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June 14, 2007, the One Hundred and Fourty-Seventh Year of the Civil War the Changing Gettysburg Battlefield

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June 14, 2007, the One Hundred and Fourty-Seventh Year of the Civil War the Changing Gettysburg Battlefield Old Baldy Civil War Round Table of Philadelphia June 14, 2007, The One Hundred and Fourty-Seventh Year of the Civil War The Changing Gettysburg Battlefield Gettysburg Airport GNMP Camp Colt Old Postcard WWII POW Camp GNMP Lee Meade Inn Old Postcard Notice: Do to a business matter the June and July World War II combat veteran found it an important meeting programs have been switched. holiday, as did his father, a World War I combat veteran. Don't get me wrong - I enjoy the other stuff too, but I've Our June 14th Meeting/Program will give the members always really appreciated reflecting on the real purpose of of Old Baldy a rare look into the history of the Gettysburg the holiday. battlefield. The Battlefield of Gettysburg has become one of the must hallowed and revered battlefields of the As with many Memorial Days, this one found Irene and me entire Civil War. Today, millions of visitors annually visit at Montgomery Cemetery in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Gettysburg to stand where so many gave their lives for Longtime Old Baldy members will recall the days when the their beliefs. Herb Kaufman will present a program that round table undertook efforts to preserve the tomb of local defines the growth of the battlefield to that which exists hero, Major General Winfield Scott Hancock. The tomb today. Herb’s program will use rare and significant was literally crumbling and falling apart when a very young photographs to illustrate the changing battlefield from Brian Pohanka contacted Mike Cavanaugh about the 1870’s through the 1920’s. restoring the tomb, which is actually owned by the Historical Society of Montgomery County. For several In addition, the program will feature a special display years the round table led a grassroots effort to preserve of original Gettysburg photographs and memorabilia the tomb and held annual Memorial Day services there. including Little Round Top as it appeared prior to modern Thirteen years ago the W.S. Hancock Society was born improvements, Hancock Avenue as a dirt road, the U.S. and has since taken over the efforts of the tomb Tank Corps at Camp Colt, the airfield that once existed restoration and the tomb ceremony. on Oak Ridge, and some of the many motels that once intruded on the battlefield itself. If you haven't been there, you may wish to pay a visit to Montogomery Cemetery, which is the final resting place to This will be another great meeting that you don't want a number of Civil War notables: Valentine Mulvaney was to miss... commander of the Ft. Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas at the The June 14th Meeting will start at 7:30 PM on time Dr. Samuel Mudd and the other Lincoln conspirators Thursday at the Civil War and Underground Railroad were imprisoned there; Elizabeth Read was a well known Museum at 1805 Pine Street in Philadelphia. nurse who cared for Union soldiers after their release from Andersonville prison; and Dr. Louis Read was one of President's Message Norristown's most respected physicians. He removed the bullet which wounded Hancock at Gettysburg and attended Ever since I was a little kid, Memorial Day has been one to General John Hartfranft on his death bed. of my favorite holidays - not because it is the traditional start of the summer season or because of the barbecues, Brigadier General Adam Slemmer is buried at but rather because it is a time to remember veterans and Montgomer Cemetery. Known for his defense of Fort the sacrifice that they have made for us. My father, a Pickens early in the war, he was wounded at Stone's Creek continued on page 2 Bring a friend, neighbor and another Civil War buff to enjoy a fascinating subject and to support our speakers at Old Baldy. 1 continued from page 1 - President's Message and died suddenly of heart disease at Fort Laramie in The ceremonies conclude the presentation of wreaths 1868. by various organizations and playing of taps. For the past thirteen years, OBCWRT member Bill Holdsworth Brigadier General Samuel Zook was killed in the has presented a beautiful wreath handmade by his wife, Wheatfield at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863. A native of Debbie. Each year, his son Billy has assisted in laying Norristown, the town's Grand Army of the Republic Post the Old Baldy wreath. (Billy began this task when he was was named for him. just five! He is about to graduate from high school and has Major General, Governor, and Medal of Honor recipi- just enlisted in the United States Marine Corps! Thus, this ent John Frederick Hartranft is buried under a tall sense of honoring veterans seems to have come full-circle obelisk overlooking the Schuylkill River. with him.) But undoubtedly the most famous of all those interred is While Memorial Day is one of my favorite holidays, I find Major General Winfield Scott Hancock, hero of Gettysburg that the older I get - the harder it is for me to attend these and presidential candidate in 1880. ceremonies. It seems that fewer and fewer people are attending ceremonies like the one described above. While Each year dozens of people gather each Memorial Day to we should be remembering and thanking veterans every pay tribute and honor all of the veterans in Montgomery day of the year, it is all the more tragic when we can't even Cemetery. A tour of the cemetery concludes with the do it on that one day of the year. ceremony at the Hancock Tomb led by Karen Stocking, of the W.S. Hancock Society. Her husband, Bruce, As always, I look forward to seeing you at the July meeting! Be well!! historian of the group, always presents a moving tribute to the General and a call to remember veterans of all wars. Steven J. Wright, President From the Treasurer's Desk program about the evolution of the Battlefield of Gettysburg from 1863 to the turn of the century. Last month the members and guests attending the Old The program will feature original photographs and Baldy meeting were treated to a wonderful first person memorabilia from my collection. In addition, I will display presentation by Millicent Sparks. Ms. Sparks’ portrayal a number of the original photographs and guide books of of Harriet Tubman was so moving and brought us all the people visiting the battlefield in the 1880’s and 1900’s. directly into the world as it existed prior to the outbreak of I am sure that you will find this program both interesting the war. If you did not attend the meeting you missed a and informative. I hope that everyone with an interest in truly outstanding presentation. Gettysburg will join us at the museum for a super evening. This month Steve Wright has had a conflict and I am See you in June, pleased to substitute for him. I will be presenting a Herb Kaufman, Treasurer Fort Delaware Trip Promises To Be Fun & Informative On Saturday, June 23rd, OLD BALDY Members and Guests will venture to nearby Fort Delaware for an enjoyable day of history and learning! We will catch the first ferry of the day at 10:00 AM (10:30 from the New Jersey side), and be treated to a special “behind the scenes” tour of the fort. Situated on Pea Patch Island in the middle of the Delaware River, just north of the Delaware Bay, the brick and granite fortress was originally built to protect the ports of Wilmington and Philadelphia. In April of 1862, with the arrival of 258 Confederate prisoners captured at the Battle of Kernstown, Fort Delaware was transformed from a proud citadel to a prison. Although unsuitable for this Fort Delaware and Pea Patch Island LOC 1933 purpose, the fort housed prisoners of war, political prisoners, and Union deserters throughout the war. Dan Citron. Knowing of our keen interest in history and Beginning with a short ferry ride from either the Delaware preservation, Dan will present us with the history of the City side or from Fort Mott on the New Jersey side (see fort and the restoration efforts underway, taking us to directions below), we will arrive at the dock and hop some areas of the fort that are not accessible to the aboard a jitney that will take us to the Sally Port entrance general public. We will likely see such areas as the mess of the fort. (Both the ferry and the jitney are handicapped hall and kitchen, general sleeping quarters accessible.) Old Baldy members and guests will be (to be restored), officer’s quarters, library, and see the treated to a “behind the scenes” tour by Park Ranger rehabilitation efforts at the parapets at the top of the fort. continued on page 3 2 continued from page 2 - Fort Delaware Trip We will coincidentally be there on a day when there will be Civil War era cooking demonstrations, reenactors portraying Confederate “prisoners”, a musket firing demonstration, and artillery firing of the heavy Columbiad gun. Tours are often conducted in character --- as if you were there in June of 1864. It is recommended to arrive around 9:30 AM at the dock in Delaware City (10:00 at Fort Mott for those joining us from the New Jersey side). There is street parking and nearby parking lots. The cost for the ferry ride and admission to the fort is $6, to be paid at the dock. The “behind the scenes” tour will be an additional $2, to be paid at the fort. The ferry leaves the dock in Delaware City at 10:00 AM, and will drop us off at the dock on the island.
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