Guest Interview - Geoff from the Abraham Lincoln Blog

Through this blog, I've had the opportunity to get to know some really interesting people and fellow history bloggers! One of them is Geoff from The Abraham Lincoln Blog. Geoff writes about all things concerning Abraham Lincoln, sharing his passion for one of our greatest presidents! I recently had the opportunity to interview Geoff about his blog:

Me: First of all, tell me a little about the Abraham Lincoln Blog. What kind of posts would a visitor expect to find?

Geoff: The Abraham Lincoln Blog serves as a repository of information for almost anything related to our nation's 16th president. Posts can range from historical discoveries about Lincoln such as new photos; news updates; book reviews; Lincoln exhibits and reviews; Lincoln trivia; and even humor. It's not a political blog, although I will post about current politicians if they refer to or compare themselves to Lincoln. The reviews stem from my own personal reading of books and my visits to Lincoln sites or exhibitions.

Me: What made you want to start blogging about all things Lincoln and when did you start?

Geoff: I began the blog in November 2007. I was intrigued by the blogging phenomenon and wanted to enter the fray. Although many things interest me, from politics to technology to travel, Lincoln is the one topic which most fascinates me. I wanted to share my passion about Lincolnmania with others who might share that passion with me.

Me: You're a lifelong Lincoln buff and you mention on your blog that you've been interested in him since you were young. What made you become so interested in his life?

Geoff: When I was a small child, around 4 or 5, my parents and I were traveling through Kentucky while on vacation. They noticed we were close by Lincoln's Birthplace Memorial in Hodgenville, thinking I might be interested. My father loved history, so we stopped. I don't remember the visit, but I guess I was hooked at that moment. It's led to a lifelong interest in Lincoln's life. Some people might say it's an obsession. :-)

Me: Along the same lines, what aspects of Abraham Lincoln do you find the most fascinating?

Geoff: Two things. First and foremost, I love Abraham Lincoln's writing. Not only was he the best writer of all the U.S. presidents to date, he was one of the greatest writers of the English language, period. The Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural Address are some of the finest pieces of writing ever.

The second is his assassination. In my opinion, that one act by a deranged actor who thought he was avenging the South, changed the course of our history more than most everything else in our history, with the exception of the Revolution. Lincoln no doubt would've pursued a far more lenient Reconstruction policy than his successor. He would have worked for greater equal rights for the emancipated slaves, which might have helped avoid the racial turmoil of segregation and the Civil Rights movement in the 1960's. Arguments can be made that the assassination affects our country to this day.

Me: Have you visited many Lincoln sites around the country? Which of them are your favorite and why?

Geoff: I've visited all the "major" Lincoln sites around the country. I've been to the Birthplace Memorial in Kentucky twice; to the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial in Indiana; Springfield, Illinois twice (including the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum); and to The Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. more times than I can count. I've also been to the Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, TN to see the extensive Lincoln collection there. And of course I've been to Ford's Theater a few times. My favorite place associated with Lincoln, by far, is The Lincoln Memorial in Washington. The memorial is majestic and very moving to me. I love how the Gettysburg Address and Second Inaugural Address are carved in their entirety within the memorial. The statue of Lincoln, by Daniel Chester French, is sheer perfection.

I visited the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial in Spencer County, Indiana for the first time in September 2009. It commemorates the years Lincoln lived there from 1816 through 1830. It's my favorite site associated with where Lincoln lived, including Springfield, Illinois. Springfield is "touristy," especially with the Disney-esque Lincoln Museum. The Birthplace Memorial is overdone and displays a cabin which "represents" the one in which Lincoln was born. The Boyhood Memorial, on the other hand, showcases the land where Lincoln spent his youth, and remains much what it must have been like almost 200 years ago. There's something to be said for the beauty of the memorial and surrounding land, and the simplicity with how Lincoln is honored there.

Me: What do the people around you think about your fascination with Lincoln?

Geoff: Most of them probably think I'm hopeless and nerdy. :-) People who don't appreciate history don't understand my fascination. People who are interested in history support my fascination and interest.

Me: What books about Lincoln would you recommend for someone interested in his life?

Geoff: The best single-volume biography I've yet read about Lincoln was written by David H. Donald and is simply titled "Lincoln." A more recent single-volume biography is titled "A. Lincoln - A Biography" by Ronald C. White, released earlier this year. It is supposed to be excellent, but I've yet to read it.

The two best books about the assassination are, in my opinion, "Twenty Days" originally released in 1965 and "Blood On The Moon - The Assassination Of Abraham Lincoln" from 2001. "Twenty Days" is mostly a photo essay about the assassination and the funerals for Lincoln which were held in 12 or 13 American cities. The photos are fascinating. "Blood On The Moon" is the definitive book about the assassination and the hunt for John Wilkes Booth and his fellow conspirators.

More than 16,000 books have been written about Lincoln, more than any other American. Only Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary have had more books written about them.

Me: Do you have any other areas of interest in U.S. or world history?

Geoff: I've always had a keen interest in all of the U.S. presidents, even the obscure ones such as Millard Fillmore. I'm beginning to develop an interest in early colonial America, especially the early wars between Native Americans and colonists in the 1600's in New England. Those wars, such as King Philip's War, killed more Americans than the American Revolution did. This period in our history is often overlooked.

The ancient world in general interests me, and archaeology is a love of mine. I also am very interested in ancient Egypt, the Byzantine Empire, the Ottoman Empire (since my wife is descended from the Ottoman Turks), Mary Queen of Scots, medieval European history, and the Greek and Roman Empires. But my knowledge of any of these subjects pale in comparison to my knowledge and obsession with Abe.

Me: This last year, 2009, marked Lincoln's 200th birthday. What do you think is his most lasting legacy?

Geoff: This is a question which will forever be debated by historians, writers, and even politicians. For me, at least, I think Lincoln's lasting legacy is how he helped to redefine our country. Prior to Lincoln and The Civil War, the United States was a loose collection of individual states with a weak federal government. For better or for worse, depending on your viewpoint, the federal government was much stronger after Lincoln.

In his Gettysburg Address, Lincoln established that our nation began with the Declaration of Independence in 1776, and not with the establishment of the Constitution in 1787. He declared our nation to be the "last best hope on Earth" for government of the people and by the people, i.e. for democracy. People everywhere want to be free and have the right to choose their leaders.

This is just my opinion, of course. Lincoln has many other legacies.

Me: Thanks for taking time the time to be interviewed for my blog! Is there anything else you'd like to add?

You're welcome! I'd like to add that I encourage any readers of The Abraham Lincoln Blog to comment on stories, ask questions, and especially point out mistakes. I also entertain ideas about new posts, etc. I don't claim to know everything about Lincoln. I just hope that I've helped people learn more about Lincoln and have helped encourage them to *want* to learn more. Thank you!

Thanks again to Geoff for his guest interview! Abraham Lincoln is one of the greatest figures of American history and one of my favorite subjects to learn about. Geoff also interviewed me for his blog, so be sure to check it out!

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Book Review: The Civil War for Dummies

I picked up "The Civil War for Dummies" at my local library recently in hopes of finding a quick, useful Civil War reference. I'd like to have one to recommend and lend to others. I have read a few books from the "Dummies" series, so I was interested to see how this particular series handled history. What I found was some useful information but the blatant typos and factual errors detracted from any serious consideration as a good reference.

The Good: The section of the book I found the most informative was the chapters dealing with the basics of war. The author took time to explain basic military principles, the strategies and resources of the North and South, and what weapons where used during the Civil War. I would especially recommend the section that discussed the structure of the armies, explaining regiments, brigades, etc. and the command structure. This is information not normally explained in other references.

I was also impressed with the section talking about visiting Civil War battlefields and how to make the most of it. Visiting a Civil War battlefield like I did this last summer is a life changing experience. I'd also recommend the section of the book pointing out the technological advancements in the Civil War that most people are not aware of and the section dedicated to the "what if" questions.

The Bad: The book covers the major battles and campaigns of the Civil War in a fairly decent manner, but I found some of the maps lacked detail about the movement of forces and positions of major action. Some of the battles had little background information to them, and it was lacking in what took place between battles. Plus, the further along in the book, it becomes apparent that the author favors one side over the other.

Each chapter on a battle or campaign includes a "Battle Captain's Report" that gives a summary of the battle. While this is useful and to the point, the information is already included in the chapter and even contains a better explanation in some cases. Plus, each chapter ends with a discussion of the battle's "Heroes" and "Goats." This section becomes redundant after a while, and hopefully, the reader can come to their own conclusions based on the discussion.

The Ugly: The biggest reason for my disappointment in this book is the many typos and errors I found. Many of these were relatively minor grammatical and punctuation errors. While not the most important, these errors certainly took away from the book as a good reference. If a book is to be taken seriously, it needs to be free of these kinds of typos and spelling errors.

On top of that, I found many factual errors. For example, the chapter about Sherman's March to the Sea said his army marched from Atlanta, Georgia to Savannah, South Carolina. Last time I checked the city of Savannah was located in Georgia! This was probably the most blatant factual error, but I found the other contradictory information about specific battle tactics just plain confusing.

Conclusion: Now, I realize this book is not meant for hardcore scholars. It is geared towards those who know little about the Civil War and have a hard time understanding more intimidating works about the subject. Most of the information is very helpful and it provides an excellent overview of the Civil War. It has the potential to get people excited about it and to research more. The typos and errors in it, however, keep me from recommending this book as an excellent reference.

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The History in my Own Backyard

This last summer and fall, I have been working on an exciting volunteer project with the Historical Markers Database. This website documents the many historical markers in the U.S. and around the world. I happened upon on the editor's blog and volunteered to add some markers to the database. I've had the privilege of being able to add some to the list of Idaho's historical markers. When I started, there were only about three for Idaho.

Idaho Historical Markers

While on the lookout for historical markers in my area, I came across some fascinating history that seemed to be right in my own backyard. I grew up in a small town in the western end of the Treasure Valley and there was a historical marker right in the middle of the town. The sign pointed out that Confederate refugees settled the area where I grew up. They fled from Missouri to escape the brutal guerrilla warfare that broke out during the Civil War.

Oregon Trail Marker

Many other signs in the area pointed out significant events and crossings on the Oregon Trail. Not far from where I grew up is the site of an Old Fort Boise replica. Fort Boise was a popular a stop on the Oregon Trail for those settlers who emigrated west. The Hudson's Bay Company built the fort in the 1830's, but a flood washed away the original buildings. Other signs I've seen point other significant events, such as the Ward Massacre, and the Boise Basin gold rush in the 1860's.

I've certainly enjoyed learning more about my state and the history that's literally in my backyard! I will be posting about some of these local events and places in the future. I would encourage everyone to discover the history that is around them, because there is interesting history all over the place. You just have to be willing to look for it.

Links to Learn More:

• The Historical Marker Database
• Idaho Markers - Historical Marker Database
  

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My Top Ten History Books of 2009

Starting another year is a good time for reflection on the previous year and making goals for the year to come. For 2010, I'd like to reflect on my favorite history books that I read in 2009. For some of these books, I have written reviews and for others, I am planning to post reviews in the future. Here is my top ten list, starting at the bottom and going up to #10:

1. Shades of Gray - The only historical fiction book to make my list (and the only one of that kind I read last year), Shades of Gray is an engrossing romance novel set in the Civil War. I was impressed with the character development and how the story drew me in so much that I couldn't put it down! The focus of the story is the two main characters and how they come to fall in love with each other, despite being caught up in a horrible war that divided families and friends. You can read more about it by checking out my review for the author's blog tour.
   
   
2. The Peasant Prince: Thaddeus Kosciuszko and the Age of Revolution - This book tells the story of one of the most overlooked heroes in American history, Thaddeus Kosciuszko, a Polish engineer during the Revolution. Kosciuszko designed the defenses at West Point, but also played important roles during key events during the American Revolution. This book is all about his life, what he did during the Revolution, and how he tried to free Poland from foreign dominance in the 1800's after returning to his homeland. It is quite a story, and I was reminded about the time I spent in Poland a couple years ago through this book.
   
   
3. 1776 - David McCullough's account of Washington's army during the year of 1776 really makes history come alive through this book, and I'm not just saying that! He really shows how 1776 was a critical year for the American Revolution and for the country in general. The book begins with the Siege of Boston and follows the army through the Battles of Trenton and Princeton. McCullough does not shy away from describing the army's deplorable conditions, but also the crushing defeat at New York and subsequent retreat. It is a vivid picture of the Revolution and as always, McCullough's writing is excellent!
   
   
4. Don't Know Much About History - I bought this book a couple months ago to give away for my annual holiday caption contest. Even though the book covers over 200 years of American history, I ended up reading it in just a few days! Kenneth C. Davis has a fun, easy-to-read writing style, and he has written several other "Don't Know Much About" books. The format and the writing style of this book make American history fun, and it is a great reference as well.
   
   
5. The Killer Angels - The movie Gettysburg was based on this book, and that was reason enough for me to read it! It is Michael Shaara's account of the Battle of Gettysburg, and I found myself unsure at several points whether or not this book was fiction since he tells the story so well. The reader gets a in-depth perspective of the battle from many of the famous characters, such as Robert E. Lee, James Longstreet, and Joshua Chamberlain. I hope to find time in the new year to read the other books in this Civil War Trilogy, Gods and Generals and The Last Full Measure.
   
   
6. The Complete Idiot's Guide to the American Revolution - This was one of the first books I read on the American Revolution, and it turned out to be a really good book to begin with about this topic. This book covers American history in-depth from when Columbus first landed up to the adoption of the U.S. Constitution in 1789. There was a lot of information in this book that I did not know, and it stays away from intimidating language found in other scholarly books. I would strongly recommend it to those just starting to learn about the American Revolution.
   
   
7. Antietam: Crossroads of Freedom - I read this book from James McPherson twice this year, once before I visited the Antietam Battlefield and another time after I visited it. Visiting the actual battlefield changed my perspective and I got much more out of this book. While the focus of the book is not the actual Battle of Antietam itself, McPherson shows how important the battle really was. In his incredible writing style, he details the events of the Civil War leading up to the Battle of Antietam and it's effects on the war and the nation. All throughout last year, I learned again and again how important this battle was and how it changed this country. I'm sure it will be a point of continuing fascination for me!
   
   
8. April 1865 - The last month of the Civil War, April 1865, was crucial in American history and this book by Jay Winik shows why. Winik's narrative of the events that happened during that month explains how the choices of a few people can shape history. He describes Robert E. Lee's decision to surrender his army and the events leading up it, as well as Booth's decision to assassinate Abraham Lincoln and its effects on the nation. Looking at it, readers might think it's just another book about the Civil War, but it is one worth reading!
   
   
9. Battle Cry of Freedom - James McPherson's most comprehensive work about the Civil War is one that every history buff should have in their collection! Even though the book is over 800 pages long, I read it in a relatively short amount of time because it is captivating. It looks like one of those intimidating scholarly works, but McPherson's writing is easy to understand and his narrative of the war is just simply incredible. Not only does McPherson cover the battles, he covers all aspects of the Civil War, from politics, demographics, the economies of the North and the South, and the events leading up to the war, including the Mexican-American War. I could go on and on about how good this book is but you just have to read it yourself!
   
   
10. John Adams - It was difficult choosing this book as my favorite of 2009, since it was between this one and Battle Cry of Freedom by James McPherson. However, I think John Adams by David McCullough deserves this honor because I gained a new appreciation and admiration of John Adams through this book. John Adams is one of the most overlooked of the Founding Fathers, and this biography brings him back to light as an important part of American history. McCullough uses letters, diaries, and narrative to show how fascinating John and Abigail Adams were and what impact they had. I really liked McCullough's writing style, and this is one I will read again!

Well, I read plenty of other history books last year but these were the absolute best. If you have not read some of these, I would really recommend checking them out at your local library or bookstore. I really enjoy learning and reading, especially about American history.

What books would you recommend for me to read in 2010? Please leave a comment!

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