Monthly Archives: October 2017
Ex Parte McCardle
The citation for this case is 73 US [6 Wal.] 318, followed by 74 US [7 Wal.] 504. In Mississippi in 1867, by order of Maj. Gen. E. O. C. Ord and Maj. Gen. Alvin C. Gillem, William H. McCardle, a newspaper editor in Vicksburg, Mississippi, was arrested on charge of “publishing libelous editorials that […]
Audacity Personified
This excellent book edited by Pete Carmichael contains six essays by leading historians considering various aspects of Robert E. Lee’s generalship. We’ve already considered the first essay in the collection. The next essay, “The Siege of Richmond Was Raised,” by William J. Miller, considers Lee in the Seven Days Campaign. Following a close reading of […]
The Custer Conundrum by T. J. Stiles
Here’s two-time Pulitzer Prize winner T. J. Stiles giving an outstanding presentation on George Armstrong Custer based on his superb book, Custer’s Trials: A Life on the Frontier of a New America. He gave this presentation at the US Army Heritage and Education Center in Carlisle, PA. The video’s description reads, “George Armstrong Custer proved himself […]
Abraham Lincoln, John Quincy Adams, and Slavery
Here’s Fred Kaplan, Professor Emeritus of English at the City University of New York, giving a presentation that compares and contrasts Abraham Lincoln and John Quincy Adams with respect to the slavery issue. I have to say while I disagree with several things he says about Lincoln, this presentation did make me think a lot […]
Confederate General Stonewall Jackson’s War Horse
Here’s author Sharon B. Smith giving a presentation to the Virginia Historical Society on “Little Sorrel,” Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson’s horse. The video’s description reads, “Sharon B. Smith talked about Confederate General Stonewall Jackson’s favorite war horse. She is the author of Stonewall Jackson’s Little Sorrel: An Unlikely Hero of the Civil War.” //www.c-span.org/video/?434023-2/confederate-general-stonewall-jacksons-war-horse
Conversation with Historian Allen Guelzo
Here are historians Gary Gallagher and Allen Guelzo having a wonderful discussion running the gamut from R. E. Lee to treason trials. The video’s description reads, “Historian Gary Gallagher talked with Lincoln and Civil War scholar Allen Guelzo about his previous work on President Abraham Lincoln as well as his current project on Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Mr. Guelzo highlighted President […]
Lee’s Search for the Battle of Annihilation
This is an essay by Peter Carmichael in the book he edited, Audacity Personified: The Generalship of Robert E. Lee. In the essay, Pete assesses Lee’s generalship throughout the war, providing both positives and negatives in Lee’s performance. For example, he tells us, “Unlike many Union officers, such as Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, Maj. Gen. […]
U.S. Colored Troops as Prisoner Guards
Here’s Professor Kelly Mezurek of Walsh University giving a presentation on the Union decision to use USCT troops to guard confederate prisoners. This was part of the 2017 Emerging Civil War Symposium. The video’s description reads, “Kelly Mezurek talked about the Union’s decision to assign U.S. Colored Troops to guard Confederate prisoners. She described the […]
The 57th Massachusetts from The Wilderness to Ft. Stedman
Here’s Michael J. Thomas of the American Civil War Museum giving a nice talk on the 57th Massachusetts, a veteran volunteer regiment in 1864 and 1865. The video’s description reads, “The 57th Massachusetts Veteran Volunteers, one of four so-called ‘Veteran’ regiments was brand new to the front lines in May of 1864 when they marched […]
Student of the American Civil War 
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