It’s too sad that a long bloody war had to be fought to end something so self-evidently wrong as chattel slavery.

Happy Father's Day!!!

Agree with you Mr. Dirks. I have letters and diaries from my great grandfather and his brothers in the First Wisconsin and the Third Wisconsin Cavalry. It was a terrible war over a terrible institution.
And yes, Bitterroot, happy Father's Day as well!

Thanks, Bill. That is really interesting to hear about your Wisconsin ancestors. As it happens, I am researching material for a book I am writing about an infantry company recruited from my town and the surrounding farms, the Stoughton Light Guard. Seventh Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, Co. D. The company was formed in August, 1861, and fought as part of the Army of the Potomac until the end of the war. They were also part of the famed Iron Brigade.

I have a copy of a letter (the original was donated to the Gettysburg museum by my aunt) from my ancestor who was a surgeon at a field hospital to his brother after the battle at Gettysburg. It is 3 pages long. Their manner of speech was so eloquent. He talks about the battle + about the existing conditions at the hospital with the wounded, etc. At one point you realize from his speech that he is talking about a battle that happened 3 months previously but they were still working on the casualties. Very interesting reading.

My last name is Stowe. When Abraham Lincoln met one of my more popular Ancestors he said; "So you are the little lady who started this big War". I have several Abolitionist ancestors, and some who fought and died in that war. Facts that I have been proud of ever since I was a little boy. And yet people who are not privy to that information call me a racist because of my current day political views.
Any way, "June-teenth"? Really? If we are going to create a National Holiday to "Celebrate" the end of slavery in America, which is fine, but why do we have to use such an imbecilic name? Who makes this stuff up anyway?

When he was a boy, my grandmother's father was taken to the railroad depot + placed on his father's shoulders to see Abraham Lincoln. That's not so long ago or that many generations.