Author Archives: admin

Western Expansion involved themes such as American Excpetionalism, Manifest Destiny, and Racism. Continue reading →

As noted in my last post, my A.P. United States history class is in the final phase of our Reconstruction Unit. Yesterday we opened class discussion with a reading they were assigned the night before from Elizabeth R. Bethel’s excellent … Continue reading →

The end of our Civil War and Reconstruction unit is nearing and as we enter our discussion concerning Reconstruction we looked briefly at Sherman’s Field Order Number 15. To me this represents so much about Reconstruction. William T. Sherman clearly … Continue reading →

Whether you appreciate Reagan or not. Whether you think he had much to do with the Berlin Wall coming down or not, his “Tear Down This Wall” speech is historic and prophetic. In honor of the anniversary of the “fall” … Continue reading →

West Pointers and the Civil War The Old Army in War and Peace By Wayne Wei-siang Hsieh (UNC Press, 304 pp., ISBN 978-0-8078-3278-3) Americans at one time were very sensitive to standing armies and very distrustful of the idea of … Continue reading →

A letter written by Major Thomas W. Bradley, 124th New York Volunteers, and published in the National Tribune, February 4, 1886 : “Smith’s Battery has not received in history full credit for the heroic and valuable work done by its … Continue reading →

Yet another new arrival, and a beautifully created one. Atlas of the Civil War: A Complete Guide to the Tactics and Terrain of Battle (National Geographic). The folks at National Geographic were nice enough to send a review copy and … Continue reading →

I received a few days ago my advanced review copy of Wayne Wei-Siang Hsieh’s West Pointers and the Civil War: The Old Army in War and Peace (Civil War America). Hsieh challenges studies that claim field fortifications and defensive positions … Continue reading →

I got a chance to look through my recently arrived copy of John Keegan’s book and I am already enjoying it. Some interesting comments just in his introduction alone he writes, “Had the battle [Bull Run] gone the other way, … Continue reading →

The Enemy of American Exceptionalism posted this remarkable video [below] as an apology to Eric Wittenberg over the recent debate (which predictably became personal!) they had concerning John Latschar. Eric accepted Kevin’s apology, sorta. Anyway, what is remarkable to me … Continue reading →