T The Newsletter of the Salt Creek Civil War Roundtable Vol. XLXII No. 2 October 2010 434th Regular Meeting The Civil War , we are told, was a struggle over the Union. John S. Kociolko will examine the significance of the word "Union", its usage throughout American history, and the central role it plays in our understanding of the meaning of the Civil War. John holds a masters degree in history form DePaul University and pursued a doctoral study at Loyola University. He lectures frequently and delivers first person portrayals of Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Charles Dickens and other figures, and hosts a talk show on WJJG Radio. He has served as Cicero Town Assessor, Illinois State Representative, and Town Trustee, and is currently secretary of the Chicago Civil War Round Table. The SCCWRT extends a warm welcome to Mr. Kociolko and looks forward to a thought provoking presentation. The Outpost DATE: 15 October 2010 PLACE: Fairview Village, Downers Grove, IL. 60532 TIME: 8:00 p.m. SPEAKER: John S. Kociolko TOPIC: “Whatever Became of the Union?" SEPTEMBER MEETING BY RICK BENSON On Friday September 17, 2010 Paula Walker had a very interesting Power Point presentation on the rather creative, topic. In the 1860’s poetry was very common in both the North and the South. Poetry covered all topics, but Paula chose to deal with the “political” aspects of poetry from both a Northern and Southern perspective. At the outbreak of the war, poets on both sides attempted to explain “why” the war happened. This can be typified by the Northern poem by John Greenleaf Whittier entitled “A Word For The Hour”. The corresponding Southern poem was written anonymously, “The Irrepressible Conflict”. Poetry from both sides tried to define the aims of the war. The Northern poems talked about the high principles the nation was founded upon. Southern poems dealt with the second War of Independence. Lincoln in his second inauguration said: “Both parties deprecated war. But, one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive. The other accepted war rather than let the nation perish, and the war came”. A Southern poet by the name of A.J. Requier essentially responded with his poem “No earthly power can rule the free but by their own cause”. After Fredericksburg, the North was depressed, mood wise. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow attempted to brighten up the Northern mood by writing “Christmas Bells”. Up to this time, the North had ill-defined war aims. Poets attempted to both explain “why” the nation was at war, plus attempted to rally the people to their cause. In the North, this can be exemplified by the poem “Freedoms Rally”. The Southern counterpart can be exhibited by a poem entitled “Defeat of Tyrants”. Northern poets attacked treason. Southern poets attacked tyranny. A Southern poem entitled “My Country” attempts to rally the Southerners to what they termed “The Cause”. Walt Whitman wrote “Over the Carnage Rose Prosthetic a Voice”. In this poem he asked the question if the country could be resolved by anything but bloodshed. The Southern counterpart to this could be the “Marseillaise” (after the French National Anthem), by a Texan. This poem was actually to be sung, and it too attempted to rally the Southerners to “The Cause”. On April 15, 1865 – the day Lincoln died – Herman Melville wrote a martyred type of poem about the death of Lincoln. An East Tennessee Congressman wrote a poem about all the problems, inconveniences, and suffering the Southerners had to deal with, and because they lost the war, they lost everything. As you can see, both sides attempted to both explain, plus motivate their citizens with poetry. Paula closed her presentation with a quotation that aptly describes the times those people lived through. “The war was a time of great tragedy and uncertainty. The Northern and Southern poets rose to the occasion. They left an unaltered legacy that helps us understand what it was like to live in that time-period”. Todd Lincoln a chance to tell us her side of the story. PRESERVATION REPORT BY LEN OVERCASH, SR. Pennsylvania Final hearings are scheduled next month before the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, as casino competitors will try to convince the seven-member panel to award them the state’s lone remaining Category Three slots resort license. The state’s Gaming Control Board announced Tuesday that final “suitability hearings” are planned Nov. 16-17 on the four projects seeking the license, including Gettysburg businessman David LeVan and his proposed “Mason Dixon Resort & Casino” in Cumberland Township. Tennessee Residents and visitors to Franklin will get a glimpse into the life of a soldier during the 1864 Battle of Franklin at the City’s annual Civil War Days, set for Oct. 16-17 at Harlinsdale Farm. This year marks the 146th Anniversary of the Battle of Franklin that resulted in approximately 10,000 casualties in five hours in what was one of the bloodiest battles of the American Civil War. South Dakota The land where warriors and soldiers fought the final battle of the U.S.–Dakota War of 1862 will be recognized as a national historic site. Wood Lake Battlefield has been approved to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Tom Hosier, founder of the Wood Lake Battlefield Preservation Association announced Sept. 25 at the organization’s fifth annual symposium in Granite Falls. ALL FOR THE UNION Thanks to volunteers Rick Zarr, Roger Bohn, Rick Benson, Jan Rasmussen, Dan McCarthy, Paula Walker, Jean Cairns, and Cindy Heckler for their help at the Midwest CW Collector's show. Congratulations to Dan McCarthy for recruiting new member Jody Switzler. Welcome to the ranks Jody. (Dan still has the magic touch) There will be a Veteran's Day Ceremony at Rosehill Cemetery on November 7th. The ceremony will feature "Letters from Home". Brief letters from women to their soldiers who participated in wars dating back to the Revolutionary War will be read. Activities start at 10 am. Rosehill Cemetery is located at Peterson and Western Ave. in Chicago. Donations of civil war books and related items will be gladly accepted for the Annual CW Battlefield Preservation Auction on November 19th. Volunteers are needed for Memorabilia/ Show & Tell night on December 17th. Contact Jan if you have something to share. VACANT CHAIR The SCCWRT regrets to announce the passing of member Evelyn Wilson. She was a familiar face and the 97th concerts and the CW Collector's Shows. The membership sends its heartfelt sympathies and condolences to Evelyn's family and friends. UPCOMING CIVIL WAR EVENTS OCTOBER 28, 2010 SOUTH SUBURBAN CWRT Speaker Mike Weeks Topic: “Finding Hallowed Ground: America’s Civil War Historic Sites Today” National City Bank of Frankfort LaGrange Rd (Rt. 45) & Lincoln Hwy (Rt. 30) pw279@sbcglobal.net reservations NOVEMBER 3, 2010 KANKAKEE VALLEY CWRT Speaker: Paula Walker Topic: “G.K. Warren & the Battle of Five Forks” www.kvcwrt.cwahi.net/ NOVEMBER 5, 2010 NORTHERN ILLINOIS CWRT Speaker: Frank O’Reilley Topic: “Battle of Spotsylvania: The Bloody Angle” Arlington Heights Memorial Library 500 N. Dunton Ave. Arlington Heights, IL 60004 www.nicwrt.freehostia.com NOVEMBER 6, 2010 MCHENRY COUNTY CWRT SYMPOSIUM Speaker: John Walsh Topic: What Happened Around the Bottom House on October 8, 1862” Speaker: Donald Clark Topic: “General Willliam ‘Bull’ Nelson B Vance” Speaker: David Powell & Blockade Runner Topic: “Chickamauga” Speaker: Bruce Allerdice Topic: Baseball in the Civil War” Pincrest Country Club 11220 Algonquin Road Huntley, IL 60142 (815) 923-1910 NOVEMBER 9, 2010 MCHENRY COUNTY CWRT Speaker: Rick Benson Topic: “Captain Henry Wirz” Woodstock Public Library 440 West Judd Street Woodstock, IL 60098 www.mchenrycivilwar.com NOVEMBER 12, 2010 CHICAGO CIVIL WAR ROUNDTABLE Speaker: Robert Girardi Topic: “The Nevins Freeman Address” Holiday Inn Mart Plaza Chicago 350 North Orleans Street Dinner 6:30 p.m. (630) 460-1865 to make reservations chicagocwrtdinner@earthlink.net NOVEMBER 18, 2010 SOUTH SUBURBAN CWRT Speaker Helen Milam Topic: “Darling of the South: Pauline” National City Bank of Frankfort LaGrange Rd (Rt. 45) & Lincoln Hwy (Rt. 30) pw279@sbcglobal.net reservations FUTURE MEETINGS 2010 (3RD FRIDAY OF THE MONTH) Nov 19: Annual CWBFP Auction Glen Ellyn History Center Dec 17: Memorabilia/Show & Tell Night Jan 21, 2011: Speaker: Roger Bohn/Zebulan South Carolina’s CW Governor THE SALT CREEK CWRT www.saltcreekcwrt.org President: Jan Rasmussen Vice-President: Rob Girardi Treasurer: Jean Cairns Secretary: Rick Zarr Historian: Cindy Intravartolo Meeting Liason: Mary Lord Newsletter Editor: Jennie Warner jenniewarner@gmail.com Newsletter Staff: Rick Benson, Rick Zarr, Len Overcash Sr. Webmaster: Stephen Munier