Central Virginia Battlefields Trust 2019 Annual Conference

By Tom Van Winkle · Originally published June 2019 · pp. 32–33

Central Virginia Battlefields Trust 2019 Annual Conference By Tom Van Winkle The Central Virginia Battlefields Trust held their 22nd Annual Conference April 5th through 7th in Fredericksburg,Va. The three day event packed with battlefield bus tours, evening Presidents get-together, dinner banquet, key note speakers, and morning breakfast event with tour was completely sold out. The conference theme was the Opening of the Overland Campaigns, 155th anniversary. CVBT created a two day, four bus event that toured both the Wilderness Battlefield and Spotsylvania Court House simultaneously. Friday was a muddy slog over the battlefields but all CVBT guests were their usual resilient selves. American Battlefield Trust Education Manager, and former historian at the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, Kris White, handled the Friday and Saturday tours of the Wilderness. Kris offered accounts of the fighting as well as interesting stories of the commanders involved. One interesting stop was at the burial site of Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson’s amputated arm. Although this was related to the Chancellorsville Campaign the year before, it lies within a Union encampment site from the Wilderness fighting. The Spotsylvania Court House Battlefield tours were handled by Overland Campaign historian and author Gordon C. Rhea. Gordon took the groups on a journey through the battlefield and painted a picture of the armies slugging it out in well-known and lesser known areas. Gordon did a masterful job of describing the actions at both the Mule Shoe and the famous Bloody Angle. Both tours were treated to hearty box lunches at two area wineries, and yes, wine was available to the delight of all. The Central Virginia Battlefields Trust annual dinner banquet and meeting was held at the Hospitality House and Conference Center in Fredericksburg. Complete with a silent auction of prints, books, and many other desirable items, the room was set up with dual presentation screens and live period music provided by new CVBT friend Brent Feito on fiddle and banjo, of course not at the same time. The CVBT bestowed two important awards Saturday evening. One was the Dr. Michael P. Stevens Preservation Award; the other the Ralph Happel Award. The Dr. Michael P. Stevens Award was developed by the CVBT Board of Directors to recognize past President Dr. Mike Stevens’ years of service to the organization and preservation. We award this to an individual or group, that continually contributes to Civil War preservation and or education in Virginia. This year the CVBT was pleased to honor today’s 47th Virginia Inf., Co. I, “The Stafford Guard,” living history organization. The 47th Va. has been active in historical interpretation and preservation since 1981. This organization has always taken pride in illustrating the life of Civil War soldiers, through both Living Histories and Battle Reenactments. They were successful in collecting over $40,000 to preserve two original 47th battle flags. The 47th has been organizing local reenactments in Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania for over 10 years, culminating in the 150th Fredericksburg reenactment which raised $8,000 for the Stafford Civil War Park and the CVBT. Captain Bill Russell and his wife Jill accepted the award for the unit. The second honor was the Ralph Happel Award. In 2003, the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust received a $150,000 bequest from the estate of the late Ralph A. Happel. A local son of the region, Mr. Happel had a very distinguished 36-year career as the first historian of the Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park. Recognizing the unique battlefields and historic resources in the Fredericksburg area, Mr. Happel directed that a portion of his estate be used to support CVBT’s ongoing preservation efforts. To honor the lifelong work of this dedicated historian, the CVBT’s Board of Directors established the Ralph A. Happel Preservation Award, to be bestowed on individuals who have made extraordinary lifelong contributions to battlefield preservation in the central Virginia region. In the 23 year history of the CVBT only eight prior Happel Awards have been given. The CVBT was proud to honor Dr. Michael P. Stevens with the Trust’s 9th Ralph A. Happel Preservation Award. Doctor Stevens (affectionately known to most of us as “Dr. Mike”) was one of the seven founding directors of the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust. Mike served as CVBT’s first treasurer from 1996 to 2000. In 2003, Dr. Mike was elected as the president of CVBT. Dr. Mike subsequently served as the secretary of the Board. Then, in 2011, he was resoundingly elected president of the Board for a second time. Dr. Mike served in that position until he resigned for personal reasons in April 2016. During his time on the CVBT Board, Mike was unequaled in providing an extremely passionate voice about the need to preserve battlefields to honor the men in both blue and gray who fought and fell on those fields, and to preserve their stories. Many people have been involved with the CVBT and its preservation work over the years, but Dr. Mike has truly served as the “face” of the organization and as a compelling voice for the importance of preservation. His words have truly resonated with many individuals and groups around the world. Jim Lighthizer, president of the American Battlefield Trust offered a letter read at the proceedings that stated, “If every battlefield community were blessed with a champion like

Mike, our battlefields and our country would be better for it.” After the awards CVBT’s keynote speaker, Manassas Battlefield Park superintendent Brandon Bies, mesmerized the audience with a program on “Battlefield Archeology.” Brandon holds multiple degrees with a master’s in applied Anthropology and American History. He also served as an archaeologist at Monocacy battlefield. Brandon’s presentation reviewed the tools used to determine just what is under our battlefields and why the finds are so significant to understanding the history of those battles and encampments. When he began explaining the recent find of a surgeon’s burial pit at Manassas with photographs, the real wow factor kicked in. The depth of the science that was able to focus such precision on the identification of remains was astounding! One audience member stated ,“ “I can honestly say that was one of the most interesting and edifying lectures I’ve ever heard, on, well, just about anything.” Sunday started with a great breakfast at historical Stevenson Ridge on the Spotsylvania Court house Battlefield. After breakfast some 65 guests boarded two trolley cars and made their way to CVBT’s newest acquisition, Myer’s Hill. Historians John Cummings and Chris Mackowski then did a masterful job of explaining all the action that took place on this hill. A long forgotten but important part of the end of the Spotsylvania Court House engagement played out here with Grant and Lee maneuvering for position. CVBT has paid nearly half a million dollars to preserve this 73.3 acres and continues to raise funds to satisfy the debt. The weekend ended on finally a sunny and warm day.

CVBT president Tom Van conference dinner attendees.

Winkle

Gordon C. Rhea speaks with tour attendees at Tour guide Kris White points out information on Myer’s Hill tour group navigating the terrain. Spotsylvania Battlefield exhibit shelter. Ellwood marker.

CVBT Dinner keynote speaker Manassas Battlefield NPS superintendent and archaeologist, Brandon Bies, mesmerizes audience with details of recent Presentation of Dr. Michael P. Stevens Preservation surgeon’s burial pit find and forensic science analysis. Award from CVBT President Tom Van Winkle to 47th VA. Co I, Stafford Guard’s Captain Bill Russell and wife Jill. Cummings captivate attendees with Myer’s Hill historical accounts.

CVBT Wilderness Battlefield tour group with Kris Spotsylvania Co-Tour guide John Cummings points White at Ellwood, Warrens V Corps headquarters. Spotsylvania Court House Battlefield tour guide out Myer’s house and well site remnants. Gordon C. Rhea captivates a soggy Friday conference tour group.