T The Newsletter of the Salt Creek Civil War Roundtable Vol. XLXVII No. 7 March 2011 439th Regular Meeting From Manassas to Appomattox, horses and mules played a crucial role in the Civil War. The most pressing need was for cavalry mounts, but they were also used for artillery and to haul wagons of ammunition, wounded soldiers, food and supplies. Without horses and mules, armies could not move from one location to the next. Dr. Ray Glick first presented a detailed account on the role of the horse and mule from their procurement, training, feeding, hoof care and veterinary care. This second part will describe the actual usage and function of these animals by various branches both North and South and the casualties they incurred. Dr. Glick was raised on a farm in Ohio and graduated from the Ohio State University, School of Veterinary Medicine. He has worked in private practice with both large and small animals, as well as held senior management positions in veterinary divisions of 3M, Johnson & Johnson and Boehinger Ingleheim. He is currently charter owner of Banfiled, the Pet Hospital of Gurnee. We welcome Dr. Glick so he can give us the second part of a very enlightening and comprehensive overview of these "silent soldiers". The Outpost DATE: Friday, March 18, 2011 PLACE: Fairview Village Downers Grove, IL 60532 TIME: 8:00 p.m. SPEAKER: Ray Glick DVM TOPIC: "The Use and Role of the Horse and Mule in the Various Services and Departments of Both CSA and Union Armies in the Civil” FEBRUARY MEETING BY RICK BENSON On Friday February 18, 2011, Michael Weeks gave a PowerPoint presentation on his book titled “The Complete Civil War Road Trip Guide”. His presentation was based on the premise that if you do your planning diligently ahead of time, you can travel to the vast majority of primary, plus secondary, CW battlefields, and other significant sites, via auto over roughly ten weekends. One of Michael’s initial pictures was a map of the US with elongated circles representing how he had grouped the sites together in regions. One region extended from Norfolk down to & including Savannah. Another was the mouth of the Mississippi River in Louisiana, Eastward through Pensacola, FL. Another was SW MO, SE KA, & NW AR. Yet another region was Nashville, & South, down to and including Atlanta. Another region included Central & Southern Kentucky, over to the Mississippi River. Michael related that are exceptions to this, such as the “St. Albans raid” in St. Albans, VT, Glorietta Pass in NM, plus the sheer volume of sites in VA. Michael related a Mark Twain quote something to the effect “that you have to get off the front porch & actually visit the sites and talk to the people to get a real feel for the Civil War”. He also touched upon the fact that several of the locations – such as Fort Morgan at the Mouth of Mobile Bay had flags from 7 different nations flying over the fort. In other words, you are viewing many levels of history at the same point. He also related that land on several of the Southern sites is still owned by descendents. This was exemplified by Champions Hill, outside of Vicksburg, MS that is now owned by the 5th generation of the Champion family. He also found that some of the most intense feelings are still present in the State of Missouri. He felt that part of the reason for this was the “guerilla” type of warfare fought there, where out and out murder was committed by both sides. He then spoke about Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, & the disparity of his reputation. From that of being an excellent Calvary officer and soldier, to “what” really happened at Fort Pillow by the troops under his command? Michael then talked about Jonesboro, GA, Fort Jackson, LA, Pelham’s Corner in Fredericksburg, VA, Camp Douglas & Oakwood Cemetery in South Chicago, the Garrett farm, where John Wilkes Booth was killed. His message to us was that when we visit these types of places that we definitely speak to the locals. Let them know that you are there to see this site because of the Civil War relevance. Let them know that you would like to see more Preservation & historical development of this specific site. Always sign the Visitor’s Register. These sites use the Visitor’s Register to attempt to obtain additional funding. Buy something at the site store. If they have a “donation” jar, please donate if you can. He also suggested that we go prepared. Bring water, sun tan lotion, plus decent walking shoes if you are going to be touring actual battlefields. He also mentioned being sure that you vehicle was prepared for the trip. Many of the sites are in otherwise remote locations, and the roads are suspect. This can be exemplified by places like Louisiana, where Katrina issues are still to be dealt with. PRESERVATION REPORT BY LEN OVERCASH, SR. Saving an unprecedented 104 acres at Gettysburg!! I [CWT President Jim Lighthizer] am so excited today about the chance to save a whopping 104 acres – fully 13% of the 803 acres the Gettysburg National Military Park has identified as “high priority” targets for preservation within its boundaries – contained in two extraordinarily significant tracts. The first one I want to tell you about is the huge one; frankly, a transaction that Civil War battlefield preservationists have been dreaming about for a long time. These 95 crucial acres – which until recently were part of the Gettysburg Country Club golf course – would represent one of the largest preservation victories in decades! Location: The golf course property is strongly associated with the opening of the bloodiest battle fought in the Western Hemisphere. Situated along and south of the Chambersburg Pike between Confederate positions on Herr Ridge and Union positions on McPherson’s Ridge, soldiers from both sides fought, bled and died on this hallowed ground July 1, 1863. · Size: 95 acres (!), the second-largest single parcel available for preservation anywhere within the Gettysburg battlefield park boundaries! · Cost: $1.6 million! Amount needed from the Civil War Trust to help save this land forever: Just $25,000!! That’s right just $25,000 helps our partners secure this incredibly important portion of the First Day battlefield forever! (I know I’m using a lot of exclamation points, but one glance at your map shows the overwhelming historic significance of this part of the battlefield! This project, which is being spearheaded by The Conservation Fund, has been literally years in the making. Our contribution covers essential and necessary transaction costs.) The source for the above article[s] is CWT A century old graveyard could be at the end of its lifeline. Donations and funds to the Rose Hill Cemetery in Maury County are at an all time low and now caretakers are asking for the community’s help to keep this piece of local history alive. Franklin designer Sam Billingsley has created the first free, downloadable app — short for “application” — designed to give smart-phone users more information about the Battle of Franklin while they visit the city. The app, which uses “augmented reality” technology, works with the IPhone The source for the above article[s] is Civil War Interactive ALL FOR THE UNION 2011 membership renewals are due and will gladly be accepted at the meeting or by mail to Jean Cairns, Treasurer 1420 71st St., Downers Grove, IL 60516 Civil War Collector’s Show DuPage County Fairgrounds Wheaton IL. April 16, 2011 Rob Girardi's new book "Gettysburg in Art & Artifacts" is finally here. Copies will be available at the next meeting. Dave Corbett and his “Battlefield Balladeers” will perform at the Elmhurst Public Library March 24th Jan Rasmussen will present “The Minnesota Dakota Uprising to the Westerners March 29th. UPCOMING CIVIL WAR EVENTS MARCH 19, 2011 KANKAKEE CIVIL WAR SYMPOSIUM The program includes: Eric A. Jacobsen: “Battle of Franklin” Terry Winschel: “Crucial to the Outcome- Vicksburg” Dale Phillips: “Three Days That Changed History” George Buss as “Abraham Lincoln” Tim Conners as “Stephen A. Douglas MARCH 24, 2011 SOUTH SUBURBAN CWRT Speaker Fred Johansen Topic: “Lee at Gettysburg” PNC Bank LaGrange Rd (Rt. 45) & Lincoln Hwy (Rt. 30) russelltarvid@hotmail.com MARCH 26, 2011 1ST ANNUAL CIVIL WAR EXPO Kenosha Civil War Museum www.thecivilwarmuseum.org (262) 653-4140 APRIL 1, 2011 NORTHERN ILLINOIS CWRT Speaker: Marta Vincent Topic: “Children’s Clothing in the Civil War” Arlington Heights Memorial Library 500 N. Dunton Ave. Arlington Heights, IL 60004 www.nicwrt.freehostia.com APRIL 8, 2011 CHICAGO CIVIL WAR ROUNDTABLE Speaker: Richard McMurray Topic: “A Georgian Looks at Sherman” Holiday Inn Mart Plaza Chicago 350 North Orleans Street Dinner 6:30 p.m. (630) 460-1865 to make reservations chicagocwrtdinner@earthlink.net APRIL 19, 2011 LINCOLN DAVIS CWRT Speaker: Dr. Mark A Lause Topic: “Missing Dimensions of the Civil War” Country House Restaurant Alsip IL lincolndavisroundtable@yahoo.com FUTURE MEETINGS 2011 (3RD FRIDAY OF THE MONTH) April 15, 2011- Bruce Allardice "The Draft and the Civil War" May 20, 2011- Jerry Allen "Fur God og Vort Land" The 15th Wisconsin Infantry June 17, 2011 Annual Banquet “Illinois Fights the Civil War Robert Girardi THE SALT CREEK CWRT www.saltcreekcwrt.org President: Jan Rasmussen Vice-President: Rick Benson Treasurer: Jean Cairns Secretary: Rick Zarr Historian: Cindy Intravartolo Meeting Liason: Mary Lord Newsletter Editor: Jennie Warner Newsletter Staff: Rick Benson, Len Overcash Sr, Rick Zarr, Jan Rasmussen Webmaster: Stephen Munier