A Fantastic experience awaits members and friend of the CWRT, as we head to Harper’s Ferry on Saturday June 4th. A deposit is needed. See the details below.
Tour starts at 10:00 a.m. sharp so 9:30-9:45 would be as late as we should meet up.
Everyone will have pottied, parked, and paid prior to that.
“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.
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
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."
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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
