Category Archives: Uncategorized

Did American Education Forget Gettysburg?

Posted on January 6, 2014 by Fred Zilian

(This essay was originally published in The Lincoln Forum Bulletin, Fall 2013. On the 150th anniversary of the greatest, most significant battle since the Revolutionary War, America—but for historical circles and the celebrations in Gettysburg itself—appears disinterested. Abe Lincoln, our … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Abraham Lincoln, American education, American history, Battle of Gettysburg, Civil War, education, Fred Zilian, teaching of American history, teaching of the Civil War, Zilian | Leave a comment

Rhodes Remains “All for the Union”

Posted on January 3, 2014 by Fred Zilian

(This essay was originally published by the Newport Daily News on December 31, 2013, as “Despite hardships, soldier remained ‘for the Union.’”) The year 1863 was filled with mud, battles, hunger, comradeship, and firmness in commitment to God and country for … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 2nd Rhode Island Volunteer Regiment, All for the Union, American Civil War, battle, Civil War, Civil War diary, Elisha Hunt Rhodes, Fred Zilian, Gettysburg, war | 1 Comment

The Decline of Thanksgiving

Posted on November 30, 2013 by Fred Zilian

(The essay was originally published by the Newport Daily News on November 27, 2013.) An important threshold was crossed two years ago when Wal-Mart and Toys R Us moved their opening or early bird specials from very early Black Friday … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged American values, Christmas commercialism, commercialism, consumerism, decline of America, Decline of Thanksgiving, Fred Zilian, holidays, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving and Christmas, Zilian | 3 Comments

The Gettysburg Address

Posted on November 26, 2013 by Fred Zilian

(This essay was originally published in the Newport Daily News, November 19, 2013, as “Gettysburg Address Defined Our Purpose as a Free People.”) One-hundred fifty years ago, on November 19, 1863, at a ceremony to honor the fallen in the Battle of … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Abraham Lincoln, American Civil War, Civil War, Fred Zilian, Gettysburg, Gettysburg Address, Lincoln, Zilian | 6 Comments

The Monotonous Diet of Billy Yank

Posted on September 15, 2013 by Fred Zilian

(This essay was originally published by the Newport Daily News as, “War Meals Were for Survival, not Great Taste,” September 6, 2013.) The Union soldier’s diet during the Civil War was sufficient to keep him alive and fighting, and distinctly … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged American Civil War, Billy Yank's diet, Billy Yank's food, Civil War, Civil War food, civil war soldiers diet, diet civil war soldiers, essence of coffee, food Civil War soldiers ate, food of Union soldiers, Fred Zilian, hardtack, Lincoln pies, McClellan pies, old bull, salt pork, slat horse, sowbelly, Union soldier's diet, What did Civil War soldiers eat?, What did Yankees eat?, Zilian | 6 Comments

The Battle of Gettysburg: the Turning Point

Posted on July 7, 2013 by Fred Zilian

(This essay was originally published in the Newport Daily News on July 1, 2013) In probably the greatest land battle ever fought in the Western Hemisphere, Union and Confederate forces clashed at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July 1-3, 1863. During these … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged American Civil War, Battle of Gettysburg, Civil War, Fred Zilian, George Meade, Gettysburg, Rhode Island and the Civil War, Robert E. Lee, Turning Point, Zilian | 8 Comments

Native Americans Join Fight

Posted on May 25, 2013 by Fred Zilian

(This essay was originally published in the Newport Daily News on May 22, 2013.) Native Americans, while continuing efforts to protect their tribes and lands, fought bravely on both land and sea for both the Union forces and the Confederate … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged American Civil War, Austin George, Cherokee, Civil War, Cornelius Cusick, Ely S. Parker, Fred Zilian, Indians in the Civil War, John Jumper, Laurence Hauptman, Native Americans in the Civil War, Seminole, Seneca, Thomas Legion, William Holland Thomas | 5 Comments

Newport Home to Naval Academy during Civil War

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Fred Zilian

(This essay was originally published by the Newport Daily News as “After war began, Naval Academy temporarily moved to Newport,” April 13, 2013.) At the start of the Civil War, the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, was moved to Newport where … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged American Civil War, Fred Zilian, Naval Academy, US Naval Academy | 8 Comments

Katherine Wormeley Fills Important Role in Civil War

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Fred Zilian

(This essay was originally published in the Newport Daily News as “Comfort for casualties of battle,” February 27, 2013.) Newport’s own Katharine (also spelled Katherine) Prescott Wormeley took an active role in public affairs throughout her life, founding the Girls … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged American Civil War, Civil War, Fred Zilian, Katharine Wormeley, Katherine Wormeley, Medical Bureau, Newport, Portsmouth Grove, The Other Side of War, U.S. Sanitary Commission | 7 Comments

Islam, Islamism, and the Just War Tradition

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Fred Zilian

(This essay is based on the talk I gave to the senior class at Portsmouth Abbey School on February 6, 2013.) The Just War Tradition has evolved over thousands of years from not only Western but also Eastern traditions, with … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged active Islam, Algeria, Daniel Pipes, Fred Zilian, holy war, Islam, Islamism, Islamists, jihad, jihadi, John L. Esposito, jus ad bellum, jus in bello, Just War, Mali, radical Islam | 6 Comments

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