Union

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 [...]

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If By Pro-Union You Mean, Pro-America

by Kevin Levin on August 24, 2012 · 22 comments · Follow me on

in Civil War Culture, Lost Cause, Memory, 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 [...]

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Union and Civil War Memory

by Kevin Levin on August 20, 2012 · 8 comments · Follow me on

in Union

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 [...]

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A Most Glorious Fourth

by Kevin Levin on July 4, 2012 · 2 comments · Follow me on

in Memory, Union

“Fourth Minnesota Regiment Entering Vicksburg” (July 4, 1863) by Francis D. Millet (1846-1912) – This painting is in the Minnesota Historical Society Collections.

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Ambrose Burnside: A True Story of Facial Hair

by Kevin Levin on April 27, 2012 · 7 comments · Follow me on

in Civil War Culture, Union

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.

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The Governor Considers It A Most Important Command

by Kevin Levin on March 12, 2012 · 2 comments · Follow me on

in Union

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 [...]

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The U.S. in U.S. Grant

by Kevin Levin on February 9, 2012 · 2 comments · Follow me on

in Union

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 [...]

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