American Battlefield Trust Names CWRT Among Top 300 Donors


In the latest edition of the "Hallowed Ground" published by the American Battlefield Trust (Winter 2021 - Vol. 22 #4), our CWRT of Eastern Pa is listed as one of the top 300 donors to the American Battlefield Trust.

It states that those listed are the top lifetime donors to the ABT and have collectively given more than $125 million for preservation.

Therefore, thanks to everyone who has donated to our CWRT, bought book raffle tickets, or print raffle tickets.

Preservation is part of who we are and what we do!

From the Brigade Commander ~ February 2022

So far, we’ve got 23 people signed up to take part in what is sure to be a memorable trip to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (Saturday, June 4, 2022). There’s still room for a few more participants. If you’ve never seen and heard our guide, Dennis Frye, in action, I suggest you hurry up and register before spaces fill up. It’s going to be amazing! Many thanks to Claire Kukielka for organizing this trip for us. You’ll find details to the right —->.

Of the 1,523 Medals of Honor awarded during the Civil War, 25 medals were awarded to African Americans. Of these, 12 were awarded to men who served in the U.S. Colored Troops, 3 rd Division, XVIII Corps, who fought at the Battle of New Market Heights. You’ll learn more about these men and their heroic actions at our February 1 meeting. See the newsletter page 2 for more information.

We hope to see you on the 1st.

Barry

For everyone’s safety, I ask that all meeting attendees wear a mask while in the ballroom … except for when you’re eating or drinking, of course. Thanks.

January 4 Meeting Summary and Photos

Brad Upp and Jim Remson

Jim Remsen, a retired Inquirer journalist, author of three prior books, and a past presenter; along with Brad Upp, a re-enactor with the 69th Pennsylvania Infantry, and a board member of the Lower Merion Historical Society, presented the fascinating story of Camp Discharge - a little known camp in suburban Philadelphia.

Erected in 1864 in Lower Merion, on a slope above the Schuylkill River, it had a special mission – to muster out hundreds of individual soldiers from Eastern Pennsylvania who had been cut off from their regiments in the field.

Some of the men had been waylaid by battle wounds or illness, others by detached duty. A few were deserters, while nearly half were POWs who had been held at Andersonville and elsewhere. By 1866, the post was gone, and the men had gone on to their uncertain futures in post Civil War America.

The camp was design by the same man who designed Philadelphia’s City Hall. Almost 1100 made it through this camp before it was dismantled. The only known surviving structure is a sentry building cared for by residents of nearby Sentry Lane.

Pictured below are the winners from the January book raffle.

From the Brigade Commander ~ January 2022

This newsletter brings great news! Once again, the Civil War Round Table of Eastern Pa., Inc. has been named a Color Bearer of the American Battlefield Trust (ABT). In recognition of our Campaign 43 contributions, we have been assigned the designation of Brigade Color Bearer, a title reserved for individuals and groups donating between $2,500 and $4,999 over a one-year period.

And although many of you already know the story, it bears repeating: Color Bearers (1,400 in strength) represent less than three percent of the ABT’s total membership but donate nearly 50 percent of all monetary gifts. This accolade, and what it represents, was made possible by YOU in the form of membership fees, book raffle and print raffle ticket purchases and donations. America thanks you, and I thank you, from the bottom of my heart!

I have to say that I’m really looking forward to our January lecture. As someone who thinks they know a lot about the American Civil War, I’m frequently surprised by how much more there is for me to learn. A case in point: Our January 4 speaker, Jim Remsen, will share the story of the now-nearly forgotten Camp Discharge, which, within a two-year period, was built, operated and disassembled.

I hope you can join us for dinner and the lecture or for the lecture. And, please don’t forget to share news of this event with folks you know who have an interest in Civil War and/or Pennsylvania history.

Barry

Three Gettysburg Monuments Moved and Preserved Thanks to Eastern PA CWRT

The following was a post from Emerging Civil War on December 7, 2021…

By the end of 1863, the Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association began to preserve the sacred soil of the Gettysburg battlefield. As time passed, veterans returned to the field in order to dedicate monuments to permanently tell their stories. Some of the first monuments around the Angle are for Massachusetts regiments that advanced to the copse of trees near the Angle to help contain Confederate breakthroughs during Pickett’s Charge on July 3. Specifically, the 15th, 19th, and 20th Massachusetts Infantry Regiments staked a claim on the memory of the battle by placing their monuments directly on the south end of the copse. However, visitors who have seen the modern landscape may immediately notice this historic image does not look the same today, and that the monuments are no longer in their original context. What happened, and why were their monuments moved?

CLICK HERE TO READ WHY (And how our CWRT became involved!)

December 7 Meeting Summary and Photos

Members and guests were treated to an interesting presentation by returning guest speaker Tom McMillan on Tuesday December 7th. McMillan talked about his latest book, Armistead and Hancock - Behind the Gettysburg Legend of Two Friends at the Turning Point of the Civil War.

His premise was that Lewis Armistead and Winfield Scott Hancock, the opposing Civil War generals, were acquaintances but hardly best friends. Yet after the book Killer Angels and the movie “Gettysburg” their friendship was embellished to symbolize how the Civil War divided our nation and pitted “brother against brother.’’ McMillan touched on the famous “Friend to Friend” statue in the Cemetery Annex at Gettysburg. After being wounded Armistead was taken off the field to the George Samngler Farm - one of the sites of our Spring 2021 field trip to Gettysburg.

As usual, Laura arranged and introduced the program, and we had our monthly book raffle winners for Preservation.

Photos below:

From the Brigade Commander - December 2021

From the Brigade Commander

With several brigade meetings now under our belt, it’s starting to feel like the old days again. And that feels really good!

We’ve got another, terrific presentation lined up for our December 7th meeting. Tom McMillan will return to the CWRT of Eastern Pa. stage to share the true story of the relationship between C.S.A. general Lewis Armistead and U.S. general Winfield Scott Hancock. You’ll find details on page 2.

Inside this issue, you’ll also get a sneak peek at the June, 2022, field trip to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. Our guide for the day will be none other than Dennis Frye, former chief historian at Harper’s Ferry and recipient of the Distinguished Service Award—the Department of the Interior’s highest honor. Hearing Dennis speak is an almost incomparable treat, and we hope you’ll be able to join us. We’ll share more details about the trip as soon as we can.

In the meantime, I offer best wishes to you and yours for a safe and joyous holiday season.

Barry

P.S. ‘Tis the season, in case you’re thinking about year-end charitable giving. You need only to glance at our brigade’s credentials (at the bottom of this page) or visit page 5 of this newsletter to appreciate the huge impact of individual giving when matched by challenge grants. Also, remember that the CARES Act was extended to the end of 2021, which means that even non- itemizers can deduct up to $300 of charitable donations on their tax returns ($600 for married couples filing jointly).

November 2 Meeting Summary and Photos

Mike Jesberger was our presenter at the November 2 meeting. He fascinated us with details of the 50th Anniversary Reunion of the Battle of Gettysburg.

He spoke of how the reunion commission managed to stage a massive gathering of 53,000 Veterans, including 45,000 Union and 8,000 Confederate soldiers.

With financial contribution from state and federal government, and planning as if was a war itself, the reunion featured President Woodrow Wilson and lasted 6 days (June 29 to July 6), under the theme of Remembrance, Reflection, and Resolution.

The 280 acres hosted tents for housing, mess, latrines, medical, and many more practical functions. Water supplies were established, surgeries prepared, train schedules altered, and the town prepped.

Jesberger noted that the %3,000 number includes only veterans, not family, press or other visitors. An amazing accomplishment for a town that in the 50 years since the battle only had grown from 2,500 to 5,000 residents.

Preservation Raffle Winner for November

From the Brigade Commander - November 2021

We had a nice turnout for last month’s meeting and more lecture walk-ins than we’ve seen in a while—a trend I hope to see continue. You can help make this possible by sharing news of our lectures with your friends, coworkers, neighbors and family members. You’ll find a partial listing of Campaign 44 lectures inside and a complete listing on our website.

Our lectures are less than half the cost of a movie theater ticket ($5) and enlighten, inspire and fire the imagination with examples of heroism, cowardice, faith and fearlessness—enough to leave anyone feeling more than satisfied. (Your friends are also welcome to join us for dinner, by the way.) Plus, don’t forget that we’ve got an incentive program in place right now for the member who brings in the highest number of new members. You’ll find program details inside.

Last month’s speaker, Bert Dunkerly, treated attendees to an excellent lecture about all of the Civil War surrenders that occurred after Appomattox. (Inside, you’ll find a story about the very last of the Confederate generals to surrender.) This month, historian and reenactor Mike Jesberger will present a lecture about the 1913 Reunion at Gettysburg, an event now almost forgotten. Touted as the “Great Reunion,” it turned out to be more about men seeking deeply personal interactions and a desire to bury the hatchet and heal.

We continue with a Confederate theme in this month’s newsletter, which showcases several officers— one who behaved badly, one honorably, and one insisting they were just following orders. Enjoy!

Barry