The Magazine's First Edition
Posted on 03/09/2009 11:19:03 AM PDT by Pharmboy
The Magazine's First Edition
David Reuwer, Publisher
History buff publishes magazine about the war for independence
A dark blue Liberty battle flag of the American Revolution flies outside David Reuwer’s Camden office, while pictures of early patriots — Ben Franklin, John Adams, Henry Laurens — line a wall inside.
“The Revolution and its era, it is a narrative of who we are,” said Reuwer, 50, whose S.C. license tag reads “Rev War.”
“It’s our identity, and it created something that is still playing out.”
Reuwer’s passion led him recently to publish American Revolution, a magazine he hopes to print five times a year.
A hybrid designed to appeal to scholarly and popular audiences, the publication will focus not just on battles but also on the nation’s history and culture from 1750 to the acceptance of the Constitution in 1789.
“South Carolina has over 345 documented Revolutionary War battle, engagement or skirmish sites — more than any other state,” said Reuwer, who says one goal is to promote education, awareness and preservation of state sites.
“There’s not a county that doesn’t have an engagement of some size.”
For those who track American Revolutionary history — and they are a cottage industry in the Camden area — Reuwer’s venture is a worthy endeavor.
“He’s made a great start,” said Joanna Craig, executive director of Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site and a leader in efforts to promote Kershaw County’s role in that war. “He’s been an advocate and lover of the American Revolution for years,” she said.
It’s no accident the magazine is being launched in Camden, one of the main crucibles of American Revolution history.
In 1780, Camden was the site of one of the major battles in what is known as the Southern Campaign, the last 18 months of the war.
At that time, the British thought they had America whipped, but thousands of militia led by fierce generals like South Carolina’s Andrew Pickens, Thomas Sumter and Francis Marion waged a largely guerrilla war across the Carolinas. Their success led to Washington’s victory at Yorktown and the end of the war.
“Camden was the Baghdad of the American Revolution,” Reuwer said. “It was occupied by the British, and it was the center of their efforts to move inland.”
Reuwer is winding down his law practice in hopes of spending full time on his new venture, which includes a foundation, the American Revolution Association.
But like his colonial heroes, Reuwer faces great odds in hopes that his magazine will succeed.
After all, the Revolution is an all-but-forgotten war when compared with other major wars, such as the Civil War and World War II.
Still, Reuwer hopes the publication will bring together people now working in isolation on American Revolution issues.
As a boy growing up near Baltimore, Reuwer worked three years preserving a house owned by Edwin Booth, father of Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth.
“I was 10 years old when I fell in love with history,” Reuwer said. “The Civil War inflamed me, and being from a border state, you quickly see both sides. I just thought, oh my gosh, this isn’t that long ago.”
After graduating from Pepperdine University law school in California, Reuwer moved back to Maryland, where he did some historic preservation law. He later moved to South Carolina, where he became interested in the Southern Campaign.
About five years ago, Reuwer helped lead efforts to set up an ongoing Internet site on that campaign, where articles are published regularly. Contributors and supporters include history professors, and archaeologists, among others.
Charles Baxley, a Lugoff lawyer and history buff who has worked with Reuwer on the Internet site, says his friend’s magazine is needed.
“It is an outlet that kind of tells of the story of what is right with our country,” said Baxley. “We changed the world.”
That is what Reuwer is trying to do, said Baxley.
“He really has a missionary bent. He’s enormously brave, to give up a career and take on this dream of wanting to become a national magazine.”
Michael Coker of the Charleston-based South Carolina Historical Society said if successful, Reuwer’s magazine will fill a gap.
“What happened here really impacted on everywhere else. I don’t think it gets its due,” Coker said.
Reuwer printed 5,000 issues of the inaugural issue at a cost of $10,000. They were sent out in January to people and groups in 35 states.
So far, he’s gotten back 1,250 requests for a one-year subscription to the slick-covered magazine, priced at $36 per year. But only a small percentage have actually paid, he said.
But he subscribes to the theory “If you build it, they will come.”
“I’m so excited about this. It’s like a niche that has been waiting,” he said. “I’m giving this everything because it deserves it. They did it for our country, and I’m doing it to keep our country healthy.”
He can use some good Freeper support for his great idea and terrific effort and investment (time and treasure).
Please write him at
POB 1776
Camden, SC 29021
email: davidreuwer@aol.com or give him a shout at 803 425 8710
The RevWar/Colonial History/General Washington ping list
or davidreuwer3@aol.com
Bump
When I lived in Wilmington, DE, I often visited Brandywine Battlefield.
It wasn’t ‘that’ long ago. And the War for Independence has lessons for us today.
bttt!
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Thanks Pharmboy. |
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I learn something new everyday. I had no idea that the SC had the most.
There was a great amount of skirmishing in SC; it was like a civil war down there with neighbor against neighbor, Loyalist vs. Patriot. The Palmetto State was truly a battleground.
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