American Civil War Stories

2 Great Book Reviews: Life After J.E.B. Stuarts and Civil War Sketch Book: Drawings from the Battlefront

noreply@blogger.com (Tammy) — Thu, 10 May 2012 20:15:00 +0000

I'm back and I have a couple great book reviews to tell you about. I know...I have been slow in getting anything posted but life in the Evans household has been very busy so my book reading time does dwindle down some but I still get the books read. I will have some exciting news later this summer coming from Williamsburg, VA. They have opened several new redoubts for the public to visit, number 1, 3, and 6. The actual battle was fought on redoubt number 16 but it's on private land so can't get to it. Now on to the reviews! The first book is titled: “Life After J.E.B. Stuarts the Memoirs of his Granddaughter, Marrow Stuart Smith. Edited by Sean M. Heuvel. The story is put together with the memoirs that Marrow wrote throughout her life time and before of the stories her grandmother told her about her grandfather, Confederate Cavalry leader J.E.B. Stuart. She begins when the Stuarts came to America in 1729 and ends around 1950 when she stopped writing. No one really knows why she stopped there. Upon the death of J.E.B. Stuart, Flora his wife had to go to work. She landed the position of headmistress of a girl’s boarding school, which is now called “Stuart Hall.” In those days of Marrow’s growing years she was expected to go to college but the career chooses for women were numbered. Basically you would become a school teacher but Marrow had other dreams. Growing up she loved to draw and wanted to become an artist. She had a tough challenge ahead of her but she made it with all the ups and downs that came along. As you will read, she will become an inspiration to any young person facing the challenges of making something of themselves even in today’s world. Marrow was an ambitious and energetic woman. She landed an art teaching position, married and had a baby in 1917. Her husband, Drewry, I guess you can say a wonderer. He went from job to job but it seemed the majority of their marriage was a happy one. They had hard times; especially when their house burned and they lost everything. But Marrow was a fighter. Guess she inherited that! I have to say that Sean Heuvel did a great job in putting her memoirs into story form. You won’t have any problem following along. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in women’s history also anyone interested in what became of J.E.B. Stuart’s family after the Civil War. The second book I have for you is a Coffee-Table Book that I think you are really going to like. The tittle is: Civil War Sketch Book: Drawings from the Battlefront. By Harry L. Katz, Vincent Virga. This amazing coffee-table book is filled with 250 drawings and illustrations that are in full color. As you follow along in chronological order you will see the majority of the drawings are from soldiers who had submitted them to newspapers at the time the battles happened so, many of these drawing have never been seen before now. There are the usual illustrations that any Civil War readers will recognize but what is also great about this particular book is you will learn about the artist, what they were seeing at the point they were drawing plus you will read exactly where the drawing is located today so you can go see the original in person if you choose. This is extremely rare since most drawings are kept hidden away in archives or family members’ homes. This is truly a stunning book! I know anyone Civil War historian and/or Civil War buff will truly enjoy having this Coffee-Table book in their collection.

Strange Fact

noreply@blogger.com (Tammy) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:11:00 +0000

The South had its own Abraham Lincoln, but he didn't stick around with his fellow soldiers in Company F, 1st Virginia Cavalry, to see it through to the end of the war. Private Abraham Lincoln was listed as a deserter in 1864.

Update: Things Coming Along

noreply@blogger.com (Tammy) — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 22:55:00 +0000

Just a quick update for you. I finally finished getting all the genealogy papers back into their rightful surname folders. Remember these were blown all over the library when the tornado blew the window in. And have finished scanning what I hadn't done yet, so all that's finally in the computer. I have started on the photo albums of the kids. Brought them all down from the library upstairs and now have them in a safe, water tight crate. If you didn't know we where in the moderate risk for tornadoes the other day but thank the Lord all the storms that went over us didn't produce a tornado. There were all spinning though so it was a very worry and watching day. So glad that is over. All next week is to be sunny and in the 60s here in Alabama.

The house is coming along. They have started on our 6 foot fence that was destroyed, the roof is finished and the ceiling inside the house are all painted. Hopefully this week they will get the fence done, house painted and front porch fixed. So everything is coming along.

Review: Die Like Men

noreply@blogger.com (Tammy) — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 22:39:00 +0000

I finally finished the book “Die Like Men” by Tim Kent. It’s taken so long that later this summer I think I’ll read it again and this time life and Mother Nature shouldn’t get in the way, at least I hope not. Anyway, I have to applaud Mr. Kent for writing a wonderful book. Die Like Men will take you through the battle of Florence, Alabama to Nashville, Tennessee, which is a race between the Confederates and the Union. Even though we already know the outcome of these battles, you will be caught up in the personalities of the men as they come alive as if you are right there beside them, learn how decisions were made that will make you question there thinking back then. Die Like Men is a page turner, you won’t want to put the book down. Die Like Men should be on every Civil War lovers book shelf!
You can visit Tim Kent site here.

Tornado January 23, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Tammy) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:18:00 +0000

If you would like to read what happened to us and see pictures click here: evansfamilypics

Blog on Hold - Tornado Hit House

noreply@blogger.com (Tammy) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:04:00 +0000

Well I have to put both of my blogs on hold at least for a little while. Life has been very busy and then we got hit by the tornado that hit Birmingham/Centerpoint/ Clay, Alabama last Monday at 4:00am. We have house and property damage but thankfully the house is still livable and we lost personal property that was outside. We didn’t have electric, cable, internet or phone for a week. Everything is back on now but so much to do and much that I haven’t done and I’m not waiting any longer.

When the tornado hit it blew out the window on the 2nd floor and everything went flying. Were just lucky it didn’t take the entire 2nd floor all together. I have all my genealogy papers up in the library that was scattered everywhere. I have to reorganize, sort out, put where belong and get busy scanning things I didn’t have in the computer. On top of that I have never scanned in pictures that are in photo albums of the kids when they were little. Well this did it for me! I’m getting busy and work, work, work; getting everything into this computer so won’t have much time for blogging.

You never think things will happen to you and when it does it’s a wake-up –call. So that’s why I have decided to just to put a hold on my blogs for the time being. If I run into something I think you would like to read I’ll get it posted for you.

For my American Civil War blog, I still have 2 book reviews that I'm trying to get done and posted but it will be a slow process but the'll be posted as soon as I can.

Thanks to everyone that is a regular reader of both my blogs: Genealogy Simple & Fun and American Civil War Stories. I hope you still check out all my other post on the blogs. See you down the road! :o)

Happy Birthday!

noreply@blogger.com (Tammy) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:02:00 +0000

Today is the 205th anniversary of the birth of Robert E. Lee

January 10

noreply@blogger.com (Tammy) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:31:00 +0000

Firing on both sides was so inaccurate that soldiers estimated it took a man's weight in lead to kill a single enemy in battle. A Federal expert said that each Confederate who was shot required 240 pounds of powder and 900 pounds of lead.

It’s a brand New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (Tammy) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:44:00 +0000

Hello All,
It’s a brand new year. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. My family and I sure did. Our oldest son was able to come home. It’s always great when the whole family can come together for the holiday.

I have been reading a lot of post of New Year’s resolutions. Years ago I used to make resolutions only to have them go to the way side so I stopped making them. Instead, I make one list and simply tittle it with the year’s date “2012.” On the list I put everything I know I can accomplice and things I want to accomplice. The list is everything from itty bitty items to long drawn out projects like projects for the house, traveling, places to go locally, read more and yes see anything Civil War related. Then beside the main item I take it further and include any details for example Civil War. I list everything I want to see and do then beside each topic I list where it’s located, what’s it about, date etc. Of course I have a few places that go on the New Year’s list every year. Someday I hope I can finally mark them off.

I have discovered this is the best way for me to stay the course to accomplice what I want to get done for the year. Guess you can call some of these goals to work towards but I don’t call them that.

Right now I still have several books to read and review that I received before Christmas but was unable to get too. Now that everything is back to normal I have finally been able to pick them back up again.

Be Healthy and Safe in the New Year!

Tammy

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Tammy) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 23:48:00 +0000

I want to personally wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. See you all in the new year!

Christmas Wish List of Civil War Books

noreply@blogger.com (Tammy) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 02:34:00 +0000

I have put together a Christmas Wish List of Civil War books that I think any history buff would love to have on their bookshelf. I have most of them myself so I recommend them. Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

Die Like Men by Tim Kent

I am currently reading this book when I can. Between Christmas shopping and everything else associated with Christmas it's been a slow read.

The Lincoln Letter by Gretchen Elhassani

You can read a review here

The Library of Congress Illustrated Timeline of the Civil War Coffee Table Book by Margaret E. Wagner, Introduction by Gary W. Gallagher

You can read a review here

Cold Glory by B. Kent Anderson

You can read a review here

Midnight Rising by Tony Horwitz

The Civil War
A Visual History
Rare Images and Tales of the War Between the States
Coffee Table Book

You can read a review here

The Dogs of War 1861 by Emory M. Thomas

You can read a review here

Hiram’s Honor: Reliving Private Terman’s Civil War by Dr. Max E. Terman

You can read a review here

Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

You can read a review here

A Rebel Wife in Texas: The Diary and Letters of Elizabeth Scott Neblett, 1852-1864
by Erika L. Murr

You can read more here

The Ghost of Lone Jack by Lance Lee Noel

You can read a review here

Legacy of a Southern Lady by Ann Ratliff Russell

You can review here

A Separate Country by Robert Hick’s

You can read a review here

A Meteor Shining Brightly by Mauriel Phillips Joslyn

You can read a review here

Belle Boyd in Camp and Prison

You can read more here

Baptism of Fire by Eric A. Jacobson and Richard A. Rupp

This is a story of three green regiments who come together at one of the most brutal battles of the entire Civil War, The Battle of Franklin.

The Battle of the Crater by Newt Gingrich, William R. Forstchen and Albert S. Hanser

I just purchased this one. It’s in my review pile. I probably won’t get to it until after Christmas, hopefully sooner though.

Independent bookstores warn: Kindle readers are bad for us

noreply@blogger.com (Tammy) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:20:00 +0000

I thought this was interesting only because of Amazon. I personally don't like e-book readers. Nothing could ever replace a book in my hand.

MILFORD – Bookstores don’t like it when folks try to ban books, but independent stores wouldn’t mind banning a particular e-book reader.
The Toadstool Bookshop in Milford is among many stores around the country cautioning customers that buying a Kindle reader from Amazon.com, as compared to other e-book readers or tablet computers, will hurt the store because the Kindle can only handle books bought through Amazon.

You can read the rest here.

Wish List and Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Tammy) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:56:00 +0000

Well I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We sure did, eat way too much but that’s part of Thanksgiving. I have no idea why but our Thanksgiving went very smooth. We had set 4:00 for our meal, which is our normal time and I’m always rushing around to get everything done and ready to eat. Then it’s well after 4:00 before we set down to eat. Well this year, I have no idea why, everything went together and we sat down at 4:07. I didn’t do anything different. Made the pies, salad, got the table dressed and everything else I could do early done on Wednesday. So we set a record. Now we’ll see how Christmas dinner goes.

We got the tree up and the house decorated. We always start Friday after Thanksgiving and it takes several days to do it all. I grew up putting our Christmas tree up on Friday after Thanksgiving and people always told us we were crazy. Now-a-days people have theirs up after Halloween, which to me is just not right. You have to give thanks first. I won’t even let my son play Christmas music until the evening of Thanksgiving.

Anyway, everything is done and now it’s time to concentrate on presents. I swear it gets harder the older the kids get!

Now for business
I had to put the book Die Like Men on hold so I have to get back to it. I will be working on putting together a Christmas Wish list of books for you. There are so many good new Civil War books out there you should be able to find one for your Civil War buff or just for yourself.

I will also be hosting a giveaway this Holiday Season and no it’s not a book. It does deal with the Civil War. It’s an unusual item you don’t see a lot of. I know everyone will like it so watch for the details coming soon!

Happy Thanksgiving

noreply@blogger.com (Tammy) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 23:02:00 +0000

Wishing everyone a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!

Want to know where the real first Thanksgiving was? click here

What I'm Reading Now

noreply@blogger.com (Tammy) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 02:35:00 +0000

I'm reading Tim Kent's new book "Die Like Men"

You can grab your own book and catch Tim at either one of these book signings:

December 2, 2011 at Jasper, Alabama at the Jasper public library 11:30-3:00 p.m.
December 3, 2011 at K's Cove Bookstore in Rogersville, Alabama 1:00-3:00 p.m.

I haven't gotten very far yet in the book but from what I have read it's very good.

Review coming when I'm finished.

The Lincoln Letter…Review

noreply@blogger.com (Tammy) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:39:00 +0000

A new author Gretchen Elhassani has just published her very first book titled: “The Lincoln Letter.” It is in the historical/fiction category.

It is set in the present time but takes you back to the Civil War era of the Battle of Gettysburg. Michelle along with her son, Aidan and her father Bob are Civil War Union reenactors. Upon their arrival to the battle field Michelle purchases a very old diary. Within the diary (hidden) is a letter that was written by President Abraham Lincoln. Michelle and her father have no idea it is there.

Three men who are Confederate reenactors or are they; show up looking for the diary that they know Michelle just purchased. They know it will lead them to the letter but have no idea that the letter is sealed within the diary. Michelle, Aidan and Bob are taken on an adventure along with several of Bob’s reenactor friends where it is once again Confederate vs Union, life vs death.

The Lincoln Letter is a wonderful book and an easy read. I personally thought it started out fun and exciting then it dragged just a tad but you wouldn’t of known who Jim was if his childhood wasn’t included within the story. As the story goes on you won’t want to put the book down. Then towards the end it was so touching I had a tear. If you are a mother reading this book you will understand why. You will be drawn right into the story.

If you are a Civil War history buff or historian I highly recommend The Lincoln Letter. Gretchen Elhassani has done a wonderful job with her first book.

You can visit Gretchen Elhassani webiste here.

Arlington Cemetery

noreply@blogger.com (Tammy) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 21:21:00 +0000

In Honor of Veterans Day

noreply@blogger.com (Tammy) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:28:00 +0000

In honor of Veterans Day I would like to Thank all active duty and veterans of this great country. If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be here and able to do what I love.

I would specially like to honor my family. Here is a list of the ones I know were in the military and for the ones I will still discover in my further research.

First off my husband, Steven Robert Evans: USAF,(middle) my son Jake Ross Evans: USAF (right) and my brother: Christopher Allen Warren: USAF (left)

From My side of the family –

Thomas Jefferson Vennum: Union

Alexander Draper: Union 10th Iowa Infantry
Alexander’s brother, Abraham I. Draper: Union 71st Illinois Infantry

Norman Lewis Draper: WW11 534th Anti-Aircraft Artillery

Daniel Richard Lawry: Union 5th Missouri SM CA.

William McElyea: Revolutionary War 10th Regt. North Carolina Capt. Alexander Brevard
William’s brother, Patric was also in the Revolutionary War

Wallace Lavern McElyea: WW11

William Cloud Mills: Co. D 29th Tennessee Inf. Confederate
William’s brothers were also in the Civil War. Some Confederate and others Union

William Mills: Revolutionary War

Powel Hamilton Sharp: Black Hawk War Reg. 4 Brigade 3 Illinois

Burrell Warren: War 1812 2nd Reg. West Tennessee Volunteer Mounted Gunman

Burrell’s father William Warren was probably in the Revolutionary War since Williams brother Drury was but there’s so many William Warren’s in the Revolutionary War I have been unable to locate my William.

John T. Wheeler: Union Company H. 145 IL US Infantry
Leroy B. Wheeler: WW1
John A. Wheeler: WW11

On my husband’s side -

The family has said they fought on the Confederate side but I have hit a brick wall so haven’t found anyone yet.

Arnold Evans: WW1
Wesley Leroy Evans: WW11

Arthur Milton Goldberg: WW1
Robert Arthur Goldberg: WW11

Placide Fabien Richard – Confederate Louisiana Troups
18th Regiment, Louisiana Infantry

Pierre Richard
Opelousas Militia 1776 Muster Roll, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana

Mary Todd Lincoln Documents Sent To Lincoln Library

noreply@blogger.com (Tammy) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 22:01:00 +0000

This would be very interesting to read the record.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CBS) – A bucket brigade of public officials has transferred Mary Todd Lincoln’s insanity hearing record from court vaults to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield.

Next will come a public re-examination of her hearing to see if she should have been committed to a psychiatric hospital in 1885.

You can read the rest of the article here.

Fort Monroe a national monument

noreply@blogger.com (Tammy) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 21:45:00 +0000

Obama signs proclamation designating shuttered Fort Monroe in Virginia a national monument

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Tuesday took a shuttered Army fort in Virginia with an important role in the nation’s slavery history and made it a national monument.

Using his authority under a century-old law, Obama signed a proclamation designating Fort Monroe a national monument. That saves it from major development and preserves its history for generations.

You can read the entire article here.

Also, back in October 2007 my family visited Fort Monroe and I wrote this article about it. I just realized I never posted the pictures I look of the fort. I'll have to dig those out for you to see.

The Library of Congress Illustrated TimeLine of the Civil War

noreply@blogger.com (Tammy) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:22:00 +0000

With the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War the Library of Congress has just released their new book; “The Library of Congress Illustrated TimeLine of the Civil War” by Margaret E. Wagner and introduction by Gary W. Gallagher. It’s a chronological narrative, 1861 to 1865, of the bloodiest battle upon American soil. It is an excellent reference book.

It is broken up into four chapters which are broken down even further by date for easy reference. The illustrations are vibrant and true to fact. Included are illustrations that have never been seen before, maps, news articles, and information from people you have never heard of before and of course the well-known individuals of the North and South. You will also find political cartoons, posters and manuscripts in Lincoln’s own hand.

The book its self is just a little bigger than a typical reference book but just about every page gives you great pictures and/or hand drawn diagrams going along with the date of what was taking place. So the size is just right for all the information you get. With 254 pages, that include the Index, it’s easy to carry, which is exactly the size I like.

I feel this Civil War reference book bring additional information, which you would never find in your typical Civil War book. Every Civil War buff, historian even libraries should have this among their collection. It would also make an excellent Christmas gift.

A senior writer-editor in the Publishing Office of the Library of Congress, Margaret E. Wagner is the coauthor and coeditor of The Library of Congress Civil War Desk Reference and The Library of Congress World War II Desk Reference and author of The American Civil War: 365 Days, World War II: 365 Days, and Maxfield Parrish and the Illustrators of the Golden Age.

Gary W. Gallagher, the John L. Nau III Professor of History at the University of Virginia, is the author or editor of many books in the field of Civil War history, including The Confederate War; Causes Won, Lost, and Forgotten: How Hollywood and Popular Art Shape What We Know about the Civil War; and The Union War.

You can read an excerpt here:

You can follow along on Facebook here

The book is running around $35.00 but you can purchase it here for around $22.00

Cold Glory by B. Kent Anderson...Review

noreply@blogger.com (Tammy) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:36:00 +0000

Over one hundred and fifty years have passed since General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant. The two Generals had met privately before the official surrender was signed but no one knows what was said between them. History will never tell or will it?

A fascinating discovery had been unearthed at Fort Washita in Oklahoma; a huge amount of Civil War rifles and a small chest that contains one single document and a pen with the initials of GW engraved on it. A history professor Nick Journey,Civil War specialist, is called in to examine the document and the pen. What does GW stand for? What is this document? It doesn’t make since. Where is the rest? Who wrote it? In order to find these answers Nick Journey has to travel down a winding and sometimes dangerous road. He is first attacked by two men then Federal agent Meg Tolman joins him in his investigation. Together they discover the missing pages but where is the signature page?

Cold Glory is a ride you won’t want to stop. It’s a fast pace, non-stop adventure. You won’t be able to put the book down. At every turn you want to know what happens next.
I highly recommend Cold Gory. If you are a Civil War buff, enjoy historical fiction and/or enjoy a good conspiracy then you will definitely enjoy Cold Glory.

Visit B. Kent Anderson

I Lost a Couple of Emails

noreply@blogger.com (Tammy) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 19:18:00 +0000

If anyone sent me an email this morning could you please resend. I lost a couple, one was for a book review offer for the book "Midnight Rising" and another was something to do with burial sites. I remember one head stone was Benedict Arnold, the boot.

I starred these emails and have a feeling they got mixed up with the ones I sent to trash and deleted.

Thanks

John Brown, the Antislavery Entrepreneur (Part 1): Tony Horwitz

noreply@blogger.com (Tammy) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 18:34:00 +0000

Bloomberg is doing a 5 part series from Tony Horwitz's new book Midnight Rising.

In the first of five excerpts from his new book, “Midnight Rising: John Brown and the Raid That Sparked the Civil War,” author Tony Horwitz tells of the abolitionist’s early years as a striver on the American frontier.

Tony Horwitz is the author of “A Voyage Long and Strange,” “Blue Latitudes,” “Confederates in the Attic” and “Baghdad Without a Map.” This is the first in a five-part series excerpted from his new book, “Midnight Rising: John Brown and the Raid That Sparked the Civil War,”

You can listen to a clip of the audiobook here.

American Civil War Stories is back and SAFE

noreply@blogger.com (Tammy) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 02:14:00 +0000

Sorry everyone, If you tried to view my blog and got a warning from Google about a virus, you're safe. The virus was from another civil war site. I can't post the name of the site or Google will flag my site again. I have removed the bad site link and I'm back in business. Google gave my site a clean bill of health.

I have never had this happen before and felt a little panic but with Google's help it's all okay!

Thanks to Google...I can breath a sigh of relief.