Comments on: Civil War Times April 2009

By: Harry Smeltzer

Harry Smeltzer — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:24:26 +0000

Robert,

I was speaking of Gallagher in general, not of the CWT article specifically.

By: cenantua

cenantua — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:33:26 +0000

Harry,

When I read the piece, I don’t think I picked up anything that would lead me to believe he was being critical of amateur historians. I saw it as simply a defense of his approach to presenting his findings.

By: Harry Smeltzer

Harry Smeltzer — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:27:10 +0000

Thanks to everyone for your comments.

Noel, sorry I didn’t mention your friend’s work – it was only becasue I don’t think I’ve ever met him. I’ll be sure to check out the photos.

Chris, the Sherman photo is a favorite of mine. That guy means business.

Brett, I think ACW is a more “popular” magazine than CWT – a little lighter. I think you’ll understand when you see my reviews in the next issue, due out to subscribers now.

Robert, I think a lot of people take Gallagher the wrong way. They see his defense of academic historians as an attack on amateurs. Part of that may be his fault – he’s a little heavy handed. But I also think he has some valid points regarding the differences between the two types.

By: Gary Gallagher lays it out in CWT « Cenantua’s Blog

Gary Gallagher lays it out in CWT « Cenantua’s Blog — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:36:08 +0000

[...] it out in CWT Posted on February 25, 2009 by cenantua Hat tip to Harry at Bull Runnings for making us all aware of (among other things in the latest issue of Civil War Times) the piece (”Let the Chips [...]

By: cenantua

cenantua — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 12:50:47 +0000

That piece by Gallagher is first rate! I love it when academic historians step back for just a moment and address the “peanut gallery” that takes issue with professional approaches to history.

By: Brett Schulte

Brett Schulte — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 02:06:42 +0000

Interesting news Harry. I have fallen hopelessly behind reading my Civil War magazines, but I think I’m just going to have to cut my losses and start with the latest issues again. It’s good to hear Dana Shoaf is doing good things with CWT. I assume this applies to ACW as well.

By: Chris Evans

Chris Evans — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 22:47:22 +0000

That looks like a very interesting issue of CWT. That’s a strong picture of Sherman on the cover. Very clear picture and a very intense ‘warface’ look from him.
Chris

By: Noel

Noel — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 20:42:03 +0000

Nice blog! As a native Fairfax Countian, and fan of places and march-routes there related to your battle, I’m grateful for all your work. This same great issue of CWT also features a splendid article that gives us a glimpse at years of research by my friend, John F. Cummings, into the extensive and incredibly evocative series of early-postwar photographs of battle torn landscapes around Fredericksburg. John’s forthcoming book on this heretofore mysterious subject will extend the illumination and explication of his article and promises to become, in my opinion, one of the most powerful visual connections to the Fredericksburg area battlefields yet achieved by a historian.