June, 2014 Our next Meeting – Saturday, June 14, 2014 edition 19, No. 11 “A house divided against itself cannot stand” Abraham Lincoln at the Republican National Convention, June, 1858 the OLDE COLONY CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE The cAMPAIGN! Reporting the latest Occurrences from Both the Front and the Rear. occwrt.org OFFICERS President Joe Dipoli Vice President Dana Zaiser Secretary Gail Dugan Treasurer Don Fitzgerald Campaign Editor Paul Griffel Past President Rich Campagna EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: (Officers are also members) Joe Scalia Jack Flynn Paul Griffel Bob Hearsey Martha Horsefield Gerry Lucas Barbara Magruder Brian Murphy Charlie Smallwood Dana Zaiser Dave Sheldon Peter McDonough Programs: Jack Kavanagh Membership: Paula Cunnigham Jubilee: Gail Dugan Preservation: Dana Zaiser Revere Award: Martha Horsefield THE CAMPAIGN! A publication of the Olde Colony Civil War Round Table Headquarters: Dedham, Massachusetts Editor Emeritus – David Kenney Current Editor [email protected] OCCWRT Monthly Meetings (except June/July/August and the October Jubilee Dinner)) are regularly held the 3rd Thursday each month, 7:30 PM (except December—2nd Thursday) at the Endicott Estate, Dedham. Our Next Meeting: PICNIC! June 14, 2014 Borderlands Estate, Eastham Ames Museum We will gather at the picnic area at Borderland Park which is located in North Easton, Mass. It is accessible from Bay Road; Bay Road begins at Cobbs corner in Stoughton and runs into Easton Five Corners at the intersection of Rtes 106 and 123.The Main entrance on Massapoag Ave is where the picnic area is. Anyone who needs a map can call Joe Dipoli at 774 218-1493. We have a tour of the Mansion scheduled for 2pm. The home of Blanch and Oakes Ames contains the personal effects of both General Butler and General Ames. We will set up at the picnic area at noon. Joe Dipoli is bringing a party platter for sandwiches. Everyone is welcome to bring additional food items as well as your folding chairs. 2014 Jubilee! Thursday October 16, 2014 Lombardo’s Randolph Keynote speaker: James Hessler “Sickles at Gettysburg” $40 per person includes meal Tickets on sale at the meeting or mail check payable to OCCWRT to: Bob Hearsey 311 Sherman Street Canton, MA 02021 Winner of the Bachelder-Coddington Award and Gettysburg Civil War Round Table Award for Best Gettysburg Book of 2009 – 2010 “Taking a subject so complex and controversial, Hesslers Sickles at Gettysburg examines and separates the facts, the record, the controversies, the spin and the memory. What emerges is a masterful work that not only educates the reader about the man and the events of July 2, 1863 but also opens a window to the politics of memory and the history of remembrance. Combined with a superb study of the battle for the Peach Orchard, this book is a gem. This work is a must for serious students of the Gettysburg and the Civil War. Hessler has emerged as a serious Civil War scholar” (review: Amazon) Our Last Meeting! May, 2014, Endicott House, Dedham Speaker Mark Dunkelman With much thanks to Gail Dugan who served as correspondent: Mark interviewed his father, who told story of his father, John Langhans (Marks great grandfather) march with Sherman. His great grandfather started as a private and rose to corporal. Mark shared several legends and stories of the south related to Shermans march involving Yankee soldiers, which were passed down in history. One legend told of a southern family hiding their silver. They dug a deep hole, buried their silver, covered it with dirt, buried a dog on top and then added more dirt. The Yankees saw the grave dug it up, and stopped when they found the dog. “Mark Dunkelmans Marching with Sherman offers an exceptional micro-history of the Civil War, chronicling the day-to-day activities of a single regiment in Shermans army (the 154th New York) as it moved on a four-month course of destruction through the South between November 1864 and March 1865. What makes this book especially fascinating is its use of a wide variety of sources; it combines standard primary material, such as regimental histories and the letters and diaries of soldiers and civilians, with numerous legendary and mythic accounts of the conduct of Shermans men during the great March to the Sea. Dunkelman further spices the narrative with amusing personal anecdotes about research trips he took while tracing the path of his great-grandfather, a corporal in the 154th New York” (review: Amazon) Mini Bit: Robert Schector MOLLUS Immediately following President Lincoln’s assassination, three former Union Army officers met in Philadelphia and determined to form a fraternal organization of former comrades in arms, dedicated to his memory and ideals, most importantly, to the indivisibility of the Union. The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, MOLLUS, was the first Union veterans’ group, and at its height had many thousands of members in a score of state Commanderies, or chapters. Early Companions, as members are still called, included Generals Sherman, Sheridan, Grant, Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, MA Gov. and Gen. Nathaniel Banks, and Gen. Rutherford B. Hayes, Commander-in-Chief of MOLLUS after leaving the White House. For the first couple decades following its 1868 founding, the Massachusetts Commandery was more a dining club of former comrades in arms, without much ‘program’ that reflected the goals set forth in the MOLLUS constitution. This changed in the late nineteenth and early 20th centuries thanks to the coming of age of the second generation of Companions, hereditary members, men hadn’t served in the war as, their fathers and uncles had. MA MOLLUS began publishing books and articles about the war, some by Companions. A library was started. Memorabilia collected and a program begun that eventually placed 41 plaques in public buildings honoring officers who served. As the 20th century wore on, MA MOLLUS settled down to a regular series of annual activities many of which continue to this day. Meetings take place in historically significant places. For example: at the Boston Navy Yard, where ships and gunboats were built for the Union Navy; at Brown University, to see the John Hay collection of Lincoln memorabilia; at the Chamberlain House, in Brunswick, ME, where a ceremony was conducted at Chamberlain’s gravesite; and at the Springfield Armory—you all know about its production. A special meeting took place in In 1974 when the 89th MOLLUS Annual Congress at the Army was held at the Archives and museum in Carlisle, PA, where MA MOLLUS donated, along with much memorabilia, the 23,000 digitized images that Carlisle calls “the single best Civil War photograph collection in the world.” MA MOLLUS also regularly co-sponsors the Lincoln Day observance in Hingham, in the region where the Lincoln’s first settled, and lays wreaths elsewhere at memorial services honoring men and women who served in other wars, most recently in Duxbury honoring those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. The group continues a decades old tradition of making awards to outstanding ROTC cadets, this year at MIT (3), Northeastern (1), and UMass Amherst (1). The awards consisted of a MOLLUS medal, a certificate, and $500 cash to each. Finally, the 1870 Commandery banner has been restored and will bet framed and ready for viewing at the MOLLUS National Congress, in Framingham, this October. In conclusion, that MOLLUS companionship is not open only to people with a hereditary connection to a Civil War officer. Associate members are welcome. MOL LUS The Congress banquet, at the Framingham Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center—our headquarters—will feature a period color guard; the playing of John Philip Sousa’s “Loyal Legion March”; a presentation by noted mystery writer-historian William K. Martin, Jr., author of The Lincoln Letter; and a gift to all attendees of the MA MOLLUS-commissioned book, “Our Forebears and Massachusetts in the Civil War” (MA MOLLUS, Spring 2014). Congress headquarters: the Sheraton Framingham Hotel and Conference Center. Rooms at a negotiated rate of $125.00 plus 11.7% room tax per night by 9/1/14. For reservations, call 508-879-7200. THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE PRESIDENT Dear fellow members: My message for this month is an invitation to celebrate the end of our business year and the end of winter (hopefully). Please come to the picnic at the Borderlands Estate. We have a tour of the Mansion scheduled for 2pm. The home of Blanch and Oakes Ames contains the personal effects of both General Butler and General Ames. Joe Dipoli, President Seven Score and 10 Years Ago…. By Peter J. McDonough Put yourself back in time; and picture the following, as to what the news would have been during this month, May, 1864,.....................7 score and 10 years ago. The South is expecting action on three fronts; Georgia, Northern Virginia, and The Peninsula, east of Richmond............................It is waiting for the first strike! May 2, Mon. - In Richmond, Va., the Second Confederate Congress meets for its first session. President Davis holds out little hope for foreign recognition; but has hopes for an eventual military victory……………. He accuses Federal troops of “barbarism” against noncombatants. May 3, Tue. - In the area of Brandy Station, Va., Gen. Grant notifies Gen. Meade to move the Army of the Potomac out of winter quarters and to cross the Rapidan River. The new offensive is set to go! In Washington, Pres. Lincoln and his cabinet hold long discussions on the events at Ft. Pillow in April, where captured negro troops were slain by Forrest’s men. In Georgia, Gen. Joe Johnston telegraphs Richmond that Federal troops are beginning to mass their troops for movement. May 4, Wed. - The army of the Potomac begins to cross the Rapidan and head for The Wilderness crossroads. Grant will move around Lee’s right flank, with 122,000 men against Lee’s 66,000. On the Peninsula, Gen .Ben Butler is moving his army on transports up the James River towards Richmond. In Georgia, Sherman is preparing to send 98,000 men against Gen. Joe Johnston in the area of Dalton. May 5, Thu. - In The Wilderness in Virginia, Meade collides with Lee. …….. Full scale combat ensues throughout the day. May 6, Fri. - In the Wilderness, the opposing armies await daylight to resume fighting. The Federals open the engagement. The action seesaws back and forth during the day. All during the day, while receiving reports, Gen Grant will sit, smoke cigars and whittle sticks. At dusk, the fighting will taper off. Casualties are heavy on both sides. On the James River, within sight of church spires in Petersburg, Gen. Butler’s 39,000 troops are opposed by only 10,000 Confederates. Gen Butler does not take advantage of the situation; but goes into camp. A chance is lost to end the war with one bold stroke. Our own Pvt. Day and the 25th Mass. Infantry is with this force. He writes, “We are ordered to make a reconnaissance towards the Petersburg and Richmond RR with the 27th Mass. In advance. ……. We advance several miles and find the enemy in a shallow cut. A sharp skirmish ensues lasting till near dark, when we withdraw back to camp.” In this skirmish, the 25th loses 4 killed and several wounded. Their charmed life has come to an end! ” May 7, Sat. - Early in the first hour of this day the Army of the Potomac is waiting for a sign that will decide its immediate future in Grant’s actions. Long blue lines begin to move, not back to the Rapidan towards Washington, but southeast.............. towards Richmond. Grant has made his decision. The move is to dislodge Lee from the woods and get him into the open. The army is jubilant! For the first time they are not running tail and quitting. Lee realizes Grant is heading to Spotsylvania and races to head him off. He beats Grant there just in the nick of time. May 9, Mon. - Grant and Lee face off at Spotsylvania Court House and spend the day sizing up each other. May 10, Tue. - At Spotsylvania, 3 corps attacks the Confederates “mule shoe” position late in the afternoon making a temporary breach in the line about 6pm, but then fall back.. May 11, Wed. - Gen. Sheridan’s cavalry march on Richmond reaches a little crossroads town called Yellow Tavern about 6 miles north of Richmond where he is attacked by Jeb Stuart’s Cavalry. Stuart is mortally wounded and is carried from the field. May 12, Thu. - At Spotsylvania Court House the Federals attack Lee’s prepared lines in wave after wave in one of the costliest battles of the war.. The “bloody angle” area claims 6,800 Union and 5,000 Confederate killed and wounded alone. Another 4,000 Confederates are captured. The losses are far greater for the South due to the attrition. The South now has 10,000 fewer troops in their Army of Northern Virginia. May 13, Fri. - Grant fails to break Lee’s line at Spotsylvania. Grant now moves around his left to again flank Lee. In the North, Horace Greeley, reflecting the feelings of many northern republicans dissatisfied with Lincoln writes in his New York Tribune “Our own conviction is.....that it is advisable for the Union Party to nominate for President, some other among its able and true men than Mr. Lincoln.” May 18, Wed - Another attack is made on the new Confederate line at Spotsylvania C.H. It does little more than create more casualties..................... Grant keeps moving south and east. Our Pvt. Day of the 25th Mass writes in his diary, “Since our last affair at the RR, I have been on the sick list and have suffered severely with chills and fever, and from other causes. I am not yet able to do much, and I fear I shall not be able to go on many more excursions with the boys. The reg’t. has been out nearly every day and has suffered losses of more than 200. In the fight at Drury’s Bluff two mornings ago we lost some 150 men killed wounded or missing.” May 19, Thu. - Lee attempts to find out if Grant is moving to his right. He orders Richard Ewell to attack the Union line again at Spotsylvania, which brings on a sharp fight which does nothing more than cause increased casualties. May. 23, Mon. - In Georgia, Gen. Sherman continues to maneuver against Gen. Johnston, again turning his left flank; .................not wanting to commit to a frontal attack.. May 24, Tue. - At the North Anna River Lee and Grant are in a stalemate. Grants army is divided by the bend in the river and becomes very vulnerable. Grant decides not to assault the strong Confederate position. ........... Lee is too ill and cannot conduct an offensive operation against Grants divided army. Grant again maneuvers to his left, around Lee’s right. May 28, Sat. - Lee again rushes southeast to get back in front of Grant’s army at Cold Harbor. May 29, Sun - In Virginia, Lee waits for Grant’s army , preparing his lines at Cold Harbor. May 30, Mon. - Grant adjusts his lines to get around Lee’s right flank May 31, Tue. - In the North, a group of radical Republicans, hostile to Lincoln’s conduct of the war, emancipation, and reconstruction, meets in Cleveland, Ohio to nominate their own presidential candidate, General John Charles Fremont. Lee can’t go anywhere. ..........................In Georgia, Sherman is knocking on the doors of Atlanta. C.H.............In less than 30 days, Grant is outside of Richmond, and has Lee o heavily engaged. So ends the month;...............the month of May, in the year, 1864,............ 7 score and 10 years ago. Selected Excerpts from “The Civil War Years,” “The Civil War Almanac,” “The Living Lincoln,” and “The every Day Life of Abraham Lincoln.” Summarized by: Pete McDonough DUES ARE DUE!!! OCCWRT 2013-2014 MEMBERSHIP DUES Date:_____________2014 Name ____________________________________ Address___________________________________ City______________________State___Zip______ Enclosed is my check for : Individual Membership $ 20 Family Membership $ 25 Annual Membership plus added Donation to Preservation Fund $_____ MAILTO: Paula Cunningham, 62 Ridgewood St., Taunton, MA 02780 Civil War Trivia: . President Lincoln ordered work on the capitol dome to continue throughout the Civil War as a symbol of the Union…NOT! We learned this is just another Civil War urban legend. What was the real reason work continued? Answers later in this newsletter. Friends of Olde Colony Civil War Round Table Generous donations were provided by the following businesses and individuals, and resulted in one of the most successful raffles. Wherever possible, please consider using the services of those businesses that supported the raffle: American Digger Magazine, Acworth, Ga.: 2 books and 1 subscription Don Beurman: Civil War Atlas and plaque Blue Bunny Book Store, Dedham, MA: print Butternut and Blue: Baltimore, MD: 8 civil War Books John Farrell: Red Sox Autographed Ball Café Bagel, Dedham, MA: gift card Café Paradise, Dedham, Ma: gift card Joan Campagna: necklace and earrings Chateau Restaurant, Norwood, MA: gift card Civil War News, Turnbridge VT: 1 year subscription, back issues Paula Cunningham: CD, Gettysburg 150th anniversary T-shirt Dedham Community Theater, Dedham, MA: movie passes Dedham Savings, Dedham, MA: American Express Gift Card Joe Dipoli: set of 4 Winston Churchill books Gail Dugan: 6 books, necklace Doreen Hearsey: 2 tickets, Chorus Performance Robert Hearsey: 20 books (!), 2 DVDs Heart of the Square, Dedham, MA: gift card Holiday Inn Dedham, Dedham, MA: hotel room for Mr. Frye Isabella Restaurant, Dedham, Ma: gift card Larry Jones: print, newspaper print Jack Kavanagh: 5 books Jeffrey Meissner, Photography, Colonial Beach, VA: 2 posters Mosby Heritage Association, Middleburg, VA: Mosby Cap New England Mobile Book Fair, Newton, MA: 2 books Papa Gino’s/D’Angelos, Dedham, MA: 4 dinner coupons Roche Brothers, Westwood: gift card Ron’s Ice Cream, Dedham, MA: gift card Taunton Historical Society, Taunton, MA: 1 year membership Thomas Publications, Gettysburg, PA: 5 books Valori Treloar, MD, Newton, MA: dermatology samples USS Jacob Jones VFW Post 2017, Dedham, MA: 2 dinners, donation USS Jacob Jones VFW Post 2017 Women’s’ auxiliary: donation Dana Zaiser: civil war token 50’s restaurant, Dedham, MA: gift card Answer to Civil War Trivia: The hazards of government contracts! Engineer-in-charge of the Capitol dome, Montgomery Meigs, was the first to use the Capitol as a symbol of unity. In 1856, to convince Congress to appropriate more money to his project, Meigs told them that it would be, “a sight well worth its cost to see the Congress, in the midst of all this agitation, going on quietly and voting a million for completing the Capitol of this Federal Union and thus showing the little regard they had for the foolish fears of those who talked about its end.” In May 1861, the same Montgomery Meigs ordered a halt to construction on the Capitol because the government could not guarantee payment. But the workmen continued. Why? There were 1.3 million pounds of iron lying on the Capitol grounds waiting to be cast. If the contractor walked away from the job, it was sure to be stolen before it had a chance to rust. “The sound of the hammer never stopped on the national Capitol a single moment during all our civil troubles,” so wrote the Architect of the Capitol, and Meigs’ archenemy, Thomas U. Walter. Source: History of the United States Capitol, by William C. Allen, page 314. Thanks to Civil War Studies an amazing site! Civil War History: The incredible opportunities to learn and share our heritage: The Civil War Round Table of Greater Boston Meetings: 7:30 pm on the 4th Friday of each month, Sept. to June President David L. Smith 781-647-3332 cwrtgb The Civil War Round Table of North Worcester County Meetings: 7:00 pm on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, Sept. to June, at the Leominster Historical Society 17 School Street Leominster, MA 01453 For information contact: President, Ruth Frizzell [email protected] or nwrccwrt.org 978-365-7628 The Civil War Round Table of Central Massachusetts/Worcester Meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. on the 4th Wednesday of each month September to June at the Holden Senior Center Main Street Holden, MA For information contact: President Mark Savolis 860-923-2777 Civil War Roundtable of Cape Cod P.O. Box 1431 20 Main St. The Riverview School on Rte 6A 3rd Monday of each month, 1:00 p.m. Yarmouth Senior Center Fred Wexler, President, or John Myers, Programming at (580) 896-6421 The Civil War Roundtable of the Merrimack P.O. Box 421 West Newbury, MA 01985 54th Mass Glory Brigade Foundation Ben Goff, Corr. Secy P.O. Box 260342 Mattapan 02126 (617) 254-7005 goffbf@juno President Emmett Bell-Sykes [email protected] 617-333-9970 [email protected] The Greater New Bedford Civil War Roundtable Bob MacFarlane, Pres. 508-748-2197, revbobmac@aol Fourth Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. 1000 S. Rodney French Blvd. New Bedford (thanks to Nadine Mironchuk, Northshore CWRT) Rhode Island Civil War Round Table third Wednesday of the month at the William Hall Library,1825 Broad Street, Cranston, R.I.; social hour at 6:30, meeting and speaker at 7:00. Chairman is Mark Dunkelman (NYVI154th@aol) Secretary is Len Levin (lenlevin5@hotmail) ANNOUCEMENTS OCCWRT pins are now available. The pins will be provided to all (paid up) members of the group. Additional pins are available at the meetings for $5 These are newly formatted pins and are spectacular. 10 minute video of the Lincoln Cabin Forbes Museum Grand Opening in 1984. youtube then search 1924 Lincoln Cabin or youtube/watch?v=bxBNr4tP47o Dave Smith on the road to recovery! President of the Round Tables of Massachusetts, a key figure in Civil War preservation and scholarship in Massachusetts, Dave is recovering from an unfortunate accident. He is now completing physical therapy. Cards and notes, messages of good will would be most welcome and are most deserving. Forward your messages to OCCWRT, Rich Campagna, or to Dave c/o Spaulding Rehabilitation, Boston. Dave Smith, left, with Al Smith, and President Lincoln (James Getty) The Olde Colony Civil War Round Table can now be found on FACEBOOK! The group, and the heritage of Civil War history in Massachusetts, would most benefit from the experience and expertise of an individual with computer experience. PLEASE consider donating your time and effort and be the Webmaster of the group. Anyone with interest should contact President Dipoli.
Posted on: Fri, 13 Jun 2014 12:34:41 +0000
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