Old Baldy Civil War Round Table of Philadelphia
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Old Baldy Civil War Round Table of Philadelphia September 11, 2008, The One Hundred and Forty-Eighth Year of the Civil War Welcome to our new meeting President's Message With this meeting Old Baldy begins a new chapter in facility at the Union League its existence when we move our meetings to The Union League of Philadelphia. Members and guests are reminded of Philadelphia. that there is a dress code at the League of no jeans, no shorts and collared shirts. (Of course the one person most The Thursday, September 11th meeting of Old affected by this is yours truly!) There are two parking lots Baldy CWRT will be held at the Union League of located directly across the street from the League, includ- Philadelphia. ing one (on the 1400 block of Sansom Street) owned by the League itself. The Union League is located at 140 South Broad Street. Mike Cavanaugh and I have just returned from our trip to The meeting will be at 7:30 P.M. We will meet in the Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. I think I can speak for Mike Union League Library which is on the Second floor (15th when I can say that it really was the trip of a lifetime! There Street side). Enter on 15th Street or Sanson Street between is so much we could tell (and probably will) about the trip, Broad Street and 15th Street. but a couple of things absolutely stand out for me: one The dress attire: Jacket and tie was the fresh fruit we had at each meal that was picked would be preferred, otherwise col- right on the island. I’m sure I will never eat pineapple or lared shirts, long pants and jack- papaya that is so sweet! The other is seeing the Southern et are recommended. The follow- Cross constellation for the fi rst time. On our fi rst day we ing attire is never acceptable on took a boat across “Iron Bottom Sound” to the Florida the first or second floors of the Islands where we saw the sites surrounding the islands of League: jeans, denim wear, tee Tulagi, Gavutu, and Tanambogo. For some reason I’ve shirts, athletic wear, tank, halter, always wanted to see the Southern Cross and it was really or jogging tops, shorts, baseball magnifi cent! I stood on the bow of our boat for most of the caps, sneakers, extremely casual two-hour ride back to Guadalcanal and gazed at the stars or beach footwear. thinking that my late father had looked at the Southern James Mundy Cross and those same stars as a young seaman standing The subject of our first meeting will watch on the deck of his destroyer in the South Pacifi c dur- be a tour of the Union League Facility by James Mundy. ing World War II. James is the Director of Library and Historical Collections at the Union League of Philadelphia and has been a friend We were fortunate to have two veterans of the battle of and a speaker at the Old Baldy CWRT. Guadalcanal with us on our tour: Master Chief “Mac” MacKay, who survived the sinking of LST 342, and Corpo- The Union League, which occupies an entire city block in ral Ernest Snowdon, of Company L, 3rd Battalion, 5th the center of Philadelphia’s commercial and cultural dis- Marines. This was the tenth time Mac had been back to trict, is a shining jewel of history in a city defined by such place a wreath on the rusting bow of LST 342, which is treasure. Founded in 1862 as a patriotic society to sup- resting on Florida Island. Ernest hadn’t been back in 66 port the policies of President Abraham Lincoln, The Union years and was a real fountain of information – especially to League has hosted U.S. presidents, heads of state, indus- our battlefi eld guide, John Innes, who is the “Ed Bearss of trialists, entertainers and visiting dignitaries from around the Guadalcanal campaign.” Because we were there during the globe. It has also given loyal support to the American the anniversary of the beginning of the battle, we were also military in each conflict since the Civil War, and contin- fortunate enough to meet a couple of other veterans. One ues to be driven by its founding motto, “Love of Country was Commander Henry Hall, M.B.E., who had survived Leads.” Early efforts and influence of the Union League the sinking of HMAS Canberra during the battle of Savo of Philadelphia laid the philosophical foundation of other Island on the night of 9 August 1942. I was privileged Union Leagues across the nation. Continued on page 2 Continued on page 2 The Old Baldy CWRT will meet at the Union League of Philadelphia at 7:30 P.M., Thursday September 11, 2008. Members go out to a local restaurant for dinner at 5:30 PM, Applebees on 15th Street between Walnut and Locust You’re Welcome to Join Us! 1 Continued from page 1 - Union League sides: north, south, east, and west. Inside, the traditional The classic French Renaissance-styled League House, with décor is accented in rich leather, patinated wood and its brick and brownstone façade and dramatic twin circu- polished marble. Adorning the walls and hallways is the lar staircases leading to the main entrance, is listed in the League’s distinguished art collection, artifacts imbued with National Historic Register, and dates back to 1865, when the heritage and culture of its membership. The collec- the Broad Street building was completed. With approxi- tion is a rich, historical chronicle of Philadelphia’s unique mately one-quarter million square feet of space, the build- imprint upon the American landscape from the nineteenth ing is spread out over eight floors and has entrances on all century to today. Continued from page 1 - President's Message We hope that everyone will come out to a meeting and join enough to sit next to Commander Hall during dinner one in the discussions. It’s a great night out with friends who night. He was a real character! (He was a little man who share your interests and enthusiasm for this era. loved Americans as they – or we – saved his life twice.) We also met Bruno Nada, a Solomon Islander who helped All the best, and hope to see you in September, Americans during the campaign. During the tour we had Herb Kaufman, Treasurer a number of people who rode joined our tour for a day or two, including a detail of Marines from Camp Pendleton, California who were sent to be part of the Solomon Island July 10, 2008 Meeting Memorial Day Services. (Unfortunately their planes were delayed and their bags with their uniforms were lost so they Hancock's Ride didn’t make the ceremonies.) I asked one young man, a "Hancock's performance on July Second sergeant who was with us for three days and who said he’d made two tours to Iraq, if he thought he’d want to visit Iraq was the finest performance by any officer, in sixty years? His answer was that “we’ll still be there in on any field, in the entire war." sixty years.” ... Ed Bearss While traipsing around Guadalcanal with the young Marine sergeant and Corporal Snowden, my thoughts often turned to Old Baldy’s active duty Marine, Lance Corporal Billy Holdsworth, as he was being deployed to Iraq the very day that we were heading to Guadalcanal. I couldn’t get over the irony of the moment. Soldiers are the same wherever they are – the date may change, the landscape may change, the technology may change, but essentially soldiers are the same. I am always humbled to be in their presence -- whether they are veterans or active duty service people. (We’ll have more news on Billy in subsequent newsletters and how you send him and his buddies care packages if you wish.) As always, I look forward to seeing everyone at the next Dave Wieck meeting! Be well! Steven J. Wright, President Thursday, July 10th at From the Treasurer's Desk the meeting of the Old Baldy CWRT, Dave Dear Members, Wieck, co-author of the acclaimed “The Well, with considerable regret I must report that the MOL- Battle Between the LUS museum at 1805 Pine Street is now only a memory. Farm Lanes” gave The August 2, open house was the fi nal day. It was great us a very detailed to greet so many members of Old Baldy at the museum in description of Hancock’s actions along the Union lines its fi nal days. I will truly miss the old place. However, with during the Confederate Charge on July 2, and how the only a single operating restroom, no elevator, and poor famous “Hancock’s Ride” may have not only stopped the heating and air conditioning, its time to move to a better Confederates, but may well have shown the bravery of the facility. Union soldier through the rest of the War. He rode up and I am excited and looking forward to the creation of a new down the crest of Cemetery Ridge, under fire, directing museum in the historic First Bank of the United States on troops (single regiments) and artillery units, issuing orders 3rd between Chestnut and Walnut Streets. A great deal of to secure sections of the field. Even sending a regiment to work still needs to be accomplished, and I hope that all the charge a brigade, and reaffirming for all his men to stand members of Old Baldy will support the new museum.