Michigan Civil War Blog

Civil War Talk Radio appearance

Click on the page, scroll down the right hand column, and find where yours truly will be guesting on CWTR's February 17, 2012 show: CWTR

This is one of those out-of-body experiences. For eight years I've been listening with fascination as Dr. Gerald Prokopowicz (a native Michigander and UofM grad) has interviewed guests and covered the Civil War over the internet with an erudite and informative show. I've learned so much -- been great to have insights of so many experts -- and now to be on the show, during the Sesquicentennial, to talk about Michigan's contributions! As one of my friends likes to end his communications, HUZZAH!

It is highly gratifying

... to see this blog become a source of information around Michigan, as witnessed here: Midland

Note: maintenance

Since it's a new year, the blogroll has been updated and purged. Updated to link in other blogs that link to this one; purged of those blogs that do not link here. The updating is based on the blog list at Civil War Interactive [CWI].

Plus, a few new Michigan Civil War-related sites have been added, like the Sesquicentennial webpage.

Feel free to call attention to errors. Thanks!

A hiatus

We'll be taking a break for the rest of October due to some obligations. Plan to resume the first of November. Hope you'll be back then for some interesting news that, well, is surprising and ... guess you'll have to come back and see ...

The blog of an 8-year old Michigander

Yes, you read that right! A youngster named Maxine has her own blog where she comments, does trip reports, reviews books, and talks about her favorite president, who happens to be from the Civil War era -- Abraham Lincoln. What a joy it is to see someone so young so interested in our heritage.

Check it out: Maxine's blog.

Michigan daughter's blog

Thanks to a broadcast email from the Civil War Preservation Trust, which contained a nice story on Civil War blogs, including an excellent article by Eric Wittenberg [Rantings], found here -- Trust -- I learned y'day of another Michigan Civil War-related blog. It's called "Daughter of the 24th Michigan" and is located here: Daughter of 24th.

The author is a descendant of a 16-year old member of that Michigan regiment in the Iron Brigade. A bio of his story, including the fact that he was one of the many casualties in the Brigade on the first day at Gettysburg, is on her site.

Her website certainly bears visiting on a regular basis, and I've added it to my links.

Michigan in the CW blogs

It's gratifying to do my Saturday morning webcrawl and find mention of Michigan/Civil War items out there...

Yesterday Jenny Goellnitz features the Cavalry monument on the Draw the Sword, mentioning how "it stands on the East Cavalry battlefield at the location where the 1st Michigan of Custer’s brigade clashed with Stuart’s charging troopers." A few days earlier she cited how a U.S. artillery unit was stationed on Mackinac Island at war's inception: 2d US.

Also yesterday, Drew Wagenhoffer mentions (at the end of entry) that the Kalamazoo CWRT will announce the winner of the Albert Castel award next week: CW Books & Authors. Previous winners included Cunningham's Shiloh and the Western Campaign of 1862. Michigander Albert Castel, as should be known, wrote some great books on the era.

On May 8 (speaking of Shiloh) Nick Kurtz posts about the heroism of the 12th and 15th Infantry and Michigan Light Artillery at Pittsburg Landing, with great pics of the State monument: Battlefield Wanderings. Especially nice is inclusion of the inscription with the final phrase, "More enduring than this granite will be the gratitude of Michigan to her soldiers of Shiloh."

On April 30 Michael Aubrecht posts about his discovery of Michigan having its own "Stonewall Brigade", the 17th Infantry, and its gallant fights at Antietam: Pinstripe Press. As for the copyright/trademark issue, tho not an intellectual property attorney I believe Jackson's brigade did not own/protect the name because (1) it probably expired (see US Copyright Office) and (2) they surely didn't protect it via a federal agency (LOL, as the younger generation would say).

There was a story with Michigan connection from that date on Civil War Interactive. I frequently find Michigan items here that are from non-Detroit area news sources.

On April 20 Brian Downey posts about that same topic, the 17th Infantry, thanks to a diversion to Fox's Gap and touring the markers associated with that important fight: Antietam on the Web. Great pic of the 17th's monument.

Of course, practically one can always find new posts since the last visit about Michigan soldiers at Steve Soper's 3rd Michigan. He's been doing it since 2006 and is up to the "C's".

Not bad 't'all. It can be a great thing, this internet.

One year ago...

...this started, hard to believe. Here's to the future...

Man, oh Mannie!

I cite the comment posted by Mr. Gentile earlier this day for two purposes.

One is the substance of the comment itself. Two hundred sixty-eight words of text--that takes a lot of time and thought. Sharing of personal experience--that takes openness. Deciding to comment on an undervalued aspect of Michigan in the Civil War--that takes a giving spirit. Thanks, Mannie.

The other reason is, without trying not to be mushy, to use it as an exemplar. A year ago, I was sitting at my laptop regularly reading with such great fascination the writings and insights of this Civil War blog community, comprised of so many earnest men and woman (is there another besides Jenny?). Within that year, I have been privileged to see comments posted at this humble site by a number of those same bloggers, all of whom surely had better things to do with their time than to pitch in and improve the quality of the information provided here. That they would invest brainpower and calories to aid achievement of this blog's goal is more gratifying than words can really convey. Thanks, all.

The end of year one

As the final hours of 2007 tick down, it's not too hard to get retro-spective and think of how the year turned out. For yours truly, there have been ups and down, both personally and professionally. I shan't bore anyone with the personal, other than to cite a few that can be identified with...loss of a beloved, long-lived pet...reduction in a long-standing client relationship...failure to keep resolutions made yet once more on a December 31.... "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal ...." (Philippians 3:13-14)

Yes, it is much preferable to adopt a worldview that "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." (4:8) From the 'truth' of my spouse's devotion to the 'noble' of my eldest's contributions to the City of Detroit to the 'right' of my youngest's dedication to her schooling, I can only feel blessed beyond measure when thinking of such things.

I also think of excellent things that happened on the historical front in 2007, for which I am all so grateful: appointment to the State historical commission; meeting new friends, dedicated Michiganders on the commission and staff, who are dedicated to Michigan's advancement; personal research that yielded new understandings and some great surprises; finally, on nearly the last business day of the year, in executive order 52 -- 'coincidentally', the year of my birth -- a directive for the commission to play a key role in the Civil War Sesquicentennial.

The glass is never really half-empty. With the right perspective, it's "running over." (Luke 6:38)

I'm particularly grateful for those who took time to peruse this site from time to time in '07. This blog is rather narrow in scope and appeal, designed to rectify an historical injustice: lack of recognition and appreciation of Michigan's role in the Great American Conflict. For those who paid it a visit, whatever the reason, thank you.

Here's to a great 2008 in the CW-sphere!