From the Brigade Commander September 2024

From the Brigade Commander

As we get ready to begin our 47th campaign year, let me start off by thanking you for supporting our efforts to share and preserve the watershed in American history we know as the Civil War.

Until recently, I knew nothing about numerology, and now, only enough to be dangerous. But I read that the number 47 implies “being on the right path and capable of helping to create some- thing unique to give to the world.” Or, as our mission statement says, “... make a real difference in the fight to preserve American battlefield land and the legacy of our nation’s defining conflict.” How’s that for a coincidence? And so, if the 47-thing is true, this year may be quite a ride. In the words of another centuries-old belief—fingers crossed!

Here’s another coincidence. Last June, I attended an event focused on relics and met Dennis Morris, the owner of Gettysburg Diographics (diographics.com). We got to talking

and, pretty soon, he was donating one of his prints called “Retreat from the Peach Orchard” to our Round Table for fund- raising purposes.

Our Board of Directors will meet in late September to discuss ways to “continue the fight” during this campaign year. If you have ideas, I hope you’ll reach out and share them with me or any Board Member.

In the meantime, I’m looking forward to seeing you on the evening of September 3rd.

BARRY

September 3rd Presentation Details Announced

Presentation Description:

“The Boys Who Rode Around McClellan”:  The Chambersburg Raid

The Chambersburg Raid explores the day to day, town by town details of Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart’s cavalry raid into Pennsylvania during October 1862. Did it really accomplish the objectives? Was it worth the miles and the gallantry?  This presentation explores the motives, military details, civilian interactions, and outcomes of Stuart’s second ride around McClellan.

Speaker Bio: Sarah Kay Bierle

Sarah Kay Bierle graduated from Thomas  Edison State University with a BA in History, works in the Education Department at American Battlefield Trust, and occasionally writes for Emerging Civil War. She has spent years exploring ways to share quality historical research in ways that will inform and inspire modern audiences, including school presentations, writing, and speaking engagements.  Sarah has published three historical fiction books and her first nonfiction book, Call Out the Cadets: The Battle of New Market, is part of the Emerging Civil War Series. She currently has a book under contract with the University  of  Tennessee Press and a forthcoming biography about Confederate artillerist John Pelham with Savas Beatie.

Taylor Sword Update

Ed Root writes about the Taylor Sword…

Just wanted to update everyone about the Taylor sword display at Nitschmann Middle School.

John Rohal and I met with Brett Peters at Historic Bethlehem’s Museums & Sites Kemerer Museum. 

Brett is continuing to update and change the display and is working with administration to further the study of Civil War and local history.

Whereas there was originally not room for the Taylor poster we will now be able to incorporate it. This is a copy of an original poster donated by Jack Stanley.

I also gave Brett an original artifact piece made by Barry Arnold. This is just an example of ongoing work to periodically change the display and keep it fresh and interesting. 

Please check the Historic Bethlehem website - https://www.historicbethlehem.org

At the Kemerer Museum there is now a marvelous program about historic Bethlehem hotels dating from pre Civil War through the 1920’s. I encourage you all to visit. 

From the Brigade Commander ~ Summer 2024

Data published by the National Center on Charitable Statistics states that approximately 30 percent of nonprofits fail to exist after 10 years. Worst yet, Forbes magazine once stated that over half of all chartered nonprofits are destined to fail or stall within a few years of startup!

With these foreboding statistics in mind, you can understand why, as we get ready to enter our 47th year as a non-profit organization, I’m feeling very good about having managed to beat the odds. And with your continued support, and our hard work, we can continue as an organization that both motivates AND is motivated to finding ways to engage our members and the community at large about the great nation-defining event in American history that we call the Civil War.

Looking forward to seeing you in September!

Barry

Check out our summer newsletter in the Newsletter Archives

Photos from the June 8 Field Trip to Monterey Pass

Following the Battle of Gettysburg, Confederate forces were withdrawing south through Pennsylvania and Maryland, and on the afternoon and evening of July 4th, and the early morning hours of July 5th, in darkness and heavy rain, these forces met again in the hills, woods and steep ground of Monterey Pass near the Mason Dixon Line.

Our CWRT took a day field trip to this fascinating site just East of Waynesboro on June 8th.

Thank you Claire for coordinating another gem of a day!

EXPLORE THE PARK WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS OF THIS BATTLE

June Meeting Highlights and Photos

At our June Meeting - the final one of this campaign year, we heard Gen James Longstreet talk about his early years and some of the highlights of his career and battles.

We held our annual preservation raffle with prints and books being awared to lucky winners.

We also held our monthly book raffle with the winners pictured below.

Looking forward to a refreshing break in the summer and a new campaign starting the first Tuesday in September.

Annual Raffles prizes

Book raflle winners

June 4th Program Details Announced

WHO WAS JAMES LONGSTREET??

For the last 160+ years, enough has been written about the American Civil War that the tomes would fill buildings! Depending on the author, the same story could be viewed from a Northern bent or a Southern story of antebellum ways of life.

Even so, the most succinct description of the conflict has not been fully accepted by our whole country, since it is considered by some groups to be the "War of Northern Aggression", "Mr. Lincoln's War" or other descriptors. This 19th century crisis, which caused a split amongst its citizens so large in its views of society, loyalty, and economy, to state a few, that its magnitude, emotionally, was bigger than the Grand Canyon is to geology.

Through this epic debacle, brother was fighting brother, extended families were on opposite sides, and all men had to decide what they believed almost overnight (between November, 1860 and March,1861). And, once Secession became a political reality in the South and Lincoln called for volunteers to end this rebellion, the die was cast.

My ancestors were here in the US for over 100 years by the time I was born. My father was born in New Jersey and moved the family to Georgia. 'Pete' (as they called me) Longstreet spent his formative years with my uncle in South Carolina, listening to local people visiting my uncle's home and espousing southern rights, destinies, and philosophies, which helped develop my loyalties. After my father died, when I was young, and my mother moved the family Alabama, friends there help me get an appointment to West Point.

It was there that I made lifelong friends that I would see on my side of the War's battles as well as across those battle lines, including my very close friend, U.S. Grant, who chose to stay with the Union, despite having Southern slave holding in-laws. Feeling that I could not fight against family from Alabama or South Carolina, my decision was made very quickly, and just as quickly, I jumped into the fray and fought in almost every major battle on the Eastern front, from Manassas to Appomattox Court House, and was present with R. E. Lee at the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia in April, 1865.

So why am I portrayed as a traitor to the South and treated as a pariah by my comrades? Was I really a traitor to the Southern cause during the war? Was I the reason the Confederacy lost the battle of Gettysburg and, ultimately, the War?

On  Tuesday evening, June 4, and out of the depths of history, "Old Pete" comes to speak to our group about his origins and views, and hopefully, to answer these questions.

From the Brigade Commander ~ June 2024

How can you spot a Civil War buff?

They’re the kinds of folks who are always on the lookout for ways to treat themselves to secondhand lives-and-times experiences that surrounded the war. They’re excited to stomp across wet, grassy fields to follow in the imagined footsteps of soldiers who fought in that place. And while inside a museum, you can almost watch them get goosebumps while viewing an article of clothing or a saber once worn by a favorite officer.

If I’ve just described you, I’m happy to report we’ve got a field trip coming up, on June 8, that is right up your alley. Round Table members AND their guests are welcome. You can read all about it at the right or on pages 4 and 5 of our June newsletter

If you want to make it a weekend, and the sounds and smells of the battle are enough to get you in a Civil-War-frame-of-mind, I invite you to read about an upcoming shooting event, using Civil War reproduction weaponry, on pages 3 and 4 of the June Newsletter.

Check the photo on the right. Notice any goosebumps? June 4 will be the last meeting of Campaign 46. You can read a bit about our speakers and their subject on page 2 of that same June newsletter. More details will follow via email once we receive their final synopsis.

And, in case I forget to say so during the meeting, let me thank everyone now for another successful campaign. And watch for our Summer, 2024, edition of the Civil War Roundtable of Eastern Pa., Inc., which is planned for a mid- July, 2024, release.

BARRY

Jack Stanley's CWRT Display at the May Meeting

Jack Stanley brought some of his Civil War memorabilia to the May CWR meeting for a fantastic display.

Look at the photos to see a reincarnation of an 1863 photograph of noncommissioned officers of Co D 93 New York infantry dinner mess. It included a basic cooking mess exhibit using original tinware and the often used Sibley tripod and stove.

The display also included an original officer’s campaign desk with many officer accoutrements as well as several original uniforms, field gear, and an interesting local item or two.

Pistols and Rfles were also included.

Enjoy these photos.