Very Sad News

[rbenne]

Anyone with interest in the ACW has run into or seen on telelvision from time to time Brian Pohanka. A great historian and possibly the greatest living expert on Zouaves. I personally had the plesure of corresponding with him some time back where he was very helpful.

The following was posted on the Zouave board, I thought you folks should know as well.

> Brian Pohanka Near Death & Asks for Prayers
>
> I am not sure how many of you have been at Civil War
> events, over the years, and had the
> opportunity/pleasure to get introduced to Mr. Brian
> Pohanka but I certainly know if you are a Civil War
> buff at all you know who he is.
>
> For some time, at least as long as I had known him
> (and about him), Brian has been fighting to stay alive
> but the fight was a quiet one. It has now been
> announced by his wife Cricket that he has but a few
> days remaining.
>
> Brian and his wife have asked that all of his friends
> concerns be focused into prayers for him and his
> family. This is per Capt. Jack Thompson a very close
> friend of Brian's and co-creator (with Brian) of the
> 54th Massachusetts Regiment that you have scene in the
> background of the movie "Glory".
>
> The message below is the most recent I received of a
> list of emails regarding Brian and his well being. As
> we know Prayers go a long way:
>
> Hello to the men of the Regiment:
>
> As some of you know, I was in Washington City this
> last weekend to visit Captain Brian Pohanka.
>
> I won't bother you with small details other than these
> two:
>
> First, Brian, his wife, Cricket, Captain Jack
> Thompson, Jack's son Steve, 5th N.Y.) and I had a
> lovely time together and ate a fine dinner. We told
> stories, many of them true, about our times together
> in the War.
>
> Secondly, Brian asked if I would speak at his
> impending funeral.
>
> He wanted me to speak about the importance of his time
> with the 54th, not only as a part of his military and
> historical career, but more importantly as a part of
> his journey as a human being.
>
> Of course, I told him I would be proud to do him that
> final honor.
>
> Time is likely short and I am asking those of you who
> know Brian to send me your thoughts and recollections
> to represent Company "B" for use in my speech. I am
> asking those of you who do not know Brian to send
> prayers for him and for Cricket, who continues to
> soldier on in a most difficult time.
>
> I wish the news was better, but I can tell you that
> heading to Washington for the express purpose of
> seeing our old friend was one of the wisest decisions
> I have ever made.
>
> He is a proud man with much humility, he is a brave
> man with all of the questions any of us might have in
> his situation.
>
> I have been proud to call him my friend and I will
> miss him. It was Brian (and Captain Jack) who jumped
> at the chance to form Company "B," not merely for the
> purposes of "Glory," but in order to right a
> historical wrong and give the lie to the much-spouted
> historical lie that African Americans were the only
> people in the history of the world who went from a
> situation of slavery to one of freedom through no
> action of their own.
>
> Tell it to the 200,000 black men who donned Union
> blue.
>
> On Brian's front porch, I reminded him of the time
> when a neo-Confederate made a racist remark about
> someone in Company "B" and I was forced to pull Brian
> off the man and prevent him from killing the Reb.
> Brian smiled, but said that he took no delight in the
> fact and was sorry that the incident had taken place.
>
> He reminded me of the time when he had to pull me off
> of one of the fellows in "Glory" temporarily assigned
> to our company when he had a loaded musket pointed,
> through carelessness, at the back of Brian's head. In
> my cased, I remain unrepentant.
>
> Yours truly,
>
> Bill Gwaltney
> Sgt Major
> 54th Mass Vol Inf.

[scone]

May he find peace as he crosses the river & rest under the shade of the trees.
I first noticed him in the Civil war Journal series as well as the movie Glory.

May the lord bless him and Keep watch over his family.

regrds,
Steven

[cwreader]

This is sad news indeed. Brian Pohanka is one of those few Civil War experts who can talk about those events like they happened yesterday and he was there. How much we have enjoyed and continue to enjoy his commentary on Civil War Journal.

Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family as he "promotes into glory".

[sgtcsa]

Even though I do not know Brian personally, I send my respects to the man who I have seen many times on TV. I also, saw him first on Civil War journal and immediately knew that there was something about this individual that I enjoyed. I instinctivly knew that somehow this man knew of what he spoke about, concerning our great conflict. My prayers do go out this fine man and his family, and may they have Gods hand upon them in their hour of need. Yes, I too, find this very sad news.

SgtCSA

[unionblue]

Ray,

I will be most happy to pray for this man and his family. Along with the others that have posted here, I have seen Mr. Pohanka on the History Channel's Civil War Journal TV series and have seen the web site where his reenacting unit posted.

He struck me as a sincere Civil War scholar, one well-versed with a love of history that shone through when he appeared on the TV program. I was unaware of his involvement in the 54th MA and the movie 'Glory' but I am very much impressed with his dedication to telling that story.

May he find peace and may he have the chance to ask questions of all those men from the Civil War who now await him at the final resting place.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

[scone]

I had to post my prevous post in in a hurry I would like to add Is I loved his Goatee. I tried to to grow mine like his.. or Mathew Brodwick (actor from Glory) but with out success.. He will be greatly missed.

Steven

Why should I fear tomrrow?
The lord durects the way.
Why should I trouble borrow?
I live but for today.
When ever I am weary,
In God I find my rest,
And when my path seems dreary,
I know its for the best.

-- Chaplain E. M. Bounds 3rd Mo. Infantry

[gary]

Let's hope he pulls through but if he doesn't, lets honor him by carrying on his work as he would have done.

[chuck71]

This truly is very sad news. My thoughts and prayers go out to Brian and
his family.

[max]

My prayers and thoughts are also for Brian and his family

Max

[thea_447]

I too send my heartfelt condolences to Brian's family during this vigil and will pray that God gives them the strength to carry on.

And I hope that once his earthly journey is completed that he gets to sit with every single soldier of importance to him and ask all the questions that we have pondered here.