A few months ago I received a preview copy of American Experience’s Death and the Civil War, which will air on PBS this week. This weekend I finally had a chance to watch it through, which seems appropriate given that we are commemorating the 150th anniversary of the battle of Antietam. I am not going [...]
Union
Richard Williams believes that I run a pro-Union blog, which I assume stands in contrast with a pro-Confederate blog. It’s kind of funny to be labeled in a way that suggests that I am somehow still fighting the war. On the other hand, I do not claim objectivity when it comes to this history. Who [...]
Today Brooks Simpson is asking his readers for their understanding of why white northerners resisted secession and disunion in 1861. It’s a good question and one that is rarely discussed or taken seriously. I’ve learned a great deal from reading Russell McClintock’s Lincoln and the Decision for War: The Northern Response to Secession. Brooks’s question [...]
“Fourth Minnesota Regiment Entering Vicksburg” (July 4, 1863) by Francis D. Millet (1846-1912) – This painting is in the Minnesota Historical Society Collections.
A short puppet bio-pic chronicling the fame of Ambrose Burnside. From his failure as a Civil War General to his experimentation and innovation in the field of facial hair. It’s quite entertaining.
One of the stumbling blocks that I continue to come up against in researching the 55th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry is in reference to Governor John Andrew. The problem is especially acute given my interest in the pay crisis of 1863-64. Andrew played an important role as an advocate for these men, but I am only [...]
Head on over to the Atlantic for my most recent essay on the legacy of our Civil War’s African American soldiers and the movie, Glory. The essay brings together a couple of posts that I recently did on how I teach the movie and how I utilize the history of the pay crisis try to [...]
Thanks to Scott Mackenzie for sending along the following notice from the New York Times, which was published on July 19, 1863. At a torchlight procession in Belleville, Illinois, last week, one of the transparencies contained the following: Major-Genernl U. S. Grant. Unconditional Surrender Grant, Uncle Sam Grant, United States Grant, Unparalleled Success Grant, Unabridged [...]
