When: November 13th

Where: La Navona, 154 North Hamilton Road. Gahanna Ohio 43230

Time: 7pm

Speaker: Rob Orrison

Topic: Bristoe Station

Rob’s topic is  “The Battle of Bristoe Station” that focuses on the October 14, 1863 battle.  Rob provides the following synopsis of the talk: The months after Gettysburg and before Grant’s arrival in Virginia in the winter of 1864 are often overlooked. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia was not as “beaten” as many thought. Lee’s aggressive nature led his army back to the doorstep of the Federal capital of Washington, DC in October 1863. Unlike General John Pope before him, General George Meade skillfully thwarted each of Lee’s moves, but found himself under severe criticism from Lincoln’s cabinet. As Halleck said to Meade “Lee is bullying you.”
Rob summarizes that “the Bristoe Station Campaign was Robert E. Lee’s last offensive campaign, and was an opportunity to change the course of the war. It led to frustration for both Lee and Lincoln, and it left Lincoln looking for a new man to lead the Federal war effort.”

Rob Orrison has been working in the history field for more than 25 years. Born and raised in Loudoun County, Virginia, Rob received his Bachelor’s Degree in Historic Preservation at Longwood College (now University) and received his Master’s Degree in Public History from George Mason University. Currently Rob serves as the Historic Site Operations Supervisor for Prince William County. 

Outside of work Rob serves on the Board of Directors of the Mosby Heritage Area Association, Board of Directors of Virginia Civil War Trails; and serves as the Vice President of the Virginia Association of Museums. His published works include: A Want of Vigilance: The Bristoe Station Campaign; The Last Road North: A Guide to the Gettysburg Campaign 1863 and A Single Blow: The Battles of Lexington and Concord and the Beginning of the American Revolution, April 19, 1775. He currently lives in Dumfries with his wife, Jamie, and sons Carter and Grayson.

Presidents Message

 

When:   October 9th

Where:  La Navona, 154 North Hamilton Road. Gahanna Ohio 43230

Time:   7pm

Speaker: Patrick Schroeder

Topic:   “Battles of Appomattox Station and Court House: Final Fury and the Last to Die.”

The Battles of Appomattox:  The Final Fury and the Last to Die–An hour long power point program that focuses on the April 8, 1865, Battle of Appomattox Station, and the April 9. 1865, Battle of Appomattox Court House.  The program discusses each battle in detail, with nearly 100 photos and maps, and particularly focuses on the tragic final casualties and deaths before the surrender.

“Here we are, some with whole skins, some with not so whole.  Others have
been left behind.  For myself, I can only wonder that there is a bone left
in my carcass when I think of the wholesale carnage through which I have
passed.  My bruises are inward.

It is all over now, and I can only regard it as a hideous dream–the
smoking ruins, the sodden field, the trailing banner, the slaughtered
thousands and waiting families, the roar of the cannon, the Rebel Yell and
Yankee hurrah have all passed away, and we again return to peace.”~~Private
John W. Haley, 17th Maine Infantry, June 9, 1865

 Patrick Schroeder, is the National Park Service Historian at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park.

Presidents Message

When:  September 11th

Where:  La Navona, 154 North Hamilton Road. Gahanna Ohio 43230

Time:   7pm

Speaker:  Phil Spaugy

Topic:   “Boy’s, We Must Hold Our Colors on this line, Or Die under Them”.  The actions of the Color Guard of the 19th Indiana Volunteer Infantry on July 1st, 1863.

Phil Spaugy;

Professional – Vice President and co-owner of Aviation Sales, Inc., a provider of aviation services to the Miami Valley General Aviation community.  Aviation Sales Inc.

Personal – born in Sidney, Ohio and currently a resident of Vandalia, Ohio.

Fueled by my grandmother’s love of books and history (she taught in the Metz Schoolhouse near Jackson Center, Ohio), I have had a lifelong interest in the American Civil War since age seven and started collecting items from the period at age 16.

I have been a member of Union Guards, Company A, 19th Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry of the North South Skirmish Association [N-SSA] for the last 41 years. During my time as a member, I have served on the N-SSA Board of Directors for over 20 years and have held the offices of Midwest Region Commander, National Inspector General, National Deputy Commander, and from 2013-2016 I had the honor to serve as National Commander of the organization. As a member of the N-SSA I have live-fired almost every type of firearm issued to both sides during the American Civil War.

North South Skirmish Association
N-SSA Videos

My main areas of study and interest have been in the arms and accoutrements of the Federal infantry soldier with an emphasis on soldiers from the great state of OHIO and the firearms of the U.S Arsenal at Harpers Ferry. My collection of Civil War longarms altered for the states of OHIO and Indiana in 1861 by Miles Greenwood won the prestigious “Best Military Arms” display award at the 2017 Ohio Civil War Show.

I have also extensively studied the soldiers, battles and campaigns of the famed Iron Brigade of the West, of which the 19th Indiana was a member regiment, with a particular interest in the actions of the color guard of the 19th at the battle of Gettysburg. Along with my friend Lance Herdegen, I took great pride in doing the research with for the Don Troiani print “The Black Hats” which depicts the gallantry of Sergeant Major Asa Blanchard of the 19th Indiana on the afternoon of July 1st.

The Black Hats

I have done research and proofreading for authors such as Ron Coddington (Military Images magazine), Lance Herdegen, Eric Wittenberg, Dan Masters, Scott Mingus, Don Troiani and others.

I am currently a contributing editor for Military Images magazine.

Military Images Magazine

I have been a guest contributor to the American Battlefield Trust series of live videos, most recently for the 155th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg.

American Battlefield Trust Videos

Over the last 5 years my wife Amy and I have been active supporters of the Seminary Ridge Museum, by donating a reproduction Civil War ambulance, funding the wayside marker that detailing the wounding of Lt. Colonel George McFarland of the 151st Pennsylvania along with donating the material to reconstruct a portion of the “slight barricade of rails” on Seminary Ridge where the Old First Corps of the Army of the Potomac made their final stand on the afternoon of July 1st.

Seminary Ridge Museum

My wife Amy and I also provided the funding to enable the creation of the OHIO display at the Civil War Museum in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Civil War Museum in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

In 2018 my friend Phil Harris and I am raised the funding needed to restore the badly deteriorated statue of Brigadier General Solomon Meredith that marks his grave in Riverside Cemetery, Cambridge City, Indiana. Long Sol commanded the Iron Brigade at Gettysburg. For more on this very worthwhile endeavor please visit the link below:

Brigadier General Solomon Meredith

My blog, which reflects my interests, can be found at:Phil Spaugy Blog

I am a proud descendant of soldiers who served with the following units during the war:

61st PVI 142nd PVI, 57th, 81st, 99th OVI and the 26th Indiana Volunteer Infantry.

Contact info:

Phil Spaugy

11150 North Cassel Road

Vandalia, Ohio 43577

Cell 937-673-4407

Home 937-454-1846

Pspaugy@aol.com

September Presidents Message

Where: MOTTS MILITARY MUSEUM, 5075 South Hamilton Rd, Groveport, OH 43125

When:   August 14th

Time:     7pm

Speaker: Steve T. Phan

Topic:  The Defenses of Washington, D.C.

Steve will detail the only major battle that took place within the confines of Washington, D.C., as Confederate Jubal A. Early embarked on an ambitious raid on the Federal capital in July 1864. Awaiting the Confederate Army of the Valley District were the Defenses of Washington. By 1864, 68 major forts, 93 batteries, 900 cannons and mortars, and 32 miles of earthworks encircled the city. The fortified capital lacked trained defenders by summer 1864. Could the forts hold Early off long enough for reinforcements to arrive?

 

Steve T. Phan is a historian and park ranger at the Civil War Defenses of Washington. Prior to his arrival at CWDW, he worked at Gettysburg National Military Park, Richmond National Battlefield Park, Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, Stones River National Battlefield, and Rock Creek Park. A military history scholar of the Civil War era, Phan’s research focuses on military occupation, operational command, fortifications, and the Western Theater during the Civil War. He holds a Masters degree in American History, with a concentration in Public History.

 

 

 

Steve Phan on Emerging Civil War

August Presidents Message

On a Great Battlefield

 

Where: MOTTS MILITARY MUSEUM, 5075 South Hamilton Rd, Groveport, OH 43125

When:   August 14th

Time:     7pm

Speaker: Steve T. Phan

Topic:  The Defenses of Washington, D.C.

Steve will detail the only major battle that took place within the confines of Washington, D.C., as Confederate Jubal A. Early embarked on an ambitious raid on the Federal capital in July 1864. Awaiting the Confederate Army of the Valley District were the Defenses of Washington. By 1864, 68 major forts, 93 batteries, 900 cannons and mortars, and 32 miles of earthworks encircled the city. The fortified capital lacked trained defenders by summer 1864. Could the forts hold Early off long enough for reinforcements to arrive?

 

Steve T. Phan is a historian and park ranger at the Civil War Defenses of Washington. Prior to his arrival at CWDW, he worked at Gettysburg National Military Park, Richmond National Battlefield Park, Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, Stones River National Battlefield, and Rock Creek Park. A military history scholar of the Civil War era, Phan’s research focuses on military occupation, operational command, fortifications, and the Western Theater during the Civil War. He holds a Masters degree in American History, with a concentration in Public History.

 

 

 

Steve Phan on Emerging Civil War

August Presidents Message

On a Great Battlefield

 

When: July 10th

Where: La Navona, 154 North Hamilton Road. Gahanna Ohio 43230

Time: 7pm

Speaker:  Dr. Jennifer M. Murray

Topic: “‘On A Great Battlefield’: The History of Gettysburg National Military Park, 1863-2016

 

“‘On A Great Battlefield’: The History of Gettysburg National Military Park, 1863-2016” explores the 150 year history of the Gettysburg battlefield. Over 6,000 books and articles have been written on the three-day battle, but historians have devoted minimal attention to the history of the landscape itself and the complicated, divisive, and controversial nature of preserving, interpreting, and commemorating America’s most hallowed ground. Ultimately the Gettysburg landscape is significant beyond the events of July 1-3, 1863. Dr. Murray’s program explores the first preservation and commemorative efforts of the Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association and the U.S War Department, with a particular focus on the National Park Service administration.

The National Park Service acquired the battlefield in 1933 and the ensuing eight-decades highlights the complicated nexus between preservation, tourism, popular culture, interpretation, commemoration, and memory. The Park Service’s management of the battlefield occurs not in a vacuum, but within a larger realm of political, social, and academic trends. Decisions made by park officials simultaneously influence the interpretive story at Gettysburg, the narrative presented to thousands of park visitors, and shape more broadly the Gettysburg experience. The history of the Gettysburg battlefield from 1933 to the present underscores the complicated relationship between race and reunion, public and private interests, between preservation theories and utilitarian uses, between the National Park Service and the American people, and between fact and fiction.

Dr. Jennifer M. Murray is a military historian, with a specialization in the American Civil War, in the Department of History at Oklahoma State University. Murray’s most recent publication is On A Great Battlefield: The Making, Management, and Memory of Gettysburg National Military Park, 1933-2013, published by the University of Tennessee Press in 2014. Murray is also the author of The Civil War Begins, published by the U.S. Army’s Center of Military History in 2012. She is currently working on a full-length biography of George Gordon Meade, tentatively titled Meade at War. Murray is a veteran faculty member at Gettysburg College’s Civil War Institute and a coveted speaker at Civil War symposiums and roundtables. In addition, Murray worked as a seasonal interpretive park ranger at Gettysburg National Military Park for nine summers (2002-2010).

July Presidents Message