“The beauty of the day, the rich colouring which the Autumn had given to the leaves of the Woods, and the picturesque effect of the wild scenery, a glimpse of which we caught occasionally on the high grounds as we climbed over them, gave a kind of romance to the Expedition which prevented my feeling the labour and the fatigue. ”
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Featured Item from the MHS Collection |
Intended as a “slight demonstration” on the south bank of the Potomac, the Battle of Ball’s Bluff—fought in Loudon County, Virginia, on 21 October 1861—was a cruel introduction to war and its blunders for soldiers from Massachusetts. Two Massachusetts regiments made up part of the reconnaissance of Confederate positions along the upper Potomac near Leesburg, Virginia: the 20th Infantry Regiment—known as the “Harvard Regiment” because of its well-educated, socially-elite officers—and the 15th Infantry, recruited primarily out of Worcester County, Mass. From the outset, almost everything that could go wrong did. Ball’s Bluff was a natural trap—the Northern soldiers formed at the top of a steep cliff with their backs to the Potomac River, with only a few small boats to move reinforcements to the south bank, and to rescue survivors after the Union rout. In this 22 October 1861 letter to his mother, Caspar Crowninshield describes the battle. Read more about the Battle of Ball’s Bluff and Caspar Crowninshield.
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This Week's Online Programs |
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On Thursday, 22 October, at 12:00 PM, Cody Nager, CUNY, presents The Confederation Period Origins of American Migration Policy. As migrants arrived in the United States after the 1783 Treaty of Paris, the new nation balanced the economic potential of migration against domestic and international turmoil. Debates over regulation centered around potential disloyalty in the trans-Appalachian west, the environment of interstate competition, and foreign commercial interference. From these debates developed the first national migration policy codified when Congress passed the Naturalization Act of 1790. Register for this online brown-bag program.
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On Thursday, 22 October, at 5:30 PM, Richard Bell, University of Maryland, presents Hamilton the Musical. America has Hamilton-mania! Its crafty lyrics, hip-hop tunes, and big, bold story have rejuvenated interest in the real lives and true histories that Hamilton puts center stage. In this talk, Dr. Richard Bell explores this musical phenomenon to reveal what its success tells us about the marriage of history and show-business. Bell will examine what the musical gets right and gets wrong about Alexander Hamilton, the American Revolution, and the birth of the United States. He will also discuss Hamilton’s cultural impact: what does its runaway success reveal about the stories we tell each other about who we are and about the nation we made? Register for this online program.
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On Friday, 23 October, at 2:00 PM, Peter Drummey, MHS, presents Virtual Tour of Who Counts: A Look at Voter Rights through Political Cartoons. Join Peter Drummey for a look at the Society’s virtual exhibition Who Counts? A Look at Voter Rights through Political Cartoons. Political cartoons have long served as provocateurs of public debate illustrating opinions of the day for the masses. The exhibition looks at how cartoons have explored two broad themes: efforts to expand access to voting and efforts to restrict access to voting. Illustrations explore women's suffrage, voting as a civil right, and voting by mail, as well as gerrymandering, the Electoral College, and political corruption. Register for this virtual tour.
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Upcoming October Programs |
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On Thursday, 29 October, at 5:30 PM, Peter Onuf, University of Virginia, and Annette Gordon-Reed, Harvard University, present Jefferson: Then & Now.
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On Tuesday, 17 November, beginning at 6:00 PM, enjoy a conversation between Pulitzer Prize-winning presidential historian Jon Meacham and GBH’s Emily Rooney at our virtual Making History Gala. The John Codman Ropes award will be presented to Governor Charlie Baker and Mayor Martin J. Walsh. Visit www.masshist.org/gala to purchase tickets and sponsorships.
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On Tuesday, 17 November, at 8:00 PM, embrace your inner nerd at the MHS online young patron party! Hosted by Tori Bedford, reporter at GBH News and producer of the All Rev’d Up podcast, this virtual event will feature lively cocktail-making demonstrations by Bully Boy Distillers and engaging conversations with peer young patrons. The inaugural Rising History Maker Award will be presented to Dr. Karilyn Crockett, the City of Boston’s first Chief of Equity. Purchase “pay-your-age” tickets to receive advance cocktail recipes and automatic entry into door prize drawings.
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Share Your COVID-19 Experience(s) |
The MHS invites you to contribute your COVID-19 experience(s) to our collection. Record your experiences on a daily, weekly, or intermittent basis. You can contribute your thoughts and images online. Visit our COVID-19 web display to learn more and to share your thoughts. Or, you can keep a journal and donate it to the MHS. Contact collections@masshist.org for more information.
Thank you to everyone who has shared so far. If you have not yet done so or would like to contribute again, please visit: www.masshist.org/projects/covid/index.php. You can also read what others have shared.
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Our Members are the heart of the MHS community and an integral part of the MHS story. Become a Member to help make possible the Society’s mission to promote the study of American history. Receive benefits including invitations to enhanced Member-only events; free or discounted admission to special programs; and access to publications such as our calendar of events, newsletter, and Annual Report. Learn more at www.masshist.org/support/members.
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