Brian Caldwell Pohanka (March 20, 1955 – June 15, 2005) was an American Civil War author, historian, and preservationist.

Early life

Brian Caldwell Pohanka was born on March 20, 1955, in Washington, D.C., to John Pohanka. He graduated from Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C. He graduated with a history degree from Dickinson College in 1977.

Career

Pohanka consulted for Civil War related films, such as Glory and Cold Mountain. He also made a brief and uncredited appearance as Union general Alexander S. Webb in the 1993 film of the battle of Gettysburg. Pohanka advised on popular television documentaries, such as Civil War Journal on The History Channel and the Ken Burns documentary The Civil War. In addition, he was a reenactor and living historian, 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 reenactments 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.

Death

Pohanka married Marlynne "Cricket". Pohanka died of melanoma on June 15, 2005, at his home in Alexandria, Virginia. He was buried at Columbia Gardens Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Legacy

In 2006, Dickinson College created a Faculty Chair in American Civil War History position in his memory, which has been held by history professor and noted Abraham Lincoln scholar Matthew Pinsker. In 2011, Gettysburg College created a Student Summer Internship program in his memory, which as of 2024 has served more than 100 students.

Published works