---

rcwrt.org

---

Troy Arnold, President               Gary Cowardin, Editor    
301 Hollyport Road                   1404 Lorraine Ave.       
Richmond, VA R23229                  Richmond, VA 23227-3735  
Go2Troy2@gmail.com                   cowardin@juno.com        
"Shut Up as in a Trap: Citizens Under Siege"
by
Terry Winschel
7:30pm, Tuesday, April 11, 2017, at the 
First Presbyterian Church, Richmond, VA.,
4602 Cary Street Road, 23226. A parking lot is available behind
the church with an entrance off the parking lot to the right
and up a few steps into the DINING HALL on the left.


Terry Winschel is a native of Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , and a graduate
of  The Pennsylvania State University.  He also holds M.S.S.  (Master of
Social  Science)  and  Ed.S.   (Education   Specialist)   degrees   from
Mississippi  College  .  Mr.  Winschel was a thirty-five-year veteran of
the National Park Service who served  at  Gettysburg  National  Military
Park,  Fredericksburg  National  Military  Park,  Valley  Forge National
Historical Park, and in 2012 retired as Historian at Vicksburg  National
Military Park.                                                          

Terry  has  written 100 articles on the Civil War.  He is author of nine
books, including: Vicksburg National Military Park  (Arcadia  Publishing
2015),  Triumph  & Defeat: The Vicksburg Campaign, Vol.  II (SavasBeatie
2006), Vicksburg is the Key: The  Struggle  for  the  Mississippi  River
(University  of  Nebraska  Press  2003), The Civil War Diary of a Common
Soldier (LSU Press 2001), Vicksburg: Fall of the  Confederate  Gibraltar
(McWhiney  Research  Foundation  Press  1999), and Triumph & Defeat: The
Vicksburg Campaign (Savas Publishing 1998).                             

Mr.   Winschel  is  the  2004  recipient  of  the  Nevins-Freeman  Award
presented  by  The Civil War Round Table of Chicago, the 2006 Charles L.
Dufour Award presented by The Civil War Round Table of New Orleans,  was
named  National  Park Service Preservationist of the Year in 2007 by the
Civil War Preservation Trust, and is the 2013  recipient  of  Carrington
Williams  Battlefield  Preservations  of the Year Award by the Civil War
Trust.                                                                  
"Shut Up As In A Trap: Citizens Under Siege" 
Most works on the Vicksburg campaign focus  almost  exclusively  on  the
military  operations centered on the fortress city and fail to address a
key element in the equation-namely the civilian population of  Vicksburg
who experienced war in all its horrors during the long 47 days of siege.
Who were these people and what is their story?                          

In "Shut Up  As  In  A  Trap,"  Terry  Winschel,  retired  historian  at
Vicksburg  National  Military  Park,  recounts  the plight of these men,
women, and children who experienced the most terrifying ordeal of  their
lives in a struggle to survive.  Tapping on period letters, diaries, and
memoirs,  Mr.   Winschel  weaves  a  moving  account  of  life  in   the
beleaguered   city.   His  program  paints  a  vivid  portrait  of  life
underground where citizens sought shelter from the  storm  of  lead  and
iron  that rained upon their city and details the suffering and death of
Vicksburg's gallant residents.  His words are brought to life by  slides
featuring scores of faces of the citizens of Vicksburg who stood firm in
the midst of conflict.                                                  

Their lives directly impacted by the cruelty of war more so than  people
in any other American city, North or South, the people of Vicksburg have
left a legacy of courage and fortitude that will inspire  all  who  hear
their story.                                                            

Meeting Attendance for March: 95

NOTE: Please put on your NAME BADGE on when you arrive for the meeting.
(They will be on a table near the back or side of the room.)
Message from Our President
March's speaker, Bud Robertson, was worth the  trip.   While  it  wasn't
battlefield action it showed off his great talent for understanding what
he needs to do to make the way better for those historians  who  follow.
If  you've  ever  tried  to  gather  specific  information  you know how
difficult it is to do.  His recounting of John Jones' diary efforts  and
his turning them into valuable research material is a real gift to those
attempting to fill in details in any capacity.  His question and  follow
up  session displayed his seemingly unending knowledge of other areas of
the conflict and the people who played  the  parts.   His  insight  into
Stonewall Jackson's life alone was worth the trip.  Elaine did us a real
favor.                                                                  
                                     Troy
SAVE the DATE: RCWRT Bus Tour Scheduled for June 24
All was not quiet along the Potomac during the fall and winter of  1861.
Beginning  in  May  1861,  Confederate  forces  sought  ways to blockade
Washington via the Potomac blockade.  In a series  of  strategic  moves,
skirmishes   and   naval   battles,  the  Confederates  created  a  real
embarrassment for the Lincoln  administration.   The  Federal  city  was
virtually  blockaded  until March 1862, driving up prices in the capital
and effecting the supply of McClellan's Army of the Potomac.            

Last September, historian Rob Orrison spoke to the  Richmond  Civil  War
Round  Table  on  the oft-overlooked Potomac Blockade.  His presentation
was insightful, enlightening and well-received by our members.   We  are
delighted to report Mr.  Orrison has agreed to lead us on a tour of many
of the sites associated with the blockade.                              

Mark your calendar for Saturday, June 24.  On that day we will  board  a
bus  in Richmond and make our way north for stops at Aquia Church, Aquia
Landing, Quantico Marine Base,  Williams  Ordinary,  Cockpit  Point  and
Leesylvania  State  Park.  Some of these sites are not accessible to the
general public.                                                         

For more background on the  War  on  the  Potomac,  see  Mr.   Orrison's
detailed  account  of  the blockade in the recent edition of Blue & Gray
magazine.  Further details of our bus tour will be coming soon.         
Please welcome the following new members:
Mark and Janice Bilger, Alan and Harriette Padgett, Richard McRee 
Robert Kingery, Richard Kesler, William "Bill" Ryan

2017 Membership Dues were due by April 1
A late fee of $25 is now in effect for additional 2017 memberships.

Membership and Members Contact Information .pdf Form

Sandy Parker, RCWRT Secretary
2425 Falkirk Drive           
North Chesterfield, VA 23236 
Help Us Save Postage Costs    
If you have an E-mail address and internet access and are not currently
receiving your newsletter notification via E-mail please let me have   
your NAME and E-mail address. My E-mail address is:  cowardin@juno.com 
(You can also use this link to change E-mail addressess  just  click  my
E-mail address above.  If you are changing an E-mail address be sure to
include the old address.)                                              

Civil War Trust
For the latest CWT news visit: www.civilwar.org
Upcoming Events/Links

Richmond Battlefields Association News & Events
www.saverichmondbattlefields.org/events.htm


Visit The American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar
www.tredegar.org

Pamplin Historical Park and
The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier
www.pamplinpark.org
and their
Special Events Calendar

Chambersburg Civil War Seminars & Tours
civilwarseminars.org

RCWRT Monthly Speakers for 2017