NF The modern "Confederate Veteran" Magazine

Non-Fiction

Rusk County Avengers

Captain
Muster Stunt Master Stones River / Franklin 2022
Joined
Apr 8, 2018
Location
Coffeeville, TX
DISCLAIMER: Please no trolling if you don't have anything worthwhile to contribute, don't say it. In other words, no bashing simply because of the organization that publishes it or even its title. I put this disclaimer forth as this is a touchy subject in this day and age...

I got my latest copy of "Confederate Veteran" today, and yet again I about wore myself out rolling my eyes when looking at the contents. I'm a the point I have to ask:

Why is so much uneducated material allowed in this magazine?

That's an important question in my book, as I know many people who take every word in it as gospel. That's not to say there's nothing worthwhile that gets printed. There's plenty of news about current goings on with attacks on Confederate gravesites, and monuments, with CIC and other National SCV officers doing their best to let the membership what all is going on, and every now and then a great CW article gets published that hits the ball out of the park, (like "The Real Horse Soldiers" from awhile back, and a good one on Fielding Hurst a year or so back), but like today when I looked at the contents and saw titles like "Are Southerners Really Celtic" and "That is what the Flag Stands For!" I have to suppress the urge to chunk it.

What adds insult to injury, is the older issues. A close friend gifted me God knows how many issues from the 80's to early 90's and there's great material in them! Great reads, that hold value to this day. Like I said every few issues there'll be one with great well researched reads, but the quality is diminished from 30 years ago. Its almost if they'll allow anyone off the street to write a supposed scholarly article.

I could go on, and on, but I wat to hear y'alls thoughts. Lord knows this could be a long thread considering the subject....

(Also another disclaimer: I'm not bashing the SCV, or its leaders, I'm SCV myself. Just a complaint with the quality of the magazine when it comes to historical articles.)
 
Have you passed this on to Hqtrs Camp ?
I'm not that crazy about it lately either.

I've brought up to a certain highly placed individual, (I'm avoiding naming names), and was told that that is the Confederate Veteran Editor and staff's game.

Plus I'm sure it doesn't help there's a certain infamous author writing more articles than usual and is now highly placed due to the modern political climate and the Confederacy.
 
I've brought up to a certain highly placed individual, (I'm avoiding naming names), and was told that that is the Confederate Veteran Editor and staff's game.

Plus I'm sure it doesn't help there's a certain infamous author writing more articles than usual and is now highly placed due to the modern political climate and the Confederacy.
I am not familiar with the magazine, but I have likewise experiences with some other publications. These are all following market trends for economic survival. It also delves into the educational spectrum of influencing younger minds for future profits and gains. It is hard to understand why a publication that was meant to be partisan to begin with, editorially speaking, would favor any contrary content to its original purpose and cause. Its own foundation would reject it, and these are ruled by a board of trustees, generally.
There approach may seem to appear short-sighted and blind, but they most definitely have plans in some compartment for navigating a future course, and what they hope to inspire. Possibly the market for college subscribers is too competitive, or too controversial to display their publications in certain locations; for instance, supermarkets and general shopping stores have ceased carrying such items, claiming loss of sales. Initiative and motivation are key elements to your own approach if you decide to query the editor's staff. They can hide behind a mountain of mail.
Lubliner.
 
I regret hearing this. Had a subscription in the 80s into early 90s, haven't seen an issue in 25 yrs or so. The titles in the current issue you cited sound kinda lame. The old issues were interesting and informative.
 
I regret hearing this. Had a subscription in the 80s into early 90s, haven't seen an issue in 25 yrs or so. The titles in the current issue you cited sound kinda lame. The old issues were interesting and informative.

Its, extremely "lost causy" now.

Not, a little, a LOT. Them having a author who is extremely noted for over the top Lost Cause mythology in his books and them publishing similarly minded authors is the reason. To me it's a travesty to glorify the Confederacy with lies when the truth is great enough. From a certain worldview I should say.

But like I said a good, informative read that is properly researched does pop up from time to time. Just not every issue like it was way back, now there can be a year long wait.
 
I had some older issues from 15 years ago. I didn't find a lot of history in them. The main articles were general history with a few new bits of history. I did like the ones that traced the service of a soldier and the history of the regiment. These were short articles but they were the ones I always read.
 
I had some older issues from 15 years ago. I didn't find a lot of history in them. The main articles were general history with a few new bits of history. I did like the ones that traced the service of a soldier and the history of the regiment. These were short articles but they were the ones I always read.

I have an issue from about the same period, I can't help but agree.

Looking at the 30 year old issues I have, I really like the section they had called "The South's Last Boys in Gray" which had many an awesome story, (I think my favorite was one North Carolinian born 1824 died 1941 I don't know if the age was right but if so that's unbelievable). Also looking at the aged issues they had great sections on "Confederate Images" the modern ones still have it, but many a picture is questionable. My favorite is one where the man pictured was obviously a Union soldier in a Union uniform.
 
Yeah I don't even read the articles, I mainly just like it for the section where they have pictures of what other camps are doing across the country. The Kennedy Brothers' influence in the SCV is something I've only become tuned to in the last year or so but now it just worries me. I've only been in the SCV since '16 though so I can't say I remember older days' versions of it.
 
DISCLAIMER: Please no trolling if you don't have anything worthwhile to contribute, don't say it. In other words, no bashing simply because of the organization that publishes it or even its title. I put this disclaimer forth as this is a touchy subject in this day and age...

I got my latest copy of "Confederate Veteran" today, and yet again I about wore myself out rolling my eyes when looking at the contents. I'm a the point I have to ask:

Why is so much uneducated material allowed in this magazine?

That's an important question in my book, as I know many people who take every word in it as gospel. That's not to say there's nothing worthwhile that gets printed. There's plenty of news about current goings on with attacks on Confederate gravesites, and monuments, with CIC and other National SCV officers doing their best to let the membership what all is going on, and every now and then a great CW article gets published that hits the ball out of the park, (like "The Real Horse Soldiers" from awhile back, and a good one on Fielding Hurst a year or so back), but like today when I looked at the contents and saw titles like "Are Southerners Really Celtic" and "That is what the Flag Stands For!" I have to suppress the urge to chunk it.

What adds insult to injury, is the older issues. A close friend gifted me God knows how many issues from the 80's to early 90's and there's great material in them! Great reads, that hold value to this day. Like I said every few issues there'll be one with great well researched reads, but the quality is diminished from 30 years ago. Its almost if they'll allow anyone off the street to write a supposed scholarly article.

I could go on, and on, but I wat to hear y'alls thoughts. Lord knows this could be a long thread considering the subject....

(Also another disclaimer: I'm not bashing the SCV, or its leaders, I'm SCV myself. Just a complaint with the quality of the magazine when it comes to historical articles.)


This will be interesting, and I refrain from commenting further...at this point.

I will only interject: League of The South.
 
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DISCLAIMER: Please no trolling if you don't have anything worthwhile to contribute, don't say it. In other words, no bashing simply because of the organization that publishes it or even its title. I put this disclaimer forth as this is a touchy subject in this day and age...

I got my latest copy of "Confederate Veteran" today, and yet again I about wore myself out rolling my eyes when looking at the contents. I'm a the point I have to ask:

Why is so much uneducated material allowed in this magazine?

That's an important question in my book, as I know many people who take every word in it as gospel. That's not to say there's nothing worthwhile that gets printed. There's plenty of news about current goings on with attacks on Confederate gravesites, and monuments, with CIC and other National SCV officers doing their best to let the membership what all is going on, and every now and then a great CW article gets published that hits the ball out of the park, (like "The Real Horse Soldiers" from awhile back, and a good one on Fielding Hurst a year or so back), but like today when I looked at the contents and saw titles like "Are Southerners Really Celtic" and "That is what the Flag Stands For!" I have to suppress the urge to chunk it.

What adds insult to injury, is the older issues. A close friend gifted me God knows how many issues from the 80's to early 90's and there's great material in them! Great reads, that hold value to this day. Like I said every few issues there'll be one with great well researched reads, but the quality is diminished from 30 years ago. Its almost if they'll allow anyone off the street to write a supposed scholarly article.

I could go on, and on, but I wat to hear y'alls thoughts. Lord knows this could be a long thread considering the subject....

(Also another disclaimer: I'm not bashing the SCV, or its leaders, I'm SCV myself. Just a complaint with the quality of the magazine when it comes to historical articles.)
I would write the editor, expressing your concerns and making content recommendations based upon the older magazines.

I seem to recall a solid article on the 12th Virginia, aka the Petersburg Regiment, recently.
 
I've enjoyed rootling around the very old editions on Google when the articles were written by Civil War vets themselves. I understand that some of them may have had their facts wrong concerning a battle but it was as they understood it at the time, themselves, where they were.

What happened to the magazine, during the transition time as the big die off happened? I would think, the greatest interest of the magazine and the focus (originally) was for the vets to reconnect and agree or disagree over battles, etc. I've seen many little ads of guys looking for other guys that were in on some skirmish (or party!) and wanting to correspond.

So this is a timely post, for me. Because I wondered what happened and how did the focus of the magazine change as the big die off happened and there weren't any more original vets writing articles. It sounds like there is yet another change that has happened.
 
This will be interesting, and I refrain from commenting further...at this point.

I will only interject: League of The South.

And the SCV and League of the South are two different organizations, and at odds with one another ideologically. Though I will admit I wouldn't be surprised if a certain book author in a position of power now due to modern "setbacks" is associated with the League of the South clowns.

I suppose the argument can be made harsh times create strange bedfellows. These are harsh times for Confederate studies and relics, even graves.

Actually the I think the SCV has more in common with the Sons of Union Veterans. The two organizations try to get along and work together. I personally know some SCV members who are also members of the SUV. Heck I know one "Camp Commander" helping out with forming a new SUV Camp or whatever.

But your absolutely right, this could get interesting

Could it just be that good editors, writers and assorted historians no longer want their names associated with such a publication, given the way things are today?
Just a thought.

Possibly, though as said some great historians step up every once in a while. Sadly you could be right.
 
And the SCV and League of the South are two different organizations, and at odds with one another ideologically. Though I will admit I wouldn't be surprised if a certain book author in a position of power now due to modern "setbacks" is associated with the League of the South clowns.

I suppose the argument can be made harsh times create strange bedfellows. These are harsh times for Confederate studies and relics, even graves.

Actually the I think the SCV has more in common with the Sons of Union Veterans. The two organizations try to get along and work together. I personally know some SCV members who are also members of the SUV. Heck I know one "Camp Commander" helping out with forming a new SUV Camp or whatever.

But your absolutely right, this could get interesting



Possibly, though as said some great historians step up every once in a while. Sadly you could be right.
I'm an "SOB" (Son of Both)
 
Could it just be that good editors, writers and assorted historians no longer want their names associated with such a publication, given the way things are today?
Just a thought.
That is definitely a reality. Look at the violent vitriol directed towards historical sites and reenactors. I remember our unit (mixed Confederate/Union) would march in July 4th and other parades in areas of the northeast; we NEVER had any issues with members of the public. I definitely image the social environs have become more toxic.
 
Historically speaking, authors can be blacklisted, and essentially made to disappear. It is easier in today's era to mount a campaign and compete, and if the one side with more holdings consolidates to form a monopoly, the other side can only turn upon itself or solicit the opposition for aid. It does sound as though history is repeating itself. What have we not learned?
Lubliner.
 
I saw the article in question about Celtic origins of Southerners, and found it interesting, though far from completely true.
Southerners come from a variety of backgrounds, not all of them European, and Southern history as a whole existed before European settlement in America. Southern identity, heritage, and culture is Celtic, it is also Native and African, and European, among others. Not trying to diminish the Celtic origins of Southern identity, being from Ulster Irish descent myself, but one can find traces of other cultures in modern Southern cultural identity.
For example, please check out this outstanding article on the origins of the tradition of eating greens and blackeyed peas on New Years Day and see how it has origins that date back not just to the War Between The States, but earlier to Africa and the Israelites in ancient Egypt: https://southernfriedcommonsense.blogspot.com/2016/01/black-eyed-peas-new-years-tradition-in.html

Frankly, I much preferred the article about the first siege of Vicksburg better in terms of historical quality.
 
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