John D. Hoptak TOPIC
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BRCWRT — Vol. XIX, Issue 7, OCTOBER 2012 Page 1 The Newsletter of the Bull Run Civil War Round Table — Vol. XIX, Issue 7, OCTOBER 2012 JOHN D. HOPTAK TO SPEAK AT OUR OCTOBER MEETING MEMBERSHIP MEETING By Mark Trbovich THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012 After the Battles of 2nd Manassas and Ox Hill, 7:00 P.M. Centreville Library Confederate General Robert E. Lee took his starving Army of Northern Virginia north to the fertile and food GUEST SPEAKER: abundant State of Maryland. The BRCWRT is honored to welcome to our October 11 meeting, a National Park Service ranger who is a lifelong student of the Civil War John D. Hoptak and one of the most renown authors on the Battles of South Mountain and Antietam. TOPIC: John Hoptak graduated magna cum laude with a The Battle of South Mountain bachelor's degree in history from Kutztown University (2000) and earned a master's degree in history from and the Antietam Campaign Lehigh University (2003). He also holds an instructional I September 1863 certificate in social studies and citizenship education, 7- 12, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He has a strong background in American History, with the Ameri- can Civil War being his area of expertise and is currently employed as a park ranger at the Antietam National Bat- tlefield, Sharpsburg, Maryland. His first book entitled, "First in Defense of the Union: The Civil War History of the First Defenders," was published in 2004. Other books published in 2009 in- clude, “Our Boys Did Nobly: Schuylkill County, Pennsyl- vania, Soldiers at the Battles of South Mountain and An- tietam,” “They Will Be Remembered By A Grateful Peo- IN THIS ISSUE ple: Civil War Heroes of Schuylkill County,” and “Antietam Trivia.” His most recent books include, “The Battle of South Mountain,” published by The History The President’s Column Page 3 Press (2011) as part of its Civil War Sesquicentennial Series, as well as “Antietam: September 17, 1862” by Alabama Cemetery Dedication Page 4 the Western Maryland Interpretative Association. In ad- dition to his books, John has authored newspaper and Texas Memorial Dedication Page 4 magazine articles and maintains a highly regarded Civil War blog at www.48thpennsylvania.blogspot.com. Events Page 5 John has been active in preserving history at the local level and is spearheading a nation-wide fundraising 150th Ox Hill Page 6 campaign designed to restore the 48th Pennsylvania monument at the Antietam National Battlefield. Ms. Rebelle Page 7 October 11 is the date you won't want to miss. Members are encouraged to come early to meet John at 150th Fairfax Station Page 9-10 the Copper Canyon Grill at 5:00 p.m. for supper and 8th Annual Fairfax County great conversation (see page 2). Please come early to Page 11 the Centreville Regional Library for fellowship and get a History Conference good seat. Hope to see you then! BRCWRT — Vol. XIX, Issue 7, OCTOBER 2012 Page 2 BULL RUN CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE BRCWRT BOOK Executive Committee DONATIONS President: Mark Trbovich, [email protected], Please remember to bring your 703.361.1396 unwanted Civil War books to our meet- Past President: Nancy Anwyll, [email protected] ings to aid in our ongoing book event. Vice-President: John Pearson, [email protected], Besides raising money for the BRCWRT, these books in- 703.475.1943 crease our members’ understanding of the Civil War. Treasurer: Mark Knowles, 703.787.9811 Thank you. Secretary: Dale Maschino, [email protected], 703.734.3244 At Large: Ed Wenzel, Charlie Balch and John De Pue Communications/Media: Jim Lewis, UPCOMING MEETINGS [email protected] Membership: John Pearson, 703.475.1943 NOVEMBER 8 Preservation: John McAnaw, 703.978.3371 Sesquicentennial Fairfax: Ed Wenzel, [email protected] SPEAKER: Sesquicentennial Prince William: Rob Orrison, [email protected] Keith Young Field Trips: Kevin Anastas, [email protected] Webmaster: Ken Jones, [email protected], Assistant Web- TOPIC: master, Dennis Feldt Newsletter Editor: Saundra Cox, 703.675.0702 or The Battle of Iuka, MS [email protected] September 1862 Newsletter Team: Dale Maschino, Ed Wenzel, Ken Jones, Andy Kapfer, Janet Greentree and Jill Hilliard The Bull Run Civil War Round Table publishes the Stone Wall. General Membership meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. DECEMBER 13 on the second Thursday of each month at the Centreville Regional Library SPEAKER: 14200 St. Germain Drive Centreville, VA 20121-2255 Don Ernsberger 703.830.2223 TOPIC: For specific meeting dates and information, please visit the Web site: http://bullruncwrt.org. Meade’s Break Through at Fredericksburg, NEWLETTER ARTICLE SUBMISSION DEADLINE Battle of Fredericksburg For the NOVEMBER 2012 issue, e-mail articles by 9:00 December 13, 1862 a.m., Thursday, October 25, to Saundra Cox at [email protected]. If acknowledgement of your article Both topics are sesquicentennial event lectures. is not received by deadline, call Saundra at 703.675.0702 (cell) or 540.374.2011 (Capital AV). JOIN US AT THE COPPER CANYON GRILL NEWSLETTER ADVERTISEMENT Do you come directly to the monthly SUBMISSION DEADLINE meeting from work and look for a For NOVEMBER 2012 issue advertisers, click on place to eat, or would you just like to “Instructions for Advertisers” at http://bullruncwrt.org come early for dinner? and e-mail ads by noon, Monday, November 15 to Char- Join the BRCWRT board, other members, lie Balch at [email protected]. and our monthly guest speaker for good food and camaraderie. We are currently meeting around 5:00 p.m. at the Copper Canyon Grill located just across Lee High- way from the library. BRCWRT — Vol. XIX, Issue 7, OCTOBER 2012 Page 3 The President’s Column the BRCWRT is all about and a top priority. The 2013 BRCWRT election of officers will begin By Mark Trbovich at our October 11 general membership meeting, and the four posts will be voted on at our December meeting. A membership committee has been formed and will solicit Fall is here, and the leaves are beginning to turn your nominations through this period. I regret to inform to those beautiful colors, but there is no time to gaze at you that Dale Maschino, our excellent BRCWRT officer them, because we are pressing on with our Civil War who has served as secretary since January 2006, will not Sesquicentennial commemoration lecture series and vol- be seeking reelection. We will truly miss Dale in this role unteering for more events. The region's Sesquicenten- but know he will continue to stay active. Thank you so nial Signature events, the Battles of 2nd Manassas/Bull much, Dale, for all you have done for us these past Run and Ox Hill/Chantilly, were tremendously successful seven years. both in participation and the quality of the programs. We are continuing our funding of $1,500 to edit The BRCWRT and many other local historical or- and index BRCWRT member Ed Wenzel's Chronology of ganizations spent all day in the heat during the Ox Hill the Civil War in Fairfax County: Part 1 1861-1862. We commemoration. Over 800 visitors entered the park for are also happy to report that member Bob Hickey is con- the excellent programs. We also worked at our booth at tinuing to sell his raffle tickets for the John Paul Strain the Battle of Kettle Run 150th commemoration in late matted and framed print, Thompson’s Station, Tennes- August plus attended Manassas battlefield events and see, March 5, 1863, when outnumbered, Confederate BG the unveiling of the Hood’s Texas Brigade monument, in Nathan Bedford Forrest led the attack on Federal forces. the rain, on September 6. The BRWCRT was really ac- Proceeds will also support the book’s editing and index- tive in supporting these events, and I wanted to thank ing effort. The raffle will conclude on November 8 with everyone who volunteered their time to make all of our the drawing at the Copper Canyon Grill before our venues first rate. monthly meeting. Ed has already given the copyright for Our membership increased a fair amount this the book to the BRCWRT. year, and we are closing in on 240 members. Keep put- The BRCWRT fall tour of the Battle of Antietam/ ting out the good word to family and friends and tell Sharpsburg on September 22 was a huge success with them the BRCWRT will be happy to meet them. 32 folks attending. Thank you so much, Kevin Anastas, for putting the tour together and for being the out- standing guide. Also on September 22, many of us at- tended the Bristoe Station Camp Jones 10th Alabama Cemetery dedication which was truly an emotional event for all who attended including local citizens and some fifty folks from Alabama. This month the 2013 BRCWRT College Scholar- ship Program was sent to West Springfield, Centreville and Stonewall Jackson High Schools. Nancy Anwyll and the Scholarship committee have worked hard creating this program, and we anticipate meeting our winning L to R: August speaker John Hennessy and scholarship student in May 2013. September speaker Chuck Mauro Photos by Janet Greentree In closing, we’ll hear an excellent lecture and presentation from John Hoptak on the Battle of South Mountain and the Battle of Antietam at our October 11 Thank you again for all who came out to the Au- meeting. This will be another sesquicentennial event nd gust 9 lecture on the Battle of 2 Manassas with John lecture. I have heard tremendous praise from other Hennessy and the September 13 lecture by Chuck Mauro round tables on John’s lecture, presentation and his on the Battle of Ox Hill/Chantilly.