Scoundrel or hero? Like the Slim-Jim commercial, no one is neutral about Daniel Edgar Sickles, his mercurial life or his role in the Battle of Gettysburg. Probably no one knows more about Sickles and can discuss the man in more objective terms than our guest, Jim Hessler. Making his encore appearance to close out the...
The First Defenders have learned that perennial April guest Ed Bearss recently suffered a fall at his home. Although not seriously injured, Ed will be off his feet for a week or two and will be unable to present his “Evening with Ed” program on the Battle of Shiloh. While wishing Ed a speedy return...
Word has been passed along to the Round Table about an state auction at the Green Hills Auction Center in Mohnton on Monday, April 2nd. Auctioneer Sam Ferraro has a consignment of the estate’s books, almost all of which are classic editions. They will be up for auction at 2:00 pm. There is a beautiful set...
It’s that time of the year again when the First Defenders will hold its annual “Evening with Ed” featuring the one and only Ed Bearss. On Tuesday April 10th the historian emeritus of the National Park Service will tell the story of the Battle of Shiloh, the battle that swept away any notion of a...
A springtime “Joe’s Jaunts” has been set for Saturday April 28th, and the destination will be the Montgomery Cemetery in nearby Norristown. The final resting place for no less than a half-dozen Union generals (including Winfield Scott Hancock), the cemetery had long been in poor condition before the Montgomery County Historical Society began restoring it...
Most passing Civil War students are well-versed in both the old and new tomes outlining the history of the campaigns and their generals. It takes those with real interest, though, to dive deeper into the personal stories of the men who shouldered the musket and stood shoulder-to-shoulder trading Minié balls with the enemy. To satisfy...
The First Defenders will meet on Tuesday March 13th for their next program that will focus on the penultimate event of the three day Battle of Gettysburg: Pickett’s Charge. Meal selections are posted on-line under the “Events” tab, and the March newsletter can be viewed or downloaded from the “Newsletters” tab. The deadline for meal...
All First Defenders know the Round Table’s long and proud history of conducting book raffles to benefit preservation work. These raffles have been supported by the generous donations of members and friends. Now, in an effort to keep the growing book inventory under control, to provide members with an opportunity to acquire quality books and...
In September 2018, Bentonville Battlefield and the Friends of Bentonville Battlefield will host “Two Weeks of Fury” a symposium and whirlwind tour of the Carolinas Campaign. The schedule includes tours of Wise’s Forks, Civil War Fayetteville, Averasboro, Bentonville and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the Monroe’s Crossroads battlefield on Fort Bragg. Historians taking part in...
The naval actions of the Civil War have long received short shrift along side the land actions of the conflict, and are often reduced to the Monitor v. Merrimack, Farragut’s taking of Mobile Bay, the Trent Affair and other high-profile events. However, as every buff knows, there is much more than the actions familiar to even the...
