February - Delaware Valley Civil War Roundtable
Transcription
February - 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 February 2015 Volume 25 Number 2 4B 5B Editor Patricia Caldwell Contributors Hugh Boyle, Book Nook Editor Rose Boyle Matt Bruce Nancy Caldwell, Artistic Adviser Mike Cavanaugh Paula Gidjunis Carol Ingald Bernice Kaplan Herb Kaufman Walt Lafty Carol Lieberman Jack Lieberman Jane Peters Estes Cindy Reihmann Max Reihmann Larry Vogel Andy Waskie AN OBSERVATION OF LINCOLN & PRESIDENTS’ MONTH Our February Meeting “Congressman Lincoln” Presenter: Our Own Lincoln Expert – Hugh Boyle Original Photos Patricia Caldwell (unless otherwise noted) Tuesday, February 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 Dinner Menu – Chicken Parmesan. Served with soup du jour, rolls/butter, iced tea, soda, dessert. Substitute: Pasta (chef’s selection). U mailing addresses: for membership: 2601 Bonnie Lane Huntingdon Valley PA 19006 U for newsletter items: 3201 Longshore Avenue Philadelphia PA 19149-2025 Call Rose Boyle at 215-638-4244 for reservations by February 12. Dinner Price $24.00 You are responsible for dinners not cancelled by Monday morning February 16. In This Issue and as book reviewer for this publication and The Lincoln Herald, and his membership in numerous historical societies, and you have an extraordinary historian. A retired National Sales Manager for Roadpro 12 Volt Electronics, Hugh (or Reds as he is more familiarly known) and his wife Rose currently reside in Bensalem. Dues are Due for 2015 Member News and Upcoming Events Paula Gidjunis with the latest in Preservation News Larry Vogel recaps our January meeting Classes offered for the Spring semester at the Civil War Institute Herb Kaufman with the latest at the GAR Museum & Library in our Delaware Valley and the Civil War segment Our Book Nook looks at the never-ending supply of new Civil War scholarship, and features a review by Matt Bruce appropriate for Lincoln and Presidents’ Month An interesting “What-If” Vignette from Mike Cavanaugh Ongoing schedule of NPS lectures shared by Max Reihmann A new occasional feature by Larry Vogel brings us “Civil War – The Rest of the Story” Commemoration of the Sesquicentennial continues with events of February 1865 This year we remember the events of 1865. It was not only the last year of the war, but a year that changed the course of the United States. When we remember the events of that year we must recall that those events altered and changed who we are and the focus of the years to come after the war. There were the surrenders of Lee and Johnston, and the end of the war, but can anyone doubt the impact of the 13th Amendment in January 1865? The tragedy of the assassination of Lincoln changed not only the focus of reconstruction but the condition and treatment of the freed slaves for over one hundred years. There were the agony of the trial and the verdicts of the Lincoln conspirators, the all-but-forgotten tragedy of the Sultana and the hanging of Henry Wirz. So as we go through this year and cast a light on those events, consider what they meant to the history and future of the United States. A date to put in our calendars for this year is May 17th, a Sunday, the Day set for “Manor Civil War Day”. It will be a day of “Living History”, with living history portrayals, presentations, reenactors, exhibits and book sales. So mark it down, it is a day not to be missed. Congressman Lincoln A 36 year old Abraham Lincoln won a seat in Congress and spent two years in Washington from 1847 to 1849. Our resident Lincoln scholar Hugh Boyle will bring his expertise on the life of our 16th president to our February meeting. The program will examine these years of learning for Lincoln, with a look at what he said and what he did, including his disagreement with President Polk and the Mexican War, his appearance before the Supreme Court, the friends he made in the capital and what he and Mary thought of the city of Washington – a town to which they were destined to return. Of course, our presenter, Hugh Boyle, is no stranger to anyone in this round table. His body of work as an instructor for the Civil War Institute at Manor College and as a lecturer and presenter to various round tables and organizations is awesome. Add to that his background as editor and publisher of the sadly now-defunct newspaper Civil War Brigadier, Hugh Boyle President 2 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 3 BRAIN TEASERS 1865 1 – On what date in 1865 did the 13th Amendment pass the House of Representatives? MARCH 17 Mütter Museum Director, Dr. Robert Hicks “The Awful Harvest of Gettysburg, and the Remarkable Year at Turner’s Lane" 2 – On what date was the 13th Amendment ratified? 3 – On what date did Lincoln meet with the Confederate Commissioners? APRIL 21 Member William Vosseler “General George ‘Rock of Chickamauga’ Thomas – The No Apologies Tour” 4 – Where did Lincoln meet with these commissioners? 5 – Who were the Confederate Commissioners? (Answers in next month’s newsletter!) MAY 19 Historian Jane Peters Estes “The Battle of Gettysburg – Where Were the Women” ANSWERS TO THE JANUARY BRAIN TEASERS 1 – On what battlefield was the “Cornfield”? – Antietam 2 – What Confederate fort saw the largest landsea action of the war? – Fort Fisher 3 – What descendant of Paul Revere spent time in Libby Prison? – Paul Joseph Revere, his grandson JUNE 16 Member Paula Gidjunis “A Country Worth Fighting For – A History of the 128th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry” Winner, winner, chicken dinner!! Yes, after enjoying a great chicken dinner at the Radisson, Jerry Carrier was the lucky winner of our monthly book raffle. Congratulations also to Sheryl Weiner, John Shivo, Jack Kauffman, John Jastrzebski and Fred Rosso, for each taking home a raffle prize in the January book raffle. JULY 21 Book Discussion Night Topic to be Announced AUGUST 18 Historian/Actor Millicent Sparks 1st Person – Harriet Tubman Prior to his presentation at our March meeting, Hugh Boyle will speak to the Old Baldy CWRT on February 12 on “Presidential Assassins”, then on February 13 to Wellington at Hershey’s Mill in West Chester on “The Lincoln Assassination”. Hugh will also present a program on “Abe & Mary, A Relationship” on February 19 at the Cosmopolitan Club. SEPTEMBER 15 Dr. Andy Waskie “The Role of the Germans in the Civil War” 4 A number of Del Val members – including Andy and Carol Waskie, Herb Kaufman, Hugh and Rose Boyle, and Albert El – were on hand to honor Mike Cavanaugh at a luncheon with the Old Baldy CWRT on January 17. Keynote speaker Randall Miller is pictured on the right (below). Thanks to Walt Lafty for providing the photo below. Shrine in Emmitsburg. We went there to see the Civil War exhibit called “Charity Afire” www.setonheritage.org/learn-and-explore/civilwar-history-shrine/charity-afire/. The most recent Sentinel magazine was available there for free. The one I picked up is “150th Anniversary 1864/2014 - Washington Attacked: The 1864 Invasion & 1864 Shenandoah Valley Campaign”. I don’t see that one listed on the NPS link (above) but I’m sure it can be found online with some searching. The printed magazine is beautiful – a real collector’s item!” Carol and Jack Lieberman received the General Meade Society’s Order of Merit Award at the Society’s 2015 Champagne Brunch on January 25. Carol Ingald received a Certificate of Merit at the same event. Congratulations to Carol, Jack and Carol for their recognition!! Carol Ingald and Robert Hicks have been announced as among the award winners to be honored at the GAR Annual Luncheon on March 28. More information in the Special Announcement below. Congrats to both! Cindy Reihmann reports that PENNDOT is now offering a license plate that will support monument preservation at Gettysburg NMP. Cindy became the proud and happy owner of plate #181 for Christmas. For a fee you can purchase the plate. For more information and an application www.dmv.state.pa.us/license_plates/special_fund.s html Andy Waskie and his alter ego with Carol and Jack Lieberman. [Photo courtesy of the Liebermans] John Voris will reprise his role as Lincoln’s Secretary, John Nicolay, at the GAR Museum & Library Open House on Sunday, March 1. SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT Cindy Reihmann also informs us that the NPS has been publishing a magazine called “The Sentinel” for the 150th Sesquicentennial, available in pdf www.nps.gov/mana/parknews/park-newsletter.htm “I found out about these magazines when my husband and I visited the Elizabeth Ann Seton The Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Library and Museum has announced the winner of the 2015 Samuel P. Town award for outstanding service to and for the Civil War Community. This year’s winner is Robert Hicks of the Mütter Museum here in Philadelphia. Robert’s dedication 5 and devotion to Civil War history is unmatched, and his work in education and informing the public of the medical history of the Civil War has been exceptional. Robert will receive the award at the GAR luncheon on March 28th. Congratulations to a very worthy winner! Robert adds this as a second award of achievement, as he received the Delaware Valley Civil War Round Table’s Award of Merit last November.The GAR has also announced the winners of the “Old Baldy Award” presented by the President of the GAR Museum. This year two awards will be given. One to Bob Palma for his dedication and work for the GAR at the Neshaminy reeanctment each year, and one to Joe Perry, the Museum’s Librarian. Joe’s efforts have placed the Museum’s library as a go-to place for research. Joe has searched out new books and has even acquired some rare and important ones for the library. Congratulations to all the 2015 award winners! February 14, 2015 – Saturday – 11:00 am-2:00 pm – Open House at the Union League of Philadelphia – Free tours of the historic Civil War era Union League House at 140 S. Broad St. Philadelphia. Call: 215-563-6500 for details. February 14, 2015 – Saturday – 6:00 pm – Lincoln Birthday Ball – Union League, 140 S. Broad St., Philadelphia. Dinner & Dancing: $110 per person. Hors d’oeuvres and cocktails (cash bar) at 6:00 PM, dinner at 7:00 PM, followed by period dancing and music by the Philadelphia Brigade Band. Period Attire encouraged; Black Tie with Miniatures or formal attire welcomed. Accommodations available at the Inn of the League. For info– contact the Front Desk 215-587-5570, or [email protected]. To register: Mary O’Brien, Activities Office, 215-5875565 or Activities @unionleague.org February 15, 2015 – Sunday – 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm – 17th Annual Meade Society Symposium: “General George G. Meade – Life & Career in His 200th Anniversary Year” – Featuring noted historians Ralph Peters and Tom Huntington, other speakers, and authors on General Meade, his life and career, as well as books, prints and raffles. Conservatory at West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, PA. Cost: $40 per person including registration; luncheon & refreshments Contact: Jerry McCormick 215-848-7753 or [email protected] January 20 through February 27, 2015 –“The Great Emancipator and the Great Central Fair” – An Exhibition about Emancipation in the United States – University of Penn, Kislak February 18, 2015 – Wednesday – 2:00 pm – Annual Temple University Black History Conference – “Lincoln’s Assassination, Emancipation and the End of the Civil War” – Walk Auditorium, Ritter Hall on 12th St & Cecil B. Center for Special Collections, Rare Books, and Manuscripts, Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center, 6th Floor, 3420 Walnut Street (entrance on Locust Walk). Gallery hours: Monday-Friday, 10AM-5PM; Wednesday, 10AM-8PM. Free and Open to the Public – Photo ID required. Questions, 215-898-7088 Moore Ave, Main Campus of Temple Univ. Civil War & Emancipation Studies at Temple University (CWEST) sponsors the annual Black History Conference. Free & Open to the public. Speakers; books; discussion; displays. To register: [email protected] or 215-204-5452. February 12, 2015 – Thursday – 10:30 am – Annual Lincoln Birthday Celebration Parade and Ceremonies, sponsored by the Union League of Philadelphia – Civil War military units, February 21, 2015 – Saturday – 10:00 am – Annual Octavius V. Catto Honor Ceremony – civilians, and heritage groups welcome and encouraged to parade to Independence Hall to honor President Lincoln. Participants will gather in the McMichael Room of the Union League, 140 S. Broad St. Convenient FREE parking available for participants near the Union League prior to 10:30 am. Color Guards, Firing Party, music, wreaths are appreciated. Complimentary lunch for the participants at 12 noon. After the parade ALL are invited to return to the League via coach for refreshments in the historic Meredith Café. To register: Contact: Dr. Andy Waskie. 215-204-5452 - [email protected] 6th & Lombard Streets, Philadelphia. Honoring the great Black civil rights and military leader. WreathLaying ceremony. All military units, period civilians, veterans and heritage groups are encouraged to participate. Colors, wreaths and music encouraged. PA National Guard Award Ceremony to follow at 1:00pm in the Union League for the ‘Major Catto Medal’ Awards Ceremony. For information: Dr. Andy Waskie 215-204-5452 or [email protected] 6 March 1, 2015 - Sunday - 1:30 pm – GAR Museum & Library Sunday Open House & Program – 4278 Griscom St, Philadelphia – “Meet Lincoln’s Secretary: John Nicolay – May 3, 2015 – Saturday – 8:00 am to 5:00pm General Meade Society Spring Trip to Meade sites in Philadelphia at his 200th Anniversary – 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 First person presentation by living historian John Voris. Free and open to the public. Donations appreciated. For info 215-289-6484. March 28, 2015 – Saturday – 12:00 noon (cocktails), 1:00 pm (luncheon) – Annual GAR Museum Preservation Luncheon – 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. May 17, 2015 – Sunday – Time TBA – Manor College Civil War Living History Day – SAVE THE DATE!! – Manor College, 700 Fox Chase Road, Jenkintown. Re-enactment by the 28th 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. April 12, 2015 - Sunday - 1:30 pm – GAR Museum & Library Sunday Open House & Program – 4278 Griscom St, Philadelphia – “The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln” – June 4-7, 2015 – Thursday to Sunday – Starr Tours – Civil War Trails: Lexington and Appomattox – with Jane Peters Estes Presentation by local Lincoln historian Hugh Boyle. Free and open to the public. Donations appreciated. For info 215-289-6484. – 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 http://www.starrtours.com/tours/details/2489 Tour will be repeated October 29-November 1, 2015. 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. 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 By Paula Gidjunis, Preservation Committee Chair 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;. COMMITTEE NEWS The Preservation Committee has a busy year planned. 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, Walt Lafty, John Shivo, Matt Bruce, Alan Ash and our newest member Tom Donnelly. We appreciate any time you 7 can allow – you don’t have to stay the entire day, a few hours can be a big help. “Captain Furness voluntarily carried a box of ammunition across an open space swept by the enemy's fire to the relief of an outpost whose ammunition had become almost exhausted, but which was thus enabled to hold its important position.” The current CWT campaign has a matching $5.34 for every one dollar raised. http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/trevilianstatio n/trevilian-station-2015/ 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 DVCWRT – “Back to Business” By Larry Vogel 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 The Delaware Valley Civil War Round Table got back to business after a month’s break to enjoy a Christmas dinner at the Austrian Village in December. The first meeting of the year, on January 20th, proved that the DVCWRT is like a good baseball team. We have a good bench. Pinch hitting for the vacationing President Hugh Boyle, as emcee for the night, was Vice President Jerry Carrier. After Jerry announced the standard Round Table business, he announced that Herb Kaufman would be next at bat as moderator for the night’s discussion. For the second time since October, Herb was called upon to pinch hit for a speaker who could not make it, in this case, Matt Bruce. (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.) The Preservation Committee will hold our annual “Goodie Basket” raffle at the March meeting, which is on St. Patrick’s Day this year. 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 those unaware, a day or two after the Christmas Dinner at the Austrian Village that Matt attended, he had a stroke while at home. The good news is that he immediately was able to get to the hospital, so by all accounts he is progressing well. I pause for a short tribute to Matt. It was my privilege, the last two springs, to be with Matt on very cold Saturday mornings manning the registration table at the Neshaminy re-enactment. We both got there about 6:00 AM and left late into the afternoon. Even though we were very busy we still had time to share our “life” stories with each other. As it turns out we had similar backgrounds growing up, though about three decades apart in the western part of Pennsylvania, he in Indiana, PA and I in Pittsburgh. We both had jobs delivering the now defunct Pittsburgh Press newspaper, and last but not least to continue the baseball theme, we both grew up HELP CLOSE THE GAP AT TREVILIAN STATION! The Civil War Trust (CWT) has a campaign to save 70 acres at Trevilian Station. Protection of this land will connect previously preserved parts of this battlefield. The battle at Trevilian Station took place on June 11–12, 1864. Frank Furness, the noted architect, as a member of the 6th Pennsylvania cavalry earned a Medal of Honor as stated on his citation: 8 as Pittsburgh Pirate fans. My wish is that Matt makes a full recovery so that we may share another registration table in the future, but maybe not at 6:00 AM. I can only hope that my accomplishments in life and the Civil War Community approach half of his. agreements or “polite” disagreements. Although we did not take a vote, it seemed by my account that most attendees felt that Grant had won the war, but the South was destined to lose because of the North’s superiority in men and material. Grant, unlike the other generals of the Union, knew he had to constantly pound on the rebels, and through pure attrition they could not win. Herb kept the conversation flowing and he got as many people involved as wanted to. So to conclude, both pinch hitters performed well, and the DVCWRT started the season with a hit. [Photos in this article courtesy of Walt Lafty.] The Civil War Institute Herb took the podium. Before he got to the night’s subject, he announced the return of the Monthly Trivia Question which was a staple of the round table, under the tutelage of the recently departed Tom Stewart. Herb stated that he would start the monthly trivia, but then each month a volunteer would be asked to bring a question with him or her. Our Winter/Spring semester is in full swing – and of course, we’re hoping for good weather! We still have five courses to offer – one of which is a BRAND NEW ELECTIVE!! 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. Finally we got to why we all showed up – for a great discussion, on that age old question that Civil War aficionados have been asking themselves for a hundred and fifty years. Did General Grant win the war or did General Robert E. Lee lose it? Herb started by giving us a short biography of each man, he also handed quotes for us to read. * Indicates Core Course ** Indicates Elective Course **Assassinated Presidents and Their Medical Treatment (NEW) - .6 CEUs - 6 hrs – Five U.S. presidents (and one former president) have been shot in our history, but only two – Ronald Reagan and ex-President Theodore Roosevelt – survived. Could the deaths of Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley and John Kennedy have been the fault of their doctors as much as their assassins? Our resident experts on presidential assassinations and Civil War medicine diagnose this provocative question. DATES: Thursdays, Feb. 19-26, March 5 FEE: $79 INSTRUCTORS: Hugh Boyle & Herb Kaufman What followed then was a very spirited discussion with most if not all of the attendees participating. This brought us back to the very roots of round tables, a good old fashioned discussion with 9 **Charleston, Cradle of Secession – .6 CEUs – 6 hrs –South Carolina was the first Southern state to secede, and no city in South Carolina was as avidly secessionist as Charleston. Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor became the focal point of the secession crisis, and the firing on Sumter launched the Civil War. Charleston took on great symbolic value, leading to a four-year siege. This course describes the Sumter crisis, Union efforts to subdue the city, and the raising of the Union flag over Fort Sumter on April 14, 1865. DATES: Wednesdays, Feb. 25-March 11 FEE: $79 INSTRUCTOR: Jerry Carrier 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 **Appomattox Campaign - .6 CEUs - 6 hrs – On April 9, 1865, in Wilmer McLean’s parlor in the obscure hamlet of Appomattox Court House, an era came to an end. Robert E. Lee, last of the great traditional generals, surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant, first of the great modern generals. This course describes the drama of the event that, for all practical purposes, brought an end to the Civil War, as well as the retreat and pursuit that led to the surrender. DATES: Mondays, March 9-23 FEE: $79 INSTRUCTOR: Pat Caldwell, M.A. Where History Comes Alive By Herb Kaufman It’s time …… If you have not visited the new GAR Museum, now is the time! We are very excited about all the changes in exhibits that have been made over the past several months. These rare and wonderful relics were previously hidden away but are now on display for you to see: The original Post 2 Guard uniform. The 1880 silver cannon used by Post 2 as a voting instrument. The original USCT flag. A new cabinet with historic Post 2 memorabilia. Historical information and exhibit explanation descriptions are being placed throughout the museum. The library has been redesigned and is available for research. **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 3-27, May 4 (This course has been expanded to four weeks) FEE: $79 INSTRUCTOR: Herb Kaufman, M.Ed. We are also continuing our work on revitalizing the third floor. Many, many thanks to all the wonderful volunteers from the Delaware Valley Civil War Round Table who were so gracious and hard working at the museum. Through their efforts our photographs and prints have now been carefully preserved and evaluated. Our next step is to create a catalog which can be used for future exhibits and research. *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 On that day we continued to discover many hidden treasures including an original wallpaper newspaper 10 from the siege of Vicksburg in 1863, and the presentation plaque and original flag that lay on the catafalque of President Grant. growing number, because each month they still keep coming. Lincoln alone has over 16,000 books written on him. That’s over 30% of that 50,000. Will it ever end? I hope not. Let them keep on coming, the more the merrier; let them come till our book shelves fall down. The question still remains – what else can be written? Each of us has our own special area of interest – the battles, the generals, the soldiers, medical history, the Confederate story, the Navy and the role of the people back home during the war, and of course Abraham Lincoln. These are just a few of the areas covered by today’s historians and authors. So, what’s your special area of interest? In this newsletter we try to keep you abreast of new and upcoming books. Our book reviews are helpful to all in informing and helping to choose that right book. So let us know what you would like to see, what topics you are looking for. I have no doubt that the Civil War community reads more than any other community or interest group. So keep reading, till that figure goes over 100,000 books. We are now looking forward to two new and historic exhibitions for the coming year on the assassination of President Lincoln, followed by a superb exhibit focusing on the creation of the Grand Army of the Republic. More information about these two new exhibitions will be forthcoming. We are making considerable progress and look forward to continuing to make improvements. So, visit the museum “Where history comes alive!” We hope that you will visit the museum and see these wonderful changes for yourself. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome. The Book Nook How high can they go?? The new Ford’s Theatre Center for Education and Leadership features a winding staircase and 34-foot tower of books about Abraham Lincoln, symbolizing that the last word about this great man will never be written. U By Hugh Boyle, Book Editor “What more has to be written?” There is an enormous amount of material available on the American Civil War. Since the war began in 1861, more than 50,000 books and pamphlets have been published about it. Now, with the advent of the internet, hundreds of web pages and other online sources have appeared as well. With so many resources available, knowing where to start when seeking to do research on the conflict can be a daunting task. With so much written and available, one might ask “What more can and should be written?” Is the Civil War community satisfied? Are they bored with the topics? Do they still have a thirst for knowledge? That 50,000 is a … that U.S. Grant’s father, Jesse Root Grant, started work in his teens as a tanner in a tannery owned by Owen Brown, the father of the infamous John Brown, and lived with the Brown family during that time? 11 Perhaps the most important lesson to be learned from the “Fort Sumter crisis” experience was that “. . . every decision has unexpected and unintended consequences. . .”, and that “. . . patience and flexibility were at least as important as firmness and determination in resolving difficulties.” This episode commences the treatment of a running theme through the book: Mr. Lincoln’s determined pragmatism, a characteristic with which he dealt with the problems he faced as President and with which he dealt with his continuing pursuit of maintenance of the Union. While the book focuses on naval matters, this characteristic could be appropriately applied to examination of any problems Mr. Lincoln faced. Unlike Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Symonds cannot claim “total innocence” with respect to naval matters, having authored, among his other works, three volumes and edited five others which deal with “naval matters.” 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 U Lincoln and His Admirals By Craig L. Symonds Reviewed by Matt Bruce The management of the Civil War United States Navy has been addressed before (See, for example, Taaffe, Stephen, Commanding Lincoln’s Navy, Naval Institute Press, 2009.) But not in the context represented by this recent work by Craig Symonds, a veteran, high caliber writer on Civil War subject matter. This book, received by this reviewer as a gift, caught the writer from its first page through its entirety. Having read some of Symonds’ other works, the writer had a high expectation of quality, but this book exceeded that expectation. In it, the author places a subject which could be seen as mundane against the context of a newly-elected commander-in-chief, who correctly identified himself as “nearly totally innocent in naval matters,” but who at the same time maintained an immovable focus on what he perceived, at least at the outset of the naval war (i.e., the resupply and reinforcement of Fort Sumter), to be the object of the exercise: maintaining the Union. Note that activities which can reasonably be identified as “part of the naval war” occurred even prior to the Ft. Sumter affair, some of them as politically charged as more recent events, with Mr. Lincoln intimately involved. Each chapter of the book discusses an event or series of events, related in time, of the naval war, focusing on Mr. Lincoln’s pragmatic problem-solving approach. The events of the primary foci of the chapters, however, are tied to other naval occurrences to render the book almost a history of the naval war, without ever losing sight of Mr. Lincoln’s role and his consistent pragmatism and his eye on the goal of maintaining the Union. One such problem area which appears in several places in the book is the series of events involving the “exchange” of Norfolk (and other Federal facilities on ground which had become part of the Confederacy, e.g., Pensacola) with the Confederates early in the war. (Another Puccini-like tale. . . first we’ve got to sing for you this little song.) Thus, the theme forming the basis for each chapter can stand on its own, but is clearly viewed as part of the envelope that ties them all together, that is, the naval war and Mr. Lincoln’s management of it. An interesting example of this in the light of two recent presentations by members of the round table, one an examination of the Trent affair from a Southern view presented to a gathering of the Round Table membership and the other, presented in Case Shot & Canister, a discussion of the event as a test of Mr. Lincoln’s conception of the blockade, is the chapter (Ch. Three) containing the discussion of the seizure by Navy Captain Charles Wilkes of two Confederate emissaries from a neutral (British) mail-packet, which contains considerable material, not touched upon in either of the two member-presentations, toward understanding Lincoln’s handling of the congressional and naval political problems arising in the pursuit of Wilkes’ extra-orders faux pas, relevant Symonds introduces his book with a discussion of the events leading up to the eventual bombardment by the Confederates of Fort Sumter, revealing them as well as the perpetrators as being not unlike a Puccini opera, fraught with secrecy, self-service and hidden agendas. Against this background, he portrays Mr. Lincoln as at the same time teacher and learner, and bearer of responsibility for outcomes of his actions. 12 to the president’s “innocence.” The importance of this “affair” is reflected in Symonds’ identification of it (p.94) as “Lincoln’s Cuban missile crisis.” An example of the “envelope” nature of the recurrence of events previously introduced is found in the discussion of Mr. Lincoln’s handling of the “odd couple“ of General McClellan and Admiral DuPont contained in connection with the assault on Port Royal, South Carolina in pursuit of a suitable station for the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. In closing, I extend my thanks to Herb Kaufman for the gift of the book, by which I have been so impressed that I opted immediately to review it for Case Shot & Canister. [Editor’s Note – see Case Shot & Canister, July 2014, pp 7-8; and December 2014, pp. 13-16]. Oxford University Press, New York, 2008, 2010 (paper); 448 pages; retail $17.95, also available on Amazon new and used for as low as $0.01 Perhaps most interesting of all, relevant to relations between Mr. Lincoln and his admirals, is the discussion of the Red River campaign (Ch. Ten) involving General Nathaniel Banks and the “bold and daring” Admiral David Porter. A major problem in this context was the role of Admiral Porter in the disagreement between the Congress, the Treasury Department and the War and Navy Departments over the seizure of abandoned Confederate cotton, (significant in this regard was the discord between Welles’ directive regarding the contraband material and the three general orders by Porter in the same regard.) and Mr. Lincoln’s management of the outcomes, and the involvement of certain politicians and businessmen is of particular interest. Do you enjoy the Book Nook feature of Case Shot & Canister? We need your support with book reviews! Please consider sending us a review (regardless of length) of the book you’re reading (or have just finished). You don’t need to be a professional writer – amateurs welcomed and encouraged! Thank you!!! This book is a good read – moderately long, 366 pages (plus appendices and notes), but it’s a “page turner.” The characters march in, play their parts (sing their songs) and depart having interacted with the Commander-in-Chief in various ways, often to return again in another context to contribute to the reader’s understanding of the character of that Commander, innocent as he was, as he learned and taught and accepted responsibility for outcomes. For example, Capt. Charles Wilkes, a singular character, who appears as a central character in the chapter dealing with the Trent Affair, appears also in command of the James River flotilla, again in command of the “flying squadron” assigned to pursue the Confederate “cruisers,” in particular the Alabama, and yet again as independent commander of the Potomac River flotilla, and three other places, in each case causing Mr. Lincoln some stress, and affecting his naval management problem-solving mechanisms. What If … An Incident in the Mexican War By Mike Cavanaugh In March 1847, General Winfield Scott and Commodore David Conner were preparing to land American forces for the planed attack on Vera Cruz, Mexico. Looking to examine the beaches south of the city, Conner arranged for Scott and his staff to accompany him aboard a small boat. Scott was satisfied with the site and approved Conner’s plan. The outing would have been unremarkable had the party not ventured too close to the Fort of San Juan de Ulua. In my warped view, some good maps would help the reader grasp the magnitude of Mr. Lincoln’s naval problem, but their absence is not fatal. It is my opinion that reading this book, entirely aside from its contribution to understanding, will move to look into other of Symonds’ writings if you are not already familiar with him. 13 The boat drew several shells from the Mexican guns. They scored no hits on the small boat, but several shots did splash uncomfortably close. If the Mexican gunners had been better shots the boat might have been sunk and the United States would have lost not only Scott and Conner but all of Scott’s general officers, plus valuable members of his staff. George Meade, one of the members aboard, wrote home disapprovingly that “one shot, hitting the vessel . . . might have been the means of breaking up the expedition.” And nobody could have foreseen the effect of such a mishap on the American Civil War, still years in the future. Two men aboard were destined to command the Union and Confederate armies at Gettysburg – George Meade and Robert E. Lee. Also along with Lee and Meade were Joseph E. Johnston and P.G.T. Beauregard. Saturday, February 7 Going Back: Returning to Fields of Glory After the Civil War, veterans returned to the Fredericksburg area to tour the fields and forests that witnessed some of the war’s most brutal combat. What compelled these men to return to these battlefields, and how did they experience these places that had defined their past? – Beth Parnicza, Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park Sunday, February 8 Going Home: The Grand Review and Demobilizing of the Armies A look at the famed Grand Review of the Armies in Washington, D.C., on May 23-24, 1865, a discussion of the problems encountered in demobilizing the armies, and some of the experiences shared by Union veterans upon their return home. Topics related to the demobilization–or disbanding–of Confederate forces will also be discussed. – John Hoptak, GNMP From: So Far from God: The United States War with Mexico 1846 -1848. By John S. D. Eisenhower Sunday, February 15 “Martyrs of the Race Course” – The Forgotten Decoration Day On May 1, 1865 Union soldiers, some members of USCTs, along with thousands of black men and women in Charleston, SC came together to honor Union dead of the late conflict. Confined in an outdoor racetrack turned prison outside of the city, nearly 300 Union soldiers had perished from illness and disease and were hastily and improperly buried. With the fall of Charleston to Union troops, numerous formerly enslaved peoples came to properly rebury these men and plan a ceremony in their honor to remember their sacrifice. Today, the origins of this first Decoration Day have largely been ignored and forgotten. – Dan Welch, Gettysburg Foundation National Park Service Winter Lectures Series – 2015 The War in 1865 and Beyond Submitted by Max Reihmann The Gettysburg National Military Park is offering a series of lectures through early March. These lectures will touch on many different aspects of the Civil War in 1865 with programs expanding beyond the boundaries of the Gettysburg Campaign. Programs are held on weekends in the GNMP Museum and Visitor Center at 1:30 PM. Until February 22 the lectures will be held in one of the theaters, and the lectures on February 28, March 1, 7, and 8 will be held in the Ford Education Center. All lectures are free and open to the public. For more information, call the Visitor Information Desk at 717-334-1124 ext. 8023. All Winter Lectures will be filmed and made available on the park YouTube page: www.youtube.com/GettysburgNPS Saturday, February 21 “Injustice must cease before peace can prevail”Frederick Douglass: The Post-Civil War Years The self-emancipated Douglass had long argued and fought for the abolishment of slavery in America, and with the end of the Civil War and the passage of the 13th Amendment, had seen the ultimate dissolution of the institution. Douglass would continue to fight to ensure that the legacy of emancipation was not lost and guarantee voting rights and equality for the disenfranchised, including blacks and women. Douglass argued that the war had been an “abolition war” and fought to control how Americans would remember the calamitous struggle and what lessons [Editor’s Note – Due to space constraints in this issue of Case Shot & Canister, abbreviated descriptions of the remaining lectures are included here. Please visit http://www.nps.gov/gett/planyourvisit/upload/2015Winter-Lecture-Series01-3.pdf for full details. 14 the nation should learn from it. - Mark Maloy, Frederick Douglass National Historic Site explore the last days of the Army of Tennessee in North Carolina as the Confederacy collapsed around and within its ranks. – Philip Brown, Guilford Courthouse National Military Park Sunday, February 22 From the Battlefield to the White House—The Civil War Careers of Post-Civil War Presidents From 1865 to the end of the 19th century, the US saw enormous and transformative change, During these decades, the country was led by a variety of men who are often forgotten by historians today – Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Harrison, and McKinley. Their Civil War experiences shaped them as men and as leaders, and they carried those experiences with them in their post-war political careers. – Daniel Vermilya, Antietam National Battlefield Sunday, March 8 The Closing Scenes: Admiral David G. Farragut and the End of the Civil War This program will follow Admiral Farragut from Mobile Bay to the end of the Civil War and examine his part in its closing scenes. The lecture will also explore Farragut’s post-war career through his death in Portsmouth, NH in 1870. – Karlton Smith, GNMP Saturday, February 28 Monuments that Place Gettysburg in the Greater Context of the War Gettysburg features several monuments and memorials that place the battle in context with the war’s overall meaning. They transcend the battle itself to communicate layered truths easily missed without proper perspective. This presentation will go beyond basic facts, dates of dedication and construction materials to decode monumental messages intended to reverberate through time. – Troy Harman, GNMP Mr. Linkhorn by Larry Vogel With Appreciation to Paul Harvey I present, “Civil War: The Rest of the Story.” Sunday, March 1 Special Film Presentation: Buster Keaton in The General This 1926 silent film is loosely based on a true incident that occurred during the Civil War. The story follows the trials and tribulations of Engineer Johnny Gray and the two loves of his life: his girl, Annabelle, and his locomotive. The movie, best known for its remarkable sight gags, also represents one of the earliest attempts to apply humor and comedy to the carnage and destruction of the American Civil War. Unrated. Runtime: 78 minutes - Introduction and commentary by Evangelina Rubalcava, GNMP Back in 1780, a gentleman from Pennsylvania, a Mr. Linkhorn, came to the Long Run Creek area of what is now Jefferson County Kentucky, and staked out a claim. Mr. Linkhorn can trace his ancestors all the way back to Samuel (1622 – 1690), who was born in England, and who, as a weaver's apprentice, immigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1637. Over the generations the Linkhorn family moved around from Massachusetts to Monmouth County in the province of New Jersey, to the Schuylkill river valley in the province of Pennsylvania (now Exeter Township, Berks County) where the subject of this story was born. Saturday, March 7 To the Brink of Collapse: The Final Campaign of the Army of Tennessee On March 8, 1865 William T. Sherman crossed into North Carolina with an army of approximately sixty thousand men. Opposing Sherman was a small, feeble force of Confederates under Joseph Johnston. Over the next two months these two men and their armies would make North Carolina the scene of chaos and conflict. This program will Mr. Linkhorn’s original home in Berks County, Pennsylvania was a Quaker area, and many families moved farther south as time passed. Berks County was made up of various German 15 sects, and generally these people can be readily spotted in genealogical references because they seemed to prefer biblical names, such as Solomon, Benjamin, etc. either to kill him or to carry him off. Mordecai took careful aim and shot the Indian in the chest, killing him. So as the three boys watched, the youngest being Thomas, their father was assassinated, a prelude to future events, when Abraham Linkhorn’s namesake grandson, now known as Abraham Lincoln, was gunned down by an assassin about 80 years later. In 1768 Mr. Linkhorn’s father, John, purchased land in the Shenandoah Valley in the colony of Virginia. He settled his family on a 600-acre tract on Linville Creek in Augusta County (now Rockingham County). In 1773, John and his wife Rebecca divided their tract with their two eldest sons. Mr. Linkhorn built a house on his land, across Linville Creek from his parents' home. And Now You Know, THE REST OF THE STORY. (Epilogue) When Abraham was killed, Tom was only 10 years old, and it was Tom who would grow up, marry and become the father of the 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. The strange spelling of the Lincoln surname, “Linkhorn,” goes back more than a few generations, and old land title records show it was used fairly regularly. It was Tom Lincoln who later went back to the “Lincoln” spelling that we know today, though there are some members of the descended family who still cling to the older version. During the American Revolutionary War, Mr. Linkhorn served as a captain of the Augusta County militia, and with the organization of Rockingham County in 1778, he served as a captain for that county. He was in command of sixty of his neighbors, ready to be called out by the governor of Virginia and marched where needed. In 1780, Mr. Linkhorn sold his land on Mill Creek, and in 1781 he moved his family and settled in Jefferson County, Kentucky. The territory was still contested by Indians living across the Ohio River. For protection the settlers lived near frontier forts, called stations, to which they retreated when the alarm was given. The Linkhorn family settled near Hughes' Station on Floyd's Fork and began clearing land, planting corn, and building a cabin. Over the years, Mr. Linkhorn and other settlers in the area were harassed by the Indian population, but he was determined to keep his land. Then there was a lull in the harassment for several years, so the family thought all was well. Modern grave marker at the traditional site of Mr. Linkhorn’s cabin Then one day in May 1786, Mr. Linkhorn was working in his field with his three sons when he was shot from the nearby forest and fell to the ground. The eldest boy, Mordecai, ran to the cabin where a loaded gun was kept, while the middle son, Josiah, ran to Hughes' Station for help. Thomas, the youngest, stood in shock by his father. From the cabin, Mordecai observed an Indian come out of the forest and stop by his father's body. The Indian reached for Thomas, [Editor’s Note – Look for Larry’s “Civil War: The Rest of the Story” to be an occasional feature in future issues of Case Shot & Canister.] 16 On February 1, Illinois becomes the first state to ratify the 13 th Amendment. On the River Queen on February 3, Abraham Lincoln, US Secretary of State William Seward, CS Vice-president Alexander Stephens, along with John Campbell and Robert M.T. Hunter discuss peace terms at the Hampton Roads Conference near Fort Monroe. The conference was a failure. Battle of Hatchers Run (Petersburg) is fought on February 5. On February 6, John C. Breckinridge becomes Confederate Secretary of War. On February 7, Lee’s men drive back Union troops at Boydton Plank Road with only 46,000 men to defend 37 miles of trenches – about 1200 men per mile. On February 9, Davis offers amnesty to any deserter who returns to his regiment within 30 days. On February 16, Sherman’s troops arrive on the south bank of Columbia and the city is evacuated. On February 17, Sherman captures Columbia. The city is burned, but responsibility for the blaze is still a "hotly" disputed topic. Charleston is evacuated, and is surrendered on February 18. On February 20, the Confederate House of Representatives authorises the use of slaves as soldiers. Also on February 20, Wilmington, the last port possessed by the Confederates, is bombarded by Union forces. On February 21, the Confederate Senate postpones a debate on whether to use slaves as soldiers. On February 22, following a bombardment by gunboats under the command of Rear Admiral David Porter, William T. Sherman captures Wilmington. On February 25, Joe Johnston assumes command of the Confederate Army in North Carolina. On February 27, some 10,000 Union cavalry start a major move up the Shenandoah Valley. St. Valentine’s Day Harpers Weekly, February 18, 1865 Delaware Valley Civil War Round Table 3201 Longshore Avenue Philadelphia PA 19149-2025 18