American Civil War enthusiasts thread

[TrailDust]

Don't know how many people here are U.S. Civil War enthusiasts, but I want to get this thread going for people like me who are enthusiasts, reenactors, historians, etc., to get together and talk about it.

To start, here's a little history about my own interests on this subject. When I was much younger I didn't really have much interest in the Civil War, but in the early 80s my father took up a passionate interest in it and before long I became interested. I've been studying the Civil War now about 20 years, and in that time I've been able to visit every major and minor battlefield and museum throughout the south and east. Antietam/Sharpsburg will always be the battle that fascinates me most, and by chance I think it's the best preserved one too.

That's the basic info for me. Any other enthusiasts out there please chime in!

 

[fnmedallion]

am intrigued my ggfather was a private in some georgia infantry co. that was captured at the fall of vicksburg taken pow, swore allegiance not to bear arms agin the union if released , he promplly lit out and rejoined what was left of his unit and finished the war i agree antietam truly fascinates me

 

[Texas1911]

Didn't kill enough of them Yankees ... oh wait did I say that out loud?

Lee should have never pressed on Washington.

 

[TrailDust]

am intrigued my ggfather was a private in some georgia infantry co. that was captured at the fall of vicksburg taken pow, swore allegiance not to bear arms agin the union if released , he promplly lit out and rejoined what was left of his unit and finished the war i agree antietam truly fascinates me

Does your family have any memorabilia left by your great-grandfather?

Didn't kill enough of them Yankees ... oh wait did I say that out loud?

Lee should have never pressed on Washington.

You sure have to sit back and say, what the hell was Lee thinking at Gettysburg?

 

[Wolfwood]

Didn't kill enough of them Yankees ... oh wait did I say that out loud?

Lee should have never pressed on Washington.

+2

 

[Mexican_Hippie]

In junior high I had a book with all of the movements and lots of black and white photos, which were kinda rare for the time. I used to go to DC in the summer to visit family and would visit all the historic sites up there like Colonial Williamsburg, Gettysburg, Monticello, Museums, etc. We walked all over Gettysburg looking through the pictures and reading about the action that took place at each area. It was a whole lot of fun. I ended up writing a couple papers on Gettysburg in high school, noting that a few fateful hours could have changed North America forever.

You sure have to sit back and say, what the hell was Lee thinking at Gettysburg?

I think it was partially a lack of urgency (and exhaustion) by Lee's field commanders in taking Little Round Top before the Union occupied it. Then you also had Stuart's cavalry gallivanting around the countryside and not checking in as often as they should have. Still, once you know the enemy has far superior positioning the smart thing to do is to pick a different fight a different day. He could have withdrawn and moved around, sending a smaller force to "procure" shoes and such after the Union had left. Yeah, Picket's charge was a huge WTF? I think they were tired, wanted to end it, and thought they could push through despite have disadvantaged positions. They should have known better.

 

[just jk]

i participated in a "staff ride" at Shiloh while I was in the military - while there at the visitor center, i plugged my last name into the computer there that lists the names of all the soldiers

found somebody that shared my last name and wanted to find out more about who he was.......if we were related

i already considered myself an amateur civil war enthusiast, having visited several battlefields......Andersonville (not a battlefield) is a must visit if you're ever in Georgia

anyway - this quest led me to get involved in the whole genealogy thing and i learned that the man who's name i saw on that computer - was in fact, my great great grandfather - he is buried at Fort Gibson National Cemetery in Oklahoma - survived the whole war - he was a bugler for an Ohio Infantry unit - and actually played in Sherman's division band

i requested/received his entire civil war pension file from the National Archives and found a treasure trove of information for my family tree research

as for the civil war - if you havent read any of Jeff Shaara's books - i encourage you to do so

I have relatives that fought on both sides, and while i consider myself a Texan - i'm an American first - and will always support "saving the union" - i'm sure that wont be the most popular opinion among this crowd

 

[Stumpy]

I have a (not sure how many "greats") grandfather(Jeremiah Moore) who fought in the civil war. Not 100% sure, but we belive he fought for the Confederacy. his rifle is still in the family. thre are two pictures of me holding the weapon, but im not sure where they are.

I am also distantly related to Capt. Bob Lee, of Fannin County, and known for the Fannin County Feud.

 

[Clockwork]

"THE SOUTH WILL RISE AGAIN!!!"

Honestly I've never understood the appeal of Civil War reenactments and the like, but I don't get NASCAR either. Guess I never will.

 

[Mexican_Hippie]

"THE SOUTH WILL RISE AGAIN!!!"

Honestly I've never understood the appeal of Civil War reenactments and the like, but I don't get NASCAR either. Guess I never will.

I find it interesting that they stood there in lines and charged each other with bayonets. That they charged cannons loaded with grapeshot. That they sat there and took turns shooting at each other. The whole mindset of these guys is amazing.

I would rather my enemy not know I'm there until it's too late. Lot less chance of me and all my buddies ending up dead. I want overwhelming force and surprise. It reminds me of the Star Trek episode where they play war on the computer and if you die you walk to this room to be incinerated. A Taste of Armageddon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia It was supposed to make war more "civilized."

 

[just jk]

"THE SOUTH WILL RISE AGAIN!!!"

Honestly I've never understood the appeal of Civil War reenactments and the like, but I don't get NASCAR either. Guess I never will.

i watched one at Gettysburg and it was actually really cool

 

[Mexican_Hippie]

I talked to some the the re-enactors at Gettysburg one year. They talked about all the spooky stuff that happened at night. Not sure if they were just messing with us.

Still, you had more people die there in 3 days than in the last 20 years of Afghanistan, Iraq, and other lesser known US conflicts.

 

[Clockwork]

i watched one at Gettysburg and it was actually really cool

I've seen that as well. Fun to watch, but suiting up in a wool uniform and marching in lines across a battlefield in the middle of July isn't my idea of a good time.

 

[Texas1911]

You sure have to sit back and say, what the hell was Lee thinking at Gettysburg?

When he lost the Hills he should have pulled back.

 

[Clockwork]

Still. A great General, and a great Virginian.

 

[Mexican_Hippie]

Ok, last post here today. Sorry for cluttering this up but I really like history.

It should be noted that Texans "won" the final battle of the Civil War (Palmito Ranch). Those yankees broke their word (typical) and we had to lay the smack down outside Brownsville, LOL. Really, it was not much of a win.

But....in a manner of speaking...TEXANS WITH GUNS BEAT THE YANKS!!!!!!

 

[just jk]

I've seen that as well. Fun to watch, but suiting up in a wool uniform and marching in lines across a battlefield in the middle of July isn't my idea of a good time.

indeed! and there are TONS of ghost stories in and around Gettysburg - they even have an evening walking tour

 

[just jk]

Lee's biggest fault, in my opinion, was believing that he had God on his side.....he thought he'd prevail over tactical disadvantages because he Lord God almighty would ensure a victory

 

[Clockwork]

Lee's biggest fault, in my opinion, was believing that he had God on his side.....he thought he'd prevail over tactical disadvantages because he Lord God almighty would ensure a victory

He was still a brilliant General with or without divine favor.

 

[just jk]

He was still a brilliant General with or without divine favor.

he was, not taking that away from him at all