Results tagged “Civil War books” from Cannonball

The York Civil War Round Table is a non-profit organization that seeks to promote, interpret, preserve, and protect the Civil War heritage of York County, Pennsylvania, through the education and exchange of information with its members and the general public. Membership is free and open to anyone interested in learning more about the American Civil War.

Founded as the White Rose Civil War Round Table, the York CWRT holds monthly meetings the third Wednesday of every month except December at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium of the York County Heritage Trust's Historical Society Museum at 250 E. Market Street (the historic Lincoln Highway) in York, Pennsylvania. Each meeting features a guest speaker talking about a Civil War topic of local or national interest. There is no admission or membership requirements to attend any of these meetings.

Other scheduled events include an annual clean-up day at Gettysburg National Military Park as part of the "Adopt-a-Position" program. Members and guests tidy up the area around the 102nd Pennsylvania / 62nd New York on the John Weikert / Althoff Farm Lane. A free battlewalk with local experts is usually included to round out the day. Other regularly scheduled battlewalks by Dr. Charlie Fennell occur in the autumn.

For more information, contact the York Civil War Round Table.

The Historical Society Museum in York, PA, where the York CWRT meets monthly.

York Civil War Round Table - 2010 Schedule of Events

January 20, 2010 - Bruce Liddic - "George Armstrong Custer: From Ohio to Pennsylvania, Boyhood to Generalship"

February 17, 2010 - Cal Doucette - "A Conversation With Horace Greeley "

March 17, 2010 - Dick Simpson - "Missouri 1861 and the Battle of Wilson's Creek"

April 21, 2010 - Scott L. Mingus, Sr. - "The Louisiana Tigers in the Gettysburg Campaign"

May 19, 2010 - May 19, 2010 - Matt Atkinson - "Assault on Vicksburg"

June 16, 2010 - Jim McClure - Topic TBA

July 21, 2010 - John Ream - "Civil War Hospital Stewart John Weakley of the 87th PA"

August 18, 2010 - Dr. Charles C. Fennell, Jr. - "Fighting or Flying Dutchmen: The 11th Corps from Barlow's Knoll to Cemetery Hill"

September 15, 2010 - Tyrone Cornbower - "Sheepskin Fiddlers and Straw Blowers: Field Music in the Civil War"

September 18, 2010 - Battlefield Walk at GNMP with Dr. Charles C. Fennell, Jr.

October 20, 2010 - TBA

November 17, 2010 - TBA

No meeting in December!

Twice a year Gettysburg's All-Star Sports Complex on Emmitsburg Road hosts the Gettysburg Militaria, Relics, and Book Show, an event that usually is packed with all sorts of interesting Civil War artifacts. As usual, I perused the tables looking for a dealer might have one of the Knights of the Golden Circle membership tickets that so many Confederates wrote about after their invasion of southern Pennsylvania.

For $1, con artists from New York sold these worthless certificates to unsuspecting farmers who were told that the papers and a series of strange hand gestures would notify any Rebel invaders that the farmer was a friend of the Confederacy whose personal property would be protected. Quite the opposite actually occurred, as the Rebels mocked the farmers who performed the hand gesticulations and waved the KGC golden tickets. Their horses were taken with far higher frequency than Unionist neighbors who headed for the hills when Jubal Early's and J.E.B. Stuart's Southern soldiers came calling.

For more photos of the Gettysburg relics sale, please continue reading. Click on the pictures to enlarge them for better viewing of the artifacts.

The York Civil War Round Table will feature James A. Hessler at its monthly meeting on October 21, 2009. The topic of the evening will be "Sickles At Gettysburg: The Controversial Civil War General Who Committed Murder, Abandoned Little Round Top, and Declared Himself the Hero of Gettysburg."

No individual who fought at Gettysburg was more controversial, both personally and professionally, than Major General Daniel E. Sickles. By 1863, Sickles was notorious as a disgraced former Congressman who murdered his wife's lover on the streets of Washington and used America's first temporary insanity defense to escape justice. With his political career in ruins, Sickles used his connections with President Lincoln to obtain a prominent command in the Army of the Potomac's Third Corps despite having no military experience. At Gettysburg, he disobeyed orders in one of the most controversial decisions in military history.

Licensed Battlefield Guide James Hessler has written the first balanced, deeply researched, and eminently readable biography of this colorful and wholly unique American icon. Civil War enthusiasts who want to understand General Sickles' tarnished life, Gettysburg's battlefield strategies, the in-fighting within the Army of the Potomac, and the development of today's National Park will find " Sickles at Gettysburg" a must read.

James A. Hessler works in financial services for Bill Me Later, Inc., is a Licensed Battlefield Guide at Gettysburg National Military Park, and has taught Sickles and Gettysburg-related courses at college level. He has published Civil War-related articles, and speaks regularly at Civil War Round Tables. A native of Buffalo, NY, Jim resides in Gettysburg with his wife and children.

The meeting will be held at 7:00 PM on Wednesday evening in the auditorium of the York County Heritage Trust at 250 E. Market Street in downtown York, Pennsylvania. There is no charge for admission and the public is welcome ! Parking is also free.

The Louisiana Tigers were one of the most publicized (and feared) brigades in the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. Author Scott L. Mingus, Sr. has assembled many of the stories of the Tigers' invasion of southern Pennsylvania (including York County) in this major new work from Louisiana State University Press.

Background posts:

Pleasureville merchant receives visit from the Louisiana Tigers
A Louisiana Tiger describes York
Loucks Mill was a major Confederate campsite

The Louisiana Tigers in the Gettysburg Campaign: June-July 1863 is the latest book from long-time Civil War author, wargamer, and tour guide Scott Mingus. It includes a significant section dealing with the Tigers march into York County, the interactions of the soldiers with the local populace, their campsites north of the town of York, their exploits as they raided stores in downtown York, the "drunk pen", and their perceptions of York Countians. Drawn from a myriad of contemporary sources including letters, diaries, journals, newspaper accounts, and similar primary accounts, the book contains many human interest stories and anecdotes. The book is now in stock and for sale at the York Emporium, the first stocking location in York County.

The York Emporium is located at 343 West Market Street (the Lincoln Highway) in York, Pennsylvania, just a couple of blocks west of the Codorus Creek. Call the owner, Jim Lewin, at 717-846-2866 for more information.

Here are a couple of excerpts from this new book, which offers the first sweeping narrative of the Louisiana Tigers in the entirety of the Gettysburg Campaign and has been called the "definitive work" on the brigade's activities in Pennsylvania.

The York Civil War Round Table will feature Edward H. Bonekemper, III at its monthly meeting on September 16, 2009. The topic of the evening will be "Antietam: A Calamity of Mistakes by Lee and McClellan". The talk will commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of Antietam which occurred on September 17, 1862, an engagement often described as the single bloodiest day of the Civil War. The author of books on both opposing generals, Bonekemper will examine how each officer in turn lost what could have been major opportunities for success, and will argue that in reality neither man could be considered a victor.

The meeting will be held at 7:00 PM on Wednesday evening in the auditorium of the York County Heritage Trust at 250 E. Market Street in downtown York, Pennsylvania. There is no charge for admission and the public is welcome! Parking is also free.

Edward H. Bonekemper, III is the author of four Civil War books: How Robert E. Lee Lost the Civil War, A Victor, Not a Butcher : Ulysses S. Grant's Overlooked Military Genius, McClellan and Failure: A Study of Civil War Fear, Incompetence and Worse and Grant and Lee: Victorious American and Vanquished Virginian. He is a dynamic, controversial, and informative speaker who will both inform you and challenge you to dig deeper into the always interesting subject of the Battle of Antietam. He will be available to autograph copies of his books.

Ed Bonekemper. author of four controversial Civil War books, will discuss his views on calamitous Union and Confederate generalship leading up to and at the Battle of Antietam.

Ed's views:

In the Maryland or Antietam Campaign,Robert E. Lee and George B. McClellan demonstrated the weaknesses that characterized their Civil War careers. Lee launched an unapproved strategic offensive that may have lost the war, placed his army in what should have been a death-trap, failed to entrench, allowed fatal counter-attacks that decimated his force, and risked his weakened army by leaving it on the battlefield for an extra day for no explicable military reason.

On the Union side, McClellan's performance was probably even worse. He failed to aggressively pursue Lee in Maryland, allowed a large Union force to be captured by Stonewall Jackson at Harper's Ferry, squandered his massive manpower advantage for days at Antietam, attacked in piecemeal fashion, failed to use his cavalry effectively, left a huge reserve force unused, and failed to destroy the Rebel army Lee had left so vulnerable for an extra day at Antietam.

Author Janet L. Bucklew will be speaking about her new book on Dr. Henry Janes at the York Emporium at 7:00 PM on Friday, September 4.

For the September "First Friday" celebration in downtown York, the York Emporium is hosting a talk/book signing by Janet L. Bucklew, historian and former seasonal ranger at the battlefield in Gettysburg. She has just completed research into primary sources and published a new work on Dr. Henry Janes, a surgeon/volunteer who was at the battle. Her talk is scheduled to take place on Friday, September 4 at 7:00 PM. It is free and open to the public, and light refreshments will be served.

Details and a little more info can be found on the York Emporium's webpage for the event.

The York Emporium is one of the finest used book stores in the region, and is located at 343 W. Market Street (the old Lincoln Highway) in York, Pennsylvania.

I have signed a contract with Ten Roads Publishing to reprint Gettysburg Glimpses: True Stories for the Battlefield and make it more widely available than the previous self-published edition through Xlibris, which will be out-of-print and unavailable shortly. Ten Roads, a new company based in Gettysburg, will handle the distribution and sales of the reissued book. I am quite pleased that the co-owners have seen fit to offer to republish my book, as well as the follow up Gettysburg Glimpses 2: More True Stories from the Battlefield. I look forward to working with them over the years on other projects.

York, Pennsylvania, photographer, historian, and architectural expert Scott D. Butcher is one of the four history bloggers for the York Daily Record. His WIndows into York blog offers interesting insights into the history of the individual buildings in York and around the area. The author of several interesting books, his latest effort is perhaps my favorite. Gettysburg Perspectives is one of the best, if not the best, photographic anthologies of Gettysburg. Filled with stunning photographs that are artistic and informative at the same time, this new release from Schiffer Books is well worth adding to your Civil War collection, especially at only $9.99. Soft bound and printed on high quality, clay-coated semigloss paper, the book is well done.

Butcher's battlefield photographs are excellent, and are wide in their scope and variety. But, perhaps the real charm of the book is his unique interpretation of the buildings of Gettysburg. His architectural background obviously shining through, Scott examines the historic town through his well trained eye for the unusual, the interesting, and the visually appealing. Many of the photos are of scenes that the casual photography would never have captured (or even noted). The people, the buildings, the scenery, the battlefield - it's all there in this wonderful new book.

I had the privilege of signing copies of my books this past Thursday evening at the American History Store in Gettysburg, and I was speaking with a family from the western U.S. I recommended Scott's book as a great memory of their visit to Gettysburg, and, after glancing through it, they agreed. One person called it "a great way to share their memories with their family." I agree - this one is a must have as long after the vacation to Gettysburg is over, Scott Butcher's fabulous photos will live on.

Scott Butcher's website with 225 photos of Gettysburg, York County PA, and the Atlantic Coast (as well as Arizona and other places he and his camera have visited) can be viewed by clicking HERE.

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.

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.

amazon.com is now taking pre-orders from the upcoming October 2009 publication of my latest book, The Louisiana Tigers in the Gettysburg Campaign, June-July 1863. This book contains perhaps the most detailed account written yet of the Tigers' smashing assault that doomed the Union defenses at the Second Battle of Winchester, and, of course, as one would expect from my books, there are a lot of human interest stories scattered throughout the narrative. Included are several brand new stories from here in York County, as the Tigers paid their respects to York merchants and to Spring Garden Township and Manchester Township residents. The book covers the Tigers two attacks at Gettysburg (July 1 and July 2), and the subsequent retreat into Virginia.

To place an order, or to read more about this book, please visit amazon's webpage.

Jim and Pam Lewin of the York Emporium are organizing and promoting this year's York Book and Paper Fair at the York Fairgrounds on Saturday, April 4, 2009. There will be used and collectible book dealers (including Civil War topics), comic books and paper memorabilia, related collectibles, guest appearances, book signings, etc. at what promised to be an eclectic and very interesting event. I will be signing copies of Flames Beyond Gettysburg: The Gordon Expedition, June 1863 from 11:00 AM until noon.

Have a look at their website for more information!

My new book on one of the most famous brigades in the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia during the Gettysburg Campaign will be published (as was my recently released Flames Beyond Gettysburg) on archival quality, acid-free premium book paper from Glatfelter. Click on the icon above to learn more about the permanent, library-quality paper used by many leading printers and book publishers across North America.

I received formal notification today from LSU Press that my upcoming book, The Louisiana Tigers in the Gettysburg Campaign, June-July 1863, will indeed appear in their Fall 2009 book catalog.The book will be 352 pages, with a footprint of 6"x9". It will have 8 maps, some of which I am using under license from Brad Gottfried (maps of the Second Battle of Winchester). The forward to the book is by noted New England author Brent Nosworthy, who wrote the classic Civil War book Bloody Crucible of Courage.

ISBN 978-0-8071-3479-5

Cloth-bound hardback, dust jacket. October 2009.

$34.95 MSRP.

Here is a snippet...

U.S. Congressman Joe Pitts (R - PA) and Pennsylvania author and wargamer Scott L. Mingus Sr. met on March 9 to discuss the Civil War in Lancaster and York counties. Here, the writer (right) presents Congressman Pitts with a personalized copy of Flames Beyond Gettysburg: The Gordon Expedition, June 1863. Pitts is a long-time supporter of Lancaster-area historical venues and in particular has been interested in the burning of the Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge during the American Civil War.

Two of Mingus's children graduated from Lancaster County colleges (Millersville University and Elizabethtown College), and Professor Scott L. Mingus, Jr. teaches World History at Harrisburg Community College's Lancaster regional campus.

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.

Announcing the publication of my latest Civil War book - Gettysburg Glimpses: True Stories from the Battlefield. This new volume contains more than 200 fresh anecdotes, incidents, and human interest stories from the Gettysburg Campaign, including several that relate to York County. The vast majority of these stories have not been in print since the late 19th century.

Read four pages of the book for free at the publisher's website. If you are interested in obtaining a copy after reading these sample stories, you may either order one via the Xlibris website, or send me an e-mail for a personalized autographed copy, which will be shipped in 2 weeks.

This is a companion to my earlier two-volume set Human Interest Stories from the Gettysburg Campaign.

I am now accepting orders for my latest book, Flames Beyond Gettysburg: The Gordon Expedition, June 1863 from Ironclad Publishing. Please see my website for this new book for details and a photo gallery of more than 100 pictures associated with the book and the historical locations and personages featured in Flames Beyond Gettysburg. I accept PayPal, personal checks, and money orders for this book. A portion of the proceeds will go for battlefield preservation efforts.

Copies of the book will be on sale at my upcoming talks at the York CWRT at the York Heritage Trust on March 18 and at the Greater Dover Historical Society on March 19. As soon as I know when my large shipment is coming in, we plan a talk and formal reception at the York Emporium (more details to come once Jim Lewin and I work out the details for this formal introduction of the book, and I am hoping to have some guests lined up for that event).

The cover photo for this upcoming book is courtesy of Chambersburg, PA history buff and taltented photographer Will Dupuis, who specializes in Gettysburg-related photography. For more of his work, click this link or visit his homepage.

My latest book of human interest stories from the Gettysburg Campaign, Gettysburg Glimpses: True Stories from the Battlefield, will be available in March 2009. Watch this blog for ordering information! Autographed first edition copies will be available for pre-order in February.

There are several new stories from here in York County in this 153-page collection of more than 200 stories from the battlefield and the campaign. The vast majority of these anecdotes and incidents will be new to you. Some are ironic, some humorous, some tragic, but all are sure to be of interest.

Here are a few examples from this new book, which is a companion to my two-volume Human Interest Stories of the Gettysburg Campaign.

The cover art for the upcoming new book on the June 1863 Gordon / Early expedition into York County, Pennsylvania. Artwork by Mike Stretch; painting by Bradley Schmehl used under license.

The graphics and files have been sent to the printer, and we expect proof copies in December. Once OK, we should be on press within a few weeks. A national roll-out is expected in Q1 '09. I will have autographed, first edition copies for sale before then, and we expect a York County kick-off celebration at the York Emporium.

For more info on the book, as well as photos, see the official website for Flames Beyond Gettysburg: The Gordon Expedition, June 1863.