Michigan Civil War Blog

Civil War Sesquicentennial workplan

The Michigan Historical Commission holds its final 2009 meeting tomorrow, and on the agenda is a discussion of the CWS (among, of course, other things).

Progress continues...

That old book musty smell problem

I can find a website devoted to aficionados of the problem [Scent] but not one giving a foolproof way for how to deal with a pre-existing condition. Is there one? 

Banners arrives!

Managed to find a first edition of Bruce Catton's Banners at Shenandoah book, and it arrived in the mail today. Interesting just from the cover. Here's the best online pic -- Banners cover -- but it looks different from the package unwrapped today with such anticipation. The one in possession has a dust jacket with a full color cover illustration, and it is a "Cavalcade Books" item by Doubleday. Back flap says "Cavalcade Books is a new series of original works of fiction written for the younger generation by authors of established reputation. Each volume will portray the colorful people or outstanding events in some particular century through the medium of an exciting story." Inside back flap lists five that had been published including one on Lexington and Concord and another on Mark Twain, with forthcoming titles devoted to Hercules and other stories.

The inside front flap says "Here is the first novel from the pen of Bruce Catton, whose A Stillness at Appomattox won the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award for 1954." Isn't it, as it turns out, the only novel from his pen? This hardbound book has an illustration on both front and back inside covers along with a map of the U.S. showing what must be the sites in the story, including "Pine Bay" and Grand Rapids in MI (the first is a fictitious location appearing to be near Holland MI, and GR is located more in the vicinity of Kalamazoo or even Paw Paw! Ah, those New York illustrators...)

Oh, it does smell a bit musty.

Michigan veterans II

Regarding federal investment in Michigan lately, a sore subject for a donor State with such high unemployment, the public usually hears about stimulus money, roads money, Great Lakes clean-up money, and auto bail-out money. Not much is said about the federal parks, forests, shorelines, marine sanctuary, and historic areas that depend on the U.S. taxpayer for sustenance. That's too bad, for it means most folks aren't focused on these vital and life-affecting environmental/cultural assets that are critical to a well-ordered society.

Today, it's fitting and appropriate to think of one other federal installation, the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly MI. Opened in 2005, the 544 acres provide a suitable final resting place for the veterans who will always merit great respect and honor. Appropriate for the Great Lakes State, the cemetery borders a lake and is located on a portion of a land grant predating the Civil War (1836).

Would not have thought of this today, except that some friends recently buried a family member there, and they recounted how inspiring the place is with its tree-lined entrance, dignified grounds, active duty personnel who assist in making the ceremony so meaningful, and the quietude that should mark such hallowed ground.

The website [GLNC] is less than impressive -- at the very least, it should contain images of the place so that those of us who likely won't/can't pay our respects could envision the place -- and it has a curious section "Notable Persons" that says "Under Development". Are we to understand that the VA takes the position that it should call attention to only certain gravesites rather than honor/note all vets? From what I understand from the military, hearkening back to the GAR, they regard each other as brothers/sisters in arms and preferred not to denigrate the service of any.

It is altogether fitting and proper to hilite the GLNC this day of all days.

Event tonite

The Jewish Soldier from Michigan in the Civil War, Wednesday, November 11, 2009, 7pm.  The Rabbi Leo M. Franklin Archives presents this latest program in their

Miller-Bearman Jewish History Detective lecture by archivist Jan Durecki.  Free and open to the public; donation appreciated.  Reservations: 248-865-0628.  Co-sponsored by the Jewish Historical Society of Michigan.  The program takes place at the Temple Beth El, 7400 Telegraph Rd. at 14 Mile Rd., Bloomfield Hills.  http://www.tbeonline.org/education/archives/index.cfm

Michigan veterans I

A very special Veterans Day ceremony will be held at Detroit's Historic Elmwood Cemetery. The special service --in section S -- honors 18 members of the 102nd U-S Colored Infantry Regiment from the Civil War. Highlights of the program include a presentation of the American flag, a roll call for the 102nd Infantry and the two Native Americans, a gun salute by the 102nd U.S. Colored Troops Reenactment Group and more. The public is invited, and there is no charge. http://elmwoodhistoriccemetery.org/

Progress on the sesquicentennial

The Michigan Civi War Sesquicentennial Committee met today to review an updated and revised plan based on public input from meetings and hearings around the State earlier this year. The Committee's charge was to recommend a document for next week's Michigan Historical Commission meeting in order to finalize the plan this year. Interesting and worthwhile suggestions received from the public are being incorporated, and the workplan is one that should well fulfill the direction given the Commission in EO 2007-52.

Michigan continues to move forward with the commemoration in a way that will be authentic, appropriate, and all-inclusive.

Lincoln in Michigan

We're almost to the end of the Bicentennial year, and it seems to be winding down with a whimper, not a bang. So it was a nice treat to wander thru a used book store recently on lunch hour to find this little publication:  Published by the "Detroit Fine Book Circle" in 1941, it contains an intro to the 1856 speech, the text, an intro to Lincoln's life story written by the author (Thomas I. Starr), and the short bio itself first published in 1860.

The 63 pages are more than worth the nine dollars it cost in 2009.
 

Fall in Michigan

OK, this isn't really anything about the Civil War tonite but only about the Michigan part. Sometimes (?!)folks complain about the weather around here. How can you when you can take in this kind of vista:

Grant: hero, myth, and forgotten

Just picked up Joan Waugh's US Grant: American Hero, American Myth. Yet another Grant book?! This one came out Fall 2009, so unlike many books that one prefers to let age a bit before plinking down the coin for it seemed worth a look, since Dr. Waugh attempts to explain how Grant could be so popular in his day and almost forgotten today.

The book caught the eye especially because of the Grant house here in Michigan. It was important 80 years ago when honored with a plaque by the Detroit Art Commission, and 70 years ago when renovated and donated to the people of Michigan by an insurance company, and 50 years ago when rescued from urban renewal by the same company and moved to the State Fairgrounds, and then viewable during the Civil War Centennial. Then, after a short period of renewed interest and reflected glory, it was consigned to utilitarian uses and eventually closed to the public. Would this have happened to a house occupied by a more modern hero, say, John F. Kennedy or Martin Luther King, Jr.?

Perhaps the appearance of the book will coincidentally mark a new chapter for Michigan's Grant connection.