Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Bits and Pieces, April 2011

Springfield Ohio Civil War Symposium, May 7

A Civil War symposium will be held in Springfield, Ohio on May 7 at the Heritage Center, 117 South Fountain Ave. The symposium will start at 9:00 and include 3 speakers before lunch at 12:00. Following lunch will be two more speakers and a panel discussion on "Was the Civil War Inevitable?" Speakers include Fergus Bodewich, Mark Grimsley, Ethan Rafuse, and Nicole Etcheson. The cost is $25.00 and there is limited seating.

There will also be a bookshop and book signings and Andy Turner of the Morningside Book Store the publisher of the "Gettysburg Magazine" will be there. The symposium will end at 5:00. Reservations are required and the deadline is April 30, 2011. You can call the Springfield Heritage Center for tickets at 937-324-0697.

For Pennsylvania Casino, a Civics Lesson from Wal-Mart

By James Lighthizer and Tom Kiernan of the Civil War Trust

"Wal-Mart recently made the responsible and welcome decision to abandon its plan to build a supercenter on the Wilderness Battlefield in Orange County, Va. Just as its permit to build on the Civil War site was about to go to trial, and after enduring what one media outlet called "withering opposition," the nation's largest retailer explained that it "just felt it was the right thing to do." But other historic sites are not so lucky. As well-intentioned as it may be, the proposed Mason-Dixon Casino near Pennsylvania's Gettysburg Battlefield could similarly compromise the integrity of some of the most hallowed ground in our country - ground soaked with the blood of tens of thousands of our ancestors, and further consecrated by the words of Abraham Lincoln as he set the nation on a path toward "a new birth of freedom." If approved, the proposal would allow a casino to operate at the battlefield's edge, just a half-mile from the boundary of Gettysburg National Military Park.

Four years ago, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board decided that an application for a gaming hall twice as far from the battlefield was inappropriate. But the controversy continues as another proposal is considered.

America is poised to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War this year. From coast to coast, communities are preparing to pay tribute to its staggering consequences and its role in shaping the country we know today. Now is not the time for division. Rather, let us use this occasion to put controversies behind us.

As the newly inaugurated president of a nation on the brink of a mass fratricide, Abraham Lincoln told his fellow citizens, "We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot's grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when touched again, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature."

Today, too, we must remember that we are not enemies, but fellow citizens of a country shaped by the men who fell at Gettysburg, Wilderness, and thousands of other battlefields before, during, and since the Civil War. If Wal-Mart can change its mind and subjugate financial gain to respect for our national heritage in the case of Wilderness, will Mason-Dixon's investors not consider a similar act of corporate and social responsibility for Gettysburg? "

March 2011 Quiz:

1. One of President-elect Lincoln's cabinet appointees tried to withdraw prior to the inauguration. Who was he?

2. How many reinforcements did Major Robert Anderson say he needed in order to hold Fort Sumter?

3. What was the last Major public act of Sam Houston, the deposed governor of Texas?

4. The Confederacy sent three commissioners to negotiate with the Lincoln administration. Who
were they?

5. What Supreme Court Justice served as a go-between for the Confederate commissioners with what Lincoln cabinet member? What were the results of these dealings?

Sunday, March 13, 2011

George Rable: God's Amost Chosen People

Speaker: George Rable

Last night, the LCWRT was pleased to welcome George C. Rable as its speaker. Dr. Rable is the Charles G. Summersell Chair in Southern History at the University of Alabama. A native of Lima, Ohio, he received his B.A from Bluffton College (1972), his M.A from Louisiana State University (1973), and his Ph.D. from Louisiana State University (1978). From 2004-2008, he served as the President of the Society of Civil War Historians.

His many books include: Fredericksburg! Fredericksburg! (University of North Carolina Press, 2002), which won the Lincoln Prize, the Society for Military History Distinguished Book Award in American Military History, the Jefferson Davis Award, the Douglas Southall Freeman History Award and was a History Book Club selection; The Confederate Republic: A Revolution Against Politics (University of North Carolina Press, 1994), which was a History Book Club selection; Civil Wars: Women and the Crisis of Southern Nationalism (University of Illinois Press, 1989), which won the Julia Cherry Spruill Prize and the Jefferson Davis Award; and But There Was No Peace: The Role of Violence in the Politics of Reconstruction. (University of Georgia Press, 1984). His latest book is God’s Almost Chosen Peoples: A Religious History Summary. This talk examines how Americans--Union and Confederate alike--used their religious faith to interpret the causes, course, and consequences of the American Civil War.

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. 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.

Kentucky Sesquicentennial Events

Here is a brief list of upcoming Sesquicentennial happenings in the Bluegrass:
April 8-9: Civil War seminar, Winchester.
April 10: Gravestone dedication, United States Colored Troops, Simpsonville.

Suggested Reading for the Gettysburg Field Trip

Here are some suggested readings to prepare you for the Gettysburg Field Trip. The best book on Gettysburg is Edwin Coddington's The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command. The three books of essays edited by Gary Gallagher are excellent as is Gettysburg, A Journey in Time by William Fascinato. A shorter book written by Shelby Foote, Stars in Their Courses is a great read. Stephen Sears, Andre Trudeau, and Harry Phanz all have great books out on the battle. Earl Hess has the latest book out on Pickett's Charge and not to be forgotten is the Time Life book on Gettysburg with excellent maps and pictures.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Walmart Drops Wilderness Battlefield Development Plan

Walmart Drops Wilderness Plan

Good News in Battlefield Preservation From The Civil War Trust:

"In an unexpected development on the day that a trial was scheduled to begin in the case, Walmart announced that it has abandoned plans to pursue a special use permit previously awarded to the retail giant for construction of a super center on the Wilderness Battlefield.

“We are pleased with Walmart’s decision to abandon plans to build a super center on the Wilderness battlefield,” remarked James Lighthizer, president of the Civil War Trust. “We have long believed that Walmart would ultimately recognize that it is in the best interests of all concerned to move their intended store away from the battlefield. We applaud Walmart officials for putting the interests of historic preservation first. Sam Walton would be proud of this decision.”

For more information: CWT website

Monday, January 24, 2011

Louisville Civil War Round Table Celebrates 50 Years

Jan 22, 2011, the Louisville Civil War Round Table celebrated our 50th Anniversary with a special dinner and speaker at our home of many years, Big Springs Country Club. It was a grand evening, with many guests, long time and brand new members, and including 2 Life Members and 19 Present and Past Presidents. We were particularly honored to have Tom Speckman, and original Charter member with us. Dr. James I. "Bud" Robertson gave an excellent presentation on history and work of the Civil War Centennial Commission and its lesson for the Sesquicentennial.



Our speaker, distinguished scholar, author and LWCRT Life Member James I. Robertson



LCWRT Past Presidents in attendance: Back Row: Leif Bunting, Marc Oca, William Gist, Bob Bortner, Dave Dietrich, Doug Krawcyk, Lowell Griffin, Thomas Speckman, John Davis, Gordon Snyder, John Belluci (hidden,Bryan Winslow,John Thomas, Rusty Brown. Front row: Holly Jenkins-Evans ,Don Meyer, Tom Lively. Art Boerner and Dick Skidmore not shown.

Friday, January 21, 2011

LCWRT featured in Courier -Journal

Four members of the Louisville Civil War Round Table sat down with Dale Moss of the Courier Journal recently and had a lively lunch at the August Moon on Lexington Rd. in Louisville. Here's the result:

Local Round Table cannot stop learning about the Civil War



Members of the Louisville Civil War Round Table include Mark Oca, John Davis, Holly Jenkins-Evans and Dr. Art Boerner. (photo by Dale Moss)

To learn more about the Civil War Round Table, visit www.louisvillecwrt.yolasite.com or call John Davis at (502) 560-2201.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

LCWRT to Celebrate 50 Years

Anniversary Meeting, January 22nd, 2011, What the Civil War Centennial Taught Us

This will be a night to commemorate our first 50 years and to honor those whose leadership and sacrifices made it possible. We celebrate with a special menu, a 50th Anniversary birthday cake and a champagne toast. Attendees will receive a 50th anniversary pin and a history of the Round Table and will be invited to sign the 50th Roll Call. Former chaplain Rev. Bruce Michard will be in attendance and he has graciously consented to offer the prayer at the start of the meeting.

Meet Our Speaker – James I. “Bud” Robertson, Jr.

We are happy to have back our longtime friend and life member of our Round Table, James I. ‘Bud’ Robertson, Jr. for our 50th anniversary meeting. He is without question one of the preeminent Civil War scholars and lecturers of our time. He has written and edited over 20 books and countless articles and reviews. His latest book is a collection of essays co-edited with William C. Davis, Virginia at War, 1863.Among his other books are The Stonewall Brigade, General A. P. Hill, Soldiers Blue and Gray, Civil War Sites in Virginia, and of course his award winning Stonewall Jackson: The Man, The Soldier, The Legend. He appears regularly in Civil War programs on the History Channel and he also served as chief historical consultant for the movie Gods and Generals.

James I. Robertson, Jr. is a native of Danville, Virginia and a great-grandson of a Confederate veteran. He received his B. A. and Litt.D. degrees from Randolph-Macon College and M. A. and Ph.D degree from Emory University, where he studied under famous Civil War historian Bell I. Wiley. He served as Executive Director of the U. S. Civil War Centennial Commission and has been honored with several major awards including the 1987 Fletcher Pratt Award, the 1988 Jefferson Davis Medal and the Freeman-Nevins Award. His biography of Stonewall Jackson has won eight national awards.

Dr. Robertson is currently Alumni Distinguished Professor in history at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia. Since our founding, Bud Robertson has been one of our favorite speakers and has visited us frequently since the early 1960’s.

To see all of Dr. Robertson' works on amazon.con, click here

Follow the Civil War Sesquicentennial On-line

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. At the New Times : click here Disunion and you will find a listing of the articles. At the Washington Post: House Divided

Silent Auction Begins at January Meeting

We begin a silent auction in January with a bust of Robert E. Lee and a set of Douglas Southall Freeman’s R.E. Lee.These were donated by Dick Skidmore from Wilda Skidmore’s Lee collection. There will also be a flag that flew over Fort Sumter unitl it was retired in 2008. This was donated by National Park Historian Rick Hatcher. This is a reproduction of the first Confederate flag that flew over the fort after the surrender in April 1861.

2011 Field Trip: Return to Gettysburg

There are 48 people signed up for the Gettysburg field trip and 34 of these are guaranteed one of the 54 seats on the tour bus. Remember, signing up alone will not guarantee your reservation. Only the paid deposit will. We will be going to Gettysburg to study the biggest battle of the Civil War. The dates will be March 30 – April 3. Our guide will be Chris Kolakowski.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Odyssey of a Border State. Dec. 4

Saturday, Dec.4, 2010

Odyssey of a Border State: Antebellum Kentucky During the Sectional Crisis 1845 – 1860

The LCWRT will welcome Gary Matthews tonight to speak on Antebellum Kentucky. Gary R. Matthews is an independent historian and free lance writer who resides in Lexington, Kentucky.Mr. Matthews is a native of Virginia who has studied history at the University of Virginia and law and economics at the Pennsylvania State University.He is the author of Basil Wilson Duke, C.S.A.: The Right Man in the Right Place (University Press of Kentucky, 2005) and “Beleaguered Loyalties: Kentucky Unionism,” in Sister States Enemy States: The Civil War in Kentucky and Tennessee (University Press of Kentucky, 2009).Mr. Matthews is currently working on book length manuscript that is intended to be an in-depth examination of the topics that will be addressed in his December 4th lecture.

2010-2011 Preservation Grant Awarded

The 2010 – 2011 Louisville Civil War Preservation Grant has been awarded to the Civil War Preservation Trust for the purchase of land at Perryville.A check for $1450.00 was sent to the CWPT and will be matched 4 to 1 and goes toward saving 357 acres of historic ground.Thanks to everyone who contributed and to Holly Jenkins-Evans who is the chairperson of our preservation committee.

50 for the 50th

In honor of its 50th Anniversary, the Louisville Civil War Roundtable selected what it considers the 50 Essential Books on the Civil War. These works are not necessarily the best books on the era, but rather are the basic resources necessary for anyone to understand the period 1861-1865. The list is divided by categories and touches as much of the war as possible; no effort was made to rank the books within each category, or to decide the relative merits of each type of book. All of these titles are available today. Taken as a whole, they represent the Civil War and its myriad facets.

Battles/Campaigns:

Return to Bull Run: The Campaign and Battle of Second Manassas by John Hennesey
The Gleam of Bayonets: The Battle of Antietam by James Murfin
The Campaign of Chancellorsville by John Bigelow
The Campaign of Gettysburg by Edward Coddington
The Vicksburg Campaign 3 Vols by Ed Bearss
This Terrible Sound: Chickamauga by Peter Cozzens
Wilderness/Spotsylvania by Gordon Rhea
Shiloh: Bloody April by Wiley Sword
Stonewall in the Valley by Robert Tanner
Decision in the West: The Atlanta Campaign of 1864 by Albert Castel

Biography:

RE Lee 4 vols by Douglas S. Freeman
The Edge of Glory: A Biography of General William S. Rosecrans by William Lamers
John Breckinridge by William C. Davis
The Young Napoleon by Stephen Sears
Rock of Chickamauga: The Life of General George H. Thomas by Freeman Cleaves
Lincoln by David Donald
Lee the Soldier edited by Gary Gallagher
Jefferson Davis by William Cooper
Lincoln and His Generals by T. Harry Williams
Stonewall Jackson by James I. Robertson

Fiction/Literature:

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane
Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

Unit Histories:

Lee’s Lieutenants by Douglas S. Freeman
Mother May You Never See the Sights I have Seen: The 57th Massachusetts by Warren Wilkinson
The Union Cavalry in the Civil War by Stephen Starr
Two Great Rebel Armies by Richard McMurry
The Army of the Potomac 3 Vols by Bruce Catton
The Orphan Brigade by William C. Davis
Nothing but Victory: The Army of the Tennessee by Stephen Woodworth
Army of the Heartland and Autumn of Their Glory by Thomas Connelly
The Stonewall Brigade by Bud Robertson
Education in Violence: The Army of the Cumberland by Francis McKinney

General Histories:
Photographic History of the Civil War in Ten Volumes by Francis Miller
Battles & Leaders Century Magazine
The American Heritage History of the Civil War (Old Version Bruce Catton)
Battle Cry of Freedom by James McPherson
The Civil War 3 vols by Shelby Foote
Virginia at War 4 vols edited by William C. Davis and James I. Robertson

Memoir:
Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant by Ulysses S. Grant
Memoirs of William T. Sherman by William T. Sherman
The Civil War Papers of George McClellan by Stephen Sears
A Confederate War Clerk’s Diary by John B. Jones
Fighting for the Confederacy by E.P. Alexander
Memoirs of a Dutch Mudsill: The “War Memories” of John Henry Otto 21st Wisconsin
by John Henry Otto
Company Aytch by Sam Watkins
A Diary From Dixie by Mary Boykin Chestnut
Memoir of Service Afloat During the War Between the States by Raphael Semmes
The Children of Pride: A True Story of Georgia in the Civil War by Charles Babcock Jones edited by Robert Meyer