Tip of the Spear

I just published “Engineers at War,” in Tip of the Spear: US Army Small-Unit Action in Iraq, 2004-2007, Jon T. Hoffman, Gen. Ed. (Washington: US Army Center of Military History, 2009).  It is about Fallujah, Nov. 2004.

Legendary Lost Persian Army Found in Sahara

A pair of Italian archaeologists have uncovered bronze weapons, a silver bracelet, an earring and hundreds of human bones in the vast desolate wilderness of the Sahara desert. Twin brothers Angelo and Alfredo Castiglioni are hopeful that they’ve finally found a lost army…

$500,000 IN NEW FUNDS FOR STAR-SPANGLED BANNER NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL

SENATOR CARDIN HAILS $500,000 IN NEW FUNDS FOR STAR-SPANGLED BANNER NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL

 

Contact: Susan Sullam: 202-224-4524
Friday, October 30, 2009 

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) today joined Congressmen Elijah Cummings (MD-7), C.A Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-2) and John Sarbanes (MD-3) in praising final congressional passage of $500,000 in funding for the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail.  The funding was included in the Interior-Environment Conference Report, which also includes a Continuing Resolution to fund much of the federal government through December 18.  The bill now goes to the President for his signature.

 

The National Historic Trail system commemorates major routes of historic travel and events that have shaped American history. The bill creating the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail was signed into law in 2008 and comes in time for the upcoming bicentennial celebration of the War of 1812.  The $500,000 appropriation will allow for a Comprehensive Management Plan in order to plan for the upcoming bicentennial celebration, which culminated at the Battle of Baltimore and the celebrated role of the Star-Spangled Banner flying over Fort McHenry.

 

“The Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail is part of Maryland’s rich heritage and culture,” said Senator Cardin.  “As the bicentennial of the War of 1812 approaches, the State of Maryland needs to be prepared so that we can ensure all Americans will have the opportunity to learn and study the history of what is often referred to as the ‘Second American Revolution.’”

 

“The history of the Baltimore area is historically linked to the War of 1812, the battles that were fought here, and our noble National Anthem which emerged from the fight,” said Congressman Cummings. “I am glad that our history will be kept alive by improving this wonderful trail, so that our children will have the opportunity to experience the twin wonders of Maryland’s natural beauty and its history.” 

 

The Star-Spangled Banner Trail is a living memorial to those who gave their lives to protect our young nation.  The trail is a wonderful way to inspire people of all ages to learn more about Maryland’s rich history,” said Congressman Ruppersberger, a member of the Appropriations Committee.

 

“As the bicentennial of the War of 1812 approaches, this funding will help make the Star Spangled Banner Trail a reality and educate generations to come about the important role Marylanders played in protecting this nation,” said Congressman Sarbanes. “Many refer to the War of 1812 as the ‘Second War of Independence.’ Events in Maryland, most notably the heroic defense of Fort McHenry, helped prove that democracy could hold together through the trials of war and set the stage for the spread of democracy around the world.”

 

The Trail begins with the June 1814 battle between the British Navy and the American Chesapeake Flotilla in St. Leonard’s Creek in Calvert County, follows the British landing at Benedict on the Patuxent River, the Battle of Bladensburg, and then moves on to the British march into Washington, D.C., which was sacked and burned. From Washington, it follows the British campaign to the Battle of North Point and on to Baltimore, ending at Fort McHenry, site of the defeat of the British and where Francis Scott Key composed The Star-Spangled Banner, our National Anthem.

George Washington

Scholarly contributions are needed for A Companion to George Washington, part of the highly regarded Blackwell Companions to American History, to be published in 2011. This volume, edited by Professor Edward G. Lengel of the University of Virginia, will contain 35 scholarly essays on various aspects of Washington’s life and career. Each essay will be 7-8,000 words in length, and include full bibliography and citations.A superb team of scholars has already been assembled for 29 of the essays, but contributors are still needed for the following topics:1. The origins of Washington’s military career, incorporating personal elements and his reading of the masters of military art, and evaluating how this shaped his conception of warfare. 2. The Battle of Monmouth: Washington in the Monmouth Campaign of the summer of 1778. 3. Foreign Policy in the Presidential Era: Washington’s vision of foreign policy, particularly with respect to relations with Europe during the wars of the French Revolution. 4. Retirement: Washington’s retirement from the presidency and subsequent involvement—some might say meddling—in the Adams administration during the Quasi-War with France in 1798-99. 5. Revolution and Peace: a discussion of his political views and vision for the new nation at the end of the Revolutionary War. 6. Death and Mourning: How he died, and how America mourned his passing. Contributors will receive $300 worth of books from the Blackwell catalog. Submissions are due by September 30, 2010. Submit proposals, including interest and qualifications, to Dr. Lengel by email or standard mail at the address below.

Edward G. Lengel Professor and Senior Editor The Papers of George Washington 504 Alderman Library P.O. Box 400117 Charlottesville, VA 22904-4117 Email: egl2r@virginia.edu

 

Secessions: From the American Revolution to Civil War

October 22-23, 2010 Louisville, KentuckyConference Conveners: Manisha Sinha (University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Departments of Afro-American Studies and History) Kevin Barksdale (Marshall University, Department of History) The Filson Institute for the Advanced Study of the Ohio Valley and the Upper South proposes a two-day academic conference to examine calls for secession or disunion in the United States from the Revolutionary era to the Civil War. The conference, which takes place in Louisville, Kentucky, at The Filson Historical Society, marks the 150th anniversary of South Carolina’s secession. The conference seeks to explore the moments in U.S. history between 1783 and 1865 when Americans threatened or acted upon a perceived “right” to secede from or nullify the laws of national or state authorities. Nearly hundred and fifty years ago, in December 1860, South Carolina declared its independence and seceded from the Union, helping to plunge the nation into Civil War. Secessionists believed they defended and upheld political values and traditions established during the Revolutionary era. Some claimed that the Declaration of Independence established a precedent for principled rebellion in opposition to “tyranny,” while states’ rights advocates defended secession as a constitutional right. But southern secessionists were not the first to appeal to the Revolutionary tradition of disunion and rebellion or to the Constitution: between the Revolution and the Civil War many groups and political leaders, discontented with conditions in the nation, invoked the right to leave the union or nullify federal laws. The organizers of the conference welcome paper and panel proposals that adopt a variety of approaches to the study of secession, including the social, economic, and cultural causes of secession; the political theories Americans used to justify secession; secession and the contested meanings of the American Revolution; secession as a means to effect progressive social change or conservative counter-revolution; the sources of opposition to secession within a seceding region; the factors that led some states or regions to reject secession; the role of the media in secession debates; the role of Native Americans in secession and separatist movements; secession and state formation; secession in trans-Atlantic and transnational perspective; and the memory of secession and war. The organizers seek paper and panel proposals that explore a variety of nullification and separatist movements, such as: • The State of Franklin • The Spanish Conspiracy • The Whiskey Rebellion • The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions • The Burr/Wilkinson/Blennerhassett Conspiracy • The Hartford Convention • The Nullification Crisis and States’ Rights Theory • The Republic of Texas • Abolitionist Disunionism • Northern Opposition to the Fugitive Slave Laws • Secession in South Carolina and the Deep South States • Secession in the Ohio Valley and Upper South • Southern Unionism • Secession within the Confederacy (West Virginia, Eastern Tennessee, the Free State of Jones) A selection of revised essays from the conference will be published as part of The Filson’s “Ohio Valley and the Nation” book series with Ohio University Press. Please send three copies of a proposal of no more than two pages clearly outlining subject, arguments, and relevance to the conference topic, and a vita of no more than two pages, to The Filson Institute Conference, The Filson Historical Society, 1310 S. Third St., Louisville, Kentucky 40208. Proposal deadline is April 5, 2010 (postmarked). Single papers or conference panels are welcomed. For panel proposals please provide a one-page summary of the panel in addition to paper proposals and vitas from each participant. The conference will meet in consecutive single sessions, with three sessions each day. Papers will be placed on-line on The Filson Historical Society’s website prior to the conference. Funds will be available to help defray some travel costs for presenters.

Dr. A. Glenn Crothers The Filson Institute Conference The Filson Historical Society 1310 S. Third St. Louisville, Kentucky 40208 502-635-5083 Email: crothers@filsonhistorical.org Visit the website at http://www.filsonhistorical.org/institute.html.

Revolutionary War Film @ N.C.

Subject: Museum Produces Film About North Carolina and the American Revolution

MUSEUM PRODUCES FILM ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA AND THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

The N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh announces the release of “Friends in Liberty: North Carolina in the American Revolution,” a 50-minute educational film produced by the museum and funded by the State Officers Club, N.C. Society Daughters of the American Revolution. A DVD of the film about the American Revolution in North Carolina will be distributed to all middle- and high-school public schools in North Carolina. The film and supplemental teaching materials are available on the museum’s Web site at ncmuseumofhistory.org. “Friends in Liberty” follows the experiences of 14-year-old Hugh McDonald and his friend, Anne Taylor. The film is based on the original journal of McDonald, the son of Scottish Loyalists, who joined the Sixth N.C. Regiment of the Continental Army in 1776. The fictitious character Anne Taylor gives us a girl’s view of life during the Revolutionary War as she struggles with increasing responsibilities at home after her brother Samuel joins the militia.

When members of the State Officers Club, N.C. Society Daughters of the American Revolution became concerned that students no longer seemed interested in the nation’s history, they contacted the Museum of History and offered to fund the production of a new DVD for distribution to North Carolina public schools. The museum accepted the challenge. The film became a reality through the efforts of its director, Jerry Taylor; other museum staff; and many volunteers. Museum educator Sally Bloom researched and wrote the script, and more than 200 actors, mostly students, applied to audition for the cast of 22. Film production became a community effort. A Raleigh costumer, for example, donated her services to find or sew historically accurate costumes for the entire cast. Re-enactors shared their time and expertise, and high-school students provided the music and vocals. A local professional musician scored a Bach piece for violin and cello. Other community members loaned props and assisted with the tapings at three locations. The cast and crew members filmed for eight days at different locations. They met challenges, such as taping the Valley Forge winter scene under the broiling sun – while wearing wool uniforms and standing near a campfire. Actor Sarah Catherine Carter, who played Anne Taylor as a girl, learned to cope with her costume’s five layers of clothing. “I was surprised at how many layers of clothing I had to wear and how uncomfortable the stays (similar to a corset) were,” she said. “By the end of a day of filming, my stomach hurt from the stays! It made me really appreciate what women went through during this time period regarding their clothing and how uncomfortable they must have been!” Did the experience of creating “Friends in Liberty” make an impression on the teenage actors in the film? Alex Hunt, who portrayed a Continental soldier, commented, “I was extremely surprised that teens fought in the war. Most of the kids were actually younger than me!” Spencer Bloom, who played Hugh McDonald, summed up the power the film can have for students. “When I first read the script, I thought it was remarkable that the responsibilities of the Revolution fell into the hands of young people. But in the course of shooting this film, I realized that Revolution still comes from the younger generation. That is what makes this story so powerful – it’s a story that is still being told today.”

For more information about “Friends in Liberty,” contact Sally Bloom at sally.bloom@ncdcr.gov or 919-807-7987. The museum is located at 5 E. Edenton St., across from the State Capitol. Susan Friday Lamb Public Information Officer N.C. Museum of History Office: 919-807-7943 Fax: 919-733-8655

Maps

One of the most interesting history-related sites I have come across lately is “Strange Maps“.  It is fun to look back on earlier posts and see all kinds of news on maps, demographics, charts, etc.   Good analysis too, I might add.

Stolen Legacy? Hardly…..

At the Pope Center website is an excellent, though sad, article on one professor’s efforts to keep her sanity in the face of the onslaught of “Afrocentric” history.

Mary Lefkowitz shows that there are some who won’t let the truth get in the way of their efforts at indoctrinating students.

The issue she faced: Afrocentrists claim that the culture and philosophy of the ancient Greeks was not truly their creation, but was “stolen” from Egypt. Since Egypt is in Africa and all the people in Africa are “black” this means that white Europeans were victimizing blacks more than 2400 years ago. In one particularly ludicrous aspect of this myth, it is asserted that Aristotle journeyed to the Library at Alexandria and stole books that he later claimed as his own works.

 

Dogs

Why Dogs are Easier to Live with than Women…

1. The later you are, the more excited they are to see you.
2. Dogs will forgive you for playing with other dogs.
3. If a dog is gorgeous, other dogs don’t hate it.
4. Dogs don’t notice if you call them by another dog’s name.
5. A dog’s disposition stays the same all month long.
6. Dogs like it if you leave a lot of things on the floor.
7. A dog’s parents never visit.
8. Dogs do not hate their bodies.
9. Dogs agree that you have to raise your voice to get your point across.
10. Dogs like to do their snooping outside rather than in your wallet or desk.
11. Dogs seldom outlive you.
12. Dogs can’t talk.
13. Dogs enjoy petting in public.
14. You never have to wait for a dog; they’re ready to go 24-hours a day.
15. Dogs find you amusing when you’re drunk.
16. Dogs like to go hunting.
17. Another man will seldom steal your dog.
18. If you bring another dog home, your dog will happily play with both of you.
19. A dog will not wake you up at night to ask, “If I died would you get another dog?”
20. If you pretend to be blind, your dog can stay in your hotel room for free.
21. If a dog has babies, you can put an ad in the paper and give them away.
22. A dog will let you put a studded collar on it without calling you a pervert.
23. A dog won’t hold out on you to get a new car.
24. If a dog smells another dog on you, they don’t get mad, they just think it’s interesting.
25. On a car trip, your dog never insists on running the heater.
26. Dogs don’t let magazine articles guide their lives.
27. Dogs like to ride in the back of a pickup truck.
28. Dogs are not allowed in Bloomingdale’s or Neiman-Marcus.
29. If a dog leaves, it won’t take half your stuff.

Tarleton Tour ‘08

On June 7th I had the delight of leading 41 people on a tour from Richmond to Charlottesville and back on the trail (for the most part) of Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton’s June 1781 raid to disturb the Va. Assembly and to capture Va. Gov. Thomas Jefferson.  Although BT failed to capture TJ, we did not fail to have a good time!  At one point around 3 PM it was 107 F in the sun, but we persevered.  We were able to see Cuckoo, and go inside the 1812 house there, and tour Boswell’s Tavern, built in 1735.  Both of these sites are in Louisa County.  An even rarer treat was (thanks to realtor Duke Merrick) was our one hour stop to see the grounds of Castle Hill, a truly spectacular plantation site with unbelievable 18th century gardens, slave quarters, and an assortment of other plantation structures from various periods.  It is in FINE shape, and was probably the most stunning of all 5 stops we made.  After lunch at Pantops Mtn. in Charlottesville, we toured the grounds of The Farm, led by owner and restorer Michael Bednar, an architecture professor at UVA.  Not only was this spot of great interest - it was also shady, which helped a lot by this point.  Finally, the last stop was along the Three Chopped Road at Boyd Tavern, wonderfully restored by Marcia and Carl Buck, who graciously allowed us to see it inside and out.  From there it was back to Richmond for an on-time arrival.  (I also add that the driver and staff at James River Bus Lines were all very good to work with.) 

So, on a hot Saturday 42 folks got to see five 18th century locations (three of which we went inside) in private hands, and to get a bit of architecture and gardens thrown in as well.  I met great folks and truly enjoyed it.  

Boswell’s Tavern, Louisa Co., Va.

Church Saved

From the Irish Voice:

St. Brigid’s Famine era church, located in the East Village of Manhattan, NY and built by Irish immigrants in the mid-1800s, has been saved from the wrecking ball by an anonymous $20 million donation.

St. Brigid’s Church, which overlooks Tompkins Square Park and was built in 1848, has been under the threat of the wrecking ball since its closure in 2004.  However, the Save St. Brigid’s Committee, led by chairman Ed Torres, has been lobbying tirelessly and fought stringent court battles to prevent the church from being demolished.

Back to Waterloo!

Almost two hundred years after the Allied armies secured the final defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte, French soldiers have returned to the scene of the Battle of Waterloo to learn from the mistakes of their 19th-century predecessors.

A total of 38 senior officers were ordered to spend a day analysing the errors which put a final end to Napoleon’s rule as Emperor and drew to a close 23 years of war.

Brigadier-General Vincent Desportes ordered strategists from France’s Armed Forces Employment Doctrine Centre to visit the battleground because “you learn more from your failures than from your successes”.