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.