Members please remember that there is NO roundtable meeting in December. Please stay safe and enjoy the holidays.
Presidents Message:
My Fellow Members: I hope everyone is healthy and doing well. As is our tradition, we will not meet in December. Our next meeting in January will be our annual Roundtable debate. This year, since we will have members attending virtually, I thought that we should discuss a little broader (and maybe a little less dialectic) topic by discussing examples of good & bad cooperation in joint Army-Navy operations during the Civil War. Our last speaker, Craig Swain, gave us some great examples of poor (and non-existent) cooperation between the Union Army and Navy forces at Fort Sumter throughout the War. As always, I encourage everyone to do a little research and be prepared to participate. I am sure that, with a little bit of thought, you can all come up with a number of examples to discuss. I would really like to hear something about Confederate joint operations if anyone can come up with something on point.
I will circulate the Zoom link for the annual debate when I circulate my January 2021 newsletter in late December.
For more information on the debate and the Roundtable in general, please go to our website at Centralohiocwrt.wordpress.com.
Our Treasurer’s Report from Dave Delisio:
Treasurer’s Report for November 2020
Beginning checking account balance 11/1/2020 = $2190.10
November receipts = $20.00 donation
November expenses = $0
Ending checking account balance 11/30/2020 = $2210.10
Dave has asked to be relieved of his Treasurer duties, which he has performed admirably for eight years. I have accepted Dave’s retirement from office, and I have asked Pete Zuhars to fill in the void. If anyone else is interested in serving, please let me know and Pete will gladly stand aside. I want to thank Dave Delisio for doing such a great job that I never had to worry about anything regarding the financial standing of the Roundtable. I hope everyone will give Dave a hearty “Atta-a-boy” the next time you see him (either live or virtually).
I have also attached hereto Tom Ayres Report of our meeting in November, when Craig Swain talked to us about the Siege and Reduction of fort Sumter. Tom has done his usual superb job of reporting on the speaker and his topic, and adding information of interest to our members.
https://centralohiocwrt.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/seige-and-reduction-of-fort-sumter-3.pdf
Jamie Ryan
President
Here is an announcement by the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concerning Land and Water Conservation Fund revenues that will be targeted this fiscal year towards the acquisition of private land by willing sellers in or near Civil War related National Park Service sites;
Mill Springs National Battlefield Monument, Kentucky: $425,000 to purchase property located between Mill Springs Battlefield Road and the western banks of the Cumberland River. This tract contains an original Confederate trench line, the site of Brig. Gen. Zollicoffer’s headquarters, a 2-gun cannon battery position, and the Confederate cemetery. Indentations in the ground remain from hundreds of Confederate cabins. The battlefield is the site of the Union’s first decisive Civil War victory and where Zollicoffer, a congressman from Tennessee, was killed. Its importance was recognized by both sides during the war and acquisition of this parcel will preserve this historically significant area.
Vicksburg National Military Park, Lousiana/Mississippi: $1,453,000 to acquire 21 tracts purchased by the American Battlefield Trust for the purposes of creating the Champion Hill Unit of Vicksburg National Military Park. They are in the highest tier of lands identified for acquisition in the park’s 2018 Land Protection Plan. In addition to its historical significance, this area connects to adjacent tracts (800 acres) donated by the state of Mississippi in 2019 to help form a contiguous park. The area has experienced threats of encroachments, poaching, and archaeological resource theft. Acquisition will allow the resources to be protected and visitors to access a portion of the core battlefield.
River Raisin National Battlefield Park, Michigan: $1.1 million to acquire 72 tracts of lands that are located in the core area of the unit, including the Springwells site and the Hulls Trace unit. Fee and easement interests will be donated to protect a variety of archaeological and cultural landscape resources directly relating to the battles. This includes the site where the U.S. launched the first shots of the War of 1812 and more than 1,000 years ago native residents of Springwells toiled, prospered and raised monuments. The acquisition will also provide recreational opportunities associated with increased public access the Huron River.
Battlefield Parks (multiple states): $621,000 to acquire high priority battlefield land inholdings within the National Park System that are experiencing significant threat to the resource. These lands are often temporarily protected by partner organizations able to nimbly navigate real estate acquisition and then wait for the federal government to bring the land into individual park units. As of December 30, 2018, within park units that have battlefields there are over 36,000 unprotected acres in individual parcels. Funds from this project will be directed to the highest priority “shovel ready” acquisitions, which will be dynamic as landowners consider options once funding is available.
Fort Donelson National Battlefield, Tennessee: $559,000 to obtain tracts that will protect battlefield land that saw considerable action and troop movement. In this area of the Confederate Break-Out, the Confederates attempted an unsuccessful surprise assault in hopes of opening a corridor to flee the Fort. In addition, these lands are affiliated with the former African-American community, “Free State” (created by those formerly enslaved). They include historical structures such as surviving “colored school,” and an abandoned African-American Methodist Church. Acquisition of these tracts will complete the Confederate Break-Out area and the primary “Free State” interpretive area for public use and access.
Shiloh National Military Park, Tennessee: $558,000 to acquire seven tracts that are part of the Fallen Timbers battlefield. The tracts are owned by the American Battlefield Trust and comprise 57 percent of the Fallen Timbers site. Tens of thousands of citizens from across the nation directly donated funds to complete the purchase and preservation of these tracts. The site lacks protection by an authorized land management steward and archaeological resources associated with the Civil War and other periods of human occupation are unprotected and open to looting. Sites have also recently experienced vandalism to existing structures and natural features. The purchase of these tracts will significantly enhance the battlefield scenery and permit visitor access to the property for recreational use consistent with park purposes.
Stones River National Battlefield, Tennessee: $243,000 to purchase part of the core battlefield and the scene of intense fighting, including the location of Federal artillery on the final day of the battle. The Union victory at this site resulted in the Confederate withdrawal from middle Tennessee. Acquisition of this tract would protect the site of significant battlefield action, enhance wildlife habitat, and provide for trail development for visitor access and recreation.
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park, Texas: $3.5 million to purchase the last high-priority core battlefield inholding, containing valuable cultural resources including much of the Mexican battle line; Arista’s Hill, which was used as a vantage point by commanding Mexican General Mariano Arista during the battle; and the Palo Alto Inn, which was constructed during the U.S.-Mexican War to serve as a stopover for individuals traveling from Port Isabel to Matamoros, Mexico. Protection of this property will expand recreational access for almost 260,000 neighbors, giving visitors the ability to visit the entire battlefield and it will provide more than 10 miles of trail to connect current battlefield trails to city trails, including the 8.5 mile Historic Battlefield Rail-Trail.
Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, Virginia: $931,000 to acquire two tracts that fall within the 1989 revised boundary and are located at the Spotsylvania Court House Battlefield, which received the highest condition and significance ratings from the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission. Acquisition of these tracts provides important access and interpretive opportunities to key areas of the battlefield, preserving the sense of place that surrounds Burnside Drive. Burnside Drive is the scene of heavy fighting during a May 12, 1864 battle.
Petersburg National Battlefield, Virgina: $341,000 to but land that is at the core of two nationally significant battles (as determined by the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission and approved by Congress). Acquisition would allow for long-term protection and preservation of key terrain and the many landscape elements that have survived. The federal objective of destroying Confederate supply lines, especially railroads, into Petersburg and Richmond is best exhibited and interpreted on these locations. Local law enforcement have dealt with cases of relic hunting in the area but lack legal authority to enforce action under the Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA); Federal law enforcement will be able to enforce the Act more effectively.
