Atlanta Round Table Honors Jeffry Wert
Originally published January 2024 · p. 12
ATLANTA, Ga.— At their November 12 meeting, the Atlanta Civil War Round Table’s members honored historian Jeffry D. Wert with the prestigious 2023 Richard Barksdale Harwell Award. This award is a significant recognition in the realm of Civil War history, presented annually for the best book on a Civil War subject published in the previous year. The highlight of the evening was Wert’s captivating presentation on the subject of his award-winning book, The Heart of Hell: The Soldiers’ Struggle for Spotsylvania’s Bloody Angle. This remarkable book delves into the harrowing events of May 12, 1864, when Spotsylvania Court House witnessed an intense daylong battle. What sets Wert’s work apart is his meticulous focus on the experiences and perspectives of the common soldiers, both
Federal and Confederate, who endured the relentless combat on that fateful day. Gary Barnes, a stalwart member of the Round Table and chairman of the Harwell Award Committee, expressed his admiration for Wert’s exceptional narrative. He noted, “This is a compelling story. Jeff’s fine book puts the reader in the midst of the action, and the soldiers who did the in American history. In addition fighting do the telling.” Indeed, to the monetary prize, recipients Wert’s ability to transport readers are presented with an engraved into the heart of the battlefield, plaque, a tangible reminder of vividly recounting the soldiers’ their significant contribution to experiences, is a testament to his the field of Civil War history. mastery of storytelling within the It’s worth noting that the context of military history. award itself is named in honor “The Harwell Award is a of Richard Barksdale Harwell, a coveted award for any Civil War distinguished figure in the fields historian, and I am grateful to of library science, bibliography, receive the honor for the second and history. His national time,” Wert said. recognition in these areas speaks Wert’s acceptance of the to the prestige of the award. Harwell Award is a momentous Furthermore, Harwell served as occasion, made even more the inaugural president of the remarkable by the fact that this Atlanta Civil War Round Table is his second time receiving the from 1949 to 1951, making his honor. In 2012, he was previously legacy deeply intertwined with bestowed with the Harwell the organization. Award for his outstanding work, The Atlanta Civil War Round A Glorious Army: Robert E. Table’s decision to honor Jeffry Lee’s Triumph 1862–1863. Such D. Wert with the 2023 Richard recognition underscores the Barksdale Harwell Award is a consistency and excellence of testament to Wert’s dedication to his contributions to Civil War preserving and sharing the history scholarship. of the Civil War. His exceptional The Richard Barksdale Harwell storytelling and commitment Award, established in 1989, to bringing the experiences of is more than just an accolade; common soldiers to life have it symbolizes the highest earned him this prestigious recognition a Civil War historian accolade for the second time. can achieve. The award includes The award not only recognizes a monetary prize, a tangible Wert’s individual achievement appreciation for the historian’s but also underscores the enduring dedication and commitment to importance of studying and preserving and sharing the history commemorating the Civil War in
