Here’s another in my periodic posts on forgotten cavalrymen.

I’ve long admired Col. William H. Boyd. As a company commander in the 1st New York (Lincoln) Cavalry, Boyd harassed and generally impeded the Confederate advance through Pennsylvania. His service, brilliant as it was, is too often overlooked, and has long been forgotten.

Here’s the entry from Samuel P. Bates’ Martial Deeds of Pennsylvania on Boyd:

WILLIAM HENRY BOYD was born on the 14th of July, 1825, at Quebec, Canada. His father was a soldier in the British army. At the breaking out of the war he was in the Directory publishing business in Philadelphia. He recruited a company of cavalry for Schurz’s National brigade, which became a part of the …

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We’re back from Gettysburg. The weekend was totally packed, and I’m pretty exhausted.

I saw something yesterday that absolutely blew me away. At the same time, knowing him, it didn’t come as any huge surprise. We had a bit of free time (not much), and I wanted to see the tree cutting in the Slaughter Pen area with my own eyes, so we did a quick drive through there (more on that in a moment). On our way to meet the gang for the next tour, I had to drive through the Stony Hill area of the Wheatfield fight, and there, leading a busload of tourists, was Ed Bearss, a week to the day after he lost his beloved wife …

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A couple of times per year, I just have to go to Gettysburg.  I’m drawn by the place, and I have to go there to re-charge my batteries.  I’ve only been there once this year, in June, and I’ve been hearing the call.

I’m outta here in about 90 minutes for a weekend in Gettysburg.  Should be two-and-a-half days of good battlefield stomping.  Even though it will be chilly, the worst day of battlefield stomping is still better than that best day of work.  🙂

See y’all on Sunday night.

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Several months ago, thanks to Joe Bilby, the authority on all things New Jersey Civil War, I learned that Ulric Dahlgren’s colonel’s dress uniform was in the collection of the Historical Society of Princeton.

Ulric’s oldest brother was named Charles Bunker Dahlgren. Charlie Dahlgren named his first son Ulric in honor of his slain brother. The second Ulric Dahlgren, born six years after his namesake was killed in action, became one of the world’s most famous scientists. He was a world-renowned biologist and zoologist, and was an award-winning and long-tenured professor at Princeton University. Somewhere along the line, Charlie Dahlgren came into possession of his brother’s last dress uniform. That uniform ended up in a trunk in the attic …

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I’m sad to report that, after 48 years of marriage, Margie Bearss, the wife of Ed Bearss and distinguished Civil War historian in her own right, passed away on October 7 after a very lengthy illness.

I did a program with Ed at the end of July, and I asked him then how Margie was doing. He told me then that he had nearly lost her a week or so earlier, so I figured it was just a matter of time. I’m sad to report that Margie finally lost her battle.

Condolences to Ed and his family.

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I’ve not been shy about stating my opinions about copyright protection issues, generally in the context of Google’s scheme to engage in copyright infringement on an unprecedented scale.

Many of you are familiar with the site YouTube, where people can post videos on the Internet and where they can be downloaded for free. YouTube is coming under increasing scrutiny due to copyright infringement concerns. While the networks haven’t gone after it yet, that day will come, probably much sooner than later. Here’s an article that appeared on CNet earlier this week:

Another Internet research firm has predicted doom for YouTube’s business model.

Copyright issues that have plagued video-sharing site YouTube since its official launch almost a year ago will …

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The ONLY thing sweeter than beating the Dullass Cowboys is beating the Dullass Cowboys AND completely shutting down big-mouth Terrell Owens and driving him to intense frustration, so much so that he was screaming at people on the sidelines.

The Eagles are 4-1 and in undisputed possession of first place in the NFC East. Life is good.

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For tonight, there IS joy in Mudville–the mighty Yankees have been blown out. 🙂

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This from today’s edition of the San Jose Mercury News:

Google seeks rivals’ data for lawsuit over libraries
YAHOO, MICROSOFT BACK OTHER BOOK PROJECTS
By Elise Ackerman
Mercury News
Google is subpoenaing documents from its two biggest competitors, Microsoft and Yahoo, in an effort to defend itself in copyright lawsuits filed against it by publishers and authors.

McGraw-Hill Cos. and the Authors Guild, along with other publishers and authors, contend that a Google project to digitize the libraries of four major U.S. universities, as well as portions of the New York Public Libary and Oxford University’s libraries, ignores the rights of copyright holders in favor of Google’s economic self-interest.

The publishers support a separate book-scanning effort, known as the …

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Here’s a prime example of political correctness run amok:

From the October 4 issue of the Tennessean newspaper:

Rebel flag, guns not wanted at battle event
Franklin officials cite safety and sensitivity

By KEVIN WALTERS
Staff Writer

FRANKLIN — A Confederate battle flag and the crack of rifle fire were two of the sights and sounds Civil War soldiers faced 140 years ago.

Yet top Franklin officials contend those things, each fraught with modern symbolism and conflicts, should not be present during a Nov. 30 ceremony to commemorate those killed during the 1864 Battle of Franklin.

Mayor Tom Miller is urging that a color guard planned for the event not fly the Confederate flag. Police Chief Jackie Moore wants re-enactors …

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