Cosmic America - Office Hours!

Greetings Cosmic Americans!

Well, the very first Office Hours session is in the books. I hope you enjoy. It is kind of dark at Ye Rustic Inn - but hey, want do you want for free, anyway?

This was a lot of fun - as you can see there are some real characters at my favorite Hollywood area bar. OMG - who gets cut off at a bar at 12:30 in the afternoon? Sheesh! Stay tuned - who knows what might happen

Peace,
Keith

Port Royal - A Rehearsal for Reconstruction

Greetings Cosmic Americans!

Last night, Live and Unfiltered featured the Port Royal Experiment - what some scholars have called a "rehearsal for Reconstruction." And what a rehearsal it was! To check out last night's episode, click HERE.

I think wartime Reconstruction is often glossed over in Civil War classes (as is the big event during 1865-1877) but that's just me. Fans of my show will be happy to know that I plan on covering Reconstruction thoroughly. Why?? Becuase it's important dammit!

And if you don't believe me - just check any newspaper from the period. Reconstruction was on people's minds.

Now...since you have watched the Port Royal episode (or are about to), those of you paying attention probably noticed that I mentioned a couple of books. Read them - you'll be better off for it.

Rehearsal for Reconstruction: The Port Royal Experiment by Willie Lee Rose

Roll Jordan Roll: The World the Slaves Made by Eugene D. Genovese

Peace,
Keith

Civil War Live and Unfiltered: Ball's Bluff and the Trent Affair

Greetings Cosmic Americans!

For all of you watching my streaming Civil War course, Live and Unfiltered, you will want to download this map for Tuesday's (November 4, 2010) episode: Ball's Bluff and (time permitting) The Trent Affair.

Fun shall be had by all - just click HERE and the map is all yours!

And be sure to tune in every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday evening at 8PST by clicking HERE.

Peace,
Keith

Memories of Murder at Fort Pillow

Greetings Cosmic Americans!

Well as you know, I speak all the time about Civil War memory - particularly the stuff that caused problems later in the 19th century - like issues concerning race. I don't give a damn what scholars think, but northerners remembered the cause of freedom and the sacrifices that black Union soldiers made to contribute to emancipation.

Take this Kurz and Allison print from 1892. It shows the murder of surrendering black soldiers by Confederate forces under the command of Nathan Bedford Forrest. That's right, At Ft. Pillow on April 12, 1864, African American soldiers were massacred - shown no quarter. Northerners, black and white, condemned Forrest and his officers and men for these actions - a condemnation that continues today.

So you think white northerners whitewashed Civil War memory - guess again.

Peace,
Keith

Ye Rustic Inn - Cosmic America Annex - Yes or No??

Greetings Cosmic Americans!

I am thinking of making Ye Rustic Inn in Los Feliz, California my new office at least once a week. For those of you wondering, Los Feliz is adjacent to Hollywood - and a pretty cool place to hang out.

Anyway, I thought I could get some writing done here and possibly some video blogs too...my wheels are always turning you know. I might even broadcast the answers to all the questions you Cosmic Americans keep asking...over beers. Teaching history might never be the same!

But I am leaving it to you - let me know...Ye Rustic Inn?? yes or no???

Peace,
Keith

Special Halloween episode - The Union is Dissolved! (just in case you missed it)

Greetings Cosmic Americans!

Thanks to all who watch Sunday's episode of The Civil War: Live and Unfiltered! It was a fun way to start the Halloween festivities. Check it out if you missed it - and be sure to watch from the beginning...you get about a minute of music before the horror begins :)

This week's schedule is in the books, so be sure to tune in tonight, Thursday, and Sunday at 8PM PST by clicking HERE.

Tonight the shooting finally starts - we will discuss the First Battle of Bull Run (or...for the rebs in the crowd, First Manassas).

See you then-
Peace,
Keith

Reconciliation at Grant's Tomb

Greetings Cosmic Americans!

Wrap your head around this - Ulysses S. Grant shaking hands with that rebel Robert E. Lee enshrined forever at his own tomb!!

And why not? The whole point of the war was to bring the country back together - why not show a little spirit of reconciliation? After all, Grant's campaign slogan (or rather, the Republican Party's slogan) for the election of 1868 was "Let Us Have Peace." So there you have it...peace.

But remember, Union veterans had a very clear vision of what peace and reconciliation would look like. Don't forget that. When Americans would learn the history of their greatest conflict, former Union soldiers were determined that they would learn what the war had been about. The Confederacy had fought to destroy the nation and perpetuate the institution of slavery. Period.

Sure, they would say, let us have peace...let us promote reconciliation. But don't forget what happened. Even Grant himself wrote in his memoirs: "I felt like anything rather than rejoicing at the downfall of a foe who had fought so long and valiantly, and had suffered so much for a cause, though that cause was, I believe, one of the worst for which a people ever fought, and one for which there was the least excuse."

(Let Us Have) Peace,
Keith