BGES Members Making a Difference: Tim Talbott

Like many Civil War enthusiasts, BGES member Tim Talbott’s interest in America’s most transformative event is a family affair. Indeed, his love of history was driven by his parents and grandparents. Today, it plays out in his role as Director of Education, Interpretation, Visitor Services & Collections at Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum … Read more

Tour Talk: Dennis Frye and Harpers Ferry

If you’re not a believer in fate, then Dennis Frye’s amazing life journey may be somewhat lost on you. For the rest of us—including Frye himself—his story is a case study in the compelling power of destiny. “I agree one thousand percent,” he says. Frye, a longtime supporter and faculty member for BGES, was slated … Read more

Book Review: The British Are Coming

      The British Are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775–1777 (the Revolution Trilogy) by Rick Atkinson (Henry Holt Press, 2019) $40. I love a single malt scotch and my favorite is GlenFarclas 105. It is hard to come by and I savor every single drink—I could drink it every day, … Read more

BGES Members Making a Difference: Scott Williams

Since the day he was born, Scott Williams has known no other home than Virginia—specifically Chesterfield County in the Richmond area. But Williams, a BGES member for nearly a decade, admits that familiarity didn’t necessarily breed appreciation. In fact, in 1996, when he began working for the county as a mapping technician, he came to … Read more

War Stories: How Virginia’s Owens & Ramsey is Forging Ahead in the Midst of Challenging Times

In the age of the Covid-19 pandemic and what many decry as the “cancel culture” era, you might think being an independent bookseller with a focus on military history, particularly the Civil War, would be just about the worst business model to pursue. But as the old saying goes, don’t judge a book by its … Read more

How Confederates Helped Rebuild the Nation After the Civil War

After the Civil War, southerners were faced the challenge of reintegrating back into and moving forward to help rebuild their nation. Award-winning author Stephen M. “Sam” Hood, in his new book Patriots Twice: Former Confederates and the Building of America after the Civil War, dives into the contributions of more than 300 Confederate soldiers, sailors, … Read more

Tour Talk: Paul Severance Discusses Fredericksburg

The BGES Blog never misses an opportunity to talk with Paul Severance. An Army veteran, he is an acknowledged expert on Gettysburg and a living history enthusiast. Severance has hosted several BGES tours, and was originally scheduled to lead another, “A Walking Tour of the Battle of Fredericksburg,” in December—thanks to Covid-19 it’s been rescheduled … Read more

Raising Dollars for BGES

Just in the last year, BGES has raised $150 using a very simple tool—AmazonSmile. And that amount came from just six people. What is AmazonSmile? It’s a website operated by Amazon that offers the same shopping experience and same prices as Amazon, but with benefit of donating 0.5% of your eligible purchases to the selected … Read more

BGES Members Making a Difference: Vice Admiral James Sagerholm

Perhaps the most difficult race in track & field is the 400-meter, or quarter-mile. It requires a combination of speed and endurance that pushes the human body to its physical limitations. There also is a psychological component. Competitors do not ease into the 400-meter. They achieve full speed as quickly as possible and then push … Read more