150th Anniversary

Yes, this year is the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. It began in April, 1861 and ended in April 1865, after over 600,000 had died. (Adjusting for population, the same rate today would result in 6 million dead). Periodically, I will post historical items about the war, and share websites that offer perspective. Also, books - one historian has said more has been written about the Civil War than any event in US History. No wonder.

We are approaching the date of the First Battle of Bull Run (aka First Manassas) - July 21 1861, In this first great encounter of armies, Union and Confederate soldiers met not far from Washington DC. Ladies and gentlemen in their Sunday best packed picnic lunches and drove out the "watch the show". Nearly everyone in the north assumed the war would be short. Maybe even only one battle and those Rebs would come to their senses.

Instead, the spectators witnessed the reality of modern war, and a terrible defeat of Union forces. Nearly 5,000 casualties suffered, and a disorderly Union retreat, horrified and terrified the residents. They hurried back to DC in a panic, entangling with Union soldiers eager for escape routes. Only one year later, at Antietam nearly 5X the casualties would be suffered in 12 hours in a Union victory (just barely). The war would go on for another 31 months.

I recommend Ken Burns' The Civil War series, which will undoubtedly be shown on PBS stations near you, wherever you live, over the next year.