New Reenactor Publication question

[Matt Caldwell]

Folks,
With the overwhelming dissatisfaction of the Camp Chase Gazette and the Civil War Courier, if there were to be a new, full color, Civil War military AND civilian Reenactor publication devoted to the improvement of the hobby, what would you like to see in it? You are available to vote for more than one item.

Uniform studies?
Civilian clothing studies?
Unit studies?
Equipage studies?
Product reviews?
Event listings including EBUFU along with the others?
Reprints of period materials including items out of Godeys, Petersons, Etc.?


We would like to hear your opinions on this as it could soon be a reality and it can only be the best with input from the community which it will serve.

Thank you for your time and we look forward to your responses,

[55th VVI]

I would very much like to see a "how to" column in a publication. "How to" put together County Cloth Kit A, "How to" finish Bent Tart's open blank for B. I think it would be great, especially if the manufacturers gave the instructions. It would help those of us working on the projects, and show potential customers what they are in for if they buy the kit. It would also be nice to see all types of events listed, including the better mainstream events, for those of us who do a little bit of everything. Whatever the case we most definetly need a new "Voice of Reenacting". Sign me up as soon as the presses get rolling.

[Matt Caldwell]

Good stuff, just what we were looking for. Keep them coming please!

[hardeeflag]

Folks,
With the overwhelming dissatisfaction of the Camp Chase Gazette and the Civil War Courier, if there were to be a new, full color, Civil War military AND civilian Reenactor publication devoted to the improvement of the hobby, what would you like to see in it?

Uniform studies?
Civilian clothing studies?
Unit studies?
Equipage studies?
Product reviews?
Event listings including EBUFU along with the others?
Reprints of period materials including items out of Godeys, Petersons, Etc.?


We would like to hear your opinions on this as it could soon be a reality and it can only be the best with input from the community which it will serve.

Thank you for your time and we look forward to your responses,

What I think a lot of these publications lack are some historical articles regarding the cause and effect, purpose, and long term implications of events, units, people and battles during the war from a living historians perspective. Focus on equipment and arms are great, but I personally feel the focus on gear and uniforms only gets redundant. Unit biographical studies and contribution to an action are always nice as well. If these types of articles could be included in a publication and tied in with material culture studies and reproductions reviews, etc. would be nice blend. Keeping it on a scholarly level would add great credibility to a sorely needed publication. A section on preservation and living historian contribution to saving significant Civil War historical treasures would be a nice section also.

[Jefferson Guards]

I would also think that studies of images or image collections would be important. This includes both civilian and military. There is a lot of information that can be gleaned from images that can not be found elsewhere.

Also, articles on industries/trades/professions/life would be helpful for first person interpretation and for the general understanding of the period.

[MissMaggie]

Such a publication would greatly benefit from information from the first part of the 19th century in general. Politics, social events, international news, book publication information, entertainment, etc., et. Just any sort of information that someone living in 1861 would have been exposed to between 1835 when they were born and 1861 when the war started.

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo Kameraden und Kameradeninnen!

I voted for more than one, obviously.

However, to play Devil's Advocate here, I see this more as a Mental Exercise or Fantasy Wish pulication than a reality. ;-)

With my own Mental Picture, and where I, and others, perceive me to be on the Journey and the Path- my current needs and wants could be argued as putting me in such a tiny fraction of a per-cent of the Civil War Community as a whole- that any publication attmepting to meet my needs/wants as a reader/consumer is doomed to fail.
Meaning, IMHO, the unique and specialized needs and wants of the H/A Wing of the Community represent too small a market to be economically viable, let alone profitable for a publisher.

However, to further the discussion, at what point, at what "mix" of what "type" articles, DOES a magazine meet the needs of the potential reader base and market, and at what point does a "leaning" toward the H/A Wing stand to alienate and lose the larger majority of F/M/C/P readers/subscribers?
And, swinging the pendulum back, (IMHO, as with CGC) at what point does a "leaning" toward the F/M/C/P Wing stand to alienate and lose the larger majority of H/A Wing readers/subscribers?
And who has the wisdom and/or ability to serve and appeal to the entire F/M/C/P/ H/A Community? (OR should they??)

Curt-Heinrich Schmidt

[tenfed1861]

I'd personally like to see the "how to open a tin of caps"When I was opening my Navy Arms Friday,I was useing a knife and ended up stabbing my thumb,not to deep though.I'd like to see that article, :wink_smil
Cullen Smith

[BorderRuffian]

Sir,

It would seem that the idea would be more or less a printed version of this site,with departments that would convey instruction and information on an unprecedented scale.I think it a capital idea,and would certainly subscribe should the endeavor be published.I have learned plenty by just lurking here,so I know the "community" would benefit from such a publication.Feel free to leave out the "Camp Gossip" department though.If I want to read about rants,whining,flame war,etc. there are many forums I can visit that abound with such.Thankfully the site moderators here keep such distractions nipped in the bud!

Forrest Peterson
Landis Light Artillery

[hardeeflag]

An electronic format, say PDF, would greatly reduce the cost of publication. People can subscribe and recieve via-email.

[55th VVI]

I would have to agree with Forrest. The camp gossip colmun in CCG is the main reason, even during the short time they were improving, I did not subscribe.

Curt,
I think any magazine/periodical that is out there to encourage the growth and improvement of the reenacting community as a whole should recieve the support of everyone, especially the H/A wing. I always thought of H/A reenactors as striving to get all of reenacting to their level of authenticity. That being said, any magazine backed by the H/A's would show it to be a worth while publication.

Matt,
I also think a magazine that a portion of the proceeds go to preservation would be great (I know, this goes without saying). The problem I have noticed with many orginizations is that they donate to too many historic sites at one time. This spreads very little money even thinner. One focused effort seems like a better goal to me. I think any publication that may arise from this forum should pick one severely endangered site, and back that soley, or maybe pick one new historic site a year.

I know some may disagree, but, opinions are like belly buttons, and I too have an opinion and a belly button.

[BobSullivanPress]

Folks,
With the overwhelming dissatisfaction of the Camp Chase Gazette and the Civil War Courier, if there were to be a new, full color, Civil War military AND civilian Reenactor publication devoted to the improvement of the hobby, what would you like to see in it? You are available to vote for more than one item.
We would like to hear your opinions on this as it could soon be a reality and it can only be the best with input from the community which it will serve.

Thank you for your time and we look forward to your responses,

Uniform studies?
Civilian clothing studies?
Unit studies?
Equipage studies?
Yes, but I can only read about the uniqueness of stitch patterns of a pair of trowsers so often. ;) These things tend to get old for me after a while, but are always new for newbies.

Product reviews?
This is really an impossibility if there is also advertising in the magazine. Even though all may remain above board, the appearance of a conflict of interest (paid advertising = good reviews) will undermine any credibility of a product review.
Event listings including EBUFU along with the others?
Yes, yes, yes. And not just six campaigner events per year. List as many as possible.
Reprints of period materials including items out of Godeys, Petersons, Etc.? There needs to be some care taken here to prevent copyright violations.


I think there's a place in the hobby for this type of magazine. But so many people have tried to start them up, taken payment on a year's subscription, and then delivered 2 issues before folding the tents, that I'm skeptical of subscribing or advertising in a new magazine. Publishing a magazine is a full time occupation, not something that a few guys can do a few nights a week. Good luck.

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo Herr Terence!

"I think any magazine/periodical that is out there to encourage the growth and improvement of the reenacting community as a whole should recieve the support of everyone, especially the H/A wing.

I am not so sure that is the mission and goal of a publisher. ;-) Selling enough "product" to pay the bills and stay in business might come first. :-)

"I always thought of H/A reenactors as striving to get all of reenacting to their level of authenticity. That being said, any magazine backed by the H/A's would show it to be a worth while publication."

For me personally, no, not for years. One can only change onseself, not others in the end. ;-)
And, for me personally, it might be a "chicken and egg" kind of thing. Meaning, as a magazine would have to worthy first BEFORE I would/could/should back it.

Don't take this, or me, wrong here. I am just trying to draw out thought and discussion.
I would be the FIRST in line to subscribe to a life-time subscription to a magazine that met my needs and wants at whatever "wing," "section," or "level" I might be at or aspiring to reach.
From my burned-out, cynical, jaded, and much scarred perspective and experience- I make up too small of a fraction of 1% target market to interest any publisher in attempting to reach (and I have been reading CGC, on and off, since it was only mimeographed...) ;-) :-)

As always, others mileage may vary, and others' views and opinions are sought, encouraged, and welcomed...

Curt-Heinrich Schmidt
Pleasant Fantasy Mess

[BobSullivanPress]

Having read another's response, I feel I need to point out something else. It is quite possible that the web has been the main factor in the decline of these magazines, and not the so-called general dissatisfaction.

People are putting more and more information on the web. I believe that I personally have about 3 decent things on my website that if expanded would make great articles. Ten years ago, I probably would have typed these up and submitted them. Now, I just put them on the website. Amont other reasons, there's no rejection factor. Multiply me by 500 and you see many great sites out there for information. One that comes to mind is the 33rd Wisconsin site. Or when I want to learn about clothing, I dial up Chris Daley's site.

Perhaps the time for a niche magazine like the Camp Chase Gazette has passed us by, having been replaced by the web as surely as the horse was replaced by the automobile.

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo Herr Bob!

Indeed...

An excellent observation. (as well as a commentary on the Tyranny of Urgency).
And perhaps one mirroring former/current Civil War Roundtables and electronic/cyberland boards and fora as well?

Curt-Heinrich Schmidt
Who Once Himself Submitted an "Enfield De-Farb How To" To A Nameless Magazine To Have It Rejected Mess

[paulcalloway]

I thought the CCG was really making headway under the leadership of N. Hughes. The WatchDog has some good articles and some quality editors like our own M. Jaeger, but it's not a monthly periodical.

Now that N. Hughes has resigned, there's a void - and one that won't be entirely filled by the internet. I just dont think we're quite to that point yet. In many other hobbies, interests the print magazines seem to be still going strong.

I think there's still a market for the printed word because when it gets down to it, most of us still like to hold a book or a journal or a magazine in our hand and not read them online. I still print a lot of articles off even when they are on the net so I can read them in an armchair.

If there was a quality magazine to subscribe to, it'd have my support.

[20thMainerCampaigner]

Folks,
With the overwhelming dissatisfaction of the Camp Chase Gazette and the Civil War Courier, if there were to be a new, full color, Civil War military AND civilian Reenactor publication devoted to the improvement of the hobby, what would you like to see in it? You are available to vote for more than one item.

Uniform studies?
Civilian clothing studies?
Unit studies?
Equipage studies?
Product reviews?
Event listings including EBUFU along with the others?
Reprints of period materials including items out of Godeys, Petersons, Etc.?


We would like to hear your opinions on this as it could soon be a reality and it can only be the best with input from the community which it will serve.

Thank you for your time and we look forward to your responses,

Hey,

Definately Uniform and Equipage studies, and it wouldn't be complete without product reviews.

Courtney Micker

[PvtSchultz]

I think we are long overdue for a REAL publication devoted to the hobby. I long ago stopped reading Camp Chase and the others because they just didn't satisfy my needs. I consider myself more mainstrean than anything else, but would like to see something that could take care of the needs of the campaigners as well as people such as myself. Leave the Camp Chase to the farbs! As I get more and more into this hobby, I find myself looking to improve my appearance and thus my impression. I am not big into first person but see where it can be a boon to a particular event.

A publication as suggested by Matt would appeal to those mainstreamers who are looking to improve themselves and perhaps even try a campaigner event or two. It would also appeal to the campaigners, especially if the publication strives for authenticity and historical accuracy. Civilian and military aspects should be inlcuded. By doing all of that, I see it as a publication that unites us rather than divides us. Remember, a house divided will fail! Just my two cents worth.

Rich Schultz,

[modelf85]

I have to agree with terrence, I would like to see more how to articals like how to roll great coats, how to sew stuff, that kind of "how tos".

[billwatson]

1. What did our ancestors believe and why did they believe it? How did what they believed affect their level of participation in the war? Stories that explore letters to and from soldiers, and their postwar accounts, would open this up.

2. Who's the state-of-the-art living history group this (month, year, etc.)? Wny are they at the acme of what we do? How did they get there? Where are they going next? How do they define success? How do they know they've succeeded?

3. Analyses of successful events -- what goes into the EBUFU experience? What advice do those who put these on have for the rest of us (not, please note, what opinion does the writer have about the event, but comments coming straight from the horse's mouth, the people who put on the event, about what worked, what didn't, what they wished they hadn't done, what they'll do different next time, and why they do it at all....)

4. Advertising that is useful -- not "placeholder" ads reminding people to shop at blahblahblah at the next big carnival in a cornfield, but ads that solve the problem a great many people have about figuring out who has what. Good, strong advertising content is actually a draw for readership, but it needs to be selected as carefully as you will undoubtedly select news/essays etc.

5. Standing features -- preservation news. There are a lot of history-heavy reenactors who are interested in preserving history, both artifacts and historic places.

What I'd not like to see:
Sermons
Whines
Snipes
Self-serving prosyletizing from people who have confused their personal ambition with advancement of the hobby.
The words "ought to" and "should". Get rid of those words and most essays improve immediately.

What I would like to see:
Good examples of living history experiences.
Discussions of what the hell leadership looks like (the Messiah model is clearly not working).
Discussions and explanations of what good kit looks like and how it works in the field (Nicky Hughes was well along this route when the Camp Chase Gazette was purchased by the infidels).
Good, solid writing by people who always keep in front of them the realization that when this thing comes out, people are going to expect to be informed, entertained, amused and diverted, not bludgeoned.

[KyCavMajor]

I'd personally like to see the "how to open a tin of caps"When I was opening my Navy Arms Friday,I was useing a knife and ended up stabbing my thumb,not to deep though.I'd like to see that article, :wink_smil
Cullen Smith
Chuck em in a fire, opens it EVERY time....without blood loss,,,, well if you run fast enough far enough :)

[Iron Scout]

Honestly,

There is a large need even in the museum field for material culture studies that go beyond the basics. This cuts across military & civilian textiles to equipment. I know of several institutions that would jump at quarterly publications detailing schmatics, measurements and detailed analysis of articles in public and private hands. My two cents.

Neill Rose
PLHA

[Matt Caldwell]

"With my own Mental Picture, and where I, and others, perceive me to be on the Journey and the Path- my current needs and wants could be argued as putting me in such a tiny fraction of a per-cent of the Civil War Community as a whole- that any publication attmepting to meet my needs/wants as a reader/consumer is doomed to fail.
Meaning, IMHO, the unique and specialized needs and wants of the H/A Wing of the Community represent too small a market to be economically viable, let alone profitable for a publisher.

However, to further the discussion, at what point, at what "mix" of what "type" articles, DOES a magazine meet the needs of the potential reader base and market, and at what point does a "leaning" toward the H/A Wing stand to alienate and lose the larger majority of F/M/C/P readers/subscribers?
And, swinging the pendulum back, (IMHO, as with CGC) at what point does a "leaning" toward the F/M/C/P Wing stand to alienate and lose the larger majority of H/A Wing readers/subscribers?
And who has the wisdom and/or ability to serve and appeal to the entire F/M/C/P/ H/A Community? (OR should they??) "

Curt,
I have been in contact with the publisher of the proposed magazine for a few days now, and yes, he is not 501C3, however, his credentials of previously published magazines has been historically based and, get this, he knows about preservation (in other fields) )and is an activist. He believes that there is no market too small and after talking with him about it, he seemed very excited about the idea.

The editor of this publication, should enough interest prove itself, will be one of our own, an authentic reenactor, whose primary obligation is to distribute authentic information that is useful to all reenactors. I will not get into the meat of it, but if this does go through, the articles will be pro history, pro authentic, and pro reenacting. There will be no article that encourages the use of sleeping bags, air mattresses, or coolers. But you can rest assured that there will be articles written by the most well versed scholars in the community.

“.Feel free to leave out the "Camp Gossip" department though.If I want to read about rants,whining,flame war,etc.”

Forrest,
There was no, nor is there any plan to include such a section for this publication. This is to be an educational publication, and if people need their fix of drama, they can tune into Judge Judy weekdays at 5:00 PM.

“An electronic format, say PDF, would greatly reduce the cost of publication. People can subscribe and receive via-email.”

Rick,
This is a valid request, however, with what we have planned for it (100 pages, 60 in color and 40 B/W), it would be more beneficial in the long run to the subscribers, to have a hard copy in their back pocket. The plan is to have high quality pictures in color, of events, authentic uniforms, original uniforms, original civilian garments, original ladies items, and the what ever else that the community may request. In the age of web sites that go bye bye for no reason what-so-ever and with so many good articles, this will be, so we hope, research in the box that one can refer to. We think that this will be beneficial to both aspects of the hobby.

“Matt,
I also think a magazine that a portion of the proceeds go to preservation would be great (I know, this goes without saying). The problem I have noticed with many organizations is that they donate to too many historic sites at one time. This spreads very little money even thinner. One focused effort seems like a better goal to me. I think any publication that may arise from this forum should pick one severely endangered site, and back that solely, or maybe pick one new historic site a year.”

Terence,
This will be one of the key factors of this proposed new magazine. Yes the publisher is for profit, however, I will implore him will all my power to make a mild donation to a preservation group. I don’t think this will even be an issue. Even if it is a few dollars per subscription, that would be 20-$40,000 per year to a preservation group that would not have had it. Heck, those numbers are based off of the initial prospective number of subscribers and that number could easily climb to 3-4 times that. What did Camp Chase give?

To address your concern of too many sites: the donation, under my advisement, would be given to the CWPT directly, and they would be make the payments where they deemed fit.

“I think there's a place in the hobby for this type of magazine. But so many people have tried to start them up, taken payment on a year's subscription, and then delivered 2 issues before folding the tents, that I'm skeptical of subscribing or advertising in a new magazine. Publishing a magazine is a full time occupation, not something that a few guys can do a few nights a week. Good luck.”

Bob,
I agree that there is a place for this magazine in the hobby as a whole. Provided this takes off, I can 95% assure you that this will be more that a 1 year adventure. If we play our cards right and offer the information and things that the people are looking for, then we will be the new “Camp Chase” and given the light of things in the past few years, I certainly hope that this does happen. This is a well established publisher with strong ties in preservation in general. He has yet to make up his mind, but he seems like the perfect person that we would want behind our hobby’s endeavors.

“Civilian and military aspects should be included. By doing all of that, I see it as a publication that unites us rather than divides us. Remember, a house divided will fail! Just my two cents worth”

Rich,
My sentiments exactly. Too long has the authentic civilian community had to deal with being separated from the Military, in the sense of publication. Heck, all soldiers were civilians at one time before the war, and all “authentic” reenactors should know something about life outside the army.

“1. What did our ancestors believe and why did they believe it? How did what they believed affect their level of participation in the war? Stories that explore letters to and from soldiers, and their postwar accounts, would open this up.”

Bill,
This is a god question and we plan to deliver articles that delve into the deeper aspects of the life of the soldier, however, this may take many, many volumes to even touch upon, however, we will try. The rest of your points are valid and should work nicely into the publication. Preservation is one thing that I am working on hard with the publisher, and owner, of this. Keep in mind that the editor, not the owner, has been authorized 100% control of the content in this publication, and given that he his an authentic, this will be good for everyone.

“There is a large need even in the museum field for material culture studies that go beyond the basics. This cuts across military & civilian textiles to equipment. I know of several institutions that would jump at quarterly publications detailing schematics, measurements and detailed analysis of articles in public and private hands. My two cents.”

Neill,
This is one of our largest goals. We anticipate the study of, and this is still tentative that it is given the go ahead of, at-least one military garment, one civilian garment, and a reprint of an original pattern or text from a period source (Godeys, Petersons, Etc.) per issue.

This is it for now, but please keep the suggestions coming in as it will only benefit the community as a whole.

[OlszowyTM]

“Civilian and military aspects should be included. By doing all of that, I see it as a publication that unites us rather than divides us. Remember, a house divided will fail! Just my two cents worth”

Spot on!

My dream focus,to quote one of my Susan Hughes favorites, “Mental Baggage for the Average 19thC Person ”.

Mental baggage allows us to increase the depth of our impressions- how many of us could accurately describe our 19thC life from cradle to grave; acquire the necessary background to eliminate 21st century campfire discussions resulting from a lack of period topics knowledge; provide a basis in fact for realistic & appropriate civ-mil interaction; tap an enormous resource for “fresh perspectives” – ala’ Vicki Betts’, Mark Jaeger’s & the Trents’ work in regional publications.

Articles would absolutely need to be topic balanced (history, life skills, & artifact driven)—I suspect the majority of troops would not be wild about a steady diet of the finer points of underpinnings, while at the same time, I can only digest so many articles on internal environment of the haversack.

Clothing & equipment studies, are certainly important to the development of our knowledge concerning the “stuff” of our period, but IMHO, they receive a disproportionate share of attention, creating shallow, fashion of the month driven impressions.

From a business standpoint, creating a publication addressing topics of interest for both combatant & noncombatant, which is scholarly/intellectually focused, makes sense economically; resources are pooled, overhead is reduced and a “one-stop shop” evolves.

“Build it & they will come!”

[BullCalf]

I'd personally like to see the "how to open a tin of caps"When I was opening my Navy Arms Friday,I was useing a knife and ended up stabbing my thumb,not to deep though.I'd like to see that article, :wink_smil
Cullen Smith

I definitely concur!!!!!!!!!

[markj]

The publication put out by MOMCC (Midwest Open-air Museum Coordinating Council) might be of interest as you look into this project:

http://www.momcc.org/The%20Magazine.htm

I gave a talk at the MOMCC conference at few years ago discussing antebellum militia companies, particularly in the case of Indiana.

Regards,

Mark Jaeger

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo Herr Matt!

Thanks for taking the time to share that, as it obviously piques my interest... ;-)

From LONESOME DOVE:

Reporter: They say you are a man of vision.
Woodrow Call: Ya, helluva vision.

Curt-Heinrich Schmidt
Once Had A Helluva Vision Himself Mess

[hendrickms24]

All,
I would love to see an article on the DOs and Don'ts of living history events.
What information is the best to share with the visitor and the best way to set up displays!

[Beavis]

Why not have a column or section devoted to each subject? You could run one article in each. Of course, if the magazine gets too big you could always rotate subjects in and out as you go along during the year.
I hope you get it off the ground; I got tired of Camp Chase long ago.

[Vuhginyuh]

What would it take to get at least a bi-annual hardcopy version of the Authentic Campaigner? Maybe even a annual journal on the shelves? One that reflects the standards of the Forum and the Progressive & HC school of thought?

I am currently co-editing a field guide for begining archeaology students and now have some idea of the amount of work involved, the teamwork needed and the start up costs. We formed a N-P 501 (c) (3) and built from there up.

Our demographic range is narrow. I can see, however, a magazine or publication based on the ideals of this forum having a wider base.

Computers are handy and fast but nothing replaces a book in hand...

[coastaltrash]

Matt,
Could there be an article on the under representation of the joust at quality events, mainly on the proper placement of a tea pot for the comfort of the rider?

Seriously, Sounds great.

[verg]

Dear Friends,

I was intrigued by the data that the survey reports.

If we take the results at face value without attempting to skew it for other factors, it may reveal some interesting things about ourselves, the AC community (and by extension, the AC movement?).

As a group, we are very interested in Uniforms, Equippage and the events that are scheduled.

We are markedly less so in period materials, civilian clothing and least of all, unit studies. (There is almost a 34% difference in support of Uniform Studies versus Unit Studies)

Does this mean that many of us are more interested in what we wear than whom we are portraying? Has the knowledge of individual units diminished in importance as we have embraced the Regiment d'joure concept at many AC type events? (how many of us have lovingly assembled a closet full of clothes to answer the call for just about any unit under the sun :D )

Does this mean that some of us are more interested in what other people write about about uniform details or uniform reproduction reviews than looking at the reprints of original material and deciding for themselves?

After writing this, I am reminded of the opinion of a National Park Service historian who opinioned that we were "button fanatics" and not historians.
:rolleyes:

This is certanly not meant as an attack on any of us (I am as "guilty" as anyone else), but rather a point of discussion.

[billwatson]

It could be simply that the presence of those items on the survey made it easy to pick them.

I think also that underlying all of it is a desire for what I'll call "reliable information." I think it could be on any topic related to reenacting and if it was vetted -- if the content were checked, if the agendas of the authors were noted, if it was edited to be the most effective read, if there were caveats on the limits of the knowledge available on each essay, if the research were explored and explained, it would achieve that status of reliability. We see from the popularity of this forum that some kind of "vetting" of content is considered valuable by a great many people -- even if it's just curbing the trolls and banishing the hopelessly shallow.
I second Garrison Beal's concept of an occasional publication that makes use of the interest levels shown on this forum for its content decisions. Why must folks burden themselves with the concept of a regularly published monthly? What about "at least twice a year" instead? I could even envision an advertising rate based on how many copies of any given edition are sold in a six-month period after publication.

[55th VVI]

Personally, I feel the graph shows the trend. We, as a hobby, are getting more into the non-descriptive soldier. A lot of C/P/H units do not even have a designation, but rather a generic group name (ex: WIG, SGLHA, etc.) The units that do maintain a specific unit name find themselves wanting to attend events outside of their realm in time/place, hence making their clothing/equipment more and more generic. Personally for me, I love a well done speciallty impression (even though they are few and far between). To add to all this, my main area of interest is the clothing and uniforms. That is what I truely love to study. I find myself interested in different regimental histories if they had a unique, or interesting item of clothing. Don't get me wrong, I do reasearch the different histories, to a degree, but I am by no means well aquainted with them. Perhaps this is a short coming on my part, and I should work to improve it.

[LWhite64]

First of all dont get me wrong on this, but I am a Historian that works for the National Park Service and I love to study CS Uniforms, Equipage, and Battle Flags. I have always had a vivid imagination and when I talk to a tour about Bate's Brigade's attack over the stump covered Poe Field, I want to be able to imagine what that line of troops looked like and add that to more talk.

Lee

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo Kameraden!

"Does this mean that many of us are more interested in what we wear than whom we are portraying? Has the knowledge of individual units diminished in importance as we have embraced the Regiment d'joure concept at many AC type events?"

IMHO, not at all, and certainly not for myself.

It can be an Apples and Oranges thing, the difference(s) between being an
Historian and a Living Historian.

To be brief, and over-simplify, the "historian" is concerned with views and
opinions as to, not what happened, but rather what people convince(d) themselves must have happened. That gets "expressed" in the names and biographies of the Shakers and Movers, the Notables, the Generals, and the Politicians. That gets "expressed" in designations for Armies, Corps, Divisions, Brigades, and Regiments, etc., and who commanded what, and who was where at what time, and there at some other time. The gets expressed in red and blue blocks on maps, connected by movement arrows. And it all gets connected and understood by looking to did what, or did not do what, to accomplish something else like winning a battle, campaign, or war.

To be brief, and over-simplify, the "living historian" is concerned with the cosmic events in ordinary lives- less of the above, and more of the everyday, physical "material culture" world of uniforms, equipment, gear, foods, etc.; more of the ways and methods as to how those were used in daily life and how things were done; and down to the individual man (woman or child) in that uniform (or clothes) with his (her) family relationships, up-bringing, education, religion, occupation, speech, mannerisms, beliefs, politics, likes and dislikes, experiences , and physical appearance.

It is not so much about Sickles moving his Corps out of line at Gettysburg, at what time, to what place, and to what effect. It is about Private Joe Average's life and what it "was like" to be ordered forward that day, what he was doing before, what happened during, what he did after.

"Does this mean that some of us are more interested in what other people write about about uniform details or uniform reproduction reviews than looking at the reprints of original material and deciding for themselves?"

Not at all.

IMHO, I can "get closer" to understanding "life" for Private Joe Soldier in the 69th N.Y. (fill in the blank) at Gettysburg that day, that moment, and appreciating SOME few of the aspects of that life through Living History by focusing on the man, his material culture, and his life- than I ever could by knowing that at 3:00 P.M. the 10,000 or so men of III Corps moved forward.

Not that one is superior to the another, or one inferior to the other. They are but branches on the Tree of History.
One Global, if not Universal.
The other, the perhaps infinitesmal of what one man saw and experienced that day.

I went to college to get a degree and letters after my name to know and understand the History.
I went to be an authentic campaigner/hardcore/authentic to get inside of that man's clothes, mind, and life.

For me personally, the "degree" did not get me to where I wanted to go.

Just like "reading" of the Texas Brigade's advance on the Round Tops did not take me as far as making that march at Gettysburg in kit. Or Berdan Sharpshooters' retreat up Big Round Top through Devil's Kitchen in kit. OR dozens more. (Look at the work we did on the "Regiment d'joure" for Perryville, the 105th OVI, for example. So please do not sell the concept or the practice short.)

However, I could not have done the latter WITHOUT the former. "History" got me to Gettysburg (Perryville, etc., Fill in the blank). "Living History" got me to the man.

IMHO, knowing JUST generals, corps, movements, maps, and outcomes is not much of what the everyday life of the common Civil War soldier (or civilian) was about. "Historians" know far more than any CW soldier (civilian) ever did at the time and likely after, and FAR less about any CW soldier (or civilian) than the "Living Historian."
Apples and Oranges. Different branches on the Tree of CW History."

To those ends...

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of veteran memoirs, Post-War and Modern Era regimental histories, and campaign books (said by some that the most published segment of books is on CW history...) on individual units.

When it comes to books, periodicals, and references on material culture and its use in daily Period life- what we need to "get closer to the man" and his world comes down to a short shelf.

For a magazine, when I need/want "regimental histories, etc., etc.," I look toward several publications such as CIVIL WAR TIMES ILLUSTRATED.

For a magazine, when I need/want "detail" of a man's daily life, I look toward what publication again?

Sorry for the over-simplification, lads.

CHS

[tenthovi]

When I got into the Hobby CCG in 1991 was the premier publication. By about 1998, I dropped my subscription, because besides always running a month late, it was just not as imformative. When Nicky Hughes took over the publication, I renewed my subscription, and I was pretty impressed. A few days ago, I got the Aug. edition and I was highly disappointed with it.

I think there should be something in the hobby that focuses on what was more typical in the 19th Century Life. Such as clothing and construction of it, living conditions, mannerism of people in the 19th century, and etc. Material in a publication that can show you how to develop a 1st person impression. I think if Matt can get this publication going, I think the rewards will be great for all of us.

[LindaTrent]

Perhaps the time for a niche magazine like the Camp Chase Gazette has passed us by, having been replaced by the web as surely as the horse was replaced by the automobile.

Okay, there are still two and a half pages that I haven't read on this thread yet, so I may be repeating something someone else has already said, but...

I have also noticed that rather than submit articles to magazines I have gone to using the lists and forums. Magazines are still desired by many because they are something that can be held and read anywhere. And yes, I still get the Citizens' Companion and find it to be an excellent publication, with various topics on civilian life.

Numerous times a question has been raised on Szabo's or on e-lists that I'm on and I have sent links to posts on the AC forum where 10 of the top researchers on that particular topic have been discussing that very topic, all with various primary or excellent secondary sources, so the reader can get a more complete view of the facts. The problem with magazine articles is that the reader is limited to the amount of knowledge of that one author.

I don't know everything, and it's cool to come to the forums and ask a question or give my opinion on something and then see others post their research. Most of the time my own opinions are based upon the limitations of my resources, and when I see other's resources I have found one of three things to be correct. Either my resources were too few and therefore my conclusions were too inconclusive to make a stand. My conclusions based upon my research were correct. Or my conclusions based upon my research were correct, but that there was more than one way of doing something. :tounge_sm

Yes, I do read things off line, but when it comes to the hobby I much prefer the instantaneous one on one exchange that a magazine can't provide. And I probably would not subscribe to a CW publication (other than the CC).

Linda Trent
lindatrent@zoomnet.net