October 5th Meeting Summary and Photos

October 5th was our second in-person meeting of this campaign year and it was great to see each other face-to-face. After a good meal and our book raffle, we were treated to a fascinating account of the surrenders which took place after Appomattox, but which never receive the media attention of the one between Lee and Grant.

Robert M. (Bert) Dunkerly spoke of the differences between the Appomattox event and those which followed. Grant had the army issue certificates of parole, which allowed Confederate soldiers to use Union transportation to surrender weapons and return home.

Of Lee’s much larger force, only 28,231 actually surrendered   Many others escaped or left.  over an mumber of days there were a series of surrender ceremonies, including the April 10 Calvary surrender; the April 11 artillery surrender, and the April 12 Infantry surrender..

Appomattox was the only one to have a ceremony, with Confederate soldiers passing through lines of Union troops.

In North Carolina, Johnston heard Lee’s surrender, and asked for terms. Initially generous terms were given, but rejected by the new DC government after Lincoln’s assassination. Even though ordered to resume fighting by Jefferson Davis, Johnston refused, and on April 26, Sherman and Johnston signed a new surrender agreement, similar to the one Grant and Lee’s Appomattox pact. This became the largest surrender of the war, involving 88,000 soldiers.

In Alabama, Richard Taylor, the son of President Zachary Taylor, petitioned for terms from Union Gen Canby and on May 4, surrendered almost 40,000 troops at the Magee house near the railroad.

Meanwhile in Mississippi, Buckner Smith and Canby concluded an agreement at the Charles hotel in New Orleans, and signed in Galveston harbor on June 2, involving 55,000 troops.

Further West in Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) another pact was entered into at Fort Townsend in June. Finally by end of June all Confederate troops had surrendered.

Photos from the September 7, 2021 Meeting

We were finally able to meet once again in person.

We held the delayed print raffle from last year, as well as the monthly book raffle. All proceeds go to Historic Preservation!

Nancy Jill Hale and Tom Fontana treated us to a fine presentation via Power Point, Audio files, and Live Music concerning Union Civil War Chaplains at Gettysburg.

From the Brigade Commander - September 2021

Great news! The American Battlefield Trust (ABT) has once again named the CWRT of Eastern Pa., Inc. as a Color Bearer. This honor is limited to 1,400 groups/individuals which, together, raise 50 percent of funds used by the ABT for battlefield preservation. Inside this issue, we also share several examples of how individual CWRT members, past and present, are making/have made important contributions in the areas of battlefield preservation and the continued study of American history.

We are fortunate to have found an able replacement for Dennis Frye, our planned-for September speaker. Unfortunately, a pressing family matter has compelled him to cancel all of his fall speaking engagements, including his visit to the Lehigh Valley. Dr. Rev. Nancy Hill who, in her spare time, is a Civil War reenactor and novelist, will, instead, be joining us on September 7. Read more about Nancy and a summary of her presentation on the Upcoming Events page. Although Dennis will not join us as a speaker this campaign year, we hope to be able to reschedule last year’s planned field trip to Harpers Ferry, which would be led by Dennis.

The hotel has made minor changes to its pandemic protocol, most of which have nothing more to do with us than a change in how our meeting space will be configured. The good news is that, as of now, the hotel is able to accommodate more than four people per dining table. We’ll soon learn whether the meal will be plated or made available in buffet format. Masks are still required in public spaces but are optional in our meeting room space.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone again, and hope you— and possibly a friend or two—will join us in September.

BARRY

New Program Announced for September - Faith & Duty - Presented by Nancy Jill Hale

When the Civil War erupts in 1861 and drags the nation into a bloody contest, it threatens not only the lives of the men of the Third Northern New York Regiment, but also the faith of their chaplain, Rev. John Wesley Sanders. At the war’s outset, John is a pastor in a bucolic town in the far northern reaches of New York, where he believes he and his neighbors will be sheltered from the horrors that lie ahead. But his cocoon of tranquility is shattered when his good friend James Barnett is asked to serve as the colonel for a new Union regiment. James recruits soldiers from among the local residents and invites John to serve as the regiment’s chaplain, but John hesitates. Even though he strongly supports abolition, he struggles to reconcile warfare with a faith that teaches love for enemies. 

 Rev. Dr. Nancy Jill Hale is a United Methodist Pastor and Civil War reenactor, serving as the chaplain for the 118th NY Volunteer Infantry Adirondack Regiment. She is interested in the role of chaplains during the Civil War and has authored a work of historical fiction about a chaplain's struggle to reconcile his faith with his duty to nation and its cause. She is doing research into the stories of actual chaplains, who are in many ways unsung heroes of the war.

Congrats to Blake Barbarics!

Congratulations go to Blake Barbarics, who will be graduating this year from Kutztown University.

He has been on the deans list for the past two years and has been inducted into PHI ALPHA THETA, the national collegiate honor society in the field of history.

As one of our younger members, CWRT applauds his accomplishments!

Great job!

We look forward to more from you in the future!

From the Brigade Commander - August, 2021

Campaign 44 is almost here, and I can hardly wait! 

On Tuesday, September 7th, we’ll be kicking off the year with a program on the role of the Civil War Chaplain presented by Nancy Jill Hale, a Methodist pastor and Civil War Reenactor. Her novel, Faith and Duty is available on Amazon and other booksellers.

We’re planning for a live meeting ... which reminds me of another treat in store for us: The Holiday Inn, Breinigsville, our meeting location for the last six years or so, was purchased during the pandemic by Marriot. I’m looking forward to seeing the changes inside, but a peek at the outside (see image at right) tells me that we won’t be disappointed. I think that walking into the refurbished hotel is going to feel like an extra nice “welcome back” gift after such a long time of sheltering in place. 

Barry

2021-2022 Schedule Announced

The schedule of programs for 2021-2022 has just been released and its awesome!

Programs for 2021-22 Campaign

 September 7, 2021                    Nancy Jill Hale       “Faith & Duty - Role of a Civil War Chaplain”

 October 5, 2021                        Robert Dunkerly                      “Surrenders of the Civil War”

 November 2, 2021                    Michael Jesberger                 Veterans’ Reunion of 1913 at Gettysburg

 December 7, 2021                     Tom McMillan                          Armistead and Hancock

 January 4, 2022                         Rich Rosenthal                        Judah Benjamin and Grant’s Order #11

 February 1, 2022                       Tim Talbott                              “We Fight for Our Rights, Liberty, Justice, and Union:

The Battle of New Market Heights” (US Colored Troops)

 March 1, 2022                          Randall Miller                           “Myths and Meanings of the Civil War”

 April 5, 2022                             Gordon Calhoun                    “His Record Lives: William P. Randal

and the Battle of Hampton Roads”

 May 3, 2022                              Jane Peters Estes                  “Lest We Forget: Origin & Traditions of Memorial Day”

 June 7, 2022                             Hampton Newsome               Blackberry Raid During Gettysburg Campaign

Recap of June Meeting Presented by Dave Walter

Dave Walter of the Brandywine Civil War Roundtable presented our June topic via Zoom on the Southern Railroads contribution to the CSA Civil War efforts.

He spoke of the 3:1 ratio of greater mileage of rail in the north, as well as the 4:1 greater ratio of capital expenditures on railroads in the north.

He explained the different gauges of rail in both north and south, a problem which seemed worse in the CSA.

Gaps between terminus of rail lines within southern cities also were a problem which resulted in rail cars being unloaded, freight taken across a city and then reloaded onto another railroad, if and when more rail cars were available.

To compare, the US Military Railroad built 400 locomotives during the war, while the CSA built one (1).

Jefferson Davis never used his powers over the railroads of the south, even after he was given that power. It was until early in 1865 the southern railroads were nationalized. Too little. Too late.

We thank Dave for his informative presentation!

{As a final aside he noted that the two major railroads currently in Eastern USA (Norfolk Southern and CSX) are both southern.}

GAR Soldiers Plot in Nisky Hill Cemetery on Memorial Day

Ed Root walked to the Nisky Hill Cemetery on Memorial Day evening. Here are four of his pictures of the Grand Army of the Republic plot containing remains of Civil War soldiers.

He noted, “Kevin Marsh did a great job trimming. He also obtained flag holders for the half dozen men who lacked them.”

Thanks Kevin and Ed!

Last of the Zoom meetings features Dave Walters On "the Southern Iron Horse"