Len’s Book Review: Storm Over the Land, A Profile of the Civil War

Storm Over the Land: A Profile of the Civil War By Carl Sandburg (Mariner Books, 2000; originally published 1939) In our current assault on American history, it is often useful to reflect back on how war was treated in our past. Pulitzer Prize–winning poet and historian Carl Sandburg presents us with one such prism with … Read more

Fundraisers Boost BGES Bottom Line

Three fundraisers supported by 100 individual donors raised over $36,000 to assist BGES in several critical areas and further strengthened our financial position as the 2021 fiscal year winds down. The calls for support were quickly and generously responded to, displaying the widespread and loyal devotion to the BGES from its members and friends. No … Read more

Book Review: Meade at Gettysburg, A Study in Command

Meade at Gettysburg, A Study in Command By Kent Masterson Brown (UNC Press, 2021) Check out this interview with Brown on BGES’s YouTube channel: A Conversation with Kent Masterson Brown on his book, Meade at Gettysburg.“ This came close to being my first 5-star review, but It fell short as I will explain in a … Read more

Book Review: Stephen A. Swails, Black Freedom Fighter in the Civil War and Reconstruction

Stephen A. Swails, Black Freedom Fighter in the Civil War and Reconstruction By Gordon C. Rhea (LSU Press, forthcoming November 2021) Gordon Rhea will be leading the BGES tour “The 1864 Overland Campaign Part 1: Grant versus Lee,” on October 18-23, 2021. There are two related videos on BGES YouTube channels that are worth a … Read more

Book Review: Tullahoma: The Forgotten Campaign that Changed the Course of the Civil War

Tullahoma: The Forgotten Campaign that Changed the Course of the Civil War, June 23–July 4, 1863 David A. Powell and Erc J. Wittenburg (University of Massachusetts Press, 2001) David Powell continues a relentless publication schedule that has established him as the “go-to” guy for all things Middle Tennessee and Northern Georgia—not to mention, his recent … Read more

Celebration of a Life Well Lived

The life celebration of long-time and much lamented BGES supporter David Dubose has been rescheduled for September 4, 2021, in Jacksonville, Florida. The family is inviting all members of the BGES to join them for this celebration of David’s life and legacy. BGES Executive Director, Len Riedel will be attending, and the BGES is sponsoring … Read more

Book Review: Hope and Glory: Essays on the Legacy of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment

Hope & Glory: Essays on the Legacy of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment Edited by Martin Blatt, Thomas J. Brown, and Donald Yacovone, foreword by Gen. Colin Powell (University of Massachusetts Press, 2001) They were not the first, but they were arguably the most famous black regiment in United States military history. The 54th Massachusetts Infantry … Read more

Book Review: Travels to Hallowed Ground by Emory M. Thomas

Travels to Hallowed Ground: A Historian’s Journey to the American Civil War By Emory M. Thomas (University of South Carolina Press, 1987) Emory Thomas is one of the most revered of academic Civil War historians, and so it is with regret that I rate his musings so low. In fairness, as with all such books … Read more

BGES Returns to the Field

It was eerie: Fist bumps and face masks, people brandishing their Covid vaccination records, a nervous chatter in the meeting room muted by masks and uncertainty that all was normal again. Two BGES board members who were physicians were in attendance; the BGES lawyer was there as well. I went to ensure that there would be … Read more