The video and post on Civil War Scholars explore the lives of Henry Bedinger and Alec Boteler, two creative Congressmen from West Virginia who were friends and colleagues in the mid-19th century. Bedinger, who met and fell in love with fellow Congressmen’s daughter Carrie Lawrence, became a US ambassador to Denmark in the 1850s. Boteler, a lover of art and a self-professed novice at business, served in Bedinger’s old Congressional seat from early 1859 until just before the outbreak of the Civil War.
The post paints a portrait of two men who were passionate about art and enjoyed spending time together with their families. The article includes anecdotes and examples of both men’s creativity, including Bedinger’s poetry and Boteler’s love of drawing and painting. Boteler, who was the great-grandson of Charles Willson Peale, a leading portrait painter in early America, expressed regret that his father forced him to abandon his love of painting.
The post also explores Boteler’s romantic pursuit of his future wife Helen Stockton, his passion for drawing at Princeton, and his friendship with Anderson, the famed children’s writer, who would often seek him out for a game of chess. Bedinger, on the other hand, is described as having a love of travel, adventure, and music, and as being a favorite of King Frederick VII of Denmark, with the famed children’s writer, Anderson, often joining them for chess games.
Overall, the video and post offer a glimpse into the lives of two creative, resourceful men who lived during a time of political unrest and change in America. Though they had their own individual ambitions and struggles, they shared a love of art and friendship that endured through the years. The article also touches on popular customs and traditions, including Christmas decoration, that were introduced by these men in their hometowns.
Posted by Jim Surkamp on 2015-03-26 12:49:19