Fall Field Trip: Frankfort, KY

An eighteen person strong contingent of the LCWRT traveled to Frankfort on the 17th for the Annual Fall Field Trip. Our tour guide was the able and intrepid Nicky Hughes of the Capitol City Museum. We were extremely fortunate to have a perfect day - cool in the morning and balmy in the afternoon. Meeting up early in Frankfort

The morning session included a detailed tour of the Civil War Forts at Leslie Morris Park on Fort Hill. We carpooled to the Sullivan House, a c. 1810 clapboard covered log house, which serves as the visitors center and museum.

Exterior of the Sullivan House

Nicky then led us through Fort Boone, the earthworks fort built by the 103rd OH in 1863. This was the site of the June 10 - 11 1864 skirmish that successfully defended the state capitol of Ky during a raid by John Hunt Morgan’s men in June of 1864. While not important for the war as a whole, it is significant in KY history as a burned state capitol would have left state government in ruins and likely led to a movement to mode the capitol to Louisville, Lexington or other sites that had agitated for a change off and on over the years.

Fort Boone earthworks

The fort was manned by local militia, called in to action and led by Gov. Thomas Bramlette, one of, if not the only US Governor to actually man a weapon in defense of his capitol. Another well known defender was John Marshall Harlan, a future US Supreme Court justice.

View of Frankfort from Fort Hill

The views from the park are outstanding, with historic downtown Frankfort , the Old Capitol , the New 1910 Capitol and the Arsenal in view. The Fort Hill site contains well defined earthwork remains, original stone walls and at the later, 1864 New Redoubt , the original stone magazine. The earthworks here are unusual in containing a dry stone wall core under the tamped earth. An excellent lunch arranged by Nicky was followed by medical and artillery demonstrations. Some hardy souls volunteered to form the temporary LCWRT Artillery Battery, and were successful in firing a 10 lb Parrot. Well done.

LCWRT members assist our tour guides with the firing of a reproduction 10 lb Parrot

The afternoon continued with a walking tour of downtown Frankfort, where Nicky covered the 1862 occupation of Frankfort by Braxton Bragg’s forces and Bragg’s visit and sudden departure through the railroad tunnel, as well as local history , the assassination of Gov. William Goebel, and the extensive Civil War era homes in downtown. He included a visit to the Capital City Museum and we finished up at The Frankfort Cemetery, resting place of many KY Governors, Civil War veterans and of course, like good Kentuckians, we concluded at the grave of Daniel Boone.

Civil War era railrod tunnel in downtown

LCWRT members take a break during the walking tour

Links for further reading:

Capitol City Museum

Leslie Morris Park

Ky State Historical Society

Coming in October: The Fall Field Trip

2010 Fall Field Trip: Frankfort Ky. Sunday October 17

The one-day Fall Field Trip to Frankfort is coming up soon - October 17th. This includes a walking tour of downtown to see sites associated with the secession crisis, the 1862 occupation of Frankfort by the Confederates including streets involved in skirmishing during their departure, Morgan's 1864 raid on the town, residences of notable personages from the Civil War era, and the Capital City Museum, which has a couple of interesting Civil War relics. We will also tour the Frankfort Cemetery, where we can see the graves of Simon Bolivar Buckner and many other Civil War soldiers and politicians, the Kentucky Military Monument, Confederate Circle, and of course Daniel Boone's grave. The high point of the day will be a tour of the Leslie Morris Park on Fort Hill, which features an 1810 log house visitor center outfitted as a Civil War era tavern, two Civil War earthwork forts, the site of an 1864 Morgan's Last Raid skirmish, and a spectacular view of downtown Frankfort. Our guide will be Nicky Hughes who is an expert on Frankfort in the Civil War.
Remember, there is no charge for this trip except paying for your own transportation and lunch. We will be car-pooling to Frankfort. Look for more details in the October newsletter and a sign up sheet will once again be at the dinner meeting.

Civil War Guide and Historian David Hinze Passes Away

David C. Hinze, well known as a tour leader for the Civil War Education Association and other groups, passed away suddenly on August 18, 2010, at his home in Rolla, Missouri. He was 58. David had spoken to us three times in the last few years and was the guide on our Trans-Mississippi field trip. Our own Dick Skidmore offered these words on his passing, “The death of Hinze is one of those "unbelievable" deaths that happen only occasionally. It cannot be comprehended. The guy was so full of exuberance in every job he undertook. We knew him as a truly excellent Civil War guide, excited for the opportunity to explain it all in detail, but what a wonderful classroom teacher he must have been. There will be many tears shed for Dave. He will be missed, no doubt about it.”

Membership Renewals

It is now time to pay the annual membership fees of the Round Table. Remember any amount you give above the basic or family membership fee is tax-deductible since the Round Table has tax-exempt status as a 501 (c) (3) organization!

The Options:
Option One: Regular Membership $30 Basic membership.
Option Two: Family Membership $35 Allows spouse or family living in the same household to also join.
+$5 For each additional family member.
Option Three: Patron Membership $55+ Membership with financial gift to LCWRT.

The additional funds raised through Patron memberships allow the LCWRT to take an active role in Civil War Battlefield Preservation as well as help pay the costs of bringing the very best Civil War speakers to our meetings.
Please send your membership renewal to: LCWRT, 1028 Sarah Drive, Louisville, KY 40219-4923

2011 Field Trip: Return to Gettysburg

The LCWRT will be going back to Gettysburg on March 30 through April 3 for our 2011 field trip to study the biggest battle of the Civil War with guide Chris Kolakowski. There is a limit of 54 that can take the tour so sign up early and pay your deposit. A nonrefundable deposit of $200 will guarantee your reservation. The sign up sheet will be available at the dinner meetings and since 30+ members have already signed in, this trip may fill early.

LCWRT 2010 - 2011 Season due to Start

The 2010 - 2011 Louisville Civil War Round Table season will start soon on Sept. 11, 2010 with our speaker Greg Mertz presenting “The Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse: Determining the Intent of the Enemy". Greg is already well known to member of the LCWRT as our Spring tour guide at both Chancellorsville in 2009 and The Wilderness/Spotsylvania Courthouse in 2000.

Greg Mertz was born and raised near St. Louis, Missouri and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri, and a master’s degree from Shippensburg University. He began his National Park Service career at Gettysburg National Military Park and obtained his first permanent job at the Eisenhower National Historic Site. For the last 26 years he has been at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park where he currently serves as the Supervisory Historian at Fredericksburg, selecting and training the permanent, seasonal, intern and volunteer employees that provide visitor services in the park. He has written four feature articles for Blue and Gray Magazine on the Battle of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Court House. He is the 2002 recipient of the Jefferson Davis medal from the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House -- Determining the Intent of the Enemy

The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House was fought from May 8 to 21, 1864 and was the second battle in the Fredericksburg area between Union General Ulysses S. Grant and Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Though Union forces had been in the Fredericksburg vicinity for more than two years by that point, they had never penetrated so far into Spotsylvania County, so were in unfamiliar territory, and were further hampered by inaccurate maps. Learning about new territory, as well as keeping track of enemy movements and positions fell primarily to the cavalry. But through an interesting set of circumstances, Grant sent virtually all of his cavalry away on the second day of the battle. Lee had little choice but to dispatch a significant part of his own cavalry to counter the Union horsemen. This left both armies without their “eyes and ears.” One way of looking at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House is through the distorted lenses of the army commanders and how they sought to determine just what the other army was up to. We will see both commanders make some very logical conclusions regarding the enemy intent, only to find that though reasonable, they were wrong. Join us as we examine this battle by comparing what the generals thought was happening, with the actual situation.

A Message from Our New President: “Fifty Glorious Years”

Fifty years ago I was eleven years old living in Mattoon, Illinois about to start seventh grade with no interest in History of any type let alone The Civil War. College level History was my first introduction to the Civil War and from that point on I was hooked. I had wanted to join the Louisville Civil War Round Table since learning about it in the early 1980’s from a fellow physician, but as life goes I got around to joining in the fall of 1999. I went on my first field trip to Shiloh Battlefield a year later and I was besieged with information and loved it.

I am honored to be serving my second term as President of this prestigious organization as it celebrates its 50th Anniversary. As always this year’s list of speakers will more than fit the occasion, with James “Bud” Robertson marking the Birthday Celebration with what we know will be a first rate presentation.

The field trip this year will be to the “High Water” mark of the conflict Gettysburg, Pa. It promises to be a memorial event for all who choose to go.

There are plans to promote this special year of The Louisville Civil War Round Table through the local print media requesting a special article close to the date of the our Golden Anniversary.

The Civil War Round Table of Louisville is turning fifty and to mark that event we are requesting the sage and wise of all ages to contribute to our list of the “50” must read books to understand the event known as the “Civil War”.

Art Boerner, President


2010 – 2011 Meeting Dates

Saturday September 11 Greg Mertz “Spotsylvania Courthouse”

Saturday October 9 Richard McMurry “General Joe Johnston”

Saturday November 13 Thomas Mays “Cumberland Blood: Champ Ferguson”

Saturday December 4 Gary Matthews “Odyssey of a Border State: Antebellum Kentucky During the Sectional Crisis, 1845-1860 ”

Saturday January 22 Bud Robertson “TBA”

Saturday February 12 Ed Bearss “TBA”

Saturday March 12 George Rable “TBA”

Saturday April 9 John Marszalek “TBA”

Saturday May 14 Jeffrey Wert “Jeb Stuart”


2010 Fall Field Trip: Frankfort Ky. Sunday October 17

The LCWRT will be taking a one-day field trip to Frankfort October 17th. The day will include a walking tour of downtown to see sites associated with the secession crisis and Kentucky neutrality, the 1862 occupation of Frankfort by the Confederates including streets involved in skirmishing during their departure, Morgan's 1864 raid on the town, residences of notable personages from the Civil War era, and the Capital City Museum (which has a couple of interesting Civil War relics.) The day will also include a tour of the Frankfort Cemetery, with the graves of Simon Bolivar Buckner and many other Civil War soldiers and politicians, the Kentucky Military Monument, Confederate Circle, and of course Daniel Boone's grave. The high point of the day will be a tour of the Leslie Morris Park on Fort Hill, which features an 1810 log house visitor center outfitted as a Civil War era tavern, two Civil War earthwork forts, the site of an 1864 Morgan's Last Raid skirmish, and a spectacular view of downtown Frankfort.

Our guide will be Nicky Hughes who is an expert on Frankfort in the Civil War. There is no charge for this trip except paying for your own transportation and lunch. We will be car-pooling to Frankfort. Look for more details in next month’s newsletter and a sign-up sheet at the meeting.

LCWRT Spring Field Trip: Stop at Hoover's Gap

The LCWRT Spring Field Trip included a bonus stop at Hoover's Gap on our way to explore the early phases of the Atlanta Campaign. This small site in Tennessee contains Beech Grove Confederate Cemetery, artillery pieces, and handy explanatory information, as well as a plaque for 18th Indiana Battery and a monument to Stewart's Division. Getting to see the ground at this crucial point of the Tullahoma campaign where Wilder's Lightning Brigade earned their name was a real treat.

photos courtesy of LCWRT member Karl Stelly

Sneak Preveiw: A German Hurrah! Civil War Letters of Friedrich Bertsch & Wilhelm Stängel, 9th Ohio Infantry

Long time LCWRT Member and Webmaster Joseph R. Reinhart' s latest book, A German Hurrah! Civil War Letters of Friedrich Bertsch and Wilhelm Stängel, 9th Ohio Infantry, can now be pre-ordered through Kent State Press.

From Kent State University Press:"Bertsch’s and Stängel’s letters from the battlefront were published in German American newspapers and are historically significant for several reasons: they are among the very rare collections of letters from soldiers in a German regiment; they fill a significant void of letters from Union fighting men describing the events in the rugged mountains and valleys of western Virginia during the North’s first campaign and subsequent service in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama; they provide a useful account of how the two German Americans viewed the war, American officers and enlisted men, other immigrant soldiers, and the enemy; they shed light on the ethnic dimensions of the war, especially ethnic identity, pride, and solidarity; and they reflect the overarching political climate in which the war was fought. Additionally, these contemporary letters are superior to accounts written years or decades after the events occurred.

A German Hurrah! makes Bertsch’s and Stängel’s letters available in English for the first time. It is a valuable addition to Civil War studies and will be welcomed by those interested in ethnicity and immigration.

Joseph R. Reinhart’s recent books include Two Germans in the Civil War: The Diary of John Daeuble and the Letters of Gottfried Rentschler, Sixth Kentucky Volunteer Infantry; A History of the 6th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry U.S: The Boys Who Feared No Noise, and August Willich’s Gallant Dutchmen: Civil War Letters from the 32nd Indiana Infantry (The Kent State University Press, 2006)."

To pre-order, click Here

Columbus-Belmont State Park Receives LCWRT Preservation Grant

The Louisville Civil War Round Table is pleased to announce the winner of the 2010 LCWRT Preservation Grant. This grant is given annually to a Civil War site in the State of Kentucky. This years recipient is Columbus-Belmont State Park in Columbus, Ky., a 156-acre site of fortifications built by the Confederates and later occupied by Union forces. The 1861 Battle of Belmont, a raid fought to test the strength of this Confederate stronghold, marked the opening of the Union's Western Campaign. It was also Union General Ulysses S. Grant's first active engagement in the Civil War. Some of the artillery, which shelled the Union troops, and the six-ton anchor that held the great chain stretching across the river, are on display in the park. The $1000 Preservation Grant will be used to aid in the repair and restoration of a quarter mile length of original earth-works. These earth-works will be a featured attraction for both the 20th Anniversary of Civil War Days at Columbus-Belmont State Park as well as events for the coming Sesquicentennial of the Civil War in 2011. Columbus-Belmont State Park has approximately 100,000 visitors a year.

In the ten years since the LCWRT began funding a grant for preservation, we have given over $11,000 to organizations in the state. Previous recipients include Camp Wildcat Preservation Foundation, Tebbs Bend Battlefield Association, Perryville Battlefield Association, Friends of Fort Duffield, and Middle Creek National Battlefield Foundation. Cindy Lynch, the Manager of Columbus-Belmont State Park, will receive the grant at the May 2010 regular meeting.

Park Day 2010

From the Civil War Preservation Trust:

Volunteers needed for Park Day - April 10, 2010!

"Since 1996, the Civil War Preservation Trust has sponsored Park Day, an annual hands-on preservation event to help Civil War battlefields and historic sites take on maintenance projects large and small. Activities are chosen by each participating site to meet their own particular needs and can range from raking leaves and hauling trash to painting signs and trail building.

This year Park Day will be held on Saturday, April 10, 2010. The nationwide effort is underwritten with a grant from History™, formerly The History Channel, and is recognized by the U.S. Department of the Interior as a “Take Pride in America” event."

For a full list of participating sites, please visit: http://www.civilwar.org/aboutus/events/park-day/

Civil War Sites in Kentucky that are participating:

Camp Wildcat

Northern Kentucky Civil War Fortification System: James A. Ramage Civil War Museum

Fort Boone Civil War Battle Site

Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site

Middle Creek National Battlefield

Fort Duffield

Battle of Richmond, Kentucky

Octagon Hall Museum

Columbus-Belmont State Park

Battle for the Bridge Historic Preserve

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site

Please consider participating. This is an excellent chance to get on the fields, meet people and make a difference.