Michigan Civil War Blog

Hero or villain?

The Detroit Historical Museum has reopened after prepping for a new exhibit [DHS] on "lives of a wide range of community leaders who provoked passionate opinions throughout metro Detroit."

What makes a leader, the Museum asks?  What qualities or characteristics define leadership?  Are leaders a product of their era or do they transcend time? Why are some viewed as hero and some villain?

Good questions. Lewis Cass is among the group of 16. His record could speak for itself: War of 1812 military leader, governor of the Michigan territory, Secretary of War, ambassador, US Senator, nominee for President, Secretary of State. Hero? Well, besides his service under fire, he resigned from the Buchanan Cabinet due to the 'doughface' response to Southern secession. Villain? Well, he was a proponent of popular sovereignty, which could have extended slavery into the West.

Here's how one Michigander wrote this about him in the early part of the Civil War: "It was with something of veneration that I looked at this man .... He did not seem to belong to the present so much as to the past. Fifty years before I was born, he had been a living witness of the inauguration of George Washington as first President of the United States. He had watched the rowth of the American Union from the time of adoption of the Constitution. He had been a contemporary of Jefferson, Madison, the Adamses, Burr and Hamilton. ... His work was done, and it seemed as if a portrait by one of the great masters had stepped down from the canvas to mingle with living persons."

From Riding With Custer, J.H.Kidd, Bison Books edition at p.26.

Did Cass transcend and, if so, as hero? He stands as one of the two Michigan representatives in Statuary Hall. His name is on a Detroit street, a county, a town. And, unlike many of his generation, he lived to see his country reunited, having proven himself of greater presidential stuff than the one he last served.

The one that got away

A decade ago, Michigan was in the running as a site for the National Lighthouse Center and Museum. We lost. The organization making the decision chose Staten Island NY as the location, based on a system that probably factored in population density as a heavy determinant.

We lost despite having the most fresh-water coastline in the entire country. More to the point, we have the most lighthouses of any State in the Nation. A total of 124, to be exact. That is an amazing number.

Today, the Detroit News has a great story, with some amazing photos, about Michigan and those 100+ lighthouses:

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080520/METRO/805200390/1044

And an interactive aid that shows them each:

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080520/SPECIAL01/80519001/1044

Some are Civil War era vintage. A specialty license plate program helps provide funding for their rehabilitation and renovation. This year, the Department of History, Arts & Libraries is opening the Tawas Point Lighthouse to the public and enabling guests to stay in it and act as guides:

http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-17447_18595_18614---,00.html

Imagine an overnight stay in such a historic building, dating back to the Nation's Centennial, the year George A. Custer met his end after so much heroism during the Civil War.

The National museum should be in the Great Lake State, without question. Regardless, visitors can still enjoy seeing our seashore sentinels, reminiscent of the soldiers who stood guard during all kinds of weather during the Late Unpleasantness.

Night at the museum

The Michigan Historical Museum held a behind-the-scenes fundraising event tonite, and was it something. Lots of artifacts from many eras, many people (famous and 'ordinary'), many stories.

One of the great artifacts is a hat worn by Governor Austin Blair, Michigan's Civil War Governor. It looks like it could have been made yesterday.

Another is the dress worn by a niece of Kinsley Bingham to Lincoln's first inauguration. Bingham served Michigan as a Member in Congress, Senator, and Governor. In fact, he was the first Republican Governor of Michigan, having left the Democratic Party over slavery. The dress seems brand new as well.

There was a sword and a Spencer repeater from a trooper of the 3rd Michigan Cavalry.

There were drums from Civil War units.

There were other things.

All in all, it was an amazing thing to be so up-close-and-personal with artifacts of such import. From the Civil War era. Here in Michigan.

Richmond visitor center pics

Here are some photos related to the two Richmond Battlefield sites covered in the last two posts. All are from the NPS VC.

NPS has a model of a pontoon bridge with an actual size repro pontoon. I guess it's there because of Grant/Meade having to cross so many rivers so rapidly to try outflanking Lee. Hadn't ever seen one life-size, so a nice visual aid.

This is a diorama of the entire Tredegar site. Not a good pic, but it should remind those who are regular museum-goers of many such displays. I always find them fascinating and have since I was a runt.

This is the key to the diorama; you have to twist your head to match them, since that's the way I took the pics (sorry!).

This is a typical display in the NPS museum, third floor. Dramatic visuals help tell the story of Richmond's antebellum standing and its end-of-war devastation by its own defenders.

I don't have any of the outside since it rained so much, and I photography is not permitted in the American Civil War Center. Here's one from Virginia.org taken on a much brighter day:

Since I got it off the web it doesn't appear to have a copyright, and the chamber of commerce would much prefer it to what I would have shown.

The other Richmond center

A confession: before yesterday I did not know there were two visitor centers at the site of the Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond. Today, I'm a lot wiser.

After touring the NPS VC, I asked the ranger about getting parking validated to escape the fee, which is based on time spent. He said the Park Service didn't do that; I needed to go to the American Civil War Center next door. I said, "What?" He explained there is another, private, CW museum on site, with admission of $8 per adult, but free parking in exchange for admission.

I know. You think I'm clueless. I'd read about "Tredegar" and simply thought that a new museum had opened on the site. Perhaps attention to detail is something I should work on.

I almost didn't spring for the $16 but lovely spouse said she'd like to see it. I know. You think I'm married to the greatest woman, who would do two Civil War museums in the same day. If we hadn't, we'd have missed something truly wonderful. Precious spouse said "this put it all together for me for the first time -- it's the best Civil War visitor center/museum we've ever been to." High praise, indeed, from someone who has valiantly trekked along on many a day.

I'll let it explain its mission: "The Center is a place to learn about the Civil War—its causes, its course, and its legacies. It is a place where the people who decided America’s future will tell their stories. Here, all of the main stories—Union, Confederate, and African American— get significant space together for the first time. By understanding these three perspectives on a subject that is still divisive almost a century and a half later, we can begin to see the war differently—as a shared national heritage." And believe me (and my spouse), it does just that. We spent a solid two hours, for there are loads of information of varying levels. Several excellent movies on regular loops. Artifacts. Special tactile ways of learning. And learning is the real key, getting better educated about the complexity of the War beyond the fighting and the casualties. Oh, believe me, they're covered. But put in full context and history, not ignoring slavery or draft riots or desertion and taking on old myths with real data.

The saddest fact I learned: since opening in October 2006 only 33,000 visitors have come through the doors, somewhere less than 2,000 per month. It's right off of I-95 as it threads through Richmond, so anyone going up/down the east coast can easily take it in. I hope that the new President, Christy Coleman, can perform a miracle similar to what she did for the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit.

See, there is a Michigan connection.

Do yourself a big favor: don't pass up the American Civil War Center next time you're in the neighborhood. Even the most die-hard will find it immensely worthwhile.

Your roving reporter

Is on the scene. In Richmond VA, that is. Went to the NPS Richmond Civil War Visitor Center today, a good choice in rain that was on and off and on again all day, sometimes of the deluge variety.

The VC is located in a building of the famed Tredegar Iron Works along the north bank of the James River in downtown Richmond. Great location, and great to see the site and vintage structures reused for commemorative and instructional purposes like this. The VC itself is three floors: main floor has some exhibits and artifacts, along with the book store; top floor has more detailed exhibits and a "Voices" feature on both east and west walls that allow the visitor to hear views of people of the time (and a hand-out is available of each, worth taking); lower floor is where a 20-minute movie of the '62 and '64 Richmond campaigns is shown, along with a couple other exhibits (pontoon boat repro; flag staffs; weaponry).

Movie is pretty good; heavy emphasis on the military, featuring reenactors to attempt an eyewitness experience; requires at least a general notion of the War, however. I'd be curious to see views of differing ages on it.

One of the voices/hand-outs in the 3d floor exhibit is of Lt. Charles Hayden of the 2d Michigan during the Peninsula Campaign. A reader of this blog will remember a review of For Country, Cause and Leader, edited by Stephen Sears, based on Hayden's diary. Book store is decent size, and you can obtain info and brochures on the surrounding battlegrounds.

By the way, Richmond itself makes an interesting place to visit. It has some areas near the NPS site that are undergoing redevelopment and others that sure need it. Then, just a few blocks away, is a part of the city that is thriving.

This VC is worth seeing especially given the price: $0.00. Parking is not free, however, unless you pay a visit to the museum right next door. That's right--there are two adjacent centers. Thus, tomorrow nite, a review of the American Civil War Center.

The Wreck of the Republic

En route from New York to New Orleans in October 1865, not long after War's end, the SS Republic went down during a hurricane 100 miles off the coast of Savannah GA. A sidewheel steam-powered vessel built in Baltimore and launched in 1853 as the Tennessee, the ship began its career as a merchant vessel but played a significant role during the War.

Tied up in New Orleans when the conflict began, the ship was seized for use as a Confederate blockade runner and christened CSS Tennessee. Unable to escape blockade of the New Orleans harbor, however, the ship was put into Union service after the city's surrender. That service included acting as Farragut's flagship during the Mississippi Campaign, now as USS Tennessee. Also served as blockade ship in the West Gulf Squadron and gunship during bombardment of Fort Morgan in the 1864 Battle of Mobile Bay. In September 1864 it was renamed USS Mobile to enable the captured armored ram Tennessee to continue carrying the name. After damage during a hurricane off Texas, the ship was sent to New York where budget issues took it out of federal service in a sale to private investors for use in commerce.

The Republic thus was one of those few but storied ships, like the Merrimack/Virginia, that served in both navies during the War.

When found in 2003, the shipwreck yielded some $75 million in gold and silver coins -- plus a treasure trove of mid-19th century goods, just captivating to students of the Civil War era. The cargo included student’s slates, inkwells, thousands of bottles, and many other items of everyday life. Among the coins are Type I $20 Liberty Head gold coins, $10 Liberty (or Coronet Head) gold coin, and silver Seated Liberty Half Dollars.

The trove is currently on exhibit at the Detroit Science Center in the city's cultural center until 9/1/08. Sounds worth a visit.

CED Q.E.D.

The Director of the State's history department testified today about "Cultural Economic Development." I've seen things on the web dismissing the idea in the Civil War context, so it seemed good to present some materiel here.

Dr. William Anderson's testimony first defined what is meant by the term: "cultural economic development (CED)" is "using cultural assets to spur economic development." "It differs from traditional economic development in that it is 'asset-based' economic development that seeks to maximize and leverage a community’s key cultural, human and natural assets as resources to grow jobs, businesses, and revenue to achieve prosperity."

The testimony cited experts, as, eg: "Roger A. Brooks and Maury Forman in The 25 Immutable Rules of Successful Tourism astutely note, 'Tourism is quickly becoming the “industry of choice” in many communities, while in others it has become “the industry because we have no choice”'. Thousands of communities, particularly in rural areas across North America, have seen drastic cutbacks in the industries on which they were founded. Mining, agriculture, fishing, and timber are just a few that have seen dramatic cutbacks and closures over the past twenty years. As a result, nearly every community, big or small, is looking to diversify – and tourism seems to be the most natural and easiest diversification strategy. To this end, understanding that one size does not fit all and all solutions are local, the department, CED strategy and CED office are focusing on cultural tourism as catalysts for economic development in communities throughout Michigan."

Dr. Anderson further asserted: "Museums are 'cultural magnets'; institutions with the power to attract and hold people and businesses, define local or regional heritage, draw tourists and catalyze economic growth."

Cheapening history to attract tourists is not what is proposed here. It seems, instead, that using "cultural assets" must mean properly using them to educate and inspire. Cheap entertainment is not a sustainable strategy. When it comes to the Civil War, CED can be a valuable strategy to keep and improve assets that might otherwise be lost.

I fail to see how this approach is false.

Lorenzo, but not Thomas

Macomb County MI used to be known as "Reagan country" for its blue-collar conservative constituency. One might expect, then, little scholarship arising from such a desultory locale. As with most media generalizations, such shorthand was never accurate. Still, it came as quite astonishing to learn at y'day's MHC meeting about a program at Macomb's Lorenzo Cultural Center:

Michigan's Fight for Freedom: The Civil War Era, February 27 - May 4, 2008, is a 47-event series this spring that will look at numerous aspects of this State's involvement in the Civil War, its antecedents, and the Reconstruction era. That's right, 47! Plus there are exhibits to view. Here's the website for full info: MCC.

Apparently, Macomb Community College has run such an extended series on an important topic annually for several years. This year's series presages the Sesquicentennial and is an amazing array of topics and speakers.

My only complaint: how, on earth, has this received absolutely NO wide publicity to date! (Well, that plus the fact that Macomb is on the opposite side of Metro Detroit from yours truly, making attendance at many of the 47 nigh impossible, sigh.)

Custer in Monroe

Having driven to see a specific exhibit, were there other things at the Museum worthwhile that I haven't yet mentioned?

How about a uniform frock coat belonging to Brigadier General George Spalding of the 4th and 19th Michigan Infantry (breveted at Nashville leading the 12th Tennessee Cavalry)? Or the memorabilia on Norman Hall, an 1854 West Point cadet who was stationed at Ft. Sumter at war's inception and who was invited to return and raise the American flag over the Fort in April 1865? He is also notable for commanding the 7th Michigan at Fredericksburg and Gettysburg. The museum has an interesting marker on him:

Anything else? How about a silk guidon flag of the Michigan Cavalry Brigade? Or a diorama showing the conflict at East Cavalry Field at Gettysburg? Or a pair of Custer's binoculars? Or a memento of the Appomattox surrender including fabric from the surrender flag, a piece of the surrender table, and part of one of Custer's red ties? Or a loaned display of artifacts found on the field at Gettysburg?

I am very grateful to have had the impulse to take this quick trip, for looking back on it I'm astonished at how much I saw in such a brief period, and how pleasurable and educational these few hours in Old Frenchtown turned out to be.