Carroll County Times

CIVIL WAR
CONNECT
If you would like to get updates from the Carroll County Civil War 150th Committee or would like to join the committee, contact Ron Kuehne at 410876- 8249 or ronk@pccwrt.org.
to interpret, promote and preserve Carroll Countys rich Civil War heritage during the 150th anniversary years of 20112015 by providing quality educational and entertaining experiences for audiences of all ages and expertise. The group members decided they would like to see living history presentations, lectures, seminars, tours, displays and concerts of period music during the anniversary. The county already has half a dozen regular Civil War events, Kuehne said, including the Maryland in the Civil War Conference at the Community College in March, the Corbits Charge Ball in March, the Farm The committee has had as many as 38 people attend a meeting, but sends its updates to a larger network of people than those that attend the meetings. Kuehne was elected chairman; Butch Willard, of the Sykesville Gate House Museum, is vice chairman; and Sherry Hartman, of the Pipe Creek Round Table, serves as secretary. The committee will meet quarterly at county libraries, rotating around the county, Kuehne said, and will sunset at the end of 2015 once the sesquicentennial is over. Kuehne said he foresees the largest anniversary event in Carroll being in 2013, for the 150th anniversary of Corbits Charge, also known as the Battle of Westminster. That has not really been planned as of yet, Kuehne said, but he added theres still plenty of time.

Sunday, June 26, 2011, Page A7

Group looks to highlight war history

Committee to plan events to share countys past
BY CARRIE ANN KNAUER
TIMES STAFF WRITER

UPCOMING LOCAL CIVIL WAR EVENTS

What: Abraham Lincoln: A Lasting Peace When: 7 p.m. Wednesday Where: The Basilica, 333 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg With: Written in honor of Lincolns 200th birthday, this moving piece merges song and narration from Lincolns speeches in a moving and educational event. Contact: 301- 447- 6606, www.setonshrine.org What: Gettysburg 148th National Civil War Battle Re- enactment When: 8:30 a.m. to dusk July 1-3 Where: 965 Pumping Station Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325 With: Each day will include two exciting battles, field demonstrations, live mortar fire demonstrations, two activities tents with continuous living history programs, and a living history village with all- day activities. Visitors are invited to shop in Sutler Row where they will discover period- style clothing and wares or walk through the military camps to experience 1860s military life and talk to the living historians. Contact: 717-338-1525, www.gettysburgreenact ment.com What: Retreat through Williamsport When: July 8-10 Where: Springfield Farm, Cushwa Basin River Bottom Park, Williamsport. With: The Retreat through Williamsport is a living history event celebrating the events that occurred in Williamsport from July 4-14, 1863. The weekend- long event features re- enactors, historians, and speakers. Contact: 301-223-7711, www.williamsportretreat. com What: Monocacy National Battlefield Commemorates 147th Anniversary When: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. July 9 and 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. July 10 Where: Gambrill Farm, 4801 Urbana Pike, Frederick, 21704 With: The 147th anniversary of the Battle That Saved Washington will be commemorated on July 910. A living history encampment at the historic Gambrill Farm will feature artillery demonstrations as well as commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War with programs depicting soldiers in a new unit, a debate on the question of Maryland succession, an open archaeological site, and book signings. Contact: 301- 662-3515, www.nps.gov/mono What: Union Mills Civil War Encampment and Living History When: July 16-17 Where: Union Mills Homestead, 3311 Littlestown Pike, Westminster With: Union and Confederate troops camp along the Big Pipe Creek and relive some of the days following the Battle of Gettysburg. Drills and skirmishes will be performed. Contact: 410- 848-2288, www.unionmills.org What: Commemoration of the Battle of Blackburns Ford When: 7 p.m. July 18 Where: Bull Run Regional Park, Centreville, Va. With: Commemoration of the fallen at Blackburns Ford and dedication of the replica Civil War winter quarters built at Bull Run Regional Park to interpret the role of this area during the Civil War. Contact: 703- 631- 0550 What: 150th Civil War Commemoration Battle of First Manassas/Bull Run When: July 21-24 Where: Various locations in Manassas and Prince William, Va. With: Spectators, re- enactors and other participants can be part of this once- in-a- lifetime experience recreating the first battle of the Civil War. Contact: 703-396-7130, www.manassasbullrun. com What: The Military Bugle during the Civil War and the Origin of the Call Taps When: 2- 4 p.m. Aug. 27 Where: 3610 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax, Va. With: Jari Villanueva, will demonstrate many of the bugle calls and explain their usage during the war. Villanueva, considered the foremost authority on Taps, will also discuss the origin of the famous call, performance practices, and the myths associated with it. Contact: 703- 591- 0560, www.fairfaxva.gov What: Anniversary of the Potomac River Blockade 1861 When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 24-25 Where: 17674 Main Street, Dumfries, Va. With: Join living historians as they camp at Freestone Point, the preserved site of the Confederate Gun Battery during the Blockade of the Potomac. Discover the story of the Battery and see artillery demonstrations, camp life, and talk to historians as they discuss the lives of the soldiers and the women and children left behind. Living history events are planned for Leesylvania State Park and Weems Botts Museum as well. Contact: 703-792- 4754, www.pwcgov.org/historic sites What: McLean Civil War 150th Commemoration Event When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 22 Where: 1234 Ingleside Avenue, McLean, Va. With: This Civil War 150th anniversary event is sponsored by McLean & Great Falls Celebrate Virginia. This will be an all- day affair with re- enactors, speakers, displays, music, and more detailing the impact the Civil War had on McLean and the surrounding area. Contact: 703-356- 8223, www.mcleancenter.org What: Picketing the Potomac: Fort Frederick in the Civil War When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 5- 6 Where: Fort Frederick State Park, 11100 Fort Frederick Road, Big Pool With: Special event commemorating the 150th anniversary of Fort Fredericks role in the American Civil War. Re- enactors will assemble to recreate what life was like along the Potomac during the American Civil War. During the event there will be living history and tactical demonstrations. Contact: 301- 842-2155

Carroll County has had several annual Civil War events that have been commemorated for a number of years, but a group of local history- minded groups have formed the Carroll County Civil War 150th Committee to assist in any new events that may be coordinated to celebrate the sesquicentennial of the war. Ron Kuehne, outreach coordinator of the Pipe Creek Civil War Round Table, said he got the ball rolling in the fall to start the anniversary committee. The Pipe Creek group sent invitations to local and county governments, the public school system, nonprofits and other groups that they thought might be interested. The group first met in November, and at their third meeting in May, the members approved their mission statement. The committees goal is

Museum Civil War Encampment in May, the Corbits Charge event in June and a Civil War weekend at Union Mills Homestead in July. Rather than plan new events, the committee was designed to serve as more of a network, Kuehne said, with the organizations represented on the committee providing resources and mutual support for each others events, as needed. In addition, Carroll is part of the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area, along with Frederick and Washington counties, a tourism promotion that comes with Reach staff writer Carrie a support team for all Civil Ann Knauer at 410-857-7874 War events in the tri- or carrie.knauer@carrollcou county area, Kuehne said. ntytimes.com.

Charge
From Page A1

the encampment for them to enjoy, as volunteers wore period clothing and displayed various Civil War games, activities and tasks. Alex Dorsey, 5, of Westminster, used a foot pedal to operate a spinning wheel to make yarn and played with Civil War toys. But Alex was anxiously awaiting the chance to see his favorite soldiers in action. I want to see the blue guys fight, he said. Both Union and Confederate re- enactors took to battle at the cavalry demonstration by the 35th Battalion Virginia Cavalry. First Lieutenant Jon Tompkins, with the Virginia Cavalry, said the demonstration showed Yankees catching the Confederate soldiers by surprise and how the two sides would have engaged in fighting on horseback. Its a great way to show people living history, he said. If you forget where youve been, you dont know where youre going, Tompkins said.

DAVE MUNCH/STAFF PHOTO

Joshua Frank covers his ears during an artillery demonstration during the Corbits Charge Civil War Commemorative Weekend in Westminster Saturday.

IF YOU GO
What: Civil War Living History Encampment When: 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. today Where: 224 N. Center St., Westminster Information: Civil War Tent- style Church Service, Cavalry Tactics Demonstration, Guided Battle Site Tours, Artillery and Infantry Demonstrations and a Skirmish Battle Website: www.pccwrt.org/Corbits_Charge.htm

ence and tactics and enjoyed the cavalry demonstration. Its important to know history, to be informed as we move forward, Conway said. Most issues that existed at that time still exist today, because they werent rectified, he said.

Bill Conway, of Bridgeton, again today with his grandReach staff writer Alisha N.J., visited the encamp- daughter. George at 410- 857-7876 or ment with his daughter SatHe said he is especially a l i s h a . g e o r g e @ c a r r o l l urday. He plans to visit it interested in military sci- countytimes.com.

Residents
From Page A1

Baltimore, June 21, 1861

and Confederate flags came out. When they left the next morning, Confederate flags were put away and Union flags suddenly reappeared. Shriver Cousins

Just South of Gettysburg, a book that uses personal accounts to illustrate the story of Carroll County during the Civil War, includes two letters between a pair of Shriver cousins who grew up as close friends on the same street in Union Mills. During the Civil War, one served in a Pennsylvania regiment for the Union, while the other fought in a Confederate cavalry regiment. Below are excerpts from their letters to each other:

My dear Aust: Now I think the only patriots in the land are the Southerners, and in a little while you who have brought about this unholy war will be brought to your senses. You will be those who in the sight of future generations will justly merit a name more dishonorable and disgraceful than Rebel. I would sooner live under the Queen of England than our present ruler. I will stop, tis useless to extenuate. I suppose you will hardly read what I have already written and I might in my warmth of feeling say something which would provoke you to anger. Though, dear Aust, we cannot agree upon the political subject now before us, you will now and ever after and under all circumstances have in me, I am sure, as good a friend and as affectionate a cousin as any other man. Let not political differences intrude upon our friendship . Christopher Columbus Shriver

My dear Lum When Lincoln said that the states had to be either all free or all slave, he meant that in the natural course of events they would ultimately be so. He did not mean that the Republican party intended doing it. This is the true meaning of that speech. Lum, I have told you all this because I want you to know there are reasons for my course, and not only the ones I have given but numberless others. How anyone can compare the revolution down South with the glorious one in which our forefathers rebelled against a government whose very oppressions planted them in America, I am unable to conceive. This tyrannical Lincoln, as you think, is only trying to save us and our nation from eternal ruin . Frederick Austin Shriver Union Mills, June 30, 1861
Mary Bostwick Shellman Mary Bostwick Shellman, who was the daughter of Westminsters first mayor and lived in a house on East Main Street, turned 14 the day the Battle of Gettysburg began. She served as a volunteer at the Westminster field hospital and helped treat soldiers wounded in the battle. She also witnessed Gen. James Jeb Stuart, a Confederate States Army general, lead his men through Westminster. Decades later, Shellman wrote Recollections of Stuarts Raid, which the Historical Society put together and published. Below is an excerpt of Shellmans writing about Stuart marching into the city.

porarily on the outs as the children say. I was the only Union Shrieker in the crowd, and emulating the spirit of the grown-ups in a small way, we were practically enemies while the soldiers were here. Besides, on the day of the skirmish, Gen. J.E.B. Stuart, noting my antagonism, amidst the pronounced joy of my companions, had shown me unusual courtesy and called me his little captive, and given me the muchwished-for kiss, and therefore, I was an object of envy and under the ban. I can remember yet, how, child as I was, I cheered and waved, while my sister, who was a Southern sympathizer, tried to hold back my hand. But there is an old saying that brass buttons are irresistible and so, before the week had passed, Southern Sympathizers of 16 and 17 found Yankee officers not so black as they were painted, and Southern homes were opened as freely to the Federal soldiers as they had been to the Confederates, with but few exceptions.
Untimely editorial Baty said the story behind a local newspaper editors death illustrates the intense feelings that both sides felt during the Civil War. Joseph Shaw, a Carroll native, was a Westminster schoolteacher before becoming editor of the Carroll County Democrat. He published an editorial about then- president Abraham Lincoln April 6, 1865, eight days before Lincoln was assassinated. That editorial is reprinted in a book titled, Carroll County Newspaper Wars.

Vice-President. But is there not a slight chance of improvement in case that Providence should will it otherwise? Lincoln, it is true, is reported to be a sober man, but it is none the less true, that if he is always sober he is always wrong. So Johnson sober is Johnson wrong; but Johnson drunk might be Johnson right. As proof of this, in his incoherent speech in the Senate, he talked about the Constitution. He certainly never would have thought of talking about that document if he had been sober. There is not a word about it in Lincolns Inaugural! Not a word! Its evident, therefore, that a drunken Abolitionist is more likely to be right than a sober one.
Baty said soon after Lincolns assassination, an angry local mob broke into his offices, destroyed his printing presses and murdered Shaw. They all got off at trial, she said. Along with his strong Southern sympathy, he had the misfortune of publishing that right before Lincolns death, Baty said. Being in a border state, it was hard to say which side was going to be predominant, but there were hostile feelings on both. Regardless, Baty said after the Civil War, those strong oppositions didnt seem to stick around. There were certainly some men who joined the Confederacy and decided never to come home after the war and Im sure there were hard feelings, but they werent necessarily expressed, Baty said. Carroll County seemed to heal fairly quickly after the war and come back together.

My own joy was unbounded at the sight of the Blue Coats; my little companions and I were tem-

Some people hope that Reach staff writer CaroLincolns life will be spared now, in order that the coun- line Hailey at 410-751-5908 try may be saved the dis- or caroline.hailey@carroll grace of an incoherent countytimes.com.