The End-Papers: The Fight for the Old North State

The end-papers in The Fight for the Old North State feature a sprawling, detailed 1863 map of Plymouth N.C. drawn by Lt. Felix Vinay of the 85th New York - courtesy of North Carolina State Archives. Kudos to University Press of Kansas for producing a great looking book.

The end-papers

map detail

the book

Talk at Rocky Mount CWRT, April 25

The first stop on my book tour (of sorts) for The Fight for the Old North State will be at the Pender Civil War Roundtable in Rocky Mount, NC on Thursday, April 25.

Time: 7:00 p.m. (buffet dinner at 6:00 p.m.)
Place: Gardners at 1331 N. Wesleyan Boulevard, Rocky Mount, NC

I will be talking about the events covered in the new book - including the New Bern expedition, the battle of Plymouth, and other aspects of operations in North Carolina during the first months of 1864. Looking forward to it!

Author Q&A: The Fight for the Old North State

It has been great to work with University Press of Kansas on The Fight for the Old North State. Recently, the Press posted an author Q&A about the new release on their website. Here are the questions below. Check out the answers at the Press website:

1.What’s your elevator pitch for The Fight for the Old North State?
2.What led you to research and write about the late-war Confederate resurgence in the Old North State?
3. What were some of the challenging aspects of researching the book?
4. Your book offers a compelling account of Confederate efforts in early 1864 to turn the tide of the Civil War in eastern North Carolina. What would you list as the most important decision made by the rebel leaders in their efforts?
5. Robert E. Lee’s proposal to take eastern North Carolina triggered one of the last successful Confederate offensives. What was the impact of these operations on the culmination of the Civil War?
6. What is one thing you would like readers to take from your work?

New Book from Bradley and Maass -- North Carolina: A Military History

Mark Bradley, one of the deans of North Carolina Civil War history, was kind enough to read through a draft of The Fight for the Old North State and provide his insights and suggestions. A historian at the U.S. Army Center of Military History, Bradley's past books include a highly-acclaimed account of the Battle of Bentonville (Last Stand in the Carolinas, Savas), an excellent study on Reconstruction in N.C. (Bluecoats and Tarheels, Univ. Press of Ky.), and a thoughtful look the war's end in the state (This Astounding Close, UNC). 

Now, Bradley, along with USACMH colleague John R. Maass, has completed a sweeping new survey titled North Carolina: A Military History. Published by Westholme, the book is scheduled for a June release. I'm sure it will be a must buy for anyone interested in the history of the Old North State.

From the publisher:
"This fourth volume in Westholme’s State Military History Series, North Carolina: A Military History will provide readers with a comprehensive overview of North Carolina’s long and storied martial past, recounting wars from the colonial period to the present, and relating the heroism and sacrifices of its citizens and soldiers over the past four centuries. The book is illustrated with original maps and numerous photographs and line drawings, and includes recommendations for further reading."