The Civil War was a transformative event in the history of the nation. Irrespective of region or state, few aspects of life remained unchanged by the events of 1861-1865. Despite the fact that no significant military engagements occurred in Talbot County, the lives of its residents, both Black and White, were impacted in many ways.
This semester, continue learning about Maryland’s role the Civil War through some of the more notable Union and Confederate leaders, focusing on the Eastern Shore, and looking at the postwar outcomes and repercussions, including ‘Lost Cause Mythology.’
This is a continuation of last semester’s course but you don’t need to have taken Part I to enjoy this course. in fact, you can review sessions from Part I in our Course Library.
The Civil War in Maryland, Part II is three (3) sessions, Tuesdays, April; 18, 25 and May 2nd from 10 – 11:30 AM. HYBRID (in person at the Easton Family YMCA, ZOOM or Recording). $40. To register, visit https://chesapeakeforum.org.
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Glenn baker says
Since the ‘Lost Cause Mythology’ is a late twenty century invention I don’t believe this course is really about history but rather a certain narrative. Continuing to push this false narrative in this County is a disservice to those who have recently arrived here.
Mickey Terrone says
Glenn, FYI, the “Lost Cause” got its name in 1866 with the book by Edward Pollard, wartime editor of the Richmond Examiner. This southern view of the war was articulated and promoted after RE Lee’s death in 1870, by former Confederate officers Jubal Early, Nelson Pendleton and others who founded the “Southern Historical Society Papers” as their vehicle to put forth their stilted version of events. Organizations like the United Daughters of the Confederacy (1894) and United Confederate Veterans (1889) celebrated and sanctified the Lost Cause mythology, i.e., the southern version by establishing rituals, Confederate holidays and publications (Confederate Veteran and UDC Magazines).
Authors like Douglas Southall Freeman artfully added to this version of the war, especially depicting Lee as the invincible White Knight of the Confederacy and blaming his mistakes on others. Many heroic novels, poems, movies have etched Lost Cause myths into the minds of Americans throughout the country, but nearly to a level of religious devotion in some areas of the former Confederate states.
For anyone interested in learning the facts about the Lost Cause, there are two excellent books in our Talbot County Free Library. “The Lost Cause, 1865-1900” by Rollin Osterweis and also “The Lost Cause”, by Edward Bonekemper. There are others that touch on the subject as well, but Glenn, you need to read those books two soon to disabuse yourself of such erroneous Lost Cause notions.