Symposium 2026 Spotlight: Neil Chatelain, The Mississippi River vs. Everyone

Welcome to our spotlight series, highlighting speakers and topics for our upcoming symposium. Over the coming weeks, we will continue previewing of our speaker’s for the 2026 Emerging Civil War Symposium. This week we feature Neil Chatelain:

Neil P. Chatelain is associate professor of history at Lone Star College-North Harris who specializes in researching naval activity of the U.S. Civil War

Having spent nine years in the US Navy, Neil deployed around the world, earning a surface warfare officer designation. He has also earned a MA in history from the University of Louisiana-Monroe, a MEd in history and social studies curriculum and instruction from the University of Houston, and a BA in history and political science from the University of New Orleans.

Neil authored the books Treasure and Empire in the Civil War: The Panama Route, the West and the Campaigns to Control America’s Mineral Wealth, Defending the Arteries of Rebellion: Confederate Naval Operations in the Mississippi River Valley, 1861-1865, and Fought Like Devils: The Confederate Gunboat McRae. He has also written for numerous peer-reviewed journals and popular magazines, and has spoken at history conferences, history organizations, and Civil War round tables.

A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Neil and his wife Brittany live in Humble, Texas. They enjoy travelling across the United States and around the world. More information about Neil’s research interests and publications can be found at his website: www.neilpchatelain.com.

A full listing of Neil’s Emerging Civil War articles can be found here.

Check out this post to learn more about Pat’s topic for this year’s Symposium!

For more information on the 2026 Emerging Civil War Symposium and to purchase tickets, click here.