2010??

Did we all quit reading ACW? I hope we don't let this group die ... I'm currently stuck in the midst of the Roman civil wars; Marius, Sulla, Caesar et al. But I have a trip down south planned for Spring ...Vicksburg, Champions Hill, Battle of Mobile Bay etc.

It is interesting how imprecise the term "civil war" is (see also the search for clarity at Wikipedia). The Roman Civil War (like the English War of the Roses) was a power struggle among select group of (mostly noble born) contenders.

With the 150th anniversary fast approaching ("sesquicentennial" is quite a mouthful), many states have created (tourism-related) websites. The PA one is nice with a reenactor artillery and infantry drill (The squad needs to be put through the paces a few more times; the line looks like a banana and the grips are not smooth enough.). I ponder whether to attend the 2012 anniversary of the battle of Shiloh.

Movie and miniseries-wise, I haven't heard about anything comparable to The Blue and the Gray and North and South. A Band of Brothers in blue? A biopic about Sherman or Grant (or both, or even McClellan) would be great too.

Book-wise, it seems that the centennial and 125th anniversary have produced biographies, campaign and battle monographs about most people and events (apart from the Seven Days and some minor engagements). More diaries and soldier's accounts that can ever be read are in print. Perhaps the cavalry arm and logistics merit a closer look, as does business history. Lincoln's labels serves as a good appetizer to the topic.

Actually I believe there are a few books in the work for release next year along with a movie or two. Eric Wittenberg just released a new book, and there is a new one coming this year on The Battle of New Market. I do not have the names and particulars handy, but I will find them and post them as soon as I can. The Virginia Civil War Sesquicentennial (I like saying the word -- people think I'm more intelligent than I really am) web-site has good information on it. I am a reenactor with the 12th Georgia (even though I live on Cape Cod) and next year we are heading down to Manassas (Bull Run to those of you who wear Blue). I believe 2012 is Sharpsburg (Antietam for those in Blue), and 2013 is Gettysburg. I'm not sure what 2014 and 2015 are.

On the Civil War Books and Authors blog is a tasty review of the New Market book. I look forward to reading it, once I have cleared by ACW reading queue.

2013 Gettysburg, the mother of all tourist mayhems ...

I mean to get to Antietam soonish, but I think I'll make a note to avoid it during 2012. I visited New Market a few years ago, without the benefit of having read much about it. I'll be looking for Valley Thunder, and hope to get my husband to the battlefield with me next time.

Just starting my Civil War reading and wonder if there is a thread with a list of bookls on the topic? I have several picked out but wonder if I am missing some really good ones.

#5: I concur re interest in New Market; smal battlefield and nice VMI museum. If you do have an interest in Antietam visit please note this thread:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/24045

We really enjoyed BnB, park and nearby Shepherdstown & Harpers Ferry.

Unknown to most Civil War students is the annual Confederate Memorial Day observances conducted the First weekend in June every year throughout the South. These services have been conducted every year for about 140 years now. Tomorrow I will be attending one at the local Confederate Cemetery honoring those who answered their country's call to drive out the invaders. These services are conducted with appropriate dignity and solemnity, usually by the local chapters of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Military Order of the Stars and Bars. This last is an organization of the descendants of Officers of the Confederate States of America armed forces.
I would encourage all those interested in the War for Southern Independence to attend this event. Let me emphasize that these ceremonies are to commemorate the Military Virtues, and devotion to duty of the men and women of the Confederate States of America, and to honor their courage, devotion, skill and sacrifice, however unwise was the motivation of their political leaders at the time.

Let us remember the words of Col. Joshua Chamberlain (20th Maine), and savior of the Union at Little Round Top: "It was an honor to fight such men, whom no hardship, no terror, no reverse could sway from their Duty". Whatever we may feel or believe about their motivations, we should honor the virtues and sacrifice that they displayed for their cause. These are "In the highest traditions of American military service".

Enter Confederate Memorial Day and your state in your search engine for information on your local event. Also make a note for December of this year on your calendar to mark the event weekend on next year's calendar to attend next year's ceremony. Also keep in mind that most large cities have a Civil War Round-Table which promotes knowledge and study of the American Civil War and usually holds monthly meetings with guest lecturers, often authors of C.W. books, about C.W. topics.

Just finished The battle of belmont by Nathaniel Hughes. Now I'm working on Bloody Hill, The civil war battle of Wilson's Creek.

After that try Pea Ridge: Civil War Campaign in the West and Fields of Blood: The Prairie Grove Campaign. !

Are you a mind reader? Those are the next two. Then on to Port Hudson and Vicksburg!

This is my fav of all the Vburg vols I've read: "Ninety-Eight Days: A Geographer's View of the Vicksburg Campaign" ...
as usual touchstones don't like to work for me,

http://www.amazon.com/Ninety-Eight-Days-Geographers-Vicksburg-Campaign/dp/157233...

I highly recommend!

I'll put that one on the wish list. Actually before I start on Port Hudson/Vicksburg i want to read about Glorietta. I picked up one of the books under your tag and I'm looking forward to reading it.

That campaign is very interesting (we're big fans of Santa Fe, lots of trips out there). Unfortunately the military park is mostly closed to public, but the highway runs right along the main road where the major actions were fought. There's also the fictional treatment by Nagle.

Pea Ridge is wonderful. It's my second time through it. I'm looking forward to Prarie Grove next.

Might not be your cup of tea but there is a novel Elkhorn Tavern that you might turn up at some used book store. Worth a read.

I recently read the books about Prairie Grove, Pea Ridge, and Wilson's Creek. I am currently reading Hughes's book on Belmont.

A heads-up: Southern Illinois University Press is publishing a series entitled "Civil War Campaigns in the Heartland." The books are collections of essays about various aspects of the respective campaign, similiar to Gallagher's works on the war in the East.

The first two volumes deal with Shiloh and Chickamauga. Future volumes will examine various aspects of Vicksburg, Iuka and Corinth, Chattanooga, and Atlanta. It looks like they might release a couple volumes a year.

SIU is also publishing a biography of Major General William "Bull" Nelson, who was notorious for being murdered by fellow general Jefferson C. Davis in a Louisville hotel after an altercation. Davis was never tried for the murder. The book is due in late November.