September 2016 Southern MD Civil War Round Table Meeting

September 13, 2016

The Southern Maryland Civil War Round Table is pleased to announce that its next meeting will take place on Tuesday, September 13, 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: Daniel Carroll Toomey

Dan's photo

Following the War of 1812 the Federal Government opened ten arsenals across the newly formed United States. One of these was located in Pikesville, Maryland. Opened in 1818 the arsenal supplied weapons and equipment to the United States Army until the beginning of the Civil War. After the war the property was conveyed to the State of Maryland.

In 1888 a great need existed for the care and shelter of Confederate veterans living in Maryland after the Civil War. General Bradley T. Johnson, the president of the Association of the Maryland Line, approached the state legislature for permission to convert the arsenal buildings in Pikesville to a home for Confederate veterans. Supported by private donations from nearly every Southern veteran’s organization in the state, the home was both an immediate and long term success. Noted Maryland author Daniel Carroll Toomey will give a brief history of the Pikesville Arsenal followed by an in depth look at the creation and management of one of Maryland’s least known Civil War sites.

... in Maryland: Daniel Carroll Toomey: 9781929806003: Amazon.com: Books

Daniel Carroll Toomey is a graduate of the University of Maryland and the author or co-author of a dozen books including The Civil War in Maryland and Baltimore During the Civil War. He has lectured for a number of historical organizations and colleges including the Smithsonian Institution and Johns Hopkins University. His course “The Civil War in Maryland” has been taught throughout the state.

Dan has contributed to a number of radio and television programs and several video productions. He also serves on the Maryland Military Monuments Commission and was Project Historian for the Maryland Memorial erected at Gettysburg in 1994. It was Dan Toomey who wrote the inscription for that monument.

Dan has won numerous awards for his historical research and exhibits including the Gettysburg National Battlefield Award in 1985 and was the 2001 recipient of the Peterkin Award given by the National Park Service at Fort McHenry. He is currently the Guest Curator at the B&O Railroad Museum and designed The War Came by Train exhibit – the largest Civil War railroad exhibit ever presented and written a book by the same title.

The Southern Maryland Civil War Round Table invites all to join us as we welcome Daniel Carroll Toomey back to speak to us about this little known Civil War treasure within the Free State’s boundaries. 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.

May 9, 2016

Blue and Gray Days

June 11 & 12, 2016

Blue and Gray Days

Point Lookout State Park

Point Lookout Maryland Address

Saturday June 11, 2016: 11:00am – 4:00pm

Sunday June 12, 2016: 11:am – 3:00pm

The Maryland State Park Service, Department of Natural Resources, sponsored by the Friends of Point Lookout, invite you to attend the 28th Annual Blue and Gray Days Weekend at the original sites of historic Fort Lincoln and Camp Hoffman, prisoner of war camp, at Point Lookout State Park, Scotland, Maryland. There is a service charge to enter Point Lookout State Park.

Activities Include:

– Hammond Hospital and Camp Hoffman (Prisoner of War Camp) Exhibits

– Infantry Drill and Musket Demonstrations

– Life in a military garrison, prisoner of war camp and civilian occupation of Point Lookout during the Civil War.

Blue and Gray Days | St. Mary's County MD Tourism
A Civil War Living History Program Presented by:

The Maryland Park Service, Department of Natural Resources and The Friends of Point Lookout located at historic Fort Lincoln, Point Lookout State Park, Scotland, Maryland

April 12, 2016

May 2016 Southern MD Civil War Round Table Meeting

May 10, 2016

The Southern Maryland Civil War Round Table is pleased to announce that its next meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 10, 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

As we eagerly anticipate our annual field trip; this year to the Antietam National Battlefield, Round Table President Brad Gottfried will get us ready for our great adventure on Saturday, May 14th. Author of the book, “The Maps of Antietam“, join us as Dr. Gottfried provide his unique insight, analysis and perspective of the battle that marked Robert E. Lee’s first invasion of the North. Bruised and battered after a long spring and summer of battles on the Virginia peninsula and at Manassas, the Army of Northern Virginia, led by Gen. Robert E. Lee decides to seize momentum and move the theater of battle away from his native state and give the north a taste of the conflict. An audacious gambit indeed, that if successful might bring a negotiated peace and Southern independence. Meanwhile, The Army of the Potomac has just had its beloved leader, Gen. George B. McClellan, restored to overall command, in an attempt to boost troop morale and blunt the advances of the Confederate Army. The result of these two behemoth’s clashing in the Maryland countryside on September 17, 1862 was one of the bloodiest days in American History.

Battle of Antietam - The New York Times

Not able to go on the field trip! That’s OK! Come on out anyway and hear Brad as he lays out the important events that took place prior to, during and in the aftermath of a battle that would ultimately make the Battle of Antietam arguably one of the most significant battles ever fought. Dunker Church! The Cornfield! The Sunken Road! Burnside Bridge! Dr. Gottfried will cover them and whet our appetites for the sites we shall see on the field.

The Southern Maryland Civil War Round Table invites all to attend this lecture on a battle fought on our own soil! 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.

March 12, 2016

Southern MD Civil War Round Table Film Series

April 12, 2016

The last in our series of Civil War movies for this season will be shown, free of charge, prior to the regularly scheduled Round table meeting tonight from 4:47pm – 6:47pm 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: Death and The Civil War

Death and the Civil War . American Experience . WGBH | PBS

Directed by Ric Burns and based on the book “This Republic of Suffering“, by Drew Gilpin Faust, historian and president of Harvard University, this documentary explores how the American Civil War created a “republic of suffering” and charts the far-reaching political and social changes brought about by the pervasive presence and fear of death during the Civil War. Though universally predicted to be a brief and bloodless military adventure, the Civil War dragged on for four years, killing an estimated 750,000 men — nearly 2.5% of the American population. The impact permanently altered the character of the republic,the culture of the government and the psyche of the American people for all time.

Woefully unprepared for the awful work of burying and accounting for the dead, northerners and southerners alike had to find a way to deal with the hundreds of thousands of bodies, many of which were unidentified, and the grieving families who sought information on loved ones who, in the end, would never be found. Following the common Christian notions of the “proper” way to die and be buried was all but impossible for most soldiers on the front. Before the Civil War, America had no national cemeteries; no provisions for identifying or burying the dead, notifying the next of kin, or providing aid to the suffering families of dead veterans; no federal organizations; no effective ambulance corps; no adequate federal hospitals.

At the conclusion of tonight’s film, please feel free to stay for a presentation by Hilda Koontz about the Sultana Disaster. The regularly scheduled meeting will begin at 7:00pm.

March 10, 2016

Park Day – April 2, 2016

April 2, 2016

Point Lookout State park SEEKS VOLUNTEERS FOR PARK DAY

WHAT: Park Day Volunteer Event at Fort Lincoln, Point Lookout State Park

WHEN: April 2, 2016 beginning at 10:00am until 2:00pm

WHERE: Meet at Fort Lincoln Point Lookout State Park

Fort Lincoln - Point Lookout State Park | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

On Saturday, April 2, 2016, history buffs, community leaders and preservationists will team up with the Civil War Trust at more than 125 sites in 29 states to answer the call to service on Park Day. Celebrating its twentieth year, Park Day has attracted volunteers of all ages and abilities bound by their dedication to serving their communities at historic sites nationwide.

Point Lookout State Park and the Friends of Point Lookout will host a Park Day event beginning at 9:00am. Needs range from general cleanup to maintenance of historic, restored Fort Lincoln. Refreshments will be provided free of charge thanks to the Friends of Point Lookout, Inc. A local historian may also be available to describe the park’s significance. For more information about Park Day at Point Lookout State Park, please contact Bob Crickenberger at 301-872-5688 or Meg Martin of The Civil War Trust at 202-367-1861 x7231.

The Civil War Trust is the largest and most effective nonprofit organization devoted to the preservation of America’s hallowed battlegrounds. Although primarily focused on the protection of Civil War battlefields, through its Campaign 1776 initiative, the Trust also seeks to save battlefields connected to the revolutionary War and the War of 1812. To date, the Trust has preserved close to 43,000 acres of battlefield land in 23 states. For a complete list of participating Park Day sites, visit Civilwar.org/parkday.

March 8, 2016

April 2016 Southern MD Civil War Round Table Meeting

April 12, 2016

The Southern Maryland Civil War Round Table is pleased to announce that its next meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 12, 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: Ms. Hilda Koontz

The Sultana Disaster: Freedom’s Dream Gone Awry

On the night of April 27, 1865, the steamship “Sultana” exploded and sank in the Mississippi River, seven miles north of Memphis, Tennessee. Aboard the ship were 2400 people, mostly Union prisoners of war, 1800 of whom perished in the disaster. And yet, the deadliest maritime disaster in Unites States history is hardly mentioned in the annals of the Civil War. This program will introduce you to the ship, the hapless souls who traveled on the Sultana that night, their heroic acts and the greed and incompetence that sealed their fate.

Hilda Koontz, MA, is a writer, editor and former journalist. She lectures frequently for the National Museum of Civil War Medicine in Washington, D.C. and Frederick, MD, for the Civil War Roundtables of Chicago, Il, Gettysburg, PA, Chambersburg, PA, Frederick, MD and Westminster, MD, The Historical Society of Carroll County, MD, the Road Scholar (formerly Elderhostel) program and for the annual “Maryland and The Civil War: A Regional Perspective” conference. Ms. Koontz is a current board member and Past president of the Gettysburg Civil War Round Table and has been a Civil War reenactor for over 20 years. She holds a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, a Bachelor of Arts from Hood College in Frederick, MD and has devoted 20 years to the practice of career and organizational development. We welcome Hilda Koontz as she enlightens us on an overlooked and tragic episode from the end of the Civil War.

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.

February 29, 2016

Southern Maryland Civil War Round Table

May 14, 2016

Antietam Battlefield Tour

8:00AM – 5:30PM

Antietam National Battlefield | Favorite Places & Spaces | Pinterest

The Tour: Join us for the Southern Maryland Civil War Round Table’s Fourth annual Spring Tour. The Battle of Antietam is commonly thought of as the High Water Mark of the Confederacy. After a string of victories, Gen. Robert E. Lee brought his Army of Northern Virginia into Maryland. After fighting several holding actions at the South Mountain gaps on September 14, 1862, a portion of Lee’s army was able to capture the Federal garrison at Harper’s Ferry. The army then concentrated at the hamlet of Sharpsburg, where it fought a pitched battle with the Army of the Potomac, commanded by Gen. George B. McClellan on September 17, 1862. We will study this major battle during our field trip.

The Details: This tour will begin in LaPlata (CSM Campus), where participants will board a chartered bus for the trip to the Antietam Battlefield. After a stop at the National Park Service Visitor’s Center, the four hour tour will commence under the guidance of a licensed battlefield guide; Mr. Joe Stihl. The tour will cover all of the major areas of the battle: East Woods, West Woods, Dunker Church, The Cornfield, Bloody Lane and Burnside’s Bridge.

The Cost: The cost of the trip is $60 for members and $70 for non-members. Take advantage of Early Bird Registration (by March 8, 2016) and your cost is $55 for members and $65 for non-members. The cost of trip includes bus, guide and a boxed lunch for all participants. For additional information, or to register contact Brad Gottfried at 301-934-7625.

February 14, 2016

Southern MD Civil War Round Table Film Series

March 8, 2016

Come out and join us from 5:10pm – 6:47pm as our series of Civil War movies continues prior to the regularly scheduled Round table meeting tonight. Movies will be shown 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. Admission is free!

Tonight’s Feature: “Field of Lost Shoes“

Field of Lost Shoes

Based on a true story, culminating at the Battle of New Market, VA in May 1864, this film follows a group of teenage cadets sheltered from war at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) who confront the horrors of an adult world when called upon to defend the Shenandoah Valley. Leaving behind their youth, they must decide what they are fighting for.

Starring David Arquette, Keith David, Lauren Holly and Tom Skerritt as General Ulysses S. Grant, the movie starts with Lincoln appointing General Ulysses S. Grant as Chief of Union Forces. Grant acts decisively, bringing total war to the pristine Shenandoah Valley, the breadbasket of the South. The superintendent of VMI volunteers 274 young cadets to protect the valley. They march northward toward the strategic valley choke point of New Market, VA. On the day of the battle, Confederate General John C. Breckenridge, former Vice President of the Unites States and now commander of southern forces in the Valley, is faced with a horrible decision to order the young and inexperienced cadets into battle.

Please join us after the movie for our regularly scheduled meeting from 7 – 9pm, where Carol Randell will discuss Southern Relief Societies.

February 9, 2016

March 2016 Southern MD Civil War Round Table Meeting

March 8, 2016

The Southern Maryland Civil War Round Table is pleased to announce that its next meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 12, 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: Carol Randell

During discussions of Civil War aid societies, the conversations often end once the immeasurable efforts of the Christian Commission, U. S. Sanitary Commission, and various Northern states aid societies such as, the Maine Camp and Hospital Association are reviewed. This limited list begs the question, did not southern ladies also join together to help provide for the needs of the soldiers? The answer is, of course they did.

Although their efforts are not as well known today, the women of the south banded together as women have during every war to help relieve suffering. This presentation will provide an overview of various southern aid societies, and the impact the had on the common solider. A few examples of the individual and organization highlighted include the South Carolina Hospital Aid Association which established and/or ran several hospitals including the Midway Hospital in Charlottesville; and women like Mrs. S. C. Law, who in 1861 helped to form the Southern Mothers, “Devoting ourselves to the care of the sick or wounded soldiers of the Army of the Confederate States of America, wherever the chances of war shall bring them near to us.”

Carol Randell, R.N. is a retired Air Force Lt. Colonel who has been active in Civil War research for more than 20 years, with a focus on the role of women and aid societies. She received her B.S. in Nursing from Saint Anselm’s College, and her M.S. in Nursing from the University of California, San Francisco. She is an active member of the Maine Camp and Hospital Association and the 20th Main re-enactment group, providing living history events at a variety of State and National Parks. Ms. Randell lives in Huntingtown, Maryland.

January 20, 2016

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.