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CONFEDERATE
HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OF BELGIUM |
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Due
to the renovation works at the Communal
Museum, the CHAB Club House has moved into
temporary premises at Wolubilis, Woluwe-Saint-Lambert.
Our monthly meetings will thus be held there until
further notice. New Address: 1 place du
Temps Libre - Local A300 - 3rd floor (right when
leaving the elevator).
The building is located along the Cours Paul-Henri
Spaak, just opposite the Woluwe Shopping Center.
The entrance is on the ground floor, left of
the bookstore/restaurant Cook & Book.
See access map |
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NEXT MEETING
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Saturday December 14, 2019
at
3 PM |
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THE PRINCES OF ORLEANS IN
THE CIVIL WAR
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At our
temporary premises at Wolubilis, lecture by Farid Ameur:
Clad in blue: the princes of Orléans during the
American Civil War (1861-1862). During the French
Second Empire, under the rule of exile, the young princes
of Orléans are idle. With the aid of their uncle Prince of
Joinville, the 23 years old Count of Paris and his young
brother the Duke of Chartres, both grandsons of King
Louis-Philippe, decide to inquire on the state of American
democracy. Arriving in New York in September 1861, five
months after the outbreak of the American Civil War, they
are welcomed by President Lincoln and Secretary of State
Seward. Wishing to serve the Federal cause in the field
and hoping to find glory, they dress up in the blue
uniform of the Union soldier and are assigned captains on
the staff of General McClellan, Commander-in-Chief of the
Army of the Potomac. To the embarrassment of European
chancelleries, they take part in military operations
against the Confederates, despite little success. In July
1862, at the end of the Peninsula Campaign, they return
home with a formidable experience. Battle hardened with
techniques of modern warfare, they can now adhere to the
family military tradition with a degree in liberalism. |
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IMPORTANT NOTICE |
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The CHAB committee
wishes to inform our foreign and American
friends that due to severe budget constraints,
the English version of our CHAB News is
no longer published. However, the French
version of our quarterly remains available to
the contributing members of our
association. Thank you for your understanding. |
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THE
CHARMING LUCY BUCK AT BEL AIR |
HOME ON
BRADDOCK STREET |
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It had been an arduous march south from the
bloody fields of Gettysburg for the Army of
Northern Virginia. Torrential rains had
flooded the Potomac River delaying the
southern army’s retreat to the relative safety
of Virginia. With US General George Meade’s
Federal forces closing in, Lee’s army was
finally able to cross the Potomac on July
13th. Still in pursuit, General Meade’s
cavalry crossed the Potomac farther down
river, East of the Blue Ridge Mountains and
began to occupy a number of passes around
Loudoun County. As hats, coats and uniforms
began to dry out, the Army of Northern
Virginia arrived at the Shenandoah River.
Across the river was the town of Front Royal,
and Lee ordered his engineers to quickly build
another pontoon bridge. On July 22 the
southern army crossed the bridge into Front
Royal. A wealthy businessman and prominent
citizen of Front Royal, William M. Buck sought
out General Lee at the pontoons, to invite him
and his staff for refreshments at his home Bel
Air House. Lee welcomed the kind invitation
and rode to the manor house with some members
of his staff. There he was introduced to the
Buck family. 19 year old Lucy Buck wrote of
the encounter in her diary. “The old
gentleman greeted us with such a warm,
fatherly manner.” General Lee along with
his staff including Majors Taylor and Talcott
enjoyed fresh buttermilk while Lucy and her
sister Nellie entertained with songs of the
south. The brief respite of time with the Buck
family had been most welcome for General Lee.
But upon returning to his army he warned his
staff, “We must now prepare for harder
blows and harder work.” |
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General Stonewall Jackson was in high spirits
during the snowy days of January 1862. He and
his army had returned from successful
expeditions to Bath and Romney. He learned
that his men were strong and faithful through
difficult and challenging days. The Federals
in Northern Virginia had been shown that his
army was not to be taken lightly. Also to
Stonewall’s delight, his wife Anna was in
Winchester staying at the home of Reverend
James R. Graham located on Braddock Street.
For the first time General Jackson and Anna
could be together for an extended period of
time. The General’s headquarters and office
were just up the street at the home of
Lieutenant Colonel Lewis T. Moore, commander
of the 31st Virginia Militia. The Graham
family home was the perfect place for the
Jacksons to stay in Winchester. Fanny and
James Graham were wonderful hosts and the
General loved their three children, Anne,
Alfred and William. The Jacksons were given
the upstairs northeast corner of the house for
their privacy. The family atmosphere at the
Graham home was just the respite that the
General needed from the stress and
responsibilities of the military. The General
would never conduct or discuss any military
matters or business at the Graham home. If a
courier or dispatch arrived, Jackson would
direct the man to his office up the street.
General Jackson was a man of meticulous
habits. He would arise at the same early hour
every day and immediately go to his
headquarters to attend to the mail and issue
orders for the day. A few minutes before
8:00am he would return to the Graham’s home
and escort his wife downstairs to breakfast.
Speaking of General Jackson, Reverend Graham
would tell his parishioners that “he is
really a member of my family. He ate every day
at my table, slept every night under my roof
and bowed with us morning and evening at our
family alter. He called my house his home.” |
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For
information or online orders: |
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www.johnpaulstrain.com |
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