10 Questions . . .
with Nathan Provost
Nathan Provost is the newest member of Emerging Civil War. Nate is a doctoral student at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, studying under Dr. Steven Woodworth. You can read his full ECW bio here.
How did a guy from Kansas City get hooked on the Civil War?
There is not a direct answer to that question. My grandfather was a professor and had a deep passion for history. He began giving me books on history when I was seven years old. I was first interested in military history before the Civil War. I read books about the Napoleonic Wars and the Hundred Years War before diving into American history. Later in life, I was accepted into graduate school to study the Napoleonic Wars but was told I would make a lousy historian by my advisor. It broke my spirit; therefore, I left not long after. It was when I was working at a liquor store that I became passionate about the Civil War. A friend of mine encouraged me to read Gordon Rhea’s Overland Campaign series during my breaks. Around this time, I decided to go back and pursue my doctorate in history at Liberty University with a special focus on Military History and the Civil War.
You’ve been writing a dissertation about casualties after Cold Harbor. Can you tell us a little about your project?
After reading Gordon Rhea's campaign series, I became a bit obsessive about the discrepancies in Cold Harbor's casualties. At first, I thought there was something wrong with the Federal casualty number of around 13,000. If the Union suffered around 2,200 on June 1, around 300 on June 2, and then 6,000 on June 3, that adds up to 8,500 casualties. Where are the other 4,500 casualties coming from? I thought, surely, they did not lose that many between June 4-12. As it turns out, part of that number came from the fighting at Bethesda Church between May 28-31. The problem is not that the Union figure is wrong, but rather the Confederate number. If we consider the fighting around Bethesda Church, Confederate casualties roughly add up to 8,000 between May 28 to June 12. I will put together the details of these numbers as I continue working on my dissertation.
What is it about Grant that interests you so much?
It was not Grant that first interested me; it was Robert E. Lee. When I was younger, I heard about “Grant the drunk” and “Grant the butcher.” I never thought twice about him. It was not until my grandfather on my mother’s side took me out to Florida, Missouri. Grant's headquarters was located there at one point (it is even mentioned in his memoirs), and he bought me a book titled Grant Takes Command by Bruce Catton. It was then that I began to view Grant in a different light. After reading Jomini, Clausewitz, and Vauban's work, I have become more impressed by Grant’s generalship.
What sort of Civil War-related sites can you explore in your neck of the woods?
There are some great Civil War sites around here in Kansas City. The Battle of Lone Jack took place about 30 minutes east of Kansas City. The Battle of Mine Creek is a little farther south, but it is still worth the drive. Both have visitor centers that provide great information on the battles. There is also a self-guided tour of the Battle of Westport in Kansas City. Unfortunately, not much of the battlefield is preserved. Although, there are historical markers that give some information about the fighting. Finally, the 1858 Wornall Home is well maintained, which I highly recommend. It was used as a field hospital during the Battle of Westport.
While you’re a grad student by night, you’re a teacher by day. A common lament from the traditional Civil War crowd is that young people don’t learn history anymore. Are things as bad as people assume, or is there reason for hope?
This is a great question. Students today are much more self-aware than my generation (Generation Y). What I mean by this is that they recognize they have a variety of interests. Many of them love music and art, but they also hold a deep respect for engineering and mechanics. Some enjoy reading history more than others, but that is a normal phenomenon. Everyone has different interests, but what is unique about them is that they are interested in so many things. I like to think of them as the “renaissance generation.” I have a student that is considering a trade school, but he loves reading about history. There is also a push for students to learn skills outside the classroom. I encourage them to not only read about history but experience it. If there is a concern, some political entities push for a type of history (like the 1619 Project or the 1776 Project), which are not strongly backed by primary source material. History is uncomfortable, but I trust that this generation will learn and accept hard truths with more access to primary source material and engaging in history outside the classroom.
Lightning Round:
Favorite primary source?
Grant’s Memoirs: It is not only a great piece of American literature but a book about military practice and theory.
Favorite Civil War-related monument?
Grant’s Tomb: It mimics Les Invalides in Paris.
Favorite unsung hero of the Civil War era?
Frederick Steele: Fought in many battles in the Western and Trans-Mississippi theatre and beat Sterling Price at Jenkin’s Ferry.
What’s a bucket-list Civil War site you’ve not yet visited?
Vicksburg: My focus has been out east on the Overland and Petersburg Campaigns
Favorite ECWS book?
Dawn of Victory by Edward Alexander: He goes into excellent detail regarding the soldiers that first broke through the lines at Petersburg.
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