H. E. Howard Virginia Regimentals Series

Wed 23rd Jan 2008 at 11:59 pm

A useful project would be to compile all the rosters onto a cd.

I doubt that too many other authors will do this to keep them in print, but Jeffrey Weaver, one of the more prolific HEH series authors, is reprinting his volumes POD from Lulu. I bought “Bushwhacker’s Paradise” a while back because it was unobtainable otherwise. Print quality and illustrations are terrible, but probably little worse than the original editions.

Thu 24th Jan 2008 at 1:01 pm

Eric,

Thanks for the heads up, I will be sure to grab up the ones that have connections to actions in NC.

The series is a great source for a “snapshot” of the service records on individual Va Soldiers, which proved helpful in determining the Va losses during the Carolinas Campaign. I went a step further and cross referenced the rosters in the book against the individual Soldier’s CSR at the archives to make sure nothing was missing that could be considered “juicy information.”

The great thing is the Va Compiled Service Records are now online at http://www.footnote.com.

Wade

Sat 26th Jan 2008 at 7:32 pm

I received notice yesterday that Owens & Ramsey Booksellers (www.OwensandRamsey.com) in Richmond has a complete set available. This is the only complete set that I’ve seen available in a long time. I’d love to own them, but don’t currently have an answer to the inevitable “and where do you plan to put them?” question. 8^)

Sun 27th Jan 2008 at 2:11 am

Thanks the heads up, Drew. I didn’t know there was a new edition coming out.

Fri 14th Mar 2008 at 6:44 am

Hi Eric and “A reply to Sean & Drew”:

First, “Hi,” to my old friend Eric W. from a fellow Buckeye. Long time. First time at your website-blog, etc. Lots to read; wish I had hours to do so.:-)

Happened to be browsing, of course, and saw reference Harold E. Howard’s series and, also, to my book on the Battle of Cedar Creek ( Sean & Drew ), originally published by HEH in 1992.,.

First, HEH’s two series on Virginia regimentals and , also, Battles and Leaders of Virginia, was / is a unique and hugely vital endeavor.

I know some have criticized the quality of some of the works, but there were a number of mitigating factors involved in many of the efforts.

in brief, HEH left it up to each individual author as to “how much” to research / write re: the text, etc. Harold allowed me to publish my complete M.A. thesis text [ from which the first edition came ] with no editing down—something not all publishers offer their authors.

Many of the regimental authors’ chief goal was to simply get complete [as possible] rosters into print for the Virginia units in question [ a much-needed and, also, titanic effort]. The accompanying “historical narrative text was pretty much up to each author’s ability, desire, and leading toward detailed research and unit history to be described in the text.

In some cases authors opted to present a detailed account of the unit’s “life” through the “eyes” of its soldiers; this being as important as the roster in these cases. In other authors’ approaches, just getting the roster “right” and complete as possible was the main aim, the historical narrative being only a secondary factor.

As far as I know, though, Mr Howard left this decision
( narrative / roster detail ) up to each author with the least amount of editorial intrusion possible.

In all, I think the series ( and the vision for such ) was and is still a hugely inportant comtribution to the Civil War historiography for the Army of Northern Virginia. Many of the regimental histories are “the” only source available on that unit for general reading consumption or historical research.

Granted, the Battles and Leaders series has seen fewer real, substantive efforts, but some have proven to be quite exceptional. That Bob Krick, Gary Gallagher, Jeff Wert and others have placed their seal of approval on my Cedar Creek book is flattering to say the least, but Frank O’Reilly’s book on Prospect Hill-Fredericksburg, John Hennessey’s, First Manassas monograph, and Greg Eanes’, Wilson-Kautz Raid effort ( among others ) are first-rate campaign studies in their own right.

Simply put, there are a lot of fine books in HEH’s two series that deserve a much-wider audience.

I do not know why HEH has allowed many of the titles to go out-of-print, but I do realize how difficult it has been for Mr. Howard to manage and perpetuate this huge endeavor; no easy task I assure you. HEH has done its best, I believe, and has not only given many an autgor his / her “start” in writing in this field, but has more importantly achieved its initial main goal of setting in stone a permanent record of Virginia soldiery during the Civil War.

I, for one, am very grateful to Harold for giving my book its first printing.

On a side note for Drew and Sean ( and others interested in the 1864 Valley Campaign ), my book on Cedar Creek has been completely revised and expanded for re-release in the near future. It covers so much more than the original, which was, out of necessity, more focused from the Southern side of the battle.

As Drew pointed out ( I believe?), unless one is looking for the “collecting” value of the original HEH edition, there will be no comparison between that edition and the content of this revised/ expanded one
( much new davalry ops, mss. sources, detail etc. ). One thing I’m sure of is that price won’t be nearly as prohibitive as the O.P. edition!

And if I may, I’d like to simply thank all of you out there who continue to express interest in my Cedar Creek book. After all these years, it is both a very humbling yet motivating experience indeed. Thanks to your support, there will be more coming in the future.

Thanks, Eric, for sharing the space for this posting and my very best to you personally!

Ted Mahr
Dayton, Ohio

Tue 18th Nov 2008 at 10:32 pm

I am looking for any information out how to contact mr. howard he cited my Great x(4)grandfather of in the 34 Virginia or any one that would know about the 4th Virginia Artillery or latter became the 34th Virginia Inf. please fell free to post to other BBS or e-mail me @ rancarlton@aol.com

Sun 08th Mar 2009 at 5:05 pm

Looking for information on Capt. Henry D Dickerson of the 32 and 53 VA. I know from his records on 5 May 1862 he was not elected Capt. again. I would like to know what happen to him after that vote. I have found a Henry D Dickerson who joined the 18th VA Inf. just before the war ended but do not believe he was Capt Dickerson. I based this on Capt. Dickerson being able to sign his name to several different documents and pay vouchers and the Dickerson in the 18 made his mark. Can anyone help me with this gentleman would be appreciated, we are planning a family reunion at the Butterwood Church where he and his wife are buried.

Mon 16th Nov 2009 at 3:55 pm

I too had Mr. Howard as a History teacher. I am currently finishing a Bachellor’s Degree at Lynchburg College. We have his entire collection in our library. I think the reason that Mr. Howard has given up publishing is because he is getting up in age and because he does not have anyone to help him with his publishing endeavours. Like many others’ in this post, I have also noticed that his books are rapidly growing in price.

Tue 19th Jul 2011 at 11:58 am

I have your 1st and 2nd Stuart Horse Artillery book and it has been most helpful.

I have additional service information on a private (Addison Epperly from Confederate Pension Records) that extends beyond the NFI in your book. Do you update this series with added information? Would you want the additional information and its source? If so, I will be most happy to send it along.

Mason Epperly
403 South Main Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
hmepperly@att.net
678 938 4128