Website awards serve a dual function: recognizing excellence in content and design, and building a more intricate and complete set of links to pages with similar themes than might otherwise be possible. While I have enjoyed receiving the awards, I've discovered that the experience of exploring these sites is rewarding in its own right. All of these sites are multiple award winners, and each shows a very different approach to web site design.

I humbly thank those who have extended these awards to my site. As a token of thanks, I have added a brief synopsis of each page, as well as additional links that might be different from those linked to the award images themselves. It's only fitting that each of these pages receives some degree of attention.

November 1, 1999: The Golden Infantry Award. The Golden Infantry Award comes through the excellent 7th West Virginia website, which contains some important information for aspiring reenactors, as well as information on West Virginia's role in the Civil War.

November 10, 1999: The Cyber Pards Award. The man who designed this award and the corresponding 9th Kentucky website is a graphic artist, and the fact becomes quite apparent the moment you access the unit's page. A truly beautiful page.

November 11, 1999: Civil War Site Of Excellence award. In addition to the award site linked from the image to the left, the award's creator maintains an outstanding site on Gettysburg, Turning point at Gettysburg, complete with interactive polls and numerous links to the battle's major figures.

November 12, 1999: Fife and Drum Page Approved Award. Musicians are an integral part of the reenactment experience. From Reveille to Taps, they often provide a closer link to the true experience of the past. The Civil War Fife and Drum Page allows visitors to take a closer look at the musicians who led the troops off to a different world.

November 13, 1999: Majladiv's Award. Majladiv's Reenacting Site contains a great deal of information on reenacting, national battalions (including the National Provost Battalion) and an extensive list of links. This is an especially useful site for reenactors in the South.

November 13, 1999: The Cyber Bivouac Award. Sponsored by the 7th Wisconsin, Company I site. An award winning site filled with the fascinating history of the Iron Brigade, arguably the most famous brigade of fielded by the North in the War Between the States.

November 22, 1999: The Military Division of the Mississippi award. The Military Division of the Mississippi site is a valuable resource for several reason. It chronicles the exploits of Sherman's troops in the latter half of the war, and should be of great interest to those of you interested in the western theater of the war. It also documents an important shift in Southern reenacting culture, from one completely dominated by Confederate impressions to one encompassing a broader range of historical depiction.

December 19, 1999: The Order of Merit Gold Award. Many of us remember buying cards packaged with a nasty little piece of gum. When I was young, Star Wars cards were in vogue. We bought, swapped, and eventually pitched these cards by the dozen, and later cursed our folly when we found out what those cards were worth 20 years later. Paul Moade's Civil War News Card site discusses and illustrates many of the Civil War cards produced in the 60's. If you once owned some of these cards and tossed them out, you might not want to venture onto this page. Those seeking a comprehensive list of Civil War sites should take a look at the four pages of Order of Merit Award recipients.

February 16, 2000: Lady J's Proud American Award. Lady J's site is visually stunning and features a unique level of interaction. Personal, philosophical and poetic, it stands as a testimony to tasteful design and dedication. She also features a number of awards covering a variety of categories. This is a site more easily experienced than described.

February 20, 2000: The Hardtack Award. Many a tooth has been dulled by this most utilitarian of meals. Hard Tack awards are given out to Civil War related websites deemed worthy of the biscuit. I baked some hardtack last year, and am happy to say that the resulting samples are as unappetizing today as the moment they left the oven.

March 200, 2000: The Excellence in Design Award. The US Civil War site contains information on a broad range of political and military issues surrounding the war. The forums, with their lively debates and invaluable information are particularly fascinating.

June 3, 2000: Lee's Legion of Legends Award. The General Lee web site contains a considerable amonut of biographical information on the man we Yankees fear the most. Lee's reputation has been somewhat tarnished as of late, but he was certainly a worthy opponent