Mr. Jeri Jones of Spring Grove, distinguished York County geologist, author, and field guide

The York Civil War Round Table is pleased to announce the speaker for the September 17 meeting. Jeri Jones of Jones Geological Services will speak on the "Geology of the Gettysburg Military Park and How it Influenced the Battle." The presentation will be at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium of the York County Heritage Trust at 250 E. Market Street in downtown York. Parking and admission, as always, are free, and the public is welcome!

Posted in Gettysburg battlefield York CWRT

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

Author Scott Mingus signs copies of his latest book at a store in Gettysburg

The August meeting of the York CWRT will feature Scott Mingus as the guest speaker, telling true tales and Human Interest Stories from the Gettysburg Campaign - many of which are taken from the manuscript for Volume 3 of this series, which is being compiled currently.

The meeting will be in the auditorium of the York County Heritage Trust at 250 East Market Street in York, Pennsylvania at 7 p.m. on Wednesday evening, August 20. There will be a PowerPoint slide show in conjunction with the talk.

Posted in Civilians Confederates Yankees York CWRT

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

Historian Tim Smith of the Adams County Historical Society will be the guest speaker at this month's CWRT meeting in York.

Background post: 2008 speaker schedule - York CWRT

The monthly meeting of the York Civil War Round Table will feature author, historian, and Licensed Battlefield Guide Timothy H. Smith as the special guest speaker. He is speaking on his latest book, Farms at Gettysburg: The Fields of Battle: Selected Images From the Adams County Historical Society. Tim has a PowerPoint presentation, and he will interject, when appropriate, information about the Gettysburg civilians.

The meeting will be Wednesday evening, July 16, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium of the York County Heritage Trust's headquarters at 250 E. Market Street in downtown York. Parking and admission are free. Why not come and hear one of the most entertaining and knowledgeable Civil War experts in the region?

Posted in Books Civilians Gettysburg Campaign Gettysburg battlefield York CWRT

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

Last night at York's Patriot Days celebration panel discussion at the York County Heritage Trust, four authors with York ties along with author and newspapermen Jim McClure briefly discussed whether York should have surrendered to Maj. Gen. Jubal Anderson Early of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. There was no military reason to defend York, and the army did what it felt was prudent tactically to withdraw to the Susquehanna River, which they had been ordered to defend. The key issue was the controversial decision of York's leaders to seek out the Rebels and negotiate for the safety of the town, as act some Yorkers of that day felt was treasonous, while others strongly believed it saved the town from destruction.

One important point brought up by the panelists was that Jubal Early would likely have been court-martialled had he wantonly torched a Northern town against Robert E. Lee's orders. Targets of military value such as warehouses, railroads, bridges, telegraphs, etc. were allowable, but private property was not to be touched. Lee has issued very stern (for him) orders regarding his men's behavior, and it is incomprehensible to me that a major general, one of Lee's personal acquaintances and most trusted fighters, would have taken such a daring risk. True, Early had burned Congressman Thaddeus Stevens' Caledonia Iron Works, but Early had rationalized that this was fair game in retaliation for Stevens' open encouragment of the destruction of property in the South.

Here is the text of Lee's General Orders #72, which governed the behavior of his troops while in Pennsylvania. Read them, and you decide if Jubal Early would have been in trouble had he burned down York...

Posted in Civil War people Confederates Gettysburg Campaign Local ACW events York York CWRT

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

An 1861 woodcut of the Confederate Stars and Bars fluttering over the Marshall House hotel in Alexandria, Virginia. Two years later, a later version of the Confederate banner floated in the breeze over York, Pennsylvania, the largest town in the North to be occupied by the Rebels during the Civil War.

This Wednesday night, June 25, the York County Heritage Trust and the York Civil War Roundtable will co-host a Civil War panel discussion on the occupation of York during the Gettysburg Campaign. As part of the city-sponsored Patriot Days, this event has been evolving for several months, but has now been finalized. A panel of four speakers will join moderator Jim McClure of the York Daily Record to present a series of brief talks on various aspects of the town, its people and buildings, its defenders, and its uninvited guests from Dixie.

The panel discussion is free of charge, and will be at YCHT's auditorium at 250 E. Market Street in downtown York at 7:00 p.m.. Parking is also free. This presentation deals with a very interesting and controversial subject, one that elicits numerous opinions.

Posted in Civil War people Civilians Confederates Gettysburg Campaign Local ACW events Yankees York York CWRT

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

Background post: 2008 speaker schedule - York CWRT

The next meeting of the York Civil War Round Table will be Wednesday, June 18, at 7:00 p.m. at the York County Heritage Trust's auditorium (250 E. Market Street in York). The guest speaker will be Mr. Tom Schaefer, a long-time York County historian and local educator. Tom will speak on the topic "The Skirmish at Wrightsville: A Tactical Analysis."

Tom has provided a synopsis of his talk, which dovetails nicely with my upcoming book on the bridge burning from Ironclad Publishing.

Posted in Gettysburg Campaign Wrightsville York CWRT York CWRT

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

Background post: 2008 speaker schedule - York CWRT

The next meeting of the York Civil War Round Table will be Wednesday, June 18, at 7:00 p.m. at the York County Heritage Trust's auditorium (250 E. Market Street in York). The guest speaker will be Mr. Tom Schaefer, a long-time York County historian and local educator. Tom will speak on the topic "The Skirmish at Wrightsville: A Tactical Analysis."

Tom has provided a synopsis of his talk, which dovetails nicely with my upcoming book on the bridge burning from Ironclad Publishing.

Posted in Gettysburg Campaign Wrightsville York CWRT York CWRT

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

Well known Pennsylvania author J. David Petruzzi visited the York CWRT this past Wednesday night and presented one of the most interesting overviews of J.E.B. Stuart's mid-1863 ride around Hooker / Meade's army that I have recently heard. I had helped a little with the original research and data collection for his fine book, Plenty of Blame to Go Around: J.E.B. Stuart's Controversial Ride to Gettysburg, but I found a lot more information since its publication, so I decided to write a magazine article on the specific portion of Stuart's ride between the end of the Battle of Hanover and the shelling of Carlisle - that is, the ride from the outskirts of Hanover to Dillsburg through western York County.

That article appeared in the January 2008 issue of The Gettysburg Magazine and is a companion piece to the article I wrote for the July 2007 issue regarding "Jubal Early Takes York." Both issues are widely available from Gettysburg booksellers and gift shops, or can be obtained over the Internet directly from the publisher.

Posted in Confederates Dillsburg Dover Gettysburg Campaign Hanover York CWRT

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

The subject of a talk on May 21, 2008, by noted author J. David Petruzzi -- famed Confederate cavalry general James E. B. "Jeb" Stuart, who was killed less than a year after his controversial ride around the Union army.

As a prelude to J. David Petruzzi's presentation Wednesday night at the monthly meeting of the York Civil War Round Table (7:00 p.m., York County Heritage Trust, 250 East Market Street, York; FREE admission!!!), I offer a couple of anecdotes from famed Confederate cavalier J.E.B. Stuart's torturous ride through western York County, which included a late night trek from the Battle of Hanover northward to Dover.

Of the nearly 10,000 Confederates that traversed York County in late June 1863, Stuart's troopers developed a reputation (well deserved) as the most significant horse thieves in the Rebel army. There are more than 900 damage claims filed after the war by farmers and residents of the county, and at least 600 of these deal directly with the theft of horses or mules by Stuart's passing column. It's hard to imagine how much they may have taken had they been allowed the luxury of staying and resting a few days, like their cavalry counterparts under William H. French and Elijah V. White, who accompanied Jubal A. Early's column into York and did their own fair share of horse trading.

Posted in Civilians Confederates Gettysburg Campaign Hanover York CWRT

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

Pennsylvania author J. David Petruzzi is the featured guest speaker for the May meeting of the York CWRT.

From June 30 through the wee morning hours of July 2, elements of J.E.B. Stuart's vaunted, but road-weary and exhausted Confederate cavalry column trudged through western York County. They fought a pitched battle at Hanover, as well as a couple of very minor rear guard skirmishes near Jefferson and Dover. Stuart did not arrive on the Gettysburg battlefield until late on July 2, having fought yet again at Hunterstown.

Historians for 145 years have argued the merits of Stuart's controversial ride around the Union army, one that put him out of touch with the main force of the Army of Northern Virginia for part of the campaign. Some critics blame Stuart for leaving Lee blind while in enemy country; others argue that the move made military sense and circumstances beyond Stuart's (and Lee's) control contributed to the delayed reunion with the infantry.

Brockway, PA author J. D. Petruzzi will present a FREE talk at the York County Civil War Round Table on Wednesday, May 21, at 7:00 p.m. at the York County Heritage Trust at 250 East Market Street in downtown York. This promises to be of strong interest to anyone interested in exploring the Civil War history of this region, and a chance to see and hear one of America's leading cavalry experts deliver his personal opinion on Stuart's ride.

Posted in Books Confederates Dillsburg Dover Gettysburg Campaign Hanover Jefferson York CWRT

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

Jack was the official mascot of the 102nd Pennsylvania, a volunteer infantry regiment that is now associated with the local York Civil War Round Table.

Soldiers away from home during the Civil War often adopted pets and mascots, including bears, eagles, cats, goats, chickens, and other domesticated animals. The most common pets were, of course, dogs. I cover several of these dog mascots and their combat prowess in my three human interest stories books, and I have been asked to write a book specifically covering animal mascots during the war. Perhaps someday...

The 102nd Pennsylvania is one of two Civil War infantry regiments whose monuments have been “adopted” by the York Civil War Round Table (the other being the 62nd New York). The 102nd had a dog named “Jack” for a regimental mascot. Let's learn a little more about this famed little mascot, whose ultimate fate was an unsolved mystery.

Posted in Yankees York CWRT

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

The 102nd Pennsylvania was among the Union reinforcements that helped clear the "Valley of Death" late on July 2.

The York Civil War Round Table is sponsoring a National Park Service-sanctioned battlefield clean-up activity on Saturday morning, May 3, 2008. To further entice folks to turn out, in the early afternoon, there will be a free battle walk and tour of East Cemetery Hill led by Scott Mingus, who has written a new book covering the topic. There is no charge for either activity, and the public is welcome to participate, although a free-will donation is suggested to the York CWRT to help defray expenses for the speakers at future monthly meetings. Volunteers for the Adopt-a-Position work day need to bring gloves and clippers.

Meet at 10 a.m. at the monuments to the 102nd Pennsylvania / 62nd New York on the John Weikert / Althoff Farm Lane, just northeast of the Wheatfield Road intersection with Crawford Avenue (near Houck's Ridge / Devil's Den). Lunch is on your own. Then, at 1:00 p.m., meet at the Evergreen Cemetery Gatehouse for the 90-minute battle walk, which will involve only modest walking.

Posted in Gettysburg Campaign Gettysburg battlefield Local ACW events One-tank road trips York CWRT

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (4)

Robert E. Lee remains one of the most revered figures in U.S. history, particularly in the South where his birthday remains a holiday in certain places. While Lee never set foot in York, some of his subordinate officers later claimed he planned to fight the decisive battle of the summer campaign here, concentrating his army in and around York. Indeed, he was on his way to York when plans changed late on June 28, 1863, and he instead assembled his forces to the west to meet an unexpected Union threat.

Complete and up-to-date schedule for the meetings of the York Civil War Round Table

Old Granny. The King of Spades. Bobby Lee. Marse Robert. The succession of Robert E. Lee's nicknames traces his progression in the Civil War from a relatively old former U.S. Cavalry officer to the man in charge of digging earthworks to protect such out-of-the-way places as Honey Hill, South Carolina, then to the beloved leader of the Army of Northern Virginia, and finally to one of the most legendary figures in American military history. Shrouded in myth and legend, viewed by many through rose-colored glasses, and idolized by scores of followers who waged a campaign during Reconstruction to cement his place in history, Robert E. Lee has come down to today's generation as a symbol of the Confederacy and the "Lost Cause."

Come to the York County Heritage Trust this Wednesday evening, April 16, at 7:00 p.m. to hear a long-time scholar of the Lee family, Ken Miller, present a talk on "The Personal Side of Robert E. Lee." Admission is free, as is parking. YCHT is at 250 E. Market Street in York, just a few blocks east of Centre Square. This is one of a continuing series of talks presented by the York CWRT in cooperation with YCHT.

Posted in Civil War people Confederates York CWRT

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

Don't forget Wednesday night's monthly meeting of the York Civil War Round Table! 7 pm at the York Heritage Trust on East Market Street. Dick Simpson. Gettysburg monuments. Be there!

Details

2008 schedule

Posted in York CWRT

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

For many years, the National Park Service has allowed various organizations, as well as private citizens, to "adopt" a monument or position on the Gettysburg battlefield. Volunteers are encouraged to clean-up and maintain the general environ of the area around the monument. Activities include weeding, trimming, clearing underbrush, and general maintenance of the grounds. These volunteer groups often meet once or twice a year for organized work parties that often include meals or refreshments together before or after the work.

A couple members of the York CWRT have adopted positions and are having a clean-up day on April 5. I'm sure they would welcome more help from any Cannonball readers!!

Posted in Gettysburg battlefield One-tank road trips York CWRT

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

Background post: 2008 York CWRT schedule

Mark your calendars!!! The March 19, 2008, meeting of the York Civil War Round Table will be an interesting look at the monumentation at the Gettysburg National Military Park. Dick Simpson will be talking on "Gettysburg: America's Great Art Park." He will take a close look at the outstanding carved and cast battlefield monuments, and will show slides of many popular monuments.

As always, the event (and parking) is free to the public. It will be at 7 P.M. 3/19 at the York County Heritage Trust on East Market Street in downtown York.

Posted in Gettysburg Campaign Gettysburg battlefield York CWRT

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

Through the efforts of Kathy Friel, the speaker schedule for the 2008 meetings of the revitalized York Civil War Round Table is filling in. Tim Smith, well respected author and official of the Adams County Historical Society, has agreed to speak in July. Tim will speak on the civilians of Gettysburg. This year marks the tenth anniversary of his and Gary Adelman's landmark book Devil's Den, so bring your copy for Tim to autograph.

Dr. Charlie Fennell will speak at the October meeting and will again lead a battle walk for those who are interested on Saturday, November 1. Charlie is an entertaining and very knowledgable battlefield guide, as well as a professor at HACC's Gettysburg campus.

Other speakers are in the works, with some fascinating topics. More to come!!!

Posted in York York CWRT

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

Our family moved to York County in 2001 from the shores of scenic Lake Erie. My oldest son (now a college history professor) was soon accepted to grad school in history at Millersville, and his master's level report on the burning of the Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge inspired me to write a full-length book on John B. Gordon's brigade in the Gettysburg Campaign (and the subsequent follow-up book on the Louisiana Tigers that has just been submitted to the publisher).

Among the many resources we found for the bridge burning was a series of articles written by local professor Thomas L. Schaefer. Tom also made an interesting VHS tape which we purchased early on. Entitled Defend or Destroy?, this program offers a walking tour of Wrightsville and examines the bridge burning. It's worth a look if you haven't seen it.

Posted in Books Gettysburg Campaign York York CWRT

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

A. Lincoln

2008 York CWRT schedule

Honest Abe. The Rail Splitter. The Great Emancipator. The Buffoon. In his lifetime, Abraham Lincoln elicited many nicknames, most positive and some decidedly unflattering. Lincoln was a polarizing figure, with almost as many detractors as admirers. Newspapers of the period were biased, depending upon political backing, and hundreds of anti-Lincoln cartoons exist.

Speaker Andrew Martin will present what promises to be a fascinating talk on the life of Lincoln at the next meeting of the York Civil War Round Table on February 20 at 7 p.m. at the York County Heritage Trust in downtown York. The meeting, as always, is free to the public, so be sure to mark your calendars! His presentation is entitled "Abraham Lincoln as Seen Through the Eyes of Many Historians."

Posted in Lincoln Local ACW events York CWRT

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

Photograph by Tom Mingus of the York CWRT

The York Civil War Round Table meets at 7:00 p.m. on the third Wednesday of every month (except December) at the York County Heritage Trust's headquarters building at 250 East Market Street in York. Parking and admission are free. A basket will be passed at each meeting to collect free-will donations to help defray the speaker's expenses. There are no dues or other fees to be a member of this CWRT!

Mark these 2008 dates on your calendar and try to attend these informative and interesting presentations and/or battlewalks!

Posted in Local ACW events York CWRT

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

This is a friendly reminder that Chuck Teague will be speaking at the upcoming January meeting of the York Civil War Round Table (formerly the White Rose CWRT). For details, click here.

See you there? I will have a few copies of my new Gettysburg book to autograph for anyone who has not yet purchased a copy.

Posted in Local ACW events York CWRT

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

Dwight Eisenhower remains an American icon - a hero of World War II who was thrust into the limelight following his success at D-Day, an American president during the 1950s, a strong proponent of creating the U.S. interstate system, and a land owner in Gettysburg whose farm is visited by thousands of tourists each year, many of whom were not even born when he was in the public eye.

"Ike" spent time in Gettysburg during World War I as the commander of the Camp Colt military base, situated on the grounds of Pickett's Charge. He came back after World War II in 1950 and bought a farm five years later in the rear of the 1863 Confederate lines.

Come to the January meeting of the York Civil War Round Table to hear Lt. Col. (ret.) Charles Teague, more popularly known as "Chaplain Chuck," talk about Ike's days in Gettysburg and his impact on the community and battlefield.

The meeting will be at 7:00 Wednesday, January 16, at the York County Heritage Trust at 250 East Market Street in York. Parking and admission are free. A hat will be passed to collect donations to defray the speaker's expenses.

Mark your calendars, and plan to attend this fascinating PowerPoint presentation!

Posted in Gettysburg battlefield Local ACW events York CWRT

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

Dennis Brandt's fascinating new book

This month's regular meeting of the York Civil War Round Table (formerly the White Rose Civil War Round Table) will be at the York County Heritage Trust's headquarters on East Market Street in York at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 14. Red Lion author Dennis Brandt will present a PowerPoint show on the 87th Pennsylvania, an infantry regiment with strong ties to York and Adams counties. The talk is based upon his interesting recent book, From Home Guards to Heroes: The 87th Pennsylvania and Its Civil War Community.

ADMISSION IS FREE!! Why not come hear one of York County's finest regimental historians discuss some of the men who helped defend the Union?

Posted in Books Local ACW events York CWRT

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

Meet us at the North Carolina Monument for a 2-hour educational battlewalk!

The York Civil War Round Table (formerly the White Rose CWRT) is announcing a battlefield guided tour and battlewalk specifically related to the Trimble and Pettigrew portion of Pickett's Charge. This walk is open to the public under the sponsorship of the CWRT, and is being led by Licensed Battlefield Guide and history professor Dr. Charlie Fennell, Jr.

The battlefield tramp and detailed explanation of this underpublicized part of Pickett's Charge will be Saturday, November 10 on the grounds of the Gettysburg National Military Park. The tour will begin at 2:00 p.m. at the North Carolina Monument on West Confederate Avenue (on Seminary Ridge). It will end across the way on Cemetery Ridge. Those wishing to carpool to avoid hiking the round trip are advised to meet at the flagpole by the Cyclorama on Cemetery Ridge at 1:30. Some cars will be left there to provide others with transportation back to the NC Monument following this two-hour walk.

The cost is only $10, which will be used to defray the cost of hiring Dr. Fennell, who is a delightful and entertaining speaker, as well as a very knowledgable historian.

Please leave a comment on this blog if you are planning to attend, and the CWRT will contact you with a confirmation.

Why not get some fresh air and a little exercise, as well as learning something new about the Battle of Gettysburg? Come on out and join us for the York CWRT fall battlewalk!

Posted in Local ACW events York CWRT

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (1)

"Give me a division, suh, and I WILL take that hill." - Isaac R. Trimble, CSA

Last night was the first York White Rose Civil War Round Table meeting at the York County Heritage Trust's HQ and museum on East Market Street. The guest speaker, Dr. Charlie Fennell, Jr., an adjunct professor at Harrisburg Community College's Gettysburg campus and a Licensed Battlefield Guide, presented a fascinating depiction of Trimble and Pettigrew's July 3 attack in conjunction with Pickett's Division. He skillfully interwove history with humor and witty saracasm, an effective blend that had the audience alternating between roaring in laughter and paying rapt attention to the details of the attack. All in all, it was a delightful evening and a very effective kick-off for the CWRT's new home. Thanks to Lila for staying over on her own time and making the building available for the round table's usage!!! Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!

Posted in Local ACW events York CWRT

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (1)

Attention York area Civil War buffs!!!! This is a friendly reminder to come to the White Rose Civil War Round Table's meeting this Wednesday evening, where you will hear noted Gettysburg expert Dr. Charles C. Fennell, Jr. speak about Pickett's Charge, specifically focused on the divisions of Isaac Trimble and Joseph Pettigrew, which formed 2/3 of the major attacking column.

Pickett gets the publicity and attention, but Pettigrew and Trimble's men suffered massive casualties and had problems of their own coming across the mile-long "Valley of Death," as some accounts call it. Ike Trimble was a man well acquainted with York County from his antebellum days as a railroad construction engineer.

Posted in Local ACW events York CWRT

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)