Essential Civil War Reading

Battle Cry of Freedom, by James McPherson.  Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, this is the best one volume account of the War told by its greatest storyteller.  It traces the conflict from Free Soil to the assassination of Lincoln in an authoritative voice that has yet to be rivaled. To the Gates of Richmond, by

Liberty State Park: Black Tom

National Parks With T Welcome back to National Parks & other public lands with T! If you are seeing this on Twitter or Facebook, please visit the blog to see all of the photos and read the story by clicking the link. Liberty State Park is on the Jersey City waterfront in full view of

The Boston Tea Party – What Happened During The Long Winter Night Of 1773

Facts in Five

Jefferson’s Presidency by the numbers National debt in 1801- $112 million  Percentage of budget Jefferson designated to pay the debt- 78% The population of the US in 1801 was 5, 305, 982  – 893, 605 were slaves The United States paid $15 million for the Louisiana territory in 1803-  Equivalent to $233 million today The

Ball’s Bluff Battlefield Regional Park in Leesburg, Virginia

Originally posted on M.A. Kleen:
A small park and cemetery memorializes one of the most lopsided and controversial battles of the American Civil War. Click to expand photos The Battle of Ball’s Bluff was fought on October 21, 1861 between Union forces commanded by Brig. Gen. Charles P. Stone and Col. Edward D. Baker…

Dolley Madison: Some Evicted Evening

Originally posted on Presidential History Blog:
Dolley Madison’s reputation as the most popular First Lady is enshrined for all times…except Washington: The Summer of 1814 Whether he wanted it or not, President James Madison found himself embroiled in the War of 1812, in essence, the “second” war of independence from Great Britain.  England had been…

Justice Today

Martin Luther King’s words ring as true today as they did in 1963… justice is relevant and must never be taken for granted. “We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. Frankly, I have yet to engage in a direct action campaign

“Devil of a Whipping”- Cowpens

General Daniel Morgan knew his opponent. Lt. Colonel Banestre Tarleton was overly aggressive, particularly in pursuit of undisciplined militia. Morgan used this knowledge to trap Tarleton’s forces in hilly cow pasture. The Battle of Cowpens turned the tide of the Revolutionary War in the South. Just as we got to our horses, they overtook us

January 12, 1865: Davis Note to Blair

Originally posted on Almost Chosen People:
 Go here to read about the peace initiative of Francis P. Blair who travelled to Richmond to meet with President Davis. Jefferson Davis was a very shrewd man, much shrewder I think than most historians have given him credit for being.  He realized that little could be expected from negotiations…

Harriet Lane’s Bracelet Story

Originally posted on Presidential History Blog:
Harriet Lane served as de facto First Lady for her bachelor Uncle, POTUS James Buchanan. Little Orphan Harriet James Buchanan was a brother among many sisters. Having received a solid education, he became a successful Pennsylvania attorney, elected to Congress at a young age, and rose in Democratic political…