Inside this

Issue

Call to

arms

May 2015

Volume VI, Issue 9

The President’s Corner

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 be-

cause JEB was up all night partying! It

was a combination of factors that inclu-

ded 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 newslet-

ter for a more complete discussion.

We are continuing to extend our out-

reach 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 knowl-

edge 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 apprecia-

tive 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 ad-

visors to our Round Table Board. Spe-

cifically, one to represent the 36 members

from the Leland area, and a second to

represent the 40 members in the commu-

nities along Rt 17 from Supply to Sunset

Beach. This is a good way to better un-

derstand the operations of the BCWRT

and have a chance to put forward sugges-

tions for the Board’s consideration. Whi-

le 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

wrueckel@questor.com

Did you see the very complimen-

tary 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

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

Member

News

5

Chilmark

Statues

6

Membership

Notice

6

Spring Trip 7

32-pdr 8

Newsletter &

Ad Guide-

lines

9

150 Years

Ago

9

Wally Rueckel

Will greene to Discuss new Orleans

campaign

MAY 2015 PAGE 2

Next Speaker

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 24-

25, 1862) was the first major

campaign of the war to close

the Mississippi to the Confed-

eracy, 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 resis-

tance 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 Con-

federacy in the western theatre of the war. The

end result not only had local importance, but in-

ternational significance.

“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 participat-

ing in several Civil War battlefield tours with

Will, and his knowledge and

insights into specific events

are astounding,” Rueckel con-

tinued.

Will is Executive Director

of the Pamplin Historical Park

and The National Museum of

the Civil War Soldier in Pe-

tersburg, Virginia. His resume

includes sixteen years as his-

torian and manager with the

National Park Service, and

president and executive direc-

tor 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, in-

cluding twenty articles in history journals. In ad-

dition, he has been Study Leader for more than

40 Smithsonian Institute tours and seminars cov-

ering 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.

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 nation-

ally known historian who is back by popular de-

mand for his third talk. Will always does an out-

standing job. He’ll speak on the Union cam-

paign to capture New Orleans, including early

naval and army successes. See you there.

MAY 2015 PAGE 3

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 stur-

dy 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 do-

cuments 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 cen-

tral 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 possi-

ble 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 state-

ment: 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.

Speaker Synopsis By Dan Fink

Eric Wittenberg and JEB Stuart’s Role in the

Gettysburg Campaign

MAY 2015 PAGE 4

Ladies’ Department By Charen Fink

This month we’ll move away, temporarily, from Civil

War women for a brief glimpse of the Regency Pe-

riod. 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.

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 head-

pieces, 60 cashmere shawls, 785pr.of slippers, 413 pr.

stockings and 478 embroidered & lace-trimmed-

chemises.

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 see-

through gauze, at one

time popular. Women

wore no underpinnings

which made it quite re-

vealing. Usually stays

and a chemise were

worn beneath the dress.

Regency stays (right) often were not worn, especially

with the dress above.

Wedding Fashions

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 com-

plexion 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.

Prince of Wales:

George IV “Prinny” 1800s Danish wedding Princess Charlotte’s silver 1812 yellow wedding

MAY 2015 PAGE 5 BCWRT News

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 life-

style. 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.

Be sure to visit the Sutler’s Table at our new lo-

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

services provided by BCWRT.

The Friends of Fort Fisher are be selling The Bat-

tle for Fort Fisher 150TH commemorative books.

The books can be purchased for $5.00 by con-

tacting Tom Conaty, BCWRT, at 571-212-5510,

or from either local Civil War Historic Sites. Part

of the proceeds benefits the BCWRT.

June 2015 – Kathleen Thompson, “To the

Breaking Point - The Toll of War on the Soldier”

July and August – NO MEETINGS

September 2015 – Wiley Sword, “Shiloh”

October 2015 – Mathew Borowick, “Court Mar-

tial of John Fitz Porter - Result of Battle of 2nd

Manassas"

November 2015 – Chris Fonvielle, TBD

December 2015 – Peter Carmichael, TBD

January 2016 – Ed Bearss, Wednesday, Jan. 13.

February 2016 – Chris Mackowski, “The Last

Days of Stonewall Jackson - From Wounding to

Death”

March 2016 – Bud Robertson, TBD

April 2016 – Chris Kolakowski, “Perryville -

1862 Battle in Bragg’s Failed Kentucky Cam-

paign”

May 2016 – Horace Mewborn (Tentative)

June 2016 – Susannah Ural, TBD

2015-2016 Program Speakers

2015 Ladies’ Forum

Sutler’s Table, Ft. Fisher Books

As our Round Table membership has grown,

there has been a proportional increase in

our appetite for cookies and coffee at our meet-

ings! 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 faith-

fully contributed every single month toward those

expenses. We thought members might like to

know so they can keep that in mind when deciding

where they would like to shop.

A BIG BCWRT

Thanks to Lowe's

Foods in Southport

Safety Protocols

We have established a safety protocol for the

Round Table which is also an ongoing proc-

ess. The directors will take the responsibility of

contacting 911 but we still rely on the expertise of

our members until paramedics arrive.

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 preserva-

tion.

The membership may be assured that due diligence is given to all BCWRT finances and other affairs.

MAY 2015 PAGE 6 News & Notes

Contact: Kathy O’Donnell, 253-3249, tom-

kat450sl@yahoo.com . Statues will be available

for viewing at the May Brunswick Civil War

Round Table meeting.

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.

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 de-

tailed 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.

Chilmark Pewter Statues For Sale

MAY 2015 PAGE 7 News & Notes

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 – mpowell6@ec.rr.com 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.

BCWRT Day Trip to Wilmington

MAY 2015 PAGE 8 Fort Anderson News

“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 Trede-

gar Foundry in Richmond in 1849. Kathy O’Donnell

was given the honor of choosing the number in mem-

ory 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 Chat-

tanooga, 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 car-

riages 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 emplace-

ment reconstructed and the gun mounted by April

2016. The gun will sit on a temporary platform be-

tween 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.

B o t t o m l e f t :

Unloading the

7,000lb barrel.

Bottom right: The

gun on display.

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.

150 YEARS AGO may 1865

MAY 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 or Charen Fink is the 18th

of the month to allow the editors time to for-

mat 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 MAY 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, May 5, 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 Chris Fonvielle: Advisor

Rob Clarke: Vice President & Director Connie Hendrix: Advisor

Marv Hamer: Vice President & Director Jim McKee: Advisor

Tom Kehoe: Treasurer & Director Kathy O’Donnell: Advisor

Peter Desrochers: Secretary & Director Roy Pender: Advisor

Jack Carpenter: Director Jonathan Richmond: Advisor

Charen Fink: Director E. Gifford Stack: Advisor

Chuck Roedema: Director Max Williams: Advisor

Mike Powell: Director