Happy 2010! We have much to look forward to in the coming year. But let us take a quick look at what happened in 2009. According to Time magazine, the Top 10 ten news stories of 2009 were:
10. The end of Sri Lanka’s Civil War
7. Pakistan: On the Verge of Breakdown
6. The Death of Michael Jackson
4. The Divisive Debate Over Healthcare Reform
3. Iran’s Tumultuous Election and Its Aftermath
2. Afghanistan: Can the U.S. Avoid a Quagmire?
While most news stories, that would make an annual Top 10 list, are going to involve bloodshed, or death, two of last year’s top stories, at Time magazine, did not: “The Divisive Debate Over Healthcare Reform” and “America’s Economic Crisis.” Obviously these stories will continue to make news headlines over the coming year.
After reading Time Magazine’s Top 10 list of news stories for 2009, I decided to assemble my own list. The Top 10 most popular articles on This Mighty Scourge for 2009. While totally unscientific, it certainly points out which articles my readers liked the most. As I have done in previous lists, I have left out the articles on the Wilderness Wal-Mart, and other “calls to action,” as they always tend to enjoy a huge spike with little follow-up readership after a couple of days. My top 10 list for 2009 are articles that have enjoyed consistent readership over long periods during the year. If you haven’t read all of these articles, they are each hyperlinked so you can do so today.
2009 Top 10 List of Articles on This Mighty Scourge
10. Interview with James A. Hessler, author of “Sickles at Gettysburg” (Click HERE to Read)
9. The Battle of the Crater (Click HERE to Read)
8. Interview with Sally Jenkins & John Stauffer co-authors of “The State of Jones.” (Click HERE to Read) This article has been quite controversial and has been picked up by many news outlets due to the ongoing bickering between Stauffer & Jenkins and Vikki Bynum.
7. Gettysburg National Military Park – A Study in Contrasts (Click HERE to Read)
6. Interview with J. David Petruzzi, author of “The Complete Gettysburg Guide” (Click HERE to Read)
5. Antietam – One Bloody Day in September 1862 (Click HERE to Read)
4. Andersonville Prison – A Photo Essay and History (Click HERE to Read)
3. The Fighting 69th New York Infantry and the Irish Brigade (Click HERE to Read)
2. Interview with Earl J. Hess, author of “In the Trenches at Petersburg” (Click HERE to Read)
1. Interview with Jim Lighthizer, President of the Civil War Preservation Trust (Click HERE to Read)
It should be noted that a few articles had very impressive finishes, reaching the top 10 list over the past couple of weeks. Obviously articles that were published earlier in the year, had more time to gain readership. For those of you interested in the articles that round out the top 20, on This Mighty Scourge, continue reading. It’s interesting to note, that my mid-December article, on the Battle of Fredericksburg, came in at 14. A very respectable position for only being available for two weeks.
Filling Out the Top 20 at This Mighty Scourge
11. The Battle of Chancellorsville – Joe Hooker’s Legacy (Click HERE to Read)
12. William T. Sherman – US Major General (Click HERE to Read)
13. Second Manassas – Again the Fields Turned Red (Click HERE to Read)
14. Battle of Fredericksburg – Ambrose Burnside’s First Foray (Click HERE to Read)
15. Robert E. Lee, General – CSA (Click HERE to Read)
16. Battle of the Wilderness – Grant Takes it to Lee (Click HERE to Read)
17. Robert E. Lee Surrenders the Army of Northern Virginia (Click HERE to Read)
18. Wilson’s Creek – the Civil War Breaks Out in the West (Click HERE to Read)
19. Interview with Scott L. Mingus, Sr. – Author of “Flames Beyond Gettysburg” (Click HERE to Read)
20. Albert Sidney Johnston – CSA General (Click HERE to Read)
Thank you for making 2009 a successful year at This Mighty Scourge!
Mike Noirot
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