Recent Publications

Book Review : The Unvanquished: The Untold Story of Lincoln's Special Forces, the Manhunt for Mosby's Rangers, and the Shadow War That Forged America's Special Operations
September 4, 2025 — The Unvanquished: The Untold Story of Lincoln’s Special Forces, the Manhunt for Mosby’s Rangers, and the Shadow War That Forged America’s Special Operations, by Patrick K. O’Donnell and reviewed by Dr. Wylie W. Johnson, explores the Civil War–era precursors of today’s special operations forces. Broken into three sections, the book covers rival groups—the Jessie Scouts and Mosby’s Rangers, the Confederate Secret Service, and Sheridan’s Scouts and the retribution they wreaked upon their enemies. The reviewer calls it “. . . a strong reminder of the outsized impact that specialized units make upon military campaigns.” ... MORE

Cover for The Unvanquished: The Untold Story of Lincoln's Special Forces, the Manhunt for Mosby's Rangers, and the Shadow War That Forged America's Special Operations

Book Review: The World Will Never See the Like: The Gettysburg Reunion of 1913
April 8, 2025 — The World Will Never See the Like: The Gettysburg Reunion of 1913, by John L. Hopkins, traces the story of the Gettysburg reunion from its inception in 1908 to its fruition in 1918, covering the community perspective, the veterans’ search for reconnection, spectators’ thoughts on the spectacle, and more. In the words of reviewer Wylie W. Johnson, “The takeaway for senior leaders from this compelling book is the overriding necessity for reconciliation.”... MORE

Cover for The World Will Never See the Like: The Gettysburg Reunion of 1913

Op-Ed: Abraham Lincoln and the Obligations Of International Law
June 13, 2013 — Prof. Matthew PinskerAbraham Lincoln cared about international law. He encountered it as a 19th-century lawyer and politician. He quoted from it in some key public documents. He invoked it as commander-in-chief. But most important, he considered himself and the American government to be bound by it—or at least obligated to take international legal... MORE