Blog 4 History

Yet another new arrival, and a beautifully created one. Atlas of the Civil War: A Complete Guide to the Tactics and Terrain of Battle (National Geographic). The folks at National Geographic were nice enough to send a review copy and I am speechless. A beautiful presentation, all glossy with excellent maps, narrative, and photos. Broken down by a year-to-year presentation with excellent writing. A first class and big book that is easily worth the $40 price tag!

I received a few days ago my advanced review copy of Wayne Wei-Siang Hsieh’s West Pointers and the Civil War: The Old Army in War and Peace (Civil War America). Hsieh challenges studies that claim field fortifications and defensive positions were to make the decisive difference in battle during the Civil War. Instead, Hsieh argues, there were other factors such as leadership, morale, and troop strength that played a key role in the outcome of battles. I have spent some time looking through the book and can’t wait to get to it…. only question is when?!?!?!

I got a chance to look through my recently arrived copy of John Keegan’s book and I am already enjoying it. Some interesting comments just in his introduction alone he writes, “Had the battle [Bull Run] gone the other way, as it might so easily have done, the war might have been concluded more quickly and at a much lower cost both to North and South.” An interesting comment that I am not sure I agree with. But nonetheless, a great book thus far. For instance, Chapter One, Mr. Keegan starts off by discussing, of all things, American Exceptionalism! What, has he not been informed by some bloggers that there is no such thing?

Anyway, Keegan starts off by declaring, “America is different.” Gasp. Exasperation. Is this master historian an idiot or what? He is for sure not as smart as a lot of the bloggers in the historiosphere.

[Continued Part II]

So I get the response that something that is “different” is not necessarily Exceptional and of course. We’re all different. I left that there hanging expecting someone to hammer that point. Keegan himself continues stating, plainly, “Today American ‘exceptionalism’… is less exceptional than it was…” and I would have to agree. Since the1930s the character of America has slowly changed. We have devalued character, honor, virtue, and honesty to the point where we have become less exceptional. Remember, the Founders absolutely understood the importance of things like virtue in a Republic.We have lost that.

 [Continued Part III]

John Keegan will always remain one of my favorite military historians, and indeed I start off with this caveat as I am sadly seeing the end of a career perhaps. This book which I started off enjoying soon turned south. Keegan never gets going in this book, his chapters on the “Military Geography” of the war and on “The Life of the Soldier” are sadly deficient and error prone. Keegan lists one source for his Soldier chapter, and that is Bell Irvin Wiley, and not both of his volumes, but only “Life of Billy Yank.”

Unfortunately this book is such a huge disappointment I doubt I will be able to finish it for some time.  I simply do not know what Keegan, his handlers, agent and the publisher Knopf were thinking!?

The Enemy of American Exceptionalism posted this remarkable video [below] as an apology to Eric Wittenberg over the recent debate (which predictably became personal!) they had concerning John Latschar. Eric accepted Kevin’s apology, sorta.

Anyway, what is remarkable to me is Levin’s meandering video that I include below. Does the word narcissist come to mind? My God, this guy thinks the world revolves around him so much that we care to listen to a 9-minute bumbling so-called apology by him. I did and had a good laugh. But then again, what happen to his radio show? Let’s see, he interviewed his brother and then his wife, nice. I really want to spend 30 minutes listening to Levin interview his family. What’s next, Ma and Pa? No, maybe the family pets? If this strikes as a bit too personal and passionate post, well I’m just returning the favor to Levin. [Click Here to understand]. So go grab some popcorn and pay attention, professor Levin is in the house:

Final Thoughts About John Latschar from Kevin Levin on Vimeo.

Now, most of this post is tongue and cheek. I actually think the video apology was a good idea as there are some things that get lost in translation on the Internet. And Blog Talk Radio is a pretty cool website that I use a lot and listen to some amateur shows that are very good. I wish Kevin could have got his show going, but as a fellow teacher I understand how time becomes an issue. Kevin and I have exchanged some unfortunate personal posts. In the spirit of Kevin’s apology which I thought was very passionate, I want to apologize for my part in all of out disputes last month. I am too a passionate blogger and I regret what I wrote and implied in my posting.

PS – I do admit that the above post, though not serious, was fun to write… Maybe I should have posted a video of me crying?

I will be clear.  I don’t know John Latschar and don’t care. However, he recently won some award concerning his work with the Gettysburg Battlefield and that’s great. But what heated it up was the news about his alleged use of a work computer for something, well, controversial. According to the news report, “Federal investigators found more than 3,400 sexually-explicit images on a work computer belonging to Gettysburg Battlefield Supt. John Latschar, as part of a year-long review of alleged misconduct at the park.”

The “Enemy” of American Exceptionalism wrote that: “The news concerning Latschar’s inappropriate use of government computers will no doubt distract from his accomplishments and give fuel to his detractors. I am not a federal employee so I can’t comment on how they’ve chosen to handle this particular violation. Can someone tell me what counts as a “sexually explicit” photograph for the federal government? Does it include a Sports Illustrated swim suit issue? I do agree that Latschar should be focusing on other issues during his working hours, but I honestly could care less what he looks at. This little piece of supposedly salacious news tells me next to nothing about Latschar’s character.”

Interesting. True, lets not jump to conclusions. Also, true, I don’t care what anyone does with a personal home computer. BUT, if you are stupid enough to use a work computer to view pornographic material, if you can’t wait to get home… that does speak a lot about someone’s character! I don’t understand the thinking that someone’s irresponsible behavior while on the job does not speak to their character or judgement? Hello! This guy was at work. If these photos are porn, he deserves to be fired.

Levin later admitted in his comments section, “I never met Latschar and I have absolutely no interest in what he does beyond preserving the Gettysburg battlefield.”  Not surprising Levin would feel this way. However, it does matter, whether Levin likes it or not.

And finally, let me get this straight, Levin thinks that Federal investigators will get involved over Sport’s Illustrated swim suit images!? Is that the implication here, sure seems like it.

John Keegan is a British historian and a foremost military historian. His writing examines warfare throughout history, but focuses on the 14th Century to the modern warfare of the 20th and 21st Centuries. His latest work is on the American Civil War titled, The American Civil War: A Military History. Mr. Keegan is one of the most important modern day living historians in my opinion and I cannot wait to read his latest work.

From the Publisher:

Format: Hardcover, 416 pages
Price: $35.00
ISBN: 978-0-307-26343-8 (0-307-26343-6)
Publisher: Knopf

Also available as an abridged audio CD, abridged audiobook download, unabridged audiobook download, eBook and in large print trade paperback.
ABOUT THIS BOOK

For the past half century, John Keegan, the greatest military historian of our time, has been returning to the scenes of America’s most bloody and wrenching war to ponder its lingering conundrums: the continuation of fighting for four years between such vastly mismatched sides; the dogged persistence of ill-trained, ill-equipped, and often malnourished combatants; the effective absence of decisive battles among some two to three hundred known to us by name. Now Keegan examines these and other puzzles with a peerless understanding of warfare, uncovering dimensions of the conflict that have eluded earlier historiography.

While offering original and perceptive insights into psychology, ideology, demographics, and economics, Keegan reveals the war’s hidden shape—a consequence of leadership, the evolution of strategic logic, and, above all, geography, the Rosetta Stone of his legendary decipherments of all great battles. The American topography, Keegan argues, presented a battle space of complexity and challenges virtually unmatched before or since. Out of a succession of mythic but chaotic engagements, he weaves an irresistible narrative illuminated with comparisons to the Napoleonic Wars, the First World War, and other conflicts.

The American Civil War is sure to be hailed as a definitive account of its eternally fascinating subject.

Founders: The People Who Brought You a Nation, by Ray Raphael came out earlier this year by The New Press and I am finally getting to read it and I must say I am thoroughly enjoying it. Raphael emerged in 2001 as a top notch social historian for his acclaimed People’s History of the American Revolution, which I use in my AP Us History class.

From the publisher: In this brisk narrative survey, Raphael offers a history of the events between the outbreak of colonial protest in the 1760s and the ratification of the Constitution in 1788. He does so through the lives of seven people, some, like George Washington, justly celebrated, others obscure. All seven and many others come alive in their acts and words, their stories serving as the spine of the book. No one will come away without a better idea of how social class, ideas, careers, ambitions and plain luck interwove themselves into the revolution carried on by an entire people. Raphael also weaves his tale around such staple themes of American history as the growth of popular sovereignty and westward expansion. From the author of A People’s History of the American Revolution, none of this is surprising, nor is the skill of his pen. The book adds nothing to what’s already known, but it will delight readers and no doubt add to their knowledge through a tale rarely told so well.

As some of you may already know I am a descendent of Col. Charles H. Weygant of the 124th NY Regiment, who were known as the “Orange Blossoms” as they were from Orange County New Jersey.  Weygant wrote a famous history about the regiment and is credited with having inspired Stephen Crane’s The Red Badge of Courage.

I have been gathering letters and diaries from this regiment and it has been a struggle, but I have found this one which is a nice description of their participation during the Battle of Gettysburg.

A letter published in the National Tribune December 23, 1885, from J. Harvey Hanford, Unionville, Orange County, New York, formerly of the 124th New York:

To the Editor :

In a late issue of the National Tribune you invite a minute description of an active private soldier’s experience on the battlefield of Gettysburg. I will try to give you a part of mine. I was 2d sergeant of Company “B” 124th N. Y. Vols., and together with the rest of the regiment and others reached the vicinity of Gettysburg at 8.30 P. M., July 1, 1863. We lay down in an open field, with orders to sleep on our arms, and not take off an article of clothing or any of our accouterments. This was hard sauce after such a march as we had had; but soldier-like, we had to take it out in grumbling. Early in the morning of the 2d we got our breakfast, and were then formed in line of battle behind a stone wall—an excellent position we thought. Not long after the order ‘ Forward, march!’ was given, and after crossing one or two fields we came to the famous wheat-field—and, by the way, it was the finest I ever saw, the wheat breast-high and ready to cut—but we marched through and over it in line of battle, and on looking back not a stock could be found, for it was -all trodden out of sight. When nearly through the wheat-field the order was given, ‘ By the left flank, march !’ and when halt was sounded, I being the extreme left man in the regiment, I found myself on the rocks at Devil’s Den. A battery of guns, commanded by Captain Smith, was soon in our midst. On this spot we lounged for some time, taking it easy. Our signal corps was a little to the left and rear of us, on Little Round Top. Presently a shell came shrieking and bursting near us; we needed no order or invitation to get behind the rocks, but did so at once. Then followed the usual cannonading until the infantry of the Confederates got so close as to pick off all our gunners. Then shone out the bravery of Captain Smith. When he had not men enough left to man the guns, he would come to us and ask and beg of us to help him fire them. Then he would run back to the guns and do what he could, and then back to us, and, with tears in his eyes would say: ‘ For God’s sake, men, don’t let them take my guns away from me!’ (Twenty-two years ago, yet I can see his looks and hear his voice.) O, how I would like to see him and thank him for what he then did, and if this meets his eye I would like to have him write to me. We were ordered to charge, and charge we did, driving the enemy back to the foot of the hill. We made four charges that afternoon, and held our ground until out of ammunition.

A little incident happened after our last charge. As I was kneeling behind a rock and loading my gun, Lieutenant Dennison, of the next company, had picked up a gun, and, there being a rock to my left hand, he jumped over my arms and caught his toe in my ramrod, bending it so I could not use it. I scolded him for it, but looking around I picked up another one. The Lieutenant squatted behind the rock, and was in the act of firing his gun when he was struck by a bullet in the leg. With a cry, ‘ I’ve got it, I’ve got it,’ he started for the rear, but before getting far another one struck him, so he had to be carried off the field. While I was behind the rock I was struck four times, but not seriously. My attention was all the time on an open space, apparently like a pair of bars, in the stone wall at the foot of the hill, behind which the enemy had taken cover. Into this I did most of my firing, as it was all the time crowded full of men. After using all my ammunition I went back to and over the brow of the hill, and there saw we were about to be relieved by other troops. What there was left of us passed through the ranks of the fresh troops, and we made our way to the rear. Our regiment, which was raised in Orange County, N. Y., and was by its Colonel (Ellis) called fhe ‘ Orange Blossoms,’ with the aid of citizens of the county, have erected a nice monument on the ground where we fought. This was all the fighting we were in at this battle, as we were so badly cut up as to be hardly a show of a regiment.

I saw in a paper some time ago that our twin regiment, the 86th New York, which was on our right, were going to erect a monument on the ground, and I hope they will. I think when the battle commenced on the second day I was the last man on the extreme left of the army. I know that at one time the enemy had passed our left flank and were enfilading us; but it was only for a minute or two. Our regiment holds a reunion each year, this year in Middletown, Orange County, N. Y., September 23, 1885. I wish we could see a good number of the 86th New York with us.

“J. Harvey Hanford, ” 2d Serfft. Co. ‘B,’ 124th N. Y., “Unionville, Orange Co., N. Y.”

The period after the War of 1812 is a challenging time as an educator; at least it is for me. The excitement of the late 18th Century creates a lull that is hard to get out of and even the anticipation of the upcoming Civil War does not always help to generate enough interested in my students for the early 19th Century. Nonetheless, this time period is very important and offers numerous developments that of course lend to our understanding of cause and effect when it comes to the Civil War.

This is also a time period that is crucial in my personal quest for preserving American Exceptionalism. One of the things that is being confused centers on American Exceptionalism as promoting, for example, the Puritans as a “Citty on the Hill” community, Manifest Destiny as exceptional, “White Man’s Burgen” as honorable or whatever. As you can see this would be absurd. We teach that this was how THEY saw themselves and then perhaps the reasons why. We seek understanding and we do so without using presentism whereby we become social activitists. As I have stated numerous times (here and here), there is no way any one of us could not have been a racists had we lived in 1830s America. As an educator we can take an emphasis that focuses on understanding the past or we can use the past to promote social change (New Left Historians).

America was considered by many at the time to be a “utopia,” because it was. And indeed it was an experimental society and the leader in republicanism and self-government. It had the widest suffrage of any nation at the time and its commitment to the rule of law and equality for all white men made it the most democratic place on earth. This is undisputed. This is also exceptional.

As for American Exceptionalism that I am interested in here, the teaching of United States history from the perspective of an observer of history seeking understanding. Perhaps the best way to get a sense for America at this time is by reading what foreign observers documented. It would be easy to quote Marquis de Lafayette during his 1824-25 visit or of course Alexis de Tocqueville, who was more a cheerleader than an observer. However, there are better and more balanced observers.

German philosopher G.W.F. Hegel visited American in the early 1800s and declared that America was “the land of the future” and proclaimed that “in the time to come, the center of world historical importance will be revealed there.” Yet that is too easy.

I want to look at two European women who visited the United States in the early part of the 1800s. Harriet Martineau was a nearly deaf English woman of some fame,  contemporaries dubbed her as the “fist woman sociologist.” She spent 2 years in America and afterward wrote a book about her experiences titled, “Society in America” (1837). It was a massive 3 volume work. Was she impressed with America, yes? Was she also critical, most certainly.

Martineau noted early one observation that struck her as incredible, “Throughout the prodigious expanse of that country, I saw no poor men, except a few intemperate ones. I saw some very poor women; but God and man know that the time has not come for women to make their injuries even heard of. I saw no beggars but two professional ones, who are making their fortunes in the streets of Washington. I saw no table spread, in the lowest order of houses, that had not meat and bread on it Every factory child carries its umbrella; and pigdrivers wear spectacles.” ["Society in America" (1837). I, p. 12]

However, as she traveled more she saw the social ills that plagued America (and other nations) in the “political non-existence” of women. If this was the land of equality where was the equality of women? A progressive stance that the world was not, unfortunately, ready for including America.  Of course the likes of Abagail Adams were bemoaning this well before Martineau. But most importantly, she called America out for its hypocritical stance on liberty and equality and yet the existence of Slavery. She came to the just conclusion, “Americans have realized and things for which the rest of the world is still struggling … [yet] the civilization and morals of the Americans fall far below their own principles.” [Ibid, Vol. III, 179-205]

Americans enjoyed a lifestyle and standard of living that far exceed most European societies. As an instructor I can make sure to discuss how America was seen as an exceptional place, as well as discuss the different ways Americans saw themselves as exceptional. Within the dichotomy of what was or was not exceptional, we can teach a balanced and objective view of America.

 Part II: Francis Wright’s views on America as expressed in her 1825 book, “Plan for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery in the United States without Danger of Loss to the Citizens of the South.”

Levin, uh, well, thanks for that (I guess I am McCarthy, interesting) and whatever I can do to help you out man! I have no idea why you would put my name in that post? But whatever. Anyway, do please give me a specific link where I call you a “radical”? Just because I do not agree with you does not mean that I think you are a radical.  I do not know you, and could not claim to such knowledge. I do not agree with a lot of what you have said recently. That is all. It has turned into some personal mud slinging and I accept my part in that. So please, stop with the hyperbole, and just stick with legit responses to my posts or do not respond at all. I will do the same. I would be interested to know what your thoughts/comments are to my last post?