Study Group update:

Good news. The Government has not shut down, at least for the next two weeks. While I can’t speak for the state of the Union as a whole, at least our program won’t be disrupted. We proceed as planned: meeting at the park Visitor’s Center on Friday Morning to board the bus for our tour of McLemore’s Cove.

I’m further informed that so far, rain is not in the forecast for next weekend, though apparently a general deluge hit the area this weekend.

I realize that without precipitation, the tours just won’t be the same, but as I told one participant who emailed me with this news earlier, we will just have to struggle through somehow.

See you on the battlefield. And don’t forget to bring your own lunch on Friday…

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Failure In The Saddle Gets Some Love…

Yesterday, I was informed that “Failure In The Saddle” has been selected for the Richard B. Harwell award, given by the Civil War Round Table of Atlanta. This is an unexpected honor, and I find myself a little speechless. The Round Table has invited me to speak on November 8th, 2011, so I guess I had better figure out something to say by then.

Here is the description of the award, found on the CWRTA’s website:

The Richard B. Harwell Book Award is given annually by the Civil War Round Table of Atlanta “for the best book on a Civil War subject published in the preceding year.” Consisting of $4,000 and an engraved plaque, the award honors the late Richard B. Harwell, nationally recognized librarian, bibliographer and historian, as well as the first President of the Civil War Round Table of Atlanta. The winning author is invited to appear as a speaker before the CWRTA, usually at the November meeting, during which time the award is presented.

and a link to past winners

I’m impressed that my book was considered, given the somewhat narrow focus of the work – it’s not even a history of the battle, just an operational analysis of the Confederate Cavalry’s role in that battle. Apparently I’m not the only guy who enjoys that sort of examination.

It also occurs to me that Chickamauga is starting to get more attention from the Civil War community in general. Books and articles are now appearing regularly. The Civil War Presentation Trust is going to hold their Grand Review there, as well:

Grand Review

Not that I don’t think other fields are equally worthy, or equally interesting; it’s just that I think that Chickamauga has for too long been obscured. The first park deserves its share of the limelight, and I am happy to see that begin to happen.
Thanks to everyone who’s read my work, or followed me around on a field (usually through hail, monsoons, and rains of frogs)