tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54539144875391549072024-03-14T00:17:58.009-05:00Confessions of a Civil War AddictReflections on a Life Spent in Pursuit of the Past.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187510083959305935noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453914487539154907.post-7390027397545594022014-03-23T13:19:00.002-05:002014-03-23T13:19:54.597-05:00RelocationFriends,
The Civil War Addict blog is relocating to a new URL with a new title. Rather than just focusing on the Civil War, it will encompass history in general. You can click here to visit the new home.
Thank you,
Lee HutchAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187510083959305935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453914487539154907.post-21230004501264656592014-01-19T09:27:00.001-06:002014-01-19T09:27:54.651-06:00An Odd ConnectionDear Readers,
I came across this article today concerning a Confederate soldier who shared a name with NFL Quarterback Peyton Manning. Though I am a die hard Saints fan, I have followed Manning's career since he was in college and consider him to be one of the last of the "nice guy" professional athletes. (Like Drew Brees of the Saints) What is perhaps the most Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187510083959305935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453914487539154907.post-82466533088205187742014-01-12T09:56:00.001-06:002014-01-12T09:56:26.007-06:00A Long DecemberFriends,
Music defines my life. I identify certain times in my life by the songs that were popular then. People often joke about their life having a soundtrack, but mine really does. One song that stand out in my mind to this day is "Long December" by the Counting Crows. If you are not familiar with it, you may listen to it here. I first heard it on the radio Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187510083959305935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453914487539154907.post-19189849581728774242014-01-07T22:52:00.002-06:002014-01-07T22:52:34.738-06:00Mightier Than the SwordFriends,
Forgive the longer than usual gap between posts. I am gearing up for the start of another fun and exciting semester wherein I get to fill the heads of my students with stories from the American Past. They call this "teaching history". I guess that is what I do, but I prefer to call it "having fun". Just don't tell the colleges that I teach for that I said that. &Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187510083959305935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453914487539154907.post-55242013312154207992014-01-01T09:52:00.001-06:002014-01-01T09:56:01.610-06:00The Cruelest YearDear Readers,
"Year in Review" type posts theme to be popular on blogs around this time of year. That poses a problem for this blog since we deal with Civil War topics and not modern rounds. Along about midnight last time, I had an idea. So why don't you hope into my Civil War Addict time machine with me? We will travel back in time to New Year's Day 1864. Instead Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187510083959305935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453914487539154907.post-10070594105706830192013-12-27T11:37:00.001-06:002013-12-27T11:37:36.464-06:00Civil War "Firsts"Friends,
The Civil War had a lot of "firsts". Some were firsts just for the United States while others were firsts for military history/society as a whole. For an exhaustive list of those firsts, check out the list provided by Shotgun's Home of the American Civil War here. I have not gone through that list in detail and so I cannot comment on the accuracy of everything Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187510083959305935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453914487539154907.post-76664994341505168002013-12-25T10:10:00.000-06:002013-12-25T12:20:51.343-06:00Santa Claus Came to TownFriends,
Sorry for the long lag in posting. I have been feeling a little bit under the weather of late. But the show must go on. Santa Claus came to visit me yesterday. (We do our Christmas on the 24th since so that my son can have Christmas with me and then go back to his mother's house that night so he can have Christmas there on the 25th.) Naturally I got a lot Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187510083959305935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453914487539154907.post-27006822608496181062013-12-17T12:29:00.002-06:002013-12-17T12:29:47.915-06:00Civil War AnimalsDear Readers,
Since college is out for Christmas break at the moment, I am spending time with my feline companions. This has got me thinking about regimental mascots during the Civil War. I read a very interesting article here that details many of the mascot stories from the Civil War. Naturally, "Old Abe" the eagle is perhaps the best known, but there are many other Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187510083959305935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453914487539154907.post-59799655011706562222013-12-15T12:05:00.002-06:002013-12-15T12:05:53.454-06:00Fire Bells in the NightFriends,
When I was eight years old or so, I was thumbing through a copy of Bruce Catton's The Civil War. I believe it was published by American Heritage Press. There was a Civil War timeline included in the appendices. As I scanned through it, I came across the following entry for November 25, 1864: "Confederate agents try to burn New York City". For some reason, that Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187510083959305935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453914487539154907.post-77147575332303652572013-12-13T10:26:00.002-06:002013-12-13T10:26:50.657-06:00War and RemembranceDear Readers,
I have reached the end of my first semester since I made the decision (or actually my back made the decision) to end my law enforcement career and return to the classroom. To me, final exam week is always a melancholy experience. You know, the first day of class is like a first date. It can go really good or really bad. (And is usually awkward!) The Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187510083959305935noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453914487539154907.post-1193940590158964472013-12-08T11:12:00.000-06:002013-12-08T12:04:33.872-06:00Flags of Our (Great-Great-Grand) FathersDear Readers,
I must confess that I was at a bit of a loss for the topic of today's post. So I did what I normally do when I get a case of blogger's block, I turned to my little redhead for advice as to what to write about. She suggested that I write a bit about flags during the Civil War. I had to promise her that I would at least mention some of her ancestors in a favorable Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187510083959305935noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453914487539154907.post-53883754465319004772013-12-06T15:14:00.002-06:002013-12-06T15:25:10.971-06:00The Wilderness of WarDear Readers,
For the last week or so I have been working my way through Gordon C. Rhea's series about the Overland Campaign. I finished the first volume which is about the Battle of the Wilderness and have now turned to the second volume concerning Spotsylvania. I'm not sure what drew my attention in that direction, other than the fact that I haven't read his series before. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187510083959305935noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453914487539154907.post-33764285478501951782013-11-30T14:03:00.000-06:002013-11-30T14:03:25.981-06:00Last Night I Had a DreamFriends,
Last night I had a dream.
When I looked to my left, I could see a long line of Confederate infantry stretching as far as I could see. When I looked to my right, it was the same. In front of us were what appeared to be a very strong line of Federal works. Our rifles were loaded, bayonets fixed. I heard a single cannon shot. Then we received the order to Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187510083959305935noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453914487539154907.post-79571773578707706302013-11-27T15:22:00.000-06:002013-11-27T15:22:03.236-06:00The War's Defining MomentDear Readers,
When pondering the Civil War, as I often do in my spare time, my mind is drawn to certain events which I think define the war, or at least they do in my mind. Among those topics which my mind seems drawn to are the Irish Brigade assaulting Marye's Heights, Stonewall Jackson standing, well, like a stone wall, Pickett's Charge (of course), George H. Thomas at Chickamauga, and Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187510083959305935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453914487539154907.post-48118824066718385322013-11-24T08:40:00.000-06:002013-11-24T20:45:48.085-06:00Civil War: The Untold Story InterviewFriends,
Today we have a very special post. I had the good fortune to interview Chris Wheeler, producer/director of the upcoming Civil War documentary The Untold Story. It focuses on the Western, yes, you read that correctly, the Western Theater! You may see a trailer for it here.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]--> Could you please Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187510083959305935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453914487539154907.post-74505827180747058972013-11-23T11:12:00.000-06:002013-11-23T11:13:01.809-06:00My BookshelfFriends,
Since we have been discussing the written word this week, I thought I would take a moment today to mention my current reading project. I am (slowly) working my way through The Bloody Crucible of Courage by Brent Nosworthy. You can find it here. It is a fairly weighty tome, coming in at 752 pages. That breaks down into 660 pages of text and 68 pages of Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187510083959305935noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453914487539154907.post-28978444592444360002013-11-22T08:25:00.001-06:002013-11-22T08:25:36.434-06:00A Writer's Life (Part 2)Friends,
In keeping with my previous post asking if you could write a Civil War book, what would it be, I decided to take a different approach with this post. The Civil War has given us a veritable treasure trove of literature that grows every year. I read an estimate that was published in 1997 saying that we had over 50,000 Civil War titles. I'd love to know how much we Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187510083959305935noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453914487539154907.post-18807297319869953472013-11-19T17:30:00.000-06:002013-11-19T20:33:42.376-06:00A Civil War Writer's LifeFriends,
I've been a little nostalgic of late. I'm not sure why. Perhaps it is due to approaching holidays. Or maybe it is due to the fact that I am not getting any younger. For some reason I have found myself thinking a lot about my graduate school days. I got my Master's Degree in History from here. As anyone who has attended graduate school in any Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187510083959305935noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453914487539154907.post-39740780949216031662013-11-16T20:39:00.001-06:002013-11-19T20:33:24.744-06:00I Have Returned!Friends,
Just like General Douglas MacArthur (who's father was a Civil War veteran), I have returned. All of you have my sincerest apologies for my dropping off the face of the earth. Actually, I didn't really do that. I'm still in La Porte. But nonetheless, here I am. I am teaching nine, yes you read that right, nine classes this semester including one that I have Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187510083959305935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453914487539154907.post-416582766537587062013-08-19T21:44:00.002-05:002013-08-19T21:44:42.439-05:00I Shall Return!My dear friends,
I have not forgotten you! With my wife being gone for the funeral and me trying to get ready to start teaching again next week, I have been busier than a one legged man in an a$$ kicking contest. I am busier now than I can ever remember being, and that includes the times when I had a heavy case load in my now previous life.
I PROMISE that I will have a Civil War Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187510083959305935noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453914487539154907.post-2127799039595061172013-08-10T13:12:00.001-05:002013-08-10T13:12:13.478-05:00A Death In The FamilyFriends,
My wife's grandmother passed away yesterday morning. She was sitting in her favorite chair and reading a book at the time. That is certainly how I want to go. She lived in a small town in Missouri. My wife is flying back Monday afternoon. With my back issues, I am unable to travel long distances and I am having another series of injections on Monday morningAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187510083959305935noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453914487539154907.post-8526252656048741352013-08-07T19:53:00.001-05:002013-08-07T19:59:01.836-05:00From Garryowen to GloryFriends,
First let me state that I am still alive. My wife did read Monday's post and thought it was funny. So I was allowed to live and post again. It was a close one. Hell hath no fury like an angry German redhead.
As some of my loyal readers know by now, I live with five cats. I have always felt that our animal companions should have "people" names that fit Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187510083959305935noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453914487539154907.post-72493259555722114952013-08-05T18:51:00.002-05:002013-08-05T18:58:41.396-05:00The Civil War in My HomeFriends,
My wife and I have our own Civil War, of sorts. Most of my ancestors wore the gray. The few that she has that served during the Civil War wore blue. Whenever I point out that I have far more ancestors that fought during the War than she did, she usually replies that it doesn't matter since her side won. I'm sure that getting picked on doesn't bother her. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187510083959305935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453914487539154907.post-45744055704053961902013-08-03T14:12:00.000-05:002013-08-03T19:35:43.694-05:00From Huddled Masses to HeroesFriends,
Two posts ago, I referenced some of my Irish ancestors. Really, all I have is Irish ancestors, so it is more of a matter of picking which once to reference at a given point. Anyway, since many of us come to an appreciation of the Civil War based on our ancestor's experiences, I thought that sharing some of my ancestors' stories might be an appropriate topic of today's post. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187510083959305935noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453914487539154907.post-50519187560677261992013-07-31T20:14:00.000-05:002013-08-03T14:51:01.004-05:00The Next Generation of AddictsFriends,
I am hanging up my badge and gun. This week I investigated my last case. No more cancelled plans, no more middle of the night phone calls summoning me to see something that I would rather not, no more flashing lights, no more sirens, no more witness interviews or suspect interrogations, no more missed meals, no more digging through burned out homes looking for some small Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187510083959305935noreply@blogger.com4