The 42nd Virginia Infantry Regiment is proud to count among its members and friends several nationally recognized experts on life in the mid-19th century as well as reenactors from other units, historians, and writers. From time to time, we will be sharing articles and essays contributed by these knowledgeable folks that we hope will be of interest to the serious reenactor, the historian, or the just plain curious.

This Month's Selection

Jim Fletcher

A True Southerner. . . [08-06-02] Longtime 42nd member Jim Fletcher passes on a collection of criteria for recognizing "a true Southerner." If you don't see yourself in at least one or two of these, you may be a closet Yankee and just not know it yet!

Past Offerings

• Confederate Battle Flag [04-10-02]

  Orlando Sentinel columnist Charley Reese takes a candid look at the NAACP's attempt to punish South Carolina for removing the Confederate battle flag from the dome of the State Capitol.

• Mississippi Knew Its Flag Wasn't A Race Issue [04-25-01]

  "The vote in Mississippi to retain the 104-year-old state flag, which includes the Confederate battle flag as part of its design, is being depicted in the news media as a racial issue. It isn't." Charley Reese, a columnist for The Orlando Sentinel, tells us why.

• If Y'all Don't Like Dixie, Delta Is Ready [12-12-00]

  The late Atlanta-based humorist Lewis Grizzard -- who did for the South what Garrison Keillor did for Minnesota -- weighs in with his views on the Confederate flag and what it means to be a Southerner at the dawning of the New Millennium.

• Compelled to Appear in Print: The Vicksburg Manuscript of General John C. Pemberton
  A review by by Ed Frank [3-7-00]

  Ed is the Curator of Special Collections for the University of Memphis Libraries and president of the West Tennessee Historical Society, Inc.

• Craig's Civil War Glossary by Joel Craig [11-17-99]

  Joel Craig, a reenactor with the 5th New York Infantry and Webmaster of Joel Craig's Bivouac, explains the true meaning of the various terms used to describe combat during the War Between the States.

• Marse Robert Rides Again by Kathie Watson [8-24-99]

  42nd Webmaster Kathie Watson shares her reminiscences of a favorite childhood toy -- one that wouldn't be very marketable in today's PC world. In addition to her duties with the 42nd, Kathie is also Third Vice President and Webmaster for the Virginia Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and maintains The Poetry and Music of the War Between the States Web site.

• Hot Weather Tips: Recognizing Heat Related Problems, Solutions, and Period Cold Beverages by Virginia Mescher [7-12-99]

  Virginia Mescher, past civilian coordinator and current historical columnist for the 42nd Virginia Infantry Regiment, is a frequent speaker at conferences on civilian life, a contributor to The Citizens' Companion, and the author of a number of publications on various aspects of 19th century living. With her husband Mike, also a member of the 42nd, she operates The Ragged Soldier sutlery, specializing in children's toys and games of the 1800's.

• Secession and Racism - Northern Style [6-7-99]

  A decidedly political but nevertheless historical selection that comes to us courtesy of Brother André Marie, M.I.C.M, Webmaster of Catholicism and the Old South, which appears on the The Saint Benedict Center Web site.

• First and Ten at Gettysburg [4-13-99]

  A tongue-in-cheek selection courtesy of Jim Epperson, a professor of mathematics at the University of Alabama-Hunstville. The author of a forthcoming mathematics textbook and the proprietor of the immensely popular Causes of the Civil War Web site, Jim is active in the Tennesee Valley Civil War Round Table and has been published in Columbiad magazine. When he's not in the classroom or on the battlefield, Jim is a rabid University of Michigan football fan.

• Various Customs Associated with Courting and Love, by Virginia Mescher [3-26-99]

• Nineteenth Century New Year's Day Celebrations, by Virginia Mescher [12-22-98]

• The Fighting Epsilons, by Jim Epperson [11-17-98]

• The Vortex, by Joel Craig [10-13-98]

• A Primer on Civil War Artillery for the Instruction and Edification of the Civil War Infantry Reenactor [9-9-98]

  Everything you always wanted to know about the artillery courtesy of Chuck Ten Brink, Webmaster of The Civil War Artillery Page and sergeant of the Third Battery, First Michigan Light Artillery.

• One Boy [7-28-98]

  A short piece of historical fiction by Brian Hampton, Webmaster of The Longstreet Chronicles, published for the first time anywhere. [7-28-98]

• A Womanly Appeal to the Ladies [4-30-98]

  A plea to the women of the South to lay aside their concern with the trappings of mourning and honor the memory of their loved ones by aiding the soldiers still in the field. [Reprinted from the February 6, 1864, edition of The Memphis Daily Appeal]

• Mourning in the Nineteenth Century: An Overview by Virginia Mescher [3-30-98]

• Hoops and Crinolines by Virginia Mescher [1-21-98]

• The Spirit of Christmas Past by Virginia Mescher [12-2-97]

• Thanksgiving as a National Holiday by Virginia Mescher [11-14-97]

• "The Good Old Days ~ They Were Terrible!" by Otto L. Betterman, reviewed by Virginia Mescher [9-30-97]

• What Am I Seeing? by Robert Carter [8-25-97]

  Rob Carter, Webmaster of the 69th New York State Volunteers, Company A, reenacts as the chaplain of the 69th NYSV. His interest in the hobby was sparked when he discovered that the historical 69th, which was part of the storied Irish Brigade, had a Jesuit chaplain, Fr. Thomas Oulette.

• Picnics and Picnic Fare by Virginia Mescher [7-8-97]

• Nineteenth Century Buttons by Virginia Mescher [5-19-97]