Monday, 13 October 2008

Number 6 - The American Way

Gettysburg - A turning point in American history. Lee's army turned back by Grant in July 1863. So what did I learn about this Yankee/ Reb scrap. I already knew a little about the American Civil War, god bless Anne Stanyon's history lessons, I knew roughly why it started with Fort Sumnter being bombed back to the stone age. I also know some of the major generals, Sherman, Stonewall Jackson, Butler, McLellan, Buford (my favourite is Sherman, he looks solid!)























Anyhoo - Thanks to Iced Earth (Metal band - very good) I've learned the main events of the fracas at Gettysburg!
At the end of July 1st the confederates held the town of Gettysburg and most of Seminary Ridge, however the Union holds the high ground.
July the 2nd - Union positions such as Colonel Chamberlain's 20th Maine hold their ground against repeated Confederate assaults.
July 3rd - Pickett's charge, the assault on Cemetary Ridge.

I have also learned that Lincoln's world famous "Gettysburg Address" - hey even a poor white Yorkshireman like me knows "Four score and seven years ago, our forefathers..."- was an also ran event. I learned that the greatest orator of his day Edward Everett was asked to do a speech on that famous day. Everett went on for 2 hours. As an after thought they asked Lincoln to say a few words. Ole Abe rattled on for a mere 2 minutes and changed American history. Ain't that just bloody typical! My view of most Americans is of one who would steal land from Native Americans, step over their own mother to get a head in society, sulk at the English and kick off a revolution that only the minority of colonists supported, they are brash, boasting and maintain that they saved our "assess" in "WW2" despite only fighting in it for 3 years (1942 - 1945 (December 1941 cannot be counted as a year)). (I love generalising so no need to message or anything) So here we have an "American Hero" and I ask myself why? Is it because Lincoln only spoke for 2 minutes compared to 2 hours. I also wonder if Lincoln had been 2 hours and Everett was 2 minutes if the Famous Gettysburg Address would start slightly differently?!?

So controversial US history...what next?

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