Month: January 2016

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Southern MD Civil War Round Table Film Series

February 9, 2016

Come out and join us as our series of Civil War movies, shown free of charge, continues prior to the regularly scheduled Round table meeting tonight from 4:47pm – 6:49pm at the College of Southern Maryland’s Center for Business and Industry, Chaney Enterprises Conference Center, Room BI-113, at 8730 Mitchell Road in La Plata, MD.

Tonight’s Feature:  The Conspirator

Amazon.com: The Conspirator: James McAvoy, Robin Wright, Kevin Kline ...

This 2010 film tells the story of Mary Surratt, the only female conspirator charged in Lincoln’s assassination and the first woman to be executed by the United States federal government.  It stars James McAvoy, Robin Wright, Justin Long, Evan Rachel Wood, Jonathan Groff, Tom Wilkinson, Alexis Bledel, Kevin Kline, John Cullum, Toby Kebbell and James Badge Dale and was directed by Robert Redford.

In the wake of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, seven men and one woman are arrested and charged with conspiring to kill the President, the Vice-President and the Secretary of State.  The only woman charged, Mary Surratt, 42, owns a boarding house where John Wilkes Booth and others met and planned the simultaneous attacks.  Against the back drop of post Civil War Washington, D.C., Frederick Aiken, a 28 year old Union war hero and a “green” lawyer, reluctantly agrees to defend Surratt before a military tribunal.  As the trial unfolds, Aiken realizes his client may be innocent and that she is being used a bait and hostage in order to capture the only conspirator to have escaped a massive manhunt, her own son!

This movie was the first completed project of the American Film Company.  Their CEO, Joe Ricketts also founded the online brokerage firm Ameritrade and is a partial owner of the Chicago Cubs baseball team.  Mr. Ricketts has stated that his goal is to produce high quality and entertaining feature films which will attract adult audiences and be historically accurate.  His first effort has earned high praise for its historical accuracy.

After the movie be certain to stay for the regularly scheduled Round table meeting, featuring Dr. Bradley Gottfried discussing the Battle of the Wilderness.

 

 

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February 2016 Southern MD Civil War Round Table Meeting

February 9, 2016

The Southern Maryland Civil War Round Table is pleased to announce that its next meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at 7:00pm at the College of Southern Maryland’s Center for Business and Industry, Chaney Enterprises Conference Center, Room BI-113, at 8730 Mitchell Road in La Plata, MD.

Guest Speaker:  Dr. Bradley Gottfried

mapsofgettysburgbradgottfried

Join us as we keep it “in the family” this evening!  Round Table President Dr. Brad Gottfried will address us, not only as our President, but also about his latest book, “The Battle of the Wilderness: Disaster in the Thickets“.

 

Because of the thick vegetation that enveloped the armies during the battle of the Wilderness, the May 5 & 6, 1864 fight has been considered one of the most misunderstood and confusing battles of the entire Civil War. Brad Gottfried has spent considerable time studying the battle and walking the battlefield in preparation for his new book, The Maps of the Wilderness. Using many of his full-color maps, Gottfried will explain why the battle occurred here, how it played out, and its persisting legacy. Copies of his new book may be available for sale.

The Southern Maryland Civil War Round Table invites all to attend this lecture on one of men who saw much of the Civil War from the right hand of the Confederacy’s leading general.  Attendance is free for all, but membership is recommended.  For information, contact the Round Table’s president, Brad Gottfried, at bgottfried@csmd.edu or 301-934-7625.