Hi everyone, welcome to an independent bookstore and we have a second location in jersey city, you can find more information about us and sign up for emails about our pics at weird books. Com. We are still so honored to be here reading then next book iron gone, the merrimack and the civil war battle and lets get around of applause for the new book. He has previously been editorinchief at American Heritage magazine, written several books including two novels in the book of poetry. And he has written for films including the pbs film coney island, thank you so much for coming and enjoy. Come on up. Thank you very much. And thank you, what a nice store. And thank you for having me. This is the books publication date. For the last few weeks that ive been in what a writer friend of mine called the calm before the lowell. And im pleased and honored to have iron gone make its debut not only in brooklyn but in greenpoint. Brooklyn has many technological wonders, the cyclone coaster. But perhaps
Hes previously been editorinchief and American Heritage magazine. Several books including two novels in a book of poetry. Hes written for films including coney island. Thank you for coming and enjoy. [applause] thank you very much. Thank you to word. What a nice store. Thank you for having me. This is the books publication date. Soap or the last few weeks, ive been and what a writer friend of mine called the law before the wall. Im pleased and honored to have the debut of not only in brooklyn, but in greenpoint. Brooklyn has made technological wonders. But perhaps the most impressive is the hero of my book. I mean the uss monitor. The single most influential warship ever felt and was born about 400 yards away from here. We tend to think of the civil war. People think of gettysburg, shiloh. Its unlikely anyone will remember the navy. Accounted for only 5 of the Union Manpower and losses for the entire four years of the war were often surpass in a single day of fighting on land. But ther
Professors here at the time. Im a home grown boy as most of you know. Lived just across the river here in Washington County. Grew up only a few miles from the antietam battlefield. Eshepherd as always been special to me. Its great to return here this evening to be here in the bird center. I knew senator bird well. I did quite a number of tours and programs for him at Harpers Ferry National Park when he would come and visit. And he became a big ally in helping preserve civil war battlefields. A really great honor to be here at shepherd, my home school. Im so thankful that 40 years ago i was taking finals and i havent had to take finals in 36 years. And its really good to be back in this prestigious bird center sharing with you this evening one story that happened right here. Did john brown elect Abraham Linco lincoln . I want you to think about that for a moment. Did john brown elect Abraham Lincoln . The first thing that came to mind is how can that be . Brown is dead. He cant vote, so
Years. And its really good to be back in this prestigious bird center sharing with you this evening one story that happened right here. Did john brown elect Abraham Linco lincoln . I want you to think about that for a moment. Did john brown elect Abraham Lincoln . The first thing that came to mind is how can that be . Brown is dead. He cant vote, so how could he possibly have anything to do with the election of 1860. Before were finished this evening, i think well see that john brown, the ghost of john brown, the memory of brown was very influential in what happened in that election, that watershed election in American History that ultimately gave us americas greatest president. A few days ago, december 2, three days ago, 15 years ago, here in Jefferson County, something very important happened. A hanging, an execution. You here in Shepherds Town would have known about the execution. Everybody knew about it. Because john brown was climbing the scaffold. To be executed in charlestown,le
Be sure to watch cspans washington journal beginning at 7 00 eastern on friday morning. Join the discussion. Next on American History tv, historians discuss general shermans march flew georgia. After that, historian dennis fry talks about the impact of john browns raid in the 1860 goals. The New York Historical society hosted this hour long event. Welcome, its great to be back in the same seats as we always occupy. For those of you who have come to a number of our sessions. We are promised and we are promising each other that well do more in the coming seasons. We have a topic today that we think is one of the best that weve come up with, its a neglected civil war story. Because of the focus on shermans march through georgia. Theres a little less attention on shermans other march, which followed the march through georgia. Take a look at this scowling man in a fantastic coat, as we begin talking about him. Im going to start with john who as you heard has written two wonderful books abou