and my role now is to efficiently get you to our friend, the incomparable bud robertson, who is obviously the main attraction this evening. so as i middle here, i hope i can keep your attention for a few moments. and i promise that unlike a comedy show, there will be no ventriloquism or jokes about airline food. when superintendent dave ruth called and asked me to say a few words about this event, which marks a century and a half since the battle of cold harbor, i asked, why me? after all, i'm a 20th century historian by training. my war took place 70 years ago, not 150. however, dave said something kind about my presence adding to the event and i certainly appreciated that. but between us, he's my sometime doubles tennis partner, and it's in his best interest to keep>=9 ego stroked. but i do appreciate his confidence in bringing me here. now i'll admit that when i was thinking about this evening, it caused me a few sleepless nights, so i'm glad you had sleepless nights and i did too. afterall, what can i add that bud, or gordon ray, or a host of other experts has not already said about t

robertson, bud, has been a giant.has distinguished from many other members of academia with a tremendous commitment to the public's engagement in history. he writes, so you can read and understand it. he speaks in a way that made his classes the most popular history classes at virginia tech, and maybe in the whole world during his tenure at that university. all of that was born of his passion and understanding of history. if you worked in a park that tells part of jackson's story, one of my little worries this morning is that our keynote speaker would get here on time and be here and then i remembered that he wrote a biography of jackson, and he was actually here before i was, as you can assume your surprise. but if you work in a park that tells any part of the story of the army in northern virginia, it's a refrain heard often when we talk about questions or matters of history. what does robertson say? we don't always use doctor when we're in the back room. but what does robertson say? and i would suggest to you that

robertson, bud, has been a giant.distinguished from many other members of academia with a tremendous commitment to the public's engagement in history. he writes, so you can read and understand it. he speaks in a way that made his classes the most popular history classes at virginia tech, and maybe in the whole world during his tenure. at that university. all of that was born of his passion and understanding of history. if you worked in a park that tells part of jackson's story, one of my little worries this morning is that our keynote speaker would get here on time and be here and then i remembered that he wrote a biography of jackson, and he was actually here before i was, as you can assume your surprise. but if you work in a park that tells any part of the story of the army in northern virginia, it's a refrain heard often when we talk about questions or matters of history. what does robertson say? we don't always use doctor when we're in the back room. but what does robertson say? and i would suggest to you that the

i was told with great reverence, that this is the famous civil war historian bud robertson from virginiaech. well, i knew the rest of the story, because as they say, because i had read and reread his book the stonewall brigade before i arrived that summer. i also had the good fortune of attending virginia tech and over the years, dr. robertson has been an incredible inspiration to me and many others interested in civil war history. the books he has written cover an entire shelf, but the time he's spent mentoring young historians, both in academic and public history is immeasurable. i'll share a quick story. he's also an excellent and serious editor. he would generously mark up manuscripts, transforming them from white to red pencils. his graduate students found buying christmas presents for him was easy. a box of red pencils and he always put them to good use. for 44 years, dr. robertson was the distinguished professor of history at virginia tech. and i must ask, how many in this church congregation today attended his classes of civil war history over the years. that's wonderful. i was w

i was told with great reverence, that this is the famous civil war historian bud robertson from virginia tech. well, i knew the rest of the story, because as they say, because i had read and reread his book "the stonewall brigade" before i had arrived at chancellorsville that summer. i also had the good fortune of attending virginia tech and over the years, dr. robertson has been an incredible inspiration to me and many others interested in civil war history. the books he has written cover an entire shelf, but the time he's spent mentoring young historians, both in academic and public history is immeasurable. i'll share a quick story. dr. robertson is also an excellent and serious editor. he would generously mark up manuscripts, transforming them from white to almost entirely red pages with his red pencils. his graduate students found buying christmas presents for him was easy. a box of red pencils and he always put them to good use. for 44 years, dr. robertson was the alumni distinguished professor of history at virginia tech, and i must ask how many in this church congregation today at

robertson, bud has been a giant.has distinguished for many other members of academicia, with a tremendous commitment to the public's engagement in history. he writing so you can read and understand it. he speaks in a way that -- the most popular history classes in virginia tech and maybe the whole world during his tenure. all of that is born of his if you work in a park that tells part of jackson's story one of mea little worries was the keynote speaker would be here on time, and then i remembered he wo a biography of jackson, and he was actually here before i was, which shouldn't surprise you. it's a refrain heard often when we talk about questions or matters of history. what does robertson say? i would suggest there's not a agreeder compliment. this anniversary business is not new to dr. james i. robertson. point him as executive director of the nation beleaguered which he quickly righted. in between the crennel tenial, he strode proudly through one of the greatest careers of teaching and writing that any of us wil

and my role now is to efficiently get you to our friend, the incomparable bud robertson, who is obviously main attraction this evening. so as i middle here, i hope i can keep your attention for a few moments. and i promise that unlike a comedy show, there will be no ventriloquism or jokes about airline food. when superintendent dave ruth called and asked me to say a few words at this event, which, of course, marks a century and a half since the battle of cold harbor, i asked, why me? after all, i'm a 20th century historian by training. my war took place 70 years ago, not 150. however, dave said something kind about my presence adding to the event, and i certainly appreciated that. but between us, he's my sometime doubles tennis partner, and it's in his best interest to keep my ego stroked. but i do appreciate his confidence in bringing me here. now, i'll admit that when i was thinking about this evening, it caused me a few sleepless nights, so i'm glad, dave, you had sleepless nights and i did too. after all, what can i add that bud, or gordon ray, or a host of other experts has not alrea

robertson, bud, has been a giant. he has distinguished from many other members of academia with a tremendous commitment to the public's engagement in history. he writes, so you can read and understand it. he speaks in a way that made his classes the most popular history classes at virginia tech, and maybe in the whole world during his tenure. at that university. all of that was born of his passion and understanding of history. if you worked in a park that tells part of jackson's story, one of my little worries this morning is that our keynote speaker would get here on time and be here and then i remembered that he wrote a biography of jackson, and he was actually here before i was, as you can assume your surprise. but if you work in a park that tells any part of the story of the army in northern virginia, it's a refrain heard often when we talk about questions or matters of history. what does robertson say? we don't always use doctor when we're in the back room. but what does robertson say? and i would suggest to you