Pamplin Historical Park
Friday, October 16 through Sunday, October 18, 2026
30th Annual Civil War Symposium: Hot Heads! Quick Tempers & Rash Actions – Speaker Spotlight: Chris J. Hartley.
Hartley is the author of several nonfiction books. His latest book is Confederate General D.H. Hill: A Military Life (Savas Beatie, 2026). It’s the first full-length biography of that controversial Civil War general. Prior to that, Hartley wrote The Lost Soldier (Stackpole Books, 2018). It follows the ordeal of a World War II draftee and his family from the home front to the Huertgen Forest. Hartley also authored Stoneman’s Raid, 1865, which was published by John F. Blair, Publisher. The book won the Willie Parker Peace Prize from the N.C. Society of Historians and was named a finalist for the Ben Franklin Award in History from the Independent Book Publishers Association. The Historic Salisbury Foundation has honored Hartley with a Preservation Education and Publication Award for his work on Stoneman’s Raid. Hartley is also the author of Stuart’s Tarheels: James B. Gordon and his North Carolina Cavalry. The first edition, from Butternut & Blue, received the UDC’s Jefferson Davis Award.
Hartley will speak on Major General D. H. Hill at this year’s conference to be held on Friday, October 16 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 at Pamplin Historical Park’s Education Center in Petersburg, Virginia. “Hot Heads!: Quick Tempers & Rash Actions” explores seven fiery Civil War commanders who let anger get the best of them both in and out of uniform. Visit this link for more information https://conta.cc/3RVReal and pre-registration is required as space is limited. Hartley is one of seven outstanding historians this year and the others are; James A. Hessler, Robert I. Girardi, Dr. Brooks D. Simpson, Dr. Christopher S. Stowe, Jeffry Wert and Dr. Brian Steel Wills.