Dan Showalter: California's Arch Rebel: 2019

Welcome!

In late 2010, having volunteered to assist Drum Barracks Civil War Museum in Wilmington, California, with research in pro-secession activity in California, director Susan Ogle handed me a list of names, places and events for possible investigation. One of those names was that of Dan Showalter, a California politician turned Confederate cavalry officer of whom I'd never heard.

Becoming fascinated just after reading the barest outline of Showalter's life, the next year found me hunting down everything I could find about this largely forgotten character. When I had finished my research -- which included the discovery of several previously unpublished items as well as obtaining the only known photograph from a Showalter descendent -- I had so much material that Susan exclaimed, "You've got a whole exhibit right here!"

And with her guidance, on November 5, 2011, co-curated by myself and Susan Ogle, my "Dan Showalter: California's Arch Rebel" exhibit went on display at the Drum.

Now being slated for removal in August 2012 in that ongoing round of ever-successive new exhibits that mark good museums, I've started this website as a place where, over time, I can memorialize and expand upon all the material accumulated on this remarkable Californian.

Hope you'll return often as this website expands and enjoy!

Monday, March 25, 2019

Sad news

Over this past weekend I found out that my colleague, friend and co-author, Gene C. Armistead, passed away peacefully on March 9. It was one of the great privileges of my life to have known and worked with Gene, and had it not been for his continued enthusiasm, encouragement and perseverance, our "Arch Rebel" would never have come to fruition. He will certainly live on in the hearts and minds of those who had the pleasure to know him and count him a friend.

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Another good review

Another nice review has come out regarding "'An Arch Rebel,'" this time in The Civil War Monitor. Written by Evan Rothera, a history professor at Sam Houston State University (Huntsville, Texas), he kindly acknowledges the thoroughness of our research on Dan Showalter and commends the picture we've painted of him -- as well as acknowledging that we have been forthright in indicating where we as well have had to resort to conjecture based simply on the paucity of remaining evidence.

Rothera's sole criticism is that our focus on Showalter has limited the extent to which we could expand our work to include various related events and other pivotal personalities of the time. I, frankly, agree -- what is interesting is that he's hit upon an issue we ourselves confronted: limiting ourselves so closely to Showalter's biography was in fact a conscious decision we made when writing and editing this book. There was more than enough fascinating collateral material discovered in our research that could well have extended the book far past the biography it was intended to be.

It's an extreme honor to have received the very kind and commendatory reviews and comments we've received from the Civil War community so far. You can read this latest review at:

https://www.civilwarmonitor.com/blog/armistead-arconti-an-arch-rebel-like-myself-2018