Confederacy
« Previous EntriesCivil War in the News
Thursday, May 14th, 2009The war might have ended in 1865, but the battle over Civil War memory remains especially fierce. A number of news stories have recently appeared on my radar: Groups at the University of Alabama disagree over “Old South” celebration What is Confederate Memorial Day? Op-Ed Offers Alternative to SCV Confederate History and Heritage [...]
Advertising Controversy at American Heritage
Monday, December 1st, 2008No, I’m not in the business of selling jewelry now. However, if I had made such a transition, do you really think I would be pushing Confederate rings? Highly doubtful. So why the Rebel ring at the top of the page? I came back from the Thanksgiving break to find this story in the New York Times. [...]
Lincoln on Ebay: Un-Reconstructed Southerner
Friday, June 27th, 2008This week’s edition of Lincoln on Ebay comes to us in the form of a letter, written some eight months after the assassination. D. M. Wharton, a citizen of Huntsville, Alabama, wrote his nephew a letter on November 4, 1865. He begins with the usual pleasantries by thanking his nephew for sending such a nice letter a couple [...]
Joseph T. Glatthaar, General Lee’s Army
Tuesday, June 24th, 2008I have been making my way through Joseph T. Glatthaar’s new book, General Lee’s Army: From Victory to Collapse and wanted to pass along some initial thoughts. To put it simply, Glatthaar has produced one of the most detailed portraits of the Confederate army I have ever seen. The research is meticulous. Based on primary [...]
Soldiers in the Same Struggle: Jim Limber and Black Confederates
Monday, June 23rd, 2008A few weeks ago I mentioned that the statue controversy in Richmond was back in the news. The Sons of Confederate Veterans have unveiled their proposed statue design, featuring Jefferson Davis (pictured above). Their design is breathtaking. Compare it to the current statue of Lincoln and his son, Tad: Notice: Lincoln is sitting, while Davis [...]
Bicentennial Backlash
Wednesday, June 11th, 2008I was hardly surprised when the national media ignored Jefferson Davis’ 200th birthday last week. I understand it can be difficult to differentiate between commemorating and celebrating such an event. Perhaps the media was wise to sidestep the entire issue. However, not everyone seems willing to let it slide. The Sons of Confederate Veterans have [...]
A Quiet, Local Affair: The Jefferson Davis Bicentennial
Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008He was born 200 years ago today, but most Americans will not be celebrating the Jefferson Davis bicentennial. I have no desire to beat up on the president of the Confederacy today. In many respects, he was a talented individual. He graduated from West Point, served in both the Black Hawk War and Mexican War, [...]
Surrender at Appomattox
Wednesday, April 9th, 2008One of the most significant scenes in American history took place 143 years ago today. Why not let someone who was there explain what happened? The following account comes from the Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant (New York, 1885), 555-560. I had known General Lee in the old army, and had served with him [...]
"Abraham Lincoln in Song"
Monday, February 18th, 2008A big thank you to Emily and Itchy over on the Discussion Board for bringing the following story to my attention: Chris Vallillo, a Central Illinois musician who has performed at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, has released a record called “Abraham Lincoln in Song.” Inspired by the period music in such films as Ken [...]
2008 Lincoln Prize…A Split Decision
Friday, February 15th, 2008The results are in. The winner of this year’s coveted Lincoln Prize, the most prestigious (and generous) award in the field of Lincoln Studies, is… Wait a minute…we have a split decision! The award goes to two different books: The Radical and the Republican: Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, and the Triumph of Antislavery Politics [...]
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