Author Archives: marcferguson

About marcferguson

I teach history, including the American Civil War Era, as an Adjunct at American International College in Springfield, Ma. I also teach survey courses in U.S. history, Western Civilization, and World History, and have taught at other area colleges, including the University of Massachusetts/Amherst, and Holyoke Community College. While my academic background is in European History, my interest in the American Civil War began about a decade ago. Other areas of interest include Modernism, 20th century World Thought and Culture, The Rise of the West after 1400, 19th c. American Society and Culture, Central and Eastern European History and Culture, and Local History. I have in recent years cut back my teaching drastically in order to devote more time raising my kids (15 year old twins now), including working part-time at their elementary/middle school for the past 6 years, they are now launched and off to High School, and I plan to crank up my involvement in teaching history and local history projects, particularly in light of the American Civil War Sesquicentennial.

Consequences of Emancipation in the District of Columbia – Donald Shaffer

Posted on May 8, 2012

Donald Shaffer, building on his recent posts about emancipation in D.C., has a new post discussing the consequences of emancipation in the District: “By May 1862, the consequences of emancipation in Washington, D.C. were beginning to become clear. One early … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

McClellan’s Peninsular Campaign

Posted on May 6, 2012

In his blog, “Civil War Memory,” Kevin Levin has posted on McClellan’s ill-fated Peninsula Campaign, intended to end the rebellion by capturing Richmond: http://cwmemory.com/2012/05/06/our-struggle-to-commemorate-the-peninsula-campaign/#more-16691

Posted in Civil War battles, historic sites, Slavery and Emancipation | Leave a comment

Jack Kershaw, Southern Hertitage, and Nathan Bedford Forrest

Posted on May 4, 2012

Kevin Levin, on his blog “Civil War Memory,” has a post about Southern Heritage promoter, Nathan Bedford Forrest fan, and “artist,” Jack Kershaw.  ”This is for those of you who are interested in the mind and imagination of Jack Kershaw, who … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

What Brought About Emancipation – A Plea for Multi-Causality from Donald Shaffer

Posted on May 3, 2012

For a long time, the general wisdom was that Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves. In recent years the preferred thesis was “self emancipation.” Donald Shaffer on his blog “Civil War Emancipation,” makes a plea for “Multi-causality.” Rather than privileging one cause, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

How Did the Plantation System Shape Labor and Race Relations through the 1950s?

Posted on May 2, 2012

Here are two videos that explore the Ante-Bellum plantation system, and attempt to make connections with the labor system and race relations in the 1950s American South. [hat tip to Kevin Levin, at his blog "Civil War Memory,"] I think … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Black Confederates, the Internet, and Historical Interpretation

Posted on April 27, 2012

UPDATE: In his post, Kevin also cites Gary Gallagher, from an editorial in “Civil War Times” where Gallagher comments on the black Confederate “controversy,”: FURTHER UPDATE: Historian Donald Shaffer, today on his blog “Civil War Emancipation,” in a post entitled “Amen, Brooks … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Levon Helm dead at 71 of Cancer

Posted on April 19, 2012

Very sad news: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HMXCM5TCrv8 Chicago Tribune  Story What a great musician! Thanks to Andy Hall at his blog “Dead Confederates“

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Confederate Conscription

Posted on April 16, 2012

I am indebted to Kevin Levin for pointing out that today is the 150th anniversary of the use of conscription by the Confederacy. This is the first use of a military draft in America, and I find this deeply ironic … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Recruiting and Arming Blacks as Soldiers

Posted on April 10, 2012

http://cwemancipation.wordpress.com/2012/04/10/working-out-the-past-and-portents-of-the-future/ Donald Shaffer, in a post entitled “Working Out the Past and Portents of the Future,” wrote today on General David Hunter’s efforts to, in the spring of 1862, convince the lincoln administration to allow him to recruit and arm blacks in … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, Slavery and Emancipation | Leave a comment

Erastus Hopkins House in 1904 – King Street, Northampton

Posted on April 8, 2012

During Hopkins’ lifetime, his house was known as the “White House.” However, it now has a red-brick siding, and the wrap-around porch is gone, so it looks very different. [photograph courtesy of Forbes Library Special Collections] Here is a packet … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, historic sites, Monuments and Memorials, Slavery and Emancipation, Symposia and Conferences | Tagged | 2 Comments