Preview: Scott Patchan, “The Battle of Piedmont and Hunter’s Raid on Staunton”

I received Scott C. Patchan’s The Battle of Piedmont and Hunter’s Raid on Staunton: The 1864 Shenandoah Campaign from The History Press in the mail last week. This is an updated version of Scott’s earlier work, The Forgotten Fury: The Battle of Peidmont, Virginia (1996). But this is no simple reprint: it’s a substantial rewrite with more maps. Scott informs me that his is the only book that correctly describes the role played by Vaughn’s Tennessee brigade – they did not simply sit back and watch the defeat. For the first time the actions of units like the 28th Ohio, Thomas Legion and Brewer’s Battalion are accurately described as well. In addition, Scott describes a number of battlefield and campaign sites.

The book is 154 pages of text, with 20 pages of notes and a full bibliography listing a number of unpublished manuscript sources. It’s also liberally illustrated with photographs, engravings and maps.

Lottery for Bull Run 150th Event

Friend Craig Swain hipped me to this announcement of a lottery for tickets to the shindig.

A limited number of tickets for the July 21 Manassas 150th Commemorative Ceremony will be made available through a lottery.

The morning ceremony near the Manassas National Battlefield Park visitor center on Henry Hill will feature a keynote address by Dr. Ed Ayers and music by the U.S. Marine Corps Band. Only those with tickets will have access to the Henry Hill area of the battlefield during the event. The area is expected to re-open to visitors at noon.

Four thousand tickets to the special ceremony will be distributed through an online lottery. Applications will be accepted from 10 am April 27 through 10 pm May 4. Winners will be notified by email on May 9.

For more information on the event and the ticket lottery: www.virginiacivilwar.org/manassas.php

As of now, I have no plans to attend – but it sounds like fun.

The Civil War in 3D

I received an email yesterday from author Patrick Brennan (he wrote a great book about the Battle of Secessionville, among other things) about a project he’s been working on.

3net, the joint venture 24/7 3D network from Sony, Discovery and IMAX have begun principal photography on the world’s first native 3D War Documentary, it was announced today by Tom Cosgrove, President & CEO of 3net.  THE CIVIL WAR 3D [a working title], the most ambitious 3D series ever produced for television, will transport viewers back in time, retelling the war’s most pivotal moments both on and off the battlefields from the unique perspective of both sides in the historic conflict.  The four-hour miniseries is scheduled to debut on the network in Fall 2011.

 Go here for more info. Just something else to look forward to.