About me

As the header states, I’m a native of the Shenandoah Valley, and, for the most part, this area (and a little beyond the confines of the area’s watershed, geology, and culture) is central to much of what I write… and hence, the title “Cenantua’s Blog”. Take a look at the “‘Cenantua’ – What and Why” page, to get a better idea of my geographic area of interest.

The “backdrop”, or geographic area being set, you’ll find that I often write about the American Civil War and Southern Unionism within this area, and often relate to the time through my findings in the people here… to include my ancestors.

Then too, I’m also interested in the history of this area before and after the Civil War era, and have, from time to time, reached as far forward as the First World War, and back into the colonial period, and even before. Also, as a veteran of the Navy (a submariner) and Army, and a military brat of “the Corps”, I might even drop in a post that has something to do with these things.

I know that some of the things that I write about may challenge the views of others, and, hopefully, this will prompt thoughtful comments from the readers. All that I ask is that those who comment remain civil, and consider this “writing space” as a place in which thoughts are fluid, and are not necessarily static and unbending. I hope you enjoy the blog, and make it a regular part of your Web-reading, and interactions.

As for my background with history…

Education:
◦ Master of Science, Technical and Scientific Communication, with a focus on Technical Writing and User Experience Design for the Web and Print, May 2009.
James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.

◦ Undesignated student, one semester of doctoral work in history, Spring 2007
College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Va.

◦ Master of Arts, History, with a focus on the American Civil War Era, May 2007.
Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Va.

◦ Bachelor of Science, Liberal Studies, January 1995.
Excelsior College, Albany, N.Y.
The bulk of undergraduate coursework was completed at East Carolina University (1984-1988 ) and Western Carolina University (1983-1984).

M.S. Thesis (Completed May 2009)
“Blogging as Historians: Considering Interaction, Authority, and New Practices for the Web.”
Thesis Committee: Associate Professor Elizabeth Pass (Chair), Professor Mark Hawthorne, and Associate Professor Pavel Zemlianski.

M.A. Thesis (Completed Spring 2007)
“Flaws in the Armor of the Grand Illusion: Dissent, Reluctance, and Disaffection Toward the Confederate Cause in the Central Shenandoah Valley – A Study of Page County, Virginia”
Thesis Committee: Assistant Professor Jonathan F. Phillips (Chair), Associate Professor Carolyn J. Lawes, and Professor Harold S. Wilson.

Ongoing digital projects:
Blogs
All of the following projects were created within the structural framework of the Weblog, though not all fit the traditional definition of the blog.
◦ Cenantua’s Blog
◦ Southern Unionists Chronicles
◦ Avenue of Armies: A supplement to the Page County Civil War Tour Book
◦ Too Long Forgotten: Searching for the history of slaves and free blacks in Page County, Virginia

Databases
◦ The Historic Markers Database
Contributor of data and photos (link to list of contributions).
◦ Wikipedia
Contributor of data and photos (link to list of contributions).
◦ Find-A-Grave
Contributor of data and photos (link to list of contributions).

Published Works:
Books
◦ Tragedy in the Shenandoah Valley: The Story of the Summers-Koontz Execution. Charleston: The History Press, Inc., 2006.
◦ Short Historical Sketches of Page County, Virginia and Its People, Volume 2. Westminster: Heritage Books, Inc., 2005.
◦ Short Historical Sketches of Page County, Virginia and Its People, Volume 1. Westminster: Heritage Books, Inc., 2005.
◦ Gibraltar of the Shenandoah: Civil War Sites and Stories of Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County, Virginia. Virginia Beach: The Donning Company Publishers, 2004.
◦ Avenue of Armies: Civil War Sites and Stories of Luray and Page County, Virginia. Virginia Beach: The Donning Company Publishers, 2002.
◦ The 1st and 2nd Stuart Horse Artillery (Virginia Regimental Histories Series). Appomattox: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1999.
◦ Miscellaneous Disbanded Virginia Light Artillery (Virginia Regimental Histories Series). Appomattox: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1997.
◦ Graham’s Petersburg, Jackson’s Kanawha, and Lurty’s Roanoke Horse Artillery (Virginia Regimental Histories Series). Appomattox: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1996.
◦ Chew’s Ashby, Shoemaker’s Lynchburg, and the Newtown Artillery (Virginia Regimental Histories Series). Appomattox: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1995.
◦ The Richmond Fayette, Hampden, Thomas, and Blount’s Lynchburg Artillery (Virginia Regimental Histories Series). Lynchburg: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1991.
◦ The Charlottesville, Lee Lynchburg, and Johnson’s Bedford Artillery (Virginia Regimental Histories Series). Lynchburg: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1990.
◦ The Danville, Eighth Star New Market, and Dixie Artillery (Virginia Regimental Histories Series). Lynchburg: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1989.

Articles
◦ “Custer and the Shadow Soldiers,” Civil War Times Illustrated XXIX, No. 1 (March 2000), 29-34, 58.
◦ “Break out! The capture and adventures of Washington Brown Traweek in Yankeedom and his part in leading up to the daring escape of Confederate prisoners from Elmira, New York,” Civil War Times Illustrated XXIX, No. 5 (Nov./Dec. 1991), 26, 52-54, 56, 59-61.
◦ “A Matter of Injustice: The Summers-Koontz Incident,” Blue and Gray Magazine (February 1992), 32-34.
◦ “The 38th Battalion Virginia Light Artillery at Gettysburg,” America’s Civil War (January 2000), 12, 14, 16, 18.

Other Published Works:
◦ Local, weekly history column, Page News & Courier, Luray, Va., 1998-2010 [see a chronological list of articles here]

Museum employment:
◦ Development Director/Grants Manager, Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia (1999-2002)
◦ Tour guide, CSS Neuse and Governor Caswell Memorial (1987)

Volunteer work:
◦ History and Text Review Committee, Virginia Civil War Trails Program (1999-2003)
◦ Education and Interpretation Committee, Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation (2000-2003)