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On battle's 150th Concord with "a dry finish" — and Forge, the Alamo or Little Big Horn, Tears of Gettysburg, a white blend in there's that element of crass anniversary, production for 25 years. commercial. But that's capitalism." Gettysburg braces for A few blocks away along Steinwehr The importance of Gettysburg isn't Avenue — a boulevard of toy gun and lost in the clamor of commerce, he tourists T-shirts shops and wax museums — says. "It is really easy to get away Larry Bleiberg, USA TODAY, May 23, hungry tourists line up at Hunt's from the cotton candy and T-shirts 2013 Battlefield Fries, which announces its and get the experience. You had GETTYSBURG NATIONAL presence with a sign featuring jaunty almost 200,000 bodies descend on MILITARY PARK, Pa. — Like a Idaho spuds in blue and gray this place and wage the greatest general leading his troops into battle, uniforms.Over at the cavernous battle in our history. You can feel it." tour guide Charlie Fennell stands tall National Park Service gift shop, TOWN STRIKES A BALANCE on his Segway, snaking through the visitors are tempted by Battle of The town has long struggled, crowd that mills around an equestrian Gettysburg pajamas with a stylized however, to keep the appropriate statue. His group follows on their U.S. flag featuring stovetop hats tone. Twice in the past decade, futuristic two-wheeled vehicles, instead of stars. Pennsylvania's gaming board has carefully avoiding bicyclists, motor And nearly every night, the city is turned down requests to build a coach passengers and a pair of haunted by more than a dozen ghost casino here. But if blackjack by a locally rented three-wheeled scooters tours ranging from historic walks to battleground was too much, it doesn't resembling circus clown cars. full-fledged Ghostbuster outings with mean that tranquility reigns by the "This is where Robert E. Lee became energy meters and dowsing rods. former killing fields. a hero," Fennell tells the Segway Bob Wasel, who started Haunted The commercialism starts literally riders over a two-way radio, pointing Gettysburg Ghost Tours 10 years next door. General Pickett's Buffets to the memorial and explaining how ago, says the town is spook central. borders the pasture where the the Confederate general took "There are 1,000 bodies still buried Southern commander led perhaps the responsibility for the South's loss at on the battlefield. If any place is going most famous charge in U.S. military the Battle of Gettysburg. to be haunted, it's here." He says his history across an open field on the The group at the Virginia Monument customers, who each get use of Union line. In 50 minutes there were numbers fewer than 100 today. It's paranormal-detection equipment, 6,800 casualties, and many believe nothing compared to the hundreds of often find unexplained images in the nation was saved when Northern thousands expected at the end of photos and mysterious sounds on soldiers held back the attack. June and early July. Ten days of their recorders. "The ghosts are Restaurant owner Gary Ozenbaugh events will mark the 150th friendly. They're happy that we're says he knows he sits next to anniversary of what some call the coming there ... telling their story." hallowed ground, and although most crucial battle in American Carl Whitehill of the city's visitor's thousands may come daily for all- history. More than 50,000 soldiers bureau strikes a diplomatic tone. The you-can-eat meatloaf, fried chicken were killed, wounded, captured or tours can be a welcome evening and more, he keeps his building low- went missing. activity in a town without vigorous key, painted in neutral tones without Tourists began arriving the day after nightlife. "We want everyone to be balloons or flashing lights to attract the fighting ended on July 3, 1863. respectful, to follow the rules and attention. "I try to exist in a delicate And from the beginning, this small learn history. If you come just to do location. I'm very respectful." Pennsylvania farming community has the ghost thing, you are missing out." U.S. Air Force Lt. Joel Barnes, 26, of had to strike a sometimes uneasy Although the details may have Roanoke, Va., says he's not bothered balance between honoring the fallen changed since 1863, none of this is by businesses catering to tourists. He and profiting from tragedy. new, says best-selling Civil War leaves for Afghanistan next month, TOURISM IS PART OF THE SCENE novelist Jeff Shaara, who will be but made a trip to Gettysburg to pose Over time, commercialism has taken spending much of the summer in as a Confederate soldier for a picture many forms. Today, visitors can stop Gettysburg for the commemoration. at Gibson's Photographic Gallery, by the Adams County Winery to "Whether it's Pearl Harbor, Valley which uses 19th-century cameras sample Rebel Red — a semi-sweet

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THE “OLD LINER” NEWSLETTER and technology to create eerily times and we have to adjust," says years after it was built, a Union convincing historic images. Troxell, 86, whose great-great-great- forager found an apron with what "They're not doing any harm to the grandfather is considered the first appeared to be a Masonic symbol on battlefield itself. They're not building settler of Gettysburg. it in the house, according to legend. houses on Culp's Hill," he says, citing Indeed, Abraham Lincoln had similar Sherman, who had ordered all places a strategic landmark. thoughts. Although he couldn't with Mason symbols to be spared, Instead, the latest addition to the envision Segways or slot machines, relented in his order, leaving this city's tourism industry is the $13.3 the 16th president seemed to mansion one of the only pre-Civil War million Seminary Ridge Museum, anticipate what the battlefield would homes left standing in . which opens July 1. The carefully someday face when he visited four "We get a lot of wild stories about restored 1832 building stands on the months after the clash to deliver his secret tunnels and the like around Lutheran Theological Seminary Gettysburg Address. Grant Mansion," said Paul Hammock, campus, where some of the first "The brave men, living and dead, who the director of education for the shots of the battle were fired. Visitors struggled here," Lincoln said, "have Atlanta Preservation Center. "But will be able to stand in the building's consecrated it, far above our poor there seems to be support for the rooftop cupola for a view of the power to add or detract." Mason story." landscape that shaped the After the war, made the engagement. Atlanta’s Pre-Civil War transition from Confederate officer to philanthropist, donating land for Mansion That Was public spaces (now Grant Park) and Saved by an Apron stocking it with animals from a failed By John A. Tures, Yahoo.com, June circus. 7, 2013 Famous Inhabitants A rare pre-Civil War Mansion spared Grant Mansion eventually became by Union Gen. William T. Sherman connected to legendary golfer Bobby almost 150 years ago and connected Jones, who was born there in 1902. to a famous golfer, as well as a best- He golfed at nearby East Lake Golf selling author, still needed a last- Club and is buried a short distance from his birthplace. minute rescue from its community. History professor and battlefield guide Charles Sherman Spares Grant Mansion Fennell points out important spots to a Segway tour As Confederate Gen. group at Gettysburg National Military Park.(Photo: slipped away from Atlanta and Gen. H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY) Sherman torched the houses of The fact that the vista may include a leading Confederates back in 1864, convoy of Segways doesn't concern you'd think the Grant Mansion would Gayle Underwood, a retired teacher be at the top of the list of houses to from Pensacola, Fla., who has visited burn. That's because its architect and Gettysburg more than 12 times, and occupant, Lemuel P. Grant, designed took her first ride on one last week. Atlanta's fortifications against She says the two-wheeled vehicle Sherman, often stripping frame enhances a tour. It's quiet and non- houses for material that would make polluting and unlike a car or bus, lets wooden spikes. Those nasty Atlanta's Grant Mansion in the 1890s. you experience the open air and countermeasures stopped the (Photo courtesy of Paul Hammock, terrain of the battlefield. "This is the Northern Army in its tracks, forcing it Atlanta Preservation Center.) next best thing to walking." to rely on elaborate flanking Gettysburg's longtime mayor, William maneuvers. "Gone With the Wind" author Troxell, isn't concerned either. Just as it seemed hopeless for the Margaret Mitchell also called the "General Lee came here on a horse. Grant Mansion and that the estate Grant Mansion home, trying to Things change. These are modern was destined to be destroyed only 10 preserve the old mansion, much like

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Scarlett O'Hara tried to save Tara. 150th anniversary of the war. Gettysburg National Military Park, Mitchell even did some writing at the Running from June 13 through which served as the basis for her house, but the epic story that was August 6, the exhibit features more work in the exhibit. turned into a classic movie wasn't than 100 contemporary artistic visions Bloom also praised the Arts Council written there. of the nation's bloodiest conflict from decision to stage the show. "Mitchell had a deal with another more than 70 regional artists. "I think it was a little risky on the Arts individual to provide free tours of the The arts council hosted the exhibit's Council's part and I think that's great mansion and to preserve it," opening celebration June 13 with for them to put themselves out there Hammock noted. "But she discovered about 160 people attending. and make this happen," she said. he was not providing free tours or Susan Williamson, visual arts Westminster resident Bill Weaver doing any maintenance on the house. coordinator of the arts council, said based his oil painting of a Union In fact, he was breaking off pieces of the majority of the pieces displayed soldier off a photo he took at the April the mansion and selling them. She come from arts council members who Civil War reenactment at the Carroll sued him, but her death after being created their pieces within the last County Farm Museum. hit by a car curtailed the legal effort to nine months. Weaver said he took a photo of an save the house." Other works come from artists in unknowing re-enactor to demonstrate Mansion Still Stands Today Frederick, Gaithersburg, Cambridge, how an actual soldier would have felt What Sherman failed to do, time and and as far as New York. after a long day. neglect almost did. By modern times, "Everything is new, which is the "I liked this one because it was so the house had fallen into such beauty of this show," Williamson said. innocent and unposed," he said. disrepair that there was a proposal to Works include oil paintings, water The arts council also plans to show demolish it and put two houses on its color, pastels, 3D printing, the 2003 film "Cold Mountain" June premises. But in 2001, the Atlanta photography, and jewelry among 21 in observance of the 150th Preservation Center stepped in, other styles. Anniversary of the Civil War. The raising more than $150,000 to buy Williamson said there is a "wonderful movie, based in the final days of the the place and use it as its breadth and depth" in the topics Civil War, follows a wounded solider headquarters, kicking off a nearly explored by artists. The show as he journeys back to North Carolina decade-long renovation project. includes pieces on President to reunite with his sweetheart. "They've finished the first stage of the Abraham Lincoln, confederate and Tickets for "Cold Mountain" are $6 for restoration project and are starting on union soldiers, soldier burial grounds, adults, and $5 for arts center the second level, where several fires women of the war, spies and Harriet members, students, and seniors. occurred in the 1960s," Hammock Tubman's efforts with the Lost Lincoln Document said. Underground Railroad. Today, guided tours are $10, with "I learned more about the Civil War Found at Central Pa. discounts of $5 for students and putting this show together than I did College seniors, but tours are free for Atlanta in high school," Williamson said. By GENARO C. ARMAS, Associated Preservation Center members. Two pieces from local artists stem Press, June 9, 2013 Carroll County Arts from reenactments in Gettysburg and WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — In Westminster. losing a president, Lycoming College Council opens Civil Susan Bloom, an art professor at found a piece of its history. War exhibit McDaniel College, has several pieces Retiring President James Douthat By Blair Ames, Baltimore Sun, June in the show, including a photograph was cleaning out a closet in his office 17, 2013 collage from a 1999 recreation in last week when he stumbled on a Art and Civil War enthusiasts will both Gettysburg. rather uncommon historical document be drawn to the Carroll County Arts Bloom, who acknowledged the Civil that had been lost for years — a Center over the next two months. War is an ongoing interest of hers, certificate signed by President The Carroll County Arts Council said she was included in a group who Abraham Lincoln in 1863 that named recently unveiled its "Images of the was allowed to recreate scenes of a the college's founder a Civil War Civil War" exhibit commemorating the suspected burial site after a battle in chaplain.

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Displayed inside a slightly worn black got ... put someplace else for a anniversary of the Civil War have frame, the certificate itself appears to while." also added allure to such documents. be in good condition. Lincoln's neat Word of the document's rediscovery Until the school decides where to signature is clearly visible, just above sprouted slightly different theories of permanently place the document, it an ornate, patriotic-themed imprint at how it might have been misplaced. will be kept in the college archives in the bottom of the commission It could have been in the closet all the basement of the library. certificate for Methodist clergy along during Douthat's tenure. Or But one thing's assured: "We will Benjamin Crever. maybe someone brought it to his know exactly where it will be from office to show Douthat, but, now on," McNeil Hurlbert said. unbeknownst to him, it got stored Stolen Hawkins Zouave away in the back of that shelf. A preliminary appraisal has valued sword to be returned the certificate at more than $6,000. to Brown University For Lycoming, a school of about Associated Press, June 18, 2013 1,400 students in central PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Brown Pennslyvania, its added value is its University spokesman says a Virginia proud connection to founder Crever. antiques collector has turned over a "It was a pleasant surprise just to see Civil War-era sword that was stolen In this Tuesday, June 4, 2013, photo, a certificate it," Douthat said. signed by Abraham Lincoln is displayed in the from the Ivy League school in the Lycoming College archives in Williamsport, Pa. John Brinsfield, a U.S. Army Chaplain 1970s. The document naming the school's founder as a Corps historian emeritus, said Crever Last week, a federal judge in Virginia Civil War chaplain resurfaced after going missing was one of 500 Union hospital ordered Williamsburg collector years ago. (AP Photo/Ralph Wilson) chaplains. Crever was assigned to "In the back of my mind, I remember Donald Tharpe to surrender the the military hospital in Frederick, Md., Tiffany silver sword to Brown. Tharpe hearing about it," Douthat said. But and served between July 1862 and he never went looking for it and didn't bought it for $35,000 in 1992 after it August 1865, a period that would had passed among dealers for years. know what it looked like. have included the major battles in the Douthat, who will retire at the end of A Brown spokesman told The region at Antietam and Gettysburg. Providence Journal on Monday that the month after 24 years, was "Civil War commissions of any type clearing out boxes from the top shelf Tharpe has given the sword to a are rare because they were sent to Virginia attorney who represented the when he noticed what he initially the individual chaplains," Brinsfield thought might be a black-framed university, and it's being shipped to wrote in an email. "If any exist, it is Providence. access panel — the kind to get to only because the families saved interior plumbing, for instance. Brown officials say the sword was them." stolen from the Annmary Brown "When I took it down, of course I In Philadelphia, The Raab Collection recognized Lincoln's signature Memorial at the school. The sword recently sold for $11,000 a similar was given to her husband, Col. Rush immediately," he said. Secretary of certificate signed by Lincoln that War Edwin M. Stanton also signed Hawkins, in 1863 for his service to appointed Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's the Union during the Civil War. the document. brother-in-law as a hospital chaplain, "I assume it was in the top of the The sword and ornamental scabbard said Nathan Raab, vice president for were first presented to Col. Rush C. closet 24 years ago," Douthat said. "I the historical document dealer. had never seen it." Hawkins by a group of prominent The powerful story behind the New Yorkers in 1863 for his service College officials say they always certificates, Raab said, was that knew they had it in their possession. to the Union during the Civil War. Lincoln approved the chaplains in the Hawkins' name is inscribed on the Somewhere. first place. "It was (initially) discovered a while scabbard, and the sword is inscribed The renewed interest in Lincoln — with the names of battles fought by ago," associate dean and library including last year's epic film director Janet McNeil Hurlbert said in his regiment. biography by Steven Spielberg — The much-disputed blade is currently her office as she proudly displayed and the commemoration of the 150th the document on a table. "And then it valued at more than $750,000 and

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THE “OLD LINER” NEWSLETTER was wrought from “fine steel,” University campus in Providence, Last winter, institute conservators according to an archival document in Rhode Island. visited Sumter, where they conserved the Hay. It was presented to Hawkins Conservation for big shells that had landed in the fort walls by New York citizens in May 1863 “for during the bombardment. The shells his gallantry and devotion to his guns that opened were being preserved in place country.” Civil War because removing them would The sword itself features fine By BRUCE SMITH, Associated damage the fort's fragile brickwork. ornamental details, including a Press, June 17, 2013 Institute conservator Liisa Nasanen serpent entwined with a laurel wreath SULLIVANS ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — was at Moultrie last week as the last and a fierce eagle at the termination Preservationists are using computer of the heavy guns was returned from of the grip. Hawkins’ initials are sensors and other high-tech methods weeks of conservation. All but one inscribed on the blade in raised to protect massive iron Civil War are now coated with a modern epoxy. letters. According to a note in the guns at a fort in South Carolina that "The paint that was on them was an memorial, swords of such design fired on Fort Sumter to open the war oil-based coating. That is historically were generally not presented to in April 1861. correct, but it's not something that colonels, but the citizens felt Hawkins The sensors and modern rust-fighting necessarily does the trick when it had “performed the duties of a epoxy coatings are being used to comes to keeping the artifact safe," brigadier general.” preserve historic siege and garrison Nasanen said. "We kind of borrowed guns, some of which were used to lob ideas, and this epoxy system is shells at Fort Sumter in Charleston something very widely used in the Harbor when the war erupted. Union marine industry." forces surrendered 34 hours after the The one cannon repainted with oil- bombardment started as the nation based paint will allow comparisons as plunged into a bloody, four-year war. to which system works best. Ten massive guns from Fort Moultrie In addition, sensors have been on Sullivans Island, which is part of sealed in the barrels of the cannon to the Fort Sumter National Monument, store information on humidity and were recently conserved as part of an temperature. The data can be ongoing program to protect the downloaded to a computer to provide historic pieces from the salty, humid continuous monitoring of the iron air. The guns were cast in foundries inside the cannon. both in the North and South a century The system is modeled after one Born in Vermont on September 14, and a half ago. used at Fort Jefferson in the Dry 1831, Rush Christopher Hawkins The last of the guns, a 7-ton Union Tortugas National Park off of Key fought in the Mexican-American War rifled Parrott gun suspended in a West, Fla. as a mounted dragoon. Following the yellow sling held by a crane, was In a project started there five years outbreak of war, Hawkins organized slowly jockeyed into place onto a new ago, nine of the fort's 10 large the Ninth New York Infantry. Since concrete base last week. It completes garrison guns have been conserved. the regiment wore uniforms based on what the fort refers to as Cannon The sensor system was developed by the attire of French Zouaves, they Row, where seven of the heavy guns conservator Ron Harvey of earned the name Hawkins’ Zouaves. are lined up next to each other. Tuckerbrooke Conservation of Mustered out of the army on May 20, The conservation work is being done Lincolnville, Maine. 1863, Hawkins eventually became a under a multiyear, $900,000 The interior of the barrel is closed brevet brigadier-general of the New agreement between the National Park and sensors placed in it with 25 York militia. On October 25, 1920, Service and the Clemson University pounds silica gel to reduce moisture Hawkins died while attempting to Restoration Institute, said Rick in the unforgiving marine cross the street in front of his home in Dorrance, chief of resource environment. Fort Jefferson is . He was buried with management at the national basically built on a coral reef. his wife in a crypt at the Annmary monument. Brown Memorial on the Brown

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"We still have not hit above 10 That's because most such guns did A host of reenactors, percent humidity," Harvey said. "If we not survive after the war, he added. local politicians, Virginia National are looking at reconditioning these "With Confederate-made guns, some Guardsmen and Civil War buffs guns by switching out the silica gel were kept as trophies of war but showed up for the all-day, family- every five to 10 years, that's not a others were considered not in that friendly festivities. bad maintenance cycle." good of condition or maybe not that Two of the happiest people present well-made and they were sold for had to be Glenn Trimmer and D.P. scrap," he said, adding even Union Newton, executive director and pieces were sold. "We had a $3 president, respectively, of the Friends billion war debt after the Civil War of Stafford Civil War Sites (FSCWS). and they were looking for ways of They founded the group in 2005 and paying it off." were the driving force behind the With the 150th anniversary of the park’s creation – but they would be conflict, there's renewed interest in the first to say that they had a lot of preserving Civil War items, "certainly help. within the Park Service, but you also Before the ribbon-cutting, two see this also in museums and in speakers presented crucial Workers move a Civil War cannon into position at historical societies within smaller background information placing the Fort Moultrie on Sullivans Island, S.C., on June 10, 2013, after the gun was conserved. The fort, part of towns," he said. new park into historic context. the Fort Sumter National Monument and from Big guns, he said, may not seem Christian B. Keller, author of which Confederate gunners fired at Sumter in exciting to some. Chancellorsville and the Germans: Charleston Harbor to open the Civil War in 1861, "But you look at the pieces and for Nativism, Ethnicity and Civil War recently conserved 10 large cannon. The National Park Service is using computer sensors to monitor some reason, regardless of what the Memory (2007), spoke about the the temperature and humidity inside the guns. (AP care or lack of care was, they difficulties the largely German Photo/Bruce Smith) survived," he said. "As an artist you soldiers of the 11th Corps faced after At Moultrie, even at 150 years old, sign your work, as a conservator you the Union defeat at Chancellorsville. most of the guns were in good shape don't. I love the idea that many, many Some of the 11th Corps troops had when initially checked by decades after I'm gone those pieces broken under fire during Confederate conservators, Nasanen said. are still going to be around." Gen. Stonewall Jackson’s surprise "There were variations though. They Stafford County, Va. flank attack. Those 11th Corps come from different foundries and soldiers were the ones the Northern have different compositions," she Opens Civil War Park press and Union Army commanders said. "Some of them that had been on By Scott C. Boyd, June 2013 Civil remembered afterward, not the ones the ground were in worse condition War News who fought three successive stands because there would be most STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. – One against 3-to-1 odds and suffered 40 exposed to the elements." hundred fifty years to the day after percent casualties, Keller said. Moultrie's collection includes some the Union Army’s 11th Corps Interestingly, the Union commanders rare Confederate pieces, said Rick marched out of camp to fight at were surprised by the Confederate Hatcher, historian for the national Chancellorsville, the preservation of flank attack, despite warnings of monument. its camp site was marked at the April Jackson’s movements by German "It's extremely rare to have Civil War 27 grand opening of Stafford Civil scouts from the 11th Corps, Keller combat cannon of this size — siege War Park. noted. and garrison guns — in one place The brand-new 41-acre park by The insulting appellation “The Flying where visitors can go see them," he Accokeek Creek is where elements of Dutchmen” stuck after the battle, he said. "If you go to Gettysburg or the 1st and 2nd Divisions of the 11th said. The myth of their battlefield Chickamauga you will see dozens Corps spent the winter of 1862-63 cowardice survived throughout the and dozens of field pieces, following the Union Army of the late 19th century. but it's very rare to see this many Potomac’s crushing loss at the Dec. Jane Conner gave the speech that siege and garrison guns." 13, 1862, Battle of Fredericksburg. her ill husband, Al, was unable to

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THE “OLD LINER” NEWSLETTER make about his upcoming book, for the Arts and National Endowment Seizing Destiny: The Army of the for the Humanities. Potomac’s “Valley Forge” and the The VHS must raise $381,000 in Civil War Winter that Saved the matching funds, and is still working Union. on that, according to VHS Senior “Everything about the Revolutionary Officer for Public Relations and experience [at Valley Forge] was Marketing, Jennifer M. Guild. mirrored in Stafford from December Hoffbauer (1875-1957) began work 1862 – June 1863, only on a scale 10 on the in 1913, then returned times larger,” Conner said. to his native in 1914 to fight in Hoffbauer’s “Spring” shows Thomas “Skepticism was expressed when Al . He completed them in “Stonewall” Jackson, right, reviewing his troops in first discussed this comparison. All 1920 after returning to America the Shenandoah Valley. The upbeat mood reflects the Confederacy’s early military successes. (Virgnia hesitancy evaporated as he following the war. They have been on Historical Society) uncovered numerous examples of display since 1921. The cleaning is revealing elements of soldiers of the Army of the Potomac The murals were commissioned by the murals that accumulated dirt and and civilian author Frank Moore all the Richmond-based Confederate dust have hidden for years. referring to this being another Valley Memorial Association (CMA), which Guild calls the details that are Forge. merged with the VHS in 1946. popping out, such as how purple A.P. She said the 107th New York Infantry Four large murals depict the four Hill’s sash is in the Summer mural, Regiment, which lost 22 men that seasons as an analogy of the rise “phenomenal.” winter, named their 1,000-man camp and fall of the Confederacy. Two are That mural faces the visitor upon at Hope Landing on Aquia Creek, 26 x 14 feet (Spring and Autumn); the entering the room. It features a “Camp Valley Forge.” Individual other two are even larger at 36 x 14 magnificent gathering of Confederate soldiers from New York and feet (Summer and Winter). generals, even though no such Connecticut noted direct comparisons Four flanking panels with special meeting of these men, as depicted, to Valley Forge. themes are each 3.5 x 14 feet. They ever took place. The park is open free from 8 to 8 are titled: “C.S.S. Virginia”; “Hospital The 13 readily identifiable generals every day. For information go to Train”; “Colonel John S. Mosby on a are, from left to right, John Bell Hood, www.fscws.org. Midnight Raid”; and “The Coast Wade Hampton, Richard S. Ewell, Hoffbauer’s Confederate Artillery, Confederate Marines”. John B. Gordon, Thomas J. Jackson, Hoffbauer painted on canvas which is Murals Reveal Secrets Fitzhugh Lee, A.P. Hill, Robert E. tacked to plaster walls behind it. Lee, James Longstreet, Joseph E. During Restoration In some places, the paint has Johnston, George E. Pickett, P.G.T. By Scott C. Boyd, Civil War News, separated from the canvas and only Beauregard and J.E.B. Stuart. May 2013 the skin of the paint holds it together, Other details uncovered include RICHMOND, Va. – New details not according to Cleo Mullins of previously unseen people, such as seen for decades have been Richmond Conservation Studio, who two wounded Confederate soldiers in uncovered during the three-year, is chief conservator of the project. the Spring mural and a dead Union $870,000 project to clean the huge Mullins says they are able to inject soldier in the Autumn mural. Virginia Historical Society (VHS) heat-sensitive adhesive under the Local Richmonders served as models murals by Charles Hoffbauer loose paint to fix this. for some of the people portrayed, depicting the rise and fall of the To clean the murals, multiple layers Mullins says. Confederacy. of varnish that were applied over the The elderly white man with a goatee, June 1 will mark the second year of years have to be removed. After who looks like KFC’s Colonel the three-year project. cleaning, acrylic varnish is applied. Sanders, was famous sculptor In the spring of 2011, the VHS “The acrylic should last over 100 Edward Valentine, a former president received a $375,000 Save America’s years without yellowing,” Mullins of the VHS. Treasures grant from the National says. The gray-haired white woman in the Park Service, National Endowment foreground was a secretary and

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THE “OLD LINER” NEWSLETTER librarian from the nearby United watch this work because you can see Daughters of the Confederacy the dramatic changes,” Guild says. national headquarters. She is leaning The VHS is open Monday through over a sick young man in a bed, who Saturday from 10 to 5 and 1 to 5 on was her nephew. Sunday. Admission is free. For The African-American in a red shirt information call (804) 358-4901 or was a porter at the Jefferson Hotel visit www.vahistorical.org/hoffbauer downtown. Guild relates that when she first started working at the VHS, she was taken to the murals display and asked to spot the one historical inaccuracy. The answer is found in the “Hospital Train” mural: the telegraph pole has five sets of wires, just right for 1920s telephones but too many for 1860s telegraph lines. “We don’t know why that mistake was made,” she says. Modern visitors who aren’t used to seeing public art memorializing the Confederacy need to keep in mind when these murals were painted, Guild says. “There were people still alive who lived through the Civil War.” The Lost Cause sensibility of the murals reflects the mission of their sponsor, the CMA, Guild notes. E. Lee Shepard, VHS Vice President for Collections and Sallie and William B. Thalhimer III Senior Archivist, says the mural collection celebrates the Southern soldier and sailor. “The emphasis is on the valor of the Southern soldier,” he notes. Hoffbauer’s murals are one of only three such large public Civil War memorial artworks on display, according to Guild. The other two are the cycloramas in Gettysburg and Atlanta. Rather than being closed from public view during the conservation process, the ongoing work is open for all to see. “We have made a very conscious effort to make sure everyone can

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