Museum of the Confederacy Upcoming Event

I received this information the other day from the Museum of the Confederacy and thought readers might be interested.

The Museum of the Confederacy and Maymont proudly present a Special Presentation: An Irish-American Experience in the Confederate Army John Dooley's Civil War Wednesday, November 14th, 2012 6:00PM-8:00PM Location: Maymont's Garden Hall Building 1700 Hampton Street, Richmond, Virginia 23220 Dr. Robert Emmett Curran, Georgetown University Professor Emeritus of History, gives us fresh information from a keen observer of life in the Confederate Army. The younger brother of Maymont's James H. Dooley, John E. Dooley left a riveting, highly literate and vivid first-person account of his experiences in the 1st Virginia Regiment. Previously known only through an abbreviated edition, Dr. Curran's expanded edition, published in 2011, reveals the full scope of John E. Dooley's war-time experience: from the Richmond home front to 20 months in a Federal prison camp on Lake Erie, from bloody Antietam to Gettysburg, where he fell wounded leading his company of Irish-Americans in Pickett's Charge. Join us for Dr. Curran's introduction to a fascinating young Richmonder and his captivating story. Reception and book signing follow the lecture. $10 per person/ $5 for members of Maymont and The Museum of the Confederacy. Reservations recommended. To register, call (804) 358-7166 ext. 329 or email kalcaine@maymont.org. Register online by clicking here.

Civil War Cinema Announcement

2nd Annual Civil War Cinema!

Join the Museum of the Confederacy and the Historic Byrd Theatre for the 2nd Edition of Civil War Cinema. The feature presentation will be "The Conspirator," Robert Redford's historical drama about the trial of Mary Surratt starring Robin Wright, James McAvoy, Tom Wilkinson and Kevin Kline. Prior to the movie, a chocolate and champagne reception will be held in the theatre's lobby and Mary Surratt biographer Elizabeth Trindal will give a short lecture after the film.

In addition, Ms. Rita McClenny from the Virginia Film Office will be making a few announcements regarding the recent filming of Steven Spielberg's Lincoln in Richmond as well as news on what the future has in store for the Virginia Film Office.

All proceeds benefit the Museum of the Confederacy and The Byrd Theatre Foundation.

Sunday, January 29th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm

$25 (includes reception, lecture and film)
$15 with student ID or 13yrs. and younger (ID must be presented at the door)

You may purchase tickets at the Museum's front desk, Chop Suey Books in Carytown, or by clicking "Buy Tickets" below.

BUY TICKETS

Date: Sunday, January 29, 2012
Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Address:
2908 West Cary Street
Richmond, VA 23221

Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum

Located on South Fairfax St. in Alexandria, Virginia sits a small but interesting museum that dates from the late 1790's. The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum sits as a  reminder of early medicinal and retail history.

Founded in 1792 and moved to it's current location in 1796 the family run pharmacy operated until the great depression and increased competition caused it's closure in 1933. Edward Stabler founded the pharmacy and operated it until 1819 when his son William took over management. William inherited the business when Edward died in 1831. William's brother in law John Leadbeater took over ownership in 1852.

Store records with purchases
made by Robert E. Lee

During the long and successful run of the business it served both the average citizen and the famous. Sales records detail purchases made by the likes of Martha Washington, James Monroe, Eleanor Parke Custis, and Robert E. Lee.

In addition to medicines, over the years the pharmacy sold varied products including farm equipment, surgical supplies, dental instruments, soaps and perfumes, cigars, mineral water, paints, and more. During the Civil War products such as "hot drops" were popular and sales records show that Union troops were large purchasers of this cough suppressant.

As the Great Depression destroyed business after business the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop was no exception. The shop closed for good in 1933. After closing, the shop was left in the same condition as when it operated. The Landmark Society of Alexandria then purchased the property eventually opening it as a museum in 1939. In 2004 the museum was closed for renovations. After extensive renovations it was donated to the city of Alexandria and was reopened in 2006. When reopened the museum allowed visitors to visit the second floor "manufacturing room". This room sits as it did when the original shop closed in the 1930's. Also available to visitors is the basement where the cistern is located.

I highly recommend this nice little museum to any visitor of Alexandria. It is a must see for anybody interested in retail history, pharmaceuticals, or bottle collectors. The admission charge of $5 (be sure to ask about a AAA discount) is well worth the cost.

Be sure to visit the museum's Facebook page.

Various medicines and also beautiful
glass signage below.

Row after row of medicine bottles.

Congress Water!

Various patent medicines.

George Washington bust
seen as you walk in the
front door.

Benjamin Franklin as seen
to the right of  George
Washington.

An assortment of products bearing
the Leadbeater logo.

The basement cistern

Interpretive plaque discussing the
cistern.

Tanglefoot remedy for fleas.

E.S. Leadbeater and Sons Wholesale
Druggists glass bottle.

Confederate Paintings to Be Displayed Online

Rarely-displayed paintings of Charleston during the Civil War by a Confederate soldier, including an iconic rendering of the submarine H.L. Hunley, are being made available this week on the Internet by The Museum of the Confederacy

The museum in Richmond, Va., on Tuesday goes live on its Web site with all 31 paintings by Conrad Wise Chapman, an American artist who grew up in Italy and later served with the Confederate Army.

Read the full article here.

View the online exhibition here.

Elmer Ellsworth Display at Abraham Lincoln Book Shop

I received the information below from the Abraham Lincoln Book Shop today. This looks like a cool event. If you're in the Chicago area be sure to check it out.

(April 11, 1837 - May 24, 1861)

The First Martyr of the Union

Tomorrow, May 24, marks the Sesquicentennial of the death of Union Colonel Elmer Ellsworth, on a dark stair case in the Marshall House Hotel, in Alexandria, Virginia. With this killing, the Union had their first martyr of the Civil War. Also tomorrow at Noon, Abraham Lincoln Book Shop, Inc., opens an exhibit of art, artifacts, documents and letters from the largest private collection of Elmer Ellsworth-themed historic material extant. The exhibit will be on display for one month, and can be viewed at the Book Shop, 357 W. Chicago Ave., during the regular business hours of 9-5 on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 9-7 on Thursdays, and from 10-4 on Saturdays.

The opening event features Abraham Lincoln Presenter George Buss, reading and discussing Lincoln's condolence message to Ellsworth's parents; he will then take questions from the press.

Ellsworth Killed by James Jackson.

On the day he was killed the young Chicago-based commander of Union troops was one of the most well-known men in America, with his award-winning military drill squad, enjoying the status similar to a top athlete or a pop star today. The fact that he was the first Union officer to die in the war, that he was a personal friend of President Abraham Lincoln and an idol to Lincoln's young sons, and that he was so widely known and admired, led to the rise of a cult of mourning in the wake of his demise.

Among the rare and one-of-a-kind artifacts is an 1859 Chicago document in Ellsworths' hand to the governor of Illinois enrolling the names of the members of "U. S. Zouave Cadets" drill team and requesting a commission in the Illinois State Militia for himself. Also, letters from the martyr's parents regarding the recovery of his horse, photographs of Ellsworth and his "avenger," Sergeant Francis Brownell, who killed his commander's assassin, and even Brownell's reward for his act, a commission as second lieutenant in the regular army signed by President Lincoln himself.

Stereo Plate of Francis Brownell, "Ellsworth's Avenger" 

Following Ellsworth's death Americans, or rather northerners, eagerly collected any mourning regalia, or even personal relics they could acquire. Relics include scraps of covering from the floor he died on, and splinters from the flag pole that once flew the Confederate banner he died trying to tear down. The exhibit features sheet music, a newspaper broadside giving news of his funeral arrangements, and patriotically illustrated envelopes and jewelry.

If you cannot come to Abraham Lincoln Book Shop, you can view the exhibit at our Exhibit Display Page.

Like all items on display at Abraham Lincoln Book Shop, the Elmer Ellsworth collection is available for sale. For questions regarding acquisition, please contact proprietor Daniel Weinberg at (312) 944-3085.

Book Review--The Battle of Gettysburg Cyclorama

Boardman, Sue and Kathryn Porch. The Battle of Gettysburg Cyclorama: A History and Guide. Thomas Publications, Gettysburg, PA. 2008. 79 pages, bibliography, color and b/w photos. ISBN 9781577471387, $19.95.


 For most visitors to the hallowed ground of Gettysburg the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitors Center is a must see. The museum will help get you oriented to the battlefield, is where you can view the large museum, is where most tour guides are hired at and more. Included in the price of admission is the legendary Cyclorama! The Gettysburg Cyclorama depicts what for most is the defining moment of the battle, if not the entire Civil War, Pickett's Charge. Taking place on July 3, 1863 after a large Confederate artillery fire troops led by General George Pickett (with others) attacked the center of the Union line only to be repulsed. From there the Confederate army moved back toward Virginia and in many people's mind the battle turned the fortunes toward the Union.

Licensed Battlefield Guide Sue Boardman and Kathryn Porch have written an interesting and much needed guide to go with the Cyclorama. A cyclorama is a panoramic painting viewed in the round from a central platform that allows viewers a 360 degree view. In Europe these are often called panoramas. While originating in Europe the trend reached American soil in the 1870's with landscapes, religious works, and historical events being the main subjects. The technical aspects of a cyclorama are huge with both painting and architectural features of the building needing to work together to achieve the maximum viewing pleasure. In addition to the painting a diorama must be built between the viewing platform and the painting in order to extend the paintings features and create the full illusion desired. When these aspects work together the result is fantastic.



Paul Philippoteaux in
front of Pickett's Charge

 With the increasing popularity of the medium in the United States businessman Charles Willoughby commissioned French artist Paul Philippoteaux to create a battle scene that would be displayed in Chicago. Once Pickett's Charge was decided upon work was begun and over a year later in October 1883 the painting was unveiled. After three years in Chicago the painting travelled to Detroit. Due to it's popularity, and financial success, a second version was commissioned and opened in Boston in 1884 before being "traded" with Philadelphia for a Custer's Last Fight painting. Two other versions of Pickett's Charge were created by Philippoteaux both opening in 1886. In the early 1900's the Boston version of the painting was acquired by Albert Hahne and the Picture Association of Gettysburg allowing the painting to be shown in the town that inspired it's subject. Due to neglect, including having been left in a crate in a field, the painting was deteriorating and several attempts at restoration were made. In 1959 construction began on what is now known as the "old visitor's center". This building ultimately proved unsuitable for the painting due to issues such as the building not being tall enough, lack of humidity control, no proper viewing platform, and roof leaks. Thanks to a new and proper building, modern restoration techniques, and appreciative visitors the painting can now be seen in all it's glory.

Boardman and Porch have done a fine job in outlining the history of this marvelous painting. The book is short and broken into logical chapters. Included is a quite helpful "key to the scene" section where the authors briefly label sections of the painting in order to help viewers follow the action. Included in this section are vintage and current photos showing what the actual areas look like. While this book is not cheap ($20 for less than 100 pages) it is a worthwhile purchase. The writing is good and the photos are wonderful. Recommended if you have an interest in the history of Gettysburg.

Upcoming Museum Exhibit

Thanks go to my mother for alerting me to this upcoming exhibit at the Orange County Regional History Center.  Read more about the exhibit here.

Quoted from the website: Florida in the Civil War highlights the state’s rarely acknowledged sacrifices and contributions in the "War between the States." Although often overlooked, Florida played an important role in the Civil War. The exhibit reveals how Florida overcame adversity to ship salt and beef to the Confederacy and how the state's citizens survived the Union blockade of its coastline.

Civil War Message in a Bottle Decoded

A Civil War message in a bottle from the Museum of the Confederarcy has been opened and decoded. It reinforced the grim possibilities for Vicksburg.

By STEVE SZKOTAK, Associated Press Steve Szkotak, Associated Press – Sat Dec 25, 11:13 am ET



RICHMOND, Va. – A glass vial stopped with a cork during the Civil War has been opened, revealing a coded message to the desperate Confederate commander in Vicksburg on the day the Mississippi city fell to Union forces 147 years ago.


The dispatch offered no hope to doomed Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton: Reinforcements are not on the way.

The encrypted, 6-line message was dated July 4, 1863, the date of Pemberton's surrender to Union forces led by Ulysses S. Grant, ending the Siege of Vicksburg in what historians say was a turning point midway into the Civil War.

The message is from a Confederate commander on the west side of the Mississippi River across from Pemberton.


"He's saying, 'I can't help you. I have no troops, I have no supplies, I have no way to get over there,' " Museum of the Confederacy collections manager Catherine M. Wright said of the author of the dispiriting message. "It was just another punctuation mark to just how desperate and dire everything was."


The bottle, less than 2 inches in length, had sat undisturbed at the museum since 1896. It was a gift from Capt. William A. Smith, of King George County, who served during the Vicksburg siege.


It was Wright who decided to investigate the contents of the strange little bottle containing a tightly wrapped note, a .38-caliber bullet and a white thread.


"Just sort of a curiosity thing," said Wright. "This notion of, do we have any idea what his message says?"


The answer was no.


Wright asked a local art conservator, Scott Nolley, to examine the clear vial before she attempted to open it. He looked at the bottle under an electron microscope and discovered that salt had bonded the cork tightly to the bottle's mouth. He put the bottle on a hotplate to expand the glass, used a scalpel to loosen the cork, then gently plucked it out with tweezers.


The sewing thread was looped around the 6 1/2-by-2 1/2-inch paper, which was folded to fit into the bottle. The rolled message was removed and taken to a paper conservator, who successfully unfurled the message.


But the coded message, which appears to be a random collection of letters, did not reveal itself immediately.


Eager to learn the meaning of the code, Wright took the message home for the weekend to decipher. She had no success.


A retired CIA code breaker, David Gaddy, was contacted, and he cracked the code in several weeks.


A Navy cryptologist independently confirmed Gaddy's interpretation. Cmdr. John B. Hunter, an information warfare officer, said he deciphered the code over two weeks while on deployment aboard an aircraft carrier in the Pacific. A computer could have unscrambled the words in a fraction of the time.


"To me, it was not that difficult," he said. "I had fun with this and it took me longer than I should have."


The code is called the "Vigenere cipher," a centuries-old encryption in which letters of the alphabet are shifted a set number of places so an "a" would become a "d" — essentially, creating words with different letter combinations.


The code was widely used by Southern forces during the Civil War, according to Civil War Times Illustrated.


The source of the message was likely Maj. Gen. John G. Walker, of the Texas Division, who had under his command William Smith, the donor of the bottle.


The full text of the message to Pemberton reads:


"Gen'l Pemberton:


You can expect no help from this side of the river. Let Gen'l Johnston know, if possible, when you can attack the same point on the enemy's lines. Inform me also and I will endeavor to make a diversion. I have sent some caps (explosive devices). I subjoin a despatch from General Johnston."


The last line, Wright said, seems to suggest a separate delivery to Pemberton would be the code to break the message.


"The date of this message clearly indicates that this person has no idea that the city is about to be surrendered," she said.


The Johnston mention in the dispatch is Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, whose 32,000 troops were encamped south of Vicksburg and prevented from assisting Pemberton by Grant's 35,000 Union troops. Pemberton had held out hope that Johnston would eventually come to his aid.


The message was dispatched during an especially terrible time in Vicksburg. Grant was unsuccessful in defeating Pemberton's troops on two occasions, so the Union commander instead decided to encircle the city and block the flow of supplies or support.


Many in the city resorted to eating cats, dogs and leather. Soup was made from wallpaper paste.


After a six-week siege, Pemberton relented. Vicksburg, so scarred by the experience, refused to celebrate July 4 for the next 80 years.


So what about the bullet in the bottom of the bottle?

Wright suspects the messenger was instructed to toss the bottle into the river if Union troops intercepted his passage. The weight of the bullet would have carried the corked bottle to the bottom, she said.


For Pemberton, the bottle is symbolic of his lost cause: the bad news never made it to him.


The Confederate messenger probably arrived to the river's edge and saw a U.S. flag flying over the city.


"He figured out what was going on and said, 'Well, this is pointless,' and turned back," Wright said.

Book Review: The Story of Lee's Headquarters

Smith, Timothy H. The Story of Lee's Headquarters: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Thomas Publications. Gettysburg, PA. 1995. 92 pages, 67 pages of text. Index, notes, maps, b/w photos.

On the Chambersburg Pike, situated on Seminary Ridge, near the Quality Inn sits a small but extraordinary building today known as General Lee's Headquarters Museum. Author Timothy H. Smith takes us on a brief but enjoyable tour through the history of this building and the surrounding area that despite it's importance in the first days fighting is still not part of the Gettysburg National Military Park.

Built in 1833 or 1834 by Michael Clarkson the property was purchased by Thaddeus Stevens in trust for Mary Thompson in 1846. Ms. Thompson lived in the house until her death in 1873.

The house and it's occupants were witness to some of the heaviest fighting of the battle during the first days fight. The Confederates eventually were able to gain control of the area and force a Union retreat. The main escape route for Union soldiers was the Chambersburg Pike into Gettysburg toward Cemetery Hill. This came to be known as having to "run the gauntlet" due to the fact that Confederates were closing in on three sides. On the first day of battle more than 2,000 Union soldiers were taken prisoner here and also by being caught in the railroad cut just north of the Pike.

General Lee arrived during the late afternoon on July 1, 1863 and Smith uses many eyewitness accounts to place him inside the Thompson House. After the war the home became known as General Lee's Headquarters. Tourists came to see where Lee commanded from. In the fall of 1863 John Bachelder published a map with the Thompson House being labeled "Gen Lee Hd Qt's" (page 50). Many other maps labeled the house in a similar way.

Around the turn of the century a movement sprang forth to try and discredit the story that Lee used the Thompson House as his headquarters. One author, Henry Dustman, went so far as to claim Lee never set foot in the house. Another writer claimed to have interviewed a woman (he insinuated it was Mary Thompson) who claimed Lee did not stay at the house. The problem was the interview took place a year after Ms. Thompson died.

Brief mention is given to later owners of the house such as Clyde Daley and more recently Eric F. Larson. I would like to have known more about these men and the development of the museum and the grounds around it. That really does not seem to be important to the story Smith is telling and the book is not lessened in any way.

Smith has written a brief but fulfilling book on the Thompson House. He uses a nice mix of primary and secondary sources to prove that Lee was indeed at the Thompson House and that while he did not use it as an exclusive headquarters that is not what is important. What is important is that this house and the land surrounding it saw brutal fighting and we should remember what happened there. Overall a highly recommended book for anybody interested in the history of Gettysburg.

Ford's Theatre Museum Reopens

Ford's Theatre Museum reopened earlier this month. Read the press release here. While the theatre itself opened earlier this year the full downstairs museum is now open for viewing. It appears this is quite an upgrade and well worth the wait. I was in Washington D.C. while the theatre was closed so this will be a must see the next time. If you have had a chance to go please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section.