Al Mackey
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 14, 2019
- Messages
- 596
- Reaction score
- 533
For many of you I probably don't need much of an introduction. You know me under the screen name I used, but I've decided to ditch the anonymity and always stand by what I post under my own name.
A little about me you may or may not know. I graduated from Virginia Tech, which is where I began my interest in the Civil War, as a result of taking Dr. Bud Robertson's class, which was over forty years ago, and I've been seriously studying the Civil War ever since. I served as an officer in the United States Air Force from B-52 aircrew all the way to Inspector General for Eighth Air Force. After retiring from the Air Force I moved to be close to Gettysburg and Carlisle Barracks. Gettysburg is easy to figure for a Civil War student. Carlisle Barracks hosts a number of military history lectures, including many dedicated to Civil War history. The area where I live has a connection to the Gettysburg campaign. Albert Jenkins' cavalry camped about a mile-and-a-half from my home, and the Battle of Sporting Hill, the northernmost engagement involving elements of the Army of Northern Virginia, was fought near here as well. In the late spring, summer, and early fall I'm in Gettysburg nearly every weekend, and sometimes I visit other battlefields such as Antietam, South Mountain, Monocacy, and Cedar Creek. They are within easy driving distance. I'm currently teaching in a school district near me.
I'm currently an officer in my local Civil War round table and I author a Civil War blog called "Student of the American Civil War" located at https://studycivilwar.wordpress.com/ . I chose that title because that's what I am, a student of the war. I don't like the term "buff," and I don't refer to myself as a historian. That may happen at some point, but right now, even after over 40 years of studying, I don't think of myself as a historian.
Outside of the Civil War I'm a sci fi fan, a John Wayne fan, and a fan of the brilliant musical, "Hamilton." I have an interest in science as well as history, and I'm a pretty good chess player.
A little about me you may or may not know. I graduated from Virginia Tech, which is where I began my interest in the Civil War, as a result of taking Dr. Bud Robertson's class, which was over forty years ago, and I've been seriously studying the Civil War ever since. I served as an officer in the United States Air Force from B-52 aircrew all the way to Inspector General for Eighth Air Force. After retiring from the Air Force I moved to be close to Gettysburg and Carlisle Barracks. Gettysburg is easy to figure for a Civil War student. Carlisle Barracks hosts a number of military history lectures, including many dedicated to Civil War history. The area where I live has a connection to the Gettysburg campaign. Albert Jenkins' cavalry camped about a mile-and-a-half from my home, and the Battle of Sporting Hill, the northernmost engagement involving elements of the Army of Northern Virginia, was fought near here as well. In the late spring, summer, and early fall I'm in Gettysburg nearly every weekend, and sometimes I visit other battlefields such as Antietam, South Mountain, Monocacy, and Cedar Creek. They are within easy driving distance. I'm currently teaching in a school district near me.
I'm currently an officer in my local Civil War round table and I author a Civil War blog called "Student of the American Civil War" located at https://studycivilwar.wordpress.com/ . I chose that title because that's what I am, a student of the war. I don't like the term "buff," and I don't refer to myself as a historian. That may happen at some point, but right now, even after over 40 years of studying, I don't think of myself as a historian.
Outside of the Civil War I'm a sci fi fan, a John Wayne fan, and a fan of the brilliant musical, "Hamilton." I have an interest in science as well as history, and I'm a pretty good chess player.