the Civil War Book Exchange, turns fift By Stephen Davis That’s right, we’re a halfhe year was 1974, the time century old. n… Civil War News was founded People Magazine hits the Kay and the late Pete Jorgensen, newsstands (Mia Farrow on who both grew up surrounded by its front cover) historic sites and had a lifel President Nixon resigns, passion for history. The couple facing impeachment over got married a year after they Watergate first met as Boston University “Happy Days” debuts on graduate students stu ABC journalism. Afterword, Kay Patty Hearst is kidnapped by worked in various journalism members of the Symbionese positions for five years. She was Liberation Army a daily newspaper reporter, an The Sting wins Best Picture English department instructor and at the Oscars newspaper advisor at a college Pepsi becomes the first U.S. and a summer weekly newspaper company to sell products in reporter. Pete held positions as Russia a weekly editor and corporate Hank Aaron breaks Babe publications director during this Ruth’s all-time home run time. Their goal was to purchase
record with his 715th and manage a newspaper. “Monty Python’s Flying 2016In 1969, the Jorgensens bought Circus”Advertising is first televised Rates on their&first publication, a subu Deadlines PBS Boston weekly newspaper, which Civil War News is born eventually expanded to become
a chain of six related titles. Te years later, they started The Artilleryman magazine because of Pete’s passion for artillery. 1986, they bought the Civil War Book Exchange from its founder, Mike Cavanaugh, after selling their weekly titles. April 1989 a current events “for people with an interest in the Civil War today,” by the Jorgensens, who had decided they actually missed the news industry and were considering the feasibility of a book review-only journal. We were founded in 1974 by Mike Cavanaugh of Bethlehem Pa. as the Civil War Book Exchange, an eight-pa typewritten newsletter. Since the
we have morphed into a fortypage (11"x15") compendium
of articles and photographs showcasing American’s second-
Recent issues demonstrate our variety, and our awareness that CWN readers include reenactors, relic collecto battlefield trampers, historic preservationists, bookworms, photography buffs, a enthusiasts of every other stripe A regular feature, occupying usually two pages with color photos, is Chris Mackowski’s “Emerging Civil War,” with notes on books and authors from the Savas Beatie series of the same name. Dr. Mackowski is ECW’s editor-in-chief, assisted by Sara Kay Bierle, managing editor. In a recent column, Sarah reflected on her weekend in Gettysburg where the film Gettysburg got a special 30th anniversary showing. Stars of the 1993 film were there, including my friend from New York Patrick Falci—who, as A.
taken by event participants and sent to us. For instance, when
film director Ron Maxwell and stars of Gettysburg got together at the town for the reunion, Leo Reed, of Gettysburg, was there t photograph the event. The film’s heroes Stephen Lang (Pickett) and Tom Berenger (Longstreet) look older, of course. But as Stevie Nicks sings, “I’m getting older too.” When the picture cam out in Atlanta, I proudly cadged the promotional poster for the film from a local theater, with catchy tagline, “SAME LAND. SAME GOD. DIFFERENT DREAMS.” Craig Barry, of Charlottesvil Va., is one of the country’s lea experts on Civil War arms, and graces us with his monthly “The Unfinished Fight.” His piece on the Enfield Short Rifle describe the weapon, how it was imported (thank you, Caleb Huse) and used. Craig’s article last Augus
on George Thomas mentions how, after the Virginian decided 24 – American Battlefield Trust
Northerners voiced suspicions a to his loyalty. Grant was criti
of Thomas’ penchant for careful battle preparation, and was abo to fire him when Thomas at last ordered his attack at Nashville that broke up Hood’s army. (No wonder his Virginia relatives disowned him.) Stephanie Hagiwara, resident of California, writes her month “Through the LENS” column, featuring wartime photos of scenes and soldiers whose image have been expertly colorized by David Richardson. Other regular contributions come from Tim Talbott, of Spotsylvania, Virgi updating us on the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust, of which he is Chief Administrativ Officer. CVBT helped save more than 400 acres of Fredericksbur battlefield land, reminding us that the fight to preserve hist acreage is far from over. A hobby, pastime or avocation (whatever it is that we do) is as young and vibrant as its
participants, and reenactor eve are routinely covered in CWN.
