Many of my fellow bloggers have already posted their condolences and thoughts on the tragic and untimely passing of journalist Tim Russert. He was one of the good guys and will certainly be missed by many. Over the weekend, I watched some of the network news coverage, and the countless tributes to the man testified to just how much he is loved and respected by his peers. Of course Russert was best known for his work in the political arena. As a Libertarian, my disgust for all things government kept me out of his audience. Sunday mornings were always 'booked up' with church service, so I never saw a single episode of ‘Meet The Press,’ nor did I watch any of the Presidential debates that he hosted during this election year. My only exposure to Mr. Russert was through my work as a baseball writer.

Some of my regular readers know that my writing career started out at Baseball-Almanac back in 2000 and between there and freelancing, it would take me years to write and publish half as much Civil War material as I have on the history of our national pastime. (Heck, I’m working on a baseball book now.) Over the years, I spent a great deal of time communicating with historians and archivists from the Baseball Hall of Fame. One specific project that jumps out at me (and has yet to be completed) was a piece that I wanted to write on baseball’s combat veterans. The HOF was able to provide me with some great reference materials on players who actively participated in wars.

This was back in 2003 and it was then that I learned of the appointment of Tim Russert to the Baseball Hall of Fame’s prestigious Board of Directors. I never met the man, but heard wonderful things from HOF employees and SABR members who cited his infectious enthusiasm for the preservation and presentation of the game's legacy.  

I am gathering that many people were not aware of the fact that Mr. Russert was a devout baseball fan that loved the New York Yankees and was completely enamored by the great Yogi Berra. I understand that he had also taken a liking to the Washington Nationals and was a season-ticked holder. Before the return of a franchise in DC, Russert could also be seen attending Orioles games and truly cared about the state of the sport. He once said, "Baseball has been central to my life, as a son and as a father. I am honored to join the Board of the Hall of Fame to help preserve the history of baseball and educate a new generation about the glory of the game." (Russert even had his own bobble head doll, which is THE sign that you’ve made it in ‘the Show.’)

Baseball crept into his media work from time to time. During the Major League strike of 1994, Russert hosted Donald Fehr, who is the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association and MLB Commissioner Bud Selig on his show 'Meet the Press'. During the show, the host mentioned how he was able to take his son to his first All-Star Game at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh and as he and his son walked the field, his son Luke turned to him and said "Dad, I'd play this game for free."

Fellow baseball enthusiasts Bob Costas and Keith Olbermann both fondly remembered their friend’s love of the game and life. Costas called him ‘a humanist’ and Olbermann recalled his passion. Both baseball and political fans alike will surely miss Tim Russert. Here’s hoping that he’s up at the big diamond in the sky right now, watching Lou Gehrig and Ted Williams taking BP.

After some thought, I have decided to hang my CSA First National Flag at the homestead. This is a beautiful banner that I purchased down at Fort Macon in North Carolina last summer and have been saving. I use a cheap, nylon ‘replica’  battle flag as part of my table setup at events, but this is a gorgeous cloth flag. I'll be putting up a special mounting out back near my pool and will take some pics. Why fly the First National?

Well… After my posting about the lack of any Confederate banners at the Stonewall Jackson Shrine, I took an impromptu ‘poll’ with some neighbors and associates and I am quite bothered by what I’ve discovered. Here I am living in the heart of Civil War country, aka Fredericksburg Virginia, and I have yet to have an adult properly identify this flag. All of those that I’ve queried have absolutely no idea. I even had a guy confidently tell me that it was the state flag of Texas. Another said it was the Continental Army's flag. BOTH were born and raised here.

That’s a big problem IMO, and a sign that Confederate history is slipping away. To be fair, I may not have known what this particular flag was either if I had no interest in CW history. Still, I petitioned a 'broad demographic' and was surprised that nobody could come up with the right answer. This group was made up of white-collar professionals, both white and black adults, ages 27-40+, all college educated.

Every one of them could instantly identify the CSA battle flag and they were split 60-40% on the symbolism of it. 60% of them being ‘against’ it or considering it to be a divisive and racist image. None of them had the same initial reaction for the First National flag. I find that fascinating.

I pray that all of you dads out there had a wonderful Father's Day. Mine was extremely busy, but blessed. This morning I wanted to post something related and decided to quote an excerpt from my religious bio on J.E.B. Stuart titled "Christian Cavalier." I spent quite a few pages in the beginning of this book tracing his ancestry and presenting J.E.B.'s family and upbringing. I also described his grandfather and father as being men of great virtue and how I believe their positive influence on the flamboyant and impressionable Stuart kept him on the ‘straight and narrow.’ One example that I used to illustrate this dealt with his conduct at West Point and how his father handled the situation:

Despite his success in the classroom, there was one negative and recurring experience during J.E.B.’s pursuit of higher education. It is seldom discussed, rarely documented and in retrospect, a bit difficult to believe. Due to the lack pictorial references during Stuart’s formative years, we only have the accounts of those that knew him personally. Unlike the handsome cavalier we have seen in photographic portraits, J.E.B. was rumored to have suffered from a facial deformity. One photo does exist on record (left) that was taken in Washington shortly after Stuart’s graduation that somewhat supports this theory. In it, J.E.B. appears as a sullen 21 year-old without his trademark beard. Although his chin is partially covered in shadow, the lack of a strong jaw is evident. Major H. B. McClellan later recalled the malformation as well as the resulting heartache caused by malicious upperclassmen that teased Stuart.

His face was marked by one feature, which would have misled a physiognomist in predicting his character and future. A prominent chin, and firmly set lips, are generally considered indicative of firmness and tenacity of purpose. But Stuart’s chin was so short and retiring as positively to disfigure his otherwise fine countenance; and among the cadets at West Point he bore the nickname of “Beauty Stuart,” a lucus a non-lucendo. This disfigurement was, in maturer years, entirely concealed by a wealth of flowing brown beard, above which appeared a well-shaped nose and a broad and high forehead.

As a result, J.E.B. was often involved in physical altercations that dramatically contrasted his academic performance. Although his grades were impressive, the list of yearly disciplinary actions marred his record significantly. One letter sent from his father during his third year issued a mild warning:

I am proud to say that your conduct has given me entire satisfaction. I heard, it is true (but no thanks to you for the information) of the little scrape in which you involved yourself; but I confess, from what I understand of the transaction, I did not consider you much to blame. An insult should be resented under all circumstances. If a man in your circumstances gain credit by submitting to an insult as a strict observer of discipline, he loses more in proportion in his standing as a gentleman and man of courage.

However, six months later, his father’s tone changed significantly as he 'scolded' his son:

I have received your letter, and much regret that you have been involved in another fighting scrape. My dear son, I can excuse more readily a fault of the sort you have committed, in which you maintained your character as a man of honor and courage, than almost any other. But I hope you will hereafter, as far as possible, avoid getting into difficulties in which such maintenance may be determined at your hands.

Unfortunately this also would not be the last incident. By the time of his graduation, Stuart’s conduct rating stood at one hundred and three out of two hundred and six with 129 total demerits. Fortunately, J.E.B.’s suffering over his appearance would soon come to an end. Several months later, while serving in the frontier, Stuart began to cultivate his infamous cinnamon beard and mustache. To a friend he proudly wrote:

My beard (which by the way is in a flourishing condition) has so much altered my physique that you could not recognize me. Davant says that I am the only man he ever saw that a beard improved.

I knew this group was cool when we met them in Charlotte...

All Summer Long (Rock am Ring 2008)

Your dedication and passion for this subject that we all love so dearly is second to none and CWi is, and will always be, a blessing to us all. “This Week In Blogs” pushed all of us to work harder each and every week just to validate your time in reviewing our posts. The entire Civil War blogging community has been invigorated by your efforts and it continues to thrive thanks to you. Our appreciation for CWi’s wonderful work will continue and we wish you both the best of luck in all your future endeavors. Godspeed.

This weekend I may experiment with digital video for the first time. If you're lucky, you might get to see my ugly mug in full motion next week. If this test is successful (and I can get some video posted with minimal effort - keyword being 'minimal'), I'll try to add something with substance in the coming weeks… perhaps even on-site at one of the local battlefields. I have to make some time to pick up Eric's W's wilderness pin out at the Chancellorsville Visitor's Center anyway and may shoot something 'live' at the Jackson marker.

I do plan to add some new photos over on my online album this weekend including shots of the 'Stonewall' Jackson Shrine, Winchester Confederate Cemetery, and more. I'll post a link when they are up.

Tip o' the hat to Joe Avalon over at Civil War Interactive for introducing
us to this great widget. You'll notice plenty of our friends in my favorites.

Today is the last day of the school year here in Spotsylvania. Last night I attended my oldest daughter’s graduation from elementary to middle school. She walked away with a diploma, trophy, two medals, and four award certificates. These were for achievements including making the honor roll 3-4 report card periods in a row, placing among the top 10 in the school’s accelerated reading program, taking 3rd place in science Jeopardy, practicing good citizenship throughout the year, and meeting the requirements for the Presidential Award of Excellence.

My oldest son will be a senior after today and has lettered in Academics (3.7 GPA+) his entire high school career. He will also be spending 2 weeks from his summer vacation in New Orleans rebuilding houses and working in a free clinic with our church's youth group.

I could not be prouder of both of them and freely admit that I have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with their academic successes. Those accolades are due to them, their teachers, and the grace of God. (Mom too, she was always a far better student than I ever was.) And just think... I have two more that haven’t even started school yet! Wow I’m feeling old...

According to an article that ran in today’s Free Lance-Star, former governor of Virginia and current mayor of Richmond Doug Wilder addressed the Fredericksburg City Council last night regarding a real estate tax exemption for the National Slavery Museum. His goal is to make the 38 acres in Celebrate Virginia on which he hopes to build his proposed United States National Slavery Museum exempt from city real estate taxes.

I have acknowledged the importance and supported the concept of this museum in the past, but to be perfectly honest, this deal is starting to look shadier and shadier. The bottom line is that this organization was donated the land ($17 million worth) 6 years ago and has yet to set a single brick on the plot. According to their plan they need to raise $200 million. To date, they claim $17.7 million with $17.4 of it being the value of the free land they were given. In other words, they have raised exactly $0.3 million themselves.

Mayor Wilder’s challenge of “Either you want the museum here or you don’t.” was met with some resentment from the audience. Councilman Matt Kelly said that while many of the speakers at the hearing noted a need for the city to partner with the museum, he wants to see more of an effort from the museum to communicate with Fredericksburg. “There have been a few meetings with regards to this project, but none with the community as a whole,” he said. Vice Mayor Kerry Devine said she supports the museum’s mission, but “I am struggling with the fact that it's been six years and we have yet to see further movement on that plan.”

According to the newspaper’s comments section citizens are beginning to lose their patience with Wilder and his project. Several Fredericksburg residents stated that they don’t want it and have no intentions of supporting it. Perhaps if the mayor would be willing to set a tentative starting date for construction (instead of demanding more money) this perpetually 'invisible' museum would finally see the light of day.

Personally, I am thrilled with the idea that Fredericksburg may actually have both a Museum of the Confederacy (satellite branch) and the National Slavery Museum in our own backyard. However, if the price is too 'political' and these unanswered questions about money become commonplace, the city government will most likely tell Mayor Wilder and his people to look elsewhere.

That would be most unfortunate, but entirely understandable. And they would have no one to blame but themselves.