please visit Mr. Wilson's website here. There you can learn more on the subject and also on soldiers who served in World War 1. Also consider joining his Facebook page here

New Lincoln Documents Discovered

2011-06-18T08:11:00.000-07:00

Not brand new news but worth reporting anyhow.

Intern makes Lincoln document discovery

By Rachel Rose Hartmanrachel Rose Hartman– Fri Jun 17, 2:08 pm ET

Listen up, interns tasked with endless hours of filing. Museum intern David Spriegel was organizing a stack of documents last month at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Ill. when he made a shocking discovery.

Spriegel, a college student who had just begun his summer internship, noticed an inscription that read: "The above memorandum is in the inscription of Abraham Lincoln."

Spriegel had just discovered two previously unknown documents that Lincoln wrote in 1844 while the future president was working as a lawyer in Springfield.

"To tell you the truth, I doubted that these documents could really be authentic," Spriegel told the Lake County News-Sun Wednesday, after word had gotten out about his finding. "I figured a discovery like this would have been made by somebody else over the years. I didn't think somebody in their first week on the job would find this."
Experts with the library's Papers of Abraham Lincoln project have since confirmed the authenticity of the documents, as has a curator with the Lincoln Collection, the newspaper reports. The papers are now catalogued with 5,600 additional Lincoln legal cases; the library will make them available for viewing this fall.

"It really doesn't happen very often," Glenna Schroeder-Lein, a manuscripts librarian and Spriegel's supervisor told the paper as she described her intern's discovery. "I've found some letters to Lincoln, but I've never found letters by Lincoln."

(Photo of Lincoln in Mathew Brady's studio in Washington, under the supervision of George A. Story, Curator Emeritus of the Metropolitan Museum, 1861, via AP)

Author and Book Information--Nancy Brewer

2011-06-15T17:18:00.000-07:00

I received some information from author Nancy B. Brewer today and thought I would pass it along. Ms. Brewer is the author of Carolina Rain and the recently released Beyond Sandy Ridge.

As she says about her work "I must say my writing has opened the eyes of Yankees and Southerners alike. Many of whom would have never read a history book about the so called, "Civil War". Yet, they were happy to read a romance/historical fiction novel. My books are well researched and they do not bash the North."

From her website:

"Carolina Rain"

A fiction novel based on history. The story takes place in the 1860's with The War Between The States in the background, but the real story revolves around the life of Thedosia Elizabeth Sanders.

Listen as she tells you about her life, the joys, the sadness and the unbearable.
Step back in time and find out the details and the secrets of daily living in the 1860's.
Beyond Sandy Ridge

As The War Between the States closes in, Lizzie flees her home leaving behind her hopes and dreams. She finds a new home, where finery and social graces will buy nothing, not even friends. To the people of Stanly, County North Carolina, Lizzie is a familiar story. She is just another young widow with a babe in her arms. Her secret past will forever be buried deep in the sandy soil of Charleston.

"Beyond Sandy Ridge," is one woman's journey of survival, a collection of her most intimate desires and her passion for a man named Joel. Many of those she loved are forever silent. It was for their sake, she found the courage to tell her story.

Also on her website you may order books, listen to audio previews, and watch Ms. Brewer's YouTube videos or get a nice blackberry cobbler recipe. While I haven't read either of her books Ms. Brewer looks to be the type author who would appeal to those who read historical fiction/romance.

Magazine Preview--Civil War Times

2011-06-12T17:28:00.000-07:00

The August 2011 Civil War Times is now available and has some excellent content.
The letters column is heavily slanted toward the June 2011 article dealing with the best and worst Gettysburg monuments.

The Civil War Today column has several interesting items including the release of the first Sesquicentennial stamps being released by the USPS. Try to guess who the most searched for Civil War General is at the National Archives. Did you guess George Armstrong Custer? If so you are correct. The Virginia Historical Society will soon be releasing a database of Virginia Slave Names. They hope to have the site open in September. Check here for more information. The books and personal papers of Shelby Foote have found a permanent home at Rhodes College. A smartphone app is available for visitors to Fredericksburg. Those of us with droids are out of luck. iPhone only.
Gary Gallagher writes "Did the Fall of Vicksburg Really Matter?" I haven't read the whole article but it appears Gallagher puts forth that while important it wasn't the end all many attribute to it.

Prominent blogger Harry Smeltzer's Collateral Damage column discusses "Wilderness Woes for the Widows Permelia". Editor Dana Shoaf conducts an interview with Sam Waterson, most famous for his role in Law and Order, but who also portrayed Abraham Lincoln in Gore Vidal's Lincoln. A tour of Civil War sites in Frederick, Maryland is this month's Field Guide location. Dana Shoaf editorializes that the 150th anniversary of the Civil War should not be called a celebration.
Susannah Ural and Rick Eiserman write the lead article this issue: "The Winter that Made the Texas Brigade". If the Texas Infantry interests you this article on John Bell Hood and the winter of 1861 is for you. In "Yankee Super Gun" Craig Swain questions whether the 4.5 inch siege rifles of the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery could have prevented Pickett's Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg. Historian William Marvel brings new evidence to the question of who was the Civil War's youngest general. Jennifer Murray reminds us that Gettysburg, PA was not only vital to the Civil War but also played a key role for the United States in World War II. John Singleton Mosby's post Civil War life is the subject of an article by Douglas Gibboney.

Reviews are abundant with Harold Holzer kicking it off with his take on The Conspirator. New books by Jeffry Wert, Gary Gallagher, John David Hoptak, Donald A. Clark, and Michael Ballard are reviewed. See my review of Hoptak's book here. Susannah Ural's Ural on URLs discusses the NPS website for First Manassas. Museum exhibit reviews on Divided Voices: Maryland in the Civil War and When Duty Whispers: Concord and the Civil War wrap up this issue.
Well done and a subscription is recommended to anybody interested in the Civil War.

Magazine Preview--Blue & Gray

2011-06-12T13:12:00.000-07:00

Blue & Gray Magazine Volume XXVII #6

Contents of this issue include:

The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House May 13-20, 1864. Written by Chris Mackowski and Kristopher D. White. This article concludes a four part series begun in 2001 with Greg Mertz's feature on Upton's Attack at Spotsylvania. The second piece is from 2004 and was also written by Mertz. This covered the march of Grant and Lee's armies from the Wilderness battlefield to Spotsylvania May 7-8, 1864. Part three from 2009 was written by Mackowski and White and covers the fighting that took place at the Bloody Angle on May 12, 1864. Loaded with maps and photos this is a must have for students of the battle. A nice secondary article is included in this issue that discusses a local newspapers reporting of the 1st Maine Heavy Artillery and their participation at the Battle of Harris Farm. The 1st Maine suffered a 67% casualty rate during this battle.

Also included is the regular feature of Wiley Sword's War Letter Series. The letter this month details fighting at Columbia, TN on November 24, 1864 from a civilian point of view.

Fort Abercrombie is the subject of "On the Back Roads" this issue. Known as the "Gateway to the Dakotas" Fort Abercrombie was the first military fort established in North Dakota. This was mostly used during battles with Indians. Be sure to check out their nice website.

A nice selection of book reviews is included.

The issue wraps up with the always helpful General's Tour driving tour. Fifteen stops, beginning at the Spotsylvania Battlefield Exhibit Shelter, are discussed in depth and shown in modern photos. Excellent maps and GPS coordinates are included.

This magazine consistently puts out a quality product and should be purchased or subscribed to by any student of the war.

Da Capo Press Release--Genius of Place

2011-06-07T16:53:00.000-07:00

I received the following press release from author Justin Martin and Da Capo Press about the release of Martin's new book Genius of Place: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted (A Merloyd Lawrence Book). The book has received several positive reviews on Amazon and through traditional news outlets already.

Da Capo Press

“Olmsted had a big life, but also a tough one. He faced more—much more—than his share of tragedy, even by nineteenth-century standards. He contended with the untimely deaths of children, close relations, and dear friends. He suffered various physical ailments, such as the ravages of a near-fatal carriage accident. And he endured assorted forms of psychological torment: insomnia, anxiety, hysterical blindness, and depression…Olmsted spent his final days in an asylum; in a great irony, it was one for which he had earlier designed the grounds. But first he accomplished more than most people could in three lifetimes. As a park maker, environmentalist, and abolitionist, Olmsted helped shape modern America. This is his extraordinary story.”—from the Introduction: Why Olmsted Matters

Genius of Place: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted
By Justin Martin

Most people have heard of Central Park and Prospect Park in New York, Stanford University in California, the Back Bay Fens and Franklin Park in Boston, and the Capitol Grounds in Washington, D.C.—but few can identify Frederick Law Olmsted as the man behind some of America’s most iconic public spaces.

Of those who do know Olmsted, even fewer know him as anything other than a landscape architect. In Genius of Place: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted, Justin Martin explores Olmsted’s roots as a reformer. As a journalist, Olmsted championed the abolitionist cause to Northern and British audiences in the 1850s and 60s, exposing the evils of slavery; as an environmentalist, he created public spaces that preserved the already-existing endangered natural world. Olmsted’s conservation efforts are still felt today in places like Niagara Falls and Yosemite.

Genius of Place also delves into Olmsted’s personal life. Despite previous portrayals of Olmsted as a devoted family man with a tranquil home life, Martin exposes the tensions of Olmsted’s marriage and familial relationships, as well as Olmsted’s struggle with illness and personal tragedy, to paint a comprehensive picture of one of the most influential people of the nineteenth century.

Justin Martin, author of highly praised biographies of Alan Greenspan and Ralph Nader, was married in Central Park and lives in Forest Hills Gardens—an enclave of New York City designed by Olmsted’s son.

June 1, 2011 Hardcover $30.00 462 Pages Biography ISBN: 978-0-306-81881-3

Events: Politics & Prose (D.C.) 7/6; Barbara’s Bookstore (Chicago) 7/14; Harvard Bookstore (Cambridge) 7/21

“The remarkable story of America’s first, and still foremost, landscape architect…Martin helps explain the driven, artistic temperament that informed the famed landscapes. He persuasively casts Olmsted as essentially a social reformer whose passion for meaningful work found its most complete expression in the creation of public spaces intended for the enjoyment of all. A revealing look at a still-under appreciated giant whose work touches posterity more intimately and more delightfully than many of his distinguished Civil War-era "contemporaries."—Kirkus Reviews

Book Review--Confederate Outlaw

2011-06-06T18:49:00.000-07:00

McKnight, Brian D. Confederate Outlaw: Champ Ferguson and the Civil War in Appalachia. L.S.U. Press, Baton Rouge, LA. 2011. Index, bibliography, notes, map, b/w photos. 252 pages, 192 text. ISBN 9780807137697, $34.95.
Guerrilla fighters during the Civil War were a feared breed and perhaps the most feared of all was the legendary, or maybe infamous is a better word, Champ Ferguson. In his new book Confederate Outlaw, Brian McKnight shows Ferguson for what he was; a ruthless cold blooded killer who could still at rare times show compassion. Ferguson was at times working with small groups while at other times he served under men like John Hunt Morgan, Basil Duke, and George Dibbrell. This service and its ramifications is the subject of part of this book.

McKnight begins his book with an introduction where he discusses the literature of guerrilla warfare and Ferguson's place. Ferguson is portrayed as a product of his time and place. Home front paranoia, questions of loyalty and pragmatism are all related in the attempt to understand not just Ferguson but the Appalachian region during the Civil War period. Throughout, Ferguson claims his acts are in self defense. If he didn't act first his victims would have killed him instead.

Ferguson's murderous spree begins with the murder of Constable Reed in a particularly violent fashion. Ultimately Ferguson is tied to over 50 murders many of which are graphically detailed by McKnight. While graphic, these descriptions are needed to help paint the picture of the type man Ferguson was. Guerrilla war was often kill or be killed and Ferguson was an aggressor who cared little as to who he killed or how he did it.

When finally arrested in May of 1865 and brought to trial later that year there could be little doubt as to the ultimate outcome. Brought up on 23 cases involving 53 murders Ferguson plead not guilty. Ferguson and his attorney attempted to portray the guerrilla fighter as a captain in the Confederate army. As such he would be entitled to be treated as other officers based upon the terms of surrender. The defense was unable to provide proof of any appointment and this defense was denied ultimately leading to a guilty verdict. Champ Ferguson's reign of terror came to an end at the end of a rope on October 20, 1865.

McKnight nicely wraps up his work with a chapter outlining attempts to explain the Champ Ferguson mythology. Often repeated, but false, stories about his family having been assaulted or killed by Union soldiers led to the theory of revenge and family protection being motives for his actions. Other stories revolve around the murder of Ferguson's three year old son. Again this untrue story is given as a reason for Ferguson and his aim of vengeance. Perhaps the biggest claim however is of Ferguson being a Confederate officer. Ferguson however was never able to produce proof of an officer's commission and McKnight's extensive research does not validate the claim. Finally, as with almost all notorious individuals, there was an escape mythology. Stories ranged from Ferguson having "bought" his freedom and another man being hung to a dummy being hung in his place to an empty coffin being buried.

Brian McKnight has written an extremely readable book that should be on the shelves of anybody studying Civil War guerrilla warfare or the Civil War period in the Tennessee and Kentucky Appalachian area. Any future research on Champ Ferguson should go through this work as a starting point.

Thanks to the fine folks at L.S.U. Press for sending a complimentary review copy.

New Arrivals

2011-06-05T16:02:00.000-07:00

A couple of recent arrivals compliments of publishers I would like to share with you. I hope to be caught up on my backlog of posts soon and get the book pile down a bit.

In an earlier post I mentioned a new book coming out from LSU Press. Thanks to LSU Press for sending a review copy of Inventing Stonewall Jackson: A Civil War Hero in History and Memory.

Thanks also to Francis Hamit and Brass Cannon Books for sending a copy of The Shenandoah Spy: Being the True Life Adventures of Belle Boyd, CSA, The "Confederate Cleopatra". This is a fictionalized account of the first two years of the Civil War and it's effect on Isabelle Boyd, a seventeen year old who becomes a Confederate spy.

NYC project IDs more than 4,000 Civil War graves

2011-05-27T18:21:00.000-07:00

By CHRIS CAROLA, Associated Press Chris Carola, Associated Press– Fri May 27, 4:31 am ET

NEW YORK – The first Civil War casualty to be buried in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn was a 12-year-old drummer for a New York regiment.

Clarence McKenzie, a local boy fatally wounded in an accidental shooting in Maryland, was buried June 14, 1861, two months after the Union garrison at Fort Sumter surrendered to Confederate forces. He was followed to the grave 12 days later by Adolph Vincens, a 23-year-old London-born jeweler who was the first Civil War battle casualty buried at Green-Wood.

By the time the war ended four years later, about 200 other soldiers and sailors who died in the Civil War were buried at Green-Wood, established in 1838 in what was then a rural section of Brooklyn. In the decades after the war, thousands of others would join their comrades — and even some of their one-time enemies — at the historic cemetery.

Today, the 478-acre expanse of greenery and statuary covering the cemetery's rolling hills is believed to be the final resting place of about 8,000 Civil War veterans.

A team of volunteers and Green-Wood staff has spent nearly a decade trying to identify all those graves. When the project began in September 2002, cemetery officials figured they had, at most, 500 veterans of the nation's bloodiest war buried here.

Using the cemetery's own burial records, plus government, military and privately owned documents available online, Green-Wood's project has identified the graves of about 4,600 Civil War veterans. Green-Wood historian Jeffrey Richman estimates 3,000 to 4,000 more are scattered among the cemetery's more than 560,000 total interments.
The Civil War dead buried at Green-Wood include unknown privates and famous officers, buglers and Medal of Honor recipients, Yankees from Maine to Iowa, fathers, sons and brothers, and even 75 Confederates, including two generals. None of the original gravestones for the Confederates gave any indication they had fought for the South, an intentional omission being rectified by the installation of new granite markers provided by Veterans Affairs.

Some of the gravestones and other markers at the previously known burial plots indicate that a person was a Civil War veteran, but most don't bear information or an insignia that would tip off researchers, Richman said. Some of the grave markers are so worn the inscriptions can't be read, while others are overgrown by grass or have sunken below ground level. Many of the veterans lie in unmarked graves, and it's only by checking the cemetery's detailed maps that individual burial plots can be located.

Part of the project includes placing new granite markers at the graves, marked and unmarked, of 2,000 of the Civil War veterans. So far, about 1,300 of the VA markers have been installed.

This Memorial Day weekend, the cemetery is hosting a three-day commemoration that includes re-enactors' encampments, an evening procession past the candlelit graves of the Civil War veterans and a gathering of some of their descendants, who will read their ancestor's name during a ceremony on Monday.

Jeanne Vincens, whose ancestor was mortally wounded at Big Bethel, Va., plans to take part in the ceremony. She helped acquire a VA marker for Adolph Vincens' grave several years ago. So, she knows what some of the other descendants will be experiencing when they see their ancestor's grave and remember the sacrifices made 150 years ago.

"It's very, very emotional," said Vincens, a 57-year-old information technology manager from Richmond, Va. "It's really a culmination of a lot of family history, and then being able to honor this person to make sure they're going to be remembered."

The cemetery's project includes compiling brief biographies for each Civil War veteran interred at Green-Wood. Some 4,600 are included on a compact disc the cemetery is selling for $10 each. According to the information on the CD, burials of Civil War veterans at Green-Wood continued through the 1930s and into early 1941, when 94-year-old Henry Stamm and 101-year-old Joseph H. Smith of East Orange, N.J. were laid to rest.

With several thousand graves still to be identified, Richman said it's unclear if Stamm and Smith were the last in a long blue and gray line to be buried at the cemetery, a line led 150 years ago by the drummer boy from Brooklyn.
___
Online:
Green-Wood Cemetery: http://www.green-wood.com

LSU Press--Press Release

2011-05-24T19:38:00.000-07:00

I received the following email today about a new release from LSU Press. This looks like an interesting book but maybe not one for those who worship Stonewall Jackson. Hard to tell what the outcome will be but this is a novel approach if nothing else.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 24, 201
Contact: Erin Rolfs
erolfs@lsu.edu/225.578.8282

Inventing Stonewall Jackson Illuminates the Making of Legendary Confederate General
Wallace Hettle Examines How Historical Narratives Shaped the Myth of Stonewall Jackson

Baton Rouge, LA— In Inventing Stonewall Jackson: A Civil War Hero in History and Memory, Wallace Hettle offers an innovative and distinctive approach to interpreting legendary Confederate General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson by examining the lives and agendas of those authors who shape our current understanding of Jackson. As Hettle demonstrates, historians’ attempts to understand Jackson have proved uneven at best and often contentious.

Inventing Stonewall Jackson follows the narratives of newspaper reporters, friends, relatives, and fellow soldiers who first wrote about Jackson immediately following the Civil War. Most of them, according to Hettle, used portions of their own life stories to frame that of the mythic general. Hettle argues that the legend of Jackson’s rise from poverty to power, for instance, was likely inspired by the rags-to-riches history of his first biographer, Robert Lewis Dabney. Many other authors inserted personal values into their stories of Stonewall, perplexing generations of historians and writers.

Hettle contends that subsequent biographers contributed their own layers to Jackson’s myth and eventually a composite history of the general came to exist in the popular imagination. Later writers, such as the liberal suffragist Mary Johnston, who wrote a novel about Jackson, and the literary critic Allen Tate, who penned a laudatory biography, further shaped Stonewall’s myth. As recently as 2003, the film Gods and Generals, which featured Jackson as the key protagonist, affirmed the longevity and power of his image.

Impeccable research and nuanced analysis enable Hettle to use American culture and memory to reframe the Stonewall Jackson narrative and provide new ways to understand the long and contended legacy of one of the Civil War’s most popular Confederate heroes.

Wallace Hettle, professor of history at the University of Northern Iowa, is the author of The Peculiar Democracy: Southern Democrats in Peace and Civil War.

May 2011
224 pages, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2, 12 halftones
ISBN 978-0-8071-3781-9
Cloth $34.95s

###

Elmer Ellsworth Display at Abraham Lincoln Book Shop

2011-05-23T19:25:00.000-07:00

I received the information below from the Abraham Lincoln Book Shop today. This looks like a cool event. If you're in the Chicago area be sure to check it out.

(April 11, 1837 - May 24, 1861)

The First Martyr of the Union

Tomorrow, May 24, marks the Sesquicentennial of the death of Union Colonel Elmer Ellsworth, on a dark stair case in the Marshall House Hotel, in Alexandria, Virginia. With this killing, the Union had their first martyr of the Civil War. Also tomorrow at Noon, Abraham Lincoln Book Shop, Inc., opens an exhibit of art, artifacts, documents and letters from the largest private collection of Elmer Ellsworth-themed historic material extant. The exhibit will be on display for one month, and can be viewed at the Book Shop, 357 W. Chicago Ave., during the regular business hours of 9-5 on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 9-7 on Thursdays, and from 10-4 on Saturdays.

The opening event features Abraham Lincoln Presenter George Buss, reading and discussing Lincoln's condolence message to Ellsworth's parents; he will then take questions from the press.

Ellsworth Killed by James Jackson.

On the day he was killed the young Chicago-based commander of Union troops was one of the most well-known men in America, with his award-winning military drill squad, enjoying the status similar to a top athlete or a pop star today. The fact that he was the first Union officer to die in the war, that he was a personal friend of President Abraham Lincoln and an idol to Lincoln's young sons, and that he was so widely known and admired, led to the rise of a cult of mourning in the wake of his demise.

Among the rare and one-of-a-kind artifacts is an 1859 Chicago document in Ellsworths' hand to the governor of Illinois enrolling the names of the members of "U. S. Zouave Cadets" drill team and requesting a commission in the Illinois State Militia for himself. Also, letters from the martyr's parents regarding the recovery of his horse, photographs of Ellsworth and his "avenger," Sergeant Francis Brownell, who killed his commander's assassin, and even Brownell's reward for his act, a commission as second lieutenant in the regular army signed by President Lincoln himself.

Stereo Plate of Francis Brownell, "Ellsworth's Avenger"

Following Ellsworth's death Americans, or rather northerners, eagerly collected any mourning regalia, or even personal relics they could acquire. Relics include scraps of covering from the floor he died on, and splinters from the flag pole that once flew the Confederate banner he died trying to tear down. The exhibit features sheet music, a newspaper broadside giving news of his funeral arrangements, and patriotically illustrated envelopes and jewelry.

If you cannot come to Abraham Lincoln Book Shop, you can view the exhibit at our Exhibit Display Page.

Like all items on display at Abraham Lincoln Book Shop, the Elmer Ellsworth collection is available for sale. For questions regarding acquisition, please contact proprietor Daniel Weinberg at (312) 944-3085.

Upcoming Review--Failure in the Saddle

2011-05-22T18:37:00.000-07:00

Thank you to my friends at Savas Beatie for sending a review copy of Failure in the Saddle: Nathan Bedford Forrest, Joe Wheeler, and the Confederate Cavalry in the Chickamauga Campaign written by David A. Powell.

Mr. Powell was recently awarded the Richard Barksdale Harwell Book Award by the Civil War Round Table of Atlanta for this work.

USA Weekend magazine travel suggestions

2011-05-22T16:43:00.000-07:00

USA Weekend features a cover article by Ken Burns on his suggested Civil War travel sites. I've put the listing below. What are your thoughts? Good choices? What did he miss?

1) Fort Sumter, SC

2) First Bull Run--Manassas, VA

3) Shiloh, TN

4) Antietam, Sharpsburg, MD

5) Fredericksburg, VA

6) Gettysburg, PA

7) Vicksburg, MS

8) Chattanooga, TN

9) Petersburg, VA

10) Appomattox Court House, VA

Confederate Book Review

Book Review--Abraham Lincoln & Frederick Douglass

University of Tennessee Press Catalog

CWT--Cedar Creek Battlefield

I received the following information from the Civil War Trust regarding an important upcoming fundraising campaign.

Media Advisory: Government Officials, Preservation Advocates Gather to Anounce Major Fundraising Campaign at Cedar Creek

Contacts

Related Links

Battlefields

Book Review--The Library of Congress Illustrated Timeline of the Civil War

Civil War Cinema Announcement

2nd Annual Civil War Cinema!

Savas Beatie Author Interview

Ocala, FL Civil War Monument

Book Review--A Sanctuary for the Wounded

An Author Asks for a Second Look

Magazine Review--Civil War Monitor

Ash Lawn-Highland Charlottesville, Virginia

Upcoming Post

Lincoln Forum on C-Span

Mount Olivet Cemetery--Frederick, MD

Book Review--Warman's Civil War Collectibles

Press Release--The Shenandoah Spy E-Book Sale

Book Review--Hollywood Cemetery: A Tour

Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum

Live Near the Robert E. Lee Family...Kind of

Yale University Press Press Release

Modern Tracks

Black Friday Idea? How About Free Books?

Upcoming Reviews

Book Review-Grant's Final Victory

Lincoln's Tomb Vandalised

Recent Vacation

CIvil War Trust--Gaines' Mill

"We Met Such a Perfect Storm of Lead"

Press Release--Illustrated Timeline of the Civil War

War of 1812 on PBS

The Civil War Monitor

New Interviews at Civil War Trust

Book Review--Florida Civil War Blockades

Book Review--The McGavock Confederate Cemetery

Upcoming Posts

Book Review: Inventing Stonewall Jackson

16th Annual Lincoln Forum Announcement

All-Access Battlefield Tours

Footnote is Changing it's Name

Why Fold3?

Content

Account Details

Press Release--LSU Press

SCV Grave Marker Dedication

Magazine Preview--Civil War Times October 2011

Confederate Flags at Cemetery Cause a Fuss

Blacks protest Confederate flags at Ga. cemetery

19th Century Slave Cemetery Discovered Due to Drought

Press Release

Book Review--The New Gettysburg Campaign Handbook

New Arrival--The New Gettysburg Campaign Handbook

Civil War Book Review--Summer 2011

Florida Veterans Hall of Fame to Include Confederates?

New Arrivals

Confederate Paintings to Be Displayed Online

Book Review--Beyond the Gatehouse

Borders to Close Up Shop

Borders Calls Off Auction, Plans to Liquidate

Book Review--Sickles at Gettysburg

Attempted Theft of Historical Documents

NY men charged in Md. presidential artifacts theft

Related Content

John F. Kennedy at Gettysburg

Book Review--Soldiers of the Southern Cross

Research Help Requested

Adelbert Ames Follow Up

Book Review--A Glorious Army

Gettysburg Visitor's Center Price Increase

Adelbert Ames House in Need of Repairs

Tagged:

New Arrivals

Product Description

About the Author