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Virtual April Meeting

This month we will continue virtual Zoom programming with a presentation on "The Battle of Ball's Bluff: Understanding Disaster During War" by Joseph Gillespie. Watch for your invitation!

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Joseph Gillespie is a historian, working at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia. He graduated with a M.A. and B.A. in United States history from George Mason University. His research focused primarily on early American Military history, and the history of slavery during the Early Republic. His thesis research was on the battle of Ball’s Bluff, and its impact on civilians and politicians.
 

The first year of the American Civil War is one that is often overlooked in Civil War lexicon. While many remember the first major battles, Fort Sumter, and First Bull Run, many of the small battles have been relegated to footnotes. These small battles, however, had an equally important impact on how civilians and soldiers came to understand the war. Ball’s Bluff is no exception. In fact, this battle impacted the rest of the war by helping to create the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War. Understanding how these small battles impacted the civilian, and political aspects of the war sheds light on the changing cultural, and social values the United States faced during the war. This presentation will explore how civilians and politicians understood the disaster at Ball’s Bluff, and how the aftermath of the battle began to convince them this war was going to be longer, and bloodier than expected.

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Our speaker lineup for 2021 is now available HERE 

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Virginians: Speak Out

Ask Your State Legislators to Help Support Battlefield Preservation!!! Attached is a link to how you can help the efforts to get Brandy Station and Cedar Mountain State Park by contacting your legislators.

Geoff White Music

Geoff White is from Blowing Rock North Carolina. He has played the fiddle all his life, and has performed in pubs, bars, restaurants, concert halls, and battlefields all across the east coast. Geoff was a member of the bluegrass group Sugar Run for several years. He currently lives in Roanoke. He earned a degree in History from Radford University in 2002. 

All, 

Here is the link for the Youtube version, complete with my watermark and opening titles. I ask that you use this version. And please do use it! I'm happy to see so many people getting enjoyment and education from this program. 

Thank you so much for your interest and support. Best regards, Geoff