Hat tip to Harry at Bull Runnings for making us all aware of (among other things in the latest issue of Civil War Times) the piece (“Let the Chips Fall Where They Will”) written by Gary Gallagher. Gallagher addresses, as I see it, a “peanut gallery” of critics. Though a short piece, it’s enough to say (and this is my interpretation of his words), “you know what? I’m doing what I love doing;” and it’s not Confederate bashing or Southern bashing, but it is critical analysis of a complex time in our nation’s history… and it’s fascinating stuff.” Among other things, he briefly addresses the “Black Confederate” question, that ever so-slippery Confederate “CAUSE,” the necessary distinction between “southern” and “Confederate” when talking about the war, and, of course, the backlash that he gets from some from within the new era Confederate remembrance movement.
I think a lot of us in this ever-growing CW blogosphere do what we do because there is a lot more of the Civil War than what can be found in traditional studies. It’s incredible to think of it, but despite the stacks of books written about the subject, there is so much left to be considered. As we turn through evidence and not only look at the same data differently than previous generations of historians, but also find new material not considered by previous generations in the development of their studies, we are not only challenging the “memory” of others, but are challenging our own. It becomes even more interesting when we step back for a while and observe how cultural “memories” of the war have gone so far astray from the evidence that we find in own research that speaks quite to the contrary. It is also interesting to see how some have allowed “memory” to impair their ability to look at the past; a past that is much more than one-dimensional.
kevlvn
February 25, 2009
Exactly Robert. I’m so tired of reading comments that insinuate the bashing of the South and all things Confederate. I am fascinated by the history of this country (particularly the South) and I spend most of my waking hours either reading, thinking and writing about it. If that is not a sign of respect and sincere interest I don’t know what is.
Gallagher has been accused of Confederate bashing for years and I know that he keeps a file of emails and letters. He finds it amusing as I do.
Kevin at Civil War Memory
caswain01
February 25, 2009
I guess what irks me more often than not is the reaction and counter reaction to all this cultural baggage.
You can fuss and fume all you want, but the study of history must be based on a body of facts. You and I might disagree on the interpretation of those facts, but it is the facts which we must discuss. Maybe I took that set of lessons in under-grad Historiography a bit too serious, but I’ve always endeavored to divest myself of any “baggage” before wading into the facts.
Years back my mother passed along the name of an ancestor she thought had served in the war, asking for help. First step was a request to the National Archives for service records. The records confirmed what she thought, we were related to a German immigrant who served in the 29th Missouri, a decidedly Federal unit which served from Vicksburg to the Carolinas. When I related to Grandmother the details, she responded, “I think in your studies, you’ll find that the Federals were really from the South.”
I may not have the “cleanest, purist” Civil War Memory on my own, but I try. But I do try to live under the premise advanced by a veteran (Sam Watkins if I recall) – there is no north, south, east, or west, just a United States. If that be the case, then maybe Grandma wasn’t too far afield after all.
cenantua
February 25, 2009
Craig,
I think that’s exactly the point. There is a lot of baggage and that comes in at least two forms… “heritage baggage” and “baggage of (for lack of another way to describe it) the 21st century.” The important thing is that we are aware of these when we both do analysis and when we simply read the analysis of others. It’s too often misunderstood as an agenda, and that has gone to extremes. Personally, I like finding a flaw in my own analysis when I can identify it to my own “baggage.” It makes me back-away and take another look.
acwresearcher
February 25, 2009
The seminar I attended with Gallagher last summer is the first place I was introduced to the idea that “Southern” does not mean “Confederate,” nor can the term be limited to whites. I have not read the article, but I’ll be getting this issue just to see how much of what he presented to us appears there.
cenantua
February 25, 2009
Greg, He doesn’t go into detail on the matter, but presents it as one of the counterpoints to the critics. It’s a short piece, but I think he gets his point across quite well.