Bryan S. Bush

My Dear Fellow Readers:

I recently attended the reading of Lincoln in Louisville by David Straub. There were many quotes from the play that are very historical. The play has good and bad moments. The play accuratly portrays slave life on a large plantation, and his portrayal of James Speed and Lucy Speed was accurate, but the play portrayed Lincoln as a radical abolitionist in 1841. He fought twice with the overseer of Farmington, and showed Lincoln to be an angry man over the issue of slavery. Although Lincoln did not like the institution of slavery, I don’t think he would have fought with the overseer at the plantation of his friend Joshua Speed. Plus Lincoln argued slavery in front of Joshua Speed, Mary Speed, Lucy Speed and James Speed. Although Lincoln discussed slavery with James at his law office in Louisville, I doubt that Lincoln would have argued slavery in front of his hosts at the plantation. The subject of slavery was like the big gorilla in the room, everyone saw it but no one discussed it.
The play needs to dwell more into the friendship between Lincoln and Joshua Speed. I think with a little more rewriting I think the play could become a lasting tribute to Lincoln and his friendship with the Speeds.

My Dear Fellow Readers:

I encourage everyone to come out tonight at 7:30 PM at the U of L Thrust Theater to watch the unveiling of the newest play on Abraham Lincoln’s visit to Louisville in 1841. After the play there will be a panel discussion with myself, Dr. Blaine Hudson, Dr. Thomas Mackey, and several other professors. This should be a fun night with a good discussion on Lincoln and the Speeds.

My Dear Fellow Readers:
I recently attended the Louisville Before the Civil War Conference at the University of Louisville on May 29 & 30, 2009. The conference meeted and exceeded my expectations. I was hoping to learn more about the freed and enslaved community in Louisville before the Civil War. Dr. Richard Blackett, from Vanderbilt University fave a lecture “Emancipate Yourself: Louisville Slaves and their Quest for Freedom in the 1850’s,” Dr Blaine Hudson, from the University of Louisville gave a lecture entitled “The Free African American Community of Louisville,” Dr. James Horton, from George Washington University gave a lecture on Slavery and the Coming of the Civil War,” Pam Peters gave a lecture on “Portland and New Albany: Portals of the Underground Railroad,” and Pen Bogert gave a lecture on “Multiculturalism, Music and Everyday Life.” Other speakers were from the Filson Club, Locust Grove, and Farmington. I learned about the strong freed black community in Louisville, and learned about William Spralding, James Cunningham, and many others. During the conference, Andrea Pridham from Farmington gave an odd statement, she stated that their was no documentary evidence that Lincoln’s encounter with slaves shackled together on the wharf in 1841 had no lasting effect on his views towards slavery. I must disagree, on August 24, 1855 Lincoln wrote to Joshua Speed on the subject of slavery. He recalled his trip in 1841, and he wrote that the sight of slaves’ condition onboard the steamboat was a “continual torment” to him and that he saw something like it every time he touched the Ohio, or an slave border state. Lincoln stated that the subject of slavery made him miserable. (Lincoln and the Speeds, pg. 40) Lincoln remembered the incident of the slaves he saw in 1841, fifteen years after the incident, but overall the conference was very informative and well worth the money. Next years conference will be on Louisville During the Civil War and I hope to give a lecture at this conference. I have written to Dr. Blaine Hudson, who runs the conference, as to how I may submit a paper and lecture at this conference.

My Fellow Readers:

Good news on my Louisville and the Civil War Bus Tour. Yesterday Steve Wiser and I mapped out the route for the tour of downtown Louisville During the Civil War. We also have a schedule for October 11th, 2009. For those who want a tour of Cave Hill Cemetery, we will be meeting at 8:15 am, if you can not make the tour, a phamphlet will be provided with information on the Civil War in Cave Hill. At 9:45 am, we will gather in the parking lot at the old Mercy High School near Cave Hill Cemetery. By 10 am, the bus tour begins. The tour should end by 1:45 pm. There will be an extended tour of Louisville for those who want to venture with me to Farmington. There will be an extra cost for the tour of Farmington. For more information, contact the Louisville Historicial League as to ticket prices and reservations. This should be alot of fun.

Dear fellow readers:

I just want to thank all the good folks at the Central Ohio Civil War Roundtable. I had a good time and Mr. Peters was a very good host. I hope to go back and see them again soon.

Bryan has just released a new article on his website entitled “Brig. Gen. William Woodruff (U.S.) – 2nd Kentucky Infantry”.  It includes images of Woodruff’s uniform and sword, courtesy of the Civil War Museum of the Western Theater in Bardstown, Kentucky.

Guided Tour: Civil War Museum of the Western Theatre is now available on DVD and is for sale in Bryan’s store.

Here’s the description from the store page:

Historian Bryan S. Bush gives you a virtual tour of the Civil War Battles of the Western Theater Museum in Bardstown, Kentucky. He will take you through the battles of Forts Henry and Donelson, Shiloh, Perryville, Stones River, Vicksburg, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, the Atlanta Campaign, and fall of Atlanta. Mr. Bush will introduce you to the artifacts worn by leaders in the Cavalry, Navy, Infantry, and Artillery, such as General John Hunt Morgan, Simon B. Buckner, Benjamin Hardin Helm, William Woodruff, and many others. Mr. Bush will also cover the medical corps and military bands during the Civil War. So come take an adventure through the Civil War of the Western Theater.

Check out Bryan’s freshly upgraded online store.  It’s using the latest version of the Zen Cart e-commerce application, so its PayPal transaction handling is the best ever.  Also, the store got a minor style makeover, with a special focus on Bryan’s latest book, Louisville and the Civil War.  (Hint: this book makes a perfect stocking stuffer!) 

Bryan’s new book Louisville and the Civil War: A History & Guide is now available through Bryan’s store! All orders from there will be signed by Bryan.

Store availability in Louisville will be coming soon on the book’s page on Bryan’s site.

Bryan also told me that Louisville and the Civil War will most likely be making an appearance at the Kentucky Book Fair as well, along with his other new books Lincoln and the Speeds and Butcher Burbridge.

My Dear Fellow Readers:

For the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial I have been asked to dress in my Union Civil War uniform at the Kentucky Book Fair on Nov. 15 at the Frankfort Convention Center. I will be there all day signing books. Please come by and say Hi. This is always a good event and I always enjoy meeting my fellow collagues.