Monthly Archives: April 2017
Franklin County Historical Society Teaches Myth
On Saturday, April 29, 2017 I visited Chambersburg, PA for their special History Day, where a number of sites of historical importance were open with free admission. I first visited Mary Ritner’s Boarding House, which is the house John Brown used to plan his Harper’s Ferry Raid. The house has some really good artifacts and […]
The Daily Show Responds to Confederate Memorial Day
A couple of southern states have a state holiday for so-called “Confederate Memorial Day.” Trevor Noah of the Daily Show on Comedy Central has some thoughts to share: Kevin Levin posted some links to other Daily Show commentaries on confederate heritage events. See here.
A New Birth of Freedom: Abraham Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation
Here’s Ranger Dan Vermilya at the Gettysburg National Military Park’s 2017 Winter Lecture Series giving an outstanding presentation on Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation. The video’s description reads, “The Emancipation Proclamation remains one of the most misunderstood and controversial events of the American Civil War. Many today still debate its legality and what it accomplished. […]
From Cedar Mountain to Antietam
Scott Hartwig updated and revised this second edition of the classic by Edward Stackpole for its 1993 reissue, correcting many errors and tweaking the interpretation. As a result, even though the original was published in 1959, the book matches up pretty well with current scholarship. This is a pure military history of these campaigns. Those […]
Civil War Talk Radio The Rivers Ran Backward: The Civil War and the Remaking of the American Middle Border
Here’s Gerald Prokopowicz interviewing Christopher Phillips regarding his book, The Rivers Ran Backward: The Civil War and the Remaking of the American Middle Border. This is a pretty good interview. http://cdn.voiceamerica.com/voice/201034/prokopowicz022217.mp3
Varina Davis, Southern Women and Civil War
Here’s Professor Joan Cashin discussing Varina Howell Davis, the second wife of confederate president Jefferson Davis. This is really an excellent presentation with a lot of good information. The video’s description reads, “In celebration of Women’s History Month and in commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the American Civil War, the Arkansas Women’s History Institute […]
Abraham Lincoln and Immigration
Here’s Harold Holzer speaking to the 2016 Lincoln Forum Symposium on Abraham Lincoln’s views and actions toward immigration and immigrants. The video’s description reads, “Harold Holzer talked about Abraham Lincoln’s views on immigration policy and immigrant groups in America. He described Lincoln’s efforts to court the German-American vote early in his career and the importance […]
Grant’s Terms of Surrender at Appomattox
Here’s Professor Joan Waugh of UCLA speaking at the 2016 Lincoln Forum on Lt. General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox. The video’s description reads, “Joan Waugh talked about how Union General Ulysses S. Grant conducted the surrender at Appomattox and sought to foster an atmosphere of reconciliation with the defeated Confederates. She argued that Grant, […]
Teaching Underground Railroad History
Here’s a nice panel discussion on factors involved in teaching the history of the Underground Railroad. The panel consists of Matt Pinsker of Dickinson College, Spencer Crew of George Mason University, and Timothy Westcott of Park University. The video’s description reads, “Historians talked about some on the most common misconceptions about the Underground Railroad and […]
Longstreet’s Counter-march
Here’s Matt Atkinson giving his normal outstanding performance talking about James Longstreet’s countermarch on July 2, 1863. The video’s description reads, “In one of the more controversial moments of the battle of Gettysburg, Confederate General James Longstreet’s men did not attack until mid-afternoon on July 2. This delay possibly cost victory for the Confederacy. Join […]
Student of the American Civil War 
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