COMMEMORATING THE BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS

ROBERT DUVALL, LAWMAKERS, TO COMMEMORATE ANNIVERSARY OF

BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS

Academy and Emmy Award-winning actor Robert Duvall, who portrayed his famous ancestor Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee in the 2003 film Gods and Generals, will speak at a news conference on Monday, May 4, 2009, to commemorate the 145th anniversary of the Battle of the Wilderness. Joining Duvall will be Congressmen Ted Poe of Texas and Peter Welch of Vermont , both of whom hail from states whose troops were particularly bloodied in the battle. The trio will also address the preservation challenges currently confronting the battlefield.
The Battle of the Wilderness, fought May 56, 1864, was among the most significant engagements of the American Civil War, and marked the first encounter between legendary chieftains Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant. Nearly 29,000 American soldiers were killed, wounded or captured in the horrendous, two-day struggle. Today, just 21 percent of the battlefield is protected from development.

The news conference will begin at 11:00 a.m., at historic Ellwood Manor, located off Route 20 ( Constitution Highway ) in Orange County , Va. Following the news conference, attendees will be able to tour the historic home, which has recently undergone a major renovation. The grounds, including the Lacy Family cemetery containing the left arm of Confederate Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, will also be open to the public. The press and public are encouraged to arrive early, since there is only one entrance to the site.

WHAT:
News conference at Ellwood Manor on the Wilderness Battlefield
WHO:
Academy and Emmy Award-winning actor Robert Duvall, Rep. Ted Poe of Texas , Rep. Peter Welch of Vermont and Zann Miner of Friends of Wilderness Battlefield
WHEN:
Monday, May 4, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. (the press and public are encouraged to arrive early)
WHERE:
Ellwood Manor, 36380 Constitution Highway (Route 20), Locust Grove, Va.

The Civil War Preservation Trust is a 60,000-member nonprofit battlefield preservation organization. Its mission is to preserve our nation’s endangered Civil War sites and promote appreciation of these hallowed grounds. CWPT’s website is located at http://www.civilwar.org/.

300 volunteers gather in Gettysburg

300 travel industry professionals from all over the United States came together on April 17 for the Tourism Cares for Gettysburg volunteer restoration event at the George Spangler Farm. Volunteers spent the day clearing brush to kick off a major restoration to bring the farm back to its original 1863 appearance.

If you are in the tourism industry and would like to get involved with Tourism Cares, contact Jessica Ahearn at jessicaa@tourismcares.org.

Happy Spring!
Battlefield Journal

If you're looking for something to do on Saturday...

The Center for Faith and Citizenship of

Christopher Newport University 

PRESENTS A PUBLIC LECTURE:

'The General as President: Robert E. Lee as a College President'

SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 1:00 P.M.

Washington Room, David Student Union

General Robert E. Lee surrendered the tattered remnants of the Army of Northern Virginia to overwhelming Union forces under General U.S. Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. What was then in store for Lee? Rather than just going home and ‘fading away’, he immersed himself in the training of the youth of the nation at Washington College in Lexington , VA. Mr. William Connery, who spoke at Christopher Newport University in September on President John Tyler, will talk on General Lee’s life and contributions after the Recent Unpleasantness on Saturday April 11.

William Connery

William Connery has spoken on Civil War topics from Gettysburg to Petersburg . He was born and grew up in Baltimore . He has a BA in History from the University of Maryland and a MA in Religious Education from UTS. He has written a number of articles for The Washington Times Civil War page and The Civil War Courier. He can be reached concerning speaking engagements and Historical Tours of Baltimore at william.connery@verizon.net.

The CNU CENTER FOR FAITH AND CITIZENSHIP is a unique academic center at Christopher Newport University dedicated to the principle that religious faith has a valuable place in American public life and Western culture and deserves careful and objective study, free from corrosive cynicism.

Christopher Newport University is located in the heart of Newport News , Virginia , three hours south of Washington , D.C. , 45 minutes from the Virginia Beach oceanfront, and 20 minutes east of historic Williamsburg .

ENJOY!

New Civil War Road Trip Guide Coming out in time for summer!

With ten multi-day itineraries, The Complete Civil War Road Trip Guide is the first guide to highlight every major campaign of the Civil War. Author Michael Weeks documents over 450 sites, helping travelers better understand this period of American history, and the landmarks that remain. As Weeks plots these itineraries, he offers historical details on the ideological battle between North and South, on the slaves and abolitionists who were willing to die for freedom, and the prominent men and women on both sides who brought the nation to war. The venues featured range from the great battlefields of Gettysburg and Manassas to relatively unknown sites in places such as Vermont, Idaho, and New Mexico. Including complete directions to the sites and lodging suggestions, these tours enable readers to personally tailor trips to every major Civil War campaign site and beyond.


Weeks highlights key figures and events in each theater of the war, covering everything from the Missouri Compromise to manumission, from Fort Sumter to Appomattox, providing context for the battle sites, museums, and countless other attractions covered in this book. With this guide in hand, readers will experience the sites where Frederick Douglass worked tirelessly to achieve equality for African Americans, where Clara Barton used her Civil War experiences to establish the American Red Cross, and where Robert E. Lee spent his childhood. No diehard Civil War buff or history fanatic will want to be without Weeks’s major new contribution.

Michael Weeks is an amateur historian with a passion for the road. He personally visited all 450 sites in the book, and has driven tens of thousands of miles across America in search of the living roots of U.S. history. Michael lives in the South Loop area of Chicago, Illinois, with his wife Charlotte, and works as an occupational health and safety consultant. Ironically, as the author of a road trip book, Weeks does not own a car.

Stayed tuned for an excerpt of this book presented by Battlefield Journal!

Volunteers Needed!

The Civil War began as a struggle between armies of untrained but enthusiastic volunteers. Seven generations later, another army of volunteers is about to descend on America’s Civil War battlefields only this horde of dedicated men and women will be armed with paint brushes, trash bags and weed whackers.

On Saturday, April 4, 2009, history buffs and preservationists of all ages will join forces to clean and restore Civil War-related battlefields, cemeteries and shrines. The nationwide effort dubbed Park Day is underwritten with a grant from The History Channel. Park Day is also recognized by the U.S. Department of the Interior as a “Take Pride in America” event. More than 100 historic sites in 24 states are expected to participate in Park Day 2009.

“Civil War sites are often the victims of their own popularity,” noted Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) President James Lighthizer. “Without proper maintenance, battlefields can suffer from the ravages of both time and tourism. Our goal is to spruce up these links to America’s past so they can be enjoyed by all.”

Now in its thirteenth year, Park Day is an annual hands-on preservation event created by CWPT. Volunteers gather at designated Civil War sites to help with routine repairs and maintenance. Activities can range from raking leaves and hauling trash to painting signs and trail building. In exchange for their hard work, participants receive T-shirts and can listen to local historians describe the significance of the site.

Among the many sites that will be benefiting from Park Day activities this year are: Mansfield Battlefield in Louisiana, Antietam Battlefield in Maryland, Wilson’s Creek Battlefield in Missouri, and the Wilderness Battlefield in Virginia.

“These are the hallowed fields where our ancestors gave their lives. We cannot allow them to fall into disrepair,” remarked Lighthizer.

With 60,000 members, CWPT is the largest nonprofit battlefield preservation organization in the United States. Its goal is to preserve our nation’s endangered Civil War sites and to promote appreciation of these hallowed grounds. CWPT’s website is located at http://www.civilwar.org/.

###
(For a list of the participating Park Day sites, visit http://www.civilwar.org/parkday/).

USCC Message

February 27, 2009
QUICK LINKS
USCC Events
USCC News
UsccGettysburg.org

Join the USCC today!
Click Here!
Send this to five friends!
Calling for Modern-Day Delegates!

When the civil war started, the body of Christ was called into action to send the gospel to the battlefields and the original U.S. Christian Commission was formed.

George Stuart, the U.S.C.C. President called for 5,000 volunteers to go to the battlefields and hospitals. Donations of money and supplies poured in! Young and old alike donated jewelry and possessions that could be auctioned off to raise funds. Children saved pennies in order to send a bible, made sewing kits-called "housewives", and wrote letters. Ladies joined together to make shirts, roll bandages and gather jams for the soldiers. Businesses gave up their warehouses to store goods, and gave large sums of money for the efforts.

Today, nearly 3 million people come to Gettysburg annually. Just as George Stuart called for the body of Christ to join together to donate, we are giving the same call today.

Join the USCC today by becoming a supporting delegate. Your financial support is critical to help us reach the millions of visitors to Gettysburg .

John A. Wega
Founder and Executive Director
U.S. Christian Commission, Inc


THE USCC NEEDS YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT!

Seven years ago, the Lord challenged John and Susan Wega to begin research so they could share the amazing story of the USCC. The commitment of this family has now blossomed into a small team of ministries, churches, businesses, and volunteers whose financial support and time help the USCC be a witness to the 3 million annual visitors to Gettysburg!
Since 2004, the USCC has significantly advanced with each year. First, it was creating a museum for these heroes of the faith. Next is was holding weekly log chapel services, then group education tours, and always expanding the spiritual presence of His light in the Gettysburg community!
Our next advancement is yet another milestone: bringing on our Executive Director John Wega as a full-time paid staff member. Until now, he has volunteered his efforts to run this ministry. The ever increasing time commitment of the calling requires the USCC to have a full-time leader 100% focused on the mission - and we need your help!

Your one-time or monthly pledge of $35 will help us meet our budget goals!

CLICK HERE TO DONATE ONLINE NOW!
About the United States Christian Commission

In 2004, we refounded the U.S. Christian Commission to tell the story of faith and courage from the Civil War. We have met thousands of people over the past few years, and most of them appreciated that there was hope and help in the midst of such a terrible time. I look forward to serving you on your next trip to Gettysburg.

Sincerely,John Wega
Executive Director United States Christian Commission

Amazing Video

Happy Lincoln's Birthday and Valentine's Day to all my loyal readers of the Battlefield Journal!

I was sent time Time Magazine video to commemorate not only Abraham Lincoln's Birthday but our brave men and women fighting for freedom overseas.

Take a look!

Follow the link below to view:http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1485842900/bctid11727585001