USS Hetzel on the Header

The ship being highlighted this week is the USS Hetzel. She was a 200-ton sidewheel steamer armed with a 9-inch smoothbore gun and an 80-pounder (possibly rifled). She was built in 1861 for use by the US Coast Survey, but was transferred to the Navy Department under the command of Lt. H.K. Davenport.

She was assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron and after an engagement at Hampton Roads, VA in early December 1861 was sent to the North Carolina coast where she spent the remainder of the Civil War. Throughout the war she was involved in numerous joint force actions in the sounds and rivers of the state, spanning from Hatteras and Elizabeth City in the north to New Bern in the south. She acted as the command ship in the sounds of North Carolina for most of the war.

***As of 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 29 the header of the blog is not showing correctly. I do not know what has caused this problem, as the full photo was showing earlier today. Hopefully this issue will resolve itself. AD

Header Ship Series and USN Interpretation

Over the next four weeks I will be highlighting four different US Navy ships from the Civil War on my header. The reason is that each Friday for the next four weeks I will be assisting Tryon Palace Historic Sites and Gardens in New Bern with their annual holiday programming. The Hay House (one of the properties owned by the Palace) has it's interpretation shifted to that of a Union occupied dwelling in town during the Civil War. Usually this particular house interprets the year 1835, however it shifts to winter 1862-63 for the holiday season. New Bern was an occupied town from March 1862 until the war's end. The interpretation at Tryon Palace revolves around the 44th Massachusetts Volunteers, of which many records exist. I've helped with this interpretation each year since working at the Palace in 2000. However, I'm bored with doing the whole 44th Massachusetts schtick so I decided to develop my own Navy impression. Keep in mind this is all 1st person, or character, interpretation so it isn't the easiest thing in the world. A lot of research and development goes into creating a "character" whether they are a real person or a composite. Mine is a composite, and I will use these four ships to tell my character's story. Check back each week for a new ship on the header (and maybe some notes about how my character has developed)!

Sad Day for Heavy Metal Fans

OK, I'll admit up front that this post is WAY OFF TOPIC for this blog, but allow me the personal splurge here. The story hit the Internet today that lead singer of the heavy metal band Quiet Riot was found dead in his Las Vegas home yesterday. This is a sad moment in my long appreciation of rock music. I grew up on, and still love, 1980s heavy metal bands. Metal Health was one of my very first cassette tapes as a kid. My uncle played in a local lounge band and met the members of Quiet Riot in the Ramada Inn bar in Johnstown, PA after they had played a show at the War Memorial Arena. He got their autographs for me, even though he didn't consider them real musicians. I've long since misplaced the autographs, but I still love the music. My wife thinks I'm a dork, my stepdaughter is sort of hip to it, but I still love it and listen to it all the time. So, I'll be mourning Kevin DuBrow's passing at age 52 from as yet unknown causes.

UPDATE (12/11/07) - Cause of death. This isn't surprising of course, but I've always wondered how you "accidentally" overdose.

Vocabulary for Today

I've had a chance over this holiday break to catch up on some pleasure reading. I have devoured the Winter 2008 edition of Pipes and Tobaccos Magazine and read a decent article on the US Marines in the Civil War in Leatherneck (thanks to Dad for not throwing that issue away). Anyway, in all my reading I have managed to expand my vocabulary and I have a new favorite word.

Perspicacity - the ability to see beyond appearances, read between the lines, and penetrate to the essence or core of an issue, problem, or situation; the simple, fundamental ability to recognize bullshit.

The preceding is the definition given by the author of the particular article from which I pulled it. So, reflect on perspicacity when you get a chance.

A Ship on the Header Again!

It's been quite a while since I've had a ship on the header of the blog. This particular ship was one of the many that were at the 2006 Pepsi America's Sail festival in Beaufort, NC in July 2006. Here's the info on the ship:

The Compass Rose is a replica 18th century gaff rigged schooner built in 1970 in Nova Scotia. She is 55 feet long, 13.5 feet wide, and has a displacement of 25 tons. Here's a link to her website. Her owners claim that she may be the most photographed vessel on the East Coast, and that she has appeared in numerous films. Be aware that the website hasn't been updated in well over a year and the owners unfortunately seem to be enamored with the whole pirate scene (which for our living history group is just plain silly). At the very least, there are some really tacky photos on the website. However, I try not to let that detract from the beauty of this magnificent vessel.

More Thanksgiving Stuff

Washington, D.C., October 3, 1863
By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.

I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln


Copied from Eric Wittenberg's Blog, Rantings of a Civil War Historian

My Favorite Holiday

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. I'm sure this has something to do with my love of food, but it was always a big family holiday for us. I've read a little bit about the history of Christmas, but never really thought much about the history of Thanksgiving except what we all learned in kindergarten. So here are some links to get you started if you are as interested as I am.

Interesting from a living history standpoint for sure.

A classic.

For those who would rather watch than read.

A children's book, but could be useful assuming it's accurate.

Gotta have a cookbook, and this one looks like a good one.

Who hasn't watched this parade at least once in their life?

Of course there are tons of kids books about Thanksgiving, and more books about freakin' Squanto than I care to count. This short list seems like a good starting point. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

PS - Found this today on the Internet. A story that refutes the traditional Thanksgiving narrative (sort of).

Good Weekend at the Neuse

We had a good weekend at the CSS Neuse event. It was our largest turnout of the year for an event, we met a new recruit, and we saw about 600 people. As usual, it was one of our best programs of the year. I hope to have some photos to post soon.

Last Program of the Year

This weekend will mark the year's final program for Ship's Company of the Roanoke, as we participate in the annual Civil War living history program at the CSS Neuse State Historic Site in Kinston. This is a program that I planned for the past six years prior to taking my current position. This is the first year that I haven't been the primary organizer, though I have helped along the way. I suppose it will be a bit different for me because rather than worrying about the program as a whole I only have to concern myself with one or two facets. It should be a nice break, but it has been and will continue to be a little bit hard to let go of something that I grew over the past six years. My first year we had about 35-40 reenactors and maybe 300 visitors. At the program's height we had 105 reenactors and 900 visitors. I don't think this year's numbers will be quite that good, but it is shaping up to be a nice turnout.
Cannon firing at a previous year's event.

We will also be having a unit meeting on Saturday evening and will be making some changes to our merry little band. It is very exciting to see how the group has grown in a little over three years and some of the new directions in which we are heading. More on all of that in a later post. So, if you are looking for something fun to do in eastern NC this weekend come on out to Kinston and check out the program!

A Few Days at Fort Fisher

Those of you who read this blog regularly may remember a post back in July about Fort Fisher. I have returned to the office after spending the past three days there, helping staff plan a program for January and conducting another artillery training course. I always enjoy my time at Fort Fisher and usually include a side trip or two to somewhere in Wilmington that I haven't been in a while. This trip was no different. Monday morning, prior to going to the site, I stopped at Davis and Son Tobacconists which is where I purchase all of my pipe tobacco and usually my cigars as well. It's always nice to see Tim Davis and his staff, and catch up on what's happening around the shop. They are the nicest folks you could ever meet and I enjoy spending time there. Monday afternoon I joined with a group of high school teachers and students, and college professors for a tour of Sugar Loaf. Sugar Loaf is located within Carolina Beach State Park, is the highest point in New Hanover County, and is the site of some of the best preserved Confederate earthworks in the area. The group taking the tour was the History Teaching Alliance and the tour was led by Dr. Chris Fonvielle of the UNCW History Department. Of course, I was Chris' teaching assistant when I was in grad school and he was the Best Man in our wedding, so I always take an opportunity to see him whenever possible. Though I was embarrassed to admit that it was my first time visiting Sugar Loaf, it was a great tour.

Tuesday and Wednesday were spent leading an artillery training session for five employees and volunteers. I love artillery and always enjoy a chance to teach people about it. Of course, the training also involves shooting so it's always fun. I continue to be impressed with the new staff at Fort Fisher and I am very pleased with the way things are going at that site. I really think that some of the previously untapped potential at that site is going to start to show through. As I've said before, Fort Fisher is a special place to me, and I'm excited that new life is being breathed into it.

Richmond - The Final Half Day

Well, I have returned home having thoroughly enjoyed myself in Richmond for the past few days. This morning I took in a final session on national reconciliation and the development of southern tourism in the wake of Reconstruction. It was a very interesting panel, which included a presentation on the development of Somerset Place as a state historic site in the 1940s-1960s. The presenter was Alisa Harrison, a Ph.D candidate at Duke University. Her dissertation is a history of Somerset Place and I can't wait to see it. Hopefully it will get picked up by one of the presses and published as a book. Karen Cox, director of the public history program at UNC-Charlotte, also gave an interesting presentation as part of the same panel.

After the session I breezed through the publisher's displays one last time as most of them were running 50% off deals or some other such bargain. I wound up spending more than I should have, but I got some really great deals on some excellent books. I was able to remove three titles from my Amazon.com wish list as a result. Of course, I added five or six new titles to that list at the same time.

All in all it was a good conference. I became reacquainted with some folks I hadn't seen in quite a while, and met a lot of new colleagues as well. Some academic historians might find it odd that a public history type like myself would attend a conference such as this. Truth be told, more public history folks probably should attend these conferences in order to keep up with current scholarship, which will in turn influence their interpretations of the past. I think it is also beneficial to have connections to the academic world because in the end it can lead to collaborative efforts that benefit everyone. I'll probably have to miss SHA next year, as it is in New Orleans (a bit farther than I can probably realistically expect to go). But, after a stop in Louisville in 2009, the SHA comes to Charlotte in 2010! I can't wait!

Richmond - Day Two

While not as awe-inspiring as last night's banquet, today was a good day. I attended a session this morning that dealt with Unionism and dissent (more dissent really) in the Confederacy. The first two presentations dealt specifically with North Carolina so it was a very useful and pertinent session. Afterwards I had lunch with my friend Ryan Anderson and two of his colleagues from UNC-Pembroke. Spent the afternoon browsing all of the publishing companies' displays. Too many books, too little money and time. I ran into Sam Craighead who is a friend of our living history group, employee at the Museum of the Confederacy, and member of the James River Squadron naval living history group. It was nice to see Sam as always, and we had a good conversation about books dealing with the history of the CSS Shenandoah.

**Fanboy Update** I walked outside the conference hotel this afternoon, and sitting there on a bench, smoking his pipe was none other than Michael Holt. Very cool. BTW, for those who may not be familiar with this esteemed historian, some of his works include The Political Crisis of the 1850s and The Rise and Fall of the American Whig Party.

This evening I had dinner with Ryan, his wife Kristen, and their 11-month old son Max. It's my first time meeting little Max and he's a great little kid. We had dinner at a restaurant called Kuba Kuba, a great little Cuban restaurant in The Fan district of Richmond. I will have to spend some more time in this unique neighborhood on future trips to the city. After dinner Ryan and I headed to Penny Lane Pub for cigars and beer. Yep, it's been a good day!

Live from Richmond!

I must say that my first night in Richmond has been worth the entire trip. I am here for the annual meeting of the Southern Historical Association. I skipped today's sessions, so the conference really began this evening for me with the Society of Civil War Historians banquet. Speakers were Alex Wise, A. Wilson Greene, and John Coski. Greene and Coski were the highlights of the evening for me, and this session was better than I ever could have hoped. The other thing that made this evening's event tremendous was the talent in that room. I have a tendency to be starstruck, but damn it when I'm in a room with the likes of Emory Thomas, Gary Gallagher, Peter Carmichael, Mark Grimsley, John Marszalek....(need I go on) I think I can be a little giddy. Oh yeah, Kevin Levin and Chris Graham were there too! I'm sure you can read more about Richmond and this conference on their blogs, and probably some others. More updates to come tomorrow.