June 22-26, 2012 Full-Time

June 22-24, 2012 Part-Time Option

"The Civil War in 1862"

Every summer for the last twenty-nine years, the Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College has hosted a summer conference where public audiences and leading historians come together for small group discussions, battlefield tours, panel debates, and presentations. All sessions, lodging, and meals are held on the 200 acre college campus.  Registration is now open for both part-time and full-time attendees. 

In keeping with the sesquicentennial of the Civil War, in 2012 we will explore all aspects of the war in 1862.  Some of the topics will include: 

• The Emergence of Ulysses S. Grant
• River Operations in the Western Theater
• Stonewall Jackson and Military Executions
• The Destruction of Hood's Brigade at Antietam
• Emancipation and the Peninsula Campaign

View the  full-time schedule

View the part-time schedule

View the student scholarship schedule

The CWI conference is noted for offering fresh perspectives and new angles on the Civil War as part of an exciting and engaging dialogue between experts and general audiences. Experts in the field and our faculty for 2012 include:

Caroline Janney of Purdue University will be speaking onThe Root of Sectional Bitterness: Slavery, Emancipation, and Civil War Memory.
• John Hennessy
• Brooks Simpson
• Mark Grimsley
• Caroline Janney
• Dennis Frye and many others

 

 

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Registration

Registration is now open for both full-time and part-time attendees; Part-time attendees will attend the lecture portion of the conference from Friday afternoon to Sunday evening.  The battlefield tours are not available to part-time attendees.  There are a limited number of part-time slots.  You can register online using a credit card.  A $50 nonrefundable and nontransferable deposit is required when you register, full payment is due by April 1, 2012. Register now.

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Breakout Sessions

Breakout sessions afford participants a more intimate learning environment where experts discuss a topic of their choice within a classroom setting.  The format encourages a more informal conversation with experts.  Topics vary and participants will be able to choose one of the three breakout sessions.  The other two sessions will be randomly assigned.

Breakout Sessions for this summer include:

• Soldier Health and Environment in 1862
• Contraband Labor and Emancipation
• 1862:  A Year of Turning Points
• Northern Racism on the Eve of the Emancipation Proclamation
• Recent books on the Antietam Campaign

 

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Battlefield Tours

Experts lead participants to some the most evocative and important historic landscapes related to the Civil War.  Experts incorporate Civil War letters and diaries  as well as modern maps and historic photographs to enrich the experience. Tours usually involve extensive walking but some trips are largely done by bus.

The menu of tour options is extraordinarily varied to meet the different interests and knowledge levels of the participants.  On Monday conference participants will tour battlefields away from Gettysburg and those sites include Second Manassas, Antietam, and Fredericksburg.  A portion of Tuesday is devoted to walking tours of the Gettysburg battlefield.  This year's options include: Confederate Operations in the Wheatfield, Oates' Alabama Brigade at Little Round Top, the 11^th Corps at Blocher's Knoll, The Fight at Spangler's Spring July 3, and Hood's Texans on July 2.

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Conference Book and Recommended Reading

The Hard Hand of War by Mark Grimsley will be the 2012 conference book.  A round table session will be devoted to the book and Professor Grimsley will be part of the panel and available during the discussion period.   Participants can purchase the book at the Gettysburg College Bookstore at a discounted price.

 

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Book Signings

The speakers will make themselves available throughout the week for autographing books, but two times are scheduled for book signings.

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Gettysburg College Book Store

The GCBS has a wide variety of Civil War books available for purchase.  They are conveniently located within the meeting room for your convenience.  You may also purchase books in advance of the conference by visiting their website.

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Lodging

Participants have a variety of dorm options to choose from and each option includes a shared bathroom with an adjoining room. The college provides linen and towels; participants need to bring their own amenities (washcloth, soap, shampoo, etc.).  If off-campus lodging is preferred, participants can register by selecting the tuition only option.

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Meals

All meals are served in the college dining hall, which can accommodate most dietary needs.

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Continuing Educational Units

The CWI will provide a letter of certification for educators interested in acquiring Continuing Educational Units for their participation in the seminar.  Approximately 38 hours are spent attending lectures, panel discussions, and battlefield tours.

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Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences with a strong academic tradition. Alumni include Rhodes Scholars, a Nobel laureate, and other distinguished scholars. The college enrolls 2,600 undergraduate students and is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania. Gettysburg College complies with ADA guidelines.