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

February 2014

4BVolume 24

5BNumber 2

Editor Patricia Caldwell

Contributors Hugh Boyle, Book Nook Editor Rose Boyle Mike Burkhimer Nancy Caldwell, Artistic Adviser Mike Cavanaugh Paula Gidjunis Ed Greenawald Bernice Kaplan Herb Kaufman Walt Lafty Jack Lieberman OUR ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF Jane Peters Estes Max Reihmann PRESIDENTS’ DAY Andy Waskie Sheryl Weiner Our February Meeting

Original Photos Tuesday, February 18, 2014 Patricia Caldwell (unless 7:30 pm otherwise noted) 6:15 pm for dinner (all welcome - make reservations!)

3BUOfficers Radisson Hotel President Hugh Boyle Route 1 @ Old Lincoln Highway Vice President Trevose, PA Jerry Carrier Treasurer Herb Kaufman Secretary The Mary Lincoln Enigma Patricia Caldwell Presenter: Del Val Member Mike Burkhimer

e-mail:[email protected] U phone: (215)638-4244 Dinner Menu – Grilled Sage Chicken, with Cabernet Demi-Glaze.

website: HUwww.dvcwrt.orgU Served with soup du jour, rolls/butter, iced tea, soda, dessert. Substitute: Pasta (chef’s selection). Umailing addresses: for membership: 2601 Bonnie Lane Huntingdon Valley PA 19006 Call Rose Boyle at 215-638-4244 for reservations for newsletter items: by February 13. Dinner Price $24.00 3201 Longshore Avenue You are responsible for dinners not cancelled Philadelphia PA 19149-2025 by Monday morning February 17.

In This Issue

 Membership renewal information  Paula Gidjunis updates Preservation News  What happened to our January meeting  Civil War Institute Spring semester schedule  Walt Lafty elaborates on a little-known event  The Presidents’ Day theme in our Book Nook review by Mike Burkhimer Snow, Snow, Snow. Its redundant, it’s tiresome  Mike Cavanaugh revisits Stonewall’s death in a and it just keeps coming and coming. Last month Civil War Vignette was only the second time in my memory that we  Pat Caldwell goes “Off the Wall” in a sports- had to cancel a Delaware Valley Civil War oriented disclosure Round Table meeting. That is not bad for 22  Lincoln & Kennedy – two treatments by years of meetings. The main regret is that we had Bernice Kaplan and Hugh Boyle to miss a good presentation, but fear not we will  Max Reihmann shares the Winter Seminar reschedule Tom Davis for another meeting. Our series at Gettysburg NMP hope is that we will not have to cancel another  Sesquicentennial events for February 1864 meeting this winter. In January I mentioned that the Neshaminy reenactment, which we help to sponsor, has moved its dates up to April 5-6. Yes, it is early. I will be asking for volunteers at A New Look at Mary Lincoln the February meeting. One of our responsibilities is to register the reenactors on Friday, and we To commemorate our always need all the help we can get. I will pass Presidents’ and Lincoln month, Mike Burkhimer will discuss around a sign-up sheet with times for each day. the subject of his latest book, Sign-up and join us. And I’ll see all of you at the The Mary Lincoln Enigma, February meeting. which he co-edited with Frank Williams. Mike is well known Hugh Boyle to all of our members who are frequent attendees of our President meetings where he often has spoken on both Abe and Mary Lincoln. Mike has been an educator in the Haverford Township School District for a number of years, and is a graduate of Penn State University. He also holds a Master’s in Education from Holy Family University. He serves as the review editor for The Lincoln Herald, and has had articles published in a number of scholarly publications, such as the Surratt FEBRUARY TRIVIA Courier, Civil War Times Illustrated, The Lincoln Herald, and Journal of the Abraham Lincoln 1 – In what battle did the loser sustain the Association, and is a frequent contributor to Case Shot highest percentage of casualties? & Canister. Besides his presentations to Del Val, Mike 2 – What was Jefferson Davis’s middle name? has spoken to other area Round Tables and at the Civil 3 – What was the name given to members of the War Institute of Gettysburg College. In addition to The Democratic Party who supported the Lincoln Mary Lincoln Enigma, Mike is the author of Lincoln’s administration during the war? Christianity and 100 Essential Lincoln Books. Mike and his wife live with their three children in Audubon, (Answers in next month’s newsletter!) PA. Answers for last month’s trivia can be found on page 9.

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Jane Peters Estes will address the Villagers of Newtown Square on February 20. Her topic will be “The Battle of Gettysburg – Where Were the Andy Waskie was emcee at an honor ceremony with Women?” the 69th PA held on December 7 at St. Anne Church and Cemetery recognizing the Civil War heritage of Andy Waskie will speak on "Octavius V. Catto, the the parish, featuring the 150th anniversary of the United States Colored Troops and Camp William death of Lt. Col. Peter McAloon, who is buried in the Penn" at the La Mott Community Center on cemetery. February 23.

Herb Kaufman will be the featured speaker at the Melrose B'nai Israel Emanu-El Mens' Club and Sisterhood Shabbat dinner on February 28. His topic, in honor of Presidents Day, will be "President Lincoln and the Jews."

Ed Greenawald will present "George Washington & Slavery: his era, involvement & some anecdotes" at {photo: http://irishedition.com/2014/01/memorial- General Washington's Headquarters at the Moland ceremony-honors-irish-patriots-buried-in-st-anne- House in Hartsville, PA on February 23, and will cemetery/} repeat the program at the Washington Crossing Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution th Hugh Boyle will honor our 16 President with a talk (SAR) at the Washington Crossing Inn on March 4. on “Lincoln the Man” on February 13 at Gloria Dei Church in Jenkintown. Printing and Mailing Costs Continue to Rise

Dear Members of the Delaware Valley CWRT:

The Board of the round table wishes to extend its sincere appreciation for your continued participation and support of the round table. One of our most important goals is to bring you the best possible speakers presenting a wide variety of topics. Also, we are so very proud of your contributions to our outstanding journal, Case Shot & Canister. We firmly believe that we have the best monthly journal of any civil war round table or historical organization.

While most of our members receive their monthly journal through email, we understand that some members may desire a printed copy of the journal. With the recent increases in both postage and printing, the cost for a printed and mailed copy of the Case Shot and Canister has risen to $2.08 per person monthly.

While our annual dues have not changed, for the 2014 year, if you wish to have your monthly journal mailed to you, we must ask for a mailing donation of $20.00 in addition to your dues.

We urge as many members as possible to have the Case Shot and Canister sent to you by email. This is the easiest and most economical method of delivering our newsletter.

We are sure that you understand the necessity of this change and sincerely hope that you will continue to support what has become one of the finest round tables in the country.

Sincerely, The Members of the Board

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Meredith Café. To register: Contact: Dr. Andy Waskie. 215-204-5452 - [email protected]

February 15, 2014 – Saturday – 10:00 am – MARCH 18 Annual Octavius V. Catto Honor Ceremony – 6th & Lombard Streets, Philadelphia. Honoring the Annual Discussion Night great Black civil rights and military leader. Wreath- “1864, the Year of Grant” Laying ceremony. All military units, period civilians, veterans and heritage groups are encouraged to participate. Colors, wreaths and music encouraged. APRIL 15 PA National Guard Award Ceremony to follow at Carol Neumann Waskie 1:00pm in the Union League for the ‘Major Catto Medal’ Awards Ceremony. For information: Dr. Andy 1st Person Clara Barton Waskie 215-204-5452 or [email protected]

MAY 20 February 15, 2014 – Saturday – 11:00 am-2:00 Michael Wunsch pm – Open House at the Union League of “City of Jubilee” – Philadelphia Philadelphia – Free tours of the historic Civil War era Union League House at 140 S. Broad St. & the Surrender of R.E. Lee, Philadelphia. Call:215-563-6500 for details. April 10-15, 1865

February 16, 2014 – Sunday – 12:00 noon to JUNE 17 5:00 pm – 16th Annual Meade Society Dr. Leslie Rose Symposium: “Meade & Grant – The Virginia The Trent Affair Campaigns of 1864” – Featuring noted historians Ralph Peters and Tom Huntington, other speakers, and authors on General Meade and the Civil War, as JULY 15 well as books, prints and raffles. Conservatory at West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, PA Annual Book Discussion Night http://www.forever-care.com/contact.php Reelecting Lincoln Cost: $40 per person including registration; luncheon by John Waugh & refreshments Contact: Jerry McCormick 215-848- 7753 or [email protected]

February 26, 2014 – Wednesday – 3:00 pm – Annual Temple University Black History Conference – ‘Equal Rights, War and Emancipation’ – Walk Auditorium, Ritter Hall on 12th St & Cecil B. Moore Ave, Main Campus of Temple Univ. Civil War & Emancipation Studies at February 12, 2014 – Wednesday – 10:30 am – Temple University (CWEST) sponsors the annual Annual Lincoln Birthday Celebration Parade Black History Conference. Free & Open to the public. and Ceremonies, sponsored by the Union Speakers; books; discussion; displays. To register: [email protected] or 215-204-5452. League of Philadelphia – Civil War military units, civilians, and heritage groups are encouraged to march in the parade through Philadelphia to Independence Hall to honor President Lincoln on his March 29, 2014 – Saturday -12:00 noon birthday. Participants will gather in the McMichael (cocktails), 1:00 pm (luncheon) – Annual Room of the Union League, 140 S. Broad St. GAR Museum Preservation Luncheon – Convenient FREE parking available for participants Cannstatter Volksfest Verein, 9130 Academy Rd. near the Union League prior to 10:30 am. Philadelphia, PA 19114. Cost: $40 pp - $75 per Complimentary lunch for the participants at 12 noon. couple. Choice of Beef, Chicken, or Salmon. 11am After the parade ALL are invited to return to the open for book browsing, and signings; “Themes from League via coach for refreshments in the historic the Civil War Era” by noted historian: Dr. Allen Guelzo. Presentation of the ‘Grand Army Award’ for 4

preservation efforts. Fundraiser raffle of prints; door War Reenactment – Wilderness Campaign, prizes; books; sutlers; entertainment; fun! To reserve 1864’ – Neshaminy State Park Camps open 9:00am contact: [email protected]; or call:215-289-6484 - Battles at 2:00pm on Saturday and 1:30pm on Deadline to reserve: March 15, 2014. Sunday. Free Admission and Free Parking! Additional details to follow. April 5-6, 2014 – Saturday & Sunday – 9:00 am, all day - 25th Annual Neshaminy Civil

FROM THE TREASURER’S DESK

THE COLD WIND BLOWS AND THE WET SNOW SNOWS!

I hope that everyone is staying warm as this cold winter continues.

Your continued support through your membership will allow our fine round table to continue to bring in the best speakers and programs.

I wish to thank all the members of our round table who have already sent in their 2014 annual dues. Your interest and participation in the round table is much appreciated.

While we were snowed out at our January meeting, we have some really great programs, activities and discussions planned and we hope that you will remain a member of our renowned round table.

Please take a moment and consider sending in your 2014 annual dues. Dues remain only $25.00 ($35.00 for the entire family).

Due to continued increases in both postage and printing costs, we must ask that anyone desiring a printed copy of our monthly journal, Case Shot & Canister, please also send an additional donation of $20.00 for the year, in addition to your dues. (Please read the accompanying article.)

Please bring your dues to a meeting, or mail your dues payable to: “DELAWARE VALLEY CWRT” to: Herb Kaufman, Treasurer, 2601 Bonnie Lane, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006.

Remember it is your round table. Let us know of your interests and how the Delaware Valley CWRT can best provide you with education, friendship and an enjoyable evening. We hope that everyone will come out to a meeting and join in the discussions. It’s a great night out with friends who share your interests and enthusiasm for this era.

All the best, I hope to see you at a future meeting, Herb Kaufman, Treasurer

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hotel on Baltimore Street in Gettysburg. Sisters

Rebecca and Ruth Brown hope to open a museum to display the dioramas they have been building since 1995, featuring some 6,000 cats they have created by By Paula Gidjunis, hand.” Stay tuned to this space. Preservation Committee Chair http://www.gettysburgtimes.com/news/local/artic le_0d794a24-9290-563f-b9de-00e50ff15740.html

GAR WORKDAY CHANGES COMING TO LRT We are planning another workday at the GAR Museum and Library on Saturday, March 8, 2014. The National Park Service presented its plan to We’ll meet at the Museum at 11:00 and work until rehabilitate Little Round Top at Gettysburg. There about 3:30. You can come for an hour or two or stay are a variety of projects to improve the pedestrian the whole time. Be sure to wear old clothes and work circulation system to bus and car parking. gloves. Lunch will be provided by the GAR. The Gettysburg Foundation is working with the NPS Consider joining us to help the GAR organize some to fund these projects. of its artifacts and help in some light cleaning. You can come for an hour or two or stay the whole time. According to their announcement: “The majority of A signup sheet will be passed around at the the park’s 1.2 million annual visitors go to Little meetings. If you cannot commit at this time, but find Round Top, with as many as 10,000 visitors per day yourself looking for something to do on March 8, during the peak visitation. “ For more information come join us at 4278 Griscom Street, Philadelphia, check out: http://npsgnmp.wordpress.com Pa., 215-289-6484. www.garmuslib.org

PARKING LOT REMOVAL AT THE OLD GETTYSBURG CLEANUP VISITOR’S CENTER

Our spring Gettysburg cleanup will be held on April The Gettysburg Foundation has engaged a contractor 26. coming soon We meet at 10:00 AM on East to remove the old Visitor Center parking lot – the one Cemetery Hill on Baltimore Street by the 27th on the Taneytown Rd., across from the National Pennsylvania Monument. Herb Kaufman has Cemetery. They plan to restore it to its 1863 historic graciously offered to conduct a tour of the first day profile. The old Cyclorama parking lot will remain. actions after the cleanup for those who attend. Historic fencing on the site will be built during the

Gettysburg Foundation's "Friends of Gettysburg"

annual volunteer day in June. FREE PROGRAMS AT GETTYSBURG

NATIONAL PARK CIVIL WAR TRUST CAMPAIGN AT SOUTH There are some free lectures being presented at the MOUNTAIN Gettysburg NMP Visitor Center. The programs cover a wide-variety of Civil War topics and are not all From The Civil War Trust (CWT) website: “The Civil Gettysburg related. Please refer to the schedule War Trust now has the opportunity to preserve a key provided on pages 14-15 for details. portion of Fox's Gap, where some of the heaviest fighting of the battle occurred. Virtually surrounded by preserved land, this 45.5-acre tract represents a CATS AT GETTYSBURG significant "donut hole" in the South Mountain battlefield--one the Trust has been anxious to If you were intrigued by Bernice Kaplan’s article on preserve for many years. With your support, we can Civil War cats in the January issue of the newsletter, now complete and protect this part of South then you might be interested in this article in the Mountain for future generations.” Gettysburg Times on January 22, 2014: http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/southmountai n/south-mountain-2014/ “Thousands of tiny cats may one day "re-enact" famous Civil War scenes at the former Homestead

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The Winter of 2014 significant number of controversial personalities, occurrences and events, and strange and highly By Pat Caldwell, Editor unusual incidents that occurred prior to and during the four years of the Civil War. Due to the winter storm with the weather reports DATE: Wednesdays, February 12, 19, 26 of significant snow accumulation bearing down on TIME: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm the Delaware Valley on Monday January 20, SESSIONS: 3 President Hugh Boyle, with the advice and consent FEE: $79 of the Board, made the decision to cancel our INSTRUCTOR: Herb Kaufman, M.Ed. January meeting scheduled for the following day. This proved to be the correct decision as the **Sherman’s March to Victory - .6 CEUs – 6 hrs – majority of schools, government offices and even Follow William T. Sherman in the campaign that some businesses were closed. captured Atlanta and likely saved Lincoln’s presidency. Afterward, Sherman marches to the

Atlantic, cutting a 60-mile-wide swath of We endeavored to contact all of our members with destruction, called the first total-war strategy. an email blast, and updates to our Facebook and DATE: Mondays, March 10, 17, 24 webpage. Hopefully, we were able to reach TIME: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm everyone. If you have not already provided us with SESSIONS: 3 your email address, please take this opportunity to FEE: $79 do so, in order that we can reach you for any INSTRUCTOR: Jerry Carrier other contingency. Please share your contact information with Herb Kaufman *The Civil War Overview Series – 1.2 CEUs – 12 ([email protected]) and with me hrs – The Civil War Series is an overview of the ([email protected]). Thanks!!! events that led to the war, major battles and the after-effects that still impact our nation today. The war will be examined year by year. This is a program for all ages conducted by a team of experts. It is one you will not want to miss! The Civil War Institute DATE: Wednesdays, March 12, 19, 26; April 2, 9, 16

TIME: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm Our Winter/Spring semester has begun. We have SESSIONS: 6 a number of courses to offer – including two FEE: $125 BRAND NEW ELECTIVE CLASSES!! INSTRUCTOR: Del Val Civil War Round Table

Classes may be taken as part of the certificate **John Brown and Harpers Ferry - .6 CEUs – 6 hrs program or individually. Class hours are 6:30 till – John Brown was an important link in the chain of 8:30 pm, unless otherwise noted. Call (215) 884- events that led to the Civil War. The course will 2218 to register or for an application for the reveal the man, his mission and his place in certificate program. Manor College is located at American history, along with those who helped, 700 Fox Chase Road in Jenkintown, PA. encouraged and supported him, and how his http://www.manor.edu/coned/civilwar.htm hopes to ignite a slave rebellion ended in his death

on a gallows. * Indicates Core Course DATE: Mondays, April 7, 14, 21 ** Indicates Elective Course TIME: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

SESSIONS: 3 **NEW COURSE - Desperate Measures: Unusual FEE: $79 Incidents and Strange Adventures in the Civil INSTRUCTOR: Patricia Caldwell, M.A. War - .6 CEUs – 6 hrs - Strange but true; this axiom was never more relevant than describing many of **NEW COURSE –The Overland Campaign of the unusual and extraordinary occurrences during 1864 - .6 CEUs – 6 hrs – “Wherever Lee goes, there the Civil War. This course concentrates on a you will go also.” This was Gen. Grant’s

7 instruction to Gen. Meade in his plan to “hammer drowned. Another interesting event was the continuously against the armed force of the Dahlgren Calvary raid into Richmond. It was enemy.” This course follows the tactics and battles supposed to be a two pronged attack to free of the Overland Campaign from May 5 to June 16, union prisoners. One element was led by 1864, beginning in the Wilderness and culminating General Judson Kilpatrick and the other led by with the siege of Petersburg. Colonel Ulrich Dahlgren. The raid failed, DATE: Thursdays, May 1, 8, 15 Dahlgren was killed, and controversy followed TIME: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm including questions as to the real reason for the SESSIONS: 3 raid. Yet another event that month, certainly FEE: $79 one of controversy, was the Kinston Hangings INSTRUCTOR: Herb Kaufman, M.Ed. with General George E. Picket at the forefront.

Be sure to visit the webpage of Ordered to attack New Berne, NC early that Manor College for Civil War trivia, month, General Pickett’s troops failed to book reviews, testimonials, faculty recapture this objective, which had been lost to spotlight, a video, and much more. Become a fan of The Civil War the Union Army in 1862. But during the course Institute at Manor College on of the battle, the Confederates did capture many Facebook. Union troops including almost all of Company “F” of the 2nd North Carolina Union Regiment. Fifty-three members of the company were taken prisoner. Twenty-seven of these were former Confederates who had deserted from the Southern Army. Court-martials were held and twenty-two were publicly hanged within view of the citizens of Kinston and various units of the Confederate Army. Within two months, all but a handful of the remaining fifty-three died slower deaths in prison camps at Richmond and Andersonville.

From the Federal viewpoint, the executed men were Union soldiers and should have been treated as prisoners of war. The position of the Confederates was that the executed men were deserters and subject to military justice. Reaction from Union authorities was outrage with a desire for revenge. In retaliation, the Union Army threatened to execute a Confederate The Kinston Hangings- prisoner for every Union prisoner executed. The Military Justice or War Confederates countered with threats of executing ten Union prisoners for every Crimes? Confederate executed. For the remainder of the war, as well as for a year or so after the war,

By Walt Lafty efforts were made by various people to seek justice and hold someone accountable, mainly 150 years ago this month, a few unusual yet Generals Pickett and Robert Hoke. It was interesting events happened, such as the escape General Pickett who signed the death orders and of 109 Union officers from Libby Prison in General Hoke who carried out those orders to Richmond, Virginia. It was the largest escape of hang the 22 men of the 2nd N.C. Regiment. There its kind during the war. Fifty nine made it back are those who say Pickett used the deserters as to Union lines, 48 were recaptured and two men 8

scapegoats when his frustration and bitterness the methodology and evidence, and ordered since Gettysburg came to a boiling point with another inquiry, he also advised Secretary his failure at the 1864 battle of New Berne. Edwin Stanton to arrest George Pickett and Robert Holt and hold them for trial. Many would argue that the Confederate deserters, or at least some of them, were Union As inquiries into the hangings continued sympathizers from the beginning and were through 1865 and into 1866, Congress also had a conscripted into an army that was illegal and couple of resolutions in the works looking into therefore “should have” deserted. Some suggest the matter. However, those investigations that these men weren’t really loyal to either side, seemed to stall late in 1866 and into 1867. played both sides against the other, and should Meanwhile the arguments continued, and still suffer the consequences as any deserter might do today with some people. reap. While George Pickett did return to the United Others argue that General Grant understood the States in 1866 he wasn’t pardoned until 1874. On problems of command, of maintaining 23 June, 1874 House Resolution 3086, an "act to discipline, and of the desertion problem which remove the political disabilities of George E. Pickett of faced both Armies during the war. In one of Virginia", was passed by the U.S. Congress. Grant’s statements during the war, he had said, Pickett died on July 30, 1875, and was buried in “I would claim no right to retaliate for the Richmond's Hollywood Cemetery. punishment of deserters who had actually been mustered into the Confederate Army and afterwards As a side note, the Union Army executed deserted and joined ours”. approximately 147 union deserters during the war. Of those, 17 were from Pennsylvania. It’s Upon the surrender of the Confederate Army not clear how many of those deserted and joined and with most officers and soldiers getting the Confederacy but more research is being pardons, Pickett was one of many who were pursued to that end. excluded from a pardon by President Andrew Johnson. Certainly concerned with this situation, Pickett fled to Canada with his family. He continued correspondence with many authorities including General Grant, his long- ANSWERS TO THE JANUARY BRAIN TEASERS time friend. Grant has taken some heat about 1 – Who was the chairman of the committee that defending Pickett. Some argue that he did so wrote the Confederate constitution? – Alexander “only” because of his past friendship with Stephens Pickett and that he was forgetting sacrifices made by many who defended the Union. But 2 – What Union General was called “The Bull of the Woods” because of his thundering voice? – Grant also understood the responsibility of General Edwin Sumner commanders holding armies together. He also understood possible legal problems moving 3 – According to the Confederate constitution forward with a trial. From a legal standpoint, how long was the presidential term of office? – Grant suggested to authorities that having a trial six years could end up violating “the contract entered into to secure the surrender of an armed enemy”.

A Board of Inquiry had concluded on November

15, 1865 that Pickett and others “were guilty of crimes too heinous to be excused by the United States government...” While Judge Advocate General Joseph Holt, head of the Bureau of Military Justice in Washington, found fault with some of

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Touched With Fire: Five The Presidents and the Civil War Battles that Made Them By James M. Perry Book Reviewed by Mike Burkhimer

Nook There were five men who had served in the Union Army who attained the By Hugh Boyle, Book Editor highest elected office in the land. In a country

that prides itself on being A Cold Winter’s Read peace loving, this country has sent many This winter with all the snow and frigid weather high ranking military has given us all the chance to sit and watch the snow men to the Presidency. and get our hands around a good book. For many of This has not always us it is catch up time. You know, to lower that stack been a bad thing; on your bed stand, trying to make a dent in those George Washington, Andrew Jackson, promised to read books. Ones that I call “Round to it and Dwight Eisenhower come to mind. Other books”. Now the weather has given us the time to get genuine war heroes like John F. Kennedy, George “round to it”. So many of those books are not Civil H.W. Bush, and Harry Truman have also held the War books. They are books on many other topics that highest office. Of course sometimes it doesn’t work seem to go to the bottom of the pile. So many times out with men like William Henry Harrison, Zachary our good intention to read them is trumped by a Taylor, Franklin Pierce, and U.S. Grant. priority of a good Civil War book. So take the time this winter, because we have had one serious winter, James M. Perry focuses on the five who went through and expand your reading list. You will find that when the Civil War: U.S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, you return to your favorite topic you will be enriched James Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, and William and eager for more. McKinley in his charming book Touched with Fire: Five Presidents and the Civil War Battles that Made Them. It is no lie to say that each of these men Happy Reading! distinguished themselves greatly in the war, and this helped propel them forward. They also benefitted by the soldier vote their veteran status conferred on them. (Being in favor of ever greater pensions for the veterans didn’t hurt either with groups like the Grand

Army of the Republic.) …. that it has been estimated that, on the average, a mounted officer was hit About 90% of the book is dedicated to the actual once for every four horses which were soldiering of these men. Grant is a special case. An shot out from under him. account of his Civil War career would fill volumes itself. Perry simply focuses on the beginning at Belmont and Forts Henry and Donelson and then The NY Times is running a feature entitled briefly closes with Appomattox Courthouse. The Disunion on its Opinion Pages. It’s a daily others get more detailed treatment. chronicle of the events of 150 years ago today. The other four share one thing in common. None of HUhttp://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/categor them were professional soldiers like Grant. They all

y/disunion/U

had a very negative view of West Point, and they thought by doing some studying from books that they 10

could do better than the professionals. This is of during the war while being wounded four times. He course usually a recipe for disaster; however each of may not have made a great President, but there can be these men performed excellently and distinguished no question about his devotion to the Union and the themselves throughout the war with their leadership United States. McKinley was even a war time and bravery. President during the Spanish American War, but he still liked to be called Major McKinley from those It is not a surprise that four of these men were from Civil War days. The war affected all these men in a Ohio and one from Indiana. The perennial swing profound way. After all, the book’s frontispiece is states that carry Presidential elections play a role the famous quote from Captain Oliver Wendell here. Of all of the men Garfield was probably the Holmes, Jr., “Through our great fortune, in our youth most political and was elected to Congress and our hearts were touched with fire.” served the last two years of the war. McKinley was probably the least because he enlisted as an 18 year Published by Public Affairs Publishing, 2003; 335 old. He was the only one of the five to join as an pages; list price $19.99, available from Amazon enlisted man. Harrison was the great grandson of new & used from $0.01, also available as ebook. former President William Henry Harrison and felt an obligation to live up to that man, who was himself a successful general at Tippecanoe. He certainly did. In the Atlanta campaign at the battle of Peach Tree Creek, he showed a great amount of initiative in pushing back General Hood’s first sortie from Atlanta. Harrison need not worry anyway. He was in more battles than his great-grandfather and Andrew Jackson combined. The Death of Jackson and the

What I wanted more from the book was more than 18th North Carolina – What If? simply touching on the Presidential elections these By Mike Cavanaugh men went through. I wanted to hear more about what they did as President. These men were President After the Seven Day’s battles Confederate during the “Gilded Age,” meaning dipped in gold. Generals A. P. Hill and James Longstreet had Mark Twain named it thus because the accumulation a falling out that almost resulted in a duel. To of wealth among the super-rich was going on through avoid this situation from getting out of hand, hook or crook at the time. Workers had almost no General Lee reassigned Hill’s division to protection and were targets of Federal troops when Stonewall Jackson’s command. The 18th they tried to unionize. Whole working class towns North Carolina, a regiment in Hill’s division, like Johnstown, Pennsylvania were wiped out by mortally wounded Stonewall Jackson at the carelessness and greed, and nobody paid the price. It battle of Chancellorsville by friendly fire. would have been interesting to see how these men What if Hill and Longstreet did not have their wrestled with these problems. At that time neither falling out after Seven Days and Lee did not the Republican nor Democratic Party were too feel the need to place Hill in Jackson’s interested in these issues. command? The 18th North Carolina would have, most likely, still been in General Of course in irony of all ironies, both Garfield and Longstreet’s command. Longstreet, at that McKinley made dangerous missions during the war time, was on detached service and arrived too to deliver messages and supplies: Garfield at late to participate in the battle of Chickamauga and McKinley at Antietam. Neither of Chancellorsville. them suffered so much as a scratch during those trips.

However, when both were President they were assassinated by gunshot wounds.

There can be little doubt that the experiences of leading men and the patriotism and love of country helped shape these men’s personalities. Of all of them Hayes comes out the most changed; in the beginning as a meek man who rose to great heights

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regiments for 3-months service to the OFF THE WALL government. In response, Ohioans sent not 10 but 23 regiments – beginning the prominence of Another Entry From the the Buckeye State in the Civil War.

“We Can Find a Civil War Connection in Just About Anything” The Blue Jackets School of Thought – carry the Civil War theme on their hockey jerseys – otherwise Baseball, Yes, but Ice Hockey? known as sweaters. The

primary team logo (left) by Pat Caldwell, Editor is comprised of a stylized version of the If you read Larry Vogel’s great summary of our state flag. There is an trip to Baltimore in October, you may have alternate logo (right) picked up on the fact that I am an avowed ice that features a Civil War hockey junkie. Yes, I cannot get enough – NHL, kepi with crossed hockey International Ice Hockey Federation, World sticks. This logo is frequently worn on the Juniors, weekend roadies to watch my great- jersey shoulders. nephews’ games on their midget and junior teams. And yes, ice hockey in the Winter The team more recently Olympics this year. added a third jersey (right) with a more vintage design. It is Union blue with white stripes on the sleeves and shoulders. The crest features a Civil War-era cannon, and the jersey collar also sports the team slogan, “We fight, we march!”

While most teams traditionally sound a horn or

some other celebratory recognition of a goal What many folks might not realize is that one scored, the Blue of the teams in the NHL is named the Columbus Jackets go a step Blue Jackets. This Ohio team was named to further by way of honor the men from the state of Ohio who honoring their Civil fought in the Civil War. Yes, really! The city of War legacy. The team Columbus was awarded an NHL franchise in now has a hand-made 1997, and the official team description states replica of an 1857 that the name “Blue Jackets” was chosen, Napoleon at their home “celebrating patriotism, pride and the rich Civil rink, Nationwide Arena War history in the state of Ohio and, more in Columbus. This cannon is “fired” at home specifically, the city of Columbus.” This harkens games when the team takes the ice at the start back to 1861 when President Lincoln requested of the game, whenever the Blue Jackets score a of the Ohio governor that the state raise 10 12

goal, and after each home win. But since the 5 Cent JFK Memorial U.S. postage stamps. The Blue Jackets play in the same Metropolitan reverse sides of the coins as well as a Certificate of Division as the Philadelphia Flyers, well actually Authenticity are shown on the back. The card is I’m hoping not to hear it too often!!! enclosed in a removable thick plastic clear sleeve.

The STRANGE BUT TRUE facts included are as

follow:  Lincoln elected in 1860 – Kennedy elected in 1960  Seven letters in Lincoln’s name – Seven letters in Kennedy’s name  Lincoln was assassinated on a Friday with “Strange but Is It Really True? – his wife present; Kennedy was Lincoln & Kennedy” assassinated on a Friday with his wife By Bernice Kaplan present  Booth shot Lincoln in a theatre and hid in My Cousin Anne, who resides in Brooklyn, is an a warehouse; Oswald shot Kennedy from avid reader of CASE SHOT AND CANISTER and a warehouse and hid in a theatre enjoys Civil War memorabilia. She recently sent  Lincoln’s successor was Andrew Johnson; me a “STRANGE BUT TRUE” Collection featuring Kennedy’s successor was Lyndon Johnson President Lincoln and President Kennedy. As I  Andrew Johnson was born 1808; Lyndon perused the internet for the background of this Johnson was born 1908 interesting gift, I noticed there are a plethora of  Booth and Oswald were born 100 years variations of the Lincoln/Kennedy “STRANGE BUT apart; Booth and Oswald were both killed TRUE” Collection. before their trials.  Both presidents were directly concerned with Civil Rights. Both presidents had the validity of their election challenged.  Lee Harvey Oswald and John Wilkes Booth – both full names have 15 letters.

The only error that I found on the card was the one stating that President Lincoln’s personal secretary was Kennedy (last name) and President Kennedy’s secretary’s last name was Lincoln. The latter is true, but President Lincoln had two personal secretaries: John Hay and John Nicolay, no Kennedy. However, President Kennedy’s

personal secretary was Evelyn Maurine Norton The particular one I received on thick cardboard, 8 Lincoln. ¾” x 6” in size, contains ironic “strange but true” information connecting Lincoln and Kennedy. The I surmise that many of our very knowledgeable fascinating list of facts appears below the members are familiar with the above-mentioned Presidents’ portraits. Also included are a 1958 facts. However, for Civil War novices like myself, I Lincoln Wheat Cent, a 1943 Lincoln Steel Cent and found the coincidences quite intriguing. a colorized 1959 Lincoln Memorial Cent. A colorized 2006 JFK Half Dollar is situated between [Editor’s Note – I asked our resident Lincoln a 3 Cent 85th Anniversary Gettysburg Address and scholar, Hugh Boyle, to provide some perspective on this same topic. His contribution follows.]

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Lincoln & Kennedy  Both assassins were later killed with hand By Hugh Boyle guns.  Both assassins were never brought to trial. After the assassination of John F. Kennedy, It  Both Presidents were wearing Brooks seemed that everyone wanted to compare the life Brother’s clothes when they were shot. of Kennedy to that of Abraham Lincoln. There are  Both sites of these assassinations are now many similarities and some coincidences, although National Museums. their lifestyles and behavior were considerably th different. On a visit that I had to the 6 Floor In both cases people would discuss for years Museum at the old Texas School Book Depository where they were when the assassination took in Dallas, they had a poster for sale, you all know place. Both men are considered Icons today. the one that compares the similarities of the both Interestingly there were two other presidents who assassinations. I had to tell the clerk behind the were assassinated [William McKinley and James counter that there were two glaring errors on the Garfield]. Turn to the person next to you and ask poster. On the poster it said the Oswald was born when and where the assassinations took place and in 1939 and that Booth was born in 1839. who their assassins were? [Charles Guiteau shot th [Wrong!] Booth was born on May 10 , 1838. The Garfield and Leon Czolgosz shot McKinley.] next one must have been a figment of someone’s imagination because it stated that Kennedy had a All of these assassinations were national tragedies. secretary names Lincoln [True] and Lincoln had a The first three had Civil War connections and even secretary names Kennedy [False]. We know that more coincidentally is that Robert Lincoln was at Lincoln had two male secretaries John Nicolay and his father’s bedside when he died, he was John Hay and later a third William Stoddard. I just standing near Garfield when he was shot, and he wonder how many of these posters are on the was coming to the place when McKinley was shot. walls of homes thinking that all are facts. There is a story that when they were opening the Lincoln Memorial in Washington they invited Here are some additional items that never seem Robert to attend. The story goes that one of his to be added to those similarities. first questions was, “Will the President be there?”  Both men were shot from behind in the head.  Both men were with another couple when shot [Gov. John Connally and his wife and Henry Rathbone and Clara Harris]. The Civil War in 1864 National Park  In both cases the male member of the Service 2014 Winter Lecture Series other couple was wounded by the assassin Saturdays and Sundays, 1:30 p.m. [Connally and Rathbone]. Gettysburg NMP Visitor Center  Both assassins lived in the South [Oswald /Texas & Booth/Maryland]. Schedule Provided by Max Reihmann

 Both men received the same funeral [Mrs. Saturday, February 15 Kennedy had people go to the archives If These Things Could Talk - 1864 – Tom and get the Lincoln funeral arrangements Holbrook to use them]. Original objects from the park’s museum collection  Both men’s bodies would lie in state at the are examined for the larger stories they tell about the war in 1864 and the advances in technology of Rotunda weapons that occurred that year.

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Sunday, February 16 By 1864 wherever the Union army went tens of Little Mac vs. Honest Abe: Abraham Lincoln, thousands of African Americans fled the plantations George McClellan, and the Election of 1864 – where they had been enslaved and sought freedom behind Union lines. No one was prepared for the Chris Gwinn numbers that arrived and particularly how quickly By the summer of 1864 Abraham Lincoln’s chances they came. As one chaplain wrote, "it was like the of being elected to a second term seemed bleak. The oncoming of cities." The army was forced to end of the war was nowhere in sight, members of his improvise and established camps for the newly freed own cabinet eyed the presidency for themselves, and people but it was not trained or equipped to facilitate George McClellan stood poised to triumph in the fall the transition of hundreds of thousands from slavery elections. The fate of the Union rested not on the to freedom. battlefield, but with the ballot. Saturday, March 8 (Ford Education Center) Saturday, February 22 Spring 1864 Congressional Hearings on Meade Kennesaw Mountain and the Atlanta at Gettysburg: "Witch hunt or Fair Play?” – Campaign – Dan Vermilya Troy Harman The fall of Atlanta in September 1864 ranks as one of General George Meade had to appear before a the most important Union victories of the American congressional subcommittee in Washington in the Civil War. Yet, at the outset of the campaign, Union Spring of 1864 to answer several questions seemingly success was far from a sure thing. On June 27 the aimed at diminishing his performance at Gettysburg. Confederate army under Gen. Joseph Johnston made The several loaded questions leveled at him, and his a determined stand. Although a Confederate victory corps' commanders, who also testified, appear in the battle at Kennesaw Mountain provided important retrospect to be unfair at best, and a witch hunt at lessons for Sherman and his men that ultimately worst. What were the intentions of the Committee on helped them to capture Atlanta some two months the Conduct of War? later.

Sunday, March 9 (Ford Education Center) Sunday, February 23 “Can those be men?” – The Prisoner of War "Longstreet to the Rescue:" The Battle of the Wilderness, May 6, 1864 – Karlton Smith Experience in 1864 – Dan Welch On the morning of May 6, 1864, Gen. Robert E. Lee Seeing Union prisoners return from Belle Isle Prison and his ANV were on the verge of collapse. At the in Virginia, Walt Whitman remarked, “Can those be critical moment, Lt. Gen. James Longstreet and his men?” Entering the fourth year of the war and the First Corps came swinging onto the field "like a fine cessation of prisoner exchange by Gen. Ulysses S. lady at a ball." This program will examine the impact Grant, POW camps ballooned beyond capacity with of Longstreet's attack, Longstreet's wounding, and explosions of disease, illness, and death. Trace the what the Confederates thought could have happened prisoner of war experience in 1864 through diaries, if Longstreet had not been wounded. journals, and letters from soldiers North and South.

Due to space constraints in Case Shot & Saturday, March 1 Canister, these are modified descriptions of the Battle of Brice's Crossroads - Nathan Bedford winter lectures. Please consult Forrest's Greatest Victory – Matt Atkinson http://www.nps.gov/gett/parknews/winter- Forrest entered the service as a private and lecture-series-2014.htm for the full descriptions surrendered as a Lieutenant General. Along the way, as posted by the National Park Service. this uneducated backwoods fellow learned the art of war - Forrest style, culminating in the year 1864 with controversy at Fort Pillow, his greatest victory Brice's Crossroads, and an all-out effort by Union General William T. Sherman to thwart "that devil Forrest."

Sunday, March 2 (Ford Education Center) "Like the Oncoming of Cities" - Freedom's Dilemma – Angie Atkinson

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On February 1, the U. S. House reinstitutes the rank of Lieutenant General in the US Army.

On February 3, General W.T. Sherman, having moved to Vicksburg by boat, begins the Meridian Campaign.

Union General William Sooy Smith leaves Memphis on February 6 to join the Meridian Campaign.

Union forces enter Jacksonville, Florida on February 7.

On February 9, 109 Union officers led by Colonel Thomas Rose escape from Libby Prison in Richmond. Only 59 reach Union lines.

Also on February 9, MG John Schofield assumes command of the Department of the Ohio.

On a sad note, on February 10, President Lincoln tries unsuccessfully to rescue 6 horses from the White House stables during a fire.

On February 14, Federal forces take Meridian, MS, tearing up track and destroying locomotives.

On February 15, captured Union “soldiers”, deemed deserters from the Confederate army, are hanged in Kinston, NC.

On February 17, the CSS Hunley destroys the USS Housatonic with a torpedo in Charleston Harbor. The Housatonic sinks without a loss of life. The Hunley also sinks, killing all 9 men aboard.

On February 20, Confederate forces win the Battle of Olustee, Florida.

The battle of First Dalton is fought from February 22 to February 26 as Union General George Thomas demonstrates against Joe Johnston's entrenched line.

On February 22, crisis erupts in the Lincoln Administration over the Pomeroy Circular backing Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase as Republican candidate for President in the 1864 elections.

Nathan Bedford Forrest defeats W. Sooy Smith, who attempts to join Sherman's Meridian Campaign, at the February 22 Battle of Okolana.

On February 27, Federal prisoners begin arriving at Camp Sumter in Andersonville.

On February 29, General Judson Kilpatrick splits his force in two, detaching 500 men under Ulric Dahlgren to attack Richmond from the west.

Valentine’s Day Harper’s Weekly – February 20, 1864

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

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