John Coski, President                  Rob Monroe, Editor       
5028 King William Road                 2416 Edenbrook Dr.       
Richmond, VA 23225                     Richmond, VA 23228-3040  
jmcoski@peoplepc.com                   RMonroe500@comcast.net   
 August 2008 PROGRAM

John V. Quarstein
"Ben Butler and the Contrabands"

In May 1861, Union Brigadier  General  Benjamin  F.   Butler
made a controversial decision that helped frame the American
Civil War as more than a conflict between the  states,  but,
rather, one about freedom for slaves.                       

When  three slaves escaped to Butler's lines at Fort Monroe,
Virginia, Butler refused to return them to their owner,  who
demanded  this  action under the terms of the Fugitive Slave
Act.  Instead, Butler labeled the  escapees  "contraband  of
war" and put them to work in his camp.                      

This  action  was  not the only way in which Butler left his
mark on the American Civil War.  His 100-day command at Fort
Wool  saw  the  conflict's first land battle, the first mass
destruction of  civilian  property  and  the  first  balloon
flight from a ship's deck.                                  

Butler's  influence  on  the  war  will  be the topic of our
August speaker John V.  Quarstein, director emeritus of  the
Virginia  War  Museum  and  the  historian  for  the City of
Hampton.                                                    

Quarstein is the author  of  nine  books  and  has  written,
narrated,   and   produced   several   award-winning   films
documenting Hampton  Roads  history  for  his  local  Public
Broadcasting  Service  affiliate.   Additionally,  he  is an
active  historical  preservationist.   During  his   32-year
career,  he created and revitalized 16 museums and preserved
nine   historical   sites,   earning   Quarstein    national
recognition   from   the   National   Trust   for   Historic
Preservation, the Civil War Society and the United Daughters
of the Confederacy.                                         


ACWC and NPS Offering Several Programs in August

The American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar  and  the
National  Park  Service's Richmond National Battlefield Park
are partnering for  several  events  this  month  that  will
highlight Richmond's Civil War history.                     

Women  played leading roles during the war as spies, nurses,
surgeons, and abolitionists.  At 1 p.m.  on Saturday, August
9,  the  American  Civil  War  Center  (ACWC)  will  present
"Women's Roles in Civil War History."  This  30-minute  tour
through  the  Center's  In the Cause of Liberty exhibit will
explore the lives of eight women who impacted history.      

Following the ACWC program, the National Park Service  (NPS)
will  continue  its  weekly series of downtown talks, tours,
and tales with a guided  tour  highlighting  the  industrial
workforce   of  the  Confederacy.   During  the  Civil  War,
Richmond's  industrial  economy  grew  dependent  on  women,
African  Americans  and  the  foreign-born.  These civilians
contributed to the Confederate war effort on the home  front
by  casting  cannons  and  small arms, transporting supplies
from the west on the canal and  handling  munitions  at  the
Confederate States Laboratory.                              

Ranger  Susie  Sernaker  will  lead  a walk along Richmond's
riverfront with stops at the Tredegar  Iron  Works,  Browns'
Island  and  sites  related  to  the James River and Kanawha
Canal and the former Armory  complex.   The  hour-long  tour
will  focus  on  the  contributions of the female, black and
immigrant workers in the industrial heart  of  the  city  of
Richmond  during  the  Civil  War.  The tour will begin at 2
p.m.  at the National Park Service  visitor  center  at  the
historic  Tredegar  Iron  Works,  located  at  470  Tredegar
Street.                                                     

Thousands of Union  soldiers  were  imprisoned  in  Richmond
camps  during  the  Civil  War.  On Saturday, August 16, the
ACWC will present a program offering an in-depth look at the
city's  prisons  during the conflict.  "Richmond's Civil War
Prisons" will tell the stories of  the  men  who  were  held
captive  at Belle Isle, Libby Prison, Castle Thunder, Castle
Godwin, and McDaniel's Negro Jail.                          

Following this program, Richmond National  Battlefield  Park
Ranger   (and   RCWRT   member)  Mike  Gorman  will  present
"Prisoners of War: A Soldier's Fate at Belle  Isle  Prison."
This is a walking tour of the island in the James River that
was a notorious camp for Union prisoners of war.            

On Saturday, August 23, the ACWC will host the "Men of  Iron
Walking  Tour."  This  program  will  explore  the  lives of
Tredegar's multicultural  workers.   The  25-minute  outdoor
guided tour will highlight the hidden secrets that lie below
the 1861 Gun Foundry.  Attendees will visit the furnaces and
investigate  how  iron  goods  were  made.  The program will
explain how workers labored and lived under  the  leadership
of Tredegar owner Joseph Reid Anderson.  This tour begins in
front of the ACWC museum.                                   

This event will be followed by "Arming the  Confederacy,"  a
walking  tour  of  the  historic  iron  works  at  Tredegar.
Richmond National Battlefield Park Ranger Randy Cleaver will
lead  this  program  that will focus on the men and machines
that manufactured weapons for the Confederate army.         

All ACWC programs begin at 1 p.m.  The fee is $10  for  each
or  free with paid admission or ACWC membership.  NPS events
are free and begin at 2 p.m.  Parking is  available  at  the
Tredegar  site  for  $3  per  hour.  More information may be
found on the ACWC and  NPS  websites,  www.tredegar.org  and
www.nps.gov/rich


Upcoming Events

Saturday and Sunday, August 23 and 24 "Gen.  Grant's  Fourth
Offensive."  This two-hour caravan tour of will focus on the
Battles of Weldon Railroad and  Reams  Station.   The  drive
will  begin  at  Poplar  Grove  National Cemetery.  For more
information, contact Tracy Chernault at (804) 265-8244.     

Friday through Sunday, August 29-31  "Meet  Gen.   and  Mrs.
Ulysses S.  Grant" at the Grant's Headquarters at City Point
unit of Petersburg National Battlefield.   Learn  about  the
military  strategies  and  personality  of  the famous Union
General.  Mrs.  Julia Grant will discuss the challenges  and
rewards  of  being  married  to  the General as well as talk
about 19th century fashions.  For more  information  contact
Ann  Blumenschine  at (804) 732-3531 ext.  203 or go online,
www.ulyssesgrant.net.                                       

Saturday, September 6 "Basic Genealogy for the Novice"  from
10  a.m.   to  noon  at  Petersburg  National  Battlefield's
Eastern Front.  Program provides  tips  to  those  beginning
work  on  their  family  tree including Civil War ancestors.
Reservations are required.  Contact Betsy  Dinger  at  (804)
732-3531 ext. 200.                                          

Saturday  and  Sunday,  September  6  & 7 "Totopotomoy Creek
Program,"  a  free  event  hosted   by   Richmond   National
Battlefield Park.  House tours, battlefield walks and living
history encampment on the grounds of Rural Plains.  For more
information, contact Mike Andrus at (804) 226-1981 ext.  30 


Excuses, Excuses

"So what happened with my July newsletter?"

Many of you who receive this communique via U.S.   Mail  may
have asked this question last month.  Suffice it to say, the
circumstances  surrounding  the   printing   of   the   July
newsletter did nothing to disprove Murphy's Law.            

The  company  we use to print our bulletins is normally very
reliable.   Unfortunately,  on  the   afternoon   that   our
newsletters   were   to  be  produced,  there  was  a  major
mechanical failure with the printing press.  This  equipment
malfunction  necessitated  ordering  a replacement part that
would take days to arrive from out of town.                 

The timing could not have been worse - just before  the  4th
of  July  holiday  and  the  weekend.   This  left us with a
dilemma: Should we go ahead and  print  the  newsletter  and
deliver  it  late  (after  our monthly meeting) or should we
cancel the order, save the Round Table some money and resume
regular  mailings  in  August.   Ultimately the decision was
made to do the latter.  We apologize for any  inconveniences
this may have caused.                                       


Film Series to Screen Civil War-Related Movies

The Civil War  has  set  the  scene  for  many  a  Hollywood
production.   In  August,  the  American Civil War Center at
Historic Tredegar and the National Park  Service  (NPS)  are
partnering  to  offer "Civil War in the Cinema," a series of
both classic and obscure films depicting the era. Historians
and   film   critics   will   be  on  hand  to  offer  their
perspectives.                                               

Films scheduled to be shown (subject to availability):      

Sunday, August 10, 2-4 p.m.
"Shenandoah" (1965): Jimmy  Stewart  is  a  Virginia  farmer
pulled into a war of which he wants no part.  NPS Theater at
Tredegar.                                                   

Sunday, August 17, 2-4 p.m. 
"Glory" (1989): Denzel  Washington,  Matthew  Broderick  and
Morgan  Freeman  front  a  fine  presentation  --  about the
all-African American 54th Massachusetts Volunteer  Infantry.
NPS Theater.                                                

Sunday, August 24, 2-4 p.m. (Double feature) 
"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge"  (1962),  a  short  film
that  made its way onto The Twilight Zone television program
in 1962, for reasons that will be  obvious;  "Red  Badge  of
Courage"  (1951),  John  Huston  and World War II hero Audie
Murphy team up in an adaptation of the Stephen Crane  novel.
NPS Theater.                                                

Sunday, August 31 (Labor Day eve), 6:30-9:15 p.m.
(Double feature)
"Granddad" (1913), melodrama of an  old  Civil  War  veteran
made  at a time when there were plenty of old veterans still
around; and "The General" (1927), Buster Keaton protects his
locomotive  in  a  silent  film  classic loosely based on an
actual event.  These films will be  shown  in  the  American
Civil  War  Center's  Bluestone  Courtyard.   Attendees  are
invited to bring and enjoy a picnic  dinner  from  6:30-7:30
p.m.  with a concert of period music provided.              


RCWRT Monthly Speakers for 2008


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