American Civil War Battles

[Fife]

Start at the beginning . . .

I read A Blaze of Glory by Jeff Shaara last year. It's not as good as his fathers novel The Killer Angels but it's a good retelling of the battle. I might read some more of his books next time I get a craving for ACW stuff.

That's a good one, and so is Foote's Shiloh novel.




Fate denied Sidney Johnston a shot at redemption for Ft. Henry and Ft. Donelson.

[Ex-California]

I'm finally doing the Shelby Foote narrative histories. They're some of the longest, densest books I've ever read but he really is a master.

I've always really liked the Civil War, but I would by no means call myself an expert. The ACW is so incredibly fascinating because of the time period it happened in. Everything smitty said is exactly correct and exactly the reason why it is so fascinating. By studying it you see the invention of modern, industrial warfare and the modern military industrial complex nations it demands. By the time Sherman is marching to Atlanta we're even seeing total war.

[Smitty-48]

It's all about the Second Great Awakening.

That is what sets America apart. Stairway to Heaven.

The twin civil wars of the Second Great Awakening.

The Abolitionist war between the Planters and the Bankers.

The Prohibitionist war between the Dry's and the Wets.

Free all the slaves everywhere, to include the Spanish Main.

Save all the widows and orphans, huddling in the streets outside the Saloons.

America, the Temperance Lady, wielding her Terrible Swift Sword.

All leads to Hachetation in the name of the Lord.

[Smitty-48]

Meanwhile, as Shiloh is going down in the west, back in the east, the Army of Northern Virginia was fully engaged as well;



Forrest in saddle to the West, Jackson's in the Valley to the East.

While Forrest is Confederate Darth Vader, Jackson is Confederate Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Marse Robert is of course Confederate Yoda.

[Ex-California]

Clone Wars ftw

[Smitty-48]

Clone Wars ftw

Cotton, Tobacco and Clones! Yeehaw!

[Smitty-48]

Oh, wait, before we get to Jackson in the Valley, we better get Fife's favorite in there.

[Fife]

I drove by Donelson and just down from Henry this afternoon. Being up here in this cold assed weather always makes me think about my great-great's winter trip to Chicago from Donelson courtesy of Gid Pillow and then his long walk home as a skeleton after a few years of yankee hospitality. I'm glad he lived long enough to have my great grandma with his second wife in 85. If I think of it I'll make a picture of his stone for you on Memorial Day weekend.

[Smitty-48]

"I did not come here to surrender my command" - The Prince of Darkness.

[Fife]

Yes my great great wasn't part of Bedford's outfit, and probably had never even owned a horse of his own as a kid.

And then Bolivar Buckner was left by the shyster Pillow to surrender the West to a crying miserable drunk he had lent money to for his booze jones at the academy.

Now there's a fellow who got a rough deal.