November, 2020
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Kevin M. Hale Award for best Historical Newsletter in New Jersey November 12, 2020 The Civil War: April 12, 1861 - August 20, 1866 “Reclaiming Our Voice: New Jersey’s Central Role in the Fight for Woman Suffrage” Carol Simon Levin is a retired librarian, author, storyteller Suffragette and program presenter based in Bedminster. In 2016, she wrote a book, “Remembering The Ladies: From Patriots in Petticoats to Presidential Candidates,” about amazing Join us at 7:15 PM on Thursday, American women, which was illustrated by 36 artists. It is November 12, for an online an interactive book about lost stories of fascinating and web conference (no physical forgotten women in American history. In addition to a col- meeting). Members will receive oring page, each entry includes a short biography, a fasci- ZOOM dial-in instructions via nating fact and a quote by the woman. It includes recom- email. This month’s topic is mendations for further reading for kids, teens, and adults, Carol Simon Levin on and suggestions for activities and activism and places to “Reclaiming Our Voice: New visit. Jersey’s Central Role in the Fight for Woman Suffrage” Notes from the President... This is the story of the role of New Jersey women in the Earlier sunsets, cooler temperatures and colorful leaves are long struggle for women’s suffrage. with us as we look out our windows. Even though we can- Two hundred and twenty-five years ago, women had the not gather, we have much for which to be grateful this year. right to vote in only one state, New Jersey, a right they This includes our members, partners, attitudes and that would lose in 1807, and not win back for more than five we are managing our current situation well. Thank you for generations. New Jersey’s role in the struggle to regain that your continued support of our round table and for spread- right is largely overlooked. ing our message in the South Jersey area. We appreciate all you do to keep our organization moving forward. Thank It is well-known that Elizabeth Cady Stanton proclaimed “all you to the members and followers who have joined us in men and women are created equal” at the Women’s Rights our Zoom room. Also thank you to those who are waiting Convention of 1848 in Seneca Falls, NY. Few know that she to meet us in person next year (at least at the Old Baldy lived in Tenafly in 1869, when she and Susan B. Anthony birthday party in May). founded the National Woman Suffrage Association and wrote the first three volumes of their History of Woman Last month at our meeting, Mark R. Brewer enlightened Suffrage. us on the Union army at the Battle of Ball’s Bluff. The members and guests in attendance departed with a better Hear the stories of these and many other women with understanding of the Battle from the Union side. On the Jersey ties – including the Grimke sisters (who spoke out 22nd, Ron Coddington’s presentation on his book “Faces against slavery and for women’s rights from their home in of Civil War Nurses” drew some guests from the Society Shrewsbury), Dr. Florence Spearing Randolph (chair of the of Women of the Civil War. All ended the evening more NJ Association of Colored Women’s Clubs and executive knowledgeable on some of the ladies who made a differ- board member on the NJ Woman Suffrage Association), ence to the soldiers. Remember many of our past presen- Alice Low Turnbull Hopkins (who threw her considerable tations are available to be viewed on our YouTube page if support behind Alice Paul’s Washington pickets), and Alice you cannot join us for the event. Paul, the dynamo who re-energized the movement for a fed- eral amendment. Continued on page 2 Today in Civil War History Page 2 • Finding History Page 2 • Those White Roses Page 4 • Brooks-Sumner Affair Page 6 • Ball's Bluff Page 10 • Faces of Nurses Page 11 CSA Commerce Raiders Page 13 • 2020 Speaker Schedule Page 14 1 Continued from page 1 Presidents Notes This month at our meeting to honor the centennial of the passage of the 19th amendment, Carol Simon Levin will 1862 Wednesday, November 12 tell us about “Reclaiming Our Voice: New Jersey’s Central Western Theater Role in the fight for Woman Suffrage.” From Bedminster, Although Braxton Bragg‘s invasion of Kentucky has been a Carol will share stories about the women from New Jersey failure, Rosccrans, the new commander ofthe Department who made a difference in the fight for the vote. Invite of the Cumberland faces a number of problems. Provisions friends and family to join us for this special topic. Next are short, for two armies have campaigned over the region month after our election, our own Bob Russo will present for most ofthe summer. He must therefore establish long his research on the Wounded Knee Massacre with us. lines of corninunieation, and as he cannot use the Cumber- Thank you to all who spent money at Boscov’s on Octo- land River because it is too low, he must use the railroad. ber 14-15 to help us with our fundraising. We are waiting Railroads use bridges, and bridges are tulnerable to light- to hear about our portion of the donations. The CWRT ning raids by gifted Confederate cavalry commanders sueh Congress is planning their conference at Camden County as Forrest and Morgan. The Confederates eould use Rose- College for next September. This will be an opportunity to crans’ difficulties to their advantage, but fortunately or the highlight our round table. Let us know if you need some Union they lack the commander to carry out operations. of our South Jersey Civil War site maps. We have a large Bragg is superb at planning a campaign but laeks executive and medium size as they make great gifts. We want to ability. welcome Jean White from the Society of Women in the Civil War as our newest member. 1863 Thursday, November 12 Be strong for each other and keep in touch with the members we do not see regularly on our broadcasts. We Western Theater lost member Andy Levering as he passed last month. Longstreet completes his preparations and departs Loudon. The round table offers condolences to the members who Burnside learns that the Confederates have bridgcd the lost family last month. Our Board will be meeting in the river at Huffs Ferry near Loudon. coming weeks to make plans for the Spring. If you have any matters you would like them to discuss, please share it 1864 Saturday, November 12 with a Board member. Have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving weekend however Western Theater you end up celebrating it. Sherman’s men tear down every building in Atlanta, except Support local businesses and order out for your meal be- the churches and some houses. fore our meeting on the 12th. Eastern Theater See you in the Zoom room. Early’s men skirmish at Middletown and Cedar Creek. Rich Jankowski, President Finding History Atop a Mountain Today in Civil War History By Joe Wilson, Member OBCWRT The cool autumn air blowing through the region prompt- 1861 Tuesday, November 12 ed Gerri and I to head for the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Shenandoah National Park of Virginia for a mountain The North getaway in the great outdoors. We left the same day the General McClellan initiates a major reform of the Union Autumnal Equinox ushered in the new season. command structure. The huge Department of the West Skyline Drive is a familiar destination where we frequent- is split into three parts: the Department of New Mexico is ly enjoy the hiking trails in pursuit of the many beautiful to be commanded by Colonel Canby; the Kansas Depart- waterfalls that flow down the mountain. The drive winds ment, a vast area which covers much of the great plains, along the summit of the Blue Ridge Mountains from Front including Kansas, the Indian Territory, Nebraska, Colorado, Royal to Swift Run Gap. and Dakota, is given to General Hunter, who had replaced Fremont earlier in the month; the Department of Missouri. Breakfast fueled us for our first hike into the morning chill comprising Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, in search of Dark Hollow Falls. Gerri unpacked her hiking Arkansas, and Kentucky west of the Cumberland River, poles and I grabbed my Irish Blackthorn walking stick for is to be commanded by General Henry W. Halleck from the rejuvenating hike after being homebound for so long. California. A former lecturer at West Point, and something The Civil War couldn’t have been further from our minds. of a military intellectual, Halleck has written well-regarded Only visions of glorious cascading waterfalls and spectacu- works on military science, and is an able administrator. lar vistas of the valley below swirled in our heads. Elsewhere, General Don Carlos Buell’s Department of We enjoyed the great weather and scenery as we proceed- the Ohio includes the rest of Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, ed down the mountain side with an eye for bears loading Indiana, and Tennessee. The Department of Western Virgin- up for the winter. Thankfully, they never showed. Halfway ia, under Rosecrans, and the Department of the Potomac to the waterfalls we noticed a small path off the main trail remain unchanged. Continued on page 3 2 Continued from page 2 - "History Atop a Mountain" with an old obscure sign that read “Cave Cemetery.” But often for good reason. The Union had many more deser- no cemetery appeared anywhere.