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May 2011 - rcwrt.org

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David Whitehead, Pres.                 Gary Cowardin, Editor    
4305 Cary Street Rd.                   1404 Lorraine Ave.       
Richmond, VA 23221                     Richmond, VA 23227-3735  
davidwhitehead1@comcast.net            cowardin@juno.com        
Anna Gibson Holloway

"So Ends This Day:
The Life and Times of the USS Monitor From 1861 to Yesterday"

8:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 10, 2011, 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 left and down a few stairs. (map in August's newsleter)



In 2007, Anna Gibson Holloway completed the USS Monitor  Center  exhibit
at  the Mariners' Museum in Newport News, VA.  Prior to her assuming her
current position as Vice President, Museum Collections & Programs at The
Mariners'   Museum,   she   served   as   Director   of   Education  and
Interpretation.  She was previously the Manager of School Tour  Programs
for  the  Chrysler  Museum of Art and Historic Houses in Norfolk, VA and
has also worked for Jamestown Settlement as part  of  the  crew  of  the
Susan  Constant, and for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.  A native
of Winston-Salem, she earned her BA at the University of North  Carolina
at  Greensboro  and  an  MA  in Tudor/Stuart History from the College of
William and Mary.                                                       

The Union ironclad USS Monitor is most famous for its epic  battle  with
the  Confederate  ship, CSS Virginia on March 9, 1862.  The Monitor also
participated in the Federal attempt later  that  spring  to  ascend  the
James  River  and  to  shell Richmond.  The Union flotilla was halted by
Confederate defenders at Drewry's Bluff on May 15th.  After  helping  to
secure Union control of Hampton Roads during the Peninsula Campaign, the
Monitor was ordered south to participate in U.S.  Navy operations  along
the  North Carolina coast.  Sadly for the ship and her crew, she sunk in
a heavy gale off Cape Hatteras on December 31, 1862.  But the  Monitor's
story  was  far  from over.  The wreck of the ship was found in 1973 and
the site was established as a National Marine Sanctuary in 1975.   Since
then, it has been the focus of extensive recovery operations by the U.S.
Navy and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).    

Now, major parts of the Monitor rest at the Mariners' Museum in  Newport
News.  If you have not visited the USS Monitor Center recently, you will
find it hard to resist after  listening  to  this  presentation  on  the
marvelous  history  of  this  warship  and  the  secrets it continues to
divulge.  We will be treated to some of those secrets by  Anna  Holloway
as she explains how she and her staff have used entries in the Monitor's
log, official and personal correspondence, and evidence found on and  in
the wreck of the "Cheese Box on a Raft", the USS Monitor.               

Be sure to come early to get a good seat.
Meeting Attendance: March 2011 = 86

NOTE: Please put on your NEW NAME BADGE on when you arrive for the meeting.
(They will be near the back or side of the room.)

 A Word from Our President 

Welcome all RCWRT members to our May meeting.  I hope all  are  enjoying
the  weather and beautiful outdoors.  We have a great Virginia topic and
speaker.  The day tour will be here soon, Saturday June 18.  Our  dinner
meeting for  November  8 is set.  Don't forget any dues.  Please bring a
friend.  See you Tuesday May 10.                                        

                                            David Whitehead, Pres. RCWRT


Books for Buck$$

At our April meeting, First VP Jack  Mountcastle  introduced  a  program
aimed  at  raising  funds  to  defray  the cost of our 8 November dinner
meeting.  For the next three meetings (May, June, and July) members  are
requested  to  donate  Civil  War  history  books  (either  hardbound or
paperback) for sale at the fixed price of $10.00 for hardbacks and $5.00
for  paperbound.   The  funds  raised through this book exchange will be
collected by our Treasurer and applied  directly  to  the  cost  of  the
November  reception  and  dinner.  We raised $60.00 in April and hope to
raise more in the months ahead.  Please bring some books for buck$$!!   


Come with us on this year's RCWRT FIELD TRIP!

The Richmond Civil War Round Table will have its annual  field  trip  on
Saturday,  June  18,  2011,  visiting  the  USS  Monitor  Center  at the
Mariners' Museum in Newport News.                                       

While enroute we will be viewing a DVD presentation entitled  Battle  of
the  Ironclads  narrated  by  John Quarstein, Craig Symonds, and our May
speaker, Anna Holloway  of the USS Monitor Center.  During our visit  we
will  concentrate  on the marvelous artifacts and reconstructions of the
USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia.                                       

Lunch will be on the Mariners' Museum premises.                         

A stop is scheduled at the Monitor-Merrimac Overlook  Park  on  the  way
back and also at Drewry's Bluff, time permitting.                       

The 150th Sesquicentennial of the Civil War is now underway so  we  hope
to  have a record turn out from our RCWRT membership.  Please write your
checks and mark your calendars now.                                     

In order to cover the charter bus, we need to charge $23 per person  for
transportation,  similar  to  past  field trips.  The cost at the museum
will be $9.00 admission and lunch will be $8.00 plus tax.  So the  total
comes to $40 per person.                                                

You can bring your check (made out to RCWRT) to the  May meeting  or 
mail it to:                                                          

Brent Morgan                 
9091 Pantego Ln              
Mechanicsville, VA 23116-5837

Brentster1@comcast.net       
804-550-3039                 

Civil War Trust
For the latest CWT news visit: www.civilwar.org

Upcoming Events



www.virginiacivilwar.org
Virginia Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission

May 21-22 - Fourteenth Annual Civil War Reenactment at Fort Pocahontas

CHARLES CITY, Va., March 28, 2011 -- On Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, May
22,  2011,  Fort  Pocahontas  at  Wilson's Wharf will come alive through
Civil War living history, civilian presentations, guided fort tours  and
two  battle  reenactments.  Located between Richmond and Williamsburg in
Charles City, Virginia, the fort will be open from 10 a.m.  until 4 p.m.
each day.                                                               
For more info: www.fortpocahontas.org/pressrelease.html

May 21-22 - Spotsylvania, VA

The Spotsylvania Courthouse area will come alive on  May  21st  and  May
22nd  for  the  "Battles  of Spotsylvania 2011 Civil War Reenactment," a
part  of  the  ongoing   commemoration   associated   with   the   150th
(Sesquicentennial) anniversary of the Civil War.  The local community is
invited to be a part of this living  history  happening.   Approximately
8,000  spectators  are  anticipated,  traveling to Spotsylvania from all
parts of the globe.  This event will have a strong  family-focus.   Kids
will  have  the opportunity to visit camps and talk with some of the 700
re-enactors who are expected to participate.                            

For more info: www.spotsylvania.org/2011.htm

June 11 - Annual Tour & Business Meeting - Gaines's Mills Battlefield

Richmond Battlefields Association will hold its annual tour & meeting on
Saturday,  June  11,  at  the  Gaines'  Mill Battlefield.  NPS historian
Robert E.L.  Krick will lead a walking  tour  of  the  battlefield  with
special  emphasis  on  the  newly  acquired  RBA  property  -  the first
preservation success on the Confederate side of Boatswain  creek.   Here
the decisive charge of Hood's Texas Brigade broke the Union line.  RBA's
annual meeting will follow the 90 minute tour.  This event is  free  and
open to the public and will begin at 9:30 am.  Follow the RBA signage on
Watt House Road to on-site parking.  Please carpool if possible.        

For more info: www.saverichmondbattlefields.org/Tours.html

June 11 - Washington DC - Smithsonian  National  Air  and  Space Museum

On Saturday, June 11, 2011,  the  Smithsonian  National  Air  and  Space
Museum  will  host  a  Civil  War  family  Day  in the Museum and on the
National Mall.  There will be Union re-enactors,  balloons,  educational
talks  and  family activities for visitors of all ages.  This event runs
from 10AM-3PM.                                                          

On Friday, June 17, 2011, the NASM will host an evening symposium in its
Lockheed-Martin  Theater, featuring talks by four leading authorities on
Civil War ballooning.  This event runs from 7PM-9PM.                    

Admission to both events is free.  Street parking is limited and  riding
Metro is recommended.                                                   

Visit The Museum of the Confederacy Online
www.moc.org

Visit The American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar
www.tredegar.org
and their
Events Calendar

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

RCWRT Monthly Speakers for 2011


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