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I cracked the book open carefully, conscious of its old spine. I didn’t know what shape its pages might be in, either. The book, an 1860 edition of Dennis Hart Mahan’s Treatise on Field Fortification, had some years on it. The cover had the weight of a relic under my fingertips.
Under any conditions, this would book would be a find. Sure, one can easily find it on Archive.org if one wants to read it. But this particular copy had once belonged to a “Capt. T. G. Stevenson,” which gave it particular meaning to me. This was that same “Thomas Greely Stevenson,” for whom my wife’s family’s business, Stevenson Ridge in Spotsylvania, Virginia, is named.
The ridgeline of Stevenson Ridge runs from the north side of modern State Route 208 to the south side. On the morning of May 10, 1864, Stevenson—then a brigadier general commanding a division in Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside’s IX Corps—died during the battle of Spotsylvania Court House. He had taken refuge behind that ridge with his staff, having a late breakfast or early lunch, when a random overshot from beyond the crest of the ridge arced down and hit him in the head.
Stevenson had written his name and unit, the 24th Massachusetts, on the inside front cover. He signed the book as “Col.” At the bottom of the page, he has signed it as “Brig. Gen. of Vols.” The "Capt." was his rank in the pre-war New England Guards militia unit in Boston.
I’ve spent a considerable amount of time with Stevenson over the past thirteen years. I’ve learned about his life. I've mapped out the spot of his death. I’ve paid my respects at his grave in Cambridge’s Mount Auburn Cemetery. “No officer was more devoted to his duty,” Massachusetts Gov. John Andrew eulogized. “No officer more fully won the respect and love of his men, whom it may be most truly declared that he always led rather than commanded.”
Others might consider it a neat curiosity to have a book signed by a Civil War officer, but for me, this book is a meaningful artifact because Stevenson is someone I know so well, someone whose life and death I’ve tried to document more completely, someone whose story I’ve tried to share. This book was his.
The weight of it reminds me of my responsibility to him.
– Chris Mackowski, Ph.D.
Editor-in-Chief
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12th Annual Emerging Civil War Symposium at Stevenson Ridge
Fewer things spark good armchair-generalling like leadership decisions. For the 12th Annual Emerging Civil War Symposium at Stevenson Ridge, we’ll focus on “Rivalries and Partnerships,” so there will be plenty of fodder for discussion. The event will be held August 7–9, 2026, at Stevenson Ridge in Spotsylvania, Virginia.
Our keynote speakers will be Harold Holzer and Craig Symonds. We'll also have a featured talk by ECW Chief Historian Kris White. More speakers will be announced soon.
Early bird tickets are now for sale for $275. On January 1, the regular ticket price of $325 will go into effect, so get your tickets early!
For information or to order tickets, visit our Symposium page.
| | | Neil Chatelain has been busy this month grading essays, reading up on sea power, and writing a few non-ECW articles and reviews. "We are amidst the mid-semester crunch on campus as everything is coming due to start preparing for the spring," he says. | | |
After speaking on the Fitz John Porter Court Martial before the York (PA) CWRT in its impressive new venue at the York County History Center, Kevin C. Donovan enjoyed a 13-mile trek around the Gettysburg battlefield. His travels included a visit to one of the field’s loneliest monuments, that commemorating U.S. Col. George Willard. Willard’s Second Corps brigade contained the “Harper’s Ferry Cowards.” Those men redeemed themselves on July 2, 1863 by driving Barksdale’s brigade from its advanced position in the Plum Run swale threatening the Union position on Cemetery Ridge. Willard was killed leading his men. Willard’s marker (see right) is three hundred yards southwest of the Pennsylvania Monument, located in remote thicket on the east side of Plum Run.
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Chris Kolakowski recently spoke to the Commemorative Air Force about Chester Nimitz and his leadership. You can find the video here.
On October 29 Brian Kowell spoke in Cincinnati at the Breese manor in Maple Knoll Village. He presented on "The Magnificent Seven: Pook's Turtles in the Civil War." On Wednesday, November 19 he is speaking at the Western Pittsburg Civil War Round Table on the topic of "Civil War Horses."
Chris Mackowski spent some time in October tracing parts of the Overland Campaign he doesn't often get to cover. Chris's usual stomping grounds cover the Wilderness and Spotsylvania, with an occasional foray down to the North Anna River. On Oct. 11, though, as part of an event for the American Battlefield Trust, he gave a day-long bus tour from the North Anna River to Cold Harbor. He also gave a half-day program at the North Anna on Oct. 12.
| | On October 4th, Darren Rawlings attended a unique dedication ceremony. The Monuments for UK Veterans of the American Civil War Association held a double dedication at Nottingham Road Cemetery, Derby, honoring Samuel Lander Hough—the last British Civil War veteran to die in the UK—and his friend Henry McGuinness. Despite Storm Amy’s aftermath, the event was a success thanks to the Friends of Nottingham Road Cemetery. The ceremony featured an honor guard of U.S. Air Force representatives and U.K. reenactment groups, with speeches by Gina Denham, Darren Rawlings, and Major Gregg Jackson of The Southern Skirmish Association, who read out a speech sent by the New Jersey Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. Following the blessings, the Mayor of Derby and a U.S. Air Force representative unveiled the headstones. Gina and Darren were later formally presented as Kentucky Colonels for their dedication to preserving the memories of these veterans. (see below) | | Terry Rensel spoke to the Erie, PA Civil War Roundtable on October 21st about the 145th Pennsylvania at Chancellorsville. | | Aaron Stoyack went on a camping road trip in the Carolinas and Georgia, touring Fort Sumter, Moultrie, and some small Revolutionary sites such as the grave of Nathanael Greene. | |
8 Questions with. . . Madeline Feierstein
Madeline Feierstein is one of ECW’s newest members, so we threw some tough questions her way! She is the Lead Historian at the Lee-Fendall House in Alexandria, Virginia, and much of her research focuses on the city of Alexandria. Make sure to catch her ECW Podcast episode from last month if you haven’t already! Read her full bio here.
How did you get interested in the Civil War?
I started volunteering at the Lee-Fendall House Museum in Alexandria, VA, three years ago (where I now work!). My main project at that time was to transcribe the medical ledgers from the site's time as a confiscated Union hospital. I got incredibly hooked into the history of our Grosvenor Branch Hospital and crafted tours about the other Civil War hospitals in Alexandria. The rest is history! Pun very much intended.
How have you taken a multidisciplinary approach in your research?
I examine the history of my town's occupation through a combination of social, economic, military, and political lenses. I enjoy the "everyday life" perspective, even when researching prisons and prisoners-of-war. Even dark and dismal places can develop their own unique culture, and should be examined socially and ideologically when possible.
Do you have a favorite experience leading history tours?
I wish I had a whole essay devoted to this question, but as of now, it's when I've inspired other young people—especially young women—to pursue historical research. There was a college student on my walking tour one time who was considering changing majors from a STEM-focused study to history. Seeing how I've made a career and passion out of my interests showed her it was truly possible to do what you love and love what you do!
(Lightning Round)
Favorite primary source?
Extremely biased but it has to be the papers of Captain Rufus D. Pettit, housed at the Alexandria Library's Special Collections. Pettit was the Superintendent of Military Prisons in Alexandria and left behind tri-monthly reports for all five prisons over a 10-month span. I got to learn about prisoners' diets, diseases, escapes, deaths, and even guard salaries through his paper trail.
Favorite Civil War-related monument?
At the museum's hospital, we treated one known recipient of the Medal of Honor. To receive this, Sergeant James Wiley (59th New York Volunteers) captured a Georgia regimental flag during the Battle of Gettysburg. He was later treated at Grosvenor Branch for an "old wound." There is a monument to his regiment at the spot where Wiley captured that flag.
Favorite unsung hero of the Civil War era?
Again, extremely biased by it has to go to Dr. Edwin Bentley, Superintendent of Military Hospitals in Alexandria. Not only was he an amazing and caring doctor, he advocated for equal medical treatment for African Americans during the occupation and for the burial of USCT in the Alexandria National Cemetery. He personally handed the famous "L'Ouverture Petition" to Military Governor Slough, signed by convalescent USCT soldiers.
What’s a bucket-list Civil War site you’ve not yet visited?
I'm quite eager to get to Andersonville National Historic Site, as a student of Civil War prisons. It would be very humbling to visit a site that I have only studied on paper. Plus, I want to pay my respects to the soldiers buried there who were treated at the museum's hospital.
Favorite book by an ECW author?
Hellmira: The Union's Most Infamous Civil War Prison Camp by Derek D. Maxfield was very instrumental in my interest in Civil War prisons. I also want to spotlight Meg Groeling's First Fallen regarding Colonel Elmer Ellsworth and the Marshall House Hotel incident, since it helped me form a large part of my Master's thesis in 2024.
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ECW Bookshelf
ECW alumna Sarah Kay Bierle is thrilled to see a second book in print this year. Decisions at Chancellorsville: The Sixteen Critical Decisions that Defined the Battle joins Glorious Courage: John Pelham in the Civil War on her 2025 shelf!
Published with the University of Tennessee Press as part of its popular Command Decisions series, Decisions at Chancellorsville explores the critical decisions made by Confederate and Federal commanders during the campaign and how these decisions shaped its outcome. Rather than offering a history of the operation, the study hones in on a sequence of decisions made by commanders on both sides of the contest to provide a blueprint of the campaign at its tactical core. Identifying and exploring the critical decisions in this way allows students of the battles to progress from a knowledge of what happened to a mature grasp of why events happened. Complete with maps and a driving tour, Decisions at Chancellorsville is an indispensable primer, and readers looking for a concise introduction to the battles can tour this sacred ground—or read about it at their leisure—with key insights into the campaign and a deeper understanding of the Civil War itself.
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ECW Multimedia
In October on the Emerging Civil War Podcast, Chris Mackowski closed out the month by getting some divine intervention from retired priest and historian Fr. Robert Miller. They sat down to discuss Miller's book Faith of the Fathers and the experiences of Catholic priest-chaplains who served during the Civil War. Check out the episode here!
Also on the podcast in October, Chris spoke with
Podcast listeners were spoiled this month by a bonus episode! Chris talked with Kevin Levin of Civil War Memory about the Museum of Contemporary Art and The Brick museum’s new exhibit that repurposes Civil War monuments. Check out the video version here!
Also on the YouTube channel, Chris sat down with the Adam’s County Historical Society’s Andrew Dalton on Gettysburg’s newest incoming museum, the Hopkins House! The structure that will house the museum is the last standing home in town owned by Black residents. Hear more of the story from Andrew here!
You can listen for free on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or at https://emergingcivilwar.com/the-emerging-civil-war-podcast/.
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Emerging Revolutionary War News
Stay tuned as Emerging Revolutionary War undertakes its 5th Annual Bus Tour! On November 7–9, renowned historian Mike Harris joins the crew as we navigate the 1777 Philadelphia Campaign. If you’re not joining us in person, check us out on Facebook as we do some live look-ins and postings. After the tour, we'll also announce where ERW is headed next year, so you can grab your tickets and join us!
Also coming next year will be new volumes of the popular Emerging Revolutionary War Series published by Savas Beatie. Check out a teaser (right) for one of the upcoming volumes!
As always, stay tuned to our Facebook and blog (www.emergingrevolutionarywar.org) for your latest fix of the American Revolutionary Era!
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You Can Help Support Emerging Civil War
Emerging Civil War is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. If you’re interested in supporting “emerging voices” by making a tax-deductible donation, you can do so by visiting our website: www.emergingcivilwar.com; you can mail us a check at the address below (make checks payable to "Emerging Civil War"); or you can make a gift through PayPal.
Thank you!
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November
4: Curt Fields, General Grant and General Lee (Thomas Jessee) will discuss the Appomattox Campaign and surrender, CWRT Congress’s Giving Tuesday event @ 7 p.m. EDT/4 p.m. PDT (Please join us and contribute to the cause of the CWRT Congress and the American Battlefield Trust!)
6: Bert Dunkerly, “Final Bivouac: The Appomattox Surrender and Disbanding,” Hanover Tavern, Hanover Courthouse, VA
7: Bert Dunkerly, “Final Bivouac: The Appomattox Surrender and Disbanding,” Civil War Round Table Congress
7: Curt Fields, U. S. Grant Symposium, Cape Giradeau, MO
8: Chris Mackowski, “Stonewall Jackson’s Greatest Hits,” Louisville (KY) CWRT
9: Dave Powell, Talk with the Franklin TN CWRT
10: Kevin C. Donovan, “The Court Martial of Fitz John Porter: Fair or Fixed?”, Shenandoah Valley CWRT, Harrisonburg, VA
10: Curt Fields, “Grant’s visit to Raleigh to confer with Sherman,” Raleigh (NC) CWRT, (on the new telegraph of ZOOM)
11: Jon-Erik Gilot, “The Hardest Campaign Ever Inaugurated: Hunter’s Retreat from Lynchburg,” Stonewall Jackson CWRT, Clarksburg, WV
11: Chris Mackowski, “The Mud March,” Veterans Day observances, Fall Run, VA
12: Jon-Erik Gilot, “The Hardest Campaign Ever Inaugurated: Hunter’s Retreat from Lynchburg,” Ohio Valley CWRT, Wheeling, WV
18: Curt Fields, “Grant: The Man Behind the Uniform,” John Knox Village CWRT, Kansas City, MO
18: Jon-Erik Gilot, “The First Cut: The Civil War’s First Amputation,” Mason Dixon CWRT, Morgantown, WV
18: Brian Swartz is speaking about his book, Passing Through the Fire: Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain in the Civil War at Orrington Historical Society in Orrington, ME
20: Jon-Erik Gilot, Kevin Pawlak, “John Brown’s Raid,” Miami CWRT Book Club, Miami, FL (Virtual)
20: Derek Maxfield, Hershey CWRT, Hershey, PA, 7:00 PM
December
5: Curt Fields, Hopkins County Genealogy Society, Madisonville, KY
9: Kevin Pawlak, “Never Such a Campaign,” Baltimore CWRT
9: Derek Maxfield, Scottsdale CWRT, Scottsdale, AZ, 7:00 PM
10: Kevin C. Donovan, “The Court Martial of Fitz John Porter: Fair or Fixed?”, Jersey Shore CWRT, Toms River, NJ (rescheduled from September 10)
11: Bert Dunkerly, “Surrenders of the Civil War,” Bull Run Civil War Round Table, Manassas, VA
13: Curt Fields, General Grant will place a wreath at the grave of the Unknown Soldier in the “Wreaths Across America” program, Veterans Cemetery, Crossville, TN
17: Neil P. Chatelain, “Geography Meets History: Annual Freshet Impacts on 1862’s Mississippi River Valley Naval Activity,” Tallahassee History Roundtable (Virtual)
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