Ideas for 2018

To start the new year, I will not resort to the cliché of calling these resolutions, but I thought it might be a good idea to post ideas of some things I would like to accomplish about this blog and my interest in the Civil War in 2018. It still seems surreal that I have been doing this blog thing since 2009. So much has happened and changed since then, but I plan to keep on plugging away here. How many, if any, of these will happen this year, I do not know, but i do like at least having a list of items in writing.

1. Read more books. I have done pretty well at this in the last half of 2017, at least until my most recent cataract surgery a couple of weeks ago, but I want to do more. I have a few that I have not read yet, and a couple of those stand  out as ones I want to read first. 

2. Rearrange my bookshelves This might help the first one, but I would like to re-arrange my books so that they are in some sort of logical order. I did recently create a shelf for my Civil War books dealing with Kentucky, Cincinnati and “local” books (though there is one more I know I have, but I cannot find it and it is making me CRAZY!) but I need to do this with more books. I have a couple shelves semi-organized, but need to do more, though deciding how and what topics to use will be tough. At least one or two will be for Lincoln, and I think I will probably use “biographies” for another, instead of more specific ideas like “generals.” Perhaps an actual “to be read” pile or shelf would be nice as well 

3. Travel. I will not be a globetrotter, but I need to see a couple of places in Kentucky for the first time  (Richmond, Mill Springs, Wildcat Mountain) and revisit other places such as Perryville, Bardstown and Hodgenville. I will visit Cynthiana again and perhaps take one out-of-state trip, possibly to Springfield, Illinois. I would like to see Lincoln’s Home, the Lincoln Presidential Library, his tomb and whatever other Lincoln attractions are located there. I have thought about that for a while and think it would be fun, though a long drive. I do need to go to other battlefields like Shiloh, Franklin, Chickamsuga or back to Gettysburg or Antietam, but I don’t see those happening this upcoming year.

4. Post more often I’d like at least a couple of posts every month, though I can’t promise it. I look at my blogroll and a lot of blogs I started following a few years ago are now gone or inactive. I suppose podcasts are the current hot thing, but that does not interest me. I’ll keep on blogging as I enjoy it, especially when I come up with a good or fun idea for a post. Researching, writing, and editing/proofreading these remains fun for me and I do think it helps keep my mind sharp and learn new things about the war and about how to express my thoughts. It is a good creative outlet for me, no matter how many page views I do or do not get. 

5. Redesign this blog? I really like the current look, with all the blue coloration, but part of me is getting the itch to make some changes. It has had this same look for several years now and I kind of want to make changes, but every time I look at it and try to think of how to change it, I just do not come up with any ideas. I simply like how it looks. It’s a bit of a conundrum, but not a big deal in the long run. 

6. Get involved in re-enacting or living history? I have purchased a Union infantry private’s frock cost and have ordered some pants which will need hemming. I still need other garments - a shirt, suspenders, socks, brogans and a kepi at least - but have started the process. I suppose i am not sure I want to re-enact, but probably have more interest in living history to represent the museum where I volunteer. Perhaps I will try both, but the living history is what I have been interested in and why I have looked into these purchases for a couple of years. I think wearing a uniform will improve my perspective on the soldiers who fought, especially if I do re-enact and will let me communicate it better as well. 

That seems like a good list, at least to ponder and to try to conquer. I guess now it is time that will tell how man6 of these I attack or accomplish. 

Happy New Year, everyone! 

A Quick Look Back and Look Forward

As I try to look ahead to the blessings, hopes and opportunities of another new year, I start by looking back a bit. In recent weeks, I have found a few leads to stories on various individual soldiers, their service and their lives. I have posted a couple and am working on others. These stories take longer to research, write and proofread than transcribing an article, offering opinions or reviewing a book, but also tend to be more enjoyable and even more educational to me. Not only do I learn their individual stories, but it helps me realize just how many different people were involved in the war, he many lives were affected, how many personal narratives occurred. That seems like a fairly obvious point, but finding and telling these tales, each one different, really drives that home for me. It really is different to write such entries instead of just reading somebody else's work. I guess it's a feeling of ownership, with perhaps a developing sense of familiarity with the subject. Hopefully I can find more such projects as the new year proceeds.

2015 was a good year for the blog, I believe, especially the last few months. I am happy with several research projects I finished, such as the posts on John Rankin and John Parker, the study on the George Grey Barnard statue of Abraham Lincoln and the connection I found between a Kentucky basketball player and the Civil War. My hope is to continue to find such interesting stories and to be able to do more such research and writing.

Anyway, 2016 is now here and perhaps even a history blogger should take time to look forward. I have some good research already started and hope it continues to progress nicely. I would like to average at least one post per week (though I will try to avoid posting just to say I met some quota.) I cannot know for sure where my obsession will go during this year, but am ready to find out what stories pop up and what ideas fill my mind along the way. Family history in the war will likely be one topic I continue to explore, as will the roles of Kentucky and the Cincinnati area in the conflict. Hopefully I can take the time to make some short trips (Perryville, Richmond, Ky., Mill Springs are possibilities) and offer perspectives on those or other places. Reading more books and reviewing those books are other goals I would like to accomplish. 

Well, that's enough for now. As always, time itself will tell how things go. 

Happy New Year to all who visit and read this blog. I thank you all for your support and wish you the best in 2016 and beyond.

Emancipation Proclamation, January 1, 1863

147 years ago today, President Abraham Lincoln signed the document that has continued to give him reputation as the "Great Emancipator," a final version of the preliminary document he had announced in September of 1862. This document, controversial then and now, was the one public work of which Lincoln was the proudest.

Like with much of what happened during the war years, people throughout the continent disagreed on the traits of Lincoln's work.  Some thought he had exceeded his authority with this declaration, while others felt it did not go enough. Some, particularly in the South, saw it as an example of tyranny and too much governmental power, while others believed that "freeing the slaves in areas the government did not control" was a sign of a weak, ineffective order.

Even 75 years later, it still brought up questions. Historian Richard Hofstadter once wrote, “The Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863, had all the moral grandeur of a bill of lading." To me, it seems that he missed the point - this was not to be some public speech or a moral statement, but, rather, a legal doucument announcing a Presidential decision. Lincoln, was, remember, a lawyer by profession, and he intended this as a purely legal announcement based on military necessity, not an opportunity to express moral beliefs or political statements as he did in speeches such as the Gettysburg Address and both of his inaugural speeches.

Here is a link to an article that discusses some of the questions about this document, perhaps in more detail than I am able.  Questions about the Emancipation Proclamation


Still, as we celebrate the coming of another New Year, let's not forget the magnitude of the signing of this Proclamation by the President. After the preliminary proclomation and the Union Army's struggles in the following weeks, particularly at Fredericksburg, there was some wondering as to whether or not Lincoln would still go through with this announcement as planned, but not only did he do so, but, after a morning of greeting visitors, he even took time to make sure his signature reflected his confidence that he was doing the right thing. Slavery had caused controversy in the country for decades, and such a document as the Emancipation Proclamation was rather radical compared to past Presidential or Congressional declarations. This was no ordinary public letter or speech, which Lincoln recognized and which we, almost a century-and-a-half later, should not forget.


Here is the text of the proclamation, taken from Abraham Lincoln online


By the President of the United States of America:


A Proclamation.

Whereas, on the twentysecond day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty two, a proclamation was issued by the President of the United States, containing, among other things, the following, to wit:

"That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom.

"That the Executive will, on the first day of January aforesaid, by proclamation, designate the States and parts of States, if any, in which the people thereof, respectively, shall then be in rebellion against the United States; and the fact that any State, or the people thereof, shall on that day be, in good faith, represented in the Congress of the United States by members chosen thereto at elections wherein a majority of the qualified voters of such State shall have participated, shall, in the absence of strong countervailing testimony, be deemed conclusive evidence that such State, and the people thereof, are not then in rebellion against the United States."

Now, therefore I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested as Commander-in-Chief, of the Army and Navy of the United States in time of actual armed rebellion against the authority and government of the United States, and as a fit and necessary war measure for suppressing said rebellion, do, on this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty three, and in accordance with my purpose so to do publicly proclaimed for the full period of one hundred days, from the day first above mentioned, order and designate as the States and parts of States wherein the people thereof respectively, are this day in rebellion against the United States, the following, to wit:

Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, (except the Parishes of St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson, St. Johns, St. Charles, St. James Ascension, Assumption, Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Mary, St. Martin, and Orleans, including the City of New Orleans) Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South-Carolina, North-Carolina, and Virginia, (except the fortyeight counties designated as West Virginia, and also the counties of Berkley, Accomac, Northampton, Elizabeth-City, York, Princess Ann, and Norfolk, including the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth[)], and which excepted parts, are for the present, left precisely as if this proclamation were not issued.

And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons.

And I hereby enjoin upon the people so declared to be free to abstain from all violence, unless in necessary self-defence; and I recommend to them that, in all cases when allowed, they labor faithfully for reasonable wages.

And I further declare and make known, that such persons of suitable condition, will be received into the armed service of the United States to garrison forts, positions, stations, and other places, and to man vessels of all sorts in said service.

And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind, and the gracious favor of Almighty God.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the eighty-seventh.

By the President: ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Battle of Stones River/Murfreesboro

To end the year in 1862, instead of celebrating the New Year in the traditional way, approximately 82,000 Union and Confederate soldiers in the western theatre fought a tenacious and vicious, but perhaps under-appreciated battle

Here is a link to the National Park Service's website for this battle between the forces of William Rosecrans on the Union side and Braxton Bragg for the Confederacy.

There was no real clear-cut winner in the actual fighting, but after it was over, Bragg and his army left the field, retreating towards the town of Tullahoma, leaving the field in the hands of the Union, who claimed this battle as a victory. Combined casualties for both sides were estimated to be over 24,000 according to Encyclopedia of the American Civil War, edited by David S. Heidler and Jeanne T. Heidler, which also calls this victory "important to federal morale." (See the article by James L. McDonough on pages 1876-1879)

A brief description of the campaign and batttle is at this link,  and this link features photos of the area and commanders involved

What a way to end one year and begin another! So many brave men missed their friends, families and homes during the holiday season and many of these would never see such familiar faces and places again. Please remember the sacrificies that these and other soldiers made during this normally joyous time of the year late in 1862, and  throughout the entire war.

I hope any who read this are able to be at home and amongst friends and family and will have the most wonderful of new years.