Author Archives: stephendavis

The Ballad of Black Bess

Posted on April 24, 2019 by stephendavis

[Editor’s Note: With all that’s happening about Confederate monuments these days, it’s all right to remember a time when monuments to Confederate heroes became a source of humor.] Robert E. Lee had Traveller and Stonewall Jackson his Little Sorrel. Bedford … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil War in Pop Culture, Memory, Monuments | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

In the Critic’s Corner: Scholarly Interest in Confederate Nationalism

Posted on March 21, 2019 by stephendavis

As part of our series with Civil War News, ECW is pleased to spotlight the work of our very own Steve Davis, a regular (and voluminous) contributor to the paper. Steve also gave us a peek at his work back in April … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Authors, Emerging Civil War, Memory | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Twain, the War and Life on the Mississippi

Posted on January 4, 2019 by stephendavis

For Civil War News I recently wrote a piece on how Ulysses S. Grant managed to finish his Personal Memoirs just before his death in 1885. My article proved so long that CWN Publisher Jack Melton split it for two … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Authors, Civil War in Pop Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Civil War News‘s November Annual “Book Issue”

Posted on November 8, 2018 by stephendavis

I happen to be Book Review Editor for Civil War News, the nation’s monthly newspaper for enthusiasts. For our November issue I helped CWN Publisher Jack Melton plan some nifty features for the issue. 

Posted in Books & Authors | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Congressman Wheeler Speaks in the House on Causes of the War

Posted on April 30, 2018 by stephendavis

Jack Melton, publisher of Civil War News, often talks with me about little-known sources and items in Civil War history. Recently he pointed me to one such: a speech by Joseph Wheeler, later Confederate major general, then U. S. Representative … Continue reading →

Posted in Antebellum South, Newspapers, Politics, Reconstruction, Slavery | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

A Peek into the “Critic’s Corner” in Civil War News

Posted on April 10, 2018 by stephendavis

SHAG-A-DOO-LA. Those of us who write about the Civil War for fun (rarely for profit) get our ideas from any number of sources. One never knows when or how some inspiration will occur. Driving to the store recently, I heard … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Authors, Emerging Civil War, Newspapers | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

A Presidential Review That Didn’t Go Very Well

Posted on January 18, 2018 by stephendavis

ECWer Stephen Davis of Cumming, Georgia, is finishing up his book on the generalship of John B. Hood, which will be published later this year by Savas Beatie. From it Steve draws the following story: During the war President Jefferson … Continue reading →

Posted in Armies, Leadership--Confederate, Western Theater | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Did You Hear It?

Posted on January 15, 2018 by stephendavis

Today (Monday, January 15) on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” program, I heard Princeton professor Eddie Glaude Jr. comment on “a culture war Donald Trump is waging as if he was Sherman marching through the South.” Here In Georgia, we have heard … Continue reading →

Posted in Emerging Civil War, Memory, Ties to the War | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

Harry Turtledove, Nathan Bedford Forrest, and the Beatles

Posted on December 11, 2017 by stephendavis

You’ve got Turtledove’s Fort Pillow (2006)? Turn to page 140, and a Tennessee cavalryman cries, “Get back, Jojo!” …which has led me over these years to wonder if the esteemed author sprinkles a Beatles lyrics line into his other novels—alternative fiction, science … Continue reading →

Posted in Battles, Books & Authors, Civil War in Pop Culture, USCT | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

The Civil War Monitor Almanac

Posted on December 4, 2017 by stephendavis

[Editor’s Note: Our current discussion on “turning points” reminded Steve Davis of something that caught his eye in the recent Civil War Monitor Almanac….] “We hope that what follows will give our readers something substantial to ponder,” editor Terry Johnston … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Authors, Civil War in Pop Culture | Tagged , , | 2 Comments