James Hessler has worked as a Licensed Battlefield Guide at Gettysburg National Military Park for two decades. Jim has authored or co-authored three full-length books on the Gettysburg campaign: Sickles at Gettysburg (2009), Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg (2015), and Gettysburg’s Peach Orchard (2019). His books have received several distinguished awards. He also authored articles in Gettysburg Magazine, America’s Civil War, and Hallowed Ground Magazine.
Jim currently co-hosts the popular Battle of Gettysburg Podcast. His other media appearances include Travel Channel, C-SPAN, NPR, PCN-TV, and other outlets. He was one of the primary content designers for the American Battlefield Trust’s mobile Gettysburg application.
Jim is a frequent speaker for Civil War Round Tables and other historical groups nationwide. In addition to Gettysburg, he leads tours of several other battlefields and historic sites across the country. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Little Bighorn Associates Board of Directors and is a former Executive Council member for the Association of Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guides.
Follow Jim’s Facebook page at James Hessler’s Gettysburg History to receive updates on Jim’s current and future projects. ■
President’s Report
First of all, I hope each and every member of the Kentucky Civil War Roundtable had a wonderful Holiday season and that the New Year will bring each of you happiness, health, and prosperity.
I thought it would be good to give members an indication of how the Civil War Roundtable movement is doing generally in this strange time in which we live. I have had the opportunity to address many of the Civil War Roundtables across the country. From August, 2022 until January 15, 2023, I have addressed the Knoxville (Tennessee), Mid-Ohio (Marietta), Lynchburg (Virginia), Gettysburg (Pennsylvania), Richmond (Virginia) and Louisville (Kentucky) Civil War Roundtables. All have had overflow crowds, and, each time, I have given the members the greetings from the Kentucky Civil War Roundtable. Many of the members ask me how the Kentucky Civil War Roundtable is doing. I tell them that it is doing extremely well with great crowds and great speakers. Judging from what I have observed, the movement is alive and well. Of all those roundtables, though, the Kentucky Civil War Roundtable remains the oldest and most distinguished. I am proud to be its president.
Our March 20th meeting is bound to be very entertaining as our speaker, Jim Hessler, a prominent licensed battlefield guide at Gettysburg, will speak about his fine biography of none other than Major General Daniel E. Sickles, perhaps the most controversial figure of not only the Battle of Gettysburg but the entire Civil War. See you there! ■
Kent Masterson Brown
August 17, 2022.
