Category Archives: Adventures in history

Grant and Sherman: The social network that won the Civil War: VIII

By Joel Thurtell General Grant’s sentry continues to wow us with exclusive stories about Civil War life. Cautionary note: Parts of the sentry’s account may be offensive to some persons due to references to voluntary flatus. If that is the … Continue reading

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Ann Arbor cemetery welcomes all, except…

By Joel Thurtell From its website, you’d think the people who run Ann Arbor’s Forest Hill Cemetery must be an open, caring and warmhearted crew dedicated to inspiring lots of people to visit the city’s historic graveyard alongside the University … Continue reading

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Grant and Sherman: The social network that won the Civil War: VII

By Joel Thurtell We continue the saga of the Civil War seen through the eyes of General Grant’s sentry: Time and again, I’m asked to settle the question, “Was Lee drunk at Appomattox?” My response is always the same: “When … Continue reading

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Grant and Sherman: The social network that won the Civil War: VI

By Joel Thurtell We continue the saga of the Civil War as witnessed by General Grant’s sentry: They say General Grant took immoderate risks at the Battle of Shiloh. I tend to agree overall, though not in detail. I’ve described … Continue reading

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Grant and Sherman: The social network that won the Civil War: V

By Joel Thurtell More from General Grant’s sentry on how the Civil War was won: Man, what a jealous mistress is history. Once ya try to master it, yer in it fer good. An’ ya never do master history. History … Continue reading

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Margaret Dunning: Still cruisin’

Five years ago, I rode around Plymouth in Margaret Dunning’s classic Cadillac for a Detroit Free Press story. Then, Margaret Dunning was 96 years old. I remember being thrilled as she turned the big Caddy north onto Sheldon and, with … Continue reading

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Grant and Sherman: The social network that won the Civil War: IV

By Joel Thurtell General Grant’s sentry continues his narrative relating the true history of the Civil War: Hard to believe what a dingblasted dirty trick Facebook pulled on General Grant. An’ the general don’t even DO Facebook! Like a lot … Continue reading

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Grant and Sherman: The social network that won the Civil War: III

By Joel Thurtell We continue the saga of the Civil War as seen by General Grant’s sentry: General Henry “Old Brains” Halleck and General Grant were not Facebook friends. Maybe if the two generals had gotten together on social media, … Continue reading

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Grant and Sherman: The social network that won the Civil War: II

By Joel Thurtell We continue the saga of the Civil War as seen by General Grant’s sentry: What I like about General Grant is his common touch. It is easy to talk to him, even if what you have to … Continue reading

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Grant and Sherman: The social network that won the Civil War: I

By Joel Thurtell It is amazing the kind of things you run across in the journalism trade. Couple days ago, a guy stopped by the joelontheroad.com offices and showed us an old, tattered shoe box. Out of the box, he … Continue reading

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