Upcoming Speaking Schedule

Looking forward to more talks coming up.  Here is the current schedule: 

April 8, 2025 - Addressing Gettysburg Podcast

April 17, 2025 - Austin CWRT (virtual)

May 8, 2025 - Rocky Mountain CWRT

May 15, 2025 - Barringer CWRT

Nov. 6, 2025 - Pamplin Park CWRT

Nov. 20, 2025 - Gettysburg CWRT

May 6,  2026 - Brunswick CWRT

May 27, 2026 - Fredericksburg CWRT

Dec. 8, 2026 - Richmond CWRT

"CIVIL WAR TALKS" in Paperback from UVA Press

 

I was thrilled to hear recently that Civil War Talks: Further Reminiscences of George S. Bernard and His Fellow Veterans will be published soon in paperback from University Press of Virginia.  This was my first book project – and I was lucky to work with my co-editors John Selby and John Horn.  It is a source rich in little-known battle and campaign accounts and has been cited often since its initial publication in 2012.

The volume is a detailed, extensive collection of firsthand accounts covering the major military campaigns in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Most of these reminiscences have remained obscure and, until now, have been largely unknown. They appear in the form of speeches and letters gathered by Petersburg veteran George S. Bernard covering many battles and campaigns, including Seven Pines, Malvern Hill as well as the Maryland, Gettysburg, Overland, Petersburg, and Appomattox Campaigns. Bernard, a political ally of and personal lawyer for William Mahone, solicited several battle accounts from the former Confederate general, including descriptions of Seven Pines, Malvern Hill, Weldon Railroad, Burgess Mill, and the Appomattox Campaign.  

"The release of a second volume of heretofore unpublished primary sources by Bernard serves both a scholarly and a nonprofessional audience. This superbly edited collection will become an essential volume on Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia." - Peter S. Carmichael, Gettysburg College, author of The Last Generation: Young Virginians in Peace, War, and Reunion

 Contents

List of Maps
Preface
Introduction

1. Norfolk, 1861-1862: Petersburg’s Sons Go To War 1
“Reminiscences of Norfolk, May-June 1861,” by George S. Bernard
George S. Bernard War Narrative: June 14, 1861-May 8, 1862

2. The Richmond Campaign of 1862 -
“War Recollections: From Drewry’s Bluff to Seven Pines,” by George S. Bernard  
Statement of Alexander W. Archer  
Statement of John E. Crow  
Statement of George J. Rogers  
Statement of E. Leslie Spence  
Statement of William Mahone  
Statement of Thomas P. Pollard  
Statement of William E. Cameron  
Addenda: Statement of J. Willcox Brown  
Statement of Cullen A. Battle  
“From Seven Pines to Malvern Hill--Battles of French’s Farm, June 25, 1862, and Frazier’s Farm, June 30, 1862,” by George S. Bernard  
Statement of E. Leslie Spence  
“Malvern Hill: Graphic Pen Pictures of this Historic Battle,” by George S. Bernard  
Addenda: William Mahone’s Account of Malvern Hill  
Statement by Philip F. Brown  

3. The Maryland Campaign, 1862  
“Reminiscences of the Maryland Campaign of 1862,” by John T. Parham  

4. The Gettysburg Campaign and Afterward  
“The Gettysburg Campaign: The Narrative of a Private Soldier in the Confederate Army, Taken from His Diary and Note Book,” by George S. Bernard  
From Fredericksburg to the Valley of Virginia  
Down the Valley and across the Potomac into Maryland  
In Pennsylvania  
The Battle of Gettysburg  
The Retreat  
“The Gettysburg Campaign,” by William E. Cameron  
George S. Bernard War Narrative: July 1863 -February 1864  

5. Life in the Army  
“Life in the Army--The Private Soldier’s Spirit,” by James A. Walker  

6. The Overland Campaign  
“A Trooper’s Reminiscences: Wilderness to Yellow Tavern,” by B. B. Vaughan  
“Confederate Cavalry at Spotsylvania,” by George J. Hundley  
George S. Bernard War Diary: March 24, 1864 -June 13, 1864  

7. The Petersburg Campaign: Initial Battles  
“Battle of the 9th of June,” by Prof. Wm. N. Carr  
“The Defense of Petersburg,” by W. H. Hood  
George S. Bernard War Diary: June 14, 1864 -August 16, 1864  
“Tablet to the Heroes of the Crater,” Memorial Address (1911) by George S. Bernard  

8. The Battles for the Weldon Railroad  
“The Weldon Railroad Fight: Gen. Mahone’s Brilliant Move,” by George S. Bernard  
Statement of William Mahone  
Official Report of Gen. Gouverneur K. Warren  
Statement of David Weisiger  
Statement of Hugh R. Smith  
Statement of William C. Smith  
Statement of William H. Stewart  
Statement of V. D. Groner  
Statement of W. A. S. Taylor  
Statement of Griffin F. Edwards  
Statement of Thomas P. Pollard  
Statement of Sylvester J. Roberts  
Statement of Dr. W. V. White  
Addendum: Statement of Major Ro. R. Henry  

9. The Petersburg Campaign: August 27, 1864 -March 21, 1865, including the Battle of Burgess Mill  
George S. Bernard War Diary: August 27, 1864 -October 10, 1864  
“Fort Harrison: The Most Destructive Single Shot, September 29, 1864,” by Cornelius Tacitus Allen  
“War Recollections: A Celebrated Engagement,” by George S. Bernard  
Statement of John R. Turner  
Statement of William Mahone  
Statement of Thos. Emmet Richardson  
Statement of Thomas P. Pollard  
George S. Bernard War Diary: November 9, 1864 -March 21, 1864  

10. The Petersburg Campaign: Miscellaneous Accounts  

“Of the Siege of Petersburg: Some Interesting Recollections of an Officer of Bradford’s Battery,” by Lieut. P. C. Hoy  
Addendum: Statement of Jas. P. Jackson  
“The Confederate Scout, The Bold Expedition Recalled,” by William E. Cameron  
“Artillery Experiences at Petersburg and Elsewhere,” by Joseph W. Eggleston  
“Near the Enemy’s Lines: Life in Dinwiddie Co. in the Vicinity of the Opposing Armies during the Last Years of the War,” by Capt. Jno. C. Griffin  
Addendum: Statement of G. Adolphus Boisseau  

11. The Fall of Petersburg  
“A Deadly Assault: The Attack upon Fort Stedman on Friday, March 25, 1865, described by an Eye-Witness,” by J. Campbell Kemp  
“Battle of Fort Stedman: A Federal Soldiers Account,” by Milton A. Embick  
“Cockade City’s Surrender, Delivered to the Federals,” by J. P. Williamson  
Addendum: Statement of William E. Morrison  
“A War Reminiscence,” by C. W. Maynard  
“Interesting Facts Connected with the Occupation of the City by the Federals following the Evacuation in April, 1865,” by G. W. Camp  

12. The Appomattox Campaign  
Bernard’s Biographical Sketch of William Mahone  
“What I Saw and Heard during the Closing Days of the Army of Northern Virginia,” by General Wm. Mahone  
“Some Recollections of Service by One Who Claims to Have Been the Youngest Confederate Who Surrendered at Appomattox,” by Walter M. Jones  
Excerpts from George S. Bernard’s Diary, 1865-1866  

Current Speaking Schedule: 2024-2025

I've had a great time over the last year talking to groups about my latest book - Gettysburg's Southern Front. The best part is meeting other people who share an interest in history - especially those who are putting in the work to bring programming to their local roundtables. I also had the pleasure of conducting a small tour east of Richmond with the "Stamp Guys" from the Columbus Civil War Roundtable.  We visited key locations covered in my book - Richmond Must Fall.  

Looking forward to more talks coming up.  Here is the current schedule: 

June 10, 2024 - Rappahannock Valley CWRT, Fredericksburg, VA

Sept. 12, 2024 - Chattanooga CWRT

Oct 2, 2024 - CWRT of Wilmington, DE

Oct. 9, 2024 - Central Ohio CWRT

Nov. 12, 2024 - Charlottesville CWRT

Nov. 21, 2024 - Hampton Roads CWRT

Dec. 9, 2024 - Raleigh CWRT

Feb. 1, 2025 - Appomattox Free Civil War Seminar, Longwood Univ., Va.

Feb. 13, 2025 - Milwaukee CRWT

Feb. 14, 2025 - Chicago CWRT

March 10, 2025 - Fort Sumter CWRT, Charleston, SC

April 17, 2025 - Austin CWRT (virtual)

May 8, 2025 - Rocky Mountain CWRT

May 15, 2025 - Barringer CWRT

June 2, 2025 - Richmond Kiwanis

Nov. 6, 2025 - Pamplin Park CWRT

Nov. 20, 2025 - Gettysburg CWRT

Dec. 8, 2026 - Richmond CWRT

Upcoming Talks

Things were busy this year. I had the opportunity to give about a dozen talks and several online interviews.  It was fun to visit many interesting places but even better to meet all the great people at these various events.  Many of the CWRT's I visited are thriving - it was really great to see.  

But there is more to come. If you are around for any these upcoming events, please drop by and say hi!

Nov. 9, 2023 - Hanover Tavern, VA

March 23, 2024 - Pamplin Historical Park, Petersburg, VA

June 10, 2024 - Rappahannock Valley CWRT, Fredericksburg, VA

Sept. 12, 2024 - Chattanooga CWRT

Oct 2, 2024 - CWRT of Wilmington, DE

Oct. 9, 2024 - Columbus (OH) CWRT

Nov. 21, 2024 - Hampton Roads CWRT

Feb. 13, 2025 - Milwaukee CRWT

Feb. 14, 2025 - Chicago CWRT

March 10, 2025 - Fort Sumter CWRT, Charleston, SC

May 15, 2025 - Rufus Barringer CWRT

Nov. 20, 2025 - Gettysburg CWRT

Interview with Chris Mackowski at Emerging Civil War

Thanks so much to Chris Mackowski from Emerging Civil War for chatting with me about Gettysburg's Southern Front.  As a special bonus, I learned during the interview that the book had received the 2023 Emerging Civil War Book Award.  Check out the podcast or the video interview.