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From the Editor
Greeting to all Emerging Civil War supporters. One of the many duties I am taking over as Emerging Civil War’s new president and editor-in-chief is the monthly newsletter introduction from the editor. I thought it would be a good space for me to start by reflecting on our organization’s mission.
If you were not aware, ECW actually has a mission statement listed on our website:
"ECW seeks to encourage a diversity of perspectives in the scholarship it presents. We do that, in part, by identifying and spotlighting the next generation of Civil War historians and the fresh ideas they bring to the historical conversation.
As a collective, the individuals who comprise ECW are encouraged to share their own unique interests and approaches. The combined collection of material—and the respectful discussions that surround it—forward ECW’s overall effort to promote a general awareness of the Civil War as America’s defining event."
That mission is twofold. For one, we seek to make information about the Civil War era accessible to all, and we have been doing that through our daily articles on our blog, as well as through book reviews, podcasts, news pieces, our book series, our social media presence, and our symposium among others. Secondly, we seek to actively find and mentor emerging voices in the field to help them grow as historians, whether academically or in the public history realm. The organization essentially has an established growth mindset that there is always something new about the Civil War era that can be discussed and there are always new voices worth listening to.
August has been a month of travel for me. It started in Australia and New Zealand. When I returned to Texas, I immediately journeyed to Virginia for the ECW symposium. After returning to Houston, I was again taken across the Lone Star State to College Station for the Texas A&M Surprising Civil War Symposium. Through my journeys this month I have seen ECW’s mission in action. I toured Civil War-related sites in Australia, interacted with our members and supporters at the symposium, and learned some new things and made some new friends at Texas A&M.
Through it all, I was reminded that there are emerging voices that need mentoring, there are emerging questions being asked by scholars, public historians, students, and everyone else alike, and there are always new insights about the Civil War era emerging forward that everyone should be exposed to. As one might say, the work presses on and I am honored to be a part of it.
—Neil P. Chatelain, Editor-In-Chief
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12th Annual Emerging Civil War Symposium at Stevenson Ridge—Recap
Thank you to everyone who attended this year's Symposium! We had a great lineup of speakers who delivered a wide variety of talks on Partnerships and Rivalries. We extend an extra big thank you to our keynote speakers, Dr. Craig Symonds and Harold Holzer.
We also revealed the theme of the 2027 Symposium, Crime and Punishment. The keynote speaker will be Jim Hessler on the topic of "Dan Sickles's Murder Trial." Early bird registration is available until December 31st 2026, so learn more and get your tickets here!
If you missed out on the books and swag we had on sale at the Symposium, check out our online store here.
| | | August has been busy for Neil Chatelain. Besides the ECW symposium, Neil also recently spoke at the Texas A&M Civil War Surprises Conference about his book Treasure and Empire in the Civil War. He also just had his latest book Ironclad Ambush release! On top of everything, it is back to classes for the fall semester. | Arie De Young had a very eventful August. His academic article, “Hoosier Hustings: George W. Julian, Solomon Meredith, and the Republican Party,” was accepted for publication in the upcoming edition of the Gettysburg College Journal of the Civil War Era. His article “The President and the Speaker: Abraham Lincoln's Fraught Partnership with Schuyler Colfax” is also working its way towards publication, having just been accepted for review at another journal. He is preparing to teach his first ever class, an elective course on the American Civil War for junior high students. | | |
Kevin C. Donovan visited historic Fort Snelling, Minneapolis, MN (see photo of fort interior). The fort served as a Civil War recruitment center as well as a prison site for Native Americans during the 1862-1863 Dakota Wars. Most important, Fort Snelling, although situated in territory in which slavery was forbidden by law, was the residence of Dred Scott while he was enslaved by an army doctor during the 1830s. Scott subsequently sued for his freedom, arguing that his time at the fort resulted in his emancipation. The resulting Supreme Court case, Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857), is considered a contributing factor to the coming of the Civil War.
| | Madeline Feierstein spent several days this August in West Virginia visiting historic sites for her company, Rooted in Place LLC. You can view her travels and posts on Instagram and Facebook. Madeline will be speaking on Alexandria's Civil War prisons on September 19 at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine. She has also launched her fall tour schedule for Alexandria & Washington, D.C., which can be viewed on her website: https://www.madelinefeierstein.com/guidedtours | | |
In August, Pat Kelly-Fischer was delighted to speak for the first time at the Emerging Civil War Symposium, and to sign some copies of Desert Empire at Edgewater Books -- check them out if you find yourself in Colorado!
| | In August, M.A. Kleen finally visited Hoke's Run Battlefield Park in Berkeley County, West Virginia. The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation and other local historic preservation groups erected signage along a trail in a 10-acre park near where the July 2, 1861 battle of Hoke’s Run aka Falling Waters was fought. It was dedicated on July 2, 2026, the 165th anniversary of the battle. Hoke's Run was the first time either Stonewall Jackson or George Thomas led troops in battle in the Civil War. Everyone is catching the spirit of '61! Also, Kleen's latest book, Haunted Highways of Virginia, was released on August 4th. | | In September Derek Maxfield will speak at the Powhatan CWRT on the 17th and will attend the Savas Beatie Author Meet-up in Gettysburg 25-27. Closer to home Maxfield will speak for the Genesee County Genealogy Society about the service of his Civil War ancestors on Sept. 15th. Derek celebrated the release of the audiobook version of his ECW title Man of Fire: William Tecumseh Sherman in the Civil War, which he narrates himself. That is now available on Audible via Amazon. | | |
Here's a report from Darren Rawlings: August was certainly a month to remember! I was fortunate enough to make another trip across the pond, and the adventure got off to a fantastic start when British Airways upgraded me to Business Class—certainly not a bad way to begin the journey!
My first full day back in the United States took me straight to Gettysburg. I had the pleasure of interviewing Chris Jones, co-producer of the upcoming Gettysburg 1863, before spending time touring the battlefield with the fantastic National Park Service Ranger Matt Atkinson. I then had the privilege of appearing as a guest on Addressing Gettysburg.
The following day, I travelled to Frederick, Maryland, for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine. A huge thank you to Dana Schultz and intern Betsy for showing me some of the museum's incredible collection, and to Melissa Winn for organising the visit.
From Frederick, I travelled through the beautiful Shenandoah Valley on my way towards Fredericksburg. Along the way, I had the real privilege of visiting the home of Ron Maxwell, the director of Gettysburg: The Movie, Gods and Generals and Copperhead. It was a wonderful opportunity to spend some time with Ron before continuing my journey to Fredericksburg for the 12th Annual Emerging Civil War Symposium.
The symposium was a fantastic weekend spent with friends, colleagues and our wonderful social media team. I am incredibly fortunate to work alongside such a dedicated group, and I'd like to thank Tyler McGraw, Evan Portman, and Madeline Feierstein for all their hard work throughout the weekend.
The trip ended perfectly with a fantastic evening at Strangeways Brewing. After a wonderful tour of Prospect Hill with Chris Mackowski, I was able to round off the trip sitting on Terry Rensel’s porch, enjoying a couple of beers and a cigar with great friends.
It truly was a fantastic trip—packed with history, friendship, fascinating conversations and memories that will stay with me for a very long time. I can't wait for the next one!
| | | Brian Swartz presented the program "Charles Tilden: Maine's Harry Houdini" during a well-attended August 18 meeting of the Orrington Historical Society in Orrington, Maine. The program detailed the adventures of Col. Charles W. Tilden of the 16th Maine Infantry Regiment. Captured at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863, he was one of 59 Union officers who successfully escaped Libby Prison in February 1864. Captured at Weldon Railroad on August 19, Tilden was marching with other prisoners through Petersburg in heavy rain when he grabbed a 16th Maine lieutenant and slipped into the city. The officers eventually made their way through Confederate siege lines and safely rejoined the Union army. | | Tim Talbott presented "The Breakthrough, April 2, 1865: Petersburg Falls" at the Mechanicsville (VA) Library on August 5. Tim's recent published research on Kentucky's enslaved runaway advertisements was featured on Kentucky Chronicles, the podcast of the Kentucky Historical Society. He also attended the ECW Symposium where he got to meet some new ECW team members and catch up with some of the veteran ECW folks. | | |
August has been a busy month for Melissa Winn, who had the pleasure of sitting down with Twilight Town Productions for an interview for their upcoming documentary on Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, discussing the remarkable life and legacy of the Civil War surgeon, women’s rights advocate, and Medal of Honor recipient.
She also joined her colleagues at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine in working with the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) on a medical staff walk at Antietam National Battlefield. It was a great opportunity to explore the innovations of Civil War battlefield medicine with today’s military medical professionals—and to consider how lessons learned more than 160 years ago continue to resonate.
In September, Melissa looks forward to speaking to the Richmond Civil War Round Table on September 8 about the fascinating relationship between Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and his trusted chief of staff, Gen. John A. Rawlins. She will also be at the Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office on Saturday, September 19, at 2 p.m. for a special Saturday Speaker Series presentation of about Dead Letter Office images.
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8 Questions with. . . Darren Rawlings
This August we're highlighting an international member of the ECW Editorian Board, Darren Rawlings! As the Social Media Manager, Darren runs the team that keeps our Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube channel running. He lives in Folkestone, Kent, England, where he often is a historical reenactor for the English Civil Wars as well as the American Civil War. Earlier this month, Darren made the long trek to the Symposium. You can read more about his travels in the News & Notes section. Check out Darren's article on Monuments for U.K. Veterans of the American Civil War.
You can read more about Darren here!
1. How did you get interested in the Civil War?
Gettysburg – the movie.
2. What has been your favorite experience as a historical reenactor?
My first American Civil War reenactment in 2019, with my unit, the 4th U.S. Regulars, who are part of one of the oldest reenactment societies in the UK, the Southern Skirmish Association.
3. Can you tell us a little bit about the Civil War community across the pond?
As mentioned above, we have one of the oldest reenactment societies in the country, dating back to 1968. We also have the American Civil War Round Table UK, which was founded in 1953 and remains a very active organisation. We hold an annual conference and meet every other month for an in-person talk, with additional meetings held via Zoom. I’m also involved with my good friend Gina Denham in the Monuments for UK Veterans of the American Civil War Association. People are often surprised to discover that around 50,000 Britons fought in the American Civil War.
Lightning Round
4. Favorite primary source?
A Marvel of Mercy: The Life Story of John Davis
5. Favorite Civil War-related monument?
The Abraham Lincoln statue in Parliament Square, London
6. Favorite unsung hero of the Civil War era?
John Davis – Founder of the London Branch of the U.S. Civil War Veterans
7. What’s a bucket-list Civil War site you’ve not yet visited?
Shiloh
8. Favorite book by an ECW author?
Chancellorsville’s Forgotten Front: The Battles of Second Fredericksburg and Salem Church, May 3, 1863, by Chris Mackowski and Kris White
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A lot of great videos came out of this year's Symposium. It's amazing what can happen when the ECW community comes together. Madeline Feierstein sat down with Evan Portman, Curt Fields, Pat Kelly-Fischer, Terry Rensel, Chris Mackowski, and Tim Smith to discuss their Symposium topics. Darren Rawlings sat down with Dr. Curt Fields to hear the charming story of how Curt met the legendary Civil War historican Shelby Foote. We also got a special report from the field from Darren, who visited Dan Sickles's leg at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine in Frederick, MD. And, as always, you can find video uploads of the ECW podcast on the YouTube channel every week.
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ECW Bookshelf
Check out Neil Chatelain's newest book release Ironclad Ambush: Confederates Strike Lincoln's Mississippi River Blockade at the Head of Passes, October 12, 1861. You can purchase the book through Savas Beatie.
In early October 1861, United States warships entered the Head of Passes, where the Mississippi River’s multiple entrances converge into a single channel. The occupation simplified the blockade by enabling a handful of ships to seal off the “father of waters” and cut off supplies to New Orleans. Confederate Capt. George N. Hollins recognized the danger, assembled a makeshift flotilla, and launched a surprise attack on the enemy vessels. Neil P. Chatelain’s Ironclad Ambush: Confederates Strike Lincoln's Mississippi River Blockade at the Head of Passes, October 12, 1861, is the first book-length treatment of this pivotal naval action.
The Battle of the Head of Passes on October 12 marked the Civil War’s first major fleet engagement. The Southern privateer ironclad ram Manassas rammed USS Richmond, and as the Federals retreated toward the Gulf, two blockaders ran aground and crews abandoned ship as Confederate gunboats closed in. The clash represented the Confederacy’s first major naval victory, the first use of an ironclad in North American waters, and the first direct challenge to Abraham Lincoln’s blockade. The battle quickly became mired in confusion and conflicting accounts. Outdated technologies—sailing ships, fire rafts, and rams—collided with modern innovations like screw-propelled steamers, telegraph communications, and ironclads. The fog of war led officers and enlisted men to misinterpret orders, as many historians have misinterpreted the facts. Some commanders excelled and earned promotions; others faltered, appeared drunk, or suffered breakdowns.
Lingering questions persist: Why did U.S. forces initially enter the Head of Passes? Why did Hollins seek to counter them? Which ships were involved? Why did two blockading crews abandon their vessels mid-battle? Why did the Confederates withdraw yet claim victory? And why does this seemingly minor, often-overlooked engagement matter?
Award-winning historian Neil P. Chatelain’s Ironclad Ambush scrutinizes every previous account of the battle, firsthand archival material, and period newspapers. Drawing on voices from all sides—including ship captains, junior officers, enlisted sailors, lighthouse keepers, and civilians across southeastern Louisiana—he unravels the complexities and contradictions of early Civil War coastal and riverine naval operations. Everyone with an interest in naval warfare will find this book invaluable.
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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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September
5: Doug Crenshaw, Richmond National Battlefield Park at Malvern Hill
8: Melissa Winn, “Grant’s Conscience: The Unique Camaraderie Between Ulysses S. Grant and his Chief of Staff John Rawlins,” Richmond Civil War Round Table, Richmond, VA
9: Doug Crenshaw, 7 Days tour
10: Doug Crenshaw, 7 Pines and Hanover Court House tour
10: Brian Kowell, “Horses in the Civil War,” Tuscarawas Valley Civil War Round Table
11: Doug Crenshaw, Fort Harrison tour
11–13: Chris Mackowski & Kris White, “Chancellorsville’s Forgotten Front: The Battles of Second Fredericksburg and Salem Church,” CVBT Annual Conference
12: Neil P. Chatelain, “Ironclad Ambush: The Battle of the Head of Passes,” Civil War Round Table of Central Louisiana, 2nd Saturday with Savas Beatie, Virtual Presentation
14: Chris Mackowski, “Grant’s Last Battle,” Ann Arbor (MI) Civil War Roundtable
14: Sam Flowers, “Devoid of Grandeur and Glory: The Overland Campaign’s Impact on Tactics, Combat, and Memory,” Raleigh Civil War Round Table
15: Derek Maxfield, “Ancestors in Peace and in Pieces,” Genesee County Genealogical Society, Batavia, NY
16: Neil P. Chatelain, “Confederate Privateering Activity in San Francisco,” Phil Kearney Civil War Round Table, Virtual Presentation.
17: Derek Maxfield, “Man of Fire: William Tecumseh Sherman in the Civil War,” Powhatan CWRT, Powhatan, VA
18: Doug Crenshaw, 7 Days tour, Cold Harbor tour
19: Madeline Feierstein, “Investigating Alexandria’s Civil War Prisons: Confinement & Justice During Union Occupation,” National Museum of Civil War Medicine, Frederick, MD
21: Patrick Kelly-Fischer, Inland Empire Civil War Roundtable (virtual, @ 6:30 Pacific Time)
23: Chris Mackowski, “Alas of Independence: John Adams and the American Revolution,” Friends of Hanley Library, University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, Bradford, PA
23: Chris Mackowski, “All Men Are Created Equal: From Jefferson to Lincoln to Us,” Buffalo (NY) Civil War Roundtable
25-25: Dave Powell, Savas Beatie Author’s meet up, Gettysburg, PA
October
1: Dave Powell, Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, Cobb County Georgia Civil War Round Table
6: Derek Maxfield, “Hellmira: The Union’s Most Infamous Civil War Prison Camp – Elmira, NY,” Allentown CWRT, Allentown, PA
8: Doug Crenshaw, Cold Harbor tour
9: Chris Mackowski, Louisville (KY) Civil War Roundtable
9: Neil P. Chatelain, “Ironclad Ambush: Confederates Strike Lincoln’s Mississippi River Blockade at the Head of Passes, October 12, 1861,” Civil War Round Table Congress.
13: Doug Crenshaw, Fort Harrison talk in Charlottesville, VA
14: Kevin C. Donovan, “Is the Pope Catholic (or Confederate)? Examining Pius IX’s Diplomatic Attitudes Towards the Belligerents During the Civil War,” Jersey Shore CWRT, Toms River, NJ
15: Doug Crenshaw, Cold Harbor talk at Powhatan CWRT
17: Curt Fields, Ulysses S. Grant Symposium, Georgetown, OH
17: Doug Crenshaw, 7 Days tour
20: Doug Crenshaw, Delaware Valley: 7 Days
20: Doug Crenshaw, 7 Days talk Delaware Valley
21: Kevin C. Donovan, “The Court Martial of Fitz John Porter: Fair or Fixed?”, Tallahassee History Round Table, Tallahassee, FL (Zoom)
22: Derek Maxfield, “The Devil’s At Play in Salem: The Story of the Salem Witchcraft Trials,” Uninhibited History Lecture Series, Go Art!, Batavia, NY
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