Paging Through

By Jack Melton · Originally published March 2016 · p. 2

I wish to express my sincere gratitude and thanks to Kay Jorgensen, Beth Godin, Linda Hoyt and bookkeeper Debra Upham for all of their years of dedication to Civil War News and making it the top Civil War newspaper. A special note of appreciation to both Kay and Beth for taking the additional time to help with the content and layout of this, our first issue. Their contribution has helped to make this transition so much easier. I would also like to thank the advertisers who have chosen to continue to support the Civil War News. Without them, there would be no paper. And finally, I would like to thank the retiring columnists Ron Coddington for his Faces of War and Matthew Borowick for his column, Round Table Review. We will continue our other regular columns such as Black Powder, White Smoke by Joe Bilby. Of course, we are delighted that Edward Bonekemper III and the book review contributors will continue to provide the same level of quality book reviews in each issue. I also want to thank all of the subscribers who were able to take the time to complete our reader survey. The response was far more than we expected. It took two full days to open, read and document each response. For those who are interested, the results of the survey are displayed on page 13. For the readers that pleaded to keep the Civil War News in the same format that it has been since it started as the Civil War Book Exchange 41 years ago, I can assure you that the Civil War News will continue as a newspaper, 11 times a year, only now in full color. We received many wonderful reader suggestions on new column ideas that we will be implementing over the course of the next few issues. You are very important to keeping Civil War News an ongoing periodical and with your suggestions and comments. We value your input and encourage you to stay in contact with us with new ideas, current topics of interest and upcoming events. While we will not be able to please all of the people all of the time, we will endeavor keep the news and reporting as unbiased, fair and balanced as it has been in the past. Originally, Kay and I discussed my idea for transitioning Civil War News to a glossy magazine called Civil War Battles and Commanders. The negative response to that idea was overwhelming. After a week of receiving mail and phone calls from many very unhappy subscribers, I contacted Kay to discuss the idea of keeping the Civil War News in its original newspaper format. We must have received no less than 50 responses from readers who wrote that they would allow their subscriptions to lapse if we transitioned into a magazine. We now can say, without any reservations, that the decision to keep Civil War News has been very well received. We are very proud and happy to have the opportunity to keep this fine publication running in its original format and to provide the readers with the same up to date news on the very topics that are so loved, the calendar of events, the book reviews and of course reenacting and living history coverage as well. Thank you again, for your dedication, participation and support.

—Pamplin Historical Park announces spring hours. Petersburg, Va. – Pamplin Historical Park and The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier will be open daily beginning Monday, February 29 and will resume regular operating hours from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Park is currently observing its winter weather schedule during which it is open to the public on Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Groups of ten or more may request a reservation for a personalized tour any day of the week.

—Brenda Waters Selected as New Superintendent of Stones River National Battlefield. ATLANTA – National Park Service Southeast Regional Director Stan Austin recently announced the selection of Brenda M. Waters as the new superintendent of Stones River National Battlefield in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Waters is currently the superintendent of the William Howard Taft National Historic Site in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the Midwest Region of the National Park Service. “We are pleased to welcome Brenda to the Southeast Region. She is a skilled and talented leader with an extensive knowledge of natural resources and strong appreciation for cultural resources,” Austin said. “Battlefields are places of tremendous historic importance but the value of their natural environs is often overlooked. Brenda’s background has well prepared her to lead in the preservation of both the historic and natural resources of Stones River National Battlefield.” “With the rich history, special resources, moving stories, and enormous potential for partnerships at the Stones River National Battlefield and National Cemetery, I am honored by this opportunity to help preserve and protect the park’s resources and to welcome all visitors to experience the park,” Waters said. “This is a wonderful time to be part of the National Park Service; I am excited to become part of the Murfreesboro community and to work with the park’s dedicated staff, partners, and friends who care for this special place.” Link To News Release - http://www.nps.gov/stri/learn/news/supt2016.htm