Best of 2025 - Honorable Mentions

2025 was a pretty good year for Civil War publishing. By my admittedly anecdotal observation, numbers still haven't returned to pre-Covid levels, but they are on the upswing from the 2021-24 period of middling stagnation. One thing last year had in common with 2024 was a heavy mid to late Q4 backloading of major releases, so finalizing a yearly Top 10 list in timely fashion was yet again a challenge. Other factors also come into play. Though it only becomes a pressing issue near the end of the year, a lag time of 6 weeks or more between official release and review copy mailing is a common occurrence nowadays. Plus, I like to enjoy the extended October through December holiday festivities as much as the next guy!

Off the top of my head, I count at least four more 2025 titles that I really wanted to consider for list inclusion but simply couldn't get to them in time. Needless to say, a line has to be drawn at some point, and now is that time.

Check back tomorrow for the 2025 CWBA Top 10 list, but for now here are last year's Five Honorable Mentions (two of which are end-of-2024 releases):

• The Forgotten Battles of the Chancellorsville Campaign: Fredericksburg, Salem Church, and Banks’ Ford in Spring 1863 by Erik Nelson (Kent St).

• A Campaign of Giants - The Battle for Petersburg, Volume 2: From the Crater's Aftermath to the Battle of Burgess Mill by A. Wilson Greene (UNC).

• The Confederate Resurgence of 1864 by William Marvel (LSU).

• Saltgrass Prairie Saga: A German American Family in Texas by Jim Burnett (TAMU).

• Southern Army Units, 1861-1865: A Compilation-Volume 1, Alabama to Mississippi & Southern Army Units, 1861-1865: A Compilation-Volume 2, Missouri to Virginia by Philip J. Osborne (Author).

Any of these fine books could easily have made tomorrow's list.