Peter Wentz Farmstead in Montg County Holds Civil War Days Sept 17-18

Saturday, September 17 - Sunday, September 18 from 10:00am to 3:30pm
All for the Union: How Society Wove Itself into the Fabric of the Civil War
The Civil War comes to the Peter Wentz Farmstead September 17th and 18th!
Come and experience how the War affected society from both a military and civilian perspective. Witness artillery demonstrations from Battery F, First Pennsylvania Light Artillery and learn how soldiers camped in the field.
Meet members of the U.S. Sanitary Commission to understand how civilians aided the war effort.
Learn stories of enslaved Freedom Seekers from UGR3Day Underground Railroad Experiences, Inc.
Visit the Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center’s exhibit on Montgomery County’s own General John Hartranft.
Enjoy rousing music from the Fort Delaware Cornet Band.
All ages, free.
No registration required.

Farmstead Calendar

Address: 2030 Shearer Road. Lansdale, PA 19446

J. F. Hartranft and the Schwenkfelder Experience in the Civil War!

The Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center in Pennsburg PA announces the opening of J. F. Hartranft and the Schwenkfelder Experience in the Civil War!

Come learn about Medal of Honor recipient Hartranft’s role in the war, his post-war position as special provost marshal of Washington and warden of the Washington Arsenal holding the Lincoln assassination conspirators, and of course, his time as governor of Pennsylvania.

They kick off on Saturday, September 24, with a public program. Living historian Mark Grim will do first-person portrayal of Hartranft in “Imprisonment, Trial and Execution of the Lincoln Conspirators—an Overview” at 2:00. Descendants of Schwenkfelder immigrant Tobias Hartranft are invited to the Hartranft Homecoming that day.

The public also is welcome Sunday, October 30, at 2:00 pm to hear historian Craig Bird on John F. Hartranft’s Masonic connections.

Other fall activities for the exhibit include offsite opportunities to share more about the exhibit September 17 at the Peter Wentz Farmstead in Worcester and October 29 at the Montgomery Cemetery in Norristown.

See the complete schedule below and at www.schwenkfelder.org

Help Protect 52 Threatened Acres in Virginia, Georgia and Mississippi

NOTE OF LOCAL INTEREST:
The Chancellorsville parcel is right next to where the 153rd PA fought.

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The Opportunity

We need your help in saving pieces of three battlefields at three separate sites: Chancellorsville in Virginia, Gilgal Church in Georgia, and Corinth in Mississippi.

These three tracts total 52 acres in size and have a combined transaction value of more than $1.6 million— a sizeable amount because they are highly sought-after sites for new development.

Thanks to landowner donations plus expected government grants, we need to raise less than 10% of that amount — $160,680 — which means that for every dollar you donate today, it will be multiplied by $10.30!

American Battlefield Trust

The History

Three Acres in Chancellorsville

The first is a three-acres piece of battlefield land that factored into the Battle of Chancellorsville. The tract has been squarely in the bullseye of residential developers eager to cash in on the explosive growth taking place outside the city of Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Bolstered by your generosity, we intend to stitch the property together with other previously preserved tracts to complete the preservation of the Flank Attack portion of the Chancellorsville Battlefield and add to the interpretation of General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson’s renowned and daring maneuver.

18 Acres at Gilgal Church 

The second property is an 18-acre parcel from the Battle of Gilgal Church, which saw fighting June 15-17, 1864 and is located just southwest of the town of Kennesaw, Georgia. This will be the Trust’s very first preservation action at the battlefield if we can secure it.

The 18 acres has been under threat of residential development for several years and holds some of the last remnants of Civil War entrenchments to be found anywhere along the route of Sherman’s Atlanta campaign. 

After raising the money needed to purchase the land, we will place a conservation easement on the property for use as a historic park. Because it’s located just outside of downtown Atlanta, you can imagine how highly attractive this property is to developers. And thanks to the landowner’s willingness to sell to us — and hopefully your willingness to help us raise the needed funds — we’ll be able to protect this land forever!

32 Acres in Corinth 

The third and largest tract is a 32-acre parcel that includes the once-extensive, seven-mile line of earthworks commonly known as the Beauregard Line. It was built in 1862 by Confederate forces using slave labor to defend the strategic transportation hub of Corinth, Mississippi.

This tract later became part of the Corinth Contraband Camp, established for thousands of ex-slaves. A security company comprised of those slaves eventually formed the nucleus for the 1st Alabama Infantry of Colored Descent — later the 55th U.S. Colored Infantry.

The tract’s owner seriously considered developing the land, long sought after by residential builders, before signing a purchase contract with the Trust. This is why we can’t hesitate a second. 

Take Action 

These three tracts totaling 52 acres are key pieces in advancing the Trust’s preservation efforts at three different and historic Civil War battlefields.

Please join in saving this hallowed ground and taking advantage of an amazing $10.30-to-$1 match. Make a gift now before more hallowed ground is lost forever.

Donate Now

Virginia Memorial Preservation and Patination Project 


Virginia Memorial in the early 1900s. NPS Photo.

 GETTYSBURG, PA. – Preservation work on the Virginia Memorial at Gettysburg National Military Park (NMP) will begin by Tuesday, September 6 and will conclude by September 30. The current ferric patination, applied in the early 1980’s, has failed in many areas and has left the bronze with a very flat, dull finish that provides little to no depth when viewed. National Park Service preservation professionals from the Historic Preservation Training Center (HPTC) in Frederick, Maryland will conduct this vital preservation work. This project will ensure a lasting professional patination closely approximating the original patination, in recipe, color, depth, and longevity.  

 

The existing brown patina is not original to the work. The current patina also shows areas of wear from decades of exposure to the elements. Preservation professionals from HPTC will correct these issues by removing the current sealer, patina, and corrosion. When reduced to a bare metal surface, a patina of sulphurated potash will be applied, and this surface will be sealed with clear microcrystalline paste wax. The use of a sulphurated potash patina has been historically documented on work at Gettysburg NMP and is very stable for outdoor exposure. The new patina will result in a darker finish that is historically correct and is the primary sealer in use for bronze elements throughout the park’s monument collection. 

 

The immediate grass circle around the memorial will be closed during this project. The circle drive around the memorial is expected to remain open with intermittent closures to facilitate the work and visitor safety. West Confederate Avenue will remain open at all times. The Virginia Memorial was dedicated in 1917. 

 

www.nps.gov 

__________________

 

Jason Martz

Communications Specialist

Gettysburg National Military Park & Eisenhower National Historic Site

Office - 717.338.4423

Gettysburg Day One Battlefield Threatened

Few places are as uniquely American as the Gettysburg Battlefield, where Lincoln’s iconic address proclaimed the nation’s new birth of freedom. But for such treasured landscapes to endure, concerned citizens such as yourself must advocate for their protection.

 

No community is frozen in time and modern society requires 21st century infrastructure for towns and cities to grow and thrive. The American Battlefield Trust has never been anti-development – but we do encourage thoughtful development that balances respect for the past with plans for the future. Unfortunately, a proposal currently under consideration near Gettysburg would undermine decades of preservation and restoration work.

 

This September, Cumberland Township officials will rule on a plan to build a 112-unit, multi-story apartment rental complex off Country Club Lane, adjacent to land that the American Battlefield Trust helped protect in 2011. This property saw combat as soldiers fought over control of Willoughby Run and McPherson’s Ridge. Further, the project’s impact in the form of increased traffic, sound and light pollution would spill across many other areas of the July 1 battlefield – the Railroad Cut, McPherson’s Woods, Seminary Ridge and Lee’s Headquarters.

 

We ask that you consider weighing in on this proposal – regardless of whether you are a local resident, a frequent visitor to Gettysburg, or just care deeply about our history. As we saw just last month, when overwhelming opposition defeated a plan that would have altered height restrictions around the battlefield, your voice matters.

 

Please take a moment to SPEAK OUT by signing the appropriate letter on our website, urging Township officials to reject this proposal. Together, we can make a difference and prevent hallowed ground from being irreparably lost.

 

Sincerely,

Jim Campi

Chief Policy and Communications Officer

American Battlefield Trust

THIS WEEK - CWRT CONGRESS

THIS WEEK - CWRT CONGRESS - click here for more info on special events


Carnival of Grief - SCOTT MINGUS

On Wednesday, August 24th at 7pm EASTERN author / historian Scott L. Mingus, Sr. will discuss the Lincoln Funeral train. This presentation debunks several myths about the train, the route, the railroads and other widely held beliefs. Scott is always entertaining and engaging. Be sure to sign up!!

RESERVATION


FRIDAYS WITH GRANT - Dr Curt Fields

On Friday, August 26th at 7pm EASTERN, Dr. Curt Fields returns as President Ulysses S. Grant to discuss how he and his administration was vexed when some politicians sought to acquire Cuba which provoked the possibility of a war with Spain. This is the last of two sessions on this topic and one you will not want to miss.

RESERVATION

Sneak Peek of New Adams County Museum!

Beyond the Battle Museum: Gallery Spotlight

Real dinosaur footprints waiting to be installed in Beyond the Battle's opening gallery. Pictured here is Henry Isherwood, a 4th grade student at James Gettys Elementary School.

We can't wait for your visit to our new museum, Gettysburg Beyond the Battle, which will open in Spring, 2023! Over the next few months, ACHS will be sharing exclusive "previews" of each exhibit...

This month, let's kick things off with the first gallery: Natural History! Dinosaurs, meteorites, and otherworldly rock formations…the opening gallery of Beyond the Battle Museum explores the landscape of the Gettysburg area. Artifacts include 200-million-year-old dinosaur footprints and a fragment of the locally discovered Mount Joy Meteorite, one of the largest space rocks of its time.

Real dinosaur footprints waiting to be installed in Beyond the Battle's opening gallery. Pictured here is Henry Isherwood, a 4th grade student at James Gettys Elementary School.

Our opening gallery will also take a special look at the rock formations in and around the Gettysburg area, with a short film projected onto a recreated rock wall from Devil's Den.

Best of all - visitors will have the chance to touch real dinosaur footprints discovered right here in Adams County!

Stay tuned for our September newsletter for a preview of the next gallery.

Million-Dollar Match Update

Last month we announced an exciting opportunity - if ACHS can raise $1 million by February 2023, the LeVan Family of Gettysburg will match it with their own gift of $1 million. This is an "all-or-nothing" challenge grant, and we are working hard to make it a reality.

Thanks to over 100 generous supporters, we now have less than $300,000 to raise!

Will you consider chipping in today? Gifts of any level are deeply appreciated! By joining this effort, you are forever adding your name to the history of Gettysburg through the establishment of a world-class museum and history center that will outlive all of us.

YES, I'M IN!

P.S. - Donate $250 or more and you'll receive a special invitation to preview our new museum, Gettysburg Beyond the Battle, before it opens to the public!

Battlefield Acquisition Grants Awarded to Three Civil War Battlefields

Earlier this month, the National Park Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) announced the awarding of $820,612.66 in Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants to three Civil War preservation projects.

The grants were awarded to state and local government agencies in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, protecting 73.21 acres of Civil War battlefields. The grants support the agencies’ ongoing partnerships with nonprofit partners to preserve the sites while also conserving open space and natural resources.

“These grants to state and local governments represent an important investment in public-private conservation efforts across America,” said NPS Director Chuck Sams. “They support partnership efforts that thoughtfully consider the needs, concerns, and priorities of communities inextricably connected to these unique places and stories.”

The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources received $50,916 to preserve 15.14 acres of the Bentonville Battlefield. The City of Chattanooga, Tennessee received $353,522.19 to acquire 7.6 acres on the Chattanooga Battlefield. The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation were awarded $416,174.47 to save 50.47 acres of the Second Deep Bottom Battlefield.

To find out more about the National Park Service’s American Battlefield Preservation Program, visit their website.

Eisenhower National Historic Site – World War II Weekend, September 16 – 18 

GETTYSBURG, PA. – How would you have served during World War II? Army? Navy? Marine? Or home front supporter? In 1942, Americans were building our military forces, supporting our Allies with industrial and agricultural supplies, waging war across two oceans, and struggling to define freedom and citizenship at home.  

 

Eisenhower National Historic Site’s (NHS) 2022 World War II Weekend will take place from September 16 to 18. Park staff, living historians, and volunteers will help bring to life the ways ordinary citizens confronted these extraordinary challenges from 80 years ago. This year's event will focus on 1942, a year when millions of Americans came together to fight fascism and the Axis powers.   

 

The 2022 World War II Weekend will feature a keynote address by Susan Eisenhower, granddaughter of Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower, a living history encampment, family activities, and special programming at Eisenhower NHS; special exhibits in the Gettysburg National Military Park (NMP) Museum and Visitor Center; and ranger-led walking tours at the Gettysburg National Cemetery. 

 

World War II Weekend Schedule: 

·       Keynote Presentation: Friday, September 16 at 7 pm: Susan Eisenhower will discuss her grandfather’s leadership style and her book How Ike Led at the Gettysburg NMP Museum and Visitor Center. A book signing with Susan Eisenhower will occur following the program. Bring your own copy of one of Susan’s books or purchase one in the bookstore in the Museum and Visitor Center. Tickets are free, but reservations are required.  

·       Friday, September 16, Saturday, September 17, and Sunday, September 18 from 5 – 6 pm: Park rangers will offer guided walking tours of Gettysburg National Cemetery, exploring the stories of the 590 fallen WWII soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen buried there. These programs will focus on stories relevant to 1942. Meet at the Taneytown Road entrance to Gettysburg National Cemetery. 

·       Saturday, September 17 from 9 am – 5 pm, and Sunday, September 18 from 9 am – 3 pm: Eisenhower NHS visitors can explore a living history encampment featuring American and Allied units. For Americans denied the opportunity to fight because of gender, age, or race; volunteers will share how the American public was encouraged to support the war on the home front. Throughout the weekend, park rangers and guest speakers will provide presentations on a variety of topics at the speaker’s tent. Park staff and living historians will also provide interactive activities at our Family Education Tent, including a special WWII Weekend Family Activity Booklet. Those completing the booklet can visit our enlistment station and earn their very own WWII style dog tag. See our website for a full schedule of programming. 

·       Saturday, September 17 from 9 am – 5 pm, and Sunday, September 18 from 9 am – 3 pm: The Naval Heritage Command Center, U.S. Museum of the Navy, and the National Museum of the Marine Corps will share special exhibits at the Gettysburg NMP Museum and Visitor Center. 

·       Tours of the Eisenhower home will also be offered throughout the weekend. 

 

How to visit Eisenhower National Historic Site during World War II Weekend: 

·       Shuttle buses depart every half hour from the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center, located at 1195 Baltimore Pike, on both days of the event. A shuttle fee does apply. Visit the Gettysburg Foundation website or call 877-874-2478 to make reservations. 

·       Weather permitting, free on-site parking for passenger vehicles only will be available at Eisenhower NHS in a farm field accessible from Emmitsburg Rd, Business Route 15.  

·       Bus groups and visitors using wheelchairs should plan to use the shuttle system.  

 

Required free tickets for keynote presentation with Susan Eisenhower: 

·       Visit the Gettysburg Foundation website https://cart.gettysburgfoundation.org/21324/21325or call 877-874-2478 to make reservations.  

 

Full World War II Weekend event schedule: 

·       Visit the Eisenhower National Historic Site website https://www.nps.gov/eise/world-war-ii-weekend.htm for full details. 

 

All World War II Weekend programming is free of charge. 

 

www.nps.gov 

 Jason Martz, Communications Specialist

Gettysburg National Military Park & Eisenhower National Historic Site

Office - 717.338.4423

Pa.’s collection of Civil War battle flags featured in new exhibit

Civil War buffs will be able to browse Pa.’s treasured regimental flag collection in new exhibit

Battle-stained flags that survived ferocious fighting fill drawers in cabinets inside the Pennsylvania Civil War Battle Flag Education Center in Harrisburg.

Each one serves as a memento of a fight to preserve the Union and a connection to the Pennsylvanians who participated in that war. Some are in tatters; others riddled with bullet holes.

But all are treasured and conserved to the greatest extent possible for schoolchildren, Civil War enthusiasts and re-enactors and historians to see these 19th century communication tools that gave soldiers on the noisy, chaotic battlefields their direction.

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