Hello and welcome to my gaming and Civil War history blog!
I am Scott L. Mingus, Sr., a patented scientist, published Civil War author, and miniature wargamer currently living not far from the Gettysburg battlefield. Please visit my miniature wargaming website and check out several pages of photographs of my 15mm ACW wargames!
My Civil War historical books are available from Colecraft Books (my titles include Human Interest Stories of the Gettysburg Campaign and Human Interest Stories from Antietam) and from Ironclad Publishing (Flames Beyond Gettysburg: The Gordon Expedition, June 1863). Pick up a copy today directly from me (autographed first editions) or unsigned from the publishers’ websites. Copies may also be obtained from amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, or Borders stores using their in-store catalogues. Volume 2 of the Gettysburg book was published in October 2007 and has been a popular, consistent seller. Gettysburg Glimpses: True Stories from the Battlefield came out in early 2009. My latest manuscript, The Louisiana Tigers in the Gettysburg Campaign: June-July 1863, will be published by LSU Press in October.
I am the author of several scenario books on wargaming the Civil War, including the two-volume Enduring Valor:Gettysburg in Miniature and the popularly acclaimed Undying Courage: The Antietam Campaign in Miniature, as well as Touched With Fire and Crossed Sabers: Gettysburg in Miniature. Volume 1 of my latest work, Brothers Divided, was published in early 2009 by Marek/Janci Design of the greater Chicago area and debuted at Little Wars. It features more than a dozen new wargaming scenarios for the Gettysburg campaign for skirmish-level wargaming rules such as Brother Against Brother.
My wife / best friend / spiritual soulmate Debi and I are the editors and publishers of Charge!, an international hard copy newsletter for Civil War miniature wargamers produced by the Johnny Reb Gaming Society. I have also written historical articles for several other magazines, including The Gettysburg Magazine, America’s Civil War, The Herald, The Zouave, and several others.
If you have articles, scenarios, ACW gaming tips, terrain building or painting guides, please contact me at scottmingus@yahoo.com to submit ideas for publication in the pages of Charge!
HMGS-East official Pete Panzeri presents a Gamer’s Choice Award to Scott Mingus at Fall-In 2003.
Curt Daniels, Scott Mingus, and HMGS-East official Mike Hillsgrove pose in front of Scott’s layout of the action at Fox’s Gap during the Battle of South Mountain. (Fall-In 2002 wargaming convention)
Wargaming Awards
March 27, 2007 at 11:06 am
Scott,
Any idea where I could find the Jeff Leighton movie? This is the first I’ve heard of it.
March 27, 2007 at 11:27 am
Dennis,
I picked up my copy back when it first came out. It is out of print, but every now and then, I see copies for sale at Gettysburg bookshops and gift stores. eBay has had it for sale a couple of times in recent months. If you like dioramas and miniature figures, this is SPECTACULAR and well worth the money. Highly recommended!
August 19, 2007 at 2:00 pm
I need JR3 gaming info for Rhode’s Div. at Gettysburg.
August 19, 2007 at 4:14 pm
Tim,
I sent this to you via private e-mail. Please let me know if you need anything else.
November 29, 2007 at 11:33 am
Hello Scott,
As I’ve reviewed your articles and your website It seems You and I share many interests. I’m a Johnny reb player but I have been out of circulation for quite some time (unfortunately). Anyway, I just recently earned my Masters in history (with an emphasis in military history). I hope to become a published author in 2008. I want to start by getting a few articles published in periodicals and then perhaps that fateful step into the realm of books.
I guess you can say I’m obsessive about the civil war in particular. I have approximately 10 ancestors who served in the war, I wargame it, I re-enact it and I delve into as much as possible. My greatest bane is I live in Idaho (which I love) but I hate the distance, between “Spudland” and the battlefields. I REALLY envy you on this point! But such is life!
Anyway I would like to know how I can get my scenarios for JR published in your periodical. I’ve got several completed and a more ideas. Pleses let me know.
November 29, 2007 at 11:36 am
You look like you like to focus on the human interest stories. Are you aware of the story of Lt. John Crocker of the 118th Penn “The Corn Exchange” regiment (my ancestors regiment)? Its a human interest story I feel ranks up there with Gordon at Gettysburg and Kirkland at Fredricksburg.
November 29, 2007 at 1:54 pm
Joe,
The Crocker story is indeed quite interesting! The regiment panicked at Shepherdstown, but acquitted itself quite well the rest of the war. There is an original recruiting poster from the Corn Exchange Regiment currently on display in the museum of the Visitors Center at Gettysburg.
Scott
December 5, 2007 at 10:32 am
Yeah I noticed that when I was there this last September. It was pretty exciting to see a document thast my ancestor probably read. My Dad tells me that the Colflesh and Dickson family had accounts at the bank even into the early twentieth century. The regiment and some personal family recollections is about as much as I know about the “The Corn Exchange” bank.
February 2, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Hello Scott. I am once again coming back into gaming after a 17 year absence. Having just ordered a ton ‘o GHQ Terrain Maker supplies, and wishing to move into 10mm ACW, I am curious to know which rules set(s) are used for such gaming. I have been unsuccessful in my search and wish to purchase rules before constructing terrain. I sincerely appreciate your reply.
Thomas Beach
Rochester, WI
PS — Hoping to make the trip to PA for Cold Wars and look forward to meeting you.
May 26, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Scott…is the Flames Beyond Gettysburg title in print yet? It wasn’t on the Ironclad Publishing catalog and I couldn’t find it at Amazon.
Chris B.
Lawton-Gordon-Evans Brigade
http://users.erols.com/brant/GeorgiaBrigade/
May 29, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Chris,
No definitive word yet from ironclad, and they have not yet listed it in their catalog. Very, very, very frustrating, especially the lack of communications and a timeline. I am learning patience…
October 24, 2008 at 6:30 am
Scott,
I wanted to pass along to the folks on this site the work Tim Harrop did regarding 15mm flags. I came across his service on this website and decided to contact Tim. I have quite a few miniatures but was tired of the standard flag purchased at the stores. I wanted something more historical. I saw that Tim did this type service and decided to contact him. I started with a few regiments but what I needed was someone to produce a lot of flags for what I have figure wise.
I informed Tim that I wanted to get the whole Union VI corps and also two Confederate Divisions (Rodes and Penders). I thought he might laugh at me but he responded that he could do it.
During the whole process Tim kept in contact with me to give me the updates on the progress. With a request like this I knew it would take some time due to some research but Tim produced the 100+ flags in a matter of months. The quality is outstanding and if someone is looking for historical flags to go with the units you create, I highly recommend dealing with Tim.
I am thankful that I found him and it saved me a ton of heartache trying to get the right flags with the right units.
If others are interested in having Tim create flags for you, Tim’s e-mail address is Gysgt0848@aol.com
November 14, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Dear Scott You have been a great influence on me as my guide to civil war diorama’s.I just finished my first diorama of the second day of Gettysburg.This was quite a challenge as I had been working on it since Aug. of this year and completed it on Nov. 12.As soon as I take photo’s of it I would like to send pictures to you.It is a 6′X8′ display from the Round Top’s to Trostle’s farm and from Emittsburg Road to Cemetary Ridge.I constructed the barns out of cardboard and painted them although in the future I could do a better job but as I said this was my first diorama.The farms have crops ,corn and orchards some I made from corrugated cardboard and other materials.Some trees I purchased but most I constructed myself.This was hard work especially with a bad back and other problems from 31years as a railroad man but I enjoyed every minute of it.If you would like to view these picture Scott maybe you could give me some advice for any future diorama’s of the Civil War.Please let me know and where to send them either by mail or website.Thank You for taking the time to read this I know your a busy man.Doug Steinmann ,Syracuse,NY.
March 8, 2009 at 10:14 am
Doug,
I’m glad to be of help! Early in my wargaming and diorama days, I used to go to the local library and read their copies of model railroad magazines for ideas and tips on enhancing the terrain and building structures and layouts.
Scott
June 21, 2009 at 8:36 am
Would like to join, please let me know the route to use Paypal.
Thanks
Kerry Spann
June 24, 2009 at 1:50 pm
I would like to get a subscription to your “Charge” newsletter but the route through PayPal was not clear.
Please let me know the route to use to pay via Paypal.
Thanks
June 24, 2009 at 2:08 pm
For PayPal, simply send me a message with your e-mail address, and I will invoice you on PayPal for the membership dues to the Johnny Reb Gaming Society.
July 2, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Thought this might be of interest to you. History of York County, Pennsylvania. John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
_______________________________________________
EMIG’S GROVE CAMPMEETING GROUNDS – Page 620
In one corner of the grounds, in a secluded spot, is a mysterious tomb of a soldier
of the civil war. It has been sympathetically remembered by some patriotic members
of the Camp Meeting Association, and marked by a neat and appropriate headstone.
His remains were found and interred near the spot, about the time that the
Confederate Gen. Early took possession of York, but “of his name and his fame no one
can tell.” He was clad in the uniform of a Union soldier, the buttons of which
contained the coat of arms of Pennsylvania, and his cap the number 65.
September 16, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Dear Sir,
I am currently working with the help of others on some research for an upcomming Symposium in Columbia, Lanc. Co. I beleive that it is slated for the end of Oct. It is to be about Col. Welsh and the 45th Pennsylvania. I am presently looking for any and all information pertaining to several members that were from YORK and WRIGHTSVILLE that served w/ the 45th. I have found bits & pieces, but no discernable concrete info. I have been using the Digital Newspaper, courtesy of PennState (http://digitalnewspapers.libraries.psu.edu/Default/Skins/civilwar) and that has given us SOME leads, but I can’t find resources for YORK residents, is there a link somewhere out there for old York news papers from the war? Also the Draft records are great but still leave holes. Again any pointers and help is apprecaited!
best regards,
Zach Bleacher
45th PVI Co.K
Reenactment Org.
September 21, 2009 at 11:32 am
Scott,
Saw on Gettysburgdaily.com today that you are into miniatures/wargaming. I don’t know if you are aware of or have interest in the following, but I thought I’d give you the link.
http://www.norbsoftware.com/Portal/index.php
Regards,
John 53rd PVI Co. C, National Regiment
October 3, 2009 at 6:05 pm
hello, i left a comment on the web site of your other article i was wondering if you knew anymore info on the brick house that you talked about in your one article. The house owned by george dick. this house looks exactly like the one i will be moving into and im pretty sure it is. i saw his grave in the cemetery by this house and thats the one im moving into. ive been dying to know more about the place but cannot find information anywhere. if you could be any help, if you know anything. my email is jaydansmommy1@verizon.net. thank you so much!
November 1, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Scott,
Check out the pics of another AWI game that Steve Huckaby and I put on here in Erie, PA at the MiseryBayGamers group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MiseryBayGamers/photos/album/912544655/pic/list
Enjoy!