Oh what a feeling!
Friends, countrymen, lend me your ears... It is with much joy and thankfulness that I proudly announce the draft manuscript for "The Southern Cross: A Civil War Devotional" has been completed. After many-many-many months, even more days and nights, and thousands and thousands (and thousands) of words, I just capped off the final page, and sent it off to my proofer. Oh what a feeling!

I remember reading similar posts (like this) over on Eric Wittenberg's blog and thinking, "Man, I miss that." I have not published a book since 2005, and this is by far some of my best work. Plus, this piece is almost 4x's longer than my previous works, includes photos, and features a nice index of scripture verses. So... needless to say, I am fried. In fact, I have done NOTHING, but this for the last 8 days.

Anyway, I need a break (and a nap) so I will be taking off this week from typing anything, but will be back posting next week after some much needed R&R. I'll keep you posted on the status of this project, and it's publishing news, but for now... Good night and good luck...zzzzzzzzzz.

A lengthy post - on a lengthier article
I ask for your forgiveness, as I post this commentary in response to an essay that was posted over on the "Harper’s Magazine" website. The title of the article is “How the Christian right is reimagining U.S. history” by Jeff Sharlet, and it appears to be taking Christians to task for their Biblically influenced historical views and perspectives. I leave it up to you to read the entire piece, and judge it’s conclusions for yourself. And if you’re not into this subject, please feel free to scroll down for some lighter-material.

My interest in this article is solely found in the single-section that so eloquently “criticizes” those of us who sit in reverence and awe of the Christian character of Confederate General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, (a man and a subject that is both near and dear to my heart). Therefore, I am responding ONLY to this portion, and do not feel qualified to comment on any of the other sections - only to say that I believe the article to be a tad “stereotypical” in it’s portrayal of politically-active Christians. I also invite the author to feel free to respond to my post, and I will be more than happy to share his comments with you.

Please let me preface this by saying that I am not at all familiar with "Harper’s Magazine", nor am I familiar with the target-demographic of the publication. The ONLY reason that I am even aware of this piece is that it was referenced on a popular blog that specializes in the debate over controversial political issues as they are relevant to our times. Also, I would like to add that although I do not agree with much of this piece (as I feel that it paints all Christians with the same “dirty” brush), it does pose some intelligent points that even I cannot argue with.

For instance, unlike some of the Christian fundamentalists that are cited in this article, I, as an active-practicing protestant, cannot (and will not) aggressively force my religious views on anyone. Yes, as evangelicals, we are all called to spread the Good News of the Gospel, but we are not to willfully coerce non-believers in an effort to indoctrinate them into a religion that they do not ascribe to. Our job is to study the Word of God, live by example, and be ready for those who want to come to know Christ. We cannot “make” anyone believe anything. In other words, there is a distinct difference between professing one’s faith, and intimidating others to practice like-doctrine. And as much as I hate to admit it, you cannot legislate morality, or spirituality. That doesn’t work in America.

That said I would like to share my own insights on Mr. Sharlet’s presentation, specifically in regards to his portrayal of the good General. In fact, I would first like to PRAISE HIM for penning perhaps one of most clear and concise pieces that I have ever read in reference to “why I do what I do”. It appears that in an effort to criticize those of us who publicly celebrate the character of Thomas Jonathan Jackson, he has also provided us with a great “definition” from which to explain ourselves. Regardless if the writer "agrees" with us, he did an outstanding job in researching this topic, and communicating OUR perspectives. Well done Sir. Well done.

As a result, if someone asked me today why I choose to focus my creative energies on the role of religion in the Civil War, and the inspirational stories that can be gleaned from one of the darkest periods in our nation’s history, I may point them to this article (at least the part on Jackson). Here are some excerpts from this brilliantly written piece w/ a few of my own comments – added in for some flavor. After all, he’s writing about ME (whether he knows it or not).

SHARLET: In the pantheon of fundamentalist history, the man revered above all others is General “Stonewall” Jackson of the Confederacy, perhaps the most brilliant military commander in American history and certainly the most pious. “United States History for Christian Schools” devotes more space to Jackson, "Soldier of the Cross," and the revivals he led among his troops in the midst of the Civil War, than to either Robert E. Lee or Ulysses S. Grant; “Practical Home-schooling” magazine offers instructions for making Stonewall costumes out of gray sweat suits with which one can celebrate his birthday, a home-schooling "fun day." “The Vision Forum” catalogue offers for men a military biography and for the ladies a collection of Jackson's letters to his wife; both books extol his strategic and romantic achievements as corollaries to his unparalleled love of God.

ME: This is 100% true, and I am very thankful that my books are also included in this list of home-schooling resources. In fact, “Onward Christian Soldier: The Spiritual Journey of Stonewall” is now included in the school libraries of several Christian Academies. An adult curriculum (in the form of a Men’s Ministry Bible Study) has also been developed, and is available over on my website. Why do I mention this? BECAUSE Mr. Sharlet forgot to!

Also, the materials that he is referencing are primarily used by children who are already Christian and either enrolled in religious institutions or home-schooled. Regardless if you object to the “subject matter”, it is being used by parents and tutors who are NOT in the public school system – usually because they are devout believers – who have intentionally removed themselves from it. In other words, it makes total sense that a private, Christian-based curriculum would focus more on a pious commander like Thomas Jackson over others. Why is that difficult to understand? We are not talking about the secular classroom here. And why is this so objectionable?

SHARLET: Fundamentalists even celebrate the Confederate hero as an early civil rights visionary, dedicated to teaching slaves to read so that they could learn their Bible lessons. For fundamentalist admirers, that is enough; this fall saw the publication of “Stonewall Jackson: The Black Man's Friend”, by Richard G. Williams, a regular contributor to the conservative “Washington Times”. Jackson fought not to defend slavery, argues another biographer, but for religious freedom; he believed the North had usurped the moral jurisdiction of God. "The North seemed to be striving to alter basic American structures," writes James I. Robertson Jr. “Such activity flew in the face of God’s preordained notion of what America should be.”

ME: Once again, Jeff is right-on with his facts, but I fear that he too has fallen victim to the recent surge of “politically correct” progressive historians who refuse to believe that any of this is true. BTW: If I could get half of the press that my friend Richard gets, my books would be selling like hot-cakes. I’ve mentioned his work here before, and I even reviewed this title for “The Free Lance-Star” and “Civil War Interactive”. Richard’s book and it’s validation by Dr. Robertson, speak for themselves. Moving on…

SHARLET: Jackson's popularity with fundamentalists represents the triumph of the Christian history that Rousas John Rushdoony dreamed of when he discovered, during the early 1960s, the forgotten works of the theologian Robert Lewis Dabney, including “Life and Campaigns of Lieut.- Gen. Thomas J. Jackson (Stonewall Jackson)”. Dabney had served under Jackson, but, more important, he was a theologian in the tradition of John Calvin-that is, he believed deeply in a God who worked through chosen individuals-and he wrote the general's life in biblical terms. Rushdoony imagined the story as transcending its Confederate origins, and so helped make it a founding text of the nascent home-schooling movement. In 2003, “Vision Forum” sponsored a national essay contest and awarded first prize to a pretty, freckle-faced young woman named Amanda Freeborn for her essay, “How Stonewall Jackson Demonstrated a Biblical Vision of Manhood.” “There is a name,” writes Freeborn, “that casts upon the screen of our imaginations the image of the personification of godly manhood. That name is Stonewall Jackson. . . . His life was a testimony to the world of what God can do through a man consecrated to his purposes.”

ME: I am familiar with “Vision Forum’s” winning essay, and it is a magnificent piece of work, especially for one as young as Ms. Freeborn. The quote above is so perfect in my own interpretation of Jackson’s legacy that I wish I had penned it myself. In the essay, Freeborn (like me) goes on to admire Jackson’s reverence for authority and his commitment to prayer-in battle. She also presents “Stonewall’s” courage and tenacity, as well as the Old-Testament warrior’s ferocity on the battlefield. She closes with what life-lessons and inspirations can be gleaned from Jackson’s example. “Today," writes Freeborn, “Mr. Jackson's life stands as a witness to a new generation of what God can and desires to do in each of His children. Let us rise up and follow the shining example of this stern soldier, loving husband, devoted church officer, and Christ-like man.” I cannot think of a better way to exemplify what it means to be a Christian soldier.

SHARLET: Absent enemy fire, he did not know how to take a stand. He watched John Brown hang with his own eyes and marveled at the strength of the man's Christian conviction. And yet when his own time to fight came, he proved just as devoted. "Draw the sword," he told his students at the Virginia Military Institute, "and throw away the scabbard." In "All Things for Good: The Steadfast Fidelity of Stonewall Jackson", fundamentalist historian J. Steven Wilkins opens a chapter on Jackson's belief in the "black flag" of no quarter for the enemy with a quotation: "Shoot them all, I do not wish them to be brave." The only path to peace, he believed, was total war.

ME: War is unpleasant. Killing is unpleasant. Jackson was well aware of this, but as any military commander knows, the prime directive is victory – often at all costs. Jackson spoke fervently about the use of the bayonet and its psychological effects on the enemy. Passion however, could not hide his obvious distaste for war and regardless of victory; he remained committed to ending the conflict as soon as possible. Preaching a harsh philosophy of swift and total destruction, Thomas believed adamantly in the “Machiavellian Theories” of combat. Jackson explained to his officers that although war is a wretched thing, under the circumstances of tyranny and defense, it is justified. He added that in battle, one must not hesitate. He must set out to destroy the enemy. In the first conflict, one must strike with everything at his disposal and render his opponent defenseless. The first battle should always be fought with the intention of it being the last. No quarter must be given. To kill them all is to end all killing. He also explained that when this principle was applied effectively, their foe would be unable to fight on, due to extreme loss or fear. Ultimately, the more devastating the attack, the more lives (on both sides) would be saved in the end. He referred to this action as “the black flag” and reminded his officers that regardless of their orders, “Duty was theirs. Consequences were God’s.” This is not anything revolutionary in the annals of war. To critically judge Jackson in this regard is to be both unrealistic and ignorant of the harsh realities of combat.

This is sound, tactical strategy. Religion (IMO) has nothing to do with it. I still don’t understand why so many critics cite Jackson’s aggressiveness on the battlefield as a spiritual character flaw, and somehow believe that it negates all of his religious virtues. According to Mr. Sharlet’s logic, it is therefore impossible to be BOTH a Christian and a soldier? Does that mean that all participants, in all conflicts, are no longer righteous? The Bible is filled with wars, and in the Book of Romans it clearly states that “There is a time for peace and a time for war.” No one favors war as a solution – MOST OF ALL the men who have to fight it.

SHARLET: To put it in political terms, the contradictory legend of Stonewall Jackson-rebellion and reverence, rage and order-results in the synthesis of self-destructive patriotism embraced by contemporary fundamentalism.

ME: This is where Jeff loses me completely. The Christian legacy of Thomas Jackson is not what he refers to as “self-destructive patriotism embraced by contemporary fundamentalism.” This is simply the story of a man who suffered greatly, but chose to embrace the Will of his Savior as the foundation for a legendary life. Thomas Jackson was a true believer, who lived everyday for the glory of God. Yes, he was eccentric. Yes, he was a warrior. But he was also a compassionate man who loved his God, his country, his family and his men.

Why this subject continues to be fodder for debate I may never know. However, I do know that there is a huge audience out there who understands the life-lessons that can be learned by studying the spiritual lives of men like Thomas Jackson. It is an audience of intelligent, rational believers, who can distinguish the positive lessons of one’s life from the tragic realities that befell them as men. None of them are perfect, just as none of us are. Yet to criticize them, even to the point of rejecting them, is a travesty. And it is not like "we" are inventing a brand new lifestory for this gentleman. These recollections are based on fact. Now IF we were taking a "less-desirable" character and then creatively "painting" him as a saint, I would understand the concern. Yes Jeff, you are correct, "Stonewall" Jackson was a Bible-thumping Christian, who destroyed his enemies in battle.

You're a very good writer Mr. Sharlet, but I think that you missed the point. The irony is that your own words may make a better case for "our side" than my own. Jackson was everything that you said (and more.)

More to the Man
I hope to get a few more chapters drafted for my Southern Cross manuscript this week. I also wanted to share a couple posts before I disappear into my cyber-cave. In keeping with my recent pledge of “less of me” and “more for thee,” I have posted a vignette on the Reverend Beverly Tucker Lacy below, and I wanted to add this short tid-bit on one of my other favorite’s, J.E.B. Stuart.

I have another online chat coming up that deals specifically with the spiritual-side of the Southern Knight, and I wanted to share just a few of my insights with those who will not be attending the CWHC event:

“Now, I will be the first to acknowledge that there are some very good academic historians out there who don’t really credit religion as a primary factor in the life of James Ewell Brown Stuart. This is somewhat “understandable” as The Southern Knight was not as outwardly pious as his commanding officer General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson was. Still, I have found through my own research that spirituality did play a major role in the backbone of what made Stuart the man that we remember today. (Thus my subtitle for my book on the subject: “The Spiritual Legacy of J.E.B. Stuart.”)”

“Through the use of personal letters, and memoirs that were written by those who knew Stuart best, I tried to present a more intimate portrait of the General. I wanted to present the J.E.B. Stuart that his mother and his wife knew - and the J.E.B. Stuart that his close friends and subordinates knew. You see, more than just some outlandish cavalier, Stuart was first and foremost, a man of faith, a man of duty, and a man of devotion: devotion to his family, devotion to his country, and devotion to his men. This was the “brick and mortar” of his character and in my opinion, these admirable traits are what enabled him to rise to such legendary heights both on the battlefield and off.”

“Stuart was not without faults though - none of us are. He was also a prideful man, a stubborn man, and even conceited at times. By examining his lineage, upbringing, and pre-war experiences, you will see through the flashy red cloak, and flowing black-feathered hat, at the real man buried beneath that magnificent cinnamon beard. This is the story of J.E.B. Stuart the Christian – more than just the Cavalier.”

- Excerpts taken from “Christian Cavalier” by M. Aubrecht, Copyright 2007

My one-hour presentation follows, but I quoted the introduction here as a way of outlining the reasons why I choose to focus on this aspect of Stuart’s life. There’s more to this man’s legacy than glorious charges, and rides around the Union army. Much more. And like many of his contemporaries, I believe that we tend to get so caught up in their exploits on the battlefield, that we forget there was more to their character than just soldiering. After all, generals are people too.

Last week, I was reading the latest Sons of Confederate Veterans newsletter (Army of Northern Virginia), which featured a very nice article written by Chaplain Mark Evans on Stuart’s beliefs. He wrote, “The fearless, fun loving, General J.E.B. Stuart, Chief of Cavalry, Army of Northern Virginia, had a depth of spirituality that is often overlooked. Chaplain J. William Jones said: ‘Stuart was a humble and earnest Christian, who took Christ as his personal Savior, lived a stainless life, and died a triumphant death. He used to attend our Chaplains' Association when he could, take a deep interest in its proceedings, and manifested the liveliest concern for the spiritual welfare of his men.’"

He added, “Chaplain Jones gave this tribute: "And thus the dashing soldier quietly 'fell on sleep,' and left behind the record of a noble life, and a simple trust in Christ --- the prophecy of a blissful immortality, where charging squadrons and clashing sabers never disturb the 'rest that remaineth for the people of God.'"

- Excerpts taken from "SCV: Army of Northern Virginia" by Chaplain Mark Evans, Copyright 2007

Was Stuart “fanatical” in the pursuit of his faith like Jackson? Probably not. But did religion play a pivotal role in his journey toward greatness? Absolutely. Stuart was a cavalier, but more importantly he was a Christian. For more – much more on this subject, please keep an eye out for the dates and times for my chat at the CWHC. I’d love to “see” you there.

A Shepherd's Story
Today I would like to share a few thoughts on one of my favorite local characters from the War Between the States. He?s not a general, or even a soldier. He?s not a statesman, nor a political figure. He?s not even ?officially enlisted? in the conflict, yet his contributions during the war years continue to be celebrated to this very day. I am speaking of the Reverend Beverly Tucker Lacy, who is a major historical figure here in our town of Fredericksburg.

Surprisingly, I just did a Google search on ?Reverend Tucker Lacy? in hopes of finding a digital photograph to add to this post, and it seems that my stuff comes up as the third, fourth, eighth, and ninth links. Although this is nice for me, all of these pages have relatively short references to the man, and none of them are what I consider to be a detailed study. The first and second links are from our local National Park Service websites and are referencing Ellwood Manor and Jackson?s wounding at Chancellorsville. It appears there is a lack of material on the good Reverend (at least on the Internet). Perhaps I will do a study worthy of a front-page Google rating in the future.

In the meantime, here are some excerpts from an article that I did on Confederate Chaplains for Spotsylvania Presbyterian Church?s newsletter:

...Despite the lack of readily available clergymen in the early Confederate States Army, several of the South?s more pious commanders, including General Thomas ?Stonewall? Jackson, appointed personal ministers to their staff, and maintained daily prayer rituals whether in camp or on the march. Whenever possible, a strict schedule of morning and evening worship on the Sabbath, as well as Wednesday prayer meetings, was adhered to at all costs. One of our local Fredericksburg Presbyterian preachers, the Reverend Beverly Tucker Lacy, was appointed as the Staff Chaplain for Jackson, as well as his Second Corps. The minister routinely led the worship services for the entire camp, which were often attended by General Lee and his staff.

Reverend Lacy's energizing speeches quickly became a popular event for saved and unsaved soldiers alike, who attended his sermons by the thousands. Jackson recalled one particular event that summarized the success of their ministry. He wrote, "It was a noble sight to see there those, who led our armies to victory and upon whom the eyes of the nation are turned with admiration and gratitude, melted in tears at the story of the cross and the exhibition of the love of God to the repenting and return sinner."

As the war progressed, a movement referred to as "The Great Revival" took place in the South. Beginning in the fall of 1863, this event was in full progress throughout the Army of Northern Virginia. Before the revival was interrupted by General U.S. Grant's attack in May of 1864, approximately seven thousand soldiers (10 percent of Robert E. Lee's force) were reportedly converted. Many of these new believers came out of Stonewall's Corps, and ultimately, Lacy?s flock.

Unfortunately, the memory of the good Reverend?s contributions seems to be focused on just a few incidents of which he was a participant. According to an article written by Chaplain Russ Campbell for MilitaryHistoryOnline, ?Many historians first mention Rev. Lacy during the aftermath of the battle of Chancellorsville, for it was he who was present with General Jackson after Jackson's tragic wounding and subsequent fatal bout of pneumonia. It was he who took Jackson's amputated arm to his brother's farm in Ellwood for burial. It was he who carried to Jackson General Robert E. Lee's message: "?tell him I wrestled in prayer for him last night, as I never prayed, I believe, for myself." It was Rev. Lacy who baptized Jackson's daughter Julia April 23, 1863.?

Perhaps his biggest contribution to the Confederacy was still yet to come.

After Jackson's death, Rev. Lacy stayed on with the Second Corps as headquarters chaplain under Lieutenant Gen. Richard Ewell. The tidal wave of questions that asked God's reasons for taking Jackson rolled over the Corps leaving a state of doubt and depression in its wake. Rev. Lacy believed that God intended to emphasize Jackson's Christian and military virtues by taking him at the height of his career. He agreed with his peers that God desired to teach the South to trust in no man, but in God alone. He also added that perhaps God was disciplining Southerners for their sins (including the sin of idolizing Jackson); however, the South would in time regain divine favor.

This brutally honest form of self-examination during a time of great sadness, acted as both a comfort, and an inspiration to the troops, who were most likely feeling that they themselves had been forsaken. In recognizing their own fallen nature, as well as the mortality and imperfection of their leader, the Army of Northern Virginia, and more specifically the Stonewall Brigade, was made spiritually stronger, regardless if they ever recovered from the loss of Jackson.

Their resolve and the mental ability to continue fighting for ?The Cause? can be attributed in part, to the grace and wisdom of the Reverend Beverly Tucker Lacy, and of course the Divine Guidance that he received from above.

Excepts taken from ?Chaplains in the Confederacy? Published in the SPC Post, by M.Aubrecht, Copyright 2006

All Thumbs
First off, I want to give a big THUMBS-UP to you the reader. I just received my latest website and blog traffic statistics, and we are already up to 9,000+ hits for the month. Much of this significant increase (I suspect) is due to the article on Best Of CW Blogs that was written by the good folks at CWI for North & South magazine, as well as the generous links that we now have posted on other blogger’s pages. Thank you all!

Second, I want to give a huge THUMBS-DOWN to the people at Borders Bookstore. First, you cut your Civil War section in half (it appears) and then some genius comes in and rearranges everything on the shelves so that you could never find any specific title that you are looking for. In a month or so, you have gone from having one of the best Civil War sections that I have ever seen, to a hodge-podge of disorganized chaos, and far-less choices. Well done. I mean it’s not like Fredericksburg is a place that DESERVES a quality CW selection or anything!

The ONLY good thing to come out of my trip there yesterday was a heavily discounted copy of “Recollections and Letters of Robert E. Lee” that I found buried on the bargain table, and the time that I spent at the magazine rack, which brings me to my next topic.

A big THUMBS-UP to Eric Wittenberg & J.D. Petruzzi for their outstanding cover story in this month’s “Civil War Times” on J.E.B. Stuart’s ride to Gettysburg. I loved the book, and I loved the article. Well done guys. I am looking forward to reading more of your work in the magazine section (since there is nothing left over in the books!)

And another big THUMBS-UP to Harry Smeltzer from Bull Runnings, for his excellent piece on Civil War Blogging that appears in the latest issue of “America’s Civil War.” Harry showcased some of our “premier peers” like Brian Dirck, Brian Downey, Chris Fonvielle, Mannie Gentile, Mark Grimsley, Gerry Prokopowicz, and Dmitri Rotov. All of the participants had some great insights, and they also posed some pros and cons about the validity and credibility of what we are all doing here.

The article also pointed out some of the potential “flaws” in CW blogs such as their periodic tendency to become "thin" in content, and our own tendency as bloggers to treat the realm as a diary (in hope that someone will take an interest in our most mundane day-to-day thoughts.) This personalization (IMO) can be both a blessing and a curse, and I pledge to post “less of me” and “more for thee” in the coming weeks. I have some great new content over on my website too, and plan to incorporate more of it here on my blog. Stay tuned.

Another Lee worth mentioning today
Today is the retirement luncheon for Free Lance-Star editor and writer Lee Woolf. Lee is one of the most beloved contributors at our Fredericksburg newspaper, as well as other local publications including the Rappahannock Cooperative magazine. He has remained at the top of his game for over 30-years, and we have all been very blessed by both his talents and insights. Although I have not worked directly with Lee, I do write for his lovely wife Gwen. She is just about the coolest editor on the planet, and Lee has an equally stellar reputation with his peers. If you are not familiar with his work, I urge you to visit the Free Lance-Star’s website, and do a search through his archives. From sports, to history, and everything in between, he’s penned something worth reading on it.

We will all miss Lee’s work, but if anyone at the FLS has earned some R&R, it’s him. And he won’t be disappearing either. In his Farewell Column, Lee said that his retirement plans include “a bookstore job that should keep me from becoming a couch potato, some volunteer work with the National Park Service, perhaps some golf, and lots of reading and exercise.” I wouldn’t expect anything less, and I look forward to visiting him out at the battlefield bookstores.

Congrats Mr. Woolf. And we thank you.

Grandmas say the ?darnedest? things
I know that Dimitri and Mannie have both shared some really funny (and perplexing) quotes from discussions that they either overheard (or participated in) with people that don't know much about the Civil War. Here is my contribution from an actual conversation that I had with a very gracious (but confused) lady.

LADY: I hear that you wrote a book about Stonewall. He was such an inspiration.
ME: Yes ma’am. He was.

LADY: I mean to have your arm amputated and still volunteer to fight for your country.
ME: Um. Well…

LADY: That is brave and gutsy. A handicapped man who went to war. What a story!
ME: I’m afraid that he wasn’t “handicapped” at the start of the war ma’am.

LADY: [interrupting me] Oh I’m sorry, you’re right. He was “handi-capable.” My fault.
ME: Um... Yeah.

Worthy Book. Worthy Cause.
First off, Happy Lee-Jackson Day to all of my fellow Virginians and our brother and sisters abroad! Today we celebrate and acknowledge the birthdays of two of the finest men ever to grace our hallowed grounds here in the Old Dominion.

This morning, I finished formatting a special PDF booklet for the good people over at South River Books. The piece is entitled “LEE The Christian Hero.” Here is some information on this very special booklet, and the very worthy cause that it supports:

"South River Books, the publishing company of author Richard G. Williams, Jr., is pleased to announce the reprint of a rare and hard to find sermon. This sermon titled, Lee the Christian Hero, was delivered by the Reverend Randolph H. McKim at the Lee Memorial Church in Lexington, Virginia on January 20th, 1907, marking Lee's 100th birthday (January 19th, 1807). This new, limited reprint commemorates Lee's 200th birthday and is being released today - Lee-Jackson Day in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It will first be offered at the Lee-Jackson Day celebration in Lexington tomorrow. Additional copies will be made available only through 2007. This new reprint includes a biographical sketch of Reverend McKim written by Williams. The Reverend Dr. Randolph H. McKim was a Confederate Staff Officer, Episcopalian Minister, and author. The price of the 24 page booklet will be $10.00 with a portion of the proceeds going towards funds for restoring and maintaining the original organ at Lee Chapel."

Bleep-Bleep-Bleep
One of my favorite rituals of the week is reading the very witty commentary that is posted by the good folks over at Civil War Interactive on their This Week In Civil War Blogs page. All of us in the CW-Blog community have been blessed by the free PR that CWI has given us (online and in print). I would be willing to bet that most of us keep blogging because of these weekly updates. After all, the shame in not having anything new for CWI to review every Thursday is incentive enough for me to keep typing away. Today they posted a great one on me, and I wanted to address it here.

They wrote: “Mike has been working too hard lately to post a great deal to the Blog, but when you see what he's been occupied with it's hard to berate him for sloth. He wrote an entire script for an upcoming CWHC chat on "J.E.B. Stuart: Christian Cavalier," a "Meet The Generals" brochure design for Lee's Lieutenants, and completed research and compilation on the scripture sections for a forthcoming devotional book "The Southern Cross." We wonder if it speeds things up or slows things down to be working on a book with a religious focus, since presumably you are not allowed to curse while writing such a thing.”

The truth is that I probably curse just as much as all the other writers… AND that’s why I have to spend so much extra time at church. :)

Just read...
As I regularly review Civil War books for The Free Lance-Star, I don't get to do much "pleasure reading" nowadays. Don't get me wrong, it’s not that I don't enjoy reading these books; it's just that I rarely have time to read something "just because." This Christmas, I received several wonderful history books, and for the first time - in a long time - I have made free time in my schedule to read FOR FUN.

The title that I have selected is "Nathan Bedford Forrest: A Biography" by Jack Hurst. Now, I will be the first to admit that I hope to glean some insights from this title in regards to my own project on Forrest, but my overall intention is to simply read.

This is a very difficult process for me, and I imagine that many of my fellow writers and historians share the same dilemma. Simply stated, we forgot how to take pleasure in a book. We always have to be taking notes, or cross-referencing information, instead of just sitting back and enjoying that narrative.

I am hoping to break that mold myself (at least with this title) and I’ll let you know how it goes. I suspect I’ll get into Chapter 2 or 3, and revert back to my old self, but until then, I’ll be trying to recapture the joy of reading that I see in my children. They still know how to have fun, and maybe some of their youthful enthusiasm will rub off on their old man.