The University of Oklahoma Press has finally released my friend Gary Ecelbarger’s (see here) Three Days in the Shenandoah: Stonewall Jackson at Front Royal and Winchester. It’s been a long time in the making, and I think it will be worth the wait. While I haven’t seen the book yet, I have toured the Valley with Gary and think his take on the critical three days of May 23, 24, & 25, 1862 is exactly what the story of Jackson’s Valley Campaign has needed. The real earth shattering discovery that Gary has made is one that has evaded historians like G. F. R. Henderson, Robert G. Tanner, Robert K. Krick and James I. Robertson all these years: there were Yankee soldiers in the Valley at the same time Jackson was there!!! No, really; there were! But don’t take my word for it – buy this book!
Gary, if you’re out there, how in the heck did Ol’ Blue Light wind up in the title and on the dust jacket? Did you fight the good fight?
Harry Smeltzer
Bull Runnings 
Harry,
I hope to find Ecelbarger’s latest at the Mansfield shindig this weekend. Will you be making an appearance?
Mike
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Harry,
I just received my copy. I need to get through Chadwick’s 1858 hopefully over the weekend and then I can dive right in to this one. I’m eagerly looking forward to it, especially given the more balanced viewpoint you mention above.
Gary helped me several years ago on a little project I was working on with information contained in the new book. He was very gracious and helpful. I loved his book on First Kernstown as well, and I know Drew W. does too.
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Mike,
Alas, Mansfield will have to survive yet another year without me. And without my wallet.
Brett,
Gary’s books on Kernstown and Frederick Lander are really great. I’m glad to see him returning to the Valley, though he has a ne book on Lincoln and the 1860 election coming out soon.
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Harry,
The original title was “Shenandoah Shockwaves”. I had a feeling that one wouldn’t last. The subtitle does imply the very slant that GE is trying to avoid, but I suppose from the publisher’s viewpoint you have to get those marketing keywords into the subtitle at least!
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Drew,
I got an e-mail from Gary confirming our suspicions re: Jackson’s prominence on the cover and in the title.
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Harry,
Have yet to see the book here either, but as one who has enjoyed reading Gary’s previous books, I will be picking up a copy. Just found out this evening that Peter Cozzens will have a book out on the Valley Camapign in 1862 this September from the UNC Press.
Hope all is well.
Regards from the Garden State, where I hope the flightless birds from Pittsburgh go down yet again on Sunday afternoon. :)
Steve
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