Mosby, Higginson

Post (C) Doris McCraw

aka Angela Raines

Image (C) Doris McCraw

For this month's post, I'm sharing a portion of my reading list for the research deep dives I've undertaken this year. Reposted from another blog.

In 2024, the year was spent in Evergreen Cemetery documenting Civil War soldiers buried there, along with their wives when available. This was an eye-opening look into the past as I searched the cemetery, genealogy, and newspaper records. Each name revealed the story of people, their trials and triumphs, along with a sense of the sacrifice, heartache, and loss the conflict had on their lives. Some of these Civil War discoveries were shared on this blog.

One headstone mentioned that the person buried there had served in the 43rd Virginia Cavalry Battalion with John Singleton Mosby. This led me to the book, "The Unvanquished", by Patrick K. O'Donnell. The book was fascinating and devastating. It told the story of the 'shadow war' of units such as Mosby's Rangers, Jesse Scouts, and others, whose sole purpose was to infiltrate and disrupt the 'enemy'. Although I never read the name of the man who started me on the journey, the book deepened my understanding of the conflict in a way no other, including Ken Burns' brilliant documentary, "The Civil War," had. 

The short "Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin" was read, and while the beginning of his story was enlightening, I found myself glad to finish the second half.

For those who know me, many are aware of the years of research and performing I have done on Helen (Hunt) Jackson. It will not surprise anyone to know that upon finding the biography of Thomas Wentworth Higginson, it would be next on my list. The name was familiar as the mentor of Helen and Emily Dickinson. 

Although "A Man on Fire: The Worlds of Thomas Wentworth Higginson" is a look at a man who was so much more than what many may believe. A student at Harvard at thirteen, an author, abolitionist, Unitarian Minister, strong advocate of Women's Suffrage, and commanded the 1st South Carolina Volunteers. This unit was composed of Black soldiers freed from slavery.

What seems to make Higginson's story so fascinating is his drive and intelligence. He seemed to push himself harder than anyone else.

For those who would like to learn or read more, here are links to additional reading:

"A Man on Fire" Amazon

"The Unvanquished" Amazon

NPS - Thomas Wentworth Higginson

NPS- John Singleton Mosby

Until Next Time,

Doris

Angela Raines - Amazon

Doris A. McCraw - Amazon

Thomas Wentworth Higginson - More than a Mentor

 

Post by Doris McCraw

aka Angela Raines

Photo (C) Doris McCraw

Have you heard of Colonel Thomas Wentworth Higginson? How about Emily Dickenson? Maybe Helen (Hunt) Jackson? 

Col. Higginson mentored and edited both. He also led one of the all-Black regiments in the Civil War. In all honesty, that is just the tip of the iceberg.

Born December 22, 1823, in Cambridge, MA., and passed on May 9,1911, in Cambridge, MA. He entered Harvard at 13 and graduated at 18. He later returned to Harvard Divinity School, where he received another degree and was ordained as a Unitarian minister at 24.

He was also an abolishist, a supporter of women's suffrage, an author, and a poet. He served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives for two terms.     

Higginson during the Civil War
from Wikipedia

For those who are interested, Higginson wrote the following:

Army Life in a Black Regiment 

Common Sense About Women 

Women and Men

For more about Higginson, there is a recent biography, "A Man on Fire: The Worlds of Thomas Wentworth Higginson", by Douglas R. Egerton. You can read an overview on the Wikipedia page: Higginson - Wikipedia

Until Next Time:

Doris McCraw

Angela Raines - Amazon

Doris A. McCraw - Amazon