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“Washington’s Old Headquarters” in Richmond
This detail from a postcard in Virginia Commonwealth University’s library collection shows a gentleman outside “Washington’s Old Headquarters” in Richmond, Virginia. That’s a stone house built in 1754. Here’s the same house in a photo from the Library of Congress. Show More Summary
A Brief Word About Clio’s Conscience
There doesn’t seem to be any let up in the number and range of Civil War memory studies published or soon to be published this year. As someone who has contributed to this body of scholarship you might expect that this brings a smile to my face and you would be correct. That said, I [...]
Stop Digging
Oh dear: The charge of homophobia is equally easy to refute. If I really were a “gay-basher”, as some headline writers so crassly suggested, why would I have asked Andrew Sullivan, of all people, to be the godfather of one of my sons, or to give one of the readings at my wedding? Niall Ferguson goes for the “some of my best friends are gay” argument.
Remains of Civil War soldiers to be buried at Arlington
The remains of two Indiana brothers who served in the Union army will be laid to rest in a joint full honors committal ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery at 9 a.m. Thursday. The men each died more than a century ago, but their cremated remains had remained at an Indianapolis funeral home because no one had claimed them. Read full article >>
Two Talks at the Royall House & Slave Quarters
This spring the Royall House and Slave Quarters in Medford is hosting two lectures on slavery in the early republic.On Wednesday, 15 May, Henry Wiencek will speak on his book Master of the Mountain: Thomas Jefferson and His Slaves. In...Show More Summary
It’s Still Easier To Be An Effective President If Your Party Owns Both Houses (aka, A Quick Note On One Reason Why LBJ Was Effective In Ways Obama Is Not)
Legislating As a followup to the FDR post 88th Congress (January 1963 – January 1965): Senate:63 Democrats, 35 Republicans House: 258 Democrats, 177 Republicans 89th Congress (January 1965 – January 1967): Senate: 68 Democrats, 32 Republicans...Show More Summary
Today In Statistical Silliness
Heck, since I’m on that topic, I’ll pick on the New York Times: Now comes the hard part: Can movie studios, mired in a steep box-office slump, keep the momentum going? Between the first weekend in May and Labor Day, a period that typically...Show More Summary
“I mean King Hancock.”
As I noted last month, a largely reliable British officer, Lt. Frederick Mackenzie, reported that some of the provincial troops shouted, “King Hancock forever!” on 19 Apr 1775. John Hancock went on to become president of the Continental Congress, thus the highest elected official of the United Colonies. Show More Summary
Weary Clyburn Redux
Dear Mr. Vanderburg, Thanks for taking the time to read yesterday’s post and for your comments. As I stated in my response this is a subject that I’ve written and lectured on extensively over the past five years. The popularity of the black Confederate narrative highlights both the extent to which history has become democratized [...]
The Power of Fun!
Shown in the photo with me is my friend David Raymond, who wrote the foreword to You Stink! Major League Baseball’s Terrible Teams and Pathetic Players. Unless you’re either a long-time, die-hard Phillies fan, or a die-hard fan of the University of Delaware’s football program, the likelihood is that you don’t know who Dave is. Show More Summary
What Happens When Your USCT Unit Disbands
Today Cleveland.com [associated with the Cleveland Plain Dealer] is running a textbook example of how the myth of the Black Confederate soldier is spread. Start off with what appears to be an unusual story of two black individuals who play Confederate soldiers. Treat them as authorities in the relevant history and fail to do any [...]
The National Rifle Association’s Civil War Memory
I give you the new president of the National Rifle Association. Let’s just put aside for a second that from all appearances this guy is just bat shit crazy. [Sorry, but that really does seem appropriate given the level of paranoia expressed in this video.] Jim Porter doesn’t need a weapon. He needs a diagnosis. [...]
Unabashed Gossip at Fieldstone Common
Last month genealogist Marian Pierre-Louis and I gossiped by phone about children in Revolutionary Boston, the Vassall families of Cambridge, and other topics.That was for an episode of Marian’s internet radio show and podcast Fieldstone Common, and you can hear the recording here. Show More Summary
The Slow Spread of Official News about Bunker Hill
In response to this week’s question about George Washington on 17 June 1775, the day of the Battle of Bunker Hill, a few people guessed he was in New York on the way to the siege lines. In fact, he didn’t leave Philadelphia until the morning of 23 June, a full week after he agreed to be commander-in-chief. Show More Summary
This Week In Statistical Silliness
The Cato Institute discovers that – during hard times – the government spends more. Being the Cato Institute however, that’s not interesting, so they spin it around. More government spending leads to lower GDP: Higher government spending growth in a year corresponds to reduced private GDP growth that year. Show More Summary
What Was Washington Doing During the Battle of Bunker Hill?
On Tuesday I posed the question of what George Washington was doing during the Battle of Bunker Hill, which occurred on the afternoon of 17 June 1775. As several people noted, around that date the Continental Congress was making Washington the commander-in-chief of its new Continental Army. Show More Summary
Let’s Recross that River and Return to Chancellorsville
Today is the anniversary of one of the bloodiest days of fighting during the Civil War. Those of you who visit Chancellorsville today will enjoy an insightful tour and interpretation of the final day’s fighting at Chancellorsville that took place in the area around the clearing between Hazel Grove, Fairview, and the Chancellor House. The [...]
For the memory of an uncle she never knew
It’s a major reason why I’m headed to Chancellorsville in just under six hours. I can list all my relatives in the 10th Virginia, the 33rd Virginia, and the Purcell Artillery who were there, fighting, on May 3, 1863. I can also list my relatives in the 7th West Virginia Infantry who were there, fighting, [...]
Lincoln and the law of war symposium
On May 4, from 1 to 5 p.m., the Lincoln Group of D.C. is sponsoring a symposium, “Lincoln, Lieber and the Law of War: 1863-9/11” at the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse in Washington. It will take place in the ceremonial court room. Read full article >>
Q. & A. on Bunker Hill with Nathaniel Philbrick, part 2
Today Boston 1775 concludes a colloquy with Nathaniel Philbrick, author of Bunker Hill: A City, a Siege, a Revolution. Q. What could the American commanders have done differently to win the battle? What could the British commanders have...Show More Summary
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