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Walter Edgar's Journal

From books to barbecue, from current events to colonial history, Walter Edgar's Journal delves into the arts, culture, history of South Carolina and the American South. (A production of South Carolina Public Radio.)

Resource Type
Forensic Investigation of the Crew | Walter Edgar's Journal
 - Episode 6 A Giant Puzzle | Walter Edgar's Journal

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A Giant Puzzle | Walter Edgar's Journal
Episode 1
In this first segment on the Confederate submarine C.S.S. Hunley, Walter Edgar and Senator Glenn McConnell discuss how finding the submarine disproved all pre-conceived notions about its design...
 Raising The Hunley | Walter Edgar's Journal

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Raising The Hunley | Walter Edgar's Journal
Episode 2
Senator Glenn McConnell discusses raising the Hunley. Some of the challenges faced were maritime legal issues, and how the submarine was going to be lifted off of the ocean floor. Preserving the...
Forensic Investigation of the Crew | Walter Edgar's Journal
 - Episode 6 A Historic Time Capsule | Walter Edgar's Journal

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A Historic Time Capsule | Walter Edgar's Journal
Episode 3
The Hunley is described as “a historic time capsule.” Sen. Glenn McConnell discusses using the clues found in the Hunley to piece together what happened the night it sank the U.S.S. Housatonic.
Forensic Investigation of the Crew | Walter Edgar's Journal
 - Episode 6 The Hunley's Design | Walter Edgar's Journal

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The Hunley's Design | Walter Edgar's Journal
Episode 4
In this segment, Sen. Glenn McConnell talks about the design of the Hunley. Previous replicas and diagrams of the Hunley were found to be inaccurate upon discovery of the real submarine.
 Forensic Investigation of the Crew | Walter Edgar's Journal

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Forensic Investigation of the Crew | Walter Edgar's Journal
Episode 6
Dr. Jacobsen talks about the forensic investigation of the Hunley’s crew members, and analyzes the effects of sediment helping preserve their remains. The Hunley project has yielded both scientific...
 Dixon's Gold Coin | Walter Edgar's Journal

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Dixon's Gold Coin | Walter Edgar's Journal
Episode 7
Before the Hunley was found, Lieutenant George Dixon’s gold coin was just considered a legend. Dr. Maria Jacobsen tells the story and significance behind Lt. Dixon’s coin, and shares her excitement...
Forensic Investigation of the Crew | Walter Edgar's Journal
 - Episode 6 Identifying The Crew | Walter Edgar's Journal

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Identifying The Crew | Walter Edgar's Journal
Episode 8
Another challenge faced during the Hunley investigation was identifying the members of the crew. Determining who was who among the crew proved difficult due to lack of Confederate records. Dr. Maria...
 Why We Fight | Walter Edgar's Journal

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Why We Fight | Walter Edgar's Journal
Episode 1
Dr. James McPherson discusses the reasons and motivations behind what made common soldiers ("Billy Yank" and "Johnny Reb") go fight in the Civil War.
 The Spate of Civil War Literature | Walter Edgar's Journal

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The Spate of Civil War Literature | Walter Edgar's Journal
Episode 3
Walter Edgar talks with Dr. McPherson about the increase in Civil War writings within the past thirty years. Writers have since expanded on aspects like civilian life, experiences for common soldiers...
 Civil War

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Civil War "Sensory History" | Walter Edgar's Journal
Episode 4
One of the new fields in Civil War history is what is known as “sensory history:” what people experienced, thought, smelled, tasted, heard, etc. Dr. James McPherson and Dr. Mark Smith discuss these...
 Vicksburg, Famine, and Tastes | Walter Edgar's Journal

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Vicksburg, Famine, and Tastes | Walter Edgar's Journal
Episode 5
In this segment, Dr. Mark Smith discusses tastes, and what people typically ate during the Civil War. He uses Vicksburg, and foods, as examples to illustrate this aspect of sensory history.
 The Civil War At 150 (Full Version)

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The Civil War At 150 (Full Version)
Episode 8
Dr. James McPherson, professor emeritus of American History at Princeton University, won the 1989 Pulitzer Prize for Battle Cry of Freedom, which has since sold more than six hundred thousand copies...
African Americans In The Confederate Army | Walter Edgar's Journal
 - Episode 2 Animosity and No Hindsight | Walter Edgar's Journal

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Animosity and No Hindsight | Walter Edgar's Journal
Episode 4
In this segment, Dr. Thomas discusses the attitudes and animosity the North showed the South, and vice-versa. He then discusses how many people on both sides did not consider the consequences of such...
African Americans In The Confederate Army | Walter Edgar's Journal
 - Episode 2 The Dogs Of War (Full Version)

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The Dogs Of War (Full Version)
Episode 6
Dr. Emory Thomas, the Regents Professor of History Emeritus at the University of Georgia, joins Dr. Edgar for a discussion of the Civil War in this 150th year anniversary of its beginning. Thomas has...