NF Does every regiment deserve a book?

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

" Does every regiment deserve a book " ?

Yes indeed !

If accurate, a regimental history can provide vital information to anyone interested in the regiment or individuals.
Granted ... such works will only appeal to a limited audience, but it's still important.
Not all regiments had "glorious battle exploits".

But often, family only wish to know where their relatives were and what they were doing.

but these mostly talk about the day-to-day issues common to every regiment: training, picket duty, a lot of sickness, complaints about pay, officers backstabbing and bickering over promotions, etc

I understand what you're saying, but I find the mundane very interesting.

"My 7th Mississippi Infantry's battle record", is well documented by mainstream historians.
But two companies of the 7th getting into an all day fight over a danm chicken mascot is not going to be found in any major publication.

So yeah, I hope folks continue to research the diaries ... and write regental histories.

 

[Michael C. Hardy]

I agree that not every regiment generates enough material for a full length book.

I once wrote (self-published) a history of the Bayport-Brooksville (Florida) raid. I had five sources...

A roster alone is going to come in at least 100 pages.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

I once wrote (self-published) a history of the Bayport-Brooksville (Florida) raid. I had five sources

How long was the book, excluding appendices?

 

[JackADriscoll]

What's the best way to commemorate that regiment you've been researching - especially the ones that aren't really exciting? "My" three year regiment (the 6th New York Heavy Artillery) mustered in Sept. 1862, but doesn't make Fox's fighting 300 list. It didn't spend a whole lot of time in the front lines and missed all the '62 and '63 battles. It didn't fight until the Overland Campaign, and even then was mostly on the periphery being shuttled around as a reserve unit. It did have a few active days in combat (Harris Farms, Bethesda Church, Petersburg, and a disaster at Cedar's Creek, but not really a decisive role in any of those). There are some good, unpublished sources but these mostly talk about the day-to-day issues common to every regiment: training, picket duty, a lot of sickness, complaints about pay, officers backstabbing and bickering over promotions, etc. Is anyone going to read a narrative of this regiment other than a few descendants and local history enthusiasts? Or is a website a better idea? Or something else? I'm struggling with what to do with all this material I've compiled.

Not a book always. Maybe a compilation with what they have in common and your connects. Human interest

 

[Michael C. Hardy]

How long was the book, excluding appendices?

58 pages total.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

58 pages total.

So more of a booklet.

There can be a market for something that small, mostly because of how inexpensive they usually are (sometimes under $10 in softcover).

Personally, I'm a believer than anything less than about 150 pages isn't worth publishing as a book for an adult audience. I certainly would not usually be willing to read something that short. No matter how good the research and writing, the topic is simply too narrow and/or the information too scant. But it could be a significant part of a larger book (Tampa Bay In The Civil War?).

Not knocking your book specifically, but rather short books in general.

 

[DRW]

So more of a booklet.

There can be a market for something that small, mostly because of how inexpensive they usually are (sometimes under $10 in softcover).

Personally, I'm a believer than anything less than about 150 pages isn't worth publishing as a book for an adult audience. I certainly would not usually be willing to read something that short. No matter how good the research and writing, the topic is simply too narrow and/or the information too scant. But it could be a significant part of a larger book (Tampa Bay In The Civil War?).

Not knocking your book specifically, but rather short books in general.

I can't say I entirely agree with the 150 page guideline. I really enjoy the Savas-Beattie Emerging Civil War series, but how many words are in those books? If you took out the pictures, i doubt many would exceed 50 to 75 standard pages. That would probably be a good target for a lot of regimental histories actually (excluding the "fighting 300" type regiments). Maybe that's an interesting idea for a publisher - have authors churn out regimental/brigade histories of that length - cutting out the nearly universal training, bad food and late pay material.

 

[DRW]

Is anyone going to read a narrative of this regiment other than a few descendants and local history enthusiasts? Or is a website a better idea? Or something else? I'm struggling with what to do with all this material I've compiled.

If the goal is highest access to your info for the most people, online is the way. The Internet Archive keeps it forever, in theory. Others may know of more internet-forever options. Also this: https://help.archive.org/help/how-to-download-files/

Paper, though, isn't going to wink out in some catastrophic grid failure, though a fire or flood'll make quick work of it. Plus, getting a hold of a physical copy presents challenges.

If I can throw a million+ words into a WordPress site & create my own domain, anyone can. Had zero help. Wasn't raised with the internet. Google brings my gfather's Reg't right up to my site.

Savas Beatie? Or publish yourself via Amazon? I read that after you put out two books, the third is where Amazon starts algorhythming it higher.

How I deal with it is I did (& still do) my best with the 110th. Nothing existed before what I compiled. I did the work, & whoever finds their way to it, good. It's there in the world at least, & may have a chance of surviving online in some corner of the Internet long after I'm gone. Good luck

Good points. And I'll add that now AI is absorbing everything published. I looked up my obscure academic press Reconstruction book from 13 years ago, and it's throughly summarized and cited on ChatGPT. I think that will be the future of everything posted on the internet eventually, no matter how "obscure." In fact, in the quickly developing world of AI, which is our future, if the goal is the broadest exposure to researchers, descendants, CW enthusiasts, then the mainstream publisher will likely frustrate that goal by restricting free access to the material in contrast to self-publishing or creating a website.

 

[JackADriscoll]

Good points. And I'll add that now AI is absorbing everything published. I looked up my obscure academic press Reconstruction book from 13 years ago, and it's throughly summarized and cited on ChatGPT. I think that will be the future of everything posted on the internet eventually, no matter how "obscure." In fact, in the quickly developing world of AI, which is our future, if the goal is the broadest exposure to researchers, descendants, CW enthusiasts, then the mainstream publisher will likely frustrate that goal by restricting free access to the material in contrast to self-publishing or creating a website.

It's crazy to me how now something that would take an author historian years to master can be read in five minutes but that's the whole standing on the shoulders of giants thing

 

[JackADriscoll]

Book idea. If you have journals from three guys from regular units that didn't do much and just lived the war and maybe a sailor too? Talk about their war and how they're similar to each other and maybe equate it to yourself and 2025 or maybe a journal from a more modern soldier and call it ordinary billy

 

[CWdiaryPA]

Good points. And I'll add that now AI is absorbing everything published. I looked up my obscure academic press Reconstruction book from 13 years ago, and it's throughly summarized and cited on ChatGPT. I think that will be the future of everything posted on the internet eventually, no matter how "obscure." In fact, in the quickly developing world of AI, which is our future, if the goal is the broadest exposure to researchers, descendants, CW enthusiasts, then the mainstream publisher will likely frustrate that goal by restricting free access to the material in contrast to self-publishing or creating a website.

How does AI get away with presenting work & not running afoul of Copyright? Is it the Fair Use Doctrine, then? Of course anyone can take anyone else's work then claim "well, I only use it for educational purposes." Well, yeah, that's why a book on Recon got written in the first place, educational purposes. But if it's SUMMARIZED, that's clearly different from reproducing the thing in its entirety (which is what you said, just summary & citations).

Yeah, it's that way in the literary world, where if some percentage of a manuscript has been published (depending on the press), then the work can't be submitted to contests or expect to get published in paper form.

What the new sway in culture in response to AI will be, who knows, but perhaps a preference for the sloppy, obviously amateur style in a lot of visuals. I've been fooled by AI "photographs." I don't like being fooled. At some point, it may become almost-- if not impossible -- for the average citizen to discern whether what they're seeing is fake or real. Even film footage.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

What's the best way to commemorate that regiment you've been researching - especially the ones that aren't really exciting? "My" three year regiment (the 6th New York Heavy Artillery) mustered in Sept. 1862, but doesn't make Fox's fighting 300 list. It didn't spend a whole lot of time in the front lines and missed all the '62 and '63 battles. It didn't fight until the Overland Campaign, and even then was mostly on the periphery being shuttled around as a reserve unit. It did have a few active days in combat (Harris Farms, Bethesda Church, Petersburg, and a disaster at Cedar's Creek, but not really a decisive role in any of those). There are some good, unpublished sources but these mostly talk about the day-to-day issues common to every regiment: training, picket duty, a lot of sickness, complaints about pay, officers backstabbing and bickering over promotions, etc. Is anyone going to read a narrative of this regiment other than a few descendants and local history enthusiasts? Or is a website a better idea? Or something else? I'm struggling with what to do with all this material I've compiled.

I don't know about a book for EVERY regiment, BUT books about MOST regiments is a heck of a good idea!

 

[Michael C. Hardy]

Personally, I'm a believer than anything less than about 150 pages isn't worth publishing as a book for an adult audience. I certainly would not usually be willing to read something that short. No matter how good the research and writing, the topic is simply too narrow and/or the information too scant. But it could be a significant part of a larger book (Tampa Bay In The Civil War?).

I get that. And it was a challenge to go from something like my first book, which was 150,000 words, to something this small. But a the time, Brooksville was hosting the largest Civil War reenactment in the state of Florida. It drew thousands of people. And we sold hundreds of $10 books. More importantly, we were able to put the history of this small event in the hands of a lot of people.

Let me also add that there are a lot of people who might read a booklet or a book of 200 pages or less who would never touch something in the 400+ page market.

 

[LibertyAndUnion]

I don't think EVERY regiment deserves its own book, for reasons others have discussed already. Others who have suggested articles have an excellent idea.

On the question of writing something that likely won't sell a lot, a person interested in writing about a subject could benefit from the idea that the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake has value. I'm wrapping up work on my 4th Civil War book. When factoring in travel costs and every expense that goes into it, I lose money. Few know who I am, and I'm unconventional in some conclusions. People often have their pre-set notions about the war that they will never change. Some readers don't trust non-professional historians, or they choose to only read Civil War books written by professionals. But I really enjoy what I do. I learn a lot, I honor the Union troops who won the war, and my wife and I travel to some places we've never been. It's well worth it, and fortunately I have the time to focus on it. If you've got an idea for something, I suggest putting the time in to see if you can make a fine finished product. If it doesn't sell well, who cares? And articles can be great. Just go into knowing, except for the chosen few, you won't get rich or famous writing books.

 

[Trooper "D"]

What's the best way to commemorate that regiment you've been researching - especially the ones that aren't really exciting? "My" three year regiment (the 6th New York Heavy Artillery) mustered in Sept. 1862, but doesn't make Fox's fighting 300 list. It didn't spend a whole lot of time in the front lines and missed all the '62 and '63 battles. It didn't fight until the Overland Campaign, and even then was mostly on the periphery being shuttled around as a reserve unit. It did have a few active days in combat (Harris Farms, Bethesda Church, Petersburg, and a disaster at Cedar's Creek, but not really a decisive role in any of those). There are some good, unpublished sources but these mostly talk about the day-to-day issues common to every regiment: training, picket duty, a lot of sickness, complaints about pay, officers backstabbing and bickering over promotions, etc. Is anyone going to read a narrative of this regiment other than a few descendants and local history enthusiasts? Or is a website a better idea? Or something else? I'm struggling with what to do with all this material I've compiled.

I left a big thing out. COPYRIGHT. Make sure to copyright your material through the Library of Congress.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

I don't think EVERY regiment deserves its own book, for reasons others have discussed already. Others who have suggested articles have an excellent idea.

On the question of writing something that likely won't sell a lot, a person interested in writing about a subject could benefit from the idea that the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake has value. I'm wrapping up work on my 4th Civil War book. When factoring in travel costs and every expense that goes into it, I lose money. Few know who I am, and I'm unconventional in some conclusions. People often have their pre-set notions about the war that they will never change. Some readers don't trust non-professional historians, or they choose to only read Civil War books written by professionals. But I really enjoy what I do. I learn a lot, I honor the Union troops who won the war, and my wife and I travel to some places we've never been. It's well worth it, and fortunately I have the time to focus on it. If you've got an idea for something, I suggest putting the time in to see if you can make a fine finished product. If it doesn't sell well, who cares? And articles can be great. Just go into knowing, except for the chosen few, you won't get rich or famous writing books.

Yes indeed. I wrote only one book, about part of the Revolutionary War, and feel fortunate to have broken even on it.

 

[CGardner]

What's the best way to commemorate that regiment you've been researching - especially the ones that aren't really exciting? "My" three year regiment (the 6th New York Heavy Artillery) mustered in Sept. 1862, but doesn't make Fox's fighting 300 list. It didn't spend a whole lot of time in the front lines and missed all the '62 and '63 battles. It didn't fight until the Overland Campaign, and even then was mostly on the periphery being shuttled around as a reserve unit. It did have a few active days in combat (Harris Farms, Bethesda Church, Petersburg, and a disaster at Cedar's Creek, but not really a decisive role in any of those). There are some good, unpublished sources but these mostly talk about the day-to-day issues common to every regiment: training, picket duty, a lot of sickness, complaints about pay, officers backstabbing and bickering over promotions, etc. Is anyone going to read a narrative of this regiment other than a few descendants and local history enthusiasts? Or is a website a better idea? Or something else? I'm struggling with what to do with all this material I've compiled.

I think it's all about what excites you and gives you a better understanding of the conflict, in general. Knowledge, for it's own sake is not a bad thing. Hell, I've spent an inordinate amount of time and effort on a nearly forgotten skirmish here in East Tennessee, but, every new tidbit of information I get still enervates me, though I have no goal of ever publishing my research. It just is what it is and that's good enough.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

Hell, I've spent an inordinate amount of time and effort on a nearly forgotten skirmish here in East Tennessee, but, every new tidbit of information I get still enervates me, though I have no goal of ever publishing my research. It just is what it is and that's good enough.

If you've researched a topic in more depth than anyone else it would be a great service to publish it in some way.

 

[Brian Downey]

What's the best way to commemorate that regiment you've been researching ... Is anyone going to read a narrative of this regiment other than a few descendants and local history enthusiasts? Or is a website a better idea? Or something else? I'm struggling with what to do with all this material I've compiled.

This is a great question and you've had great replies. My preference would be to post online. If your goal is the widest possible dissemination, that's the way to go. Little to no technical skill required to get started and you can do it for free if you don't want to pay for your own server.

Let me know if you'd like any help, I'd be glad.

You can start small and grow it as you like.

Another advantage of posting to a website is the ability to continuously add to and update the material. You can't easily do that with dead trees. If you're like me, you'll never stop researching and adding to your stack of information.

Yet another benefit of going online is the communication you'll open up with other folks interested in the regiment, and, more exciting, with descendants of the soldiers. They'll come out of the woodwork, believe me

 

[DRW]

This is a great question and you've had great replies. My preference would be to post online. If your goal is the widest possible dissemination, that's the way to go. Little to no technical skill required to get started and you can do it for free if you don't want to pay for your own server.

Let me know if you'd like any help, I'd be glad.

You can start small and grow it as you like.

Another advantage of posting to a website is the ability to continuously add to and update the material. You can't easily do that with dead trees. If you're like me, you'll never stop researching and adding to your stack of information.

Yet another benefit of going online is the communication you'll open up with other folks interested in the regiment, and, more exciting, with descendants of the soldiers. They'll come out of the woodwork, believe me

I'm thinking more and more this is the way to go. Obviously the goal of this is not to make money. The goal i think is to (i) commemorate those who served (both nobly and less so) and (ii) to make this information that I've accumulated accessible in a way that curated and informative - more than just copying primary sources. Having had the experience of publishing a book through an academic press years ago, I suspect that a website will reach the most people.