I’ve watched the Oversimplified Video and there was a bit about Wilmer McClean.
And the best part is, it was actually true!
Here let me copy and paste something from the internet
“The Battle of Bull Run, one of the first battles of the US Civil War, occurred on and around Wilmer McClean’s farm in Northern Virginia. Not wanting to live surrounded by war, McClean and his family moved to Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia. The Battle of Appomattox Courthouse was the last significant battle between Union and Confederate forces. The Confederates signed the surrender order in Wilmer’s sitting room. It is said that the Civil War started on Wilmer’s farm and ended in his sitting room.”
Not just astonishing but arguably “the greatest small-boat journey ever completed.” A truly fascinating voyage…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyage_of_the_James_Caird
comes between that and William Bligh of the bounty. following mutiny his small crew was cast adrift 35 miles to the south of Tofua near the Kingdom of Tonga in a 23ft open keel-less boat. They were able to safely navigate across 4000 miles of open ocean to Kupang, Timor
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutiny_on_the_Bounty#Bligh’s_open-boat_voyage
I recently became fascinated by the Shackleton story–it’s really amazing. I can’t add much, besides “yes, read up on it!”, but here is a cool, relevant song with beautiful lyrics that captures the adventure aspect really well.
The Punch Brothers - Another New World