I've been bitten...

eprattlbg · Post by **eprattlbg** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 2:53 pm

Hello All!

I am new to the forum, but very excited about it. I was born in Massachusetts, so I've always been interested in Lizzie, but recently, I can't get enough. I just spent an exhorbitant fee for a copy of Rebello. I've also been exploring the archives for this society, as well as this fabulous website.

I'm so excited to learn from you folks!! If I can return the favor with any Civil War info, please let me know.

Sincerely, Ellen Pratt

DJ · Post by DJ » Thu Jul 24, 2008 3:20 pm

Ellen,
I'm still a freshman in orientation, too.
You sound like a true historian!
Of course, Down Heah, we call that the War of Northern Aggression!
Cheers! -- DJ

eprattlbg · Post by **eprattlbg** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 3:23 pm

Well, I lean to that side too. I was born in Massachusetts, but I grew up in Florida. We don't learn about Lincoln in Florida.

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 3:32 pm

Hi Ellen, welcome to the forum.

There is plenty of free information to browse and download in the Library at:

http://www.lizzieandrewborden.com/LizzieABorden.htm

You will find most members here friendly and helpful.

My interest in the "disagreement between the states" is primarily in the Lincoln assassination which I have spent a number of years studying.

Again, welcome

eprattlbg · Post by **eprattlbg** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 3:35 pm

Harry,

My boyfriend is also a Licensed Battlefield Guide. He just published a book called "Remarkable Stories of the Lincoln Assassination". It is a pleasant collection of human interest stories. It's selling well so far.

SallyG · Post by **SallyG** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 5:23 pm

The book sounds interesting...where would one purchase it?

Welcome to the forum.....you will definitely learn a lot from the knowledgeable members here!!

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 5:53 pm

Sally, you can purchase it on Amazon. See:

http://www.amazon.com/Remarkable-Storie ... 0977712567

I'm ordering a copy later this evening.

Ad · Post by Ad » Thu Jul 24, 2008 6:03 pm

Welcome to the forum Ellen, it’s nice to have new blood….pardon the pun!

If you are looking to get up to speed, you might want to get a copy of Rick Gleary’s The Borden Tragedy, it is not without its flaws, but it is wonderfully visual. The artwork and detail to floor plans and locations etc, is an added bonus. It’s a great starter book for under $10.00

The best non-biased book out there so far (in my humble opinion) is Len Rebello’s Lizzie Borden Past & Present. It is costly, but a must for anyone that would like to get *just the facts* you may find a copy at your local library…..go there if you can.

Use the archives here as often as you can, they are a real treasure; especially for someone new.

Again…..welcome aboard

(I’m a big fan of *The American Revolution*, myself!)

eprattlbg · Post by **eprattlbg** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 8:28 pm

Thanks for the advice. I already have Rebello, Forty Whacks, Rehak, and I have Masterson & Radin on order. I have already been using the transcripts on this website a lot. (I'm up to day three on the trial). It's so weird, it's like she couldn't have done it, but she had to have done it. The more you read, the more fascinating it is.

kssunflower · Post by **kssunflower** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 8:51 pm

Hi Ellen!

What I wouldn't give to see Gettysburg....While living in Georgia, I visited Chickamauga battlefield three times and went to the site of the infamous Andersonville prison.

If you have any info on Custer's involvement in the war, I'd be interested. I'm fascinated by him. Did visit his former residence in Ft. Riley, Kansas, where he was stationed for a time after the war ended.

Hope you enjoy the forum!

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 6:54 pm

Amazon said they shipped the book today. Probably get it Monday or Tuesday.

eprattlbg · Post by **eprattlbg** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:15 pm

Harry, I think you'll like it. I am not even a Lincoln person, and I found it very interesting. [/img].

This is what Civil War people do for fun.

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 7:03 am

Not a bad way to spend time at all, Ellen.

I saw many of the assassination artifacts at Ford's before it was converted back into a theater. They were down in the cellar and it was more of a display then than a museum. Even peeked through the hole that Booth allegedly bored through the box door. I doubt very much they would allow that today.

I've read (but can't remember where) that if Lizzie had been found guilty and hanged she would have been the first woman since Mary Surratt to be hanged.

Jeff · Post by **Jeff** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 8:57 am

Welcome to the forum

You will learn alot hear about Lizzie. Everybody here is so
knowledgeble about the case.

I am too into the Civil War era. i enjoy reading about Lincoln
and the whole plot to kill him. Very interesting. I hope to find the grave
of Mary Surratt when I go to DC. in October. She is innocent in my opinion

Doug · Post by **Doug** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 9:29 am

Welcome to the Forum, Ellen! This is a great place to learn about the innumerable aspects of the Borden case, and to meet an interesting variety of knowledgeable people, too. Harry is one of the most knowledgeable.

I have been interested in the Bordens for many years. Then, last September I got bitten by the Civil War bug after my first trip to Gettysburg. My wife and I spent three days touring the battlefield plus most of another day at the Eisenhower farm. We used the "Gettysburg Expedition Guide" as we made our tour and stopped at as many sites on the tour as we had time for. Of particular interest to me is the 17th Connecticut Regiment's experiences at Barlow Knoll and Cemetery Hill.

We saw the new visitor center under construction and believe it is open to the public by now. The park was not particularly crowded the week we were there but imagine there have been a lot of visitors this summer.

I have been reading Battle Cry of Freedom, The Civil War Era by James McPherson. We tend to assign Lizzie Borden to the Victorian era of American history (since the murders were committed in 1892) but it is important to recognize that Lizzie's childhood and youth were lived under the influence and shadow of the political, economic, cultural, and military realities of the Civil War and Reconstruction. It would be something akin to the effect of World War II and the Cold War on today's Baby Boom generation of Americans. We have moved beyond those events but their influence on our larger lives has been profound.

snokkums · Post by **snokkums** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 12:54 pm

Welcome to the forum. I have always wondered if Gettysburg battlefield is haunted. I have heard that it is.

I to have read the book Battle Cry of Freedom, The Civil War Era by James Mcpherson. I throughly enjoyed it.

eprattlbg · Post by **eprattlbg** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 8:04 pm

Jeff @ Sat Jul 26, 2008 8:57 am wrote:I hope to find the grave
of Mary Surratt when I go to DC. in October. She is innocent in my opinion

[/quote]

Jeff, if you send me an email, I will get directions to Mrs. Surratt's grave for you. She's buried in Mt. Olivet cemetery.

eprattlbg · Post by **eprattlbg** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 8:11 pm

kssunflower @ Thu Jul 24, 2008 8:51 pm wrote:
If you have any info on Custer's involvement in the war, I'd be interested. I'm fascinated by him. Did visit his former residence in Ft. Riley, Kansas, where he was stationed for a time after the war ended.

I'm afraid you have the wrong Guide for cavalry. It is not my forte. I know he's one of the youngest Generals in the war. He was here at Gettysburg and fought on the third day, and of course he's buried at West Point. One of my fellow guides is married to a Custer descendent.

My favorite aspect is Artillery and battery commanders here. If you have a specific question about Custer, I could probably get an answer for you, but I rarely go out to where his battle was. Sorry!

eprattlbg · Post by **eprattlbg** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 8:16 pm

Doug @ Sat Jul 26, 2008 9:29 am wrote:Of particular interest to me is the 17th Connecticut Regiment's experiences at Barlow Knoll and Cemetery Hill.
We saw the new visitor center under construction and believe it is open to the public by now. The park was not particularly crowded the week we were there but imagine there have been a lot of visitors this summer.

Wow! 17th Connecticut! I just ran past their monument on Cemetery Hill. They are a little known regiment. The poor 11th Corps really gets a bad rap.

The new visitor center is complete, and it is pretty busy here!!!

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 8:49 pm

eprattlbg @ Sat Jul 26, 2008 9:04 pm wrote:
Jeff @ Sat Jul 26, 2008 8:57 am wrote:I hope to find the grave
of Mary Surratt when I go to DC. in October. She is innocent in my opinion

Jeff, if you send me an email, I will get directions to Mrs. Surratt's grave for you. She's buried in Mt. Olivet cemetery.[/quote]

The last that I heard there was a stone erected. Got these photos from a book (the title of which I can't remember) a while back.

You may want to visit the web site of the Surratt Society. Have been a member for years. They advocate no position on her guilt or innocence. They are headquartered at Surratt's Tavern in what is now Clinton, MD. Used to be Surrattsville.

http://www.surratt.org/

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 4:30 am

Hello Ellen!
Boy have we got Civil War aficionados here! It's so good that you came and brought them out!

Nice to meet you.

Thank you for the cool picture, above all. I'm gob-smacked at the fact you are standing there with a piece of Booth!

1bigsteve · Post by **1bigsteve** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 12:36 am

Welcome aboard, Ellen! It's good to have you here.

When you said "bitten" I thought you meant a spider. I was reaching for my books to identify the little bugger. We are all pretty much bitten with this Borden case. It a real puzzle.

So you like the Civil War and Lincoln's assassination? I don't know much about either subject myself but if you would like to learn about the JFK assassination I'll be around.

I hope you enjoy the forum, Ellen.

-1bigsteve (o:

kssunflower · Post by **kssunflower** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 3:19 pm

eprattlbg @ Sat Jul 26, 2008 8:11 pm wrote:
kssunflower @ Thu Jul 24, 2008 8:51 pm wrote:
If you have any info on Custer's involvement in the war, I'd be interested. I'm fascinated by him. Did visit his former residence in Ft. Riley, Kansas, where he was stationed for a time after the war ended.
I'm afraid you have the wrong Guide for cavalry. It is not my forte. I know he's one of the youngest Generals in the war. He was here at Gettysburg and fought on the third day, and of course he's buried at West Point. One of my fellow guides is married to a Custer descendent.

My favorite aspect is Artillery and battery commanders here. If you have a specific question about Custer, I could probably get an answer for you, but I rarely go out to where his battle was. Sorry!

Thanks for responding anyway. The University of Kansas Natural History Museum has Capt. Keough's horse, Comanche, the sole survivor of Little Big Horn. I visited as a small child and since been intrigued by the battle and Custer.

Maybe you have some info on Joshua Chamberlain then? Was he a colonel with the 20th Maine during Gettysburg? I love to read about his exploits on Little Round Top.

Angel · Post by **Angel** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 7:37 am

I'm a Civil War buff too, and it's a good thing to be around here. Gettysburg is just a hop,skip and a jump away so I go there alot, and Antietam is just minutes away from where I live. Gettysburg is definitely haunted- I've gone on some ghost hunts there.

Angel · Post by **Angel** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 8:01 am

Here are some pics of Antietam:

http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f281/ ... f29737.pbr

Doug · Post by **Doug** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 3:23 pm

Those are good pictures of sights and landscapes around Antietam, Angel. Like Gettysburg, Antietam is in a lovely natural setting. Marilou and I visited there in April and toured the area. The battlefield is larger than I imagined before I saw it in person. We also visited South Mountain and Turner's, Fox's, and Crampton's Gaps; and Harper's Ferry; and stopped at the Kennedy farm where John Brown planned his raid. Again, like at Gettysburg, there is so much to see that a visitor should plan to return at least once.

Have you toured Monacacy? We had hoped to stop there while in the area but ran short of time.

Doug · Post by **Doug** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 3:49 pm

Ellen, it sounds like you have a good start on your Lizzie library. Rebello's book is invaluable, especially if you ever visit Fall River (another place to be visited more than once!). I have read all the others you name except Rehak. Additional works I find interesting (and entertaining) are Sullivan's Goodbye Lizzie Borden and anything Edmund Pearson wrote about the case. And, if you eventually read the primary sources you will hear the principals speak in their own words, and, after a fashion, tell their own stories.

eprattlbg · Post by **eprattlbg** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 8:41 pm

Hey Doug,

I'm sleeping in the John Morse room at 92 Second St. on October 6. I CAN'T wait!!! I have been reading the primary sources on this web page. I'm working thru the trial now. Next I may get the preliminary hearing, but the papers from the Lizzie Borden Seminar sure sound fascinating, so I may go that way.