Robert E. Lee's "Country"

Greetings Cosmic Americans!

I have been been dutifully at my post scouring Youtube for interesting videos worthy of sharing here. I came across this one portraying a Robert E. Lee reenactor giving his take on allegiance to his "country" of Virginia and how the founders formed a union of "countries" under the Constitution.

I will have to give props to the reenactor - he has the look down. But his understanding of the formation of a union of sovereign countries seems a little more than problematic. Like Lincoln, many other folks understood that the formation of a union of former colonies made one country of constituent parts - and thus the formation of the Union created states...bound by allegiance to an indissoluble nation. What do you think?

Peace,

Keith

Greetings from Gettysburg!

Greetings Cosmic Americans!

Well, I finally made it - the much anticipated Civil War Institute conference begins tomorrow...and I got here a little early just to have a look around.

I love Gettysburg - for a CIvil War historian who specializes in both history and memory, this is the place. Gettysburg is sort of like an epicenter for CIvil War remembrance and commemoration - and you meet all sorts of characters here. Check out these guys. I ran into them right next to the "High Water Mark" marker. We talked about all kinds of fun stuff, including why a WWII reenactor was hanging around Gettysburg (apparently - he really likes Ike, who retired here after his presidency) - and I got their trivia question correct (Who was the first president to graduate from West Point...hint: it is a trick question)

Anyway - the entire economy of this town is centered on Civil War commemoration, so you run across all kinds of interesting little tidbits - like this painting of Abraham Lincoln, for example. Now who wouldn't want this framed and hanging over their bed? I know I would. So stay tuned. I will be posting updates here and on Facebook and Twitter fr the rest of the week - keeping you all up to date on the goings on at Gettysburg!

Peace,
Keith

PS - mission accomplished. 

Zouaves Before the Battle

Greetings Cosmic Americans!

I thought it would be nice to get a little military action in this morning - so here, courtesy of this company of Woodland Hills Zouaves - California Regiment, for lack of a proper unit designation, is an example of some first rate drilling.

You know, drilling is something that occupied a great deal of a soldier's time. Big battles, especially in the first two years of the war, were seldom. In short, Civil War soldiers spent a lot of time in camp - perfecting the art of killing.

One of my favorite soldier accounts of the war, Elisha Hunt Rhodes's All For the Union, discusses drilling and camp life at length...reading Rhodes, one might suspect that life in the army was actually pretty boring - only punctuated by fierce combat.

But it is here that we discover what military life was like - where we discover the insights of a Union soldier on Union, emancipation, secession, and religion. Coupled with scholarly accounts of Civil War soldiery, such as James McPherson's For Cause and Comrades, such writings are an invaluable resource. But if asked (and I often am), I would recommend a soldier account to get anyone started, and then offer what scholars think in comparison.

Peace,
Keith

Civil War Reenactment at Calico Ghost Town, February 19th, 20th, and 21st, 2011.

Greetings Cosmic Americans!

Now if this isn't a flag-raising patriotic picture I don't know what is. And if all goes according to plans, I will be seeing this first hand in February, 2011. Yes indeed - I am going to the Calico Ghost Town in Yermo California this February for their annual Civil War reenactment.

Here's the thing: I find Civil War reenactors a curious bunch. I am intrigued by why they do what they do. I have run across many of these guys and been to several "encampments." Their motivations to enlist in "reactivated" units seem range from intense ideology to a desire to have a little family fun time. And I have loved talking to all across the spectrum. I am fascinated by their (nineteenth-century)  politics and impressed by their commitment to battlefield preservation.

Strangely, I have never been to a battle reenactment. I have never smelled the gunpowder from an artillery barrage or witnessed a musket volley. So I figure it is about time. This February, video camera in hand, I will make the pilgrimage to Yermo, California to check a reenactment out first hand.

Of course, there will be interviews (if the boys in blue and gray are willing). I want to know what makes these guys tick. So stay tuned. I am sure  to kick up a fuss.

Peace,

Keith