Civil War symposium April 8 at WVU's Erickson Alumni Center

March 21st, 2006

The Civil War was the deadliest and most divisive war in U.S. history. Over 100 years later, the topic now brings people together for discussions, re-enactments and the like. One such discussion will be at West Virginia University next month.

The fourth annual Civil War Symposium sponsored by the Mason-Dixon Civil War Round Table of Morgantown will be from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 8, at Erickson Alumni Center .

Robert G. Tanner, author of the acclaimedStonewall in the Valley,will give the keynote speech at 1:15 p.m. His talkCivil War Mystery Solvedwill focus on thelostcorrespondence between Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee during Jackson’s Valley Campaign. The talk is open to the public and free of charge.

Other speakers:

  • Terry Lowry, author ofLast Sleep: The Battle of Droop Mountain,will discuss the largest battle to take place in West Virginia during the Civil War, The Battle of Droop Mountain.
  • Emory Kemp, professor emeritus, WVU department of history, will describe the transportation network in the Trans-Allegheny during the Civil War and how it affected the fortunes of the Union and Confederate armies.
  • Victor Thacker, editor of the diaries of Randolph County’s Captain French Harding, C.S.A., will discuss the life of Harding, a Confederate veteran who went on to a distinguished civilian career in law and public affairs in the new state of West Virginia.
  • Cristelle Venham, reference coordinator, West Virginia and Regional History Collection, will providehow-toadvice on searching for your Civil War ancestor, military or civilian.

There will also be a demonstration of Civil War drill, rifle firing and cannon firing.

Cost of the symposium is $50 if paid by March 24 and $60 afterward. For students and members of co-sponsoring organizations (the WVU Department of History, Pricketts Fort Memorial Foundation and The Stonewall Jackson Civil War Round table of Bridgeport), the cost is $35 if paid by March 24 and $45 afterward.

To register in advance, send check or money order to George Trapp, 1377 Braewick Drive, Morgantown, WV 26505 . Registration at the door will begin at 8:30 a.m. April 8.

This symposium is made possible by a grant from the West Virginia Humanities Council, a state program of the National Endowment for the Humanities.