Neil Chatelain: Thankful For . . .

When Emerging Civil War decided to spend some time spotlighting members of the Civil War community that have had a positive impact on our own journeys as historians, I immediately thought of one person who deserved just such distinction. Gary McQuarrie currently serves as the managing editor of Civil War Navy – The Magazine and has been a true friend and colleague who has greatly impacted my own growth as a naval historian.

It was in June 2018 that I first reached out to Gary. He had not been with the magazine long, helping to redesign its interior and style only the year before. With that first email, I pitched an article focusing on Lt. Col. William S. Lovell and his role as a naval expert on the Mississippi River for possible publication in Civil War Navy – The Magazine. I had a reply within minutes asking some follow up questions and encouraging my work. The article was ultimately accepted and published in early 2019.

I was still a relatively young historian at the time. I had only just graduated with my masters in history from the University of Louisiana – Monroe. My first book, Fought Like Devils, was out by then, but my second, Defending the Arteries of Rebellion, was still a year and a half away when that article was published. For me, Gary accepting that article was a major accomplishment that made me feel like a true professional historian. Seeing your name printed in a magazine alongside others that you know have greatly contributed to the field is quite the humbling experience. In fact, Gary publishing that article in part helped me work up the courage to pitch my idea for Defending the Arteries of Rebellion to Ted Savas.

Over the next five and a half years, our relationship has grown. Since then, I have written numerous articles for Civil War Navy. When the Covid lockdowns hit, the two of us tag teamed adding naval history resources to the magazine’s website. We also wrote summaries of different naval stations for both the United States and Confederacy, and I spent a year hosting recurring online articles spotlighting Civil War era naval primary sources. Gary very quickly began pinging me for ideas and seeking me out with research questions, fact checking, and context. We exchange emails probably once or twice a week at this point and I have a much greater understanding of the publishing side of the Civil War community as a result.

Thanks to Gary’s encouragement, editing skills, and insight, my own skills as a historian have improved. He has challenged me to write about topics I was not as familiar with, encouraged me to try different styles of writing, and helped me see that my own research skills were improving with each project. He has also offered keen feedback, both for articles that have appeared in his magazine, as well as for my books Defending the Arteries of Rebellion and the forthcoming Treasure and Empire in the Civil War. I know he encourages other scholars to do the same, both through his skills as a great editor and through his management of Civil War Navy – The Magazine’s website and its host of resources to make researching naval history of the Civil War era more streamlined. He often asks me to double check his own thoughts now, and I have a true appreciation for the work he does to keep that magazine going at the quality it is known for.

Recently, Gary told me he considered Emerging Civil War “at the vanguard of CW scholarship.” I am honored to also consider his own work as managing editor of Civil War Navy – The Magazine to be at the forefront of scholarship related to naval elements of the conflict. Just like he gave me a chance, Gary always looks for fresh ideas, untold stories, and emerging voices to partner with the more well-known experts in the field. Without Gary McQuarrie’s guidance, encouragement, and mentorship, I would not be the historian I am today.

Gary, thanks for your mentorship, leadership, and perseverance with helping me grow, helping others in the community develop, and in helping expand and continue the excellent work of Civil War Navy – The Magazine.