Monthly Archives: April 2012

Black Confederates, the Internet, and Historical Interpretation

Posted on April 27, 2012 by marcferguson

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 →

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Levon Helm dead at 71 of Cancer

Posted on April 19, 2012 by marcferguson

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“

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Confederate Conscription

Posted on April 16, 2012 by marcferguson

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 →

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Recruiting and Arming Blacks as Soldiers

Posted on April 10, 2012 by marcferguson

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 →

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Erastus Hopkins House in 1904 – King Street, Northampton

Posted on April 8, 2012 by marcferguson

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 →

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Northampton Abolition Walking Tour – Erastus Hopkins

Posted on April 7, 2012 by marcferguson

john brown obit

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Northampton Abolition: Erastus Hopkins Walking Tour and Bruce Laurie Talk

Posted on April 6, 2012 by marcferguson

For everyone in or near Western Massachusetts, a reminder that tomorrow, Saturday April 7 is the Steve Strimer Abolition Walking Tour and Bruce Laurie talk focused on Abolitionism in Northampton. Please make it if you can. Steve’s tours are always great … Continue reading →

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Battle of Shiloh – April 6-7, 1862

Posted on April 6, 2012 by marcferguson

Brooks Simpson has some reflections on Grant’s generalship at the battle of Shiloh, 150 years ago, and while I am no armchair general, and am very reluctant to offer any after-the-fact advice, I think that Brooks’ comments and reflections are … Continue reading →

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International Emancipation – 1862

Posted on April 5, 2012 by marcferguson

We sometimes forget that emancipation in the United States took place in a context of emancipation throughout the Western Hemisphere. One of the best recent books that invokes this context is Stephanie McCurry‘s _Confederate Reckoning_, which I highly recommend. In … Continue reading →

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Martin Luther King Assassination April 4, 1968

Posted on April 4, 2012 by marcferguson

On this day, April 4 1968, Martin Luther King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennesse. This must surely be seen as one of the last acts of the Civil War, and the white Southern resistance to Reconstruction, and equal rights for … Continue reading →

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