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Kraig McNutt is hard to classify when it comes to his Civil War interests and areas of specialties. Hes been one of the top Civil War bloggers in the United States since 1995. Tens of thousands read his blogs every month. He self-publishes his works and studies. Writes Civil War poetry. Has over 30,000 Civil War related pictures he has taken. Speaks to school groups, Civil War Round Tables and conferences. Is involved with local, regional and national Civil War preservation. He gives private-custom tours of the Franklin battlefield for groups of one-tomany. He collects John Paul Strain paintings, Civil War documents, letters and diaries. Maintains the single largest Facebook group dedicated to a single Civil War battle (sorry Gettysburg) at Facebook.com/Franklin1864. Hes consulted for documentaries, museums and historical organizations. His personal Civil War library is over 10,000+ volumes including numerous signed modern first-editions. Hes not a professional historian or traditional author, so he just calls himself a blog-historian a term he admits he just made up. What he is though . . . is passionate about whatever hes studying or researching. Some of his research-subjects were started ten years ago and still going. McNutt is the Director of The Center for the Study of the American Civil War (CSACW), which houses his extensive personal Civil War collection. The CSACW was founded in 1995. McNutt has been a serious student of the American Civil War since the early 1980s and has been publishing Civil War related content on the Web since 1995. He publishes two major Civil War blogs; combined they respectively receive tens of thousands of views a month. McNutt uses ScribD to self-publish most of his publicly accessible studies.

The Civil War Gazette is a blog of a more general nature, though it tends to focus on the socalled Western Theater of the Civil War. He also maintains and produces the most comprehensive and most visited blog on the Battle of Franklin (www.BattleofFranklin.net). Both of these web sites result in many inquiries each month from his blog readers who are looking for more information on Civil War ancestors, relatives, and research questions on the Civil War. McNutt is related to several Union (Kentucky) Civil War veterans. His children (and wife) are direct descendants of a Union veteran of Franklin. His wife is also related to more than 50 Civil War veterans from both sides, including five Confederate Generals. Kraig is active in historic preservation in his community (Williamson County, TN) and is proud to be a member of the Civil War Trust. He has lived in Franklin, Tennessee with his family since 2000. His degrees are from Indiana University, the University of Kentucky, and Grace Theological Seminary. Mr. McNutt is available for speaking at schools, Civil War round-tables, charitable events, conferences, programs, symposiums, etc. To contact him email him at tellinghistory[at]yahoo.com His more recent presentations (last 2-5 years) and talks have been:

The 1864 Civil War Diary of Morris Cooper Foote (92nd NYV) and His Experience in Five Confederate Prisons in Eight Months The 58th Indiana at Stones River The Amazing True-life Escape and Story of Robert Smalls, May 13, 1862 Tennesseans Buried in McGavock Confederate Cemetery Civil War Medal of Honor Winners (in Tennessee actions)

Who Built Fort Granger? Indiana Regiments at Franklin

Newest presentations (hot off the press):

The Wounding of W.F. Gibson, 8th Arkasas at Franklin and His Convalescence in Franklin The 1862/63 Civil War Diary of Henry Steckel, Middle Tennessee Events & Stones River The Civil War Career and Service of Addison Lee Ewing, 63rd Indiana Infantry: Hoods Middle Tennessee Campaign The Irish Songster Barney Williams : Bob Hope to the Union The Civil War Service of the 58th Indiana : a Western Theatre Regiment The James L. Rogers, 98th Ohio Infantry, June 4th, 1863 Letter

Recommendations on behalf of Mr. McNutt Long forgotten and seldom understood, the breathtaking events which swirled around Franklin, Tennessee in late 1864 are regaining their appropriate place in history. Many claim to be interested in telling and preserving this vital American story, but few do it with the passion of Kraig McNutt. His knowledge and integrity may only be exceeded by his energy, all of which make a respected member of the Civil War community in Middle Tennessee. My earnest hope is that his contributions last for many years to come. Eric Jacobson, author and historian Kraig McNutt, a lifelong student of the Civil War, has quickly become one of the pre-eminent Civil War bloggers on the web. His various offerings, many focused on the Civil War in Tennessee, are filled with great stories, historical insights, and modern-day Civil War developments. In a world of ever expanding content offerings, Kraigs blogs remain as a must read for anyone interested in the American Civil War. Rob Shenk, Civil War Preservation Trust, Director of Internet Strategy and Development Kraig McNutt is exactly the kind of voice America needs to carry on the story of its darkest hours. He is educated, knowledgeable, unbiased, and above all, PASSIONATE about a subject that should resonate with every American of this generation and all generations to follow. Brian Speciale, filmmaker Kraig McNutt is a dedicated student of the American Civil War who shares his knowledge of the Civil War and his passion for keeping alive the memory of those who served in this horrific conflict through his interesting websites as well as in his engaging presentations. He is also an active historic preservationist who lends his expertise to a number of Battle of Franklin preservation groups. This area is fortunate to have Kraig McNutt as a member of its community of Civil War scholars. Sam C. Gant, Ph.D. Professor of History, emeritus Nashville State Community College Kraig McNutt is a scholar and storyteller of such passion that he can do what very few can. Mr. McNutt can breathe life into stories almost forgotten and can make the spirit burn at both the heinous atrocities and heart-breaking courage shown by all who were touched by this unforgettable time in history. It is a joy and honor to hear him speak and read his educated interpretations. Michelle Place, best-selling author, historian and historical interpreter Kraig McNutt brings with him not only years of study and understanding, but the necessary passion to make the cold facts of history come alive. Driven by that passion, Kraig has honed his

studies into scholarship and his scholarship into understanding. As the Civil War slips further and further into a dim past, we are fortunate to have Kraig breathing life back into the story. Robert Hicks, best-selling author of The Widow of the South Kraig McNutt is an enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and passionate student of the Civil War. He has for a number of years maintained one of the finest websites on the conflict and possesses, along with a wealth of knowledge, a deep inner appreciation of what the war meant for those who lived through it and for us their descendants. I highly recommend him to groups seeking a top-flight Civil War speaker. Steven E. Woodworth, Professor of History, Texas Christian University Kraig McNutt is an omnivorous reader, thinker, writer, researcher, advocate, and speakernot only on the American Civil War, but on a host of other historical and cultural issues. His educational and professional background would indicate that he is qualified to speak on many of these issuesbut, we all know folks who are qualified yet they bore us to tears. Not Kraig. His lively and engaging style makes history come alive. George Grant, Pastor, Parish Presbyterian Church Founder, Kings Meadow Study Center The study of the American Civil War has recently come into its own in Franklin [Tennessee] is fortunate to have Kraig McNutt living, collecting and sharing his knowledge with us. His interaction and contributions to the Williamson County Historical Society has been substantial. Having Kraig in a discussion group raises the bar and broadens the horizon for everyone. Rick Warwick, Historian, The Heritage Foundation of Franklin & Williamson County Kraig McNutt presented a wonderful program on Robert Smalls who began life as a slave who later rose to be a member of the United States Congress. In between, Smalls, an accomplished boat pilot around Charleston, SC, escaped, becoming the first black Captain of the US Navy warship. He later bought the home of his former master and lived out his days there. This amazing story was presented with full command of the topic and in the very folksy style of McNutt who brought a display of items related to the story. This was an interesting and informative program and would be a very good event for any CWRT. The Nashville Civil War Round Table