Thomas Lincoln Names That He Gave Some of Us We Like to (1853-1871) Remember To-Day
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Old Baldy Civil War Round Table of Philadelphia June 10, 2010, The One Hundred and Forty-Nineth Year of the Civil War "General Butler’s 1862 tenure in New Orleans" by Ed Root Notes from the President... On Thursday evening June Our new web site [Old BaldyCWRT.org] is up and running. 10th the Old Baldy Civil Review it and let us know how it can be improved to better War Roundtable will pres- serve our members and others in the Civil War community. ent Ed Root's program Herb Kaufman gave us another outstanding presentation, "General Butler’s 1862 last month on Jewry in the War. It was great to see Steve tenure in New Orleans" Wright among us again. There were several new faces in The program will be held the crowd, hope to see them at future meetings. at the Union League of Philadelphia at 7:30 PM. I represented Old Baldy at the dedication of Sarah Priest gravestone at Old Swedes Cemetery. She served as a General Benjamin Butler is nurse during the War. Her previous stone was stolen. one of those historic char- Thanks to Bill Holdsworth for representing Old Baldy acters who never fails to and placing a wreath on General Winfi eld Scott Hancock’s Butler holding back the crowd elicit strong opinion. He was grave on Memorial Day in New Orleans Photo, LOC both reviled as a criminal and scalawag and praised This month Ed Root will be talking to us on June 10th, as a patriot in his own time. about Ben Butler’s adventures in New Orleans. It should Today, he is most often be fun! Look for details in future newsletters about a tour one of the answers to ques- by Jim Heenehan on the Philadelphia Brigade at Get- tions about the Civil War’s tysburg. Mark your calendars for: August 14th - Civil War most inept officers. Tonight Day at Manor College (10-3), the theme this year is “Fight- we will explore General ing for Freedom,” and September 26th -“Welcome back Butler’s 1862 tenure in New for Old Baldy” at the GAR Museum. Check out page 8 for Orleans. information on New Jersey Sesquicentennial items. Happy Father’s Day to all fathers and grandfathers. This month is Ed Root retired as a busi- the 147th anniversary of the Vicksburg Siege. ness analysis after 34 years from Phillips Van- Be sure to bring a friend on the 10th. If you cannot make it Heusen Corporation. An that day have a safe Independence Day Holiday. advocate for many years Join us for dinner at Applebee’s if you can. of American Civil War his- toric preservation, A Past Rich Jankowski, President President of the Civil War Major General Round Table of Eastern Membership Report Benjamin Butler PA Ed has also served on Photo, LOC the Boards of the Civil War As we go into June, forty-three members have renewed Library and Museum in Philadelphia and the Gettysburg their memberships. That is out of a total of fi fty 2009 Battlefield Preservation Association. He is the co-author members. We have extended the deadline for renewals to with Jeffrey Stocker of “Isn’t This Glorious – The 15th, the end of April due to the canceled meetings in February 19th and 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiments and March. We hope to have the remaining seven on board this month giving the round table a 100% renewal rate. Continued on page 2 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 Notice: Attire for Men at the Union League Jacket and tie would be preferred; otherwise collared shirts, Ed has served on the Board of Directors of the Families long pants and jacket are recommended. For men and of Flight 93, Inc., including a term as Board President. women, the following attire is never acceptable on the first Additionally he has served on numerous committees with- or second floors of the League: jeans, denim wear, tee shirts, athletic wear, tank, halter, or jogging tops, shorts, baseball in either the Families of Flight 93 organization or the larger caps, sneakers, extremely casual or beach footwear. Current Flight 93 Memorial partnership... or historical military uniforms are appropriate. Ed lives in Coopersburg, PA with Nancy, his wife of 41 years Parking... A $2 coupon (off of parking) is available at the Union League front desk (through the side door on Join us at our next Old Baldy Civil War Round Table Sansom Street) meeting as Ed Root takes us on an interesting program on General Benjamin Buttler. That’s Thursday, Continued from page 1 - "General Butler" June 10th starting at 7:30 PM in the 2nd Floor Library at Gettysburg’s Copse of Trees.” The book garnered the of the Union League at Broad & Sansom Streets. As “Bachelder-Coddington Award for Civil War in 2006. always, you are welcome to join us at 6:00 at Applebee’s for a bite to eat before the meeting. It’s just a block south He served on the Stage II jury which selected the winning of the Union League on 15th Street. design of the Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County, Pennsylvania in 2005. Steve Wright, Program Chairman Continued from page 1 - Membership address listed. Even if you want to receive your newsletter We encourage all our members to receive their newsletters by USPS, having your email address in our system is good by email. This saves us money that can be used to obtain for notifi cations of last minute meeting changes and situ- quality speakers and make generous donations to battle- ations that need to be acted on right away. If you wish to fi eld and historic preservation. Remember donations to receive your newsletter by email or to add your email the round table are always welcome and will be put to good address to our list, contact: use. Mike Cavanaugh at [email protected] or call We also have several members that we have no email 484.225.3150. Thank, as always, you for your support. May 13th meeting 11. The eventual role of Jewish chaplains (a very few) in “A People at War: American Jewry the Army. Jewish women doing their part for the causes in becoming nurses and spies. One of the most prominent in the Civil War” Jewish-Americans in the Civil War period was Judah R. Our own Herb Kaufman presented us with another of his Benjamin, Secretary of War in the Confederate govern- excellent programs. “A People at War: American Jewry ment. Another, Moses J. Ezekiel, a VMI cadet, who after in the Civil War”. He gave us examples of how the War the war became a world renown sculptor and designed the split Jewish families as it did other families in America. Confederate Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery and Brother fighting brother. How Jewish families in the South is buried at the base of that memorial. In Herb's research supported the Southern cause as did the Jewish families he had found very few books written on Jewry in the Civil in the North supported to keep the Union together. He War. Herb never stops to amaze us with his programs on spoke on Jewish soldiers (7) winning the Medal of Honor educating us on his Civil War knowledge. for their bravery in the Union Army. The bravery of Jewish soldiers in the Confederate Army. That there were some Regiments that were made up of almost entirely Jewish soldiers because of the communities were they were orga- nized. He touched on Grant's famous General Order No. Herb Kaufman 2 "As the offi cers and soldiers of the United States have Benjamin Butler's been subjected to repeated insults from the women (calling themselves ladies) of New Orleans, in return for New Orleans the most scrupulous noninterference and courtesy on our part, it is ordered that hereafter when any female Woman's Order shall, by word, gesture, or movement, insult or show contempt for any offi cer or soldier of the United States, One of the major problems that confronted by Maj. Gen. she shall be regarded and held liable to be treated as a Benjamin F. Butler on his occupa- woman of the town plying her avocation." tion of New Orleans in April of Except for a few isolated incidents, the insults 1862, was the abuse his soldiers stopped abruptly when the women learned endured from patriotic Confeder- they would be treated as common whores ate women. Bitterly resentful of for demeaning a man wearing a U.S. army the Union occupation, whenever uniform. A few who persisted were arrested any of Butler's men were present and imprisoned on Ship Island, notably Mrs. they would contemptuously gather Philip Philips, who was confi ned from 30 in their skirts, cross streets, fl ee June until mid-September for laughing when rooms, cast hateful glances, or the funeral procession of a Federal offi cer make derisive comments. Some was passing her house. sang spirited renditions of "The Bonnie Blue Flag" and other Con- The "Woman's Order" provoked criticism federate songs, or spat on soldiers' throughout the Confederacy and in Europe uniforms, while teaching their chil- from people who considered his proclama- dren to do the same. One woman tion an unpardonable affront to womanhood.