National Park Service Arlington House U.S. Department of the Interior The Robert E. Lee Memorial The Spectacle From the Office Down the Hall In 150 years, I suspect no one will remember Paula Radcliffe. Arguably, in only four years she may already be relegated to little more than an Olympic footnote: the woman that almost won gold for Brittan in 2004. This is especially tragic because she held such promise, such potential. As Brando once said, “I could have been a contender.” Paula was the women’s marathon world record holder and the favorite to win this year in Greece. Yet only a few miles from the finish, she sat and began sobbing, leaving a stadium full of very disappointed people holding limp Union Jacks. In an AP story, she said, “I just don’t have a reason…I just felt like I couldn’t keep going.” Paula should have won gold, but did not even get to test the heft of bronze. The Olympics are an inherently patriotic event and, on opening night as I watched West side of Arlington House nations proudly waiving their colors in a spirit of cooperation and fierce friendliness, Like Paula, Custis was poised for gold. He and, after seeing no action, his unit was I began to think about George Washington had George Washington for a coach and the disbanded. However Custis continued his Parke Custis. Custis had one foot in a advantages of money and position to help efforts at public service. In 1802 he made an classical education (okay, at least a few toes) him achieve his considerable potential. Yet in attempt at following his mentor into politics and both feet firmly planted on American 1798, the Reverend John McDowell at St. when he ran for the General Assembly—and soil—he was nothing if not the epitome of a John’s College in Annapolis wrote George then lost with only 20% of the vote. In 1814 patriot. I think the Olympics would have Washington concerning his ward, young he got another chance at the militia, but was suited him just fine (especially if there was a master Custis: “Mr. Custis possesses turned down for a commission, so he joined sheep sheering event). What’s more, in his competent talents…but they are the rank and file to fend off the advancing 1826 Fourth of July speech, Custis counteracted by an indolence of mind which Redcoats...and the British burned the admonished a crowd at Arlington Spring to renders it difficult to draw them into Capitol. send more aid to the embattled Greeks. If he action…” This after having been expelled could have survived another 40 years, he from the College of New Jersey at Princeton Now it must be said that Custis was a probably would have loved to have gone to only the year before. Then as a teenager (and persistent man and was undaunted by these Greece to wave an American flag at the first old enough to participate in the modern setbacks. In fact, it was the gun manned by modern Olympics in 1896. But if posterity Olympics) Custis joined the militia and was Custis that fired the last defensive shot in 1814 were made into an Olympic event, I wonder even promoted to the brevet rank of major. (before everyone went home; Custis watched how well he would do? But Washington’s comments suggest he was (continued on page 6) more interested in the uniform than combat Volunteer’s Monthly Newsletter - Volume V, Number 9 - September 2004 Area Special Events September 3-6 military life during the Civil War at Meadow Stonewall Jackson Heritage Arts & Crafts Farm Park, just north of Richmond,VA off I- Jubilee, includes Civil War camps and 295. Noon-4 pm. Free. 804-501-5520. demonstrations at the Jackson’s Mill Historic Area, off Route 19 near Weston, WV. 304- September 7 269-5100 or www.jacksonsmill.com. Lecture, “Reconsidering the Evidence: The Road to Special Order 191, September 1862.” September 4 Where were the “Lost Orders” found? At the Washington DC Bus tour, “Behind the Greenbrier MDState Park Visitor Center. 7 Living history and reenactment of the Battle Scenes of Lincoln’s Assassination,” covers pm. Free. 301-432-8065 or www.fosmb.org. of Crampton’s Gap (South Mountain) near less familiar sites in the city. A Smithsonian Burkittsville, MD. Details: Associates tour. Leaves 8:45 am from the September 8 www.burkittsville1862.com. corner of Fourth and Independence Avenue. Lecture, “Field Hospitals at Burkittsville,” $130. www.residentassociates.org/rap or 202- Gathland State Park near Burkitsville, MD. 7 Civil War Days at the Chesapeake Public 357-3030. pm. Free. 301-432-8065 or www.fosmb.org. Library, VA. Living history, demonstrations, lectures, kids’ activities and much more Walking tour with living history: Meet spies September 9 offered at this popular annual event. 757-382- soldiers, actors and other “citizens” of Lecture, “Iron Brigade at South Mountain.” 8571 or www.chesapeake.lib.va.us. Washington, DC and decode a spy message (MD) Who was really the first Iron Brigade? during “Courage! The Civil War in At the Greenbrier State Park Visitor Center. 7 Living history, “What’s Cooking,” 19th- Washington” walking tour. Begins 11 am at pm Free. 301-432-8065 or www.fosmb.org. century cooking techniques at Endview Cosi Coffee, 10th and E streets NW. Mention Plantation in Newport News, VA. Free with you saw it here for ticket discounts. $12 adult, September 10 admission. 757-887-1862 or $6 under 12 (after discount). 301-588-9255 or Special program, “The Role of Children in www.endview.org. [email protected]. the Civil War,” exhibit opening reception at the National Civil War Museum in September 12 Civil War living history lantern tours at Harrisburg, PA. Details: 866-258-4729 or Flag placing ceremony, first-ever event at the Meadow Farm Park just north of Richmond, www.nationalcivilwarmuseum.org. Antietam National Cemetery, MD placing VA off I-295. Tours leave every 15 minutes flags over the graves of soldiers known killed 7:15-9 pm. Free. Registration required, call September 11 at South Mountain. Begins at 9 am. 804-501-5520. Seminar, “Drawing Fire: Surveying & Map Volunteers welcome. 301-432-8065 or Making in the Civil War,” sponsored in part www.fosmb.org. September 4-5 by the Rich Mountain Battlefield Foundation Living history encampment and in Beverly, WV. Registration, details: 304-637- Guided tour of the site of a Confederate Civil demonstrations by CSA artillery at Pitzer RICH or email [email protected]. War camp and a freedman’s farm on Woods in the Gettysburg National Military President James Madison’s estate, Park, PA. www.nps.gov/gett or 717-334-1124 September 9-11 Montpelier, near Orange, VA. Estate was extension 422. Living history encampment and used during the winter of 1863-64 by South demonstrations by Virginia soldiers in Pitzer Carolina troops. 2 pm. Free with admission September 5 Woods and CSA artillery at the Pennsylvania ($11 adults). 540-672-2728 or Living history artillery demonstration at Fort Memorial in the Gettysburg National www.montpelier.org. Washington Park, MD near Washington DC Military Park. www.nps.gov/gett or 717-334- at 1, 2 and 3 pm. Free with park admission. 1124 extension 422. September 13 www.nps.gov/fowa or 301-763-4600. Lecture, “The Battle, or Battles, of South September 11-12 Mountain,” at Gathland State Park near Walking tour, “Death of a Brigade,” mile hike Living history, “The Siege and Capture of Burkittsville, MD. 7 pm. Free. 301-432-8065 between Fox’s and Turner’s Gaps on South Harpers Ferry 1862,” at the Harpers Ferry or www.fosmb.org. Mountain near Boonsboro, MD. Begins at 2 National Historical Park, WV. Free with pm at Turner’s Gap. Free. 301-432-8065. admission. www.nps.gov/hafe or 304-535- September 14 6298. Lecture, “The Battle of South Mountain in Living history, emphasis is on civilian and the Context of the Civil War,” at the 2 The Spectacle Area Special Events (continued) Greenbrier State Park Visitor Center, MD. 7 National Military Park, PA. 717-334-1124 Living history encampment and pm. Free. 301-432-8065 or www.fosmb.org. extension 422 or www.nps.gov/gett. demonstrations by Pennsylvania hospital unit at Spangler Spring and CSA artillery at September 16 Living history, “Harvest Fair,” 1800s Pitzer Woods in the Gettysburg National “The CSS Hunley: Recovered and Raised,” plantation-style commemoration of the Military Park, PA. www.nps.gov/gett or 717- the story of the Confederate submarine in season with storytelling, dance and much 334-1124 extension 422. Charleston Harbor. Talk at the USS more at Pamplin Historical Park near Constellation in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, Petersburg, VA. Free with admission. Living history, “Give Us Our Daily Bread,” MD. 7 pm. $12 at door, $10 advance. 410-539- www.pamplinpark.org or 877-PAMPLIN. life on the Civil War home front at 1797 or www.constellation.org Washington Monument State Park (South Special anniversary weekend, “The Potomac Mountain) near Boonsboro, MD. Details: September 17-19 River Blockade: The Fight at Freestone Point 301-432-8065. Anniversary activities at the Antietam Civil War Battery,” at Leesylvania State Park, National Battlefield, MD. Details: Woodbridge, VA. Recreates 1861 event. Living history, anniversary program at Fort www.nps.gov/anti or 304-535-6298. Living history, demonstrations, special tours. Harrison, part of the Richmond National 10 am-4 pm. $4 per carload. 703-583-6904 or Battlefield Park, VA. Walking tours and Civil War Weekend commemorating the email [email protected].