Quincy (Illinois) Civil War Symposium III

By Professor Earnest Veritas · Originally published January 2022 · p. 14

Dr. Timothy B. Smith. Dr. Smith opened the Symposium to an enthusiastic crowd and gave a most informative presentation on “The Real Horse Soldiers-Grierson’s Raid.” The raid diverted Confederate resources between April 17 and May 2, 1863. It was a diversion of Confederate resources from Grant’s crossing of the Mississippi River. Dr. Smith has recently published a wellresearched and most readable book on the raid, titled: The Real Horse Soldiers. The second part of the Friday evening opening program was a presentation by storyteller and author, Brian “Fox” Ellis. His program was titled: “Walt Whitman’s Lincoln” and he portrayed, in first-person,

Quincy (Illinois) Civil War Symposium III by Professor Earnest Veritas Special Correspondent to -Western TheaterThe third annual Quincy Civil War Symposium was heldon October 8-9, 2021, at the Salvation Army Kroc Center in Quincy, Ill. The event was a success by any standard and was most informative to the 129 who came to enjoy Civil War history. It was sponsored as a joint effort by the Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County with the TriStates Civil War Round Table (in Quincy, Ill.). Attendance was good for both the Friday evening kick-off and the all-day Saturday presentations. A picnic on the grounds of the John Wood Mansion was held for presenters and guests as they ate dinner and pleasantly passed the time of day during a beautiful fall afternoon in Quincy. After dinner all proceeded to the Kroc center in downtown Quincy for presentations by Dr. Timothy B. Smith and Brian “Fox” Ellis.

Brian “Fox” Ellis. Walt Whitman during the Civil War. His performance included anecdotes of Whitman’s life as a nurse in Washington City during the war and reading several of the poet’s works. His heartfelt portrayal brought Whitman to life and gave insight into the soul of a gentle man in a violent war. Saturday morning, October 9, saw an early start to a historypacked day with a complimentary breakfast for the early risers. They sipped coffee and munched pastries while being entertained with several vignettes about Quincy folks in Civil War history. Rob Mellon described the campaigns of the 50th Illinois Infantry, known as the “Blind Half-Hundred.” The 50th was organized in Quincy and fought at Shiloh, Fort Donelson,

Vicksburg, Atlanta, Allatoona, and made the March to the Sea; Rich Keppner, in first-person, told the story of Sterling Delano; Beth Young regaled the audience with the adventures of Louise Maertz; Dr. Tim Jacobs brought up the rear with a first-person presentation as Dr. Samuel Everett; a Quincy native killed at Shiloh; the first army doctor to be killed in combat during the Civil War. Dr. Everett is buried in the National Cemetery at Shiloh National Military Park and has a cenotaph in Woodland cemetery in Quincy. The main portion of the day’s presentations began at 9:15 a.m., with Dr. Samuel Wheeler, talking about “Robert Todd Lincoln’s War.” Dr. Wheeler is an expert on Lincoln and the Civil War Era and is the Director of History Programs for the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission. He gave some interesting aspects of Robert Lincoln’s life, emphasizing that he was only 21 when his father was killed; living by far, most of his life in distinguished service. Timothy S. Goode, current superintendent at the Abraham Lincoln Home in Springfield, Ill., gave substantial insight about the Lincoln-Douglas Debates. Tim used his book, “The LincolnDouglas Debates” as the basis for his talk. His talk looked deeply into what was really happening with the debates both locally and nationally. The Symposium opened with a talk about the Grierson raid and its relationship to Grant crossing the Mississippi; a fitting end to a weekend of outstanding history the Symposium came to an end of 2022. For more information about this year’s Quincy Civil War Symposium III or next year’s Quincy Civil War Symposium IV, contact the Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County at: 217-222-1835 or email: susid@ hsqc.org. Contact information for this year’s Symposium speakers is: • Dr. Timothy Smith: tims@ utm.edu • Brian “Fox” Ellis: foxtales@ foxtalesint.com • Dr. Samuel Wheeler: samuel.wheeler@ illinoiscourthistory.org • Timothy S. Goode: Lincoln Home on social media • Dr. Curt Fields: curtfields@ generalgrantbyhimself.com

Dr. Samuel Wheeler.

Rich Keppner as Sterling Delano, Dr. Curt Fields as General Grant, and Dr. Tim Jacobs as Dr. Samuel Everett.

Dr. Curt Fields. with General Ulysses S. Grant (portrayed by living historian Dr. Curt Fields.) The General talked about the siege of Vicksburg and just how and why he did what he did to bring Pemberton to bay and the siege to an end. Plans are already underway for Symposium IV in the Spring

Simply put: tell the simple truth, simply.” Professor E. Veritas