The Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall is pleased to announce the return of our annual Civil War Symposium, slated for April 13, 2024. With galloping hooves, clanking sabers, and larger-than-life personalities, Civil War raids invoke all the romantic notions of 19th century warfare. Five dynamic historians will explore the planning, personalities, outcomes, and legacies of Union and Confederate raids in both the eastern and western theater of the war. Additionally, Espy Post curator Jon-Erik Gilot will offer an exclusive Zoom lecture for registered attendees during the week leading up to the symposium.
Tickets are available for $65.00 until April 01, 2024 or sold out. Seating is limited, and our past two years have sold out, so please don’t wait to reserve your seat.
The price of the ticket includes breakfast refreshments, a boxed lunch, and light snacks. Ongoing tours of The Captain Thomas Espy Post will be available, as well as raffles, a Civil War book sale, and author book signings.
Please contact Espy Post Curator, Jon-Erik Gilot, at gilotj@einetwork.net with any questions.
Speakers:
Matt Atkinson – Earl Van Dorn’s Holly Springs Raid
A native of Houston, Mississippi, Matt Atkinson has worked for the National Park Service at Petersburg National Battlefield, Natchez National Historical Park, Manassas National Battlefield, Vicksburg National Military Park, and today serves as a park ranger and historian at Gettysburg National Military Park. Matt will discuss Confederate General Earl Van Dorn’s December 1862 raid on the Union supply depot at Holly Springs, Mississippi.
Jon-Erik Gilot – Jenkins’s 1862 & 1863 Trans-Allegheny Raids
Jon-Erik Gilot has worked in the field of public history for more than 15 years, and since 2021 has served as curator of the Captain Thomas Espy Post. He also serves as a historian with Emerging Civil War, and his work has been published in books, journals, and magazines. Jon-Erik will discuss Confederate General Albert G. Jenkins’s 1862 and 1863 Trans-Allegheny Raids, which brought the Confederate cavalry to the banks of (and across) the Ohio River. **Please note: This will be a pre-symposium Zoom lecture available only to registered symposium attendees.**
Phill Greenwalt – Stoneman’s Raid in the Chancellorsville Campaign
Phill Greenwalt serves as a supervisory ranger at Catoctin Mountain National Park in Thurmont, Maryland. He is a contributing historian at Emerging Civil War, a co-founder at Emerging Revolutionary War, and has written numerous books on both the Civil War and Revolutionary War. Phill will be speaking on Union General George Stoneman’s April 1863 raid during the Chancellorsville Campaign.
Rob Orrison – Raiders Resurgent: Mosby’s Rangers in the Fall of 1864
With more than 25 years of work in the history field, Rob Orrison today serves as Historic Site Operations Supervisor for Prince William County, Virginia. He is a contributing historian at Emerging Civil War, a co-founder at Emerging Revolutionary War, and has written numerous books on both the Civil War and Revolutionary War. Each spring Rob also co-leads the longest running tour of sites associated with John S. Mosby. Rob’s talk will examine Mosby’s Rangers in the Fall of 1864, including the Berryville Wagon Raid and Greenback Raid.
Abbi Smithmyer – Stonewall Jackson’s Raid on Manassas Junction
Currently a doctoral candidate at West Virginia University, Abbi Smithmyer has worked at Seminary Ridge Museum, Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park, Petersburg National Battlefield, and today serves as a seasonal ranger at Manassas National Battlefield. Her work has been published in the Journal of American Nineteenth Century History, the Southern Historian, and Emerging Civil War. Abbi will examine Stonewall Jackson’s August 1862 raid on the Federal supply depot at Manassas Junction preceding the battle at Second Manassas.
Eric Wittenberg – John Hunt Morgan’s ‘Great’ Ohio Raid
Eric J. Wittenberg is an award-winning historian, blogger, speaker, and tour guide. A native of southeastern Pennsylvania, he was educated at Dickinson College and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. He is the author of more than two dozen published books on the Civil War and dozens of articles in various national magazines. He is also deeply involved in battlefield preservation work, and serves as program coordinator for Chambersburg Civil War Seminars & Tours. Eric will be speaking on John Hunt Morgan’s ‘Great’ Ohio Raid of July 1863.