Call
to
arms
May 2015
Volume VI, Issue 9
The Newsletter of the Brunswick Civil War Round Table
The President’s
Corner
Wally Rueckel
the speaker at our April meeting was
Eric Wittenberg. He did a wonderful job
of putting to rest why JEB Stuart was late
arriving to join Lee’s Army during the
battle of Gettysburg. No, it was not because JEB was up all night partying! It
was a combination of factors that included confusing orders issued by Lee and
his staff, numerous encounters with
Union cavalry delaying his arrival, and
bad luck, as well as bad judgement, on the
part of JEB setting his priorities. Read
Dan’s synopsis elsewhere in this newsletter for a more complete discussion.
We are continuing to extend our outreach in bringing the story of the Civil
War to students. On March 16, Mike
Powell and I spoke to approximately 150
JROTC students at Brunswick West High
School. The students appeared interested
in what we had to say and asked many
questions. The level of Civil War knowledge seemed to be a little higher with
these students than the JROTC group we
talked to at Brunswick South earlier this
year. The West staff were very appreciative of our program and asked us to return
again next year.
Speaking of outreach to our youth, I
cordially invite you to bring your grand-
children with you to one of our meetings
so they might be exposed to an important
time in our history. Remember, students
attend our meetings free. Also, we have
plenty of seating available and of
course…cookies!
We are looking for two additional advisors to our Round Table Board. Specifically, one to represent the 36 members
from the Leland area, and a second to
represent the 40 members in the communities along Rt 17 from Supply to Sunset
Beach. This is a good way to better understand the operations of the BCWRT
and have a chance to put forward suggestions for the Board’s consideration. While only the Directors vote, we look to our
Advisors as potential directors. We meet
bi-monthly on the second Tuesday of the
month from 9-11a.m. at St James CC.
Please contact me if you are interested at
[email protected]
Did you see the very complimentary article about our Round Table in the
April 8 edition of the State Port Pilot’s
Cape Fear Coast magazine (pages 68-74)?
The feature does an excellent job of
President’s Corner
cont’d next page
Inside this
Issue
President’s
Message
Next Program
Last Meeting
Synopsis
Ladies’ Dept
2015-2016
Programs
Member
News
Chilmark
Statues
1-2
2
3
4
5
5
6
Membership
Notice
Spring Trip
6
32-pdr
8
Newsletter &
Ad Guidelines
9
150 Years
Ago
9
7
Co-Editors
Charen Fink
E. Gifford Stack
Jim McKee
M AY 2015
Next Speaker
P AGE 2
Will greene to Discuss new Orleans
campaign
Tuesday, May 5th is the next monthly meeting.
The meeting will feature special guest speaker
Will Greene, one of the most popular speakers on
the Civil War speaker’s circuit. His topic is “The
New Orleans Campaign.”
As background, the New
Orleans campaign (April 2425, 1862) was the first major
campaign of the war to close
the Mississippi to the Confederacy, which included naval
action by Union forces. A
Union naval squadron of 43
ships under Admiral David G.
Farragut entered the lower
Mississippi near New Orleans
and soon breached the heavy
chain cables that were
stretched across the river as a
prime defense. But, the resistance was useless. Confederate Gen. Mansfield
Lovell withdrew his 3,000 troops and the city fell
on April 25th. On May 1st, Union Gen. B.F. “The
Beast” Butler then led his 15,000 troops into the
city to take command for the remainder of the
war. The loss of New Orleans was considered
one of the worst disasters suffered by the Confederacy in the western theatre of the war. The
end result not only had local importance, but international significance.
President’s Corner… cont’d.
chronicling our history from start-up until today.
We are seeking permission from the Pilot to
email the article to all of you, as well as post it on
our website.
Our speaker in May is Will Greene, a nationally known historian who is back by popular demand for his third talk. Will always does an outstanding job. He’ll speak on the Union campaign to capture New Orleans, including early
naval and army successes. See you there.
“The Round Table is once again delighted to
have Will as our special guest speaker for the
third time,” boasts Wally Rueckel, BCWRT
president. “I have had the pleasure of participating in several Civil War battlefield tours with
Will, and his knowledge and
insights into specific events
are astounding,” Rueckel continued.
Will is Executive Director
of the Pamplin Historical Park
and The National Museum of
the Civil War Soldier in Petersburg, Virginia. His resume
includes sixteen years as historian and manager with the
National Park Service, and
president and executive director of the Association for the
Preservation of Civil War
Sites, now called the Civil War Trust. He has
authored numerous books on the Civil War, including twenty articles in history journals. In addition, he has been Study Leader for more than
40 Smithsonian Institute tours and seminars covering all the major Civil War campaigns; spoken
to more than 100 Civil War Round Tables; and,
provided more than 50 tours to special interest
history groups.
M AY 2015
Speaker Synopsis
By Dan Fink
P AGE 3
Eric Wittenberg and JEB Stuart’s Role in the
Gettysburg Campaign
what do you get when you mix the investigative
mind of a lawyer with a 45 year love of Civil War
History? You get clarification, amplification and an
entirely enjoyable April evening with Eric Wittenberg.
Hop on the back of James Ewell Brown Stuart’s sturdy horse and take a different path. Your preconceived
notions may be altered by little known facts. Some
things we do know as truths. General Lee is 53 by
1863 and not in the best of health. J.E.B. Stuart is a
healthy 29-30. The Gettysburg Campaign is designed
to “push” the North and entice the fence-riding British
to support the Southern cause. Stuart is to be Lee’s
eyes and ears. The three poorly written general orders
are to be his guide. We listened as Eric read them
word for word. Col. Charles Marshall presented documents pock-marked with juicy generalizations and
lots of “wiggle” room. They are a problem from the
start.
Eric gives us numerous reasons to believe his central theme: There was plenty of blame! J.E.B. has
challenges that would have stopped most in their
tracks. His sheer insight and the premise of “knowing
and using the resources at his disposal” worked well
for him. Lee thinks of J.E.B. as family and extends a
fatherly faith to him. J.E.B. responds in kind. His
first job is to keep northern cavalry from Lee’s Army.
His orders loosely implore him to gather information,
do as much damage as possible, capture supplies and
above all find Ewell’s Army.
What a string of officers alter the outcome. It is
almost Shakespearian. “Alas poor Stuart” gets all the
blame. Eric outlines for us a string of verifiable
“hiccups” that cost a half a day here, there and
everywhere. Soon they added up and even good
fortune slowed him. He captures 150 wagons of good
quality fodder for his hungry horses but now is slowed
by the 300 stubborn mules pulling them.
So, who is on first? Eric gives us a string of possible candidates for that position. Would it be Fitzhugh
Lee, Wade Hampton, John Chambliss, James
Breathed, John Mosby, Beverly Robertson, William
“Grumble” Jones, Napoleon Bonaparte Knight or
Judson Kilpatrick? Yes, Stuart must also be on this
list.
Eric answers by echoing this well known statement: The Yankees had something to do with it!
Northern cavalry was much better than originally
thought. This does sound like something Anderson
Cooper might have said. His great, great, grandfather
— you know — was one of those players on the prior
list. Ya just had to be there to find out which one.
(The resemblance is real.)
Thanks, Eric, for a delightful evening enhancing
J.E.B. Stuart’s role at Gettysburg. Unfortunately, we
won’t ever know his side. He dies in battle at age 31.
J.E.B. is a true tragic casualty of war. Clearly he is
not completely to blame.
M AY 2015
Ladies’ Department By Charen Fink
This month we’ll move away, temporarily, from Civil
War women for a brief glimpse of the Regency Period. This includes women during the War of 1812,
their fashions, diseases, cures, and potions. Fashions
were very different between the Colonial & Civil War
eras, yet hygiene and health did not keep pace with the
times.
Regency Period
J A time approximately between 1811 and 1820.
J When King George III became
unfit to serve, his son, Prince of
Wales ruled as his proxy, Prince
Regent.
J This was also known as the
Romantic Period in the early 19th
century cultural movement.
J The War of 1812-1815 took
place in America during this time.
P AGE 4
Wedding Fashions
Prince of Wales:
George IV “Prinny”
Josephine Bonaparte
J She was a trend-setter and a
French fashion leader who wore pink or white.
J She had a pedicurist, manicurist, masseuse & hair
stylist.
J Her staff consisted of: 4 maids,
personal servant, and a wardrobe
mistress.
J Like other nobility, face masks,
astringents, and skin whiteners were
used.
J Josephine owned: 676 dresses,
49 court costumes, 252 hats or headpieces, 60 cashmere shawls, 785pr.of slippers, 413 pr.
stockings and 478 embroidered & lace-trimmedchemises.
J Napoleon decreed in 1795 that no woman at court
could wear the same dress twice.
J Josephine introduced the empire dress which was
waist less, thin ribbon below the bosom, tight fitting
sleeves & a deep square neckline.
This particular dress
(left) is made of seethrough gauze, at one
time popular. Women
wore no underpinnings
which made it quite revealing. Usually stays
and a chemise were
worn beneath the dress.
Regency stays (right) often were not worn, especially
with the dress above.
1800s Danish wedding
Princess Charlotte’s silver
1812 yellow wedding
Hair
J Women dyed their hair and wore hats and caps to
cover their hair.
J They curled their hair with heated iron tongs and
often burned the hair.
J The hair was not washed often and head lice were
common.
J They thought honey, rum and oil applied to the
head helped prevent hair loss.
Hats
Trivia
J Military braiding was used to
intimidate the enemy.
J Women shunned cosmetics:
pallor was brought on by poor food
& drafty homes.
J Heelless slippers were worn.
J A remedy for a ruddy complexion was to ingest lead and drink vinegar.
J The stripes on prisoner clothing were first issued
in 1816 in Auburn, N.Y.
J Shoes & clothing were priced by the inch; the
smaller the shoe size & the shorter the person the less
it costs.
J Legs were called limbs.
M AY 2015
BCWRT News
P AGE 5
2015-2016 Program Speakers
June 2015 – Kathleen Thompson, “To the February 2016 – Chris Mackowski, “The Last
Breaking Point - The Toll of War on the Soldier” Days of Stonewall Jackson - From Wounding to
July and August – NO MEETINGS
Death”
September 2015 – Wiley Sword, “Shiloh”
March 2016 – Bud Robertson, TBD
October 2015 – Mathew Borowick, “Court Mar- April 2016 – Chris Kolakowski, “Perryville tial of John Fitz Porter - Result of Battle of 2nd 1862 Battle in Bragg’s Failed Kentucky CamManassas"
paign”
November 2015 – Chris Fonvielle, TBD
May 2016 – Horace Mewborn (Tentative)
December 2015 – Peter Carmichael, TBD
June 2016 – Susannah Ural, TBD
January 2016 – Ed Bearss, Wednesday, Jan. 13.
2015 Ladies’ Forum
Ladies, mark your calendar for the next Ladies'
Forum which will be on Monday, October 12,
2015, from 6-8 pm, at Murrow Hall in Trinity
UMC. We have a featured speaker who will
enlighten us about Flora Stuart, wife of J.E.B.
Stuart. In addition, there will be a discussion of
the daily lives of women, their clothing, and lifestyle. This is for women only. Members of
BCWRT are free and guests $5.00. As in the
past there will be refreshments and door prizes.
A BIG BCWRT
Thanks to Lowe's
Foods in Southport
As our Round Table membership has grown,
there has been a proportional increase in
our appetite for cookies and coffee at our meetings! Because we want to keep dues low and to
use those dues for things that benefit the entire
membership, we’ve offered our coffee-and-cookie
lovers a way to make monthly contributions, and
we have also reached out to local businesses for
support for monthly refreshments expenses.
Lowe’s Foods is the one business that has faithcontributed every single month toward those
Sutler’s Table, Ft. Fisher Books fully
expenses. We thought members might like to
know so they can keep that in mind when deciding
Be sure to visit the Sutler’s Table at our new lo- where they would like to shop.
cation in the Hatch Auditorium lobby. There are
always new books and periodicals, all low priced
and ready for you to enjoy! The Sutler’s Table
also has information on local events and other
We have established a safety protocol for the
services provided by BCWRT.
Round Table which is also an ongoing process. The directors will take the responsibility of
contacting 911 but we still rely on the expertise of
The Friends of Fort Fisher are be selling The Batour members until paramedics arrive.
tle for Fort Fisher 150TH commemorative books.
The books can be purchased for $5.00 by contacting Tom Conaty, BCWRT, at 571-212-5510,
or from either local Civil War Historic Sites. Part
of the proceeds benefits the BCWRT.
Safety Protocols
M AY 2015
News & Notes
P AGE 6
Chilmark Pewter Statues For Sale
Two limited editions signed and numbered cast
pewter statues titled "John Bedford" and “John E.
Reynolds” by Francis J. Barnum, ca. 1997. It is
part of the Leaders of Gettysburg series and is a
product of CHILMARK HUDSON CREEK of
Hudson, Mass. These items come in the original
boxes.
Contact: Kathy O’Donnell, 253-3249, [email protected] . Statues will be available
for viewing at the May Brunswick Civil War
Round Table meeting.



6" Tall on a 4x4" hardwood base.
Limited edition #309 0f 1200.
Signed on the top of the base in gold marker
by the artist.
 The piece bears the Chilmark gold button of
authenticity.
 Like new condition. Very nice, highly detailed beautiful Civil War collectable. It would be
a great addition to your civil War collection or
would look nice on your desk or shelf.
 $90 each.
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO THE MEMBERSHIP
The Brunswick Civil War Round Table has a Board of nine members, including five officers, plus several
advisors and committee chairs. The membership should be made aware of certain recent policies.
1. Basic membership fees for individuals and couples is $25.00.
2. Students are welcome free of charge.
3. A $10.00 admission fee will be charged all guests.
4. Occasionally it may be necessary to charge guests a higher fee when there is an especially renowned
speaker or when travel arrangements become more expensive.
The BCWRT has the following stated objectives:
1. To promote knowledge and understanding of the complex Civil War era through programs, travel, and the
newsletter.
2. To support the development and preservation of Civil War sites.
The BCWRT objectives are pursued in various ways, some obvious and some less so, as to the monthly cost
of speakers, venues, programs, and publicity. With this in mind, we propose to establish two categories of
elective, tax-free giving which would secure our finances in light of unknown future changes. The proposed
categories reflect our purposes. One category will be for programs and the other for Historic Site preservation.
The membership may be assured that due diligence is given to all BCWRT finances and other affairs.
M AY 2015
News & Notes
P AGE 7
BCWRT Day Trip to Wilmington
JUNE 13, 2015 9:30AM- 4:00PM
JOIN THE MEMBERS FOR A DAY TRIP TO WILMINGTON’S HISTORIC SITES
For information and registration contact Mike Powell – [email protected] or 910-278-3545
COST: $40.00 includes all tickets, limited to 25 members
First chartered in 1852, Oakdale Cemetery was built
soon after a city ordinance made burial in the city limits
illegal. It is the resting place of Wilmington’s historic and
most prominent citizens. The photo is the monument
marking the mass grave of the dead from Fort Fisher and
the Wilmington Campaign. And, of course, there is Rose
Greenhow, perhaps the most famous inhabitant of the
cemetery. Eric Kozen will provide us with a walking tour
that covers it all.
Built over a city jail circa 1770, the Burgwin
-Wright House is one of only three homes
in Wilmington to survive from colonial
days. It is furnished in 18th and 19th century
antiques and has hundreds of rare pieces. The
home was headquarters of General Cornwallis
after the Battle of Guilford Court House.
Built in 1852, Latimer House has been the home of
the Historical Society of the Lower Cape Fear since
1963. The house portrays life in the upper echelon of
Wilmington society in the Victorian age. There are
over 600 antique furnishings in the house of historical
interest.
M AY 2015
Fort Anderson News
P AGE 8
“Double-Nickel” Finally Comes home!
After seven years of research and fund raising, the
new 32-pounder (pdr) has finally arrived at Fort
Anderson. The gun is a replica Pattern 1846, 32-pdr of
57 cwt on a front-pintle barbette carriage. The term
‘cwt’ means hundredweight, which equals 112
pounds. BCWRT has had a big hand in the acquisition
of the gun.
The gun is nicknamed “Double-Nickel” because it
is a replica of tube number 55 that was cast at Tredegar Foundry in Richmond in 1849. Kathy O’Donnell
was given the honor of choosing the number in memory of her husband and BCWRT co-founder Tom
O’Donnell. Fort Anderson has two Pattern 1846 guns,
the other gun was numbered 103.
Thomas Bailey of Historical Ordnance Works in
Woodstock , GA, won the contract to build the gun,
carriage, and chassis. The gun was sand cast in Chattanooga, TN; deep-bored in Cincinnati, OH; and
sleeved back in Woodstock. The top carriage and
chassis were constructed by Bailey of South Carolina
old growth cypress from original specifications. The
lead color paint is a near match that the original carriages were ordered painted by Gen. W.H.C. Whiting
in 1864.
Currently “Double-Nickel” is the largest working
gun in North Carolina. The barrel weighs 7,000
pounds and the carriage and chassis weigh 2,500
pounds. It is also the most historically accurate gun in
the state. The gun will be surpassed in size by an 8”
Columbiad that Fort Macon has ordered and will be
delivered in 2016.
Fund-raising efforts for “Double Nickel” continue
so that the gun can be permanently mounted in the
Third gun emplacement in the Southern Battery of
Fort Anderson. The goal is to have the gun emplacement reconstructed and the gun mounted by April
2016. The gun will sit on a temporary platform between the Brunswick town/Ft. Anderson visitor center
and St. Philips Anglican Church.
The unloading and
mounting of the
new 32-pdr. From
L-R: Chassis, Top
Carriage, Barrel.
Bottom
left:
Unloading
the
7,000lb
barrel.
Bottom right: The
gun on display.
M AY 2015
Membership Information
P AGE 9
BCWRT Guidelines For Ads and
Newsletter Content
Slide Show Ads
 Who, what, when, where and why—with contact info.
 Highlight the event, not the organization.
 One slide - per month - per group. Some people may be 60 ft. from the screen, so ad needs to be in large
print as small print will not be seen by most.
 Must be Civil War related or from Southport Historical Society or Southport Maritime Museum.
 No recruiting of volunteers among our membership. No fundraising.
 We have right to refuse any ad. If any ads need additional info or clarification, Mike Powell will secure
from provider.
 Must be received 7 days prior to meeting, which is the 1st Tuesday of the month, to Rob Clarke at
[email protected] or Mike Powell at [email protected] or call 910-278-3545.
Newsletter Ads
 Short, one paragraph, 5-6 lines, single-spaced, lined with bullet points and contact information.
 Any graphics must be in the 6 lines.
 The editors can determine criteria. However, the same principles that are set for slides will hold true for
newsletter.
 BCWRT Board and editors have the right to refuse.
Newsletter
 Date of submission to Jim McKee or Charen Fink is the 18th of the month to allow the editors time to format the information.
 Space limited to 5-6 lines to adhere to same criteria as slide show ads.
 Articles submitted to be limited to 100 words.
 Organizations may not hand out flyers, either outside or in the auditorium, without advance approval from
Marv Hamer. [email protected]
 Editing may be done for readability without changing content.
No Ads will be accepted for the website.
150 YEARS AG O may 1865
May 4– Gen. Richard Taylor surrenders remaining CS troops in Alabama and Mississippi.
May 10– Jefferson Davis captured near Irwinville, GA.
May 10– Pres. Andrew Johnson declares the end of armed resistance.
May 10– CSS Imongene is last known ship to successfully run the blockade.
May 11– CS Vice-President Alexander Stephen arrested at Crawfordville, GA.
May 12– Battle of Palmito Ranch, TX.
May 12– Lincoln conspirators plead “Not Guilty” to military court.
May 12– US Gen. Oliver Otis Howard appointed to head Freedman’s Bureau.
May 22– Jefferson Davis imprisoned at Fortress Monroe, VA.
May 23– Grand review of the Army of the Potomac.
May 24– Grand Review of Sherman’s Army.
May 25– Ordnance explosion in Mobile, AL, Quartermaster John Cooper awarded his 2nd Medal of Honor.
May 27– CSS Shenandoah captures whaler Abigail in the Sea of Okhotsk.
May 27– William Holden appointed governor of North Carolina.
M AY 2015
Call To Arms
P AGE 10
THE NEXT MEETING IS
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Hatch Auditorium
The Brunswick Civil War Round Table is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization that
meets on the first Tuesday of each month, except July and August. Unless otherwise noted, meetings will be held at:
Hatch Auditorium, NC Baptist Assembly
Fort Caswell, Oak Island, NC
Registration is open at 6:30 p.m. and the program starts at 7:00p.m.
Co-Founded by Tom O’Donnell and Wally Rueckel
Organized May 2010
2015 BCWRT Officers, Directors and Advisors
Wally Rueckel: President & Director
Rob Clarke: Vice President & Director
Marv Hamer: Vice President & Director
Tom Kehoe: Treasurer & Director
Peter Desrochers: Secretary & Director
Jack Carpenter: Director
Charen Fink: Director
Chuck Roedema: Director
Mike Powell: Director
Chris Fonvielle: Advisor
Connie Hendrix: Advisor
Jim McKee: Advisor
Kathy O’Donnell: Advisor
Roy Pender: Advisor
Jonathan Richmond: Advisor
E. Gifford Stack: Advisor
Max Williams: Advisor
Check Us Out on the Web
The BCWRT website can be found under brunswickcivilwarroundtable.com or
brunswickcivilwarroundtable.org. All of the information on the website is available
to everyone, no user name or password is required.
Be sure to check out the list of presenters already lined up for our 2015/2016
year. There is also information on current Round Table sponsored trips and writeups on trips already taken. Also, check out the Links page for other organizations
involved in the Civil War.
The website is updated frequently, so please keep checking in on us.