Teacher, Retired Air Force Officer, Former HR Manager, Longtime Civil War Student, Sci Fi fan, Hokie Forever.
BGES Seminars: Home Front, Battle Front-Brooks Simpson In this excellent lecture from the 2003 Blue-Gray Education Society, Professor Brooks Simpson discusses the Home Front and the Battle Front and perceptions.
BGES Seminars: Home Front, Battle Front-Brooks SimpsonIn this excellent lecture from the 2003 Blue-Gray Education Society, Professor Brooks Simpson discusses the Home Front and the Battle Front and perceptions.studycivilwar2.wordpress.comLincoln’s Last War Council This panel discussion from the Lincoln Forum focuses on the River Queen conference between Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, William T. Sherman, and David Dixon Porter. It ranges from there. The video's description reads, "Historians Anne Marshall, John Marszalek, Craig…
Lincoln’s Last War CouncilThis panel discussion from the Lincoln Forum focuses on the River Queen conference between Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, William T. Sherman, and David Dixon Porter. It ranges from there. The video's description reads, "Historians Anne Marshall, John Marszalek, Craig Symonds and Susannah Ural discussed the March 28, 1865, meeting between President Abraham Lincoln and Union generals Grant and Sherman aboard the River Queen steamer to discuss the end of the Civil War. This event was part the 2025 Lincoln Forum held in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania."studycivilwar2.wordpress.comThe Week in Confederate Heritage Bina Thorsen This week we begin with this opinion piece. "In a written statement on the anniversary of Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, President Trump described the Confederacy’s defeat in 1865 as the end of 'four brutal years of suffering.' Rather than…
The Week in Confederate HeritageBina Thorsen This week we begin with this opinion piece. "In a written statement on the anniversary of Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, President Trump described the Confederacy’s defeat in 1865 as the end of 'four brutal years of suffering.' Rather than condemn the Confederacy’s treason or name slavery as the cause for which it fought, Mr. Trump quoted Ulysses Grant’s remarks to the vanquished army: 'The war is over. The rebels are our countrymen again.' Rebranding rebellion is nothing new. Americans take it for granted that the war between the Confederate states and the Union was always called the Civil War, but it was not.studycivilwar2.wordpress.comWhat Frederick Douglass Said About Lincoln Professors Lucas Morel and Jonathan White discuss what Frederick Douglass wrote and said about Abraham Lincoln based on newly discovered Douglass letters. The video's description reads, "Authors Lucas Morel and Jonathan White discuss recently discovered…
What Frederick Douglass Said About LincolnProfessors Lucas Morel and Jonathan White discuss what Frederick Douglass wrote and said about Abraham Lincoln based on newly discovered Douglass letters. The video's description reads, "Authors Lucas Morel and Jonathan White discuss recently discovered letters from Frederick Douglass that allow historians to newly examine Douglass's relationship with President Lincoln during the Civil War. This event was part the 2025 Lincoln Forum held in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania."studycivilwar2.wordpress.comMore Pushback Against Trump’s War on American History The Smithsonian American History Museum on July 07, 2026 in Washington, DC.Finn Gomez—Getty Images Dr. Marc Stein, President of the Organization of American Historians, wrote this essay on the Pusillanimous Pedophile's attack on American…
More Pushback Against Trump’s War on American HistoryThe Smithsonian American History Museum on July 07, 2026 in Washington, DC.Finn Gomez—Getty Images Dr. Marc Stein, President of the Organization of American Historians, wrote this essay on the Pusillanimous Pedophile's attack on American History. "On the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Trump Administration attempted to declare independence from history with the release of 'Saving America’s Story.' Assigned an Orwellian title that obscures the effort to rewrite America’s story, the 162-page Domestic Policy Council report, published on the White House’s website on July 4, attacks the archivists, curators, educators, historians, and museum professionals who work at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.studycivilwar2.wordpress.comThe Prince This classic book is in the form of a letter from Niccolo Machiavelli to Lorenzo the Magnificent, Son of Piero Di Medici, giving his advice on how to rule successfully. Lorenzo ruled Florence from December of 1469 to April of 1492. Beginning with a discussion of types of governments, he…
The PrinceThis classic book is in the form of a letter from Niccolo Machiavelli to Lorenzo the Magnificent, Son of Piero Di Medici, giving his advice on how to rule successfully. Lorenzo ruled Florence from December of 1469 to April of 1492. Beginning with a discussion of types of governments, he declares, "All states and dominions which hold or have held sway over mankind are either republics or monarchies. Monarchies are either hereditary in which the rulers have been for many years of the same family, or else they are of recent foundation." He writes, "Those states which on annexation are united to a previously existing state may or may not be of the same nationality and language.studycivilwar2.wordpress.comPushing Back Against Trump’s War on American History The Rancid Rapist's attacks on American History are not going unopposed. As this article shows, Lonnie Bunch of the Smithsonian is punching back. "In a memo addressed to staffers sent Tuesday, the secretary of the Smithsonian, Lonnie G. Bunch…
Pushing Back Against Trump’s War on American HistoryThe Rancid Rapist's attacks on American History are not going unopposed. As this article shows, Lonnie Bunch of the Smithsonian is punching back. "In a memo addressed to staffers sent Tuesday, the secretary of the Smithsonian, Lonnie G. Bunch III, defended the institution after the White House issued a 162-page report that characterizes the National Museum of American History as a place which has become 'subject to institutional capture by a radical, activist ideology that is fundamentally opposed to telling the noble, honest story of the great country we know and love.' In his email, which NPR has obtained, Bunch wrote in part: 'While there will always be room for improvement, this report is not a fair characterization of the work and totality of the National Museum of American History.studycivilwar2.wordpress.comBorn Equal Professor Akhil Reed Amar appeared at the 2025 Lincoln Forum and delivered this excellent lecture. The video's description reads, "Author Akhil Reed Amar discusses constitutional developments from 1840 to 1920, inspired by President Lincoln's vision, that deal with the concept of…
Born EqualProfessor Akhil Reed Amar appeared at the 2025 Lincoln Forum and delivered this excellent lecture. The video's description reads, "Author Akhil Reed Amar discusses constitutional developments from 1840 to 1920, inspired by President Lincoln's vision, that deal with the concept of equality in America. This event was part the 2025 Lincoln Forum held in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania."studycivilwar2.wordpress.comMurder on the Mississippi Professor Saladin Ambar of Rutgers University delivered this excellent lecture at the 2025 Lincoln Forum. The video's description reads, "Author Saladin Ambar discusses racially motivated murders in the 1830s that shaped a young Abraham Lincoln's political views and…
Murder on the MississippiProfessor Saladin Ambar of Rutgers University delivered this excellent lecture at the 2025 Lincoln Forum. The video's description reads, "Author Saladin Ambar discusses racially motivated murders in the 1830s that shaped a young Abraham Lincoln's political views and inspired his Lyceum Address in 1838. This event was part the 2025 Lincoln Forum held in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania."studycivilwar2.wordpress.comMore on Trump’s War Against American History The president’s executive order said signage outside the National Museum of American History should inform people of locations where American history is better presented. Credit...Eric Lee for The New York Times Let's start with this article about the…
More on Trump’s War Against American HistoryThe president’s executive order said signage outside the National Museum of American History should inform people of locations where American history is better presented. Credit...Eric Lee for The New York Times Let's start with this article about the Mango Moron's childish order to put signs outside the Smithsonian Institute's Museum of American History. "President Trump on Friday ordered warning signs and exhibits installed outside the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History to alert the public that the museum does not, in his view, accurately reflect American history. The unusual directive, made through an executive order, was a considerable escalation of…studycivilwar2.wordpress.comThe Week in Confederate Heritage We have this article about another repugnant politician. "When Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, took the stage during the recent July Fourth weekend to recite the Declaration of Independence, there was one notable image just steps away: the Confederate battle flag.…
The Week in Confederate HeritageWe have this article about another repugnant politician. "When Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, took the stage during the recent July Fourth weekend to recite the Declaration of Independence, there was one notable image just steps away: the Confederate battle flag. Sullivan’s Senate campaign posted pictures on Facebook from the 'America Comes Alive' event, which took place on July 5 at Mountain City Church in Anchorage. But his team omitted sharing any images featuring the flag. A video of Sullivan’s remarks, obtained by MS NOW, shows he spoke glowingly about the Declaration of Independence and some of the 'core ideas' in the document — including that we are all 'created equal' and that everyone is guaranteed the right to 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.' But as he spoke about the Declaration of Independence and recited the Founding Fathers’ words, Sullivan was just a few feet away from an image that has come to represent racism, oppression and white supremacy.studycivilwar2.wordpress.com2026 Winter Lecture Series John Nicholas Here's Ranger John Nicholas discussing foreign policy in the Civil War, concentrating on the Trent Affair. The video's description reads, "While battles raged across American soil, another struggle unfolded in quiet rooms and diplomatic courts across the…
2026 Winter Lecture Series John NicholasHere's Ranger John Nicholas discussing foreign policy in the Civil War, concentrating on the Trent Affair. The video's description reads, "While battles raged across American soil, another struggle unfolded in quiet rooms and diplomatic courts across the ocean. Join Ranger John Nicholas to explore how Union leaders worked to prevent foreign recognition of the Confederacy, and how President Lincoln’s shrewd diplomatic strategy—summed up in his phrase 'One war at a time'—helped preserve the Union by keeping Europe out of America’s Civil War. Discover the high-stakes world of Civil War diplomacy and the international threads woven into the Gettysburg story."studycivilwar2.wordpress.comThe Trump War on American History Continues The Smithsonian American History Museum on July 07, 2026 in Washington, DC. Finn Gomez/Getty Images As this article shows, the effort has infected the Republican Party, which has really become the Stupid Party. "It was the Ignorance Hour on Tuesday in…
The Trump War on American History ContinuesThe Smithsonian American History Museum on July 07, 2026 in Washington, DC. Finn Gomez/Getty Images As this article shows, the effort has infected the Republican Party, which has really become the Stupid Party. "It was the Ignorance Hour on Tuesday in the House of Representatives, and yes, I know, the only time it isn’t the Ignorance Hour in the House of Representatives is when everyone in the Republican caucus is asleep. But this Ignorance Hour involves all the rest of us and our common history. Dr. Anthea Hartig, the director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, appeared before the ...studycivilwar2.wordpress.comLincoln’s Peace In this presentation from the 2025 Lincoln Forum, Professor Michael Vorenberg discusses Lincoln's efforts to end the Civil War. The video's description reads, "Author Michael Vorenberg discussed attempts to define the endpoint of the Civil War and what this says about the war's…
Lincoln’s PeaceIn this presentation from the 2025 Lincoln Forum, Professor Michael Vorenberg discusses Lincoln's efforts to end the Civil War. The video's description reads, "Author Michael Vorenberg discussed attempts to define the endpoint of the Civil War and what this says about the war's nature and legacy. This event was part the 2025 Lincoln Forum held in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania."studycivilwar2.wordpress.comDid the Anaconda Plan Win the War? J.B. Elliott - This map is available from the United States Library of Congress's Geography & Map Division under the digital ID g3701s.cw0011000. Bottom Line Up Front: It didn't. Talk to or interact on the internet with Civil War "buffs" and sooner or later…
Did the Anaconda Plan Win the War?J.B. Elliott - This map is available from the United States Library of Congress's Geography & Map Division under the digital ID g3701s.cw0011000. Bottom Line Up Front: It didn't. Talk to or interact on the internet with Civil War "buffs" and sooner or later someone is going to claim that Winfield Scott's plan, dubbed the Anaconda Plan, is the strategy that won the war. Usually it's accompanied by a fantasy version of the plan concocted to fit their nonsensical claim into what actually happened. Case in point is…studycivilwar2.wordpress.com
