Local ACW events: May 2009 Archives

Here is the schedule for the upcoming series of anniversary battlewalks at Gettysburg, which are led by park rangers and generally attract large crowds. Past walks are often shown on Pennsylvania Cable Network, which also sells videos of selected tours. My sons and I have taken advantage of many of these FREE guided tours over the past eight years.

July 1, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.
The Attack and Defense of Oak Ridge
After the initial Confederate thrust toward Gettysburg was repulsed on the late morning of July 1, the battle escalated as both armies brought more troops onto the field, lengthening their respective battle lines. Sometime around noon Maj. Gen. Robert Rodes's Confederate Division arrived from the north and quickly occupied Oak Hill, a strategic height northwest of town. Rodes deployed his troops and soon after launched them against the right flank of the Union First Corps located on Oak Ridge. The resulting action was confused and bloody, as the outnumbered Union defenders tenaciously held their ground against repeated Confederate attacks from the north, northwest and west. Join Park Ranger Eric Campbell as he examines this chaotic struggle from the perspective of both the advancing Confederates and the Union defenders.
Meet at the Eternal Light Peace Memorial, Auto Tour Stop 2. Additional parking is available along the right side of North Confederate Avenue, beyond the Eternal Light Peace Memorial parking lot, or along Buford Avenue, south of the Mummasburg Road. Note: Please park your vehicle on the right side of the road, but with all wheels on the pavement.

Author Stephen V. Ash will discuss his latest book, Firebrand of Liberty: The Story of Two Black Regiments that Changed the Course of the Civil War, at the Friday, June 12, meeting of the Harrisburg Civil War Round Table. Ash's talk, entitled "Making War on Slavery: The Unknown Story of the Florida Expedition of 1863," focuses on the First and Second South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, the very first black regiments mustered into the Union army. Composed largely of the freed slaves,these regiments captured Jacksonville, Florida, in 1863 and helped convince Abraham Lincoln to expand the enlistment of African-Americans.

Ash is a professor of history at the University of Tennessee. Although a California native, he lived for many years in Pennsylvania. He received his undergraduate degree from Gettysburg College and his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Tennessee. His other books include When the Yankees Came: Conflict and Chaos in the Occupied South, 1861-1865 (1995); and A Year in the South: 1865: The True Story of Four Ordinary People Who Lived Through the Most Tumultuous Twelve Months in American History (2004).

The Harrisburg Civil War Round Table meets at the Radisson Penn Harris Hotel & Convention Center, Camp Hill, PA, Camp Hill Bypass @ Routes 11&15. An informal reception starts at 6:00 PM, followed by dinner at 6:30. The cost of dinner is $20.00 and reservations must be made by no later than Tuesday, June 9, by calling 717-737-9064. The program begins at 8:00 PM and is free to the public.

Contact Douglas Gibboney, Publicity Chairperson, for further information at 717-243-1738.

All photos courtesy of York County Civil War buff and webmaster Randy Drais.

A local reenactment group, including members of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW), provides the honor guard for the dedication ceremonies held this past Saturday May 9 at Hanover Junction, Pennsylvania. The crowd had gathered to participate in or watch the formal dedication of four vintage Civil War artillery tubes, which have found a new home at the Hanover Junction rail stop, a popular stopping place on the York Heritage Rail Trail bicycle path.

Publisher Patrick Schroeder will be on hand for the May 14th Lancaster Civil War Round Table meeting to speak about his book, Thirty Myths about Lee's Surrender. Find out the facts about where Lee was heading with his army, losses at Sailor's Creek, the origins of the apple tree story, where the surrender actually took place, who accompanied Lee to the McLean House, who was present at the surrender meeting, Grant's uniform, George Armstrong Custer's role at Appomattox, the Confederate soldiers' return home, Lee's activities after the surrender, the buildings of Appomattox Court House, the wax figures, and all about Wilmer McLean and his house that was used for the surrender meeting.

The Lancaster Civil War Round Table will meet at the Lititz Public Library located at 651 Kissel Hill Road in Lititz at 7:00pm. Pre-registration is suggested by emailing your name, phone number and the number attending to srihn@lititzlibrary.org or call the library at 626-2255. If you have questions about the program, call Micky at 392-4976 or email lancastercivilwarroundtable@gmail.com.

These programs are free and open to the public.