Edward H. Bonekemper

Edward H. Bonekemper
III
Nationality American
Education American History, Law
Alma mater Muhlenberg College, Old Dominion University, Yale Law School
Subjects Slavery, Civil War, and Union and Confederate generals
Spouse Susan Weidemoyer [1]

Edward Henry Bonekemper III (1942-2017)[2] was a military historian, teacher, and writer. Bonekemper wrote frequently about slavery, the American Civil War, and Union and Confederate generals. Bonekemper was a frequent speaker at Civil War Roundtables and at the Smithsonian Institution.

Education

In 1964,[3] Bonekemper graduated cum laude from Muhlenberg College with a bachelor's degree in American history. While attending Muhlenberg, he was given two awards based on his educational performance (best thesis; best American history CPA). Bonekemper later earned his master's degree in American history at Old Dominion University. He completed his Juris Doctorate from Yale Law School.[4][5]

He was a native of Pennsylvania, and resided on Willow Street in Lancaster, Pennsylvania at the time of his death. He was involved in the community.[5][6]

Career

In January 2003, Bonekemper retired as federal government attorney after 34 years. Within these 34 years, he worked 16 years as a lead hazardous materials transportation attorney for the United States Department of Transportation, and 4 years as the lead coal strip mining regulatory attorney at the United States Department of Interior.[4] During this time, he was also writing for Navy and Coast Guard publications. He was a speaker and teacher for the Coast Guard and Interior and Transportation Departments.[5]

Bonekemper was also a retired Coast Guard Reserve Commander.[4][5]

For eight years (2003–10),[7] he taught military history part-time and was a visiting lecturer at his alma mater, Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania. Bonekemper also was an instructor in American Constitutional History and Maritime Law at the United States Coast Guard Academy.[4][8] He was an adjunct professor of Constitutional History at the American Military University.[4]

Bonekemper has written articles for many publications including The Washington Times, The Journal of Afro-American History, and The Journal of Negro History.[6]

Since 1998, Bonekemper has been publishing non-fiction books about the Civil War.[5] His interest in Civil War history grew after multiple conversations with his father-in-law about this particular topic. His first book took him 7 years to complete.[8]

Between 2010 and 2016, he was book review editor at Civil War News.[5]

Bonekemper has given over ten lectures at the Smithsonian Institution about the Civil War.[5] He also spoken at hundreds of Civil War round-table meetings, the Delta Queen, the Lincoln Forum of the District Columbia, the Chautauqua Institution, and numerous other events. Bonekemper has made appearances on C-SPAN to discuss Grant and Lee's Civil war generalship.[7]

Family

Born in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, Edward H. Bonekemper III was a son of Edward H. Bonekemper II and Marie Bonekemper (née Adams), and had been married for 53 years to Susan Bonekemper (née Weidemoyer).[9]

Awards

Throughout his career, Bonekemper earned numerous awards. These include:[4]

  • U.S. Government Distinguished Career Service Award (2003)
  • Secretary of Transportation's Silver Medal (1989)
  • Coast Guard Commendation and Achievement Medals (1974, 1979) [6]
  • Federal Bar Association's Younger Federal Lawyer Award (1973)
  • Federal Bar Association's Transportation Attorney of the Year Award (1993)
  • Muhlenberg College Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award (2009) [3]

Publications

Books

  • How Robert E. Lee Lost the Civil War (1998) ISBN 978-1887901154
  • McClellan and Failure: A Study of Civil War Fear, Incompetence and Worse (2007) ISBN 978-0786428946
  • Ulysses S. Grant: A Victor, Not a Butcher: The Military Genius of the Man Who Won the Civil War (2010) ISBN 978-1596986411
  • Grant and Lee: Victorious American and Vanquished Virginian (2012) ISBN 978-1621570103
  • Lincoln and Grant: The Westerners Who Won the Civil War (2012) ISBN 978-1439286135
  • The Myth of the Lost Cause: Why the South Fought the Civil War and Why the North Won (2015) ISBN 1621574547
  • The 10 Biggest Civil War Blunders (2017) ISBN 978-1621576648

References

  1. ↑ "Marie H. Bonekemper". The Morning Call. 10 May 2005. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  2. ↑ "Edward H. Bonekemper III". Lancaster Online. 17 Dec 2017. Retrieved 10 Jan 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Reunion 2009: It's a Wrap!". The Talents Entrusted to our Care. 22 June 2009. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Edward Bonekemper". Conservative Book Club. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Edward H. Bonekmeper is a CWN Book Review Editor". Civil War News. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 "Six Turning Points of the Civil War" (PDF). Civil War Round Table of Eastern Pennsylvania. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  7. 1 2 "Lincoln and Grant to be discussed at upcoming Civil War Round Table Meeting". Port City Daily. 25 December 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  8. 1 2 Blosser, Shannon (27 August 2004). "General Grant defended in Raleigh". Carolina Journal Online. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  9. ↑ "Edward H. Bonekemper III" Lancaster Online.
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