Civil War Trust Releases Malvern Hill Battlefield App

Exciting news especially for those of us with Android phones who don't have access to all the battle apps yet! Also, be sure to check out their newest campaign which will preserve 77 acres at Cedar Creek Battlefield. CWT needs to raise just under $300,000 to preserve this land forever. The matching dollars are $4.40 to $1.

Civil War Trust Debuts Multimedia Smartphone Tour of Richmond's Malvern Hill Battlefield

GPS-enabled tour launched simultaneously for iPhone and Android platforms

 

Related Links

• Download the Malvern Hill
  Battle App
• 
• 
• Civil War Trust's Full Collection of Battle Apps
• Malvern Hill

(Richmond, Va.)– The Civil War Trust, the nation’s largest nonprofit battlefield preservation organization, today announced the newest entry in its popular Battle App series — a free, multimedia and GPS-enabled smartphone tours of the Malvern Hill Battlefield, a unit of Richmond National Battlefield Park, available for both iPhone and Android phones. The project was underwritten with a grant from the Virginia Department of Transportation and created in partnership with NeoTreks, Inc., an industry leader in mobile GPS-based touring.

“Our primary goal for these Battle Apps is to make history come alive in whole new ways for visitors to these hallowed grounds,” said Trust president James Lighthizer. “By using the latest in 21st-century technology, we’re able to make exploring the past an immersive, interactive experience that appeals to a whole new generation.”

Like its predecessors, which explore the battles of Bull Run, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, the new Malvern Hill Battle App includes video segments from top historians, period and modern imagery, and detailed topographical maps, all of which help bring the battlefield to life — plus a wealth of resource materials to provide valuable background information. Featuring GPS navigation, primary source material and the commentary of respected historians, the Malvern Hill Battle App offers the convenience of a self-guided tour with the benefits of an expert-led presentation — and all at no cost.

This launch marks the first time that the Trust has made versions of a Battle App available for both iPhone and Android simultaneously. The Bull Run Battle App for Android was launched in December 2011 and additional titles for this platform will be added in the coming months. To date, more than 35,000 people have downloaded the Trust’s Battle Apps, offerings which have, on average earned 4-star reviews from users.

The Trust’s ongoing Battle App project is made possible through the cooperation and generous support of the Virginia Department of Transportation. As the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War continues, VDOT has committed to underwrite a total of nine further Battle Apps to encourage residents and visitors alike to explore the Commonwealth’s outstanding historic resources.

“As we enter the second year of the Civil War sesquicentennial, visitors are flocking to Virginia to explore our fascinating history,” said Secretary of Transportation Sean T. Connaughton. “The Commonwealth welcomes the opportunity to provide an innovative means to explore our historic sites.”

Another key feature of the Battle Apps is their ability to include the entire battlefield, not just its most well-travelled paths. While some of the “virtual signs” on the App’s 15-stop tour coincide with signage erected by the National Park Service, many other stops and points of interest are off the beaten path and outside what most visitors discover independently. The app is also designed to help visitors move beyond the battlefield and find other nearby historic sites of interest — a particularly valuable feature in the history-rich area around Richmond. With just a few clicks, users can identify these destinations, learn about their visitor services and even get directions from their current location.

“The Malvern Hill app will be great for both our first-time visitors and seasoned Civil War enthusiasts,” said park superintendent David Ruth. “We know they’ll appreciate the ability to hear the stories in the places where they happened, see videos of NPS Rangers giving talks, and to explore the battlefield at their own pace.”

At each stop on the GPS-guided tour, “virtual signs” contain a rich description of the historical significance of the site, along with photos, video commentary from battlefield experts and audio accounts from the soldiers and civilians who trod this ground during the Civil War. “Pinch-zoom”technology and customizable troop displays allow one to follow in the footsteps of the two armies stood and to learn how their attacks and counterattacks unfolded. In addition to providing a wealth of location-based historical accounts, the Malvern Hill Battle App includes resource material that will answer many questions that visitors to the battlefield have. Complete orders of battle for the two armies, a chronology of the battle, basic facts, an interactive quiz, and a strategic overview are all a part of this rich offering.

The Battle App series can be easily downloaded from a mobile device via Apple’s App Store or the AndroidMarket. Once the basic app is installed, users can then chose to fully download the audio and video elements to their device or to have that media streamed to you as you visit the different historical sites.

Thanks in part to the support of the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Civil War Trust is working to develop even more Battle App offerings in the coming months and years. Next in the development pipeline are Battle Apps for the Cedar Creek and Petersburg battlefields, with further product improvements and expansions are constantly in development.

The July 1, 1862 Battle of Malvern Hill was the final and climactic engagement of the Seven Days Battles. Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, new to command of the Army of Northern Virginia, had successfully ended the Union threat to capital at Richmond and doggedly pursued the retreating Federals as they made their way toward the safety of the James River and the Union gunboats. After missing an opportunity to strike a decisive blow at Glendale on June 30, Lee knew he had once last chance to destroy his opponent before he reached the river. The Union had taken up a strong defensive position atop Malvern Hill and the Confederate attackers launched a series of disjointed assaults, only to be repulsed by the strength of Union artillery. When darkness put an end to fighting, Lee had suffered more than 5,600 casualties, compared to only 2,100 men removed from Union ranks. The victory gave Union commanders the chance to complete their withdrawal relatively unmolested.

The Malvern Hill Battlefield is one of 13 units of Richmond National Battlefield Park. Last week, the National Park Service unveiled an extensive renovation, including new educational exhibits, at its Glendale Visitor Center, which covers the latter portion of the Seven Days Battles, including the actions at both Glendale and Malvern Hill.

For more information about the content, use and availability of GPS-enable Civil War Trust Battle Apps, please visit www.civilwar.org/battleapps.
The Civil War Trust is the largest nonprofit battlefield preservation organization in the United States. Its mission is to preserve our nation’s endangered Civil War battlefields and to promote appreciation of these hallowed grounds. To date, the Trust has preserved more than 32,000 acres of battlefield land in 20 states, including 949 acres at Malvern Hill. Learn more at www.civilwar.org, the home of the Civil War sesquicentennial.

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Footnote is Changing it's Name

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)

Confederate Paintings to Be Displayed Online

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.

American Civil War Newspapers Online

I came across this interesting website today. I haven't dug into it much but it looks like it would be of value to researchers. The quote below is from the main page and is written by noted scholar William C. Davis from Virginia Tech.

For many years the newspapers of the Civil War era were probably the most neglected of all sources, and yet they are one of the richest. The reason no doubt lay in the sheer mass of them, their inaccessibility, and the fact that they were not indexed. Few if any scholars had the time or resources to spend weeks and months scanning page by page in the hope of finding something of use to their projects. Yet the newspapers are the surest windows on the attitudes of the time, despite their inevitable editorial bias.

All of the daily affairs of the common people play out in the pages of newspapers, only perhaps in smaller type than the antics of the great and powerful. Moreover, thousands of soldier letters, military reports, general orders, and even occasionally diaries, found their way into ink on newsprint, many of them items available nowhere else. Thanks to the policy of editors exchanging newspapers among themselves and borrowing stories from each other, often newspapers for which not a single issue survives, still live in excerpts published in other journals. Even the advertisements are mirrors of consumers and their concerns in the 1860s.

The goal of the American Civil War Newspapers database is to select a representative group of journals to index, with digital images of the newspapers themselves, for use by students and scholars. The newspapers selected will be a representative sampling of Union and Confederate, urban and small town, Eastern and Western, pro– and anti–administration

FTM Top 10 Civil War Websites

Family Tree Magazine has posted a list of the top 10 Civil War websites for genealogists in their May 2011 issue. I thought I would post this and open the floor for comments. Let readers know what you think of these sites. Remember they are using criteria for genealogists not necessarily what others would use. My comments are strictly based upon what was published in FTM and not from my usage.

HOWEVER...I would like to compile a listing of readers top 10 Civil War websites. Please leave a comment with your favorites and I'll compile them and publish in a future post.

1) Civil War Soldiers and Sailors  This NPS site is a winner for anybody researching particular soldiers. It also has regiment information, cemeteries, POWs and more. A great site.

2) Footnote  This pay site has Confederate service records, Union pension applications and more.

3) Ancestry  Another pay site. Pension apps, census records, POW records and more can be  found here.

4) Civilwar.com  The 128 volume OR appears to be the highlight here. Battle maps are also available.
 
5) eHistory  The OR with a searchable index is here as is the atlas. Civil War letters and diaries can also be viewed.

6) Civil War Trust  Battlefield maps, Civil War Discovery Trail, biographies and battle histories are available.

7) Nationwide Grave Locator  Find where a veteran is buried using this site. Confederate burials are included.

8) Ken Burns' The Civil War  A large image gallery, historical documents, bibliography and links are available.

9) Library of Virginia  A searchable index of 30 years worth of Confederate Veteran magazine, Virginia Pension apps, disability apps, and more can be found here.

10) American Civil War Homepage  A huge links site maintained by George H. Hoemann.

ABE on Collecting Civil War Books

While scanning through some blogs I follow I came across this interesting post regarding collecting Civil War books. I hope you enjoy.

Thanks to Paul Taylor and his blog With Sword and Pen for the link.

Harvard University Press History 2011 catalog

About a week ago I received the 2011 History catalog from Harvard University Press. There aren't a large amount of Civil War related titles but here we go.

Confederate Reckoning: Power and Politics in the Civil War South--Written by Stephanie McCurry. "...is the startling story of the epic political battle in which women and slaves helped to decide the fate of the Confederacy and the outcome of the Civil War."  $35

Near Andersonville: Winslow Homer's Civil War--written by Peter H. Wood. "...he also created some of the first serious black figures in American art. Near Andersonville (1865-1866) is the earliest and least known of these impressive images."   $18.95

The Civil War and the Limits of Destruction: The Civil War and the Limits of Destruction--written by Mark Neely Jr. New in paperback.  $16.95

Fugitive Justice: Runaways, Rescuers, and Slavery on Trial--written by Steven Lubet. "...tells the story of three of the most dramatic fugitive slave trials in the decade before the Civil War in which ordinary citizens challenged enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Act."  $29.95

Daughters of the Union: Northern Women Fight the Civil War --written by Nina Silber. New in paperback. $19.95

Justice in Blue and Gray: A Legal History of the Civil War--written by Stephen C. Neff. Released last year. $45

Upcoming Museum Exhibit

Thanks go to my mother for alerting me to this upcoming exhibit at the Orange County Regional History Center.  Read more about the exhibit here.

Quoted from the website: Florida in the Civil War highlights the state’s rarely acknowledged sacrifices and contributions in the "War between the States." Although often overlooked, Florida played an important role in the Civil War. The exhibit reveals how Florida overcame adversity to ship salt and beef to the Confederacy and how the state's citizens survived the Union blockade of its coastline.

LSU Press Spring 2011 Catalog

Thanks to Jim Schmidt for the heads up that the LSU Press Spring 2011 Catalog is available online. Looks like there are some interesting books for Civil War readers due out soon. Download a PDF of the catalog by clicking here.

I am particularly interested in reading Confederate Outlaw since I have family that came from the area and also The Last Battle of the Civil War seeing that I just reviewed an excellent book on Arlington National Cemetery.

Blog Roll additions

I have added a few new blogs to the blog roll recently. First and foremost is one familiar to most readers already but somehow slipped through the cracks on getting listed. Please be sure to check out Mike Noirot's This Mighty Scourge.  Also added is Brooks Simpson's new blog Crossroads. Both are well worth the time to read!

Do you have a favorite blog I don't have listed? Please feel free to drop me a line or post a comment. I'd love to add more!

Civil War Book Review--Fall 2010

I recently received word that LSU Libraries had posted the new edition of their very popular and interesting Civil War Book Review.

The Civil War Book Review, a quarterly journal published by the LSU Libraries’ Special Collections Division, has released its Fall 2010 issue at www.cwbr.com.



While it is easy to question how anyone can possibly say anything new about the Civil War, time and again, we are encouraged by the richness and freshness of recently-published works by both young scholars and veteran historians. Civil War historians push one another to test the limits of historical research, seeking to approach old areas with a fresh perspective while continuing to uncover new subjects. Civil War Book Review is honored and proud to be a part of this public discussion as we seek to promote the further study of the antebellum, Civil War, and Reconstruction periods, while providing accountability through peer review.


Continuing our Sesquicentennial recognition of those who fought in the American Civil War, the Fall 2010 issue features a portrait of Private George Henry Graffam, a member of Company B, 30th Maine Infantry, U.S.A. He was eighteen-years-old when he enlisted in the Union army.


In this issue, we feature the most recent books by two of our field’s leading experts, in addition to some stellar first-book scholarship from two young, promising scholars who continue to give us hope that the study of this period remains in capable hands. First, Daniel W. Crofts provides us with an intriguing mystery as he attempts (he succeeds) to uncover the true identity of the author of “The Diary of a Public Man” in A Secession Crisis Enigma, William Henry Hurlbert and the “Diary of a Public Man.”  Next, Michael T. Bernath’s first book, Confederate Minds: The Struggle for Intellectual Independence in the Civil War South, analyzes the Confederate efforts to achieve “intellectual independence,” the attainment and promotion of a southern identity through its own literature and periodicals, as part of the larger war effort. Mark W. Geiger examines the political and social upheaval which resulted from the failed attempt by a group of prominent Missouri state politicians and bankers attempted to fund Confederate volunteers using money from the state treasury in Financial Fraud and Guerrilla Violence in Missouri’s Civil War, 1861-1865. Finally, in
Edmund J. Davis: Civil War General, Republican Leader, Reconstruction Governor, Carl H. Moneyhon seeks to bring an important figure in Civil War-era Texas history into a more positive light, resurrecting his reputation through a better understanding this man’s complex life.


This fall, Leah Wood Jewett reminds us of the tolls that Civil War soldiers and their families paid as she uses the superb Special Collections at Louisiana State University to highlight the death inherent in any war. As part of a larger exhibition that features the women’s experience during the Civil War at Hill Memorial Library on the campus of LSU, Jewett’s column sheds light on the ways in which Civil War women confronted the death or potential of death for their loved ones.


In further recognition of the Sesquicentennial, Frank Williams has graciously provided us with a survey of the existing scholarship on Abraham Lincoln. He has generously taken the time to highlight a score of books that show the complex character of Lincoln and the range and diversity of historians’ efforts to better understand this prominent historical figure.


Unfortunately, we are unable to provide an author interview in this issue. We are still working to include the interview that we conducted for this issue but we have encountered technical difficulties that have waylaid our efforts to include the interview in the publication at this time. We will certainly continue our efforts to process the interview and we appreciate your understanding this quarter. This issue, and everything in it, would not be possible were it for the efforts of the staff at Civil War Book Review, LSU Libraries and Special Collections. I am, as always, grateful for their continued support. We certainly appreciate our readers as well and wish you all a wonderful, safe, and fulfilling Holiday season.


Civil War Book Review is published in the first week of the months of February, May, August, and November. If you would like to receive e-mail reminders of upcoming issues and special features on the website, click on “Sign me up for CWBR Updates!” link at the bottom of any page in the journal. From there, you can provide us with your contact information so that you will receive these e-mail reminders. Of course, we will NEVER share your personal information with any third party.


Civil War Book Review is the journal of record for new or newly reprinted books about the antebellum, Civil War, and Reconstruction eras, and is a project of the United States Civil War Center, LSU Libraries Special Collections. A reader’s survey can be accessed through the CWBR homepage.


To contribute to the Civil War Book Review fund, or for information on editorial matters, contact Nathan Buman, Editor, by phone at (225) 578-3553 or by email at nbuman1@tigers.lsu.edu.
--
Civil War Book Review
Louisiana State University
Agnes Morris House
Raphael Semmes Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
(225) 578-3553 phone
(225) 578-4876 fax


Visit us on the web at www.cwbr.com!

***NOTE THE CHANGE IN OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS!***

Co K. 1st Michigan Sharpshooter Descendents Meet at Petersburg

An often overlooked area of study is the contribution of American Indians to both sides in the Civil War. Recently Petersburg National Battlefield played host to descendents of members from Co. K 1st Michigan Sharpshooters. Co. K consisted entirely of American Indians from Michigan.

Read the full story about the meeting and future plans here.

Maine's Civil War Stories

This came through today compliments of Dick Eastman and his excellent genealogy blog. If you are at all interested in the state of Maine and it's contribution to the Civil War the site linked to below is for you.


The following announcement was written by the Maine State Archives:

 AUGUSTA - The stories of Maine people, the events, and issues of the Civil War are now available online. “The first installment of stories is ready. People all over the world will be able to learn about and appreciate the extraordinary involvement of Maine people in the Civil War,” State Archivist David Cheever said.

The stories begin with the results in the federal election of 1860, when all of the State’s electoral votes were won by Abraham Lincoln and his vice presidential running mate, Maine’s Hannibal Hamlin. “The voting here and across the country led to the secession of South Carolina and its sister states in the South. Maine sentiment against slavery and against secession fueled the response here following the bombardment of Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina, in April of 1861,” Cheever said.

The narratives, http://maine.gov/sos/arc/sesquicent/civilwarwk.shtml, address a wide range of events and issues. “The stories deal with Maine people, first, but they also address everything from health care, race relations, gender equity, intergovernmental relations, taxation policy, and, of course, the military,” Cheever said.

The stories each contain a Maine-based person, the location for which that person is known, an event or issue, and a follow-up question. “Our first audience is the public, but the stories have been produced with students in mind,” Cheever said.

The presentations online contain illustrations, primary source document transcripts, and accessible images of those documents. “Most of the stories come from the holdings at the Archives, but we have a growing number that come from historical societies, museums, and other repositories throughout Maine,” Cheever said.

More than 25 contributors, including student interns, volunteers from the public, and staff, have helped bring the project to fruition. The original goal for the project was to have one story for each week of the Civil War. “More than 150 stories are now available, and another 100 are in process. We expect that we will have more than 400 by the time the project ends,” Cheever said.

"The remarkable sequence of events that led to conflict is a matter of history we take for granted," said Maine Secretary of State Matt Dunlap. "In the election of 1860 and the subsequent re-election of Lincoln in 1864--remarkable for the fact that this nation conducted a presidential election in the midst of a terrible civil war--we have plenty to observe and be thankful for. Not many countries would see a peaceful change of power of the scope we have witnessed in the 2010 election cycle. Much of that is due to the sacrifice of Mainers on the battlefields of America those many generations ago."

Oxford University Press Sale--Up To 65% Off

I received the following information from Oxford University Press today. Please use this link to access the sale books directly. Looked to be nearly 90 titles with "civil war" included.

You've been waiting for it, and now it's here! Our Holiday Sale has arrived bringing with it savings of up to 65% on over a thousand of our finest titles. Start your holiday shopping now and avoid the rush!

We’re featuring books from a wide variety of disciplines—including Philosophy, History, Gift Books, Religion, and many more—so everyone is sure to find something special for their wish list.

To purchase the perfect title, simply:

1. Click on the subject area you are interested in, and filter by a discount-savings range—30% off, 50% off, or 65% off.
2. Add your books to the cart.
3. Once your books are in the cart, the discounted price will display in red. Complete your order as usual.

Internet-Genealogy Blog: Special Issue on Tracing Your Civil War Ancestors Available January 2011

For anybody who is researching a Civil War family member this may be something you want to keep an eye out for. Maybe a bit expensive but if you learn just one thing from it the money spent is well worth it. Read more at the link below.

Internet-Genealogy Blog: Special Issue on Tracing Your Civil War Ancestors Available January 2011

Civil War Era Toys Used for Smuggling

Here's an interesting article from Yahoo this evening. Turns out that dolls now owned by the Museum of the Confederacy had hollowed heads that could have been used to smuggle quinine or morphine to Confederate troops through Union blockades. One theory is that the dolls came from Europe and already had the medicines inside with the thought being that if Union troops boarded a ship they would not closely examine children's toys. When you click on the link be sure to click on the photo to see other photos of the dolls and also a couple of x-ray images that have been taken.

Documents at risk at the National Archives

I opened up Yahoo to this great bit of news. Not that this is anything new or unexpected really but now the Government Accountability Office has released an audit showing that records and documents at the National Archives are at risk. The highest risk factors are theft (big shock since money is involved), deterioration (estimates show that up to 65% of holdings need some form of preservation care with many already being unreadable), and ignorance of the law (some federal documents and electronic media are destroyed illegally by agencies before proper permissions are granted).

Say what you will about federal spending but based upon everything that NARA is supposed to take care of and with the explosion of electronic records I'm not sure that the $470 million budget quoted in this article is enough.

LOC Receives Nearly 700 Photo Donation

Please check out this post on Rea Andrew Redd's Civil War Librarian blog. 

A Virginia collector has donated almost 700 rare Civil War era photos to the Library of Congress. The majority are ambrotypes (on glass) or tintypes (on metal) and are of common soldiers. Some are identified while others names have been lost to history. The LOC is planning an exhibition of the photos in April 2011 to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the start of the war. Many have already been digitized and are available online.

Click here for the LOC announcement.

Major Civil War Archaeological Find

OK, so I'm a day or two late on this one and I know many other bloggers have already posted it. Just in case you missed it....

Georgia Southern students have located what appears to be the remains of the Civil War prison camp known as Camp Lawton. Built as a "replacement" for the foul Andersonville Camp Lawton was in existence for a mere six weeks but held over 10,000 with the death toll reaching somewhere between 750 and 1330.

Read the full story here.

Photographic History of CW available online

I'm still catching up on email from my internet outage and found that I received an announcement from the Center for Civil War Photography that the classic 10 volume work by Francis Trevelyan Miller, The Photographic History of the Civil War, is now available online. Click here to access the site. Quinnipiac University should be thanked for providing this valuable research tool.

While I much prefer the physical set it's not like you can carry it around with you so this should prove to be a popular site. I didn't stay too long at the site but I did seem to have trouble saving individual pages and photos. I was just doing it as a quick test and didn't put a lot of extra thought into it so perhaps I did something wrong.

Well worth checking out!