On to Richmond Civil War Tour

Description

July 26-30 - "On to Richmond" based in Richmond, Va.

Click here for the Brochure of On to Richmond.

Conference will include tours of Stuart's Ride Around McClellan, The 7 Days, & the Lower Peninsula. Tours & talks by Robert E.L. Krick, Edwin Bearss, John Fox, John Quarstein, and others based at the Homewood Suites - Richmond Airport location.

Wednesday, July 26

Breakfast at Homewood Suites (avail. 6 - 9 a.m.)

8 a.m. - 6 p.m. “The War on the Lower Peninsula” bus & walking tour led by John Quarstein

• Bus leaves from Homewood Suites
• Lunch included
• Dinner on your own

Bus Tour Description:

When we asked expert historians who should lead a tour of the lower Peninsula, the answers were unanimous. Everyone said John Quarstein was the man for the job! He is the absolute expert on that aspect of the Civil War and all of the sites associated with those events. This is a tour not to be missed.

Sites to visit:

• Remnants of the U.S.S. Monitor at the U.S.S. Monitor Museum
• Overlook to view site of Battle of Monitor and Merrimack
• Historic Fort Monroe
• Lee’s Mill Earthworks
• Williamsburg Battlefield
• And more!

Dinner on your own

8 p.m. Evening Session

• Welcome to the Seminar - Ted Alexander
• Preservation News at Richmond National Battlefield - David Ruth, Superintendent of Richmond N.B.
• Find out about the extensive preservation that’s been done to preserve the hallowed ground of the 7 Days’ Battles. 
• “The Last Days of the U.S.S. Monitor” - John Quarstein
• The U.S.S. Monitor gained fame for its success at the Battle of Hampton Roads, only to meet its demise in a watery grave off the coast of North Carolina. This is its story told by one of the leading experts on the subject.

Thursday, July 27

Breakfast at Homewood Suites (avail. 6 - 9 a.m.)

8 a.m. - 6 p.m. “Day One of  7 Days Tour” bus & walking tour led by Ed Bearss and Robert E. L. Krick

• Bus leaves from Homewood Suites
• Lunch included
• Dinner on your own

Bus Tour Description:

Don’t miss this detailed tactical tour led by two of the premier battlefield trampers in the U.S. - Ed Bearss and Bobby Krick. Today we will explore the opening battles of the 7 Days.

Sites to visit:

• Drewry’s Bluff
• Lee’s Headquarters at the Dabbs House
• Mechanicsville Battlefield
• Gaines Mill
• And more!

8 p.m. Evening Session

• “Lost in the Historic Triangle: The Battle of Williamsburg” - Drew Gruber
• "The battle of Williamsburg has received less importance in history than it has merited,” said Edwin Brown of the 1st Massachusetts Volunteers shortly after the May 5, 1862 battle. Thankfully, within the past few years scholars have reexamined the battle’s importance beyond being a mere footnote in the story of the Peninsula Campaign. Through an analysis of recent research, this session will highlight the until-recently overlooked importance of the Historic Triangle’s Civil War history, and describe the unique challenges associated with the preservation and interpretation of the Battle of Williamsburg.
• Photographing the Peninsula” - Mike Gorman
• A look at the Peninsula Campaign and Seven Pines through the photographer's lens. Through the photographs made during this campaign we can see the first photo documentation of a country at war, as well as the evolution of concepts of war and even art itself.

Friday, July 28

Breakfast at Homewood Suites (avail. 6 - 9 a.m.)

8 a.m. -12:30 p.m. Sessions at Homewood Suites

• Sessions in Presidential Room
• Lunch included
• Dinner Included

Topics to discuss include:

• “A Week of Uncertainty: Stonewall Jackson and His Role in the Seven Days” - Robert E. L. Krick
• The spring and summer of 1862 was a testing time for  Jackson. Our speaker, a leading authority on the Army of Northern Virginia, will analyze Jackson's role and discuss the pros and cons of his leadership in 1862.
• A Perfect Tempest of Iron Raining Down” - Ed Sanders
• The result of the Federal Navy's first and only effort to reach Richmond by the James River, the Battle of Drewry's Bluff, saw Confederate sailors, Marines and heavy artillerymen repulse a Union fleet including ironclads. This program will explore the difficulties faced by the Federal Navy in the battle and how the hastily built river defenses at Drewry's Bluff eventually became a "perfect Gibraltar" protecting Richmond.
• “Perspectives on the 1862 Peninsula Campaign” - Christopher Kolakowski
• McClellan’s advance on Richmond was unlike anything seen before in American military history. This talk will examine how it was unique, and analyze some overlooked aspects of the campaign on both sides.
• “The Leadership of Lee and McClellan and Other Aspects of the Peninsula Campaign” Panel Discussion with Ed Bearss, Ethan Rafuse, and others

12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Lunch at Homewood Suites

1:30 - 6:30 p.m. Sessions Cont.

• “The Battle of Glendale: Lee’s Lost Opportunity” - Doug Crenshaw
• On June 30 elements of Lee's army converged on the retreating Union army at Glendale. Although the Confederates made several breakthroughs, Union counterattacks saved the day and prevented Lee's best chance of cutting off the Union army from the James River. Learn more from the man who wrote the book on the battle.
• “Harrison’s Landing: The Most Important Six Weeks of the War You’ve Never Studied” - John Coski
• McClellan's "change of base" to Harrison's Landing typically is one of the great laugh lines in the narrative of the Civil War. As we all know from our 20/20 hindsight, "Little Mac' did not use his new base on the James River to launch a new campaign against Richmond. Instead, the Army of the Potomac spent six hot summer weeks at Harrison's Landing doing nothing, and moved only when R. E. Lee stole the initiative from McClellan. Yet the six weeks at Harrison's Landing when nothing happened were among the most important weeks of the war. 
• “Blood or Bread: The Richmond Bread Riot” - Robert Dunkerly
• Tensions on the home front exploded in April of 1863 in Richmond. The Richmond Bread Riot was the largest civil disturbance in the Confederacy. This program goes beyond Union attempts to capture Richmond and will discuss the causes and consequences of the riot.

6:30 p.m. Dinner at Homewood Suites

7:30 p.m. Evening Session

• “Little Mac’s Grand Campaign” -Ethan Rafuse
• One of the leading biographers of McClellan will examine the general's conduct during the Peninsula Campaign. Particular focus will be placed on the organizational, strategic and operational vision that guided the McClellan’s conduct.
• Annual Luhn Memorial Silent Auction
• All proceeds donated to battlefield preservation

Saturday, July 29

Breakfast at Homewood Suites (avail. 6 - 9 a.m.)

8 a.m. - 6 p.m. “The 7 Days, Part 2”  bus & walking tour led by Ed Bearss and Robert E. L. Krick

• Bus leaves from Homewood Suites
• Lunch included
• Dinner on your own

Bus Tour Description:

Today we will complete our tour of the 7 Days actions concluding with the site of the Confederate bloodbath at Malvern Hill.

Sites to visit:

• Gaines Mill
• Savage Station
• White Oak Swamp
• Malvern Hill
• And more!

8 p.m. Evening Session

• “Stuart the Bold Cavalier” - John Fox
• Join us as our tour guide for Sunday provides an overview of the life of Jeb Stuart, one of the greatest cavalrymen of the Civil War.

Sunday, July 30

Breakfast at Homewood Suites (avail. 6 - 9 a.m.)

8 a.m. - 5 p.m. “Jeb Stuart’s Ride Around McClellan’s Army - June 12-15, 1862” bus & walking tour led by John Fox

• Bus leaves from Homewood Suites
• Lunch included
• Dinner on your own

Bus Tour Description:

On June 11, 1862, Lee instructed Brig. Gen. Jeb Stuart to make a secret movement to the rear of the Union Army to gather intel on McClellan’s movements.

This order set into motion one of the greatest raids of the War and its success placed Jeb Stuart’s name in newspaper headlines both North and South.

Stuart’s subsequent report signaled Lee to go on the offensive known as the Seven Days’ Battles.

Sites to visit:

• Hanover Tavern
• Taliaferro’s Mill
• Haw’s Shop
• Tunstall’s Station
• And more

** Please note: Bus driver compensation included.

 Seminar based at Homewood Suites at 5996 Audubon Dr., Sandston, VA 23150. Deluxe continental breakfast for Homewood Suites guests each morning. Complimentary hotel dinner available Monday - Thursday. Each participant will receive a packet of tactical maps and a name badge.

Please contact Lark Plessinger at 717-264-7101 or email lplessinger@chambersburg.org with questions.