For Rea Redd, director of Waynesburg University’s Eberly Library, Civil War area history is more than a hobby or interest—it is a passion. And during the past two years, Redd has put his passion and expertise to use to produce a chapter in the recently published book of essays, “Turning Points of the American Civil War.”
Redd’s chapter, ‘The Point of No Return: Turning Points Within the 1864 Presidential Election and the Doom of the Confederacy,’ examines attitudes during the election for Lincoln’s second term, during the Civil War. Redd said that the process for publication took about two years.
“I worked on it nearly every evening and weekend for three months,” he said. “The editing process took a year and then another 12 months for its publication.”
Redd conducted extensive research to perfect his essay, and said it was a “learning experience.” He especially enjoyed the process of dealing with deadlines and revision.
“My favorite part was writing the drafts, sending them to the editors, receiving a prompt reply from them, making changes and sending it back very quickly to the editors,” said Redd. “There was a bit of suspense and a bit of a race to get it done correctly and quickly.”
In the past year, Redd has written another manuscript about Civil War medicine, as well as several fiction manuscripts that he hopes to develop and publish in the future. For more information about Redd’s writing, contact rredd@waynesburg.edu or call 724-852-3419.
Founded in 1849 by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Waynesburg University is located on a traditional campus in the hills of southwestern Pennsylvania, with three additional sites located in the Pittsburgh region. The University is one of only 22 Bonner Scholar schools in the country, offering local, regional and international opportunities to touch the lives of others through service.
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