Selected News Briefs from View our archives to read articles from previous issues. Subscribe and get ALL the Civil War News! (updated 01/04/12)
Monument Repaired GETTYSBURG, Pa. — The bronze artilleryman on the Smith’s Battery, 4th New York Artillery, monument above Devil’s Den at Gettysburg National Military Park was put back on its pedestal on Nov. 28. In February 2006 vandals toppled the statue and stole the bronze head and parts of the rammer. Last year preservation staff members went to Manchester, N.H., where they made a mold of the head on an identical statue (see September 2011 photos). They crafted the new head and attached it to the body.
Museum Closes REPUBLIC, Mo. — The Civil War Museum at Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield is closed until spring 2013. When the collection is shown again the artifacts will have been cleaned and conserved and will be in new exhibits at the park visitor center. The once-private General Sweeny’s Museum of Civil War History opened in 1992 adjacent to the park. The National Park Service (NPS) bought it in 2005. NPS museum conservators from the Harpers Ferry Center for Media Services will examine the condition of the objects, such as flags, uniforms, leather and firearms, and clean some on-site. In-depth treatment will be done in the Harpers Ferry conservation laboratories. Superintendent Ted Hillmer said the museum closing also allows the consolidation of visitor services that will streamline park operations. The long-term goal is to build a museum wing on the visitor center. New Director COLUMBUS, Ga. — Bruce Smith retired after 13 years as executive director of the National Civil War Naval Museum at Port Columbus. He was succeeded by Ken Johnston who had been director of education and programs. Johnston had previous experience at Mount Vernon, Colonial Williamsburg and the Atlanta History Center and as a historical character in TV productions.
White House Hours RICHMOND, Va. — The White House of the Confederacy, the restored mid-Victorian home occupied by Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his family during the Civil War, will be open year round. The Museum of the Confederacy owns and operates the house. The charge is $10, as is a ticket for the museum. Combined admission is $15. Group discounts are available. For information, (855) 649-1861, www.moc.org
East Tenn. Group The Department of East Tennessee (DET) has been formed as an informal group of like-minded representatives from the East Tennessee Civil War reenacting community to work together to assure a quality reenacting experience for its affiliated units. According to Kenny Doss and Fred London, the units maintain their autonomy and outside affiliations. The DET has no dues, elected offices or permanent rank. Instead, unit representatives will elect an officer or NCO for each event. The men say the department will provide a more efficient rallying point on the field and from a coordination standpoint. The aim is to increase participation and shared responsibility and a pooling of resources in order to expand and improve the reenactment experience in East Tennessee. For information contact Doss at (865)386-0797, London at fglondon@comcast.net or visit http://1st-brigade-aot.yolasite.com
Historic Checks CLEVELAND, Ohio — A box found during a bank vaults inventory turned up 70 checks signed by 24 U.S. presidents. The treasure trove was acquired by Huntington Bancshares during a 1983 hostile takeover of Union Commerce Corp. Wall Street Journal writer David Benoit said the box included what perhaps was the last check Abraham Lincoln wrote — to “self” for $800 on April 13, 1865. Prof. Richard Sylla of New York University, chairman of the Museum of American Finance, said, “This is a classic example of one bank acquiring another and coming up with some old records as a result.” He worries that many such records are thrown away. The Huntington had the documents appraised and exhibited them in Pittsburgh before a planned auction. However, public response caused the bank to cancel the sale. The check collection was donated by a former director of Union Commerce and was displayed during the U.S. Bicentennial.
FoWB News LOCUST GROVE, Va. — Three Friends of Wilderness Battlefield (FoWB) volunteers among those who gave more than 8,830 hours in service to the National Park Service were honored at the group’s annual meeting. They were Joe Marks for 12 years of service on the ground force, David Rodriguez for most number of hours contributed by a new interpreter at Ellwood, and Nate Bond for the most number of days contributed as a veteran interpreter at Ellwood. The board’s discretionary Advocate Award was given to President Zann Nelson (see photo and caption). Anyone interested in being a volunteer with the Ellwood Interpreter or Ground Force programs can contact Carolyn Elstner at (540) 373-6240 or Melstner@aol.com; for special projects on the Wilderness Battlefield contact Mark Wakeman at (540) 760-5948, battlefield@fowb.org.
Bennett Place News DURHAM, N.C. — Bennett Place State Historic Site has a new Web site at www.bennettplacehistoricsite.com thanks to the Bennett Place Support Fund Inc. The site includes historical and current information, photos, videos, blogs and more. In October the site debuted a new living history attraction and fundraiser — the Hillsborough Printing & Sundry sutlery, which sells authentic period reproductions.
Navy Yard Museum BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The Brooklyn Navy Yard Museum and visitor center that opened on Veterans Day interprets the history of the yard where the USS Monitor was built. The battleship USS Missouri was also built there. The museum is in Building 92, the 1857 Marine Commandant’s Residence. It was an active yard from 1801 to 1966. The City of New York took ownership of the 300-acre navy yard site in 1969. The non-profit Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corp. manages it. For information go to www.brooklynnavyyard.org
New Director MIDDLETOWN, Va. — John Christiansen is the new executive director of the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation. He previously managed the Chrysler Museum of Art Historic Houses Department in Norfolk, Va. Earlier experience included work for the South Carolina State Museum and the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. With a lifelong interest in the Civil War and 10 years as a living historian, Christiansen also has a master’s in public history. The non-profit foundation is dedicated to acquiring, protecting and preserving the lands and physical objects related to the Battle of Cedar Creek.
Book Prize Nominations AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Civil War Round Table invites nominations for the 17th annual Laney Book Prize for distinguished scholarship and writing on the Civil War’s military or political history. The book must have been published in 2011 and the author must appear as a guest speaker to receive the prize on June 21. Four copies of each book should be sent to the prize committee c/o Michael Watkins, 10214 Oak Hollow Dr., Austin TX 78758 before March 31. The winner will be announced in May at www.austincivilwar.org/laney.htm. The $2,000 prize honors Daniel M. and Marilyn W. Laney for their years of work to protect endangered battlefields.
Gettysburg Lectures GETTYSBURG, Pa. — The Gettysburg National Military Park Winter Lecture Series will offer free indoor park ranger lectures on various topics in the visitor center theater. Lecture dates are Jan. 7, 8, 14, 21, 22, 28, 29; Feb. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26; and March 4, 10 and 11. Times and details can be found at www.nps.gov/gett or call (717) 334-1124 ext. 8023.
Cannon Firing Cannon firing filmed at the North-South Skirmish Association National Competition can be seen on the video featuring a new Civil War song, “Storm Coming Over The Mountain,” by Gary Lee Tolley & Friends. The video, dedicated to members of the military services, is at www.youtube.com/watch?v=vI_n9Jp7fKw
Vermont Reads MONTPELIER, Vt. — The Vermont Humanities Council has chosen Bull Run, a novella by Paul Fleischman, as its Vermont Reads 2012 book. It tells first-person points of view of eight Northerners and eight Southerners — young, old, black, white, soldier, civilian, male, female — before the Civil War’s first battle. The HarperCollins book, which was published in 1993, received numerous children and young adult book awards. Vermont schools, libraries, historical societies and other groups take part in the statewide community reading program.
Memorial Hall News NEW ORLEANS, La. — Louisiana’s Civil War Museum at Confederate Memorial Hall received gifts of a period set of medical instruments and a sterling silver spoon made in New Orleans that featured an engraving of Confederate Memorial Hall and an imagine of Varina Anne “Winnie” Davis. The museum will have a large exhibit related to Shiloh this year. Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard items from the collection are on loan to the “A Team of Rivals” exhibit at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. A DVD history of Memorial Hall, which was founded in 1891, and a shorter version for showing to groups, are being produced. For information call (504) 523-4522, write memhall@aol.com or go to www.confederatemuseum.com
(updated 01/04/12) |
