Lake Currents – 11/30/12

Civil War Study Group Presents Relic Cabinet to LOW

by Craig Rains, Director, Civil War Study Group

 

On Wednesday, November 14, the Civil War Study Group, Inc. (CWSGI) formally turned over to the Lake of the Woods Association (LOWA) a custom-built cabinet to display relics of the Battle of the Wilderness found in LOW.  Dr. Peter G. Rainey, chairman of CWSGI, presented the keys to the cabinet to Robert S. Shope, president of LOWA.

 

CWSGI raised the funds to have thecabinet crafted by Coley’s Cabinet Shop of Fredericksburg and permanently installed in the LOWA clubhouse. The six-foot-tall mahogany and glass cabinet exhibits more than 100 relics and artifacts from the Battle of the Wilderness that took place May 5-7, 1864, in Orange and Spotsylvania counties, including in and around the Lake of the Woods area. Some of the relics have been donated or loaned to CWSGI for display and many others belong to LOWA, having been found on its properties.

 

Dr. Rainey said, “The purpose of the cabinet is to display the CSWGI collection of Civil War relics and artifacts of educational value that will contribute to preserving the history of Orange County.” He noted the cabinet contains information about the battle and soldiers, people who lived in the LOW area at the time, and examples of weaponry and munitions used by both North and South.

 

In addition to its educational programs, the Civil War Study Group helps local residents research their possible Civil War ancestors and can assist in searching property for relics to be displayed. For more information, contact Dr. Rainey at 972-9291.

 

Lake Currents – 11/16/12

Chamberlain’s Changing Perspective of Appomattox Presented to CWSG

by Bob Johnson, Member Civil War Study Group

 

Dr. Stephen Cushman, professor of English at the University of Virginia, was the guest speaker at a luncheon sponsored by LOW’s Civil War Study Group (CWSG) at the Clubhouse on October 26.  Dr. Cushman compared and contrasted the writings of Union Gen. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain as he described the official surrender ceremony of Gen. Robert E. Lee’s army at Appomattox. Chamberlain’s first written account implied his troops just watched the Army of Northern Virginia pass by to surrender and lay down their arms.

 

Over the next several decades, Chamberlain wrote of intricate “presenting arms maneuvers” to honor the Confederate Army troops. This change could be attributed to embellishment or further illumination of how treated the defeated army in the Civil War.

 

Dr. Cushman sees it as an example we might use in the deeply divided 21st Century populous over politics and money—treat the other side with dignity.   Cushman’s presentation came from a chapter on Chamberlain taken from a book on the Civil War he is now writing. The book also includes chapters on Abraham Lincoln, Walt Whitman, Ambrose Bierce, and William Tecumseh Sherman.  Cushman is a poet as well as an author who wrote Bloody Promenade: Reflections on a Civil War Battle about the May 1864 Battle of the Wilderness.

 

At the meeting, the CWSG displayed several relics recovered in LOW that will be featured in the large display cabinet installed at the Clubhouse. CWSG designed and commissioned the cabinet and raised the funds to have it built. Some may remember that there was such a display case in the old Clubhouse before it burned in 1980.

 

Following the presentation, Bob Johnson and Paul Alderman escorted Dr. Cushman, and noted Orange County historian Frank Walker on a tour of the Lake of the Woods to see three interpretative panels depicting action in LOW during the Battle of the Wilderness.  The NPS-quality signs, one each at Spotswood Park, the golf course parking lot and at Cornwallis Beach, were researched and created by CWSG members and installed this year.

 

The CWSG is actively documenting the history of the Battle of the Wilderness (and indeed all of the Civil War) as it tore through what is now Lake of the Woods. If you are interested in contributing relics or want our team to look for artifacts on your property, contact Pete Rainey at 972-9291.

 

Lake Currents – 09/07/12

Artifacts Soughtfor Civil War Exhibit

by Craig Rains, Member, Civil War Study Group at LOW

 

In 1980, a fire swept through the Lake of the Woods Clubhouse and destroyed an extensive display of Civil War relics that had been found during the development of the community.

 

Now, 32 years later, a new display cabinet will be installed in the Clubhouse,

and once again will be filled with Civil War memorabilia to remind local residents of the rich history of the area.  Bill Wilson, president of the Civil War Study Group at Lake of the Woods, said the group has raised money to make the cabinet a reality. The group is hoping to fill it with relics and artifacts donated or lent by people interested in creating a permanent educational and historical exhibition to commemorate the 1864 Battle of the Wilderness fought in the area.

 

The Civil War Study Group is made up of local residents who are interested in the area’s history, especially relating to the Civil War.

 

Wilson said the group is seeking donations of items that are of historic or educational value, such as military artifacts and personal papers or photographs related to the military activities in the area, which will be placed on display in the cabinet.  Preference will be given to items from Orange County or those associated with the Battle of the Wilderness.

 

He said, “A number of our neighbors have found war relics on their properties, and we hope that they will either contribute them for the exhibit or will make them available on a loan basis. Because we are a tax-exempt organization, a donor is entitled to a tax-deductible donation based on the fair market value of such items.”

 

Anyone wishing to donate or lend artifacts or wanting more information is asked to contact Dr. Pete Rainey at 972-9291. Donated items will become the property of the Lake of the Woods Association. Loaned items will be returned to their owners upon request.

 

The Civil War Study Group meets in the Woods Center at 10:30 AM on the fourth Friday of every month. The meetings are free and open to the public.

 

Lake Currents – 09/07/12

 “The Civil War in Our Backyard”

by Craig Rains, Member, Civil War Study Group at LOW “The Civil War in Our Backyard” is the topic of the Civil War Study Group at Lake of the Woods (CWSG) meeting on Friday, September 28.   Dr. Pete Rainey will demonstrate an educational program that has been developed to teach students first-hand the history of the area in which they live.

 

Dr. Rainey will present an overview of that program, the lessons learned from the

students, and a discussion of future educational presentations. The program was presented last spring at Locust Grove Elementary School where more than 70 fourth-grade students heard it and entered into the historical discussion that

followed. “One of the surprises we discovered was that many of the children

had found relics in their yards,” Dr. Rainey said.

 

One segment of the presentation tells of a ten-year-old boy who sat on

his back porch and watched the Battle of the Wilderness in May 1864. Dr. Rainey noted, “His home was located where the mailbox station is now at Life

Estate in LOW Section 9.”

 

The CWSG plans to develop similar presentations to other middle and elementary schools in the future, as well as adapting them to programs for local civic and social groups.

 

“Educational activities are an important component of the mission of the

Civil War Study Group at LOW,” Dr. Rainey said. “Education is part of our group’s charter, and it is very rewarding to see the interest about local history among our young people in addition to LOW residents.”

 

The September 28 CWSG meeting is at 10:30 AM in the Woods Center,

104 Fairway Drive. It is free and open to the public.

 

Lake Currents – 08/10/12

Was Great-Grandpa A Civil War Hero?

by Craig Rains, Civil War Study Group at Lake of the Woods

 

Do your family legends include stories of your great-grandfather having served in the Civil War? Was he a hero at the Battle of Chancellorsville? Or, was he awarded a medal for bravery at Gettysburg? Or, was he among the thousands who valiantly fought for the cause they believed in but never came home again? It’s possible, of course. Or, maybe he did not fight in the war at all!

 

The Civil War Study Group at Lake of the Woods (CWSG) will discuss how you might be able to answer questions such as these at its next meeting on Friday, August 24, at 10:30 AM at the Woods Center. The meeting is open to anyone at no charge.

 

Joe Rokus, a CWSG member and a volunteer researcher for the National Park Service, will make a presentation titled “Finding Your Civil War Soldier” in which he will outline the methodology for researching Civil War-era ancestors. He will also go over what resources are available for research, including those available on the Internet  cost. Rokus has performed a number of such research projects, often yielding unexpected results. After discovering in 2004 that his great-granduncle, Antonius Rokus, had fought with the 29th New York Infantry Regiment at Chancellorsville, he compiled his ancestor’s life story, which subsequently was published along with the unit history of the 29th New York Regiment.

 

Rokus moved to Lake of the Woods in 2003 and became interested in local Civil War history after he “found” his great-granduncle. He was born in Germany, near where Antonius was also born. After immigrating to the U.S. with his family, he obtained engineering and business degrees from the University of Illinois and Dartmouth College and worked for private industry, primarily in finance, before retiring. He has written a number of articles about Civil War and local history.

 

The Civil War Study Group at Lake of the Woods was formed in 2010 primarily

 to conduct research and present the historical events and actions that took place during the May 1864 Battle of the Wilderness, especially on what is today’s Lake of the Woods property. Last year, the group erected three historical markers within LOW to commemorate important aspects of the Battle of the Wilderness in May of 1864.  Its current project is to install a display case in the LOW Clubhouse to exhibit Civil War artifacts found in the area and is seeking donations of items to be shown.

CWSG meets on the fourth Friday of each month at 10:30 AM at the Woods Center, 104 Fairway Drive. For additional information, please contact Craig Rains at 972-2844 or Joe Rokus at 972-6386

 

Lake Currents – 07/13/12

What is History of Seven Pines Drive?

by Craig Rains, LOW Civil War Study Group

 

What’s in a name? Have you ever wondered what’s behind the name of your street? Here in Lake of the Woods there are several streets that are named after Civil War battles. Now you can find out the stories behind many of the battle street names through a series of programs by the Lake of the Woods Civil War Study Group. The first program in this series will be presented at 10:30 AM on July 27 at the Woods Center.

 

LOW resident Joe Nordsieck will discuss the 1862 battle behind the name of Seven Pines Drive in LOW Section 12 and its significance. It was at Seven Pines that Confederate General Joseph Johnston was seriously wounded and replaced by General Robert E. Lee as commander of the Army of Northern Virginia. Federal forces marching up the peninsula towards Richmond were halted and the Seven Days Battles of June 25 through July 1 drove the Union army back to the James River and saved the Confederate capital.

 

Joe Nordsieck has been a LOW homeowner since 1985, moving here permanently in 2004 when he retired from the Federal government. A native of Cincinnati, he holds a BA degree in history from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, and an MA degree in American history from the University of Cincinnati.

 

The LOW Civil War Study Group was formed in 2010 primarily to research and present the historical events and actions that took place during the May 1864 Battle of the Wilderness on what is Lake of the Woods property today. Its meetings are free and open to the public. Residents who live on Seven Pines Drive are especially invited to attend the July 27 meeting

 

Lake Currents – 06/01/12

What Happened in Orange County Following the Battle of the Wilderness?

by Dwight Mottet, Past President of Friends of Wilderness Battlefield and

member of the Civil War Study Group

 

Donald C. Pfanz, Staff Historian at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, will make a special presentation at the Woods Center, 108 Fairway Drive, on Friday, June 22, at 10:30 AM, detailing the story of what happened after two days of horrific fighting in the Wilderness where more than 2,000 Union soldiers perished. The presentation is open to all.

 

Don’s presentation, “Skeleton Hunt: The Burial of Union Soldiers in the Wilderness,” will enlighten you about the establishment of a National Cemetery in 1865 just across the highway from the Wilderness Battlefield Shelter and the process by which the remains of these soldiers were moved to their final resting place. While this subject is particularly somber, it is a crucial part of our history.

 

Don Pfanz has written over twelve articles about the battles in our area including, “The Bone Collectors, Creation of Wilderness Cemetery #1.” Don has been a National Park Service (NPS) historian for 30 years. Born in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, he earned a bachelor’s degree in history at the College of William and Mary before joining the NPS in 1981. He has worked at Petersburg National Battlefield and Fort Sumter National Monument, and for the past 20 years, he has been a historian at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. He has written three books on the Civil War and has a fourth book scheduled for publication later this year.

 

The Civil War Study Group was formed in 2010 primarily to research and present the historical events that took place during the May 1864 Battle of the Wilderness in today’s Lake of the Woods. In 2011, it installed three interpretive panels describing battle actions within LOW. Its membership and meetings are free and open to the public. The president is Bill Wilson, 972-1824.

 

For additional information, contact Dwight Mottet, 972-3204, or

dwightmottet@aol.com.

 

Lake Currents – 05/18/12

Originally Called Decoration Day,Memorial Day is a day of Remembrance

by Peter G. Rainey, Chairman, Civil War Study Group

 

Three years after the Civil War ended, Maj. Gen. John A. Logan the head of the Grand Army of the Republic declared that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30. It is believed that date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country.

 

The first large observance was held that year at Arlington National Cemetery. Various Washington officials, including Gen. and Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant, presided over the ceremonies. Children from the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Orphan Home and members of the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) made their way through the cemetery, strewing flowers on both Union and Confederate graves, reciting prayers and singing hymns.

 

The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day until the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war.

 

Located within a few miles of Lake of the Woods are the Fredericksburg National and Culpeper National Cemeteries, and the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania Confederate Cemeteries.

 

Fredericksburg National Cemetery became a national Cemetery in 1865. This

Civil War graveyard is the final resting place for 15,276 soldiers, but only 3000 are identified.  On Memorial Day, the National Parks Service and the Boy Scouts set up luminaries on each gravesite.

 

Culpeper National Cemetery was established in April 1867 for the burial of

more than 2,000 Civil War soldiers. Union dead from many actions are interred in the cemetery. A memorial dedicated to the Civil War Unknowns buried in the cemetery was erected in 1988. The cemetery is in active use for the burial of veterans of all wars and their dependents.

 

Fredericksburg Confederate Cemetery owned and maintained by the Ladies’ Memorial Association of Fredericksburg, was dedicated in May of 1870 to the 3,553 Confederates who were killed on four area battlefields and reinterred here; 2,184 of them are unknown. An impressive monument was dedicated in 1884 to those whose identities are unknown. On this spot was held one of the earliest Memorial Day observances in the country. As it has for nearly 150 years, this tradition continues annually at 10 AM on Memorial Day, the last Monday in May.

 

Spotsylvania Confederate Cemetery was established in 1866 by local women concerned about these unattended plots.  They formed the Spotsylvania Memorial Association and reburied nearly 600 soldiers from 10 states in the new location. Most are identified and organized by state. A few remain unknown.

 

Wilderness Cemetery #1, the first National cemetery in our locale, was created June 1865, and was in existence for just over one year. Brevet Major Moore enclosed Wilderness National Cemetery No. 1 with a simple board fence. Each of the headboards visible in the photograph appears to read: "Unknown U.S. Soldiers Killed May 1864" National Park Service Historian Donald Pfanz will present a program called “Skeleton Hunt: The Burial of Union Soldiers in the Wilderness” at Lake of the Woods on Friday, June 22, at 10:30 AM in the Woods Center. He has been a National Park Service historian for 30 years and the staff historian at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County National Military Park since 1992. He will explain how and why this cemetery was established and within two years, all those interned were move to Fredericksburg.

 

Lake Currents – 04/20/12

The Civil War Came to LOW

by William Wilson and Gayle Buresh, Contributing Authors

 

In 1864 between the 5th and 7th of May, the Battle of the Wilderness was fought in part over land that is now within Lake of the Woods (LOW). This battle was one of the major battles of the Civil War, and it marked a significant turning point of the war.  Ulysses S. Grant, whom Lincoln had just promoted to General in Chief of the Armies of the United States, took charge of Meade’s Army of the Potomac with the instructions to destroy Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. Three times previously the Union Armies had tried to cross the Confederate defensive lines along the Rappahannock and Rapidan Rivers. The Union Armies were forced to retreat back to safety after defeats at the Battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and a withdrawal at Mine Run. It would not happen again.

 

The main Union force crossed at Germanna Ford, came down Germanna Plank Road (Route 3) in order to advance down beyond Confederate lines. To accomplish this goal, the Union Armies needed to use Culpeper Mine Road (parallels Lakeview Parkway through LOW), Orange Turnpike (Route 20) and Orange Plank Road. The Union forces were blocked by Lee’s army in the Wilderness, (a cut-over forest grown up with an impenetrable thicket of scrub trees and brush). This forced Grant to fight blind in a place where his artillery and cavalry were neutralized. A force of 61,000 Confederates held 102,000 Union soldiers to a standstill during two days of bloody fighting. On May 7 Grant’s men cheered when it became clear that despite severe losses Grant would not retreat. Rather, Grant advanced southward around Lee’s right flank to meet him again at the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse where fighting resumed on May 9. The Battle of the Wilderness marked the beginning of the end of the Confederacy.

 

Last year to commemorate the battle and its historic relationship to our community, the LOW Civil War Study Group sponsored a golf tournament. The proceeds from the golf tournament were used to fund placement of three historical markers at

 sites important to the battle in LOW. This year the study group is hosting the second annual Battle of the Wilderness Memorial Golf Tournament on May 25. The funds raised by the golf tournament this year are earmarked to replace the Civil War artifacts cabinet that was located in the Clubhouse and was destroyed in the fire many years ago. The original cabinet contained Civil War items that were found within LOW.

 

For nformation about the tournament, please contact Bill Wilson at 972-1824 or Gayle Buresh at 972-2637.

 

Lake Currents – 03/09/12

LOW Civil War Study Group

by Dr. Peter G. Rainey, Member

 

We will resume our monthly meetings at 10:30 AM on the fourth Friday, March 23, in the Woods Center.  Prior to that, we will make a presentation to the 4th grade at Locust Grove Elementary School on the “Civil War in our Backyard.” One of the facts I learned in preparing for the 4th grade students is that men from thirty states came here for three days in May 1864, and over 30,000 of them left their mark within Lake of the Woods.

 

Our initial developer dug up many items the troops left behind in 1965 and put them on display in our Clubhouse until the fire of Easter 1980 destroyed it all. Our mission this year is to restore such a display.

 

All fund raising will be devoted to procuring a custom-made relic display cabinet from one of the local artisan cabinet makers.  While the original had such large items as a saddle, we know that even today there are bullets, buttons and bottles being found by our neighbors. These small items are an important part of history; they tell us much of the camp life and fighting that occurred in our backyard.

 

We ask you, if you have found any items, that you consider allowing them to be displayed. We have the resources to identify and classify the various artifacts. It is also important that we document where they were located. Please contact Peter at 972-9291.