Surprise Speaker at March Meeting

When our scheduled speaker became ill at the last minute, attendees at the March meeting were treated to a surprise speaker… Ed Root.

Our Brigade Commander explains, “Ed gave a great speech on Ben Butler and New Orleans. He described his life before the war. Butler was born in New Hampshire and was a successful lawyer and later, Governor.  He joined the army early in the civil war. He was the administrator overseeing New Orleans after its fall to the Union in 1862. This brought him enormous dislike from the southern population. He died in 1893.

“We at the round table would like to thank Mr. Root for his last minute step in on this great topic of Ben Butler while in New Orleans.”

A Ben Butler souvenir from New Orleans

CANCELED: Gettysburg Conservation Day Saturday, April 18, 2020

THE 2020 CONSERVATION DAY AT GETTYSBURG NMP HAS BEEN CANCELED AND WILL NOT BE RESCHEDULED THIS YEAR.

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Gettysburg Conservation Day ~ Saturday, April 18, 2020

The Codori Farm is one of the most known and recognizable sites on the Gettysburg Battlefield. It will be our honor and privilege to work with the National Park Service to help preserve this place.

As always, our tasks will be varied and should satisfy the skills and desires of all volunteers. There will be fences painting for those so inclined and well as fence removal and replacement. If you are a weed whacking specialist there will be work to keep you busy. If you wish to come just to supervise please do so.

We will begin work at 9AM and hope to wrap us by 12:30. There has been construction on Rte 78 for an 8 mile stretch around mile marker 35. Take this into consideration on planning your travel time. For those of you meeting at the Holiday Inn parking lot in order to car pool I’d leave no later than 6:45AM, maybe a little earlier. This will also allow for a bathroom break upon arrival in town.

The NPS will supply all equipment and supplies, However, since we will have around 50 volunteers bringing your own work/paint gloves is a good idea. The Park has numerous string trimmer/weed whackers for any who wish to use them. Please do not bring your own equipment. The NPS will provide fuel.

Logistics, logistics, logistics………

1-   We not only have CWRT members, but friends, students, scouts and historical society folks coming to volunteer. For us to reschedule on a day that would fit all and accommodate the NPS would be all but impossible. We have always been blessed with decent or exception weather so unless the NPS folks tell us NOT TO COME, we work. You are all volunteers so if for any reason you decide not to attend it’s your decision. No harm no foul.

2-   Parking is very limited at the site off the Emmitsburg Road. I am asking that only older folks or anyone with mobility issues park there.  All others may drop off at the site, but park in the NPS lot right across from the National Cemetery lot or even along Cemetery Ridge if parking is available and walk to the farm.

3-   Dress appropriately with good footwear. Work gloves, bug spray, etc. are a good idea. The farm area itself is mowed, but for those working on fences and brush cutting flip flops and shorts are at your own risk.

4-   The CWRT will provide water and there will be a porta potty on site.  The Visitor Center is only a short drive if necessary.

5-   Feel free to bring your lunch and eat while you work or later as you wish. When finished we will all meet at Parking Lot C near the Visitor Center before car pooling to the Spangler Farm for our private tour. The farm where so many wounded were treated and died is not open to the public until June so this is a rare and special treat.

6-   As always, we will also have our special free book raffle for all attendees.

7-   I will be in Gettysburg on Friday to check out the site and make sure all is ready. If you have not already done so, it will be very helpful if you give me a cell phone number in the event of any last-minute issues. My number is 610-217-6172.

8-   Any questions please call or email me at sartilly@hotmail.com

See you on the 18th
Ed

State Senator Pat Browne Congratulates CWRT on Preservation Efforts

From the Brigade Commander: Barry Arnold - March 2020

From the Brigade Commander: Barry Arnold

The Union League of Philadelphia was founded in 1862 as a patriotic society to support the policies of Abraham Lincoln. The Round Table went this past Saturday to visit this place and it was an outstanding tour. The architecture was tremendous with marble floors and stained-glass windows.  They had paintings of civil war generals, admirals, presidents, a statue of Lincoln and busts of generals. If you missed this trip, you missed out on a once in a lifetime tour. I want to thank Jim Duffy for arranging this tremendous tour; it was a tremendous field trip.

Our February meeting, showcased Mr. Scott Mingus who addressed the 2nd Battle of Winchester. This was the pre stage to the battle of Gettysburg. The Confederate army had to travel through Winchester on their way to Pennsylvania. At Winchester, the Union army that defended Winchester was commanded by Major General Robert H. Milroy. Mingus describes how General Milroy made a major blunder resulting in a disaster as the Union attempted to defend the city of Winchester. Gen. Milroy abandoned his men and fled the field allowing 4000 men to be taken prisoners and sent to Andersonville Prison.  General Milroy was a disgrace to the Union army. This was an interesting story of the battle.

 In March we will have a special guest speaker. Author Ronald D. Kirkwood is coming to our Round Table. Ron, a retired editor, newspaper and magazine writer will speak on his book, “Too Much for Human Endurance”. This is a book on the George Spangler farm hospital, the army of the Potomac XI Corp hospital, and all its doctors, nurses, and suffering patients. Hope you will come and hear these stories. We hope this inspires you to come with us on April 18 and visit the farm (hospital) while we do some maintenance on the Codori farm.  I hope to see you at the meeting and on our field trip to the Spangler Farm.

Barry

Union League Tour Photos and Notes form February 1st

On Saturday February 1st, the Civil War Round Table of Eastern PA was privileged to tour the UnionLeague Building on Broad St in Philadelphia.

The Union League of Philadelphia is a shining jewel of history in a city defined by such treasure. Founded in 1862 as a patriotic society to support the Union and the policies of President Abraham Lincoln, The Union League of Philadelphia laid the philosophical foundation of other Union Leagues across a nation torn by Civil War. The League has hosted US Presidents, heads of state, industrialists, entertainers and dignitaries from around the globe and has proudly supported the American military in each conflict since the Civil War. The Union League continues to be driven by its motto, “Amor Patriae Ducit” or Love of Country Leads.

The League House is representative of the classic French Renaissance style, with a brick and brownstone façade and dramatic twin circular staircases that lead to the main entrance on Broad Street. Built in 1865, the building was added to the National Historic Register in 1979. Inside the traditional décor is accented in rich leather, patinated wood and polished marble. The League’s distinguished collection of art and artifacts adorns the walls and hallways. The collection I s rich chronicle of Philadelphia’s unique imprint upon the American landscape from the 19th century to today and is recognized by historians and art experts as a valuable component of American history.

Thanks to Kay Bagenstose and Jim Duffy for the pictures.

Some notes about a few of the photos are as follows (not necessarily in order):

• The American flag with incorrect number of stars was made by a Philadelphia woman to fly at her home for the passing of Lincoln’s body.  She did not have enough white material for it and so had to cut her petticoat to finish it and hence the odd white in the strips.

• The large painting is a compilation of all the wars fought, with the League on the right and Little Round Top in the background.

• The framed flag of the “clover” is the one that Webb carried at  Little Round Top

• A picture is one of the armed forces stained glass windows… this one the Marine Corps

• Painting with light above it, is of Henry Clay pointing to the western hemisphere, where the United States has a large footprint, thus the American flag covering the rest of the globe. At his feet are objects showing the industrial and agricultural might of the USA.  But there is a shadow of black over his head that signifies slavery.

• Photos from the Hall of Presidents are included.

Photos from the February Meeting

Our speaker was Scott Mingus, an author of many volumes on the Civil War and history buff from nearby York, Pa. He brought a dynamic presentation of the “The 2nd Battle of Winchester”, a Confederate victory that opened the door to Gettysburg.
Plus a picture of our book raffle winners (the theme was Winchester!)

From the Brigade Commander - February 2020

The January meeting was a tremendous one with our speaker, Alisa Dupuy. She reflected on women and their actions during the American Civil War. She went back in time and explained what women did and the way they dressed. Her character as a mother, noted that she had three children, two sons and a daughter. One son, named Edward, was killed at the Battle of Gettysburg; he was a union cavalry man. Ms. Dupuy noted that there were hundreds of women disguised as male soldiers who fought in the Civil War and their “true” identities were not discovered while on active duty. Other women who were actively engaged in the war were nurses such as Clara Barton. Some women were spies and our speaker reflected on their remarkable deeds as well. Then there was Harriet Tubman, a leader of the Underground Railroad; her deeds as a leader are still renown. Our speaker’s powerful speech recognized those strong women of the Civil War era.

Our next speaker is Scott Mingus, an author and history buff from nearby York, Pa. He brings to our round table “The 2nd Battle of Winchester”, a Confederate victory that opened the door to Gettysburg. That sounds like an interesting topic, a sort of prelude to the Battle of Gettysburg. So come with me on February 4th and enjoy this talk. See you on the 4th.

How did the U.S. get so many confederate monuments? While every statue in every town has a different origin. There are roughly 700 Confederate monuments in the United States. These monuments are spread over 31 states plus the District of Columbia. Far exceeding the 11 Confederate states that did not go up immediately after the war in 1865. During that time, commemorative markers tend to memorialize the dead. The vast Majority of them were built between 1890’s and the 1950’s, which was the era of Jim Crow segregation. These monuments tended to glorify leaders of the Confederacy. That’s why they put them in front of state buildings. Early monuments were placed in cemeteries. The value of these monuments stood for glorification of the cause of the Civil War. The Civil Rights movement spread the Confederate symbol in other ways. Some southern states placed the Confederate flag in their state flag. Two of Stonewall Jackson’s great-great grandsons sent the Richmond Mayor a message regarding the Jackson statue there. They requested the removal of his statue as well as all Confederate statues. So, you should draw your own conclusions regarding these monuments. The debate goes on.

Barry

Obituary for Michael A. Cavanaugh Jr

Obituary for Michael A. Cavanaugh Jr

Michael A. Cavanaugh, Jr. died peacefully at his son's home on January 7, 2020 in Philadelphia PA at the age of 82.
Mike is survived by his wife Susan Kovacs of Bethlehem PA; his 3 children, Michael A. Cavanaugh (Tammie) of San Antonio TX; Marianna Bloom (Gary) of Bordentown NJ; Mark Cavanaugh (Jennifer) of Philadelphia PA; brother Ronald (Kathy) Cavanaugh of Sewell NJ; 3 grandchildren Mark, Shannon and Michael and 1 great grandchild Henry. He is preceded in death by wife Marianne Cavanaugh, sister Carolyn "Sue" Ehresmann and parents Michael and Lillian (Lindsey) Cavanaugh of Philadelphia.
Mike was born on May 26, 1937 in Mahonoy City PA to Michael and Lillian Cavanaugh. He entered the army in August 1956. He was most proud of being in the 101st Airborne Division. This pride never wavered. He was honorably discharged in 1959. He entered the Philadelphia Police Department in 1960 and retired in 1983 after 23 years as a Lieutenant. He then went to work at the Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, in security. He then went to work for the State of NJ in the Victims of Crime Compensation Board.
Mike Cavanaugh is a founding member of the Old Baldy Civil War Round Table, serving over the years as treasurer, program chairman, and twice president. His interest in the Civil War began in the early 1970s, when he found he had several ancestors in the war. Mike has authored and coauthored five books on the war and also founded the Civil War Book Exchange (now Civil War News). A long time volunteer at the Civil War Library and Museum, Mike served as Vice President of the Board of Governors for a time and also served as treasurer of the committee to erect a statue of General John Gibbon at Gettysburg in July 1988, the 125th anniversary of the battle.
Mike shared his round table time with the CWRT of Eastern PA in Allentown of which he was the program director. He felt the most important duty of a Civil War round table is to support battlefield and historical preservation.
In January of 2015, Old Baldy Civil War Round Table honored Mike by establishing the Michael A. Cavanaugh Book Award for an outstanding recent book for younger readers concerning important people or events of the Civil War Era.
Through his life he has met some really wonderful people, too many to name. But he loved to spend time at lectures and battlefields and the occasional pub where his friends would join him for a pint. This amazing man found time for family and friends alike. He was affectionately known as "Chief" by his children and grandchildren. A gathering of friends and family will be held on Saturday, February 8th from 10:00am to 10:30am at Givnish Funeral Home, 1200 US-130, Cinnaminson, NJ 08077, and a memorial service beginning at 10:30am. Burial to follow at Lakeview Memorial Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Michael A. Cavanaugh, Jr. to the American Battlefield Trust, Wounded Warrior Project or USO (United Service Organization).

Photos from the January Meeting

Alisa Dupuy portrays the mother of a civil war soldier.

Another great meeting in spite of some snow which decided to visit the Valley.

Alisa Dupuy portrayed the mother of a civil war soldier at right.

Lucky book raffle winners below.

Although, as always, the real winner was battlefield preservation.

Tour the Union League of Philadelphia on Saturday February 1, 2020 at 10am

CWRT announces a field trip to the
THE UNION LEAGUE OF PHILADELPHIA
ON SAT  FEB 1, 2020 – 10AM

The Union League of Philadelphia, ranked the #1 City Club in the Country, is a shining jewel of history in a city defined by such treasure. Founded in 1862 as a patriotic society to support the Union and the policies of President Abraham Lincoln, The Union League of Philadelphia laid the philosophical foundation of other Union Leagues across a nation torn by Civil War. The League has hosted US Presidents, heads of state, industrialists, entertainers and dignitaries from around the globe and has proudly supported the American military in each conflict since the Civil War. The Union League continues to be driven by its motto, “Amor Patriae Ducit” or Love of Country Leads.

The League House is representative of the classic French Renaissance style, with a brick and brownstone façade and dramatic twin circular staircases that lead to the main entrance on Broad Street. Built in 1865, the building was added to the National Historic Register in 1979. Inside the traditional décor is accented in rich leather, patinated wood and polished marble. The League’s distinguished collection of art and artifacts adorns the walls and hallways. The collection I s rich chronicle of Philadelphia’s unique imprint upon the American landscape from the 19th century to today and is recognized by historians and art experts as a valuable component of American history.

The over 3500 men and women who are members represent the Philadelphia region’s leaders in business, education, technology, healthcare, law government, religion, art and culture.

Please note: There is a dress code for this facility; Business Casual attire is acceptable on Saturdays and is defined as a collared shirt and pressed slacks for men and comparable attire for women. Not permitted are spandex, open midriffs, halter tops, shorts, leggings, extremely short hemlines, jeans, t-shirts, sneakers and flip-flops.

Located at Broad and Sansom, parking is across the street from the Union League on Sansom Street in a garage (there is a charge). (Map below)

After the tour, lunch will be on our own depending on interest, side trips to other museums can be made – the Constitution Center, Independence Hall, Liberty Bell or Museum of American Revolution.

See the Upcoming Events Calendar for February 1st for additional details and how to make reservations