Case Shot & Canister

1BA Publication of the Delaware Valley Civil War Round Table Partners with Manor College and the Civil War Institute Our 22nd Year

May 2014

4BVolume 24

5BNumber 5

Editor Patricia Caldwell

Contributors Hugh Boyle, Book Nook Editor Rose Boyle Matt Bruce Nancy Caldwell, Artistic Adviser Jerry Carrier Judy Folan Paula Gidjunis Mary Ann Hartner Bernice Kaplan Herb Kaufman Walt Lafty Orphans decorating their fathers' graves in Glenwood Cemetery, Jack Lieberman Philadelphia, on Decoration Day Courtney Lee Malpass Jane Peters Estes Max Reihmann “City of Jubilee” – Philadelphia & the Larry Vogel Andy Waskie Surrender of R.E. Lee, April 10-15, 1865

Original Photos Presenter: Michael Wunsch Patricia Caldwell (unless otherwise noted)

UOfficers Our May Meeting President Hugh Boyle Tuesday, May 20, 2014 Vice President 7:30 pm Jerry Carrier Treasurer 6:15 pm for dinner (all welcome - make reservations!) Herb Kaufman Radisson Hotel Secretary Patricia Caldwell Route 1 @ Old Lincoln Highway Trevose, PA

e-mail:[email protected] U phone: (215)638-4244

website: HUwww.dvcwrt.orgU Dinner Menu – Chicken Florentine – served with soup du jour, rolls/butter, iced tea, soda, dessert. Umailing addresses: Substitute: Pasta (chef’s selection). for membership: 2601 Bonnie Lane Huntingdon Valley PA 19006 Call Rose Boyle at 215-638-4244 for reservations by May 15. Dinner Price $24.00 for newsletter items: 3201 Longshore Avenue You are responsible for dinners not cancelled Philadelphia PA 19149-2025 by Monday morning May 19.

and he has shared that research with many round In This Issue tables and historical organizations.

 Our members have been involved in the We look forward to hearing Mike’s latest community. Read a couple in-depth articles by presentation on how Philadelphia responded to Lee’s Walt Lafty, and a first-timer from Judy Folan Surrender in the Spring of 1865.  Lots of summertime events to attend  Paula Gidjunis with updates to Preservation

News  Larry Vogel recaps last month’s meeting and speaker presentation  In our Book Nook, Hugh Boyle makes a case for a would-be CW feature film, and Jerry Carrier reviews a book on a postwar Grant  Max Reihmann takes us to visit some Civil War personages interred in a local cemetery

 Summer classes are scheduled for the Civil

War Institute I have been asked many times what makes a good  Larry Vogel shares an interesting Civil War round table. The answer has not changed much Vignette involving West Point Cemetery  Where the war was going in 1864 by Herb after 22 years. The two things that round table Kaufman members want most are one, good presentations  Matt Bruce shares some photos from the and second, a good newsletter, but there are Neshaminy Re-enactment other things that bind members, such as  Sesquicentennial timeline for May 1864 activities and mission. Members deserve and should be offered something to be involved in. This may not be for all members but for those who wish for more, something should be there for them. They also must know that they are part of Hometown Civil War a larger mission, and for this round table it is preservation, to be able to work for something Our May speaker, Michael Wunsch, is probably well- that leaves a lasting legacy. The one item needed known to many of the members of the Delaware to live out these necessary elements is fellowship Valley CWRT. Mike has long been a fixture in the Civil War and to know that they are part of something community in the special. Philadelphia area, and has spoken to us The Delaware Valley Civil War Round Table in the past, including will continue to offer the best presentations, best a presentation on the newsletters and best activities – all by living out 1864 Great Central our mission. Funny, it seems like a short, small Sanitary Fair in Philadelphia. Mike answer to that question “What makes a Round is a resident of Table?”, but sometimes the answer is just that Philadelphia, and simple. earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration-Marketing from La Salle University. See you at the meeting! He is a member of the GAR Museum & Library, the Lincoln Forum, and an officer with the General Meade Society. Mike is known as a researcher with a Hugh Boyle strong interest in how the war affected his hometown, President

(Dicken’s last completed novel). Bernice compared the novel with its various film adaptations, primarily the 1998 MAY TRIVIA BBC film version.

1 – How many Supreme Court appointments did Bernice is now Abraham Lincoln make? preparing for a 3- 2 – Who challenged Abraham Lincoln to a duel week trip visiting in 1842? friends in England in late May. Let’s 3 – What did Lincoln choose as a weapon in that bet she finds something Civil War-related while duel? she’s there. (Answers in next month’s newsletter!)

Jane Peters Estes will present “Grave Matters: ANSWERS TO APRIL’S TRIVIA Victorian Mourning Traditions” at the New Jersey State History Fair on Saturday, May 10 at 1 – Where did the largest cavalry engagement of Washington Crossing State Park. Additional the war take place? – Brandy Station, VA, June 9, 1863 information is available at 2 – What Confederate Major General had to be http://www.njhistoryfair.org released from arrest in order to lead his troops in mid-September of 1862? – A. P. Hill “The Election of 1864” will be the topic of Hugh 3 – In what battle did A. P. Hill have three horses Boyle’s presentation at Ann’s Choice on May 29. shot from under him in a matter of hours? – Second Bull Run (Manassas) Jerry Carrier spoke to the GAR Museum and Library Sunday Open House on May 4 in the

persona of Lincoln secretary

John Hay. Thanks to Walt Lafty for the photo. And read

about Jerry’s latest thespian accomplishment on page 4. For the second consecutive month, Jack DeLong was the winner of the pre-meeting dinner book Courtney Lee Malpass was raffle. Other book winners at the April meeting accepted into Arcadia University's Exhibition for were Nancy Caldwell, Jim Dover, and Judy Folan. Success where she was able to exhibit a sample of her creative writing. Courtney thanks the Del Val Jack and Carol Lieberman recently returned CWRT and the GAR Museum and Library for from a vacation in Bermuda that celebrated helping to make her historical fiction writing Carol’s “39th birthday”. possible. Courtney’s exhibition at Arcadia was held on April 17, and several members of Del Val were Roger Arthur entertained the CWRT of Eastern able to attend. See the article on page 4. PA (Allentown) on May 6 with his presentation on “The Wit and Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln”.

On April 19 Bernice Kaplan made a presentation to the Philadelphia Dickens Fellowship at Cavanaugh's Head House Square on Our Mutual Friend Cathy Smith – Willow Grove, PA

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…. And For More on Our Members We all agreed this was a really great show, lots of laughs and a fine performance. I hope Jerry enjoyed

it as much as we did! A Really Good Show!

By Judy Folan

Kudos to our friend Jerry Carrier, on his recent An Afternoon with History at performance in Arsenic and Old Lace, at the Walnut Arcadia University Street Theatre. Along with friends, I had the By Walt Lafty pleasure of seeing Jerry act in this classic and very humorous stage play. On April 17th 2014, Arcadia University held its “First

Annual Exhibition of Academic Success”. Forty-five For those not familiar with the play, it centers on students exhibited scholastic works of research. two eccentric spinster aunts who rent rooms to Some projects included science research, lonely old bachelors. As their form of “charity” they international studies, Chinese culture, gender issues, comfort these lonely souls by helping them die in human trafficking, immigration, and various peace and with a smile on their faces. They feed literature/writing projects. them arsenic-laced elderberry wine and, with help from their similarly misguided and impaired brother, One of the 45 exhibiters was DelVal member, bury them in their cellar. Courtney Lee Malpass, who had one of the tables

set up to provide information by the students. In Act 1, Jerry, as Mr. Gibbs, a lonely bachelor Attendees were able to casually stroll from table to seeking refuge, gets quite a laugh as he frantically table where each exhibitor would present on their runs for the door in his effort to escape the home, project. Some had elaborate displays, some had the crazy inhabitants and a potentially deadly fate. power point presentations on their lap tops, and

others supplied handouts or brochures. Each of the The dear disturbed ladies catch up with Jerry at the students discussed their project, answered end on the Act 2. However, just prior to being questions, and did so professionally as well as in a committed to a sanatorium, the ladies see one final friendly manner. The staff and faculty of Arcadia opportunity to “help” someone. Jerry, now playing the should be proud of these many talented students. part of another lonely bachelor, Mr. Witherspoon, succumbs to their charm and accepts a drink of the deadly potion of elderberry wine. He drinks quickly and – the stage goes dark – the play ends. We don’t get to see what happens to Jerry’s character; does he live or does he die?

When the lights return we see the entire cast on stage taking their bows. But what happened to Jerry? He’s not there – oh no, wait a minute – there’s a dead body on the stage! It’s poor Mr. Witherspoon, lying at the feet of the two women, the stars of the show. It was a very funny scene, and a clever way to portray the demise of Jerry’s character. It was also funny seeing Jerry’s prostrate crumpled mass lying DelVal members Jack and Doris DeLong along with front and center stage. After much laughter and Courtney Lee Malpass applause, Mr. Witherspoon resurrects and Jerry was able to take his well-deserved bow alongside the Courtney discussed her collection of writings on the others. 19th century and the Civil War. Some of our readers might recall an article in the June 2013 Case Shot & Canister which mentioned how Courtney completed her Master of Arts thesis. That thesis is a fictional 4

novel entitled Blown Away. It is the story of a modern woman who oversees the restoration of an abandoned plantation in Charleston, S.C. She discovers concealed old secrets and journals involving a Rebel ghost who may have died in 1864 at the JUNE 17 battle of the Wilderness. Dr. Leslie Rose The Trent Affair While Courtney continues her 19th century writing of historical fiction, her collection now includes three more short stories: JULY 15 Annual Book Discussion Night  “Sons of Privilege” is about a Southern aristocratic Reelecting Lincoln family. It focuses on twin brothers who are opposite by John Waugh personalities in many ways. Those dynamics can be seen when it is revealed that their recently deceased father’s will is about to be announced by the family AUGUST 19 attorney and one of the sons will inherit the family Interviews With Lincoln’s plantation. Secretaries

 “Rank Strangers” is about Charles McAvoy, a Union Major of the 69th PA Infantry who is arrested after SEPTEMBER 16 the war. The charges include illegal medical and Rich Wagner scientific experimentation on his fellow soldiers Philadelphia Breweries during and after the Civil War. While still a work in progress, this is an interesting story and one which already in its beginning draft has intrigue and drama. OCTOBER 17 Ken Milano  “The Rock of Chickamauga” is my favorite of her Philadelphia Riots short stories. The story takes place in Chattanooga Tennessee. It’s an imagined conversation between Union Generals George Thomas and U.S. Grant after NOVEMBER 18 the battle of Chickamauga, in September of 1863. Walt Lafty General Thomas confides in Grant or as he calls him, “The 9th NJ Infantry and the “Sam”. Thomas struggles with decisions made at Chickamauga, as well as decisions made off the battle Bermuda Hundred field. Some of those include family decisions made Campaign” before the war. This is an interesting story of two good friends who openly share their humanness. DECEMBER 9 Grant is very supportive, understanding and helpful to his friend. Annual Holiday Celebration Austrian Village Courtney Lee Malpass is creative and imaginative in her writing. For this reader, her skill and style of writing help put me in the moment of the story.

Hopefully next year, Arcadia University will hold their “Second Annual Exhibition of Academic Success”. If so, I would encourage our members to attend if schedules permit. It was an encouraging educational experience listening to Courtney, as well as to some of the other many talented students.

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Attendees are advised to prepare appropriately for the weather. Comfortable shoes suggested. http://www.thelaurelhillcemetery.org/index.php?m=6

Now through October 19, 2014 – Slavery at June 6-8, 2014 – Friday to Sunday - Civil War Jefferson’s Monticello – National Trails: Gettysburg Rediscovered with Jane Constitution Center, Philadelphia – Thomas Peters Estes – Includes 2 breakfasts, 2 dinners, Jefferson assisted in creating a nation based on hotel accommodation, transportation via Starr individual freedom – yet he was a slaveholder motorcoach (with numerous local pick-up locations), throughout his life. This compelling exhibition follows and all attractions. Sightseeing will include: Seton the stories of six slave families who lived and worked Heritage Center (Daughters of Charity), Seminary at Monticello. For info 215-409-6600 or Ridge Museum, “Steam Into History" Train Excursion, www.constitutioncenter.org . National Civil War Museum (Harrisburg, PA), and Gettysburg National Park (film, cyclorama, museum and guided battlefield tour). Cost per person: May 10, 2014 – Saturday – 11:00 am to 5:00 – $499.95/dbl, $459.95/triple, $629.95/single. Trip will New Jersey State History Fair – Washington be reoffered in October. http://www.starrtours.com/ Crossing State Park – Historical organizations, speakers, exhibits, etc. that may be of interest to June 13-14, 2014 – Friday & Saturday – DVCWRT members, including a presentation on starting @ 7:30 pm – “Death by Moonlight: “Grave Matters: Victorian Mourning Traditions” by Strange Deaths at Montgomery Cemetery – Jane Peters Estes. http://www.njhistoryfair.org/. Hosted by Montgomery Cemetery and the Historical Society of Montgomery County. Fun and intriguing May 18, 2014 – Sunday – 10:00 am – full moon tour of some of the cemetery's more Gravesite placement of veterans’ flags at unusual deaths – the man who died from drinking too Laurel Hill Cemetery – Meet at the gatehouse of much ice water, or the lawyer who succumbed to a Laurel Hill Cemetery, 3822 Ridge Avenue, in poisoned pumpkin pie. Following the candlelight tour, Philadelphia (215-228-8200) to place US flags on the join us in the cemetery gatehouse for a wine and graves of veterans’ of all wars. As time and cheese reception. The program will begin at 7:30 manpower permit, the cemeteries to be covered p.m. each evening. Must be 21 years old to attend. include Laurel Hill, Mt. Peace & St. James the Less. Tour cost: $10 per person. Open to the public. Refreshments and lunch provided. All welcome! Montgomery Cemetery is located at the end of Hartranft Avenue directly off West Main Street (near May 18, 2014 – Sunday – 1:00 pm - Airy & Forrest Avenues) in West Norriton Sesquicentennial Year 1864 Exhibit Opening Township.To make reservations, contact us at 610- at Laurel Hill Cemetery – 3822 Ridge Avenue, 272-0297 or [email protected]. Philadelphia. Historic walking tour and wreath-laying at Laurel Hill Cemetery, an informative lecture Summer 2014 culminating on September 6- presentation, and a tour of prominent CW gravesites. 16, 2014 – Star-Spangled Spectacular, Conclude with a casual cocktail and dinner reception Baltimore, Maryland – Celebrate the 200th at Laurel Hill’s historic Gatehouse-Museum. The anniversary of our National Anthem with family- program will be co-presented by Dr. Andy Waskie; friendly activities throughout the summer in and independent researcher and historian, Russ Baltimore, culminating in September with “Star- Dodge. Free Parking is available. Advance Spangled Spectacular”, a 10-day free festival. registration is requested. RSVP 215.228-8200 or Tall ships, Navy gray hulls and the Blue Angels will [email protected] come to Baltimore’s popular Inner Harbor to celebrate the Star-Spangled Banner. For more May 25, 2014 – Sunday – 12:00 noon – information visit: www.Baltimore.org as well as Rededication of Silent Sentry at Laurel Hill www.starspangled200.org, or call 1-877-Baltimore. Cemetery – 3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia. Following a brief ceremony at the Meade gravesite, September 14, 2014 – Sunday – 3:00 pm – the parade will proceed to the plot of the GAR Meade Memorial Service for Fran Ward at Laurel Hill Post #1, new location of the “Silent Sentry”(formerly Cemetery – All those who knew and loved Fran located at Mt Moriah), for a seated ceremony that will Ward are invited to a memorial service to celebrate culminate with the unveiling of the monument. Free her life and her services to the history community. and open to the public; a $5 optional donation would Please bring your memories, souvenirs, thoughts, be much appreciated. Post-ceremony beer and prayers and stories of Fran and Jack Ward to share. refreshments. The ceremony will run approx. two Refreshments served gratis by the General Meade hours, and will take place outdoors, rain or shine. Society.

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granite. The marble on the roof was no longer

available and granite is more durable, so it was determined to replace it with a granite similar in color. Montgomery Cemetery has a new website: By Paula Gidjunis, www.montgomerycemetery.org. On May 24th, the Preservation Committee Chair annual Memorial Day ceremony will be held at 11:00 A.M. All are welcome.

GETTYSBURG CLEANUP CIVIL WAR TRUST (CWT) AND NATIONAL Our spring Gettysburg cleanup day on April 26 was PARKS CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION a beautiful day to be on the battlefield. The park JOIN FORCES was busy with tourists and members of the CWRT worked hard to make the park a little nicer. After a In order to save four acres at the western gateway of morning of raking and clipping, we enjoyed a great Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, the Civil War outdoor lunch at O’Rourke’s. In the afternoon we Trust and the National Parks Conservation toured the first day actions of the battle, led by Herb Association have combined their resources. Using a Kaufman. combination of funds from the federal government, a gift from an anonymous donor and other smaller Provided with maps and other handouts, Herb led us private donations, this land is now preserved. A to the first shot marker on the Chambersburg Pike to mini-mart and gas station had been considered for the fight of the I Corps, death of General Reynolds this land. and the breaking of the XI Corps at Barlow’s Knoll. We ended the tour at the Brickyard mural on Coster Avenue. Thanks, Herb, for a great tour. We will be CHARITY WATCH DOG GIVES CIVIL WAR heading back to Gettysburg later in the year for our TRUST A 5TH YEAR 4-STAR RATING fall cleanup. Watch this space for more information.

The Civil War Trust has been awarded a top star ranking for the 5th year by Charity Navigator. The Navigator is the leading charity evaluator in the United States. This is one of the many reasons that the Preservation Committee has and will continue to donate to the CWT’s causes. Donating to the CWT, we can be assured that the money we raise, the money you donate will be used to its fullest. For more information check out www.civilwar.org

FREE PROGRAMS AT GETTYSBURG NATIONAL PARK Our clean-up crew – Paula Gidjunis, Walt Lafty, Herb Kaufman, GAR member Kerry Bryan, John There are some free lectures being presented at the Shivo, Billy Donnelly, Tom Donnelly, Mary Gettysburg NMP Visitor Center. The programs cover Donnelly and Matt Bruce a wide-variety of Civil War topics and are not all Gettysburg related. Check the April issue of Case Shot & Canister or go to www.gettysburgfoundation.org, NEW ROOF FOR GENERAL HANCOCK www.nps.gov/eise, and www.nps.gov/gett/ for full MAUSOLEUM details. Some of the past lectures have been uploaded to YouTube. Check them out here: The Historical Society of Montgomery County has www.youtube.com/user/GettysburgNPS/videos replaced the roof on the General Scott Hancock Mausoleum at Montgomery Cemetery. The roof was deteriorating and, after consultation with two firms, it was determined to replace the marble roof with

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Clara (born Clarissa Harlowe Barton (December An Evening with Clara Barton 25, 1821 – April 12, 1912)) in Massachusetts told by Larry Vogel us that she was the youngest of five children and was ten years younger than the oldest. Her The attendance of the April meeting of the mother taught her the skills to behave as a well- Delaware Valley Civil War Round Table (DVCWRT) bred woman, and her father, a simple farmer, just was slightly lower than normal due to the Passover plain loved her. She grew up terribly shy and had holiday, and the fact that the weather was a fear of speaking before groups. horrible. However, the 35 or so attendees were in for a treat as they witnessed a first person portrayal of Clara Barton given by an original founder of DVCWRT and former board member Carol Neumann-Waskie.

Prior to Carol’s presentation, President Hugh Boyle thanked all those who helped out at the 25th Annual Neshaminy re-enactment held the weekend of April 5 & 6. He also conducted normal round table business. Hugh then gave the floor to Clara Barton’s escort for the evening General George Gordon Meade, although he was out of uniform.

Actually General Meade’s alter ego attended as his She also told us that she could ride a horse and present-day self that night. Andy Waskie also re- shoot a gun as good as the boys could. She iterated thanks for our participation in Neshaminy overcame her shyness to the point that she but also kept us up to became a teacher, at the age of seventeen, for a date on the happenings dozen years or so in various parts of the country of the GAR museum and and Canada. Her specialty was handling Laurel Hill cemetery. rambunctious boys. Clara then decided to further

her education by pursuing writing and languages at Finally the main event, the Clinton Liberal Institute in New York. In her ever in character, Clara mid-thirties, she was much older than most of the Barton, thanked “Edward other students. When she had completed her Everett” for his opening studies, she visited Bordentown, New Jersey and remarks and then she was astounded that school was not available to all proceeded to enthrall the children there. She eventually opened her own the crowd with her life school which was the first free school to be history, as exciting and opened in the state of New Jersey. The fulfilling as it was. attendance of the school was eventually over 600

students. The school board then decided to hire She did at first acknowledge that she had no idea an unqualified man to run the school while what the Red Cross was, as mentioned by Jerry expecting Clara to train him. It was then that she Carrier in his introduction of her. She did mention knew that she had to move on. that it was 1869, and she was making this speech just before her trip to Geneva. She did not tell us Clara moved to Washington DC and became a this as it did not happen yet, but I found out that patent clerk. Now today that does not seem like in 1869, during her trip to Geneva, Switzerland, much of an accomplishment but it was the first Clara was introduced to the Red Cross and she time a woman had received a substantial clerkship would soon be the representative for the in the federal government and at a salary equal to American branch of the Red Cross. a man's salary. Once again she hit a glass ceiling as

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her title was reduced to copyist, and eventually eliminated because of jealous men.

By this time a new president was elected, Abraham Lincoln, and there were rumblings of Civil War. Clara was not sure how she could help so she discussed it with her father. Her father convinced her that it was her duty as a Christian to help the soldiers. In the April following his death, Barton returned to Washington to gather medical supplies. In August of 1862, Clara finally gained permission from Quartermaster Daniel Rucker to work on the front lines. She gained Hugh then presented Carol with the much coveted support from other people who believed in her “Esteemed Drinking Vessel”, while one attendee cause. told Hugh, that this was the best presentation given since he has been coming to the Round Table. Many nodded in agreement, but in the background somebody said, “Well then I guess you were not here when General Meade spoke.”

I wonder who said that?

The Clara then described vividly her work on the front lines. She worked to distribute stores, clean field hospitals, apply dressings, and serve food to Book wounded soldiers in close proximity to several battles, including Cedar Mountain, Second Bull Run, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. She described how Nook a bullet passed through her dress. In many of these battles were some of those rambunctious By Hugh Boyle, Book Editor boys that she taught as children. “A Good Story Left Untold” Clara also praised many people who helped not only her cause but the cause of medical care in general We are coming to the end of the 150th remembrance during the Civil War. She heaped praise on Dr. of the Civil War, and yes, we have had a flood of Letterman for his advances in the triage and books. C-Span has Civil War programs each ambulance system which prevented wounded weekend, there are 48 hours of non-fiction books on soldiers from lying on the field for days after the the weekend, and they have had a good share of Civil battles. War books. But how about films? The film “Lincoln” has been the prize of that offering. How many

worthwhile topics have not been touched? The one Clara concluded her story by saying that she soon that already draws attention is “Dan Sickles”. Could will be traveling to Geneva, for her next challenge. it be that the true story of old Dan would be stranger Thus ended our thrilling presentation given by a than fiction? The two main books that could be used longtime friend of the Round Table. are American Scoundrel by Thomas Keneally and

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Sickles the Incredible by W.A. Swanberg, although Nat Brandt’s The Congressman Who Got Away with Grant’s Final Victory: Ulysses Murder is also a very good story. The newest edition S. Grant’s Heroic Last Year to the list, James Hessler’s Sickles at Gettysburg, is By Charles Bracelen Flood also very good. Others to be considered are Dan Sickles, Hero of Gettysburg and Yankee King of Spain by Edgcumb Pinchon and Gettysburg: The Reviewed by Jerry Carrier Meade-Sickles Controversy by Richard Sauers. There is also I Follow the Course, Come What May by Military scholars have Jeanne Knoop, which is a “hooray for Dan” book. studied, analyzed and dissected the campaigns There is never a lack of good copy or good stories of U.S. Grant for 150 when it comes to Dan Sickles. Dan is a screen play years. Most of us are screaming to be written, but who could possibly play familiar with the our one-legged hero, and the cast of surrounding strengths that made him players would also be a great story. Teresa his wife, the Civil War’s greatest James Buchannan, Stanton, and of course the evil success story – Phillip Barton Key. And how could we forget Fanny determination coupled White, Dan’s favorite prostitute, and we can’t forget with flexibility and Queen Isabella of Spain. Yes, casting would be a common sense, a never- problem. Who would be your choice for these parts? resting focus on the offensive, and most of all, a near- Let me know what you think, just put your choice ruthless grasp of the war’s inexorable arithmetic. next to the part below. Send them to me and we will (No, Grant was not a “butcher,” as his more put the results here in the Book Nook. After I have simplistic critics allege, but he understood better than yours, I will give you mine. Have some fun with it. anyone that, in a war of attrition, the South could never prevail.) Dan Sickles ______Teresa Sickles______But as much as we know Grant the master of battle, Phillip Barton Key ______few of us know much about Grant the man. Even his Edmin Stanton______closest wartime friend, William Tecumseh Sherman, Fanny White______was baffled by Grant’s Sphinx-like façade. “Grant’s James Buchannan______whole character was a mystery – even to himself,” Queen Isabella______Sherman once observed.

Happy Reading and Viewing!! Usually, if we want to understand someone or something, the best advice is to begin at the beginning. But author Charles Bracelen Flood has begun at the end, with his chronicle of Grant’s last days on earth. Grant’s Final Victory is the story of Grant’s response to the twin tragedies of bankruptcy …. that Confederate Lt.Gen. J.E.B. and terminal cancer – a response that can only be Stuart wore a beard because he had a described as heroic. “short and retiring chin” described by some as “girlish”, which at West Point Most of us know the basic story. About a month earned him the nickname “Beauty”. after being wiped out financially by unscrupulous business partners in May 1884, Grant learns he has throat cancer. Determined not to leave his beloved wife penniless, he begins to write his wartime The NY Times is running a feature entitled memoirs. He dies three days after finishing the work, Disunion on its Opinion Pages. It’s a daily leaving Julia financially secure for life. Remarkably, chronicle of the events of 150 years ago today. his Personal Memoirs may just be the finest non-

HUhttp://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/categor fiction book ever written in America. Despite his lack of literary credentials, Grant must be y/disunion/U

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remembered not just as a great general but also as a At the end, we know two things: great man of letters.  Charles Bracelen Flood is a terrific literary The story of this astounding achievement is fleshed craftsman, who clearly admires his subject. out in dramatic and heartwarming fashion by Flood,  Ulysses S. Grant was a man we would have best known for his immensely popular Grant and wanted as a friend. Sherman. His affectionate study of Grant’s last days gets underneath the general’s taciturn exterior to reveal a devoted family man whose greatest joy is not Da Capo Press, a member of the Perseus Books the plaudits of a grateful nation or the perquisites of Group, 2011; 288 pages; $27.50 retail or on high office, but his mutual love affair with his wife, Amazon new/used for as low as $0.01, or $9.99 on Julia, and his equally warm relationship with his Kindle. children and grandchildren. We also get glimpses of Grant’s quiet but perceptive sense of humor and insight into human nature.

For good measure, we see how Grant’s human greatness inspired several illustrious Americans to aid him in his hours of need. Among them were Mark Twain, who was neither Grant’s ghostwriter nor his editor but served as his literary agent, ensuring that Julia Grant would realize the greatest St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of monetary return from the effort; and William H. Elkins Park and the Civil War Vanderbilt, son of the legendary Commodore and the wealthiest man in America, who came to Grant’s aid Text and Photos by Max Reihmann financially after the swindle. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on 7809 Old York Beyond Grant’s support from the great and near-great Road in Elkins Park, PA is steeped in Civil War were the ordinary Americans who also rallied to his history. The influential aid. There were Harrison Terrell, Grant’s coachman financier Jay Cooke (right, who became his nurse as well; Sam Willett, the during the Civil War Union veteran who camped outside Grant’s final years) joined with his home at Mount McGregor to protect the dying neighbors to build this general from intruders; and the thousands of citizens church. The cornerstone North and South who poured out their prayers and was laid in September of sympathy for the dying hero. In this last case, Grant 1860 and the Bishop of sensed that his well-publicized ordeal may have Pennsylvania consecrated the new church on May helped reunite the nation. 16, 1861.

Only a few men come off badly in Flood’s story. During the Civil War the There are, of course, Ferdinand Ward and James Rector and congregation Fish, who perpetrated the Ponzi scheme that led to of St. Paul’s supported Grant’s financial ruin. There is also Adam Badeau, the 11,000 U.S. Colored Grant’s erstwhile secretary, who tried to take credit troops at nearby Camp for the general’s writing and, when this failed, made William Penn. The ladies an equally vain attempt to extort thousands of dollars of the church also ministered to the wounded at from the dying general. the battlefields of Gettysburg and Antietam.

The pace of Flood’s narrative never flags, even when The cemetery on the church grounds is the final he works in frequent flashbacks to Grant’s pre-war resting place of several notable persons involved in the Civil War. The most impressive grave site and wartime exploits. He tells his story with in the cemetery is the mausoleum of Jay Cooke. crystalline clarity, and his vivid description of Jay Cooke was an American financier who Grant’s symptoms can actually be painful for the helped underwrite the Union war effort with sensitive reader. bond sales during the American Civil War.

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Cooke was also involved in the postwar development of railroads in the northwestern United States. Jay Cooke resided in Ogontz, PA, which is now Elkins Park, PA.

In the early months of the war, Cooke worked with Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase to secure loans from the leading bankers in the Northern cities. Cooke's firm was so successful in distributing Treasury notes that Chase engaged him as special agent to sell $500 million in bonds – authorized by Congress on February 25, 1862. The Treasury had previously tried and failed to sell these bonds. Cooke financed a nationwide sales campaign, Jay Cooke Mausoleum in St. Paul’s Church appointing approximately 2,500 sub-agents who Cemetery, Elkins Park, PA traveled through every northern and western state and territory. Cooke quickly sold the $500 million in bonds, plus $11 million more. Another person of Civil War interest buried in Congress immediately sanctioned the excess. St. Paul’s Church cemetery is Ario Pardee Jr. Ario Pardee was an officer in the Union Army Cooke also influenced the establishment of during the American Civil War. He rose to fame national banks and organized a national bank during the Battle of Gettysburg where he led the in Washington and another in Philadelphia defense of a portion of Culp's Hill on July 3, almost as quickly as Congress could authorize 1863. A large stone marker on Culp’s Hill the institutions. commemorates the area as "Pardee Field."

In the early months of 1865, the government faced pressing financial needs. After the national banks saw disappointing sales of notes, the government again turned to Cooke. Between February and July 1865, Cooke and his agents disposed of three series of the notes, reaching a total of $830,000,000. This allowed the Union soldiers to be supplied and paid during the final months of the war.

After the war, Cooke became interested in the development of the Northwest and in 1870 his firm financed the construction of the Northern Pacific Railway. Cooke took an interest in Duluth, Minnesota and decided he must make Pardee Field Stone Marker on Culp’s Hill near the city into a new Chicago. To this end he Spangler’s Spring began purchasing railways with the dream of reaching the Pacific to bring goods through Pardee joined the 28th PA Infantry on June 28, Duluth into the Great Lakes shipping system 1861. After serving as captain of Company A, and on to the markets of Europe. In advancing organized by his father, he was named major on the money for the work, the firm overestimated November 1 of that year. At the rank of major, its capital, and at the approach of the Panic of Pardee led the regiment at the Battle of 1873 it was forced to suspend operations. Antietam on September 17, 1862, serving in the Cooke himself was forced into bankruptcy. brigade of Lt. Col. Hector Tyndale in Second Division of the XII Corps. Ario escaped By 1880 Cooke had met all his financial uninjured, despite having a horse shot out from obligations from the bankruptcy, and through under him. George S. Greene, the division an investment in a silver mine in Utah had commander, commended Pardee for his conduct again become wealthy. He died in Ogontz, at Antietam. On October 9 of that year, some Cheltenham Township, on February 16, 1905. companies of the 28th became part of the new 147th PA Infantry, together with three newly recruited companies. Pardee was named 12

lieutenant colonel and commander of the 147th PA regiment.

At the Battle of Gettysburg, the 147th PA took a position facing what is now known as Pardee Field during the fighting on July 3 as the XII Corps tried to win back ground lost to the Confederate troops of Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell on the day before. Pardee was told to maintain a steady volume of fire on the Confederates which aided the repulse of the last attack of Steuart's Confederate brigade across the field.

Ario Pardee Jr. Grave Site in St. Paul’s Church Cemetery

Ario Pardee Jr. died at Wyncote, Pennsylvania, on March 16, 1901. He was buried in the churchyard of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Elkins Park.

147th PA Regimental Marker on Culp’s Hill (Pardee Field)

After Gettysburg, Pardee went west with the XII & XI Corps and spent the rest of the Civil War The Civil War Institute in this theater of the war. Pardee led the first brigade of Geary’s Division in the later stages of The Summer session has been announced, and we the Atlanta Campaign, the March to the Sea and are offering two BRAND NEW ELECTIVES!! the Carolinas Campaign. Pardee's last major battle as a brigade commander was the Battle of Classes may be taken as part of the certificate Bentonville in North Carolina, as part of the XX Corps of Maj. Gen. Henry Warner Slocum’s program or individually. Class hours are 6:30 till Army of Georgia. 8:30 pm. Call (215) 884-2218 to register or for an application for the certificate program. Manor Pardee received promotion to the brevet rank of College is located at 700 Fox Chase Road in brigadier general on January 12, 1865. He was Jenkintown, PA. discharged from the service on June 13 of that http://www.manor.edu/coned/civilwar.htm year. After the Civil War, Pardee returned to Pennsylvania where he went back into the coal * Indicates Core Course business as a partner with his father and his ** Indicates Elective Course brother Calvin. Ario was not heavily involved in the management of these enterprises – that fell to his father and then to brothers Calvin and **NEW COURSE –Small Conflicts: Large Frank. Pardee's health seems to have been Consequences - .6 CEUs – 6 hrs – Most Civil War undermined by war service, which would battles were actually quite small, and most people explain his passive role. have probably never heard of them. But small conflicts can have large consequences and change strategic realities. This course focuses on the more compelling lesser battles and includes many climactic battles that had a direct impact on the outcome of the war. DATE: Wednesdays, May 28, June 4, June 11

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TIME: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm SESSIONS: 3 FEE: $79 INSTRUCTOR: Herb Kaufman, M.Ed. Which Civil War General Who

** Prisons and Prisoners - .6 CEUs – 6 hrs – This Was Not a West Point course will look at the dark side of the Civil Graduate Is Buried at West War. It will explore many locations of the prisons Point Cemetery? to see how the combatants treated each other and By Larry Vogel finally find the answer to the question "Why?” The topics to be discussed will include: The answer to this intriguing question is Daniel the various types of prison camps, treatment of Adams Butterfield (October 31, 1831 – July 17, prisoners, the parole and exchange system, 1901). He was born in Utica, New York. He prisoner numbers and deaths, and President graduated in 1849 from Union College in Lincoln’s problems in dealing with them. Schenectady, New York. After college he turned to DATE: Thursdays, June 5, June 12, June 19 business. TIME: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm SESSIONS: 3 When the Civil War started, Daniel entered the FEE: $79 Army as a Sergeant in April 1861, and by INSTRUCTOR: Hugh Boyle September 1861 he was a Brigadier General.

** Role of the Railroads - .6 CEUs – 6 hrs – Many After the war and a brief stint as US Treasurer have argued that the railroads made Union victory under President Grant he returned to business. He in the Civil War possible. This course examines the ended up being Iron Horse's impact on the war, with special focus rather wealthy. In on the people, from Donald McCallum and 1886, Butterfield Herman Haupt to Union General William "Cump" married a woman Sherman, who saw the potential of railroads as an even wealthier than instrument of war. himself, Mrs. Julia L. DATE: Mondays, June 16, June 23, June 30 Safford James of TIME: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm New York. SESSIONS: 3 FEE: $79 On July 17, 1901, INSTRUCTOR: Matt Bruce, Ph.D. Butterfield died in Cold Spring, New **NEW COURSE –The Dakota War of 1862 – The York. He was buried Sioux Uprising - .6 CEUs – 6 hrs – In the summer in West Point of 1862, Indian warfare in southern Minnesota left Cemetery at the between 400 and 800 settlers and soldiers dead, United States and provoked military action against the Dakota Military Academy, Sioux. At the end of the uprising, many Sioux left although as previously stated he had not attended the state, but others were put on trial by a military that institution. At the time of his burial his wife commission for rape, murder, and other atrocities. asked the superintendent of West Point if she In the end, 303 men were convicted and sentenced could arrange for a larger grave monument than to be executed. But President Lincoln commuted normal for Dan. This was approved, but little did all but 38 - who were hanged in the largest mass the superintendent know what he approved. As execution in U.S. history. Mrs. Butterfield was wealthy she spent over DATE: Thursdays, July 31, August 7, August 14 $30,000 on a memorial which is one of the largest TIME: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm in the cemetery. SESSIONS: 3 FEE: $79 INSTRUCTOR: Steve Wright, M.A., M.L.S

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who could bring the Union military to bear on all of the Confederate armies.

In February, 1864 Congress revived the rank of three-star Lieutenant General, and then Major General Ulysses S. Grant was summoned to Washington. When Grant arrived in Washington, President Lincoln, seeing his new Lt. General, stated, “Why, here is General Grant. Well, this is a pleasure I assure you.” Lincoln sensed that General Grant would tie together the far flung Union commands, and create a strategic plan to bring the war to a conclusion.

In the two months after receiving his appointment, May 1864 – “To Hammer Lt. General Grant created an overarching objective Continuously Against the Armed and a five-point coordinated strategic plan bringing the entire weight of the Federal military into action Force of the Enemy”: U.S. Grant’s against the Confederate armies in the field. Strategic Plan to End the War Grant’s objective was simply stated: “to use the By Herb Kaufman greatest number of troops practicable against the armed force of the enemy … to hammer continuously The year of 1863 had seen two major victories for against the armed force of the enemy and his the Union, Lee’s defeat at Gettysburg and resources … until there should be nothing left to him Pemberton’s surrender at Vicksburg. Yet, there had but an equal submission with the loyal section of our been no overall strategic plan in place. Major common country …” General Henry W. Halleck held the title of General in Chief, yet he had developed no coordination Grant ordered five Union armies to coordinate in the between the disparate Union armies, and had no field. His plan was to bring continuous pressure at vision as to how the overall war effort should five strategic points preventing the Confederates proceed. In the West, General Grant was from shifting forces to combat one pressure point determined to cut the Confederacy in half by over another. controlling the Mississippi River. He developed his own plan for capturing Vicksburg and set about his Major General George G. Meade’s Army of the campaign to attack Vicksburg by land from the east. Potomac objective point would be the Army of Northern Virginia and Gen. Robert E. Lee. Grant told At the same time, it was General Lee who stole a Gen. Meade, “Lee’s army will be your objective point. march on General Hooker and the Army of the Wherever Lee goes, there you will go also.” Potomac by moving away from the Fredericksburg entrenchments and marching north to Pennsylvania. Major General William T. Sherman’s armies in the Lee’s strategy of bringing the war to Pennsylvania Division of the Mississippi would move against the resulted in the Battle of Gettysburg. army of Joseph Johnston, “break it up, and go into the interior of the enemy’s country as far as possible, Thus, the great twin victories of Vicksburg and inflicting all damage possible on enemy war Gettysburg were 900 miles apart, and occurred resources.” coincidently, not as a part of any coordinated Union line of attack. Major General Franz Siegel’s Army of West Virginia would threaten the enemy in the Shenandoah President Lincoln knew that he needed someone Valley, “and move down the Tennessee Railroad with an overall strategic vision; A visionary general doing as much damage as possible.”

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Major General Benjamin F. Butler’s Army of the Simply, Grant would take no backward step. Grant James would operate on the south side of the James also realized that both supply and communication River, Richmond being the objective point. were essential for an army to survive. His tactical plans were designed to disrupt his enemy’s line of Major General Nathaniel P. Banks’ armies in the supply, and interrupt his line of communication. Department of the Gulf were to take and hold Grant insisted on complete cooperation between Shreveport, Louisiana and then join the spring different commanders and required that all theatres campaign to capture Mobile, Alabama. of operation work in a cohesive unit in “obedience to a comprehensive plan.” Grant recognized the terrible nature of warfare. He clearly understood that it would take immense The essence of U. S. Grant’s overall vision and sacrifice in both men and material to overcome his strategy can be framed by his reply to panicked enemy. Historian Edward H. Bonekemper wrote that officers during the Battle of the Wilderness; “Grant was prepared to pay the price and end the “Oh, I am heartily sick of hearing what Lee is going to war …” do. Some of you always seem to think that he is going to turn a double somersault, and land in our The ineptitude of Generals Siegel, Butler and Banks rear and on both our flanks at the same time. Go never prevented Grant from continuing his pursuit of back to your command, and try to think what we are his ultimate goal. He replaced both Siegel and going to do ourselves, instead of hat Lee is going to Banks, and took troops from Butler that could better do.” be used elsewhere.

DEL VAL AT THE NESHAMINY RE-ENACTMENT Photos by Matt Bruce

Thank You for everyone who help with Registration on Friday and early on Saturday morning, despite the cold weather. You helped make this year another smooth registration for all the re- enactors and for Del Val. Thank you, thank you and thank you. Mary Ann Hartner

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On May 4, the final Spring Campaign of the Civil War begins as the AoP crosses the Rapidan and three smaller armies (Ohio, Tennessee and Cumberland) push deeper into Georgia.

The radical Wade-Davis Reconstruction Act passes in the U. S. House on May 4.

The Battle of the Wilderness is fought on May 5-7 with 17,666 Union and 7750 Confederate casualties.

On May 5, the Army of the James under General Ben Butler lands at Bermuda Hundred and City Point.

On May 6, an attack by the Army of the James on the Southside Railroad is repulsed by George Pickett, and in Georgia the Atlanta Campaign begins for the Army of the Cumberland.

The Battle of Rocky Face Ridge (Dalton, GA) is fought from May 7-11.

The May 8 to 19 Battle of Spotsylvania Court House leads to 18,399 Union and 9000 Confederate casualties.

On May 9, General John Sedgwick is killed by a Confederate sharpshooter during the battle of Spotsylvania.

Jeb Stuart is mortally wounded at the Battle of Yellow Tavern on May 11.

On May 13, the first soldier is interred at Arlington National Cemetery.

The Battle of Resaca (GA) is fought from May 13-15.

In the May 15 Battle of New Market, nine VMI cadets are killed and 48 wounded.

On May 19, Congress passes legislation creating the Official Records.

The Battle of New Hope Church is fought on May 25.

On May 26, the Territory of Montana is formed from the Territory of Idaho.

The Battles of Picketts Mill and Dallas, GA are fought on May 27 and 28, respectively.

As the month ends on May 31, fighting begins at Cold Harbor.

And also on May 31, a small convention in Cleveland of Republican abolitionists unhappy with the Lincoln administration nominates John C. Fremont for president.

Grand Music Festival in Philadelphia in Aid of the Sanitary Commission on May 4 Harper’s Weekly, May 21, 1864

Delaware Valley Civil War Round Table 3201 Longshore Avenue Philadelphia PA 19149-2025

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