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.)

More in this Series

Reactions To Vicksburg | Walter Edgar's Journal

Audio

Grades

Reactions To Vicksburg | Walter Edgar's Journal

Episode 6

News of the Confederate defeat at Vicksburg reaches the public, and Walter Edgar discusses peoples’ reactions.

Conversations On The Civil War - 1863: Vicksburg (Full Version)

Audio

Grades

Conversations On The Civil War - 1863: Vicksburg (Full Version)

Episode 7

Winston Groom, novelist and author of Forrest Gump, has also written a number of well received histories, including Vicksburg, 1863. This narrative history of the Civil War’s most strategically...

A Shift In Sentiment | Walter Edgar's Journal

Audio

Grades

A Shift In Sentiment | Walter Edgar's Journal

Episode 1

In this first segment, Dr. Melissa Walker discusses the increasing civilian distaste for the war, as observed in letters written to soldiers out in the field. Dr. Walker also notes how civilians...

The Refugee Crisis | Walter Edgar's Journal

Audio

Grades

The Refugee Crisis | Walter Edgar's Journal

Episode 2

The Up Country faced a refugee crisis near the end of the war. People fled from the coast to escape the war, and Dr. Walker discusses how difficult it was to provide provisions and assets for them.

Audio

Grades

Casualty Lists | Walter Edgar's Journal

Episode 3

Walter Edgar discusses with Dr. Melissa Walker about the sad reality of casualty lists, read daily to the townsfolk by a clergyman.

Educating The Slaves | Walter Edgar's Journal

Audio

Grades

Educating The Slaves | Walter Edgar's Journal

Episode 4

In this segment, Dr. Walker discusses how in the Up Country, attitudes were more relaxed regarding teaching slaves how to read and write.

Relief From Income Taxes And The Tithe | Walter Edgar's Journal

Audio

Grades

Relief From Income Taxes And The Tithe | Walter Edgar's Journal

Episode 5

Walter Edgar and Dr. Walker analyze how civilians developed solutions for relief in wake of the Confederate government’s imposed income tax, and a law known as “The Tithe.”

Women's Increasing Resentment Toward The North | Walter Edgar's Journal

Audio

Grades

Women's Increasing Resentment Toward The North | Walter Edgar's Journal

Episode 6

Dr. Walker talks about how women in the South were growing increasingly resentful and frustrated with the North in 1864.

Civilians Provide For The Cause | Walter Edgar's Journal

Audio

Grades

Civilians Provide For The Cause | Walter Edgar's Journal

Episode 7

Civilians back home figure out ways to raise money and provide relief for not only themselves, but for the troops as well.

Life In The Upcountry | Walter Edgar's Journal

Audio

Grades

Life In The Upcountry | Walter Edgar's Journal

Episode 8

Dr. Walker briefly summarizes what life was like in general for people living in the Upcountry in 1864.

Conversations On The Civil War - 1864: Plain Folk On The Homefront (Full Version)

Audio

Grades

Conversations On The Civil War - 1864: Plain Folk On The Homefront (Full Version)

Episode 9

Dr. Melissa Walker is the author of numerous books on the Civil War and is co-editor of Upcountry South Carolina Goes to War (USC Press, 2011). She will talk with Dr. Edgar about the role of “plain...

Mary Chesnut On Emancipation | Walter Edgar's Journal
- Episode 7 The Evolution of Mary Chesnut's Diary | Walter Edgar's Journal

Audio

Grades

The Evolution of Mary Chesnut's Diary | Walter Edgar's Journal

Episode 1

In this first segment, Walter Edgar talks with Dr. Julia Stern about how Mary Chesnut’s diary has evolved with its three editions, since it was first published.

Mary Chesnut's Scrapbook | Walter Edgar's Journal

Audio

Grades

Mary Chesnut's Scrapbook | Walter Edgar's Journal

Episode 2

Dr. Julia Stern discusses writing her book Mary Chesnut’s Civil War Epic, and recounts meeting the descendants of Mary Chesnut, along with seeing Chesnut’s personal photo album, containing photos of...

The Shift In Cultural Weather | Walter Edgar's Journal

Audio

Grades

The Shift In Cultural Weather | Walter Edgar's Journal

Episode 3

Dr. Stern goes into the South’s reaction to the Witherspoon Murder, and how people in the South were cautious regarding the threat of slave rebellions. She then analyzes Mary Chesnut’s use of the...

Mary Chesnut On Emancipation | Walter Edgar's Journal
- Episode 7 Mary Chesnut: The Creative Writer | Walter Edgar's Journal

Audio

Grades

Mary Chesnut: The Creative Writer | Walter Edgar's Journal

Episode 4

Dr. Stern talks about Mary Chesnut’s unique style of writing; using literary analogues, letters, and her “brushes with greatness,” to recreate her memories of the Civil War in her diary.

Mary Chesnut On Emancipation | Walter Edgar's Journal
- Episode 7 The Relationship Of Mary and James Chesnut | Walter Edgar's Journal

Audio

Grades

The Relationship Of Mary and James Chesnut | Walter Edgar's Journal

Episode 5

Walter Edgar and Dr. Stern analyze the long-lasting and prosperous relationship between Mary Chesnut, and her husband, James.

Mary Chesnut On Emancipation | Walter Edgar's Journal
- Episode 7 The Feuds | Walter Edgar's Journal

Audio

Grades

The Feuds | Walter Edgar's Journal

Episode 6

In this segment on Mary Chesnut’s diary, Dr. Stern discusses the feuds between Joe Johnston and Jefferson Davis, along with one between Mary Chesnut and Lucy Pickens. Dr. Stern finishes this segment...

Mary Chesnut On Emancipation | Walter Edgar's Journal

Audio

Grades

Mary Chesnut On Emancipation | Walter Edgar's Journal

Episode 7

With this final segment on Mary Chesnut’s diary, Dr. Stern talks about Mary Chesnut’s take on emancipation, and how it turned Southern societal norms upside down.

Conversations On the Civil War - 1863: Mary Chesnut's Civil War (Full Version)

Audio

Grades

Conversations On the Civil War - 1863: Mary Chesnut's Civil War (Full Version)

Episode 8

Julia Stern, professor of English and American Studies at Northwestern University and author of Mary Chesnut's Civil War Epic, will "unpack the way in which at levels domestic, historical and epic...

Could Soldiers Vote? | Walter Edgar's Journal
- Episode 7 The Campaign | Walter Edgar's Journal

Audio

Grades

The Campaign | Walter Edgar's Journal

Episode 1

In this first segment on President Abraham Lincoln’s re-election in 1864, Dr. John C. “Jack” Waugh discusses Lincoln’s campaign, and the deep divisions within the Republican Party, despite their...

Could Soldiers Vote? | Walter Edgar's Journal
- Episode 7 General George McClellan | Walter Edgar's Journal

Audio

Grades

General George McClellan | Walter Edgar's Journal

Episode 2

Dr. Waugh discusses the military career of one of the Union’s most prominent generals: General George McClellan, Westpoint Class of 1846, and his political ties in Washington D.C.

Could Soldiers Vote? | Walter Edgar's Journal
- Episode 7 Lincoln's Challengers | Walter Edgar's Journal

Audio

Grades

Lincoln's Challengers | Walter Edgar's Journal

Episode 3

In this segment, Dr. Waugh discusses Lincoln’s challengers during the election of 1864, and how he handled them. His opponents include the “Copperheads,” the “Cleveland 400,” and General Benjamin...