May - 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
May 2015
Volume 25
Number 5
4B
5B
Editor
Patricia Caldwell
Contributors
Hugh Boyle,
Book Nook Editor
Rose Boyle
Nancy Caldwell,
Artistic Adviser
Jerry Carrier
Paula Gidjunis
Ed Greenawald
Robert Hicks
Bernice Kaplan
Herb Kaufman
Zack Margolies
Jane Peters Estes
Pete Romeika
Larry Vogel
John Voris
Andy Waskie
Our May Meeting
“The Battle of Gettysburg – Where Were the Women?”
Presenter: Historian Jane Peters Estes
Tuesday, May 19, 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 – Grilled Salmon with a Ginger Soy Sauce.
Served with salad, 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
Contact Rose Boyle at [email protected] or 215-638-4244 for
dinner reservations by May 14. Dinner Price $24.00
You are responsible for dinners not cancelled
by Monday morning May 18.
In This Issue
For our newer members who may not be familiar with
Jane, she is a well-sought after speaker and tour leader
with Starr Tours, and a well-accomplished figure in the
Civil War community. She is the author of a number of
articles published in Civil War Lady Magazine,
Citizen’s Companion Magazine, and even in
Philadelphia Bride Magazine, where her expertise on
women’s lifestyles and wedding customs and traditions
has been recognized. In addition to being a member of
the Del Val CWRT, Jane is a member of the GAR
Museum and Library, the General Meade Society, the
26th PA Volunteers and 28th PA Volunteers, and
numerous other historical societies and organizations.
Her repertoire of topics includes Victorian civilian life
and fashions, Pets of the Past, and the Origins of
Memorial Day.
Lots of Member News and Upcoming Events
Zack Margolies shares an event he attended
“Around Town”
 Paula Gidjunis with illustrated Preservation
News
 Our Summer Session for the Civil War
Institute updated, with a new format for Fall
 Our April meeting recapped by Larry Vogel
 Paula Gidjunis shares details on the early
commemoration of Memorial Day
 Our Book Nook features some newly released
Assassination books, and a first review from Ed
Greenawald
 Robert Hicks shares his experiences at Ford’s
Theater in “A Personal Civil War”
 We’re once again “Off the Wall” with a
surprising place to find a Lincoln tribute
 Herb Kaufman pleads – “We Need Books!”
 Commemoration of the Sesquicentennial is
winding down with events of May 1865
 Full schedules for Pennypacker Mills and
Manor College Civil War Events
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Please join us on May 19 as we welcome back a truly
entertaining and informative speaker!
Another Neshaminy event has passed, and just
like so many in the past, it was a great success.
The weather, although chilly at the start, ended
up in brilliant sunshine and pleasant
temperatures. The Friday registration went as
smoothly as it could be. Maryann Hartner and
Carol Ingald had it all spread out in a concise
way to make it easy for the reenactors and our
volunteers. Easy is the best way to describe it.
Jim Dover had an outstanding sellout of his
famous cigars, asking the reenactors to “Puff for
Preservation” and telling them that these cigars
were delivered personally by “Deloris from
Honduras”. Each of them enjoyed their smoke
and helped the cause of preservation. The
Saturday and Sunday books sales set a new mark
for success for the Preservation Committee. The
donations collected on the field surpassed our
expectations. The battle scenarios for Saturday
and Sunday were enjoyed by all. Each year there
are those unforeseen problems that come up, and
Return Visit by a Favorite Speaker
Our May meeting will
feature a return visit from
long-time member and
Merit Award winner, Ms.
Jane Peters Estes. Jane
has spoken with us on
several occasions when
her topics have included
Victorian mourning
customs, Christmas
traditions, and Civil War
nurses.
Jane’s presentation at this meeting will focus once again
on the civilian aspect of the war, when she addresses the
women of Gettysburg. From the best known to the most
obscure, this program discusses the many roles filled by
women during the deadliest battle of the Civil War.
With information gleaned from diaries, letters, and
newspapers of the period, many parts of this program
are told in the actual words of the women who lived
through the battle.
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you wonder if it all will come out in the end.
This year was no different. It all came out in the
end. All the reenactors, the sutlers, the nonprofits and the public all walked away from the
event pleased and happy to have been there. So
thanks to all our volunteers who happily gave up
their time and talent to make it all work. Let’s
look ahead to 2016.
JUNE 16
Member Paula Gidjunis
“A Country Worth Fighting For –
A History of the 128th PA
Volunteer Infantry”
See you at the meeting!
JULY 21
Book Discussion Night
The Long Surrender
by Burke Davis
Hugh Boyle
President
AUGUST 18
Wes Stokes
“The New York Draft Riots of 1863”
SEPTEMBER 15
Dr. Andy Waskie
“The Role of the Germans in
the Civil War”
MAY BRAIN TEASERS
1 – At war’s end, how large was the national
debt incurred by the Confederate Government?
2 – What was the Ginger Beer consumed by the
Southerners when “spirituous liquors” was not
available?
3 – What Cabinet post did Abraham Lincoln’s
son Robert hold after the war?
OCTOBER 20
Herb Kaufman
“The Medical Treatment of
our Four Assassinated
Presidents”
(Answers in next month’s newsletter!)
NOVEMBER 17
Our Annual Awards Night
Local Historian Steven J.Wright
“The Indian Wars”
ANSWERS TO APRIL 14, 1865 BRAIN TEASERS
1 – What was the name of the actor on stage
when Lincoln was shot? – Harry Hawk
2 – What was the name of the sergeant at the
bridge when Booth came to cross? – Silas Cobb
3 – Who was the first doctor at Lincoln’s side
after he was shot? – Dr. Charles Leale
DECEMBER 8
Annual Holiday Dinner
Austrian Village Restaurant
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Roger Arthur recently (April 1) spoke to the
Brandywine Valley CWRT on “The Lincoln
Assassination”.
Congratulations to our April book raffle winners,
Rich Jankowski and Jim Dover.
Herb Kaufman’s recent presentations have
included a discussion of the “Medical Treatment
of our Assassinated Presidents” on April 11 at the
Sigal Museum in Easton, PA, “Spies and
Spymasters of the Civil War” on May 5 at the
Bucks County CWRT, and “Desperate Measures in
the Civil War” on May 7 at The Mill at Anselma in
Chester Springs.
Zack Margolies reports “I will be making a
pilgrimage to the mecca of the National League
from May 11th to the 14th. I will be thinking of all
of you from the "Friendly Confines" of Wrigley
Field, as they say, to see the Mets take on the
Cubs. As Mel Allen would say, ‘How About That,
Ladies and Gentlemen’." So, will you be wearing
your Mets ball cap, Zack?
Paula Gidjunis will make a speaking appearance at
the Pennypacker Mills Civil War Event on Sunday
May 31 at noon. Her topic will be “From the Home
Front to the Battlefield – Civilians in the Civil
War”. See the full schedule on page 16.
Jane Peters Estes has a busy week planned.
Besides speaking to our Round Table, Jane will be
attending Victorian Day at Smithville, NJ on
Sunday, May 17 (see Upcoming Events for details),
and she will present a program on “Wedding
Customs and Traditions” on Wednesday May 20 @
7:00 p.m. at the Lower Southampton Township
Library in Feasterville. You can call 215-355-1183
for information.
Jerry Carrier, John Voris, Jack Lieberman,
Millicent Sparks and Herb Kaufman will be among
the Del Val members speaking or offering
demonstrations at the May 17 Civil War Day at
Manor College. See the full schedule on page 17.
Hugh Boyle will be speaking at Rydal Park on May
19 on “Abe & Mary, A Relationship” and on May 28
at Ann's Choice on the topic of “Dan Sickles”.
On April 15, the anniversary of Lincoln’s death,
Hugh Boyle was interviewed by Fox29 in the
Lincoln Room of the GAR Museum. The interview
was broadcast on their evening news programs.
Kudos to Hugh Boyle for his lively and wellorganized presentation “April 14th – The Day
Lincoln was Assassinated” to an enthusiastic
audience of all ages at the beautiful Ryerss
Museum and Library on Sunday, April 19.
Nicole, the young history teacher who
introduced Hugh, spoke briefly about her
fascination with the handsome but maniacal
Lewis Powell who savagely attacked
Secretary of State William Seward
and members of his household the same night
Booth shot Lincoln.
Hugh, thanks for a great afternoon.
-Bernice Kaplan
Andy Waskie and John Voris were among the
participants at the Appomattox event at the
Liberty Bell Center on Thursday, April 9. Kerry
Bryan shares the picture below.
On May 6 Pete Romeika spoke to the SUVCW
Baker Fisher Camp 101 on “A Grand Tour of
Antietam, Harper's Ferry and South Mountain”.
Bill & Christine Corbett - Philadelphia
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special ceremony. Refreshments served after the
ceremony. Tours of the historic cemetery available.
Admission to the event is FREE and open to the
public; a $10 donation in support of Laurel Hill
Cemetery’s work and preservation is appreciated. For
additional information, phone (215) 228-8200 or
email [email protected]
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
May 25, 2015 – Monday – 12:00 noon –
Special Memorial Day Observance at
Christ Church Burial Ground at 5th& Arch St
– The final resting place of five (5) Signers of the
significant relationships and interactions between
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
Declaration of Independence, including Benjamin
Franklin! The Benjamin Franklin American Legion
Post #405 of the Union League will place a wreath
representing the American Legion Post, all
commemorating the services of all veterans!
Veteran’s marker dedication for Major Charles I.
Maceuen KIA at the Battle of Lewis Farm, VA. 198th
Pennsylvania Volunteers. ALL are welcome!
May 30-31, 2015 – Saturday & Sunday –10:00
am until 5:00 pm (Saturday), 10:00 until 4:00
pm (Sunday) – Civil War Event at
Pennypacker Mills – 5 Haldeman Road,
May 16, 2015 – Saturday – 10:00 am – Armed
Forces Day Event Honoring Rebecca Lane
Pennypacker Price, Civil War Nurse – Morris
Schwenksville, PA. Free event. Activities for kids and
adults. Music, medical demos, tours, speakers.
DelVal Preservation Committee will be there with a
book sale for preservation! Paula Gidjunis will speak
on Civilians in the Civil War at noon on Sunday. For
more info: see the flyer on page 16, call (610)2879349 or. http://www.ppmcivilwar.org/
Cemetery, 428 Nutt Road, Phoenixville, PA. Short
Gravesite Ceremony.
May 17, 2015 – Sunday – 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
– Manor College Civil War Living History Day
– 700 Fox Chase Road, Jenkintown. Re-enactment
by the 28th PA, black powder weapons demos,
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. For full
details and speaker times, see the Flyer on page
17 of this newsletter.
June 4-7, 2015 – Thursday to Sunday – Starr
Tours – Civil War Trails: Lexington and
Appomattox – with Jane Peters Estes
– 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 itinerary www.starrtours.com/tours/details/2489
Tour will be repeated October 29-November 1, 2015.
May 17, 2015 – Sunday – 12:00 noon to 4:00
pm – Victorian Day at Smithville (NJ) – Located
near Mount Holly NJ (exit 5 NJTpk) this village was
founded by Hezekiah Smith, a local politician and
manufacturer. Today, the site is maintained by the
Burlington County Board of Freeholders and has an
1800's mansion, walled courtyard, workers' homes
and beautiful grounds on the bank of the Rancocas
Creek. Event will include Victorian children’s games
mansion tours, etc. Free admission and parking!
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 itinerary see
http://www.starrtours.com/tours/details/2378
Tour will be offered again September 19-25, 2015.
May 24, 2015 – Sunday – 12:00 noon –
Annual Memorial Day Observed at Historic
Laurel Hill Cemetery – Recreating Original G.A.R.
Decoration Day Service of 1868. All are welcome to
attend and participate in the ceremony. Special
bronze veterans’ markers will be dedicated.
Speakers, ceremonies and pageant will highlight this
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Around Town
By Paula Gidjunis,
Preservation Committee Chair
Lincoln and the Jews – A Presentation
By Zack Margolies
GETTYSBURG CLEAN-UP
On Wednesday evening, April 29th, Professor
Jonathan D. Sarna presented his new book Lincoln
and the Jews to an audience at the Jewish Museum.
Dr. Sarna is the also the author of When General
Grant Expelled the Jews. He began by showing us an
overhead of a street sign from Israel circa 1967. In
English, Arabic and Hebrew the sign said Rehov
(street) Abraham Lincoln.
Thirteen Round Table members had a glorious day in
Gettysburg for our spring cleanup. Despite a week of
rain leading up April 11, the 12th proved to be a
beautiful day. Apparently spring fever was fired up
as the town was bustling with visitors. If you want to
join in the fun, our fall cleanup is scheduled for
October 17th.
In Hebrew it was Lincolyn. Dr. Sarna was a young
boy walking with his father, and his father asked a
passerby in Hebrew if he knew who was that man on
the sign. The man thought a moment and said, "Ah,
yes. He's a big contributor from America."
President Lincoln was a groundbreaker when it came
to Jewish inclusion into American life. In word and
deed he integrated Jews into his circle of friends, the
army and patronage jobs. He knew Jews from
Springfield and these relationships carried into
Washington. His circle of friends included 120 Jews,
a fact which Sarna shows in a flow chart.
The Hartners, Dovers, Rossos, Donnellys, along with
Carol Ingald, Paula Gidjunis and John Shivo pose
after a busy day
Lincoln didn't hesitate to withdraw Grant's Order
expelling the Jews and he did it in such a way as to
not embarrass Grant. Having not seen the order he
simply wrote, if such an order exists, it is to be
withdrawn; and that was the end of it. (Grant ever
since regretted and repented for that Order, but
that's for another review.) Lincoln changed the law
to allow for a Jew to be a Chaplain. In all his
speeches, Lincoln's references to the Almighty do
not use Jesus' name. That was calculated in order
that Jews feel and be a part of America. Like the
Emancipation Proclamation, that was
groundbreaking.
HELP NEEDED
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.
We also will be selling books, magazines and other
items at these events:
 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
Jews owe Lincoln a great debt, the substance of such
is not generally known. Sarna's book corrects that
oversight.
[Editor’s Note – Dr. Sarna’s book, When General
Grant Expelled the Jews, was reviewed by Dr. Leslie
Rose for our June 2012 Case Shot & Canister.]
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NESHAMINY EVENT
$1 matching funds.
http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/antietam/anti
etam-2015/
The Preservation Committee had a banner weekend
at the Neshaminy Reenactment. We raised $1014.00
and an additional $308 was raised by Jim Dover
selling cigars and sweatshirts. Our thanks to all
those who have donated books and magazines to the
cause. Speaking of which, we did so well, we are
almost out of books, so please, if you have planned
on cleaning out your extra books, now would be a
great time. We have developed a following and we
are not hurting for customers. A big thanks to all the
members who came out to help.
[Photos in this column courtesy of Paula Gidjunis]
The Civil War Institute
After some confusion with the content of our
Summer Session, the course names and
descriptions have been settled, and the classes are
ready to go.
Classes may be taken as part of the certificate
program or individually. Completion of your
choice of any 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.
John Shivo, Carol Ingald and Linda Dover
volunteering at the Del Val table – John and Linda
repping the new Del Val sweatshirts.
* Indicates Core Course
** Indicates Elective Course
**Civil War Officers: Heroes and Fools, Patriots
and Duels - 6 hrs – When we think of the Civil
War, we often concentrate on the valorous acts of
bravery and leadership among the officers.
However, there is much more that rarely is told.
This course takes an in-depth look at the lives of
Civil War officers, the heroic and brave, as well as
the rogues and cowards.
DATE:
Thursdays, May 21 to June 4
FEE:
$79
INSTRUCTOR:
Herb Kaufman, M.Ed
LINCOLN’S CHAIR
The chair that President Lincoln was sitting in when
he was assassinated is owned by the Henry Ford
Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. It was acquired
from a public auction in the 1920s by a dealer who
then sold it to Henry Ford. It is considered one of the
most significant pieces that the museum owns. For
the first time, it is being displayed out of the climate
controlled display case it has been in for years. Read
about how it was moved and see photos here:
http://heritagespinning.com/category/blogroll/
This course is an expanded and revised course that
contains different material than was included in
the “Meet the Generals” course.
CIVIL WAR TRUST (CWT) CAMPAIGN TO
SAVE LAND AT ANTIETAM
**Life From the Homefront to the Battlefield – 6
hrs – A comprehensive look at the varied and
sometimes little-known roles civilians played
during the Civil War. The course offers an
overview of 19th century life with an emphasis on
women in the literary, medicine and nursing
The Round Tables Preservation Committee has
donated $200 to the CWT’s campaign to save 44 acres
at the epicenter of the Antietam battlefield. This
land is privately owned and sits in the middle of
such sites as the Cornfield, the Dunker Church, and
the East and West Woods. The campaign has a $5 to
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worlds, as well as in the military service.
DATE:
Wednesdays June 10-24
FEE:
$79
INSTRUCTORS: Paula Gidjunis, M.A., M.B.A.
and Sandy Kaufman, M.Ed.
Look for dates and times, and more details on the
classes in the June issue of Case Shot & Canister.
This course was previously offered as “Civilians
During the Civil War”.
The No Longer Overlooked
George Thomas
By Larry Vogel
**Gettysburg: Aftermath of a Battle - 6 hrs – The
biggest battle ever fought on American soil
obviously had a major impact on the outcome of
the war and on the men who fought it. But it also
changed the lives of the civilians who lived in the
little Pennsylvania crossroads town. When the
armies left, the people of Gettysburg had to pick
up the pieces.
DATE:
Mondays, July 13-27
FEE:
$79
INSTRUCTOR:
Nancy Caldwell
On Tuesday April 21, 2015, the first meeting of
spring was held for the Delaware Valley Civil War
Round Table. A winter-weary crowd showed up to
hear a presentation on the “Rock of Chickamauga”,
George Henry Thomas.
Before the presentation, President Hugh Boyle
discussed normal Round Table business, including
the upcoming Neshaminy Re-enactment at which
the Round Table has been a forceful presence for
nearly its entire 26 year run and also the May 17
Manor College Civil War Living History Day.
The Civil War Institute's Fall semester format has
been changed to allow a greater variety of choices
for students whose schedules or finances make it
difficult to attend three-week or six-week
courses. The semester will include one six-week
course, two three-week courses, two two-week
courses and three one-night seminars. They
include:
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Education Committee member Herb Kaufman
discussed some exciting upcoming changes at the
Manor College Civil War Institute. So be sure to
read this newsletter from cover to cover several
times like I do, so you won’t miss a thing. [Editor’s
Note: Thanks, Larry! ]
As per usual Jerry Carrier introduced the night’s
speaker, William S. (Bill) Vosseler. Bill was and is
very active in the local Civil War Community. A few
of his many accomplishments and activities
include: Founder of the Union Library CWRT;
Member of the Meade Society; Past Chair of the
Mid-Atlantic Association of CWRTs and last but
not least he is a “Merit Award Winner” of the
DVCWRT.
Lincoln: A Life, a six-week Core course
taught by Hugh Boyle.
Civil War Medicine, a three-week course
taught by Herb Kaufman.
Opening the War in the West, a threeweek course taught by Jerry Carrier.
First Bull Run, a two-week course taught
by Pat Caldwell.
Confederate Commerce Raiders, a twoweek course taught by Matt Bruce.
Researching the Civil War and Your
Ancestors, a one-night seminar taught by
Herb Kaufman.
Abe and Mary, a one-night seminar taught
by Hugh Boyle.
Philadelphia in the Civil War, a one-night
seminar taught by Herb Kaufman.
Bill is a member of the Confederation of Union
Generals where he portrays none other than
tonight’s subject Major General George Henry
Thomas.
Bill then presented to us a life history of General
George Thomas, using power point photographs to
enhance his discussion. As a caveat, Bill told us
that it is very hard to research the inner thoughts
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of the man, as all his papers were destroyed by his
wife at his request after his death. And
unfortunately his death happened rather quickly
after the Civil War in 1870. He was one of the
first of the major participants in the war to die.
Thus with no personal papers to defend him, and
many others living later than he did to write
“history” or tell stories, George’s career has been
somewhat overlooked by history.
hide in the nearby woods during Nat Turner's 1831
slave rebellion.
At age 20 Thomas was appointed to the United
States Military Academy. He had as roommates
William T. Sherman and Stewart Van Vliet. He
graduated 12th in a class of 42 in 1840. Following
graduation, Thomas served in Florida, battling the
Seminoles, and then in the Mexican-American War
where he served with distinction at the battles of
Fort Brown, Resaca de la Palma, Monterrey, and
Buena Vista.
Bill’s discussion of George was quite extensive, and
if I were to give this summary proper justice it
would take up the entire newsletter, so for
brevity sake I will give you the highlights.
During the Civil War he quickly earned promotions.
He won one of the first Union victories in the war,
at Mill Springs in Kentucky. He commanded troops
at Perryville and Stones River. But he is most
famous for his actions at the Battle of
Chickamauga in 1863, earning him the title the
"Rock of Chickamauga". Soon after, he commanded
the dramatic breakthrough on Missionary Ridge in
the Battle of Chattanooga. In 1864 he achieved
one of the most decisive victories of the war,
destroying the army of Confederate General John
Bell Hood, at the Battle of Nashville.
Del Val members show appreciation for Bill
Vosseler’s (foreground) presentation
Even though George had a stellar career, he did
not gain the fame as others did. It is speculated
that is because he was a Virginian, but maybe more
importantly he was not exactly buddy buddy with
General Grant. Whatever the reason, those of us
at the Delaware Valley Civil War Round Table
should have a greater appreciation for the man
after seeing Bill’s presentation.
George was born in Virginia, in 1816. He was a
West Point Graduate, a career U.S. Army officer
and one of the principal commanders in the
Western Theater. Undefeated in battle, he was
appointed by Lincoln a Major-General in the
Regular Army, one of only five authorized by
Congress at that time. As a born Virginian who
stayed loyal to the Union, he was not only deemed
suspicious amongst his army peers and government
officials, but his own family basically disowned him
for the rest of his life.
Thomas was born at Newsom's Depot, Virginia.
His family led an upper-class plantation lifestyle.
By 1829, they owned about 650 acres and had
anywhere between 5 to 50 slaves. Although his
early life was of privilege he did suffer some
trials and tribulations as his father died when he
was a teenager, leaving the family in financial
difficulty. Later on his sisters and his widowed
mother were forced to flee from their home and
Hugh Boyle presents Bill with a certificate and an
“esteemed drinking vessel”
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Following his presentation, Bill then received
maybe the greatest honor of his whole career as a
Civil War historian, he received the DVCWRT’s
“Esteemed Drinking Vessel” from President Hugh
Boyle.
enhance the interpretive experience for visitors. This
gem is hidden from the regular “tourist” sites and
easily can be missed. But it certainly should be a
planned destination for any Civil War “buff”.
The Waterloo Memorial Day Museum is at 35 East
Main Street (Rt 20/5). It is an attractive Italianate
building. Summer hours are Monday through
Saturday 10am to 5pm, and are reduced in spring
and fall. www.waterloony.com
The First Memorial Day Celebration
By Paula Gidjunis
Tucked away in a small town on a simple road
between Geneva and Seneca Falls, NY is the quaint
town of Waterloo. Yes, the town was named for the
infamous fall of Napoleon and often forgotten
success of Wellington. It is in this little town along
the Seneca-Cayuga Canal that the first Memorial Day
(once known as Decoration Day) was celebrated on
May 5, 1866.
The
Book
Nook
Now there are other cities that claim this distinction,
but only Waterloo is officially recognized for this title
by the US government. It all began back in 1865
when Henry Wells, a local druggist, began gathering
help in planning a formal remembrance of those
who gave their lives during the Civil War. At this
time, a Civil War hero, General John Murray, was the
Seneca County Clerk. Murray provided clout to the
process and soon the entire town was involved in
the 1866 observation. The ceremony was repeated
in 1867. In 1868, General John Logan issued orders
to celebrate Decoration Day on May 30, which
established the celebration nationwide. In 1966, the
US Government recognized Waterloo as the official
birthplace of
Memorial Day.
U
By Hugh Boyle, Book Editor
April was the 150th anniversary of President Abraham
Lincoln’s assassination, and as you might expect, this
year there was an abundance of books on the
assassination. Now even after the 150th is over, those
books are still being released. It all plays havoc with
those of us who are compelled to read and have them
all. I thought I would take the time to list a few:
The Lincoln Assassination Documents by Michael
Hunt – A list of documents and letters on the Lincoln
Assassination
To commemorate
these early
beginnings, the
Waterloo
Memorial Day
Museum was
purchased to
house
memorabilia and
artifacts
connected with
the Civil War and Memorial Day. The museum
underwent a complete makeover in 2006-2007 to
John Wilkes Booth Day by Day by Arthur F. Loux –
The day to day life of John Wilkes Booth
Lincoln’s Funeral Train by Robert R Reed – The
epic journey from Washington to Springfield
America’s Corporal by James Martin – James
Tanner in war and peace
The Madman and the Assassin by Scott Martelle –
The strange life of Boston Corbett
10
of emphasizing soldier similarities & their material
concerns in everyday life, it also moves beyond
previous literature to offer new insights. Not only did
understanding & mitigating environmental impacts
upon mental & physical health constitute soldiers’
primary preoccupations outside of combat, but self-care
prompted a great deal of the straggling in 1862 that
historians have long recognized as problematic.” (p149)
Fortune’s Fool by Terry Alford – The complete
biography of John Wilkes Booth
For those of you who follow the Lincoln
Assassination, you will have to find more shelf space,
because there are more books coming your way.
* PREMISE: “Despite the persistent romanticizing of
our nation’s Civil War by American culture, there can
be no doubt: soldiering was a miserable business. And
yet common soldiers, in spite of many of their low-class
origins & the tremendous limitations of army life,
constructed startlingly effective networks of
environmental knowledge and health care.” (p15)
Happy Reading!
… that the greatest military parade in
the history of the US occurred in
Washington on May 23-24, 1865 when
about 150,000 veterans marched in
the Grand Review of the Armies for
President Andrew Johnson.
* “ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY is the study of
human interaction with the natural world over time. In
contrast to other historical disciplines, it emphasizes the
active role nature plays in influencing human affairs.
Environmental historians study how humans both shape
their environment & are shaped by it.” -- Wikipedia
(one of my least desired sources to cite). To this
reviewer, this book offers a lens for observing the
struggle / symbiotic relationship and adapting /
modifying between the soldier & his local environment
[effectively introduced in Chapter 2].
Nature’s Civil War: Common
Soldiers and the Environment
in 1862 Virginia
* Provides a MEDICAL HISTORY overview [Chapter
1] of the myriad of ‘professional’ medical theories &
common people’s formed opinions on disease causation
and preventative & curative treatments prior to &
during the Civil War. Covers physical & mental health.
Reconstructing the family / community health care
model within a military unit – a personal, concerned,
informal medical network addressing the deficiencies of
the impersonal, uncaring, newly organized, formal
military medical systems of both national armies. The
“unofficial system would be based on spontaneous
opportunity, experiential knowledge, and the aid of
fellow soldiers & individuals near the front and at
home.” (p99)
By Kathryn Shively Meier
Reviewed by Ed Greenawald
KALEIDOSCOPIC INSIGHTS INTO CW
SOLDIER HEALTH & THEIR ENVIRONMENT
With each turn a new, intriguing
pattern is revealed. For me – an
untrained individual interested
in history – worth the purchase
price & reading!
Soldier self-care included such measures as bathing,
laundering & mending clothes, innovative shelter
construction, altering the campsite grounds; individual
& group removal of insect pests, locating ‘clean’ water,
foraging for local fruit & berries, and providing nursing
& orderly care services to comrades [culled from
Chapter 4]. Many of these were enabled by risking
military discipline by straggling & taking unapproved
absences from their unit [see Chapter 5]. Soldiers
within the vicinity of home or relatives could seek
direct aid & comfort. Others turned to mail
correspondence for supplies & especially comforting
*SYNOPSIS. Adapting to &
using the environment for
preventative & curative health
measures by the Civil War
common soldier during the
1862 Peninsula & Shenandoah Valley
campaigns – the 1st full year of war. “This book at its
core is an ethnographic history of soldier health.” (p7)
The “book attempts to reinvigorate the stalled field of
common soldier studies, a tremendously popular branch
of military history of the Civil War.” (p8) “While this
study continues a trend in common soldier scholarship
11
words. Mail & newspapers were sources of medical
advice.
The adaptive process of becoming a seasoned
(hardened) veteran is described in the Introduction,
Chapter 4, & mentioned elsewhere.
Lincoln Tribute
by Robert Hicks
* MILITARY HISTORY – Adds a new dimension to
military campaigns. The timing for an operational
maneuver can prolong or limit exposure to natural &
soldier-induced environmental vectors for disease –
terrain, climate, weather; flora, insects & fauna;
encampment sanitation practices, personal hygiene, etc.;
not the prevalent focus on the significantly less lethal
casualties (in numbers) from battle wounds. Discussed
for both Union & Confederate combat soldiers, officers
& surgeons during the 1862 Peninsula and Shenandoah
Valley campaigns. Describes organization structure &
functioning of the opposing formal military medical
departments & ancillary civilian organizations [Chapter
3].
You may or may not be aware of the Abraham
Lincoln assassination event and Lincoln tribute
that took place at Ford’s Theatre in Washington,
DC on the 150th anniversary of the
assassination. The itinerary for April 14 and 15
can be found here:
http://www.fords.org/event/lincoln-tribute
Robert Houston (3rd Infantry Regiment USCT) and
I decided to participate and took the train to DC
on the afternoon of the 14th. We decided to appear
in Civil War Union Army uniforms, which proved
to be a canny decision as we were received as part
of the show. We first experienced the 9pm event
(live at Ford’s, simulcast on a big screen at the
National Portrait Gallery two blocks away, where
we saw it): Now He Belongs to the Ages: A
Lincoln Commemoration, described at Ford’s
website thus:
* Illustrates for PROFESSIONAL HISTORIANS the
use of primary document sources {letters & memoirs}
for basic quantitative analysis.
I hope this review aided your decision in whether to
read (or even buy) this book or even to bypass it &
move on to a topic of greater interest to yourself.
PBS NewsHour will livestream Ford’s Theatre’s
tribute event that will include Civil War-era music,
readings of Lincoln’s words and stories and
excerpts from his favorite theater and operas. The
event will feature operatic soprano Alyson
Cambridge, singer-songwriter Judy Collins, actor
David Selby, political satirist Mark Russell, civil
rights leader Julian Bond, historians and others.
*2 maps. 4 images. 2 appendices contain 4 figures & 2
tables. Notes. Bibliography. Index
*Winner of the Bell Irwin Wiley Award.
University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill,
2013; 240 pages; retail $39.95 (cloth), $24.95
(paper), also available as an e-book
“And others” includes General Colin Powell! It was
a well-run and impressive tribute. Segments of
this 75-minute program can be found on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXYnGm3Ctco
www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6P4OSiyiNM
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!!!
After the tribute, a large crowd converged at Ford’s
(the street was blocked for pedestrian traffic all
night) for a candlelight vigil. Living history
interpreters and re-enactors added 19th-century
flavor to events and some who represented specific
people (such as actress Laura Keen who was
performing in Our American Cousin) delivered
eyewitness accounts of the shooting of Lincoln. In
fact, costumed interpreters appeared on the steps
of the Petersen house across the street (where
Lincoln died) to give hourly reports on Lincoln’s
status.
The crowd diminished around midnight and did
not swell again until about 5am on April 15. We
roamed overnight, talking with others who were
part of the vigil and coursing through the theatre,
museum, the Petersen house and its museum,
and truly enveloped ourselves in the events of the
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evening, especially studying the amazing collection
of Lincoln- and assassination-related artifacts on
display. Having the shooting presented “real time”
as events unfolded overnight was an engrossing
experience. In fact, the entire (sleepless!) event was
poignant, fascinating, weird, and wonderful: Rob
and I were glad to have participated. Some images
are available via commercial media that convey the
atmosphere of the evening. In a few, Rob and I
appear.
chosen for having made a significant impact in the
just-concluded game. The “reward” for the socalled impact player differs with each team. For
instance, the Philadelphia Flyers award the player
with the “Umbrell” cap, honoring Army 1st Lt.
Colby Umbrell, a native of Doylestown, PA, who
was killed by an IED while serving in Operation
Iraqi Freedom. The previous winner of the
Umbrell cap then passes the cap to the teammate
he believes put everything on the line for the
team during the game.
The Washington Post did a decent write-up:
www.washingtonpost.com/local/150-years-latertributes-in-the-rain-to-lincoln-on-the-day-of-hisassassination/2015/04/15/7de4d154-e358-11e481ea-0649268f729e_story.html
At the moment of Lincoln’s death at 7:22am on
April 15, a half-hour ceremony and wreath-laying
occurred. Here is the CSPAN coverage of the
wreath-laying at Ford's Theatre – Rob and I appear
in the first few minutes as the camera pans. This
video runs over 40 minutes but the ceremony itself
lasts the initial 36 minutes.
www.c-span.org/video/?325070-1/fords-theatrelincoln-assassination-150th-anniversary
Flyers goalie Steve Mason with the postgame
Umbrell cap
For the Boston Bruins it’s been a vintage Starter
jacket, for the Pittsburgh Penguins (this is for
you, Larry Vogel!) a shovel, for the Nashville
Predators a volunteer fireman’s helmet belonging
to a now-deceased former team member. It could
be a cowboy hat, or a fedora, or a boxing belt. And
usually it includes some measure of honor not just
for the recipient but respect for someone it
represents.
OFF THE WALL
Another Entry From the
“We Can Find a Civil War Connection
in Just About Anything”
School of Thought –
Abraham Lincoln & the NHL….. the
Washington Capitals, to be Exact!
But the Washington Capitals have taken it to a
different level. So what must the rewarded player
don in that Washington locker room? Yes, a Lincoln
beard and stovepipe hat.
By Pat Caldwell, Editor
You may remember that back in the February
2014 issue of Case Shot & Canister I wrote about
the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey
League and their connection to the Civil War
history of the state of Ohio. Did you think that
was the only shout-out the NHL could make to the
Civil War? You did? Well, think again!
As is the habit with a number of the NHL teams,
following each game, before media are allowed into
the locker rooms, one member of the team is
Impact player Alex Ovechkin a la Lincoln!
13
Keeping in mind that once a team advances to the
Stanley Cup playoffs, they need to win a total of
16 games (4 per series) to win the final prize. The
Caps players have a Lincoln playoff calendar with
16 game squares applied, and one square is
removed with each win, so in essence Abe is
watching over the progress of the team.
NESHAMINY PRESERVATION BOOK
SALE AN OUTSTANDING SUCCESS
Please Donate Your Unwanted Books
By Herb Kaufman
This year has been a banner year in terms of our well
known and valuable book sales. At the recent
Neshaminy reenactment we almost sold out of all
our books.
We truly need your books for the sales
at Manor Living History day and
Pennypacker Mills.
Please check around at home. Do you have any Civil
War related, other history or biography books that
are gathering dust? Do you have any books that you
really have not used for a while? Please consider
donating them to the round table.
Removing a square after a Capitals win
As a final shout-out to our 16th President, one of
the Capitals goalies wears a mask with Lincoln
related symbolism – the stovepipe hat (photo
right), and a period bowtie and beard (photo left
appropriately at the neckline).
Your donations are a WIN-WIN-WIN for you, other
round table members and our outstanding
Preservation Committee. You
get the opportunity to donate
your no longer needed books
to a worthy cause, other
members get an opportunity
to purchase books at a fraction
of the original cost, and the
money donated goes directly to our preservation
efforts. With your kind donations EVERYBODY
WINS!
We need your unwanted books! So, please check
your bookshelves, look in the closet, and look under
the bed.
So, maybe ice hockey should be given more serious
consideration as a national past-time??? Well, just
my 2¢.
Since our next meeting is after Manor Day please
email me if you have any books to donate. I’ll work
with you to arrange to get them.
([email protected])
[Photos taken from various Philadelphia Flyers and
Washington Capitals websites]
All funds raised through your donations are directly
used for the preservation of our Civil War battlefields
and historic sites.
14
On May 3, Governor Joseph Brown of Georgia calls a meeting of the state legislature
when word reaches him of Joe Johnston's surrender.
On May 4, General Richard Taylor surrenders the remaining troops in
Alabama and Mississippi based on an agreement signed two days earlier.
.
On May 10, President Jefferson Davis is captured near Irwinville.
Also on May 10, President Andrew Johnson declares armed resistance at an end, while the CSS Imogene
becomes the last known ship to successfully run the naval blockade.
Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens is arrested at Liberty Hall, his estate in Crawfordville,
Georgia on May 11 by members of the 4th Iowa Cavalry.
The last significant fighting of the Civil War takes place on May 12-13 at the Palmito Ranch along the Rio
Grande between Col. Theodore Barrett and John S. Ford.
Also on May 12, eight conspirators in the Lincoln assassination plead not guilty to the military court holding
the trial.
Further on May 12, MG O.O. Howard is appointed head of the Freedman’s Bureau by
President Johnson.
On May 14, President Johnson issues a conditional amnesty to all persons engaged in the
late Rebellion.
On May 22, Jefferson Davis is imprisoned at Fort Monroe.
The Grand Review of the Army of the Potomac is held on May 23, and that
of Sherman’s Army on May 24.
On May 29, Andrew Johnson grants a Presidential pardon to those who
directly or indirectly aided the Southern war effort, restoring property
rights to the South (with the exception of slaves).
Also on May 29, President Andrew Johnson appoints William Woods Holden as provisional
governor of North Carolina, a blueprint for his plans of Presidential Reconstruction.
PENNYPACKER
MILLS
S
MIMILLS
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Accoutrements of Johnston’s Army Turned over to J.S.
Clingman, Ordnance Office, Department North Carolina,
May 3, 1865 – Sketched by Theodore R. Davis
Harpers Weekly, May 27, 1865
Delaware Valley
Civil War Round Table
3201 Longshore Avenue
Philadelphia PA 19149-2025
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