There's nothing profound that I can write in this editorial in light of the most recent tragedy in New York, Pennsylvania and the Capitol. I wonder how did our nation's citizens of 1861 feel when they heard about the cannonading of Fort Sumter or the advance of General McDowell's Union army into Virginia. Surely news of John Brown's crusade caused much anxiety to a certain segment of US society. What's hard for us to imagine is that back in the mid-1800's, the world far away was to many in America just a couple of states away. More importantly may be the question of who was more patriotic: the American of 2001 or the American of 1861?

From that question, I'll move back to this issue. The reader will find not one or two, but three excellent scenarios by Scott Mingus and Roxanne Patton. Also, we have product reviews by Curt Campbell, John Bryant and your editor that will have you adding to your Holiday list. Thank you Curt, John, Roxanne & Scott, and thank you reader. God bless America.

PS - There's errata for Dean West's scenario for Piedmont, VA, (that appeared in issue 53) on page 21.