Living History: The Civil War comes To Chadds Ford

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This year is an important one for Civil War buffs —it is the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, the Battle of Vicksburg and the Gettysburg Address. Despite the release of thousands of books and numerous movies over the last few decades, this devastating conflict continues to fascinate Americans. Notwithstanding the roughly 600,000 casualties, billions of dollars of property damage and families being torn apart, people have given this war an almost reverent place in our heritage. Perhaps it is because this struggle above all others was such a transformational event- involving the abominable practice of slavery, the disruption of our government and the difficult aftermath of Reconstruction- that the Civil War changed how we view ourselves as a society.

Abraham-Lincoln-photo-by-Alexander-GardnerA new exhibit at the Chadds Ford Historical Society tells this tragic story through letters, historical documents, memorabilia and relics directly from the battlefields. “The Civil War- Artifacts from the Christian Sanderson Museum” covers this intriguing maelstrom which raged for almost four years, from the initial cannonade against Fort Sumter to the final surrender at Appomattox. Chris Sanderson- the unofficial ‘village historian’ of Chadds Ford- had a strong interest in the Civil War, which is more fully documented by hundreds of artifacts at the nearby Sanderson Museum. Sanderson was captivated by history; his numerous mementos give us insights into the past. A letter written to Chris by W.S. Hammer- who took down the Union flag at Fort Sumter- begins the exhibit. Pieces of mortar shells, bullets and other remnants from Antietam to Chancellorsville are testaments to the fighting which touched millions of people trying to live their lives in peace. We see the purse owned by young Jennie Wade- killed by a sniper’s stray bullet as she baked bread for Union troops- the only civilian casualty at the Battle of Gettysburg. Near it sits a portion of a fencepost that witnessed something immortal- Pickett’s charge on the final day of that encounter. On the wood is written “High water mark, July 3, ‘63”, marking the furthest extent of Confederate forces in a turning point of the war.

An artillery saddle with its high-mounted grips sits in a corner of the oversized cabinet, the stirrups ready to support a new rider. Civil War officer’s epaulets are there, along with soldier’s friends- a Springfield model 1861 rifle and a cartridge bag. There are commemorative plates of both General Ulysses S. Grant and General Robert E. Lee. An oversized print “First At Vicksburg” hangs on the wall depicting the battle which ended a day after Gettysburg, giving the Union control of much of the Mississippi River, sealing the fate of the Confederacy. A large black and white photograph shows the faces of young boys grown old- the 88th Pennsylvania Volunteers, in which Sanderson’s maternal grandfather fought. He was fortunate to survive the war, joining many of his comrades in arms as they stood before the camera. Sanderson’s paternal grandfather wasn’t so lucky. He was killed at the Battle of Chancellorsville.

An image of the man who tried almost everything to avoid this cataclysm stands above it all. Lincoln’s somnolent face was captured by Alexander Gardner on November 11, 1863, eight days before the President gave the most important oration in American history. The toll of two and a half years of war is evident, deep lines of tension revealing the brutal effect it had on him. A representation of the Gettysburg Address sits underneath, the words still powerful, resonating as you read them.

This compact display tells us about much more than the battles of the Civil War. One senses the depth of human suffering endured. You can almost hear the voices of soldiers who were so exhausted, they could barely lift a pencil to write home. The viewer experiences the bravery of troops on both sides who felt that this was a righteous struggle- one from which they might not return. Along with Curator Chuck Ulmann, this author acted as Assistant Curator for the exhibit, enthralled as we sorted through the enormous collection at the Sanderson Museum from which to portray this epic event. The artifacts themselves are mere emblems of what we have come to know- that the effects of this war still reverberate around the nation. Some people alive today remember words their grandparents spoke decades ago describing the horrors they experienced. Yet despite the enormous destruction it caused, we emerged stronger, more resilient, tempered in a forge of calamity, a society ready to learn from its mistakes and build a better republic, true to the promise that “government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the Earth…”

The Civil War exhibit will be on display at the Chadds Ford Historical Society, 1736 Creek Road through August 2013. For more information, please call 610-388-7376 or visit the Society website at www.chaddsfordhistory.org. The Sanderson Museum website is www.sandersonmuseum.org.

* Gene Pisasale is an author and lecturer based in Kennett Square. His works focus on historical topics of local interest. His latest book is “The Forgotten Star”, which delves into the War of 1812 and true life mysteries surrounding an American icon- the Star-Spangled Banner. Gene’s new lecture series covering the Civil War and its links to Chester County will be available this Summer. His website is www.GenePisasale.com. He can be reached at Gene@GenePisasale.com.

About Gene Pisasale

Gene Pisasale is an historian, author and lecturer based in Kennett Square, Pa. His eight books and historic lecture series focus on the history of the mid-Atlantic region. Gene’s latest book is Alexander Hamilton: Architect of the American Financial System, which delves into the life and many accomplishments of this important Founding Father who almost single-handedly transformed our nation from a bankrupt entity into the most successful country in the history of mankind. Gene’s books are available on www.Amazon.com. His website is www.GenePisasale.com; he can be reached at Gene@GenePisasale.com.

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