Civil War Traveler and Blogger
I’m taking this time out of my busy (and currently stressful) personal life to wish all my readers a Happy Juneteenth/Emancipation Day, which has its roots in Civil War history. June 19, 1865, is the day most commonly associated with Juneteenth, as it was the day the Union army entered Galveston, Texas and General Gordon… Continue reading Happy Juneteenth/Emancipation Day
Louisiana, especially the southeast region of the state, is well known for its historic plantations like Oak Alley, Whitney, Laura, Houmas House, etc. They also don’t lack for museums that interpret their rich history from the French colonial era to the Civil Rights movement. One such museum that does an admirable and thorough job at… Continue reading Stepping Into Rural Life in Louisiana
Disunion was nothing new to American politics. Since the ratification of the Constitution (which ended the period of governing under the Articles of Confederation that gave individual states more autonomy than the federal government) the idea of disunion had been thrown around by politicians and journalists alike. The notion of disunion manifested in a variety… Continue reading Disunion – A Precursor of the Civil War
In honor of Black History Month, I wanted to take a moment to recommend some books that give special focus to black women during the Antebellum and Civil War eras. While this isn't a complete list - and I highly suggest that readers take a moment to find more resources beyond what I mention -… Continue reading Black History Month 2022 – Recommended Reading
For this month's Facebook live with the Civil War Roundtable of Central Louisiana, I got the clearance to take a short trip out to Fort Pickens and talk with Ranger Casimer Rosiecki about the fort and some fascinating research regarding freedom seekers in the Pensacola area. Here's a link to the video! https://fb.watch/aX0sPnOgGn/
There are a number of images that go hand-in-hand with anyone’s idea of a antebellum plantation. Some of that has been influenced by movies like Gone With The Wind, others inspired by places that still exist and have been preserved. One of these places boasts a stunning picture of oaks lining a carriage lane up… Continue reading A Stroll Down The Allée – Oak Alley Plantation
I’ve visited many plantations and historic homes in the south. They usually center their tours around the history of the home and the white families who lived in the “Big House”. There’s usually a cursory mention of the slaves, specifically how many were held in bondage to drive home the wealth and prestige of the… Continue reading Whitney Plantation – Telling the Story of the Enslaved
The novel, The Secrets of Mary Bowser, while not historically accurate on many accounts, is a thrilling and incendiary (in a good way) story of a black woman Union spy in Richmond, Virginia. This book has it all and then some, when it comes to highlighting the racial prejudices and injustices that the black populations… Continue reading Book Review – The Secrets of Mary Bowser
(Disclaimer: These are my thoughts, backed up by my studies and observations of the Civil War and its ramifications) "The Vacant Chair" - representative of the lost soldier A conversation came up in my presence that made me both incensed and thoughtful. The general premise of the discussion dealt with the notion that it would… Continue reading Which Was Worse?
On May 15th, 1864, Confederate General Robert E. Lee was stumped by the movements of Union General Ulysses S. Grant. After horrendous fighting around the Mule Shoe (Bloody Angle) at Spotsylvania Courthouse, and some heavy fighting around Myers Hill, the Federal army needed a new plan. The new offensive would be made toward the southern… Continue reading A Moment To Prove Themselves – USCT At Spotsylvania
Belle on the Battlefield 