April - 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 22nd Year
April 2014
Volume 24
Number 4
4B
5B
Editor
Patricia Caldwell
Contributors
Hugh Boyle,
Book Nook Editor
Rose Boyle
Matt Bruce
Nancy Caldwell,
Artistic Adviser
Jerry Carrier
Jim Dover
Paula Gidjunis
Bernice Kaplan
Herb Kaufman
Walt Lafty
Jack Lieberman
Zack Margolies
Carol Neumann Waskie
Jane Peters Estes
John Shivo
Larry Vogel
Andy Waskie
Sheryl Weiner
First Person Clara Barton
Presenter: Carol Neumann Waskie
Our April Meeting
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
7:30 pm
6:15 pm for dinner (all welcome - make reservations!)
Radisson Hotel
Route 1 @ Old Lincoln Highway
Trevose, PA
Officers
President
Hugh Boyle
Vice President
Jerry Carrier
Treasurer
Herb Kaufman
Secretary
Patricia Caldwell
3BU
e-mail: [email protected]
phone: (215)638-4244
website: www.dvcwrt.org
HU
HU
U
U
mailing addresses:
for membership:
2601 Bonnie Lane
Huntingdon Valley PA 19006
U
for newsletter items:
3201 Longshore Avenue
Philadelphia PA 19149-2025
Dinner Menu – Grilled Pork Loin with Burgundy Braised Button
Mushrooms. Served with salad, rolls/butter, iced tea, soda, dessert.
Substitute: Pasta (chef’s selection).
Call Rose Boyle at 215-638-4244 for reservations
by April 10. Dinner Price $24.00
You are responsible for dinners not cancelled
by Monday morning April 14.
In This Issue
Final notice for 2014 dues
Paula Gidjunis updates preservation news and
events at Gettysburg NMP
 If you missed our March meeting, Walt Lafty
will get you up-to-date
 Our Book Nook features several award
winners, and a review of a book with a different
view of the Lincoln assassination
 In keeping with our April themes, Sheryl
Weiner takes us along on the Booth Escape Tour
 Larry Vogel tells us about another woman who
championed the soldiers in a Civil War Vignette
 Jim Dover touches on the aftermath of the
fighting as our April themes continue
 Sesquicentennial timeline for April 1864


round tables including the Bucks County CWRT in
Doylestown and the Union League of Philadelphia
CWRT. In 1995 she was an instructor for the Civil
War Studies Program at Holy Family University.
From 1994 to 2002 she was on the Board of Directors
for the Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery and has
represented the group on NPR radio show.
In 1996 she became the co-owner of the History and
Mystery Tours of Philadelphia, beginning the first
Ghost tours "Spirits of Philadelphia". After extensive
research she found over 50 ghost sightings and is still
counting. The business was featured on the Travel
Channel.
An Evening with Clara Barton
For many years Carol
Neumann-Waskie has portrayed
Clara Barton in the first person
style, "Living History"
performance. A devoted fan of
this brave and fearless woman,
Carol has studied many aspects
of Ms. Barton's life before
during and after the Civil War.
She has portrayed her at the
National Archives and for the
Smithsonian's American History Museum. She
continues to speak for many groups in the area. I’ve
been fortunate to have seen Carol’s portrayal several
times, and she never fails to captivate the audience.
Born and raised in the Philadelphia area, Carol has
attended New York University and received degrees
and certificates from Community College of
Philadelphia, Rutgers University and Gwynedd
Mercy College. Since 1986 she has been employed in
Temple University Health System in various roles.
Currently, Carol is the Compliance Officer for the
Physical Medicine Department.
Carol has been involved in Civil War History for
over 20 years. She was one of the original founders
and Vice President of the DelVal CWRT from 1992
thru 2002. She has helped to found several other
Our March meeting was our annual discussion
night and it was just that, a heated informative
discussion. Sitting there and listening to the
questions, responses, and statements, one has to
admit that the knowledge of our membership is
incredible. I do not believe that there is a Civil
War round table anywhere that can compare
with the Delaware Valley Civil War Round
Table. Each and every one of you is exceptional,
and it also makes one proud to be part of this
round table.
Coming this month we have a real treat, because
it is the return of an old friend. Not just an old
friend but an original founder of this round
table. She is also a former Vice President of this
round table. Carol Waskie will give us a first
person offering of Clara Barton. Those who have
seen Carol as Clara Barton will agree that her
portrayal is a special event. Years ago at the
135th anniversary of the battle of Antietam Frank
Avato, Mike Pettine and myself attended as
members of the press for the Civil War Brigadier
newspaper. I was walking past a tent with people
hanging outside trying to get in. I peeked in to
see what the interest was. What I saw was
hundreds of people mesmerized by Carol
portraying Clara Barton. She had that crowd in
the palm of her hand. So don’t miss this month’s
presentation. It will be a good one.
Congratulations to Jack DeLong for winning the
dinner book raffle at our March meeting.
John Farley recently completed the required
courses for the Certificate Program of the Civil
War Institute at Manor College. John received his
certificate from Hugh Boyle and Herb Kaufman
at our March meeting.
Hugh Boyle
President
APRIL TRIVIA
1 – Where did the largest cavalry engagement of
the war take place?
2 – What Confederate Major General had to be
released from arrest in order to lead his troops in
mid-September of 1862?
Herb, Hugh and John
(Photo courtesy of Walt Lafty)
3 – In what battle did A.P.Hill have three horses
shot from under him in a matter of hours?
Matt Bruce spoke to the Cape May County CWRT
on “The Confederate Cruisers – The Confederacy’s
Blue Water Navy” on March 20.
(Answers in next month’s newsletter!)
ANSWERS TO MARCH’S LINCOLN TRIVIA
Jack Lieberman spoke in the persona of Percival
Drayton on April 9 to the Wilmington, DE CWRT.
Questions:
1 – Abraham and Mary Lincoln’s wedding date? –
November 4, 1842
2 – Robert Todd Lincoln’s birth date? – August 1,
1843
3 – The date of Robert Todd Lincoln’s death? –
July 22, 1926
4 – The date when Edward Lincoln died? –
February 1, 1850
5 – The date when Willie Lincoln died? – February
20, 1862
6 – The date when Thomas [Tad] died? – July 15,
1871
7 – The date when Mary Todd Lincoln died? –
July 16, 1882
8 – The date when the last of Abraham Lincoln’s
blood line died and what was his name? – Robert
Lincoln Beckwith died on December 24, 1985. He
was 81 years old.
Hugh Boyle will speak on “Abraham and Mary” at
the Our Lady Help of Christians 55+ Club in
Abington on April 11.
Jane Peters Estes remains active on the lecture
circuit. On April 9 she spoke to the Allentown
(NJ) Villagers Club. Her topic was “The Battle of
Gettysburg: Where Were the Women?” Jane will
repeat this program on April 28 to the United
Daughters of the Confederacy Philadelphia
Chapter #972 at the Annual Lee-Jackson-Maury
Luncheon. Jane will also speak to the
Merchantville (NJ) Women’s Club on “Wedding
Customs and Traditions” on April 16.
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Jane will also present “Grave Matters: Victorian
Mourning Traditions” at the New Jersey State
History Fair on Saturday, May 10 at Washington
Crossing State Park. Additional information is
available at http://www.njhistoryfair.org
MAY 20
Michael Wunsch
“City of Jubilee” – Philadelphia
& the Surrender of R.E. Lee,
April 10-15, 1865
Jerry Carrier is understudying two roles in the
Walnut Street Theatre's current production of
the comedy classic, "Arsenic and Old Lace." He
will actually be performing those roles during the
final four days of the run. Showtimes are 2 and 8
p.m. Thursday, April 24; 8 p.m. Friday, April 25; 2
and 8 p.m. Saturday, April 26; and 2 p.m. Sunday,
April 27. (There is also the possibility of another
8 p.m. performance on Sunday.) The Walnut is
located at 9th and Walnut streets in Center City
Philadelphia.
JUNE 17
Dr. Leslie Rose
The Trent Affair
JULY 15
Annual Book Discussion Night
Reelecting Lincoln
by John Waugh
Then, on Sunday, May 4, Jerry will be bringing
Lincoln and Roosevelt confidant John Hay to the
GAR Museum and Library in Frankford. Mr. Hay
will talk about the two presidential icons, as well
as his own distinguished career at 1:30 p.m.
AUGUST 19
To Be Announced
Get well wishes go out to Paul Greenberg who
recently underwent major surgery. Get well soon,
Paul!
SEPTEMBER 16
Rich Wagner
Philadelphia Breweries
Zack Margolies attended Hugh Boyle’s March 23
presentation on Irish in the Civil War, and shares
this compliment – “Kudos to our President Hugh
Boyle for his informative talk to a full house this
afternoon on the Irish in the Civil War-North and
South. The talk was much more than this. Hugh's
power point presentation encompassed the causes
that led to Irish immigration, the hardships and
discrimination they experienced in America, the
anti-Irish-Catholic riots in Philadelphia, and the
New York draft riots.” Thanks for sharing your
thoughts, Zack!
OCTOBER 17
Ken Milano
Philadelphia Riots
NOVEMBER 17
Interviews With Lincoln’s
Secretaries
DECEMBER 9
Annual Holiday Celebration
Austrian Village
Richard Lewis – Quakertown, PA
Joe Perry – Philadelphia, PA
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assembled will place US flags on the graves of
veterans’ of all wars. As time and manpower permit,
the cemeteries to be covered include Laurel Hill, Mt.
Peace & St. James the Less. Refreshments and
lunch provided. All welcome!
April 9, 2014 through October 19, 2014 –
Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello – National
Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street,
Philadelphia, PA – Thomas Jefferson assisted in
May 18, 2014 – Sunday – 1:00 pm Sesquicentennial Year 1864 Exhibit Opening
at Laurel Hill Cemetery – Historic walking tour
creating a nation based on individual freedom – yet
he was a slaveholder throughout his life. This
compelling exhibition follows the stories of six slave
families who lived and worked at Monticello. For info
215-409-6600 or www.constitutioncenter.org . Visiting
hours: M – F 9:30 am – 5 pm; Saturday 9:30 am –
6 pm; Sunday 12 noon – 5 pm
and wreath-laying at Laurel Hill Cemetery, an
informative lecture presentation, and a tour of
prominent Civil War gravesites. The day will conclude
with a casual cocktail and dinner reception at Laurel
Hill’s historic Gatehouse-Museum. The program will
be co-presented by Dr. Andy Waskie; and
independent researcher and historian, Russ Dodge.
The tour and opening of the exhibit will commence at
Laurel Hill Cemetery, 3822 Ridge Avenue,
Philadelphia, PA 19132. Free Parking is available.
Advance registration is requested. RSVP 215.2288200 or [email protected]
April 24, 2014 – Thursday – 7:00 pm – Glen
Foerd-Holy Family University Lecture Series
– “Gardens of the Jazz Age” – Jenny Rose
Carey, the director of the Ambler Arboretum of
Temple University, Ambler, will speak in the ETC
Auditorium of Holy Family University. Using images
from magazines, books and Glass Lantern Slides
from the Archives of American Gardens at the
Smithsonian, she weaves garden history, design,
social history and women's history into a tale of the
times. At its height in the 1920's, the Jazz Age was
known for music, dancing, liberation and fun.
Influences from Europe and America's own garden
past combine to produce some of the most creative
and opulent gardens in American Garden History.
Gardens, like art and music reflect their time of
creation. All are welcome to attend; the lecture is free
and open to the public.
June 6-8, 2014 – Friday to Sunday - Civil War
Trails: Gettysburg Rediscovered with Jane
Peters Estes – Includes 2 breakfasts, 2 dinners,
hotel accommodation, transportation via Starr
motorcoach (with numerous local pick-up locations),
and all attractions. Sightseeing will include: Seton
Heritage Center (Daughters of Charity), Seminary
Ridge Museum, “Steam Into History" Train Excursion,
National Civil War Museum (Harrisburg, PA), and
Gettysburg National Park (film, cyclorama, museum
and guided battlefield tour). Cost per person:
$499.95/dbl, $459.95/triple, $629.95/single. Trip will
be reoffered in October.
May 3, 2014 – Saturday – 7:30 am to 8:30 pm
– General Meade Society Spring Trip –
Summer 2014 culminating on September 616, 2014 – Star-Spangled Spectacular,
Baltimore, Maryland – Celebrate the 200th
Itinerary: 'Frederick, MD; the Civil War Medical
Museum; Civil War Sites' - 7:30am departure from
the Cannstatter with 8:30 pm return. Cost $75/person complete: bus, tours, donations,
refreshments, luncheon. All funds over costs go to
the G.A.R. Museum & Meade Society. Contact: Jerry
McCormick - [email protected] or 215-848-7753
anniversary of our National Anthem with familyfriendly activities throughout the summer in
Baltimore, culminating in September with “StarSpangled Spectacular”, a 10-day free festival.
Tall ships, Navy gray hulls and the Blue Angels will
come to Baltimore’s popular Inner Harbor to
celebrate the Star-Spangled Banner. For more
information visit: www.Baltimore.org as well as
www.starspangled200.org, or call 1-877-Baltimore.
May 10, 2014 – Saturday – 11:00 am to 5:00 –
New Jersey State History Fair – Washington
Crossing State Park – There will be a number of
historical organizations, speakers, exhibits, etc. that
may be of interest to DVCWRT members, including a
presentation on “Grave Matters: Victorian Mourning
Traditions” by Jane Peters Estes. Additional
information - http://www.njhistoryfair.org/.
September 14, 2014 – Sunday – 3:00 pm –
Memorial Service for Fran Ward at Laurel Hill
Cemetery – All those who knew and loved Fran
Ward are invited to a memorial service to celebrate
her life and her services to the history community.
Please bring your memories, souvenirs, thoughts,
prayers and stories of Fran and Jack Ward to share.
Refreshments served gratis by the General Meade
Society.
May 18, 2014 – Sunday – 10:00 am –
Gravesite placement of veterans’ flags at
Laurel Hill Cemetery – Meet at the gatehouse of
Laurel Hill Cemetery, 3822 Ridge Avenue, in
Philadelphia (215-228-8200) at 10:00 AM. The group
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Dues for 2014 Year – Final Notice
Dear Members of the Delaware Valley Civil War Round Table:
Thank you to the majority of members who have paid their dues for the 2014 year.
Also, welcome to RICHARD LEWIS and JOE PERRY, recent new members.
To those who have not yet paid their dues for the coming year,
we very sincerely hope that you will consider retaining your membership.
This year we have a wonderful group of speakers presenting information
and educating us about a wide variety of topics.
Please understand that if we do not receive your dues
we can no longer retain you as a member.
Even if you have a scheduling conflict that prevents you from attending meetings,
your membership includes our superb monthly journal,
Case Shot & Canister.
Meetings are held on the third Tuesday monthly at the Radisson Hotel,
beginning at 7:30 PM, and are filled with fellowship and information.
This year we have many terrific planned activities and speakers.
All with an interest in history are always more than welcome
at a monthly meeting.
Dues remain only $25.00 for individuals and $35.00 for families.
NOTE: Please add a $20.00 donation
if you wish your newsletter sent by US Mail.
Please send your dues payable to “Delaware Valley CWRT” to:
Herb Kaufman, Treasurer,
2601 Bonnie Lane,
Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006.
Please consider continuing your membership and hope to see you soon!
Herb Kaufman, Treasurer
GETTYSBURG CLEANUP
By Paula Gidjunis,
Preservation Committee Chair
GAR WORKDAY
The Civil War Round Table sponsored another
workday at the GAR Museum and Library on
Saturday March 8, 2014. We got to explore some of
the hidden treasures – organizing them and making
sure they will be cared for properly. We also
disposed of the insignificant items. The GAR
provided a delicious lunch and all had a productive
day.
Attendees: Hugh Boyle, Herb Kaufman, Mary Ann
and John Hartner, Linda and Jim Dover, Rich
Jankowski, Walt Lafty, Bernice Kaplan, Judy Folan,
Ann and Jack Kauffman, Tom Donnelly, Larry
Vogel, John Shivo, and Paula Gidjunis. Non-member
Kerry Bryan also assisted us. Photos below courtesy
of Paula Gidjunis & John Shivo.
Our spring Gettysburg cleanup will be held on April
26. We meet at 10:00 AM on East Cemetery Hill on
Baltimore Street by the 27th Pennsylvania Monument.
Herb Kaufman has graciously offered to conduct a
tour of the first day actions after the cleanup for those
who attend. A sign-up sheet will be passed around
at the next meeting.
BOOK AND MAGAZINE SALE
The Preservation Committee would like to thank all
those who supported our book sale last month. We
raised $163.00 towards our funds to support
battlefield and historic preservation.
Particular appreciation goes to Herb Kaufman for
running the event and bringing all those books and
magazines back and forth from his house.
Meeting attendees browse through the offerings at our
preservation book sale.
[Photo courtesy of Walt Lafty]
Larry Vogel and Walt Lafty do the heavy lifting, while
Paula Gidjunis provides the direction.
FREE PROGRAMS AT GETTYSBURG
NATIONAL PARK
Here are some free lectures being presented at the
Gettysburg NMP Visitor Center. The programs cover
a wide-variety of Civil War topics and are not all
Gettysburg related.
Rich Jankowski, Bernice Kaplan, John Shivo, Mary Ann
Hartner and Kerry Bryan help with the cleanup.
April 26 National Junior Ranger day. Children
ages 7-12 can participate in special activities at
Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and
Visitor Center and Eisenhower National Historic
Site. Free at Gettysburg NMP. At Eisenhower NHS
the activities are included in site admission.
MAY 2014
May 17 Mamie remembers Gettysburg. Join living
historian Ruthmary McIlhenny as she performs her
first person program as Mamie Eisenhower. Also
watch a 1950s fashion show presented by the Victory
Society. Included in site admission. (717) 338-9114.
As part of this event, the Gettysburg Foundation will
host a special High Tea for an added fee. For tickets
call 877-874-2478 or visit
www.gettysburgfoundation.org.
July 6-11 The Eisenhower Academy. A one-week
institute for school teachers covering Eisenhower's
foreign and domestic policy, 1950s popular culture
and Eisenhower's leadership. Graduate credit or
Pennsylvania Professional Education Credit
available. Registration required. Fee. Go to:
www.nps.gov/eise
Some of the past lectures have been uploaded to
YouTube. Check them out here:
www.youtube.com/user/GettysburgNPS/videos
JUNE 2014
June 7 D-Day anniversary weekend. Join a Park
Ranger for a talk on Eisenhower and the Men of DDay. World War II living historians portray a variety
of soldiers and talk informally with visitors at
Eisenhower National Historic Site. Included in site
admission. For more information call 717-338-9114 or
visit www.nps.gov/eise
Who Had the Most Impact in
1864?
Text and Photos by Walt Lafty
June 7 National Park Ranger walks and programs
begin at Gettysburg National Military Park. Offered
daily. Free. The schedule will be announced in
March and will be posted on www.nps.gov/gett/
Summarizing the March meeting is going to be a
tough task for a couple of reasons. First, filling in
for Larry Vogel is not easy considering the
outstanding job he does every month covering this
assignment for our editor, Pat Caldwell. Secondly,
the DELVAL members have such extensive
knowledge and enthusiasm when it comes to the
Civil War. That was evident as many members
contributed to the discussion but it’s not possible
in this short piece to name everyone and every
point. So, in coming off the bench to pinch hit for
Larry I will do the best I can and try to
summarize the key points. I’ll be glad next month
when our starting player is back in the game.
June 7 National Park Ranger programs begin at
Eisenhower National Historic Site. Offered
daily. Activities are included in site admission. The
schedule will be announced in March and will be
posted on www.nps.gov/eise
June 14 Gettysburg National Military Park brass
band concert. The Wildcat Regimental Band will
perform free at the Gettysburg National Military
Park Museum and Visitor Center as well as present
an evening concert at the Pennsylvania Memorial.
Call for a program schedule 717-338-4433 or 717-3341124 x8023. More information is available at
www.gettysburgfestival.org>
After the traditional Pledge of Allegiance led this
month by Jim Dover, and with the announcements
made by President Hugh Boyle, Treasurer Herb
Kaufman presented a Certificate to John Farley
from The Civil War Institute at Manor College.
John completed the courses required of the Civil
War Program. Congratulations, John! (see photo in
Member News column).
JULY 2014
July 1 – 4 Battle of Gettysburg anniversary programs
- Special National Park Ranger guided walks and
programs will be offered. Free.
July 4 - 6 Sacred Trust talks and book signings Historians, authors, National Park Service Rangers
and others provide talks and book signings about
Gettysburg and the Civil War. Topics encourage the
general public, as well as students of the Civil War,
to delve deeper into the nature of the conflict that
divided our nation. Free. Events take place from
9:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. at the Gettysburg National
Military Park Museum and Visitor Center.
Our Vice President Jerry Carrier opened up the
annual discussion night with the topic “Who had
the most impact in 1864”. In addition to Jerry’s
vast content knowledge, his leadership and
facilitating skills were quite obvious as he led (and
at times refereed) some great discussions,
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differences of opinion, and interesting insights, as
the group talked about the topic.
position of promotion with that of the Union, the
point was made how General Halleck gave
permission to not hire by seniority but by who is
needed for the job.
Near the end of the meeting, it seems we
digressed back to 1863. The discussion then
focused on some “What Ifs”. One “if” was, what
would have happened had the South surrendered
after Vicksburg and Gettysburg? That led into
Emancipation and the 13th amendment, and another
round of thoughts on the Presidential election of
1864 from that perspective of an earlier
Confederate surrender.
While it didn’t seem to this author that there was
a clear consensus as to who made the most impact
in 1864, it appeared that Sherman, Grant, and Lee,
were mentioned most during the night’s
conversations.
Jerry began by reminding the audience that the
year 1864 began with General Grant receiving his
3rd Star. He then opened up the discussion by
asking, “Was it the year of Grant, Sherman,
Lincoln, Lee, or someone else? The discussion
quickly focused on the Eastern Theatre,
specifically the Overland Campaign. Interesting
points were made by many such as why Meade
stopped; how Union Corps Commanders performed
badly; how Lee’s only choice was to defeat Grant in
the open field; and many other great points
pertaining mainly to the Wilderness.
A smooth transition was made by Jerry as he
moved the conversation to contrasting the Eastern
Theater with the Georgia Campaign and General
Sherman. Quite a few thoughts were talked
about regarding the Atlanta Campaign, the March
to the Sea, and how these events influenced the
presidential election of 1864. Again, great points
were made by many members.
I stated previously that Jerry Carrier “led and at
times refereed” some great discussions. Well,
“refereed” doesn’t mean that there were
arguments as there were none. However, there
were a few times when opposing views were being
discussed politely yet with some strong
convictions. In some other forum or perhaps with
a less experienced facilitator, I could envision a
few of those intellectual exchanges escalating to
an argument. Jerry kept the ship on course. This
brings up one of the many things I love about the
DELVAL members. That is, views are discussed
(including opposing views) but they seem to always
be done with courtesy and respect. So to all who
participated and shared their thoughts and
Some interesting dialogue followed regarding a
few Confederate misfortunes. Did someone say
Jefferson Davis? Yes, his name was mentioned as
a (or “the”) possible blame for certain misfortunes
such as the appointment of Braxton Bragg as well
as the appointments of others. Points were made
regarding promotions made in the Confederate
Army mostly by seniority, certainly something
preferred by Robert E. Lee. Someone mentioned
that Lee was a good “Union” man, i.e. he strongly
recognized seniority. Contrasting the Confederate
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interesting insights, thank you for doing so
respectfully and with courtesy.
The
Book
Nook
Some final thoughts, especially for those who
missed the CSPAN-3 American History television
show on Saturday March 22nd. Five Historians
nominated six people as Person of the Year for
1864. Historian Gary Gallagher nominated two
people together as one, Grant & Lee. Five of the
six people discussed on the show were people we
discussed at our March Meeting. Those five were
Grant, Sherman, Lee, Lincoln and Patrick Cleburne.
The sixth person was North Carolina Governor
Zebulon Vance. He didn’t make our list but
somehow made it on the list covered by CSPAN.
To paraphrase Paula Gidjunis from a recent email
regarding the show, the discussions fit in with our
March meeting topic.
By Hugh Boyle, Book Editor
“Award Winners”
The Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Library
and Museum at their annual luncheon on March 29th
featured historian, author, lecturer and Professor
Allen Guelzo as the main speaker. All who attended
that event left enriched and educated. Allen Guelzo
was last year’s 2013 winner of the GAR’s Samuel P.
Town Award; this year he was the main speaker.
Professor Guelzo now shares the 2014 Gilder
Lehrman Lincoln prize with Martin P Johnson. Their
prize was a split of $50,000. Professor Guelzo won
for his new book “Gettysburg, The Last Invasion”.
Martin P Johnson won his share of the award for his
book “Writing the Gettysburg Address”. Both of
these award winning books give readers a new look
at the battle and the famous speech that defines
America. Both of these books, if they are not already,
should be on your summer reading list.
At the end of the CSPAN event, William
Tecumseh Sherman was voted by the audience as
the Person of the Year for 1864. My only surprise
about that was the event was held at the Virginia
Library in Richmond. How about that, Richmond
Virginia voting General Sherman Person of the
Year? Wow, the capital of the Confederacy. I
wonder if Sherman would have felt honored,
surprised, or both?
Member contributions to the newsletter
are always welcome and encouraged.
Please submit short articles,
informative pieces, newsy items and
opinion pieces to the Editor.
Short articles of 600-800 words are
especially desired.
First-time authors encouraged!!!
Happy Reading!!
…. that in disapproving a musician’s
request for leave, Confederate Major
General D.H. Hill explained that priority
leave was for “Shooters” not for
Tooters”.
Please send as a Word document to
[email protected]
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/
Thank you!
HU
U
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with the Booth family did not help him either. The
book tells of Ned’s ordeal at trial, his conviction and
his going to Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas.
Backstage at the Lincoln
Assassination – The Untold
Story of the Actors and
Stagehands at Ford’s Theatre
The author also tells the story of actor John Mathews
who was in the play “Our American Cousin” that
night, and the letter that John Wilkes Booth gave him
that afternoon to give to the newspaper the next day.
When Mathews saw Booth run by him that night, he
immediately went home and burned the letter.
Mathews did not tell of the letter till years later.
By Thomas A. Bogar
Reviewed by Hugh Boyle, Book Editor
Many books have been
written about the Lincoln
Assassination, looking at
every angle, every
situation; there are
books about John
Wilkes Booth, books on
possible conspiracies,
Booth’s getaway and
pursuit. There are
books on the trial of the
conspirators, there are
some on Mary Surratt,
Dr. Mudd, Lewis Thornton Powell
and even a memoir of the prisoners in Fort Jefferson.
Thomas Bogar in his new book, Backstage at the
Lincoln Assassination, looks at the assassination from
a completely different point of view – the actors and
stagehands who worked at Ford’s Theater that night
on the presentation of “Our American Cousin.”
The most interesting account is that of John T. Ford,
the owner of Ford’s theater. He believed that
Spangler was innocent, so he paid for Spangler’s
defense [$1200], but the loss of the use of the theater
made payment impossible. The loss of the theater
was a devastating loss to him and his family, one
from which he never fully recovered.
The book also tells of the careers of people like Harry
Hawk who utters the last words that Lincoln heard,
and of Laura Kean, the star of the show that night,
and how their careers were affected by the
assassination. Backstage at the Lincoln Assassination
is a fascinating and informative book. Anyone with
an interest in the Lincoln Assassination will find this
book a pleasure to read.
Published by Regnery History, 2013; 377 pages;
list price $27.95. available from Amazon new &
used from $15.21, also available as ebook.
As it is suggested on the book jacket you will learn
how Booth’s theatrical training helped him prepare
for the assassination, why the police arrested and
harassed dozens of innocent people, how Booth was
connected to the cast and crew of “Our American
Cousin”, and what eyewitnesses saw the night of the
murder.
Come Along on the John Wilkes
Booth Escape Route Tour!
The author also tells us of the Confederate
sympathizers among the cast and crew. Many of
these actors and crew members spent weeks and
months in jail for nothing more than knowing John
Wilkes Booth or for having a conversation with him,
and there were some who know much more who
were never brought in for questioning. One crew
member would suffer more than the others – Edman
Spangler, the man that Booth asked to hold his horse
when he arrived at the back of Ford’s Theater that
night. Ned, as he was known, told a peanut vendor to
hold the horse, but information from other cast
members led to an arrest and trial on conspiracy to
murder the president. Spangler’s long term friendship
Text and Photos by Sheryl Weiner
In September 2011, I followed John Wilkes
Booth as he made his way from Ford’s Theater
where he shot President Lincoln, to Garrett
Farm, where he himself was shot and met his
end. Booth’s journey took 12 days. Mine took
12 hours. Of course I didn’t follow the exact
route on a horse, but instead traveled in an air
conditioned bus complete with bathroom. The
Surratt Society sponsors eight Escape Route
tours a year – four Saturdays in the Spring, and
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four Saturdays in the Fall. This is a very
popular tour – to go, you first call the Surratt
Society to get your name on the mailing list, and
then when you receive the notice in the mail,
you send in your first and second choices of
dates (with check), and then hope that you grab
a seat on the bus. These tours always sell out.
We now toured
Surratt House and
tavern (pictures
below). We stood in
the actual tavern
and the bartender
(in period costume),
told us about the
operation of the
tavern and that
fateful night. We
then went through
a door and found
ourselves in the interior of the house. Upstairs
we went to a step down attic room off a bedroom
and I found myself looking at a long small
passage way between the adjacent bedroom
floor and dining room ceiling – the place where
John Surratt hid the carbines, and where John
Lloyd knew where to get them when Mary
Surratt told him to get the “shooting irons”
ready the night of April 14th. To me, this was
the highlight of the trip looking down that
space. Pictured below is the door to the attic
area and the spot between the dining room
ceiling and floor of the bedroom where the
carbines were hidden.
Since my daughter Brooke lives in Arlington, I
had a place to stay and a somewhat willing
companion for the trip. (Can you believe she
would rather go shopping!!!) As soon I got the
mailing from the Surratt Society, I drove to the
post office, mailed in my check ($150.00) for two
seats, and we got our first choice.
The tour began at 7:15 A.M. at Surratt House,
the meeting place to board the bus. Our tour
guide correctly guessed that the mother was the
“Civil War Buff”, and the daughter was groggily
along for the ride. We got on the bus, and took
the highway into Washington D.C for our first
stop – Ford’s Theater.
At Ford’s Theater (we had our own private
Ranger, as we were there before opening), we
toured the portion of the downstairs museum
dealing with the assassination, and then went
up to the theater for the Ranger presentation.
After that we got back on the bus and followed
the approximate route (F Street, Pennsylvania
Ave) Booth took to flee the city. On the way to
the Navy Yard Bridge at 11th Street, we passed a
townhouse with a green metallic roof – home to
David Herold and his mother and sisters.
Although the original Navy Yard Bridge is no
longer standing, the modern bridge is almost
right next to the original. You can see part of
the moorings of the original bridge.
After crossing the modern Navy Yard Bridge, we
continued up Harrison Road (now Good Hope
Road), until we got to Soper’s Hill where Herold
caught up to Booth. Today, Soper’s Hill is…just
a little hill surrounded by houses. Next stop
Surratt’s Tavern (pictured below).
After leaving Surratt House, we made our way to
Dr. Mudd’s house. Dr. Mudd‘s house was in the
middle of nowhere and still is – nothing is close
to it. The house (pictured below) is maintained
by the Dr. Mudd Society, and we were not
allowed to take any pictures inside.
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but their next stop was the Pine Thicket where
they hid out for several days until Confederate
Agent Thomas Jones put them in a boat to cross
the Potomac. We passed by portions of the Pine
Thicket. We then rode up to Jones’ house
(Huckleberry – pictured below), that is now a
private residence. Unfortunately, due to heavy
rains the week before our trip, we could not
walk down to the river where the first crossing
took place. All along the way our tour guide
described for us what happened along the route.
I noted that daughter Brooke was listening
intently.
Much of the original furniture is still there,
including the sofa Booth laid on when Dr. Mudd
treated his broken leg. We were met outside the
house by a woman in period dress who told us
that only by an accident of history were we
there. She told us about the “kindly Dr. Mudd”,
including how he treated a slave’s gunshot
wound right in the house! Our tour guide later
told us that she omitted the fact that Dr. Mudd
shot the slave in the first place, but I guess
such details sort of detract from the image of
the “kindly” doctor. Unlike the Dr. Mudd
Society members, the Surratt Society members
do not believe that Mrs. Surratt was innocent.
We toured the house and tobacco barn and
other out buildings on the Mudd property that
also contained some of the doctor’s creations he
made while imprisoned at Fort Jefferson.
Pictured below is the path Booth and Herold
took when they left Dr. Mudd’s house.
Before crossing the Potomac, we stopped for
lunch at Capt. Billy’s Crab House where of
course I treated Brooke to lunch. The food was
pretty good but not cheap, as everything is a la
carte. I am still trying to figure out how I paid
$47 for lunch! I also noted that along the way
Brooke was updating her Facebook status –
Stop 1 at Ford’s Theater, Stop 2 at Surratt
House, and so on.
We, of course, had a much easier Potomac
crossing than Booth and Herold, and made our
way to Quesenberry House, that has been much
enlarged since Elizabeth Quesenberry lived
there. Mrs. Quesenberry did not allow Booth
and Herold to enter her house, but Confederate
agents enlisted by Mrs. Quesenberry took Booth
and Herold to Cleydael, the home of Dr. Richard
Stuart, Confederate sympathizer. Dr. Stuart,
having heard of the assassination by now,
wanted nothing to do with Booth and Herold. He
did give them some food and sent them to
William Lucas’ cabin, where they spent the
night.
After leaving Dr. Mudd’s house, we stopped at
St. Mary’s Church where Dr. Mudd and his wife
are buried, and where Booth first met Dr. Mudd
in 1864. At this point in the story, Booth and
Herold ended up at Oswell Swann’s cabin that
is, of course, long gone. Swann took Booth and
Herold to the home of Samuel Cox, which we
were able to see in the distance from the bus.
Cox’s house, “Rich Hill”, is rotting away, and
will probably soon also be gone forever. Booth
and Herold may or may not have gone into Cox’s
home (depending on whose story is believed),
Cleydael (pictured below) is in the middle of a
new housing development also named Cleydael,
in honor of the historic home. Our tour guide
told us that the home was in the possession of
an older woman who had since died, and was
now up for auction. Considering the beautiful
and spacious homes adjacent to the property,
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and the decrepit condition of Cleydael, it is
probable that Cleydael will be torn down and a
“McMansion” built in its place.
We now found ourselves at the site of Garrett
Farm. The farmhouse foundation (what’s left of
it) is part of the medial strip between the
northbound and southbound lanes of Rt. 301.
We made our way alongside trees, stumps and
underbrush to a small clearing (what’s left of
the farmhouse foundation) next to a plaque.
The plaque was placed there by a white
supremacist group in honor of Booth. Our tour
guide explained that he always stands on the
plaque during the tour (pictured).
Back to the trail. Booth was furious at Dr.
Stuart who had refused to help him and instead
sent him to a free Black – Lucas’ cabin – to
spend the night. Booth cut out a page of his
memorandum book and wrote a note to Dr.
Stuart to pay him $5.00 for the food (after some
thought, Booth reduced the amount to $2.50 for
the greater insult). Booth did Dr. Stuart a big
favor by writing that note – it saved Dr. Stuart
from the noose.
I noted that the southbound lanes were way
below us and asked our guide how Garrett
could operate a farm on such a hill. The tour
guide explained that in 1865, the farm was on
fairly flat ground with hills, and that when the
highway was built, the state just bulldozed
everything below grade to make the highway
flat.
Lucas took Booth and Herold to the
Rappahannock Ferry at Port Conway. We
crossed the river on a modern bridge and soon
found ourselves looking at the path Booth,
Herold and three Confederate soldiers took
upon disembarking from the ferry at Port Royal
(pictured below). We took a look at Peyton
House, where they hoped to stay and rest. The
Peyton sisters refused to allow them into the
house because their brother wasn’t there.
(What would the neighbors think?) The house
is falling apart, along with many houses in Port
Royal. Some homes looked very well kept. Most
were not. We did not visit The Trappe, a
“shady” house of ill repute, if you get my drift.
It’s long gone – now part of the A.P. Hill Military
Reservation.
So ended our tour. Brooke and I enjoyed it very
much, and the following year she treated me to
a tour of Lincoln’s Cottage. She enjoyed that
tour very much also (see us pictured below).
She is not yet a true “Civil War Buff”, but we’re
working on it!
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Bickerdyke had built 300 hospitals and aided the
wounded on 19 battlefields.
Bickerdyke was so loved by the army that the
soldiers would cheer
her as they would a
general when she
appeared. At
Sherman's request,
she rode at the head
of the XV Corps in
the Grand Review in
Washington at the
end of the war.
The Woman Who Outranked
General Sherman?
By Larry Vogel
General William Tecumseh Sherman’s staff was at
their wits end trying to deal with an outspoken,
insubordinate female nurse who consistently
disregarded the army's bureaucracy and military
procedures. When they went to the General to
complain, he threw up his hands and exclaimed,
"She ranks me. I can't do a thing in the world."
A statue of her was
erected in Galesburg.
[Photo: http://www.bickel.talkingrelics.com/about2.html]
Who is this woman who “outranked” a General?
When a surgeon questioned where this same
woman got her authority to take a certain action,
she replied, "On the authority of Lord God
Almighty, have you anything that outranks that?"
The Civil War Institute
Who was this woman who got her authority from
God?
Our Winter/Spring semester is almost complete,
but we still have one BRAND NEW ELECTIVE
available!!
Mary Ann Bickerdyke, also
known as Mother
Bickerdyke, was this
woman. She was born in
Ohio and later moved to
Illinois. Mother
Bickerdyke became the
best known, most colorful,
and probably most
resourceful Civil War
nurse. Widowed two years
before the war began, she supported herself and
her two sons by practicing as a "botanic Physician"
in Galesburg, Illinois. When a young Union
volunteer physician wrote home about the filthy,
chaotic military hospitals at Cairo, Illinois,
Galesburg's citizens collected $500 worth of
supplies and selected Bickerdyke to deliver them
(no one else would go).
Classes may be taken as part of the certificate
program or individually. Class hours are 6:30 till
8:30 pm, unless otherwise noted. Call (215) 8842218 to register or for an application for the
certificate program. Manor College is located at
700 Fox Chase Road in Jenkintown, PA.
http://www.manor.edu/coned/civilwar.htm
* Indicates Core Course
** Indicates Elective Course
**NEW COURSE –The Overland Campaign of
1864 - .6 CEUs – 6 hrs – “Wherever Lee goes, there
you will go also.” This was Gen. Grant’s
instruction to Gen. Meade in his plan to “hammer
continuously against the armed force of the
enemy.” This course follows the tactics and battles
of the Overland Campaign from May 5 to June 16,
1864, beginning in the Wilderness and culminating
with the siege of Petersburg.
DATE:
Thursdays, May 1, 8, 15
TIME:
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
SESSIONS:
3
FEE:
$79
INSTRUCTOR:
Herb Kaufman, M.Ed.
She stayed in Cairo as an unofficial nurse, and
through her energy and dedication she organized
the hospitals and gained not only General
Sherman’s appreciation but also that of General
Ulysses S. Grant. By the end of the war, with the
help of the U.S. Sanitary Commission, Mother
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When the war ended in April 1865, Johnny Reb
and his “Lost Cause” simply marched quietly
down a road that would take him to his heartrending life at home. For Billy Yank the
individual regiments were ordered to return to
their home states to be welcomed by their
families and fellow citizens. The great adventure
was over. The last regimental muster rolls were
made out and final pay added up. After turning
in their equipment to the quartermaster of their
state’s commonwealth, the army paymaster
would arrive at camp, and the men lined up one
last time. After their pay was distributed the
officers and men said their good-byes and
everyone shook hands.
Aftermath – A Quiet Walk
into History
By Jim Dover
The necessary duty after every battle was
interment of the dead. This gruesome and
nauseating task was usually done with haste
rather than reverence. In some instances bodies
were so poorly covered that they became
uncovered after a rain and the hogs and wild
animals would root them out and eat them.
After the battle of Gettysburg some Union
soldiers took care and buried their dead in
decent graves. The Confederate dead were
another matter. The enemy bodies were buried
as best they could be, and with the armies
moving off, it was left for the civilians to finish.
The dying letter of John Moseley of the 3rd
Alabama to his mother gives us this insight:
“Dear mother, I am here a prisoner of war and
mortally wounded. I can live but a few hours
more at farthest. I was shot fifty yards in the
enemy lines. They have been exceedingly kind to
me. I am very weak. Do not mourn my loss. I had
hoped to have been spared, but a righteous God
has ordered it otherwise and I feel prepared to
trust my case in His hands. Farewell to you all.
Pray that God may receive my soul. Your
unfortunate son, John.”
They were happy and sad as they parted ways –
some for forever.
Patrick H. Taylor and Isaac L. Taylor of the 1st MN
A woman wrote to the St. Paul Press on the
return of the 1st Minnesota Volunteers, “As I
saw this little fragment of the once splendid 1st
Minnesota march by me, carrying their stained
and tattered flag, I absolutely shivered with
emotion. There the brave fellows stood, a grand
shadow of the regiment which Fort Sneling
knew. Their browned faces looked so composed
and serious. There was history written on every
one of them. I never felt so much like falling
down and doing reverence to any living man.”
Thus was the life of the common Civil War
soldier and a great deal more that goes beyond
this report.
These incredible men came to volunteer from
their native states and foreign countries, such as
Canada, France, Germany, Australia and
Ifreland. Their occupations in the 1860’s were
those of a farmer, shoemaker, fireman, actor,
watchmaker, gunsmith, cigar maker, saloon
keeper, barber and telegraph operator. The
trades sent carpenters, masons and
cabinetmakers. Factories sent machinists,
mechanics and millwrights.
16
During the April 3-4 Battle of Elkin's Ferry (AR), MG Philip Sheridan moves from
command of an infantry division in the Army of the Cumberland to command cavalry in the
Army of the Potomac.
On April 7, James Longstreet is recalled to Virginia.
In the April 8-9 Battle of Sabine Crossroads, Confederate General Richard Taylor defeats
General Nathaniel Banks, halting his advance to Shreveport.
By a vote of 38 to 6 on April 8, the U. S. Senate approves the 13th Amendment and sends it to the states
for ratification.
On April 9, U.S. Grant issues campaign orders to George Meade: "Wherever Lee goes, you
will go there." Similar orders are issued to William Tecumseh Sherman.
On April 9-10, General Frederick Steele engages Confederate forces in the Battle of
Prairie D’ane (AR), before being driven back to Little Rock.
In the April 12 battle of Fort Pillow (TN) Nathan
Forrest’s troops massacre the black occupants of the
fort.
On April 17, Grant ends prisoner exchanges with the South, saying that the
practice was “...prolonging the conflict”.
Elsewhere on April 17, a bread riot breaks out in Savannah.
On April 20, Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard assumes command of the Richmond defenses.
Also on April 20, culminating a three-day attack that included the appearance
of the new Confederate ironclad ram Albemarle, General R. F. Hoke captures
Plymouth, NC and a large amount of badly needed supplies.
On April 22, the motto "In God We Trust" is approved for US coinage
(Coinage Act of 1864).
On April 30, Confederate forces win the Battle of Jenkin's Ferry (AR),
effectively ending the Federals’ failed Red River Campaign.
Also on April 30, Jefferson Davis's young son Joseph dies following a fall from
the Confederate White House.
April Fool’s Issue of Harper’s Weekly
Thomas Nast April 2, 1864
Delaware Valley
Civil War Round Table
3201 Longshore Avenue
Philadelphia PA 19149-2025
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