Coming March 4th: Daniel Sutherland will discuss his book, A Savage Conflict: The Decisive Role of Guerrillas in the American Civil War.

From the Publisher:

The American Civil War is famous for epic battles involving massive armies outfitted in blue and gray uniforms, details that characterize conventional warfare. A Savage Conflict is the first work to treat guerrilla warfare as critical to understanding the course and outcome of the Civil War. Daniel Sutherland argues that irregular warfare took a large toll on the Confederate war effort by weakening support for state and national governments and diminishing the trust citizens had in their officials to protect them.

Sutherland points out that early in the war Confederate military and political leaders embraced guerrilla tactics. They knew that "partisan" fighters had helped to win the American Revolution. As the war dragged on and defense of the remote spaces of the Confederate territory became more tenuous, guerrilla activity spiraled out of state control. It was adopted by parties who had interests other than Confederate victory, including southern Unionists, violent bands of deserters and draft dodgers, and criminals who saw the war as an opportunity for plunder. Sutherland considers not only the implications such activity had for military strategy but also its effects on people and their attitudes toward the war. Once vital to southern hopes for victory, the guerrilla combatants proved a significant factor in the Confederacy's final collapse.

Daniel E. Sutherland received his Ph.D. in history from Wayne State University in 1976. He taught at Wayne State University, Mercy College of Detroit, the University of Alabama, and McNeese State before coming to the University of Arkansas. His principal area of research in nineteenth-Century America. He has written eight books and edited five others. He has published over forty book chapters and articles in both popular magazines and scholarly journals. He has received over thirty honors, awards, and research grants. Five of his books have been selected by the History Book Club.

The 14th Anniversary of the North Shore Civil War Roundtable

The Roundtable will celebrate its 14th Anniversary on February 4th at Bertucci's of Huntington. An open bar, dinner and 19th century live music entertainment will be offered.

Coming January 7th, 2010

Patrick Falci is best known to many for his portrayal of Confederate General A. P. Hill in the film Gettysburg. During the filming of Gettysburg, Patrick served as director Ron Maxwell's historical advisor. He assisted casting director Joy Todd and the principal actors in preparing for their roles, advised music supervisor David Franco in his selection of period music, and, of course, portrayed Lt. General A.P. Hill.

He also served as historical advisor for the subsequent audio-book release of Michael Shaara's, The Killer Angels, and for Jeff Shaara's work on Gods and Generals. Patrick assisted producer/actor Tom Berenger with research for the acclaimed 1997 TNT mini-series Rough Riders and portrayed one of the Rough Riders as well. He can also be seen in the documentary Gettysburg: Three Days of Destiny.

A reenactor for several years, Pat has been asked to portray General A.P. Hill at such prominent engagements as the Anniversary Battles at Gettysburg, the Wilderness Battle, and the Battle of Antietam. Patrick travels the United States giving presentations to Civil War Round Tables, historical organizations and schools. He has been honored with invitations to the White House and various awards for the work that he has done.

Pat Falci, our January speaker will speak about A.P. Hill at the Battle of Gettysburg.

Coming Wednesday December 2nd

Ron Soodalter will discuss his book, Hanging Captain Gordon. Ron Soodalter has pursued a variety of careers. With a B.A. in American History and masters degrees in Education and American Folk Culture, he taught in various schools throughout New York State, and in New York City's Riker's Island Prison. He then worked as curator of a Colorado history museum, where he served on the Board of Directors of the 10-state Mountain-Plains Museums Conference. As a young teenager, Soodalter was fortunate to have studied Flamenco guitar with the world renowned Carlos Montoya, and has played professionally all his life. Also an accomplished scrimshaw artist, he has been featured in a prominent Manhattan art gallery. He has collected traditional ballads in the United States, Ireland, and Scotland. He is also a dedicated collector of western memorabilia. His love of the west came to him through his grandfather, who was a cowboy in Colorado in the early part of the last century.

In addition to his two current books – Hanging Captain Gordon and The Slave Next Door, Soodalter’s articles appear frequently in magazines. He has recently written for Smithsonian, Civil War Times and True West, and is a featured columnist for America’s Civil War. The author's next book is Annex Cuba! A History of the United States' Nation-Long Obsession with its Caribbean Neighbor. Soodalter currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Abraham Lincoln Institute. He has two daughters, Jesse and Melora, and lives with his wife Jane in Chappaqua, New York.

On a frosty day in late February 1862, hundreds gathered in New York City's "Tombs" prison to watch the execution of Nathaniel Gordon. A sea captain from an old and respected Portland, Maine family, Gordon was about to become the only man in the history of the United States to be hanged for slave trading. What events led up to this pivotal moment? Hanging Captain Gordon by Ron Soodalter explores a fascinating story that came together to seal one man's fate.

LONG ISLAND VETERANS REMEMBERED by Robert (Bob) Farrell

Thomas E. Smith of Northport on October 20, 1861 was appointed an Acting Master in the U.S. Navy. On January 30, 1862, he was appointed as commander of a two masted schooner, which was outfitted as a mortar ship. The U.S.S. Arletta was one of six ships of the line that were manned primarily by black sailors. The others were the Charles Phelps, the Fear Not, and the J. C. Kuhn, the Albemarle, and the Ben Morgan. Among Smith’s crew were two other Long Islanders Benjamin Weeks and David Mills of Cold Spring Harbor. Both men are listed as Landsmen, a rank for inexperienced sailors, equivalent to an Army Private. They are described as being 27 and 22 years of age and 5’ 6’’ and 5’ 2” tall respectively. Their complexions were noted as Mulatto, however we have ascertained that in the 1860 census Mills was listed as American Indian.

The U.S.S. Arletta was assigned to the West Gulf Blockading Squadron. Its first action was in the bombardment of forts Jackson and St. Philip which lay on opposite sides of the Mississippi river below New Orleans. These formidable defense works had to be neutralized to in order to allow Admiral Farragut’s deep-draft ships to pass and then take New Orleans. Smith and his crew were later present at the taking of New Orleans, Vicksburg and Fort Donalson. Because of his and his ship’s bravery he was promoted to Lt. Commander on January 28,1863. He soon after served as Executive Officer of Admiral Porter’s flagship. Smith later took part in the General Nathaniel Bank’s expedition up the Red River. He remained in the Navy until February 28,1869 serving in the West Coast flotilla primarily off the coast of California.

Upon retiring from the Navy he returned to Northport, but soon accepted the Captaincy of a ship of the Reading Steamship Company. He remained in their employ until his death on July 8, 1890. He died in Philadelphia and was returned to Long Island to be buried in the Northport Rural Cemetery. Smith was a member of a Grand Army of the Republic Post in Philadelphia where he had resided. Here was interred with full military honors, which were provided by the Samuel Ackerly Post #426 of Northport. He left a wife and one child.

Coming in November

The North Shore Civil War Roundtable will host a lecture and slide-show by Mr. Dick Simpson: The Battle of Pea Ridge on Wednesday, November 3rd at 7:30 PM. Dick Simpson, a retired executive, is a sixth generation Vermonter and active member of a dozen Civil War roundtables in Vermont, Pennsylvania, and New York, including ours. Dick is also an expert speaker on the Battle of Franklin and the 2nd Vermont Regiment especially at Gettysburg, where he also lectures on the statuary. Co-founder of the Northport Historical Museum, here on Long Island, he is the historian of the Town of Westmore, trustee for the ante-bellum Old Stone House Museum in Brownington, VT and exhibit designer at the Lancaster County (PA) Historical Society.

Dick has been touring Civil War battlefields since Junior High School, mostly following the 3rd and 15th Vermont Regiments in which his relatives fought and died. He now lectures on the Battle of Franklin Tennessee, the 48th and 127th New York Volunteer Regiments, Gettysburg Monuments, the 2nd Vermont Brigade at Gettysburg and the Battle of Wilson’s Creek. He also is a civilian Civil War re-enactor portraying Frederick Holbrook, the wartime governor of Vermont.

Gettysburg Controversy Continues

Dear Andrew,

I stumbled onto your blog and just happened to notice my name being mentioned. Mr. Siderio has now responded not once, but twice to my original letter. I thought about writing to the Civil War News one more time, but it would take a little work of magic to try and tie in all of the letters together in order to make a coherent response. Hopefully you've read the letters chronologically since his first letter was written back in the May issue. I stand by my response in the July issue. Unfortunately, Dan took my letter as some kind of direct point by point response to his letter and it wasn't. However, in spite of a tiny bit of hyperbole and assumption on my part, I believe my letter was on target. I think most people would have drawn similar conclusions to what I came up with. Without rehashing the entire back and forth, one of his direct quotes included the following: "...while still allowing for the natural rebirth and rejuvenation of this special place and, at the same time, keeping all of the beneficial effects that trees have on humans, plus preserving a beautiful habitat for birds and forest wildlife."

Part of my response is what you have posted on your blog. It's unfortunate that he paraphrased part of my response and left out the key words, "it would seem" in a subsequent letter. (And I have no problems with what you have attributed to me even if it's not in it's entirety.)

I think many fans of Gettysburg, especially those that live there, don't want to see a single tree fall, let alone a whole slew of them. My take is that, for the most part, I like what they are doing at the park. I look forward to the day the Cyclorama building is gone and Zeigler's Grove is restored. My concerns echo some things that others have mentioned. I would not have taken out the trees around Colt Park or the NPS maintenance shed. Going the historically accurate route is not always the right way to go.

Chris Shelton

p.s. Feel free to post this email on your blog if you wish or email me back if you want to have any more dialogue.