Campaigner Section in Camp Chase Gazette

[Phil McBride]

I am a reenactor who likes to take part in campaign events and who enjoys the research and effort involved in a slow continuous upgrade of my Civil War soldier impressions. I also have been submitting articles to the Camp Chase Gazette magazine for the past ten years, and several of those articles have been about campaign immersion events I’ve attended. So, it was gratifying to me when the editor of the Gazette emailed me that the Camp Chase Gazette is initiating a section in each issue that will focus on the campaigner side of the hobby.

Of course, the quality of the campaigner section will depend on the quality of the articles. Well-researched and accurate information will be critical. While there are a handful of us who enjoy campaign reenacting and already submit articles to the Camp Chase Gazette, I know the editor would welcome campaigner- focused articles from the folks who post on this forum.

If you have an interest in seeing your words or research in the old-fashioned, but still important, format of a paper and ink magazine, I encourage you to contact Connie Payne at TCCeditor@lcs.net or by phone at 231-519-6614.

Phil McBride
The Alamo Rifles

[paulcalloway]

Re: Campaigner Section in Camp Chase Gazette

Sound promising Phil. I hope the editor takes it seriously and refrains from his "whack a campaigner" editorials in future.

And yeah, I'm actually a subscriber... or at least I was, until April or so. I believe my subscription ran out.

[Strawfoot]

Re: Campaigner Section in Camp Chase Gazette

Route Step,

You are a beacon of hope in an otherwise bleak situation. Even I find it difficult to make it through an entire issue of CCG, and I've contributed plenty to it. What's even more amazing is they charge more for that magazine than Playboy does for theirs.

Maybe we can get together and do something for Brice's Crossroads. Give me a call on the landline.


Mike Phineas
Arlington, TX
817 980-5484

[AZReenactor]

Re: Campaigner Section in Camp Chase Gazette

So are they actually planning on paying for articles for this new section rather than plagiarizing them? That could be a move in a positive direction...

[Dale Beasley]

Re: Campaigner Section in Camp Chase Gazette

Mike,
I think your on to something. Dennis and I talked about this the other day. Would love to hear your opinions.

[Will Eichler]

Re: Campaigner Section in Camp Chase Gazette

Hi all,

I've worked with Connie on several projects when she was a writer for another publication. I know her to have good ethics. Let's hope this trickles back into the CCG. Troy, I agree, this could be positive.

Fingers crossed,

Will

[ElizabethClark]

Re: Campaigner Section in Camp Chase Gazette

I agree with Will--Connie has been very ethical and great to work with over the past few years, so I'm encouraged to see her name as an editorial contact for the military side of things.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Campaigner Section in Camp Chase Gazette

Hallo!

I will keep an open mind and see.

(Is a "Campaigner Column" an olive branch of peace? Is it a bone? Is it an op-ed piece to their "anti-campaigner" editorials?)

Only time will tell.

Others' mileage will vary...

Curt
We are Borg. Resistance is Futile. You will be assimilated. Mess

[stri volunteer]

Re: Campaigner Section in Camp Chase Gazette

Sounds like Phil McBride is on to something here.

[Dale Beasley]

Re: Campaigner Section in Camp Chase Gazette

Dag Gum Phil,

You got something there.

[Jubilo]

Re: Campaigner Section in Camp Chase Gazette

Dear Mr. McBride,
I have always enjoyed your well written and informative articles. Good luck with future endeavors.
all for the old flag,
David Corbett

[Phil McBride]

Re: Campaigner Section in Camp Chase Gazette

It’s good to see a spirit of cautious optimism in the posts on this thread. There were certainly some dark days at the Camp Chase Gazette under the last editor – who is no longer employed by the magazine. I see that change as a very positive act to improve the quality of the CCG (without engaging in plagiarism). I can’t say if the idea of a Campaigner Section in the magazine is an olive branch to amend past disparaging remarks about campaign reenacting. Obviously the CCG will continue to include articles targeting new reenactors and mainstream events. But their interest in “formalizing” inclusion of campaigners is a big step forward. I intend to contribute articles for the new Campaigner Section, but frankly I’m not a researcher or a serious student of the material culture of the Civil War. So, again I want to encourage folks who post terrific information on this forum to consider the CCG as another venue for sharing the results of their research efforts and experiences as campaigners.

Phil McBride
The Alamo Rifles

[stri volunteer]

Re: Campaigner Section in Camp Chase Gazette

Mr McBride

Pater Familias Barry says don't sell yourself short...no pun intended...this Campaigner section was your idea. And a good one, we will look forward to reading it. I sent the CCG something on Ft Sanders which was kind of a 'tweener event, but fun. The Gazette ran it. Plus as a full time college student, the small stipend came in handy.

Dad also echoes the comments here from Will Eichler and others that Connie Payne is a straight shooter, professional, ethical and easy on the eyes, in other words about the opposite of the last editor. All pictures are credited to the photographer (appreciated), research articles cited w/ sources and cut-to-the-chase AARs. If you can bring the goods and back it up w/ research, they want it.

He suggested there might well be other positive developments in the near future. It's not "Civil War Historian" (my favorite), but the graphics and layout are at least readable now. There is room for both these magazines. Whatever, it was still pretty cool to see your name in the by-line.

[Craig L Barry]

Re: Campaigner Section in Camp Chase Gazette

Hunter:
Your Pater Familias Dad went ahead and reopened his A-C Forum account as it seemed to be the right time to do so. And there will likely be some more positive developments in the days ahead regarding the Gazette, and there may actually be something of interest to read and talk about. One correction...Connie was the brainchild of the Campaigner section, but it is certainly something that Phil McBride was working on and discussing...getting more coverage for top events and items of interest for the "get it right" crowd, who actually still read books and magazines. Phil has been extremely supportive of the Gazette, even during the dark days of the past few years.

Echo the other comments here on Connie Payne (formerly Simms) as editor, if she doesn't know something she asks, so expect to be hearing from her fellas. And if you can bring it (and back it up), exactly like posting on here...send it in, but if it is not an event report or an opinion piece, it will should be cited and footnoted accordingly. In the end this will generate interest and new participants in the top events. A certain number that try it are going to like it. It's okay to take the plunge but not everybody dives in headfirst before they know how deep the water is. This particular Forum "was not started with the beginner in mind." This section in CCG gives those who might be curious a chance to see if this kind of experience interests them, as well as somewhere for the history heavy side of the hobby to publicize their events and wares. October is the sesquicentennial for John Brown's Raid, so the 150th is right around the corner.

I have it on good authority that the first CCG Campaigner section will be run in the June 2009 issue, there is an "In Memoriam" to our recently lost comrade Charles Heath written by me, about three event reports, including the Ft Sanders recap from Hunter, and an AAR from the clerk Schaffner (Pvt Schnapps) plus an article or two.

[Fenianboy]

Re: Campaigner Section in Camp Chase Gazette

Hunter mentions Civil War Historian.......whatever happened to it?