CWRTDC'S NEXT DAY TOUR


JOIN US FOR A DAY TOUR WITH

JOHN SOWER

TO SEE 

"The Bladensburg Monument"

Saturday, August 23, 2025

(RAIN DATE: AUGUST 24)

About the Tour:

As a follow-up to his presentation on May 14, 2025, CWRTDC member John Sower is coordinating a tour of The Battle of Bladensburg Monument.  A copy of his PowerPoint slides for his talk are posted on our website at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1l-IxJiPGSssevKMJQNshmeqcX8RfMqjI/view.

The battle occurred during the War of 1812, and the tour offers an opportunity to commemorate an important event in our country's history and to learn about a hard-fought preservation effort that serves as an example of how to succeed in similar activities today.

The tour is scheduled at 1:00 pm ET on Saturday, August 23, 2025 (the day before the 211th anniversary of the battle on August 24, 1814), with a rain date of Sunday, August 24.

All are invited to attend: CWRTDC members and non-members, as well as their families and friends. 

Parking is available on the Monument site – across from the George Washington House at 4302 Baltimore Avenue, Bladensburg, MD 20710, and near the WWI Peace Cross and other monuments. 

John was one of the principals in planning and building the Monument, and he is the author of the book “The Last Battlefield Monument in America?” which is available on Amazon, at https://www.amazon.com/Last-Battlefield-Monument-America/dp/1917336160

 If you are interested in taking the tour, please RSVP to Sower1@rcn.com and admin@cwrtdc.org


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CWRTDC'S PREVIOUS MEETING

 VIA ZOOM ONLY

with a presentation by

KEVIN LEVIN

about

"When Slavery Came to Gettysburg"

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

JOIN US VIA ZOOM

Schedule (REVISED):

5:45pm ET: Zoom Platform Opens for Remote Social Period (Optional)
6:15 pm ET: Start of Business Meeting/Elections*
6:30 pm ET: Start of Mini-Presentation with Bill Binzel
6:45 pm ET: Start of Speaker Presentation and Q&A
8:00 pm ET: Meeting Adjourned

Any questions or problems, contact paul.mazzuca@gmail.com    

Zoom Meeting URL: 
Or point your browser to the following link and use the Meeting ID and passcode shown below:
Zoom "Join A Meeting" Page: https://zoom.us/join
Zoom Meeting ID: 834 1270 9960
Zoom Passcode: Zoom1861

Or dial in by your location:
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
Phone Meeting ID: 834 1270 9960
Phone Passcode: 81302104

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdSroe6qvY
For a cheat sheet on how to use Zoom's control features click HERE

About the Topic:

In late June 1863, Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia entered the free state of Pennsylvania with over 10,000 enslaved laborers. These men assumed roles as teamsters, as hospital attendants, and as body servants. Their presence served as the “cornerstone” of the army during its long march north and through the three days of fighting in Gettysburg. 

This presentation will look at the most famous military campaign of the Civil War through the eyes of men that have rarely made it into the history books, but whose presence underscores the importance that Confederates attached to slavery on the home front and in the army as well.

About the Speaker:

Kevin Levin, based in Boston, is an award-winning educator, author, and historian with expertise in high school and college classroom instruction, historic site tours, collaborations with museums, and history teacher training. He is the creator of the substack newsletter Civil War Memory  (https://kevinmlevin.substack.com/; see also https://cwmemory.com).  


Levin’s research is focused primarily on the Civil War era and how Americans have fought over and commemorated this period in American history. He is the author and editor of three books, including Searching for Black Confederates: The Civil War’s Most Persistent Myth (2019), which offers a thorough debunking of that myth and explored how enslaved labor was utilized by the Confederacy; Remembering the Battle of the Crater: War as Murder (2022), which explores the history and controversy over the massacre of United States Colored Troops at the Battle of the Crater in 1864, and his upcoming book, A Glorious Fate: The Life and Legacy of Robert Gould Shaw (UNC Press). Mr. Levin also published numerous essays in scholarly journals and edited collections as well as op-eds for The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The Daily Beast, The Atlantic, and Smithsonian. His upcoming book describes the experiences of enslaved laborers in the Confederate army during the Gettysburg Campaign. 


Mr. Levin will appear virtually for his talk, “When Slavery Came to Gettysburg.”  


 CWRTDC'S PREVIOUS MEETING

AT FORT MYER AND VIA ZOOM


"The Grand Review of 1861" 

presentation by

KIM HOLIEN

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

in the Abrams/Chaffee Room

at Patton Hall Officers' Club / Community Club at Fort Myer,

214 Buffalo Soldier Avenue

(formerly at 214 Jackson Avenue)

Arlington, VA  22211

(take the elevator to the right as you enter the building and press Floor 2 or

take the stairs to up two levels) 


(See Below for Schedule for Zoom Attendees)
5:45 pm ET: Social Period at Club for In-Person Attendees (cash bar)
6:30 pm ET: Start of Meeting/Introductions
6:45 pm ET: Start of Mini-Presentation with John Sower
7:00 pm ET: Start of Speaker Presentation and Q&A
8:30 pm ET: Meeting Adjourned

TO MAKE AND PAY FOR RESERVATIONS,

USE THE MODULE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THIS WEBPAGE

https://cwrtdc-meetings.blogspot.com/ 


 

If you have any problems making reservations online or would like to know about alternatives to making reservations or payments online, please email admin@cwrtdc.org.

Non-CWRTDC members must make reservations and remit payment online

 

Unfortunately, cancellations after the due date are non-refundable, as the CWRTDC must pay for the number of dinners ordered regardless of the actual attendance)

 

Attendees will need to enter For Myer by following the instructions  available by clicking HERE

(also see directions here) or (download them in pdf here)

Interactive Public Transportation Options are HERE


OR JOIN US VIA ZOOM

Schedule for Zoom/Remote Attendees:
6:00 pm ET: Zoom Platform Opens for Remote Social Period (Optional)
6:30 pm ET: Start of Meeting/Introductions
6:45 pm ET: Start of Mini-Presentation with John Sower
7:00 pm ET: Start of Speaker Presentation and Q&A
8:30 pm ET: Meeting Adjourned

Any questions or problems, contact paul.mazzuca@gmail.com    

Zoom Meeting URL: 
Or point your browser to the following link and use the Meeting ID and passcode shown below:
Zoom "Join A Meeting" Page: https://zoom.us/join
Zoom Meeting ID: 834 1270 9960
Zoom Passcode: Zoom1861

Or dial in by your location:
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
Phone Meeting ID: 834 1270 9960
Phone Passcode: 81302104

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdSroe6qvY
For a cheat sheet on how to use Zoom's control features click HERE

About the Topic:

Following the rout of the Union Army at Bull Run on July 21, 1861, the Confederate Army advanced far into Northern Virginia planting the Stars and Bars flag atop Munson's Hill just west of Bailey's Crossroads. Just six miles away, President Lincoln could see the flag by going to the roof of the White House using a high powered naval telescope. In addition, the Confederates had blockaded the Potomac River for a stretch of 35 miles! Then came the Union army disaster on October 21st, at Ball's Bluff, just 35 miles upriver from Washington. This was shortly followed by the Trent Affair, which caused some 10,000 British Regulars to sail to Canada. At the same time France was preparing to send an expeditionary force to take over Mexico. Luckily for President Lincoln, the Confederate General Joe Johnson retreated, and the Union forces took over Munson's Hill. 

On November  20, 1861, General George McClellan held a Grand Review of the newly christened Army of the Potomac consisting of some 70,000 Soldiers. In attendance were President Lincoln, the Diplomatic Corps, some 30,000 spectators from Washington, and a lady named Julia Ward Howe. It is the largest review ever held in the Western Hemisphere. From it, and a smaller dry run held a few days earlier near present day 7 Corners, came "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." As General William Averill would write: "In the realization of all observers, the Army was born that day."


About the Speaker:

Kim Bernard Holien was born in an Army Hospital and raised in an old Army family. From 1975-87 he was an active member of the Civil War Round Table of the District of Columbia, serving as President from 1986-7, during which he integrated the Round Table for women to join, which created great hostility from certain members.

Kim served 41 years in Federal Service in 6 agencies, 4 of which were Top Secret positions. From 1979-2013 he was an Army Historian. For his work there, he received personal commendations from President Reagan, Secretary of Defense Weinberger, Secretary of the Army Marsh, two Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, three Chiefs of Staff of the Army. He also received over 140 awards. 

Kim was the civilian Historian for Helicopter Staff Rides for the Secretary of the Army and Army General Staff from the Pentagon to Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, Cedar Creek, New Market, and 2nd Manassas. He participated in the CW Centennial and narrated the 125th anniversary reenactments of 1st Bull Run, Balls Bluff, Gettysburg, New Market, and Monocacy. He also narrated the 150th anniversary of 1st Manassas. 

Kim wrote the first book Battle at Balls Bluff which was used by Ed Bearss to assist Mrs. Reagan in preserving the battlefield from development. His work in battlefield preservation goes back to the 1970s and involves Manassas, Chantilly, Balls Bluff, the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields, and Ft. Ward. Kim is a 1981 founding member of the Friends of Ft. Ward.         


________________________

 CWRTDC'S UPCOMING MEETING

co-hosted with
PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S COTTAGE

IN-PERSON ONLY

"Dred Scott: Struggle for Freedom
and Continued Legacy"

by
LYNNE JACKSON

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

At President Lincoln's Cottage

140 Rock Creek Church Rd, NW 

Washington, DC  20011

Use the address above in your GPS to take you to the Eagle Guard Gate entrance, where the guard will ask for an ID.  Please let the guard know you are there for a meeting at President Lincoln's Cottage.  If driving, there is free parking to which the guard will direct you. The Visitor Center is just beyond the gate.


Agenda:
5:30 pm:  Social Period with light appetizers and refreshments at Visitor Center. 
6:15 pm:  Short walk to President Lincoln's Cottage for Program.
6:30 pm:  Presentation of the Ed Bearss Legacy Award to Loretta Neumann.
6:40 pm:  Start of Meeting with 
                Callie Hawkins, CEO of the Cottage & Eileen Bradner, VP, CWRTDC.
6:50 pm:  Presentation by Lynne Jackson.
7:15 pm:  Cottage Conversation and Q&A
8:00 pm:  Meeting Adjourned

THE PROGRAM IS OPEN TO ALL.

FREE TO MEMBERS OF THE 

CWRTDC AND PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S COTTAGE.

(NON-MEMBERS MAY PAY $10 OR BECOME MEMBERS)


PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIREDBY CLICKING HERE

(https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dred-scott-struggle-for-freedom-and-continued-legacy-tickets-1291607836809?aff=oddtdtcreator) 

Members will receive an email about how to register for free.


YOU MUST HAVE A VALID ID TO ENTER THE PREMISES.


About the Topic:

For our April 9, 2025 meeting, we are partnering with President Lincoln’s Cottage in northwest Washington, D.C., to hear from Lynne Jackson, President and Founder of the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation and the great, great granddaughter of Dred Scott. 

Ms. Jackson will give a presentation on Dred and Harriet Scott's 11-year legal battle for freedom and the work of the foundation to promote commemoration, education and reconciliation in today’s fractured environment. 

The meeting will take place in the historic house where President Lincoln and his family lived for over a quarter of his Presidency, and where President Lincoln developed the Emancipation Proclamation. 

Following Ms. Jackson’s presentation, there will be a moderated discussion and questions. The meeting will begin with a reception in the Visitor Education Center. 

About the Speaker:

Lynne Jackson is the great-great granddaughter of Dred and Harriet Scott, plaintiffs in the Supreme Court’s Dred Scott decision of 1857. Jackson founded the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation in 2006 with the goals of commemoration, education and reconciliation. Her primary motive is to share and continue the legacy of Dred Scott and his important role in changing the landscape of the United States through his 11-year legal battle for freedom. Her expertise is blending the personal and legal cases together and portraying a composite picture of what the Scott family’s struggle really meant.

The Foundation raised funds to commission and install the first and only statue of Dred Scott including his wife, Harriet, which stands outside the historic Old Courthouse in St. Louis, MO, where the Scotts sued for their freedom. The Foundation also erected a new memorial for Dred Scott at Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis.  

Jackson has created signature panels, “

Jackson is a graduate of S. Illinois University at Edwardsville and the Alleda Ward Wells Piano Studio of St. Louis. She has had a career in law and business in St. Louis.  She has received numerous honors and awards for her heritage work including the Spirit of Justice Award from the St. Louis Bar Foundation and a Proclamation from the City of St. Louis.

Through its work, the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation aims to ensure that we never forget the struggle for freedom, citizenship and equality, with an eye towards helping to heal the wounds of the past.

Sources: https://www.thedredscottfoundation.org/dshf/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=104&Itemid=86

https://thedredscottfoundation.org/dshf/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=156&Itemid=53

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