The Works of O.T. Reilly

Over the past few years I have been making a study of O.T. Reilly, a young man who witnessed the Battle of Antietam and then spent his life interpreting it. I quickly discovered that Reilly was involved in every aspect of the battle's aftermath. He gave battlefield tours to the heroes that fought there. He collected, displayed, and sold relics in an unprecedented volume. He published postcards and guide books that include many valuable images and tales. He graded land for monuments. He was everywhere, with everyone, doing everything.

But most importantly he wrote articles for local newspapers. Not just a few. Lots of them. Reilly wrote weekly for fifty years straight, from 1887 until 1937. What is even more exciting is that these were not long, involved articles. He wrote short, small-town blurbs about seemingly inconsequential items. The kind of items that are usually lost to history - amazing minutia that is thrilling and invaluable to those trying to piece together what happened many years ago.

I recently came across microfilm covering the early years of his writing. To my knowledge, these articles have never been culled by Antietam historians. There is so much incredible, fresh research here that my first impulse was to write a book. But on further reflection, I decided that there is too much great stuff here to wait. It also occurred to me that each blurb that Reilly wrote could be a conversation in itself.

The current model of web-based social networking seemed perfect for exploring this thrilling resource. So what I have decided to create is an online encyclopedia of O.T. Reilly's works that invites comments, images and stories. O.T. was always at the forefront of modern battlefield interpretation, and it is my hope that he stays there for many years to come.