Dr. Richard J. Sommers, A Dean of Petersburg Scholars

I was saddened yesterday to learn of the death of Dr. Richard J. Sommers, author of Richmond Redeemed.  He was a dean of Petersburg scholars and his book set the standard for research on the subject.  I only met Dick once, in 1995, when his Harrisburg Civil War Round Table had be out to take them on a tour of the August 1864 battlefields around Petersburg and Richmond.  Before his December operation we corresponded and he gave me some sage advice on the scope of my current project about Grant's second offensive at Petersburg.  He was a real gentleman and I'll miss him.