ACG WebOps (24 February 2007)

Jim H. Moreno | February 24, 2007  | 0 comments  | Print  | E-mail

Announcements

CCNMP Study Group 2007 Seminar in the Woods.

Mission Statement: The purpose of the CCNMP Study Group is to create a forum to bring students of the American Civil War together to study and explore those events in the fall of 1863 that led ultimately to the creation of the Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park. The intent is to use the indispensable resource of the park itself as an outdoor classroom to promote learning and study of the battles for Chattanooga, and to build interest for an annual gathering that will in time examine all aspects of the Campaigns for Chattanooga. Additionally, we hope to bring students and serious scholars, both professional and amateur, to the field for to share insights and knowledge about the battles.

2007 Theme: First day of the Battle of Chickamauga, September 19th.

Tour Leaders: Jim Ogden, Park Historian, and Dave Powell

Date: Friday, March 16, and Saturday, March 17, 2007.

Schedule:

Friday Morning: 8:30 a.m. to Noon. “Van Derveer on the Reed‘s Bridge Road.”
We open the tour following the approach of Ferdinand Van Derveer’s Brigade to the battle, departing from the Visitor’s Center and moving east along the Reed’s Bridge road. We will discuss first contact, the engagement with Ector’s Confederate Brigade, the arrival of Dibrell’s Cavalry, and the various maneuvers that characterized these engagements. Return to Visitor’s Center.
Park at the Visitor‘s Center. Begin and end there. Walking; about 1 mile each way. We can pre-position some cars at Van Derveer’s monument line (along the Reed’s Bridge Road) if needed.

Friday Afternoon: 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. “Cleburne’s Night Attack”
Late on the 19th, Major General Patrick R. Cleburne’s Division entered the fight near Winfrey Field. We will follow the advance of Wood and Polk’s Brigades into Winfrey Field, discuss the actions there, and introduce Deshlers’ advance south of the Winfrey House.
Park near Jay’s Mill.

Saturday Morning: 8:30 a.m. to Noon. “The rest of Palmer: Cruft and Grose‘s Brigades enter the fight”
Palmer’s Division of the XXI Corps entered the action late on the morning of the 19th, and remained engaged nearly all that day, west of Brock Field. Initially his contact was with Cheatham’s Division, and later, elements of A.P. Stewart engaged his forces.
Park at the picnic area at the intersection of Brotherton and Alexander Roads.

Saturday Afternoon: 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. “Governed by Circumstances”
About midday on the 19th, Major General A. P. Stewart’s Confederate division was detached from his corps and sent into action by Bragg. The overall action was confused, and Stewart had no clear direction on where to enter the fight. When he asked General Bragg for additional directions, all Bragg could tell him was to move forward and let his subsequent actions be ‘governed by circumstances.” We will follow Stewart from his initial positions through the woods to his final actions near Brotherton Field. Walking about a mile and a half, mostly in the woods, as weather permits.
Park Along the Vinyard Alexander Road. We can pre-position cars as needed at Brotherton Field if necessary.

Optional Sunday Tour: “Wauhatchie Valley car caravan tour.” Cancelled!!

Note: The Sunday Tour has been cancelled due to a scheduling conflict. We will try again next year. Sorry, for those of you who were interested.

As a replacement, Dave Powell offer a Sunday morning tour of Snodgrass Hill/Horseshoe Ridge.

Sunday Morning: 8:30 a.m. to Noon: “Holding Out up Yonder”
This will be a walking tour of the Union defense of Snodgrass Hill, focusing on the various Rebel attacks to take this position and the arrival of the Union Reserve Corps.
Park at Snodgrass Hill.

Cost: There is no cost for tour participation. Meals lodging, transportation, and incidentals, however, are the individual’s responsibility.

Tour Departures: All tours will meet at the Chickamauga Visitor’s Center at the designated start time, and depart from the Visitor’s Center. We will car caravan to the designated parking area, and from there, we will be on foot. We will be on foot for up to three hours, so dress and prepare accordingly. Tours will depart rain or shine. Participants are responsible for their own transportation, and should plan accordingly. All tours are designed to be self-contained, so participants who cannot attend the full schedule are still welcome to join us for any portion of the weekend.

Lodging and Meals: Everyone is responsible for their own lodging and meals. There are many hotels in the greater Chattanooga area, for any price range. The closest are in Fort Olgethorpe, Georgia, with the least expensive in Ringgold. Each tour is designed to leave at least 90 minutes for lunch, and there are several family and fast food restaurants within minutes of the battlefield. There are designated picnic areas near the Visitor’s Center, for those who wish to bring a lunch and eat on the field.

What to bring: Each tour will involve extensive walking. Proper clothing and especially footgear is essential. Dress in layers, wear sturdy, broken-in walking shoes or boots, and be prepared for some rain just in case, as spring can be quite wet in North Georgia. We will be walking on dirt and gravel trails, uncut fields, and through stretches of woods. The ground will be wet and muddy in places. Plan on bringing your own water and snacks.

Reading up on the subject: Many people like to prepare in advance for these kinds of events. I suggest the following works might be of help.

Cozzens, Peter. This Terrible Sound. University of Illinois, 1992. The best modern study of the battle.

Elliott, Samuel Davis. Soldier of Tennessee: General Alexander P. Stewart and the Civil War in the West. Louisiana State University Press, 1999. Since two of our tours will involve Stewart’s actions, this book can provide a great introduction to the man and his role at Chickamauga.

Woodworth, Stephen E. Six Armies In Tennessee: The Chickamauga And Chattanooga Campaigns. Lincoln, Nebraska. University of Nebraska Press, 1998. An excellent overview campaign study.

A Deep Steady Thunder: The Battle Of Chickamauga. Abilene, Texas. McWhiney Foundation Press, 1998. Concise but very useful account of the battle, designed as an introduction to the action. 100 pages, very readable.

Panelists Finalized for Second Annual Vietnam Experience Symposium March 1 at Texas A&M-Kingsville

KINGSVILLE (February 20, 2007) - The Vietnam War is shown through the eyes of its medical personnel, officers and its first Medal of Honor recipient at the second annual Vietnam Experience Symposium at Texas AM University-Kingsville Thursday, March 1, on the second floor of
the Memorial Student Union Building.

The Vietnam Experience: A symposium on the U.S. involvement in Vietnam as seen through the eyes of historians, veterans and the family members and the survivors of those who served, seeks to provide resources and opportunities so that past, current and future generations may have fact-based and unbiased information upon which to base their understanding of the Vietnam conflict.

Panels have been finalized for this free public event, touching on medical care during the war, the health of soldiers after they left the battlefront and post-traumatic stress disorder, a health concern of increasing significance among veterans.

Featured speakers for this year include retired Army Col. Roger C. Donlon, the first Medal of Honor recipient of the Vietnam War; retired Army Maj. Gen. Benjamin L. Harrison, Commander, Third Brigade, 101st Airborne Division during the battle for Firebase Ripcord; and Steve Maxner, deputy director of the Vietnam Center at Texas Tech University.

Free daytime activities, including a continental breakfast and panel discussions, will be available on the second floor of the MSUB from
7 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. A dinner and presentation from Donlon will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. in the MSUB ballrooms. General admission to the dinner is $10 and $5 for students.

The schedule of events is:

7-8 a.m. Registration and Reception, Continental Breakfast, Grand Ballroom

8-8:30 a.m. Opening Ceremonies, Introduction of Army Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Benjamin L. Harrison, Commander, Third Brigade, 101st Airborne
Division during the battle for Firebase Ripcord, author of Hell on a Hilltop.

8:30-9:45 a.m. Presentation:
The Last Great Battle for American Troops-Firebase Ripcord,Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Benjamin L. Harrison

9:45-10 a.m. Break

10-11:30 a.m. Presentation: A Historical Perspective: Origins of the U.S. Involvement in Vietnam, Dr. Stephen Maxner, deputy director of the Vietnam Center at Texas Tech University

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Break. Lunch on your own.

12:45-1 p.m. Reconvene Symposium

1-2:30 p.m. Panel Discussion
Keeping Them Alive: From the Battlefield to the Evac to Stateside, Medical Support in Vietnam
Panel participants - Ram Chavez, former Army combat medic, 199th Separate Infantry Brigade; Eugene Pasahow, former Navy combat Corpsman; Dr. Larry Rosen, former Huey Medevac helicopter pilot; Dr. Jim Harris, former battalion surgeon; Dr. Donald Patrick, Evac hospital neurosurgeon

2:30-2:45 p.m. Break

2:45-3:45 p.m. Panel Discussion
The Stress Factor: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder-Causes, Diagnoses, Treatment and Help Resources
Panel participants - Dr. John Price, psychologist, San Antonio Police Department; Dr. Franklin Brooks, clinical psychologist

3:45 p.m.-4:45 p.m. Panel Discussion Wrap Up
Panel participants - Army Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Marc Cisneros; Army Col. (Ret.) Roger H. C. Donlon, the first Medal of Honor recipient of the Vietnam War; Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Benjamin L. Harrison; Dr. Stephen Maxner
Memorial Student Union Building, Ballrooms A&B

6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Dinner
Presentation by Col. (Ret.) Roger H. C. Donlon

For registration or more information on the Vietnam Experience Symposium, call 361-593-3918 or go online to http://www.tamuk.edu/artsci/vietnam.

Civil War-Era Treasures: Custer’s Flag, Grant’s Gold & Silver Sword in Gettysburg Auction

(Dallas, Texas) — Two of the most significant Civil War-era military items will be offered in a public auction in June in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania: the personal battle flag of General George Armstrong Custer and the diamond-adorned, gold and silver sword of General and later President, Ulysses S. Grant.

Both items are expected to sell for more than $1 million each, according to the auctioneer, Heritage Auction Galleries of Dallas, Texas (_www.HA.com_ (http://www.ha.com/)).

"Custer’s silk flag was handmade by his wife, Elizabeth, and carried with him during the final days of the Civil War battles in 1865. It was at his headquarters at Fort Abraham Lincoln in the Dakota Territory on June 25, 1876 when Custer led his 7th Cavalry troops to their final battle against the Lakota Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians at the Little Big Horn in the Montana Territory. The flag was then passed down through several generations of the Custer family, and is consigned from the collection of Thomas Minckler of New York City," explained Gary Hendershott, Director of Civil War auctions for Heritage.

"General Grant’s Civil War sword is a national treasure, a one-of-a-kind example of precious craftsmanship and historical significance. It was presented to him in 1864 on behalf of the citizens of Kentucky. There are 28 diamonds that spell out his initials, U.S.G., and the 33-inch blade is intricately engraved with battle scenes," explained Hendershott.

The auction will be conducted by Heritage in Gettysburg and online, June 24, 2007. The pre-sale estimate for Custer’s battle flag is $1.8 million or more, and the estimate for Grant’s sword is $2 million or more.

Custer’s silk swallow-tailed battle flag measures 36 by 68 inches. It depicts two white, crossed cavalry sabers and decorations of red and blue bars. The flag was at General Custer’s side at the Appomattox Courthouse when Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to end the Civil War.

"Kentucky patriots raised money in 1864 to create and purchase the gold and silver sword for General Grant to honor his promotion by President Lincoln to be General-in-Chief of the entire United States Armies. That’s a rank no one had held since George Washington was appointed to it during the Revolutionary War. The sword is from the Donald Tharpe Collection of American Military History," explained Hendershott.

Grant became the 18th U.S. President in 1869.

For additional information about the flag, sword and other items in the June 24, 2007 auction, contact Heritage Auction Galleries at (800) 872-6467 x 272. Online: _www.HA.com_ (http://www.ha.com/) .[continued on next page]

Help Armchair General by bookmarking to