Programmers. ,. A historian he has worked as a historian for the National Park service and Fredericksburg National Military Park. My eyes decided to water at an awkward moment. [laughter] sorry, chris. [laughter] he is also a historian for at National Park service Fredericksburg National Military Park where he gives stores at major battlefield. Major battlefields. Chris has authored or coauthored a dozen books on the civil war and his articles have appeared in all the major civil war magazines. He serves on the board of directors for the virginia trust. Welcomingn me in Chris Mackowski. [applause] im going to move through here. Thank you, sarah. [laughter] in november of 1879, mark twain was asked to give a speech at the reunion of the army in honor of ulysses as grant. A was the 15th speaker on long list of people offering accolades. He called it the perilous distinction. He said he was the last speaker on the list, and honor no person has ever sought. [laughter] you are going to see
Defended the reputation. As well as the inability of soldiers to defend themselves against germs and infection. This hour and 15 minute talk was art of a symposium hosted by the emerging civil war blog. I am pleased to introduce our esteemed panel tonight. I have asked a variety of voices, some of those who are a emerging from a variety of perspectives some of whom we will hear from this weekend and some of those who are here exclusively tonight. The idea is to talk about great defense. For those of you who have come in previous years this conversation is apt to wobble in all sorts of interesting and fun ways. I am going to pitch a couple of softballs, lets talk a little bit and then we will open things up to the floor because we want this to be a conversation for you to have the opportunity to pick the brains of some of the finest historians we have here. I am going to start to my immediate right with my great polish brother. People like chris, that still does not narrow it down. Chri
Petersburg, virginia, for the historical park civil war symposium. Next, chief historian at fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National historical park will speak. All right, lets call it back to order. Thank you. Welcome back from lunch. We wanted to mention that today is the 100th anniversary to the day that the first u. S. Troops went in france. [applause] i am happy to introduce our next speaker. He is a public historian and author currently serving as the chief historian and chief of interpretation at Fredericksburg National military park. Parts worked for the four years. As well as probably the definitive book on manassas. Lets welcome him. [applause] john i have to start with this. This is not a gratuitous phrasing of my team that i have loved since i was 11 years old. You may remember they one the stanley cup in the spring. I offer this is context for some of what you have heard this week. Does anybody recall who was defeated in the final . Do you remember . Is in the state of ten
I have asked a variety of voices, some of those who are a emerging from a variety of perspectives some of whom we will hear from this weekend and some of those who are here exclusively tonight. Greatea is to talk about defense. Whof you who cant have come in previous years this conversation is apt to wobble in all sorts of interesting and fun ways. I am going to pitch a couple of softballs, lets talk a little bit and then we will open things up to the floor because we want this to be a conversation for you to have the opportunity to pick the brains of some of the finest historians we have here. I am going to start to my immediate right with my great polish brother. People like chris, that still does not narrow it down. Of thes the director memorial town in north folk. If you ever have a chance to see it i know it is the civil war not world war ii. Chris likened it to me in a description, it is like being in charge of a president ial library and you can see what impact macarthur had wit
William fitzhugh it was headquarters during the civil war and a Field Hospital during the battle of fredericksburg where clara barton and walt whitman tended to the wounded. It is part of Fredericksburg National military park. You want a guided tour of the house . At least of the downstairs area . Like to welcome you to chatham. My name is don. Im the staff historian here. Youve never been here before . No. Ive been to chatham, new jersey. New jersey. Its a town, though. But they are named after the same person. Theyre both named after yeah, named after william pitt who was the earl of chatham who was a very popular figure because he was a member of parliament and one of the few who supported americas right to representation. And so he was a very popular man here in the colonies. And William Fitzhugh obviously liked him because hed name his house after him. Speaking of, thats him right there. Hes the man who built chatham. The house was constructed here between 1768 and 1771. It was no