Everytime you hear about the ' honor of the Old South', NEVER forget what it was built on

I found these pictures at Zimbio:

This is a Civil War Era Slave Sale Re-enactment in St. Louis.


A mock flyer is posted advertising the re-enactment of a mid-19th century slave auction January 15, 2011 in downtown St. Louis, Missouri. Some 150 re-enactors participated in the mock-auction on the steps of the city's Old Courthouse, as the first commemorative event in Missouri marking the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. With other sesquicentennial events in the South emphasizing "states rights" as the cause of the conflict, organizers in St. Louis said they wanted to stress slavery as the central issue of the war. Before the war, St. Louis, with its location on the Mississippi River, had been a primary hub for the sale and movement of slaves. The U.S. Civil War, which lasted from 1861-1865, resulted in the death of more than 600,000 Americans, more than in all of the country's other wars combined.
----Photo by John Moore/Getty Images North America


In This Photo: Jannett White
Slave re-enactor Jannett White is led off in shackes after being "auctioned" during a re-enactment of a mid-19th century slave auction January 15, 2011 in downtown St. Louis, Missouri. Some 150 re-enactors participated in the mock-auction on the steps of the city's Old Courthouse, as the first commemorative event in Missouri marking the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. With other sesquicentennial events in the South emphasizing "states rights" as the cause of the conflict, organizers in St. Louis said they wanted to stress slavery as the central issue of the war. Before the war, St. Louis, with its location on the Mississippi River, had been a primary hub for the sale and movement of slaves. The U.S. Civil War, which lasted from 1861-1865, resulted in the death of more than 600,000 Americans, more than in all of the country's other wars combined.
---Photo by John Moore/Getty Images North America




People portraying slaves are led down the street during a re-enactment of a mid-19th century slave auction January 15, 2011 in downtown St. Louis, Missouri.
---- Photo by John Moore/Getty Images North America


Robert Andel, portraying an auctioneer asks for bids during a re-enactment of a mid-19th century slave auction January 15, 2011 in downtown St. Louis, Missouri. Some 150 re-enactors participated in the mock-auction on the steps of the city's Old Courthouse, as the first commemorative event in Missouri marking the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. With other sesquicentennial events in the South emphasizing "states rights" as the cause of the conflict, organizers in St. Louis said they wanted to stress slavery as the central issue of the war. Before the war, St. Louis, with its location on the Mississippi River, had been a primary hub for the sale and movement of slaves. The U.S. Civil War, which lasted from 1861-1865, resulted in the death of more than 600,000 Americans, more than in all of the country's other wars combined.
----- Photo by John Moore/Getty Images North America


A person portraying a slave stands on the auction block as an auctioneer asks for bids during a re-enactment of a mid-19th century slave auction January 15, 2011 in downtown St. Louis, Missouri.
------ Photo by John Moore/Getty Images North America


A person portraying a blacksmith inspects a "slave" during a re-enactment of a mid-19th century slave auction January 15, 2011 in downtown St. Louis, Missouri.
---- Photo by John Moore/Getty Images North America


People portraying slaves prepare to be carted off during a re-enactment of a mid-19th century slave auction January 15, 2011 in downtown St. Louis, Missouri.
----- Photo by John Moore/Getty Images North America


The public takes part in a discussion inside St. Louis' Old Courthouse following a re-enactment of a mid-19th century slave auction January 15, 2011 in downtown St. Louis, Missouri.
----- Photo by John Moore/Getty Images North America


A person portraying a blacksmith carries shackles ahead of a re-enactment of a mid-19th century slave auction January 15, 2011 in downtown St. Louis, Missouri.
---- Photo by John Moore/Getty Images North America


Slave re-enactors weep during a re-enactment of a mid-19th century slave auction January 15, 2011 in downtown St. Louis, Missouri. Some 150 re-enactors participated in the mock-auction on the steps of the city's Old Courthouse, as the first commemorative event in Missouri marking the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.
---- Photo by John Moore/Getty Images North America


Spectators watch a re-enactment of a mid-19th century slave auction January 15, 2011 in downtown St. Louis, Missouri.

Weekend on the Delaware

It is an impressive sight, almost medieval. A 30-foot moat surrounds the castle-like structure, whose granite walls - up to 30 feet thick - rise three stories above the water.


Fort Delaware was built on Pea Patch Island in the Delaware River in the mid-19th century to defend Wilmington and Philadelphia, but it became famous as a Civil War prisoner-of-war camp.

Now it is a historic state park visited by sightseers who travel by ferry from Delaware City, Del., south of the Delaware Memorial Bridge, to the island where tens of thousands of Confederate POWs were held.

It is also part of an economic development plan - with two sister forts, Delaware City, and the ferry - to encourage tourism.

In 1997, Fort Mott in New Jersey and Fort DuPont in Delaware - once parts of a three-fort defense system - were added to the route of the Delaware River and Bay Authority ferry, then dubbed the Three Forts Ferry.

Now a coalition of New Jersey and Delaware state, county, and city officials has taken the next step, jointly planning the first "Weekend on the Delaware" event, set for Saturday and Sunday, with tours and living history demonstrations.

"The Three Forts Ferry provides a tourism link," said Beth Timberman, a Salem County freeholder and chair of the county Transportation, Tourism, and Agriculture Committee.

"Through joint marketing partnerships, we believe that we can leverage the coalition's limited financial resources to increase usage of the ferry, which will bring more tourism revenue to both sides of the Delaware River."

Delaware City is "emerging as a destination for both heritage and ecotourism," said Mayor John W. Martin.

The three-fort excursion provides a "unique and exciting experience for visitors that spans two centuries and two states," he said.

Working together is crucial, said Salem County Deputy Administrator Robin Weinstein. "We need to promote everything from a regional perspective," he said. "We're tying the area together with different packages to see what works - biking, birding, living history."

Fort Delaware was not always a tourist spot.

About 33,000 Confederate troops, high-ranking officers, and political prisoners were held on the narrow piece of land from 1861 to 1866. About 2,700 died there.

The heat and humidity could be stifling and flies were everywhere. Dysentery and scurvy, even smallpox, ravaged hundreds of gray-clad prisoners of war in their crude barracks.

"Am on guard duty at the Rebel Barracks, disagreeable because of the stench," Union Pvt. A.J. Hamilton wrote of standing watch over the lice-covered Confederate prisoners he called Johnnies (short for "Johnny Reb"). "Many of the Johnnies are sick, three of them died."

The following day, June 15, 1863, Hamilton penned another diary entry: "Went over to Jersey to bury some Rebs."

Years ago - when Forts Delaware, Mott, and DuPont were active - ferries connected them, transporting people and supplies. Today, the Three Forts Ferry carries sightseers.

Fort DuPont is located at the original Chesapeake and Delaware Canal near Delaware City. During the War of 1812, its cannons were mounted on the shore to defend the Delaware River against the British.

Permanent fortifications were added during the Civil War and strengthened in the 1870s with 15-inch Rodman guns and a concrete powder magazine. During World War II, it held 1,000 German and Italian POWs.

On the New Jersey side, in Pennsville Township, Fort Mott was built in the 1870s with two gun emplacements and two magazines. Troops were stationed there until 1922, and the fort was acquired by the state as a historic site and park in 1947.

"Fort Mott's staff and volunteers will be demonstrating what life was like at the fort during the years it was in operation" this weekend, said the fort superintendent, Vince Bonica.

The three state parks and Delaware City are being jointly marketed by a coalition that includes officials from the city and the forts, the DRBA, Salem County, the Pennsville Economic Development Association, Main Street Delaware City, the Delaware Military Heritage and Education Foundation, the National Park Service, the Greater Wilmington Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Delaware Tourism Office.

"This coordinated marketing effort by a united bistate coalition will be more viable and effective in promoting the region," said DRBA Commissioner Ceil Smith. "As a resident of Salem County, I know the region has a lot to offer."

The coalition will reoffer the event in October. On Saturday and Sunday, while living history demonstrations and tours are held at the forts, Delaware City will hold a festival. Fireworks are planned in the city Saturday.

"The connection between these three military heritage sites and their link via the Delaware River provides rich possibilities for further development of tourism in Delaware City and Salem County," said Stephanie Przybylek, executive director of the Delaware Military Heritage and Education Foundation at Fort DuPont.

"Creating new tourism opportunities could certainly attract military history enthusiasts, but also people who enjoy spending time in the natural environment and visiting waterfront locations."

WRITTEN BY: Edward Colimore with original article at The Philadelphia Inquirer available by clicking on the title of this entry

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell Forgot About Slavery in Proclamation of Confederate History Month

I don't think he actually forgot. There is a tradition by some on the Right to leave slavery out as a core reason for the Civil War simply because they don't hold the view that Slavery was very important.

Nikki Giovanni gets to the point....


McDonnell knew exactly what he was doing. It wasn't an innocent mistake. It was classic Southern Strategy stuff. But when he started to notice a backlash... he tried to make amends.
Unfortunately, I don't see this as having much of an impact nationally. Stupid voters will still vote overwhelmingly Republican in the next two major election cycles, no matter what. If anything, this dust up makes McDonnell look like a more appealing candidate for White Conservatives if he has any national political ambitions. But stories like this do serve to show the mindset of those on the Right who are in leadership.

Like I mentioned on my Republican media page a year ago (see sidebar) there is this desire by some on the Right to re-establish some sort of new Confederacy in this Country... if not a physical one... definitely an ideological one.

Nice Huffpost commentary

Movie Vets Help the Rest of Us Appreciate

Like most Americans, I have never experienced the honor of wearing the uniform of one of our brave military branches in service to my country. I have heard it from many who are my same age. We turned 18 years of age in the late 1970's and early 1980's. There was no war, unless you count the Cold War, and in many homes the tradition of military service was not passed along.

I have always felt it missing from my own set of life experiences and from my professional resume. An opportunity to experience that sense of duty and honor, and of service to my country and community, is certainly one of the many reasons that I joined the Philadelphia Police Department almost two decades ago now. If I didn't make the choice as a kid to put on the uniform of my country, then at least I could put on a uniform here and help protect our homeland.

Still, it would be hard for most of us to ever appreciate what real soldiers, sailors, and pilots have experienced as they have defended both our nation directly and the cause of freedom around the world. While television news shows missiles being launched and far away explosions, they rarely, if ever, show the truth of close, intense combat situations and the split-second decisions that can mean the difference between life and death.

What was it really like to climb inside the cockpit of a fighter plane in World War II and engage in a mission over enemy lines, perhaps in combat with Nazi or Japanese pilots? What was it really like to crawl inside of a tank and head out into the deserts of Iraq? What was it really like to trudge through a swamp in the jungles of Vietnam? What was it really like to charge on to a battle field in the Civil War? What was it like to cross the Delaware River in a small boat, freezing and shivering in the cold with General Washington in the Revolutionary War?

For all of it's many faults, one of the things that Hollywood has managed to do best is to portray those military heroes well, bringing us close to the battles and often inside the very heads of the individuals involved. Whether those men and women were fighting in combat in war time or protecting our nation and it's interests in peace time, motion pictures have given us the opportunity to get close to the action.

In 1998, Steven Spielberg took us right out on to Omaha Beach with it's horror and death during the D-Day invasion of World War II. Tom Hanks, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Barry Pepper, Adam Goldberg, Vin Diesel, Paul Giamatti, Matt Damon, Dennis Farina and the rest of the stellar cast of 'Saving Private Ryan' took us into the heads, hearts, and minds of the heroes who rescued humanity from Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany.

In 1994, Hanks had joined with director Robert Zemeckis and fellow actors Gary Sinise and Mykelti Williamson to explore the Vietnam War and it's participants from some unusual angles in 'Forrest Gump'. Back in 1979, Francis Ford Coppola had given us a look into the jungle battles with starring turns from Marlon Brando, Martin Sheen, Robert Duvall, Laurence Fishburne, Harrison Ford, Sam Bottoms, and Dennis Hopper in 'Apocalypse Now'. In 1986, Oliver Stone's 'Platoon' with Keith David, Forest Whitaker, Kevin Dillon, Johnny Depp, Willem Dafoe, and Charlie Sheen took us back to the 'Nam.

While World War II and Vietnam have been the focus of some of the best war movies in motion picture history, many other conflicts around the world have shone a light on the struggles and accomplishments of America's fighting heroes. From 1935's 'Gone With the Wind' visiting the Civil War to 2005's 'Jarhead' taking us inside Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm we have seen American troops rise to defend their nation, democracy, and freedom.

So while few of us have had or ever will have that experience, we get at least a small taste of the hardships, the horrors, and the sacrifices that men and women make when they join the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and other military service groups thanks to the best of these Hollywood productions. Still, while it gives us a taste, it will never compare to real life.

Those men and women represented by these Hollywood characters and caricatures, by these retellings of history, and by the drama of fiction within a historical construct are the real heroes who we must always thank and never forget.

Especially today, on Veteran's Day here in the United States, we must all join together in supporting and thanking the military veterans who fight for our nation, and in some cases who are injured and even die for the cause of our freedom and liberty.