Our 47th Year
FOR THE MEETING TUESDAY, April 24, 2012
Meets Fourth Tuesday; January-November
Founded March 1964
Second Presbyterian Church
600 Pleasant Valley Drive
Little Rock
Program at 7 p.m.
Online: www.civilwarbuff.org
Jan Sarna, President
Rick Meadows, Editor
RMeadows@aaamissouri.com / arcivilwarbuff@gmail.com
Dues $20 Per Year
VISITORS WELCOME!
VISIT THE BATTLEFIELDS WHEN YOU CAN…
WHILE YOU CAN
Dr. George E. Lankford
And
The Army of the Southwest in Batesville
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Join us Tuesday when Dr. George E. Lankford brings our program. Lankford received his B.A. in Journalism from Louisiana State University, a B.D. in Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary, and his Ph. D. in Folklore from Indiana University in 1975. Lankford is a current member of the Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission, Past President of the Independence County Historical Society, and Professor Emeritus at Lyon College in Batesville.
He has published many books and articles. His published works that pertain to the Civil War are “The Battle of Batesville, Three Perspectives, May 3, 1862” published in 2012 by the Independence County Chronicle and “Baptists, Slavery and Secession in Independence County in 2011 also by the Independence County Chronicle. Last year he wrote the script entitled “War Chronicles I: Independence County’s Civil War.” Readers’ Theatre script which was performed at the University of Arkansas Community College in Batesville. This winter, Lankford spent a month along the beach to complete the script for “War Chronicles II”. Hopefully Lankford will give us an update on when it will be performed.
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Following Pea Ridge March 6-8, 1862, Brig General Samuel Curtis left West Plains, Missouri, with the hope of taking Little Rock. Many of his Federal units however were sent across the Mississippi River, leaving Curtis in a weaken state. Hoping to receive supplies by way of the White River, Curtis planned to use Batesville as a supply depot. From this point he could turn his attention to Little Rock. His men went foraging for supplies. None were to be found, especially in the spring before the growing season. |
Following a skirmish at Batesville and an engagement at Whitney’s Lane out of Searcy in May, Curtis abandoned his plans of taking Little Rock. In addition, the Federal Iron Clad, Mound City, was severely damaged in June leading transports up the White River. Curtis would head to Helena along the Mississippi River for his much needed supplies. Little Rock would remain in Confederate control for one more year.
Hope you can join us for Dr. Lankford’s description of Batesville in the Civil War and the Army of the Southwest.
Jim Lighthizer, President of the Civil War Trust, announced last month, “For the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Shiloh, I had the honor to accompany Board members John Nau, Mike Grainger, and Trace Adkins to the Shiloh Battlefield. During the press conference we were able to sign the deed that will transfer 167 acres of battlefield land held by the Civil War Trust to the Shiloh National Military Park. I can think of no better way to honor the great sacrifices of the soldiers who fought and died at Shiloh than by saving the very ground where they met in combat.
Before returning to our offices in Washington D.C.,I also had the chance to stop by the 491 acre tract that we are now working to save at Shiloh What a magnificent and historic piece of ground. This is a must have piece of land, my friends. And when we save this ground, with your help, the Civil War Trust will have saved more than 1,000 acres of battlefield land at Shiloh.”
For information on how you can support the efforts visit www.civilwar.org
Book Raffle
Thank you to the University of Arkansas Press for donating With Fire and Sword, Arkansas, 1861-1874 by Dr. Thomas A. DeBlack. Published in 2003, this work should be on everyone’s bookshelf who is interested in the Civil War in Arkansas. Monies that we raise will go toward preservation efforts in Arkansas. Dr. DeBlack is professor of history at Arkansas Tech University.
Battlefield Preservation
At our last meeting and in the last issue of our newsletter, we discussed the need to support preservation efforts in Arkansas. Here is your second reminder!
“I am asking each member and friend of our Roundtable to consider writing a hand written note to your state senator and representative asking for their support in approving funding next year. The fund could be called a Battlefield Preservation Fund. I have asked that a $200,000 minimum amount be funded each year. Dollars should be used to help preserve our historic buildings and battlefields. $200,000 is just a start. Other states use a matching grant process to support their efforts.
Will you contact your legislators? We need to support our groups in Arkansas too!”
your editor
Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Update
Saturday, April 28
Everyone is invited to attend the 2nd Annual Fort Lincoln Freedom Fest in DeValls Bluff.
This is a free event which will focus on bringing the rich history of DeValls Bluff and Prairie County to life. During the war, DeValls Bluff served as a supply depot, hospital, and the first railroad in Arkansas ran to Huntersville (N. Little Rock). Following the war the Freedmen’s Aid Society established a school to educate the freed Negroes.
The event will be held at the Community Center from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There will be speakers, re-enactors, interactive displays, along with games and activities for all ages. Thanks to the Bill and Sharon Arnold Family Foundation for their support. For additional information call Stacy Sawyer at 870-659-5652.
Cell Battlefield Audio Tours are now available for select Civil War Sites across the state. To access the tours, locate the tour signage at the site and dial 501-203-3015.
For Additional information about cell audio tours visit www.arkansascivilwar150.com
Fort Negley Memorial Day – Nashville, Tennessee
Our friend Greg Biggs from the Nashville CWRT has announced that Fort Negley Park will host a Memorial Day weekend observance to honor all serving members of the U.S. Armed Forces and to commemorate those who gave the final devotion to their country. The observance will also honor those who perished building and defending the fortifications of Nashville during he Civil War including Fort Negley. The event will be held on Saturday, May 26, 2012.
Battle of Iuka
Our friends at Iuka, Mississippi, are inviting everyone to attend the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Iuka. This event will be held at the Mineral Springs Park over Labor Day Weekend, August 31-September 2, 2012. There will be a Grand Ball on Saturday and the battle re-enactment will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday on the 120 acre battle site. For additional information visit www.battleofiuka.com or call Barry or Ellen Ayers of the 48th TN Infantry at 662-423-9011.
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Welcome new members: Arthur and Sue Maune – Little Rock Gerald A. Senn – Little Rock Roy Wilson – Sheridan |
Civil War Roundtable Speakers 2012
- January – Mark Kalkbrenner – Pine Bluff in the Civil War
- February – Roy Wilson of Sheridan – The Battle of Jenkins’ Ferry
- March – Dr. Daniel Littlefield – Sequoyah Research Center at UALR, Role of Native American Indians in the Civil War
- April – Dr. George Lankford of Batesville - Army of the Southwest in Batesville
- May – Dr. Roger Pauley, History Professor at UCA – Armies of the Western and Eastern Theater and Their Differences
- June – TBA
- July – Mark Christ –Community Outreach Director, Department of Arkansas Heritage – Civil War Arkansas: 1863 The Battle for a State
- August - Jerry Potter Attorney from Memphis, The Sultana
- September – Dr. Bill Shea -History Professor at the University of Arkansas at Monticello - Samuel Curtis: The Man Who Conquered Arkansas
- October – Dave Bastain from Maryland – Grant’s Canal: the Unions’ Attempt to Bypass Vicksburg
- November – Dr. Bill Gurley – Professor at UAMS – Arkansas at Shiloh
Thanks go out to Dan Littlefield and his program last month on the roll of the Native American Indians in the Civil War.
We hope to see you Tuesday night with George Lankford!
