Brian Pohanka

Who was Brian Pohanka?

Brian Caldwell Pohanka was a well-known American Civil War author, historian, and preservationist. He consulted for Academy Award winning, Civil War related films, such as Glory and Cold Mountain. He also made a brief and uncredited appearance as general Alexander S. Webb in the 1993 film of the battle of Gettysburg.

Pohanka advised on television documentaries, such as Civil War Journal on The History Channel and the Ken Burns documentary The Civil War. In addition, he was a re-enactor, serving for over a decade as Captain of Company A of the 5th New York Volunteer Infantry, also known as "Duryée's Zouaves." He also attended annual re-enactments at Gettysburg and the Little Bighorn.

Pohanka was named Battlefield Preservationist of the Year in 2004 by the Civil War Preservation Trust and the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust.

He died of cancer in 2005, and was buried at Columbia Gardens Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. He is survived by his wife, Cricket; father, brother and sister, among others.