Archive for June, 2007
« Previous EntriesCivil War Auction Fetches $6.5 Million
Friday, June 29th, 2007A Civil War auction in Gettysburg raised more than $6.5 million earlier this week.
“This was, without a doubt, the largest and most impressive Civil War auction ever held,” said Gary Hendershott, Director of Civil War auctions for Dallas-based Heritage Auction Galleries.
A collector paid over $1.6 million for a sword presented to [...]
An $8 Lincoln Letter!
Thursday, June 28th, 2007Firefighters save lives everyday, but when was the last time you heard of them saving a primary document?
Joseph Skanks, a firefighter in Tampa, Florida, collects old photographs. One morning, just after a 24-hour shift, he stopped by an estate sale and purchased a pile of old photos, books, and letters for $8. [...]
The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain
Wednesday, June 27th, 2007The prize was Atlanta. William Tecumseh Sherman knew it, as did his Confederate opponent Joseph Johnston.
It was just 100 miles from Chattanooga to Atlanta, but the Confederates were prepared to do anything to keep Sherman from reaching his goal. Johnston prepared a series of assaults on the advancing Federals, but Sherman [...]
Lincoln and Race
Tuesday, June 26th, 2007On this date in 1857 Abraham Lincoln spoke at length in Springfield, Illinois on the Dred Scott decision. His comments were printed and were available for purchase. Several newspapers also printed his speech in full.
In my view, this is an incredibly important speech. Lincoln has not yet faced Douglas in the celebrated [...]
Unconventional Warfare
Monday, June 25th, 20071864. In my view, this was the most brutal year of the war—the year in which Lincoln finally found a general who understood that “awful arithmetic” of superior Union numbers.
The opposing armies fought their way to a standstill in Petersburg, Virginia, just south of the Confederate capital in Richmond. The armies began fortifying their [...]
Friday, June 22nd, 2007
Every so often I come across a real gem. I made a note to pass this one along awhile ago, so here goes:
Back in 2002 Harry V. Jaffa and Thomas J. DiLorenzo squared off at the Independent Institute Conference Center in Oakland, California for a public [...]
Going to Springfield?
Thursday, June 21st, 2007I just found out about some of the new things happening at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield. Let’s just say they don’t have much to do with Lincoln or the Civil War, but you may want to check them out if you’re in town.
The Museum has been sponsoring a series [...]
Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission Grants
Wednesday, June 20th, 2007The Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission has awarded more than $440,000 in grant money!
The Bicentennial Grant funds are part of a Fiscal Year 2007 appropriation passed by the Illinois State Legislature. The grants were available to organizations, museums, local communities, nonprofit institutions, and government agencies to support educational, interpretative, and special events [...]
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
Monday, June 18th, 20071864. Petersburg, Virginia. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain is severely wounded.
He had been a college professor from Maine, but he took a sabbatical to serve in the Union Army. He became a legend at Gettysburg. He commanded the 20th Maine and secured the Union left flank on Little [...]
Are Historians Unpatriotic?
Friday, June 15th, 2007Many thanks to btarrington over on the discussion board for calling my attention to a Lincoln mention in Time Magazine this week. I read the piece and want to share an observation that has less to do with Lincoln, more to do with the historical profession and, I fear, the current status of political dialogue [...]
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