^ That's still a long way from never having cracked open a history book.
Hell on Wheels casting
- Thread starter Temis the Vorta
- Start date
Well I'm sorry, and I apologize to Temis for that comment. But on the other hand, this is pretty basic history about a major event in US history, it's not that hard to find this information.
Of course in defense of Temis, in today's supercharged PC world, it's getting harder and harder to have honest and accurate discussions about racially sensitive matters, even in a historical context.
Of course in defense of Temis, in today's supercharged PC world, it's getting harder and harder to have honest and accurate discussions about racially sensitive matters, even in a historical context.
The guy with the missing hand was a union soldier who fought for the North. He was part of a group of soldiers who I'm guessing raped and then murdered Cullen's wife. I think he assumed she hung herself after not being able to cope with what happened to her which has me think she was raped. I don't think it was ever said in the episode though.
In the opening Cullen kills one of the other union soldiers involved in that when he is making a confession in a church. The union soldier talks about the things they did with Sherman (General in the union army) that were immoral and haunted him. Cullen mentions 'Meridian' in the episode and he's from Mississippi. Meridian, Mississippi was one of the major railroad hubs/transportation depots in the South. General Sherman pretty much wiped it off the face of the map. His army destroyed miles upon miles of railroads, over 50 or 60 bridges, and hundreds of buildings. The army destroyed food depots, fuel depots, etc... Basically anything that could have been use to the army or a soldier in the army or anyone supporting a soldier in the army.
So likely what ever happened to his wife by union soldiers happening during the destruction of Meridian. As to how fast North/South reunited. I think it's more likely you'd find a Northerner willing to hire a Southerner than the other way around. So I didn't really see an issue with that.
That's fair enough. I'm Irish and don't claim to know an awful lot about the American Civil War (though I do find it an interesting part of history). I do accept that people in all sorts of conflicts act for all sorts of reasons and I don't think all parties in all conflicts are entirely good or entirely bad.
Having said that, I'm a bit wary of the 'let's respectabilise the Confederacy' school of thought - but as I say, it's not a subject I claim to know an awful lot about.
That is not my intent, I'm simply pointing out that making a broad dismissive comment about every soldier fighting for the South just for the sake of slavery is simply an uneducated position to take. It's just not that simple.
ETA: I haven't seen this yet, I have it DVR'D, but based on the comments I've seen, Temis and others are reacting negatively to this idea that he owned slaves, then freed them, but somehow still fought for the Confederacy. What I'm pointing out is that's not implausible at all, and it's not whitewashing. It was totally possible based on the motivations of the masses who were duped into "the cause" by the ruling elite.
ETA: I haven't seen this yet, I have it DVR'D, but based on the comments I've seen, Temis and others are reacting negatively to this idea that he owned slaves, then freed them, but somehow still fought for the Confederacy. What I'm pointing out is that's not implausible at all, and it's not whitewashing. It was totally possible based on the motivations of the masses who were duped into "the cause" by the ruling elite.
^ Oh, I know you didn't/ don't have that intent. I agree with you that things aren't that simple. But not having seen the show or knowing an awful lot, beyond the basics of the Civil War, I can't really take too strong a position either way.
Oh I understand that totally. I wouldn't expect you to have an in-depth knowledge of our history, Lord knows that sadly I know nothing about Irish history and my ancestors are from Ireland.
I think I reacted negatively in this thread because I get tired of the kneejerk reactions people have to certain things because of our overactive PC world. History is what is. Bad shit happened and there are plenty of villians to go around. But there were also people who were caught up in the events of the day who thought they were doing right. Or in this case, thought they were fighting for something different that what they actually were.
I think I reacted negatively in this thread because I get tired of the kneejerk reactions people have to certain things because of our overactive PC world. History is what is. Bad shit happened and there are plenty of villians to go around. But there were also people who were caught up in the events of the day who thought they were doing right. Or in this case, thought they were fighting for something different that what they actually were.
A Confederate who fights for reasons other than slavery is not at all far fetched and has many examples in the documents of the time... Hell, Robert E. Lee himself wrote a letter in 1856 to his wife calling slavery a "moral Evil" and still led the confederate army out of a sense of patriotism and "honor". Its not whitewashing history, its part of it.
Thank you Freeze, I appreciate you taking the time to clear that up for me. I wanted to ask if Meridian was a real place but couldn't remember the name they used, nice to know that was authentic.
In hindsight I think I was also confused because the the Railroad guy seemed to be quite racist, but as Temis has pointed out, this is quite acurate depiction of the times,
Cheers,
Kytee
It probably didn't hurt that he had slaves either.
Slaves he inherited from his father in law and freed within 5 years, by 1862.
I finally got around to watching this tonight. Little slow in the beginning but the last 15 minutes finally got interesting. The thing I found "groan worthy" was the cliched "evil railroad barron." 
Also I was a little 
at the opening scene too. The Union soldier was walking down the street and decided to go into a church, and Bohanan (or whatever his name was) just happened to be there posing as a priest at that moment?
Overall I like period pieces, especially westerns, and I'm sure I'll keep tuning in to see where this goes. But can't shake the feeling that I've kind of seen this before and it was called The Outlaw Josey Wales.
Also I was a little at the opening scene too. The Union soldier was walking down the street and decided to go into a church, and Bohanan (or whatever his name was) just happened to be there posing as a priest at that moment? Overall I like period pieces, especially westerns, and I'm sure I'll keep tuning in to see where this goes. But can't shake the feeling that I've kind of seen this before and it was called The Outlaw Josey Wales.
^ If it's anywhere near the league of Josey Wales, probably my favourite Western, I'm in.
Well that's not exactly what i meant, I mean the storyline is very similar in terms of a civil war figure going after the soldiers that killed his wife. I'm not sure that it was established with certainty that Josey was an ex-confederate, or even necessarily even pro-southern, but it was pro-Union "Redlegs" that killed his family. So it's the same overall idea, just told in a different way. So I don't want to mislead you into thinking it's a remake, because that's not what i meant.
^ Thanks for the clarification. I just mean if it's similar to TOJW and is anywhere near as good and well-made, I'm totally gonna watch it!
I would think that a Northern middle management type would hire a Southern of his same social class then an Irish Catholic, Colored man, or Chinese laborer
Because he was forced to. Custis originally wanted them emancipated upon his death but had a stipulation in his will that they could be retained for 5 years if his estate wasn't in good financial standing.
Finally watched the premiere....it was just okay. Nothing amazing, but not horrible either. But it's always hard to tell with a premiere, so I'll give the show at least another episode or two before I make a final judgment.
Our Confederate said he was fighting for honor, not slavery. Many who fought fought for their state, not slavery. I can get behind that. And now he pursues those responsible for what happened to his wife. Probably was raped and murdered by Union soldiers. I see enough morality to stick around a few episodes.
Similar threads
