2023 Civil War Institute Summer Conference

Picturing Yellowstone: The Nation's First National Park in Words and Images (Megan Kate Nelson)

This dine-in discussion will focus on how Yellowstone's explorers conveyed its wonders to readers and viewers in 1871-72. Using media that exploded in popularity during the Civil War, geologist Ferdinand Hayden and photographer William Henry Jackson used magazine articles and photographic images to prove both the existence of Yellowstone's natural wonders, and the exceptional nature of America itself. Painting was a much older art, but Thomas Moran used it to great effect to suggest similar ideas about "nature's nation" to viewing audiences in 1872. 

Playing Hell in Tennessee: John Bell Hood and the Challenge of Command in the 1864 Tennessee Campaign (Drew Bledsoe)

Few Civil War commanders have been as vilified as Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood. Blamed for the failure of the disastrous 1864 Confederate invasion of Tennessee, misconceptions and distortions concerning Hood’s performance and legacy in that campaign continue to influence our understanding of the last major offensive operation in the Western theater. This discussion will assess Hood’s actions and efforts to shape his legacy through post-war writings and memoir.

Animals in the Civil War (Lorien Foote)

This dine-in will explore how animals, especially dogs, contributed to military life. We will consider Confederate officers’ use of dogs to counter raids by the 1^st and 2^nd South Carolina (Union), the use of dogs to guard prisoners at Andersonville, the thriving trade in mocking birds among Union soldiers, and the presence of a variety of companion animals in camp and battle. Participants will read reports from official military records, excerpts from the trial of Henry Wirz, and letters and diaries.

Until Death Do Us Part: Civil War Widowhood (Angela Esco Elder)

“Now I’m a widow. Ah! That mournful word. Little the world think of the agony it contains!” wrote Sally Randle Perry in her diary, after losing her husband at Antietam. In doing so, she received a label she would share with more than 200,000 women across the nation. In this dine-in session, we will be discussing condolence letters, political speeches, newspapers, and more, to explore the experiences of women widowed during the Civil War.

Honoring the Fallen: An Analysis of Civil War Soldiers’ Obituaries (James M. Scythes)

A study of Civil War soldiers’ obituaries demonstrates that the press gave loved ones an opportunity to commemorate the life, and death, of a man who made the ultimate sacrifice for his nation during the war. Written by journalists or the deceased’s family or friends and drawing upon information written in condolence letters, obituaries typically included basic information about the fallen soldier, but the thematic elements found in soldier obituaries also reflected the religious values of the era and reinforced notions of patriotism and sacrifice. Oftentimes, obituary writers focused on subtopics within these broader themes, such as aspects of the Good Death or describing the soldier as a Christian Gentleman or “soldier of the Cross,” to assure readers that the deceased gained entrance into heaven and depict the ideal soldier and man. An analysis of these subtopics gives us a more detailed understanding of what these larger themes meant to the people of the Civil War generation and how their authors used an obituary to commemorate the life of a fallen soldier, while also attempting to explain the meaning of his death. Their passing represented the sacrifice made by thousands of families in the North and South and came to symbolize something larger, as obituary writers attempted to place the individual soldier’s death in a national context by focusing on the human price of victory. By printing many thousands of obituaries for fallen soldiers, therefore, the press played an important role in enabling all Americans to commemorate those who died during the Civil War and provided a forum to preserve these written memorials to the common soldier.

The Debate Over Confederate Emancipation (Keith Bohannon)

This dine-in discussion will focus on the debate over Confederate emancipation. In the closing months of the Civil War, white Southerners engaged in a national debate over whether to arm and enlist slaves in the Confederate Army. This discussion will explore both sides of the debate, analyzing primary documents that include petitions by Confederate officers and soldiers in support of African-American enlistment, and public and private statements written by Robert E. Lee and other influential military and political Southern leaders. Participants looking for background information on the topic are encouraged to read Bruce Levine, Confederate Emancipation (Oxford University Press, 2007). 

 “Power Always Compels Respect”: Late 19^th/Early 20^th-Century Monumentation at Gettysburg (Jill Ogline Titus)

Despite a surface veneer of sectional reconciliation, fierce debates over whose experiences and interpretations of the battle deserved memorialization on Gettysburg’s commemorative landscape raged throughout the late 19^th and early 20^th century. Drawing on a range of letters, memos, newspaper articles, and dedication addresses, participants in this dine-in will explore the complex backstories and “loaded symbolism” of many of the battlefield’s most controversial early monuments, including, among others, the 72^nd and 84^th Pennsylvania Monuments; the 2^nd Maryland Infantry, CSA Monument; and the Virginia Monument.

American Exceptionalism in the Civil War Era (Andrew Lang)

 Diverse casts of nineteenth-century Americans regarded the United States as a unique and exceptional democratic republic that resided within an oppressive, revolutionary, monarchical world. While the concept of American exceptionalism may seem problematic to some modern audiences, it is important to take seriously how and why Americans of a prior era considered their nation, its founding, and its democracy the zenith of modern political enterprises. But the commanding place of slavery within a republic of liberty imposed irreconcilable understandings of American nationhood, informing the causes, conduct, and consequences of the Civil War. Referencing documents from Unionists and Confederates, black and white Americans, statesmen and common people, the dine-in interrogates the complex reasons why Americans waged a bloody civil war over the very existence, meaning, and fate of their self-proclaimed exceptional republic.

Political Generals: John Pope and George McClellan (Cecily Zander)

John Pope and George McClellan stood at opposite ends of the Civil War’s political spectrum. McClellan believed in a conservative and limited war to save the Union and nothing more, while Pope sought to wage the war for Union and emancipation—a radical and transformative vision for the conflict that placed him in the minority of army officers. In the summer of 1862, Pope and McClellan were asked to work together to defeat the surging Army of Northern Virginia, which had turned McClellan back at the gates of Richmond and marched for the Potomac frontier. Politics and personal resentments in the Union officer corps struck another blow at Second Manassas and laid bare the challenge facing the Lincoln administration if it hoped to win the war. For our luncheon, we look at what John Pope and George McClellan said to each other in the summer of 1862, what they said about each other to their friends and allies, and how they each explained their failures after their signature defeats at the hands of Robert E. Lee. We will discuss not only the Union disasters of the summer of 1862, but also look more broadly at the phenomenon of “political generals” and their influence on the Civil War’s conduct and outcomes.

Freedom and Family in the 54th Massachusetts (Kevin Levin)

In this dine-in we will examine a small sample of letters from the men who served in the first Black regiment raised in the North in 1863. The letters of the men in the 54th Massachusetts tell us a great deal about why they chose to serve in the army and what they hoped the war would accomplish. At the same time many of these men worried about their families back home, who faced their own economic hardships and continued racial discrimination.

The First Day and the Union Fishhook at Gettysburg (Garry Adelman), Sat. 6/10, 1:45-8:45 & Sun. 6/11, 9 am – 5 pm

This rigorous trek will endeavor to cover as much of the Gettysburg battlefield as possible over the course of two days. From the first day’s field to a lengthy hike of the Union Fishhook, all of the main battlefield icons plus numerous sites rarely seen will be included as we highlight various aspects of the fighting that took place, July 1-3. This tour will serve the casual visitor as well as students of the battle and battlefield of Gettysburg.

This hike is not for the faint of heart and is designed for people who can walk at a good clip, on paved surfaces, grassy paths, and dirt trails for one mile or more every hour for 7 hours per day. The roughly 14 miles to be covered over the two days will include inclines up and down Gettysburg’s many ridges plus Culp’s Hill, Cemetery Hill, Devil’s Den and possibly others. If you sign up but can’t keep up, you’ll miss most of the tour!

Surrender at Gettysburg: Politics, Manhood, and Honor Under the White Flag (Ashley Whitehead Luskey)

Modern-day perceptions of “surrender” often focus on notions of “weakness,” failure, and a one-way power structure that forces the permanent capitulation of one party to another. However, Civil War soldiers viewed the action of surrender through a vastly different prism—one which allowed for the possibility of capitulation without dishonoring one’s self or country, one which often rested upon the careful negotiation between captor and the captured, and one in which one’s fate was hardly sealed at the moment of surrender. Perhaps most importantly of all, the ritual of military surrender made possible what many Americans believed to be a vastly more civil approach to warfare which Americans insisted set themselves apart from other countries. On this tour, we will explore various instances of surrender at Gettysburg: In which instances was surrender (and the acceptance of surrender) possible, and why? How did soldiers’ varying notions about honor and humanity intersect with cultural conceptions of surrender? In what ways did former experiences with capture (and captors) shape soldiers’ choices and how they fought at Gettysburg? How did soldiers seek to make sense of their experiences at Gettysburg through the prism of surrender? And, how did surrender at Gettysburg and its aftermath fit into the evolving politics, policies, and cultural notions surrounding both captors and the captured? This tour will involve less than one mile of walking on mostly flat, grassy ground.

"Five Weeks of Hell: The George Spangler Farm Hospital, July 1- August 5, 1863" (Carol Reardon)

Little did George and Elizabeth Spangler realize what the visit of several medical officers from the Army of the Potomac's Eleventh Corps on the morning of July 1, 1863 portended for their prosperous Gettysburg farm. Over the next five weeks, approximately 1900 wounded soldiers--both Union and Confederate, private through brigadier general--received medical treatment in the field hospital hastily organized there. The most fortunate patients returned to ranks, while those who succumbed to their wounds found temporary graves in the Spanglers' orchards. This carefully restored property, now owned and operated by the Gettysburg Foundation, offers an unparalleled opportunity to consider the challenges of mass-casualty care during the Civil War. This tour will involve moderate walking over lawns with slight slopes and uneven paved and unpaved walkways.

Gettysburg and Eisenhower: A Five-Star General's Connection to America's most famous Battlefield (Dan Vermilya)

The life and times of Dwight David Eisenhower were inextricably linked to the Gettysburg battlefield. During WWI, Eisenhower prepared soldiers for tank warfare on the fields of Pickett’s Charge. During his presidency, Ike used Gettysburg to conduct diplomacy amidst the Cold War. During his retirement, he shaped the memory of the Civil War’s most famous battle during the Civil War centennial. Eisenhower’s connection with Gettysburg ran throughout his life, and it mirrors the story of the battlefield itself during the 20th century.

This tour will explore the Gettysburg battlefield through Ike’s eyes. Stops will include the grounds of Camp Colt, a view of Eisenhower’s Gettysburg farm from Warfield Ridge, and the Soldiers National Cemetery, where we will explore Eisenhower’s speech on the centennial of the Gettysburg Address.

Redemption at Gettysburg: The Eleventh Corps Makes a Stand on Cemetery Hill, July 2, 1863 (Jennifer Murray)

This tour will focus on one of the more controversial corps in the Army of the Potomac, Major General Oliver Otis Howard’s Eleventh Corps. Often referred to as the “Flying Dutchman” and criticized for breaking at Chancellorsville, the Eleventh Corps carried a particular reputation to Gettysburg. This program will explore the role of the Eleventh Corps on July 1, in the fighting north of town, and will pay particular attention to their stand on Cemetery Hill on July 2, 1863. Minimal walking required over relatively even terrain.

O’Neal’s Alabamians and the Struggle for Oak Ridge, July 1 (Lewis Trott)

This walking tour will cover the ground fought over by the regiments of Colonel Edward O'Neal's Alabama Brigade on the first day of the battle of Gettysburg. After sustaining a costly repulse in their initial attacks, O'Neal's men participated in the successful attacks made by Rodes's Division that drove Federal troops back into and through the town of Gettysburg. The walk will also include a discussion of the poor performances at Gettysburg of Colonel O'Neal and his division commander, General Robert Rodes. The tour will include a moderate amount of walking from the area of the Peace Light Monument on Oak Hill to the McClean Barn and Union positions on Oak Ridge.

Monday, June 12, 8:00 am- 4:30 pm:

Gettysburg: The Battle That Made America (Joe Mieczkowski)

This all day tour of the Gettysburg battlefield will provide a comprehensive orientation to the Gettysburg Campaign, the 3 days of battle, and its aftermath. We will include stops in the town of Gettysburg to understand the impact on the civilians.  This tour will involve moderate walking on paved or mowed paths. A stool to sit on is encouraged, but optional.

Eyewitness to Battle: Antietam in History and Memory (Jim Broomall & Keith Bohannon)

From Alexander Gardner’s photograph of Confederate dead along the Hagerstown Turnpike to James Hope’s haunting painting of the Bloody Lane, imagery has defined our understanding of the battle of Antietam. This all-day tour of the battlefield will examine the contested grounds of the West Woods, Dunker Church, and Sunken Road, among other areas, through an array of first-hand accounts from the rank-and-file of Confederate and United States soldiers. Audiences will then be invited to consider the fighting and its memory through a rich record of visual and material culture. The walking will be moderate-to-intensive.

Confluence: Harpers Ferry from John Brown to Stonewall Jackson (Dennis Frye)

Seldom are John Brown and Stonewall Jackson combined in the same breath. But Harpers Ferry unites their stories into tales of contrasting visions, missions and leadership. Site visits will include John Brown's Fort and old town Harpers Ferry and Jackson's 1862 battlefield on Bolivar Heights and School House Ridge. Total walking about 2 miles, intermittent throughout the day, over moderate terrain.

Monday, June 12: Gettysburg Combo. Mini-Tours & Classroom Work (Times Vary by Tour)

The Spirit of the Staff Ride: A Study of the July 3 Fighting (Carol Reardon)

 Tour: 9 am – 12 pm; Classroom work: 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm

This tour will spend the morning visiting five key stops related to the July 3 fighting. Reardon will introduce an approach used during staff rides to analyze a particular command decision. In the afternoon, the group will head to the classroom where participants will be divided into smaller briefing teams. It will be the job of each team to do what is asked of real staff riders: Present a comprehensive analysis of their assigned decision or commander. Participation in discussions is strongly encouraged in order to provide for the most enriching experience for the entire group! Minimal walking required.

The Union First Corps at Gettysburg on July 1 (Jennifer Murray)

Classroom work: 9 am – 12 pm; Tour: 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm

This tour will spend the morning in the classroom for a combination of lecture and discussion about the Union First Corps’s actions on July 1. Murray will provide first-person accounts and maps for group conversation; after lunch, the group will travel to the key sites related to the actions of the First Corps.  Moderate walking required.

“In the Footsteps of Gettysburg’s Fallen Commanders,” 8:30 – 12:30

In the Footsteps of Major General John F. Reynolds (U.S.) (Chuck Burkell)

The death of Major General John Reynolds had profound consequences on the Army of the Potomac following the morning hours of July 1, 1863. His end may be regarded as one of either heroic role responsibility, or simply “misfortune”. Reynolds will become a tragic Army of the Potomac representative of the battle, and there is no other soldier who has more monuments on the field today at Gettysburg, than General Reynolds. Why?

Are there other perspectives regarding his death? Can this loss of Reynolds be interpreted and understood by other incidents, existing military doctrine, and early American culture, with their colliding intersections of consequence? This presentation will consist of a battlefield and Gettysburg regional tour to include historiography, interpretation, and discussions with CWI participants, and will require minimal walking.

In the Footsteps of General Lewis Armistead (C.S.A) (Jim Hessler)

Brigadier General Lewis Armistead’s memory is unique at Gettysburg. The image of General Armistead leading his men over the wall into the Union defenses with his hat raised on his sword during “Pickett’s Charge” remains among the battle of Gettysburg’s most iconic moments. A highly visible monument on Cemetery Ridge commemorates Armistead’s actions, as do several other nearby monuments and markers. No individual Confederate soldier, not even Robert E. Lee himself, is more celebrated at Gettysburg than is Lewis Armistead. Yet popular literature has also enshrouded Armistead in a mixture of fact and fiction. What did he and his men really experience on July 3, 1863?

Join Licensed Battlefield Guide and author James Hessler as we walk in Armistead’s footsteps from his July 3 starting point near Seminary Ridge to his climatic conclusion on Cemetery Ridge. Along the way, we will discuss eyewitness accounts as we examine and experience Armistead’s role in the battle. Walking will be over approximately one mile of open and sometimes uneven ground.

In the Footsteps of Colonel George Willard (U.S.A.), (Chris Gwinn)

Colonel George Willard and the fifteen hundred men of the 3^rd Brigade, 3^rd Division, 2^nd Corps arrived in Gettysburg under a cloud of shame. Just one year previous, the brigade, untested in battle, had been captured at Harper's Ferry by Stonewall Jackson's command on the eve of the Battle of Antietam. Paroled and now part of the Army of the Potomac, they carried the humiliation of their capture with them into Pennsylvania. For Willard and his New Yorkers, the Battle of Gettysburg would be an opportunity to redeem themselves and restore their honor, but at what cost? This walking-intensive program will follow in their footsteps during that critical afternoon on July 2, 1863. Who were the men that fought under Willard at Gettysburg and how did their experience at Harper's Ferry shape their notions of heroism and cowardice? What did they experience along the grassy slopes of Cemetery Ridge that bloody and fateful July afternoon?

Total length will be approximately two miles over occasionally rough terrain. Limited shade exists along the tour route. Comfortable shoes, insect repellent, and water are strongly encouraged.

Following in the Footsteps of General Elon Farnsworth, Matthew Atkinson, Gettysburg NMP

On July 3, 1863, Elon J. Farnsworth launched an ill-fated cavalry charge against the Confederate right flank.  "Brave and daring to a fault," Farnsworth led the attack against his best judgement at the insistence of his superior, the impetuous Judson Kilpatrick. Historians have debated the merits of the assault ever since. The walking tour will focus on the decision making process of Kilpatrick and Farnsworth. In particular, we will follow in the hoof prints of the 1^st Vermont Cavalry on their long and fateful journey. This walking tour is very arduous (and the word is not used lightly). Potential attendees should engage in serious self-reflection on whether they are up to the hike.

Alternative tour:

Enslaved Persons at Gettysburg in History and Memory (Peter Carmichael, Kevin Levin, Jill Ogline Titus)

When the Army of Northern Virginia invaded Pennsylvania in June of 1863 and converged upon Gettysburg on July 1, they brought with them scores of African American camp servants, cooks, manual laborers, and body servants—slaves who would spend weeks treading upon free soil while forced to assist a war effort waged by the Confederate government to ensure the perpetual bondage of millions of black men and women across the South and within the border states. What were those individuals’ experiences of the three-day cataclysm at Gettysburg and throughout the campaign that preceded and followed it? What roles did they serve, how many took advantage of the opportunity to flee, and why did so many ultimately cast their lot with their masters or the Confederate army over a shot at freedom? This minimal-walking tour will explore these and other critical questions related to the fortunes of those whose Gettysburg experiences consisted primarily of life behind Confederate lines, and not in the midst of the battlefield proper. The tour will also explore how slavery and the issue of race factored into post-war memory, monumentation, and long-term preservation and interpretive choices that continue to shape the way in which visitors encounter the battlefield today.