Tour: Maryland Campaign Part 3, The Battle of Antietam Dates: October 25-27, 2019 Tour Leaders: Dr. Tom Clemens and Scott Hartwig Reported By: John Bonansinga Having missed the first two parts of this series due to family obligations, I was determined not to miss the finale of the series. I’ve been to Antietam … Read more
In spring 1863, as Gen. U.S. Grant plotted his attack on Vicksburg, he traveled into Mississippi’s interior, knowing he needed to sever the Confederate’s railroad connection between Vicksburg and Jackson. During that time, he transported reinforcements and supplies along the rural road between Grand Gulf and Raymond. “The genius of the campaign is out there … Read more
BGES Blog: In 2020 you are offering two novice tours, Civil War 101: The Gettysburg Campaign; and Revolutionary War 101: Boston/Lexington/Concord. Normally your tours take deep dives into little known aspects of history. What is the thinking behind these novice offerings? LR: Well, hi Barbara, you sure cut right to the point, don’t you? The … Read more
As an award-winning author and the collateral descendant of a much-maligned Civil War figure, Sam Hood knows that retelling our nation’s history accurately often requires digging a little deeper. In fact, part of his impetus for writing John Bell Hood: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of a Confederate General was to set the record straight … Read more
What do you do when you hear an inner voice telling you to live out your destiny? You listen. At least that’s what S. Waite Rawls III did. Descended from Virginia ancestors who fought for the Confederacy, Rawls felt a deep connection to the Civil War as a child. But it wasn’t until a business … Read more
Sometimes a connection to the past hits you in such a personal way that it catches you completely off-guard. BGES member Nancy Crago understands that phenomenon as well as anyone. As a kid growing up in Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County, Crago barely gave the Civil War a passing thought, even though she lived less than an … Read more
Mention Old Town Alexandria, and most people think colonial history. And they’re not wrong. Founded in 1749, the town went on to become a hotbed of Revolutionary War activity, with George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and other patriots discussing the merits of democracy at Gadsby’s Tavern and worshipping at Christ Church. But Alexandria, located just 10 … Read more
BGES Treasurer Laurence Schiller retired in 2016 from his “real-life” profession at Northwestern University as history professor and the second winningest fencing coach in NCAA history. Interestingly, those jobs fit nicely into the broader scope of what Laurie loves to do—and continues to do: Reenact. He’s been a full-blown Civil War reenactor since 1994, typically … Read more
December 3rd, 2019, is a special day for nonprofit organizations around the world. The annual social media day of giving was designated “GIVING TUESDAY” to harness the power of the new media to do good for the tens of thousands of charities doing their work in the shadow of diminishing resources. Knowing that individuals fuel … Read more
Tour: Jeb’s Ride Around McClellan Date: September 29 2019 Tour Leader: Len Riedel Reported By: Dave Downing As a member of the Blue Gray Education Society, I closely follow upcoming tours/events published in the BGES Newsletter, and one such event (“Jeb’s Ride Around McClellan”) caught my attention. I have long admired Stuart and was … Read more