A new Book is out-A good read

[Ga.windbreak]

"Last Flag Down" by John Baldwin and Ron Powers.

It's the story of Lt. Conway Whittle and the CSS SHENANDOAH, a Southern raider that stopped raiding long after the war was over. This is a really good book and I recommend it to everyone. I hope you enjoy, I did.

[wncchester]

Haven't heard of the book, will look for it tho.  Sounds interesting. 

The War didn't quite stop at Appomattox, it just sort of tapered off afterwards.  Lee's surrender of his starving and shoeless army of Virginia was just for that army, he wasn't an emissary of the whole South.  There was little question who would win if the North persisted, they simply had more Yankees willing to die than the South had bullets and powder to kill.

[possumpacker]

It really disturbs me that people still get so worked up over something that happened so long ago. Right or wrong none of us here had any thing to do with what happened then, but brothers we had better be ready to stand together northerner and southerner to stop the southern aggression that,s happening today. I don,t mean southern U.S. I talking about from south of the border. We wont be Yanks or Rebs we,ll all be AMERICANS!!!

[wncchester]

"... people still get so worked up over something that happened so long ago. Right or wrong none of us here had any thing to do with what happened then,.."   Huh, ??

Personally, I and a lot of others simply have an interest in history and don't think ignorance of it, from any age or period, is anything to treasure.  But, to each his own.

GA, I found "Last Flag Down" last week, at Sam's Club!   Am about halfway through, it is an interesting read on little known aspects of the naval war.  It also gives some of the actual reasons both sides went to war - money - and has great insights into the mindset of the southerners who fought.  Well worth the $15 price!

[possumpacker]

I,m a history buff myself but it just seems there,s alot of bickering about who was right an who was wrong and that,s pointless.Just sayin were all on the same side today. Sorry ifin I got your dander up.

[wncchester]

possum, you didn't bother me but it sure seemed the thread bothered YOU:  "It really disturbs me that people still get so worked up ..."

Anyway, I found the book at a Sam's Club.  Finished it now and, as GA said, it is a GOOD read!  Not only does it present a great deal of significant info on the naval side of the contest and the combatant's mind-set, it has the best view of life on a well-run ocean sailing ship I've ever read. 

Thanks for the heads-up, GA!

ADDITIONAL INFO, AUG 10, '07:   I just bought "Wolf of the Deep", Stephen Fox, (again at Sam's club).  It is the companion story of the CSS Alabama, sister ship to the CSS Shenandoah of "Last Flag Down".  The Alabama was the first Confederate commerce raider and had a spectacular campaign, taking 60 northern ships while evading capture. 

This book is another well worth reading, even if for no other reason than to better understand the period of transition from sail to steam power and the mind-set of the rugged men who crewed those ships.[/b]

[Ga.windbreak]

Thanks wncchester this book has me so interested in the CSS that I plan on going to the CSS Naval display in Columbus, Ga. some time before this December. Will take some pictures and post them afterwards.

possumpacker sorry you got put off about my post. I do respectfully wish to remind you that good or bad it is OUR history. I feel that it truly is sad that people get upset over our history. Funny though I don't see the Brits getting so bent o'ta shape. Hum, I wonder why?

[steelshooter68]

Windbreak ,Best I understand the CSS Naval display is a traveling display,it was in Richmond last year when I visited the Confederate museum there.It is and excellent display if it is the one I saw.It has been suggested here that the South was hindered by not having a FEDERAL govt. of its own to tell member states what to do.Ummm....she went from no Navy, to having a Navy that gave as good as it got,and without a federal mandate.She was doing something right I tell ya. It is true that things work much smoother and more efficiently now that we are under a totalita....ehem! I mean a Federal government.