Jeffery Wert
The LCWRT welcomed back acclaimed Civil War historian and author Jeffrey Wert for our May meeting. His excellent presentation: He Stood Out on the Great War Canvas: Jeb Stuart, focused on Jeb Stuart's leadership skills, relationships with subordinates, his friendship with Stonewall Jackson, and the controversies with his generalship. Of course, there was an emphasis on his famous "ride" during the Gettysburg Campaign. This was a fitting wrap up to our 2010-2011 season.
A graduate of Penn State University, with a Master of Arts in History, Jeffery has retired from teaching, and has concentrated on writing several excellent Civil War books: Mosby’s Rangers, 1990; General James Longstreet: The Confederacy’s Most Controversial Soldier, 1993; Custer: The Controversial Life of George Armstrong Custer; A Brotherhood Of Valor: The Common Soldiers of the Stonewall Brigade, C.S.A., and the Iron Brigade, U.S.A., 1999; The Sword of Lincoln, 2005, A Biography of J.E. B. Stuart, 2008, and just published, A Glorious Army: Robert E. Lee's Triump 1862-1863, 2011. Each of his books has been either a main or alternate selection of the History Book Club and Book-of-the-Month Club. Gettysburg: Day Three,2001, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and a National Book Award.
He has also written more than one hundred articles, essays, and columns for various magazines, including Civil War Times Illustrated, American History Illustrated, America’s Civil War, Blue & Gray Magazine, Virginia Cavalcade, and Pennsylvania History. He has also appeared on numerous television programs such as C-Span 2, Pennsylvania Cable Network, the History Channel, and A & E. Jeffrey is also an honorary member of the Civil War Trust.
Follow the Civil War Sesquicentennial On-line
If you have access to the Internet, you can follow the events each day of what happened 150 years ago in both the New York Times and the Washington Post. Both of the papers are offering great articles on the Civil War and these are absolutely free. The New York Times web site is Nytimes.com and just click on Opinion then Opinionator and Disunion and you will find a listing of the articles. The Washington Post address is washingtonpost.com and then go to house-divided.
April 2011 Quiz Answers:
1. In response to the Confederate demand to surrender Fort Sumter, U.S. Major Robert Anderson said he would evacuate the fort at noon on April 15th as long as he did not receive further orders, supplies and/or reinforcements. Why was this unacceptable to the Confederate government?
They wanted immediate evacuation because they knew supplies and maybe reinforcements and more importantly orders were on the way.
2. What was the difference between Fort Sumter and Confederate Charleston in terms of troops and guns?
Fort Sumter: 48 guns, 85 officers and men plus 43 workmen employed by the fort. Confederate Charleston: more than 70 guns and over 4,000 officers and men.
3. Even as the bombardment of Fort Sumter was taking place, the Union navy secured an ultimately more important prize. What was it?
The forces sent to relieve Fort Pickens on Santa Rosa Island in Pensacola Bay, Florida landed successfully.
4. Confederate President Jefferson Davis termed U.S.President Abraham Lincoln's proclamation of April 15, 1861 a declaration of war. What three steps did Lincoln take in his proclamation?
1) Declared that an insurrection existed. 2) Called for 75,000 militia. 3) Convened Congress in special session on July 4th
5. What was the Baltimore Riot?
Federal troops coming to Washington by rail had to detrain in Baltimore and march between stations to the Washington one. On April 19, 1861, the Sixth Massachusetts was marching through Baltimore when they were surrounded by a pro-Confederate crowd. Words were exchanged, stones were thrown, and finally shots were fired by both sides. At least four soldiers and twelve civilians were killed, with numerous soldiers and civilians being wounded. This is also known as the Pratt Street Riot.
May 2011 Quiz:
1. What was the Department of the Ohio and who was placed in charge?
2. Which two states had both Union and Confederate governments?
3. Who was Colonel Elmer Ellsworth?
4. Who was James Jackson?
5. When three runaway slaves sought freedom at Fort Monroe near Hampton, Virginia in May 1861, General Benjamin Butler's classification of them as "contraband of war" and his refusal to return them resulted in what Federal policy?
(The Quiz is prepared by Harriette Weatherbee)
