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Contact: Patrick Schroeder, 434-352-8987 x 232
Appomattox, Va— Join the National Park Service and Longwood University at the annual free Civil War Seminar on Saturday, February 3, 2024, located in the Jarman Auditorium at Longwood University, Farmville, VA. Noted scholars will present a series of thematically related programs upon “Lesser Known Engagements and Some Civil War Photo Sleuthing.”
This seminar is free and open to the public. No reservations needed. Parking is available on Longwood University campus. Lunch is available at the Longwood University Dining Hall.
The program schedule is as follows:
8:30 a.m.- Doors open
9:00 a.m.- Introduction by Dr. David Coles
9:10 a.m.- James Morgan: Six Miles to Charleston, Five Minutes to Hell: The Battle of Secessionville- The June 16, 1862, Battle of Secessionville was an afterthought to the unsuccessful James Island campaign which began in early June of that year. The actual attack was poorly planned by the Federal commander, Brig. Gen. Henry Benham, though his men came very close to success. Had that happened, it is entirely possible that Charleston itself might have fallen within a matter of weeks, thereby changing the entire tenor of the war. The program covers the background of, and lead-up, to the campaign as well as the final battle itself. It is based on the author’s tactical study of the fight titled Six Miles to Charleston, Five Minutes to Hell, published by Savas Beatie in 2022.
10:15 a.m.- Zachary Pittard: “One of the most brilliant affairs of the war:” The Battle of Staunton River Bridge and a Reevaluation of the Wilson-Kautz Raid- While often overlooked, the 10-day June 1864 Wilson-Kautz Raid serves as a signature feature in the opening operations of the Siege of Petersburg. This reevaluation intends to rekindle the importance of the raid and its impact on the war in Southside Virginia.
11:30 a.m.- Kurt Luther: Civil War Photo Sleuthing: Past, Present, and Future: People have struggled to identify unknown soldiers and sailors in Civil War photos since even before the war ended. This talk traces the 160-year history of Civil War photo sleuthing, showing how the passage of time has magnified some challenges, but also unlocked exciting new possibilities. The program will show how technologies like social media, facial recognition, and digital archives allow us to solve photo mysteries that have eluded families and researchers for a century and a half. Specifically, the speaker will focus on two projects developed by his research lab at Virginia Tech. Civil War Photo Sleuth (www.civilwarphotosleuth.com) combines community expertise and facial recognition to help users identify unknown soldiers in Civil War-era photos. The site has about 20,000 registered users and 50,000 Civil War-era photos and has been featured by TIME magazine, Smithsonian magazine, and The History Channel. Civil War Twin (www.civilwartwin.com), developed in partnership with the American Battlefield Trust, allows users to take a selfie and find Civil War soldiers and civilians who look like them, while learning about both Civil War history and artificial intelligence.
12:30 p.m.- Lunch
1:45 p.m.- William C. Davis: Little Battles that Changed the Big Valley: New Market and Piedmont- Though similar in size and not far apart in time or distance, these two engagements had vastly different outcomes. New Market is better known than Piedmont, but did Piedmont bring more significant results? Strategy, battlefield movements, soldier exploits and primary source accounts will provide insight into the events on these hard-fought battlefields.
2:45 p.m.- Keith Harvey: Forgotten Glory: The Campaign and Battle for Lynchburg- In June of 1864, the City of Lynchburg, Virginia became a primary objective for Union forces launching an offensive into the heart of the Confederacy. This program will use a variety of primary sources to provide a greater understanding of what soldiers on both sides experienced during the Campaign and Battle for Lynchburg. The stories of these soldiers illustrate often overlooked deeds of daring and sacrifice that deserve to be told.
Schedule is subject to change. Directional signs will be posted on the Longwood University Campus. For directions to the campus go to www.longwood.edu. For more information contact Dr. David Coles at 434-395-2220 or Patrick Schroeder at 434-352-8987, Ext. 232.
This annual seminar is sponsored by: Appomattox Court House National Historical Park; The Department of History, Political Science, & Philosophy, and the Center for Southside Virginia History at Longwood University; and Eastern National Bookstores.
—NPS—
About Appomattox Court House National Historical Park: On April 9, 1865, the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia in the McLean House in the village of Appomattox Court House, Virginia signaled the end of the nation's largest war. The stories of Appomattox Court House go far beyond the final significant battles of this nation's Civil War. Learn more at www.nps.gov/apco.
About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's more than 420 national park units and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.
Last updated: December 15, 2023