English 2840 – The Civil War in Film and Literature

The College of Southern Maryland is pleased to announce the offering of an online course that will study the works of fiction, poetry, letters, journals and movies and allow participants to learn about and discuss those works of film and literature.

Dr. Richard Siciliano, Professor of English at the College of Southern Maryland will lead this online survey, beginning January 21, 2014 through May 7, 2014. The Civil War in Film and Literature (ENG2480-115822) will examine and discuss this national conflict as it has been portrayed in the fiction of such writers as Stephen Crane, Ambrose Bierce, Michael Shaara, and others; in the poetry of Walt Whitman, and other poets of the Civil War era; and in movies such as Birth of a Nation, Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, Gone with the Wind, The Red Badge of Courage, Cold Mountain, Gettysburg, Glory, the PBS documentary The Civil War, and the 2012 Academy Award winning movie Lincoln.

Since this is a web-based (online) course, all learning activities will take place online within the web-based Blackboard Learning Management System. Discussions of the readings and of the featured movies will all take place online. viewing the movies also will be possible online by using such internet movie providers as Netflix and YouTube. As an added enhancement to this online course, however, the featured movies in the course will be shown on the LaPlata campus, with an introduction and discussion held afterwards led by Dr. Siciliano and in conjunction with the Civil War Movies Film Series, tentatively planned to begin in January 2014 and continue through April.

For further information and a complete course syllabus, see the course website at: http://www.itc.csmd.edu/lan/richs/eng2840 or contact Dr. Richard Siciliano at 301-934-7826 or via email at richs@csmd.edu

December 9, 2013

December 2013 Southern Maryland Civil War Round Table Meeting

DECEMBER MEETING POSTPONED

It is with regret that due to the forecast of inclement weather for tomorrow, December 10, 2013, our December meeting featuring Dr. James Robertson has been postponed. Details regarding rescheduling this event will be announced when they become available. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.

November 11, 2013

December 2013 Southern MD Civil War Round Table Meeting

December 10, 2013

The Southern Maryland Civil War Round Table is pleased to announce that its next meeting will take place on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at 7:00pm at the College of Southern Maryland’s Center for Business and Industry, Chaney Enterprise Conference Room BI-113, at 8730 Mitchell Road in La Plata.

Guest Speaker: Dr. James I. Robertson

The Southern Maryland Civil War Roundtable will host a presentation by Civil War author Dr. James I. Robertson, Alumni Distinguished drjamesirobertson Professor Emeritus from Virginia Tech and author of over 20 books, whose works include “Stonewall Jackson, The Man, The Myth, and The Legend”, “Civil War!”, “America Becomes One Nation”, “General A.P. Hill”, and “Soldiers Blue and Gray”.

Prior to the meeting beginning at 7:00 PM, there will be a book signing beginning at 6:15 PM.

Dr. Robertson will lecture on one of his recent books: “The Untold Stories of the Civil War, Exploring the Human Side of the War” published by the National Geographic Society.

The event is co-sponsored by the Annapolis Chapter of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association.

Dr. James I.”Bud” Robertson is one of the most distinguished names in Civil War history. The Danville, VA native is a nationally acclaimed teacher and lecturer and has written or edited two dozen books on the Civil War era. His award-winning biography of Stonewall Jackson was hailed as “a book every student of the war should read and every chronicle should emulate.” The massive biography won eight national awards and was used as the base for the Ted Turner/Warner Bros. mega-movie, “Gods and Generals”. Robertson was chief historical consultant for the film.

Early in his career, Robertson was appointed executive of the US Civil War Centennial Commission by President Kennedy. He is an Alumni Distinguished Professor Emeritus DrRobertson12102013 at Virginia Tech where he taught for 40 years. His Civil War Era courses at Virginia Tech, attracted 300 students per semester, and were the largest of its kind in the nation.

The recipient of every major award given in the Civil War field, and a lecturer of national acclaim, Dr. Robertson is probably more in demand as a speaker before Civil War groups than anyone else in the field.

For information, contact the roundtable’s president, Brad Gottfried, at bgottfried@csmd.edu or 301-934-7625.

October 14, 2013

November 2013 Southern MD Civil War Round Table Meeting

November 12, 2013

The Southern Maryland Civil War Round Table is pleased to announce that its next meeting will take place on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 at 7:00pm on the LaPlata campus of the College of Southern Maryland. The meeting will be held in the Business and Industries Building , Chaney Enterprises Conference Room, Room 113.

Guest Speaker: Phillip Thomas Tucker

The Southern Maryland Civil War Round Table will host a presentation by Phillip Thomas Tucker, author of the book, “Barksdale’s Charge: The True High Tide of the Confederacy at Gettysburg.” On the 3rd day at Gettysburg, Gen. Robert E. Lee launched an attack unsurpassed for its pageantry, but destined to fail from its outset. Mr. Tucker sets out to make the case that true high tide of the Confederacy came the day before, July 2nd, when a small Mississippi brigade led by Gen. William Barksdale launched what one Union observer called “the grandest charge that was ever seen by mortal man.”

“Barksdale’s Charge” describes how the exact moment when the Confederacy reached its zenith, and the soldiers of the Northern states just barely succeeded in retaining their perfect Union.

Phillip Thomas Tucker is a prolific writer and historian who has edited and authored nearly two dozen books in the past two decades and has penned over 60 scholarly articles.

Mr. Tucker is particularly recognized for its efforts to unearth and bring to life forgotten events and figures in the annals of American history. Many of his books recount events during the Civil War, while others detail the Texas Revolutionary period, the Revolutionary War, the Irish War and the efforts of early African American military regiments.

Mr. Tucker’s 2010 book, “Exodus from the Alamo: The Anatomy of the Land Stand Myth“, unravels what really happened during the most famous event of the Texas War for Independence. His 2002 book, “Cathy Williams: From Slave to Female Buffalo Soldier“, explores the hidden life of a woman who was born as slave in Independence, MO, only to refashion herself as Pvt. William Cathay, Company A, 38th U.S. Infantry. Pvt. Cathay would serve as one the Buffalo Soldiers, patrolling the 900-mile Santa Fe Trail. After earning his Ph.D at St. Louis University in Missouri in 1990, Phillip Thomas Tucker took a position as a civilian historian with the Department of Defense and specialized in Air Force history.

He has worked on several books related to the Haitian Revolution and has donated to relief efforts both before and following the devastating Port-au-Prince earthquake. Phillip Thomas Tucker maintains affiliation with Phi Alpha Theta and the National History Society. We welcome Phillip Thomas Tucker and look forward to his presentation.

September 11, 2013

October 2013 Southern MD Civil War Round Table Meeting

October 8, 2013

The Southern Maryland Civil War Round Table is pleased to announce that its next meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 8, 2013 at 7:00pm on the LaPlata campus of the College of Southern Maryland. The meeting will be held in the Business and industries Building, Chaney Enterprises Conference Room; Room 113.

Guest Speaker: Harlan “Gene” Cross, Jr.

The Southern Maryland Civil War Round Table will host a presentation by Harlan “Gene” Cross, Jr., author of the book, “Letters Home: Three Years Under General Lee in the 6th Alabama”. Culled from letters found in a steamer trunk full of family heirlooms and other correspondence, Mr. Cross transcribes the original pen and ink and pencil letters written by his great-grand uncle. Lt. Thomas Smith Taylor, Confederate States of America. From the rigors and drudgery of army life to his thought’s and attitudes on religion, slavery and the Southern Cause, Lt. Taylor takes us on his journey through the battles of Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and many others. His sudden demise at the Battle of Cold Harbor serves to remind the readers of the cruel fortunes of war. While doing his research, Mr. Cross was unable to come across any photos of his great-grand uncle, or find any copies of letters that he received, but did confirm his family’s connection to the former Claudia Alta Taylor, more commonly known as “Lady Bird” Johnson.

Mr. Cross currently resides in Oakton, VA with his wife Carol and their three daughters. A retired engineer who worked for Harris and MITRE corporations, Mr. Cross now serves as a consultant two days a week. Since 2005, Mr. Cross has served as a volunteer interpreter at Arlington House, the former mansion of Gen. Robert E. Lee. He is also president of “Save Arlington House”, a friends group that assists the National Park Service in preserving this national treasure.

July 27, 2013

September 2013 Southern MD Civil War Round Table Meeting

September 10, 2013

The Southern Maryland Civil War Roundtable is pleased to announce the first meeting of its second year will take place on Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 7:00pm on the LaPlata campus of the College of Southern Maryland. The meeting will be held in the Business and industries Building, Chaney Enterprises Conference Room; Room 113.

Guest Speaker: Susan Youhn

The second year of the Southern Maryland Civil War Round table kicks off with a focus on our own backyard, as Susan Youhn will give a Youhn Photo presentation on the first Civil War Hospital in Southern Maryland; Hammond Hospital. Susan will tell us about the trials and tribulations experienced by the hospital staff as the first Civil War medical facility in the Southern Maryland area was established. This lecture will serve as a preview for our fall field trip on Saturday September 14, 2013. The day will begin with a tour of Civil War sites in St. Mary’s County and after a break for lunch at the Brome Howard Inn, we will proceed to Point Lookout, where Susan’s husband, TJ Youhn, will give us a tour of Fort Lincoln and tell us about the Prison Pen and the fortifications that remain at Point Lookout State Park. Meeting times, meeting places and cost to be announced.

We look forward to seeing all of our old friends, meeting new ones and hearing any tales of Civil War adventure from over the summer.

June 5, 2013

We’re Taking a Break….

…but that doesn’t mean we’re not around!

Check in throughout the summer for updates on Civil War events across the area, updates to our web site and Facebook page and any other important news. Let us know if you are going to the Gettysburg sesquicentennial and share some photos if you have any! And we are always on the lookout for anyone who might want to get more involved in the organization, be it as an officer, helping on a committee, or helping in starting up a Round Table newsletter. Let us know because September will be here sooner than you think.

Have a safe and fun summer and we look forward to seeing you again in September.

savannahbeach

April 11, 2013

May 2013 Southern MD Civil War Round Table Meeting

May 14, 2013

The Southern Maryland Civil War Round table is pleased to announce that its next meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at 7:00PM on the LaPlata campus Dan's_photo of the College of Southern Maryland. The Meeting will be held in the Business and Industries building, Chaney Enterprises Conference Room; Room BI-113.

Guest Speaker: Daniel Carroll Toomey

The Southern Maryland Civil War Round Table will host a presentation by noted author Daniel Carroll Toomey, a University of Maryland graduate. Mr. Toomey has authored several books on the Civil War including, “The Civil War in Maryland“, “Marylanders at Gettysburg” and “The Maryland Line Confederate Soldiers’ Home“. He is also co-author of “Baltimore During the Civil War” and “Marylanders in Blue“, all of which were published by Toomey Press.

Mr. Toomey has lectured for a number of historical organizations, as well as for the National Park Service and the Smithsonian Institution. His course, “The Civil War in Maryland” has been offered at a number of local colleges. He has also contributed to radio and television programs and on two Civil War battle videos. Mr. Toomey is a member of the Surratt Society, the Maryland Arms Collectors Association and the Company of Military Historians. He serves on the Maryland Military Monuments Commission and was project historian for the Maryland Memorial erected at Gettysburg in 1994.

Among his many achievements, Mr. Toomey has received numerous awards for his historical research and exhibits, including the Gettysburg National Battlefield Award in 1985 and was the recipient of the 2001 Peterkin Award, given by the National Park Service at Fort McHenry, for his many contributions in the field of research and preservation.

His two fondest accomplishments are writing the inscription for the Maryland Monument at Gettysburg and playing on the first ever Howard County, MD lacrosse team in 1964. Currently, Mr. Toomey is the Guest Curator at the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum for their five year project, “The War Came by Train“, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

April 1, 2013

April 2013 Southern MD Civil War Round Table Meeting

April 9, 2013

The Southern Maryland Civil War Round Table is pleased to announce that its next meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at 7:00pm on the LaPlata campus of the College of Southern Maryland, in the Business and Industry Building, Chaney Enterprises Conference Room Room BI-113.

Guest Speaker: Peter MacNeill

The Southern Maryland Civil War Round Table (SMCWR) will host a presentation by licensed Washington, D.C. tour guide Peter MacNeill on Civil War forts in the Washington, D.C. area. The forts varied from rudimentary structures to magnificent M4034S-4211 engineering marvels and all were constructed to help keep the enemy out of Washington. MacNeill will lecture on location and composition of forts and their strategic purpose. While most of these forts are gone, some, like Fort DeRussy, Fort Foote, Fort Marcy, Fort Stevens, Fort Ward and Fort Washington are partially or wholly intact.

Peter MacNeill’s fascination with American military history began while watching John Wayne and Errol Flynn movies with his father on Saturday mornings in the 1950’s. Since moving to the Washington, D.C region in 1971, Mr. MacNeill has passed the National Park Service Gettysburg battlefield tour guide exam and in 1992 began a career as a licensed Washington, D.C.tour guide specializing in veteran’s military reunion tours and Civil War battlefield tours. Mr. MacNeill estimates that he has visited Antietam and Gettysburg thousands of times.

Information and registration details for an April 27, 2013 tour of an umber of Civil War forts, led by Mr. MacNeill, will be available at the SMCWR meeting on April 9. The SMCWR hosts monthly meetings the second Tuesday of every month from September thru May. Meetings are free and open to the public, but membership in the round table is highly encouraged. Annual membership is $30. For more information contact SMCWR President Brad Gottfried at bgottfried@csmd.edu or 301-934-7625.

March 6, 2013

Civil War Book Discussion: America’s War Anthology (Part V)

March 19, 2013

The College of Southern Maryland is pleased to announce that the fifth Civil War Book Discussion will be held Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at the College of Southern Maryland, LaPlata campus, Center for Business and Industry, BI-113E, 8730 Mitchell Road, LaPlata, MD. This is a five part series sponsored in part by the Maryland Humanities Council, in which three books are discussed. Loaner copies of the book are available on a first-come, first-serve basis in the LaPlata campus library.

Civil War Book Discussion: America’s War Anthology Part V

The final conversation focuses on the emancipation of four million people who had been held in slavery for over two centuries. Following the conclusion of the war at Antietam, President Lincoln drafted the Emancipation Proclamation, allowing Frederick Douglass to rally black men to the defense of the United States, because it is now fighting for their freedom. While the Gettysburg Address, given in November 1863, does not speak of slavery directly, its potent language frames the purpose of the war as freedom understood in its broadest terms. After finally being able to enlist, 200,000 African American men joined the service in just two years. Emancipation was not a single event but a long and uneven series of struggles on plantations and farms, in cities and towns, all across the South. In a final essay on Images of the War, America’s War illuminates drawings from artists who were able to see firsthand, army camps in the midst of battle and enabled the public to picture the war as it progressed and to help us make sense of the American Civil War today.

Admission is free. For more details, please call 301-934-7606 or visit smsc@csmd.edu.

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