I think that is a great point and likely true. Focusing on what we have in common vs. what separates us.

Not just you. Couple of theories. Don't have a researched thesis to share, but more than an educated guess: In New England, the philosophies of guys like Emerson, Thoreau, et al, had started to gain traction among the educated elites and challenge conventional notions of dogmatic adherence to strict religious practice as opposed to the further development of enlightment and rational thought. There was no real equivalent to that in the South (yet). Second, the North had a much larger population of European immigrants from the Continent (specifically the Germans). Almost constant war in some form or other, and the political corruption (couched in the "divine" monarch) that is often both the cause and effect of the conflict, had eroded the common man's unquestioned belief in God's personal and direct intervention in the affairs of men. The educated New England officer was too smart to submit his will to the church, and the common Union solider had lost faith in the benevolence and independence of the church. Both of these things converged for Howard.

@Michael Harrison Grose @Mare The Battle of Gettysburg Podcast, Season 2, Episodes 6 and 8. All about the XI Corps. Special guest, LBG Stuart Dempsey. Ep 6 especially talks about Sigel and the formation of the units.

Sure thing. ACWM made public on Friday. Happy to share the link. Gallagher's presentation is third, starts at 2:20. His comments that caused me to start the thread can be found starting at 2:56:45.

What a great letter. I don't know much about Barlow other than his role at Chancellorsville and, of course, at Gettysburg. I need to read more diaries and letters. So much to glean from them. My favorite part: "We are surprised to learn from the New York papers that we gained a great victory. We thought here that we had made a disastrous retreat."

Just shared in my response to Michael, was really suprised by the strength of his conviction on this idea. The idea of destroying the AoNV . . . you're right that Lincoln and Grant both believed Lee was the target, not cities/territory. Was that as clear in June 1862? There was no grand (and romanticized) AoNV at that point. McClellan definitely was falling into the trap of believing the numbers. Though it's almost 70 years old at this point, Caton's Mr. Lincoln's Army is still a great read about this. He tells of McClellans "intelligence" officers, former investigators with the railrods, who were instrumental in reporting these inflated numbers and McClellan's absolute faith in these reports. You're right about Hooker and Kearny; I think it was our CWBC friend Ryan who said in one of the other blog posts that his death was the most significant general death in the East for the Union. Definitely up there.

Yeah, a lot of interesting fodder to consider. I think what surprised me was the force with which Gallagher said it was the most pivotal week in the whole war and it isn't even close. I just hadn't thought about it in that manner. He was adamant in his opinion that the war ends if Johnston was not injured and McClellan takes Richmond. No Lee, no AoNV as we know it now.

Not familiar with the book by Mingus. Know Cooper. He has written extensively about the Civil War in Cumberland County, PA (where I live). He's currently a doc student at Georgetown. Much of what he has writtent was completed when he was in high school and college (Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA). I've heard him speak at a few round tables. Impressive young man.

Darin, thought of this after we talked about Winchester on the Live Saturday. Did you go to Jackson's HQ in the Lewis Moore house? In '64, that home would have been outside of town and subject to Sheridan's order to burn. Story is that Sheridan made an exception for that house because Moore was a Mason and there was a marker on the front door. When I was there, it was a rainy Monday in October. The volunteer giving the tours was pretty excited to have a visitor, so I got the behind the scenes tour. He told me that's the only reason the house was still there to be a museum.

Live just south of Carlisle, PA, 25 minutes north of Gettysburg. Born and raised in Iowa, came to PA for college, never went home. Taught English and then spent 10 years as the principal of Gettysburg High School. Was always interested in the Civil War (from watching the mini-series North and South as a kid),cemented by my time in Gburg.

Jeff Shaara's step daughter was a student at Gburg High School while I was the principal. I didn't know that (different last name), so I first met him because I walked up to the concession stand to buy my usual pack of M&Ms before a volleyball game and he said "Hey, what can I get for you?" I just stared, and then said "Are you Jeff Shaara?" And he replied with "Are you Mark Blanchard?" Of course I about fainted that he knew my name, completely forgetting that I was the principal of his kid's school. Great guy. Ended up having lots of conversations with him during the time his stepdaugther was in school. We rarely talked about the Civil War, mostly about writing (I was an English major). He always sent me an autographed copy of his latest book, including all four of the western theater books you mentioned. As you said, couldn't be more down to earth.