SARATOGA SPRINGS--James Gandy, librarian for the New York State Military Museum in Saratoga Springs N.Y., holds the 150-year old diary kept by Confederate Army lieutenant James Malbone. Malbone wrote parts of the diary in a homemade code to keep private information about military movements, his sex life, and his musings about the possibility that Varina Davis the wife of Confederate President Jefferson Davis was of African-American ancestry. Malbone's code was recently broken by Queens College associate professor Kent Boklan a former National Security Agency-trained code breaker.
DMNA Press Releases
NY National Guard In the News
Batavia Daily News -- Tue, 26 Aug 2025 Bethany resident in National Guard promoted to staff sergeant Major General Ray Shields, the adjutant general for the state of New York, announces the recent promotion of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their capability... (more)
Times Union -- Mon, 25 Aug 2025 Duty Calls: New York Air National Guard officer honored for 42 years of duty New York Air National Guard Lt. Col. Charles Longlois, of Mayfield in Fulton County, received a Meritorious Service Medal and a New York State Conspicuous Service Medal earlier this month,... (more)
Albany Times Union, Aug. 21 -- Thu, 21 Aug 2025 Duty Calls: West Point grad advances to Army National Guard colonel Mathew Kilgore, an Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran, has advanced to the rank of colonel in the New York Army National Guard. The 2002 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point... (more)