Gettysburg: The Program That Changed the Battle

I finally got around to watching the Military Channel's special "Gettysburg: The Battle that Changed America".

Needless to say, the two weeks of anticipation I felt leading up to this were sorely mispent. I've seen inaccurate history documentaries; in this day and age, receiving a truly accurate lesson in history is a rare thing. But this is one of the more blatant episodes of historical revisionism I've ever seen. Not only were facts misrepresented, but the makers of this show saw fit to simply create events that never happened.

I could rant for paragraphs on end, but in my internet quest to find those of like mind, I stumbled upon a thoroughly incensed writer who seems to agree with me point for point. Thus, I'll save myself the time, effort, and negative energy, and simply post that here.

*************************************

"Gettysburg - The Battle That Changed America"

Just got done watching it. "The Program That Changed the Battle" might
have been a better title.

This was one of those shows you watch not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
If I had to come up with a short description, the words "horrifyingly
awful" come to mind. Or may, just plain sad. Not to mention, all too
predictable.

I counted at least one howler every three to five minutes. There were
probably more, but I started to loose count. Just as a sample of some of
the ones I can remember::

1. The battle starts when Union infantry comes running around a bend in
the road and start shooting up Confederate troops sitting by the roadside,
writing letters to Mother and talking about how they need those shoes in
town.

2. News of the battle is delivered to Meade by a Brigadier General (didn't
say which one), who immediately asks him "Do you want to fall back toward
Washington?"

3. Lee learns of the battle while he's eight miles away. First thing he
does is pull out his binoculars and start looking that way.

4. The second day consisted of the Confederate attack on Culp's Hill,
followed by the Confederate attack on Little Round Top.

5. By the end of the fighting on the second day, there were 25,000 dead.

6. The next day, Meade pointed to the Copse of Trees, and said that's
where the attack would be.

7. Stuart's mission on the third day was to ride into the rear of the
Union line on Cemetery Ridge, at the same time Pickett's Charge hit it
from the front. The two big arrows on the diagram showing how this was
supposed to take place meet perfectly, right by the Copse of Trees.

8. Custer and a small band of Michigan cavalry (or words to that effect)
are patrolling off the Union flank, and spot Stuart's column riding down
the road toward the Union rear.

9. Custer shouts "Come on, you Wolverines!", and they go charging into
the front of Stuart's column, which gets backed up along the road like a
train (or words to that effect), after which Stuart retreats. Computer
graphics show exactly how it happened. Them poor rebels never stood a
change, all stacked up on the road like that.

(This nonsense in numbers 7, 8, and 9, BTW, is straight from the Tom
Carhart playbook, not surprising since Tom Carhart himself is there to
explain it all in person.)

10. Lee personally orders the cannonade to start, while, in fact, the
fighting at Culp's Hill is still going strong.

11. Wesley Culp is killed on Culp's hill.

12. The Union troops on Cemetery Ridge all flee in a panic when Pickett's
men break through.

13. The Confederates are forced to retreat when Stuart doesn't show up,
like the diagram referred to in # 7 says he was supposed to. Thanks again
Tom. Also for pointing out that Meade was scared during the entire
battle.

14. Despite 25,000 men being dead by the end of the second day, by the
end of the third day the death toll is down to 10,000. Maybe the other
15,000 got better.

The program itself was built around what might for lack of a better term
be called "reenactor based dramatization", which I've become convinced is
a very mixed blessing. Good, in that people show up in realistic looking
uniforms, with proper weapons and equipment. Bad, in that too many of
them are middle aged, overweight, and have gray hair. But I suppose they
work cheap. This is supplemented by computer annimation, of such things
as Cuters's patrolling band waylaying Stuart's maurauding column along
that road to the Union rear - it's just shocking how old Jeb let himself
be surprised out in the open like that - and Picket's troops breaking
through and driving off the panic stricken Yankees.

There was one special effect that was worth the price of admission all by
itself, though. Some poor Reb is standing there on Culp's Hill on the
morning of July 3, chatting with the soon to be dearly departed Wesley
while they get ready to storm the hill again. Which shouldn't have been
too much of a chore, since as I recall from Carhart's book (it got left
out of the program somehow, maybe he didn't have time to explain that part
of the plan), part of Stuart's job was to drop off some men to help
capture the hill while he was on the way to help Pickett. Since they
would have had "Enfield rifles with sword bayonets", it would have bene
practically a done deal. But anyway, they're just standing there BS'ing
with each other, just minding there own business, when the Union artillery
opens up and blows poor Wesley's friend away. And I mean, literally! Damm
shell comes flying in looking like one of those special effects meteors
from "Deep Impact" or "Armageddon" that take out the Chrysler Building,
or half of Paris, catches the guy right about in
the belt buckle, and he's just [i]gone[/i]. Looked like he was standing
in front of an 18" shell from the Yamato or something. All they needed to
really do it up right was to have just his shoes sitting there, with some
wisps of smoke coming out of them.

Frank Haskell was featured in the program, with a number of "quotations"
from his account of the battle. I say "quotations", because the program
writers alter and embellish what he wrote, when and where needed, to fit
the plot.

All in all, about as poor, and unfortunately, about as typical, as
anything I've seen lately.

The frightening part is, this sort of thing makes you wonder how much
mis-information and nonsense you're being fed, without even realizing it,
when the program is about a battle or event you may not have as much
personal knowledge of.

~Jim Cameron

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Well said, Jim. As for you, Military Channel...for shame.

ps - Did I mention that despite the abundance of reenactors and living historians featured in the show, President Lincoln was represented by CGI. Awful CGI at that. Why, oh why?

Back In The Saddle Again

It's been a month now since my last post. Sorry about that, folks. Louisiana came and went, and nearly took my life while I was at it: if you ever hear that hypothermia wasn't a killer in the war, you can call the offender out on their ignorance.

But I've recovered nicely and am prepping for my next authentic foray, off to participate in the Race to Knoxville in two weeks. After holding off Longstreet in East Tennessee the campaign season will start up in earnest, beginning with the national-sized Battle of Resaca a few weeks after that. This summer looks to be a good one for the hobby here in Georgia, as it's the 145th aniversary of the Atlanta Campaign. This will culminate with Bummers this November, as we trek across Georgia on the March to the Sea. That, combined with an authentic living history Marvin Greer and I are planning on hosting in Jonesboro, makes this a very promising year.

As far as battlefield studies, I've pre-ordered J. David Petruzzi's very exciting new Complete Gettysburg Guide (Savas Beatie, 2009), and also have Ezra Carmen's edited and compiled works on the Battle of Antietam on the way. Every review I've read on this work speaks of an indispensible volume for anyone studying that pivotal engagement, and since I plan on making Sharpsburg, MD a destination at least once this year, something tells me that this will be an invaluable asset.

Finally, the Military Channel is airing two specials on Gettysburg, this Friday, April 10: The Battle That Saved America and The Speech That Saved America, at 9:00 and 10:00 pm EST, respectively. This happens concurrantly with Patton 360, the History Channel's much-anticipated follow up to last year's Battle 360. 9:00 pm on Friday looks to be a busy evening for those of you with Tivos or DVRs. As for me...I'll be catching re-runs next week, as an old friend is coming into town for that evening, and I would be remiss in my manners were I to blow that off for (albeit fascinating) television specials.

I hope this finds you in as good spirits as this day has found me. All the best, friends.

The Heart of Secession

Well then, I'm off into the piney woods.

First Impressions

This weekend saw the 145th Anniversary of the Battle of Olustee, Florida. (An AAR of Saturday's tactical will be following shortly.) The time was spent largely with a contingent of the Southeastern Coalition of Authentic Reenactors (SCAR) known as the Salt River Rifles. I've followed the movements of the SRR and SCAR for some time now, and it was a pleasure to finally get to meet the members of these elite groups in person.

Apparently I made a good impression on them as well, for I've been invited by their commanding officer to join their ranks, effective immediately. This doesn't interfere with my primary unit affiliation, Company A of the 104th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, but rather provides an outlet for authentic reenacting to supplement the mainstream/progressive actions of my band of brothers from the Land of Lincoln.

I think I've got a good impression in mind for these groups, as well: a Southern Unionist, who has left his home and love upon the outbreak of hostilities to fight for preservation of the union. I'd like to get a thorough first-person portrayal for this one going soon.

I know, I'm a dork for the hobby, but if you're reading this blog, you probably have some interest in it as well.

There's a yellow rose in Georgia
That I am gonna see
No other soldier knows her
No soldier only me
She cried so when I left her
It like to broke my heart
And if I ever find her
We never more will part

She's the sweetest little rosebud
This soldier ever knew
Her eyes are bright as diamonds
They sparkle like the dew
You can talk about your dearest June
And sing of Natalie
But the yellow rose of Georgia beats the belles of Missouri

Oh the Chattahoochee's flowing
And the starry skies are bright
She walks along the river
In the quiet summer night
I know that she remembers
When we parted long ago
I promised to come back again
And not to leave her so

She's the sweetest little rosebud
This soldier ever knew
Her eyes are bright as diamonds
They sparkle like the dew
You can talk about your dearest June
And sing of Natalie
But the yellow rose of Georgia beats the belles of Missouri

Well my feet are shod and ready
And my heart is full of light
I'm going back to Georgia
To give the Rebs a fight
You may talk about your McClellan
And sing of General Meade
But Uncle Billy Sherman's gonna show you can't secede

She's the sweetest little rosebud
This soldier ever knew
Her eyes are bright as diamonds
They sparkle like the dew
You can talk about your dearest June
And sing of Natalie
But the yellow rose of Georgia beats the belles of Missouri

The Battle Cry of Freedom

No, I'm not talking about James McPherson's masterful work (though, if you really wanted me to, I wouldn't mind doing that at all). No, I'm talking about the song, that glorious marching song used by both armies during the war. I've been around reenactors a while, and I always noticed that whoever is singing it, the lyrics are always slightly different. So, enter the Google.

Turns out there are many "official" versions (if you believe the Internet) of the song. Most have some common theme - usually the chorus - though I've found one or two that are vastly different.

So, using a mental Venn diagram of the whole combined works, I've put together this rather long composite of all the versions I've found of the Federal version of the song. It's a lot to remember, but it shouldn't be impossible - anyone who's recalled all the words to "Marching on to Richmond" while slogging their way through dense underbrush or tramping along country lanes should have no problem with the new words to a familiar melody.

Or maybe you all knew this already, and I'm just preaching to the choir. Either way...here ya go.

Yes, we'll rally round the flag, boys
Rally once again,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!
We will rally from the hillside
We'll gather from the plains,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

The Union forever!
Hurrah boys hurrah!
Down with the traitor, up with the star,
While we rally round the flag, boys
Rally once again
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

We are springing to the call
of our brothers gone before,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!
And we'll fill the vacant ranks
With a million free men more,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

The Union forever!
Hurrah boys hurrah!
Down with the traitor, up with the star,
While we rally round the flag, boys
Rally once again
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

We will welcome to our numbers
The loyal, true and brave,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!
And although they may be poor
Not a man shall be a slave,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

The Union forever!
Hurrah boys hurrah!
Down with the traitor, up with the star,
While we rally round the flag, boys
Rally once again
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

We are marching to the field, boys, we’re going to the fight
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!
And we bear the glorious stars for the Union and the right
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

The Union forever!
Hurrah boys hurrah!
Down with the traitor, up with the star,
While we rally round the flag, boys
Rally once again
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

We will raise the rebel host, boys, with fearless heart and true
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!
And we’ll show what Uncle Sam has for loyal boys to do
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

The Union forever!
Hurrah boys hurrah!
Down with the traitor, up with the star,
While we rally round the flag, boys
Rally once again
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

If we fall amid the fray, boys, we’ll face them to the last
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!
And our comrades brave shall hear us as they go rushing past
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

The Union forever!
Hurrah boys hurrah!
Down with the traitor, up with the star,
While we rally round the flag, boys
Rally once again
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

Yes, for liberty and union we’re springing to the fight
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!
And the victory shall be ours for we’re rising in our might
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

The Union forever!
Hurrah boys hurrah!
Down with the traitor, up with the star,
While we rally round the flag, boys
Rally once again
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

So we're springing to the call from the East and from the West,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!
And we'll hurl the rebel crew from the land we love the best,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

The Union forever!
Hurrah boys hurrah!
Down with the traitor, up with the star,
While we rally round the flag, boys
Rally once again
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

One day, hopefully soon, I'll put up a similar composition for the Confederate version of the song. Until then, my secesh friends will have to wait it out, or sing to the tune of the Union.

Ghosts of Shiloh

Jim Butler of the Salt River Rifles recently put out a request for any neutral-voiced individuals who wished to try their hand at narrating some voice-overs on a documentary covering the April 1862 Battle of Shiloh (alternatively the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee). Well, I've been told a more than a few times that I should be some sort of voice actor, so I decided to give it a shot.

After emailing Jim, he asked me to record and send him this quote from the 11th Iowa:

“The calm was first broken by the sound of gunshots far in the distance. Soon began the "blood curdling sounds", so one soldier thought, of the "long roll." In a little while several cannon shots passed over the camps, followed by others that plowed up the ground and tore through the tents. Trees were splintered nearby, and a shell struck a horse in the hind leg, mangling it's hoof.”

This done, I sent it on it's way, expecting nothing. However, lo and behold, my audition was successful, and I've now somehow netted myself a credited job on this documentary, and likely others in the future.

Next, I've got to take care of some quotes from both the 8th Illinois, as well as from General John McClernand. And I have to admit, this is kinda exciting.

During the Battle of Shiloh, April 6 & 7, 1862, four cobbled-together Confederate corps (designated the Army of Mississippi) launched a dawn attack on General Ulysses S. Grant's unprepared Army of the Tennessee. The attack succeeded to great effect throughout April 6, despite considerable confusion on the part of the southern commanders. This confusion was compounded, no doubt, by the death of Albert Sidney Johnston before the Confederate victory could be fully exploited.

The Federals rallied, finally holding their ground even as their backs were pressed against the Tennessee River. During the night, a reinforcement army under General God Carlos Buell arrived, replenishing the ranks with fresh troops. This infusing of new blood allowed for an early morning Federal counterattack that reclaimed the ground lost the day before to the Confederates.

During the battle, General John McClernand commanded a division under Grant that was attacked by Leonidas Polk's corps; of note is Polk's order of battle in this assault - he commanded a division led by Benjamin Cheatham. Cheatham, like Patrick Cleburne, was one of the south's most tenacious commanders, and it is of little doubt that this fiery subordinate did a great deal to push McClernand's division back toward Pittsburg Landing.


Confederate General Benjamin Cheatham would become known as one of the South's greatest fighters

At the landing, McClernand held the center of the newly established defensive line - a line that existed, some would argue, solely due to the delaying, sacrificial stand made by Benjamin Prentiss' division at a spot later known as the Hornet's Nest for the ferocity of the fire there. Prentiss aside, the new line held until the next morning, when the counterattack began and secured a victory for the Union.


In the coming months, Union General John A. McClernand would become one of Grant's greatest rivals as he strove to eclipse the latter's rise to glory

Shiloh is most known for its statistics and its repercussions. The battle - the first truly pitched fight of the war, and one fought entirely by green troops - resulted in more casualties than the War of Independence, the War of 1812, and the Mexican War combined: 23,746 men fell killed, wounded, or captured in the two day engagement. The battle also cemented the close relationship Grant would have with his subordinate William T. Sherman for the rest of the war. Despite the terrible attack that April morning, both men kept their heads and, together, planned the defensive stand and counterattack that would finally repel the Confederate army.

Though the Union prevailed at Shiloh, the initial unpreparedness that characterized the Army of the Tennessee led to calls for Grant's removal from command. After facing so many setbacks in the East, however, President Abraham Lincoln famously replied to the detractors, "I can't spare this man. He fights."

And fight he did.

January 21, 1824

Um...

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."
~Constitution of the United States, Article II, Section I

"I do solemnly swear that I will execute the office of President of the United States faithfully, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States [so help me God]."

~President Barack H. Obama (and Chief Justice John Roberts), 1/20/09



Why does part of me feel that this could be a problem?

Remember the Good, the Bad, and the inaccurate

This Sunday has ranked alright as far as Sundays go. After sleeping in a bit (too long), I turn to AMC and find that 2004's The Alamo is on.

What a piece of work. Sure, there is the usual Hollywood dramatizing that plagues all historical films (while poignantly beautiful, I'm disinclined to believe that Crockett's fiddle harmonized so well with Santa Anna's army band), but nevertheless the controllable minutiae of 1836 soldiering seems to have been captured quite well. The weapons and clothing is authentic (a bare minimum), and the characters not only speak the vernacular (a definite plus), but also go so far as to appear to have even forgone showering to further portray accurate, day-to-day life in the era (a five-star commitment to authenticity). This film is a thoroughly enjoyable romp through the Texan War of Independence, and for those who prefer not to scrimp on the details, it's sure to please as well. Pay extra attention to Dennis Quaid's role as Sam Houston: if that's not Houston, I don't know what is.

After The Alamo came Sergio Leone's classic The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Having never seen this, I decided to leave the classic western on. It's still on, actually (Eastwood is in a whole mess of trouble in the New Mexico desert). But that's not the point. A short while ago there was a good bit of talk and show regarding Sibley's New Mexico campaign of 1862. Canby is also referenced frequently.

I have never seen such a poor showing of reenactor quality as was just displayed in this film. Granted, reenacting was just blossoming into a hobby when this film was made (1966), but still, I can almost see the zippers on the Confederate sergeant's trousers. The dialogue is nearly as atrocious ("Carson? He's with the 3rd." The 3rd? the 3rd what?), and the props are the very definition of farby (If there wasn't a Reb private with a tin, flask-shaped canteen over his soldier, I'm goin' to hell).

Sure, Leone touches on the harsh New Mexico climate that characterized the Confederate retreat, "Sibley's retreating this way...and Canby's line is moving this way...but neither side will go in here [indicating the desert]". But that's pretty much where this historical accuracy ends.

Like I said, the film's still playing, so perhaps things will improve. If I happen to notice, I'll let you know.

(EDIT: "Down with General Grant! Hurrah for General Lee!"...in early 1862 Grant was securing the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, and Lee was advising Jeff Davis prior to taking command of the Army of Northern Virginia. OK, that's awful.)

Next up, a discussion on why Tom Cruise's character in The Last Samurai is introduced as "the hero of Gettysburg" while "The Bonnie Blue Flag" plays...ugh.

Once more unto the breach, dear friends...

Some background information...

Three weeks ago, I was let go from my position at Circuit City. It was a great job; the hours were good, the pay was phenomenal, and I worked side by side with some of the best folks ever to walk on this green earth. But all good things must come to an end, as 2008 wound to a close my store finally closed its doors.

Since then I've learned firsthand of the dearth of jobs there out there. One application after another is met with a cordial - yet obviously uninterested - nod, or with the news that despite the "now hiring" signs, the company is downsizing (thus beginning a hiring freeze).

Even my old staples here in Atlanta are bearing the brunt of this economic crisis. Keith Lauer, a friend of mine and an ardent supporter of living history events sponsored by the 104th Illinois, was recently placed on furlough from his position as Superintendent of the Atlanta Cyclorama. No place is safe, no field is ensuring job growth at this time.

Yet, on a pure whim, I checked the official job site for the United States Federal Government. And, lo and behold...there's a single spot open with the National Park Service here in Atlanta, as a Museum Guide at the Martin Luther King National Historic Site. Granted, MLK isn't my particular focus of study, but there's on-the-nob training...and also, the civil rights movement got its start with the abolition movement, and I'm pretty sure I can say a thing or two about that. Also, it's a foot in the door with an organization I wouldn't mind transferring within at all, so theres a plus thats not to be discounted.

So I updated my resume on the site and filled out the application. I have to admit...I feel like I have a strong set of documents on my side with those two. The questionnaire (the entirety of the application) consisted of questions regarding previous guiding, educating, and speaking of historical subjects to non-informed groups.

That's kinda what I do.

I'm not going to think about it, or assume that things are solid. But I'll be damned if I'm not going to follow up with this. In the two years I've investigated jobs with the NPS, this is the closet I've come to realistically getting one.

Expect future updates on the topic, for better or for worse.

...far beyond our poor power to add or detract

"In great deeds, something abides. On great fields, something stays. Forms change and pass; bodies disappear; but spirits linger, to consecrate ground for the vision-place of souls. And reverent men and women from afar, and generations that know us not and that we know not of, heart-drawn to see where and by whom great things were suffered and done for them, shall come to this deathless field, to ponder and dream; and lo! the shadow of a mighty presence shall wrap them in its bosom, and the power of the vision pass into their souls."

~Major General Joshua L. Chamberlain
October 3, 1888
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Now that's what I call fitting

Rummaging through other blogs, I came across this fun little quiz. The result?

You Scored as Stonewall Jackson
Considered perhaps the greatest general of the war, you're a hero to your people and the scourge of the enemy. You might want to avoid reconnaissance, at least until the invention of night-vision goggles.

Stonewall Jackson: 70%
Robert E. Lee: 70%
General Nathan Bedford Forrest: 65%
William T. Sherman: 60%
General George McClellan: 60%
General James Longstreet: 55%
U.S. Grant: 50%
General Phillip Sheridan: 45%
General Ambrose Burnside: 45%
General J.E.B. Stuart: 35%

Happy day. :-)

Only we can stop this

Many other blog readers will by now already be aware of the recent vandalism at Gettysburg National Military Park. I'll avoid rehashing the same protests in the name of brevity and simply ask what we, as historians, are attempting to do to curb this blatant disrespect toward the sites we cherish.

71 years ago, President Franklin Roosevelt lit the Eternal Light Peace Memorial to celebrate "Peace Eternal in a Nation United". Now, almost two weeks ago, vandals and thugs have seen it as their sacred duty to exercise their free speech in a crude, immature, and hateful way so that others may suffer the lack of this important piece of history until restoration efforts can begin when the weather warms.

The monument was unguarded, apparently, long enough for whoever did this to complete their task. And even then, it was not checked on by anyone who cared about enough to report the damage until nearly a full day after the vandalism took place.

There are daylight-only rules at the park for a reason: to prevent this kind of act from happening. But what is the threat but an empty one if there is to be no possibility of capture for those who see fit to impose their selfish will on others? I will admit to having lost track of time last December when visiting the southern end of the field one night; I found myself atop Houck's Ridge after the sun had set. Standing there, in the inky black silence, I was quite aware of the rule against nighttime visitation yet I also knew why the rule had been imposed. If I had had the urge to topple Smith's guns into Triangular Field, I easily could have. If I'd wanted to deface or destroy the Sharpshooter's Den, I could have. If I'd wanted to set the Wheatfield ablaze, I could have. There was no one, not a soul, around. Just me and the ghosts.

Luckily for the park, I'm one of those individuals who appreciates, honors, and cherishes our history. Reader, I'm certain that you are too. But what if I wasn't?

We have to take it upon ourselves to not only educate the public about our mutual past, but ensure that that past remains available for all to see and appreciate. We need to accept that the money is never going to be there for everything to get accomplished, and that we must shoulder the burden ourselves.

Another blogger writing about this topic mentioned the idea of authorized citizen patrols that volunteer their time to walk the grounds at night. Even leaving Gettysburg locals out of the equation, there are surely several hundred of us out there who would offer up a week of our time to guarantee the safety of a given portion of the field. 7 days in a week, 52 weeks in a year...the math isn't impossible. And I for one would jump at the chance to walk the field in an environment empty of obnoxious tourists and rowdy children who think that climbing on the guns of Cushing's Battery is a good idea.

Or please, if you have other ideas, let them be known! But this defilement of our past simply must be stopped.

We've lost the opportunity to stand at the Peace Light and look out over the First Day field without feeling the stinging burn of obscenities etching their hateful intent into our backs, at least for a little while.

What will we lose next?

They say one should make goals...

So then...whats the plan?

The obvious first step is to determine what I'm going to have to read and study before December 2010. That may seem like a long time away, but here, in January 2009, I can already see it coming.

Clyde Bell of the National Park Service has provided an exhaustive list of recommended readings for those desiring a chance at becoming a Licensed Battlefield Guide. To be fair and realistic, I have to take into consideration the fact that I'm both a full-time student at Georgia State and am pursuing full-time employment outside of school. Therefore, to burden myself with a nigh-impossible list of duties would be counterproductive. Instead, I'm going to triage the learnings with what I think I need more as opposed to that which I'm already comfortable with. With that in mind, I present my reading list (in alphabetical order by author's last name):

Gettysburg
Busey, John W & Martin, David S: Regimental Strengths and Losses at Gettysburg
Busey, John W: These Honored Dead: The Union Casualties at Gettysburg
Coco, Gregory A: A Strange and Blighted Land: The Aftermath of Battle
Coco, Gregory A: A Vast Sea of Misery: A History and Guide to the Union and Confederate Field Hospitals at Gettysburg
Coco, Gregory A: Gettysburg Confederate Dead
Dicorfano, Ken: They Saved The Union At Little Round Top: Gettysburg July 2, 1863
Frampton, Roy: Lincoln and the Human Interest Stories of the Gettysburg National Cemetery
Freeman, Douglas S.: Lee’s Lieutenants, Volume III
Gallagher, Gary (ed.): The First Day at Gettysburg: Essays on Confederate and Union Leadership
Gallagher, Gary (ed.): The Second Day at Gettysburg: Essays on Confederate and Union Leadership
Gallagher, Gary (ed.): The Third Day at Gettysburg: Gettysburg and Beyond
Gottfried, Bradlley: Brigades of Gettysburg
Hartwig, D. Scott & Ann Marie: Gettysburg: The Complete Pictorial of Battlefield Monuments
Hawthorne, Frederick W: Gettysburg: Stories of Men and Monuments
Longacre, Edward G.: The Cavalry at Gettysburg
Patterson, Gerald A.: Debris of Battle: The Wounded of Gettysburg
Pfanz, Harry W.: Gettysburg: The First Day
Pfanz, Harry W.: Gettysburg: The Second Day (re-read)
Pfanz, Harry W.: Gettysburg: Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill (re-read)
Stewart, George: Pickett’s Charge: A Micro History of the Final Attack At Gettysburg July 3, 1863

General War Knowledge
Catton, Bruce : Mr. Lincoln's Army
Catton, Bruce: Glory Road
Catton, Bruce: A Stillness at Appomattox
Warner, Ezra J.: Generals in Blue
Warner, Ezra J.: Generals in Gray
Wiley, Bell I.: The Life of Billy Yank
Wiley, Bell I.: The Life of Johnny Reb

Memoirs
Berekely, Henry L.: Four Years in the Confederate Army (W.H. Runge. ed)
Carter, Robert G.: Four Brothers in Blue
Casler, John O.: Four Years in the Stonewall Brigade (J.I. Robertson, Jr., ed)
Chamberlain, Joshua L.: The Passing of the Armies
Douglas, Henry Kidd: I Rode with Stonewall
Fletcher, William A.: Rebel Private: Front and Rear (Bell I. Wiley, ed)
Gordon, John T.: Reminiscences of the Civil War
Haley, John W.: The Rebel Yell and The Yankee Hurrah (R.L. Silliker, ed)
Livermore, Thomas L.: Days and Events
Stearns, Austin C.: Three Years with Company K (R.L. Silliker, ed)
Wainwright, Charles: A Dairy of Battle (Allan Nevins, ed.)
Watkins, Sam: Company Aytch: Or, A Side Show of the Big Show

So....as you can see, I have my work cut out for me. I'm not sure what order I'll be working on these, but I know my critical points of improvement are monument and portrait identification; thus I plan to work on those two the longest.

Also, I'll be making at least two sojourns to Gettysburg this year, hopefully in the spring and summer. The much-anticipated full battlefield hike will take place then. On a side note, perhaps I can revisit the Antietam battlefield while I'm in the area.

As I complete this reading list I'll also be posting a review and summary of the work both as a reference and to stretch my mental muscles.

As a final note, don't expect this blog to be solely a progress report on one man's quest to become a Licensed Battlefield Guide. No, it will also be used to report and share general history knowledge and findings with any readers whose eyes peruse these pages. I am a man of many interests, though...I plan on posting a plethora of political articles as well as discussions of current events, and even - perhaps - the occasional personal diatribe. Don't expect too many of those, though: this isn't Xanga.com.

Well then...on that note, I'm obliged to call this post complete. Safe travels.

A Beginning

Tonight, the United States Postal Service brought me the results of my attempt to become a Licensed Battlefield Guide at Gettysburg National Military Park. It was a good try: for sixteen months naught but discourses on that singular event in American history crossed my desk. I went over the recommended reading list, I pored over flashcards and battle maps, I immersed myself in Steven Recker's Virtual Gettysburg. Three times this past year I have made the trek from Georgia to Pennsylvania to see the ground that our forebears fought - and died - for .

And after all that, it all came down to tonight's letter.

No, I didn't get it: in fact, I fell far short of the goal I'd set for myself. Granted, I didn't expect to be issued a pass to wear the hallowed blue blazer, but I did expect to come closer to the mark than I did.

Where did I go wrong? I honestly don't know. I have the option to review my answers against the score sheet, but that would require another expensive trip to Pennsylvania. I fully intend to call the park to see if I have other options. I'll let you know.

So where do I go from here? Should I desire, I can have another go at the test in 2010. Or I can lick my wounds and, like Lee on July 5, retreat from the scene of the defeat.

Prior to being elected to this nation's highest office (twice), Abraham Lincoln was defeated in seven different electoral contests, in addition to losing his job, his sweetheart, and at one point, his sanity. And yet he persevered through the years to attain his ultimate goal at last - and not a moment too soon.

If he can face the odds he did and come out on top...well then, who's to say I can't try too?
(We're just going to disregard that whole "assassination" thing for a moment here...)

My next go at the test is in two years. I'll be posting the list of what I've got to get under my belt by then in a short while. If you stumble upon this blog, feel free to add what you will.

On May 10, 1863, at 3:15 PM, Thomas Jonathan 'Stonewall" Jackson passed from this world to the next. Though his last hours were filled with myriad utterances and orders to men who were not there, the final moment of his life was revealed with simple stark clarity to be one of peace and beauty: as his eyes became focused and his breathing steadied, he calmly ordered "Let us cross over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees."

Those were his last words.

This is my blog.