We watched all three episodes and I was especially impressed about how “level” the presentation was. Particularly since there were a couple left-leaning folks as narrators. Particularly surprising as Leonardo DiCaprio was the Producer.
I was largely unaware that U.S. Grant was in effect the leading General of Generals near the end of the war. Was aware of his closeness to Lincoln and of Lincoln’s “I cannot spare this man” statement, but Grant’s overall importance in the conduct of the war was surprising to me. At the end of the last episode they narrator(s) explained the reason that Grant contribution has been more or less forgotten in the 20th Century thru today because of the Southern recasting of the war as being a matter states rights, rather than slavery. The movement was called “The Lost Cause”. I for one was totally unaware of this.
I plan to buy Chernow’s biography and to try to find a copy of Grant’s autobiography if it is still available. Wouldn’t mind having the series on DVD/blueray if the History channel makes it available.
Highly recommend watching the series when/if it it is rebroadcast.
Thanks FRiend!
I’m going to watch it based on your recommendation & review.
Appreciate that very even overview that you posted also!
Back in the late 1960’s, Michigan’s history text books stated that the war started over tariffs, taxes and because the Southern States were getting too cozy with England on their own. I don’t think The Lost Cause had anything to do with it, but I don’t know for sure.
It was as if we were hearing from Mr. Jefferson himself. In the gift shop, I encountered a woman who had asked him to explain his stance on slavery, as he was a slaveowner himself. It was an evenhanded response, and he didn't absolve himself.
I thanked her for her question, and she told me she was a librarian in Manassas VA. She said, "I learned that I need to read more!"
I'll be ordering Grant's memoirs soon, and Vicksburg is about a 6 hour drive from our house. We've driven past it several times, but never stopped.
I need to get off my rear and get a History degree, where hopefully I can teach at the middle or HS level. I'm not worried about my age (66), I met my first faculty advisor in college when he was 77, and he taught economics until his retirement at 90.
My grandson enters 4th grade in August, where he'll get his first round of instruction on Texas History. I've got several excursions planned for him to supplement the curriculum: Gonzales, Hill Country, and he's already visited the Alamo. Of course, we'll walk the battlefield at San Jacinto.
I purchased several books from Osprey Publishing's Campaign series yesterday, one of which was the Texas War of Independence. These books have maps and other illustrations to assist the reader. I'm looking forward to the book on the Battle of Blenheim, for personal reasons. One of John Churchill's victories in this campaign came at the town I lived in Germany, Traben-Trarbach. To my knowledge, I never saw any historical markers in the town, and I lived there 4 years. It's not that surprising, considering the Germans and French fought over that area for probably 1000 years.
It’s available now on History Channel.
Grant’s autobiography is available on Amazon. I got a copy from there.