The Outpost The Newsletter of the Salt Creek Civil War Roundtable Vol. XLV No. 10 June 2008 412th Regular Meeting DATE: 20th June 2008 PLACE: Lisle Hilton, 3003 Corporate West Drive (Warrenville Rd. East of Naperville Road) TIME: 6:30 PM (Cocktails), 7:30 PM (Dinner), 8:30PM (Speaker) SPEAKER: Cricket Bauer Pohanka, TOPIC: “Fezzes and Battlefields: A Story of Zouave Soldiers and the Stuff They Left Behind” One hundred fifty years he Civil War, both land and artifacts have great monetary value. When relics are removed from the land, or groups of relics are sold individually, they can command high prices from collectors. Likewise land is being sold for commercial and residential development that ideally brings revenue to their community. Although these financial transactions are profitable in the short term, we lose the historical context that gave those items meaning, and a part of our cultural heritage is lost forever. The artifacts that remain of the 5th New York, Duryee’s Zouaves, illustrate the importance of preserving the historical context, in order to make sense of how those items fit into the grand scheme of our country. This talk will feature the zouave uniform of Pvt. Charles Hopkins, similar 5th NY militaria, and a discussion of the land on which the 5th NY fought, in the context of that unit’s history. Cricket Bauer Pohanka, was born and raised in Milwaukee, WI, and her interest in history was sparked by exposure to literature, the arts, and local historic places. After attending schools in Wisconsin and Minnesota, she obtained a Master’s Degree in Costume History from the University of Maryland, and pursued a career in museums. Her current projects are focused on topics that promote history awareness and preservation activism. Current projects include a movie about the 5bout the 5th New York Volunteer Infantry (Duryee’s Zouaves), editing and publishing her late husband’s remaining manuscripts, support of the Kenosha Civil War Museum, and active participation in the Civil War Preservation Trust. She has been a member of the CWPT’s Board Of Trustees since April of 2007. The Salt Creek Civil War Roundtable enthusiastically welcomes this distinguished historian and preservationist to our fellowship. MAY MEETING BY RICK BENSON On May 2, 2008, 14 members and guests of the SCCWRT held a general book discussion. In the course of the evening $21 was raised for battlefield preservation. Altogether, nine books were named: “Lincoln’s Allege@Gettysburg”, by Dr. Kent Graham, “The Class of 1846”, by John C. Wall, “Shiloh, Bloody April”, by Wiley Sword, “Great Civil War Stories”, an edited collection of fiction writing by such as F. Scott Fitzgerald, William Faulkner, Shelby Foote, and others, “Fighting for the Confederacy-The Memoirs of E. Porter Alexander” Gary Gallagher, Editor, “The Gettysburg Campaign” by Edward Coddington, “Jefferson Davis: The Man and His Hour” by William C. Davis, “The Long Surrender” by Burke Davis, and “The Overland Campaign” author unknown. One of the more interesting highlights of the discussion was the revelation that, contrary to legend, George Pickett was NOT nominated to West Point by Congressman Abraham Lincoln. Pickett had graduated with the Class of 1846 which was the very year Lincoln was elected to Congress for his only term. What had happened was that, four years earlier, Lincoln had been one of a number of prominent Illinois citizens who had done a favor for Pickett’s grandfather by signing a petition to the local congressman to get young Pickett appointed. Another interesting point made was that, in his book, Alexander put forth the proposition that Lee should have surrendered approximately a year before he actually did and that every death after May of 1864 had been in vain. His feeling was that when Grant refused to retreat after the Battle of the Wilderness it was obviously going to be a fight to the death which Lee could not win and defeat was only a matter of time. He thought the only thing gained from the continued struggle was the maintenance of Southern Honor and the legend of heroically fighting to the last extremity for the “Lost Cause”. Cause”. From “The Long Surrender” the story of Judah P. Benjamin was particularly interesting. The book deals with the flight of the Confederate Cabinet members after the Fall of Richmond. In Benjamin’s case he fled to the Gamble Plantation in Bradenton, FL. From there, he succeeded in catching a boat and commenced a voyage to Britain where he eventually became a barrister. He was an incredibly intelligent man who spoke six languages. Probably a useful skill as a legal officer of the Empire! He never returned to America. This led to a discussion about the price paid in later years by those who had fought against their own section or cooperated with their former foes. The names discussed as exemplifying these categories were those of Generals George Thomas, John Pemberton, and James Longstreet. There was a brief discussion of “The Overland Campaign” and then the trail led to “alternative history”. Apparently, Sir Winston Churchill once wrote a book in which the South had won the Civil War and that Britain, the USA, and the CSA, later allied to defeat the Nazis in WWII. Once, while Churchill was walking with Eisenhower around Gettysburg, he told him that when the US joined the war there were questions raised in Britain about the quality of American soldiers, whether it was worthwhile having them involved. At the time, the US had the 16th largest army in the world, ranked even behind Portugal! Churchill felt from his study of the Civil War a war which had been fought “to the last bitter inch”, that American soldiers would prove out. Time justified his faith. Many thanks to those who came out and contributed to a lively, and wide ranging, discussion. We shall have to do this again sometime! PRESERVATION REPORT BY LEN OVERCASH, SR. PA.-The Lincoln Train Station is again at the center of growing contention in Gettysburg, but this time the discord is among Borough Council members who disagree on whether or not private entities should still be considered as potential buyers of the historic structure. At least two council members would like officials to consider selling the station to nongovernment entities, while several others are actively pursuing a sales agreement with the Gettysburg National Military Park Councilman Ted Streeter said Tuesday that he, Council President Dick Peterson, and Borough Manager John Lawver will be meeting with Park Superintendent John Latschar to review a letter from the Park Service to the borough explaining its intention to purchase the property. The “letter of intent” would still need to be brought before the full council and voted upon, but Streeter said any potential sales negotiations with other interested parties will no longer be considered if and when that happens. “Once we sign a letter of intent with the Park Service, then all other bidders are excluded,” Streeter said. Source: Civil War Interactive “The Daily Newspaper of the Civil War” with other interested parties will no longer be considered if and when that happens. “Once we sign a letter of intent with the Park Service, then all other bidders are excluded,” Streeter said. Source: Civil War Interactive “The Daily Newspaper of the Civil War” THE VACANT CHAIR Belated acknowledgement is made of the passing of former member, past president, creator of our speaker’s plaques, and all-around good guy, Herman DeBoer, Jr. who departed this life on 5/10/2000. Heartfelt condolences are extended to his family and friends. Many thanks to our friend Bruce Allardice who found this information for us. ALL FOR THE UNION Welcome to new members Donald Barnes and Elliot Kist. Also returning member Dr. Samuel Blackwell. Welcome Aboard pards! Due to a fire at the Civil War Museum in Kenosha, our trip there has been postponed for the present. Stay tuned for further details. EDITOR”S NOTES There is still time to make a reservation for the banquet! Reservations will be accepted until June 13th. Phone Jan Rasmussen at 630-830-7614. The next board meeting will be at Fairview Village on 9/2/08 at 7:30 PM. ?’s Call Jan. CALENDAR OF EVENTS September 5-Maryann Oblak-Lt. Col. Arthur J. Fremantle-Coldstream Guards THE SALT CREEK CIVIL WAR ROUNDTABLE www.saltcreekcwrt.org President: Jan Rasmussen Vice-President: Robert Girardi Treasurer: Paula Walker Secretary: Rick Zarr Historian: Cindy Intravartolo Meeting Liaison: Mary Lord Newsletter Editor; Dan McCarthy, macarthaig@aol.com Newsletter Staff: Rick Benson, Rick Zarr, Len Overcash Sr.