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Post by ericwittenberg on Jan 6, 2017 20:53:28 GMT -6
...I'm pleased to be back.
I'm deeply immersed in my studies of the LBH campaign and battle these days, so re-engaging here should definitely help to bolster those efforts. To those I've met in my prior stint here, hello again. To those who are new, it's my pleasure to make your acquaintance.
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Post by tubman13 on Jan 7, 2017 5:52:52 GMT -6
ericwittenberg,
No, the pleasure is ours! Welcome back.
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Post by fred on Jan 7, 2017 14:04:47 GMT -6
For those of you who do not know of Eric Wittenberg, he is an old friend of mine from these boards and one of our leading writers and historians on the Civil War. I would venture to say, along with some 19 books, he has written dozens of articles on the war. He have a real pro in our midst.
Again, Eric, I am delighted you have returned.
Best wishes, Fred.
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Post by fred on Jan 7, 2017 17:27:56 GMT -6
It always brings a smile when ever I see the words "Civil" & "War" yoked together; perhaps I'm being cynical or annoyed at the same time..! I know; it is rather odd, isn't it? Funny!!! Best wishes, Fred.
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Post by ericwittenberg on Jan 7, 2017 20:15:05 GMT -6
Thanks, all! I'm pleased to be back.
As for my LBH studies, I'm trying to absorb as much of the recent scholarship as I can. I just finished Donovan, I'm about to begin reading Bruce Liddic's book, and Fred's book is next up after that. I'll be paying my first visit to the battlefield in July and am boning up in preparation for that visit.
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Post by ericwittenberg on Jan 7, 2017 20:18:12 GMT -6
ericwittenberg, Haven't had the pleasure of meeting you on this site, but welcome back, and while "immersed in my studies of the LBH campaign" do come up for air every now and then and give us a taste of your ongoing study...perhaps we'll learn to view the battle from a new perspective. Regards, Pequod (Robb) Thanks for the welcome, Robb! Much obliged. As Fred quite correctly points out, the bulk of my work--19 books to date--has focused on Civil War cavalry operations, but thanks to my old friend, the late Brian Pohanka, I've always had an interest in the LBH, and when the opportunity to visit the battlefield this summer arose, I figured it was time to resume my studies after a long hiatus. There have been quite a few very interesting books published since my last time here in 2008-2009, so I have some catching up to do. Eric
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Post by ericwittenberg on Jan 8, 2017 21:26:45 GMT -6
Thanks, Robb.
I should have made it clear that I have studied the battle off and on for years now. I don't know it like I know, say, Gettysburg (which I have studied for 47 years now and have visited hundreds of times), but I'm not a complete novice either.
My good friend and mentor, the late Brian Pohanka, got me interested and involved in these events, first because of my interest in Myles Keogh arising from my John Buford work and later because I had to annotate an account of the battle written by Bvt. Brig. Gen. James H. Kidd of the 6th Michigan Cavalry for one of my book projects. I reached out to Brian, and off I went. Donovan's book, which I just finished, was at least the 15th that I've read on the battle including, but not limited to, Graham, Custer's Luck (which Brian recommended that I make my first), Sklenar, Evans, most of Michno's stuff, the Walter Camp books, and others. I've read multiple bios of Custer, two of Tom Custer, one of Reno (who played a big role in one of my Civil War books), the Upton book on Keogh, and one of the Benteen bios. I've also read Mangum's book on the Rosebud. I periodically read about the battle and then move on, and eventually come back again. I'm not a complete novice, so I think that I'm ready for these more advanced books.
Eric
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dgfred
Junior Member
Posts: 69
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Post by dgfred on Jan 9, 2017 14:18:53 GMT -6
Thanks, all! I'm pleased to be back. As for my LBH studies, I'm trying to absorb as much of the recent scholarship as I can. I just finished Donovan, I'm about to begin reading Bruce Liddic's book, and Fred's book is next up after that. I'll be paying my first visit to the battlefield in July and am boning up in preparation for that visit. Hey... still following you Glad to see you here as I have been reading for years but just joined. I was thinking of this July also... hmmmmm. All the best, Greg
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Post by ericwittenberg on Jan 9, 2017 19:32:23 GMT -6
Good to see you again, Greg. Hope you're well!
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Post by herosrest on Jan 20, 2017 19:40:05 GMT -6
Ducemus Trevillian Station done properly?
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Post by ericwittenberg on Jan 21, 2017 14:28:48 GMT -6
DucemusTrevillian Station done properly? I'm not sure what you're asking. If you're asking is the interpretation at Trevilian Station done properly, I can only say that I hope so, since I am the author of the interpretive text contained on the Virginia Civil War Trails markers on the battlefield. If you're asking whether the preservation of the battlefield is done properly, the answer is a resounding yes. Approximately half of the entire battlefield, which spreads over some 7000 acres, is now owned by either the Civil War Trust or the Trevilian Station Battlefield Foundation, there are two more acquisitions in the works, and I am working with the Trust to develop a long-term plan for further preservation. If you're asking whether the interpretation in my book is accurate, all I can say is that I hope so. If your question addressed something else, then please tell me, and I will be happy to do what I can to answer.
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Post by herosrest on Jan 21, 2017 19:02:07 GMT -6
DucemusHi Eric. This being Little Bighorn related we might make the leap to your once given view of the Michigan Brigades attack and subsequent travails as Custer's first Little Bighorn and which he obviously later perfected. I realise that your criticism of the Boy General was tongue in cheek but feel also that his movement and impact upon the days fighting was significant and rather well done. With regards the effort to protect that battleground for posterity and future generations, bloody well done. It is significant history and worthy cause. linkI did have a topic up here or there which isn't wanting to be hunted up at the moment, about 1st Lieutenant Edward Bancroft Williston at TS and how he subsequently developed the arguments for The distiguished service citation. Custer should have taken artillery and that lesson from 1873 and 1864 was not learnt or ignored. Be well.
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Post by ericwittenberg on Jan 21, 2017 21:54:22 GMT -6
Obviously, I disagree with your take and your rather impolite and disrespectful criticism of my account in that other thread. I think it best to let it go at that lest I say something I might regret.
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Post by ericwittenberg on Jan 22, 2017 16:28:40 GMT -6
ericwittenberg, You'll soon learn here, as I suspect you already have, to consider the source of uninformed remarks by members who are obvious pretenders and not by any means contenders... Robb (Pequod) All too well, Robb. All too well. Out of respect for Diane and the others here, I elected not to respond further rather than to say something I might regret later, although it took a large effort to do so. Always take the high road.
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Post by montrose on Jan 22, 2017 20:40:34 GMT -6
Eric,
My original interest in ACW was a family belief that an ancestor was a Captain in Cavalry on mothers side. On father's side had several cavalry folks, most significant being my grandfather, who I was named after. He served in cavalry as an enlisted soldier, serving 30 years and finishing as 1SG.
Ends up the captain in cavalry was corporal in infantry, in the Veterans Reserve Corps. His descendants that the C meant cavalry.
I have an interest in the transition in the US cavalry from conventional to unconventional warfare. Success against a conventional enemy in the very complex terrain of VA is very different than unconventional war id the far less complicated terrain of the great prairie.
I have studied transitional warfare since my first paper on this topic, in 1983. Great commanders and units in one combatant environment, prove to be useless when conditions change. Individuals and units who have average records in first conflict, shine in second.
The US cavalry of this era (1860-90) are the most dramatic example of this process, and the extremes.
The 9th and 10th Cav proved to be vastly superior than 7th Cav, post ACW. Given the extreme racism of this era, and the fact that educating blacks was a death sentence pre ACW and repressed until 1964, is a real surprise. Many pages of discussion on the whys and wherefores. I have been wondering why for most of my life.
SO Don't get turned off if you run into a few trolls on an online forum.
We can, and have, had reasonable discussions of adults on many issues relevant to this board.
I hope you can be patient, and have a dialogue with us.
Respectfully,
William
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