it's the third of July. The fourth of July is an important date for Americans, but
so is the third. You see today in 1863 was the third, and last, day of the Battle of
Gettysburg during the American Civil War. And if you're wondering why I'm talking
about this on this day in Scottish history, then you're gonna have to come with me on a
train journey. Let's go. Hiya I'm Bruce Fummey. If you're interested in
the people events and places in Scottish history then subscribe to Scotland
history tours and click the bell symbol to be notified of new videos. In the
meantime, let me tell you a story. OK, so today we're focusing on America, but
trust me there's a reason for that. Oh listen.
If you're from the USA can you please let me know. Actually you know what would be even better
is to find out where everyone comes from. Can everyone just state their Nationality
down in the comment section below. That would be really interesting to find out
where everyone's from. And so this video is American, but it's also Scottish.
I can probably let my mask slip, there's nobody in the carriage.
I should also probably point out that in early stages of America there were three
different types of Scots. There were Highland Scots, typically Episcopalian or
Catholic, the product of the clan system. You get the idea.
There were Lowland Scots; Presbyterian, austere, more modern in their outlook. And
there were Scotch Irish. Now these were the Scots Presbyterians, who a few
generations before have been planted in the north of Ireland and moved to the
Americas. Now these Scotch Irish were closer to Lowland Presbyterian Scots than
either Highland Scots or Irish Irish, but they all had ginger here so the
distinction's kind of unimportant. Half an hour to wait in Stirling station. I should
have planned this trip better. Scots had quite an impact in the formation of the
USA. They were both hated and adored. They were heated because Scots, and
particularly Highland Scots, tended to support the British crown during the
American Revolutionary War. Rebellion. However the ideas upon which America was
based were philosophical ideas emanating from the Scots enlightenment.
Now if I said that we were heading to a monument to one of those Scottish
philosophers some of you might guess the name of the town. After all we've left
Perthshire and were changing in Stirlnig, so... The name of the philosopher is, of
course, David Hume. I'm sure we'll cover him again at some point in the
future, but David Hume once said: 'I'm American and my principles and I wish we
would let them alone to govern or miss govern themselves as they think proper.' I
wonder what he'd think today. Anyway that must be half an hour eh? Not only that,
a camera on a train platform? Nobody wants to look like a trainspotter.
The cultural influence of American films and TV shows is such that I'm guessing
most of us have eard of the Battle of Gettysburg. It was a turning point in the
American Civil War and probably, as much as any other battle, defines what
America is today.
The war was a vicious and brutal struggle, between southern slave states, who
wanted to break from the Union, and northern Union states who wanted to
limit slavery, as America expanded to the west. More importantly, they wanted to
prevent those southern states secceding from that group of United States that should
control the continent from Atlantic to Pacific Oceans. The conflict was made all
the more bloody because it was the first all-out war
to use bullets rather than musket balls. I better get my ticket.
No not all-pro slave states joined the Confederacy. The Battle of Gettysburg
came about because, after grinding battles in Virginia, the Confederates
made a push north in the hope of bringing non Confederates slave states on
their side; and to demonstrate to the what North that they could win. In truth
Gettysburg was the beginning of the end for the Confederates. On this day, the 3rd
of July, they basically made the last row of the dice, as 12,000 men threw
themselves into withering union rifle and artillery fire across a male wide open
field, like ghosts of Highlanders at Culloden; with similar results.
Incidentally, if you're American and you think: This Scotsman's got no idea what
he's talking about.' then feel free to add any corrections
below. Now Scots immigrated all over America and it should come as no surprise that
they were found and both Union and Confederate side. Calton Hill, here in
Edinburgh, is a place of monuments. One famous Confederate General, who's statues
are probably tumbling all over America as we speak. was Stonewall Jackson. His
granddad was Scotch-Irish, from Colraine. Convicted of larceny, he was sentenced to
seven years penal transportation. Jackson's grandmother was sentenced to
the same thing, also for theft, but a different crime. Now I'm not sure if
their conviction reformed them, because when they met on the transport ship to
the colonies, they stole each other's hearts. Little did they know that 270 years later
we'd be arguing about their grandson's statues. He didn't make it to Gettysburg,
because he was accidentally shot by his own troops
two months before. And Americans want to be trusted with guns eh? Now the man
who built and led the Union Army of the north wasn't at Gettysburg. George B
McClellan That sounds Scots. Of course! Good old Scots,
standing against slavery. Well apparently he didn't actually main slavery that
much. He just didn't like the idea of states seceding from the Union.
Now the general who led the Union Army to the end of the war wasn't it Gettysburg
either, but this is a busy weekend for the American Civil War re-enactors
societies, because a day after the carnage of Gettysburg on the Fridy a
place called Vicksburg surrendered after a long siege in the Saturday. And the
commander of that siege was put in charge of the whole Union Army, and he
led the army to the end of the war. I'm sure you've heard of him. Ulysses S Grant
Grant sounds Scottish, doesn't it? Yes from Grantown on Spey in fact. Now Grant went
on to become president United States. In all seventy-five percent of US
presidents have descended, in one way or another, from Scots. Grant was in fact the
first US. president to visit Scotland, although he did this during his globetrotting days
after his reiral. He was given the freedom of Inverness during a Council
meeting in the halls in Union St Inverness.
He never made it to Grantown on Spey, which is a shame because there's a wee tea room
there called Chaplins and it does the most incredible millionaire shortbread oh...
OK, so the reason I brought you here is that I wanted you to have a look at this
monument. The statue is of Abraham Lincoln, with an emancipated sleeve giving
thanks at his feet. I know! But the black guy is holding a book. Not only is he
free, he's also now educated. How very Scottish
is that, and okay equality in education still something to strive for,
but it's a high-minded ideal. Look, I didn't design the statue. You might want
to go and watch my video at the Highland Clearances in the Scottish slave trade
OK! But for now let's focus on the position and purpose of the statute
rather than its propriety. It's the American Civil War Memorial, and it
stands here in the old Calton Cemetery at the East End of Princess Street and
below Calton Hill. It stands next to the memorial immediately behind me; the
large one to David Hume, the great Scots philosopher whose thinking formed the
basis and the idea of what became America. This is the only statue of
Abraham Lincoln in Scotland incidentally. it's the first statue
to a US president an outside America, and it's the only monument to the American Civil
War outside the United States. So why is it here? It was dedicated in August 1893. It
was funded by the US, and proposed to Edinburgh Council by the then United
States consul, who went by the name incidentally of Mr. Wallace Bruce. You
can see where they sent him to Scotland. The monument is dedicated to Scotsmen
who fought on the side of the Union in the American Civil War. Now I've given
you a couple of names of generals but ordinary guys in the trenches, and
not only that, there's so many Scots that have impacted on the growth of America. I'll
leave a link in the description below for anyone wants to buy this book.
It's called How the Scots Made America. You might like it. Although, to be honest,
I've got an Apache mate, and he he wasn't impressed. Scots have made quite an
impact on the world, both for good and for bad, and 157 years on from Gettysburg
there's still a cross Atlantic connection. We still grapple with their ideas of David
Hume, the after-effects of slavery, the nature of statues, and countries created
by unions. I wonder what next year will bring.
Obviously I'd love you to like and share this video. If you enjoy these videos
that I make then there's also a link below now. You can click and
buy me a coffee, or support on a regular basis to help fund train fares
to Edinburgh for example, so that I can make videos like these.
It's got obligatory, its optional. Whether or not you feel able to do that...
Tha mi an dochas gum bith lath math leibh. Tiorridh an drasda