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December 2015 THE CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE Founded December 3, 1940 Volume LXXVI, Number 4 Chicago, Illinois December 2015 Dave Keller on Camp Douglas by Bruce Allardice Opened in 1861, Camp Douglas was a Union training and reception facility 747TH REGULAR for over 40,000 Union soldiers in Chicago. Camp Douglas became a MEETING David Keller is a long time resident prison camp, housing over 30,000 H H H H H of Chicago and an amateur historian. Confederate prisoners, from 1862 Mr. Keller’s professional life included Friday, December 11th until it was demolished in 1865. various executive positions at Chicago Containing over 200 buildings on H H H H H area commercial banks. Currently 60 acres, Camp Douglas was the Holiday Inn O’Hare he is a respected expert witness in most significant Civil War facility in 5615 N. Cumberland, Chicago banking matters throughout the Northern Illinois. Cocktails at 5:30 p.m. country. Retired since 2002, he Dinner at 6:30 p.m. On Dec. 11th, Dave Keller, Managing devotes much of his time to volunteer $50 - Members/Non-members Director of the Camp activities including Douglas Restoration the Lincoln Park Foundation Board Call by Zoo, Chicago Entrée: Chicken of Directors, will Sunday History Museum Dec. 6 New Orleans or present a history of and American Youth the history of Camp Soccer Organization. Tilapia Douglas and Camp David’s interest Douglas stories from diaries and in Camp Douglas comes from his journals of Confederate prisoners of interest in the Civil War, Civil War Please Note: the Camp. The presentation includes Prison Camps and 19th century Make your reservations by Sunday, information on conditions and loss Chicago history. The founder of the Dec. 6, by emailing dinnerreservations@ chicagocwrt.org, or calling 630 460-1865 of life at the camp, current status Foundation, Mr. Keller is in demand with the names of your party and choice of entrée. of the camp’s site, and work done as a speaker on the Civil War and If a cancellation becomes necessary after by the Camp Douglas Restoration Camp Douglas and has written a two dinner reservations have been made, please email us at dinnerreservations@chicagocwrt. Foundation to provide a lasting books, The Story of Camp Douglas, org and/or call us at 630-460-1865. remembrance of Camp Douglas. Chicago’s Forgotten Civil War Prison We are offering the option of choosing not to have dinner and coming only for the address and Robert Anderson Bagby, Civil at 7:15 p.m., for a charge of $10 per person. War Diary (Annotated) 1863-1865. Parking at the Holiday Inn is FREE. 2 The Civil War Round Table THE CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE NEW ALLIANCE SUPPORTS CULPEPER STATE PARK By Scott C. Boyd (November 2015 Civil War News) CULPEPER, Va. — The momentum The preserved acreage will increase — the for a new state park incorporating the Trust is under contract to buy a modern Brandy Station and Cedar Mountain house and 10.5 acres on Fleetwood Founded December 3, 1940 battlefields in Culpeper County Hill from Page Mitchell. She and her 1039 Hinswood continued with the Civil War Trust husband, B.B, who died in 2011, were Darien, Illinois 60561 announcing the formation of the Brandy early opponents of major residential Phone: 630-460-1865 Station & Cedar Mountain State Park and commercial development on the www.chicagocwrt.org Alliance on Sept. 25. battlefield and helped start the Brandy The only requirement for membership in Alliance members include the Trust, Station Foundation in 1989. The Civil War Round Table is a genuine Brandy Station Foundation (BSF), The Trust has also preserved 164 acres interest in the Civil War and its era. For Friends of Cedar Mountain Battlefield, at Cedar Mountain through purchase information, address Membership Com- Journey Through Hallowed Ground along with 421 acres protected through mittee, 1039 Hinswood, Darien, Illinois Partnership, Preservation Virginia, conservation easements. 60561, or [email protected]. Piedmont Environmental Council “I think a state park will be very (PEC), Culpeper Department of beneficial to BSF and for the Culpeper examples like needing one visitor center Tourism and Remington Community community,” said Brandy Station Partnership. instead of two and fewer full-time staff. Foundation President Joe McKinney. … At a Sept. 29 meeting, Trust consultants “A state park — with the associated “We are moving as one to create Glenn Stach and Kennedy Smith advertising and support from Virginia briefed alliance members and others a permanent place of education, Tourism — should attract many more recreation and reflection,” Trust on prospects for the new state park, visitors to the battlefield and to the according to Diane Logan, president President James Lighthizer said in the Graffiti House than are drawn at Sept. 25 announcement, thanks to of the Friends of Cedar Mountain present,” he said. Battlefield. the tremendous support of its Alliance “Some will come for the history, others partners. An economic impact study is expected perhaps for recreational activities such as in early November. “With the 80th anniversary of the horseback riding, hiking, biking, rafting Virginia state park system on the Reports in the Culpeper and or camping. We anticipate that this state immediate horizon, this is the moment Fredericksburg newspapers said the park — like most — will be multi-use.” … to act and secure a legacy for the Old consultants believe a new state park Of major importance for McKinney’s Dominion that will last for generations incorporating both battlefields could group is “discussion about locating to come,” Lighthizer said. draw 100,000 visitors annually. the park’s visitor center at the Graffiti The Battle of Cedar Mountain was This possible visitor count does not House,” the foundation’s headquarters. fought Aug. 9, 1862. Confederate Maj. approach the visitation at the long- The Commonwealth has the resources Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson’s established Fredericksburg and to address several current limitations troops, aided by troops under Maj. Gen. Spotsylvania National Military Park at the house, according to McKinney. A.P. Hill, repulsed Union Maj. Gen. (870,000 visitors) or the Manassas Expanding the restroom facilities, Nathaniel Banks’s corps, preventing National Battlefield Park (500,000 improving handicapped accessibility them from seizing the rail junction at visitors), both operated by the National and increasing the hours open with Gordonsville. The battle marked the Park Service. state employees could be done. shift in focus from the failed Union Peninsula Campaign to operations in Nonetheless, the proposed park “fills a More than one preservation group Northern Virginia. need, bringing a state park to an area official endorsed the idea of the two under-served in this regard,” Paula L. battlefields being administered together The June 9, 1863, Battle of Brandy Combs, public relations manager for the as one combined park. Station, was the first battle in the PEC, told Civil War News in an email. Gettysburg Campaign and the war’s “Combining the two parks is the most largest cavalry battle. Union Maj. Gen. The Trust and the BSF own 1,020 efficient and cost effective option,” said Alfred Pleasonton’s troops surprised acres at Brandy Station. An additional Meg Martin, communications manager Confederate Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart’s 3,217 acres are protected through for the Civil War Trust. “A good forces in camp, but were repulsed after conservation easements in cooperation practical example is Fredericksburg and heavy fighting. with the Virginia Department of Spotsylvania National Military Park.” Historic Resources and the Virginia Alliance information is at www. “By creating only one park, the Outdoors Foundation (see October facebook.com/BSCMStatePark CWN). Commonwealth can likely conserve resources,” McKinney said, citing 3 The Civil War Round Table Veterans Day at Rosehill Cemetery On Veterans Day Rosehill Cemetery the past 10 years. Several Civil experience. Some photos are below. hosted a salute to our nation’s War (and other) re-enactor groups veterans, something Rosehill has helped make the event a moving An artillery salute is fired. A 21 gun salute, in front of the Rosehill Chapel. Mrs. General George H. Thomas (JoEllen Kowalski) graced the event! (left) 4 The Civil War Round Table Grapeshot Schimmelfennig Boutique Sixty plus years of audio recordings of CWRT lectures by distinguished histori- Bulletin ans are available and can be purchased Board in CD format. For pricing and a lec- ture list, please contact Hal Ardell at [email protected] or phone him at (773) 774-6781. Future Meetings Each meeting features a book raffle, with Regular meetings are held at the On December 4th, the Abraham proceeds going to battlefield preserva- Holiday Inn O’Hare, the second Fri- Lincoln Bookstore and the Union tion. There is also a silent auction for day of each month, unless otherwise League Club CWRT are hosting a books donated by Ralph Newman and indicated. luncheon at the Union League Club others, again with proceeds benefiting battlefield preservation. Jan. 8, 2016: David Moore on “William of Chicago, for Bud Robertson. The S. Rosecrans” event starts at 11:30. Reservations More Upcoming Civil War Events Feb. 12: Don Doyle on “The Cause of required. All Nations” Dec. 4th, Northern Illinois CWRT: March 11: Bruce Kraig on “Why the Kevin Connelly on “Custer in the Civil War Made our Modern Food” The Kenosha Civil War Museum Shenandoah” H H H H H will host Gene Salecker Dec. 11th, April 8: Greg Biggs on “Nashville: Dec. 10th, Lake County CWRT Xmas Siren’s Song of the Confederacy” noon, as part of its lunchbox series. party Salecker will speak on “The Sultana May 13: Glenna Schroeder-Lein on Disaster: What Caused it?” For this Dec. 10th, Milwaukee CWRT: Dave “The Solders’ Home in Civil H H H H H Keller on “Camp Douglas” and other events, visit http://www.
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