As I may or may not have mentioned earlier, my Collateral Damage column has been picked up for another year with Civil War Times magazine. I’m really happy that editor Dana Shoaf decided to run with an idea I pitched to him during a Facebook chat and that the folks at the magazine and the readers liked what I came up with enough to sign on for another six pieces.
Now, here’s where you guys come in. I have a few sites in mind already, but I can always use suggestions – if you’re a regular reader you know that the theme of the column concerns dwellings and their occupants that were impacted by the war, either as a result of their location on or proximity to a battlefield or due to their use during some other event associated with the war. I prefer that the structure is still standing, but that’s not a prerequisite. The dwelling or its site may be one that is owned by the NPS or other federal, state or local government agency, or it can be privately owned. It’s a necessity though that documentation (on the history of the site and the occupants, before, during, and after the event) be available in some central repository, preferably at or near the site. There’s a short turnaround time for these articles so I need to blitz the sources – make lots of copies – in one visit, paid either by myself or a surrogate. And speaking of surrogates, I may need help in that area as well. I can’t pay you, but I can thank you!
So, if you have any suggestions, leave them in the comments section. Thanks!
Harry Smeltzer
Bull Runnings 
I think you need to tackle one of the sites here in the Valley, Harry. True, they aren’t NPS sites, and most aren’t state sites (actually, there’s only one state site in the Valley, in the middle of a battlefield). I just get a different feeling for the obscure sites that aren’t quite as appreciated as those that are on better known fields of battle.
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I’ll consider anything, so long as I can research it quickly and thoroughly and it has a good story.
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Harry–
How about the Worthington House at Monocacy? (http://www.nps.gov/mono/historyculture/worthington_farm.htm) I agree with Rober that it might be interesting to look at a more obscure, lesser appreciated site.
Ron
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Ron, I was there this summer and walked all around that area – around the house and the trail there. Again, it will depend on how much material the park has for me to consider, and whether or not they’d let me in the house. I’m pretty sure the park owns that house – correct me if I’m wrong.
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Harry,
Mostly I have been tracking what General McDowell was doing in the west during the Civil War. Battles were fought in Arizona during the Civil War. I just finished a book called Tahoe Legacy which talks about how the Comstock mine was built and mined for its gold and silver beginning in 1864. Generals McDowell, Grant and Sheridan were at Lake Tahoe looking at the innovative civil engineering that was going on there. Do you want stuff like that?
Susan Evelyn McDowell Cole
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Interesting stuff, Susan. But not what I’m looking for for this particular series of articles. Always glad to hear more about it though.
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I think some good sites would be the William Manse George cabin at Shiloh and the Shirley House at Vicksburg.
Chris
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Chris – good suggestions, but both would require help as I can’t travel out that way next year.
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Has anything been done on the Brawner house?
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Not sure what you mean by “has anything been done.” I know that I have not written about the Brawner house in this series.
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How about the Porterfield house at Falling Waters (7/2/1861)…there’s no park or library, but I would think the FWBA could give you plenty of information on the property and the battle.
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I like tyhe Bull Run tie-in Jon-Erik. Do you have any contact info? Remember, the story of the people who lived in the house, and what happened to them before during and after, is the focal point of the articles. A cool house alone won’t cut it ;-)
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Harry – It’s a great series. As I mentioned in my Letter-to-the-Editor at CWT, I’d recommend the Ray House at Wilson’s Creek. I’ve visited there 3 or so times and do have soom good photos. I live too far from there now to visit again, but have corresponded frequently with Wilson’s Creek NPS historian Jeff Patrick and he is very accomodating. Congrats and keep up the great work! jim
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Thanks Jim.
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Harry, If you really want a challenge, why don’t you try one of the no longer standing residences at Manassas like the Matthew’s house, Pittslyvania, the Van Pelt house or Portici?
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Brad,
I don’t want to be specific, but in the very near future a no longer extant house on the Manassas battlefield will be the subject of Collateral Damage.
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Harry,
Excellent! I’m looking forward to your article.
Brad
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Harry,
I have really enjoyed this series. I would suggest the Stone House at Manassas and also the Sherfy House at Gettysburg for future articles.
Thanks, and have a Merry Christmas!
Scott
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Scott – I did two Gettysburg houses in the first six installments, so I’m not sure when I’ll do another. And of course the Stone House is on my radar, as is Dogan.
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Privately owned… still standing… lot’s of good stories…
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Keith – despite the link, your note is still a little cryptic – care to expand? Where is Level Green, a little background?
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I cannot remember, but have you done either the Ray House at Wilson’s Creek or the Elkhorn Tavern at Pea Ridge?
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Not yet, Craig, though both have been suggested.
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At Perryville you’ve got the Bottom House (standing and restored), the Russell House (gone), and the Widow Gibson cabin (facsimile being rebuilt).
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Ken, thanks for the info. Any connections out there?
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The Pry House at Antietam is a good choice if it hasn’t been done. It was McClellan’s HQ during the battle and a field hospital–Hooker was treated there and Richardson died there several weeks after the battle. The Pry family was ruined by the experience and ended up moving to Tennessee. The house is open to the public during the warmer weather (starting in May, I believe) and is owned by the Park Service and operated by the National Museum of Civil War Medicine.
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Thanks Tracy. I try to move the locations around, and I recently did the Roulette farm. The Prys are interesting though, and their ties to the Cost family. And it would give somebody an excuse to let me on the roof of the house!
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Yes! The view from the roof is spectacular and it is really amazing to be standing in the same exact spot as McClellan did.
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