History News: Lost Sword of Robert Gould Shaw Located

Anyone who’s watched the Civil War movie “Glory” knows about the courage of the 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, one of the first all-black volunteer units to ever fight in an American war. Anyone who hasn’t seen it really should. After he died with his men during the 1863 assault on Fort Wagner, Colonel Robert Gould Shaw was buried in a mass grave alongside them. For several years, his sword, which bears his initials, was considered lost, but eventually was recovered in South Carolina and given to the Shaw family, only to disappear again in the following decades. In 2017, when sorting through the attic of their Massachusetts home, descendents of Shaw’s sister came across it and donated it, along with family papers, to the Massachusetts Historical Society. Today the sword can be seen by prior request.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Information from Mass. Historical: Regulation Infantry sword made for the American market by Henry Wilkinson, Pall Mall, London. Number 12506 with gilt HW seal; blade proofed May 23,1863. British Pattern 1845/54 Officer’s Sabre. Steel blade, etched decoration on both sides with initials R.G.S. below a displayed US Eagle near hilt on back of blade which is slightly curved and unfullered. Normally, this sword would carry an openwork “Crowned VR” cypher in the oval cartouche of the knuckle guard, but made for a non-British customer this feature is left solid and is textured with matt punching. The chamois bag given with the sword is the remains of a “slip,” a soft bag in which one would keep a sword (and its garniture) when packed away. Grip of sharkskin banded in silver wire with flat metal ribbon sword knot ending in acorn affixed to hilt.

One of the treasures of American history.

A Few Unusual Victorian New Year’s Traditions

Happy New Year! In case you can’t make it to Times Square to watch the ball drop, here are a few unique ways to usher in 2022. Most of these practices come from the British Isles. (Excerpted from a Mental Floss article by Keith Johnson).

First Footing: Throw NYE party at you home, but to avoid bad luck, be sure not to allow a woman to be the first to cross your threshhold.

Take in, then take out: Don’t take anything out of the house without first bringing something in. “Take out, then take in/ Bad luck will begin. Take in, then take out/ Good luck comes about.”

Throw bread at the door: People baked a “barmbrack ”, an unusually large loaf of bread, on New Year’s Eve. The man of the house took three bites, then threw the loaf against the door, while those gathered prayed ”that cold, want or hunger might not enter” in the coming year. Hope they didn’t waste that bread.

Attend a “Watch Night” service: In the 1740’s, John Wesley (founder of Methodism) revived the ancient tradition of holding long, contemplative church services, to give coal miners something uplifting to do lieu of drinking the night away in a pub. By the 19th century, this had become a NYE tradition.

“Dipping” : Open a Bible to a random page and, without looking, point to a random passage. The excerpt selected was thought to predict the fortune of the dipper. This custom was widely used at other times to predict things.

Silly Resolutions: This custom sounds like a fun party game. Each player writes a silly resolution on a piece of paper and places it place in a bowl with all the others. Everyone draws a resolution and reads it aloud. Some suggestions from an 1896 games book include “I must stop smoking in my sleep” and ”I must walk with my right foot on my left side.”

Send some New Year Cards:

In case you’re not tired of addressing all those Christmas cards. You’ve gotta wonder about this one, though……

No matter no you choose to celebrate, best wishes for a happy, healthy 2022!

Historical Fiction: The Witch of Willow Hall, by Hester Fox

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The year is 1821. Boston’s prominent Montrose family has left town under a cloud of scandal, relocating to their stately “summer home” in New Oldham, a mill village in northern Massachusetts. Mrs. Montrose has been crushed by the shame of it all, but her husband is quite detached from everything but his new business venture. The three sisters make the move, but their brother remains behind, apparently oblivious to scandal. Their attempts to settle in to their new home is narrated by Lydia, the middle sister, who maintains a close bond with  Emeline, the youngest, but deeply resents  willful, Catherine, the eldest, whose behavior lies at the root of their problems. Lydia herself is quiet, studious, and sensitive. She has noticed with some trepidation that when she grows angry, strange things that she cannot explain occur; Mrs. Montrose, who is descended from a victim at the Salem Witch Trials, promises to explain all in due time.

From the moment she steps inside Willow Hall, Lydia feels a deep sense of foreboding, and the story she tells is romantic in some aspects, but deeply tragic in others. Having led a sheltered life, her viewpoint is that of a young adolescent, so the novel reads  like a coming of age tale for young adults. She is quite willing to grant legitimacy to  the supernatural events that occur around her, even though they make her fretful and fearful. Lydia’s emotions are amply described, but I did not find that they transferred to me as I read. The prose is competent, but here and there colored by anachronistic phrases (i.e. “I lost my cool” or I’m lousy at this”) that spoiled the mood. As for characters, they were types — the spoiled young heiress, the cad, the snide townspeople, the bored invalid aunt.  I was also puzzled by the book’s claim on the cover that  it takes place two centuries after Salem, when 1821 is only 130  years from the date of the trials.

I would recommend The Witch of Willow Hall to young adults rather than to readers looking for richer historical content.

View all my reviews

Almost Heaven: Near Death Experience, 19th Century Style

This is a true story about a woman by the name of Anna Mathewson, who was born in Coventry, CT in 1810. Anna grew up healthy and strong, but at the age of 24, things took a turn for the worse. Her health was described from that time on as delicate, and from 1841-44, Anna was confined to the house, often to her bed, unable to rise without assistance. Dr Norman Brigham attended Anna all this time, and finally, things grew so serious that often she could not speak. It was necessary to prescribe opiates for the pain (no diagnosis is provided in the record), and Anna herself claimed to be suffering “all the pains of death”. Death, she said, had “commenced at her extremities”, and when it reached her heart, she would fade away.

Apparently it did reach her heart, because on Tuesday, May 20, 1844, Anna’s spirit left her body and soared to heaven. The doors of heaven opened upon the “abode of the blessed”, and the most delightful singing was heard. Alas, Anna was welcomed but not permitted to enter. She was instructed to return to earth, and was given a divine mission, to “warn Christians to wake up, that the churches might be revived and sinners converted.” Only when her task was accomplished could she return to Paradise.

Imagine the reaction of her friends and family when Anna’s “corpse” sat up and spoke to them! There were even more surprises to come. Although Miss Mathewson had had difficulty speaking, and certainly had never sung, her voice suddenly “came to her and she would sing continuously for hours”. She told everyone that the angels were singing with her and she longed for all to hear them.

Mr. S. Bliss of nearby Tolland heard of this wondrous miracle, and decided to pay a visit. He published an account of his meeting in the Boston newspapers, fully corroborating the story. The rush was on. Seven hundred people descended upon little Coventry in seven days, and before all the excitement settled, more than 2000 made the pilgrimage. This in an era when travel was an arduous, lengthy process. One hardy and zealous soul trudged on foot 150 miles, “that he might see with his own eyes, and hear with his own ears” the woman who had been to heaven and back again.

[from The History of Tolland County, JR Cole]

The Resting Place of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

A couple of years ago, long time friend Ken generously agreed to post an photo essay about scenes from the Civil War, then and now. This has deservedly become one of the most popular posts on You’re History, and if you missed it, you can find it here. This past summer, Ken and Eileen made another CW pilgrimage of sorts, to the grave of Union hero Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, who is also a favorite of mine. I’m so pleased that Ken has agreed to do a guest post on his thoughts about our mutual hero from Maine.

What to Do in Maine,

When All You See is Rain

Several years back, my wife, Eileen, and I, traveled up to Maine for a short three day vacation, our destination being Orr’s Island, located on a finger of land roughly 
eleven miles east of the town of Brunswick. As luck would have it, the clouds gathered shortly after leaving CT, and we never saw sunshine again until sometime on our return drive back to our home state. To make matters worse, a good portion of the time, it poured like the dickens. Naturally this put a “damper” on a lot of the activities we were planning, so we started thinking of alternative things to do. As I am an absolute Civil War nut, and knowing that the town of Brunswick was the home to one of the true heroes of that war, Joshua Chamberlain, I had made a comment to Eileen as we passed through there on our first day, about him being from that town. Luckily we had internet capabilities at our lodging. So during a rain 

storm on our second day, Eileen, being an internet surfing queen, in no time at all, came up with the burial site of Chamberlain, a cemetery named Pine Grove. And to boot, she recalled seeing said cemetery when we had driven through Brunswick the day before. It was, she said, located adjacent to Bowdoin College. So off we went back to Brunswick during an infrequent rain break, located the cemetery, and after getting our sneakers and socks thoroughly drenched from the wet grass, we finally found the grave site of Joshua Chamberlain, and took a few photos. He is surrounded by family members, wife, children, etc. So, being a Civil War fanatic, this was a real high point to an otherwise wet and dreary trip, an unexpected little pleasure for me. And, as usual, Eileen was a real trooper, dealing with my interest in the Civil War.

As I mentioned, Joshua Chamberlain is one of the real heroes of that war, in my opinion, very much overlooked. Here is short list of his accomplishments and activities, both during the war and the years following. After attending Bowdoin College, he eventually became a faculty member, teaching various subjects over a number of years. At the outbreak of the war, he volunteered his services, and was offered a rank of Lt. Col. of the 20^th Maine regiment. After a few minor skirmishes, this regiment saw it’s first major engagement at the battle of Fredericksburg, participating in the famous assault on Marye’s Heights. After missing the next big engagement, the battle of Chancellorsville, due to the regiment being decimated with disease, the unit was next involved in the march to Gettysburg, where the Confederate armies of R.E.Lee were in the process of invading the northern states. Upon arriving at Gettysburg, the regiment was assigned to a position on a hill named Little Round Top, which ended up being the extreme left flank of the Union Army. On the second day of the battle, his regiment repulsed numerous assaults by the 15^th Alabama, until such time when his men were running out of ammunition, he ordered a bayonet charge, which completely routed the Confederate forces, securing the vulnerable left flank of the army. He suffered two minor wounds at this engagement. During the next two years of the war, he was involved in the fighting under U.S. Grant and his march south, which eventually ended at the surrender at Appomattox, VA. He was given the honor of receiving the official surrender of the Confederate forces there.

After the war, Chamberlain returned to Maine, eventually entering into politics. He served four one year terms as Governor of Maine, and after leaving politics, served as president of Bowdoin College. Chamberlain died in 1914, at the age of 85, from the lingering effects of wounds suffered in the war. He is the last known veteran to have died from wounds received during the war.

War record:

He was involved in 20 battles and numerous minor skirmishes.

He was cited for bravery four times, and received the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Had six horses shot out from underneath him.

Wounded six times, one of which was thought to be mortal.

Rose to Brig. General (Brevet Maj. General).

Received the Medal of Honor for his actions on Little Round Top.to do in Maine,

When all you see is rain

Last month, my wife, Eileen, and I, traveled up to Maine for a short three day vacation, our

destination being Orr’s Island, located on a finger of land roughly eleven miles east of the

town of Brunswick. As luck would have it, the clouds gathered shortly after leaving CT.,

and we never saw sunshine again until sometime on our return drive back to our home state.

To make matters worse, a good portion of the time, it poured like the dickens. Naturally this

put a “damper” on a lot of the activities we were planning, so we started thinking of alternative

things to do. As I am an absolute Civil War nut, and knowing that the town of Brunswick was

the home to one of the true heroes of that war, Joshua Chamberlain, I had made a comment to

Eileen as we passed through there on our first day, about him being from that town. Luckily

we had internet capabilities at our lodging. So during a rain storm on our second day, Eileen,

being an internet surfing queen, in no time at all, came up with the burial site of Chamberlain,

a cemetery named Pine Grove. And to boot, she recalled seeing said cemetery when we had

driven through Brunswick the day before. It was, she said, located adjacent to Bowdoin

College. So off we went back to Brunswick during an infrequent rain break, located the

cemetery, and after getting our sneakers and socks thoroughly drenched from the wet grass,

we finally found the grave site of Joshua Chamberlain, and took a few photos. He is surrounded

by family members, wife, children, etc. So, being a Civil War fanatic, this was a real high point

to an otherwise, wet and dreary trip, an unexpected little pleasure for me. And, as usual, Eileen

was a real trooper, dealing with my interest in the Civil War.

As I mentioned, Joshua Chamberlain is one of the real heroes of that war, in my opinion, very

much overlooked. Here is short list of his accomplishments and activities, both during the war

and the years following.

After attending Bowdoin College, he eventually became a faculty member, teaching various

subjects over a number of years. At the outbreak of the war, he volunteered his services,

and was offered a rank of Lt. Col. of the 20th Maine regiment. After a few minor skirmishes,

this regiment saw it’s first major engagement at the battle of Fredericksburg,  participating

in the famous assault on Marye’s Heights. After missing the next big engagement, the battle

of Chancellorsville, due to the regiment being decimated with disease, the unit was next

involved in the march to Gettysburg, where the Confederate armies of R.E.Lee were in the

process of invading the northern states. Upon arriving at Gettysburg, the regiment was assigned

to a  position on a hill named Little Round Top, which ended up being the extreme left flank of

the Union Army. On the second day of the battle, his regiment repulsed numerous assaults by

the 15th Alabama, until such time when his men were running out of ammunition, he ordered a

bayonet charge, which completely routed the Confederate forces, securing the vulnerable left

flank of the army.  He suffered two minor wounds at this engagement. During the next two

years of the war, he was involved in the fighting under U.S. Grant and his march south, which

eventually ended at the surrender at Appomattox, VA. He was given the honor of receiving the

official surrender of the Confederate forces there.

After the war, he returned to Maine, eventually entering into politics. He served four one year

terms as Governor of Maine, and after leaving politics, served as president of Bowdoin College.

Chamberlain died in 1914, at the age of 85, from the lingering effects of wounds suffered in

the war. He is the last known veteran to have died from wounds received during the war.

War record:

He was involved in 20 battles and numerous minor skirmishes.

He was cited for bravery four times.

Had six horses shot out from underneath him.

Wounded six times, one of which was thought to be mortal.

Rose to Brig. General (Brevet Maj. General).

Received the Medal of Honor for his actions on Little Round Top.

to do in Maine,

When all you see is rain

Last month, my wife, Eileen, and I, traveled up to Maine for a short three day vacation, our

destination being Orr’s Island, located on a finger of land roughly eleven miles east of the

town of Brunswick. As luck would have it, the clouds gathered shortly after leaving CT.,

and we never saw sunshine again until sometime on our return drive back to our home state.

To make matters worse, a good portion of the time, it poured like the dickens. Naturally this

put a “damper” on a lot of the activities we were planning, so we started thinking of alternative

things to do. As I am an absolute Civil War nut, and knowing that the town of Brunswick was

the home to one of the true heroes of that war, Joshua Chamberlain, I had made a comment to

Eileen as we passed through there on our first day, about him being from that town. Luckily

we had internet capabilities at our lodging. So during a rain storm on our second day, Eileen,

being an internet surfing queen, in no time at all, came up with the burial site of Chamberlain,

a cemetery named Pine Grove. And to boot, she recalled seeing said cemetery when we had

driven through Brunswick the day before. It was, she said, located adjacent to Bowdoin

College. So off we went back to Brunswick during an infrequent rain break, located the

cemetery, and after getting our sneakers and socks thoroughly drenched from the wet grass,

we finally found the grave site of Joshua Chamberlain, and took a few photos. He is surrounded

by family members, wife, children, etc. So, being a Civil War fanatic, this was a real high point

to an otherwise, wet and dreary trip, an unexpected little pleasure for me. And, as usual, Eileen

was a real trooper, dealing with my interest in the Civil War.

As I mentioned, Joshua Chamberlain is one of the real heroes of that war, in my opinion, very

much overlooked. Here is short list of his accomplishments and activities, both during the war

and the years following.

After attending Bowdoin College, he eventually became a faculty member, teaching various

subjects over a number of years. At the outbreak of the war, he volunteered his services,

and was offered a rank of Lt. Col. of the 20th Maine regiment. After a few minor skirmishes,

this regiment saw it’s first major engagement at the battle of Fredericksburg,  participating

in the famous assault on Marye’s Heights. After missing the next big engagement, the battle

of Chancellorsville, due to the regiment being decimated with disease, the unit was next

involved in the march to Gettysburg, where the Confederate armies of R.E.Lee were in the

process of invading the northern states. Upon arriving at Gettysburg, the regiment was assigned

to a  position on a hill named Little Round Top, which ended up being the extreme left flank of

the Union Army. On the second day of the battle, his regiment repulsed numerous assaults by

the 15th Alabama, until such time when his men were running out of ammunition, he ordered a

bayonet charge, which completely routed the Confederate forces, securing the vulnerable left

flank of the army.  He suffered two minor wounds at this engagement. During the next two

years of the war, he was involved in the fighting under U.S. Grant and his march south, which

eventually ended at the surrender at Appomattox, VA. He was given the honor of receiving the

official surrender of the Confederate forces there.

After the war, he returned to Maine, eventually entering into politics. He served four one year

terms as Governor of Maine, and after leaving politics, served as president of Bowdoin College.

Chamberlain died in 1914, at the age of 85, from the lingering effects of wounds suffered in

the war. He is the last known veteran to have died from wounds received during the war.

War record:

He was involved in 20 battles and numerous minor skirmishes.

He was cited for bravery four times.

Had six horses shot out from underneath him.

Wounded six times, one of which was thought to be mortal.

Rose to Brig. General (Brevet Maj. General).

Received the Medal of Honor for his actions on Little Round Top.

to do in Maine,

When all you see is rain

Last month, my wife, Eileen, and I, traveled up to Maine for a short three day vacation, our

destination being Orr’s Island, located on a finger of land roughly eleven miles east of the

town of Brunswick. As luck would have it, the clouds gathered shortly after leaving CT.,

and we never saw sunshine again until sometime on our return drive back to our home state.

To make matters worse, a good portion of the time, it poured like the dickens. Naturally this

put a “damper” on a lot of the activities we were planning, so we started thinking of alternative

things to do. As I am an absolute Civil War nut, and knowing that the town of Brunswick was

the home to one of the true heroes of that war, Joshua Chamberlain, I had made a comment to

Eileen as we passed through there on our first day, about him being from that town. Luckily

we had internet capabilities at our lodging. So during a rain storm on our second day, Eileen,

being an internet surfing queen, in no time at all, came up with the burial site of Chamberlain,

a cemetery named Pine Grove. And to boot, she recalled seeing said cemetery when we had

driven through Brunswick the day before. It was, she said, located adjacent to Bowdoin

College. So off we went back to Brunswick during an infrequent rain break, located the

cemetery, and after getting our sneakers and socks thoroughly drenched from the wet grass,

we finally found the grave site of Joshua Chamberlain, and took a few photos. He is surrounded

by family members, wife, children, etc. So, being a Civil War fanatic, this was a real high point

to an otherwise, wet and dreary trip, an unexpected little pleasure for me. And, as usual, Eileen

was a real trooper, dealing with my interest in the Civil War.

As I mentioned, Joshua Chamberlain is one of the real heroes of that war, in my opinion, very

much overlooked. Here is short list of his accomplishments and activities, both during the war

and the years following.

After attending Bowdoin College, he eventually became a faculty member, teaching various

subjects over a number of years. At the outbreak of the war, he volunteered his services,

and was offered a rank of Lt. Col. of the 20th Maine regiment. After a few minor skirmishes,

this regiment saw it’s first major engagement at the battle of Fredericksburg,  participating

in the famous assault on Marye’s Heights. After missing the next big engagement, the battle

of Chancellorsville, due to the regiment being decimated with disease, the unit was next

involved in the march to Gettysburg, where the Confederate armies of R.E.Lee were in the

process of invading the northern states. Upon arriving at Gettysburg, the regiment was assigned

to a  position on a hill named Little Round Top, which ended up being the extreme left flank of

the Union Army. On the second day of the battle, his regiment repulsed numerous assaults by

the 15th Alabama, until such time when his men were running out of ammunition, he ordered a

bayonet charge, which completely routed the Confederate forces, securing the vulnerable left

flank of the army.  He suffered two minor wounds at this engagement. During the next two

years of the war, he was involved in the fighting under U.S. Grant and his march south, which

eventually ended at the surrender at Appomattox, VA. He was given the honor of receiving the

official surrender of the Confederate forces there.

After the war, he returned to Maine, eventually entering into politics. He served four one year

terms as Governor of Maine, and after leaving politics, served as president of Bowdoin College.

Chamberlain died in 1914, at the age of 85, from the lingering effects of wounds suffered in

the war. He is the last known veteran to have died from wounds received during the war.

War record:

He was involved in 20 battles and numerous minor skirmishes.

He was cited for bravery four times.

Had six horses shot out from underneath him.

Wounded six times, one of which was thought to be mortal.

Rose to Brig. General (Brevet Maj. General).

Received the Medal of Honor for his actions on Little Round TopWhat to do in Maine,

When all you see is rain

Last month, my wife, Eileen, and I, traveled up to Maine for a short three day vacation, our

destination being Orr’s Island, located on a finger of land roughly eleven miles east of the

town of Brunswick. As luck would have it, the clouds gathered shortly after leaving CT.,

and we never saw sunshine again until sometime on our return drive back to our home state.

To make matters worse, a good portion of the time, it poured like the dickens. Naturally this

put a “damper” on a lot of the activities we were planning, so we started thinking of alternative

things to do. As I am an absolute Civil War nut, and knowing that the town of Brunswick was

the home to one of the true heroes of that war, Joshua Chamberlain, I had made a comment to

Eileen as we passed through there on our first day, about him being from that town. Luckily

we had internet capabilities at our lodging. So during a rain storm on our second day, Eileen,

being an internet surfing queen, in no time at all, came up with the burial site of Chamberlain,

a cemetery named Pine Grove. And to boot, she recalled seeing said cemetery when we had

driven through Brunswick the day before. It was, she said, located adjacent to Bowdoin

College. So off we went back to Brunswick during an infrequent rain break, located the

cemetery, and after getting our sneakers and socks thoroughly drenched from the wet grass,

we finally found the grave site of Joshua Chamberlain, and took a few photos. He is surrounded

by family members, wife, children, etc. So, being a Civil War fanatic, this was a real high point

to an otherwise, wet and dreary trip, an unexpected little pleasure for me. And, as usual, Eileen

was a real trooper, dealing with my interest in the Civil War.

As I mentioned, Joshua Chamberlain is one of the real heroes of that war, in my opinion, very

much overlooked. Here is short list of his accomplishments and activities, both during the war

and the years following.

After attending Bowdoin College, he eventually became a faculty member, teaching various

subjects over a number of years. At the outbreak of the war, he volunteered his services,

and was offered a rank of Lt. Col. of the 20th Maine regiment. After a few minor skirmishes,

this regiment saw it’s first major engagement at the battle of Fredericksburg,  participating

in the famous assault on Marye’s Heights. After missing the next big engagement, the battle

of Chancellorsville, due to the regiment being decimated with disease, the unit was next

involved in the march to Gettysburg, where the Confederate armies of R.E.Lee were in the

process of invading the northern states. Upon arriving at Gettysburg, the regiment was assigned

to a  position on a hill named Little Round Top, which ended up being the extreme left flank of

the Union Army. On the second day of the battle, his regiment repulsed numerous assaults by

the 15th Alabama, until such time when his men were running out of ammunition, he ordered a

bayonet charge, which completely routed the Confederate forces, securing the vulnerable left

flank of the army.  He suffered two minor wounds at this engagement. During the next two

years of the war, he was involved in the fighting under U.S. Grant and his march south, which

eventually ended at the surrender at Appomattox, VA. He was given the honor of receiving the

official surrender of the Confederate forces there.

After the war, he returned to Maine, eventually entering into politics. He served four one year

terms as Governor of Maine, and after leaving politics, served as president of Bowdoin College.

Chamberlain died in 1914, at the age of 85, from the lingering effects of wounds suffered in

the war. He is the last known veteran to have died from wounds received during the war.

War record:

He was involved in 20 battles and numerous minor skirmishes.

He was cited for bravery four times.

Had six horses shot out from underneath him.

Wounded six times, one of which was thought to be mortal.

Rose to Brig. General (Brevet Maj. General).

Received the Medal of Honor for his actions on Little Round Top.

Intriguing Nonfiction: The Hermit in the Garden, by Gordon Campbell

 

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just this very minute, I stumbled upon an article at Smithsonian.com about the town of Saalfelden, Austria, which has one of the last remaining hermitages in Europe. Recently, the resident hermits left to return to their secular careers, and the town is seeking a new hermit. Among the job requirements is a willingness to live without heat, running water, or electronics of any kind, and to serve a listener to strangers who might want to stop by to confide in someone trustworthy. Applications close in March. Click on the link above to read this intriguing story.

Book review:

Sometimes it really is true that fact is stranger than fiction. You know those little men in the pointy hats that we generally refer to as garden gnomes? They now have a history. You know those classical little “folly” buildings that dot the stately English garden landscape? Well, it turns out that some of these were not strictly decorative.  Gordon Campbell, a Professor of Renaissance Studies at the University of Leicester, has published The Hermit in the Garden: From Imperial Rome to Ornamental Gnome , the first book to describe the phenomenon of the ornamental hermit in Georgian England.

Professor Campbell believes that during the Reformation, the ancient custom of religious persons, sometimes called hermits,  choosing to shut themselves away from the world for constant prayer and meditation came to an end with the dissolution of the great religious houses.   During the 18th century, it became fashionable among the educated and the elite to be “melancholy”, devoting time to the admiration of nature and the study of philosophy. Gradually, some began constructing small rustic cottages, to use as retreats for deep thinking, or, in many cases, to impress visitors with their erudition. It wasn’t long before the wealthy began to  hire men to live in their garden “hermitage”, pretending to be a reclusive but romantic part of the landscape. Although this book is a serious and impressive work of research, Professor Campbell injects threads of humor where appropriate, as when he describes the difficulties inherent in finding men willing to don rough robes, go barefooted, allow their hair, beards, and nails to grow, and, perhaps hardest of all, remain silent, for a period of seven years.

Much of the book is a survey of historic and modern “hermitages” in England, Scotland, France, and parts of Europe, many of which are illustrated. There are numerous extant sites that can still be visited, though they’re no longer inhabited; health regulations prohibit! It ends with some speculation about how the ornamental garden hermit morphed slowly into the ornamental garden gnome, helped along by Disney’s Grumpy, Sleepy, et al.

It’s probably safe to say that there is no  more extensive compilation of information on this topic than The Hermit in the Garden. It’s a valuable addition to the field of garden history, and has much to say, or imply, about Western Civ.

Last summer, I acquired  the perfect little  gnome for my own garden.

President Lincoln and Fido

Heather on History is one of my favorites among the blogs I follow. She’s running a series on presidential pets, many of which I remember. But I never knew that the Lincolns were once dog owners, so am reposting Heather’ s article for You’re History readers. Heeer’s Fido!

Presidential Pets: Abraham Lincoln’s Dog Fido

Abraham Lincoln’s dog Fido was the first presidential dog to be photographed. Lincoln had the photo taken in 1861 just before he left Springfield, Illinois for his presidential inauguration. He told his sons Tad and Willie that they could take the photo with them to Washington, but not the dog.

During his time in Springfield Fido was a great companion to Lincoln. The yellow-and-brown mutt accompanied Lincoln on errands and often waited outside the barbershop for him. Unlike his master, however, Fido wasn’t meant for public life. After Lincoln’s presidential nomination, local politicians came to the house and tried to greet Fido, who retreated under the family sofa. Fido also was less than enthused about the fireworks and cannons going off when his master won the election.

Mary Lincoln was not a big fan of dogs and she was probably happy not to have to clean up after Fido anymore. Lincoln, however, loved dogs and made sure that Fido had a good home. Lincoln gave the dog to the Roll family who were friends and neighbors of the Lincolns and their children.

Before giving away his pet, Lincoln gave the Rolls strict instructions about Fido’s care. For example, Lincoln insisted that Fido never be punished for coming inside with muddy paws. He also wanted the dog to be allowed in the dining room where he could beg for table scraps. The Rolls were also given the Lincoln family sofa to make Fido feel more at home. It was his favorite place to sleep. Finally, the Rolls promised to give the dog back when the Lincolns returned to Springfield.

Fido was never reunited with his master, though he did watch the funeral procession in Springfield after Lincoln’s assassination. Several months later Fido ran away from the Roll’s home. John Roll wrote, “The dog in a playful manner put his dirty paws upon a drunken man sitting on the street curbing. In his drunken rage the man thrust a knife into the body of poor old Fido. So Fido, just a poor yellow dog was assassinated like his illustrious master.” The Roll children buried Lincoln’s beloved dog in their yard.

Historic Buildings of Coventry, CT

Fellow museum guide, interpreter, and teacher Dan Sterner travels all throughout Connecticut photographing the thousands of 18th and 19th century buildings that remain in our 163 towns. He posts the pictures with descriptions and historical information on his web site, town by town. Dan recently put up some pages about what’s to be found in Coventry, which was founded in 1712 and still has more than 400 old places, many in fine condition,  along its roads and byways. He generously agreed to permit me to link up to that page here on You’re History. I’m including the Coventry index here, but there’s a complete index of all the places he’s visited on Historic Buildings of Connecticut .

Thanks, Dan, great work!

Buildings Index

Boston Turnpike
12 Brigham’s Tavern (1778)
1064 Nathaniel Root House (1809)
1630 Coventry Grange Hall (1834)
1746 Second Congregational Church (1847)
1747 Loomis-Pomeroy House (1833)
1804 Pomeroy Tavern (1801)

Bread & Milk Street
21 Jacob Wilson Tavern (1735)

Main Street
1129 Capron-Philips House (1864)
1134 Booth & Dimock Memorial Library (1913)
1141 Former Methodist Church (1867)
1171 First Congregational Church (1849)
1195 Coventry Visitors’ Center (1876)
1220 Bidwell Hotel (1822)
2011 Daniel Rust House (1731)

North River Road
290 John Turner House (1814)
941 Charles Hanover House (1825)

South Street
2187 Elias Sprague House (1821)
2299 Nathan Hale Homestead (1776)
2382 Strong-Porter House (1730)

Historical Fiction: Fates and Traitors, by Jennifer Chiaverini

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Jennifer Chiaverini is making a name for herself as the author of novels about quilts, but I prefer her works about historical characters, among them Mary Todd Lincoln, Elizabeth Keckley, and Julia Grant. My favorite among the historicals is The Spymistress, which told the story of Elizabeth Van Lew, a truly courageous woman who managed to spy for the Union while living in the midst of Confederate Richmond.

Fates and Traitors, which is scheduled for publication in September, caught my interest because it features John Wilkes Booth and some of the important women in his life. The plot traces the trajectory of Booth’s decision to assassinate President Lincoln, from the points of view of his mother and sister, one of his sweethearts, and Mary Surratt, at whose home the conspirators met. Chiaverini makes use of the slender evidence available about Booth’s relationship with these women to flesh out the story line, which was a bit too romance-y for my liking, but she managed to make it interesting and factual enough to sustain my interest. There is nothing really new here, but it was edifying to read about Booth as a real person rather than the demon he is usually portrayed as being. The title, which is a bit clumsy, I think, refers to a vision Booth’s mother experienced when John was born, in which he was fated to become famous. Lucy Hale, thought by many to have been his fiancee, comes across as incredibly naive; while her family thinks Booth is a bounder, she remains blind to many signs that he was up to no good.

Fates and Traitors has not supplanted The Spymistress in my estimation, but it was an interesting and divergent picture of the Booth I’m accustomed to reading about. It left me with the impression that if he had been more respected as an actor, his life might have taken a far different course.

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Great Nonfiction: Rebel Yell, by S. C. Gwynne

Tom Fool to Stonewall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thomas J. Jackson was an unlikely hero. Though after graduating from West Point he distinguished himself in the Mexican-American War, peace time turned him into a pedantic teacher at Virginia Military Academy. A socially awkward man with tendencies toward hypochondria, Prof. Jackson was baited by his students and called “Tom Fool.” His religious fervency, which he frequently expressed in words, further distanced him from others. (Hindsight is better than foresight, and today, some historians speculate that he may have had a form of autism.) At the start of the Civil War, he was refused a position of command. After his astonishing first campaign in the Shenandoah Valley, people began to view Jackson in a new way. After First Manassas, he and his unit, comprised of many of his former VMI students, became known as the Stonewall Brigade for their refusal to back down under heavy fire. Once Robert E. Lee took command of the Army of Northern Virginia, he was quick to recognize Jackson’s brilliant ability to manage and win battles, even when grossly outnumbered. If Jackson had survived the loss of an arm at Chancellorsville, who knows how the war would have played out. Imagine Stonewall Jackson vs. U. S. Grant. But when Jackson died, it had a profound effect on the South, where many viewed his loss as the beginning of the end.

Author S. C. Gwynne is a professional writer but not a trained historian, though you’d never guess it while reading his lively, often riveting account of Stonewall Jackson’s astonishing transformation and accomplishments. Gwynne covers each of his battles in detail, but it is in the study of the many facets, often contradictory, of Jackson’s personality and character that this book really shines. In battle, one singular trait, that of a ferocious, dauntless determination to win at any cost, utterly obscured the eccentricities and foibles that dogged Jackson at all other times. Many biographical accounts of military careers are factual but very dry in the telling, but in Rebel Yell, one never loses the sense of the presence of General Jackson as a man. His demands took a huge toll on his soldiers, and as is generally true of charisma, it’s difficult to grasp exactly why they bonded so strongly to their leader. But that bond held until the day he died.

P.S. Did you know that it was the Stonewall Brigade that devised the infamous Rebel Yell? “On one occasion during the Valley Campaign, while the Stonewall Brigade was in camp, one of its five regiments began yelling. Soon another regiment took it up, and then another, and another, until every member of the entire brigade was delivering the Yell at the top of his lungs. General Jackson came out of his tent, leaned on a fence, and listened. The cacophony continued for several moments and then began dying away. When the last echo had rebounded from the Blue Ridge, old Blue-Light, universally known to be totally tone deaf, turning toward his tent and said “That was the sweetest music I ever heard.” S. C. Gwynne provides a recorded reproduction of the sound early in the audio version of his book.

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