The past issue was our largest to date and it elicited a fair number of complimentary letters. Regarding our question of whether members wanted more historical articles versus gaming information, the concensus opinion seems to be that both have their place in the magazine, but that we should, as much as possible, tie the historical areas into how they might apply to wargaming. Based on your letters, we will try to do this so as to please the greatest number of people. We will fulfill our role as the ACW period wargaming magazine! Expect to see a number of scenarios, reviews, gaming lips, and historically tied in articles coming up. We do encourage mail each issue to let us know if we're moving in the right direction. Strangely enough, we have been inundated with mail from overseas, where the ACW has made some nice inroads in Australia, Scotland, England, and New Zealand. We welcome our overseas members with open arms and hope that we can help them better understand our great struggle between North and South. We also would like to thank MINIATURE WARGAMES magazine for announcing our existence. They are the primary reason for the European mail. At a recent meeting between the editors, finances and our future direction were discussed at length. Costs have been steadily rising, and although we are certain to make it through the end of 1987 without a deficit, future years would not be so certain. A plan was formulated that will guarantee the healthy continuation of the Society and it's publication. Beginning in 1983 the Zouave will be published on a quarterly basis, but in a larger format (more pages). This has been decided due to costs and also to make sure that topics can be covered more in depth. The typical "in-depth" article is likely to run at feast 7 pages, and can often go as long as 10 or 12 pages in length. Based on our current size, this would limit THE ZOUAVE to only three or four articles per issue - too few to satisfy the diverse needs of our membership. A perfect example of this was the fact that we had to cut out three articles that we wanted to run in this issue due to a lack of space. By going to a quarterly publication each issue will contain more information and will allow for more exhaustive research since writers will not have to rush quite so much to make deadlines. We hope that you will understand and not be disappointed. The editors feel that this decision was better than the alternative of raising prices, something that we promised charter members would not happen until 1990. Speaking of Charter Members, many people do not know their status. A list of all Charter Members is contained on a separate page that has been inserted into this issue. As promised, their dues will be $10 per year (for U.S. CM's) through 1989. If sufficient funds are left over at the end of the year, all CM's who renew for 1988 will receive a charter membership card. We are extremely pleased to be able to present a scenario for JOHNNY REB by Dean West, on Jenkin's Ferry, in this issue. It is the best researched and written scenario I have ever read. Mr. West has, more or less, taken over carrying the banner for JOHNNY REB since John Hill has gone on to "other things". We are hoping to have Scotty Bowden, author of STARS 'N BARS, and Paul Koch of ON TO RICHMOND fame also do scenarios for their respective rules sets. Mr. Bowden has already agreed to do this and a recent letter received from Mr. Koch appears to indicate that he will contribute for OTR fans. I would also invite the authors of THIS HALLOWED GROUND and BUGLES, BAYONETS, AND BANNERS to do the same (please consider this an official invitation). I would like to take a moment to acknowledge a fine letter from Dale Bley, of Wisconsin, commenting on historical vrs. gaming related articles. He also had some excellent comments about miniatures. Because of a lack of space, I will only be able to print his statements about miniatures, and to include his "For Sale" advertisement. My thanks to Mr. Bley for the letter! Regarding the various reviews of 15mm figures, I might add my comments. I am particularly fond of the Stone Mountain castings and am quite impressed with their line of ordnance. Perhaps it's my imagination, but my only concern (I say concern, not complaint) is that all of the castings seem to be hunched over slightly and seem to have bad backs. Perhaps I might have a bad back also if I was marching and carrying all that equipment. Anyway, generally I use the Stone Mountain castings but also use Mini-Fig, the old "Confederettes", Frontier, Alliance, and Freikorps - 15. Alliance has very good infantry and cavalry castings but I'm not fond of their artillery. In answer to a question in your review of Freikorps 15 castings, they do make cavalry figures and they are just as good as their infantry. I am especially fond of some of their artillery pieces. Although not as well done as the Stone Mountain artillery, their selection of ordnance is second to none as far as "unusual" pieces. Their 32 pdr. smoothbore "en barbette" is very nice. I would like to see a company come out with some Columbiad guns, and it seems that Stone Mountain is making great strides in coming out with some of the heavier ordnance. My only "wish" is that a company would make a stab at figures in reloading poses. Freikorps 15 has done so, but another company might consider a figure reaching into his cartridge box or using his ramrod. It would be a nice addition to any gamer's collection of mixed-figure units ..... NOTICE OF CONVENTION Join the Horde as the Denver Gamer's Association and the Colorado Military Historians sponsor GENGHIS CON IX as it moves to Winter quarters at the Denver, Colorado Airport Hilton on February 12-14, 1988. Gaming will be of all kinds and the CMH will stage special miniatures events. Pre-registration (until 1/31/88) is $12.00 - $15.00 thereafter. For more information contact the Denver Gamer's Association, P.O. Box 2945, Littleton, Colorado, 80161. NEW ACW GAMING GROUP FORMING IN THE PERMIAN BASIN AREA OF WEST TEXAS We will be using Stars'N Bars III for our simulations. Contact Faron Bell at the address in the ad above this one. Back to The Zouave Vol I No. 4 Table of Contents Back to The Zouave List of Issues Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 1987 The American Civil War Society This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com