Gettysburg won the james j. Roberts award for best civil war book that year and his book on confederate goliath earned the prestigious award on Civil War History given out yearly from the new york city civil war roundtable. Lets give rod gragg a warm welcome. [applause] thank you. Pleasure for me to be in a room full of historians and i say that seriously because i have learned that i may write a lot but the folks who really know the civil war are those of you who read a lot. And i appreciate that. Before i begin, if you dont mind, id like to tell you the story about the young history major what decided after he got a bachelors degree in history, he probably ought to get a masters degree in business so he could earn a living. So he was accepted, enrolled in a distant Prestigious School of business and wondered soon after he got there if he made the right decision because he failed his first exam and so did everyone in the class. Now, the professor was notoriously irrascable, he came in
Battlefield, hope well cultural park, Rock Creek Park, et cetera, et cetera. Steve is an expert in civil war err with military occupation, operational command, fortifications, of course, in the western theater. He authored articles in the American Civil War and the defenses of washington. And he holds a masters degree in American History from the middle Tennessee State university. I will go off script one second, steve has done more to bring attention to the civil war defenses of washington than anyone ever has before. So if you dont follow him before this event, follow him on facebook, follow the civil war defenses of washington after this. Keeps it fresh and real and bringing some great information to the front. So, steve, come up. All right. Thank you, i appreciate that. Can everyone see me in the back . Want to make sure i wore something bright enough for everyone to see. Yes. And im from denver, colorado, we call this united in orange. So thank you, rob, and i want to express my g
Locals in bethlehem to celebrate christmas in the holy land. Hello and welcome to bbc news. Its Christmas Morning in australia but hundreds of families are spending the day in emergency shelters, unable to celebrate in their homes, as the country battles one of its worst bushfire disasters in years. Figures released by firefighters in New South Wales reveal nearly 1,000 houses have been destroyed. Conditions have eased, but another extreme heatwave is due later this week. Prime minister Scott Morrison was criticised for going on holiday during the bushfires. Hes since returned and apologised for being away. He says volunteer firefighters who work in the federal Public Sector will be given an extra four weeks paid leave. Phil mercer reports from New South Wales. Koalas and other Australian Animals are the unseen victims of the fires. Much of their habitat has been destroyed and the survivors need all the help they can get. The true extent of australias bushfire crisis is gradually emerg
Thousands of worshippers have packed st peters basilica in rome for Christmas Eve Midnight Mass. Pope francis told the faithful that god loves everyone, even the worst of us, and urged them to give thanks. The pope, generally seen as a reformist leader of the catholic church, also spoke of change. This from our rome correspondent mark lowen. In the gilded splendour of st peters basilica, this was a solemn Christmas Eves mass. The seventh that pope francis has led. He talked of gods love, you may have made a mess of things, but the lord continues to love you. That may be seen as continues to love you. That may be seen as some as a reference to church scandals, including sex abuse. Perhaps then, there was a pointed message in his words, we change, the church changes, history changes, once we stop trying to changes, once we stop trying to change others, but change ourselves. Among those taking part in the liturgy were children chosen from countries including venezuela, iraq and uganda, a
And we look back at one of the most extraordinary operations of the korean war to save hundreds of thousands trapped in a north korean port. Thousands of worshippers have packed st peters basilica in rome for Christmas Eve Midnight Mass. Pope francis told the faithful that god loves everyone, even the worst of us, and urged them to give thanks. The pope, generally seen as a reformist leader of the catholic church, also spoke of change. This from our rome correspondent mark lowen. In the gilded splendour of st peters basilica, this was a solemn Christmas Eve mass. Amen. The seventh that pope francis has led. His homily talked of gods love. You may have mistaken ideas, you may have made a complete mess of things, but the lord continues to love you. That will be seen by some as a reference to church scandals, including sex abuse. Francis papacy is in many ways reformist shaking up the traditional governance of the church. Perhaps then, there was a pointed message in his words, we change,