Raleigh Civil War Round Table |
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"The same rain falls on both friend and foe."
The Mission of the Raleigh Civil War Round Table is to study the history of the American Civil War, to stimulate interest and promote education in a broad range of topics related to that war, and to aid in the preservation and enhancement of its battlefields, cemeteries, relics, and other historic sites and landmarks.
The Zoom meeting video of Dr. Ted Kunstling's April 14th, 2024 presentation on the topic Raleigh Occupied 1865 can be viewed by clicking here. Those of you who have signed up to accompany Ted on his repeat Raleigh Trolley tour of the sites mentioned in his April presentation are highly encouraged to view this video for valuable background information. Dr. Kunstling is currently in the process of scheduling this repeat tour for late spring-to-early-summer. You will be notified as soon as that date and time have been selected.
Friends of Fort Macon's Newsletter, can be accessed by clicking here. Among others, it includes articles on Two 24-Pounders Mounted [at Fort Macon] and The Birth of Fort Macon State Park, along with the announcement of Fort Macon State Park's upcoming centennial on June 4th, 2024, with celebrations and events running June 1st to 8th.
A reminder that the podcast Addressing Gettysburg provides "great experiences, quality programs, and a welcoming community for those who love Gettysburg."
Andrew Ballard, Raleigh Civil War Round Table's The Knapsack newsletter editor emeritus, has created and curates a new YouTube channel showcasing an archive of videos of interest to the Raleigh CWRT's members and friends. To access it, click on the link Raleigh CWRT YouTube Channel in the Navigation panel on the left.
Available now for your listening enjoyment are nine additional 2022 Civil War podcasts from Civil War lecturer Freddie Kiger, numbered 049 to 057 (April-Dec. 2022). These can be accessed from the Navigation Column to the Left by clicking on the link Freddie Kiger's CW Podcast.
The Entire 45 Video Collection of FRIDAYS WITH U. S. GRANT, as impersonated by Dr. Curt Fields, Ph.D., is Now Accessible from the Link CWRT Congress in the Navigation Column to the Left.
Upcoming meeting of the Raleigh CWRT:
The Raleigh Civil War Round Table’s June 9th, 2024, meeting will feature Matthew Young, MA, speaking on the topic The CSS Neuse
The meeting will be held at the NC Museum of History's Longleaf Room, located off Jones St. on the north end, lower level, of the Museum in downtown Raleigh, NC. Please join us at 1:30 p.m. DST for refreshments. The program, itself, starts at 2:00 p.m.
There is free parking in the lot east of the Museum. You are encouraged to arrive a bit early to allow for the time it takes to find a parking space. We have discovered that parking can be limited due to the popularity of the downtown area on Sunday afternoons.
This event will also be live-streamed on Zoom for those unable to attend in person. A video recording will be made available on http://www.raleighcwrt.org, our Raleigh Civil War Round Table website, following the event.
If you are on our mailing list, you should receive an invitation to our June 9th meeting, including instructions and a link for joining online if you are unable to attend in person. Please respond by email to RaleighCWRT@Yahoo.com if you have not received an invitation by June 2nd.
Matt Young's presentation, The CSS Neuse, provides an overview of the history, significance, recovery, preservation, and display of the CSS Neuse, one of four ironclads built in North Carolina during the Civil War.
Matt Young is originally from Georgia. He attended Columbus State University in Columbus, GA, for his BA degree in History (2002), and Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, NH, for his MA degree in History (2022).
He first began museum work as the Education Director at the National Civil War Naval Museum in Columbus, GA, from 2002-2008. He then worked as Education Director at the National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning (now Fort Moore), GA, from 2008-2012 before becoming the Assistant Director for the Greensboro Historical Museum in Greensboro, NC, from 2012-2014. In 2014, he began his current position as Site Manager of the CSS Neuse Civil War Museum in Kinston, NC.
Matt enjoys traveling with his wife, Amanda. Together, they have been to England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, New England, Italy, and the Vatican. They will be traveling to Malta and Sicily this summer. They have three dogs, two cats, and two teenage children at home.
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The Podcast Addressing Gettysburg
The podcast Addressing Gettysburg was founded, and is hosted, by Matt Callery. Its name is a clever wordplay on Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Its motto is "Great experiences, quality programs, and a welcoming community for those who love Gettysburg." Matt is supported by his team consisting of Veronica Brestensky (Co-Host), and regular contributors and Licensed Battlefield Guides Bob Steenstra and Tim Smith.
Following are two endorsements of Addressing Gettysburg:
"Matt Callery and his Addressing Gettysburg podcast sets out with the idea that history is not boring and succeeds admirably. The podcasts explore fascinating aspects of the Gettysburg and the American Civil War and Matt asks penetrating, interesting questions that draw the best from his guests. If you have any interest in Gettysburg or how people endured and responded to extreme circumstances and conditions, you will find this podcast well worth your time investment."
— Scott Hartwig - Author, To Antietam Creek: The Maryland Campaign of 1862
"Anyone interested in learning more about the events of July 1863, and their place in history and memory, can find something to enjoy in Addressing Gettysburg. Through engaging interviews with historians, guides, experts, and other informed guests, each episode provides thorough, educational, entertaining, and informative historical content. From military tactics, to civilian and human interest stories, to the battle's lasting legacy locally and across the nation, when it comes to Gettysburg, this podcast covers it all.
— Codie Eash - Author, Historian, Visitor Services Coordinator at Gettysburg Seminary Ridge Museum
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Third Member-Produced Civil War Documentary Film Now Available
Andrew Ballard, editor emeritus of The Knapsack newsletter, has just produced a companion Blu-ray film to two earlier documentaries that the Raleigh Civil War Round Table previously released.
This latest documentary film, The Civil War in North Carolina: Taking the Offensive, 1864, covers events that took place in our state that year including efforts by Maj. Gen. George Pickett to retake New Bern. The film features the following:
- James E. White III (Batchelor’s Creek / New Bern and USS Underwriter)
- Philip Gerard (Kinston Hangings)
- Alex Christopher Meekins (Battle of Plymouth)
- Andrew Duppstadt (CSS Albemarle and Battle of Albemarle Sound), and
- Chris Fonvielle (Fort Fisher).
It is narrated by S.N. Burkholder of Middletown, CT and filmed on site. It includes re-enactment footage along with historical maps and illustrations and period music.
Blu-ray discs of this film will be offered at our August 14th, 2023, meeting for donations of $10 or more. Copies of The Civil War in North Carolina: Battles for the Coast, 1862 and The Civil War in North Carolina: The Final Campaigns, 1865 are also still available. As we have done with donations for the first two films, net proceeds from the third film will be used for preservation and conservation efforts related to the Civil War in North Carolina. Checks should be made out to Raleigh CWRT.
The first film, The Civil War in North Carolina: The Final Campaigns, 1865, features historians and authors speaking on the major events of 1865, including the following:
- Ed Bearss (Overview/Monroe's Crossroads)
- Chris Fonvielle (Fort Fisher / Fort Anderson / Wilmington)
- David Waller (Wyse Fork)
- Andrew Duppstadt (CSS Neuse)
- Wade Sokolosky (Averasboro)
- Mark Bradley (Bentonville)
- Chris Hartley (Stoneman's Raid)
- Ernest Dollar (Raleigh / Morrisville)
- Bob Farrell (Logan), and
- John Guss (Bennett Place)
The experts were all filmed at the applicable historical sites and re-enactment footage from the sesquicentennial events at Fort Fisher, Fort Anderson, and Bentonville is included.
Music by the Liberty Hall Drum & Fife Corps and the 26th North Carolina Field Music/Carolina Fifes and Drums, artwork by Stephen McCall, Martin Pate, and Darrell Combs, and maps by Mark A. Moore and Hal Jesperson are also in the documentary.
The second film, The Civil War in North Carolina: Battles for the Coast, 1862, covers events that took place in our state that year including the Burnside Expedition and Foster's Raid. The film features the following:
- Former National Park Service Ranger Michael Zatarga (Roanoke Island, South Mills)
- Author James E. White III (New Bern)
- N.C. State Park Ranger Paul R. Branch Jr. (Fort Macon)
- Military Curator for the NC Museum of History Charles R. Knight (Tranter's Creek), and
- Founder of the Goldsborough Bridge Association Randy Sauls (Foster's Raid / Kinston, White Hall, and Goldsborough Bridge).
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The American Battlefield Trust is Offering Free Educational Materials on the American Revolution and American Civil War
The American Battlefield Trust "wants to share a sample of the digital resources that might be helpful to you right now. We hope that they can help bring history to life at home, whether you are a parent, educator, lifelong student of history, or anywhere in between."
Click here to be taken to The American Battlefield Trust's Facebook page where you can find links to free on-line educational materials covering both the American Revolutionary War and the American Civil War.
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The American Battlefield Trust Needs Your Help
The American Battlefield Trust asks for your help in saving two acres of irreplaceable Civil War history on small, but vital, tracts of land of three Civil War battlefields: East Cemetery Hill at Gettysburg, PA (one-half acre), Parker’s Cross Roads, TN (one-half acre), and Sailor’s Creek, VA (one acre). The goal is to raise $193,000. Donations are matched at a ratio of $4.00-to-$1.00.
For more information, click the following link: Save Central Land at 3 Battlefields Including Gettysburg.
The Trust’s website has a web page devoted to a wonderful interactive tool. Displayed is a map of the U.S. that can be toggled between topographical and satellite views. In either case, an Interstate highway system is superimposed for reference.
For each State in which Civil War battles were fought, one can zoom in on that State and then drill down to show a specific battle. Clicking on the battle location brings up a webpage with details about the battle.
The map can be filtered by State, by Civil War year, and by victor. One can toggle a depiction of any land within the battlefield that is part of the current campaign for preservation. For each battle, the number of acres already saved as well as the number of additional acres available for saving is displayed. The interactive map can be found by clicking the following link: Saved Land.
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