Old Baldy Civil War Round Table of Philadelphia
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Old Baldy Civil War Round Table of Philadelphia September 10, 2009, The One Hundred and Forty-Nineth Year of the Civil War “Medicine for the Soul” Notice! President's Message There was NO Round Table meeting in August. Welcome back for the Fall, hope you enjoyed your month The next meeting will be on Thursday, off and did something fun. Be sure to send Don some September 10, 2009. notes on what you did so we can read about it in future newsletters. It was a very informative program in July by It is our misfortune to have to report that Mr. Gordon Rhea, our Vice President Bill Brown on art in the Civil War pe- our scheduled guest speaker for September, has had to riod. Due to a sudden confl ict, Mr. Rhea will not be joining cancel, owing to his participation in a mandatory Superior us this month. We will get him back soon; instead we will Court mediation. His presentation at Old Baldy may be re- have a book discussion. It should be interesting. scheduled for February 2010. We will keep you apprised. Look forward to hearing Steve Wright’s stories from his recent Pacifi c trip. Not sure who made it up to Manor Col- lege for the Citizen Soldier Day, but it was a great event. “Medicine for the Soul” Thanks to Herb Kaufman for his presentations. We made (Inscription over the door of the Library of Thebes) it out to Frederick to visit the Civil War Medical Museum With the unfortunate cancellation of Gordon Rhea as and thanks to suggestions from Bob and Toni Stafford, our guest speaker, leave it to Steve Wright to come up we rounded out the day with some events in the Thurmond with a perfect replacement for our September meeting. area including the Municipal Slide in Rocky Ridge, the Moving the meeting back to the regular second Thursday, Camp David Museum and dinner at Cozy Restaurant. We September 10th, we will have a “Book” discussion. It’s will be on a Ballpark tour thru Arkansas, Oklahoma and a “natural” for us, Texas the fi rst week of September. Hope to visit the Texas considering Civil War Museum in Fort Worth. Need to write some of that many these trips and get them to Don for the newsletter. My His- of us with a toriography class has been keeping me busy this summer. keen inter- One month to go and I will write some reports. est in the Be sure to check out the Civil War institute at Manor Col- Civil War lege as they have some really good sessions scheduled this are also fall, including our own Herb Kaufman doing “Life of the bibliophiles Common Soldier”. --- not only as a lover of We have some super programs coming up in the next few books with months with the Gettysburg discussion, Railroads and Fran- a fondness cis Samuel DuPont, be sure to invite your friends to join for reading, us for these nights. I look forward to meeting more new but also a The symbol for the High Water Mark members at our next meeting. collector of fine and at Gettysburg is a book. perhaps rare Keep your comments and suggestions coming in as we books. It’s probably a sure bet that most of us have quite continue to grow our Round Table. a collection of Civil War and other history books filling our Have a safe Labor Day weekend and we’ll see you on the shelves. I know I often find myself perusing the shelves, 10th. fondly remembering those books I especially enjoyed reading. And there are those more for reference, which Rich Jankowski, President Continued on page 2 The Old Baldy CWRT will meet at the Union League of Philadelphia at 7:30 PM, the second Thursday of the month. Members go out to a local restaurant for dinner at 6:00 PM, Applebees on 15th Street between Walnut and Locust. You’re Welcome to Join Us! 1 Continued from page 1 - "Medicine for the Soul" I’ve used as a resource, or flipped through at my leisure. Some books that I have started, but put back, and have Notice: Attire for Men at the Union League Jacket and tie would be preferred; otherwise collared shirts, yet to finish. Then, too --- dare I admit --- many I haven’t long pants and jacket are recommended. For men and read, telling myself I will “someday”. women, the following attire is never acceptable on the first or second floors of the League: jeans, denim wear, tee shirts, So what is your favorite Civil War book? Or perhaps you athletic wear, tank, halter, or jogging tops, shorts, baseball have several, unable to pick just one. What was the first caps, sneakers, extremely casual or beach footwear. Current Civil War book you ever read? Did it stir your interest way or historical military uniforms are appropriate. back as a child?....or was it one you read in later years? What was it about that particular book that got you hooked? You probably also have a least favorite book, Parking... A $2 coupon (off of parking) is available at too! Tell us why! Bring “THE” book, or bring several, and the Union League front desk (through the side door on share your thoughts with us. We’ll be glad to hear about Sansom Street) them, and may very well generate some very interesting discussion along the way. Who knows? --- you might leave this meeting with plans to go to the library or bookstore to meeting. It’s just a block south of the Union League on find that next good read! 15th Street. So pick a book or a few from your shelf, and join us on “….for books are more than books. They are the life, Thursday, September 10th for what is sure to be a lively the very heart and core of ages past, the reason why discussion on books! The meeting starts at 7:30 PM in the men lived and worked and died, the essence and quin- 2nd Floor Library (how appropriate?!) of the Union League tessence of their lives.” - Amy Lowell at Broad & Sansom Streets. As always, you are welcome Harry P. Jenkins, Program Chairman to join us at 6:00 at Applebee’s for a bite to eat before the July 9th meeting those artists were Winslow Homer, Thomas Nast, Alfred "Illustrating the Civil War" Waud, Edwin Forbes. Bill also discussed how military imag- es were portrayed through out the time of the Civil War Our own Bill Brown (Mr. Vice President) presented an to the present. Illustrations in the beginning had a more overview of the influence of illustrative art during the Civil imaginary portrayal of the glory of the scenes and men of War and into the present day. He explored the effect these war. As time progressed and technology started to effect illustrations have had on a popular view of the Civil War. the publications, illustrations became more realistic as to Bill's presentation started with how military images were the reality of war. portrayed to the public, Even though photography was beginning, it could not show the actions of a battle and Bill's subject and professional presentation gave to those the printing of photographs had not evolved. who attended a look into how war was presented to the public in illustration and art from 1861 to 2009. A very The newspapers/magazines, looking for a way to show excellent program... the public the war and make money, had hired artists to go along with the armies and send their sketches and stories back to the home office to be published. Some of Bill Brown "Let us then turn this government back into the channel in which the Lincoln Quotes from framers of the Constitution originally placed it" John Bamberl 2 27 Nothing but Victory: The Army of the Tennessee, Top Civil War Books 1861-1865 - Steven E. Woodworth 28 The Life of Johnny Reb: The Common Soldier of the This survey was conducted by Civil War Interactive in Confederacy - Bell Irvin Wiley 2008 and is from their Web Site at... 29 The Civil War Dictionary - Mark Boatner http://www.civilwarinteractive.com/ 30 Lee - Douglas Freeman Many years ago, Civil War Interactive conducted a survey 31 Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years & the War Years of its readers in order to determine the Top 50 Civil War Carl Sanburg Books of All-Time. After almost a decade, it was time to 32 Red Badge of Courage - Stephen Crane do it again. 33 The Official Records of the War of the Rebellion Participants The newest results have now been compiled. We want to 34 Antietam: The Soldiers' Battle - John Priest thank the hundreds of readers who took the time to help 35 The Class of 1846: From West Point to Appomattox us with this. Some things about the new results that we John Waugh found interesting: 36 Stealing the General: The Great Locomotive Chase There was a total of 621 entries containing and the First Medal of Honor - Russell S. Bonds 1863 votes. 37 Pea Ridge: Civil War Campaign in the West - Only one book remained in the exact position it Shea & Hess held 10 years ago. 38 Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant - 7 books which were on the last list moved up Ulysses S. Grant in ranking. 39 Hardtack & Coffee - John Billings 13 books which were on the last list moved 40 Guns at Gettysburg - Fairfax Downey down in ranking. 41 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell An amazing 29 books which didn't make it 42 Warrior Generals - Thomas Buell on the list 10 years ago made it this time.