March - Delaware Valley Civil War Roundtable

Case Shot & Canister
1B
A Publication of the Delaware Valley Civil War Round Table
Partners with Manor College and the Civil War Institute
Our 23rd Year
March 2015
Volume 25
Number 3
4B
5B
Editor
Patricia Caldwell
Contributors
Hugh Boyle,
Book Nook Editor
Rose Boyle
Nancy Caldwell,
Artistic Adviser
Paula Gidjunis
Robert Hicks
Carol Ingald
Bernice Kaplan
Herb Kaufman
Walt Lafty
Jack Lieberman
Zack Margolies
Jane Peters Estes
Cindy Reihmann
Max Reihmann
Patricia Rosso
Larry Vogel
Andy Waskie
Happy St. Patrick’s Day
The LEGO Irish “Brickade”
Our March Meeting
“The Awful Harvest of Gettysburg, and the
Remarkable Year at Turner’s Lane”
Presenter: Mütter Museum Director – Dr. Robert Hicks
Original Photos
Patricia Caldwell (unless
otherwise noted)
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
7:30 pm
6:15 pm for dinner (all welcome!)
Radisson Hotel
Route 1 @ Old Lincoln Highway
Trevose, PA
Officers
President
Hugh Boyle
Vice President
Jerry Carrier
Treasurer
Herb Kaufman
Secretary
Patricia Caldwell
3BU
e-mail: [email protected]
phone: (215)638-4244
website: www.dvcwrt.org
HU
HU
U
U
mailing addresses:
for membership:
2601 Bonnie Lane
Huntingdon Valley PA 19006
Dinner Menu – Chicken Parmesan. Served with soup du jour,
rolls/butter, iced tea, soda, dessert.
Substitute: Pasta (chef’s selection).
U
for newsletter items:
3201 Longshore Avenue
Philadelphia PA 19149-2025
Contact Rose Boyle at [email protected] or 215-638-4244 for
reservations by March 12. Dinner Price $24.00
You are responsible for dinners not cancelled
by Monday morning March 16.
In This Issue
he coined. This presentation recounts the
achievements of Turner’s Lane with emphasis on the
regimen followed by these three young physicians
that produced scientific insights which secured the
discipline of American neurology. The presentation
previews the permanent exhibition of “the real war”
at The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, Broken
Bodies, Suffering Spirits: Injury, Death, and Healing
in Civil War Philadelphia.
Last call for 2015 Dues
Member News and Upcoming Events
Paula Gidjunis with the latest in Preservation
News
 Washington DC Assassination events detailed
by Bernice Kaplan
 Our Book Nook looks at the closing year of
the Sesquicentennial, the long-awaited winners of
the Sickles movie nominations, and two succinct
and to-the-point book reviews by Walt Lafty and
Zack Margolies
 Max Reihmann shares a visit to Falling Waters
 Fort Bragg squared – an interesting chronicle
from Walt Lafty
 Bernice Kaplan shares her thoughts on the
waning days of the Sesquicentennial in a “What I
Think About That” segment
 Paula Gidjunis was once again “Around Town”
 A St. Patrick’s Day Vignette from Larry Vogel
 Commemoration of the Sesquicentennial
continues with events of March 1865



Our speaker, Robert D. Hicks, PhD is the director of
the Mütter Museum and Historical Medical Library
of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia.
Formerly, he supervised exhibits, collections, and
educational outreach at the Chemical Heritage
Foundation in Philadelphia. He has worked with
museum-based education and exhibits for over three
decades, primarily as a consultant to historic sites and
museums. Robert has a doctorate in maritime history
from the University of Exeter, United Kingdom, and
degrees in anthropology and archaeology from the
University of Arizona. Dr. Hicks received the Del
Val CWRT Award of Merit in November 2014.
[Editor’s Note – see the Civil War Vignette “A
Grimm Connection to the Civil War” that discusses
Dr. Mitchell in Case Shot & Canister, September
2012, pp 9-10.]
Innovative Treatment
From their disparate
backgrounds, Philadelphia
physicians S. Weir
Mitchell, William W.
Keen, and George R.
Morehouse assembled one
of the most unusual and
important temporary
hospital wards during the
last year of the Civil War at Turner’s Lane in
Philadelphia. The rehabilitative care afforded to 160
soldiers at Turner’s Lane, many of whom had been
wounded at Gettysburg, provided an unparalleled
opportunity to study diseases and wounds of the
nerves, particularly peripheral nerve injuries.
Mitchell, the leader of the team, and his colleagues
were conscious of the history-making nature of their
work: “The opportunity was indeed unique and we
knew it … it was exciting in its constancy of novel
interest.” Mitchell’s literary talents produced
benchmark treatises on nerve injuries and popular
fiction based on Turner’s Lane, most famously
regarding the “phantom limb” phenomenon, a term
It is hard to believe that someday the snow, ice
and cold will end, but it will, and I am sure you
all share the same thought that it cannot come
fast enough. I think we all have had enough.
Spring means better weather, lots of sun and it
also means the annual Bensalem Reenactment.
Trust me, it is not that far off. It is back on track
in its old spot of the last weekend in April. Yes,
we are again, as we have been for over 20 years,
in charge of the registration. Mary Ann Hartner
again will be handling the reenactors’
registration with the help of Carol Ingald. The
two of them have made the on-site registration
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run like clockwork, but as always we need more
volunteers from the Delaware Valley Civil War
Round Table for the Friday registration, and on
Saturday and Sunday for collection of the
donations on the battlefield. We will have that
old signup sheet at the March meeting as always.
Each year when we gather together it is much
more than doing a job – it is a chance to gather
and be with friends. To put it simply, we have a
good time together and I for one look forward to
that, so when that signup sheet comes around,
sign up and join the party. It is a good time and
for a good cause. See you all there.
APRIL 21
Member William Vosseler
“General George ‘Rock of
Chickamauga’ Thomas – The
No Apologies Tour”
MAY 19
Historian Jane Peters Estes
“The Battle of Gettysburg – Where
Were the Women”
Hugh Boyle
President
JUNE 16
Member Paula Gidjunis
“A Country Worth Fighting For – A
History of the 128th
Pennsylvania Volunteer
Infantry”
JULY 21
Book Discussion Night
Topic to be Announced
MAY BRAIN TEASERS
1 – Which Union general became the Governor
of Massachusetts?
2 – What Medal of Honor recipient was the last
surviving Civil War general living until April 13 th,
1933?
3 – Of 8 Rebel gunboats which was the only one
to escape the battle of Memphis unscathed?
AUGUST 18
Historian/Actor Millicent Sparks
1st Person – Harriet Tubman
SEPTEMBER 15
Dr. Andy Waskie
“The Role of the Germans in
the Civil War”
(Answers in next month’s newsletter!)
ANSWERS TO THE BRAIN TEASERS 1865
1 – On what date in 1865 did the 13th Amendment
pass the House of Representatives? – January 31
th
2 – On what date was the 13 Amendment
ratified? – December 6
3 – On what date did Lincoln meet with the
Confederate Commissioners? – February 2
4 – Where did Lincoln meet with these
commissioners? – Hampton Roads
5 – Who were the Confederate Commissioners? –
Alexander Stephens, Robert M.T. Hunter, and
John A. Campbell
OCTOBER 20
Herb Kaufman
“The Medical Treatment of
our Four Assassinated Presidents”
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FROM THE TREASURER’S DESK
Greetings to all the members of the
Delaware Valley CWRT!
Can you believe it, it is 2015, our 23rd Year!!
First I wish to expressly thank all the members of our Round Table
who have already sent in their 2015 annual dues.
Your interest and participation in the Round Table are much appreciated.
Thanks to all members who are attending our monthly meetings.
The Program Committee has a great list of speakers for the coming year.
Remember, it is your Round Table.
Let us know of your interests and how the Delaware Valley CWRT
can best provide you with education, friendship, and an enjoyable evening.
As went enter 2015, your annual dues are due.
We have some really great programs and discussions planned,
and we hope that you will remain a member of our renowned Round Table.
Dues remain only $25.00 ($35.00 for the entire family).
If you wish to continue to have our outstanding Journal, Case Shot & Canister,
sent by mail, please add a donation of $10. for the year, in addition to your dues.
Please bring your dues to the next meeting, or mail your dues payable to:
“DELAWARE VALLEY CWRT”
to: Herb Kaufman, Treasurer,
2601 Bonnie Lane,
Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006.
We hope that everyone will come out to a meeting and join in the
discussions.
It’s a great night out with friends who share your interests and
enthusiasm for this era.
All the best, I hope to see you at a future meeting,
Herb Kaufman, Treasurer
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Carol and Jack Lieberman (below, far right)
provided a photo of the Lincoln’s Day/Valentine’s
Day Ball which they hosted at the Union League on
February 14.
March 20 to June 07, 2015 (ongoing) “Lincoln and the Jews” – Exhibit – New York
Historical Society Museum & Library, 170
Central Park West, NY – Focuses on the
significant, and hitherto unknown, relationships and
interactions between Abraham Lincoln and his
Jewish friends and associates. Through never-before
displayed original documents, artifacts, photographs,
Lincoln's own writings, and first person accounts, the
exhibition will trace events in Lincoln’s life through the
lens of his Jewish contemporaries. The exhibit will
explore Lincoln’s profound interest in and connection
to the Old Testament, as exemplified in his wish to
see Jerusalem before he died. For additional
information and exhibit times: (212) 873-3400 or visit
http://www.nyhistory.org/exhibitions/lincoln-and-thejews?utm_source=mail2&utm_medium=email&utm_c
ampaign=NYHS-enews
March 28, 2015 – Saturday – 12:00 noon
(cocktails), 1:00 pm (luncheon) – Annual
GAR Museum Preservation Luncheon –
“Women’s Lifestyles of the Civil War Era” was the
topic presented by Jane Peters Estes to the
Camp Olden CWRT on March 5.
Cannstatter Volksfest Verein, 9130 Academy Rd.
Philadelphia. Cost: $45 pp - $85 per couple. Choice
of Beef, Chicken, or Salmon. 11am open for book
browsing, and signings; “Fortune’s Fool” – John
Wilkes Booth & the Lincoln Assassination by noted
historian Dr. Terry Alford. Presentation of the ‘Grand
Army Award’ for preservation efforts. Fundraiser
raffle of prints; door prizes; books. To reserve
contact: [email protected]; or call:215-289-6484
Deadline to reserve: March 21, 2014. Flyer page 16.
On March 3 Herb Kaufman addressed the CWRT
of Eastern PA on “The Medical Treatment of Our
Assassinated Presidents.” Herb will repeat this
program at Old Baldy CWRT on March 12 and at
Del Val in October.
April 12, 2015 – Sunday – 1:30 pm – GAR
Museum & Library Sunday Open House &
Program – 4278 Griscom St, Philadelphia –
“The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln” –
Carol Neumann Waskie will discuss “19th Century
Women Who Made a Difference" at the
Middletown Free Library in Media on March 14.
Presentation by local Lincoln historian Hugh Boyle.
Free and open to the public. Donations appreciated.
For info 215-289-6484.
Paula Gidjunis will speak on the history of the
128th Pa on Monday, March 16 at the Newtown
Historical Society. Paula will repeat this program
for us at our June meeting.
April 12, 2015 – Sunday – 1:00 pm – Special
'Appomattox - End of the Civil War' Tour –
Laurel Hill Cemetery. Featuring notables interred
here who were principally engaged in the events that
led to the surrender of the Confederate forces. Tour
will be led by Dr. Andy Waskie and Russ Dodge,
Historians. Cost $20 Donation requested.
Information: 215-228-8200.
On March 16 Andy Waskie will address the Major
Charles Izard Maceuen Civil War Round Table at
the Union League of Philadelphia on the story of
its namesake, who was also a founding member of
the Union League.
April 18-19, 2015 – Saturday & Sunday –
11:00 each day – Grand Opening of The War
Came By Train – The Year of 1865 – Abraham
Lincoln – The Final Journey to Baltimore &
Lincoln’s Funeral Train – Funeral Cortege
On March 21, Hugh Boyle will speak on the Lincoln
Assassination at the Middletown Library in Media.
5
THE DATE!! – Manor College, 700 Fox Chase
Re-enactment and Federal Brass Band
Performance – Baltimore B&O Railroad
Museum, Baltimore, MD – This weekend only see
th
Road, Jenkintown. Re-enactment by the 28 PA,
black powder weapons demonstrations, special
appearance and narration by Harriet Tubman (Ms.
Millicent Sparks), various generals and historical
figures, artifacts, medical display, information from
local organizations, Del Val book sale. Family fun.
Call 215-884-2218 for more information. And watch
this newsletter for details as they become available.
the reenactment of Lincoln’s funeral with an exact
replica of Lincoln’s coffin, period music, and military
and civilian reenactors. A CW locomotive decorated
as Lincoln’s funeral train and life after the war will be
highlighted through the remainder of 2015. For more
info see http://www.borail.org/Civil-War.aspx
https://www.facebook.com/2015LincolnFuneralTrain
June 4-7, 2015 – Thursday to Sunday – Starr
Tours – Civil War Trails: Lexington and
Appomattox – with Jane Peters Estes
April 21, 2015 – Tuesday – 1:00 pm –
“President Abraham Lincoln – The Final
Journey – Baltimore B&O Railroad Museum,
Baltimore, MD – Portrayed by Richard Frederick
– History buffs and tourists alike will love this
fascinating trip as Starr's own Civil War Historian
guides you through one of the most resonant and
fascinating episodes in American history. For prices
and detailed itinerary see
www.starrtours.com/tours/details/2489
Tour will be repeated October 29-November 1, 2015.
“Fritz” Klein. This one-time, one performance only is
open to the public free of charge beginning at 12:00
noon. Don’t miss this one hour, 1st person
interpretation program by American actor Fritz Klein
as he portrays President Lincoln and his final journey,
one of the Nation Park Service’s “funeral” stops
commemorating the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s
Funeral Train. For details
http://www.borail.org/April.aspx
June 27-July 3, 2015 – Saturday to Friday –
Starr Tours – Land of Lincoln: Springfield, IL
and St. Louis, MO – with Jane Peters Estes –
Learn about Lincoln's Heritage and enjoy a
Mississippi riverboat cruise aboard the Spirit of
Peoria featuring live entertainment, wonderful meals,
wildlife, music, storytelling, and more. Tour Includes:
Spirit of Peoria Riverboat Cruise, Abraham Lincoln
Presidential Museum, Lincoln Home National Historic
Site, Lincoln’s Tomb at Oak Ridge Cemetery,
Lincoln's New Salem Historic Site, Anheuser-Busch
Brewery Tour, Missouri Civil War Museum. Some
meals included. For prices and detailed itinerary see
http://www.starrtours.com/tours/details/2378
Tour will be offered again September 19-25, 2015.
April 25-26, 2015 – Saturday & Sunday – 9:00
am, all day – 26th Annual Neshaminy Civil
War Reenactment – “The Final Campaign –
March 29, 1865” – Neshaminy State Park. Camps
open 9:00am - Battles at 2:00pm on Saturday and
1:30pm on Sunday. Military and civilian reenactors;
Union and Confederate camps where troops will
demonstrate military and camp scenes and discuss
aspects of Civil War history; demos of troops drilling,
mounted cavalry, artillery; living history presentations,
period music; sutlers' tent village selling period items,
jewelry, crafts, military items, souvenirs etc.; food
vendors plus picnic facilities. Parking lots close to all
of the action. Fun and educational for every member
of the family. Free Admission and Free Parking! Near
Street Road Exit of I-95. For directions or info:
www.neshaminyreenactment.org;.
May 3, 2015 – Saturday – 8:00 am to 5:00pm General Meade Society Spring Trip to Meade
sites in Philadelphia at his 200th Anniversary
By Paula Gidjunis,
Preservation Committee Chair
– Itinerary: 'Meade’s homes, Union League; Meade
Monuments and memorials; Meade family graves at
Laurel Hill; buffet luncheon at the fabled ‘McGillins’
Old Ale Pub.8:00am departure from the Cannstatter,
5:00pm arrive back at the Cannstatter. Cost - $75 per
person complete: bus, tours, donations, luncheon,
refreshments. All funds over costs go to the Meade
Society. Contact: Jerry McCormick [email protected] 215-848-7753
RAFFLE TIME
At this month’s meeting on March 17th, the
Preservation Committee will hold our yearly “goodie
basket” raffle. We will appreciate your support.
We also will be sending around a signup sheet for
our Gettysburg cleanup on April 11th. If you care to
join us, we meet at East Cemetery Hill on Baltimore
Street at 10:00 AM.
May 17, 2015 – Sunday – Time TBA – Manor
College Civil War Living History Day – SAVE
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HELP NEEDED
ANTIETAM EAST WOODS INTRUSION
A reminder that the Preservation Committee has a
busy 2015 schedule and will need extra help. If you
are interested in helping out at any of the events,
please feel free to speak to myself or any of the other
members of the committee who are: Carol Ingald, Jim
and Linda Dover, Mary Ann Hartner, Rich
Jankowski, Herb Kaufman, Matt Bruce, Walt Lafty,
John Shivo, Alan Ash and Tom Donnelly. We
appreciate any time you can allow, you don’t have to
stay the entire day, a few hours can be a big help.
Save Historic Antietam Foundation (SHAF) reports
that the owner of the lone house that sits in the
middle of the East Woods along the Smoketown
Road is building a barn on the property. While the
entire battlefield boundary is under a special zoning
restriction applying to houses and commercial
structures, there are none for agricultural buildings.
This has brought to light the loose easements in place
which the NPS had to allow in the 1970’s in order to
get farmers to place their property under easements
for the park. Hopefully in the near future a review
can take place to revise potential easements.
We will be selling books, magazines and other items
at these events:
 Neshaminy Reenactment at Neshaminy State
Park – April 24-26
 Manor Day, Manor College, Jenkintown, Pa,
http://www.manor.edu/conted/upcoming-events.php – May 17
 Pennypacker Mills Reenactment,
5 Haldeman Road, Schwenksville, Pa,
www.civilwarreunion.org – May 30-31
CONTINUING – GALUSHA PENNYPACKER
EXHIBIT
Pennypacker Mills continues its exhibit on the life of
Galusha Pennypacker through March 15, 2015.
Pennypacker is considered to be the youngest Union
General and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his
actions at Fort Fisher, N. C. in January 1865. Galusha
was the second cousin of Samuel Pennypacker, a
former Governor of Pennsylvania, who owned
Pennypacker Mills. This exhibit, along with a tour of
the house, is free. Check for hours at
http://www.montcopa.org/pennypackermills
For other events where we can use your help, we will
be sending around sign up sheets in the future:
 Gettysburg Spring Cleanup – Saturday, April
11th with a rain date of April 18th
 Gettysburg Fall Cleanup – Saturday October
17th with a rain date of November 7th
(If you can make the main date on these but cannot
commit to the rain date, this is not a problem, just let
us know.)
Washington DC Commemorates the
Lincoln Assassination
WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?
By Bernice Kaplan
This is the 19th year that the CWRT’s Preservation
Committee has been in existence. I thought this
might be a good opportunity to remind everyone
where the funds have been distributed, in no
particular order: Pennsylvania Monuments
Campaign at Gettysburg, Montgomery Cemetery
(various projects), 90th Pa. monuments at Antietam
and Gettysburg, Burnside Bridge at Antietam, Infraray camera at Gettysburg, The Daniel Lady Farm at
Gettysburg, GAR Museum (various projects),
Restoration of Old Baldy’s Head, Fort Gaines
(Alabama), Civil War Trust (various projects), Silent
Sentinel statue at Laurel Hill Cemetery, Central
Virginia Battlefield Trust, Camp William Penn, and
the Confederate Museum in New Orleans.
Two locales in the nation’s capital will have
ongoing exhibits and events to commemorate the
150th anniversary of the assassination of President
Lincoln, along with the Civil War generally.
The NEWSEUM at 555 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
will feature a new exhibit entitled “President
Lincoln is Dead: The New York Herald Reports the
Assassination”. This exhibit will be on display
through January 10, 2016. You can see the first
ever display of all seven New York Herald special
editions from April 15, 1865, beginning with the 2
a.m. edition containing the first Associated Press
report that Lincoln was shot.
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*The Lincoln Assassination (Core) – 1.2 CEUs –
12 hrs – The assassination of our 16th president
will be studied as an historical event. The military,
social and legal aspects of 1865 will be analyzed.
Special emphasis will be given to the conduct of
the military commission that tried the alleged
conspirators. Guilty or not guilty? Justice or no
justice?
DATES:
Thursdays, April 9-30, May 7, May 21
(no class on May 14)
FEE:
$150
INSTRUCTOR:
Hugh Boyle
Also on display indefinitely at the NEWSEUM is
“Blood and Ink: Front Pages from the Civil War” –
more than 30 historic front pages (spanning the
length of the war) from Northern and Southern
newspapers showing both Union and Confederate
viewpoints, challenges faced by reporters on the
battlefield and the new technology that
revolutionized war reporting.
The NEWSEUM is open daily from 9am to 5pm,
and fees vary. For detailed information call 888639-7386 or visit www.newseum.org
**Medicine in the Civil War- .8 CEUs – 8 hrs –
This course will explore the work of doctors and
nurses who ministered to the sick and wounded
before antibiotics and the science of bacteriology
existed, when crude sanitation and ignorance of
the dangers of polluted water were deadly. In the
Civil War, more soldiers died of disease than of
battle wounds. The course will explain how
military doctors became medical explorers in
treating disease, and why there were so many
amputations. You will see how the medicine of the
day met the horror of the battlefield.
DATE:
Mondays, April 13-27, May 4
(This course has been expanded to four weeks)
FEE:
$79
INSTRUCTOR:
Herb Kaufman, M.Ed.
The second venue is Ford’s Theatre, 511 Tenth St,
NW, Washington, D.C. The Theatre is presenting
“Ford’s 150: Remembering the Lincoln
Assassination”. The programs include:
 Freedom’s Song: Abraham Lincoln and the
Civil War. An Epic Musical. March 13 –
May 20, 2015
 Silent Witnesses: Artifacts of the Lincoln
Assassination. March 23 – May 25, 2015
 The Lincoln Tribute – April 14-15, 2015 –
An around the clock event.
For additional information www.fords.org or call
1-800-982-2787 or 202-347-4833.
The Civil War Institute
Our Winter Woes Continue
By Pat Caldwell, Editor
Our Winter/Spring semester is winding down –
and of course, we’re hoping for good weather
going forward! We still have two courses to offer
– one core course and one elective.
As a result of the several inches of snow that fell
on overnight of Monday February 16 to Tuesday
February 17, combined with the predicted single
digit temperatures, President Hugh Boyle, with
the advice of the officers and several members
of the of the Board, regretfully made the decision
to cancel our February meeting scheduled for that
night. A number of our members had already made
the decision not to attend in order to avoid driving
on roads that were likely to pose dangerous
conditions.
Classes may be taken as part of the certificate
program or individually. Completion of your
choice of four of six Core courses, and any four
elective courses is required to receive the
certificate. Call (215) 884-2218 to register or for an
application for the certificate program, or online at
www.manor.edu/cont-ed/civil-war/courses.php
Class hours are 6:30 till 8:30 pm. Manor College is
located at 700 Fox Chase Road in Jenkintown, PA.
We endeavored to contact all of our members with
an email blast, and updates to our Facebook page
* Indicates Core Course
** Indicates Elective Course
8
and webpage. Hopefully, we were able to reach
everyone. If you have not already provided us with
your email address, please take this opportunity to
do so, in order that we can reach you for any
other contingency. Please share your contact
information with Herb Kaufman
([email protected]) and with me
([email protected]). Thanks!!!
And the Envelope, Please?
Several months ago we posed the question to you – if
Dan Sickles’ life was portrayed in a movie, who
would be good candidates to play the roles of some
of the characters in his life? Let’s just say, some of
you really stretched your imaginations!! And there
were no clear-cut casting winners!!! Since it’s Oscar
season, here’s what you voted!
Dan Sickles – Gary Sinise, Johnny Depp, Clive
Owen, Jack Nicholson, Gene Hackman, Daniel
Craig, Bill Murray, Matthew McConaughey
The
Book
Nook
Teresa Sickles – Jennifer Lawrence, Miley Cyrus,
Winona Ryder, Salma Hayek, Selena Gomez
Philip Barton Key – Bradley Cooper, Kevin Kline,
Sting, Matt Dillon, Daniel Craig, Ben Affleck
Queen Isabella – Judy Densch, Helen Mirren,
Angelina Jolie, Kate Flannery, Cate Blanchett,
Jennifer Lopez
U
Edwin Stanton – Bruce McGill, Paul Giamatti, Rainn
Wilson, Tommy Lee Jones
By Hugh Boyle, Book Editor
Fanny White – Emily Blunt, Kate Winslet, Helena
Bonham Carter, Nicole Kidman (with a knowing nod
to Frank Avato)
What’s next for 2015 and beyond?
James Buchanan – Steve Buscemi, Gordon Clapp,
George Segal, James Carville
Here we are – now in the last year of the 150th
remembrance of the Civil War, and we all have had a
great opportunity to read the books and watch the
shows and movies that were here for our enjoyment.
But what’s next? Will the books run a lot slower, will
the movies run a little fewer, will the TV channels,
such as C-Span and the History Channel, the
Military Channel and the others suddenly turn away
from the Civil War? We will have to see, but for
those of us who are involved in this Civil War
community, our desire will not diminish. It does
seem that the enthausisiam and drive has slowed
down in the last year. What ever happened to that
truck that was going to go around from state to state
with all those items relating to the history of the Civil
War? Did it run out of gas somewhere on the
turnpike? We have just begun remembering the
events of that most important year 1865, and outside
of the Lincoln assassination, what do we hear about
1865? Yes, the commemoration will end, but not for
us. We as a round table will go on, together we will
go on. So let’s look ahead to more learning, more
information and more good times.
Only Helen Mirren received more than one
nomination for a singular character, although Daniel
Craig was nominated for both male leads.
Special mention to Cindy Reihmann who was the
first to respond – within 10 minutes of receiving the
email.
And the best comments on why a particular person
was nominated? Paula Gidjunis for Jack Nicholson –
“he has that diabolic look”, and Cindy Reihmann for
Gary Sinise – “already adept at acting on one leg (as
Lt. Dan in Forrest Gump)”.
Thanks to all who took the time to respond – Cindy
Reihmann, Rose Boyle, Dor DeLong, Jerry Carrier,
Ed Greenawald, Walt Lafty, MaryAnn Duvall, Paula
Gidjunis and Cathy Smith.
9
To that end, the author provides a detailed study of
the politics, military strategy, and operations of both
sides. The book is well written, well researched and
uses excellent maps and photographs.
… that of the 546 nuns known to have
served as battlefield nurses, 289 were
from Ireland, 40 were from Germany,
and 12 were from France.
The only downside for me was that the book is 484
pages, then another 130 pages of notes, bibliography
and index, all of which were good. But, as a very
slow book reader, that was a bit much for this
reviewer. Others may not find the length of the book
as long and some may even look at it as a short story
(cough). Having said that, I can’t imagine Mr.
Fonvielle covering such detailed material any other
way.
The NY Times is running a feature entitled
Disunion on its Opinion Pages. It’s a daily
chronicle of the events of 150 years ago today.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/categor
y/disunion/
HU
Stackpole Books, 2001; 644 pages; retail $25.00,
also available on Amazon new & used for $12.69
U
Embattled Rebel – Jefferson
Davis as Commander-in-Chief
The Wilmington Campaign –
Last Rays of Departing Hope
By James M. McPherson
By Chris E. Fonvielle, Jr.
Reviewed by Zack Margolies
Reviewed by Walt Lafty
I just finished reading Embattled Rebel – Jefferson
Davis as Commander in
Chief. It's the latest book by
James M. McPherson.
For those interested in the
Civil War in North Carolina,
especially during the final
months of the War, The
Wilmington Campaign: Last
Rays of Departing Hope is an
excellent book.
Jefferson Davis is the guy
yelling to his team trailing by
10 runs in the bottom of the
ninth, "come on guys, you can
do it." He stayed the course,
never gave up, rallied the
troops on the home front and
on the battlefield, shuffled generals,
felt the pain due to severe shortages and defeats,
absorbed the slings and arrows of the press and his
countrymen, showed compassion that was perceived
as weakness by not shooting deserters, tried
negotiation for a two-state solution, and was willing
to do the unthinkable – compromise on slavery.
Author Chris E. Fonvielle Jr.
does an outstanding job of
examining the importance of
Wilmington N.C. and the Cape Fear area, to the
Confederate war efforts. By the spring and summer
of 1864 it had become an embarrassment to the U.S.
Navy that Wilmington remained open as the last
Confederate port on the Atlantic coast.
Mr. Fonvielle begins with detailed history of the port,
the defending forts, and some terrific data regarding
blockading and blockade running along the
southeastern coast of North Carolina. By chapter
three of the 13 chapters, he moves quickly to the
preparations of both the Union and the Confederacy
in attacking and defending their respective concerns
at Wilmington.
Davis' pre-war experience in Mexico and as Secretary
of War prepared him for the job. You come away
from the book thinking of him as a competent,
sympathetic leader.
Penguin Press, 2014; 320 pages; retail $32.95, also
available on Amazon new & used for $5.19
10
crossfire zones. Longstreet's Corps occupied the
right (southern) end of the line close to the
Falling Waters crossing point, Hill's Corps the
center, and Ewell's Corps the left (northern)
portion of the line closest to Williamsport. These
works were completed on the morning of July
12, just as the Union army arrived to confront
them. Of interest is that Ewell’s Corps actually
crossed back into West Virginia separately at
Williamsport, MD by fording the Potomac River
on July 13-14.
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It is best to drive to Williamsport, MD to get to
the Falling Waters crossing site. There is a
Chesapeake and Ohio National Canal Museum
in Williamsport that offers free parking. It takes
approximately 3.5 hours to drive to
Williamsport, MD from the Philadelphia area
using the Pennsylvania Turnpike and taking
RT81 south out of Carlisle, PA. The canal
museum is located on the banks of the Potomac
River. The C&O canal and canal path runs
parallel to the Potomac River on the Maryland
side of the Potomac River.
A Visit to Falling Waters
Article & Photos by Max Reihmann
The Falling Waters crossing refers to the area
where Longstreet’s and Hill’s corps of the Army
of Northern Virginia (ANV), along with General
Lee himself, crossed the Potomac River from
Maryland back into West Virginia on the
evening of July 13 and the early morning hours
of July 14, 1863, ending the invasion of
Pennsylvania. The ANV was trapped due to
torrential rains that had started on July 4,
flooding the Potomac River at Williamsport, MD,
making fording there back into Virginia
impossible. Four miles downstream at the
Falling Waters crossing site, Union cavalry
dispatched from Harpers Ferry, WV by Maj.
Gen. William H. French had destroyed Lee's
lightly guarded pontoon bridge on July 4.
In order to visit the actual Falling Waters
crossing site, four miles distant, one must hike
or bike the C&O canal path. The Falling Waters
crossing point on the Potomac River is
downstream from Williamsport; so turn left out
of the museum parking lot onto the canal path
as you face the Potomac River. The crossing
point is identified on the canal path by a
historic marker (see photograph below).
Falling Waters is the name of a town on the
West Virginia side of the Potomac River. It is
most likely that the Confederates may still have
considered Falling Waters to be in Virginia but
West Virginia had already been admitted into
the Union as a new state on June 20, 1863. The
Confederates set about building another
pontoon bridge at the Falling Waters crossing
site after the ANV reached the area on July 7.
Falling Waters historical marker on the
C&O canal path
There are also old bridge abutments at the
crossing site that were once part of a bridge that
spanned the C&O canal. It is not known
whether the remains of the bridge there today
were actually used by the ANV in crossing the
canal, but the C&O canal was in use in 1863,
so some bridge to span the canal must have
been present. The remains of the canal bridge,
along with the historical marker, are
approximately two hundred yards from the
banks of the Potomac River. The land between
the canal and the river is farmed and is most
The ANV took up defensive positions on a 6-mile
line of high ground with their right resting on
the Potomac River and their left about 1.5 miles
southwest of Hagerstown, MD covering the only
road from there to Williamsport, MD. The
Confederate defensive line ran north and south,
facing east. They erected impressive earthworks
with a 6-foot-wide parapet on top and frequent
gun emplacements, creating comprehensive
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likely privately held. One can surmise at the
time of the crossing that a road led from the old
bridge down to the Potomac River bank for the
crossing. There are no signs of such a road
today that are discernible.
The Two Forts of Braxton Bragg
Article & photos by Walt Lafty
As we look at the sesquicentennial events of
March 1865, there were many important military
and political events happening that month. Among
the military events were the battles of Wyse Fork,
Averasborough, Bentonville, and Fort Stedman. A
couple of important political issues included the
induction of “negro soldiers” authorized by the
Confederate government, and certainly the 2nd
inaugural speech of President Lincoln which
included his famous line “with malice toward
none; with charity for all”.
Falling Waters Crossing Site, Maryland side
showing C&O Canal (dried up), C&O Canal path,
bridge abutments, historic marker
Another of the important military events that
month was the capture of Fayetteville, N.C. by
General William T. Sherman on March 11th, 1865.
As many readers are aware, Fayetteville ultimately
became the home of Fort Bragg, a U.S. Army
military installation.
We can imagine the long line of Confederate
soldiers waiting to cross the pontoon bridge over
the Potomac. One historic sign recounts a
Confederate’s soldier’s experience with the
crossing:
“An hour after dark we took up the line of
march … The night being so dark and rainy, we
could not see farther than “the noses on our
faces,” while at every step we went nearly up to
our knees in slush and mud. Men would stand
and sleep – would march (if this can be called
marching) and sleep. The soldiers could not fall
out of ranks for fear of being hopelessly lost…
Thus we would be for one hour moving the
distance of one hundred paces, and any soldier
who has ever had to undergo such marching,
can well understand its laboriousness.” –
Augustus Dickert, Kershaw’s South Carolina
brigade.
Fort Bragg at Fayetteville, NC
In 1918, the Chief of Field Artillery, General
William J. Snow, looked for an area of suitable
terrain, adequate water, rail facilities and a
climate for year-round training. He chose the area
now known as Fort Bragg which met the criteria.
There are no public roads leading directly to the
Falling Waters crossing site on the Maryland
side, so hiking or biking the C&O canal path are
your options. Consider visiting the Falling
Waters crossing site as part of your Civil War
travels.
Camp Bragg then came into existence on Sept. 4,
1918. The camp (later changed to fort) was named
for native North Carolinian and Confederate
General Braxton Bragg. Prior to its establishment
as a military reservation, the area was a desolate
sandy region, covered with huge forests.
12
While spending my summer “vacation” (wink) of
1968 with the U.S. Army in basic training at Fort
Bragg, there wasn’t too much time to learn about
the history of the fort. However, I did learn some
of its history. One of the things that either I did
not hear, or have long forgotten, is that Fort Bragg
was not the first fort to bear the name of
Confederate General Braxton Bragg.
1886 and the land opened for settlement. The Fort
Bragg name was retained on that land, one of the
few named after Confederates during that time
period. It would soon become the City of Fort
Bragg.
Today, only a state historic marker and the
Commissary (pictured below), are all that remain
of this post.
In 1857, a young Lieutenant named Horatio G.
Gibson established an Army post on the
Mendocino Indian Reservation in northern
California. He named it Camp Bragg after his
former Captain in the 3rd U.S. Artillery. While
serving with Captain Braxton Bragg at the Battle of
Chapultepec, Mexico, in 1847, the young Lt.
Gibson gained respect and admiration for his
commander. Both men would later go on to
become Generals in their respective Armies.
Gibson was awarded brevet promotions to colonel
in the Regular Army and brigadier general in the
volunteers.
Mustering out of the USV in August 1865, Gibson
returned to his permanent rank of captain in the
3rd Artillery. He remained in the army, and was
promoted to major in 1867, lieutenant colonel in
1882, and colonel in 1883. He retired from the
service on May 22, 1891. Braxton Bragg rose to
General in the C.S.A.
City of Fort Bragg
On August 5, 1889, Fort Bragg, California was
incorporated as a city. The first mayor was C.R.
Johnson, president of the Fort Bragg Redwood
Company. His company laid out the town much as
it exists today. It is a scenic coastal city along State
Route 1 in Mendocino County, California. The city
has a population of 7,026 and is located 91 miles
NW of Santa Rosa, California and 137 miles NW of
San Francisco, California.
Camp (Fort) Bragg, California, circa 1860
When the Civil War began, there were attempts to
change the name but it remained so until the post
was abandoned in October 1864. The Mendocino
Indian reservation was discontinued in March
13
Mansion House, a luxury hotel in Alexandria,
Virginia, owned by the Green family that has
been taken over and converted into a Union
Army Hospital. The drama, still unnamed, is set
against the backdrop of doctors and female
nurses courageously striving to save lives while
at the same time they are facing their own
personal dilemmas. Memoirs and letters of
actual doctors and nurses at Mansion Hospital
provide the inspiration for this story.
Post- Sesquicentennial
By Bernice Kaplan
Professor Allen C. Guelzo of Gettysburg College
recently wrote a thought-provoking article for
the Philadelphia Inquirer (February 8, 2015) in
which he expressed his disappointment with the
mediocre celebration of the 150th anniversary of
the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
Professor Guelzo began the article by stating:
“As the 150th anniversary of the Civil War winds
down toward its conclusion in the spring, it’s
difficult not to look back on the four years of
this sesquicentennial and wonder why it all
seemed so lackluster.” In addition to the
insignificant coverage of the 13th Amendment
anniversary, Professor Guelzo also cited the
decision of Congress not to establish a national
commission such as one created to celebrate
the centennial in the 1961-65 as well as
President Obama’s decision to take a “pass” on
the 150th celebration of the Gettysburg Address.
PBS has not done an American serial drama in
ten years. This Civil War drama is long overdue.
Network president and chief executive, Paula
Kerger, is hopeful that “it will grow into a multiseason franchise.” This makes Virginia Governor
Terry McAuliffe very enthusiastic as he has been
pursuing TV and movie projects to his state. As
it stands now, the drama series will be shot in
and around Richmond. Ironically, in 2008, I met
Terry McAuliffe in front of Steve’s Prince of
Steaks on Bustleton Avenue in Northeast
Philadelphia (see picture below) when he was
Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager. I was very
impressed with his down-to-earth personality,
enthusiasm, and the delicious steak sandwich he
bought me at Steve’s.
I agree with Professor Guelzo’s cogent remarks
and have felt dismayed by the lack of good Civil
War programming on television, especially on
PBS and the History Channel, during these past
four years.
However, I am pleased to announce there is a
light at the end of the tunnel. PBS is
collaborating (or should I say confederating)
with uber film producer and director Sir Ridley
Scott (Alien, Thelma and Louise) and his
occasional colleague, American screenwriter,
producer and director David Zucker (Naked Gun
and The Good Wife) to develop a six-episode
series chronicling the lives of two volunteer
nurses during the Civil War. Based on true
stories, the new drama focuses on Mary
Phinney, a stalwart New England abolitionist,
and Emma Green, a strong-willed young
Confederate beauty, who match wits at
Earlier on I said there is a light at the end of the
tunnel. However, this tunnel may take longer
than we would like. The series is not set to
premiere until 2016. But, as my father always
said to me when I was a child: “Good things
happen to those who wait.”
14
Around Town
St. Patrick’s Day
Lincoln and His
th
13 Amendment Legacy
By Larry Vogel
Many Irish born natives who came to America
served in the Civil War on both sides of the
conflict. Some of the entries into the army were
even signed up literally right off of the boat. A
guaranteed paycheck was sometimes too hard
to resist for the immigrants.
by Paula Gidjunis
John Shivo and I attended an interesting discussion
at the National Constitution Center on February 12th,
“Lincoln’s Legacy: The 13th Amendment 150 Years
Later”. The program began with video remarks by
retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor,
and we had a chance to check out close up and
personal one of the copies of the Emancipation
Proclamation signed by Abraham Lincoln and sold to
raise money for the soldiers at the Great Sanitary
Fair held in Philadelphia the summer of 1864. Also
on hand was an original copy of the 13th Amendment
also signed by Lincoln. As explained to us by
patriotic philanthropist and owner of both
documents, David Rubenstein, he does buy these
documents to hang in his home. He lends them out
so many can see them. Rubenstein explained that as
President, Lincoln had no “official” part in the
passing of the amendment, but it was very
important for him that he sign it.
Many of the Irish soldiers looked forward each
year to celebrating St. Patrick’s Day during the
war, especially in 1863. Many of the Irish
regiments suffered through 1862 in such battles
as Gaines Mill, Malvern Hill and Antietam. This
was followed by the disgrace of Fredericksburg
and the embarrassment of the ‘Mud March’.
On March 17th 1863 the Irish Brigade was made
up of the 63rd, 69th and 88th New York
together with the 28th Massachusetts and
116th Pennsylvania regiments.
As the luck of the Irish would have it, St.
Patrick’s Day finally arrived and the men of the
Irish Brigade were graced with fine sunny
weather.
The Irish Brigade started St. Patrick’s Day with
religious ceremonies, but soon after, fun and
frivolity ensued. Many organized events were
held among the soldiers including: horse races,
foot races, hurdles races, weight throwing,
wheel barrow races, sack jumping, mule races,
and last but not least, running after the soaped
pig. The man who held on to the pig won a
prize.
Next there was a discussion of Lincoln and his 13th
Amendment legacy by PA Chief Judge Theodore A.
McKee, and leading Reconstruction scholars Sidney
Blumenthal, Allen C. Guelzo, and Lucas Morel. The
discussion addressed how the 13th Amendment,
while abolishing slavery, left open questions, such as
were former slaves citizens? The Constitution never
defined citizenship. Enter the need for and eventual
passing of the 14th Amendment in 1868. Finally the
15th Amendment, which gave all men the right to
vote, was ratified in 1870. Three amendments born
of the Civil War were the first to be passed in sixtyone years. Moderated by Jeffrey Rosen, President of
the National Constitution Center, this two-hour
event was well worth the time. Afterwards, an
unexpected reception with wine and hors d'oeuvres
capped off a great event.
The evening, not shockingly, was spent in
drinking and general merriment. Poems were
read and songs sung, and for a day and a night
the worries of the war were left behind.
Ah…but alas the battles of Chancellorsville and
Gettysburg lay ahead for them, and for many
that March 17, 1863 was their last St. Patrick’s
Day.
Anyone interested in the video of the event can
check it out here:
http://library.fora.tv/2015/02/12/Lincolns_Legacy_T
he_13th_Amendment_150_Years_Later
15
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George Armstrong Custer defeats Jubal Early in the March 2 battle of Waynesborough, VA.
Also on March 2, Robert E. Lee sends a message to Ulysses S. Grant asking for a conference to "iron out
differences" between the North and the South.
On March 3, Lincoln issues instructions on surrender discussions, giving Grant wide-ranging powers on
military matters, but reserves political matters for himself.
Lincoln and Andrew Johnson take the oaths of office on March 4.
Also on March 4, "Parson" Brownlow is elected the first post-war
governor of Tennessee.
The Battle of Kinston, NC is fought on March 8 to 10.
On March 11, Sherman captures Fayetteville, NC.
On March 13, the Confederacy allows the induction of "negro soldiers", with the understanding that they
would be freed.
The Battle of Averasborough (Taylor's Hole), NC is fought on March 16.
During March 17 to 20 snow and ice melt causes serious flooding of
the Genesee River in Rochester, NY.
During March 19 to 21, Federal forces defeat the Confederates in
the Battle of Bentonville, NC.
On March 22, Major General James Wilson begins a "raid" in Selma.
On March 23, Lincoln leaves Washington for Grant's headquarters in City Point, VA.
In the March 25 Battle of Fort Stedman, Confederates break the Union line at
Petersburg, but the Union counterattacks.
The Battle of Spanish Fort, Alabama is fought on March 27.
Also on March 27, Lincoln holds a council of war with Grant, Sherman, and Porter
on the River Queen at City Point.
On March 31, at the Battle of Dinwiddie Court House, General Pickett turns back Sheridan’s cavalry and
elements of the Fifth Corps.
“Before Petersburg – Issuing Rations of Whisky and
Quinine” – sketched by A.W. Warren
Harpers Weekly, March 11, 1865
Delaware Valley
Civil War Round Table
3201 Longshore Avenue
Philadelphia PA 19149-2025
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