A House Divided: An Expedition into the Civil War by Alena Gomez - City News Group, Inc.

Community Calendar

◄ MARCH ►
S M T W T F S
01 02 03 04 05 06 07
08 09 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31 01 02 03 04
View Events
Submit Events

A House Divided: An Expedition into the Civil War

By Alena Gomez, Community Writer
September 25, 2013 at 03:27pm. Views: 39

With an audience mostly of those aged 50 and up, a handful of veterans in the crowd and the few students who had come to watch their professor lecture, the halls of the Casa Loma building of the University of Redlands opened up with echoes of “good morning.” Chairs separated and formed an aisle leading up to the podium where Frank J. Williams, the retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island, opened up with a light joke and a warm presence. Thus started the first lecture of the Civil War Symposium, entitled “1863: The Turning Point,” an eye-opening account of President Lincoln and the trials, tribulations, and parallels to our current state of affairs the Civil War reflects. “History binds us as a nation,” Craig Symonds, Professor Emeritus of History at the United States Naval Academy, said against the background of the waiting crowd that morning. When asked about the new research the symposium would later come to cover on casualties, he replied that research was continuously ongoing and new facts were always being uncovered. The notion of the number of deaths was vastly underestimated, for in 1863 records stopped being kept. For some time the number of deaths was calculated to be somewhere around 600,000 Americans for both sides, but new research suggests that the death toll could actually lie over 700,000. To put that into modern perspective, that would be nearly 7 million casualties to our current population. With a roster of different scholars from places nearby to far along the east coast, each had plenty to say on the subject of turning points. Joan Waugh, a professor of History at the University of California, Los Angeles, said that though there were many different turning points of the Civil War, one of the most important would have to be Lincoln’s reelection in 1864. In the words of the Bible, quoted by Abraham Lincoln, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” The symposium offered a lot of insight to a broad public audience, insight that forces a person to revisit and reexamine the nation’s past actions for the sake of its current issues. Though over 150 years have gone by since the Civil War, the continuing interest in the events of that war shows that these events continue teaching lessons on unity and conflict.

Related Articles

Rancho Family Medical Group Strengthens Community Care With Moreno Valley Expansion
Photo Courtesy of: City of Moreno Valley

By Ruby Stephenson, Contributing Writer

March 17, 2026 at 05:26pm. Views: 412

A modern storefront shows Rancho Family Medical Group’s new clinic, with signs reading “Primary Care Coming Soon” above glass doors decorated with blue and white balloons. Rancho Family Medical Group’s newest clinic is at The District, on Hemlock Avenue.

Redlands East Valley HS Athlete of the Week: Brayden Dismang
Photo Courtesy of: TME Photography by Titan Mom Elvira

By Titan Mom Elvira, Community Writer

March 17, 2026 at 04:36pm. Views: 277

17 years old, Brayden Dismang this weeks Athlete of the Week for Redlands East Valley HS is already making a strong impression both in the classroom and on the baseball field. A Junior maintains an impressive 3.9 grade point average while balancing the demands of academics, athletics, and work.

GTHS Athlete of the Week: Lucas Palos
Photo Courtesy of: TME Photography by Titan Mom Elvira

By Titan Mom Elvira, Community Writer

March 17, 2026 at 04:08pm. Views: 319

Lucas Palos is 17 years old and currently a Senior at Grand Terrace High School. Lucas has earned Principal’s Honor Roll twice, helped lead his teams to league championships in both baseball and football, And is this weeks Athlete of the week.

FARSB STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY HEALTH THROUGH “FOOD AS MEDICINE” PARTNERSHIP
Photo Courtesy of: Feeding America® Riverside | San Bernardino (FARSB)

By Rachel Bonilla, Community Writer

March 17, 2026 at 05:04pm. Views: 634

FARSB, Anthem Blue Cross Foundation and Feeding America highlight how nutritious food supports better health during National Nutrition Month®

A US Town Where Residents Live Significantly Longer
Photo Courtesy of: Mayor Phill Dupper

By Eric Montgomery, Community Writer

March 17, 2026 at 05:05pm. Views: 526

Beautiful view of Loma Linda California.

Dog Park Closure Announced in Grand Terrace for Maintenance Work
Photo Courtesy of: Designed by Freepik

By Eric Montgomery, Community Writer

March 17, 2026 at 05:05pm. Views: 304

The Grand Terrace Dog Park will be closed from March 18, 2026, through April 22, 2026. During the closure period, residents are encouraged to seek alternative locations for outdoor pet activities.

You're Invited: Loveland Church Celebrates Easter Sunday
Photo Courtesy of: Carl M. Dameron

By Carl M. Dameron, Contributing Writer

March 17, 2026 at 05:05pm. Views: 380

Rev. Chuck Singleton, senior pastor at Loveland Church, at the Third Annual Reparations Summit held at Loveland Church.  Easter service at Loveland Church is called “Celebrate the Light Of The World!” in Fontana, Santa Monica, and Victorville, and will be on Sunday, April 5. 6:00 am Sonrise service, 7:30 am, and 10:30 am, live at LovelandChurch.org.

Moreno Valley Dealership Hits the Gas on Growth with Major Service Center Expansion
Photo Courtesy of: City of Moreno Valley

By Brian Mohan, Community Writer

March 17, 2026 at 05:05pm. Views: 534

On Thursday, March 12, Mayor Cabrera and members of the City Council attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Car Pros Kia Moreno Valley, which completed a $2.25 million expansion of its service center doubling its service capacity and further strengthening the dealership’s role as one of the top-performing Kia retailers in the nation.

Hot Weather Ahead: Safety Tips
Photo Courtesy of: Designed by Freepik

By San Bernardino County, Community Writer

March 17, 2026 at 05:05pm. Views: 353

A woman stands in the kitchen smiling, while she holds a glass of water.

6 People Hospitalized After Disastrous Single-Vehicle Crash on State Route 60 and Nason Street
Photo Courtesy of: ONSCENE.TV

By Eric Montgomery, Community Writer

March 17, 2026 at 05:05pm. Views: 213

At approximately 10:15pm on March 8th, 2026, California Highway Patrol officers and Cal Fire Riverside County crews responded to a reported solo vehicle rollover crash on eastbound State Route 60 east of Nason Street in Moreno Valley.

4th Grader Becomes Dual Enrolled College Student at San Bernardino Valley College
Photo Courtesy of: KTLA5

By Eric Montgomery, Community Writer

March 17, 2026 at 05:05pm. Views: 291

Honey Cooper is pictured reading at Kimbark Elementary School in San Bernardino, California.

OSRX, Inc. Announces Sponsorship of Rising Inland Empire Motorsports Prodigy Truly Adams
Photo Courtesy of: Truly Adams

By Justus Baker-Postell, Community Writer

March 17, 2026 at 05:05pm. Views: 328

Truly "The Truth" Adams official sponsorship annoucement with OSRX.

--> -->