our members |
I found this information on a Civil War blog and thought maybe it deserves mention in The Runner. The damage from Katrina extends well beyond New Orleans. Beauvoir, Jefferson Davis' last home, was hit with 30 feet of water with the rest of Biloxi, and although left standing is heavily damaged. The Confederate Museum in New Orleans has so far as I know escaped the waters and the looting but all of the staff members have lost their homes.
Click Beauvoir
Click (aerial view of Beauvoir)
Right now is more a time for giving to the Red Cross, etc., to help the living, but perhaps we at the Round Table can think later about helping raise contributions for saving, stabilizing, or restoring Beauvoir and other historic sites along the Gulf Coast. It will both preserve some of our history as well as help provide jobs in the area. The region will need everything they can get in the years it will take to rebuild.
Sincerely,
David Norris
January 28, 2006
We had a small crowd show up at the Cameron Museum of Art to work on the old Confederate trenches from the Battle of Forks Road. 
There were several museum volunteers helping Johnnie McKoy, the Museum's Building and Grounds Manager. Bruce Patterson, Dale Lear, and Palmer Royall were there when I got there. Steve Gunter came along later on. (Hope I didn't leave anyone out; there were some familiar-looking people I couldn't place.)
We cleared up the section of earthworks restored by the Round Table a few years ago, and built small dams across the lower section of the trench to slow erosion by water rushing through them in heavy rains. Some pine logs were cut and ready on the site, but they were so large that we couldn't move them without some kind of heavy equipment.
Perhaps the most exciting thing was finding sections of squared, heart-pine logs, possibly used as firesteps by the troops (they stood on a firestep to shoot over the works, then
stepped down to reload).
Oh, yeah, another exciting event was the discovery of a baby copperhead snake, awakened either by our digging or the warm weather. Palmer caught it on a shovel, took it a little ways behind the trench, and let it go. Luckily, none of the snake's multitudes of brothers and sisters were in evidence.
Steve and I found what was probably one of the old rifle pits marked on Mark Moore's map of the Forks Road battle in Chris' book. It's a short distance in front of the earthworks, now hidden by heavy brush and saplings. 
I was surprised to see how much of the Forks Road line is left. Traces of the works can be seen from the restored section west to Independence Blvd., and back east into the woods owned by the Museum.
David Norris
January 28, 2006
The work session this morning (Forks) was a huge success.
Although we only had six or seven members show, we had been proceeded by a similar group from the museum and together we completed the task. The trench has been cleaned out and the top of the trench smoothed out.
While digging the trench, we did uncover several sections of the old shooting platform that had been buried for the past 141 years. Amazing ! Pictures were taken and the museum staff informed. They will discuss with Chris and pursue ways to display the find and continue it its preservation.
We finally departed but not before Palmer Royal discovered several sharks teeth embedded in the asphalt of the museum parking lot.
We are also indebted to the museum staff for hot coffee, Krispy-Kreams and cold water. Some change from the last time we made this effort.
All in all, it was a great morning . One, this member, felt was well worth the effort. One or two more sessions are planned before the Forks Re-enactment on 2/25.
See you all at our February meeting, 2/9.
Bruce Patterson
January 28, 2006
I was remiss in my previous report in not recognizing the efforts of Boy Scout Troop 224, Pine Valley UMC (CWRT member Keith Ward is Scoutmaster) in clearing the work area in and around the revetments at the Forks. They accomplished real "yeomen" work in a work session two weeks ago. It was well done and made for a much easier day today.
Thanks Keith and all the Scouts
Bruce Patterson
April 27, 2006
SUBJECT: Miscellaneous Information
TO: Members of the Cape Fear Civil War Roundtable
Several items of interest to members have come my way in the last few days and I want to share them with you.
Check out the June Issue of Naval History. The issue is dedicated to articles (with illustrations) of Civil War Riverine Operations, including the Federal Navy control of the Western Waters and the manner in which the CSS Albemarle Ruled the Roanoke (until sunk by the intrepid William B. Cushing). All issues of Naval History are good, this one is particularly so.
If you have not visited the reading section of The Runner lately, do so soon. We recently added an article written by Noah Raper that captures the pathos of battle, in this instance during the siege of Petersburg. Noah is a graduating senior at Duke and has been a member of the 26th North Carolina Band for over six years. Many of our members heard Noah and his Dad keeping the beat (they form 2/3 of the drum corps) at the Fort Anderson reenactment in February.
The North Carolina Military Historical Society will hold their annual meeting in Raleigh on Saturday, 20 May. The business meeting will be short with the balance of the day being devoted to studies of the Civil War in North Carolina. It promises to be a very special day for CW buffs. Visit www.ncmhs.net for more details. The meeting is free and open to all interested individuals. I will provide more details at our May 11th meeting.
Lastly, please don’t miss the May meeting (5/11). Eric Wittenberg is good! He is both a gifted writer and a great speaker.
Bruce Patterson
