Nearly three months after the American Civil War ended, an illustration of revered General Ulysses S. Grant and some of his most trusted officers appeared in the July 15, 1865, issue of Harper’s Weekly. The weekly publication was nationally recognized for its exquisite artwork, and in this instance, the public was clamoring to see the men…
Confederate Monuments: Dealing with Tough History
In Ulysses S. Grant’s first inaugural address in March 1869, he discussed the way in which each section of the country should come together and settle their differences after the Civil War. He stated that it should be “approached calmly, without prejudice, hate, or sectional pride, remembering that the greatest good to the greatest number…
The First Completely Annotated Edition of Ulysses S. Grant’s Personal Memoirs
The Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant are widely considered to be one of the most well-written pieces of non-fiction American literature. Mark Twain, a close friend of Grant’s and whose company published the first edition of the memoirs, called them ‘a great, unique and unapproachable literary masterpiece.’ The memoirs have been in continuous print since…
Hancock County, West Virginia, in the Civil War
Virginia, the home state of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, was notably divided during the Civil War. The growing factions were evident in the state’s most northern reaches. In May 1861, pro-Unionists in Hancock County, VA(now West Virginia), decided to organize a company of men to help fulfill President Abraham Lincoln’s call for 75,000 volunteers….
David Farragut: One of the Youngest Midshipman in American Naval History
David Farragut was one of the most well-known Naval Commanders of the Civil War, but his stature was established at a surprisingly early age.
The Humble Origins of Horse Racing in Northeastern Ohio
While researching letters from the Sutliff Family Collection in Warren, OH, I discovered a letter from a man named Lyman Potter to Calvin G. Sutliff in Vernon, Ohio. In the letter, Potter asked Sutliff to train one of his horses just as he “would a race horse.” The letter was written around 1826 and it…
Martha Ballard: American History Through a Woman’s Perspective
During the late 1700s, Martha Ballard was a midwife living in Maine. In life, she was not famous or well known but her personal diary brought her fame after death because it revealed the obscured viewpoint of early American women. Ballard’s diary entries covered topics which included textile production, dissections, courtship and marriage, money, the Scarlet…
Ricketts’ Circus: George Washington and Americas First Circus, 1793
Obviously, most Americans know who George Washington was and the role he played in shaping American history. However, did you know that the battle hardened general and astute President loved the circus?
Dueling Pianos: Muzio Clementi vs. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Can you imagine the scene? It is Christmas Eve in 1781 at the Royal Viennese Court, and everyone, including the Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II, is waiting for the piano duel to commence. Sitting at one piano is a well established Italian composer, Muzio Clementi, and at the other is the most anticipated prodigy of…
John Forsyth and La Amistad
John Forsyth was born in 1780 and graduated from the College of New Jersey (later renamed Princeton University) in 1799. From 1813 to 1834, Forsyth served as a U.S. congressman, senator, and governor from Georgia. On July 1, 1834, Andrew Jackson appointed him as Secretary of State. He remained in that position during the Martin…
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