Art Bergeron, President         Rob Monroe, Editor     
3901 Paces Ferry Road           2416 Edenbrook Dr.     
Chester, VA 23831               Richmond, VA 23228-3040
January 2004 PROGRAM

John Chodes,

"Abraham Lincoln's Two Invasions of New York City"

8:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 13, 2004, at the
Boulevard United Methodist Church, 321 N. Boulevard,
Richmond, VA (corner of Boulevard and Stuart Ave.) Enter
the basement door on the right side under the front steps.

John Chodes is a New Yorker who has  published  20  articles
and  three  monographs  on the Civil War and Reconstruction.
The first monograph is on the  Union  League,  the  Northern
version  of  the Ku Klux Klan.  The second is an edited form
of  Jefferson  Davis'  writings  where  he   explained   the
legitimacy  of  secession.  This is called "The Constitution
and State Sovereignty." The third is a  biography  of  Jabez
Curry,  the Confederate congressman and cavalry officer who,
unknowingly, after the war, helped the carpetbaggers destroy
the  culture and soul of the South.  Curry's story will also
appear as a full-length book in 2005.                       

The topic of Mr.  Chodes' talk, Lincoln vs.  New York  City,
will also be published as a book, via a biography of Horatio
Seymour, the  governor  of  New  York  during  this  period.
Between  1861  and 1865, there were two wars being fought by
Lincoln and his Republican administration.  The first was to
prevent the independence of the seceded Southern states.  The
second was a civil war in the  North  upon  the  six  states
controlled  by the Democrats.  The Union army tried to crush
out the Northern guerrilla  war,  insurrectionary  acts  and
full-scale  military  defiance.  Mr.  Chodes will argue that
the July 1863 "Draft Riot" was not  a  spontaneous  outburst
against  conscription, but a brilliant defense by the Empire
State against the invasion of its  sovereignty;  in  effect,
"The  Battle of New York City." One year later, the city was
invaded a second time when Lincoln put Gen.  Benjamin Butler
in  charge  of a massive force to control the polling booths
during the upcoming election.  When peace came, New York was
reconstructed along with the other "rebel" states.          



Review of the December Program



(The December meeting had to  be  called  off  at  the  last
minute due to the lack of heat in the church.)              


Civil War Movie to be Offered Nationally

There was no multimillion dollar budget  and  there  are  no
Oscar  winners  in  the cast, but the Civil War film "Wicked
Spring" will have one thing in common with "Cold Mountain"  
...a national audience.                                      

An   independent   film  from  local  producer/writer  Kevin
Hershberger, "Wicked Spring" is the  story  of  three  Union
soldiers  and  three Confederates that meet by chance at the
Battle of the Wilderness.  It was filmed in 29 days and cost
$500,000 - a sum that would be a mere drop from a bucket for
a major Hollywood studio.                                   

By contrast, take a look at "Cold Mountain", a film based on
Charles  Frazier's  best-selling  novel  about a Confederate
deserter who returns to his North Carolina sweetheart.  This
Miramax  Films  epic  took months and millions of dollars to
complete.   Much  of  the  budget   went   to   the   film's
Oscar-winning  actresses, Nicole Kidman and Renee Zellweger.
Still more money was spent to transport the cast and crew to
various  locations.   While a small portion of the movie was
filmed on Belle Isle, the majority was shot in the mountains
of Romania.                                                 

Staying  closer  to  home, "Wicked Spring" used local talent
and  reenactors  and  was  shot  in  Richmond,   Petersburg,
Lexington  and  other  locations  in  Virginia.  While "Cold
Mountain" has already been nominated for eight Golden  Globe
awards - and may receive several Oscar nominations as well -
"Wicked Spring" is not without its own merits.  The film was
recently  picked  up by Blockbuster Video Stores, an amazing
feat  for  a  small  independent   production.    DVDs   and
videotapes  of "Wicked Spring" will be available for rent at
every Blockbuster across the country.  Copies  may  also  be
purchased  through  major  online retailers such as Netflix,
amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.                            

University of Richmond to Offer Course on
the War in Virginia

The University of  Richmond  School  of  Continuing  Studies
announces  a  course  titled  "Civil  War  in  Virginia: The
Cannons' Roar." Throughout the  Civil  War,  cannons  roared
from  the  Chesapeake  Bay  to the far reaches of Virginia's
mountain highlands.  The work at the  Tredegar  Iron  Works,
the  soldiers  who served the bronze and iron cannons on the
battlefields, and the lessons learned by commanders at every
level on Virginia's battle grounds are all fascinating.     

The  spirit  of  artillerymen  in  units  like  the Richmond
Howitzers and  the  Rockbridge  Artillery  was  demonstrated
repeatedly  and  will  serve  as the primary focus for a new
course this winter.  The course is scheduled for 7-9  pm  on
four  Monday  evenings  in  March  and  will highlight these
fascinating stories.  A day-long bus tour of selected  Civil
War  sites  allows  students  to walk over the actual ground
that echoed the thunder of the cannons' roar.               

The non-credit course at UR's School of  Continuing  Studies
is  taught  by  Roundtable  member  Jack  Mountcastle.   The
tuition is $139.  To enroll or to request more  information,
look  for  the "Thin Again" catalog for Winter 2004, or call
804-289-8133.  You may also visit the  University's  website
at www.richmond.edu.  Choose "Continuing Studies," then look
at "Non-credit Courses."                                    

Upcomming Events

Ed Bearrs to Speak to Powhatan Round Table

The Powhatan Civil War Round Table will host  Ed  Bearrs  at
the  group's  January  meeting.   A  former  Marine  who was
wounded in World War II, Bearss stays busy traveling most of
the  year  as  a  speaker  and  tour  guide.  A former chief
historian with the National Park Service, he  has  earned  a
commendation  from  Congress and won the highest award given
by the Department of the Interior.  Long recognized  as  one
of the foremost historians on the American Civil War, Bearss
will speak on Thursday evening, January  15  at  the  County
Seat  Restaurant  in historic Powhatan.  Dinner reservations
are $14 and may  be  made  by  contacting  Susan  Weigly  at
794-1203.                                                   


Newsletter Deadlines

To facilitate the printing and timely  distribution  of  the
monthly  newsletter,  information for it should be submitted
to the editors no later than the following dates:           

February newsletter			January 30 
March newsletter			February 27
April newsletter			April 2    
May newsletter				April 30   
June newsletter				May 28     
July newsletter				July 2     
August newsletter			July 30    
September newsletter			September 3
October newsletter			October 1  
November newsletter			October 29 
December newsletter			December 3 

Information may be emailed to rmonroe@richmond.com

RCWRT Monthly Speakers for 2004


Richmond Civil War Round Table Newsletter
Rob Monroe, Editor     
2416 Edenbrook Dr.     
Richmond, VA 23228-3040