Conversations on The Road

On July 23 and 24, 2011 Prince William and Manassas, VA will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War and the Battle of First Manassas/Bull Run in Gainesville, Virginia.

The First Battle of Bull Run, also known as the First Battle of Manassas (the name used by Confederate forces), was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia near Manassas. It was the first major land battle of the Civil War.

Just months after the start of the war at Fort Sumter, the Northern public clamored for a march against the Confederate capital of Richmond, which could bring an early end to the war. Yielding to this political pressure, unseasoned Union Army troops under Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell advanced across Bull Run against the equally unseasoned Confederate Army under Brig. Gen. P.G.T. Beaugard near Manassas Junction. McDowell’s ambitious plan for a surprise flank attack against the Confederate left was not well executed by his inexperienced officers and men, but the Confederates, who had been planning to attack the Union left flank, found themselves at an initial disadvantage.

Confederate reinforcements under the command of Brig. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston arrived from the Shenandoah Valley by railroad and the course of the battle changed. A brigade of Virginians under a relatively unknown colonel from the Virginia Military Academy stood their ground and Jackson received his famous nickname, “Stonewall Jackson”. The Confederates launched a strong counterattack and as the Union troops began withdrawing under pressure, many panicked and it turned into a rout as they frantically ran in the direction of nearby Washington, DC Both sides were sobered by the violence and casualties of the battle, and they realized that the war would potentially be much longer and bloodier than they had originally anticipated.

The Reenactment will feature living history demonstrations, speakers, art, music as well as historical commemorations from a wide range of perspectives (not just North and south). There will be activities for the entire family

Here we speak with Sharon Cavileer from the local tourism organizing group about what is planned.

 

 Bull Run [16:08m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

A self-made scholar who coasted through high school and never finished college, Kenneth C. Davis caught the book world by surprise when Don’t Know Much About History landed on the New York Times bestseller list, where it remained for 35 consecutive weeks. With its witty, irreverent, conversational style, covering more than 500 years of American History, the book became the cornerstone in a series that has been embraced by adults, teachers, librarians and children. But, in many ways, Davis’s journey to becoming America’s teacher makes perfect sense.  Only someone who loved history– but whose eyes glazed over when reading textbooks– would make it his life’s mission to change the way Americans view the subject of history – and learning, in general. 

First published in 1990 and revised in 2002, DON’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT HISTORY: Anniversary Edition (Harper) will go on sale in a newly revised, updated and expanded edition on June 21.  Besides including new scholarship and discoveries about our nation’s past, this newly revised edition chronicles events of the last ten years. Discussing transformative events from the George W. Bush administration to the recent financial meltdown and the Great Recession, this edition covers 9/11, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the enormous disaster of Hurricane Katrina, the controversy of same-sex marriage, the bailouts and bankruptcies of the “Great Recession,” the election of America’s first African- American President, and more. Davis also includes a new preface that describes what he calls the “Era of Broken Trust,” a period in which so many fundamental institutions failed.

 

 Kan Davis [25:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Mt. Morris, New York is an example of a sucess story. Once a little town that time forget, the place is forgotten no more.

Many folks have worked hard to put Mt. Morris back on ther map.

Regional journeycaster Jesse Barth speaks with one local who has helped re-boot Mt. Morris while in turn reaffirming what it means to be a community.

 

 Jesse-Palermo [17:12m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

We speak with Bob Wolff,  the longest-running broadcaster in television and radio history. He is now in his ninth decade behind the microphone. The only broadcaster in history to call the play-by-play championships in four major pro sports (World Series, NFL Championship, NBA Finals, and Stanley Cup Finals), his historic calls include Don Larsen’s legendary perfect game in the 1956 World Series and the 1958 NFL Championship Game between the New York Giants and Baltimore Colts (known as The Greatest Game Ever Played).

 

 Bob Wolff [27:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download