About Me


About Me
Hello and welcome to Defending the Legacy!  My name is Jordan Jachim and this is my blog.  I’m glad that you stopped by.  This is primarily a history blog, where I feature paintings and historical essays that mostly focus on 1660-1783.


Why history?
I’ve loved history since I was 4.  I learned to read early and read voraciously.  Two history books that I especially enjoyed in my early years were Armstrong Sperry’s John Paul Jones, Fighting Sailor and Leonard Everett Fischer’s Picture Book of Revolutionary War Heroes. 
Me at Fort Michilmackinac 2012.  Photo credit: my mom.
My love of history continued through grade school and into 2009, when I discovered that it was the 250th anniversary of the French and Indian War.  Upon learning that a reenactment of the battle of Quebec had been cancelled, I was propelled into learning more.  This would ultimately spark a blog post on the subject: http://faithful-legacy.blogspot.com/2009/09/celebrating-gods-providential-hand-at.html.  Much to my surprise, it quickly became well-trafficked (as of January 2016, this post has seen 1335 views) and ultimately led to launching a blog specifically about history.


Why the name?
As I study history, I have found that many modern historians are quick to point out the bad deeds that history’s main characters have committed.  And indeed, people in the past were not perfect (just like people today are not perfect).  But I fear that in a quest to make history’s heroes more “human”, their heroic accomplishments have been minimized.  Sometimes their good deeds are deliberately hidden so that the historian or author can preach his political or social agenda.  This is contrary to the 9th Commandment: “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”  Here on Defending the Legacy, the goal is to give an honest Christian perspective on history and its characters.  This blog certainly is not infallible, but it attempts to truthfully recount history without any deliberate errors.


The Journey of Defending the Legacy
In May of 2010, Defending the Legacy was begun to provide a space where I could write about history and other subjects.  This year will mark the 6th year that Defending the Legacy has been running and some things have changed in that time.  I have begun adding footnotes and sources to my historical essays, rather than just blogging historical quotes.  One thing that has remained constant, however, is that each post (with only a few exceptions) is illustrated with paintings, engravings, and sometimes photographs.
Volunteering as a tour guide for a local museum.
The outfit is an original uniform that they own.
Photo credit: my dad.
Blogging has allowed me both to write and to interact with other history lovers.  One of my readers (who is a blogger herself) wisely noted in a comment that “blogging is … a very communal activity, and we are interdependent with all those who read and comment. So in some ways, we are almost public servants!”  And I have found this to be a true observation.  Nothing encourages me more than seeing that someone read and is interacting with what I have written.


Is this blog just about history?

No, certainly not!  On Defending the Legacy, I have published short stories, theological musings, some personal anecdotes and even Lego creations.  Nevertheless it would be fair to say that probably 85%-90% is about history.


What do you do when you’re not blogging?

I am currently studying for a B.A. in History and running a company named Through All Ages LLC (https://www.wargamevault.com/browse/pub/14586/Through-All-Ages-LLC), which creates  paper soldiers and historical regimental flags.  Sometimes I volunteer as a tour guide for a local historical museum.  In my spare time, I enjoy reading books, painting military miniatures (a.k.a. toy soldiers), and organizing things.


7 comments:

  1. I would like to contact you in reference to your article on Tarleton colors

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    Replies
    1. Hello Micah!

      What would you like to contact me about? Can you tell me a little more? All comments are moderated, so I can see them and not publish them to the World Wide Web.

      ~Jordan

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    2. Jordan, I collect and display historic flags (see churchstreetflags on Instagram) and am interested in getting artwork for Tarleton's Legion's colors. Appears you may have created it. John

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    3. That is a very well done collection of flags which you have! Would you mind writing to me via email at jacobitejordan"at"rocketmail"dot"com? Then we can discuss this further

      Have a good day,
      Jordan

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  2. Hello Jordan,
    My name is Sarah Levesque and I am the Assistant Editor of Fellowship and Fairydust Publications, a Christian-based online magazine and blog. We are currently looking for new contributors to join our merry band, and we think you'd be a great fit! What you've done here is so cool - I've never seen a battle plan from a Narnia book before! Our goal at F&F is to inspire faith and creativity and explore the arts through a spiritual lens. We publish everything from original fiction to fanfiction to spiritual reflections to book and movie reviews. We'd love to get more history, something which we're rather lacking at the moment. Check out our websites (yes there are two - we're working on consolidating) at thefellowshipoftheking.net and inkandfairydustmag.org. Please let us know what you think by emailing us at inkandfairydust@gmail.com! Looking forward to hearing from you!
    Sarah Levesque
    Assistant Editor
    Fellowship and Fairydust Publications

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    Replies
    1. Hello Sarah!
      Thank you for the invitation. I am very busy right now, but I will consider it and let you know my thoughts soon.
      Blessings,
      Jordan

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  3. Most impressed by your analysis of Benjamin West's paiting "General Johnson Saving a Wounded French Officer from the Tomahawk of a North American Indian". For my own research information on the Indian in the scene would be very helpful, as the online reproduction is indistinct. Is his scalp shaved or covered by something akin to a cap? Are the earrings circular? Can you deduce the tribal affiliation? I would like to say more about my research, but space does not allow. I am also unsure of how I can read your response, as the sit rejected my URL-input (maybe because I am writing from Germany)

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