In the early 19th century, as America grappled with its young identity and the mysteries of its vast landscapes, scholars and antiquarians like Josiah Priest delved into speculative histories that challenged the conventional narrative of Christopher Columbus as the first European to reach the New World. Drawing on geographical accounts, ancient texts, and scattered artifacts, Priest’s work American Antiquities, and Discoveries in the West (1833) posits a bold theory: that ancient civilizations from the Old World—Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, and even Scandinavians—may have voyaged to North America centuries before 1492. This excerpt from pages 47-49 explores these conjectures through historical references, geographical calculations, and intriguing finds like Roman coins in Missouri, weaving a tapestry of possibility that invites readers to reconsider the origins of American habitation. While rooted in the era’s enthusiasm for romanticized archaeology, it reflects a enduring fascination with lost connections between continents.
https://humblymybrain.substack.com/p/ancient-voyages-to-america-phoenician
In the aftermath of the American Civil War, personal accounts from soldiers offered raw glimpses into the brutal realities of conflict, far removed from romanticized histories. George Cary Eggleston’s Southern Soldier Stories captures the unvarnished experiences of Confederate troops, emphasizing not just battles but the everyday struggles against scarcity and deprivation. This excerpt from his collection, titled “Random Facts,” vividly illustrates the ingenuity and endurance of Southern soldiers amid profound shortages—of clothing, medicine, ammunition, and even food—highlighting how necessity forged both practical innovations and spiritual resilience. It serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of war, where survival often depended on makeshift solutions and unyielding determination.
https://humblymybrain.substack.com/p/confederate-soldiers-hardships-scarcity
