Ripley and Oberlin: Two Homes of Abolition in Ohio

As I have been working on my post on John Rankin, I have found a few neat links. Here is a really nice blog post I really liked and thought I would go ahead and share even before my Rankin post is organized and done.

http://www.oberlinheritagecenter.org/blog/2012/12/a-tale-of-two-abolitionist-towns/

Perryville Walking Tour Weekend, May 15-16

I'm not sure  I will be able to make it, but this sounds fun. The tour leaders do an excellent job,  and, of course, the battlefield itself is beautiful. It's a great place and even if I cannot make it to this tour I will make a trip to Perryville sometime this year.

http://www.friendsofperryville.org/html/spring_hike.html

May 15th and 16th, 2015

Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site 

1825 Battlefield Road, Perryville, KY 40468

Sponsored by the Friends of Perryville Battlefield and the Cincinnati Civil War Round Table 

Guides – Chuck Lott and Darryl Smith

May 15^th – Dry Canteen Trail Walk

This walk replicates the Federal First Corps approach to the battlefield. The Dry Canteen Trail is a scout trail that scouts, without water to simulate what the Union troops were going through on October 7^th, could earn a badge and learn about the Battle of Perryville. The trail consists of road walking, so wear comfortable walking shoes, bring water and snacks, and wear bright colors so that passing cars may see us more easily. While the walk is mostly on back roads, there is a busier section at the beginning of the walk that we need to exercise extreme caution and walk single file. 

Meet by the Confederate Cemetery at 10:00 a.m. We will then take as few vehicles as possible and drive to Mackville. Starting at the Mackville Community Center we will walk about ten miles back to the battlefield, arriving by 3:00 p.m. Car drivers will then need to be shuttled back to Mackville to pick up their vehicles. Do not let the distance deter you from joining as we will have an easy pace and smooth surface to enjoy. Post walk event will be at Bluegrass Pizza and Pub, where we can enjoy a great local restaurant and chat about Perryville. 

May 16^th – Walking Tour of Perryville Battlefield

Join Chuck Lott and Darryl Smith for an extended walking tour of the Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site. There will be a morning session from 9:00 a.m. until noon, a break for lunch, and then an afternoon session from 1:00-4:00 p.m. (covering a different part of the battle than the morning session). There will be some sort of evening session (hopefully with a renowned Perryville expert), so please plan on joining us after the walking tour for some enjoyable post tour camaraderie. 

Attendees should wear comfortable clothing, sturdy walking shoes, bring water and snacks, and pack a lunch. History buffs and the general public are all welcome! Each session will involve about three miles of walking, with some elevation changes (none greater than 100 feet) along the way. Meet for the morning session at the picnic shelter in the park near the playground. When entering the park, take the first right and look for the shelter. 

Morning Session – 9:00-12:00 – Meet at the Picnic Shelter near the playground.
Lunch - 12:00-1:00 

Be sure to pack a lunch! Note - There is a small Amish place on the Lebanon Pike southwest of Perryville that may be open (about a ten minute drive). They make a delicious deli sandwich! 

Afternoon Session – 1:00-4:00 – Meet at the Confederate Cemetery
Evening Session – Post Tour Gathering – To Be Announced 

Darryl Smith
Ohio at Perryville Blog
Civil War Trust - Regimental Color Bearer
Cincinnati Civil War Round Table - Activities Committee Chair

A Glorious Army by Jeffry D. Wert

http://www.amazon.com/Glorious-Army-Robert-Triumph-1862-1863/dp/1416593357

I just recently finished reading A Glorious Army: Robert E. Lee's Triumph, 1862-1863  by Jeffry D. Wert, author of several Civil War books, such as A Brotherhood of Valor and The Sword of Lincoln, among others.

I gladly recommend this book for anyone interested in the Civil War, especially those interested in the Confederate army of Northern Virginia and/or Robert E. Lee.

It is a well-written, easy-to-read book, with a very good narrative flow. That definitely helps make s book more enjoyable for me.

Besides that, it does a good job of telling the story of Lee and his army from when he took command through the Battle of Gettysburg. I enjoyed the narrative and the points Wert made. He offered plenty of praise for Lee, his main subordinates and the whole army, of course, but also made criticisms of some of Lee's judgments and how his leadership style affected certain battles in lessositive ways. He made his own points and comments on these issues, but also found and used comments from published works by other historians to help reinforce his points to illuminate some areas where the Confederates and their esteemed general could have done things differently, and perhaps better. I thought this cruticisms gave the book a nice balance so that the story was not merely a repetition of how great a fighting force this was and how remarkable a leader it had.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this book. It was the first I had read for a while and it reminded me why I enjoy reading about the Civil War and how much a good book can make life better and me a bit happier. 

Life Happens

As the sesquicentennial winds down,mi have another large time gap between posts, unfortunately. Life has a way of  changing your, or at least my, priorities. Now, though, hopefully I can get back to posting. I do have a couple of drafts that need some finishing and just need to finishing the John Rankin entry I promised do long ago.

I regret not posting during the anniversaries of Lee's surrender and Lincoln's assassination, but it is what it is.

Anyway, I am still around, even if not blogging actively, and I do want to repost this one entry from 5 (really?!) years ago, though a day or two ago would have been better timing

http://www.civilwarobsession.com/2010/05/booths-in-cincinnati.html