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Has the History Channel forgotten about The Civil War? I don't see much Civil War programming on the channel, unless I'm just missing it...in that case ignore this post completely. But as I check their website, I see it in their "Top 5." Whatever that means, but very little programming. I see an awful lot of marathons or back to backs or two fers...which bothers me on any station...but very little Civil War programming. Help, I don't care about the history of crazy glue, cocaine and cell phones all that much. This network needs to feed our habit and our habit is a lot healthier than cocaine and cell phones.
Bart
__________________ "Thank You....Noooo."
Major Charles Emerson Winchester III M.A.S.H. 4077th
Absotively, Sam. Their CW programming is frequently entertaining and as frequently inaccurate in the detail. But I guess you can't expect to feed whole-grain to a white-bread audience.
Ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
I wouldn't mind a replay of Civil War Journal, warts and all.
__________________ "Live in the world you inhabit. Look upon things as they are. Take them as you find them. Make the best of them. Turn them to your advantage." - R. E. Lee
Miss Markie, I think it's "Civil War Journal" that airs on tuesday morning as Samgrant was referring to, if I'm not mistaken. I think it still airs at 6:00am central.
Terry
__________________ "In this great struggle, this form of Government and every form of human right is endangered if our enemies succeed. There is more involved in this contest than is realized by every one." Abraham Lincoln - August 18, 1864 Speech to the 164th Ohio Regiment
I looked for a thread that was titled "Civil War Journal" but this site has gotten so big that I gave up and decided to post this here, which is pretty close.
Those who didn't see this morning's CWJ missed a show devoted solely to Stonewall Jackson. (don't worry, they'll run it again) Historians Robert K. Krick, James R. Robertson, William C. Davis, Brian Pohanka, and Armstead L. Robinson (black) were interviewed between photographs of Jackson during periods of his life, and the narration.
Among the main points of the program -
Jackson was 17th out of a class of 59 at West Point.
He distinguished himself as a soldier the first time in 1847 at Mexico City when he and his battery in an exposed position on a hill held it under concentrated fire directed at them. Was promoted shortly after that, but I can't remember when and what the rank was that he received.
He was a man of tremendous religious faith, and believed that God was watching his every step, and believed that God had ordained the Civil War as His scourge of the land that Jackson nor any other mortal had the right to question, and the side who had the most confidence in and respect for the Almighty would prevail.
He was an eccentric. He tried bread and butter once, decided he really liked it, and then never ate it again. He rode his horse with an arm outstretched to balance his blood flow.
In 1860 he wrote someone that he hoped the war would be avoided and the Union preserved. In 1861 after Virginia seceded he went into the Confederate army as a colonel, not wanting to fight against his native state.
His fame as "Stonewall" came at 1st Bull Run on Henry House Hill as his brigade stood firm and ultimately broke a Federal attempt to rout the Confederate army at that point and others. Speculation was brought up again about Bernard Bee's meaning behind the nickname "Stonewall", and if Bee meant it as a compliment or if he was frustrated that Jackson would not move from that spot. The historians agreed that Bee meant it as a compliment, but said that that mystery will forever be unsolved, and left to continued speculation.
Jackson's famous Valley Campaign is touched on.
After Lee is appointed Commander of the ANV the historians talk about Jackson's good relationship with Lee, and his poor relationships with his subordinates, many of them arrested on his orders for various infractions.
Chancellorsville - A good deal of time (at least for a 1 hour documentary with commercials) is spent on this battle, Lee and Jackson's planning of it, and Jackson's fateful reconnaisance ride on the evening of May 2nd.
Jackson's wounding by friendly fire causes the surgeon McGuire, to amputate his left arm. Soldier named Beverly Tucker Lacy buries Jackson's arm 1/4 mile from the field hospital, and it is there today marked by a stone.
Lee is notified 6 hours after the incident that some of Jackson's staff are killed and Jackson is wounded. Lee sends his famous "right arm" note to Jackson, and stops staffer who is intent on describing all of Jackson's wounds in detail. Lee refuses to let the soldier continue on with the details. The soldier stops talking. Lee orders Jackson evacuated from hospital to Guinea Station, 27 miles away, for fear of him being captured by the Yankees.
Jackson contracts pneumonia. Historian Robert K. Krick's voice breaks as he recites Jackson's last words that he was to speak, at 3:15pm on May 10, 1863, aged 39: "Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees."
Historians commented that things were simple for Jackson during his life. There was either right or wrong, and no gray areas. They described him as having a single-minded dedication to God to the exclusion of most everything else.
My own thoughts on the show - It was a good, brief synopsis of Jackson's life. The historians on camera added some good insight into Jackson's character and faith. Whether one takes the Southern side or that of the North, as I do, it is difficult to come away from the program and not admire and respect Jackson, and his devotion to his faith and to the Confederate cause, the cause for which he fought, whether one agrees with it or not.
William C. Davis says that Jackson's death was a watershed moment after which many of the "what might have been" scenarios and discussions of the fate of the Confederacy began.
Terry
__________________ "In this great struggle, this form of Government and every form of human right is endangered if our enemies succeed. There is more involved in this contest than is realized by every one." Abraham Lincoln - August 18, 1864 Speech to the 164th Ohio Regiment
Believe the History Channel still airs CW stuff, but mostly seems to air at 0 dark thirty -- well before the general populace gets a sniff of coffee -- when the primary objective is to get to work on time. Prime time seems to be involved on "Modern Marvels" and "global warming." Or some sort of archeologist who digs obscure objects from ancient soil.
Maybe they'll "smell the coffee" and get back to being a HISTORY channel.
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Historians commented that things were simple for Jackson during his life. There was either right or wrong, and no gray areas. They described him as having a single-minded dedication to God to the exclusion of most everything else.
Taking, in stride, the risk of offending a good many of some dear friends, Jackson was a fruitcake. An interesting fruitcake, and a considerable general, but still a fruitcake.
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
From History Channel's perspective, the problem with the CW is there is no mass market to appeal to. The vast majority of the viewing public knows very little American History and has little or no interest in learning more.
The CW appeals to roughly, two groups. Either a very small cognicenti who tend to be turned off by cleff notes presentation of history, carefully edited around commercials OR a much laarger (but still miniscule) southeron revisionists (Lost Cause Mythos) who are usually turned off by the producers adherence to PC guidelines. In either case the program usually tends to anger both of the only two groups who really know that there was a Civil War or cares.
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