North Jersey Civil War Round Table

11/27/2018

ArtsBusinessFront Page NewsGeneral NewsHistoryThe Morris County Tourism Bureau at 20: A nice place to visit Leslie Bensley, exectuvie director of the Morris County Tourism Bureau, takes a rare breather. By Kevin Coughlin - November 19, 2018 0   Quick: What’s the most popular tourist destination i...

09/25/2018

* REMINDER **DINNER MEETING

THIS Thursday, September 27
North Jersey Civil War Round Table
7:14 PM at the Haggerty Education Center at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum, 353 E. Hanover Avenue, Morris Twp. (opp. the Morris County Library).
Admission - $5. Members & Students – free

*MEMBERS’ NIGHT PROGRAM
INFANTRYMAN AND STRETCHER BEARER:
MORRISTOWN’S OWN HAYWARD EMMELL

On October 1, 1861, nineteen-year-old Heyward Emmell took the first step that led him onto the front lines of the Civil War for the next three years. As an infantryman in the 7th Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, for 22 months and a stretcher bearer in the Ambulance Corps for 14 months, he witnessed and recorded virtually all the major events and battles of the Army of the Potomac from the Peninsula Campaign to Gettysburg to the Siege of Petersburg. After his service, he returned to Morristown where he became a prosperous merchant, living until 1917.

RICH ROSENTHAL
ONE OF THE WORST – THE DOUGHFACE PRESIDENT AND
LATER COPPERHEAD: PRESIDENT FRANKLIN PIERCE

I have been and will be presenting at various locations my PRESIDENT WHO!!?? talk, the presidents most people never heard of, and if they did, they certainly can’t say what they did and when they did it. One of the presidents that I discuss is Franklin Pierce, however, when it comes to the Civil War, President Pierce should not be glossed over. For this presentation before a Civil War group, I have expanded Pierce’s portion and will only present Pres. Pierce. Although he was from New Hampshire, he supported the South. From decisions in Kansas to insisted enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Law, he made decisions that led to the Civil War and then after his presidency, he led the fight against the Emancipation Proclamation. For students of the Civil War, he is that important and should no longer be a President Who?

**DINNER
If you are a member of the NJCWRT and would like to join us in having dinner with the speakers before the meeting, we meet at Rod’s (Madison Hotel) at 5 PM. You pay for yourself, separate checks. Rod’s has a great prix fixe menu for $30. I make the reservations on Wednesday and the table is set up with that number. Please do not arrive unannounced. If you’re interested, just reply. (or call me at 973-267-9075)

RICH ROSENTHAL
President, NJCWRT

09/10/2018

09/08/2018

General NewsWashington Association to honor Morristown High students for historical film, Sept. 15 As juniors, Morristown High School students Kylee Strasser, left, and Katie Rosa created a documentary about the Morristown National Historical Park. By Morristown Green Contributor - September 7, 2018...

08/14/2018

IN MEMORIAM
HARRY G. CARPENTER

A friend died this past Sunday, and I’m trying to put into words what he meant to me and to so many of us. How can you describe a force of nature?

I first met Harry when I attended a meeting of the North Jersey Civil War Round Table, a round table that was one of the largest Civil War round tables. (Harry was one of the founders.) Through the years, I had the opportunity to expand my association with Harry and a friendly rivalry developed as to who could sign up more members – and then with annual dinners who could sign up more guests. Suffice to say if Harry asked, people immediately said, yes. And they meant it, they were doing it because they wanted to do it for Harry.

Harry was my mentor and I subsequently became the president of the NJCWRT; I more than realized I was now head of Harry’s organization and it was to his standards that I had to strive More pressure: When Harry attended the meetings, I knew that that I was going to be critiqued the following day – I was, and I accepted it! He was right.

And then another chapter, when I invited John T. Cunningham to speak at the NJCWRT about his book The Uncertain Revolution: Washington and The Continental Army at Morristown and 175 people attended; we realized there was a need for an American Revolution round table. Although there were a few of us as founders, if it wasn’t for Harry the NJARRT would never have started with such an immediate success and become – by far – the largest ARRT. And remained so while he was president.

The award of the NJARRT that had been presented annually at New Jersey History was named The Harry Carpenter Award. When the students attended our meetings to receive their awards, Harry presented them, I know he thoroughly enjoyed meeting the students.

(For the sake of a one-page notice, I’ve drastically edited my remembrances.)

I don’t know the details of the funeral arrangements, according to the website of Bailey Funeral home there will be a memorial service October 13 (no time listed) at the Lamington Presbyterian Church, Bedminster.

Rich Rosenthal

President, North Jersey Civil War Round Table

The Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 13, 2018 at Lamington Presbyterian Church, 355 Lamington Roa, Bedminster, New Jersey 07921.

07/31/2018

Civil War Women of Compassion, Courage and Grit
Whippanong Library
Monday, Aug. 13, 2:00 PM
Presented by Rich Rosenthal

Register online
https://www.whippanong.org/events-calendar/
or call 973-428-2460

Learn about the women during the Civil War who are left at home without adequate means of support and must provide the basic necessities of food and shelter, raise their children and still impart their values.

07/18/2018

Meet the Presidents (and First Ladies)
at Morristown National Historical Park

At this popular, annual, partnering event with the Morris County Tourism Bureau, Dr. Jude Pfister, Chief of Cultural Resources at Morristown National Historical Park, will bring artifacts out of museum storage that relate to American Presidents and their First Ladies. These items go beyond the scope of the park’s regular interpretative mission—General George Washington and the Continental Army in Morristown. The collections at the park museum span the years from 15,000 BCE to the 20th century and each year the discerning audience in these “Behind the Scenes” tours are delighted with objects that touch on some of history’s most discerning characters and events. These objects are rarely, if ever, displayed at the park, so this is a unique opportunity for all. Every President from Washington to Coolidge will be represented. Bring your presidential trivia too.

Presentation will take place Saturday, July 28, 2018, at 10:00, at the Washington’s Headquarters Museum’s auditorium, 30 Washington Place, Morristown. $15.00 pp
More info and reservations: 973-631-5151
Please note this is a joint presentation with the Morris County Tourism Bureau and the Morristown NHP. The Tourism Bureau is handling reservations.

Photo Caption: Former President William Howard Taft (far left) as Supreme Court Chief Justice ca. 1924. Taft was the only person to head two branches of the federal government during his career

07/18/2018

Included in these great summertime activities in Morris County is a lecture on Saturday, July 28 with Morristown National Historical Park's very own Dr. Jude Pfister!

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1101351404926&ca=d85b8f48-8965-43c3-93d7-16c06805b55c

07/02/2018

06/29/2018

Revolutionary Times is coming to Morristown, sponsored by the Morris County Tourism Bureau
, on Wednesday, July 4th. Activities include:

On The Morristown Green

11:30 am: March from Ford Mansion to the Morristown Green.
Gordon Thomas Ward will perform Patriotic Songs.

12 noon: Reading of the Declaration of Independence by Morristown National Historical Park (MNHP) Rangers, Tom Winslow and Eric Olsen. Please join us at this great event, which is regularly attended by over 1,000 people. In case of rain the reading will b held at Methodist Church of Morristown, 50 Park Place.

1:00 pm: Presbyterian Church’s Graveyard Tour

Other Revolutionary Times Activities

10:00 am: Whippany Burying Yard Tour reservations: 973-631-5151

11:00 am & 2:00 pm: Hike to a NJ Revolutionary War Powder Mill starting at Acorn Hall

Also this summer…

Summer Hours at MNHP begin June 24 – Open 7 Days a Week

Summer History Tours

Sponsored by the Morris County Tourism Bureau – See Morristourism.org. This year includes a Curator’s Presentation at MNHP by Park Chief of Cultural Resources Dr. Jude Pfister on Saturday, July 28, 10 a.m.-4 pm. Dr. Pfister will present items from the wide collection that relate to American presidents and First Ladies. These items are rarely displayed to the public.

Dream Rocket Project

MNHP has again partnered with the Dream Rockets Project (a project of International Fiber Collaborative, which connects communities and school children through artworks). Students from numerous New Jersey schools took part in MNHP’s Dream Rocket Project/Art in the Park, which focused on producing paintings following the theme “Ingenuity/Adversity/Spirit” with the numerous New Jersey schools took part in MNHP’s Dream Rocket Projet/Art in the Park, which focused on producing paintings following the theme “Ingenuity/Adversity/Spirit” with the example of the Continental Army Soldiers overcoming the adversities of the bitter winter at Jockey Hollow. The paintings are remarkable and groups have visited Jockey Hollow to learn the history and see the site. A new art exhibit overseen by MNHP’s Dr. Sarah Minegar and featuring this terrific art has just opened at Jockey Hollow Visitor’s Center. It will be on display until September 4 during the Park’s open hours, Mon.-Fri., 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you can’t get to the Park, here’s where to see the art online. https://www.flickr.com/photos/thedreamrocket/sets/72157666480769919/.

For more Summer Activities at MNHP see nps.gov/morr

This fall will see the Premiere of the film created by Morristown High School students Katie Rosa and Kylee Strasser. The script was written by WANJ Past President and children’s author Eileen Cameron. Actors are New Jersey Daughters of the American Revolution State Historian and WANJ member Pat Sanftner, WANJ Trustees Philip Gaffney, Kenneth MacKenzie, and MNHP Ranger Eric Olsen, with narration by Thomas Edison National Historical Park’s Karen Sloat-Olsen.

We invite you to come visit this summer and bring your out-of-town guests to see the wonderful new offerings at the Park, including the new Discover History Center at the Washington’s Headquarters Museum, the art exhibit at Jockey Hollow, and to celebrate the Fourth of July.

We appreciate all of your interest and support in our projects. Our new initiatives are exciting and part of our mission to increase awareness of American History, the American Revolution, the leadership of George Washington and the bravery of our Continental Soldiers. Each of these projects promotes new outreach to schoolchildren, older students, school administrations, various community groups such as art clubs, and walkers and hikers.

Kevin Tremble, President, WANJ

Did you know? Wednesday, June 25 marked the 145th Anniversary of WANJ’s Founder’s Day, the day that the Ford Mansion was put up for Auction in 1873. The four men who successfully bought the historic site were William van Vleck Lidgerwood, Theodore Randolph, Nathaniel Halsted and George Halsey. The Founding Four went on to incorporate the Washington Association of New Jersey in March of 1874.

Pat Sanftner, NJDAR State Historian and WANJ Member, as Molly Pitcher. Photo courtesy Dan Beards.

06/14/2018

North Jersey Civil War Round Table

Founded, December, 2001 – Morristown, New Jersey

Date: Thursday, June 28 - Our 152nd MEETING
Time: 7:14 PM
Place: The meeting will be at the Haggerty Education Center at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum, 353 E. Hanover Avenue, Morris Twp. (opp. the Morris County Library).
Admission - $5. Members & Students – free. NPS Rangers - free

SPEAKER AND PROGRAM
PHILLIP S. GREENWALT
Bloody Autumn
The Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864

Sweep the Shenandoah Valley “clean and clear,” Union General-in-Chief Ulysses S. Grant ordered in the late summer of 1864.His man for the job: Maj. Gen. “Little Phil” Sheridan, the bandy-legged Irishman who’d proven himself just the kind of scrapper Grant loved. Grant turned Sheridan loose across Virginia’s most vital landscape, the breadbasket of the Confederacy.
In the spring of 1862, a string of Confederate victories in the Valley had foiled Union plans in the state and kept Confederate armies fed and supplied. In 1863, the Army of Northern Virginia used the Valley as its avenue of invasion, culminating in the battle of Gettysburg. The Valley continued to offer Confederates an alluring backdoor to Washington D.C.

But when Sheridan returned to the Valley in 1864, the stakes jumped dramatically. To lose the Valley would mean to lose the state, Stonewall Jackson had once said—and now that prediction would be put to the test as Sheridan fought with Confederate Lt. Gen. Jubal Early for possession.
For the North, the fragile momentum its war effort had gained by capturing Atlanta would quickly evaporate; for Abraham Lincoln, defeat in the Valley could very well mean defeat in the upcoming election. For the South, more than its breadbasket was at stake—its nascent nationhood lay on the line.
Historians Daniel Davis and Phillip Greenwalt, longtime students of the Civil War, have spent countless hours researching the Valley battles of ’64 and walking the ground where those battles unfolded. Bloody Autumn: The Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864 shifts attention away from the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia to the campaign that ultimately determined the balance of power across the Eastern Theater.

Greenwalt is the co-Author of A Single Blow: The Battles of Lexington and Concord and the Beginning of the American Revolution April 19, 1775. He is the co-founder of Emerging Revolution War and historical editor of the Emerging Revolutionary War book series. A prolific American history author, he graduated from George Mason University with an MA in American History; he also holds a BA in History from Wheeling Jesuit University. He currently is a Supervisory Park Ranger in Interpretation & Visitor Services for the National Park Service having served at several National Park Service sites including George Washington National Monument, Thomas Stone National Historic Site, and Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park.

His books will be for sale and will be signed by the author.

DINNER

If you are a member of the NJCWRT and would like to join us in having dinner with the author before the meeting, we meet at Rod’s (Madison Hotel) at 5 PM. You pay for yourself, separate checks. Rod’s has a great prix fixe menu for $30. I make the reservations on the day before the meeting and the table is set up with that number. Please do not arrive unannounced. If you’re interested, just reply. (Or call 973-267-9075)

UPCOMING PROGRAMS
No meeting – July and August

September 27 – Prof. Jonathan Lurie returns

October 25 – t/b/a

November 15 – Annual Civil War Legal Program