What did you learn about the American Civil War in 2012? What new piece of information or interpretation added to what you already knew?
14 thoughts on “What Did You Learn?”
Leave a Reply
Recent Comments
 | TF Smith on The Georgia Civil War Commissi… |
| TF Smith on The Origins of Cuba Libre… |
| TF Smith on Miss Alabama Flubs “Sout… |
| TF Smith on What A Relief It Was: Grant Sa… |
 | Brooks D. Simpson on Death of a Newsgroup |
 | Bob Nelson on Death of a Newsgroup |
| Bob Nelson on Death of a Newsgroup |
 | Jimmy Dick on Miss Alabama Flubs “Sout… |
| Brooks D. Simpson on Miss Alabama Flubs “Sout… |
 | Corey Meyer on Miss Alabama Flubs “Sout… |
 | Ned on What A Relief It Was: Grant Sa… |
 | Tony on What A Relief It Was: Grant Sa… |
 | Jeffry Burden on What A Relief It Was: Grant Sa… |
| Brooks D. Simpson on Georgia On My Mind |
 | Charles Lovejoy on Georgia On My Mind |
I read the book “Southern Rights” by Mark Neely this year. Very interesting material on an aspect of the Civil War that has hardly been covered by other authors. Neely’s book taught me a great deal about how the Confederate government actually operated with respect to civil liberties and how its citizens reacted to it.
I learned from you, Dr. Simpson, that Meade, more so than Grant, was the man who was wary of using black troops to lead the attack on the Crater, fearing the consequences should the attack fail. The chapter on the siege of Petersburg in Curt Johnson/Mark McLaughlin’s book “Civil War Battles” (which I’ve had for about 20 years) had previously led me to believe that replacing them with white troops was purely Grant’s call.
Those are the things that come to mind right now, anyway. I’ve also learned plenty from many of the blog members here in the short time that I’ve been reading it.
I learned (too late, unfortunately) that Lincoln didn’t say of Grant, “I can’t spare this man. He fights.”
I learned there were a few (very few) black confederates. And that a lot of people were either happy -or very angry- there were black confederates. Even a few. Also, that Abraham Lincoln was such a mensch that a black private could sass him as Commander-in-Chief and he’d just “understand”. Plus, U.S. Grant was just like Hitler.
So, I learned a lot.
I learned many things in 2012. I learned a great deal about the 90th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, I learned a lot about the Battle of Antietam, I learned a lot about the evolution of the Law of War prior to and during the Civil War, I learned about environmental history, I learned how useful Twitter is for learning new things about the war, I gained more insight into George B. McClellan, I learned about a lot of microdetails about brigade movements in the Battle of Gettysburg, and I learned more about Abraham Lincoln.
I’ve been reading “Decision in the West: The Atlanta Campaign of 1864″ by Albert Castel. Being a novice on the history of the, and attempting to become an “expert”, if possible, this book has been a tough one to plow through. This book goes into every minute detail of the campaign and shows that it wasn’t some walk in the park for Sherman.
I learned that Chinese people fought in the U.S. Civil War. I also learned about the Dakota wars and other Indians wars (and massacres, etc.) that occurred during the years of 1861-1865 that involved U.S. troops.
I learned to take a closer look at the ground on Civil War Battlefields. The terrain is often mentioned as having an effect, but not nearly enough detail is given to this important aspect of battle.
I learned that the parlor in the McLean House at Appomattox had to be jam-packed if all those in the painting were really in the room when the documents were signed.
I learned that Lincoln was a human being, not an idol, yet he was an absolute genius who was able to focus on his principles, yet give way to get forward; that he had warts, and swore, and told dirty stories, yet he single-handedly led this nation through the inevitable trial by fire required to rid the nation of slavery. And I learned to appreciate the facts that when someone like Lincoln was required by the nation, he was there, and willing to serve in that role. None could have done better.
I learned a lot of other stuff, too, but that’s for another time.
I found the whole issue of how the Civil War was and is remembered, and how that memory colors our perceptions of those events to be of interest. Posts and comments on this and other Civil War blogs touched on that issue, and I also watched a few of David Blight’s lectures via YouTube where he discusses the matter.
My main CW read of the year was Jay Monagham’s “Civil War on the Western Border, 1854-1865″. This book filled in some of my knowledge gaps regarding the Bloody Kansas events and the western theater of the war. (How might things have gone differently in the course of the war if Union General Nathaniel Lyons had not been killed at Wilson Creek?)
What I learned in 2012 .My gguncle belonged to,for a time,the notorious Moccasin Rangers.
http://www.wvgenweb.org/clay/clmoc.htm
Though,both his father and younger brother served in the Union army,I think I already new that part…
I learned that a lot of people think that Little Mac’s fantasy of 200,000 Confederates was plausible, that he was actually a far better general than we have assumed, that the “letters” between Ellen and himself aren’t really “letters”, that I have a severe case of anti-McClellan fixation, and – not to leave this one out – that the few “Black Confederates” who actually existed may not have, um, er, freely enlisted. .
Bummer has learned from the hosts of the sites visited how much Civil War War history he doesn’t know. From the commenters, a sometimes different perspective on the the subject. The list of books studied and enjoyed, grew exponentially. Happy Holidays to everyone and their families.
Bummer
I learned that 11 million people people would plunk down 10 bucks to watch a movie about the passage of the 13th Amendment. Imagine how many will come to see a film on the 14th!
One thing I learned is that Daniel S. Donelson and Bushrod Johnson were probably more responsible for the demise of Fort Henry than Lloyd Tilghman, or probably even U.S. Grant.
I’m reminded how much I don’t know by cwcrossroads, cwmemory & deadconfederates where I learn new information daily. I learn new things from Gerry Prokopowicz’s interview show and various lectures I attend (including a great talk by Kevin last week). As far as books, I learned a lot about the election of 1860 and Stephen Douglas & WL Yancy from Egerton’s “Year of Meteors.” This year, my own research has taught me about the three dozen or so German-Jewish immigrants who served in Florida’s Civil War regiments. I also started giving some presentations myself this year and learned that there is real interest out there in Reconstruction.