One-tank road trips: March 2009 Archives

The old Fort Defiance tourist trap at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, is shown in this 1972 photograph provided by Mike Waricher. In the summer of 1968, my parents took my sister and me to Gettysburg for our first overnight trip to Pennsylvania (little did I know then I would be living in the Keystone State as an adult and writing books on Gettysburg!). I remember that trip from southern Ohio with fondness! My sister Peggy and I enjoyed riding through the tunnels, and we stayed in a TraveLodge in Chambersburg. The following morning, we drove eastward on Route 30 to Gettysburg, and I will never forget the mystical experience of seeing the first monuments peering through the morning fog! I think that was the moment that I knew I was hooked.

The York CWRT received this message in our Yahoo.com mailbox... so I thought I would pass it along for the general public to announce what should be an interesting one-tank road trip from York County.

"Dear York Civil War Round Table,

The University of Virginia 's Ninth Civil War Conference will explore the confrontation between Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee from the fall of Petersburg through the Confederate surrender at Appomattox . The Conference will be held May 27-31, 2009 at the University of Richmond.

Through lectures, walking tours, and plenty of discussion, U.Va.'s Gary Gallagher and a faculty of top Civil War scholars will place events in the broader perspective of the war, evaluate military leadership on both sides, study in detail the tactical ebb and flow, and examine the powerful ways in which Appomattox shaped subsequent understanding of the conflict.

Full program information can be found at http://www.virginia.edu/travelandlearn/2009civilwar.html.

A limited number of spots remain available in the program. Please forward this message to members of your Roundtable whom you think may be interest in attending.

Best,

Jim Baker, Program Director
U.Va. Travel & Learn Programs for Adults
800-346-3882

www.virginia.edu/travelandlearn"

Petersburg, VA - Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier announces that effective March 2, 2009, the Park will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. The Park will continue to be open by reservation only on weekends.

"We are extremely pleased to reestablish regular operating hours this spring," said Executive Director, A. Wilson Greene. "With the warmer weather our attendance always perks up and we look forward to welcoming everyone from students to visitors from around the region and the country."

Pamplin Historical Park has been open by reservation only since January 2 when the faltering economy forced the Park's Foundation to reduce funding, causing staff layoffs. During the winter the Park has trained nearly three dozen new volunteers, rehired some of its former employees, and cross-trained the permanent staff to perform a variety of duties. "Our generous members have been instrumental in helping us get back on our feet," said Greene. "Many of the Park's friends contributed significantly to our general
operating fund, which has allowed us to begin to rebuild our professional staff."

Pamplin Historical Park has operated highly regarded school field trips during the spring. According to Greene, some 32,000 students have reservations to visit the Park between March and early June. Revenues from these programs will allow the Park to serve walk-in visitors as well. Anyone can make a reservation to visit the Park on weekends throughout the spring. A basic fee of $100 allows up to ten people to tour the Park on Saturdays and Sundays. Reservations must be made 48 hours in advance. "Once a group has made a weekend reservation, we will open the Park that day for general
visitation," explained Greene. Regular Park admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children.

Pamplin Historical Park is located in Dinwiddie County near Petersburg at Exit 63A off Interstate 85. The 422-acre site includes four museums, four historic structures and more than three miles of interpretive trails. A National Historic Landmark and a Gem Attraction as listed by AAA, Pamplin Historical Park is owned and operated by the Pamplin Foundation of Portland, Oregon. For more information, please call 804-861-2408 or visit www.pamplinpark.org.

Scott Mingus (center) hosts a miniature wargame based upon a hypothetical Union attack on a section of what is now West York. Photos by John Mayer of Round Top Miniatures, a Gettysburg-based producer of scale model Civil War buildings.

I hosted a 15mm miniature wargame yesterday at the annual Cold Wars gaming convention at the Lancaster Host Resort and Conference Center in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The scenario was based upon a hypothetical situation - what might have happened had Jubal Early's division not been recalled westward and what if the Union V Corps had continued its march on July 1, 1863, into York County from Hanover (historically, the V Corps turned at Hanover and headed for Gettysburg).

The rules that I used are entitled Johnny Reb III. The ground scale is 1" to 50 yards; the figures are 15mm (halfway between N scale and HO scale in model railroading terms); and each soldier figure represents 30 actual combatants. A single game turn represents 20 minutes of simulated action. Early's goal was to hold the rolling heights along the Gettysburg turnpike (now Route 462) at the intersection with East Berlin Road. The Union goal was to chase off or destroy Early's force before it could be reinforced by Robert Rodes' division coming down the Carlisle Road a Lee has ordered his army to concentrate at York. However, the Yankees have engaged Early before Rodes could arrive.

This 15mm American Civil War miniature wargame was among the highlights of Friday's gaming sessions at the annual Cold Wars wargaming convention at the Lancaster (PA) Host Resort and Conference Center. Cold Wars is one of the largest gaming conventions in the country, and is attended by more than 2,000 gamers. It's one of the major contributors to Lancaster County's economy before the start of tourist season.

The convention continues on Saturday and Sunday. I am running a 15mm wargame of Jubal Early's hypothetical defense of the capture town of York (assuming he was not recalled to Heidlersburg and that the Union V Corps marched to York from Hanover instead of turning to Gettysburg). That game is Saturday morning.

There is no charge to the public to view the wargames and learn more about the hobby of miniature wargaming.

Katie Lawhorn of the National Park Service sent me an announcement with the complete 2009 schedule of events for Gettysburg National Military Park as well as the Eisenhower National Historic Site. There are a wide variety of events and presentations that are sure to appeal to Cannonball readers. Most are free of charge, and make for a educational afternoon or evening's entertainment.

Civil War and More is a retail store in downtown Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Located at 10 S. Market Street, it's an easy drive from central or northern York County. The store has an interesting selection, which ranges from neckties to books of all sorts to ship models. Owner Jim Schmick is a long-time fixture in Harrisburg-area Civil War circles, and store manager Jack Thomas I first met when I spoke at the Hershey Civil War Round Table three or four years ago.