Paul Bartlett
UPDATES: Civil War Pop-up Exhibit in Bethlehem

February 1 Meeting Summary and Photos

Tim Talbott, the Director of Education, Interpretation, Visitor Services and Collections at Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier in Petersburg, Virginia. presented “We Fight for Our Rights, Liberty, Justice, and Union: The Battle of New Market Heights” (US Colored Troops)

He spoke of the Overland Campaign and Grants continued attempt s to seize a victory in the 1864 election year. As his attempts are repelled again and again, the time moves to September 29, 1864. The soldiers of United States Colored Troops 3rd Division, XVIII Corps, Army of the James, stepped off to do battle and stepped into history.

During this engagement 14 African American soldiers and two white officers performed heroic acts that earned the Medal of Honor. This well illustrated presentation provided an overview of the battle and shared stories of some of the soldiers who fought there.

As president of the Battle of New Market Heights Memorial and Education Association. he spoke of the attempts to create a state park and to raise a monument in honor of these soldiers.

<——- As usual we had Book Raffle Winners, with proceeds going to preservation efforts. Pictured here are February winners.

Discount Available for CWRT Members to Gettysburg's Civil War Institute in June

Civil War Institute of Gettysburg College announced the dates for its annual conference as June 10th to the 15h of this year. see Community News for details of the conference

They are offering a 15% discount to members of this CWRT to attend.

More info can be found on their website as well as the schedule of events.

Copies of the email received by this CWRT will be available at Tuesday's (2/1) dinner meeting for those interested.

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).