Even nearly a year later, I still miss him. I miss him, every time I do an update on my Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain Web site. When I would email him info on those updates, he’d usually write a short note to say he liked the new stuff. That meant a lot to me. I have to catch myself, when I want to email him, and remind myself that he’s gone. And it hurts.

I wish I could have been at Remembrance Day last year, when his Zouaves gathered at Little Round Top. I wish I could have heard Patrick Schroeder’s words–he’s become a good friend to me (he spent his childhood in my hometown of Utica, NY). He let me post the eulogy he gave at Brian’s memorial service at Manassas on my Web site. It just moves me to tears. And I’m sure what he said at Gettysburg in November didn’t leave a dry eye in the house…..

Anyway: let me end by saying “Thank You” for sharing your stories about Brian. He was a wonderful man. And I still miss him. Thanks.

You know well my feelings about Brian. My last E-mail to him contained questions re: the part he played in Styple’s work on General Regis de Trobriand. Bill’s characterization of Brian as a “19th Century man” would please Brian. And if ever there was a prototype for a “gentleman,” it was definitely Brian Caldwell Pohanka.

Mike Peters

“Gentleman” is certainly the correct word to describe him. Bill Styple likes to say that Brian was truly a 19th Century man. I think Bill’s got it just right.

Eric

Brian was definitely one of the most gracious people I have ever met, and you’ve just described another instance of that grace. I can only hope that when my time comes, I face it with the grace and courage with which Brian faced his.

Eric

As for Pottsville, the 48th Pennsylvania was raised in the area so I decided to check out the local historical society. Mike Cavanaugh donated almost all of his research material to the historical society that he used for his Crater book. I have to say it was not the most pleasant 2-day visit, but I found a great deal of primary and secondary material.

Glad you enjoyed it. To this day, I miss Brian. I had the following e-mail from old friend Tom Clemens, who reenacted with Brian, about yesterday:

Eric,
Indeed this was a special Remembrance Day, and it brought out a lot of “former” Zouaves, my brother and I included. Dusting off the old Zouave uniform, polishing brass, etc. I joined 37 other guys who marched today in Brian’s honor. It was a beautiful day, better weather than we usually have for late November, and the crowds were large. As we gathered on Little Round Top the members of the 5 NY were joined by Brian’s widow Cricket, his brother and sister-in-law, and many, many other friends and family. Two stalwart Zouaves, Pat Schroeder and Stan Magee gave speeches, and Pat read two letters written by Brian when he knew his days were numbered. In 1999 and 2003 he put away letters to be read at Remembrance Day after he was gone. To say that there were few dry eyes would be an understatement. It was a very moving ceremony, with lots of old friends embracing, and many prayers and mingled with the recollections and tears. Brian called on all of us to remember him by carrying on the things that were important to him. Of course these included honoring the Civil War soldiers and veterans, preserving battlefields, and patriotism. It was a day I will not forget, and will cherish as an example of the courasge with which Brian faced his own mortality. That, I think, was the greatest and unspoken remembrance.–
Tom Clemens
Keedysville, MD

Pottsville, eh? What the heck were you doing there? Pottsville is about 30 miles from where I grew up, and my father was a salesman. As a boy, I used to enjoy spending the day with him, and we spent many an afternoon in Pottsville.

Eric

Thanks for the post and your thoughts about Brian Pohanka. The last time I was in Gettysburg was this past July on my way to Pottsville to do research. I had a chance to walk a bit with no one around very early in the morning – as you say a rarity these days. That said, the thought of people commemorating a speech and the ideas of one of our more thoughtful presidents is comforting given that much of the rest of the year is spent obsessing about counterfactual scenarios and where Lee’s army lost the battle and subsequently, the war.