Anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War

April 1861 : the confederate forces launched an attack against Fort Sumter in SC after having been warned that a Union ship would bring supplies to the soldiers in the fort ( officially food but also ammunition).

This anniversary has given the press an occasion to look back on the Civil War era. I'd like to recommend the most interesting segments on this subject I've heard so far, provided by a BBC programme called Americana.

If you'd like to download the podcast and listen to it on the go, I've posted it here.

You will hear how some Americans understand the Civil War and David Blight will provide guidance to interpret what they are saying (first 12 minutes of the podcast).

What memory of the Civil War is being articulated by the re-enactors?

Next, several original testimonies on the battle of Antietam are read and commented upon.