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!
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
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
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.}
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!
Mark Snell, who three days prior had guided us through the grounds of the World War I encampment in Gettysburg, on Tuesday night May 3, presented details images of that place and time.
Once again he spoke of the impact which the 1917 infantry camp, and the 1918 tank school, had upon ground which had been hallowed by the blood of thousand of soldiers during July 1863.
What we had seen from a 21st Century perspective, came alive with drawings and photos from that early 20th Century encampment.
We thank Mark for his time with us in person on Saturday during our field trip, and on Zoom Tuesday night.
On a windy but beautiful Saturday May 1st, more than two dozen members and friends of the Civil War Round Table of Eastern PA gathered in Gettysburg for two tours led by Round Table presenters.
In the afternoon we were led by Mark Snell through fields on which was fought, “Gettysburg’s Other Battle” - the name of Snell’s book about the placement of World War I military training camps upon this sacred ground during 1917 and 1918. Then in World War II, the same land was used as a POW camp for German prisoners.
Of course, Gettysburg is known as the second bloodiest battle of the 19th century and as the site of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address as the cemetery containing Union dead was dedicated. Eventually the battlefield was enshrined as a national park and in 1913, a “Peace Jubilee” was observed on this ground. and veterans returned to the scene of battle.
But four year after that observance, after being petitioned by the citizens of Gettysburg, an infantry training ground was established bringing thousands of soldiers into town and onto battle lands. Buildings, latrines, kitchens, even a stockade were erected to house the young men. A year later, the Tank Corps took over in 1918, and the area was dubbed “Camp Colt.” To practice driving tanks they used the Bliss farm barn bridge ramp and the ruined house basement. Bliss farm was the only farm which was intentionally destroyed by the Union forces during Gettysburg.
Snell walked us through the sites, some of which are paved over, some of which are still raw fields. Along the way he talked and explained what was happening when and the connection of Dwight D. Eisenhower of the camp, long before he was a general or a president. He spoke of the ravages the camps inflicted on the ground and how much was eventually erased to return the land to it 1863 appearance.
The final stop was at the Copse of Trees on Hancock Ave where we had over the fields, a view of where a huge swimming pool for the troops once stood, much of it still intact underground.
On a windy but beautiful Saturday May 1st, more than two dozen members and friends of the Civil War Round Table of Eastern PA gathered in Gettysburg for two tours led by Round Table presenters.
In the morning, we met at the Spangler Farm, recently restored by the Gettysburg Foundation, to hear Ron Kirkwood, the author of “Too Much for Human Endurance: The George Spangler Farm Hospitals and the Battle of Gettysburg.”
Beginning outside the beautifully restored bank barn, Kirkwood discussed why logistically the George Spangler farm was the most important farm in the Battle of Gettysburg. He vividly told the stories of the Spanglers and the surgeons, nurses, wounded and mortally wounded at the hospitals on the Spanglers’ land during and after the battle.
Leading inside, first to the ground floor, then to the upper levels, he spoke of the misery, crowded conditions, efforts by local citizens to provide relief, and he thoughts on the space where the dead might have been housed until burial.
Back outside we walked around the back of the barn, and over to the house, where the family was allowed to stay in one room while the battle raged nearby and the dead and dying were brought for surgeries or to die. He spoke of the last days of Confederate Brig. Gen. Lewis A. Armistead’s life, which he spent at Spangler.
A wonderful beginning to a delightful day in Gettysburg.
The CWRT of Eastern Pa., Inc. has reached an agreement with the former Holiday Inn in Breinigsville (soon to be called Delta by Marriott). This means that, as of right now, we will be holding our Campaign Year 44 meetings IN PERSON!
As always, you can choose to attend the dinner and stay for the lecture – OR - you can walk in for the lecture only. Prices remain unchanged: $25 for the dinner; $5 for walk-ins.
Dinner start time: 6 p.m.
Lecture start time: 7 p.m.|
Yes, the hotel bar will be open!
We will, of course, notify you, should a change in State guidelines require the hotel to alter its current plans for hosting groups and/or serving food or beverages. The current plan is to serve buffet dinners, but only hotel employees may handle serving utensils. Also, the placement of the serving area will change to comply with current State guidelines. Further, seating will be limited to four individuals per table.
We’ll be sharing our lineup of Campaign 44 speakers soon; in the meantime, here is the meeting schedule so that you can mark your calendar.
Tuesday, September 7
Tuesday, October 5
Tuesday, November 2
Tuesday, December 7
Tuesday, January 4
Tuesday, February 1
Tuesday, March 1
Tuesday, April 5
Tuesday, May 3
Tuesday, June 7
