Chase,

I really did enjoy Sears' "Chancellorsville", but I'm not sure if it's because I know or have read more about Gettysburg than Chancellorsville, so learning all the new information is what gives me great enjoyment. BTW, currently I'm reading "His Excellency, George Washington". So far, I'm really enjoying it as it seems to be non-agenda based history. It is neither hero worship or an attack. I believe I'll come away from the book with a grown up view of Washington in all his greatness with a few warts.

I have been in touch with some authors and historians and am considering opening some new sites for battle/campaign discussions. The Gettysburg Discussion Group used to have an outstanding discussion site, but they've closed it, probably due to spam and "flaming". I hope I can setup a site that the GDG and our History-Sites.Com group can use and enjoy. I also would like to start a Western Theater battle site and can't decide whether we should try Vicksburg, Chickamauga-Chattanooga or maybe the Atlanta Campaign. Of course, I hope to have a host of different battle & campaign sites, but I'm trying to decide which of the battles listed above or some other might be most interesting and would encourage participation. I should have something up and going on Gettysburg, soon, and maybe we can add Chancellorsville in a couple of months.

Lastly, and this message is directed to everyone on the site, I wish we could eliminate getting "personal". I'm all for raucous and contentious discussions, but attacking or countering an argument is one thing, attacking the person is something else. Plus, I feel Stephen is at a disadvantage, because something is known or believed to be known about him as a result of a very unpleasant episode with a heritage/preservation group. I have taken no position regarding this matter and still consider all the parties equally. Nevertheless, due to Stephen's public position and this episode he is made a subject of derision. If Stephen were privy to similar information about you, it might be different. I still wouldn't like it, but at least it would be a fair fight.

Please "call things as you see them", but I would appreciate it if all of our participants would not allow their discussions to reach the level of personal remarks.

I hope you enjoy the book and I look forward to discussing the war in the East with you further.

Jim