Mar 21 2009
American Civil War Podcasts
I am hugely interested in the American Civil War or, as we still sometimes call it, “the War of the Rebellion,” though I’ve seldom posted on the subject. There are, sadly, very few podcasts available online relating to that giant and highly popular subject,but I did find a few.
The Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant, by Ulysses Simpson Grant. An online text version of the memoirs can be found HERE. A large two volume work considered to be the best American autobiography ever written. Authors as diverse as Matthew Arnold and Gertrude Stein have praised its charm and literary merit. Brief background: After his political career Grant entered into a business deal with Ferdinand Ward, and formed the Grant & Ward corporation. Grant sought out investments from a number of people but they and he fell victim to a swindle by Ward. As a matter of personal honor Grant made what restitution he could to the other investors, leaving himself and his family destitute. Grant had, in accordance with the law of the time, forfeited his military pension upon becoming President, and, at the time, Presidents and their spouses were not given pensions by the government; as a result, Grant and his family became dependent on the charity of friends. At the same time this was happening he learned that he was terminally ill with cancer. In an attempt to make some money, Grant wrote a series of articles about his Civil War battles for Century Magazine; these were extremely popular and highly praised. One admirer of these articles was Mark Twain, and he approached the former President with a business proposition. If Grant would write his memoirs, he (Twain) would publish them, giving Grant a generous share of all royalties (75%!). Due to these generous terms and the immense popularity of the work Grant, upon his death, was able to leave his family an estate worth approximately $500,00.
The Civil War Traveler. These podcasts are narrated by National Parks Service historians and were designed to be listened to as one travels through the battle sites, but the Civil War buff will enjoy them wherever he/she happens to be. Be sure to check out the downloadable maps.
Civil War Podcasts by Dr. James Robertson Jr. Produced by WTVF Public Radio. One of the subjects of the war which fascinates me is the fraternization which often took place between the opposing combatants, the “Fraternization Between Soldiers” episode will be, I think, rather interesting. I am also fascinated by the military technology that came out of the war, so I think I’ll find the episode “A Battle Employing Many Technological Firsts” rather enjoyable. Confederate General George E. Pickett is a character who has always interested me. He, along with fellow “Reb” general James Longstreet, became the south’s most favorite whipping boys after the disaster at Gettysburg (and even more so after the war), lest the hallowed name of Robert E. Lee be taken in vain. I look forward to listening to the episode profiling Pickett. A relative of mine by marriage has relations living in Georgia, one of them came up for a rather long visit and as she got ready to return their was some discussion about what to get her as a going away gift. I suggested a T-shirt with an image of General William Tecumseh Sherman on it; fortunately, my suggestion was not taken seriously; Sherman can still “make Georgia howl.” Check out the podcast on “Sherman’s Campaign.”
