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
Including the second sino japanese war that started in 1937 and the u. S. Embargo of Oil Shipments to japan. This hourlong event took place at National Defense university in washington and was organized by the friends of the National World war ii memorial. I am with the world war ii memorial. With our board. Thank you very much for hosting us today. We are favored with an extraordinarily interesting and wonderful lecturer. Dr. Craig symonds, an old friend of mine, who has devoted his life to College Teaching and writing. To be more specific, a professor in the u. S. Naval academy for 30 years, during which time he , is currentlyooks finishing a book about the history of the United States navy in world war ii. The whole thing. And has also written wonderful books, including a biography of general joe johnston. What brought you to dry land for that, sir. Ateral johnston was present the funeral of his great antagonist general sherman. And my right in saying he caught cold and died himself
I am with the world war ii memorial, and i want to thank you for joining us today. We are favored with an extraordinarily interesting, and i think you will agree, wonderful lecturer. Craig simons is a friend of mine , and he has devoted his life to College Teaching and writing. To be more specific, a professor at the u. S. Naval academy or 30 years. During which time, it is a book he has published about 38 books. He is currently finishing a book about the history of the United States navy in world war ii. The whole thing. He has also written some wonderful books including a biography on joe johnston. What brought you onto dry land for that one, sir . [laughter] he was present at the funeral of general sherman. In any case, these kinds of facts attract all kind of historians and antiquarians. We are blessed to have dr. Simons with us and, speaking figuratively, the proudest ribbon on his breast would be his service during the turner revolution. If there are people between the mightf 65
Every guy knows white socks black shoes. Dont do it. Thats probably why in the margin over here the photographer scratched dont use. Look at them constructing that image together. The general doesnt look particularly good in this one so dont use it. Lets stand him up and get one thats even better. Not quite there though, is it . Mover, sir thank you. Just so your head is right in the middle of that cross. The image thats gone around the world. Even this has a little forensic secret. The devil is in the details. Some angry Union Soldiers scratched in the brick there with a chalk or knife, devil. This photograph was made on april 20th. You dont think there was some Union Soldiers in town that felt that way afterbout lee. Sure. Remember 9 11. Fearful, scared, same thing. Thats what lee and brady were conspireing to take on. Its over. You dont have to hurt us anymore. So these images as weve seen time and again its easy to focus on lee, grant. When you look with the eyes, which we can now,
You, but they want the same things. Could you even imagine a more pay tree patriarchal scene than this . Hes always trying to needle in a political point and in this case its right between by jeff davis in the doorway is the table upon which the surrender of general lee thats now the photographic pride. One of the other things that i enjoy is look at the girl. Look at daddys knee and mothers chair. She is locked in. She is not going to move. Shes not going anywhere. Something else that kind of intrigues me. Look at the preoccupation. I dont understand this gesture. I really got nothing here for you folks. Look how they solve the problem of keeping the little girl still in this one. Put your head on daddys shoulder. So charming. Here he is with his staff. The staff looks off in all different directions. Then youll find a slightly different shot. Oh, yeah, we got a movie coming on. This fascinates me on a number of levels. Look at this guys pants. Untucked tucked, untucked, tuck tucked.