From the Brigade Commander - May 2022

The May CWRT newsletter (click here to view) offers some great Civil War stories—one that, in its time, made front-page news and created a national sensation for years afterwards—and one that was rarely spoken of, even while the battles were raging. The latter story, which tells of the vital contributions made by vivandieres, is the topic for our May 3rd meeting.

You’ll find a teaser on page 2—just enough information to pique your curiosity and get you to come out and join us for the lecture and maybe for dinner, too.

If you’re still on the fence, know that it’s not too late to sign up for the group day trip to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in June. Because our guide is none other than retired National Park Service historian and founder of the modern Civil War battlefield preservation movement, Dennis Frye, the trip will be an incredible experience. And, you never know—this may be the last opportunity you’ll ever have to be held spellbound by Frye’s masterful storytelling skill and extensive Harpers Ferry battlefield knowledge. Visit newsletter page 5 for more.

BARRY

April Meeting Summary and Photos

Gordon Calhoun

The Battle of Hampton Roads: The ships that sank, the ships that prevailed and the New Bedford-born men who were the junior officers in the newly expanding Navy were among the topics of our April Meeting.

  Presented by Gordon Calhoun, who has 25+ years of experience working for the U.S. Navy’s Museum system, including 20 years at the Hampton Roads Naval Museum, we learned about this famous battle between the USS Cumberland, and the newly ironclad CSS Virginia (aka Merrimack).

We learned of Acting Master William P. Randal, a whaleman who joined the Union Navy in 1861 and, later, gained lasting fame for the role he played during the battle—refusing to surrender and, as the on-the-sail sloop-of-war USS Cumberland sank, taking over the firing of the pivot guns.

  We saw images of the sunken skeleton of the Cumberland which still rests on the bottom of the harbor. We learned that the Virginia used its ram to sink the Cumberland, and despite reports that the ram broke off and sank with the frigate, no trace of such iron can be found today.

We also had our usual book raffle for preservation and the lucky winners below received the book selected for this month’s topic.

Additional Filed Trip Planned for April 23

We have an additional all-day field trip opportunity in Elizabethtown, Pa on Sat April 23rd. Summary below, but click here for complete info sheet distributed at the April Meeting.
Contact Claire Kukielka ASAP if interested.

Take a step back in history to April 1865 as we commemorate 157 years since the Lincoln Funeral Train crossed Stone Gables Estate! Witness and participate in this one-of-a-kind living history event!

  • Commemorate 157 years since the original Lincoln funeral train, the “Lincoln Special, “crossed the Stone Gables Estate property!

  • Ride aboard narrated and period-correct passenger car replicas on the Harrisburg, Lincoln & Lancaster Railroad. Walk through the world’s only full-scale replica of President Lincoln’s Funeral Car, “United States.” *Train tickets may be purchased at the train site on the day of the event: * $15 (adults); $10 (ages 3 – 17); Ages 2 and under: free. Times: Every 40 minutes, from 1:00 to 6:20 p.m. (The last ride is at 6:20 p.m.)

  • Hear the roar of the authentic Civil War-era cannon.

  • Visit a Civil War Encampment and learn what life was like for Civil War soldiers and civilians from presenters, reenactors, and historians.

  • Dressed soldiers on War Horses.

  • Photo Opportunities with Abraham Lincoln and U.S. Grant throughout the day.

  • Food Vendors

  • Historical Exhibits & Craft Vendors

  • The New Holland Band will be performing!

  • Sutler's Village in the Encampment

  • Stone Gables Estates very own Steam Cream Ice-cream

  • Souvenirs and gifts available for purchase in The Sower & The Seed Shoppe

-Walk through the Carriage House where John Diener’s Village of historic Lancaster County buildings will be on display.

  • Explore the estate at Ironstone Ranch, St. Michael’s Vineyard, Herr’s Mill Covered Bridge and more.

  • Pony Rides for all.

  • Fun activities for the children to see and participate in!

  • Experience all this and more!

Reluctant Confederate

History's Headlines: The reluctant Confederate

It was the first week of March in 1861 and no one had to tell Secretary of the Treasury John A. Dix that his days in that office were numbered. Dix, a Democrat and New York politician who would later become a Union General and Republican, had been appointed by President James Buchanan in January to a post that was clearly temporary. Now Buchanan was headed for retirement at “Wheatlands,” his Lancaster County, Pennsylvania estate. With the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln on March 4th his time was almost over. But there was one piece of business Dix had to take care of. Three Treasury revenue officers, a captain and two lieutenants in New Orleans, had surrendered their ship to the state of Louisiana, aka the rebel government. Assuming they had joined the Confederacy, “it is hereby directed by order of the President of the United States that their names be stricken from the rolls of said service.”

In its March 9th issue, Harper’s Weekly, which was featuring a serialization of Charles Dickens’ latest novel “Great Expectations,” printed a small copy of Dix’s order. But in it the name of one of the lieutenants was misspelled, either a mistake by Dix or Harper’s, as Thomas D. Foster. Thomas D. Fister was the man’s actual name and he was a native of Kutztown, Berks County.

It was many years later in 1912, long after he had returned to Kutztown and became prominent in local politics as Col. Thomas Fister, and while he was recovering from a prolonged illness at the home of his daughter and son-in-law in Minnesota that he decided to tell his story to the local press. It appeared under the headline “Col. Fister Tells Why He Was A Fighter In Confederate Army.” Somehow the headline writer confused the Confederate Navy in which Fister served with the Confederate Army. Fister’s testimony did not…
(FOR COMPLETE ARTICLE CLICK HERE)

March 1 Meeting Summary and Photos

“Myths and Meanings of the Civil War” was the theme of presentations by Dr. Randall Miller, Professor of History at Saint Joseph’s University and author of many works on the Civil War era.

He spoke of how the experience of the war shaped ideas of America as “a nation” not just a Union, affected the way people remembered the war in memorials and monuments, and expanded the scope of what it meant to be a democracy and who belonged as a citizen.

It was interesting to see how the notion of “freedom” was a concept with multiple meanings, not just in the 19th and 20th Centuries, but how it is interpreted even today.

As always, we had our book raffle, with the proceeds going to preservation. Winners of books are pictured below, but the real winner is battleground preservation.

From the Brigade Commander ~ March 2022

Since our last newsletter, we’ve received several bits of great news from the American Battlefield Trust (ABT):  A Campaign 44 donation ($500) by the CWRT of Eastern Pa. helped the ABT to successfully conclude a 15-year, $12 million effort to save the 208-acre Slaughter Pen Farm—the spot where the Battle of Fredericksburg hung in the balance and was ultimately won and lost. 

Our CWRT is now a member of the ABT’s 25-Year Club, which is comprised of dedicated battlefield preservationists who have lent their financial support for 25 years or more.  By the end of 2021, the ABT had acquired and preserved more than 54,000 American battlefield acres! Remember: Preservation isn’t won in the courts; it’s won one dollar at a time from sources like your CWRT membership dues, donations and raffle ticket purchases.

It's still not too late to sign up for our June day trip to Harpers Ferry. See page 5 of the newsletter for more details.

CWRT members in good standing are eligible for a discounted fee (15%) to attend this year’s Civil War Institute in Gettysburg, Pa., which will take place between June 10 and June 15. To receive the discount code, contact the Civil War Institute at (717) 337-6590. Learn more about the event at: gettysburg.edu/civil-war-institute/summer-conference/

Barry

Recognition as a Member of ABT's 25 Year Club!

The Civil War Round Table of Eastern PA recently received a letter from the American Battlefield Trust telling us that this CWRT is now a member of the ABT's "25-Year Club", This is given for our "singular and extraordinary dedication to saving America's history". The club is composed of "dedicated battlefield preservationists who have generously supported this great cause consistently for 25 years or more."

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.