Raleigh Civil War Round Table -- "The same rain falls on both friend and foe."

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.

Upcoming meeting of the Raleigh CWRT

Our November meeting is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 11th, 2024, in the beautiful and well-equipped auditorium of Raleigh's Springmoor Life Care Retirement Community.

The gathering commences at 6:30 p.m. with socializing and light refreshments.   The program, which begins at 7:00 p.m., features Wade Sokolowsky, Col. U.S. Army (Ret.), speaking on the topic The Battle of Wyse Fork, the 3rd largest Civil War battle in NC.   This talk is based on Wade’s book "To Prepare for Sherman's Coming”:   The Battle of Wise's Forks, March 1865.   This book was chosen as the winner of the Civil War Books and Authors Best Book of the Year for 2015, Battle/Campaign Histories - Eastern Theater category.   Publisher:   Savas Beatie; 1st Edition (Oct. 19th, 2015); ISBN-10:   1611212669; ISBN-13:   978-1611212662.

It’s appropriate that Wade’s topic is The Battle of Wyse Fork because the Raleigh CWRT has selected the Save Wyse Fork Battlefield Commission, a.k.a. The Commission, as recipient of the 2024 T. Harry Gatton Award.   This award is given in recognition of The Commission's dedication and leadership in the preservation of American Civil War history, specifically for its efforts in preserving the heart of North Carolina’s Wyse Fork Battlefield where the heat of the battle took place.

This ground was to be lost to construction of an interchange on the new Hwy 70 bypass near Kinston, NC.   (See the articles in the March 2023 issue of The Knapsack newsletter.)   The Commission, which falls under the 501c3 organization Lenoir County Historical Preserva-tion Group, a non-profit since June 2002, has spearheaded the preservation effort to save the battlefield by working in close consultation with state and local elected officials, the American Battlefield Trust, the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Specifically, The Commission sought to alter the proposed route, thus preserving significant areas of the battlefield.   The issue was recently resolved when it was agreed that the interchange would be constructed a third-mile east of the battle site.   Representatives of the Save Wyse Fork Battlefield Commission will be present at the November meeting to accept this award.   They include Dennis Harper, Stacey Jones, Gilbert Skip Riddle, and Doug Blizzard.   The Raleigh CWRT congratulates them for their success!

Wade, himself, is the recipient of the Raleigh CWRT’s 2017 T. Harry Gatton Award for his important efforts to study, preserve, and share the Civil War heritage of his native North Carolina.   Additionally, he is a tour guide with the Friends of Bentonville Battlefield, and is a member of the Brunswick County Civil War Round Table Advisory Council.

Finally, Wade led members of the Raleigh CWRT on a dedicated tour of the Wyse Fork Battlefield on April 29th, 2023.   Wade lives in Beaufort, North Carolina and works for the N.C. Dept. of Transportation Ferry System.

Springmoor Life Care Retirement Community

The Springmoor Life Care Retirement Community is located at 1500 Sawmill Rd., Raleigh, NC.   This is the NE quadrant of the intersection of Sawmill Road and Creedmoor Road, aka NC Hwy 50.   Their phone number is (919) 848-7080.

As shown circled in red on the map, monthly meetings take place in the Administrative/Activity Center Building at North Village, adjacent to the main parking lot.   Enter the right side of building into the lobby and check in with the receptionist.   Then take the stairs or elevator to the 2nd floor, where the auditorium is located.

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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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