Blog Profile / Civil War Memory
| URL : | http://cwmemory.com/ | |
|---|---|---|
| Filed Under: | History / US History | |
| Posts on Regator: | 2059 | |
| Posts / Week: | 7.6 | |
| Archived Since: | March 3, 2008 | |
Blog Post Archive
Not A Single Former Slave Involuntarily Removed
Here is something to think about from James Oakes’s Freedom National: The Destruction of Slavery in the United States, 1861-1865. It is not hard to understand the flurry of support for colonization during the Civil War. Notwithstanding the opposition of radical abolitionists, colonization presupposed emancipation, and whenever talk of emancipation arose, so too did talk [...]
What More Needs To Be Said About Gettysburg?
…apparently very little. With the Future of Civil War History conference right around the corner it should come as no surprise that I’ve had Gettysburg on my mind. I am also looking forward to a return visit in June for the annual Civil War Institute, which will focus on the battle of Gettysburg. With the [...]
The Future of USCTs at Civil War Sites
What follows are a few thoughts in response to the position papers of my fellow panelists, who will join me next week at Gettysburg College to talk about how we interpret the USCT experience on our Civil War battlefields. It’s a bit rough, but it should give you an idea of some of the things [...]
When Memory and History Collide
I got a kick out of this short editorial by Kevin Cullen in Danville, Illinois, who recently went looking for information about an ancestor that served in the Confederate army. For years, I imagined Private Cullen riding a magnificent stallion, attacking the Yanks with his saber, carbine and Colt. In my mind’s eye, he wore gauntlets, [...]
New To the Civil War Memory Library, 03/02
Howard Bahr, The Judas Field: A Novel of the Civil War, (Picador, 2006). William A. Dobak, Freedom by the Sword: The U.S. Colored Troops, 1862-1867, (Center of Military History, 2011). Christopher Hager, Word by Word: Emancipation and the Act of Writing, (Harvard University Press, 2013). Harold Holzer and Sara Vaugn Gabbard eds., 1863: Lincoln’s Pivotal [...]
Confederate Like Me
Earlier this week I received my author copies of the latest issue of The Civil War Monitor, which contains my essay on Confederate camp servants. As I’ve said before, I am very excited about this particular piece. It encompasses some of what I am trying to address in the first chapter of my book on [...]
The Way Home
H/T to Peter Winfrey I highly recommend taking the time to watch this video in its entirety. It follows a group of black seniors to Yellowstone National Park. Along the way there is a discussion of why black Americans have apparently lost touch with the history of our national parks, nature and the joys of [...]
Confederate Heritage Advocates Devour Their Own
If you want a sense of how obsessed some Confederate heritage advocates are about the battle flag look no further. I came across this gem of a thread on the Confederate Flaggers Facebook page earlier today and it doesn’t disappoint. Billy Bearden is an active Flagger and on occasion will share a thought or two [...]
Nathan Bedford Forrest, Race, and Memory in Memphis
Over at the Atlantic I share some thoughts about the recent controversy in Memphis surrounding the renaming of Forrest Park. I hope the essay at least provides a bit of historical context to this issue. Once again, thanks to Court Carney for making my job much easier. Tennessee’s state legislature finally passed a measure making [...]
Your Book Better Deliver On Its Promises
Last night I spent some time browsing Civil War titles on Amazon to redeem my book credit from last quarter. As always, thanks to those of you who purchase items on Amazon through my affiliate links. During my search I happened upon this forthcoming biography about John Bell Hood by Stephen Hood, who is apparently [...]
Seceding From v. Seceding To
Harvard University Press was kind enough to send me a review copy of Walter Johnson’s new book, River of Dark Dreams: Slavery and Empire in the Cotton Kingdom. I am only beginning to make my through it, but I am very enthusiastic given how much I enjoyed Soul by Soul: Life Inside the Antebellum Slave [...]
Our American Hero
Over the weekend this country lost another American hero from World War II and my family lost a dear friend. Joseph Weiner was 17 years old when he landed on Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944. From there he fought his way across Europe and in the process was awarded two Purple Hearts and five [...]
Interpreting the USCT at Civil War Sites
Looking forward to seeing some of you next month in Gettysburg for the Future of Civil War History conference. As I’ve mentioned before I am moderating a panel discussion on interpreting United States Colored Troops at Civil War sites. We’ve got a nice selection of panelists who can address different aspects of the challenge of [...]
Ulysses S. Grant #POTY1863
Earlier today the Museum of the Confederacy held their symposium to determine 1863?s Person of the Year. Most of the choices were once again predictable, though a few are just downright odd to me. Robert Krick’s selection of Stonewall Jackson is neither surprising or interesting in any way. I want to hear more about why [...]
Gettysburg NMP Invites Trace Adkins to Sing National Anthem
Yes, I find the decision by the Gettysburg National Military Park to invite country music singer Trace Adkins to sing our National Anthem as part of the 150th anniversary commemoration of the battle to be just a little troubling. My concern has nothing to do with the recent story about his Confederate earring and I [...]
Don Troiani Paints a Black Union Soldier
A number of my friends on Facebook are sharing a pic of the new release by Don Troiani. This new watercolor of a private in the 4th United States Colored Troop is, if I am not mistaken, Troiani’s first stand alone black soldier since his 1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry print, which was done a [...]
Why a Monument To Forrest in Memphis in 1905?
A number of you have emailed me requesting additional information on the historical context of the unveiling of the Nathan Bedford Forrest memorial in Memphis in 1905. I mentioned the other day that the best source I’ve found is Court Carney’s Journal of Southern History essay, “The Contested Image of Nathan Bedford Forrest” (August 2001). [...]
“How About You and I Form a More Perfect Union”
The only thing that would have been better is if they got Daniel-Day Lewis to play the role.
Sons of Confederate Veterans Snubbed in Memphis
Today it is being reported that a committee has been organized to determine the new name of Forrest Park and two other parks named in honor of the Confederacy in Memphis, Tennessee. Members of the committee include: Council members Bill Boyd and Harold Collins, Co-chairmen Reverend Keith Norman, Sr. Pastor of First Baptist Broad, current [...]
An Encouraging Site
I recently accompanied a group of students to Washington, D.C. to take part in a mock Congress. With a few hours to kill I decided to take a stroll through the National Gallery of Art. Included in the collection is a reproduction of the Shaw Memorial, which is located on Beacon Street here in Boston. [...]