All, The long awaited latest book by Stuart L. Butler is now out. *Defending the Old Dominion: Virginia and Its Militia in the War of 1812* (Lanham, MD: University Press of America, Inc., 2013; ISBN 987-0-7618-6040-2) It is the latest acquisition of the Mary Ball Washington Museum & Library. An autographed hardcover book and gift of the author to the Library. This will go down as THE definitive study of the War of 1812 in Virginia. The hardcover version is 622 pages including an every-name index, and a bibliography for the voluminous notes. There are 29 pages of illustrations (but this reader wishes there more!). This is not a list of militia registers, but is a book about the conflicts in Virginia during that war, which took place in Virginia in 1813-1814. I was surprised to see that the publisher was not Heritage Press, as had originally been planned, the last time I talked to the author. However, I am not surprised. Another book, Burials of War of 1812 Veterans in Virginia, of which yours truly was the Assistant Editor, is still not out from that same publishing house, because they cannot seem to figure out to print in a black ink. Oh, its offered for sale on their web site, but I would caution anyone NOT to buy it. That version is not only all in gray scale, but in reduced font that would require a powerful microscope to read. (This issue is still up in the air, but it is a fair statement that when it does get published, it won't be by Heritage Press.)* Back to this book. Stuart Butler is a keen historian whose passion has been the War of 1812. He is a retired archivist of the Library of Congress. He currently lives in Williamsburg. The depth of sources he has tapped for this book spans both sides of the Atlantic, newspapers, and a wealth of other information. If your ancestor(s) were in the War of 1812 in Virginia, you will read about what happened in these pages. And don't forget: The end of this war is what really opened the flood gates for out-migration from Virginia to the new frontiers, especially Missouri and Arkansas where bounty land was available. If you are looking to fill in some history on your ancestor from this time period, you'll want to use this book as a reference. (You'll also want to use Butler's other book, Guide to Virginia Militias in the War of 1812.) Happy Hunting, all! Craig Kilby *In the meantime, I will entertain look-ups in this book if you suspect your ancestor was in the War of 1812 and buried in Virginia