Richard A. Sauers, comp., “The National Tribune Civil War Index” 3 vols. (El Dorado Hills, CA: Savas Beatie, 2017). $139.95 hardcover, www.savasbeatie.com.
At the end of 2017, Savas Beatie, one of the leading publishers of Civil War titles in the United States, released what is arguably the most important reference work published in decades. After decades of research, Dr. Richard A. Sauers has compiled an index to one of the most valuable published primary sources used by Civil War historians,The National Tribune. First published in October 1877 as the Tribune, the publication devoted to the plight of Union veterans was the brainchild of George E. Lemon, a veteran of the 125th New York.
The paper, which started out as a monthly publication, became a weekly newspaper by 1881. The newspaper not only served as an outlet for news important to Union veterans, but also afforded veterans the opportunity to refight the Civil War’s battles and campaigns in regular columns such as “Picket Shots” and “Fighting Them Over.”
While large portions of the National Tribune have been digitized and are freely accessible online via the Library of Congress, Sauers’ three-volume index ensures that important information contained in the National Tribune will not fall through the cracks of search engines. Our director, who frequently uses the National Tribune in his research, has already discovered a number of important articles about the Civil War in the Shenandoah Valley that were not located using the Library of Congress’ search engine.
The historical community owes a great debt of gratitude to Dr. Sauers for compiling this index and making the National Tribune fully accessible to researchers.
This is a must for anyone with an interest in the Civil War and its aftermath in the Great Valley.
