August 2014 Newsletter
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Old Baldy Civil War Round Table of Philadelphia August 14, 2014, The One Hundred and Fiftieth Year of the Civil War “Your Favorite Civil War Book(s)” Join us on Thursday, August 14th at 7:15 PM at Cam- den County College, Blackwood Campus, Connector Building - Room 101 when members or guests will be able to discuss “Your Favorite Civil War Book(s)” Was there a particular book related to the Civil War that fi rst grabbed your attention and led you to a lifelong interest in this his- tory? What Civil War book or books stand out in your memory and why? Are you reading something right now that you have found riveting and would recommend? Notes from the President... updates. The committee working on classes for the Spring The way July fell it seems to be a long fi ve weeks between will meet before our meeting and have a report. Events our meetings, but Old Baldy CWRT has been busy improv- coming up in the Fall that we are planning to attend to pro- ing and spreading our message. New members continue mote our Round Table are the Civil War play at the Eagle to join us. Welcome to Prisilla Gabosch (thanks to Theater in Hammonton and the Civil War Weekend at Cold Arlene for inviting her) and John and Terry Brasko. Springs in September. Let us know if you are available to Be sure to let other folks know about our growing Round staff one of these events for part of the time. The lecture Table. series Harry Jenkins put together for the Center for Civil Leadership and Responsibility is printed in the College bro- David Trout Last month provided a superb presentation chure. Copies should be available on the meeting night. on the challenge the 72nd Pennsylvania Volunteers had in locating their monument. The record crowd of 40 enjoyed Planning for our January 17th luncheon is progressing. it. Hope to see our guests back as members. This month it There will be a raffl e with three prizes, as well as door is your turn to share your reading interest with the member- prizes. The program and menu will be set in the Fall. The ship. Bring your favorite Civil War book and tell us a brief speaker should be fi nalized soon, ticket prices set and tick- bit about it. It is an opportunity to hear from each other ets printed by September. Vendors will be contacted and and learn of books to consider reading. It is always a fun Mike’s associates and friends notifi ed of the event. Please and informative night. Remember Ed Komczyk and Bill let us know how you can assist in making this event great Sia will be bringing donated Civil War items to peruse after for Old Baldy and Mike Cavanaugh. the discussion. We will miss Rosemary at the discussion Since there is some interest in re-establishing our pre-meet- but look forward to hearing about her travels. ing meal tradition, those interested can join us at the Lamp Bob Russo will provide an overview of the survey results Post Diner at 1378 Little Gloucester Road at 5:45pm before the discussion, thank you to all who responded with on the 14th for some fellowship. feedback. Be sure to regularly review and send potential Thank you for making our expansion into Southern New member to our outstanding website which has information Jersey a successful venture. Please continue to tell people on Fall events and soon will have additional member pro- about the fun we are having in Blackwood each month and fi les. Let us know what additional features we can include invite them to come check it out. on it. See you on the 14th with your book. Your Board met in July to review and plan our activities for the rest of the year. Be sure to be at the meeting for more Rich Jankowski, President Join us at 7:15 p.m. on Thursday, August 14th, at Camden County College, Blackwood Campus, Connector Building - Room 101. grams to the thousands of students and others visiting the Member Profi le: museum. Herb continued to serve in this capacity until the We will try to provide a profi le of each of the fi ne museum’s unfortunate closure in October 2008. members of the Old Baldy Civil War Roundtable. Their In other related activities Herb is an Adjunct Instructor and Contributions, accomplishments and interests. founding member of the faculty of the Civil War Institute at Manor College. He is also currently a member of the Editorial Staff of the Civil War News, writing both news and Herb Kaufman feature articles; a member of the Board of Directors of the Treasurer, Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum and Library; Old Baldy CWRT and Treasurer of the Delaware Valley CWRT. He has been the Treasurer of the Old Baldy CWRT since 2007. In 1989 Herb was employed in the Labor For 15 years he was a Civil War re-enactor with Company Relations Department C, 28th Pennsylvania Regiment. After serving as both a of the School District of private and corporal, Philadelphia. He was Herb became a Surgeon asked to meet with Mr. specializing in the his- John Craft, the Director tory and practice of Civil of Adult Education to War medicine. discuss a labor issue. As Over the years, Herb has they spoke, Herb learned been honored with nu- of John’s involvement merous awards including in the MOLLUS War Library (Civil War Museum of Phila- the initial Merit Award delphia) then at 1805 Pine Street. John suggested that given by the Delaware he visit the museum and consider becoming a volunteer. Valley CWRT, and the Well, as they say, the rest is history. Samuel Towne Award Having been a life-long student of American history, Herb from the G.A.R. Museum was immediately overwhelmed by the breath of the col- and Library. lection and the wonderful library. In 1989 he became a At present he teaches museum volunteer, and went to his fi rst Old Baldy CWRT at a number of local life- meeting. He continued to participate in Old Baldy meet- long learning institutes, ings, trips and events, as well as volunteer at the museum. and gives presentations and programs to civic, historical, In 2002 he was hired as an Educational Assistant with and community groups throughout the area. responsibility for doing research and giving tours and pro- Today in Civil War History Wednesday August 14, 1861 Friday August 14, 1863 Fremont Flails; Foreigners Flight Forced War Weariness Wears On West Various constitutional rights took a beating on both sides There was little going on in the eastern war beyond more of the War for Southern Independence today. In the city test fi ring of the Union guns in Charleston Harbor. More and county of St. Louis, Mo., US. Maj. Gen. John Charles holes were infl icted on Ft. Sumter. In the west the action Fremont declared martial law. The city, which had been was a little more intense. Various skirmishes, actions, expe- fairly calm since the riots in the spring, had suffered re- ditions and other nastiness occurred in West Point, Arkan- newed disorder since the Confederate victory at the Battle sas, and numerous places in Missouri including Sherwood, of Wilson’s Creek. Fremont also ordered two newspapers Wellington, and the greater metropolitan area of Jack’s closed for allegedly pro-Southern editorials. In Richmond, Ford. meanwhile, Jefferson Davis ordered the banishment of all foreign nationals whose home countries did not recognize Sunday August 14, 1864 Lurking Laughter Lightens Lamar the Confederate government. Thursday August 14, 1862 U.S. Gen. A. J Smith had been given an assignment: track, Racial Reconciliation Regretfully Rejected fi nd, capture or kill Nathan Bedford Forrest. Although known as a cavalryman, Forrest’s force was structurally Abraham Lincoln was adamantly opposed to the institution more of a dismounted infantry unit. A brilliant tactician, of slavery, but was not a believer in equality as it would be Forrest was more of a nuisance than a serious military understood in later days. He was constantly coming up with threat--but a very serious nuisance he was, and a great plans and ploys to relocate all blacks out of America. He embarrassment to the Union commanders. Again today received a delegation of free Negroes at the White House to- though, Smith’s efforts came to nothing in the miniscule day whom he told “But for your race among us there could burg of Lamar, Mississippi. Forrest and his merry men not be war... it is better for us both, therefore, that we be whupped them in a skirmish and departed, with the sound separated.” His current plan involved colonization of blacks of laughter hanging in the air. in Central America. 2 Major General Andrew Jackson Smith same day, received nearly a column of panegyrics and a In the Union Army portrait. And the press this last week has been teeming with there served twenty- the exploits of the Confederate raider, Joe Shelby, whose four persons of the infl uence upon the war was almost nil. name of Smith, as Generals or Brevet Andrew Jackson Smith was a Pennsylvanian. He was Generals, and on appointed from that State to West Point July 1, 1834, the Confederate graduating from the Academy, in 1838, No. 36 in a class side there were six of forty-fi ve cadets; that is, within nine of the bottom. In General Smiths of the Smith's class were McDowell, Casey, and R.