Comments on: Assassination Vacation

By: Review #9 – Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell « Bookin' Down South

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 04:02:13 +0000

[...] Harry at Bull Runnings [...]

By: Harry Smeltzer

Harry Smeltzer — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 20:34:27 +0000

Dana,

I think her sister is her twin, so I guess it would be more surprising if they didn’t sound alike. No, I have not caught the show, but I did read that she had an ancestor on the Trail of Tears – as well as one who was part of Quantrill’s force that sacked Lawrence, KS.

Dave,

I’ll put it on my list of things to do, but remind me if you don’t hear from me by next week.

By: Dana Shoaf

Dana Shoaf — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 17:08:56 +0000

Harry, when we talked yesterday I forgot to tell you that I’m a big Sara Vowell fan. I’ve read most of her books and enjoy them thoroughly. She’s just like you and I, and so many others, a history geek that really gets into her topics. I love the spin she puts on things. A while ago, she and her sister (sounds just like her) traveled across the route of the Trail of Tears interviewing people for Ths American Life. Did you catch it? What a great show!
Dana

By: Dave Powell

Dave Powell — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 11:25:53 +0000

Harry,

I’d be interested in seeing them…

Dave

By: Harry Smeltzer

Harry Smeltzer — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 21:19:49 +0000

Dave,

See, you get it.

I have three old post cards of the observation tower on Missionary Ridge. If you don’t already have them, let me know and I’ll scan copies for you.

By: Dave Powell

Dave Powell — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 12:00:22 +0000

Assassination Vacation is first-rate. I listened to it on CD, with her reading it, which really enhanced the experience. I expected the book to be light-weight, and more about her politics than anything else. Instead, I found it to be not only really clever, but also very solid, historically – a layman’s look, to be sure, but she has the same urge to KNOW that I do. Plus, she goes into all the tourist trap places that, I tend to skip because of time, but part of me always wants to poke my head in.

I had not thought of it before, but the “pulling threads” idea is a good description of the theme. She runs a lead down to the logical conclusion, and does so by going there – not something we can all do all the time.

However, I have two stories in that vein. First, there used to be several observation towers at Chickamauga/Chattanooga park. (these towers did not look like the GB towers, but instead look like square erector set constructions.) They were built in the early 1900s. By the 1950s, they were taken down for various reasons. A friend and I discovered that one tower survives as a fire tower in a Tennessee State Park about an hour SE of Nashville.

Of course, we had to go. We drove through a driving rainstorm in the off season, and then had to search out someone at the park who might know where a tower was. Finally, we drove up a winding back road to stand under a dripping tower and get soaked in the five minutes we were out of the car. the tower looked exactly as pictured, however; there was no doubt that it was a park tower. How many folks have visited that tower specifically because it was once on Missionary Ridge? Not many, I’d bet.

The second story is simpler, merely noting a connection. Maj Gen Thomas L. Crittenden commanded the 21st Corps at Chickamauga. His son, Lt. John J. Crittenden, entered the army and was attached to the 7th Cavalry for the Big Horn expedition. On June 25th, 1876, LT. Crittenden was killed with Custer. Among the effects recovered from Lt. Crittenden was a watch that his father carried at Chickamauga, and which Crittenden senior gave to Lt. Crittenden for the campaign. Thus the Watch connects two great battles in American history. I am fascinated by things like that.

Dave Powell