Opening Salvo of the Civil War Sesquicentennial

The New Jersey Civil War 150th Anniversary Committee, which I am honored to chair, is in the final stages of finishing its first project - the publication of New Jersey Goes to War.  The book is a collection of brief biographies of 150 notable New Jerseyans from the Civil War era or to be more correct 149 people and a heroic horse - which is not to say that some of the people are not heroic as well.  Notable is also a key word as the book consciously includes scoundrels as well as those who did New Jersey proud during this watershed time in American history.

When the 150th committee got started about 18 months ago, one of our first ideas was to have a website and post the biographies there.  About six or so months later, we were discussing this at a committee meeting when all of the sudden the idea emerged why not pubish them as a book and use the proceeds towards our other projects and activities.  So it is has taken about 10 months to get this book ready for the printer - a very short time in publishing circles.  In fact, it could have been done much faster, but we waited about three months to hear whether the project had been approved for state funding.  Unfortunately (or so I thought) the grant was not approved, but in a matter of weeks we were able to raise more than enough money to print the first edition.  In fact, everything that went into the book, the writing, the editing, the layout - everything, but the printing has been done by volunteers - no one is making a dime on this book!

One of the things that we had sought grant money to do was complete the index for the book.  Having, perhaps foolishly, volunteered to do that if the grant didn't come through, I spent a few weeks on that mind-numbing process.  It is the third time I have done an index and I have come to two conclusions - it is one of the worst jobs of all time and it is absolutely essential.  Doing it for New Jersey Goes to War meant effectively re-reading each biography twice which reaffirmed my belief that this is an excellent piece of work.  The subjects reflect the diversity of New Jersey covering men, women, minorities, soldiers, civilians and men who served on both sides.  The book is full of good stories and in sum give the reader a good sense of the New Jersey's extensive and intensive involvement in the Civil War. 

As soon as we set a publication date, I will post information on ordering both here and on http://www.zinnbooks.com/ - all proceeds will go to the work of the New Jersey Civil War 150th Annivesary Committee - work that is indeed off to a good start.