Antietam Seminar

Tomorrow I’m going to meet with Ted Alexander at Antietam National Battlefield Park.  Ted is the Chief Historian at the park, and has been kind enough to offer me some assistance in pulling info on the 16th CT.  I found some stuff today at the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center (still referred to by some as USAMHI) at Carlisle, with help from Art Bergeron and the fine staff there (I’m sorry but I didn’t get everyone’s name – some journalist I am).  I also found a letter written by a soldier in my great-grandfather’s Company C of the 205th PA, and will post on that later.  It perhaps explains what many folks consider to be one of my character flaws. 

Ted has informed me that he has put together a really fine Antietam seminar for Chambersburg Civil War Seminars & Tours.  You can find out more here.  Over to the left is the cover of their pamplet; click on the thumbnail for a larger image.  This looks like a real kick-butt program, featuring about 40 speakers/tour leaders over five days.  I know a few of these guys, some better than others, and some only by reputation, but they’re all top-notch.  Unfortunately, I won’t be able to make it – I know that won’t affect anyone’s decision to go.

I highly recommend seminars.  For eight consecutive years I attended the Civil War Conference conducted by Penn State at its Gettysburg vicinity Mont Alto campus (see this post).  While the tours and the lectures were all great, the most valuable part of the experience for me was the access to the faculty.  These types of multi-day seminars are around-the-clock learning experiences.  The faculty is usually trapped; they can run, but they can’t hide.  And if they try, you can usually lure them out with a nice (or not-so-nice) bottle of scotch!  If Ted’s program offers anywhere near the access I enjoyed at Mont Alto, you can’t go wrong by attending.  I’ll try and get some more details tomorrow.