Away, (I was Supposed to be) Bound away, 'cross the Wide Missouri... Days 3-5 of the MST Update7/31/2015 Our previous installment of the MST, Day 3 Part I, did not include a date for the publication of Part II. As of yet, no definite date has been established; it is most likely to appear between the 2nd and 15th of August. As we noted on the outset of this journey, the RCD blog is often unable to publish weekly throughout the academic year. I am devoted to academic integrity and a high level of detail/scholarship for our publications; this can require hours of work. Unfortunately, time is quite the luxury from August-June annually. We are most assuredly resilient in our resolution to maintain/reform the KHF Program nonetheless; do not expect the RCD blog to grow silent. Indeed, we are presently working to establish a joint HKI-RCD initiative called the River Cities Research Commission which will bring fresh, different opinions and voices to this blog. Regarding the title... When I set out on the Multistate Trek, the intent had been to cover sites in Western Kentucky, Illinois, and Missouri. Despite personal injury to my ankle, and being in the recovering stages of an unforeseen ailment, we pressed on gleefully. We accomplished a majority of the goals set forth in Kentucky and Illinois. The issue: we were unable to travel as planned to St. Louis, Missouri due to a serious health concern. In the words of Shenandoah (AKA Across the Wide Missouri) Oh, Shenandoah, I'll not deceive you...away, we weren't bound away, 'cross the wide Missouri. Hence our Multistate Trek morphed into a Bistate Trek (though we are refrained to change the name in order to avoid confusion.) Fret not, as we have weeks worth of installments solely from our Illinois exploits. As a compromise, we have chosen to select photos from our journey to Appomattox and Richmond, Virginia in April 2015 for the sesquicentennial of the Fall of Richmond. These will constitute our final installment (Day 5.) Perhaps it is rather appropriate, given that (as our earlier KHF article On the Curious Origins of Oh, Shenandoah explained,) it is uncertain as to whether the song refers to the Shenandoah Valley/River (in VA) or the native American chief Shenandoah. As of now, please remain patient. Updates will be furnished in the near future. PS - I have never been so proud to be a PMC of River Cities as Sunday, the 26th of July. On this date, all of the members, friends, and families in attendance at the RCD installation signed KHF's letter to Gov. Rauner, urging him to reconsider his ISM closure proposal. Many thanks. - Austin R. Justice, History of Kentucky Group. Across the Wide Missouri as heard in Ken Burns' The West.
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After much delay, we are finally able to bring you KHF MST Day 3 Part I. Before we begin, I would like remind each of you of HKI's Save the National Civil War Museum Campaign; please sign to save this wonderful center: petitions.moveon.org/save-the-national-civil Another item we would like to call to your attention is the Illinois State Museum. For several months, Governor Bruce Rauner has threatened to cut numerous social programs and shutter state institutions in response to the inability of the Republican and Democratic Parties to reach a budget agreement. Though Gov. Rauner asserts that this is a necessity aimed at reforming the State, both of the proposed budgets are billions of dollars over-budget -- it is clear that this is a unilaterally partisan act. Among the lengthy list of closures is the Illinois State Museum System: Illinois has five museums and one appendage facility throughout the State, the primary ISM being located on the Capitol Complex in Springfield (which alone draws circa 200,000 visitors.) Closing the ISM would be a grave mistake, one which is utterly detestable, opposed by a majority of citizens, and which would cement Gov. Rauner's heinous reputation. Government agencies are hearing arguments for and against the closure; though testimony was given and the seats filled with a multitude of concerned citizens, the decision of these commissions have no binding bearing on the Governor's actions. Yesterday (the 21st,) a rally was held in front of the Capitol's Lincoln statue to save the ISM -- more than 800 individuals attended. The Land of Lincoln has twice been a generous host to myself and now KHF, it holds an ever endearing position in my heart; moreover, the universal defense of cultural/natural heritage is a cause 'round which I ardently rally. I am asking all of our treasured readers to show their support: Flood Twitter with hashtag #SaveTheISM Follow @ILStateMuseum Keep up to date on this issue via my personal Twitter: @AustinJustice91 "Like" Save the Illinois State Museum on Facebook and sign their petition Share news stories: you can find many on Facebook via my personal account, the State-Register Journal, Save the Illinois State Museum, and Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus. Write to the Governor. Change your profile picture to: Circulate this flyer: America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we have destroyed ourselves. - A. Lincoln. The most effective way to destroy a people is to deny and obliterate their understanding of their history. - George Orwell. Thank you. Day 3 Part I will center exclusively on sites and artifacts we viewed in Springfield. Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Museum, New Salem, and UChicago will receive their own, separate installments. A majority of the photos you will see were taken during our time in Springfield for the MST, although a handful were taken one year prior in July/August 2014 -- we only substitute these older photos if we were unable to visit a significant site during the MST or we wish to give you a better view of a site we did visit. Join us as we step into Mr. Lincoln's Springfield in Here I Have Lived a Quarter of a Century... Day 3 Part I - Austin R. Justice, History of Kentucky Group.
Contemporary Springfield and the Capitol Springfield is a city brimming with cultural memory. Its annual summer History Comes Alive program, including performances by college acapella group The Lincoln Troubadours who sing period music in period costume, and Fritz Klein as A. Lincoln, ensures that visitors to the Land of Lincoln receive an immersive, unforgettable experience. Coupled with a plethora of historic sites and museums, tourism is a key factor in the Springfield economy; its Oak Ridge Cemetery - wherein Lincoln was laid to rest - is the second most visited in the United States, following Arlington. I have often argued that our own Commonwealth should heed cues from Central Illinois and Virginia in heritage preservation/commemoration: we are host to a considerable lesser portion of historic sites, museums, etc. Indeed, whereas the City has poured millions into the construction of the ALPLM, Kentucky's Harrison County Fiscal Court seeks to demolish the Ridgeway Estate - which has ties to Lincoln - in order to construct a swimming pool. Whilst Frankfort is host to such great facilities as the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History, Old State Capitol, Old State Arsenal, Capital City Museum, and others, we have yet to implement such an immersive living history program as Springfield. One may merely dream of a 19th century symphony wafting its sorrowful yet exciting melodies across the Old Capitol grounds as it does in Springfield. The Lincoln Troubadours perform in the Old House of Representatives for an episode of Illinois Stories. Among the pieces sang are Hard Times Come Again No More, Shenandoah, Battle Hymn of the Republic, O Susana, Aura Lea, and others. The statue you are admiring is of Stephen A. Douglas, Democratic rival of Lincoln and a native of Vermont. The Little Giant was, for some time, one of the most prominent statesman of the century; comparatively, Lincoln was effectually unknown. In 1858, Lincoln challenged Douglas for an Illinois senatorial seat - his campaign being launched via the famed afar House Divided address - for which the two set out on a series of debates throughout the State. Lincoln would lose the race (though being the popular candidate, Senators were elected by State legislatures until a Constitutional amendment in the early 20th century,) but achieve national attention as a result. As Dr. Allen Guelzo argues in his Lincoln and Douglas: The Debates that Defined America, Lincoln's choice to pursue a seat against Douglas would force the lanky lawyer unto the national stage and, ultimately, allow him to defeat Douglas and three other candidates for the Presidency two years later. Illinois has clearly demonstrated which of its son it favors; statues and portraits of Lincoln are much more prominent throughout the City, the Capitol, and other government buildings; Springfield advertises itself as the Home of Abraham Lincoln; his image or name appears in innumerable places. Surprisingly, the only DeMolay Chapter in Springfield is however named Stephen A. Douglas Chapter. The current Illinois State Capitol is pictured above. When its ground was broken in March 1869, it would not be completed for twenty years. It was a necessity due to a lack of sufficient space in the Old Capitol; this stunning complex, whose dome is the tallest non-skyscraper capitol dome (exceeding the Federal capitol,) is the sixth of its kind -- two of its predecessors survive. Regrettably, we do not have photographs of its interior to present to you; rest assured of its immense beauty. Notably, the interior of the dome is topped with a wondrous glass Seal of the State of Illinois which was not known to exist for quite some time due to it being hidden by smut and the like. The Seal also slightly varies from the contemporary State Seal: the seal used appears as thus: The current seal: One will take note that the position of the ribbon's wordage has shifted. State Sovereignty - originally the dominant, upper half - is now the secondary, lower half. This is one of countless changes which symbolize the aftermath of the American Civil War. A massive societal revolution was awoken by the atrocious conflict; no longer is the parlance of our times the United States are but rather the United States is. A view of the city from the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel. One may see the Capitol in the distance from this street. Looking for Lincoln signs such as this one in front of Obed's and Isaac's Microbrewery & Eatery are posted throughout the City and, indeed, the State. The Old State Capitol & Lincoln-Herndon Offices In the distance of the first photo, one will catch sight of Springfield, IL's Old State Capitol -- the building's immediate predecessor still surviving as Vandalia State House State Historic Site, and its successor serving as the present seat of government. Though it retains a deepened tie to Lincoln, being the location at which he delivered his prophetic House Divided Address, launched his unsuccessful 1858 senatorial campaign against Democratic challenger Stephen A. Douglas, served as a State Representative, declared his Presidential bid in 1860, and lied in state as a beleaguered republic mourned; the minority of his legislative journey was spent here. New Salem - a small commercial village to the northwest of Springfield - offered to a young Abraham numerous opportunities, in some of which he utterly failed. There he would enlist as an Illinois militiaman for the Black Hawk War, be elected Company Captain, reenlist as a private, work in two fruitless stores, begin his ever-significant reading of the law, lose his first attempt at seeking a legislative seat, be made Deputy Sangamon County Surveyor, and in 1834 ascend to the Illinois House of Representatives. At this point, the State capital rested in Vandalia, where it had been since 1819 (after a year of statehood.) Indeed, the majority of Lincoln's career as a legislator for the State was exhausted in Vandalia; upon relocating to Springfield - a move he assisted in achieving with such prominent men as Elijah Iles the, "Father of Springfield," and others in 1839 - Lincoln soon grew tired of the political scene. Rather, he preferred to focus on growing his law practice. Across the street from the OSC one may notice the Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices. In actuality, Lincoln would practice with three partners - all of which were also native Kentuckians; William Herndon is perhaps most noteworthy in that he was the junior partner, indicating that Lincoln had matured an as attorney such as to design an independent practice. Uncharacteristically of the period's customs, Lincoln and Herndon equally halved all income -- this is attributed to the sense of injustice felt by Lincoln, whose salary was less than his previous senior partners. Misleadingly branded as the Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices, the entire building was not purposed for the two. Their offices were located within the upper levels of the complex, which also served as a store, post office, and other facilities. Until recently, the original flooring could be walked. As with Lincoln's little time as a representative in Springfield, his law practice also did not wholly take place in the city; although his home was permanently located here, he would only be in the area for circa 6 months of the year. Otherwise, he traveled throughout Illinois as a Circuit Court rider. In 1849, having left office following a single, "Lame duck" Congressional term, and declining appointment as Territorial Governor of Oregon, Lincoln claims to have effectually retired from politics. It would be 1854 before he again reentered the field amidst an ever shifting sociopolitical atmosphere. Lincoln himself writes in an autobiographical sketch, "...In 1846 I was once elected to the lower House of Congress– Was not a candidate for re-election– From 1849 to 1854, both inclusive, practiced law more assiduously than ever before– Always a whig in politics, and generally on the whig electoral tickets, making active canvasses– I was losing interest in politics, when the repeal of the Missouri Compromise aroused me again." The repeal of this adjudication via the Kansas-Nebraska Act and Dred Scott Decision would erupt in a horrific slaughter known as Bleeding Kansas -- an eerie prelude to Mr. Lincoln's War. There militant abolitionist John Brown would be afforded his first drawing of blood as he cut down pro-slavery citizens at Pottawatomie Creek, Kansas.
Lincoln Home National Historic Site & the Elijah Iles House Elijah Iles, whose home is pictured above, was a prominent Illinois legislator who served with Lincoln in Vandalia and was among the group of men who facilitated the capital's relocation to Springfield. Known as the Father of Springfield due to his philanthropy in opening orphanages and other Springfield endeavors, Iles' home has been transplanted twice. It originally stood circa 12 blocks from its present location (then the outskirts of town,) and was later moved 1-2 blocks from the picture's geography, where a Korean church now stands. Comparatively, Elijah Iles was quite wealthy -- his home's original location was known as Aristocracy Hill. A friend of Lincoln's, he at times had Abraham and other friends over for cards in his parlor (amusingly, it is noted that Lincoln was by no means a card shark.) As may be expected of the period, house parties were commonplace for the Ileses; hundreds could be hosted in the home via a method of filing individuals in and out based upon a strict time table/scheduling of arrivals/departures. Near the Iles House is the Lincoln Home National Historic Site. This building, which stands amid a entire preserved city block of 19th century homes, was the permanent residence of the Lincoln family in Springfield as well as the only home Lincoln ever owned. Here he, Mary, Robert, Eddie, Willie, and Tad lived and Edward (Eddie) died. Originally the home had only one floor; the second was later added by Lincoln. Few of the items within the home are original to the house; most were auctioned off, lost, destroyed, etc. The LHNHS Visitor Center has encased a reproduction of the renowned sculpture Council of War which showcases Lincoln (seated,) Grant (left,) and Secretary of War Edwin Stanton (right.) There is also a reproduction Lincoln-Hamlin 1860 campaign banner. Such a piece reinforces Day 2's discussion of Antebellum political culture; the banners which men touted that read Lincoln and Hamlin: Wide Awake are ones such as this modern reconstruction. An Affectionate Farewell The Lincoln Depot is the site of a sorrowful scene. Here Lincoln stood on a platform before a crowd of his fellow Springfield citizens, and solemnly delivered his impromptu Farewell Address. In it, we are able to discern the evolution of Springfield in Lincoln's mind from a dull, lonesome frontier town to a heartening, friendly home. Uncharacteristically, Lincoln did not write his speech prior to its delivery. The Farewell Address was entirely spontaneous so far as we can tell. Upon boarding the train to Washington, Lincoln began writing his oratory from memory on a request. It has been confirmed that the handwriting is his until the 8th line, at which points it shifts to that of secretary John Nicolay to whom the remainder was dictated. The small note at the bottom is from Robert Lincoln. It reads: My friends, no one, not in my situation, can appreciate my feeling of sadness at this parting. To this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe everything. Here I have lived a quarter of a century, and have passed from a young to an old man. Here my children have been born, and one is buried. I now leave, not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of the Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail. Trusting in Him who can go with me, and remain with you, and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell. Little did he know, his return to Springfield would be a procession of mourning. The President Has Been Shot!A period mourning cloth - Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Museum of Springfield, Illinois. Lincoln's abrupt demise resulted in a swift shift in social sentiment. Despite the considerable unpopularity of the President with his constituents but months earlier - political ads proclaiming him, "King Abraham Africanus I" or press openly ridiculing his emancipation policy of 1863 (some even depicting him as and suggesting he is discretely a person of color) - and, indeed, throughout the course of the conflict; the nation swelled with sorrow upon the slaying of the Chief Executive. Amidst the election of 1864, Lincoln personally admitted that, "...as for some days past, it seems exceedingly probable that this Administration will not be reelected." Moreover, the nomination of the Republican (National Union) Party was far from guaranteed; some suggested John C. Fremont as an alternative: an adamant Garrisonian abolitionist who had consistently spited Lincoln for his unwillingness to adhere to a like-minded doctrine -- Fremont also had the distinction of serving as an officer throughout the war and having been the first candidate the young Party set forth for the Presidency upon its establishment. Nonetheless these staples of Civil War Era political culture were abandoned; no Executive of the Union had been reelected since Jackson, and certainly none had been slain while in office. A grand mourning solemnly swept across the land; in various cities, i.e. Cleveland, Ohio, entire days were set aside to mourn Mr. Lincoln. A large procession of crowds eagerly followed the lengthy route of his funeral train's return to Springfield. Men and women adorned themselves, as may be expected of the Victorian tradition, with cloths and ribbons such as this one. Foreign dignitaries, including Queen Victoria, dispatched special condolences; entire towns of England were known to print large certificates exclaiming their grief at the nation's loss. (I may well have a photograph of one in my collection.) Swarms of citizens - a majority of whom had never laid eyes upon their fallen chieftain - trekked from the train upon its arrival in Springfield back to their hometowns, often in other States. The State government began issuing tickets which asserted that guards were not to allow any individual to enter the Capitol (now Old State Capitol, where Lincoln lied in state,) or Capitol grounds without a note signed by a State officer due to the mass overcrowding of the small city. Thousands turned out to catch a brief glimpse of his lanky corpse. There is one account of an elderly woman, circa 90s in age I believe, who had sewn a funeral shawl for Lincoln (as he was well known to wear shawls in public,) who stood near the tracks with her family awaiting the train. Unfortunately, the city wherein the woman resided was not a scheduled stop on the tight itinerary; when she realized the train would not stop, as she had been standing with arms outstretched as it rolled past, her family claims that she fell to her knees and wept. All the while, Mary Lincoln was in vehement opposition to the grandeur afforded to her late husband in death; Mr. Lincoln, she would explain, had been an all too humble man for such a national display and upset. When the City of Springfield proposed that Lincoln be buried in the center of the city (an awkward ruse to attract tourism,) Mary defiantly insisted he be laid to rest in quiet Oakridge Cemetery; Lincoln lies there to this day, though now with a stunning monumental tomb, whereas he was originally interred in what is presently known as the Receiving Vault. No definitive account exists which rightly attests to Lincoln expressing a preferred place of burial; some have suggested that he said to Mary that he may like to be buried in Oakridge. Regarding his affection for Springfield, he noted upon first relocating thereto in 1837 that, "This thing of living in Springfield is a rather dull business, after all, or at least it is so to me.." going on to decry that he was as lonely there as anywhere in his life. We then, however, behold the evolution of Springfield within his mind: in his 1861 Farewell Address, Lincoln writes, "..to this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe everything." Still, being one who is deeply rooted in Frontier culture and oral tradition, Lincoln most enjoyed spinning stories; one of his favorites goes as follows: a Presbyterian minister wished to procure the Capitol (OSC) for a revival. Upon consulting the Secretary of State, the official inquired, "Might I ask what you intend to be the subject of this revival?" The minister replies, "The Second Coming of Jesus." To this, the Secretary adds, "Oh, no, no, that will never do. If he's been to Springfield once he won't be back again." In the Post-War Era, sources began exaggerating their relationship with Lincoln. Acquaintances who had scarcely known him thirty years prior spoke as though they were the closest of friends; some fabricated having met him whatsoever. This therefore makes for quite an interesting time for Lincoln scholars in discerning what is myth and what is actuality in early Lincoln biographies compiled by his law partner William Herndon and others. Ultimately, the death of Lincoln enacted upon these United States a mourning seemingly unknown for a single man. Entire classes are held on the effects of Lincolnian legacy. The grave marker for Abraham's father, Thomas Lincoln, speaks nothing of his life; rather, it simply reads, "Father of Martyred President." Earlier this year, Springfield reenacted the funeral of A. Lincoln for its sesquicentennial. You can find highlights of it here: http://www.c-span.org/video/?325631-1%2Fpresident-lincoln-funeral-reenactment We encourage our readers to use the US Office of the Historian's database of 1865 correspondence. It contains thousands of letters - some from nations no longer in existence - which express deep sorrow for the death of Lincoln. Find the index by clicking here. This sesquicentennial funeral badge can be purchased from the ALPLM Foundation website. One should note that this is not a period reproduction; it was designed specifically for the 150th anniversary. The flag in the lower case was recovered from Ford's Theatre on the night of April 14, 1865. The tear was made by John Wilkes Booth as he fell from the Presidential box. Remembering Lincoln Above is the contemporary Lincoln Tomb. This monument required years of planning and construction; his body was first interred here, at the Receiving Vault: Beneath this tomb lies Abraham Lincoln. He is covered in circa 10 feet of concrete due to repetitious attempts to burglarize his body for ransom. Surrounding the martyred emancipator are the flags of the States which attributed funds to the tomb's construction; if you inspect it closely, you will see Kentucky's standard to the right of Indiana and left of Virginia. Opposite A. Lincoln are the tombs of Mary, Willie, Eddie, and Tad -- Robert is the only Lincoln child not buried at Oak Ridge. Instead he lies in Arlington National Cemetery. Mary and Robert never repaired their shattered relationship during the Post War Era; Robert succeeded in briefly imprisoning his mother in a sanitarium by reason of insanity until Mary won her freedom soon after. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum 2015 is the 10th anniversary of the ALPLM. The ALPLM is the preeminent, world class facility for Lincoln scholarship; it has established Springfield as the nucleus of international Lincoln studies. We've visited twice; both times offered new, unique experiences unlike those you will discover anywhere else -- try as you might, not even in Lincoln's birthplace of Hodgenville. Open 9-5 for 362 days of the year, the regular exhibit is not a conventional museum display. When you step into the first segment of the path, you begin a trek through Lincoln's life. You begin in Indiana. A young Abraham, sitting as he oft did on a tree stump, clutches a book which he likely borrowed from a neighbor. He is a veracious reader, enjoying Aesop's Fables and any other literature he can find. His mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln - to whom Abraham attributes his personality, his depression, and all of his future achievements - has recently passed away from milk sickness when he was but 9 years of age. The attention to specificity and detail in the museum is astonishing. The trees were made from molds of actual trees in southern Indiana. The cabin you see is an authentic 19th century home, albeit not the Lincoln family's cabin. As you proceed on your journey, you will encounter the Lincoln children playing in the law office as Lincoln casually reclines on his sofa and recites news articles aloud; you will find an unpolished Mr. Lincoln lovingly looking at his courting partner, Southern belle Mary Todd; one may turn to see the Rail Splitter Statesman taking on the Little Giant at Knox College; you'll see firsthand a slave and mother being torn from each other. Exiting the Antebellum Period, you will cross into the a team of rivals in which Lincoln proposes his Emancipation Proclamation to his vehemently opposed cabinet. Proceeding, the press will ridicule the President, you will see signs reading, Emancipation Proclamation? - It goes too far! - It doesn't go far enough! and slip through a twisted hall of whispers displaying the many press attacks on Lincoln as voices play in the background. Ultimately, though you are fully aware of how the narrative concludes, you will find yourself at Ford's Theatre, in the room where he lay dying, and finally at the Old State Capitol where he lies in state as the Battle Hymn of the Republic is heard above. It is an immersive, wonderful experience. It is the only museum which nearly brought me to tears. At the end of the life journey, you'll find a changing exhibit with actual artifact displays as per what one expects of a museum. There are also two permanent theatres in the museum which present to you a vanishing historian (or is he?) who tells the purpose of the complex via Ghosts of the Library and the thunderous bellows of war via Union Theatre. From now until February 2016, you can visit the Undying Words exhibition which masterfully presents the legacy of Lincoln through his written word, 1858-1865. Photographs are prohibited in the special exhibition. Therefore I am personally urging each of you to, before February, find your way to Springfield. Truthfully, it is a wondrous city (culturally.) In the exhibit you will stand before an original print of the House Divided speech, a copy of the 1st Inaugural, a bound collection of speeches corrected in the margin by Lincoln's hand, the bed upon which he died, and much more. Across the street from the ALPLM is Union Square Park and historic Union Station which houses the History to Hollywood exhibit about Spielberg's Lincoln.
We have encountered more obstacles to the publishing of Day 3 Part I. We only have circa 1/2 of the photos available to us presently; the others are located within another device. Further, HKI is presently diverting its attention to our online campaign: Save the National Civil War Museum. I am also unable to access this device while volunteering at the Pikeville-Pike County Museum, as I am presently in Pikeville. Thus until these issues are resolved, we cannot post D3PI -- expect it anytime between Monday-Wednesday, however. HKI and RCD offer our sincerest apologies for this most egregious delay. Nevertheless, we will include some preview photos. Meanwhile, we wish to briefly call your attention to our campaign: Save the National Civil War Museum. (Note: RCD is not affiliated with the SNCWM Campaign.) The NCWM of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (the State's seat of government) is under threat by Mayor Eric Papenfuse. Papenfuse has scolded the institution as a monument to corruption due to the alleged manner by which former Mayor Reed procured funds for purchasing the Museum's artifacts. Mayor Papenfuse has since called for the Museum to dissolve and return all artifacts to the custody of the City. The following is a quote from my personal social media account: "As I have said of Illinois's Gov. Rauner, I must again say of Harrisburg's Mayor Papenfuse. The closure of this grand facility, which draws millions in tourism revenue, would be an outright act of unjustifiable cultural deprivation. Your administration itself, Mayor Papenfuse, should thereby morph into a Monument to Corruption; those aligned with such petty partisan officials, so willing to unilaterally dissolve the guardians of culture and human legacy, are themselves worthy only of the annals of bigotry. Regardless of the manner by which the Museum's collection was obtained, one cannot undo the decisions of Mayor Reed; the artifacts - which Mayor Papenfuse calls to be returned to the City's custody - cannot be ethically rejuvenated or cleansed by the closure of one of the greatest facilities seeking to preserve the narrative of the greatest trial ever faced by these United States. The trial which, indeed, forged what may be first truly termed a, 'Nation.' A trial which has, in conjunction with its subsequent period of Reconstruction, defined us -- one which creates a state of perpetual disunion as well as reinforces the bonds that bind us together. The American Civil War represents an immense societal revolution, testing the very delimitation of our federated state; weaving a new fabric for our people. Among the social and political issues we face to this day, a majority were founded in this conflict; indeed, we are a nation - in all but de jure manners - born of 1865, not of 1776 nor 1787. We must indefinitely labor to, "Bind up the nation's wounds" as the wounds have yet to be bound; in the words of historian David Blight, 'The Civil War isn't over.' Institutions such as the The National Civil War Museum assist in commemorating our troubled past, and resolving our tumultuous present; they permit us to press onward, to progress in our society. Yet we must now proceed once more unto the breach in order to combat such terrible, inexcusable abuses of position." Our position maintains that the NCWM - a true cultural treasure for Harrisburg and a revenue producer - should be reformed, not abolished as Mayor Papenfuse so eagerly suggests. Though the Board of Directors has issued a statement in which they defiantly refuse to dissolve, the Mayor has threatened legal action. We ask any you who so wish to stand with us to sign our online petition, which has amassed nearly 3,000 signatures: Save the National Civil War Museum Use these links to share your thoughts, the petition, or for more information: 1. Facebook: - The History of Kentucky - The National Civil War Museum 2. Twitter: - @AustinJustice91 - @HistoryofKY - @NCWM - @EricPapenfuse 3. Email: - [email protected] - [email protected] 4. Websites: - historyofky.weebly.com - nationalcivilwarmuseum.org Thank you for your support and patience. - Austin R. Justice, History of Kentucky Group. "In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow-countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war. The Government will not assail you. You can have no conflict without being yourselves the aggressors. You have no oath registered in heaven to destroy the Government, while I shall have the most solemn one to 'preserve, protect, and defend it.' I am loath to close. We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature." - A. Lincoln, First Inaugural Address, 1861. Day 3 PreviewsA period mourning cloth - Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Museum of Springfield, Illinois. Lincoln's abrupt demise resulted in a swift shift in social sentiment. Despite the considerable unpopularity of the President with his constituents but months earlier - political ads proclaiming him, "King Abraham Africanus I" or press openly ridiculing his emancipation policy of 1863 (some even depicting him as and suggesting he is discretely a person of color) - and, indeed, throughout the course of the conflict; the nation swelled with sorrow upon the slaying of the Chief Executive. Amidst the election of 1864, Lincoln personally admitted that, "...as for some days past, it seems exceedingly probable that this Administration will not be reelected." Moreover, the nomination of the Republican (National Union) Party was far from guaranteed; some suggested John C. Fremont as an alternative: an adamant Garrisonian abolitionist who had consistently spited Lincoln for his unwillingness to adhere to a like-minded doctrine -- Fremont also had the distinction of serving as an officer throughout the war and having been the first candidate the young Party set forth for the Presidency upon its establishment. Nonetheless these staples of Civil War Era political culture were abandoned; no Executive of the Union had been reelected since Jackson, and certainly none had been slain while in office. A grand mourning solemnly swept across the land; in various cities, i.e. Cleveland, Ohio, entire days were set aside to mourn Mr. Lincoln. A large procession of crowds eagerly followed the lengthy route of his funeral train's return to Springfield. Men and women adorned themselves, as may be expected of the Victorian tradition, with cloths and ribbons such as this one. Foreign dignitaries, including Queen Victoria, dispatched special condolences; entire towns of England were known to print large certificates exclaiming their grief at the nation's loss. (I may well have a photograph of one in my collection.) Swarms of citizens - a majority of whom had never laid eyes upon their fallen chieftain - trekked from the train upon its arrival in Springfield back to their hometowns, often in other States. The State government began issuing tickets which asserted that guards were not to allow any individual to enter the Capitol (now Old State Capitol, where Lincoln lied in state,) or Capitol grounds without a note signed by a State officer due to the mass overcrowding of the small city. Thousands turned out to catch a brief glimpse of his lanky corpse. There is one account of an elderly woman, circa 90s in age I believe, who had sewn a funeral shawl for Lincoln (as he was well known to wear shawls in public,) who stood near the tracks with her family awaiting the train. Unfortunately, the city wherein the woman resided was not a scheduled stop on the tight itinerary; when she realized the train would not stop, as she had been standing with arms outstretched as it rolled past, her family claims that she fell to her knees and wept. All the while, Mary Lincoln was in vehement opposition to the grandeur afforded to her late husband in death; Mr. Lincoln, she would explain, had been an all too humble man for such a national display and upset. When the City of Springfield proposed that Lincoln be buried in the center of the city (an awkward ruse to attract tourism,) Mary defiantly insisted he be laid to rest in quiet Oakridge Cemetery; Lincoln lies there to this day, though now with a stunning monumental tomb, whereas he was originally interred in what is presently known as the Receiving Vault. No definitive account exists which rightly attests to Lincoln expressing a preferred place of burial; some have suggested that he said to Mary that he may like to be buried in Oakridge. Regarding his affection for Springfield, he noted upon first relocating thereto in 1837 that, "This thing of living in Springfield is a rather dull business, after all, or at least it is so to me.." going on to decry that he was as lonely there as anywhere in his life. We then, however, behold the evolution of Springfield within his mind: in his 1861 Farewell Address, Lincoln writes, "..to this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe everything." Still, being one who is deeply rooted in Frontier culture and oral tradition, Lincoln most enjoyed spinning stories; one of his favorites goes as follows: a Presbyterian minister wished to procure the Capitol (OSC) for a revival. Upon consulting the Secretary of State, the official inquired, "Might I ask what you intend to be the subject of this revival?" The minister replies, "The Second Coming of Jesus." To this, the Secretary adds, "Oh, no, no, that will never do. If he's been to Springfield once he won't be back again." In the Post-War Era, sources began exaggerating their relationship with Lincoln. Acquaintances who had scarcely known him thirty years prior spoke as though they were the closest of friends; some fabricated having met him whatsoever. This therefore makes for quite an interesting time for Lincoln scholars in discerning what is myth and what is actuality in early Lincoln biographies compiled by his law partner William Herndon and others. Ultimately, the death of Lincoln enacted upon these United States a mourning seemingly unknown for a single man. Entire classes are held on the effects of Lincolnian legacy. The grave marker for Abraham's father, Thomas Lincoln, speaks nothing of his life; rather, it simply reads, "Father of Martyred President." Earlier this year, Springfield reenacted the funeral of A. Lincoln for its sesquicentennial. You can find highlights of it here: http://www.c-span.org/video/?325631-1%2Fpresident-lincoln-funeral-reenactment Views of Springfield, including:
Capitol Dome and City (Above) Old State Capitol (Below, Left) Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices (Below, Right) As our Readers may well know, a battery of storms has recently caused great destruction in our State.
Resulting therefrom, KHF was without an Internet connection until circa 5:00 PM on Wednesday; this did not provide sufficient time to upload Day 3 Part I. We wholeheartedly apologize for the inconvenience. We also assure you that D3PI will be uploaded no later than 9:00 PM on Thursday, the 16th of July. Thank you for your patience and understanding. - Austin R. Justice, History of Kentucky Group Readers: We are finishing our final sites in Springfield and moving onward to Chicago and St. Louis. Due to an extraordinary amount of photographs (upwards of 100,) from Springfield and New Salem, we are delaying our Day 3 post. Please return on Wednesday, July 15th for our Day 3 post! We cannot post on Thursday (as we have yet to complete our Springfield excursion,) or Friday-Tuesday due to a lack of Internet connection. KHF will post a reminder to appropriate social media outlets. Thank you for your patience. - Austin R. Justice, History of Kentucky Group. A preview of our Day 3 post; this sign is stationed at the entrance to the new Undying Words exhibit of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum.
Firstly, permit me to briefly apologize. We spoke of publishing Day 2 content on Friday, July 3rd; this was impossible, as we had no Internet connection. KHF has successfully arrived in Johnston City, Illinois, wherefrom we will travel to St. Louis (Monday) and, inevitably, to Springfield (Tuesday - Unknown Date.) Prior to our arrival yesterday, we visited three of the Commonwealth's Western cities: Bardstown, Elizabethtown, and Hodgenville. Among the sites visited thus far are: the Civil War Museum of the Western Theater, My Old Kentucky Home State Park, the Lincoln Museum, Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, and the Hardin County History Museum; whereas these wonderful sites were in our native Kentucky, we also (unexpectedly) found ourselves at Fort Massac State Park near Metropolis, Illinois. Sorrowfully, one must report that the original health issues referenced prior to our departure are not entirely resolved. Moreover, an unfortunate accident at My Old Kentucky Home State Park has resulted in the temporary necessity of a cane. Nonetheless, in spite of these hindrances, our resolute determination has not been dissolved; we shall press onward with our Multistate Trek. Typically a Reader may expect to read a considerably lenghty portion of text which properly excavates as well as analyzes the topic at hand, then immediately thereafter view photographs and videos with brief contextual scripts. However, due to the vast periods of time and locations we have transversed - and in the interest of my present condition of health - we will present photos and videos with longer explanations on a site-by-site basis. This is not to be expected for the entirety of the MST; eras, themes, and locations will shift to a greater centrality as our journey progresses. Hence, the aforesaid system will be deemed unnecessary. Thank each of you for your patience; check back for Day 3 on the 8th of July. Note: As we are operating in the Central Time Zone, any times we post should be considered 1 hour early (in EST) if marked CST. - Austin R. Justice, History of Kentucky Group. Illinois - the Illinois State Song - is a rather contemporary composition, being adopted in 1967. The piece references prominent figures whose legacies are oft intertwined with the Prarie State, as evidenced via the lines On the record of thy years, Abra'am Lincoln's name appears; Grant and Logan and our tears, Illinois, Illinois... Though Illinois is commonly given as the Land of Lincoln, it is interesting to note that neither Lincoln nor Grant were native to the State -- Grant was of Ohio, and Lincoln of Kentucky; we will also visit the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site, location of Grant's White Hall estate in Missouri. Indeed, a multitude of 19th century characters which are categorized as Illinoisans originally hail from elsewhere: a notable exemplar is Sen. Stephen A. Douglas, Democratic rival of Lincoln, whose life began in Vermont. As an historian, one must utilize and integrate various sources of migrational, social, political, military, etc. historiography in order to construct a cohesive comprehensive narrative. The reasoning of Illinois' seemingly odd lack of native citizens is quite explicable; a rational reasoning does indeed exist. What one must recall is that Illinois is the farthest extent of the Frontier in 1809 (the year of Lincoln's birth.) During such period, the lands of the region comprise the Illinois Territory (statehood follows in 1818); generally, we may define the Upper Frontier as thus: Kentucky - the only state thereof in 1809,- Illinois, and Indiana. Although Illinois is presently categorized as a constituent of the Midwest, Kentucky as the East or South, the Antebellum mind conjures images of these States when thinking of the West. The United States did not expand beyond the Mississippi River, therefore the Frontier simultaneously constituted the West. Even throughout the course of the ravaging American Civil War (1861-1865) the States west of Virginia are collectively known as the Western Theater. Frontier society is characterized by continual development, rural civilization, ongoing governmental foundation, horrid legal property disputes, population growth, etc. Lexington is unique in its comparative "Eastern" sophistication among the primarily Frontier-esque Kentuckian society, one in which Lincoln was highly versed and rooted. Illinois is most definitely no exception; the Lincoln family - that is, a young Abraham with father Thomas, mother Nancy Hanks, and soon step-mother Sarah Bush Johnston - had relocated from Sinking Spring and Knob Creek, Kentucky due to fierce land disputes and Thomas's inability to profit as a farmer/laborer in a society so deeply indoctrinated in that peculiar institution to Indiana, and from Indiana to Illinois. In brevity, the Frontier had yet to be entirely settled. The representation of Kentucky in the Federal House of Representatives fluctuated significantly throughout time due to the immigration and emigration of residents. Whilst the Northern sections of Illinois received mass influx from the Northeast and European nations, Central Illinois - in which Springfield is located - was populated primarily by Kentuckians; it is estimated that circa 50% of the area's citizens were of Kentucky. All three of Lincoln's law partners were from our Commonwealth, as was his wife. Illinois had yet to exist or be populated by European descendants for a great enough length of time to develop a large native-born citizenry. My Old Kentucky Home State Park The detached kitchen of Federal Hill. Federal Hill Mansion, the estate of Judge John Rowan. My Old Kentucky Home State Park, located in Bardstown, was the first segment of our MST. The dominating site on the Park grounds is Federal Hill Mansion, the estate of Judge John Rowan. The Rowans were an early Kentuckian family of immense comparative wealth; their towering estate would have no doubt stood as an oddity among the small Frontier town. For us, it also has the distinction of being the place of my ankle injury. Federal Hill is the site of both tragedy (insert reference to ankle injury), i.e. the unintentional suicide of an occupant, and triumph; it is nestled among the scrolling beauty of Western Kentucky. Mostly notable however is Federal Hill's designation as My Old Kentucky Home: local lore which has spread to the wider United States holds that Stephen C. Foster - the preeminent Antebellum composer who wrote the heart-wrenching song My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night [adopted as the State Song under the revised title and lyrics, My Old Kentucky Home] - was inspired by the charm of the estate to compose the piece. Though the State may well capitalize on this legend, it is but myth. As we discussed in the inaugural Kentucky History Friday some months ago, My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night retains a discreet racial legacy. It is factually accurate that Foster was a cousin of Rowan, and may have visited (as the Rowans often hosted guests and social events.) Nevertheless, the song is known to be an elaborate metaphor for the institution of slavery; when penned, Foster titled his original manuscript Poor Uncle Tom, Good-Night thus referencing Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, an allegorical novel likewise denouncing the practice. Ardent abolitionist and free-person-of-color Frederick Douglass once remarked that in his view the song stimulates, "the sympathies for the slave, in which anti-slavery principles take root and flourish." As Dr. Thomas D. Clark and others furthermore note, the piece was likely shifted to My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night upon publication due to the genre: minstrelsy. Minstrelsy, which often invoked Black Face performances, was a style of popular favor in the Antebellum South, wherein Beecher's work was utterly detested; Kentucky being a major slave-holding State offered a perfect metaphor for the institution whilst simultaneously propelling its popularity among Southerners who presumed its literal meaning. If you'd like to read the full KHF article on the topic, visit here. Unfortunately, photos were not permitted inside. The Civil War Museum of the Western Theater The effects of Dr. John Moore. Frock coat and items of Dr. Riley Wells. The Vicksburg Exhibit. The Chickamauga Exhibit; Battle Flag of the 6th Tennessee. The Military Band Exhibit with the Perryville Drummer Boy (Left.) Pictured near the coat are posters advertising The Battle Cry of Freedom and Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! both by George F. Root. We've added these songs below.
So We Sang the Chorus from Atlanta to the Sea: The Georgia Campaign Exhibit. Marching Through Georgia by Henry Clay Work is a celebratory march published in 1865 commemorating Sherman's March to Sea. His successful capture of Atlanta was one of the final death nails in the coffin of the Confederate States; Sherman wrote a letter during the campaign in which he addressed Lincoln stating, I beg to present to you as a Christmas present the City of Savannah.... Inevitably, it would lead to the surrender of Johnston to Sherman at Bennette Place, North Carolina. Jay Ungar, composer of famed Ashokan Farewell, is known to play the piece both as a march and as a lament for the sheer devastation felt by the other side due to a collapsing Confederate infrastructure and Sherman's Scorched Earth policies. The song itself incorporates the development of the cause of emancipation among the Union armies, joyfully boasting Hurrah, hurrah, we bring the jubilee! Hurrah, hurrah, the flag that makes you free! So we sang the chorus from Atlanta to the sea, while we were marching through Georgia! A jubilee, though today merely synonymous with joy or delight, was in during the Antebellum Period a meeting of enslaved or free persons of color in which spirituals and other songs of freedom were sung. Regimental Colors of the 16th Kentucky Infantry (Union.)
Colors of the 1st Kentucky Calvary, circa late-1863. Bledsoe's Cavalry Battalion Flag, CSA Regimental colors of the Confederacy varied greatly from the well-known St. Andrew Cross pattern employed by the Army of Northern Virginia. This flag, though at first glance seemingly Unionist, was used by Bledsoe's Confederate Cavalry; it displays 12 stars and was captured at the Battle of Mill Springs (September 1862.) Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park Hodgenville, Kentucky. Lincoln's birthplace at Sinking Spring Farm is now enshrined in this monument, the steps to which symbolize each year of his life (56,) and is maintained by the National Park Service. The Lincoln family soon relocated to Knob Creek, Kentucky after Lincoln's birth here. At the age of 7, the Lincoln family emigrated out of the Commonwealth to the Indiana Territory; they and their neighbors had become embroiled in the disastrous land claim disputes which plagued the State throughout the 19th century due to a horrible, overlapping system of land grants in early Kentucky County, Virginia. Lincoln is reputed to have once said I, too am a Kentuckian. Large 1860 Print, Hardin County History Museum This large print newspaper of 1860 heralds the candidacy of A. Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin. The paper is evidently Republican; whereas a majority of contemporary news sources claim impartiality, 19th century press consisted of openly partisan papers. To the Antebellum citizen, politics served as a form of entertainment; men fervently rallied 'round their candidates, attending grand rallies and legthy standing-room debates (i.e. Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858,) while touting banners exclaiming Lincoln and Hamlin: Wide Awake and using Party-compiled songsters to cheer their favorite campaign pieces, i.e. Lincoln and Liberty. In Springfield, Lincoln's primary patron paper was the Sangamon Journel; Lincoln also legally owned a German language paper intended to sway immigrants until circa 1861. Ft. Massac State Park, Illinois Visitor Center Exhibit The remnants of Fort Massac; Statue of George Rogers Clark overlooking the Ohio River. The shores opposite Ft. Massac are our own Kentucky. A rural residential area in Johnston City, Illinois.
With the aforementioned issues (mostly) resolved, KHF begins our two week Multistate Trek. We will soon be departing for Elizabethtown for the Hardin County History Museum. Unfortunately, we will have little Internet access until we arrive in Illinois. Meanwhile, ensure to check back with us on Friday evening for an update and photos of Elizabethtown, Bardstown, and Hodgenville! As we undertake this vast journey of numerous miles, it is natural to rely on music to ease the travel; the American Civil War - the primary theme of our MST - produced innumerable pieces which both evoke an inutterable sorrow and express a wondrous jubilee (the original meaning of which we may speak of later, with Henry Clay Work's Marching Through Georgia.) The rapturous reaping of lives spanning 1861-1865 has been reminiscingly known as, "The songiest war that ever was"; these varying compositions were not merely tools with which the common footsoldier could soothe his (or in rare instances, her) anguishing sorrows, but rather also speak to an ever shifting sociopolitical atmosphere. It has been noted that, "In 1861 Americans went to war singing Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!; they would never do so again." Whilst the conflict temporarily vanquished, for some, the heinous conceptions of romaniticism, the idea once more wrapped its fatal grip upon the common mind of Europeans (1914) and inevitably Americans (1918) upon the eruption of a tumultuous First World War. This bellicosity, so great that more men perished in the Battle of the Somme than in the entirety of the American Civil War, likewise produced multiple soul-wrenching and patriotically stirring songs. Due to the incredibly short involvement of the United States, a majority of such pieces are of British origin -- such as There's a Long, Long Trail A'Winding or It's A Long Way to Tipperary. Indeed, our contemporary minds often utilize the social outcries of song in our own memory, staging such performances as a 20th century television broadcast The Blue and the Grey: A Nation Remembers in Song or British musical movie O! What a Lovely War from which spring moving lyrical masterpieces - i.e. Battle Hymn of the Republic - and comical skits - i.e. When This Lousy War is Over. As we eagerly await our arrival in Springfield, it seemed fitting to simultaneously share some of the most well known of the aforesaid with our treasured Readers. Below we have inserted some selections from Great Songs from the Great War. - Austin R. Justice, History of Kentucky Group.
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Hi, I'm the website Admin. I look after the website as well as the chapter social media accounts. Austin R. Justice
PMC of River Cities Chapter and Lincoln Forum & Colloquium Student Scholar. Adjunct ContributorsSpencer M. Dayton Archives
April 2016
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