For their second assignment this semester, I asked my freshman writing students to tell me a story about a piece of writing that made an impact on them. The paper dovetails from a lesson in which we talk about the importance of reading for anyone who wants to be a writer. “If you don’t have the time to read, you don’t have the time or the tools to write,” Stephen King said in his wonderful book On Writing. Fantasy writer Ursula LeGuin was even harsher in her assessment: “A writer who doesn’t read is inexcusable.” I agree.

Many of my students admitted they didn’t read as much as they should, but generally, they all came back with some pretty good examples of books and stories that impacted them. But one student’s reply saddened me: “There has been no piece of writing that has moved me or had an impact on my life.” In order to complete the assignment, she went on to write about the impact her dad has had on her life.

Her answer went beyond the usual “You need to read more” (which, of course, she does). When I think of all the books and stories I’ve read over the course of my life that have enriched and enlivened and entertained me, I’m saddened to think that this young woman has never had that kind of experience. Her life is poorer for it, and she doesn’t even realize it.

I thought of this, in particular, in the context of a common lament I hear when I go to roundtables: “We need to get more young people interested in history.” A good first step, I think, is to get young people interested in reading. Books make a wonderful gateway. Consider those books that got you hooked on the Civil War when you were young. I hear over and over about the old American Heritage set. I hear about Bruce Catton. I hear about the silver-bound Time-Life series. Books offer a way in.

Maybe that way in leads to history, maybe it leads to something else. That’s okay, too. (For instance, I love to read about science and nature.) Young readers have to find their own way—through the bookshelves as well as through life. The best we can do is offer suggestions: “Try this. I loved this book when I was your age.”

With the holidays now upon us, consider giving the gift of reading. As David McCullough said, “There should be no hesitation ever about giving anyone a book to enjoy, at any age.” That’s how we can do our part to keep history alive and, I hope, match up young people with the books that might just make a mark on them. How rich their lives might become if they fall in love with reading.

— Chris Mackowski, Ph.D.

Editor-in-Chief

In late October, Neil Chatelain spoke at the 2023 Texas Council for the Social Studies annual conference about the use of digitized archives in middle school, high school, and college activities.

Dwight Hughes performed back-to-back presentations on "The Naval Civil War in Theaters Near and Far," an overview of naval strategy and tactics. The first was before a big crowd at the Brunswick Civil War Round Table in Southport, NC. Then after a long day in flight back to Virginia, the second was in front of the computer speaking to the Civil War Talk online forum. 

Chris Kolakowski co-chaired the second annual conference of the Consortium of Indo-Pacific Researchers from November 1 to 4. “There were some great perspectives shared from all over the region on many timely topics,” Chris says. Video is at indopacificresearchers.org, and click on the panels in the scroll at the top.

On November 18, Chris Mackowski and Kris White did a pair of Facebook LIVE broadcasts for the American Battlefield Trust from Gettysburg as part of Remembrance Day festivities. They first traced Lincoln’s route from the train station through town, and then they provided live play-by-play coverage of the annual Remembrance Day Parade. Both videos are available on the Trust’s YouTube page.

The December 2023 issues of Civil War News gave a nice review to Jill Newmark's Without Concealment, Without Compromise: The Courageous Lives of Black Civil War Surgeons, part of ECW's "Engaging the Civil War" Series with Southern Illinois University Press. Reviewer Wayne Wolf called it "well-researched": "for a primer on the contributions of black medical pioneers, it is a worthy addition to the bookshelves of those interested in African-American contributions to the war."

Shrouded Veterans

Here’s the latest project from Frank Jastrzembski’s Shrouded Veterans project:

A veteran headstone was placed at Colonel Robert B. Brown’s unmarked grave.

A native of Scotland, Brown was appointed a captain in the 30th Massachusetts Infantry on January 1, 1862. In July, he was on detached service to supervise building a railroad in Louisiana. Brown served as provost marshal at Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, for two years. Major General Nathaniel P. Banks said it was a field “in which he has become very useful.”

On September 28, 1863, Banks authorized Brown to organize the 2nd New Orleans Infantry and to take command of it with the rank of colonel. However, the regiment failed to complete its organization and it was consolidated with the 1st New Orleans Infantry. In September 1864, Brig. Gen. Thomas W. Sherman requested Brown’s service on his staff. He served in this capacity until he was mustered out in January 1865.

After the war, Brown worked as a clothing merchant. He died of pneumonia while a patient at the Boston Lunatic Hospital on March 9, 1881, and was buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Mattapan, Massachusetts.

Col. Robert B. Brown

Brown's new headstone.

December 2023

7: Chris Mackowski, “Simply Murder: The Battle of Fredericksburg,” Fredericksburg Rotary

10: Jon-Erik Gilot, Kevin Pawlak, “John Brown’s Raid,” Dan Sickles Civil War Roundtable (virtual)

11: Sarah Kay Bierle, “Then Christmas Came,” Rappahannock Civil War Round Table, Fredericksburg, VA

14: Sarah Kay Bierle, “Louisa May Alcott & Civil War Christmas,” Hampton Roads Civil War Round Table, Hampton Roads, VA

19: Chris Kolakowski, “Douglas MacArthur as Military Leader,” National Museum of the US Army, “Grant Takes Command,” Twin Cities CWRT

21: Meg Groeling, “First Fallen: The Story of Col. Elmer Ellsworth,” Miami Civil War Round Table and Book Club (VIRTUAL) 3:30 p.m. PST

January 2024

4: Chris Mackowski, “Moments of Contingency and the Rise of Grant,” Petersburg (VA) Civil War Roundtable

8: Dwight Hughes, “The Naval Civil War in Theaters Near and Far,” Rappahannock Valley Civil War Round Table, Fredericksburg, VA

12: Chris Mackowski, “The Last Days of Stonewall Jackson,” Stonewall Jackson’s 200th Birthday, Lexington, VA

19: Dwight Hughes, “The Naval Civil War in Theaters Near and Far,” Civil War Round Table Congress (virtual)

24: Bert Dunkerly, “The Brown’s Island Explosion and the Search for the Victims” Fredericksburg VA Civil War Round Table