Vol. 48, No. 10
America’s Monthly Newspaper For Civil War Enthusiasts
$3.50
48 Pages, October 2022
Savas Beatie Authors/Readers Gather at Gettysburg
by Leon Reed Special to Civil War News For the second straight year, Savas Beatie authors and readers met in Gettysburg for three days of battlefield tours, booktalks, and conversation. This is an important event for the company to sponsor, said Savas Beatie director Ted Savas. “Before I was a publisher, I loved meeting and speaking with my favorite authors and having them sign my books. It was important to me, and it stayed with me.” Savas continued, “once I entered the publishing world, I vowed to make sure my customers could have the same experience as often as possible. A hobby is more fun and rewarding when you share it with others of like mind.” This year, though, the gettogether was a two-battlefield, two-state affair, with four tours of Antietam on Friday and five of Gettysburg spread out over Saturday and Sunday mornings. Stalwart battlefield explorers agreed that the temperatures, while warm, didn’t match the “keep an ambulance on standby” temperatures at the same event last year. Walks at Antietam included: ✦ Brad Gottfried, “Robert Rodes's Brigade Takes on French's Division” ✦ Tom Clemens, “The Overlooked Advance, Semmes’s Brigade at Antietam” ✦ Chris Bryan, “Melted Down Their Ranks Like Wax: George Sears Greene's Defense of the Dunker Church Plateau and Assault into the West Woods” ✦ Steve Stotelmyer, “Miller's Clover Field – Another Perspective on the Morning Maelstrom Surrounding the Cornfield at Antietam” The Saturday program at Gettysburg started with three more field presentations.
Savas Beatie authors and staff (L-R): Bradley Gottfried, Sarah Closson, Alex Rossino, Leon Reed, Gerry Christianson, Harold Knudsen, John Michael Priest (front), Pat Brennan (rear), Ted Savas, Dave Powell, Ron Kirkwood, Mike Harris, and Charlie Knight. ✤ Charlie Knight, “I Will be Found in the Advance: Gen. Lee's Ride from Culpeper to Gettysburg” ✤ Mike Harris, “Bigelow's Battery and the 2nd Day at Gettysburg” ✤ Scott Mingus, “The Louisiana Tigers Attack on East Cemetery Hill” After lunch, authors and readers reconvened at the Gettysburg Heritage Center. Alex Rossino spoke on “Lee's Army in Maryland: A New Perspective on the September 1862 Campaign,” and Ron Kirkwood addressed “Too Much for Human Endurance:” The George Spangler Farm Hospitals and the Battle of Gettysburg. The day’s last event was a panel discussion moderated by Ted Savas. Brad Gottfried, David Powell, Harold Knudsen, Mike Harris, and Alexander Rossino participated. As always, Ted
18– American Battlefield Trust 38 – Book Reviews 36 – Central Virginia Battlefield Trust
28 – Critic’s Corner 30 – Emerging Civil War 12 – ECW Spotlight
threw it open to questions from the audience, saying, “This is your chance; ask anything.” The three panel discussions held in the past two years have provided an interesting study in changing moods. In 2021, the first day’s panel, with both Eric Wittenberg and James Hessler as participants, became a detailed tactical talk on cavalry operations and the Peach Orchard, while the second panel explored the ins and outs of the publishing and editing business. The panel continued the pattern of exploring a single topic in detail. This year, the topic of concern was the research and writing process: how do you know you have “enough” and can start writing; what lessons did you learn writing your earlier books that helped with later books, etc. Perhaps the foremost points of agreement were the appreciation the authors gained over the course of several books about the importance of good
writing, including issues such as passive voice, flow, and brevity; the extent to which Savas Beatie’s editing improved their work; and the importance of getting the text reviewed by as many people as possible. Following bagels and coffee (provided by SB author Gerry Christianson) and conversation on the grounds of the Seminary Ridge Museum early Sunday morning, author Dave Powell led the group about 100 yards west of the ridge to enjoy a seldom-seen view of McPherson Ridge from the east and a talk about Perrin’s Brigade on the battle’s first day. Then the group returned to Seminary Ridge, walked north almost to the Chambersburg Pike, and enjoyed a discussion by Gettysburg in Color author Patrick Brennan. He pointed to the spot where he concluded the “Harvest of Death” photos were taken (in the valley between McPherson Ridge and Seminary Ridge, just
45 – Events 34 – The Graphic War 26 – The Source
south of Chambersburg Pike). He described the process he and his daughter Dylan and several colleagues used to identify the sites where they believe the photos were taken. The realization that more than a dozen of the soldiers in the photo were Confederates (revealed when AI colorized the image) was their key to their discovery. Many attendees remarked about the collegial spirit. During the breaks, authors were seen talking intently with guests. Ted Savas considers that mingling to be a primary source of his company’s competitive advantage: “Civil War readers comprise a comparatively small but deeply engaged community that likes to read good books and debate— vigorously. Getting together with 100 of your customer-family members, touring the hallowed
H Authors
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20 – Through the Lens 22 – This And That 14 – The Unfinished Fight