NF Unwritten histories

[Whitfield's Legion]

I am going on a road trip soon and want to write to pass the time. What are interesting parts of the war that are still largely unwritten?

 

[captaindrew]

I always thought Florida should get a bit more attention. Some interesting stuff was going on down there, The Cow Cavalry, Swamp Fox, Federal attempts to stop blockaders, cattle and salt going north. Lots to dig into and not alot written about IMO.

 

[gary]

Whether non-fiction or historical fiction, either requires a lot of research so the author has a command of the topic. I can't just pick up a pen and write without knowing about the subject matter. Even when I write, new questions arise and I have to plunge into more research. Even after I submit a manuscript to the publisher I tend to find interesting tidbits afterward that could be woven into the narrative.

People (or unit histories)
Places (battles, campaigns)
Things (objects).

Recently I was asked how I picked my topics. Things I find interesting. What interests you? You find much fulfillment (but not much ducats) in pursuing that ---- unless you're a professional writer who can churn out stuff with cursory research (Edwin P. Hoyt was among the first that struck me that way). I know of one writer who wrote about the same Twentieth Century topic and theme as I did. His work was unreadable as it lacked originality and fresh material, but he has a MUCH bigger name and recognition.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

I've been researching the war in the Indian Territory a lot lately, and there's very little written on it.

And plenty written that, kinda deviates from history of the war and into Native subjects. And Indian stuff, that really is a different issue.

 

[CdubeJr87]

A book covering the Union's first attempt to take Vicksburg in the Summer of 1862.

A book that covers the Fall of New Orleans, Williams's Canal, Battle of Baton Rouge, the Teche, LaFourche, and Port Hudson campaigns, and Fort Butler. Possible title: Bulter, Banks, Taylor, Gardner, and the Forgotten Battle for the Mississippi River.

Most books about the war in the far Southwest end with the defeat of Sibley's Campaign. A book about the no-man's land between Union New Mexico and Confederate Texas would be interesting.

Censorship and book burning by soldiers is interesting as well.

I am going on a road trip soon and want to write to pass the time. What are interesting parts of the war that are still largely unwritten?

 

[CdubeJr87]

A book about Cold Harbor with a reference to how Grant only devotes a few pages to it in his memories. Possible Title: Four Pages of Silence

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

I always thought Florida should get a bit more attention. Some interesting stuff was going on down there, The Cow Cavalry, Swamp Fox, Federal attempts to stop blockaders, cattle and salt going north. Lots to dig into and not alot written about IMO.

Florida has been the subject of about a half-dozen different modern books. Wilderness Of Destruction and Rebel Storehouse deal with those topics in particular.

 

[gary]

A book about Cold Harbor with a reference to how Grant only devotes a few pages to it in his memories. Possible Title: Four Pages of Silence

How about Pickett's Mill where Cleburne stopped Sherman. Sherman didn't mention that rebuff.

 

[19thOhio]

How about Pickett's Mill where Cleburne stopped Sherman. Sherman didn't mention that rebuff.

Having visited Pickett's Mill (yes, the 19th fought there) I would have appreciated more background than what I knew. I wasn't aware of any good sources.

 

[Andy Cardinal]

How about Pickett's Mill where Cleburne stopped Sherman. Sherman didn't mention that rebuff.

I agree about this. I would love to read a good book on Pickett's Mill.

 

[Rhea Cole]

Firstly, what do you have a deep knowledge of? Write about what you know about is not just a trope. Your knowledge is the foundation upon which everything else rests. It is also what you are interested in.

Frankly, folks have been writing about the Civil War since 1861. Every month dozens of books about Gettysburg ( all of them repeating exactly the same thing because that is all that will sell ) are published. The likelihood of an original topic is very small… minute.

The question is, what can you bring to the table from your life experience or folklore or professional knowledge? That is your wedge to open up an interesting line of inquiry.

You don't answer to an editor or have a deadline, so follow the story where it wants to go… no telling where that might end.

 

[gary]

What I can't fathom is writing on the road w/out having first researched the topic. I've done research on the road but always went home to write.

One professor told me he creates an Excel type spreadsheet that is organized by time and then book. Incidents are put into the rectangles. That way he quickly finds something in a book he read earlier.

The very old school method was to write notes on index cards and then organize the cards.

 

[captaindrew]

Florida has been the subject of about a half-dozen different modern books. Wilderness Of Destruction and Rebel Storehouse deal with those topics in particular.

Thanks, not familiar with those, will have to look them up.

 

[35th MA InfRegt]

What I can't fathom is writing on the road w/out having first researched the topic. I've done research on the road but always went home to write.

One professor told me he creates an Excel type spreadsheet that is organized by time and then book. Incidents are put into the rectangles. That way he quickly finds something in a book he read earlier.

The very old school method was to write notes on index cards and then organize the cards.

George Patton must have been very old school. He was a fan of putting his thoughts and references down on index cards.

 

[archieclement]

I've been researching the war in the Indian Territory a lot lately, and there's very little written on it.

And plenty written that, kinda deviates from history of the war and into Native subjects. And Indian stuff, that really is a different issue.

That and the guerrilla war.....there's alot of course on Quantrill and sub bands like Bloody Bill......but there were alot of smaller bands here in Missouri and probally Arkansas and Indian Territory little has been wrote about.

Bruce Nichols 4 volume set on guerrilla war mentions them, but most have nothing as one focused on the different smaller bands.

 

[CdubeJr87]

That and the guerrilla war.....there's alot of course on Quantrill and sub bands like Bloody Bill......but there were alot of smaller bands here in Missouri and probally Arkansas and Indian Territory little has been wrote about.

Bruce Nichols 4 volume set on guerrilla war mentions them, but most have nothing as one focused on the different smaller bands.

There's a mystique around the Confederate guerrillas along the river, bayou, and swamp banks of the lower Mississippi Valley as well.