Over the last few weeks I have received some wonderful feedback from colleagues, readers and Facebook friends on my amateur “Naked Historian” video series.

Although I have far more pressing matters going on with the National Civil War Life Foundation and my upcoming book on Confederate encampments, I am having a blast shooting these little ditties in my free time. I am also surprised by the interest they have generated and will continue to make them as long as there’s an audience. People seem to respond to the idea of me showcasing historical sites here in the Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania region that are off the beaten path. VIEW EPISODES HERE

What I really enjoy as the creator is the lack of pressure with these. They are highly original as far as content (so there’s nothing to compare them to), very casual as far as preparation (a little research and a shave), and ultimately fun to do (I never know what will happen). It is the exact opposite of how I usually work. When I have a lecture or radio appearance to do, I spend weeks gathering materials and assembling a tight, scripted presentation. It’s the only way I can do them.

These videos involve 30 minutes of research and 7-8 minutes of filming. Frankly, I am improvising my intros and this is good practice for the tourism spots I will be doing on our local cable-access. Personally I think it’s good to “let our hair down” and incorporate fun into our work. As historians, it is very easy to get all wrapped up in our professional research and writing that we lose sight of that original joy that drove us to the subject in the first place. That could probably be said for most vocations.

When I give the occasional tour of our area to a visiting family or group, I feel like a little kid all over again. When I am up writing until 1 am in the morning for a week straight, it’s a far different feeling. That is not to say I don’t enjoy BOTH processes, but there is a definite distinction between work and play. I have come to understand why other historians become re-enactors on the weekends. Ultimately, it doesn’t really matter compared to their day-job and they can revert back to that time when history was just an interest with no pressing deadlines or peer reviews.

Surprisingly, some of the most enthusiastic feedback I have received on these unscripted videos is from academic historians and doctorate students. I think this is because they get it. (A doctorate student friend of mine from Carnegie Mellon University has been a huge supporter.) This is simply my way of preventing burnout and sharing some overlooked history in my community. I would like to do at least 10 episodes of ‘TNH’ and I am opening up the last few to suggestions.

So far I have shot:

1. Best Buy and the Forgotten Marker at Central Park
2. Sterling Plantation on “Stonewall” Jackson’s Ambulance Route
3. Gordon Home and Family Cemetery at Loriella Park
4. The Caged Cannon at Pelham’s Crossing

I am prepared to shoot:

5. The Suffocated 15th New Jersey Monument on Rt.3
6. The Meade Pyramid on the Fredericksburg Battlefield
7. Spirit of Freedom Garden in Celebrate Virginia (IF I can get close)
I also have a lead on a house near Harrison's Crossing and a barn in England Run.

What else? Email your suggestions to ma@pinstripepress.net. Winners will be selected as previously planned episodes are completed. Selected candidates will have their email read and receive credit for their suggestion in the opener. (And to all my local NPS buddies out there, feel free to send your leads too, hint-hint.)

The criteria is as follows:

1. The site must be located in the Fredericksburg or Spotsylvania County region.
2. No major tourist stops, the more minuscule – the better.
3. The site must be documented and/or verified as being a ‘historical’ location.

Thanks in advance. Now I have to get back to doing REAL work…

For the last two nights I have been busy reading through the digitized transcripts and primary sources on camps that I was fortunate enough to gather from our local NPS archives. So far I have identified at least 40 excellent pieces from the 150 or so I’ve browsed that will be featured in my upcoming book Campfires at the Crossroads: Confederate Encampments in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. This title is part of The History Press’ new American Chronicles Series and I am very excited about getting this project underway. Among the gems I’ll be quoting are letters, diary entries, and military reports that present the secessionist's camp life and day-to-day hardships that were experienced in our area and neighboring counties. It’s VERY cool to read a letter written from a soldier camped near Massaponax or Thornburg knowing that he wrote it right down the road from where I live.

There is some excellent material on African-American servants too who accompanied their masters in the field. Some served as cooks and valets, while others appear to have made a lucrative living for themselves (and I assume their masters) by washing clothes. As the topic of “Black-Confederates” has become a hot-button issue in recent months, I will be sure to include what accounts I can in my book. I will say that every black “confederate” I have come across was acting in the capacity of a servant, NOT a soldier. One interesting tidbit is that a master was apparently required to pay for their slave's portion of the mess (food) if he was to stay in camp. In addition, slaves could be contracted out for labor. Most surprising is an account of two slaves bringing food out to their masters when they were under artillery attack on the front lines. 

I am also enjoying the bittersweet letters home from soldiers to their loved ones followed by their subsequent death notifications. There are some baseball references too, which I will certainly be highlighting. All in all, the sourcing process for this project has only just begun, but it always strikes me how much I love doing research – even more than writing.

PS: BRAND NEW VIDEO OF 'TNH' WILL BE POSTED TONIGHT.

Today I had the honor and privilege of giving a private tour of the area for the Warren family who were visiting from Roanoke, VA. You may recall a previous post and video blog I shared on their son Richard, who does an extraordinary portrayal of Sgt. Richard Kirkland, the “Angel of Marye’s Heights.” Documentary film director Clint Ross has expressed an interest in shooting Richard for a movie project that I am consulting him on. Young Richard was joined by his parents Richard and Kathleen, and sisters Lydia and Caroline. (The Warrens have 10 children in all.)

This morning we were able to videotape Richard’s presentation at the actual site, on the sunken road, just behind the stone wall in front of the Kirkland Monument. It was VERY moving to say the least, and I feel blessed to have witnessed it firsthand. Arriving in the early morning we toured the Fredericksburg Battlefield before any of the crowds arrived. I was very impressed with the children's knowledge and they asked great questions all day long. After a short visit to the adjacent museum and bookstore, we traveled over to the Civil War Life Soldier’s Museum to see their artifact collection and 3D Stereoscopic photo show.

After lunch, we headed south to the “Stonewall” Jackson Shrine where Richard gave his speech on the front porch to several visitors and NPS volunteers. Everyone in attendance was blown away and seasonal historian Becky Cumins suggested that we provide a copy of the video to our good friends at the NPS. I agreed to pass it on to John Hennessy and Greg Mertz, so Richard’s presentation may have a future here in some capacity at the Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania Military Parks.

It was a wonderful way to spend a Saturday and a perfect example of why I LOVE living here. Richard reminds me of myself when I was his age and I know that his interest and passion for history will continue to grow. The Warrens blessed me with their interest and I strived to give them a better appreciation for the storied lives of those who hallowed our grounds here in Fredericksburg. As Christians, we all shared in a fellowship today that I will cherish for years to come. You touched a lot of people today Richard, perhaps most of all me.

I am honored to have been the featured author interviewed in the April 2009 issue of the Pittsburgh Writer’s Group magazine 'Spilt Ink.' I want to thank the PWG and I look forward to joining them at a future meeting back in my hometown. READ HERE

For the next two days I will be at the National Military Park Service Archives here in Fredericksburg gathering transcripts of primary source material for my "Campfires at the Crossroads: Confederate Encampments in Spotsylvania County" as part of The History Press’ American Chronicles Series. I also have a family coming into town this weekend for a private tour of several historic locations and I hope to film the 4th episode of The Naked Historian as soon as it stops raining here in Spotsylvania.

Stay tuned. I’ll be back to posting in a few days.

This week I'll be busy writing a series of pieces for Mort Künstler’s upcoming release, updating the National Civil War Life Foundation website, and filming the 3rd installment of The NAKED Historian. I also have an interview coming out this week in The Pittsburgh Writer's Project eZine and a private tour this weekend with the Warren family from Roanoke. Stay tuned for postings as my to-do list is completed.

“There is no sports event like Opening Day of baseball, the sense of beating back the forces of darkness and the National Football League.” - Author George Vecsey in A Year in the Sun (1989)

For over a century, baseball has been hailed above all other sports as America’s National Pastime. And no other game during the regular one-hundred sixty-two game season has been as eagerly anticipated as Opening Day. Just look at any die-hard baseball fan’s calendar. Vacation? Holidays? Anniversaries? All are often forgotten and pale in comparison with the coveted first game of the season. Ask any fan what the “official” start of Spring is. Chances are their answer will be Opening Day. Much more than just an event, it is an experience.

Major League Baseball’s first officially recognized franchise the Cincinnati Reds were historically awarded the privilege of “opening the Openers” and hosted the outings from 1876-1989. Only twice during this time (1877 and 1966) were they forced to debut on the road due to rain. Finally in 1990, the tradition was broken and the Reds were scheduled to appear as the visitors against the Houston Astros. Despite the prestige of being christened as baseball’s opening act, Cincinnati has posted an average record of 50-52-1 that has been shadowed by the countless spectacles off the baseline including parades, fireworks, circus performances and the opening of new ballparks in 1884, 1894, 1912 and 2003.

A national event, Opening Day has also become a “political pitcher’s” arena for U.S. Presidents to show their “stuff.” On April 14, 1910, President, and baseball enthusiast, William Howard Taft attended the home opener in Washington D.C. Since then, eleven sitting U.S. presidents have tossed out the season’s ceremonial first pitch. One standout, Harry S. Truman, showcased his ambidextrous talent when he threw out balls with both his right and left arm in 1950. Beyond Presidents, Opening Day has witnessed many other historical performances:

Ted Williams was a .449 hitter in openers, with three home runs and fourteen runs batted in during fourteen games. “Teddy Ballgame” also boasted at least one hit in every Opening Day game he appeared in. Williams’ first Opening Day (April 20, 1939) was especially noteworthy as he faced the rival New York Yankees and Lou Gehrig, who was playing in his 2,123rd consecutive game.

Opening Day 1940 witnessed one of the most famous pitching events as Cleveland ace Bob Feller and White Sox hurler Eddie Smith went head-to-head. Smith blinked, but Feller remained in control and tossed the only Opening Day no-hitter in Major League history.

Hammerin’ Hank Aaron ignited the crowd at Riverfront Stadium on his first swing of the 1974 season when he tagged Cincinnati Reds for his 714th career home run to tie Babe Ruth on the all-time list.

Unfortunately, Opening Day has also been marred by riots and civil disobedience. At the start of the 1907 season, the New York Giants opened against the Phillies following a heavy snowstorm. In preparation for the game, groundskeepers were forced to shovel large drifts of snow onto the outer edges of the field in foul territory. After falling behind 3-0, the disappointed fans at the Polo Grounds began hurling snowballs onto the playing field, disrupting play. As the melee progressed, chaos ensued and fans began rushing onto the field to continue the snowball fight. After being pelted, Home plate umpire Bill Klem had enough and called a forfeit in favor of the Phillies.

Statistically speaking, how important is Opening Day to a team in regards to a championship season? The answer is not that much. The record for most consecutive Opening Day wins by a team is nine, shared by the St. Louis Browns, Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets. Currently (through 2004) the longest winning streak on Opening Day is three W’s, shared by the Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Toronto Blue Jays. Still every fan looks forward to starting off the season with a win.

Individual Opening Day stats however, speak volumes on the career accomplishments of a player. On the mound, Greg Maddux is a sure thing with a perfect 6-0 record in seven career starts. Jimmy Key holds the record for most wins on Opening Day without a loss, with seven and other perfect Opening Day hurlers include Wes Ferrell at 6-0, and Warneke and Rip Sewell with 5-0 scorecards. At the plate, Hall of Fame outfielder Frank Robinson & future Hall of Fame outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr. each hit eight career / record setting home runs on the first day of the season, while Willie Mays and Eddie Mathews each belted seven Opening Day round-trippers. Above all others Walter Johnson was perhaps the greatest ballplayer ever to don a uniform on Opening Day. In fourteen season openers for the Washington Senators, Johnson hurled a record nine shutouts with a nine and five (9-5) overall record. His two most famous starts include a 3-0 masterpiece against the A’s in 1910 and a 1-0 marathon victory while battling fifteen innings against Philadelphia’s Eddie Rommel.

Hall of Fame pitcher Early Wynn, who played for the Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox, summed up the essence of Opening Day when he said, “An opener is not like any other game. There’s that little extra excitement, a faster beating of the heart. You have that anxiety to get off to a good start, for yourself and for the team. You know that when you win the first one, you can’t lose ‘em all.”

Regardless of the outcome, Opening Day still remains as the number one date in the hearts, minds (and on the calendars) of baseball fans everywhere. The official countdown begins after the last pitch of the World Series when we can’t wait to hear those two magic words again, “Play Ball!”

'Opening Day' by Michael Aubrecht. Baseball-Almanac, 2003.

COMING UP: Episode 1: BEST BUY and the forgotten marker.

I'll take you deep into the concrete jungle of Central Park to reveal
a lone historical site marker that most people are unaware of.

15 YEARS AGO I was first introduced to the Civil War paintings of Mort Künstler.

12 YEARS AGO I stood in line for 2 ½ hours to meet him at a gallery in Fredericksburg.

10 YEARS AGO I began collecting his illustration books of which I have 6 titles.

3 YEARS AGO I was able to purchase 2 of his calendar prints to hang in my dining room.

2 YEARS AGO I interviewed the man for 2 feature articles in the Free Lance-Star.

1 YEAR AGO I wrote a third feature article and a friendship followed.

2 WEEKS AGO my friend donated 2 prints to the National Civil War Life Foundation.

TODAY I accepted a job to write the historical certificate copy for his next release.

If you would have told that 21 year-old kid that someday he would be writing Mort Künstler's copy, he would have laughed out loud. I am surely blessed and very grateful.

Mort Künstler articles by yours truly:

Mort Künstler: An American Master

“Merry Christmas General Lee”

Human Decency During War

I am VERY proud to announce that Eric Wittenberg and I have finally completed the draft manuscript for You Stink! Major League Baseball’s Terrible Teams and Pathetic Players. The current word count is 185,665 with 380 pages (single spaced). We also have complete rosters, statistics and box scores, 50+ photos and 34 footnotes. The file was just sent off to our proofer in preparation for publisher submission. I always love this feeling when a book is initially down on paper. The editing and refining process follows, but it’s very satisfying when concept becomes reality. It's hard to believe that we started this project just 12 months ago. Eric did a great job with his sections and I’m blessed to have him as a friend and co-author. Stay tuned for details on this unique project.

At the invitation of an editor and chief of mine, I entered a fun, fictional writing contest. The theme is ‘conflict’ and the task was to write a 750- word essay. Of course I went with the Civil War as my backdrop. You can read my story (and vote on it if you wish) over at The Novelette. You can also enter yourself if you like. Here’s a taste of my entry:

It was early on Sunday, in the spring of 1864, and all around were signs of God’s glorious creation. Daybreak had just begun, and the sun was slowly peeking over the horizon. As it ascended, the vast landscape of sleeping clouds appeared to catch fire and the midnight blue evening was painted over by a brilliant orange glow. A gentle breeze stirred the miles of tall grass covering the fields beneath and the sweet song of birds softly echoed through the trees.

Below in the valley, the scene was very different. Hidden amidst a thick hanging fog, two armies were just beginning to stir. Many soldiers did not share nature’s sentiments in welcoming back another sunrise. Exhausted, homesick and terribly traumatized by the horrors they had witnessed on the battlefield, the promise of another day brought nothing more than prolonged suffering. READ ON

This evening I had the pleasure of attending a very special program at the historic Massaponax Baptist Church. As I had announced below on 3/24, the National Park Service hosted two showings of their fourth “Voices from the Storm” presentation. These unique programs use historic venues, the words of the people who lived and fought here, music, and images to tell the story of a community caught in the maelstrom of the Civil War. Each one lasts approx. 60+ minutes and is tailored especially for the location.

Tonight’s presentation shared the firsthand experiences of Spotsylvanians amidst war in their own words. According to the handout, no place suffered longer or more variously from war than Spotsylvania County. NPS Chief of Interpretation John Hennessy narrated the program which featured Debbie Aylor, Randy Dail, Scott Howson, and Torie Aylaor as readers. Period musicians and singers from Evergreen Shade provided the musical interludes and a 40+ photographic slide show ran on the backdrop.

I had the privilege of sitting in the front with National Civil War Life Foundation Chairman Horace McCaskill and Museum Director Terry Thomann. This gave us an up close view of the performers who did a magnificent job in conveying the emotions of the individuals they were quoting. The photographs selected from the NPS collection added a great deal to the piece and the live music was extremely touching at times. Evergreen Shade’s version of “I’m Going Home” was very emotional and sitting in the hallowed sanctuary of Massaponax Baptist Church added to the experience.

John’s narrative painted a vivid portrait of the county’s perspectives from all sides and I was surprised by some of the numbers he included such as the majority of Spotsylvanian’s in the 1860's being African-American, the high percentages of financial losses incurred by whites, and the staggering amount of civilians requiring government assistance after the war. Clearly the program showed that suffering occurred on all sides, both on and off the battlefield. As I am just beginning to gather primary sources for my upcoming book on Confederate encampments in Spotsylvania County, I recognized some good material on camps that I am hoping to include.

If you ever have the opportunity to attend one of these “Voices from the Storm” programs, do it. You will get the REAL story, from those that experienced it, through their own words, images, and music.

I turn 37 in just a few weeks, and there are very few things that I can still remember from my days at Manilla Elementary School. Most of them however, took place in my American history class. You know that teacher who seemed to have a gift for igniting interest in his/her students, the kind of teacher that presented their curriculum in a totally captivating way, and the type of teacher that you actually looked forward to seeing in class each week? That was Mr. Good. His teaching style was extraordinary and he left an indelible impression on me that lasts to this very day.

You could say that he alone gave me my start as a writer. I distinctly remember penning one of my first historical pieces for him. It was a report on Francis Marion "The Swamp Fox" and Mr. Good told us stories about how he and his friends would pretend to be Continental and British soldiers while playing army in the woods. I also recall when he came to class dressed entirely in fringed-buckskin (ala Davy Crockett). He was teaching us about the French and Indian War and brought along his black powder musket to demonstrate how tedious the process for loading and firing was. Imagine a teacher bringing a working firearm to school nowadays. Times sure have changed, and not for the better.

When I returned from my trip to Gettysburg, Mr. Good immediately recognized my newfound interest in the War Between the States and he was patient enough to allow me to contribute to the class with my limited knowledge. He set up a special display in the glass case outside his classroom and filled it with my souvenirs from the trip. I distinctly recall how proud I was to get that kind of special recognition. I also remember how anxious I was to get my stuff back.

Mr. Good even encouraged me to create a special project for extra credit. I made a small diorama of the battle at Little Round Top. Starting with a shoebox, I cut one side off, and made a landscape w/ terrain out of clay, sticks and rocks. I also cut the cover off a Gettysburg brochure that looked like soldiers silhouetted in the woods and used that as a background. Finally, I placed tiny blue plastic soldiers representing Chamberlain's 20th Maine on top of the hill and scattered gray members of Hood's division along the slope. (I also recall having a stream represented at the bottom of the hill, which was not topographically accurate. I don't think he marked me on that one.)

My 6th grade year happened to be the last ever in this school. It was closed down and later became the borough building, police headquarters, and library for our community. The faculty was scattered among the various schools in our district and I moved on to Middle School never to see my favorite history teacher again. I did think of him from time to time, most recently during a weekend trip to Gettysburg in which my father and I returned to where it all began.

For the last four years, ever since I published my first Civil War book, I have been trying to track down Mr. Good to thank him for the tremendous affect his tutelage had on my personal and professional life. A couple years ago I managed to get a hold of my elementary school librarian who informed me that Mr. Good had retired in 2005 after teaching 33 years in Keystone Oaks School District.

Bummed beyond words, I thought that was it, and gave up on the prospect of reaching him. Luckily, through the wonders of Facebook (and the networking of some other teachers that I am fond of) mentor and student have finally been reunited.

It turns out that Mr. Good never lost his enthusiasm for history, especially the American West. Today he is a member of the River Junction Shootist Society and practices the lost art of cowboy action shooting. He is also an avid cyclist and has toured Civil War battlefields on 2 wheels with fellow faculty. Over the last few days, we have communicated via email and we are planning to chat on the phone this weekend.

I believe that we all need to take the time to thank those who had a positive influence on us. Let them know they mattered. If you had a Mr. Good in your life, I highly recommend seeking him/her out. The Internet has opened up a whole new world of opportunities to get reacquainted with our past. Use it. It's well worth the effort.