What's Doing?

OAFS Photo

So there's another bit of historical fiction in the books, so to speak. I've been wanting to do some ACW-related stuff for a while, the fictionalized tale of my great grandfather's regiment was one way to do that without rattling any cages. Some folks are still pretty riled up about that time period.

No, I'm not one of them. It's history, water under the bridge, you learn from history or you don't. As "they" say, "ain't no thang."

But now I'm on a Civil War kick. The opening photo is the book I'm currently reading, been wanting that trilogy for a long time.

Our next door neighbor was having a yard sale last year and The Missus Herself and I wandered over to say hello near the end of it. And there, sitting atop a cabinet of some sort or another was Shelby Foote's trilogy for the lordly sum of two American dollars.

"Sue, do you have change?" (All I had was a twenty.)

"Just take it, no charge."

The Missus Herself started to spool up as 1) she doesn't like to take advantage of folks, and 2) she claims I have "too many books."

We convinced her that it was a worthy addition to the library (yes, she rolled her eyes) and I got the set, gratis, my favorite price.

I'd rather forgotten that I had it until I finished up the book I had been reading about Gettysburg, so I resolved that it would be next, and so it is.

I remembered Shelby Foote from the Ken Burns Civil War series and had been impressed by his knowledge and demeanor. Now I'm impressed, to say the least, with his writing. I read where a number of "professional" historians don't care for his work. I do hereby note that one can replace the word "professional" with "boring" and it would be more accurate. Too many "professionals" have made the study of history painful in the extreme. So I care naught for their opinions.

I like the guy, may he rest in peace.

Another thing I've got on my plate is this:

OAFS Photo

Yup, Civil War miniatures. I've always been a big fan of toy soldiers and when they (Warlord Games) came out with their Epic scale figures (each figure is roughly 13mm tall, a lot smaller than most figures) I was keen to purchase them.

I was going to start with the ACW, some years back, but then they came out with the Waterloo series, so I had to get them first. Now the progeny gifted me more 'Amazon Bucks" so I was able to grab the ACW set as well. I even sprang for some extra buildings, primarily because one of these was included ...

Source

Which are all over the place near Gettysburg, sometimes referred to as a "bank barn" or a "Pennsylvania barn." I've also seen the term "Schweizer" or "Swisser" barn used as this type of barn possibly originated in Switzerland.

Anyhoo, I also bought the Union and Confederate commanders (Lee, Grant, Jackson, Meade, etc.) and bought the Iron Brigade as well. (I mean how do you fight an ACW battle in the East without the Iron Brigade?)

So there's a project I need to get to work on.

And now they're coming out with an American Revolution line in Epic scale. So I need to save up my pennies for that when it comes out. (Bastards! Er, I mean, wonderful, glad they're doing that ...)

I'm also spending time (probably too much time) playing Scourge of War: Gettysburg. Which looks something like this -

Law's Brigade seizing Little Round Top
Screen shot from the game

The game's victory conditions are completely out of whack, it has something to do with timing and seizing certain terrain features. I say "out of whack" because I captured Little Round Top and had turned the Federal left when the game ended and it said, "Sorry, you lose."

Harrumph. I did better than Longstreet and I "lose"? Harrumph again, silly software people.

Still and all, the game is a lot of fun.

Anyhoo, that's what I'm up to. Blogging is going to be light as I have a lot of irons in the fire right now, so ...

Be seeing you.