2025 Year in Review #1: ECW’s Most-Read Post of 2025
We’ve been counting down our Top Ten Most-Read Posts written in 2025. We’ve finally reached the top of the chart!
First, let’s recap our list so far:
#10: “Who Were the “Scalawags” & Why Were They Persecuted By The Klan?” by Patrick Young of The Reconstruction Era blog, May 24, 2025
#9: “Book Review: Un-Cancel Robert E. Lee: An Open Letter to the Trustees of Washington and Lee University” by Jonathan W. Peters, February 27, 2025
#8: “Enough with the Lion and the Fox: John Bell Hood at Franklin” by Joe Ricci, November 30, 2025
#7: “How Much Did Soldiers Think About Slavery?” by Evan Portman, April 16, 2025
#6: “Elvis and His ‘American Trilogy’” by Chris Mackowski, January 8, 2025
#5: “Gettysburg Off the Beaten Path: Chamberlain’s ‘Lost’ Company” by Evan Portman, March 3, 2025
#4: “A Word on Behalf of the National Park Service” by Chris Mackowski, March 4, 2025
#3: “Child-Bride of the Confederacy” to Civil War Fabricator” by Lucas Simmons, April 21, 2025
#2: “Research for a Novel Upended a Family Civil War Legend” by Glynn Young, January 29, 2025
Coming in at #1 as the most-read post written in 2025 was a piece that generated a lot of discussion and, surprisingly, a lot of controversy. As the National Park Service came under the microscope early in the year as one of several government agencies targeted by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, concern arose about the impact on the parks themselves, the conservation of the nation’s natural, cultural, and historical treasures, and the effect cuts might have on visitor services.
ECW’s Ryan Quint addressed the concerns on February 15, 2025: “America’s Best Idea Needs Your Help”—our most-read post written in 2025.
OMG, I missed #10, “Who were the Scalawags”? The Scalawags – or the Scales, as we insider fans referred to them – were one of my favorite American punk bands, out of Saskatchewan, New Mexico. All gone now. They did two fantastic singles on the indie No Talent label, then three of the members died from overdosing on Draino Extra Strength drain cleaner. The fourth is now the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury – what a way to wreck a fine career! Oh, for the good old days.
The budget for the National Parks will likely be under attack again next year. People need to contact their Congressional Representatives and Senators to head this off.