Welcome to TOCWOC! That name was actually born on the Compuserve Civil War Forum, where I have been assistant sysop almost from the forum’s creation. We coined the phrase as a virtual award we presented to our members who woke up one morning and suddenly realized studying the Civil War is not something they do; it’s what they are. Believe me, there is a way you can tell that from the frequency and content of a person’s forum or blog messages.
I am probably the old man of the group here, being old enough to have once shaken hands with an actual veteran of the Army of Northern Virginia, and being the proud owner of several participation medals from Civil War Centennial events (my short-lived foray into the very scary world of reenacting). For roughly 30 years, I have fired live ammunition in Civil War military arms as an active member of the North-South Skirmish Association.
It has been my privilege over the years to come to know and work with some of the premier Civil War historians of our time. Unfortunately, I have never made enough money as an historian to pay my bills, but I have had a lot of fun, learned a lot, and met some fascinating people along the way. In my checkered career, I have been associate editor and book reviewer of “Civil War” Magazine, contributing editor to the Library of Congress Civil War Desk Reference and, with Rob Hodge, photo researcher for Time-Life’s Images of an American Tragedy. Some years ago, my wife and I published a reprint of Wilbur Hinman’s classic account of enlisted men in the war, Corporal Si Klegg and His “Pard,” with an introduction by my good friend Brian Pohanka.
Living in Loudoun County, Va., I have a particular interest in the war in the East, although I studied and visited all of the Western battlefields but Perryville before I was old enough to know better. In my copious free time, I lead tours of Loudoun and Shenandoah Valley Civil War sites for the County Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services and groups and individuals with an interest in seeing what there is to see before the developers bury it all under asphalt and concrete.
I have adopted two crusades. The first is convincing the world that Ball’s Bluff was not the only Civil War battle fought in Loudoun County. The second is debunking myths, legends and outright falsehoods that have achieved such enduring stature they are often repeated by reputable historians. You will undoubtedly hear about a few of those in my posts on this site.
For years, I promised myself I would never blog. I probably read too many egoistic bloggers who thought the world should stand in awe of their knowledge and never, ever, dare to question what they had to say. Recently, however, my association with bloggers such as Brett and David Woodbury has convinced me not everyone is like that. Most of us are students of the war to whom a blog or Civil War Forum is nothing more or less than an extended roundtable with more scattered membership and lower dues. I appreciate being asked to be a part of this. It will be a new and, I am sure, rewarding experience.
Steve Meserve
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