PARK DAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 25 @ 9 AM-1 PM
two sites:
Smith Tract: Griffin-Yeates Center 1490 Government Rd., Williamsburg 23185
Bloody Ravine: Country Inn & Suites 7135 Pocohontas Trail, Williamsburg 23185
8:30 - Check-in and refreshments
9:00 - Program and project start
SMITH TRACT: Traditional roadside litter pick up and trimming of saplings and small woody plants along the roadside. Tools needed are loppers and weed eaters. Trash bags will be provided. Wear gloves and sturdy shoes. A short topic on the history of the site will be presented. (6-10 volunteers needed).
BLOODY RAVINE: Roadside litter pick up and removal of fallen tree limbs. Removal of saplings and low hanging limbs to better facilitate seasonal mowing. Planting of small landscape bed around the American Battlefield Trust sign. Tools needed are hoes, small trowels, wheelbarrows, manual or powered pole saws, and small chainsaws. Trash bags, flowers, planting soil, and mulch will be provided. Wear gloves and sturdy shoes. A short topic on the history of the site will be presented. (12-15 volunteers needed).
Rain Date: Sunday, April 26 @ 1:00-4:00 PM.
AUTHOR PRESENTATION & WBA ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
SATURDAY, MAY 2
author presentation @ 10 - 11 AM WBA Annual membership Meeting @ 11 AM - Noon
wyndham garden - YORKTOWN ROOM 201 water country parkway Williamsburg 23185
On March 23, 1862, the Stuart Horse Artillery was officially mustered into service with one battery and the dashing, 23-year-old John Pelham of Alabama its first Captain. The concept of horse artillery wasn’t new, but through the vision of Confederate General “JEB” Stuart and the leadership of Capt. John Pelham, the Stuart Horse Artillery redefined mobile firepower during the Civil War. The battery was first tested here at Williamsburg on May 5, 1862. Join the WBA as author and historian Sarah Kay Bierle presents “360 Rounds”: Captain John Pelham & the Stuart Horse Artillery at the Battle of Williamsburg. This program will explore John Pelham's life, tactics, and military legacy and focus on his artillery's effects at Williamsburg and other fights on the Virginia Peninsula during the spring and summer of 1862.
All are welcome to attend Ms. Bierle’s presentation. The program is free.
Following the presentation will be a brief recess during which time attendees can purchase Ms. Bierle’s recently published book, Glorious Courage: John Pelham in the Civil War, and enjoy refreshments. The WBA Annual Membership Meeting will commence after the break.
all are welcome to attend the meeting, but only members can vote on business matters.
GIVE LOCAL 757 - MAY 5 MIDNIGHT - TO -MIDNIGHT
Give where you live! Give Local 757 is a fundraising event for non-profits in Hampton Roads. The WBA is a registered participant and invites your support. This year, the event coincides with the anniversary of the Battle of Williamsburg. For 24 hours beginning at midnight on May 5, you can make an online, tax-deductible donation to the WBA at www.givelocal757.org. Funds raised enable us to operate as an organization and to provide quality programs for members, supporters, and friends. Our goal this year is $2,800. As always, we are grateful for your interest and support in helping us preserve Williamsburg’s Civil War stories and battlefield parcels.
BETWEEN TWO INDEPENDENCE DAYS: THE FOUNDERS, LINCOLN & THE NECESSITY OF EMANCIPATION
sATURDAY, JUNE 27 @ 11 AM
wyndham garden hotel - YORKTOWN ROOM 201 water country parkway Williamsburg 23185
Guided by his interpretation of the Founders’ intent, Abraham Lincoln held lifelong antislavery views, but they underwent a radical transformation during the first year of the Civil War. Author and historian Glenn David Brasher's presentation will analyze the pivotal window between July 4, 1861, and July 4, 1862, and uncover the specific military pressures that forced a pragmatic president into becoming the "Great Emancipator."
program is $5/member & $10/NON-MEMBER
Dr. Brasher is instructor of history at the University of Alabama. A native of Birmingham, Alabama, he received his PhD from the University of Alabama. For eight years he was a seasonal park ranger at the Richmond National Battlefield Park where he gave tours on many of the historic sites associated with the Peninsula Campaign. He has also taught at Virginia Commonwealth University and is a regular contributor to The Civil War Monitor. In 2008 he was a finalist for the Southern Historical Association's C. Vann Woodward Award and is the 2013 recipient of the Wiley-Silver Award from the Center for Civil War Research at the University of Mississippi for his book The Peninsula Campaign & the Necessity of Emancipation (UNC Press, 2012).