Sunday, February 16, 2014, 12 Noon – 5PM
Conservatory at West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, PA
Featuring noted historians Ralph Peters and Tom Huntington, other speakers, and authors on General Meade and the Civil War, as well as books, prints and raffles. Cost: $40 per person including registration; luncheon & refreshments.
http://www.forever-care.com/contact.php
Contact: Jerry McCormick, 215-848-7753,
Corner of 6th & Lombard Streets, Philadelphia, PA at 11 AM
Honoring the great Black civil rights and military leader. Wreath-Laying ceremony. All military units, period civilians, veterans, and heritage groups are encouraged to participate. Colors, wreaths, and music encouraged.
Pennsylvania National Guard Award Ceremony to follow at 1:00pm in the Union League for the Major Catto Medal Awards Ceremony
Civil War & Emancipation Studies at Temple University (CWEST) sponsors the annual Black History Conference at 3:00pm in Walk Auditorium, Ritter Hall, on 12th St & Cecil B. Moore Ave on Main Campus of Temple University.
Free & Open to the public. Speakers; books; discussion; displays.
Sponsored by the Abraham Lincoln Institute of the Mid-Atlantic, Inc.
The 2014 Symposium will be held at the National Archives II, College Park, Maryland, outside Washington, D.C.
March 22, 2014
9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
8601 Adelphi Rd
Adelphi, Maryland 20783
Registration Opens February 1, 2014.
Presenters Include
• Fred Martin
• Rich Lowry
• John David Smith
• John Fabian Witt
• Joshua Zeitz
Neshaminy State Park, Bensalem, Pennsylvania
Camps open 9AM. Battles at 2:00pm on Saturday and 1:30pm on Sunday
Near Street Road Exit of I-95
For directions and information about the park: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/neshaminy.aspx
Registration: www.neshaminyreenactment.org
Co-sponsored by: The 28th PA Regiment, First Division, Army of Northern Virginia, The Historical Society of Bensalem Township, The Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum & Library, the Delaware Valley Civil War Round Table, Neshaminy State Park, and Waste Management, Inc.
Information: call (267) 968-4809; or e-mail:
Hours: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Rain or Shine
Location: Washington Crossing State Park
County Route 546
Titusville, NJ 08560
Suggested Parking Donation $8 per vehicle
Directions on how to get there
Contact: 609-737-0623, http://www.njparksandforests.org/parks/washcros.html
Special Event: Dedication of the Silent Sentry Soldiers’ Home Monument
Recreating Original G.A.R. Decoration Day Service of 1868: The traditional Decoration Day service of the Grand Army Meade Post #1 will be recreated at Historic Laurel Hill Cemetery, 3822 Ridge Ave. Philadelphia on Sunday, May 25, 2014 at 12 noon. All are welcome to attend and participate in the ceremony.
Laurel Hill is the site of the first Memorial Day Observance in Philadelphia on this date in 1868.
Special bronze veterans’ markers will be dedicated at the graves of veterans. Speakers, ceremonies and pageant will highlight this special ceremony. Afterwards the entourage will gather at the grave of General Meade, hero of Gettysburg to perform the traditional service to honor all veterans who fell defending the Nation. Wreath-laying, speeches, music and honor guards will enhance the ceremony.
Historical groups, veterans, and citizens are urged to participate. Wreaths, military contingents, color guards, music and period civilians are encouraged to participate.
Refreshments served after the ceremony. Tours of the historic cemetery available.
Co-sponsored by the General Meade Society of Philadelphia; Friends of Laurel Hill; American Legion Post #405; Post #1 Society, Union League; Anna M. Ross Camp #1, Sons of Union Veterans. For information, call: 215-228-8200
Today when we hear or read of the Battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862, attention is usually focused on the countless infantry charges up Marye’s Height´s into the artillery and rifles of the Confederate Army. Yet some historians have argued for many years that the key to the entire battle on December 13 was the action downstream where Meade´s Pennsylvania Reserves broke, for a short time, the Confederate lines in an attempt to carry out what many believe to have been Major General Ambrose E. Burnside’s true objective that day. Mindful that this critical part of the battle had been often overlooked, Civil War historian Don Ernsberger researched and wrote Meade’s Breakthroughat Fredericksburg, which was published in 2012. Don presened on this topic to our round table on December 12th, 2013, the eve of the 101st anniversary of the battle.
Don Ernsberger
Don Ernsberger has had a lifelong interest in history, particularly that of the American Civil War era. He taught history and philosophy for many years at Council Rock High School (PA) and Gwynedd-Mercy College before retiring in 2001 to work for eight years as a deputy chief of staff for the United States Congress. To date he has written six well-received books on Civil War military history. He also has been an avid Civil War reenactor with the 69th PA.
Paula Gidjunis
Paula Gidjunis gave us an in-depth presentation on civilians who answered the call to support the men who did the fighting on the Battlefields. She used a PowerPoint presentation to display the photographs of many of these these famous civilians. She also had excerpts from period diaries and letters. She discuss the impact of the Civil War on civilians and how they coped with the destruction of war. Many of the subjects were the women who became nurses in home town hospitals and those who went and served the wounded in battlefield hospitals. She also discussed the aid and comfort given to the underground railroad system, the civilian spy networks that supported the Army on both sides. A very interesting and educational presentation.
Paula Gidjunis is a retired middle school Social Studies teacher and a current instructor at the Civil War Institute at Manor College. She also works as a bookkeeper part-time. Continue reading
Winfield Scott Hancock (Wikipedia)
We’re writing to ask your support in a critical local historical preservation effort. The Old Baldy Civil War Round Table is supporting the Historical Society of Montgomery County in their effort to preserve the General Winfield Scott Hancock Mausoleum at the Montgomery Cemetery in West Norriton, Pennsylvania. The mausoleum is in dire need of granite roof repairs. The Historical Society has budgeted $34,000 for the repairs but contractor quotes require an additional $7,000 to complete the project. We are seeking monetary donations to raise the needed funds and have asked our Vice President, Bob Russo to oversee this endeavor. Please click the Gen Hancock Fundraiser link below for additional details and a donation form. If you have questions about the project you can contact the Historical Society directly at 610-272-0297 or Bob Russo at 856-424-2155.