We started off on Thursday, September 14th at the Morrell Room of the Curtis Memorial Library at 7:00 p.m..
Richard and Sharon Newcomb (in period attire) portrayed Mr. & Mrs. Hannibal Hamlin. They talked about his political career and highlights of his life.
Hamlin was born at Paris Hill, Maine on August 27, 1809; attended the district schools; took charge of the family farm and worked as a surveyor, compositor in a printing office, school teacher, studied law, admitted to the bar in 1833 and practiced in Hampden, Penobscot County until 1848. From then on he served in various political elected and appointed occupations. He will probably go down in history having served the shortest tenure in history as Governor of Maine from January 1857 until February 1857 when he resigned having been elected to the United States Senate. He was the United States' Minister to Spain from 1881 to 1882 when he resigned; devoted the remainder of his life to agricultural pursuits and died in Bangor, Maine on July 4, 1891.
Richard Newcomb is employed as an accountant in the Dept. of Human Services for the State of Maine. He is President of the Hannibal Hamlin Society and is responsible for saving and restoring Hannibal Hamlin's law office. The Newcombs reside in Hampden.
This meeting was held in the Morrell Room of the Brunswick Public Library at 7 PM.
Mark Dunkelman has done exhaustive research on the 154th NY Volunteer Regiment since learning as a youth that his great-grandfather, Corporal John Langhans, had been a member of the regiment’s Company H. His research has lead to prolific writing about the regiment. He produced , with co-author, Michael J. Winey of the U. S. Army Military History Institute, the book The Hardtack Regiment early on. His next book , which he spoke to us un June 1999, concerned Sgt. Amos Humiston of the regiment whose body was found with nothing to identify him but a picture of his three children which eventually led to his identity and the book Gettysburg Unknown Soldier - The Life and Death and Celebrity of Amos Humiston.
On Thursday, October 12th at the Brunswick Junior High School Cafeteria at 7:00 p.m.,
Dunkelman gave an overview of his 30+ years of studying the 154th and read excerpts from his new book War’s Relentless Hand: Twelve Tales of Civil War Soldiers which was released that month. The 154th was formed in Jamestown, NY and mustered in September 24, 1862. They served in the 11th Corps, Army of the Potomac until October 1863 when they were transferred to the Army of the Cumberland and participated in Sherman’s campaigns through Georgia and the Carolinas. They were mustered out in June 1865.
Dunkelman lives in Providence, RI with his wife and son.
Marius Peladeau, a long-time member of the Chamberlain CWRT was our speaker (and quiz-master) at our meeting on Tuesday, November 14th at the Brunswick Junior High School Cafeteria, at 7:00 p.m.
Marius did test our knowledge of the identities of these three men and give us some facts that we may not have known about them.
Peladeau was a speaker at our June, 1986 meeting and has been a regular ever since.
He lives in Readfiled, Maine. A former director of the Farnsworth Art Museum and the Maine League of Historical Societies, the General Manager of the Theater at Monmouth and the curator of the L.C. Bates Museum, he has authored 8 books and numerous articles. His latest book, "Willie Went to War," the story of the life of Willie Johnston of Salem, Vt., the little drummer boy of the 3rd Vermont Regiment during the Civil War. He was the youngest recipient of the Medal of Honor during that conflict.
A child prodigy, Ms. Antrim-Erckson played the flute professionally from age 9 in symphony orchestras, as a TV and concert stage soloist, international recording artist with her "Rameau Trio," many appearances at NY City’s Carnegie Hall and is a dedicated teacher. She will have copies of her book at the meeting for signing and purchase.
The Civil War was the first American war to be covered by the newspapers and weeklies, and created new occupations, war correspondents and sketch artists. With the advent of the telegraph, it was possible for a correspondent to write a report for his newspaper from the battlefield in the afternoon, telegraph it to the newspaper, and have it published in the newspaper the next morning. Newspapers, with the advent of rotary presses, could turn out multiple editions in a 24-hour period. Most newspapers had political affiliations, and could "edit" and publish biased or realistic reports from their correspondents, based on their political views during the war. Grant had a close, symbiotic relationship with war correspondents; Sherman hated them.
Our Thursday, January 11th meeting at 7 pm in the Brunswick Jr High School Cafeteria on Colombia Ave. did feature Bill Hallett of Haverhill, MA, presenting the fascinating topic of "The Role of the News Media in the Civil War." Bill did discuss the role of newspapers and weeklies during the war, the notable news correspondents and artists, and how the media impacted the progress of the war and affected the attitudes and perceptions of the civilian population.
Bill is President of the New Hampshire Civil War Round Table, and has been an active member of the NHCWRT for over 10 years. He's a reenactor with the 20th Maine, and the 19th and 28th Massachusetts organizations. He is a DJ for a Boston radio station, and works in the quality control lab of a Danvers, MA, ink manufacturer.
Bill's ancestors include a judge in the Salem Witch Trials and a 1st Sgt of the 20th ME who fell mortally wounded on Little Round Top in Gettysburg.
The population of Portsmouth, NH, was just under 10,000 people at the outbreak of the Civil War, but the town played an important role during the course of the war.
Two of its native sons became Major Generals; one died at the battle of Chancellorsville, and one was cashiered from the Army under questionable charges. Another resident deserted from the Union Navy and followed Confederate spy Belle Boyd to England. That shame was offset by the heroism of other Portsmouth residents; one was awarded a Medal of Honor for his actions during the naval battle between the USS Kearsarge and the CSS Alabama, which took place off the coast of Cherbourg, France. The USS Kearsarge was built in Portsmouth. Another resident was a hero during the Battle of Mobile Bay, and the first Union soldier to enter Richmond was also from Portsmouth.
These are just a few of the Civil War soldiers and sailors who became famous (or infamous) with ties to Portsmouth.
Our Thursday, February 8th meeting at 7 pm in the Brunswick Jr High School Cafeteria on Colombia Ave. did feature Dick Adams, noted local historian affiliated with the Portsmouth Athenaeum. Dick will convey the breadth and depth of Portsmouth's contributions to the Union cause. Dick is a former Marine Corps pilot who flew 380 missions in Viet Nam and later became a captain for a major US airline. He is now retired, and spends his time reading history books and visiting historical sites in the US and abroad. His favorite topic is the Civil War.
Professor Elizabeth D. Leonard writes, "Several years ago, my son Anthony, who was then 7 years old, surprised me one morning with this question: "Mom, is it true that the Union army freed the slaves and then went out and killed the Indians?" "Yes," I answered. "But why?" he persisted; "Why would they free one group of people and then go out and kill another group of people? What were they thinking?"
"In the years since, I've been pondering and researching that question, in anticipation of writing a book about it."
Professor Leonard did speak to us at our Thursday, March 8th meeting at 7 pm in the Brunswick Jr High School Cafeteria on Colombia Ave. about the role of the US Army during Reconstruction and the years leading up to, and during, the war in the west against the Native American tribes.
This was be Elizabeth Leonard's 4th visit to our Round Table. A powerful and engaging speaker, her prior presentation topics dealt with her published books, "Yankee Women: Gender Battles in the Civil War" (1994), "All the Daring of a Soldier: Women of the Civil War Armies" (1999), and "Lincoln's Avengers: Justice, Revenge, and Reunion after the Civil War" (2004).
Professor Leonard is the John J. and Cornelia V. Gibson Professor of History and Director of the Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program at Colby College in Waterville. She lectures throughout the country on her studies, and has appeared several times on BookTV. She also appeared in the History Channel's documentary of Andersonville Prison, and she will be seen in another History Channel program about Civil War women soldiers, airing this Spring. She is the proud mother of two sons, Anthony (12) and Joseph (10).
Steve Bunker and Tom Desjardin did join us as moderators and led us through some interesting discussions about the Civil War.
Who started the war? Was Lincoln really hoping that his plan to re-supply Fort Sumter would cause the Confederates to start the war, or was he hoping not to start the war?
Was Robert E. Lee the "Marble Man" or did he lose his marbles at Gettysburg?
Which battle had the greatest impact in 1863, Gettysburg or Vicksburg?
Stonewall Jackson preferred charges against Robert Garnett, W.H.L. Whiting, D.H. Hill, A.P. Hill, just about everybody that ever served under him. Longstreet, Cheatham, Polk, etc. all hated Braxton Bragg. Bedford Forrest threatened to kill John Bell Hood after the debacle at Spring Hill. Joe Johnston couldn't/wouldn't take orders from anyone; he's seething that Lee, his junior in rank, gets the top spot. What type of person is Jefferson Davis, who allows all this bickering to fester until the Confederate armies became powerless in the field to stop Grant and Sherman? Patrick Cleburne is a rising star in the Confederate army, on everyone's radar screen except Davis. Davis hated Cleburne's
opinion that slaves should be allowed to fight for the Confederacy, so Davis never considered Cleburne's fighting abilities. Was Davis the best man for the job of President? He really wanted to lead troops in the field - what impact would that have had - what type of general would he have been?
Davis not only fights with his generals; his war cabinet can't stand him. Alexander Stephens gets so disgusted, he spends most of the war on his Georgia plantation. Davis was voted into the position - why was he allowed to retain the Presidency?
June 14, 2007
Les Rolston, RI CWRT member and author, regaled us with the story of finding the only grave site of a Confederate soldier in RI, and then researching
the life and times of Samuel Postelthwaite, a private in the 21st Mississippi Infantry. His book is entitled, "Lost Soul: The Confederate Soldier in New England."
Our new season opened with a presentation by Dennis Sweetser of Auburn, who told the story of two Maine boys who served in the Civil War.
William Merrill from Freeport enlisted in the 20th Maine, and Wilbur Mower from Greene enlisted in the 16th Maine. Mr. Sweetser will relate the stories of the military careers of the two boys, who reached the apex of their military service at the Battle of Gettysburg. William Merrill (a relative of Mr. Sweetser) was killed on Little Round Top on July 2nd, and was transported to the field hospital on the Weikert Farm. Tom Desjardin, a former student of Mr. Sweetser, believes William Merrill may still be buried at the farm, but it’s possible that he may be one of the "Unknowns" in the National Cemetery.
Wilbur Mower was mustered in the 16th Maine as Corporal of Company I. Promoted to Sergeant, he carried the colors of the 16th Maine in Gettysburg on July 1st.
Mr. Sweetser is a graduate of Edward Little High School and Bates College, and has studied the Civil War since he was 14, when he visited the Gettysburg battlefield for the first time. For the last 33 of his 42 years as a teacher, he taught Chemistry at Edward Little, and retired as head of the department. Mr. Sweetser was a Little League coach for 41 years.
New research has brought an interesting aspect of the Civil War to light - there were black soldiers who fought for the Confederacy. This is certainly ironic, in light of the fact that the South fought to preserve their culture, which included slavery.
It is well known that black soldiers were actively recruited to serve in the Union army; James I. "Bud" Robertson, Jr., has tallied a list of 178,892 black soldiers who fought for the Union. Twenty-one black soldiers were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
In March, 1865, the Confederate Congress authorized (by a slim margin) the enlistment of 300,000 blacks to serve in Confederate armies, but this was too late to be of help to the South; Lee surrendered his army several weeks later on April 9th. We know blacks served in the Confederate armies as cooks, musicians, teamsters, and laborers; were they also given guns when the fighting started? As early as 1862, Alabama authorized the formation of colored militia units.
In a report filed by Lt. Col John Parkhurst of the 9th Michigan Infantry after the Battle of Murfrees-borough on July 13, 1862, he writes, "The forces attacking my camp were the First Regiment Texas Rangers,,, and a battalion of the First Georgia Rangers.... There were also quite a number of negroes attached to the Texas and Georgia troops, who were armed and equipped and took part in the several engagements with my forces during the day." (OR, Series 1, Vol XVI, Part 1, pg 805).
Michael Werner did speak on this topic at the Thursday, October 18th meeting at the Brunswick Jr. High School, Colombia Ave., at 7 pm. Mr. Werner has been a speaker at 35 Round Tables in 7 states, and is a Certified Army Historian. He is a Chief Warrant Officer in the Army Reserve, and has been called to active duty twice since 9/11; first in a military history detachment in which he co-authored an army publication (2001-2002), and second, a tour of duty in Uzbekistan (2003-2004).
Mr. Werner is Transportation Manager for the US Postal Service in New Castle, Delaware, and has worked in the Postal Service since 1977. He is a member of the General George G. Meade Society, the American Legion and VFW posts in Yardley, and the Jewish War Veterans, Post 697. He lives in Yardley, PA, with his wife of 30 years, and has 2 sons.
Dr. Margaret Creighton returns to our Round Table to discuss her recent book,"The Colors of Courage: Gettysburg’s Forgotten History." Dr. Creighton last spoke to us in 2002, and she will summarize her book, which focuses on the roles of women, immigrants, and African Americans as both citizens of, and participants in, the battle of Gettysburg and its aftermath.
The book’s focus is on the political and moral convictions of socially diverse civilians when the Confederate army appears on the outskirts of town.
The prevailing societal attitude of the time was against immigrants as they settled in every state during the 1840’s and 50’s. O.O. Howard’s 11th Corps was comprised of German-Americans. At Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, Howard’s troops were not "anchored" to defendable positions, and his troops were overrun and retreated. Were both battles instances of poor command decisions, or did the prevailing attitudes against immigrants "poison the perception of the 11th Corps and of immigrant Gettysburg citizens?
The female residents of Gettysburg went into action after the battle to nurse the wounded soldiers on both sides. The prevailing attitude of the day was
that nursing wounded men was a man’s job. The societal attitude was that women were passive, and too virtuous for nursing wounded "strangers." Why were women so negatively criticized by the public in 1863 for their valiant efforts helping soldiers?
Freeborn and emancipated African Americans had settled in Gettysburg before the battle, and were industrious and responsible residents. When they learned the Confederate army was in the area, they ran for safety away from the town, fearing capture and being enslaved. Was their flight justified?
Dr. Creighton, history professor at Bates College, will lead an interactive discussion on the myths of the battle of Gettysburg. We learned from prior speakers Tom Desjardin and Troy Harman that established history about the Gettysburg battle is now being questioned, and many "facts" seem to be based on myths. Did the "Killer Angels" contribute to perpetuating Gettysburg myths?
O.O. Howard was born in Leeds, Maine, on November 8, 1830. After graduating from Bowdoin in 1850, he went on to attend West Point, graduating in 1854 and finishing 4th in his class.
When the Civil War started, Howard accepted a commission as Colonel of the 3rd Maine regiment. He lost his right arm at the Battle of Fair Oaks in 1862. (Phil Kearney, who lost his left arm in the Mexican War, joked with Howard that they could share a pair of gloves). Howard was one of the few generals truly dedicated to the cause, and served with distinction... until Chancellorsville, when his 11th Corps "skedaddled" as Jackson’s troops overran the Howard’s unanchored flank position. Howard’s corps was "outflanked" again on the first day at Gettysburg.
What happened? Was Howard the victim of circumstances? Did he receive clear orders from his commanders, or was he the scapegoat for poor command decisions which precipitated the inglorious retreats of his corps at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg?
Howard was one of Sherman’s two corps commanders on the march through Georgia and No. Carolina, and was highly praised by Sherman as an effective commander. Howard’s troops nicknamed him "Old Prayer Book;" he was a pious, devout Protestant, who despised foul language and spirituous libations.
Marius Peladeau was to tell the story of O.O. Howard at the Thursday, December 13th meeting at the Curtis Memorial (Brunswick) Library at 7 pm.
Mr. Peladeau is a member of the Chamberlain CWRT, an author of several Civil War books, and is currently the Vice President of the Readfield Historical Society.
Cadwallader Washburn, noted member of the Washburn family from Livermore, Maine, was noted for his integrity, his administrative competence, and his political influence. This son of Maine was always stationed in the western theater, serving in Arkansas, Vicksburg, Louisiana, and Texas.
His greatest contributions came in western Tennessee, where he alternately fought Nathan Bedford Forrest and an army of Union cotton smugglers. By restoring order in Memphis, he was praised by both Grant and Sherman as one of the best administrators in the Union army. His "war behind the lines" was aided by his brother, Elihu, in Washington, and resulted in the removal of much corruption both in and out of the Union Army. At the end of the war he was feted by both sides for his even-handedness. He was Governor of Wisconsin after the war, and founded a flour mill in Minnesota, producing "Gold Medal' flour, known today as General Mills.
Kerck Kelsey, Cadwallader’s g-g-grandson, and CWRT member from So. Freeport, Maine, will relate the story of his famous relative. Mr. Kelsey is retired, and has spent the last 16 years researching the Washburn family, whose home is now known as Washburn-Norlands Living History Center in Livermore. Mr. Kelsey’s new book, "Remarkable Americans: The Washburn Family," will be available for sale and signing at the meeting.
The meeting was on Thursday, January 10th, 7 pm at the Brunswick Jr. High School on Colombia Ave.
Thomas Worcester Hyde was a student at Bowdoin College when the Civil War began. Like many Maine boys he enlisted early in the conflict, and began his military career as a private in the 7th Maine regiment, mustered into service in August, 1861. Hyde was from a prominent sea-faring family in Bath.
Thomas Hyde established a reputation early in the war; he won a Congressional Medal of Honor for his valor at Antietam, and was promoted to the rank of Brevet Brigadier General by the end of the war. He returned to Bath and purchased an iron foundry in 1865, which became known as Bath Iron Works. Hyde wrote "Following the Greek Cross, or the Memories of the 6th Army Corps," published in 1894.
Our speaker was maritime historian Bud Warren, a native Mainer, and Topsham resident. After graduation from Yale, he taught in Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Maine schools, including the Hyde School in Bath, then worked for 14 years at Bath Iron Works. Bud has been a volunteer and staff member of the Maine Maritime Museum, and is President of "Maine’s First Ship," an organization dedicated to building a replica of the 30-ton vessel built in 1607 in Bath.
The meeting was on Thursday, March 13th, at 7 pm, at the Highland Green Community Center off Rte 196 in Topsham. This was our first meeting at Highland Green, not to be confused with prior meetings at the Highlands in Topsham. The meeting was open to the public.
Known today as the "Old Dorm," Schmucker Hall was built in 1832 on the grounds of the Lutheran Seminary in Gettysburg. On July 1, 1863, the building was caught in the terrible fighting between elements of the First Corps of the Union Army and Confederate forces under General AP Hill. The building was used as an observation post by Union General John Buford, and later served as the largest field hospital in Gettysburg, treating 600 wounded men of both sides from July to September, 1863. Schmucker Hall was placed on the National Register of historic places in 1974, and is now the home of the Adams County Historical Society.
Wayne Motts, Executive Director of the Adams County Historical Society, returned to our Round Table to tell the story of the role of Schmucker Hall during the Battle of Gettysburg. Wayne graduated from Ohio State Univ. in 1989, and moved to Gettysburg in 1990 to pursue a Masters degree in American History from Shippensburg Univ. He was the youngest person to ever complete the licensing process, and became a Licensed Battlefield Guide at Gettysburg National Military Park, where he worked for 20 years. He is author of the book, "Trust in God and Fear Nothing: Lewis A. Armistead." For 10 years, Wayne was the research historian for famed artist, Dale Gallon.
Wayne was promoted to Executive Director of the Adams County Historical Society (ACHS) in 2005, having served as ACHS Collections Manager in 2004.
Wayne last visited our Round Table in September, 1998, and he’s looked forward to re-visiting Brunswick.
It’s time for a lively discussion between members and our moderators asking questions and debating issues about the Civil War.
Our moderators will be author Tom Desjardin and historian Steve Bunker, taking questions from the audience, and invoking discussion about what’s on your mind. Last year, Tom Desjardin said abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison was a "19th century Jihadist." (!)
Some of the questions we didn’t get to last year....
Was Lee the "marble man," or did he "lose his marbles" at Gettysburg?
Stonewall Jackson is considered one of the greatest Confederate strategists, yet he didn’t get along with his staff or his subordinate generals... he filed charges against Robert Garnett, WHL Whiting, DH Hill, AP Hill, etc. When criticized by Jeff Davis, he sent in his resignation from the Army. What would have happened if he had survived the Battle of Chancellorsville?
Grant fought his first battle in November, 1861, at Belmont, MO. He won the battles at Fort Henry and Donelson in February, 1862. He won at Shiloh in April, 1862. Why did it take Lincoln so long to recognize Grant as the General to win the war?
Also, please meet our youngest member, Brooke Tranten, who will have her award-winning exhibit on Chamberlain at the meeting. Brooke is a 7th-grade honor-roll student at Brunswick Jr. High School. Brooke is a Chamberlain fan, and created an exhibit entitled "Hold at All Costs: Joshua L. Chamberlain at Little Round Top" for the Maine History Competition in the individual exhibit category. Her exhibit won!!! Brooke and her mother, Deb, travel to the National History Day competition in College Park, Maryland, in mid-June, where the exhibit will placed in a nation-wide competition, with Barbara Bush as the emcee.
Please visit Brooke’s exhibit, and wish her well in the national competition.
The meeting date was Thursday, May 15th, at 7 pm at the Brunswick Jr. High School on Columbia Ave.
At the start of the Civil War, Missouri had few slaves, even after being admitted as a "slave state" in 1820. Missouri in the 1850’s was infested by bands of guerillas, which not only burned farms of pro- and anti-secessionist residents, but also raided across state lines into Kansas to force the slavery issue in the neighboring territory.
During the Civil War, Missouri was torn apart by both civil strife and pitched battles. Twelve entire towns in Missouri were burned by guerillas, forcing one-quarter of the population of Missouri to flee the state. Missouri ranks third after Virginia and Tennessee as the most fought over state, and it was arguably one of the worst places to live in the years from 1861-1865. A Federal soldier referred to Missouri as "the devil’s dominion."
Professor William G. Piston’s presentation will focus on the military, political, social, and geographic factors that shaped the war in Missouri, and made it so unique.
William Piston, a native of Tennessee, can trace his family’s roots to Rockland, Maine. He received his B.A. and M.A. from Vanderbilt University, and his Ph.D from the University of South Carolina. He is the author of "Lee’s Tarnished Lieutenant," a revisionist biography of James Longstreet, and "Wilson’s Creek: The Second Battle of the Civil War and the Men Who Fought It". He has been a Professor in the Department of History at Missouri State University in Springfield since 1988.
We are pleased that Dr. Piston was our featured speaker at the Annual Awards Dinner on Thursday, June 12th, at the Holiday Inn in Bath. The doors were opened at 5:30, with a cash bar, and the dinner started at app 6:15 pm. Dr. Piston’s presentation began at app 7:15, after the vote was taken for the new Board of Directors slate, awards are presented, and the raffle winner is determined.
We encouraged non-dinner guests to arrive at 7 pm for the post-dinner activities.
Our regular season was over, but we did have a special meeting of the Joshua Chamberlain Civil War Roundtable on August 14th. We meet at the Pejepscot Historical Society offices at 159 Park Row, Brunswick.
Our speaker was Dr. Joseph A. Whitehorne of Front Royal, VA, and his presentation was on the battle of Cedar Creek (in October, 1864, part of Sheridan's campaign to destroy the farms and Confederate supplies in the Shenandoah Valley). Several Maine regiments participated in the battle, including the 1st Maine Veteran, the 1st and 5th Maine Artillery Batteries, and the 5th, 12th, 14th, 29th and the 30th ME Regiments.