Rouviere Media

One of the best sources of on-line information on the Civil War is the New York Times' interactive section on the Civil War. It requires a subscription to the newspaper, but the information is top-notch. It , includes a Civil War-era map showing slavery with blown up areas to help the reader understand it. A downloadable PDF of the map also is available. Another feature in the section is a photo of Lincoln’s inauguration with notes on it about important parts of the event, including security forces, a special section for women, and the record breaking crowd, as well as a new larger dome on the capital, which still had scaffolding on it.

The section also has a fine interactive timeline of the war and an interactive showing poet Walt Whitman's jottings in his notebook on the Civil War and his poems as well as sketches of thim.

Civil War Christmas

The Civil War is figuring prominently in Christmas celetrations at historic sites. At James’s Madison’s Montpelier, Civil War reenactors meet outside a crackling fire beside the mansion to  tell period stories and play music from the erea, evoking images  of Genral Samuel McGowan’s South Carolinians, who occupied Montpelier’s Civil War encampment during the winter of 1863-1864. The war also will include the traditional Christmas Evening during which a re-enactor  acting as Dolly Madison will receive visitors during a tour of the decorated house.

The History Theatre in St. Paul Minn. is performing A Civil War Christmas with folk stongs, spirituals, Civil War songs and Christmas carols. It will play through December 18.
The Works in Newark, NJ., is hosting A Civil War Christmas in honor of Licking County’s sesquicentennial commemoration. It will feature dulcimer and guitar music, craft projects, and the creation of blown glass ornaments.  The Civil War theme displays and activities are distributed  throughout the museum. 

Combat Dog

The Massillon Museum in Massillon, Ohio, has a display about a dog named Harvey who went to war with the 104th Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
He was adopted by Company F and stayed throughout the war. He was captured once and wounded in three separate battles as he charged up front with the soldiers.  The exhibit has paw prints leading to the exibit and a bowl of dog biscuits. Visitors may take a biscuit to the reception desk to redeem for a free reproductionof a Harvey pin that the Grand Army of the Republic veterans organization created to commemorate their mascot at reunions following the war.

Civil War Food

The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, has published a cookbook manuscript written by Philadelphia housewife Ellen Emlen between 1860 and 1865. The book manuscript was discovered in a box in the Society’s stacks. The cookbook contains many recipes for oysters, because the Delaware River was full of fresh water oysters then.

A historic copper sword was stolen from a statue at Lincoln's Tomb in Illonois. Illinois State Rep. Mike Unes (R-East Peoria) is supporting legislation to end the rash of copper and other recyclable medal theft in the state to which the sword apparently fell victim. The bill would stipulate that recyclable metal deals had to keep records of all purchased of recyclable metal and increase the time from two to three years that dealers must keep the records. It would make it illegal for recyclable metal dealers to purchase materials clearly marked as belonging to a business or associated with government, utilities, or cemetaries.