Steve Isberg at the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum: Ellicott City

by Catherine Leidemer

Steve Isberg’s penchant for strategy, analysis and risk management extends well beyond teaching UB students the ins and outs of corporate finance and credit management. Turns out those same skills come in handy on the battlefield, where the longtime professor of finance can be found several weekends a year taking part in large-scale re-enactments of famous Civil War engagements.

Q. How did you become involved in Civil War re-enacting?

A. When my son expressed an interest in Civil War history, we contacted a local re-enactment group and visited them during an event at the Carroll County Farm Museum. Within several minutes, he was fully outfitted in a Union infantry uniform, and they were making plans for him to serve as a flag bearer.

When the re-enactors found out that I had experience as an emergency medical technician, they introduced me to their field medical officer, who provides actual first aid and other emergency medical services in camp and on the field. That afternoon, I was on the field wearing a Union infantry uniform and carrying 21st-century EMS equipment in my field bags.

Within a month, I was an official member of Company B, 3rd Maryland Infantry (Union) and the 53rd North Carolina Infantry (Confederate), carrying the rank of hospital steward. By the end of the year, I owned about $5,000 of uniforms, equipment and Civil War camping gear. I was hooked.

Q. What keeps it interesting—the thrill of battle or the idea of being a part of living history?

A. What really keeps my interest is the opportunity to interact with the public and teach them about the U.S. Civil War. My favorite re-enactment events are those involving living history exhibits, presentations and discussions. These range from manning an exhibit station at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park to talking with visitors around the campfire.

Q. Do you think your students have any idea that the same person who tweets about homework assignments also moonlights as a Civil War-era medical officer?

A. On the few occasions in which it has come up in class, the students have been interested in hearing about it. I have always found that students are interested in knowing who you are outside of the classroom; it makes you seem like more of a human being, which is a good thing (most of the time!).