- Growing up on his grandfather's farm near Hardin, Montana, he named the cattle after Civil War generals and battles. After high school, he joined the Marines, seeing action in World War II at Guadalcanal. Machine-gun fire permanently disabled his left arm. After the war, he received a B.S. degree from Georgetown University and a M.A. in history from Indiana University.
- He is a renowned authority on the American Civil War, its battles and personalities. He has written many books on Civil War subjects, and is a sought-after speaker and legendary battlefield tour guide.
- He was hired by the National Park Service, and was assigned to the post of Park Historian at Vicksburg (Mississippi). In 1981, he became Chief Historian for the NPS, and retired in 1995. He continues to participate in round-table discussions and lead groups on battlefield tours.
- His surname rhymes with "sparse".
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