Galleys in for Gettysburg Magazine Article Due out in the July Issue: "The Myth that Mahone's Brigade Did Not Move on July 2, 1863"

Recently I submitted the galleys for "The Myth that Mahone's Brigade Did Not Move on July 2, 1863" to Gettysburg Magazine, where the article is due to appear in the July 2021 issue.  Virtually every extant history of the battle or campaign goes no further into this incident than Brig. Gen. William Mahone's initial refusal to move after receiving contradictory orders from his superior, Maj. Gen. Richard Heron Anderson.  The situation was more complicated than that, and quite a bit happened afterward as the article will make clear.

Brig. Gen. William Mahone

Credit: National Archives

For a preview of the article, see The Petersburg Regiment in the Civil War:  A History of the 12th Virginia Infantry from John Brown's Hanging to Appomattox, 1859-1865 (Savas Beatie, 2019).  The 12th Virginia belonged to Mahone's brigade and its soldiers provided several accounts of the brigade's movements on the evening of July 2, 1863.  The article expands on the accounts in The Petersburg Regiment and includes accounts by soldiers in the 6th and 61st Virginia.

National Treasures: Beyond the Crater/Siege of Petersburg Online and The Petersburg Project

There are a couple of spectacular websites on the fighting around Petersburg in 1864-1865.  In my opinion, both qualify as national treasures.  Click on the following links to have a look at them.  They are Beyond the Crater/Siege of Petersburg Online and The Petersburg Project.  

Brett Schulte runs Beyond the Crater.  Dr. Phil Shiman, David Lowe (editor of Meade's Army:Private Notebooks of Lt. Col. Theodore Lyman) and Julia Steele operate The Petersburg Project.

To say that these websites contain maps, orders of battle, book reviews, photographs, drawings, articles, papers and presentations is to understate matters.  I'm using them consistently as I write about Grant's second offensive at Petersburg, June 20-July 1, 1864.  I used Meade's Army extensively as well.

Live Presentation on "The Petersburg Regiment" on Civil War Talks on March 17, 2021 at 8:30 p.m. EST

I'll be giving a live presentation on The Petersburg Regiment in the Civil War: A History of the 12th Virginia Infantry from John Brown's Hanging to Appomattox, 1859-1865 (Savas Beatie, 2019) on Civil War Talks at 8:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Wednesday, March 17, 2021.  (That will be 7:30 p.m. Central Standard Time, 6:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time and 5:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.)  

You can register by clicking on the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUsceispjkvHteda9z_v9-ib-5FuTcncjwk Hit on the link when it pops up until it takes you to the registration page.

The Petersburg Regiment won the Army Historical Foundation's Distinguished Writing Award for Unit History in 2019.  

My talk will focus on some of the regiment's distinguished writers.  I drew upon accounts by more than 30 of them in writing the book.

Thanks, South Suburban Civil War Round Table!

Thanks, South Suburban Civil War Round Table, for helping overcome a technical problem in my first Zoom presentation on the night of Thursday, February 25, 2021. The presentation was on some of the distinguished writers of the 12th Virginia Infantry, the Petersburg Regiment. Covered were nine of the soldiers whose writings contributed to The Petersburg Regiment in the Civil War: A History of the 12th Virginia Infantry from John Brown's Hanging to Appomattox, 1859-1865 (Savas Beatie, 2019), winner of the 2019 Army Historical Foundation's Distinguished Writing Award for Unit History. (The sketch below is from War Talks of Confederate Veterans (1892), compiled and edited by George S. Bernard of the 12th Virginia, and depicts him (wounded) and Lieutenant Joseph Richard Manson of the 12th (waving Bernard's handkerchief) surrendering at Crampton's Gap, Maryland, on September 14, 1862. Bernard and Manson, who both survived the war, were among the Petersburg Regiment's distinguished writers covered in my presentation. Bernard had a sequel ready for publication in 1896 but it disappeared, showed up at a flea market in 2004, was purchased for $50 and sold to the Museum of Western Virginia History for $15,000 and published as Civil War Talks: Further Reminiscences of George S. Bernard & His Fellow Veterans in 2012.)

Kankakee Valley Civil War Round Table, March 3, 2021, 6 p.m., Bradley (Illinois) Public Library

On Wednesday, March 3, 2021, at 6 p.m., I'll be talking in person to the Kankakee Valley Civil War Round Table in the Bradley Public Library in Bradley, Illinois.  The subject will be my most recent book, The Petersburg Regiment in the Civil War:  A History of the 12th Virginia Infantry from John Brown's Hanging to Appomattox, 1859-1865 (SavasBeatie, 2019), which won the 2019 Army Historical Foundation Distinguished Writing Award for Unit History.

The talk will focus on the Petersburg Regiment's distinguished writers--its soldiers.  The book draws on the writings of more than 30 of the soldiers.  My presentation cannot cover them all within the allotted time.  Therefore I will focus on the most prolific or vivid.  By company, they are (italics designate soldiers who joined the regiment more than once, and bold designates members of the color guard):

Cameron, William Evelyn: enl. 6/4/61 Petersburg pvt. Co. A, b. 1842, r. Missouri; elected 2 lt. Co. D 6/14/61; not reelected 5/1/62.                                                                                                                     Com. lst. lt. 5/18/62, appointed regimental adjutant; WIA 8/30/62 severe; capt. 11/2/63; Appomattox.

Capt. William Evelyn Cameron

Courtesy of Virginia Historical Society

Bird, Henry Van Leuvenigh: enl. 4/19/61 Petersburg pvt. Co. C; b. 1843, store clerk, r. Petersburg, clerk; WIA 7/1/62; POW 10/27/64.  Nicknamed “Birdie.”'

Pvt. Henry Van Leuvenigh "Birdie" Bird

Courtesy of Virginia Historical Society

Bernard, George Smith: enl. 4/19/61 Petersburg pvt. Co. E, b. 1837 Culpeper Cty., r. Petersburg, lawyer; med. dis. 10/30 61.                                                                                                                      Enl. 2/22/62 Hicksford sgt. 2nd Co. I; WIA & POW 9/14/62 right leg severe; trans. Co. E, voluntarily reduced to pvt.; WIA 2/6/65; furloughed 3/20/65.

3rd Sgt. George S. Bernard, wounded, beside 1st Lt. Joseph Richard Manson (holding flag) at Crampton's Gap, September 14, 1862

From Bernard, ed., War Talks of Confederate Veterans

Todd, Westwood A.: enl. 9/13/61 Norfolk pvt. Co. A, b. 1831, lawyer, r. Norfolk; trans. Co. E 4/2/62; WIA 8/30/62 hand; became brigade assistant ordnance officer, then ordnance officer; POW 4/6/65.

Map by Hampton Newsome

Whitehorne, James Edward: enl. 6/6/61 Hicksford cpl. Co. F, b. 1840, r. Greensville Cty.; 1 sgt. 8/20/61; WIA 7/2/63 shell, both legs; WIA 7/30/64 leg, slightly; Appomattox.

1st Sgt. James Edward "Eddie" Whitehorne

Courtesy of Fletcher L. Elmore, Louisville, Kentucky

Phillips, James Eldred: enl. 4/19/61 Richmond pvt. Co. G, master tinner, r. Richmond; cpl. 9/1/61; sgt. 5/1/62; POW 9/14/62; 2 lt. 3/9/63; 1 lt. 11/20/63; Appomattox.

1st Lt. James Eldred Phillips

Courtesy of Virginia Historical Society

Whitlock, Philip: enl. 4/19/61 Richmond pvt. Co. G, b. 1836 Poland, clerk, r. Richmond; detailed 9/23/62 Quartermaster Dept.

Pvt. Philip Whitlock (in kepi upper right) opposite John Wilkes Booth (in kepi upper left) at John Brown's hanging

Sale, John Francis: enl. 5/17/61 Norfolk pvt. Co. H, b. 1842, contractor, r. Norfolk; cpl. 5/1/62; sgt. 6/1/62; WIA 7/1/62; 1 sgt. 12/1/62; 2 lt. 11/22/64; MWIA 2/6/65, deceased 2/12/65.

Map by Hampton Newsome

Manson, Joseph Richard: enl. 2/22/62 Hicksford 1 lt. 2nd Co. I, b. 1831 Brunswick Cty., planter, commission merchant, r. Brunswick Cty., married; POW 9/14/62; capt. 7/64; Appomattox.

1st Lt. Joseph Richard Manson late in the war

Courtesy of Richard Cheatham, Richmond, Virginia

South Suburban Civil War Round Table, February 25, 2021, 7 p.m., Zoom Presentation

 At 7 p.m. on February 25, 2021, I'll be making my first Zoom presentation to the South Suburban Civil War Round Table.  The subject will be my most recent book, The Petersburg Regiment in the Civil War:  A History of the 12th Virginia Infantry from John Brown's Hanging to Appomattox, 1859-1865 (SavasBeatie, 2019), which won the 2019 Army Historical Foundation Distinguished Writing Award for Unit History.

The talk will focus on the Petersburg Regiment's distinguished writers--its soldiers.  The book draws on the writings of more than 30 of the soldiers.  My presentation cannot cover them all within the allotted time.  Therefore I will focus on the most prolific or vivid.  By company, they are (italics designate soldiers who joined the regiment more than once, and bold designates members of the color guard):

Cameron, William Evelyn: enl. 6/4/61 Petersburg pvt. Co. A, b. 1842, r. Missouri; elected 2 lt. Co. D 6/14/61; not reelected 5/1/62.                                                                                                                     Com. lst. lt. 5/18/62, appointed regimental adjutant; WIA 8/30/62 severe; capt. 11/2/63; Appomattox.

Capt. William Evelyn Cameron

Courtesy of Virginia Historical Society

Bird, Henry Van Leuvenigh: enl. 4/19/61 Petersburg pvt. Co. C; b. 1843, store clerk, r. Petersburg, clerk; WIA 7/1/62; POW 10/27/64.  Nicknamed “Birdie.”'

Pvt. Henry Van Leuvenigh "Birdie" Bird

Courtesy of Virginia Historical Society

Bernard, George Smith: enl. 4/19/61 Petersburg pvt. Co. E, b. 1837 Culpeper Cty., r. Petersburg, lawyer; med. dis. 10/30 61.                                                                                                                      Enl. 2/22/62 Hicksford sgt. 2nd Co. I; WIA & POW 9/14/62 right leg severe; trans. Co. E, voluntarily reduced to pvt.; WIA 2/6/65; furloughed 3/20/65.

3rd Sgt. George S. Bernard, wounded, beside 1st Lt. Joseph Richard Manson (holding flag) at Crampton's Gap, September 14, 1862

From Bernard, ed., War Talks of Confederate Veterans

Todd, Westwood A.: enl. 9/13/61 Norfolk pvt. Co. A, b. 1831, lawyer, r. Norfolk; trans. Co. E 4/2/62; WIA 8/30/62 hand; became brigade assistant ordnance officer, then ordnance officer; POW 4/6/65.

Map by Hampton Newsome

Whitehorne, James Edward: enl. 6/6/61 Hicksford cpl. Co. F, b. 1840, r. Greensville Cty.; 1 sgt. 8/20/61; WIA 7/2/63 shell, both legs; WIA 7/30/64 leg, slightly; Appomattox.

1st Sgt. James Edward "Eddie" Whitehorne

Courtesy of Fletcher L. Elmore, Louisville, Kentucky

Phillips, James Eldred: enl. 4/19/61 Richmond pvt. Co. G, master tinner, r. Richmond; cpl. 9/1/61; sgt. 5/1/62; POW 9/14/62; 2 lt. 3/9/63; 1 lt. 11/20/63; Appomattox.

1st Lt. James Eldred Phillips

Courtesy of Virginia Historical Society

Whitlock, Philip: enl. 4/19/61 Richmond pvt. Co. G, b. 1836 Poland, clerk, r. Richmond; detailed 9/23/62 Quartermaster Dept.

Pvt. Philip Whitlock (in kepi upper right) opposite John Wilkes Booth (in kepi upper left) at John Brown's hanging

Sale, John Francis: enl. 5/17/61 Norfolk pvt. Co. H, b. 1842, contractor, r. Norfolk; cpl. 5/1/62; sgt. 6/1/62; WIA 7/1/62; 1 sgt. 12/1/62; 2 lt. 11/22/64; MWIA 2/6/65, deceased 2/12/65.

Map by Hampton Newsome

Manson, Joseph Richard: enl. 2/22/62 Hicksford 1 lt. 2nd Co. I, b. 1831 Brunswick Cty., planter, commission merchant, r. Brunswick Cty., married; POW 9/14/62; capt. 7/64; Appomattox.

1st Lt. Joseph Richard Manson late in the war

Courtesy of Richard Cheatham, Richmond, Virginia

GETTYSBURG CHRONICLE Posts a Great Review of "The Petersburg Regiment"

    Here is the link to a great review of The Petersburg Regiment in the Civil War:  A History of the 12th Virginia Infantry from John Brown's Hanging to Appomattox, 1859-1865 posted in the GETTYSBURG CHRONICLE.  There have also been positive reviews in Midwest Book Club, Civil War Books and Authors, Virginia Gazette, TimeLines, Tennessee Valley Civil War Round Table, Amazon, Beyond the Crater and Civil War Times.

https://www.gettysburgchronicle.com/book-reviews/a-regiment-comes-alive

    The Petersburg Regiment would make an excellent Christmas gift for those who enjoy eyewitness accounts of the Civil War.  The book includes written accounts of the war by more than 30 of the regiment's soldiers, not including accounts by still more of the 12th's soldiers recorded by others.  The accounts cover not only the battles of the Army of Northern Virginia from Seven Pines/Fair Oaks (June 1, 1862) through Cumberland Church (April 7, 1865), but the camp life in between.  

    Get it now from Savas Beatie, FREE shipping, FREE giftwrapping, FREE bookplate signed by the author, and FREE Bookplate. Use coupon code: FREEMEDIASHIP

https://www.savasbeatie.com/the-petersburg-regiment-in.../

    Next year I'll have a related article out in GETTYSBURG MAGAZINE entitled, "The Myth that Mahone's Brigade Did Not Move on July 2, 1863."