Category Archives: Echoes from Our Past (American Civil War)

Echoes from Our Past: The Journey Begins

. Echoes from Our Past (American Civil War), History . Leave a comment

** This post and others labeled “Echoes from Our Past” are not technology related.  I am not blogging about equities, networking or SDN.  If you are looking for a post on those subjects, please stop reading as this blog will soon return to regular subject matter.  **

Echoes from Our Past posts are a diversion for me.  I enjoy writing, so much so I have finished an unpublished novel, yet I cannot decide to self-publish as a complete novel or release in serial Dickensian form using a blog.  This is my attempt to put myself in the place of my 3rd great grandfather who answered Lincoln’s call for 300,000 volunteers in July 1862.  At the age of 35, he left his farm in Lyons New York and went south to meet other men in battle.   Continue reading →

Echoes from Our Past #3: Life is Good Today

. Echoes from Our Past (American Civil War) . Leave a comment

In his book Confederates in the Attic, Tony Horwitz writes about a group of reenactors who strive to experience a period rush.  I think there is a fair amount of truth in his description, but I would define it differently.  I define a period rush as: when all elements become aligned and the reenactor becomes immersed in the period and for a fleeting moment, touches the distant past.  There is great deal of truth to the period rush.  They do happen, but they are rare.  The following is from a reenactment of the Battle of McDowell that occurred in 1862, but the reenactment took place in 2001. Continue reading →

Echoes from Our Past #2: The Long Tail

. Creativity, Echoes from Our Past (American Civil War), Uncategorized . Leave a comment

As with my first post about Antietam and the Vacant Chair, I have started to weave some creative writing into my technology and business focused blog.  If it is not for you, please disregard.  I am writing this post from the reading room in the Norman Williams library in Woodstock Vermont, which was built in 1883.  Outside the leaves are in full color and on the town green is chile cook off contest.  More than a decade ago, I started writing a book on my experiences reenacting the American Civil War.  I was motivated to write it because I had read Confederates in the Attic.  I knew some of those people in that book and had been at the same places.  Writing a book requires time and concentration. Continue reading →

Echoes from Our Past #1: Antietam and the Vacant Chair

. Echoes from Our Past (American Civil War), History . Leave a comment

The inspiration for this post came during an early morning ride to the airport.  I was flying to the west coast and on the way to the airport I was listening to an article on NPR about the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam.  When I was younger, I spent a decade reenacting the American Civil War on the weekends.  I caught the 130-140th cycle, I was a man in the ranks in a handful of movies and productions.  Over the past decade, family and work have taken then toll on my free time.  I am not complaining; I just miss the diversion.  I travel a lot, I blog, I email, I tweet, I am constantly on the go for work. Continue reading →