You're listening to an Air Wave Media Podcast.

The Civil War and Reconstruction was a pivotal era in American history.

When a war was fought to save the Union and to free the slaves.

And when the work to rebuild the nation after that war was over,

turned into a struggle to guarantee liberty and justice for all Americans.

I'm Tracy.

And I'm Rich.

And we want to invite you to join us as we take an in-depth look at this pivotal era in American history.

Look for the Civil War and Reconstruction wherever you find your podcasts.

In 1861, the Brooklyn Eagle expressed sadness over an aspect of the recent secession of the southern states.

They are leaving the Union and taking the country's best pine with them.

Indeed, southern pine, pitch pine, slash pine.

When some of the best would available the top of the quality pyramid for lumber at this time.

And during the Civil War, these trees were felt in unusually large numbers.

Such was war.

They became fortifications, quateroing roads, turning mud into walkable surface,

axed for temporary housing, used for firewood.

Or if they weren't cut down, blasted by bullets and destroyed by cannonball.

Sometimes, they were just set on fire to give the enemy a problem in their camp.

General Longstreet once told a soldier, turn on the heat in the enemy.

And the Union Army was famous for destroying by the war's end, not just the southern army,

but the southern will to fight, which often meant destroying landscape.

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