An introduction…

A small wooden bust of Abraham Lincoln was the flint which sparked my interest in the Civil War. At the age of 7, I was incapable of any deep thoughts about what Lincoln guided the country through, but I knew the Civil War and this fascinating man were interests I would hold for the rest of my life.

I hope by whatever I may write to show it is possible for a person to study both the military side of the war as well as the socio-political, and that it doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game. Not only is it possible, but I think it’s vital. Of course, one can maintain an interest in either avenue, but to study Fredericksburg or Chancellorsville without learning what was going on in the White House or Congress is like mashed potatoes without the gravy…satisfying, sure, but not as good as it could be.

My current focus is on Lincoln’s assassination and the capture of John Wilkes Booth. I was fortunate to participate in a documentary which aired in April on the National Geographic Channel titled “The Hunt For Lincoln’s Assassin”. My research on the life of Everton J. Conger, the government detective in charge of the manhunt, brought me to their attention. I am working on a biography of Conger, who in addition to having been there when Booth was captured, was a brave and highly respected cavalry officer during the war. Working on this book has forced me to rethink some of my own prejudices where the military and socio-political lines cross. In order to give his life the  attention it deserves I’m taking a crash course on strategy and tactics. It has been an eye-opening and valuable lesson. I can only hope that what I publish here will have some value as well.