A little slice of Highland clan history

[macwilkin]

Another book similar to Ray's is "Cracker Culture: Celtic Ways in the Old South" by Grady McWhiney. He essentially ties descriptions of Ireland and Scotland to that of the Old South (US), while tying England to New England. While it sounds like bad history, it is actually well written, defended, and reasoned. It actually by a university press: University Alabama Press.

Read McWhiney's two "Celtic South" books, the aforementioned "Cracker Culture", and the last chapter of "Attack and Die", which discusses Southern military strategy and tactics in the Civil War with a large grain of salt, though. Interesting reading, but it should be pointed out that many people of "Celtic" stock also served in the Federal Army -- the Irish regiments of New York, Mass. and Pennsylvania, the 23rd Illinois and 7th Missouri "Irish"; the 79th New York and 12th Illinois (both Scottish regiments) and the numerous Scots, Ulster-Scots and Welsh soldiers who did not necessarily join an "ethnic" regiment.

Arthur MacArthur, father of General Douglas MacArthur, for example, was of Scottish heritage and was awarded the CMOH for his actions at Lookout Mountain with the 24th Wisconsin. On a personal note, many of my own Scottish ancestors served in Iowa regiments during the war.

That's not saying McWhiney is wrong, just that he ignores the Northern "Celts" to prove his point. Ray, David Fischer and James Leyburn are much more reliable.

OT off.

Regards,

Todd