Antietam ranger John Hoptak has a fascinating post on his blog today suggesting that after the Battle of Antietam, George B. McClellan sent a note to Robert E. Lee suggesting that they declare an armistice and then march their combined armies into Washington, D. C. I’m not entirely sure that such a letter was ever sent-there is certainly no evidence of such a letter in the Official Records, but it certainly makes for a tantalizing and fascinating prospect. Read the post and see what you think.

I wonder what you Antietam and George B. McClellan students think of this…..

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I’m adding several new blogs to the blog. Okay, two are not so new, but they definitely deserve to be added.

Robert Grandchamp, graduate student and the authority on all things Rhode Island in the Civil War, has started a new blog on the 7th Rhode Island Infantry. It’s been added to the blogroll.

Next is my friend Scott Mingus’ York Cannonball blog, which, to be honest, should have been added long ago. Attribute it to laziness on my part. Scott has some really interesting material on the Civil War in York County, Pennsylvania. Scott was a big help to J.D. and me when we were writing Plenty of Blame to Go Around: Jeb Stuart’s Controversial Ride to Gettysburg…

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Since J. D. let the cat out of the bag by describing our next book on the Gettysburg Discussion Group today, I might as well announce it here.

We’ve decided to push back the Monocacy study a bit in order to complete our trilogy on the Gettysburg Campaign. As one reviewer of …

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As 2008 draws to a close, it’s appropriate to take a moment and ruminate over the year that’s ending. 2008 was a landmark year: the country elected its first African-American president as the economy spiraled into a tailspin. Real pain results from the economic collapse; millions are out of jobs and more will lose them. Terrorists turned Mumbai into a bloodbath. Islamofascists remain determined to harm Americans simply because we are not Muslims. Galveston was nearly wiped off the map by Hurricane Ike.

2009 can only be a better year.

So, to my readers, Susan, Nero, Aurora, and I wish each and every one of you a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2009. And I thank you for taking your precious …

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Fellow blogger and my co-author on the baseball project, Michael Aubrecht passed along this bit about an upcoming open house where the Wilderness Wal-Mart will be discussed:

Michael Aubrecht, local Fredericksburg area-resident and board member of the Civil War Life Foundation (www.civilwarlife.org), has offered up the following invitation to everyone concerned with the threat of a new Wal-Mart infringing on the hallowed grounds of The Wilderness Battlefield. It states: The Civil War Life Soldiers Museum in Spotsylvania County will be hosting an open house on the evening on January 7th from 7pm to 8:30pm to provide interested local citizens with information about this controversial project and our community’s opposition to it. There will be representatives on hand from the NCWL,

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I would remiss if I did not note–with sadness and regret–the passing of Al Gambone. From the December 24 edition of the Norristown Times Herald newspaper, here is Al’s obituary.

Albert Michael Gambone, age 69, passed away Monday, December 22, 2008 at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center.

Mr. Gambone was born September 29, 1939 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, a son of the late Frank Angelo Gambone and Jennie Asko Gambone.

Mr. Gambone was a U.S. Army veteran and a retired business owner.

He relocated from Connecticut to Myrtle Beach 13 years ago with his wife Nancy.

Mr. Gambone was a member of St. Andrew Catholic Church in Myrtle Beach and a longstanding member of the Lions Club in Connecticut.

His passion

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From today’s issue of the Washington Post. Thanks to Todd Berkoff for bringing this article to my attention:

History Buffs Rise Against Wal-Mart
Store Planned Near Civil War Battlefield in Va.
By Nick Miroff
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, December 27, 2008; B01

Like Civil War generals, the generals of modern commercial development are attracted to large open spaces along well-traveled roads, typically on the outskirts of a town or major population center. The former picked those sites for battlefields a century and a half ago; the latter like them today for big-box stores.

And once again, great armies are mustering on the Virginia Piedmont — historians and preservationists on one side, big retail and developers on the other

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This evening, I have posted a new article here on the site. The article deals with one of my favorite figures of the American Civil War, David Frakes Day, Medal of Honor winner, fearless scout, and scoundrel. I first discovered Day while researching and writing my book The Battle of Monroe’s Crossroads and the Civil War’s Last Campaign, and became fascinated by his story. This article was originally written for publication, but I’ve instead decided to post it here. Enjoy.

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My neck is slowly but surely getting better. I’ve had three treatments with the chiropractor and feel significantly better. I’m not 100% yet, but I’m getting there. I expect to start posting again regularly next week.

For now, I want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, happy Kwanzaa, and for those who celebrate it, Happy Festivus, the holiday for the rest of us. Let’s gather around the aluminum pole and air the grievances…..

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I apologize for being quiet this past week. It turns out that the lasting legacy of the whirlwind trip to Virginia last week was a badly pinched nerve in my neck as a result of that crappy bed and even worse pillow. I’ve been in a LOT of pain for most the week, although a visit to the chiropractor on Friday helped. It still hurts, and one of the things I’ve realized is that until it gets better (I’m going back to the chiropractor tomorrow), I need to limit my time on the computer.

I hope to be back to full speed later this week.

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