Tag: civil war

Winter soldiering during the Civil War: extracts from a soldier’s letter home in January 1862

January 22, 2025

…and a couple of examples about how the more things change, the more they stay the same. Or change. While we’re dealing with our arctic blast, I’ve been wondering what the weather was like in the winter of 1861-1862, the first winter of the Civil War. Why? Because of the letters of a 23-year-old soldier … More Winter soldiering during the Civil War: extracts from a soldier’s letter home in January 1862

The Old Stone Warehouse of Fredericksburg, witness to over 200 years of history

November 9, 2023

As I’ve admitted in previous posts, I’ve become fascinated with the idea of witness trees. And witness buildings, witness bridges, witness rail lines—anything and everything that’s borne witness to events, major and minor, in history. The city of Fredericksburg, Virginia, established in 1728, is famous for its history. George Washington was 6 years old in … More The Old Stone Warehouse of Fredericksburg, witness to over 200 years of history

Witness Tree, Witness House: Brompton on Marye’s Heights in Fredericksburg, Virginia

August 11, 2023

I’m fascinated with the idea of witness trees, which are trees that have witnessed significant historic events. I’d argue that there are also witness buildings and other features of our landscape (large boulders, hills and mountains, rivers and streams, old roads and rail lines) that have also witnessed history and are still around. Fredericksburg, established … More Witness Tree, Witness House: Brompton on Marye’s Heights in Fredericksburg, Virginia

The tale of a bridge, the father of Pocahontas and second chances

July 11, 2023

Sometimes you do get a second chance. A couple of years ago, I discovered the existence of letters in family records written by a young Civil War soldier who was killed on the battlefield in Virginia. John Williamson lived and worked in Eckley, a coal mining town in northeastern Pennsylvania, and he wrote dozens of … More The tale of a bridge, the father of Pocahontas and second chances

Remarkable synchronicity and goosebumps

September 20, 2022

One of my grandmother’s favorite sayings was “Everything happens for a reason.” In an article on the Psychology Today website, this phrase is described as a standard reply to “remarkable synchronicities.” Although I’ve never totally bought into it, this bit of philosophy has come in handy to explain hard to explain events or “remarkable synchronicities” … More Remarkable synchronicity and goosebumps

A Civil War veteran was finally honored for his service on Veteran’s Day

November 11, 2021

Today is Veteran’s Day, 2021. It’s the first Veteran’s Day that William Boyd of the town of Jim Thorpe, PA finally has a military marker. William Boyd was a Private in the 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry in the Union Army during the Civil War, and for a time he was a prisoner of war in Richmond. … More A Civil War veteran was finally honored for his service on Veteran’s Day

Beyond the battlefield: how one little girl lost not only her father, but her entire family during the Civil War

July 5, 2021

Life can be really unfair. I’ve been doing research for a book that I’m writing based on the letters of the first husband of my great x4 Aunt Hester. John Williamson wrote these letters home to Hester while he was serving in the Union Army during the Civil War. He didn’t make it home. John … More Beyond the battlefield: how one little girl lost not only her father, but her entire family during the Civil War