The Border Star Official Publication of the Civil War Round Table of Western Missouri “Studying the Border War and Beyond” April 2011 The bombardment of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861 was the The Civil War Round Table Cwas was e opening engagement of the American Civil War. The 150th Anofnive Westernrsary onMissouri April 12, Anniversary of the American Civil War is upon us! ………………………………………………………………………………................. 2011 Officers President --------------- Mike Calvert 1st V.P. -------------------- Pat Gradwohl 2nd V.P. ------------------- Art Kelley President’s Letter Secretary ---------------- Karen Wells Treasurer ---------------- Beverly Shaw Many years ago when I was just a lowly freshman at the University of Missouri, Historian ------------------ Open Rolla there was a road sign just as you made the turn onto Pine Street (the main Board Members street) that read “Rolla Missouri, the Watch Me City of the Show Me State” Delbert Coin Karen Coin Little did I know that that same sign could have describe Rolla in 1861. At the Terry Chronister Barbara Hughes terminus of the St Louis-San Francisco Railroad, Rolla was a strategic depot for Don Moorehead Kathy Moorehead all the campaigns into southwest Missouri to follow. Seized by Franz Siegel for Steve Olson Carol Olson Liz Murphy Terry McConnell the Union on June 14, 1861 it remained in Union hands throughout the war. So important as a supply depot that two forts were built to protect it (Fort Wyman The Border Star Editor and Fort Dettec). 20,000 troops were stationed there under orders from President Dennis Myers Lincoln to hold it at all costs. Phil Sheridan was stationed there as a Captain in 12800 E. 48th Street S. the commissary department. Independence, MO 64055 (816) 769-6490 The Civil War in southern Missouri funneled through Rolla and as I trudged Meetings across campus at the early hour of 7:30 a.m. for my first semester of calculus, 2nd Wednesday of each month when all was quiet, I should have been able to hear the ghosts of the men and 7:00 p.m. animals. Rolla has long been the home of a university and now because of the Villages of Jackson Creek 3980-A S. Jackson Drive sesquicentennial it is being recognized as a vital part of the Civil War history of (lower level) Missouri. What other places in Missouri will be “discovered” over the next four Independence, Missouri years is yet to be determined. Some will be very familiar while others will be, Visitors Always Welcome! not just a surprise, but a shock to many of us. Here’s to discovering something new or the embracing an old friend. See you on the discovery trail. Annual Dues Individual --------------------------- 15.00 Family ------------------------------- 25.00 P.S. Don’t miss the article on our new website. Thanks Lucky. Thanks Fran. Student (under 21) --------------- 5.00 Newsletter Only (no meetings) 10.00 ~Mike Calvert, President, Civil War Round Table of Western Missouri For Information Mike Calvert ------------------- 836-1013 Use of Code for Entrance and Exit at the Villages of Jackson Creek Beverly Shaw ----------------- 225-7944 Art Kelley ----------------------- 373-4101 Our meeting place is very generously provided by the Villages of Jackson Creek, an Independence assisted living and nursing care facility. We meet Mailing Address in the eastern wing of the building which is occupied by the assisted living CWRTWM clients. In the evening the front doors are secured and can only be P.O. Box 3019 accessed by the keypad with the code 1207*. When you leave after the Independence, MO 64055 meeting, please be sure to utilize the keypad rather than forcing the doors open. Once you have entered 1207*, you will need to stand directly in **** NEW Website ***** front of the doors to activate them. If you have a problem, you can call www.CWRTWM.org Beverly on her cell phone number (816) 225-7944 to ask for assistance. CWRTWM Calendar Raytown Ambassadors Meeting Monday, April 4, 2011 – 10:00 a.m., Raytown Lewis-Gregg Cemetery Cleanup Historical Society, 9705 E. 63rd Street, Raytown, Saturday, April 2, 2011 – 9:00 a.m. - Noon MO. “Early Days of the Civil War.” Free and open Bring your own gloves, rakes, etc. Preferred to the public. route from Highway 24 is to turn north on Salem Drive and take it to Colony Lane, go right on Kansas and the Civil War Colony Lane to the dead-end (cul-de-sac) where we Monday, April 4, 2011 – 7:00 p.m., Kansas City, walk through the field, going north to the cemetery. KS Public Library, 625 Minnesota Ave., Kansas We have some discoveries to share about the burials City, KS. Brian Craig Miller: Examination of from research done by David Jackson and Kathleen how the Civil War affected the state of Kansas. Tuohey. What Happened on April 12, 1861? April 2011 Membership Meeting Tuesday, April 5, 2011 – 6:30 p.m., Central Library, Wednesday, April 13, 2011 – 7:00 p.m. 14 W. 10th St., Kansas City, MO (free parking in Villages of Jackson Creek (lower level), library parking garage at 10th and Baltimore after 3980-A S. Jackson Drive, Independence, MO 6:00 p.m.). Ethan Rafuse of the Military History Carolyn and Steve Hatcher: “The Firing on Ft. Dept. of the Command and General Staff College at Sumter” from a recent visit there. Fort Leavenworth: “Events leading up to the Confederate attack on Union-held Fort Sumter in April 2011 Board Meeting Charleston Harbor.” RSVP to (816) 701-3400. Wednesday, April 20, 2011 – 7:00 p.m. Home of Beverly Shaw, 17313 E. 51st Terr. Court, Blue or Gray? Civil War Military Records Independence, MO. Tuesday, April 5, 2011 – 7:00 p.m., Kearney Library, 100 S. Platte-Clay Way, Kearney, MO. Civil War Battlefield Tour - May 2011 Tour of primary source material for Civil War Saturday, May 14, 2011 – 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. research. RSVP to (816) 628-5055. Class repeated Guided bus tour to Clay County, Missouri. at Midwest Genealogy Center on Saturday, April 9th Meet at the Blue & Grey Book Shoppe, 106 E. at 9:30 a.m. and at Blue Ridge on Tuesday, April 26 Walnut, Independence, MO. Off-street parking at 7:00 p.m. See calendar. one block away in the lot on the northwest corner of Walnut and Liberty. The book store will be open Civil War in Jackson County before departure at 9:00 a.m. $40 for bus, box Wednesday, April 6, 2011 – 7:00 p.m., Raytown lunch, and admittance fees. A minimum of 30 Library, 6131 Raytown Road, Raytown, MO. people are needed to reserve the bus so we request Gregg Higginbotham: A war which turned your reservations by the end of April. neighbor against neighbor and brother against brother. RSVP to (816) 353-2052. Program repeated Other Civil War Events th on Thursday, April 28 at Grandview Library. See Park Day at Lone Jack Battlefield calendar. Saturday, April 2, 2011 – 9:00 a.m., Lone Jack Battlefield, 301 S. Bynum, Lone Jack, MO. Civil War in the West Volunteers needed to rake leaves and pick up sticks Thursday, April 7, 2011 – 2:00 p.m., National to clean the cemetery. Also inside cleaning at the Frontier Trails Museum, 318 W. Pacific, museum. Independence, MO. Discover how the Civil War impacted western settlement in a 30-minute The Battle of Liberty guided tour. Regular museum admittance rates: Saturday, April 2, 2011 – 10:00 a.m., Corbin Adults are $6, Seniors 62 and older are $5, Youth 6- Theatre, 15 N. Water Street, Liberty, MO, Jay 17 are $3, 5 and under are free. Repeated Thursday, Jackson, historian and re-enactor: The Battle of April 14th and Thursday, April 22nd. Liberty. Free and open to the public. 2 Confederate Veterans and Homes at Blue Springs North on April 20th at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, April 7, 2011 – 7:00 p.m., National See calendar. Frontier Trails Museum, 318 W. Pacific, Independence, MO. Historian Jim Beckner Opening of Missouri’s Civil War Museum discusses the fate of thousands of Confederate Tuesday, April 12, 2011. Jefferson Barracks, veterans after the Civil War. Cost is $6 and advance St. Louis, MO. Go to www.mcwm.org. reservations required by calling (816) 325-7575. Tombstone Series Fort Sumter, Then and Now Thursday, April 14, 2011 – 7:00 p.m., National Thursday, April 7, 2011 – 7:00 p.m., Clay County Frontier Trails Museum, 318 W. Pacific, Museum, 14 N. Main Street, Liberty, MO. Carolyn Independence, MO. John Mark Lambertson: Gone Hatcher: Fort Sumter from its construction, to the but Not Forgotten: Tombstones of the Famous and Civil War bombardments, to the current day. Infamous. Cost is $6. RSVP to (816) 325-7575. Suggested donation at the door is $3. 50th Anniversary of Bates County Historical Society Common Soldier of the Civil War Friday, April 15, 2011 – 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Thursday, April 7, 2011 – 7:00 p.m., Buckner Robertson Hall, 802 Elks Drive, Butler, MO. Library, 19 E. Jefferson, Buckner, MO. Greg Golden anniversary ceremony at 7:00 p.m. and Higginbotham, a common foot soldier re-enactor, come and go reception. Special displays. takes you through his daily life. RSVP to (816) 650-3212. Medical Practices on the Western Trails Saturday, April 16, 2011 – 10:00 a.m., Historic Blue or Gray? Civil War Military Records Oxford Schoolhouse at Ironwoods Park, 147th and Saturday, April 9, 2011 – 9:30 a.m., Midwest Mission Road, Leawood, KS. Drew Bodner will Genealogy Center, 3440 S. Lee’s Summit give an introduction to the historic western trails Road, Independence, MO.