Amercian Civil War Monuments

1^st and 3^rd Mississippi Infantry, African Descent Monument

Vicksburg National Military Park, Vicksburg, Mississippi

Dedicated February, 14, 2004

Photos and text courtesy of LCWRT Member Charlie Moore

The newest monument at the Vicksburg National Military Park honors former slaves from both Mississippi who served as soldiers in the Union Army.  The monument depicts two black men, one a soldier and the other a slave helping a wounded black soldier.  The monument depicts the slave looking back on the institution of slavery.  The wounded soldier represents the sacrifice for freedom, and the soldier with the rifle depicts the slaves’ fight for freedom.  More than 180,000 blacks served in the Union army while many others served in the Union navy.   Over one-third of the African –Americans who served in the army lost their lives during the Civil War, most from disease.

LCWRT 523rd Meeting
The Day the South Really Lost the Civil War

Presented by James I. Robertson Jr.

Sunday, November 19

We are once again honored to have our longtime friend and Life Member of our Round Table, James I. ‘Bud’ Robertson Jr. visit us.  He is without question one of the preeminent Civil War scholars and lecturers of our time.  So many times in the past he has enlightened our members with informative and entertaining talks.  ‘Bud’ has written and edited over 20 books and countless articles and reviews during his distinguished career.   His latest book is “CIVIL WAR ECHOES—Voices From Virginia 1860 - 1891”.  His magnificent biography of Stonewall Jackson won eight national awards and served as the basis for the movie ‘Gods and Generals’.

James I. Robertson Jr. is a native of Danville, Virginia and a great grandson of a Confederate veteran of the Army of Northern Virginia.   He received his B.A. and Litt.D. degrees from Randolph-Macon College and M.A. and PhD degrees from Emory University, where he studied under famous Civil War historian Bell Wiley. He served as Executive Director of the U.S. Civil War Centennial Commission working with Presidents Kennedy and Johnson.  He has been honored with several major awards including the 1987 Fletcher Pratt Award, the 1988 Jefferson Davis Medal and the Freeman-Nevins Award. Bud continues to speak at seminars and other venues around the country and has finished ‘A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary: J. B. Jones’ that was recently published. 

Dr. Robertson recently retired from being the Alumni Distinguished Professor in History at Virginia Tech.  Since our founding in 1961, Bud Robertson has been a frequent and favorite speaker and we welcome him back once again for what will be a very special evening.

“The Day the South Really Lost the Civil War”

For 150 years historians and Civil War Round Tables have argued when the Confederacy reached its "high water mark"--when the signal came that the South's attempt at independence was going to fail.  A host of critical points has been proposed.  Antietam, Vicksburg, and Gettysburg traditionally lead the pack. Dr. Robertson plans to examine the possibilities and offer his own nomination as the Civil War's turning point.

American Civil War Monuments

Gettysburg National Military Park

Monument to the 2^nd,3^rd,4^th,5^th,& 6^th Vermont.

Photos and Text courtsey of LCWRT Member Charlie Moore

These five Vermont Regiments made up the First Brigade, of Howe’s Division, of Sedgwick’s 6^th Corps. They arrived about 5:00 P.M. on July 5^th after a march of 33 miles from Manchester Md.  Upon arriving they were placed on the extreme left of the Union line with only 1 regiment, the 5^th Vermont, placed on picket duty.  On the morning of July 3^rd they moved a short distance and took position with their right flank on the east slope of Big Round Top and their left flank on Taneytown Road.  They remained here until the end of the battle  The brigade, under the command of Col. Lewis Grant suffered only 1 casualty, that being one man wounded by artillery fire.  The brigade came to the battle with 1916 men.  

The inscription on the monument tells the complete story of this Vermont brigades casualties during their time of service. Of the total number of 11,137 who served with the brigade over its period of service, 4,704 became casualties.  2,439 gave their lives to the Union cause: 1,128 killed and mortally wounded in action, 1,009 died of disease, died in Confederate prisons, 302.  Another 2,265 were wounded but not mortally. Gettysburg was a complete anomaly for them.