So, What Next?

16 December 2007 by The General Published in: Civil War books and authors 6 comments

Having finished the retreat book–I sent the illustrations and some of the maps to Ted Savas on Thursday, and JD sent the rest out the same day–and having finished the Dahlgren book and found a home for it, I’m regularly being asked what next?

I thought I would take a moment to answer the question. First, and foremost, I have a couple of articles to finish up. We’re doing an article on Monterey Pass for next year’s Gettysburg edition of Blue and Gray magazine, and we’re also wrapping up an article on Lt. Col. Benjamin Franklin Carter of the 4th Texas Infantry, who was mortally wounded during the fighting for Little Round Top on July 2, 1863, and who then had quite an ordeal. That article will be submitted to Gettysburg Magazine. Finally, I need to finish the article on Capt. William H. Boyd of the 1st New York (Lincoln) Cavalry for Gettysburg Magazine that I started earlier this year and then set aside to finish up these other projects.

When those are done, which should be shortly, I then have a project under contract with Westholme Publishing for a tactical study of John Hunt Morgan’s great Indiana and Ohio raid of 1863. The research is pretty much done, but I have one more battlefield to visit. I’ve driven the entire Ohio route, and have walked the Buffington Island battlefield several times.

Finally, JD and I have our three-volume study of cavalry operations in the Gettysburg Campaign to assemble.

I’d have to say that that’s enough to keep me busy for a while…..

Scridb filter

Comments

james McCorry

Mon 17th Dec 2007 at 2:19 am
Glad to hear Dahlgren book will be published. How about finishing the General Buford biography? I know this was mentioned some time ago. it is really needed. i really enjoy your books.
Don Hallstrom

Mon 17th Dec 2007 at 10:03 am
Hello Eric

Ever thought of doing a book on a southern subject? Glad to see you have a full plate. I can’t get enough of good Civil War material. Collecting books is an illness

Not sure if you were aware, but University South Carolina Press has published a biography of Wade Hampton. The Universtiy of North Carolina Press is also publishing a biography in the spring. With the Cisco and Longacre book, that is number of biographies. Just curious if you had read any of the 3 that have been published and if so what you thought.

Best Regards and Happy Holidays
Don
The General

Mon 17th Dec 2007 at 10:24 am
Don,

Honestly, I find enough of interest in the Northern topics to keep me occupied. There’s certainly plenty of uncovered stuff out there.

As for the Hampton bios…

I read Cisco’s when it was in the manuscript phase and under consideration for publication. I recommended it for publication. Its coverage of Hampton’s post-war career is terrific.

Longacre’s book is well-written and better for his Civil War career.

I’ve not yet read the one that came out from South Carolina’s press this year. I just ordered it last week. I have no opinion on it. The fourth one, by Prof. Rod Andrew of Clemson University, should be good. I helped Rod with his research, gave him a bunch of material, and know it will be a well done book.

All these years, and Hampton got no attention. Then, four bios in like six years. What’s up with that?

Eric
Jim Schmidt

Mon 17th Dec 2007 at 5:08 pm
Eric,

So glad to hear that you have so much on your plate. One thing I learned when I first started writing for Civil War magazines a decade or so ago is that it is very much a “hurry up and wait” business as magazines (and book publishers) plan ahead, so it can be a year or more before you actually see your work in print.

Unfortunately, I’m not very good at “hurry up and wait,” but have found that a good cure is to “hurry up and get back to work” on another project.

Best Wishes for Continued Success,

Jim Schmidt
The General

Mon 17th Dec 2007 at 8:43 pm
Jim,

I’m not either, but it comes with the territory.

Eric
Darryl Smith

Wed 25th Mar 2009 at 12:06 pm
Looking forward to the Morgan’s Raid book.