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November 2015 Volume VII Issue 3

The President’s Corner

October was certainly a month filled with change! Our October program fea-turing Matt Borowick was scheduled for our normal first Tuesday, and included a special tour of Ft Caswell led by Jim McKee. Mother nature stepped in, laughed and flooded us out. We bounced back, holding the program and tour on October 20. Despite competition from three other local events that evening, 215 members attended of which 45 took the tour. There is a second tour scheduled before our November meeting. The talk by Borowick and tour by McKee were well received. You can read about them elsewhere in the newsletter. We settled back to prepare for our No-vember program to learn that our Decem-ber speaker went into the hospital for sur-gery and his recovery will prevent him from speaking until next year. Mike Pow-ell got on the phone with several of our future scheduled speakers and was able to get our April presenter to take over the December slot. Mike then scheduled a replacement for April. That’s what comes from having a dedicated Program Chair-man, plus our Round Table’s reputation that allows us to attract quality speakers.

We still are tinkering with a couple of matters related to our operations at Hatch. We have made changes to our A/V sys-tem and are considering a couple more improvements for the volume and sound quality. At our last meeting, we begun requiring our speakers to use a lapel mike to capture their comments, even when moving around the stage. Also, we’re now using a hand-held microphone during the question/answer period to better hear the audience questions. In addition, we’ve moved the Sutler’s table up to the front of the auditorium. This was done to help relieve congestion in the lobby, as well as give you a better opportunity to browse our selection of books and magazines, both before and after our meeting. And finally, but very importantly, we are put-ting together a more comprehensive safe-ty procedure with the help of an EMS specialist. Not only do we point out the emergency exits, but we are working on a checklist of actions that we should be prepared to take in the event of an emergency. These lists will be handed out to our leadership team.

President’s Corner cont’d next page

The Newsletter of the Brunswick Civil War Round Table

Co-Editors Charen Fink E. Gifford Stack Jim McKee

President’s Message

1-2

Next Pro-gram

2

Last Meeting Synopsis

3

Ladies’ Dept 4

2015-2016 Programs

5

Ladies Fo-rum

6

NC Civil War History Cen-ter

6

Fort Caswell Tour

7

Fort Caswell Special In-sert

8

Newsletter & Ad Guide-lines

9

150 Years Ago

9

Wally Rueckel

Dr. Chris fonvielle Returns to Speak November 3

NOVEMBER 2015 PAGE 2

Next Speaker

popular and well-respected local historian, au-thor, fellow Round Table member, and UNCW associate professor of history, Chris E. Fonvielle Jr., Ph.D., is returning once again to speak at the next monthly meeting of the Brunswick Civil War Round Ta-ble. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 3, at Hatch Auditorium on the grounds of the North Carolina Baptist Assembly in Caswell Beach. The title of his presentation is, “Glory, Glory Hallelujah: The African Ameri-can Experience in the Civil War.” The Round Table is pleased to have Chris join us because he is such a knowledgeable and dy-namic speaker. In addition, he is a prolific author, including “The Wilmington Campaign: Last Rays of Departing Hope,” and his most recent book, “Faces of Ft. Fisher, 1861 – 1864.” He has a vast knowledge about the Civil War in Southeastern North Carolina and the

Lower Cape Fear region, and always attracts huge audiences given his outstanding reputation. For this meeting he discusses the role of African Americans during the Civil War which should be

especially interesting and one that is rarely discussed at civil war round tables around the country. Questions frequently asked about this topic include, was the institution of slavery the major cause of the war? What roles did African Americans play as the conflict erupted in 1861, and how did their roles change as the war progressed? How did the war be-come a war of emancipation? Un-der what circumstances were blacks accepted into U.S. military forces, yet denied entry into the Confederate States Army? What is the legacy of the black experi-

ence in the Civil War? Chris will examine these and other related issues.

President’s Corner… cont’d.

It’s worth noting that our Round Table is great thanks to many great volunteers who step forward to do the work that needs to be done in support our large and growing organization. Please remember that Decem-ber is our annual elections meeting. We are always interested in attracting new leadership. Step up. Help us continue to constantly upgrade our program. Con-tact Jack Carpenter, our Nominating Committee Chairman, harvu64jmc@msn.com h-910 253 8339. Our speaker next month will be our own Professor Chris Fonvielle, a local historian, author and a per-sonal friend. He has spoken to us several times and has always been a member favorite. You can read about his talk at the top of this page. See you at our November 3 meeting, which is also national election day. I’d be remiss as a former Chi-cago resident not to remind you, in the words of be-loved Mayor Daley, “Vote early and vote often!”

“On the 5th instant arrived in the Mersey, off Liverpool and on Monday the 6th sur-rendered the Shenandoah to the British Na-tion by letter to Lord John Russell, Premier of Great Britain.”

The log is approved James I Waddell (Signature)

Commander November 6, 1865:The final logbook entry of CSS Shenandoah.

(See related entry on page 9)

The Day They Drove Old Dixie Down

NOVEMBER 2015 PAGE 3

matt Borowick took us through a brief over-view of historical “Ironical Happenstances” where blame was easily placed on individuals as scapegoats. He is slowly building us to either a mighty crescendo or an empty conclusion. He gives us a back-ground of Fitz John as a Wes t Po in te r , a “soldier’s soldier” and career Army. Matt shows us how the “deck was stacked” against Fitz John from the start. For starters, members of t h e c o u r t w e r e personally chosen by Secretary of War Edwin Stanton (a strong McClellan opponent). One such member, Rufus King, was a very suspect appointment. Ya just had to be there to hear Matt give a profound explanation as to why Rufus was MIA for ALL of second Manassas! The two charges against Fitz John were very serious and could actually bring execution. The first one was disobeying Pope’s order. The se-cond was misbehavior in front of the enemy. Matt shared the “joint order” from Pope that star-ted it all. It was a masterpiece of the lateral ara-besque (going sidewise and doing nothing). As we waded through the juicy generalizations, we were led to conclude it was just one botched en-counter after another. At one short point, the Confederates were so frustrated they actually threw large rocks at the enemy. The president of the court, David Hunter, saw political advantage to a trial open to the public. Reporters, newspapers and magazines saw a feeding frenzy. They joyfully entered that great

American game called…politics. The country took sides and viewed the trial through very par-tisan eyes. The outrageous did not go unnoticed.

Only ONE map, sup-plied by Pope, was used to tell the position of Longstreet’s troops! Character assassination attempts made Porter bristle and helped him begin avenues to restore his good name. Lincoln looked at the thirty-one pages of testimony and assumed Porter guilty “by sheer volume.” The court held a secret vote but Porter learns of his guilty charges from a New York Times repor-ter.

Matt tells us that Porter began a long “mud

march” to clear his name. Not until the term of President Chester Arthur in 1882 is his sentence overturned and justice comes to Porter. We are assured that Porter was a fine soldier—perhaps the finest in the Army of the Potomac. He did what any leader would have done under the same circumstances. If anything, he was convicted of using common sense. Scapegoat or hero? Matt sees him as a bit of both. The game of politics truly victimized Fitz John. He was no traitor and finally proved it. The whole episode was a great injustice. In conclu-sion, Matt hopes you lean towards thinking of Fitz John Porter as an American hero.

Speaker Synopsis By Dan Fink

Scapegoat or Hero: the Court Martial of Fitz John Porter

NOVEMBER 2015 PAGE 4

Ladies’ Department By Charen Fink

Flora and Fauna of the Civil War F Locust Tree - black locust was stronger than oak and used for shipbuilding and oars. It was also used for tool handles, wooden platters and spoons. Its fuel value was equal to coal. The honey locust was often called the “Confederate Pintree” because its long thorns were used to pin together the ragged uniforms of southern soldiers. F Magnolia Tree - this tree is the emblem of the Deep South and one of nine species in the eastern U.S. Confederate surgeon Francis Porcher reported various parts of the tree were used as a laxative, as well as to treat fevers, headaches…and worms! Odd Fact: Mag-nolia Hall was the last large antebellum home built in Natchez and one of the best examples of Greek Re-vival style still standing. Shells from the Union gun-boat Essex damaged the house during the war. F Maple Tree - drums made of hard maple were used by both Union and Confederate musicians to summon their soldiers. Fifes usually were made from exotic hardwoods. The sugar maple was the most im-portant commercial species for its lumber and sugar. It was less expensive than cane sugar, plus some north-erners felt it was unpatriotic to use cane sugar pro-duced by slave labor. Other uses were gunstocks, shoe lasts, shipbuilding, furniture. One Civil War doctor even reported a decoction of red maple bark used as a wash improved eye disorders.

Stories of Gettysburg Arabella Barlow was the wife of Union commander General Francis Barlow. When her husband was struck down in battle, Confederate General John B. Gordon supposedly came to his rescue, but Gen. Gordon was never mentioned in Barlow’s diary. Barlow’s wife Arabella was a nurse with the United States Sanitary Commission and it was thought Gordon summoned her to Gettysburg to care for her husband. Barlow survives and years later both men met in Washington, D.C. Gordon had a hobby of exaggeration but in his post-war talks he spoke of reconciliation. In 1861 Arabella was a decade younger than her husband when they married. The next day he went off to war. She became a nurse and first-rate forager. In 1864 she paid the last full measure when she caught typhus and died, age 40. After the war, Francis Barlow, one of the founders of the American Bar Assoc., married the sister of Col. Robert Gould Shaw, commander of the Mass. Black regiment.

Profiles of Women Elizabeth Timms as taken from her home in Calhoun, Georgia, for waving or alerting Confederate troops. In 1864 she was separated from her family and shipped North. She was imprisoned in the women’s section of the Louisville MP, mistreated by Dr. Walker, died and was buried in the Confederate section of Cave Hill Cemetery. She is the only female resting among the Confederate dead because her dying request was to be buried with her people. Sherman’s troops took about 400 women from the Roswell, GA. millworks to prison pens in Louisville, KY. They were then farmed out as domestics, sent to Indiana mills or shipped across the Ohio River. Many froze to death in the winter. Most never were able to return home after the war.

Have a Safe and Happy Thank<giving

References Hedgpeth, Steve with John D. Wedo. “What They Did There: Profiles From The Battle of Gettysburg.” 2014. Hitt, Nancy (member of 290 Foundation, B.V.I.). “Elizabeth Timms.” Taken from part of 290 Founda-tion series of stories on Civil War Women. Ouchley, Kelby. Flora and Fauna of the Civil War. Louisiana State University Press, 2010, pgs.56-60.

NOVEMBER 2015 PAGE 5 BCWRT News

Tuesday, December 1: Chris Kolakowski: He currently serves as Director of the General MacAr-thur Memorial in Norfolk. Va. He has spent count-less hours doing preservation work for the National Park Service, New York State, and other organiza-tions. Chris is the author of “The Civil War at Per-ryville; Battling for the Bluegrass”. His topic: “Perryville”. This was the final battle of Confeder-ate Gen. Braxton Bragg’s 1862 invasion of Ken-tucky after which he was criticized for a premature withdrawal leaving the Bluegrass state to Union forces since the defeat was not clearly decisive. Wednesday (Yes Wednesday!), January 6: Ed Bearss, with his unique presentation style and knowledge joins the Round Table for his annual visit. He is a prolific author, battlefield guide and television commentator for various programs on Civil War history. He captivates audiences with his incredible memory of facts, dates and events, with-out the benefit of a single note or script. Ed’s topic this year is entitled, “Lincoln and His Cabinet”. He will discuss Lincoln’s interactions and relationships with all of the members of his Cabinet. Tuesday, February 2: Chris Mackowski, Ph.D., professor at St. Bonaventure College in Allegany, NY. He has worked as a National Park Service Ranger, and is part of Emerging Civil War Histori-ans researching and reporting on Civil War areas that have not had much attention. His topic is enti-tled, “The Last Days of Stonewall Jackson”. Chris will speak on Chancellorsville as Jackson’s finest day, and his end; i.e., the rough trip to Guinea Sta-tion, the amputation, pneumonia, and ultimately, his

death. Tuesday, March 1: Dr. James (Bud) Robertson returns to the Round Table. He is one of the most distinguished names in Civil War history. This popular, award-winning historian is the recipient of every major award ever given in Civil War history, and a lecturer of national acclaim. He is considered to be more in demand as a speaker than anyone else in the Civil War field. His topic is, “What Ever Happened To ...”. Bud will be dis-cussing the lives of various Civil War generals and their lives and careers after the war. Tuesday, April 5: TBA Tuesday, May 3: Craig Symonds, Ph.D., retired profes-sor and chairman of the history department at the United States Naval Academy, and a distinguished historian of the Civil War returns to the Round Table. In 2014, the Naval Historical Foundation awarded him the Commo-dore Dudley W. Knox Naval History Lifetime Achieve-ment Award. His topic: “Lincoln and His Admirals”. The title says it all; i.e., Lincoln’s relationship with the Navy, Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles and other Naval officers. His interests lie in the technology of the time and understanding of naval strategies during the war. Tuesday, June 7: Susannah Ural, Ph.D., prolific author, an associate professor of history at the University of Southern Mississippi, and a fellow in USM’s Center for the Study of War & Society. She specializes in 19th Cen-tury America, with an emphasis on the socio-military experiences of Civil War soldiers and their families. Susannah returns to the Round Table since her last visit in 2014. This time she will speak on the Irish in the Civil War, based on her book, “The Harp and the Eagle”. December 2016: Gordon Rhea, TDA

2015-2016 Program Speakers

All descendants and members of the Friends of Fort Fisher (FOFF) are invited to attend a special pro-gram and annual meeting, held at the Carolina Beach Courtyard Marriott, in conjunction with the 151st Anniversary Commemoration at Ft. Fisher. On Saturday, January 16, 2016, FOFF will feature author (The Confederate Goliath) Rod Gragg. Pre-ceding Rod, a primer is planned with Diane Rich-ard, a professional genealogist, recently featured on

the TLC television program “Who Do You Think You Are?” Registration is required for both events. Special tours, speakers, kids activities, infantry drills and artillery firings will highlight the day at Ft. Fisher, open to the general public. Anyone interested in attending the morning program should contact BCWRT member Tom Conaty (thconaty@mac.com) ASAP. Registration information, including special motel rates and the 151st program, will follow.

Friends of Fort Fisher News

NOVEMBER 2015 PAGE 6 News & Notes

On Monday night, October 12, 2015, a very enthusias-tic group of ladies met at Trinity United Methodist Church for the fifth Ladies' Forum. Over seventy par-ticipants were in attendance to hear speaker Teej Smith from Pinehurst, NC, discuss the life and achievements of Flora Stuart, wife of General J.E.B. Stuart. It was an outstanding presentation. Morgan Harper from the State Port Pilot came to photograph the occasion. During intermission, the host committee served Gen. Oglethorpe's orange cake, raisin oatmeal cookies, cheese, grapes and lemonade…all period refreshments made by many of the ladies in atten-dance. During the second half of the evening’s program, event organizer Charen Fink - wearing period dress - described women’s clothing and told how they lived during the war years. Three memberships were renewed, there was one new applicant, and numerous prizes were awarded. There were quite a few positive comments, and most attendees said they were looking forward to the next meeting, April 12, 2016, when Christy Judah from Supply, NC, will present another “Ladies Only” Civil War program.

2015 Ladies’ Civil War Forum

Left: Teej Smith and

Charen Fink

Been wanting to tell that fascinating story about your relative’s experience in the Civil War? Now’s your chance thanks to the North Carolina Civil War History Center. The center, which will be located on the grounds of the old Fayetteville Arsenal, wants a hundred stories from each of the state’s 100 counties. There is no limit to the scope of your story, legend, or memory - Con-federate, Union, Reconstruction, free and enslaved blacks, soldiers, sailors, civilians or Native American. Whatever you believe should be shared in perpetuity. Musette Steck, a BCWRT member who sits on the History Center’s Board of Advisors, along with fellow BCWRT members Wally Rueckel and Charen Fink, believes the stories help bring home the human, per-sonal aspects of North Carolina and America’s great-est conflict. “I’m proud to be part of such an innova-tive project. I’ve already received four narratives from friends who have an oral history of their Civil War

ancestors. All describe the trip home from where they were paroled.” For details on how to submit your story, please visit www.nccivilwarcenter.org/stories/.

NC Civil War History Center Announces 100 For 100 Effort

Right: Teej Smith speaks about Flora

Stuart. Below: Charen Fink addresses the

audience.

NOVEMBER 2015 PAGE 7 BCWRT News

If you missed your chance in June to purchase the ex-cellent DVD on Civil War events in our state, fret not. The producer, a member of the Raleigh Civil War Round Table, will attend our November meeting with copies available for a $10 donation. The documentary is titled “The Civil War in North Carolina, The Final Campaigns, 1865.” It features such historians as Ed Bearss, Chris Fonvielle, Wade Solokosky, Mark Bradley, and others, and is enhanced with re-enactments. Those BCWRT members who’ve

Prior to October’s meeting, 45 Round Table members (see photo below) toured the grounds of Fort Caswell, lead by BCWRT Advisor and local historian Jim McKee (on right, in blue shirt and khakis). The tour was conceived and coordinated by another BCWRT member, John Walsh. The tour had a special and unexpected guest attend: Will Greene! Due to an overwhelming demand, a second tour is scheduled for November.

RCWRT DVD Available Again

Fort Caswell Tour

Photos showing Fort Caswell. Bottom: Main Sally Port from the parade ground. Right: Damaged southwest corner . Inset: Rifle gallery in damaged corner.

NOVEMBER 2015 PAGE 8 Fort Caswell Special Insert

Above: Fort Caswell, as it appeared after Con-federates attempted to blow it up on January 16, 1865. Drawing done by Federal Engineers in February 1866. Right: Floor plan of Fort Caswell’s Citadel. The long wings were quar-ters for enlisted personnel, the short wing at top was for officers, and the bottom wing for NCOs. Bottom: Profile of Fort Caswell from 1830 showing Citadel, main wall, caponier, ditches, and glacis.

Nov. 3– US Navy resumes rendering honors when entering British ports and to exchange courtesies to British men-of-war. Courtesies were not rendered starting early in the war. Nov. 6– CSS Shenandoah entered the Mersey River and lowers the last Confederate national flag and last Con-federate naval jack. She is the only Confederate ship to circumnavigate the world. Nov. 7– Minnesota and Wisconsin vote for black state suffrage. Nov. 9– North Carolina declares the secession ordinance of 1861 null and void. Nov. 23– Former ram CSS Stonewall arrives at Washington Navy Yard. “On the morning of the 6th of November, 1865, the Shenandoah steamed up the River Mersey in a thick fog under the Confederate flag, and the pilot had orders to anchor her near H.M. ship-of-the-line Donegal, Captain Paynter, R.N. Shortly after we anchored a lieutenant from the Donegal visited us to ascertain the name of the vessel and gave me official intelligence of the termination of the American war. He was polite. The flag was then hauled down.” An extract of Cmdr James I. Waddell’s Journal

150 YEARS AGO November 1865

NOVEMBER 2015 PAGE 9 Membership Information

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

rmclsrke46@gmail.com or Mike Powell at mpowell6@ec.rr.com 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 E. Gifford Stack 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. mhamer@ec.rr.com Editing may be done for readability without changing content.

No Ads will be accepted for the website.

BCWRT Guidelines For Ads and Newsletter Content

Call To Arms NOVEMBER 2015 PAGE 10

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 write-ups 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.

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 other-

wise 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.

THE NEXT MEETING IS Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Hatch Auditorium

Check Us Out on the Web

Co-Founded by Tom O’Donnell and Wally Rueckel

Organized May 2010

2015 BCWRT Officers, Directors and Advisors Wally Rueckel: President & Director Tom Conaty: Advisor Rob Clarke: Vice President & Director Chris Fonvielle: Advisor Marv Hamer: Vice President & Director Connie Hendrix: Advisor Tom Kehoe: Treasurer & Director Jim Johnson: Advisor Peter Desrochers: Secretary & Director Jim McKee: Advisor Kathy O’Donnell: Director Roy Pender: Advisor Charen Fink: Director Jonathan Richmond: Advisor Chuck Roedema: Director Gregg Schneider: Advisor Mike Powell: Director E. Gifford Stack: Advisor Jack Carpenter: Advisor Max Williams: Advisor