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June 2015 Newsletter

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June 2015 Newsletter June 11, 2015 The One Hundred and Fiftieth Year of the Civil War The Battle of Gettysburg: Where Were the Women? Jane Peters Estes Join us on Thurs- The History of the day, June 11th Old Baldy Civil War Round Table at 7:15 PM at Camden County by Mike Cavanaugh... page 7 College, Black- wood Campus, Connector Notes from the President... Building - Room It is graduation season and summer will soon be upon us 101 for a presen- as the weather is heating up. May was a busy month for tation on “The area events. At those events, we shared our message, met Battle of Gettys- some fi ne folks and identifi ed presenters who will visit us burg: Where Were next year. It was good to see Faith and Mark Hintzen and by the Women?” Kathy Clark at the Civil War concert in Manalapan. Bob Jane Peters Estes Russo led our display team to Manor Day and our Round From the best known to the most obscure, this program Table was represented at the Memorial Day Hancock discusses the many roles fi lled by women during the deadli- wreath presentation. Thank you to Debbie Holdsworth est battle of the Civil War. With information gleaned from for the wreath. Look for articles on these events in this diaries, letters, and newspapers of the period, many parts of newsletter. If you are attending any activities or events in this program are told in the actual words of the women who the next months, provide Don Wiles a short write up for a lived through the battle. future newsletter. Jane Peters Estes has been a living historian and active At our last meeting, half of the Scheier Brother team en- member of Delaware Valley region historical organiza- lightened us on Civil War Women. This month we welcome tions for almost 30 years. Her current affi liations include; back those members who were away when Jane Peters Historical Military Impressions, GAR Museum, 26th and Estes joins us to talk about the women at the Battle of Get- 28th PA Volunteers, Mount Holly Historical Society, New tysburg on June 11th. We look forward to Jim Heenehan Jersey Civil War Heritage Association, General Meade joining us regularly now that he has retired. Bring a friend Society, and the Union Patriotic League. She has had to enjoy our gatherings. articles published in Civil War Lady Magazine, Citizen’s Our website is fi ve years old this month and our master Hal Companion Magazine, Philadelphia Bride Magazine, and Jespersen does an excellent job keeping us informed and People Magazine. up to date. Check out those wearing the new clothing line Jane last shared some of her expertise with members of at the next meeting. If you are interested in submitting a OBCWRT in 2011 when she presented “Christmas Past,” a group order, bring your checkbook. delightful overview of the origins of many of our Christmas There are still a few spaces left on our tour of Woodland traditions. Her many programs and presentations include: Cemetery on June 13th. The Membership Team is almost Civil War Nurses, Fashions of the 1860s, Grave Matters fi nished with the membership list. Our Facebook page has (Victorian Mourning Customs), Wedding Customs and over 410 likes. The Book Award committee is restructuring Traditions, Women’s Lifestyles of the 1860’s, Vivandieres, and will have news in July. We are working on grant pro- Pets of the Past, and The Battle of Gettysburg: Where Were the Women? Continued on page 2 Join us at 7:15 p.m. on Thursday, June 11th, at Camden County College, Blackwood Campus, Connector Building, Room 101. Continued from page 1 - "Notes from the President" posals to obtain funds for our symposium next year. sharing out message, to travel to interesting Civil War sites and host projects that help preserve the heritage of As our Round Table continues to prosper and expand we the Civil War. We hope to soon setup a fundraising team are exploring opportunities to be out in the community to generate funds for projects, events and preservation. Please forward your comments and suggestions to a Board member to be discussed. Today in Civil War History If you are unable to join us on the 11th, have a safe and enjoyable Independence Day weekend. Be sure to bring us Tuesday June 11, 1861 some good stories at the July meeting. Wheeling Wrestles With Withdrawal Come to the Lamp Post Diner for a pre-meeting meal. While Stonewall Jackson was fi ghting to keep the Yankees Rich Jankowski, President from retaking Virginia, a part of it was starting to slip out of his grasp already. Western Virginia had voted heavily against secession before the war, refl ecting the deep social Kathy Clark OBCWRT Member and economic divisions between the mountainous West and the tidewater East. Today a group of pro-Unionists held a very quietly organized meeting in Wheeling, just across Manalapan Music the river from Ohio. The purpose of the gathering was to set up a secession from the Secessionists, and most of Muster: the membership later held offi ce in the new state of West Virginia. The Civil War in Song Wednesday June 11, 1862 I have always enjoyed lis- Miserable Menu Makes Men Mad tening to Civil War music Private John Jackman of the Orphan Brigade kept a diary for the songs in them- during his war years, which remains popular and in print selves tell a story. The today. His note for this day may be of interest, particularly words and music both to those who cook under Civil War conditions. “Edibles are helped raise the spirits running low in camp--bill of fare: corn-bread, pickled beef, of the soldiers as well as fat back--and molasses. Sometimes we get something from give direction before or the country people. Prices current: Spring chickens, 50 to during the battle. Music 75 cts.; tough hens, 80 cts. to $1; old roosters, $1 to $1.25; was as necessary as having a gun or food to eat. I decided old ganders, $1.50; goose, same; vegetables, 50 cts for to travel to the Monmouth County Library on Saturday, peeping over the fence into the garden!” May 16, 2015 to attend the Manalapan Music Muster. It was an entire day of music with seven different presenters with Thursday June 11, 1863 many stories to tell. Rich Mendoza of the Libby Prison Min- Vexatious Vallandigham Vote Victorious strels was emcee and keynote speaker was Dr. David Mar- tin. Between musical groups Dr. Martin talked about how Clement Valandigham had been a duly elected member of music helped bring the troops together both in the fi eld and the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio. He was so in camp. From Civil War Music came the development of dedicated to peace, and opposed to a war of reunifi cation American folk music. His talk was very enlightening. that Lincoln had ordered him exiled to the Confederacy. They didn’t want him either and sent him to Canada. Today The event started with pianist Helen Beedle in a beautiful he was nominated for President by the Peace Democratic period dress ready to dance to one of her pieces called a Party at their convention in Ohio. The fact that he was li- “Gallop”. It made you want to tap your feet and get up and able to arrest if he stepped foot back in America seemed to dance. Other works were “Home Sweet Home”, a waltz, bother no one. some Irish folk music, and “Godshaw’s Banjo”. This tune was played during the time of the battle of Gettysburg but Saturday June 11, 1864 was not able to be played in Northern concerts while the Hated Hunter Harms Historic Habitations battle was playing out in Pennsylvania. U.S. Gen. David Hunter was in the middle of a campaign Second group in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia that would make to perform Sherman’s March Through Georgia pale in comparison. were The Irish While Phil Sheridan was busy fi ghting the Battle of Trevilian Volunteers Civil Station, claimed by some to be the biggest cavalry battle of War Band. They the War, to join him, Hunter was busy in Lexington. First he started with burned the Virginia Military Institute, most of whose faculty, a wonderful staff and students were off serving the Confederacy. He rendition of the then committed depredations on historic Washington Col- “Battle Cry of lege, including, allegedly, stabling his men’s horses in the Freedom”. They main building. The major military consequence of this was did an Irish jig, that Hunter’s delay allowed Jubal Early to join forces with “Golden Slip- Breckinridge at Lynchburg. pers”, and “Red Wing” played with The Irish Volunteers Civil War Band 2 Continued on page 3 Continued from page 2 - "Manalapan" a hammer dulcimer. Jed Marum ments were made to The dulcimer is an have Jed come from interesting instrument Texas to perform and to listen to and quite it was truly appreci- unique along with the ated by all who heard pony banjo which was him sing. used to play “Shorten ‘Bread”. This was There were two more a very entertaining presenters starting group. with The Libby Prison Minstrels and then The next group was Joe Becton. The Libby “The Susquehanna Prison Minstrels began Travellers” who trav- with the “Battle Cry of eled from York, PA to Freedom”, “Send in perform. The sang the Old Union Wagon” “Abraham’s Body” The Susquehanna Travellers and “Irish Volunteer” which was a recruit- Joe Becton election songs of 1861.
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