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CONFEDERATE
HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OF BELGIUM |
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NEXT MEETINGS |
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Saturday 10 February 2024 at 3 PM
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ARKANSAS
FROM 1541 TO 1868
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Lecture by Jean-Claude
Janssens:
Arkansas from 1541 to 1868.
The history of Arkansas dates back
to the arrival of the Spanish in the
16th century. Part of French
Louisiana until 1762, Arkansas then
passed into Spanish hands before
briefly becoming French again in
1800. It was ceded to the United
States in 1804. It was granted
territory status in 1819 and became
the twenty-fifth state of the Union
in 1836. The speaker will describe
the role of Arkansas in the Southern
Confederacy and in the Civil War in
1861 and 1862. He will recall the
operations in Helena and Little Rock
in 1863 and the events of 1863 to
1865. The presentation will conclude
with the period of Reconstruction
and the return of Arkansas to the
Union. |
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Saturday 9 March 2024 at 3 PM
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STEAMBOATS
ON THE MISSISSIPPI
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Presentation by Michel
Verheyden:
Steamboats on the Mississippi.
The speaker will tell us about the
development of steamboats on the
great American river before, during
and after the American Civil War.
The topic will include aspects of
these vessels, their propulsion,
life on board, their civilian and
military use, and accidents
involving steamboats. The speaker
will also mention the various
battles in which riverboats were
involved. Finally, the creation of
hospital ships will also be
developed. |
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CHAB NEWS END
OF PUBLICATION NOTICE |
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The CHAB committee
wishes to inform its foreign and American
friends that due to severe budget constraints,
the English version of the 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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GUNS OF THE NORTH |
CHRISTMAS AT MOSS NECK |
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The Army of the Potomac’s Fifth Corps was
given orders to head south from its Maryland
camps into enemy territory in early November
of 1862. The men crossed the Potomac River in
the middle of the night and rested for a few
hours in the village of Harper’s Ferry.
Lieutenant Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
and the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment
were in their element in cold weather. Being
born and raised in the State of Maine, the
regiment felt strong as temperatures began to
drop. Soon heavy snows covered the northern
Virginia countryside. On November 5th,
President Abraham Lincoln gave the order to
relieve General George B. McClellan as
commander of the Army of the Potomac. General
Ambrose E. Burnside was then given command of
the army. The next day the Fifth Corps
continued their march from their bivouac at
Snicker’s Gap. In the evening of November the
9th, Chamberlain and his 20th Maine arrived at
the Fifth Corps headquarters near Warrenton.
They would be in time to witness McClellan’s
emotional farewell as he rode by thousands of
cheering solders lining the sides of the
Alexandria and Warrenton Pike. The Fifth Corps
division gave General McClellan the honorable
tribute of snapping to attention with the
command order, “Present Arms”.
General Burnside was now in charge of the Army
of the Potomac, and his skills and decisions
would be tested against those of General
Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Fredericksburg.
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© All copyrights reserved
by John Paul Strain Historical Art
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During the winter of
1862-63 General Stonewall Jackson made his
headquarters at one of Virginia’s most
lavish estates, Moss Neck Manor. The 1600
acre plantation owned by the Corbin family
was eleven miles down river from
Fredericksburg. The majestic home was 250
feet long with two wings. Moss Neck
Plantation became the winter quarters for
the Second Corps of the Army of Northern
Virginia. The soldiers camped near the
stables several hundred yards from the
manor. The last days of 1862 were cold and
snowy. Both General Jackson and Lee wrote
letters to their wives expressing their
hopes and dreams of peace for the coming
year. Jackson’s wife Anna wished him to take
leave and travel to North Carolina to see
his family for the season. Stonewall
replied, “It appears to me that it is
better for me to remain with the command so
long as the war continues, if ever gracious
Heavenly Father permits. The Army suffers
immensely from absentees. If all our troops,
officers & men were at their posts, we might
through God’s blessing, expect a more speedy
termination of the war.” As Christmas
approached the Corbins and Jackson prepared
for a big celebration. Grateful southern
citizens brought so much food to the manor
that Jackson invited General Lee, Stuart,
Pendleton, along with selected staff members
to a Christmas dinner. A lavish table was
prepared with three turkeys, ham, oysters,
vegetables, pickles, and freshly baked
biscuits. A bottle of wine would be served
by servants wearing white aprons. When the
twelve officers arrived for dinner, all were
surprised at the bounty of the feast. A
great time was had by all. On the last day
of the year General Lee published to his
army a congratulatory order on the
successful battle of Fredericksburg. But in
it he warned that new duties lay ahead.
“The war is not yet ended. The enemy is
still numerous and strong, and our country
demands of the army a renewal of its heroic
efforts in her behalf.” .
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© All copyrights reserved
by John Paul Strain Historical Art
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For information or online orders: |
www.johnpaulstrain.com |
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