Foreign Observers

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

He still does teach at the USAF Air Command & Staff College at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery. He portrays Sir Harry Flashman, and given Flash's extensive travels and adventures in the US Civil War, and indeed all over the world, his presence in the Southeast is at least somewhat plausible. He's a convivial sort, and a great conversationalist. I shan't give his name in the forum, as I haven't his permission.

Google Harry Flashman for a synopsis of Harry's career. Fascinating series of books.

Frank Brower
Jeff Davis Artillery

"Sir Harry Flashman" was a fictitional character who did not exist historically anywhere, let alone in the United States during the Civil War. He is a character created by George Fraser who took the name from another work of fiction "Tom Brown's School Days". Great series of risque novels though....

[Rob Weaver]

That's hilarious! He's authentically recreating a character who never existed! (The Flashman books are the only works of historical fiction that I never could find any mistakes in.) I think I'm distantly related to Sir Harry - after all his son was clergy, too.

[jda3rd]

"Sir Harry Flashman" was a fictitional character who did not exist historically anywhere, let alone in the United States during the Civil War.

Which means he's arguably as authentic as any of us. I didn't mean to suggest Flashman was a historical personage. His 'romps' through history are easily some of the better historical fiction of that genre to be found. It's regrettable that Fraser died before completing his chronicle.

Frank

[johnduffer]

I believe Flashman is a fictional character. - I didn't notice this has been pointed out already, never mind.

[Pvt Schnapps]

This reminds me of the -- as far as I know -- only witty thing Henry Halleck ever wrote. Telegraphed during the 1864 attack on Washington by a general who offered his talents as a commander from the Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York, Halleck wired back, "We have five times as many generals [foreign observers, vivandiers, Christian Commission barristas, armed chaplains, dismounts, &c &c] here as we want, but are greatly in need of privates. Any one volunteering in that capacity will be thankfully received."

[Ephraim_Zook]

FWIW: The Société d'Europe. http://webspace.webring.com/people/cu/um_1169/

Not endorsed by anybody worthy of endorsing it.

[skamikaze]

there are two guys who do a bang up job with their FI impression. Stephen Keller, and another guy who's name has escaped me. Julio took some great shots of them at RTM. I wanted to turn them away at first, but they blew me away with their impressions and knowledge. A+

http://zphotos.smugmug.com/History/1...92334851_U6xER

[RJSamp]

"We have five times as many generals [foreign observers, vivandiers, Christian Commission barristas, armed chaplains, dismounts, &c &c] here as we want, but are greatly in need of privates. Any one volunteering in that capacity will be thankfully received."

That's the current state of the hobby, IMHO.

[pvt t a white]

And there is always the Prussians that show up a Gettysburg every year for the Remembrance Day Parade

Pvt T A White

[Pennvolunteer]

Joe,
We have a guy out here in the "Trans-Mississippi" and "Indian Territories" who does a British Artillery Colonel, not that there was ever any foreign observers out here. I consider him a clown who makes us all look foolish, and of course at events the media all flock to him in his "unique" uniform and his little toy dog he carries everywhere. If you had been at Honey Springs you would have seen him. A detraction at best, in general a pox on those of us who care about history.