Over five hundred field correspondents covered the Civil War for hundreds of newspapers North and South between the years of 1861 and 1865. These intrepid reporters and artists became known as the "Bohemian Brigade," and brought scenes and stories of life and death in battle, in camp, and on campaign to the eyes of millions of citizens eager to follow the unfolding course of this epic event in American history.
Representing such papers as the New York Times, Harper's Weekly, the Charleston Mercury, and Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, the "Bohemians" came from all walks of life, from professional writers to former soldiers to small-town clerks and amateur artists. A few were killed, wounded or captured because of their efforts to get close to the story, and many became household names after the war, such as Winslow Homer, Alfred Waud, Edwin Forbes, and Thomas Nast.
Living historians Torin Finney and Jill Forbath of the American Civil War Society will give a presentation on the Bohemian Brigade in their period attire as special artist James Allen Davis of Harper's Weekly and war correspondent Clarence J. Lipsey of the New York Times. Combining key facts, images, and samples of period papers, they will bring the wartime experience of the Bohemian Brigade alive.
Torin Finney is a social science teacher and award-winning author, currently teaching at Fullerton Union High School in Orange County . He has been reenacting the American Civil War era since 1996. Jill Forbath is an award-winning theatrical director, and the founder and owner of Our Ballroom Dance, Inc., where she specializes in teaching ballroom dance to wedding couples. She has been a reenactor since 2000. Jill and Torin have used their considerable expertise to portray both military and civilian personas from north and south of the Mason-Dixon line . They also can claim ancestors from both sides of the conflict, as well as Jill’s ancestors in the Revolutionary War.
Come and learn how these artist correspondents helped bring the Civil War home to their readers.
Janet Whaley
Program Chair
Return to Home Page Return to Past Presentations