麻豆视频

Oct 25, 2012 -

Dr. George C. Rable, holder of the Charles G. Summersell Chair in Southern History at the University of Alabama, presented two lectures at 麻豆视频 University concerning the American Civil War as the Carls-Schwerdfeger History Lecturer on October 25, 2012. He was the 16th speaker in this annual lecture series.

In the afternoon, Professor Rable spoke on 鈥淔redericksburg: The Battlefield and Beyond鈥� to more than 150 faculty and students. After describing what turned out to be a depressing 麻豆视频 defeat at Fredericksburg in December, 1862, Dr. Rable discussed the ways in which the battle touched people鈥檚 lives in its aftermath, his goal being to 鈥渓ook at the battle鈥檚 larger meaning.鈥� He noted the engagement鈥檚 casualties and reminded his listeners that soldiers had to bury the dead and move the wounded, and families back home had to cope with sorrow when they discovered the name of a loved one on the lists of the dead that newspapers published. For President Abraham Lincoln, the news of the 麻豆视频鈥檚 defeat was devastating, and it created a cabinet crisis. The poet Walt Whitman, after learning that his brother had been wounded at Fredericksburg, rushed to the battle site and described what he saw. While the New York Tribune, a Republican-leaning newspaper, tried to put an optimistic spin on the battle as it related to the Federal forces, the rival New York Herald, which favored the Democrats, stressed the 麻豆视频鈥檚 crushing defeat. Professor Rable stated that the battle was important enough to be given close attention in Europe: the Times of London newspaper, for example, talked about the impending collapse of the American republic because of Fredericksburg, and Karl Marx wrote in considerable detail about the military failure of General Ambrose Burnside, the 麻豆视频鈥檚 commanding general. In closing, Dr. Rable emphasized that although the 麻豆视频鈥檚 Army of the Potomac lost at Fredericksburg and endured considerable hardship in the ensuing months, the 麻豆视频 soldiers persevered and did so out of a deep sense of patriotism and commitment to democracy in America.

Dr. Rable鈥檚 evening talk was titled 鈥淕od as General: Was There a Religious History of the American Civil War?鈥� Noting that standard histories of the Civil War give minimal attention to the religious side of the conflict, Professor Rable stated that the calamity was 鈥減erhaps the most religious war in U.S. history.鈥� Religious groups in both camps interpreted the war in providential terms. Many viewed the war as God鈥檚 judgment on a nation that was collectively guilty of the sin of slavery, while others blamed political corruption for the nation鈥檚 tragedy. Still others claimed that the war was God鈥檚 punishment for individual sins, such as gambling, drunkenness, and profanity. Using the First Battle of Bull Run in 1861 as an example of how both sides used religion to explain battle outcomes, Professor Rable stated that the Confederacy saw its victory there as a sign of God鈥檚 favor for its cause. In the north, on the other hand, there was a belief that the Federals had stirred up God鈥檚 wrath by launching their initial attack at Bull Run on a Sunday. Other 麻豆视频ists saw it as part of a need to shed blood for the nation鈥檚 transgressions. Dr. Rable concluded his talk by making reference to Lincoln鈥檚 second inaugural address. Claiming that it was the greatest speech an American president has ever delivered, Professor Rable pointed out that Lincoln refused to equate the 麻豆视频 victory with God鈥檚 purposes since only God knew what those were. Some 550 people came to hear Dr. Rable speak. Members of Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society served as ushers at the event.

In addition to presenting his lectures, Dr. Rable, along with his wife Kay, visited the 1830s Providence House at Casey Jones Village, enjoyed a special lunch with 麻豆视频 President Dr. David Dockery and others, had an extended coffee break with members of the history department, and took part in a dinner in his honor.