When I worked for the National Park Service, I often spent Saturday and Sunday mornings tucked inside the brick exhibit shelter at the Spotsylvania Court House battlefield. Until the first tour of the afternoon, we held our station and interacted with folks who came up to ask questions and read the displays. We also served as guardians of little metal clickers that we used to count visitors.

On weekend mornings, in particular, most of those visitors showed up to exercise or walk their dogs. Many colleagues complained about the bicyclists, joggers, and hikers even as we dutifully clicked them on our clickers. We clicked in the dogs, too. Many of my colleagues didn’t mind the recreational users, but some colleagues, aggrieved, resented having so many people NOT there for the history. Anyone who has visited Kennesaw Mountain in Georgia understands the fear: it gets so heavily used as a greenspace that history visitors can get squeezed out.

These days, more than a decade later, I am one of those battlefield walkers, although I usually walk at Chancellorsville rather than Spotsy. I live not far from the Lee-Jackson Bivouac Site, and my wife and I walk along Furnace Road in the morning. Other exercisers also park in the pull-off there and walk or jog or take their dogs up and down the road. With the leaves beginning to change, it’s a beautiful time to be out on the battlefield, no matter what the reason. But only occasionally will I see someone at the Bivouac Site itself reading the signs or looking at the monuments.

I wonder if those people look at me and think, “Gosh, so many people are out here for recreation, not history.”

On a few occasions, people have recognized me from YouTube or from talks, but most of them have no idea that I actually know something about this battlefield. To them, I’m just someone out here using it for recreation. 

How many people did I once upon a time count on my clicker who appeared to me as just someone out there using the battlefield or recreation but perhaps were something more?

— Chris Mackowski, Ph.D.

Editor-in-Chief

Emerging Civil War is pleased to welcome two new members.

The first, Brian D. Kowell, is a lifelong student of the Civil War. He graduated from Baldwin-Wallace University in Berea, Ohio in 1973 with a B.S. in Biology and an Ohio Teaching Degree in Secondary Education for Science.

He began writing for the Emerging Civil War in 2021 and authored an article about Buckland Races in America’s Civil War.

Brian lives in Hinckley, Ohio with his wife Carole and winters in Estero, Florida. When he is not reading or writing about the Civil War, he can be found playing and teaching tennis.

The second new face that ECW is proud to welcome to the family is Aaron Stoyack.

Aaron Stoyack is a Park Ranger at Pamplin Historical Park. He is the co-editor of one book, WCU 150: History and Heritage, and the author of more than a dozen articles for scholarly, professional, and popular audiences. A native of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Aaron developed an appreciation for history from his parents and uncle, who taught him the value of reading and cultural resources.

He graduated Summa Cum Laude from West Chester University in 2022 with a BA in History and a minor in Museum Studies. Aaron has served on the Executive Board for local historical societies and presented at events on his college campus, place of work, and at the national level. He also designs and delivers both ticketed and private custom tours of Civil War battlefields and other sites. His Civil War focuses include the common soldier, foreign involvement, and unusual weaponry. The Revolutionary War, Native Americans, the eugenics movement, and East Asian history are other interests of his. When not practicing history, he enjoys running, traveling, and experiencing the great outdoors.

You can find their latest articles and read more about our two latest members on the website contributor pages.

Jon-Erik Gilot has been making the rounds at several CWRT's over the next month, including the Southeastern Ohio Civil War Roundtable, the Harpers Ferry Civil War Roundtable, and the Mahoning Valley Civil War Roundtable, as well as lectures for several civic groups. He has one more lecture slated for November (Zanesville Civil War Roundtable), and then he'll be ready for a long winter's nap. 

Jon-Erik also recently announced the 2025 symposium for the Andrew Carnegie Free Library in Carnegie, PA. The symposium, scheduled for April 11–12, will focus on the Maryland Campaign and includes lectures by Scott Hartwig, Dennis Frye, John Hoptak, Ashley Whitehead Luskey, Kevin Pawlak, Harry Smeltzer, and a live recording of the Antietam & Beyond Podcast with John Banks and Tom McMillan. The weekend also includes author book signings, an expansive book sale, raffles, Espy Post Tours, and tastings/bottle sales from Arsenal Cider, a Civil War-themed hard cider distillery. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit their website at 2025 Carnegie Civil War Symposium.

Dwight Hughes recently rented a book-sale table at the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation First Annual Civil War, Militaria, and Collector's Show in Front Royal on Saturday, September 7. Dwight spread out his books,10th Anniversary books with his essays, and the Monitor model, which attracted much interest. He sold a few and had fun. The What If volume was popular among attendees.

Francis Jastrzembski recently had a chance to visit Colonel Stephen Wheeler Downey’s grave in Greenhill Cemetery while in Laramie, Wyoming for work. Besides being wounded in action while commanding a reconnaissance patrol from the 1st Maryland Cavalry Battalion, Potomac Home Guard on September 10, 1862, and then being captured during the Battle of Harpers Ferry on September 15, Downey was also an attorney and the founder of the University of Wyoming.

Since the start of September, Chris Mackowski has given Civil War talks or tours Reading, PA; Southport, NC; Louisville, KY; Bentonville and Bennett Place, NC; Buffalo, NY; Middleburg, VA; Atlanta, GA; and Fredericksburg, VA. He has been given kind gifts of whoopie pies, soft pretzels, fine Kentucky bourbon, t-shirts, and string cheese. He has smoked a cigar with Ted Savas in Myrtle Beach, SC, and met up with Savas Beatie readers and writers in the Wilderness. He worked with a crew to film a new virtual field trip in Gettysburg for the American Battlefield Trust. He entertained a busload of Civil War Time Travelers from Wisconsin at Chancellorsville and Spotsy. He celebrated the 75-year anniversary of the Jandoli School of Communication at St. Bonaventure University (where he works), and he celebrated the first birthday of his youngest granddaughter.

And now he needs a nap.

Evan Portman presented at the Pennsylvania Historical Association's annual meeting in Johnstown this month. He presented a poster titled "No Place for a Monastery: Pennsylvania Benedictines' Crusade to Educate Free Blacks." He also helped lead a group of ROTC students from West Virginia University on a staff ride to Gettysburg. 

Brian Swartz spoke to some 20 residents of the Ellen Leach Home in Brewer, Maine, who gathered in the retirement home's elegant library on October 8 to hear Brian talk about Joshua L. Chamberlain and his wartime career. Swartz wrote for the Emerging Civil War Series Passing Through the Fire: Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain in the Civil War. The Ellen Leach Home is located on Chamberlain Street, less than half a mile from Chamberlain's childhood home.

Tim Talbott shared the story of the Slaughter Pen Farm portion of the Fredericksburg battlefield and its preservation with a Dr. Madeleine Forrest Ramsey's class of Virginia Military Institute cadets on October 21. He was also honored to provide a tour of the Battle of New Market Heights with staff from the Virginia War Memorial and officers from Fort Gregg-Adams on October 28. 

ECW Bookshelf

Emerging Civil War's Aaron Stoyack recently joined Michael A. Di Giovine to co-author and edit a new book to help celebrate the 150th Anniversary of West Chester University, WCU 150: History and Heritage.

The 2021-2022 academic year marked West Chester University’s Sesquicentennial Anniversary. As the largest liberal arts university in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sesquicentennial provided the opportunity to pause and reflect on 150 years of excellence in scholarship, community, and academic engagement. Based on the West Chester University Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology’s exhibition, WCU 150: History and Heritage—a centerpiece of the institution’s sesquicentennial celebrations—this volume explores the university’s rich history—from its origins as a public Normal School forming elementary teachers, to a state teacher’s college in the roaring 20s, to what the Philadelphia Inquirer called “arguably the most successful” of Pennsylvania’s state schools. Compelling articles written by faculty, alumni, and student cocurators examine topics such as teaching and learning, student life, the arts, gender and sexuality, sports, military service, diversity and inclusion, and more. As the exhibition was planned, installed and exhibited during the COVID-19 pandemic, the volume also provides insight into how higher education and the culture industry dealt with a global crisis. Illustrated with over a hundred photos of rare artifacts from the exhibition, and containing original research and first-hand accounts of life at WCU, West Chester University’s heritage comes to life in this important volume, providing a compelling case study of the life history and development of a major university.

A 3D virtual experience complements this volume: www.wcupa.edu/WCU150VirtualExhibition

Copies of the new book can be purchased here: Virtual Exhibition - WCU of PA

Shrouded Veterans

“[Mardon Wilson Plumly] served three years and four months and, left the service. Being out three months, he re-enlisted, as a private, and so I hear, this week, has been promoted for gallantry in action, and is on his way ‘up’ again,” Benjamin Rush Plumly wrote about his son to President Abraham Lincoln in March 1865.

Mardon W. Plumly fought at the Battle of Bull's Bluff, the Seven Days' Campaign, and the Battle of Second Bull Run, where he was wounded. He was appointed colonel in July 1863.

In July 1864, Plumly resigned as colonel of the 86th Regiment, U.S. Colored Infantry, and chose to reenlist as a private in the 1st Louisiana Cavalry, fearing he wouldn't pass the rigorous examination.

After the war, he moved to Sonoma County, California, where he died and was buried in the remote Sea View Cemetery.

You can read more about Plumly’s career at the link below.

https://emergingcivilwar.com/2024/10/13/shrouded-veterans-a-usct-colonels-voluntary-demotion/

November

11: Brian Kowell, “Horses in the Civil War,” Mahoning Valley Civil War Roundtable, Canfield, Ohio

14: Kristopher White, “Lee’s Greatest Victory-Lee’s Greatest Defeat: The Battle of Chancellorsville,” Montgomery County Civil War Roundtable, MD

14: Brian Swartz, ” Louisiana’s Lost Love: The Saga of Cyrus Hamlin,” Joshua L. Chamberlain Civil War Roundtable, Brunswick, ME

19: Jon-Erik Gilot, “Dangerfield Newby’s Fight for Freedom,” Zanesville CWRT, Zanesville, OH

21: Tim Talbott, “Gobbled Up: Taking Prisoners of War during the Petersburg Campaign,” Powhatan Civil War Roundtable

21-24: Dave Powell, Chattanooga Campaign Tour, Blue-Gray Education Society, Chattanooga TN

23: Steward Henderson, 23rd USCT Memorial Service Event

December



4: Dave Powell, “Tullahoma Campaign,” St. Louis Civil War Round Table 

11: Kevin Pawlak, “Never Such a Campaign: The Battle of Second Manassas,” Jersey Shore CWRT

12: Bert Dunkerly, “Stones River,” Cape Fear Civil War Round Table, Wilmington, NC

15:  Dwight Hughes, “The Sailor and the Soldier at Vicksburg: Unprecedented Joint Operations,” Miami Civil War Round Table Book Club, Miami, FL (Virtual)

18: Neil P. Chatelain, “Treasure and Empire in the Civil War,” Tallahassee History Roundtable (Virtual)

21: Tim Talbott, “Making a More Perfect Union: Life Stories of USCT Soldiers Who Fought at New Market Heights,” Powhatan Civil War Roundtable