Any USA Civil War History Buffs?

[display name]

The history of the USA, especially the Civil War, I know a lot about. Not quite as much as I know about the Baltimore Ravens, but a lot. I'm mostly a Union supporter. Am I in company on the Flock?

[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War"]http://en.wikipedia....rican_Civil_War[/url]

[redrum52]

Is that the war where we got our freedom from the French?

[display name]

[quote name='redrum52' timestamp='1330137949' post='1002214']
Is that the war where we got our freedom from the French?
[/quote]
If that's a joke, I don't get it. I'm just hangin out in Off-Topic!

[IMissMattStover]

I love it in the sense that I love history, however I cant say I love the Civil war as far as the fact that millions died in a few years over something that never should have been an issue in the first place.

[K-Dog]

My wife is into all that.
Her ancestors came over on the Mayflower.

[Moderator 2]

You mean the War of Northern Agression [img]http://content.boards.baltimoreravens.com//public/style_emoticons/default/doorpeek.gif[/img] We go to the Gettysburg Battle fields several times a year, walked around Devils Den and fence line of Picketts Charge and there are some kick butt outlets 5 mins away lol

I usually hit outlets every 6 weeks or so while the guys go to the battlefields --works well AND they have an Under Armour outlet, figure i'll buy cold gear in April for the games in the fall


Those that don't study history are doomed to repeat it.


I have friends that are re-enactors, that is hard core, she also makes the uniforms and lady's ball gowns. Her daughter wore one to her prom and it was gorgeous. She hand crocheted all the lace, yards and yards of lace.

[codizzle]

[quote name='redrum52' timestamp='1330137949' post='1002214']
Is that the war where we got our freedom from the French?
[/quote]
No ur thinking of freedom fries

[jmckinney]

i love the civil war but im a rebel fan.

[Grapple Raven]

Ohhh, you're talking my kinda topic now, lol! If you are not familar with Mathew B. Brady's photography on the War Between the States you are truly missing one of the best primary source documents on the subject! The book "Mr. Lincoln's Camera Man: Mathew B. Brady" written by Roy Meredith is a wonderful source to get acquainted with Brady, containing 350 pictures that give a complete look at the entire span of the war. I had the austere pleasure of seeing the originals of Brady the first time they were displayed for the public in Washington, DC. many years ago. It was awesome!!!

Ken Burns documentary series done for PBS is absolutely one of the best ever concieved on the subject. There is nothing better than primary source documents (items from the time period as it occured) for capturing and understanding the thoughts, emotions, logic and reasoning of the time period than by those who lived it as it happened. One of my students' favorites among many, was Sullivan Ballou's love letter written on the eve of the Battle of Bull Run written to his wife just before his death. It is here if you are interested in hearing it:

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=HxDP6q6C5mE&NR=1"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=HxDP6q6C5mE&NR=1[/url]

This video also contains some of Mathew Brady photos and is from a reading from the Ken Burns Civil War documentary.

Amazing how powerful language can be isn't it?

[display name]

[quote name='IMissMattStover' timestamp='1330140010' post='1002238']
I love it in the sense that I love history, however I cant say I love the Civil war as far as the fact that millions died in a few years over something that never should have been an issue in the first place.
[/quote]
Yeah I don't like that a ton of people died either I just meant I find it really interesting.

[display name]

[quote name='Grapple Raven' timestamp='1330172536' post='1002331']
Ohhh, you're talking my kinda topic now, lol! If you are not familar with Mathew B. Brady's photography on the War Between the States you are truly missing one of the best primary source documents on the subject! The book "Mr. Lincoln's Camera Man: Mathew B. Brady" written by Roy Meredith is a wonderful source to get acquainted with Brady, containing 350 pictures that give a complete look at the entire span of the war. I had the austere pleasure of seeing the originals of Brady the first time they were displayed for the public in Washington, DC. many years ago. It was awesome!!!

Ken Burns documentary series done for PBS is absolutely one of the best ever concieved on the subject. There is nothing better than primary source documents (items from the time period as it occured) for capturing and understanding the thoughts, emotions, logic and reasoning of the time period than by those who lived it as it happened. One of my students' favorites among many, was Sullivan Ballou's love letter written on the eve of the Battle of Bull Run written to his wife just before his death. It is here if you are interested in hearing it:

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=HxDP6q6C5mE&NR=1"]http://www.youtube.c...xDP6q6C5mE&NR=1[/url]

This video also contains some of Mathew Brady photos and is from a reading from the Ken Burns Civil War documentary.

Amazing how powerful language can be isn't it?
[/quote]
Yeah Brady's photos were great in studying history; not that they were all of poor dead bodies. He got permission from General George McClellan to take the pics.

[Purple Nurple]

[quote name='IMissMattStover' timestamp='1330140010' post='1002238']
I love it in the sense that I love history, however I cant say I love the Civil war as far as the fact that millions died in a few years over something that never should have been an issue in the first place.
[/quote]
Millions died? Check your facts.

I love Civil War history. It fascinates me that we could do that to ourselves.

[ghost1986]

I love me some history. My fam had two relatives who fought for the Confederacy. One lived to see the end of the war. The other wasn't so lucky. But I love reading about it. I took a class on Civil War History at AACC and the professor was so awesome. He took us on two field trips. The first one we went to visit Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania and Chancellorsville battlefields. It was just me and one other classmate. And the second field trip we went to Gettysburg. And on that trip it was just me and the Professor. He said "As long as one student shows up, we're still going." He got me into reading Biographies. One of my favorites is one about James Longstreet by Jeffry Wert. I love just about all U.S. History. Especially the Civil War. Back in the days when Generals were on the front lines alongside their men.

[display name]

[quote name='Purple Nurple' timestamp='1330181721' post='1002375']
Millions died? Check your facts.

I love Civil War history. It fascinates me that we could do that to ourselves.
[/quote]
Yeah I think it was in the hundred thousands. Still, point is made. A ton of people died. Sad.

[display name]

[quote name='ghost1986' timestamp='1330181726' post='1002376']
I love me some history. My fam had two relatives who fought for the Confederacy. One lived to see the end of the war. The other wasn't so lucky. But I love reading about it. I took a class on Civil War History at AACC and the professor was so awesome. He took us on two field trips. The first one we went to visit Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania and Chancellorsville battlefields. It was just me and one other classmate. And the second field trip we went to Gettysburg. And on that trip it was just me and the Professor. He said "As long as one student shows up, we're still going." He got me into reading Biographies. One of my favorites is one about James Longstreet by Jeffry Wert. I love just about all U.S. History. Especially the Civil War. Back in the days when Generals were on the front lines alongside their men.
[/quote]
I have ancestors on both sides. Very interesting subject. I've been to Manassas Junction, Antietam, and Gettysburg, all multiple times I think. I've also been to some other interesting places that weren't real battles, like the B&O Railroad Station in downtown Ellicott City. if you haven't been, you should check it out. Real cool. I've also been to Fort McHenry; I know that's not Civil War.

[Purple Nurple]

[quote name='display name' timestamp='1330182053' post='1002380']

Yeah I think it was in the hundred thousands. Still, point is made. A ton of people died. Sad.
[/quote]
High 600's although some put it in the 800 thousand area. But yes, point taken. Way too much needless death.

[Purple Punishment]

Wasnt there a book written about the civil war where the South was given todays modern weapons and won? I always heard about it but my searches turned up nothing....

[Moderator 2]

If the South won Picketts charge they may have won Gettysburg and put the Union on its heals. My husband had 2 relatives on the monuments but he was chagrined to find out the fought for the Union. My family was not here yet.

[display name]

Yeah the Confederates had much better generals and even better will power. However, other countries like France and England did not want to get involved in the whole slavery thing. Also, the North had all the machinery, so they won. It took too long for Lee.

[Grapple Raven]

General consensus is 600,000, however about 400,000 out of that total can be attributed to dysentary.

There is a great little paperback out there entitled: "Why The North Won The Civil War" edited by David Donald, that examines five crucial factors that led to downfall of the Confederacy, by five of the most distinguished professors of history in the country. The book throws a bright light on the question of which led to the defeat of the South more human or material resources.

Consensus of the book:

Political: Discusses deficiences of J. Davis as a civil and military leader and the lack of a well-organized political party to force the leadership to make competent changes soon enough to have a positive effect.

Diplomatic: Discusses the reasons England and France decided not to intervene on behalf of the South was only due to their total commitment to their noninterventist policies.

Economic: Discusses the fundemental economic superiority of the North in terms of finance and manufacturing, etc., and how it wore down the civilian resources of the South over the course of the war.

Military: Discusses the deficiencies of the South as it related to their leadership and strategy, ie: position warfare vs. rapid tactical offense

Social: Discusses how the excesses of the Southern democracy ie. too much emphasis on individual freedoms and not enough on military discipline killed the Confederacy.

Very interesting viewpoints in this book, outside of what you will get from normal reads on the subject, it really tells how the South lost the Civil War. It is a fast, easy read, but well written, and still considered one of the best on the topic.

[MsMarvel73]

You are indeed. I understand now how blessed I am to have been born and raised a short jaunt from Gettysburg. It's my sacred ground (and I will miss it greatly). In fact, Gettysburg was my first NPS park. I volunteered there Sundays for eight months in '97 and worked an internship there in '98 while I was in college.

I met Brian Pohanka before he passed away. Talk about feeling like you were looking at the face of God (reenactor God but you get the point).

Ask me about the Iron Brigade, if you dare. I'm also a student of Civil War artillery.

[Irish Raven]

Though I don't have a connection with the area as a local I'm fascinated by history and the subject

No doubt you've all seen them before:
The two Ted Turners films Gettysburg and God and Generals

A less well known film but very memorable is Andersonville
[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andersonville_(film)"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andersonville_(film)[/url]
Desperate men in a desperate situation and it brings out the best in some but the worst in others who bully and prey on the weak. Not a film you'd soon forget

Bernard Cornwell is a fiction writer, probably best known for Richard Sharpe series about a British rifleman in the Napoleonic wars.
He did four books on the Civil War, Copperhead, Bloody Ground, Rebel, Battle Flag.
Superb books, fictional characters but follow real events and there are historical notes at the end of the books

Just a few things I've enjoyed

[Moderator 2]

My friend did some of the sewing for Gods and Generals. We have a whole bookshelf of the local paperback books too numerous to list on Gettysburg. As a kid growing up in Catonsville it used to see so far away when my grandparents took me as a kid, it took me a while as an adult to realize how close we are.

[jmckinney]

[quote name='Grapple Raven' timestamp='1330172536' post='1002331']
Ohhh, you're talking my kinda topic now, lol! If you are not familar with Mathew B. Brady's photography on the War Between the States you are truly missing one of the best primary source documents on the subject! The book "Mr. Lincoln's Camera Man: Mathew B. Brady" written by Roy Meredith is a wonderful source to get acquainted with Brady, containing 350 pictures that give a complete look at the entire span of the war. I had the austere pleasure of seeing the originals of Brady the first time they were displayed for the public in Washington, DC. many years ago. It was awesome!!!

Ken Burns documentary series done for PBS is absolutely one of the best ever concieved on the subject. There is nothing better than primary source documents (items from the time period as it occured) for capturing and understanding the thoughts, emotions, logic and reasoning of the time period than by those who lived it as it happened. One of my students' favorites among many, was Sullivan Ballou's love letter written on the eve of the Battle of Bull Run written to his wife just before his death. It is here if you are interested in hearing it:

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=HxDP6q6C5mE&NR=1"]http://www.youtube.c...xDP6q6C5mE&NR=1[/url]

This video also contains some of Mathew Brady photos and is from a reading from the Ken Burns Civil War documentary.

Amazing how powerful language can be isn't it?
[/quote]
i've heard of that. thats so cool. the civil war is my greatest topic. i've done serval reports on stuff like this. it's amazing what they did back then.

[display name]

[quote name='Irish Raven' timestamp='1330256419' post='1003299']
Though I don't have a connection with the area as a local I'm fascinated by history and the subject

No doubt you've all seen them before:
The two Ted Turners films Gettysburg and God and Generals

A less well known film but very memorable is Andersonville
[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andersonville_(film)"]http://en.wikipedia....sonville_(film)[/url]
Desperate men in a desperate situation and it brings out the best in some but the worst in others who bully and prey on the weak. Not a film you'd soon forget

Bernard Cornwell is a fiction writer, probably best known for Richard Sharpe series about a British rifleman in the Napoleonic wars.
He did four books on the Civil War, Copperhead, Bloody Ground, Rebel, Battle Flag.
Superb books, fictional characters but follow real events and there are historical notes at the end of the books

Just a few things I've enjoyed
[/quote]
Yep, seen all of those. My favorite was the Gettysburg film with Jeff Daniels, though I didn't like how it portrayed Robert E. Lee and George Pickett as [i]complete [/i]idiots and James Longstreet as "Mr. Wise Guy." I know Lee was off his game at Gettysburg, but they should have made him seem slightly better, since he was otherwise such a great general.

On a side note, I think W. T. Sherman took the "torched Earth" thing a little too seriously.

I also can't believe that the USA did that to itself. But now we are one.

[img]http://content.boards.baltimoreravens.com//public/style_emoticons/default/iwojima.gif[/img]

[YYZ66]

[quote name='Grapple Raven' timestamp='1330205153' post='1002771']
[b]General consensus is 600,000, however about 400,000 out of that total can be attributed to dysentary.[/b]

There is a great little paperback out there entitled: "Why The North Won The Civil War" edited by David Donald, that examines five crucial factors that led to downfall of the Confederacy, by five of the most distinguished professors of history in the country. The book throws a bright light on the question of which led to the defeat of the South more human or material resources.

Consensus of the book:

Political: Discusses deficiences of J. Davis as a civil and military leader and the lack of a well-organized political party to force the leadership to make competent changes soon enough to have a positive effect.

Diplomatic: Discusses the reasons England and France decided not to intervene on behalf of the South was only due to their total commitment to their noninterventist policies.

Economic: Discusses the fundemental economic superiority of the North in terms of finance and manufacturing, etc., and how it wore down the civilian resources of the South over the course of the war.

Military: Discusses the deficiencies of the South as it related to their leadership and strategy, ie: position warfare vs. rapid tactical offense

Social: Discusses how the excesses of the Southern democracy ie. too much emphasis on individual freedoms and not enough on military discipline killed the Confederacy.

Very interesting viewpoints in this book, outside of what you will get from normal reads on the subject, it really tells how the South lost the Civil War. It is a fast, easy read, but well written, and still considered one of the best on the topic.
[/quote]

Yup, there were actually more casualties to disease than there was to combat.

[YYZ66]

[quote name='Moderator 2' timestamp='1330194467' post='1002583']
If the South won [b]Picketts charge[/b] they may have won Gettysburg and put the Union on its heals. My husband had 2 relatives on the monuments but he was chagrined to find out the fought for the Union. My family was not here yet.
[/quote]

A complete tactical blunder. March your men across an open field into a wall of cannon? Not very smart. I really think the heat, along with the nasty humidity of southcentral PA, took its toll on Lee. Up to Gettysburg, Lee had been pretty much tactically brilliant. Longstreet practically begged Lee not to charge and fight defensively. How much different might the country be if Lee had listened to Longstreet?

[Gtown Purple]

I agree that Cornwell writes good books. I've read the entire Sharpe series but didn't know about his civil war series. I'll have to look those up.


[quote name='Irish Raven' timestamp='1330256419' post='1003299']Though I don't have a connection with the area as a local I'm fascinated by history and the subject No doubt you've all seen them before: The two Ted Turners films Gettysburg and God and Generals A less well known film but very memorable is Andersonville [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andersonville_(film)"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andersonville_(film)[/url] Desperate men in a desperate situation and it brings out the best in some but the worst in others who bully and prey on the weak. Not a film you'd soon forget Bernard Cornwell is a fiction writer, probably best known for Richard Sharpe series about a British rifleman in the Napoleonic wars. He did four books on the Civil War, Copperhead, Bloody Ground, Rebel, Battle Flag. Superb books, fictional characters but follow real events and there are historical notes at the end of the books Just a few things I've enjoyed[/quote]

[bpytnjr58]

[quote name='PARavensgirl' timestamp='1330252583' post='1003285']
You are indeed. I understand now how blessed I am to have been born and raised a short jaunt from Gettysburg. It's my sacred ground (and I will miss it greatly). In fact, Gettysburg was my first NPS park. I volunteered there Sundays for eight months in '97 and worked an internship there in '98 while I was in college.

I met Brian Pohanka before he passed away. Talk about feeling like you were looking at the face of God (reenactor God but you get the point).

Ask me about the Iron Brigade, if you dare. [img]http://content.boards.baltimoreravens.com//public/style_emoticons/default/smile.png[/img] I'm also a student of Civil War artillery.
[/quote]
I lived in New Oxford for about 8 years...i spent many an afternoon on Little Round Top and the Devil's Den.

[bpytnjr58]

Most of my ancestors are from the Front Royal Va area and fought for the Confederacy...one of them was captured in 1864 and died in Elmira prison in 1865.