Lincoln, Sherman burned in effigy at S.C. State House

[dorkulon]

http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/WThomasSmithJr/2006/02/27/187801.html

The Forget Hell! crowd

By W. Thomas Smith, Jr.

Feb 27, 2006

COLUMBIA, SC -- I love history. I’m proud of my Southern heritage. But for me to be angry to the point of protesting a moment in Southern history that happened nearly a century-and-a-half ago would be just, well, nonsensical. And would in some ways tarnish that heritage.

Which brings me to an event that took place in Columbia, South Carolina on Saturday, February 18, exactly 141 years to the day after Union Army General William Tecumseh Sherman bombarded, crossed into, and ultimately burned Columbia (the capital city and my hometown): The general and his commander in chief, President Abraham Lincoln, were hanged in effigy on the steps of the S.C. State House.

The hangings were a peculiar feature of a weekend-long series of informative, fun, family events commemorating Sherman’s invasion of South Carolina, specifically his capture and fiery ransacking of the capital city on February 18, 1865.

(snip)

http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/WThomasSmithJr/2006/02/27/187801.html

The comments section is hilarious and frightening.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

1. Do those good old boys know Lincoln and Sherman

were GOP guys?

[Burried News]

3. And have no problem with using Sherman's Tactics in Falluja nt

[XOKCowboy]

12. Sherman was a war criminal

or would be considered so by today's (Pre-GWB anyway) standards and laws.

[Burried News]

2. Comments center link takes us to Gatesville :(

[dorkulon]

7. Fixed it

Sorry 'bout that. Forgot to leave off the http bit.:dunce:

[Faygo Kid]

4. Bring it, SC. Thank you so very much for this post.

Beautifully written, and thoughtful. This is all about the shattering and the rattling of the assumptions of these people as their Lord, W, collapses and makes it not so simple. Such a beautiful state. Problematic? Yes, but if it produces folks like you, SC will be OK. I love history, too. As a matter of fact, I live for it. 80 more pages of Doris Kearns Goodwin's "Team of Rivals" (wonderful), then "1491." At no time over the last 40 years have I not had at least two books going at once. I will carry that to the end. Thanks for this truly great post.

[RB TexLa]

5. any southern state other than Louisiana have a Lincoln Parish or county?

or one named after President Grant?

[NinetySix]

9. MOST Southern states have a Union County....

n/t

[MisterP]

6. "incoherent phrases, discharged the loose expectoration of his speech, now

upon her representative, and then upon her people"

[mitchum]

8. Another reason I'm glad that I left that hellhole of sedition and...

stupidity

[dorkulon]

16. I e-mailed the author for corroboration...

and he says "the space was officially reserved for them by the SC State Budget and Control Board."

Weird.

[NinetySix]

10. So I guess Dr. Clyde N. Wilson was probably there as well....

You'll never find a more outspoken Confederate apologist.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clyde_N._Wilson

[mitchum]

13. He was considered a joke in the department when I attended USC

[NinetySix]

14. I never knew what his reputation was.

Now I wonder what the reputation of the history department that tenured him might be....

Were you a history major? Did you have him for any classes? I took a number of history courses, but none with him.

[XOKCowboy]

11. WELLLLL in the case of Sherman I don't blame them...

He was a very effective military leader in that he used a scorched earth policy to win his wars, both in the South and the West. The problem is that both wars were against Americans. His strategy to get the railroads through was to decimate the native population by destroying their subsistence. Hence the buffalo hunters and the war of terror on all native people, not just those who were causing trouble.

When you judge WT Sherman by his accomplishments in war he might have been our most sucessful general. He won both wars but at what cost?

[dorkulon]

15. Highlights from the comments....

Another Southern tradition is to NOT air your dirty laundry. It is unenlightened of you to cloud this issue with FACTS. Facts have nothing to do with it and never have. I really do not know if you got your thirty pieces of silver for this but I recommend you run your work by an adult next time. This whole Dubai episode is about fear, hate and culture identity and you stirring it with the Stars and Bars could have serious consequences. I am mad as hell. I am mad that the event took place and that now it will be heard around the World. We better get it together. SN
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Sir you may have been born and raised in the SOUTH but you sure ain't SOUTHERN. the hanging of Lincoln and/or Sherman in effigry is an old souther tradition in place for about 141 years or maybe even a bit more. The Southren
States had a constitional right to suceed....
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had to reread your article to realize that you are trying to equate a good ole fun historical reenactment to what is happening in the mid east today over cartoons. I attend over 40 reenactment each year all time periods and have seen many historical figures hanged in effigy king george, custer, lincoln, davis, sherman, nat turner indians, john brown, tom horn,santa anna and a host of others all in good clean fun. in every crowd of spectators be it ball games or NASCAR in this country you are going to find a few bikers, rednecks and skin heads, mexicans, indians, blacks and even arabs some of who may be displaying some form of the confederate balle flag which is a first admendment right. you can't equate good natured fun with hate, distruction of property and killing people.
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...We are one nation now, we have forgiven the past but we should never forget. We should thank the people who burned Lincoln and Sherman in effigy. Lest we forget.
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