BSF Celebration at Berry Hill
Farm
The Board of Directors of the Foundation is
pleased to announce a special September event. Through the gracious hospitality
of Mrs. Jorge Schneider and her family , a luncheon and afternoon festivities
will be held at Berry Hill Farm, Brandy Station, VA. on Sunday, September 13,
2009, from 1:00 to 4:00 P.M. All are welcome. Proceeds benefit the BSF.
The BSF is honored to have as our special guest
speaker noted CW historian and author Eric J. Wittenberg. Eric is an
award-winning Civil War historian. His specialty is cavalry operations, with a
particular emphasis on the Army of the Potomac’s Cavalry Corps He is the author
of fifteen published books on cavalry operations in the Civil War, and is a
frequent lecturer and tour guide. His first book, Gettysburg’s Forgotten
Cavalry Actions, was named the third winner of the Robert E. Lee Civil War
Roundtable of Central New Jersey’s Bachelder-Coddington Literary Award as the
best new work interpreting the Battle of Gettysburg of 1998. Other works of his
have been chosen as main selections by the History and Military Book Clubs, and
his work uniformly receives good reviews. He is also the author of more than two
dozen published articles on Civil War cavalry operations. His articles have
appeared in Gettysburg Magazine, North & South, Blue & Gray, Hallowed Ground,
America’s Civil War, and Civil War Times Illustrated.
Battlefield preservation work is very important
to him. He was part of the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites,
APCWS , which joined with the Civil War Trust to become the CWPT. He began
promoting the efforts of the BSF early on, getting involved in 1996. His new
book on the Battle of Brandy Station will be published by The History Press in
2009. A native of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Eric was educated at Dickinson
College and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. He is an attorney in
private practice.. He and his wife Susan and their two golden retrievers live in
Columbus, Ohio. Eric regularly travels the country to lecture on the war, and he
is frequently asked to lead Civil War battlefield tours. He sits on the boards
of advisors of the Trevilian Station Battlefield Foundation and the Friends of
the Alligator, and has regularly worked with the Civil War Preservation Trust in
helping to save battlefield land. He is an original member of, as well as past
president and program chairman of, the Central Ohio Civil War Roundtable.
This event is an opportunity to join in
celebrating 20 years of preservation in Culpeper County and honoring those men
and women who have given their time and efforts, and often much more, in serving
as members of the BSF Board of Directors through the 20 year history of the
Foundation. Without their dedication and hard work, often against staggering
odds, the Brandy Station Battlefield, the Graffiti House, and the integrity of
the Brandy Station Civil War area would not be intact today.
Please join the Board for a delicious luncheon
catered by Gentry Catering. We are pleased to have "Evergreen Shade" provide
Civil War period music for the afternoon. There will be on the grounds several
artisans demonstrating their crafts and selling the results of their labors.
There will be a basket weaver, a smithy, spinners and more. Tours of the house
will be conducted by BSF volunteers and Mrs. Schneider will give a brief history
of the Farm.
Berry Hill Farm was used as his headquarters by
General Ewell during the War and the grounds were camped on frequently by both
sides of the struggle. Two mounds in the yard are reminders of cannon mounts.
The original house , home to Captain Pembroke Thom and his family, was destroyed
on a cold December 1863 morn when the Union troops posted there were ordered to
gather straw and dry grasses and pile this in the rooms of the house where the
material was lit and consequentially the house burned to the ground leaving only
the stones of the foundation . These were carted off to build chimneys and other
structures for the Union encampment.* The property was sold and in 1865 a new
house was built and still stands today as the right hand portion of the present
home.* "My Dear Brother", a Confederate Chronicle, by Catherine
Thom Bartlett
The program for the day will have gates open at
1 P.M. with luncheon served at 2 P.M.- Mr. Wittenberg will speak at 2:30. We
will be holding a silent auction of various donated articles.
Directions to Berry Hill Farm:
From Culpeper: Go north on Rt. 29. At Brandy
Station light, turn east (right) onto Alanthas Rd.- go left at stop sign and
follow road to the right as it crosses over the railroad tracks.
Continuing straight you are now on Carrico Mills Rd. Travel 2.8 miles to
stone pillared drive entrance on left. Entrance is marked Berry Hill Farm
Drive.
From Rt 3, 7.2 miles east of Culpeper,
just past the Blue Ridge Growers greenhouses, turn left onto Carrico Mills Rd.
and go 2.9 miles to stone pillared driveway on right.
It is a long driveway , please be
cautious of any out-going vehicles.
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The cost is $25.00 per person (Please make
checks out to Brandy Station Foundation) Reservations MUST BE RECEIVED by
September 6th.
When: September 13, 2009
Where: Berry Hill Farm , Carrico Mills Road,
Brandy Station VA 22714
RSVP: By September 6 by phone(540) 399-1637
(Board member Helen Geisler) or by email: director@brandystationfoundation.com,
or, print, fill out and mail this page to the Brandy Station Foundation, P.O.
Box 165, Brandy Station, Virginia 22714
Number of guests _____ at $25.00 per person.
Names: ________________________
_________________________________________
____ Enclosed is a check payable to: BSF, P.O.
Box 165, Brandy Station, VA 22714
___ _Charge my (VISA) (MasterCard) #
___________________________ Exp. Date: _______ for $ _______
My billing address is:
__________________________________________________________
____ I am unable to attend; but wish to make a
donation of $________ to the BSF.
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The Brandy Station Foundation has again been
hosting a series of Sunday lectures on the Civil War. Free, donations welcome.
The lectures are be on the last Sunday of each month starting April 26 and
ending October 25. They are at the Graffiti House (19484 Brandy Road, Brandy
Station, VA) from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. We welcome everyone to join us for the
lectures and light refreshments. Upcoming lectures are:
8/30/09 "Walt Whitman's Civil
War" - Melissa Delcour
9/27/09 "The Civil War in
Culpeper Through the Eyes of Artists and
Photographers" -
Michael Block
10/25/09 "The Music of the Civil
War" - Evergreen Shade
Beverly Ford & St. James Church
(April 4, May 30, July 25)
Kelly's Ford & Stevensburg (April
18, June 13, Aug 8)
Fleetwood Hill (May 2, June 27,
Aug 22)
Buford Knoll & Yew Ridge (May 16,
July 11, Sept 5)
Tours leave from the Graffiti
House at 10:00 am and last 2 hours. Cost is $10.00 for adults, children are
free. No reservation needed, just show-up at Graffiti House before ten. For
info contact Gary Wilson at 540-547-4106 or email
BSFJune91863@aol.com.
Full tour schedule at
www.brandystationfoundation.com.
Memorial Service Held
at St. James Church Site
On June 14, the Foundation had the pleasure of
joining with the vestry of Christ Episcopal Church of Brandy Station to hold a
service at the historic St. James Church site on the battlefield. This was a
memorial service honoring the men who fought in the Battle of Brandy Station and
all who gave their lives. The Reverend Joie Clee Weiher conducted the Service of
Holy Eucharist as it would have been done at St. James during its short life
from 1840 to 1863. She used the St. James Communion Chalice and the Bible from
the church which was stolen by Union troops and then returned.
The 1860s era service was attended by 50+
communicants. The processional was led by a bagpiper and an honor guard from the
Matthew Fontaine Maury Camp 1722 of the Sons of the Confederate Veterans of
Fredericksburg. Many thanks go to them for their participation Several friends
arrived in period dress and the weather was perfect. The church generously
shared a collection of $284 with the BSF. . Light refreshments were served
following the service at the Graffiti House.
At the conclusion of the service BSF President
Bob Jones made a few remarks about that infamous day in June of 1863 and the men
who gave their lives on this sacred ground:
Listen!
If you listen closely, concentrate on
listening, perhaps you can hear the sounds as I do, of that beautiful spring
morning of June 9th, 1863. The sky has just started to lighten, & we
hear the sounds of the forest as animals stir & the morning breeze begins to
fill the trees here around St. James Church. Birds commence their morning
symphony, & on the farm lands that surround us, we hear the cows & horses &
roosters issuing their wake up greetings.
Nearby, we hear the voices of men & young
boys stirring, the rattle of coffee pots & cups as the morning meal is prepared.
And through the trees we hear the voice of a young man in quiet song singing a
popular ballad of the times – one that most of us are familiar with – a ballad
written in 1855 in Philadelphia by a young African-American Richard James
Milburn, with the words by his music store employer Septimus Wimmer.
“Listen to the mocking bird,
Listen to the mocking bird.
The mocking bird still singing
o’er her grave.
Listen to the mocking bird, Listen
to the mocking bird.
Still singing where the weeping
willows played.”
Before the song is ended, another sound
arouses our interest. Listen! It is the sound of hoof beats – the sound of many
horses being ridden hard up the nearby road from Beverly Ford …
Bob
ended with: As the sun begins to go down, as the day comes to a close, please
rise. Please rise & listen with me to one final sound. A sound in honor of
those who fought & died for all of us, on that beautiful spring day of June 9th,
1863.
Then followed the hallowing sound of _Taps_
being played from a short distance followed by a 3 gun salute to the fallen. The
congregation then filed back down the wooded path. Many commented on how moving
the service was.
We thank the Reverend Joie Clee Weiher for her
conducting of this inspiring service and Boo Ingram, Christ Church vestry member
for originating the event. We thank church member Don Richardson and BSF
volunteers Scott Nickens and Richard Deardoff, with his band of students, for
their help in preparing the site. Many thanks go to Mr. George Hovenden, BSF
member, for his photos.
The Board of Directors of BSF looks forward to
working again with the members of Christ Church to make this an annual event.
Board Changes
The Board is pleased to announce the return of
one of its own. Clark B. ‘Bud’ Hall has moved his residence back to
Virginia and has rejoined the Board. Bud, a founding member and former President
of the Foundation is looking forward to again having an active roll within the
Board. Welcome back !
The Board of Directors regrets to announce the
retirement of Shirley and Bob Pfile from the Board. The loss to the gift
shop especially is great. Thank you both for all your good work.
Journey Through
Hallowed Ground Bike Tour
On June 24, 2009, The Graffiti House played
host to nearly 400 bicycle riders from across the country as they peddled their
way through Culpeper County celebrating the Journey Through Hallowed Ground (JTHG)
Bike Tour.
It is believed that this day brought the
largest single visitor total in the history of the Brandy Station Foundation.
The Brandy Station Foundation worked in
partnership with the JTHG and tour staff, coordinating the day’s events. The
Graffiti House was selected as the days secret location, meaning bikers earned
the opportunity for prizes.
At times during the early afternoon, the front
yard was literally covered in bicycles, with dozens of visitors enjoying the
early summer day by sitting on the picnic benches or on the front porch. Inside
while the stream of visitors viewed wallboards and the orientation film
downstairs, docents upstairs told stories about the men and events the soldiers
from the 1860’s left for us to decipher.
Some of the riders use the time at
the house to rest and recoup, but most were fascinated by what secrets the house
revealed and in one instance, at least one rider returned after she completed
the ride with a friend to learn more.
The event was a fulfilling and
successful day for all who participated.
There was lots of food, fireworks, and fun at
the Inn at Kelly’s Ford on the 4th of July. The Foundation had a good
day. Helen Geisler, Peggy Misch, and Mike Block manned the information table and
sold items from the Gift Shop. Proceeds to the BSF from the sale of beer was
about $1650.00. Thank you very much to Bill and Linda Willoughby and the
wonderful staff of the Inn at Kelly’s Ford.
Join our Volunteer Coordinator,
Tony Seidita, on Sunday, October 4, from 2 to 4 at the Graffiti House, to learn
about volunteer opportunities at the Graffiti House. This is a casual
get-together with light refreshments. Come and learn more—no experience
necessary!
Maureen and Pat Knight of Shrewsbury, England
visited the GH on July 19th. Pat has an unusual job - he repairs and
reconstructs old airplanes!! Recently he was contacted by an American aviation
hobbyist who had purchased a 1950's United Kingdom trainer called the Bulldog.
After some conversations, the Knights were flown to the United States,
journeyed to mid-Virginia where he is now actively engaged in the
reconstruction of the plane. In the picture, Pat and his wife are shown
relaxing on the porch of the GH with Karla and Tony Seidita and Bob Luddy.
Thanks to Tony and Karla Seidita!
BSF Treasurer and Volunteer Coordinator Tony
and his charming wife Karla hosted the Board and volunteers for a summer
picnic at their new Bed and Breakfast, Cheesecake Farms, in Sumerduck,
Virginia. The food was incredible and the hospitality was warm. We even had fun
blowing bubbles at the picnic tables!
Yes, I support the work of the Brandy Station
Foundation in preserving Historic Brandy Station. Please enroll me as a member
of the Foundation.
_____$25 Membership Additional
Donation $_______
Name:
________________________________________________________________________
Address:
________________________________________________________________________
Email Address:
___________________________________________________________________
Mail to: Brandy Station
Foundation, P.O. Box 165, Brandy Station, Virginia 22714
Let me know how I can volunteer. ________
Phone Numbers: Daytime____________________
Night___________________
_____Send my newsletter by email or postal
service. (circle one)
____________________________________________________________________________________
The Brandy Station
Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit, community-based membership group dedicated
to preserving the natural and historic resources of the Brandy Station area of
Culpeper County, Virginia. It relies on
tax-deductible donations
to meet its goals.
