Gene Schmiel is a student of the Civil War whose book, Citizen-General: Jacob Dolson Cox and the Civil War Era, was published in 2014 by Ohio University Press. The book, a History Book Club selection, was deemed “best biography of the year” by Civil War Books and Authors.
Schmiel’s second book, Lincoln, Antietam, and a Northern Lost Cause, was published in April, 2019 on Kindle Direct Publishing. It is a speculative history about the Battle of Antietam and how an overwhelming Union victory there ironically could have resulted in the preservation of slavery. In the book, Jacob Cox plays a critical role by taking Robert E. Lee prisoner at the Battle of Antietam.
Gene holds a Ph. D. degree from The Ohio State University and was an assistant professor of History at St. Francis University (PA) before becoming a Foreign Service Officer with the Department of State. He served in five countries, including as Charge’ d’ Affaires in U.S. embassies in Iceland and Djibouti and Consul General in Mombasa, Kenya. He resides in Gainesville, Virginia with his wife Bonnie Kathryn. Together they wrote a book, “Welcome Home: Who Are You; Tales of a Foreign Service Family,” which, along with his book about Cox, is featured on his amazon.com author’s page: https://www.amazon.com/Gene-Schmiel
Gene also is a lecturer/historian regarding the Civil War and history on Mississippi River cruises conducted by American Cruise Lines.
See the page “Writings” for Schmiel’s other publications.
