About Sandy Barnard

ABOUT SANDY BARNARD
Sandy Barnard, a journalist and non-fiction writer for nearly 40 years, specializes in researching the Civil War and the Plains Indian wars. He is well-known for his research and writing on the Battle of the Little Bighorn, the career of Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer, and the men of the 7th U.S. Cavalry who served with him or followed him. Barnard is especially recognized for his expertise on newspaper reporter Mark H. Kellogg, killed with Custer at the Little Bighorn; First Sgt. John Ryan, a prominent Little Bighorn survivor; and Major Joel H. Elliott, a key 7th Cavalry officer in the 1860s. In the 1980s, Barnard assisted the National Park Service with media relations during archeological projects at then-Custer Battlefield National Monument.

His current book, published in 2010, is A Hoosier Quaker Goes to War, The Life & Death of Major Joel H. Elliott, 7th Cavalry. His other publications include Where Custer Fell, a study of historic photographs of the Little Bighorn Battlefield in collaboration with James S. Brust and Brian C. Pohanka that was published in 2005, as well as the third edition of Digging Into Custer's Last Stand, which first appeared in 1986.

His other books include:

* Campaigning with the Irish Brigade: Pvt. John Ryan, 28th Massachusetts;
* Ten Years with Custer, a 7th Cavalryman's Memoirs, which received the John M. Carroll Book of the Year Award from the Little Bighorn Associates in 2002;
* Custer's First Sergeant John Ryan;
* I Go With Custer, The Life and Death of Reporter Mark Kellogg;
* Shovels & Speculation, Archeologists Hunt Custer;
* Speaking About Custer.

For 23 years, he has been the editor of the annual Greasy Grass magazine published by the Custer Battlefield Historical & Museum Association. A U.S. Army veteran who received the Bronze Star Medal while serving as an intelligence officer in Vietnam in 1968-1969, Barnard holds degrees from Boston College and the University of Missouri School of Journalism. A retired journalism professor at Indiana State University, he lives in Wake Forest, N.C., where he operates AST Press and Rare Books, which includes Indianwarsbooks.com.

PURCHASING SANDY'S BOOKS/GREASY GRASS
Most of Sandy's personal books are also readily available through our web site. A couple of his earlier books are officially out of print, although occasionally we will have copies. To check what is available, simply use our search engine. Likewise, most Greasy Grass issues are available, although the first nine are collectibles and some issues may not always be available. Again, check the web site for current availability.

SANDY AS A SPEAKER
Sandy has gained a popular reputation as a speaker for Custer, Indian Wars, Civil War and other historical groups. He has spoken to Civil War Round Tables from Indiana, Illinois and Kansas to Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Louisiana. He is a frequent speaker at the annual meetings of the Custer Battlefield Historical & Museum Association, Little Bighorn Associates and Order of the Indian Wars. He is equally adept at speaking about Custer, the Little Bighorn battle and the battlefield's archeological projects as well as a wide variety of Civil War-related topics.

Among his more common topics are the battlefield digs, the lives of Mark Kellogg, John Ryan and Joel H. Elliott, and Custer himself during the Indian wars as well as the Civil War. Civil War-related topics include John Ryan's career in the 28th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment and its parent Meagher's Irish Brigade as well as the Civil War career of Major Joel H. Elliott in the 7th Indiana Cavalry Regiment and its related battles. Another favorite topic concerns the 7th U.S. Cavalry during Reconstruction when the regiment roamed portions of the Old South.

To schedule Sandy as a speaker for your group, contact him at 919-453-0577 or e-mail him at SandyB1@aol.com.