[Homer_J_Simpson]

Photos! (From “Lincoln”)

Maps! (Also from “Lincoln”)

Lincoln first lived in New Salem (top of first map) when he settled in Illinois. Vandalia (same map) was the original state capital. Lincoln was one of the key players in getting it moved to Springfield. That was one of his earlier hard-ball political fights. He took right to that kind of action.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

As you can see, I got too impatient to wait for 1858 + 160 years to roll around. I plan a slow motion, low volume ping schedule for a while just to see how it goes. I won’t blame anybody that doesn’t want to sign on this early. I will post this using the WWII ping list + people that already indicated they are ready to go on the final post from the war (9/3/45). I will probably do that for a while and then drop everybody that doesn’t indicate to me by normal or private reply they want to be on a “Civil War” ping list. You can see the new list on my profile just below the original WWII class roster. I put the quotes around “Civil War” because it will be 2021 before the real shooting starts and it seems like tempting fate to assume we will all still be doing this by then.

As the thread title suggests this will be the only thread from now through December. As I learn interesting new information from my reading I will post it here as replies but will not ping the whole list, so check in from time to time for updates if you wish. The idea is for everybody to contribute so I am thinking my only exceptional role is to provide the venue. I am not doing a daily newspaper post but if anyone else is moved to do that I’m sure everyone would appreciate the effort.

What the heck happened to the formatting on FR over the last 6 weeks?

[Vermont Lt]

Did you get to the part where Lincoln started killing vampires.

[JLS]

Yes, for me.

[texanyankee]

Thanks Homer! Great to be back in class again!

[SamAdams76]

Thank you for starting this project and I'm relieved to know that you don't plan on posting every single day. Not just for your sake but for your readers as well. The daily WW2 postings was a lot to absorb! Yet it was an admirable project and one that can be easily repeated again - now that all the work has been done.

I have that Lincoln book sitting on my bookshelf. I think I'll get around to reading it as your new series gets underway.

I liked the map of what the U.S. looked like in the 1850s. On a lighter note, I have a modern name for the Mason/Dixon line. I now call it that IHOP/Waffle House line because it seems that as soon as I cross the PA border and into Maryland and the Virginias, the roadside IHOPs disappear to be replaced by Waffle Houses.

By the way, I'm a big fan of the Waffle House chain and having breakfast in one is something I always look forward to when I travel to the South.