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Next Meeting: Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Subject: Twentieth Anniversary Celebration
Presenter: Founding Members
September marks the twentieth anniversary of the first meeting of the Northeast Ohio Civil War Round Table. Our founders have chosen to celebrate the event with a special meeting reflecting on the past twenty years. Members are invited to bring their spouses and significant others to this special event.
- Canteen at 6:00 PM — Dinner at 6:45 PM
- Pine Ridge Country Club, 30601 Ridge Road (Ohio 84), Wickliffe, OH (1/2 mile west of Ohio 91)
- Cost $25.00 for an excellent family-style dinner and speaker. Cash bar.
- Reservations are required. Contact Mike Sears at 440-257-3956 or email mikeanddonnas@roadrunner.com.
Last Meeting:
Subject: The ‘Lost’ Gettysburg Address
Presenter: David Dixon
The text of the third speech at Gettysburg on that November day in 1863 was lost until very recently. It is little known because it came later in the day at a different venue. The speaker, Charles Anderson, is an fascinating character. His life appears to be much more interesting than the speech, and explains why a man, unknown to us today, was selected to speak to the political gathering that came later in the day, after the dedication of the cemetery.
Mr. Dixon has dug into that life and was able to present a portion of it in his talk. Judging by the quality and content of Mr. Dixon’s speech, the book and the life of Charles Anderson should make very interesting reading.
2017 James A. Garfield National Historic Site Civil War Encampment
Once again this year, we were pleased to assist with Friday night’s kickoff to the JAG NHS Civil War encampment. This year, the National Park Service brought in two Civil War authors to speak while we provided refreshments for the speakers and audience.
Saturday and Sunday, during the actual encampment, the NEOCWRT tent became the site of conversations and presentations by famous and knowledgeable historical personages. My son and I “worked” at the tent for a few hours. Our “work” consisted of sitting and listening with great pleasure and interest to several historical figures. First was General Halleck and his generals — Ulysses S. Grant, William T. Sherman, James B. McPherson, and others. The focus of his talk was not battles, but his generals: their personalities and how they changed the way war was waged — from military strategy to transport and supply, field hospitals and triage, and the use of black units in combat. Next, Jefferson Davis made a good case for the legality of secession. But, as one of the audience stated, “You may be right, but you’d better win.” The final speaker of the day was a lieutenant in the navy who served on Lake Erie. He shed light on this mostly ignored battleground of the Great Lakes. He explained why the war ships of the Great Lakes initially could have no more that one cannon and how a Confederate plot to free the prisoners on Johnson’s Island was foiled.
Meanwhile, member John Sandy put a number of miniature soldiers through their paces as he taught them the rudiments of marching; and Founder Norty London gave a presentation inside the visitors center.
This encampment seems to improve each year. There is something for adults and children, from the serious Civil War scholar to folks wishing to spend a few hours touring Garfield’s home and speaking with reenactors; from discussions of battle strategy to rolling hoops. We are pleased to assist the JAG NHS rangers in putting on this enjoyable family event.
2017 Spring Outing
On Saturday, June 10, members and guests convened at Dino’s on Ohio route 306 and carpooled to Erie. We were met first by Jeff Sherry , who did an excellent job in beginning our tour in the Watson-Kurtze Mansion. The mansion was impressive. The entry hall featured a balcony designed to hold a quartet of musicians whose sound would resonate throughout the house. On the second floor was a ball room, once again featuring a balcony for a larger number of musicians. Throughout the mansion was fine woodwork — and the museum displays, featuring portions of our own Ted Karle’s Civil War collection that he recently sold to the Erie County Historical Society. It is an appropriate home for Ted’s collection because it centered on the units raised in Erie County.
George Deutsch, who joined the tour in the mansion, led us to the adjoining building, the greatly expanded carriage house. Here is housed a huge collection of material related to the history of Erie County, a meeting room, and space for future exhibits.
After a fine lunch at Mollie Brannigan’s Irish Pub, an interesting and flavorful establishment, we proceeded to the Soldier’s Home, where we viewed a large stained glass window with a portrait of Abraham Lincoln. A short trip to a reconstructed block house and the site of General Anthony Wayne’s death followed. We concluded our visit at a spot overlooking Lake Erie where three nations, France, Britain, and the United States, built three forts. The view brought much of the history of the area into perspective and was a fitting conclusion to our visit.
Lunchtime Series: Leaders and Legacies of the Civil War
This series of talks has been so successful that the Mentor Public Library and James A. Garfield Historical Site have decided to continue the talks. Rather than relying on battles, the emphasis has been switched and the title of the series changed to Leaders and Legacies of the Civil War.
July’s presentation is on Wednesday, July 12: The ‘Grand Army of the Republic.
August’s presentation is on Wednesday, August 9: Justice Delayed: American Slavery, Reconstruction, and Civil Rights, presented by NEOCWRT member Judge Mitrovich.
September’s meeting is on Wednesday, September 13: Political Cartoons and Satire during the Civil War.
These talks normally take place on the second Wednesday of the month, at noon in the James A. Garfield Community Room of the Mentor Public Library. Talks are scheduled to last about one hour. Attendees are invited to bring their bag lunches.
Themocracy
I came across your Civil War Round Table and thought you might be interested in a true story about an 82nd Ohio soldier told in the first person in dramatic form. The ebook is written with a discussion guide for Civil War Round Tables and you may want to check it out.
Hiram’s Honor: Reliving
Private Terman’s Civil War, ISBN 978-0615-27812-4.
Hiram’s Honor can be examined at http://www.amazon.com/Hirams-Honor-Reliving-Private-Termans/dp/0615278124/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239221935&sr=8-1
Ebook
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/50674
The unique thing about this book is that I assume the identity of my ancestor in all of his battles and prison misery. It was quite a challenge to match every detail that actually happened (dairies, letters, first-hand accounts) with a first person dramatized and riveting story of how I would have reacted in his situation. Best wishes in your work.
Greetings from Delafield, Wisconsin, Birthplace of Lt. Alonzo Cushing. Just a quick update on the Medal of Honor. Although it was widely reported that the Secretary of the Army had approved the nomination, the process is still ongoing. The Secretary of Defense has not yet made his recommendation. Additionally, the President would still have to sign off. I would be happy to keep you updated if the situation changes.
Best Regards
Dave Krueger
Delafield, WI
I’m very interested in your group. May non-members attend meetings?
Many thanks,
George Richards
George — yes, non-members may attend. Because we take the summer off, our next meeting is not until Sepetember 11. Closer to the meeting date, make a reservation (see above) and look me, Tom Horvath, up at the meeting. I’ll be glad to introduce you to some of our members. Meanwhile, you may be interested in the symposium being held at Lawnfield on July 13, also described above.
Hello NEOCWRT. My name is Jonathan Hennessey. I am author of a new Civil War nonfiction graphic novel from HarperCollins. I would like to let members of your group know I will be doing a reading from my book at 6 pm Thursday, August 8 at the Barnes & Noble bookstore on Medina Road in Akron.
THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS: A GRAPHIC ADAPTATION (www.graphicgettysburg.com) is a bold and innovative use of the comics medium. It uses the words from Lincoln’s iconic speech to tell the “whole story of the Civil War, 1776 – The Present.” I will be presenting a chapter of the book mostly examining the Confederacy’s legal case for secession, Lincoln’s counterargument, and how both the language of both the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence informed those two different positions. I will be projecting still and animated segments of the book on a movie screen.
Kirkus Reviews called the book, “Engaging, provocative and deftly nuanced. … This second collaboration by Hennessey and McConnell again finds them probing the implications of history through incisive analysis and compelling art.”
Library Journal hailed it as, “An excellent work. … Not a simplification but a detailed and nuanced analysis of Lincoln’s famous speech.”
Thank you for your consideration!
All best,
Jonathan Hennessey
Thanks for the invitation to speak at the CWRT again. My topic this year will be Confederate General William “Extra Billy” Smith: From Virginia’s Statehouse to Gettysburg Scapegoat.