Random Thoughts on History

I have encountered race utilized as a commercial sales tool in a number of the advertisements found in Kentucky's Civil War newspapers...

Something about the above advertisement, which was printed in the May 10, 1864, issue of the Louisville Weekly Journal , seems a bit fish...

I found the above runaway advertisement today while doing research, and I must say it is the most unusual one located yet. It is unique...

I shared a notice a couple of weeks ago or so about a runaway named  Jerry  that had fled from General John S. Williams of Clark County, Ke...

Negroes for sale. These three words were printed often in Kentucky newspapers during the antebellum and Civil War years. But when they appea...

The above short article ran in the February 25, 1864, edition of the Henderson, Kentucky, Weekly Reporter . A couple of things mentioned ...

Over the many years that I have been obsessed with the history of the Civil War, I do not know how many times I have glanced at the ab...

A PROCLAMATION To the People of Kentucky A crisis has arisen in the history of the Commonwealth which demands of every loyal citiz...

I can't help but wonder if the records for these particular claimants are on file at the National Archives. It would seemingly make f...

Corroborating and linking advertisements of captured runaway slaves with the Confederate army has been more difficult that I anticipated....

The song "Two Years Ago, By A Drafted Wide Awake" tells the story of a regretful soldier, who before the war was full of blus...

I have happened upon several surprising advertisements while reviewing newspaper issue after newspaper issue. Knowing how touchy unioni...

My research on Kentucky slavery ads has led me to discover some notable owners. No, I have not come across a national figure like a John ...

The above and below advertisements both ran in the April 7, 1865, issue of the Paris, Kentucky, Western Citizen newspaper. Both notice...

In perusing Kentucky's Civil War newspaper advertisements for mentions of slavery, I did not expect to find slave quarters ment...

I found a letter in the November 27, 1863, edition of the Paris, Kentucky,  Western Citizen  that I thought I'd share. Unfortunately, ...

I am not sure how I have managed to not previously post about Colonel Frank Wolford of the 1st Kentucky Cavalry (U.S.). But, running throu...

Artist Edwin Forbes sketched the above image just days after the Union defeat at the Battle of Chancellorsville. It is titled "A B...

The above notice ran for several months in the Frankfort Tri-Weekly Commonwealth after first appearing in the July 29, 1863 edition. I ...

Soon after I began researching slavery advertisements in Kentucky's Civil War newspapers I became curious to see if I could verify a su...