Edward J. Wooldridge, Pres.            Rob Monroe, Editor       
13700 Lintel Lane                      2416 Edenbrook Dr.       
Midlothian, VA 23113                   Richmond, VA 23228-3040  
edwool@verizon.net                     RMonroe500@comcast.net   
 March 2009 Program

Michael P. Boehme
"Balloon Use in the Civil War"

8:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 10, 2009, 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.

The American Civil  War  marked  an  evolutionary  point  in
history  concerning  the  use  of  technologies during armed
conflict.  The use of iron clad ships, submarines, land  and
water  mines, telegraph, and railroads are just a few of the
new technologies that were successfully employed during  the
war.                                                        

Balloons  had  been around for over 70 years, used generally
for  sport.   They  had  been  employed  by  some   European
militaries  as  reconnaissance and propaganda platforms, but
with very limited success.   That  all  changed  during  the
Civil War.  Through the efforts of several balloonists, most
notably Thaddeus Lowe, the balloon matured into  a  reliable
tool to gain valuable intelligence about one's adversary.   

At  our  March  meeting, Michael P.  Boehme will discuss the
development and use of balloons for reconnaissance  by  both
the North and the South during the Civil War.  In particular
he will talk about Virginia's role  in  this  effort  as  he
discusses   the   first  use  of  military  balloons  around
Arlington,  Ft.   Monroe,  Hampton   Roads,   Yorktown   and
Richmond.   Additionally,  he  will discuss some interesting
science and technology the balloonists used to develop their
reconnaissance systems.                                     

Mike  Boehme has been the Executive Director of the Virginia
Aviation Museum since 1998.  He retired from the  Air  Force
in   1992  after  20  years  flying  both  jets  and  rescue
helicopters.  A  native  of  California,  Mike  has  claimed
Virginia as his home since 1979.  He is active in many local
civic groups regularly  discussing  a  variety  of  aviation
topics.                                                     


The End is Near

The  deadline  is  fast  approaching   for   renewing   your
membership  in  the Richmond Civil War Round Table for 2009.
As of March 1, over 50 people (about a quarter of  our  2008
members)  had  still not paid their dues.  As in years past,
the Ides of March (March 15) is the  deadline.   After  this
date anyone wishing to renew their membership must pay a $25
initiation fee in addition to their dues.                   

By paying your dues you enable  the  RCWRT  to  continue  to
present  the  enlightening  and  entertaining programs we've
enjoyed in the past.  Please select  a  membership  category
from  the  list below.  We would like to call your attention
to the Sustaining Member category -- a voluntary option  but
a wonderful way to support of our organization.             

Select one category:

< >  $50 - Sustaining member (voluntary)                      
< >  $35 - Resident member                                    
< >  $45 - Resident couple                                    
< >  $20 - Non-resident member (50+ miles outside of Richmond)
< >  $25 - Non-resident couple                                
< >  $20 - Senior member (65 and older with at least 10 years 
                        of membership)                     
< >  $25 - Senior couple                                      
< >  $20 - Student member (age 13-17)                         

As in years past, the  Ides  of  March  (March  15)  is  the
deadline  for payment of dues.  You may make your payment at
the February meeting or mail your check to:                 

Sandy Parker, RCWRT Secretary
P.O. Box 37052               
Richmond, VA 23234           

Thank you for your continued support of the  Richmond  Civil
War Round Table!                                            


Conference Examines
Lincoln's Relationship with the South 

Probably no president has ever been as vilified  as  Abraham
Lincoln was in the South during the Civil War.  The American
Civil War Center's second major conference, Lincoln and  the
South,   will   be  held  at  the  University  of  Richmond,
Thursday-Saturday, March 12-14.  Outstanding scholars on the
subject  will  convene  to discuss this bitter relationship.
This event is offered in partnership with the Jepson  School
of  Leadership  Studies  at  UR  during  the bicentennial of
Lincoln's birth.                                            

Among the speakers will be Ed  Ayres,  Emory  Thomas,  David
Blight  and  event  keynote  speaker  James  McPherson.  The
conference's proceedings will be a bit different from others
in  that  there  will  be no traditional reading of prepared
papers.  After keynote addresses,  the  scholars  will  come
with  a  few  prefatory  comments  based on their particular
expertise but will devote most of the time  to  a  moderated
conversation with each other and the audience.              

Visit   the   ACWC's  website,  www.tredegar.org,  for  more
information or to register online.                          


Actress Brings Tubman to Life

Harriet Tubman is perhaps the most  well-known  of  all  the
Underground  Railroad's "conductors." During a ten-year span
she made 19 trips into  the  South  and  escorted  over  300
slaves  to freedom.  And, as she once proudly pointed out to
Frederick Douglass, in all of her journeys she "never lost a
single passenger."                                          

At  2  p.m.  on Saturday, March 21, professional actress and
historian  Gwendolyn  Briley-Strand  brings  to   life   the
courageous   story   of   Harriet   Tubman  in  a  45-minute
performance  at  the  National  Park  Service   Theater   at
Tredegar.   The  event  is  free  with paid admission to the
American Civil War Center or ACWC membership, $10 otherwise.


Reservations Now Being Accepted for RCWRT Tour

The Richmond Civil War Round Table will have its annual  bus
tour  on  Saturday,  June  6.  This year we will examine the
Culpeper area during the war.  Our daylong trip  will  leave
from  Mary  Munford Elementary School at 7:30 a.m.  en route
to Kelly's Ford.  We will enjoy lunch at the Graffiti House,
then  ride  to  the  battlefield  at  Brandy  Station in the
afternoon.  The bus will return to Richmond at 5 p.m.       

We are  proud  to  announce  that  Greg  Mertz,  a  longtime
historian  with  the  Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National
Military Park, will be our guide.  His  area  of  expertise,
the  cavalry, will be an emphasis of this tour.  Cost of the
trip is $25 per person and payments are now being  accepted.
You may mail your check to:                                 

			David Whitehead                     
			4305 Cary St. Rd.                   
			Richmond, VA 23221                  



Welcome New Members

The RCWRT wishes to welcome its newest members:
John J. Beall, Jr.
Tom Carter
Angelo Depersis
Henry Massie, Jr.
William Seward.


Varina Davis Subject of Book and Lecture

Known best as the wife of the Confederate president,  Varina
Howell  Davis was a passionate, witty conversationalist, yet
ambivalent about the southern cause.  In First Lady  of  the
Confederacy: Varina Davis's Civil War, Joan E.  Cashin draws
a sympathetic, but not uncritical, portrait of  Davis,  from
her  Mississippi  childhood,  to  happy  years in antebellum
Washington,  to  the  stress  and  heartbreak   of   wartime
Richmond,  and  finally to life in the North after the Civil
War.                                                        

The Virginia Historical Society (VHS) and the Museum of  the
Confederacy  (MOC)  are  combining  to  present a lecture on
Thursday, March 26 from noon to  1  p.m..   Dr.   Cashin,  a
history  teacher at Ohio State University, will give special
insight into Davis's life as a wife, mother, and first lady.
The lecture will be held at the Virginia Historical Society.
Admission for adults is $5, $4 for seniors, $3 for  children
and students.  VHS and MOC members are admitted free.       


Pamplin Park Reestablishes Operating Hours

Pamplin Historical Park & the National Museum of  the  Civil
War  Soldier  have announced that the attraction is now open
from 9 a.m.  to 5 p.m.  Mondays through Fridays.   The  park
will continue to be open by reservation only on weekends.   

"We  are  extremely pleased to reestablish regular operating
hours this spring,"  said  Executive  Director,  A.   Wilson
Greene.   "With  the  warmer  weather  our attendance always
perks up and we look  forward  to  welcoming  everyone  from
students   to  visitors  from  around  the  region  and  the
country."                                                   

Pamplin Historical Park has been open  by  reservation  only
since January 2 when the faltering economy forced the park's
foundation to reduce funding, causing staff layoffs.  During
the  winter  the  park  has  trained  nearly three dozen new
volunteers,  rehired  some  of  its  former  employees,  and
cross-trained  the  permanent  staff to perform a variety of
duties.                                                     

"Our generous members have been instrumental in  helping  us
get  back  on  our  feet," said Greene.  "Many of the Park's
friends contributed significantly to our  general  operating
fund,   which  has  allowed  us  to  begin  to  rebuild  our
professional staff."                                        

Pamplin Historical Park has operated highly regarded  school
field  trips  during  the spring.  According to Greene, some
32,000 students have reservations to visit the park  between
March  and  early  June.   Revenues from these programs will
allow the park to serve walk-in visitors  as  well.   Anyone
can  make  a  reservation  to  visit  the  park  on weekends
throughout the spring.  A basic fee of $100 allows up to ten
people   to   tour   the  park  on  Saturdays  and  Sundays.
Reservations must be made 48 hours in advance.              

"Once a group has made a weekend reservation, we  will  open
the Park that day for general visitation," explained Greene.
Regular  park  admission  is  $10  for  adults  and  $5  for
children.                                                   


RCWRT Monthly Speakers for 2009


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