Michelle L. Hamilton's Blog, page 12

149th Anniversary

In honor of the 149th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's death, here are photos of me placing flowers at Lincoln's tomb in October 2012.

Book Review: Two New Books Detail Stonewall Jackson's Death

Dr. Mathew W. Lively provides a detailed analysis of the death of Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson in his excellent study Calamity at Chancellorsville: The Wounding and Death of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson.  Beginning with Jackson's reunion with his wife Mary Anna and his infant daughter Julia, Lively brings Jackson to life in a new way for me.  Personally, Stonewall Jackson had never inspired much interest besides his famous eccentricities and his deep Christian faith as shown in the 2003 film "Gods and Generals."  Under Lively's skillful hands, Stonewall Jackson emerged as a loving husband and father who spent the days before his wounding bonding with his baby.

This sweet moment of domestic tranquility is sadly brought to an end by the cruelty of war.  The Battle of Chancellorsville would go down as Stonewall Jackson's greatest moment, but the glory only lasted a few hours when the general was wounded in a friendly fire incident.  Lively does an excellent job describing the events of the battle and Jackson's wounding.  Lively takes the reader through all the conflicting accounts of Jackson's wounding and patiently lays out the evidence that supports his interpretation of events.  Of particular note was the argument over where the wounding actually took place and the debate over how many times Jackson actually fell from the stretcher.  Dr. Lively, a medical doctor, then details Jackson's wounds and the medical treatment that the General received.  It is this part of the book that Dr. Lively really showcases his skills--the doctor clearly and in lay person terms explained the nature of Jackson's wounds and the forms of treatment available in 1863.  Following his wounding, Jackson was moved to Guiney Station where he rested in an outbuilding on Fairfield plantation.  At first it appeared that Jackson was recovering, but within days of his arrival at Fairfield Jackson began to show signs of pneumonia.  Despite the efforts of his medical team, Stonewall Jackson died on Sunday, May 10, 1863.

Dr. Lively's account is the most detailed examination of Jackson's wounding, illness, and death in print.  The author spent several years researching and writing this book and the results testify to his commitment to the subject.  The author's depiction of Stonewall's death is particularly touching, and regardless on what one thinks about the cause Jackson fought for--his deep Christian faith and the dignity in which he faced his death are indeed admirable.  An almost minute-by-minute account, Calamity at Chancellorsville is a gripping read. 

Also of particular interest is Chris Mackowski and Kristopher D. White's The Last Days of Stonewall Jackson: The Mortal Wounding of the Confederacy's Greatest Icon part of Savas Beatie's engaging "Emerging Civil War Series."  While as not as in-depth as Dr. Lively's book, Mackowski and White's study is still an engaging read and deserves a place on the shelf of every reader fascinated by the Civil War.  Of particular note is the differing interpretations of the number of times Jackson fell from his stretcher--clearly the debate is still being waged.  Where The Last Days of Stonewall stood out for me was the covering of the history of Fairfield Plantation and the Chandler family which called the place home.  The appendices at the end are of particular note with thoughtful essays on Jackson's legacy and the history of the markers commemorating Jackson's wounding and amputated arm.
      

Book Review: Southern Cross: Annuit Coeptis

Received an ARC through Goodreads Firstreads.

July 2, 1863. General Longstreet convinces General Lee to flank the Union Army, preventing the disastrous Pickett's charge and changing the outcome of the Battle of Gettysburg. With the Confederate victory, the North is thrown in chaos and congress hands power over to General McClellan and President Lincoln is banished to Chicago, IL. In the West, General Grant continues the fight against the South, despite McClellan's peace agreement with the Confederacy. Back in Gettysburg a group of UCCT soldiers are being held as POWs and are facing the frightening possibility of being returned to slavery. The realization that Northern blacks captured by the Confederacy are being sent into slavery makes a Southern captain question his commitment to the cause At the same time a French born Union lieutenant is battling the Confederates in the Pennsylvania countryside. In New York City a fiery Republican senator and his daughter rally the faithful against the South and McClellan. 

This is the premise of Dorvall's alternative history graphic novel Southern Cross: Annuit Coeptis part one of the seven volume CSA Confederate State of America series. Dorvall skillfully employs a cast of real and fictional characters in this very dark version of the Civil War. Renne's illustrations are stark and at times graphic, which perfectly matches Dorvall's dialogue. This is a chilling portrait of a country on the precipice of destruction. Highly recommended for fans of alternation/speculative fiction, I am eagerly awaiting for the next installment.

Book Review: A Girl's Life in Virginia Before the War by Letitia M. Burwell

I love reading memoirs written about the Civil War era, you get a real feeling what people thought about their world and the events that they witnessed. 

"A Girl's Life in Virginia Before the War" by Letitia M. Burwell was first published in 1895 when the Lost Cause and Moonlight and Magnolias myth was becoming firmly established in American culture. Following the end of the war the market was overwhelmed by books and regimental histories written by Union veterans which firmly established the Union narrative and celebrated the deeds of President Lincoln, and the Union generals such as Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan. Also being produced were memoirs written by black soldiers and former slaves who detailed the horrors of slavery. By 1876 the mood of the nation began to change, with the end of Reconstruction, the rise of Jim Crowe in the South, and a devastating financial depression many in the North began to express weariness with the constant reminders of the horrors of the war and the evils of slavery. 

Into this void Southern authors began to produce a new genre of literature that promoted the Southern way of life. War veterans penned narratives extolling the virtues of Confederate leaders such as Lee and the bravery of the gallant Southern solider as he battled against the evil Yankees whose mercenary (Irish, German, black) soldiers laid waste to the Southern fields and cities. Southern women writers also contributed their voice and penned nostalgic memoirs about life on the plantation, such as Burwell's offering. 

In the opening Letitia Burwell makes it quite clear that she is writing this book so that her nieces will not be ashamed by their slave holding ancestors. Burwell's fears that her nieces are being poisoned by wicked Yankee authors who are once again plotting against the South by writing, in Burwell's worldview, exaggerated stories about the evils of slavery. What the reader gets is a fascinating view of Southern culture from a very sheltered and pampered Southern belle. Her views on the benefits of slavery and plantation life is fascinating--though in our modern eyes highly offensive. Many readers will be offended by her use of slave dialect and how she presented slaves as nothing more than adult sized children, but it sheds light on how many 19th Southerners (male and female) viewed African Americans and the institution of slavery. 

Another fascinating aspect of Letitia Burwell's memoir is her depiction of Virginia plantation culture on the eve of the Civil War. Burwell was born into an elite and old Virginia family and her memoir reads like a Who's Who of Virginia plantation society. For all its grandeur, luxury, and romance this was a society that was already several generations past its glory days. In fact, Burwell's elders were more concerned about the achievements of their ancestors and how things had been better back in the day, then with the pressing needs of the future. This was a society that was on the verge of collapse with practically everyone burying their heads in the sand while clinging desperately onto their slaves. This house of cards was already on the verge of destruction when the Civil War came to knock it over. Ironically, Letitia Burwell ends up like her grandmother who gathered the youngsters around her and extolled the virtues of the past and decried the advancements of the modern age.

"A Girl's Life in Virginia Before the War" is a fascinating time capsule and an excellent example of the growing literary genre that would eventually produce the works of Thomas Dixon, Jr. and "Gone With the Wind."

My Book Now at Battlefields & Beyond

My book is now available for purchase at Battlefields & Beyond Military History Book Shoppe in one of my favorite towns Gettysburg, PA!
777 Baltimore St. Unit #1
Gettysburg, PA

My Latest Article in The Citizens' Companion

The February/March 2014 issue of The Citizens' Companion is now available in print and online featuring my latest article "The President's Medium" about President Lincoln's favorite Spiritualist medium Nettie Colburn.  For those of you who don't have access to a print copy the article can be accessed online:  http://www.citizenscompanion.com/?p=1559

Lecture Tonight

Tonight I will be presenting a lecture tonight "Lincoln and Spiritualism" at the monthly meeting of the San Diego Ghost and Paranormal Group (SDGAP) at 6:30 at Anna's Family Restaurant located at 8099 Broadway, Lemon Grove, CA.  Price is $1.00.  For more information visit:  http://www.meetup.com/San-Diego-Ghosts/events/153006092/?a=cr1_grp&rv=cr1

See you there!

Apperance on Animal Planet

After months of waiting, I can finally announce that the episode of Too Cute! in which I was used as an extra will air on the Animal Planet in March 2014, likely on March 15.  The episode follows the misadventures of a litter of poodles puppies (Lincoln, Davis, Mason, Dixon, Grits, and Gumbo) as they navigate their new world, including a visit to a Civil War re enactment.  It was very fun to be a part of the filming and seeing how patient the film crew is working with a litter of six little poodles who don't always follow directions. 

  Filming Too Cute! in Temecula, CA May 2013.

Scandalous Women

I had the pleasure to be invited to provide a guest post on the fantastic blog Scandalous Women where I wrote about Spiritualist trance medium Nettie Colburn who served as on of President Abraham Lincoln's "Team of Mediums."

http://scandalouswoman.blogspot.com/2013/12/guest-blogger-michelle-hamilton-on.html

Book Signing

I will be signing my book "I Would Still Be Drowned in Tears": Spiritualism in Abraham Lincoln's White House on Saturday, December 7, 2013 at Myztic Isle at 1:00 PM.

Myztic Isle
8036 La Mesa Blvd
La Mesa, CA 91942
http://www.myzticisle.com/