Friday evening, the 9th
of April, 2010, is the date chosen for the Brandy Station Foundation Annual
Meeting of the Membership. The meeting will be held at the Brandy Station Fire
Hall, 19601 Church Rd., Brandy Station, VA at 6:00 P M with dinner served by the
Brandy Station Volunteer Fire Dept. Ladies Auxiliary at 7 P M. The menu is a
chicken breast dinner at the cost of $25 per
person and a cash bar (wine only) will be available. Our gift shop will also
have a selection of items for your purchase.
Provided herein is a form for
your reservation. We have provided an ample amount of time to respond in advance
but if necessary, you may telephone your reservation to the office at 540 727
7718 or email to
director@brandy
stationfoundation.com and then you may
pay at the door. We must receive your reservation by
April 1st.
We are pleased to announce
that Eric J. Mink will be the speaker of the evening. His topic is "...a
sternness to his countenance, Stonewall Jackson in pictures and Art”. Mr.
Mink is a National Park Service historian and cultural resources management
specialist in Fredericksburg, VA. He is also the author of a number of articles
and book reviews on Civil War subjects. Mr. Mink has spoken widely on various
Civil War subjects and has conducted numerous battlefield tours. He received his
B.A. in Historic Preservation and American Studies from the University of Mary
Washington. We look forward to Mr. Mink being an enjoyable and informative
speaker.
We are also pleased to
announce a book signing by Carolyn and Jack Reeder, editors of From a True
Soldier and Son, The Civil War Letters of William C. H. Reeder, published by
the Brandy Station Foundation. The book is sold for $ 18.00 and may be
personalized. Thirteen
of young William's letters to his parents were datelined either Encamped near
Culpeper or Brandy Station. He wrote that he was close to the railroad 'where we
can see the iron horse as he goes snorting by.'
Three years of young William's letters to his parents in Indiana—plus
commentary, maps, and illustrations—have been compiled by Carolyn and Jack
Reeder. Many Virginia readers are familiar with their books about the people who
lived in the area that is now Shenandoah National Park.
After the program we will
conduct the short but important business meeting at which the membership will
vote on the slate of Officers and Board of Directors for the year 2010
presented by the Nominating Committee; and any other matters to be brought
before the Membership. Please remember that in order to be a voting member of
the BSF your 2010 dues must be paid by the date of this meeting.
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- - - - - - - - - - - -BRANDY STATION FOUNDATION ANNUAL MEETING & DINNER
RESERVATION
April 9, 2010. Opens at 6:00
PM to visit with friends. Dinner will be served at 7:00 PM at the
Brandy Station Volunteer Fire
Department Hall, 19601 Church Road, Brandy Station, VA 22714
Name(s):_________________________________________________________
Address:_________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
_____# of
reservations @ $25 per person Total: $__________
Check # or
credit card #________________VISA__MC__ exp. Date__________
Checks may be
made out to: Brandy Station Foundation
Signature (if
using credit card)________________________________________
My billing address (if
different from mailing address) is:
______________________________________________________________________________
You may also
pay your dues with this form.
2010 annual
dues $ 25.00 -_____ any additional donation welcomed _________
RSVP:
By April 1st by phone (540) 727-7718 (Graffiti House) 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
Barry Atchison holds a copy
of the Graffiti House Deed
Barry Atchison is a volunteer
with the Brandy Station; Barry leads battlefield tours—in the spring, summer,
and fall—and gives tours of the Graffiti House throughout the year. Here is his
story of his recent discovery of the Graffiti House land deed:
I was doing some research for
my job, in the records room at the Court House, back in the fall and it led me
to the Grantor-Grantee book that covered the 1850's & 60's. While I was looking
for information on the property I was researching I ran across James Barbour's
name as a grantor. There were a number of entries under his name so I didn't
have the chance to look up the Graffiti House at that time. I finished my
research and went back to the office but I was curious if I could find the
Graffiti House deed. A couple of days later I went back to the Court House and
returned to the Grantor-Grantee book where I had seen James Barbour’s' name and
I looked for a transaction between him and John Stone and that led me to Deed
Book 16 page 165, and there it was. To me it brought to life some of the stories
we tell about the House and it was kind of like looking at a snap shot of the
past but one that had more meaning than the typical Civil War image because of
our attachment to the Graffiti House. I just took it for granted that the deed
had been circulated around the volunteers in the past so I stuck at copy in my
Graffiti House notebook and forgot about it until the day I showed it to [three
other volunteers at the Graffiti House].
The deed is dated
October 2, 1869 although the property actually transferred on October 9, 1858
between James Barbour and John Stone with the price being $336.00 for 3 acres.
John Stone built the Graffiti House on this property. The entry in the clerk’s
records was actually July 7, 1882.
The deed says in part: This deed made the 2nd day of October in the
year 1869 between James Barbour and Fannie J, his wife of the first part and
John A. Stone of the second part … the said James Barbour agreed to sell to the
said Stone a certain lot of land lying near Brandy Station …
The Brandy Station
Foundation Sunday lecture series begins again this April—a welcome sign of
spring! The lectures are the last Sunday of the month from April through October
and begin at 2:00 PM. Everyone is welcome, the lectures are free (although
donations are welcome), and free refreshments are provided by BSF board members
and friends.
4/25/10
"Mosby’s Keydet Rangers" – Eric Buckland
5/30/10 "Topic
TBD" - Joseph McKinney
6/27/10 "It
Started in Prince William County—JEB Stuart’s Controversial Ride to Gettysburg”
– Mark Trbovich
7/25/10 Open
8/29/10 "The
Life & Times of John Mosby" – Dave Goetz
9/26/10 "The
Memory of the Civil War”- Richard Deardoff
10/31/10 "The
Battle of Rappahannock Station" – Michael Block
A good time was had at the
BSF Christmas Party on December 12th. Robert E. Lee was in
attendance, as were some visiting reenactors. A book signing by Paul Herbert was
featured: ‘God Knows all Your Names: Stories in American History’. Paul
Herbert is the president of the Historical Society of Fairfax County. Karla
Seidita donated some of her delicious Christmas cookies for a raffle benefiting
the Foundation.
Board Member Helen Geisler
holds up one of the BSF Christmas party raffle prizes, Paul Herbert’s book
titled: ‘God Knows all Your Names: Stories in American History’.
Reenactors, including (from
left) Eric Kyff, George Wells ( “Robert E. Lee”), Richard R. (Rusty) Jones, and
Steve Dunn pose by the Graffiti House at the BSF Christmas Party.
The BSF is presenting a
series of two-hour tours, one devoted to each of the four engagements that
comprise the Battle of Brandy Station on June 9, 1863. Transportation: Personal
vehicle caravan will depart from the Graffiti House at 10AM. The cost is $10
(children under 12 are free).
Tours leave from the
Graffiti House at 10:00 am and last 2 hours. No reservations are needed, please
arrive at the Graffiti House before ten. Special tours for individuals or groups
on other days can be specially arranged.
Beverly Ford &
St. James Church (April 3, May 29, July 24)
Kelly's Ford &
Stevensburg (April 17, June 12, Aug 7
Fleetwood Hill
(May 1, June 26, Aug 21)
Buford Knoll &
Yew Ridge (May 15, July 10, Sept 4)
Beverly Ford & St. James
Church – April 3, May 29, July 24
The first tour in the series
covers the early morning fighting between troops under the command of Union
General John Buford and those commanded by his West Point classmate, Confederate
General William E. "Grumble" Jones. Incidents examined include the death of
Union Colonel Benjamin Franklin Davis in a one-on-one encounter with a
Confederate lieutenant on the Beverly Ford Road, and the charge of the 6th
Pennsylvania Cavalry against Confederate artillery at Saint James Church.
Kelly’s Ford & Stevensburg –
April 17, June 12, Aug 7
The second tour in the series
begins with a discussion of the Union river-crossing at Kelly's Ford, and then
follows the route of march of the Union cavalry division commanded by Colonel
Alfred Napoleon Duffie, a deserter from the French army, to Stevensburg. The
fighting at Stevensburg, a neglected aspect of the Battle of Brandy Station, is
presented in detail. This tour concludes with a description of the mortal
wounding of Captain William Farley, JEB Stuart's volunteer aide de camp.
Fleetwood Hill – May 1, June
26, Aug 21
The third tour focuses on the
fighting for Fleetwood Hill, the most intense and prolonged combat on June 9,
1863. At one point 12 regiments -- 6 Union and 6 Confederate -- struggled for
control of the hilltop. Unlike most Civil War battles, the troopers fought from
the saddle, mostly with sabers. One frustrated Rebel was heard to shout at his
Yankee opponent, "Why don't you Yankees put away your sabers, draw your pistols,
and fight like gentlemen!"
Buford Knoll & Yew Ridge –
May 15, July 10, Sept 4
The final installment in the
series of tours presents the fighting that took place later in the afternoon of
June 9 between General Buford and General W.H.F. "Rooney" Lee's brigade. During
the fighting, Rooney Lee, Robert E. Lee's second son, was shot in the thigh and
carried from the field. Colonel Solomon Williams of 1st North Carolina Cavalry,
commanding his regiment in battle for the first time, was shot in the head and
killed. He had been married just two weeks earlier.
The Brandy Station Foundation
is honored to have made a presentation to the Culpeper County Library of a
selection of books. In our continuing efforts to promote education through
understanding, and in joint efforts with the community , we aim to increase the
availability of information available to the public through the use of the
public library .
The library owns a copy of ‘Brandy
Station, June 9,1863, the Largest Cavalry Battle of the War’ , a
wonderful accounting of the Battle of Brandy Station, written by one of our
favorite members, Joe McKinney. Joe also conducts excellent tours of the Brandy
Station Battlefield.
We are delighted that we can
supply them with another copy of ‘Brandy Station 1863,First Step towards
Gettysburg’ by our esteemed Advisory Board member , Dr. Dan Beattie.
This will enable the library to have a copy for reference purposed as well as a
copy available to check out.
One of the two additional
books we donated was: ‘From a True Soldier and Son, the Civil War Letters
of William C. H. Reeder’ with commentary by Carolyn Reeder and edited by
Jack Reeder, a direct descendant. This is a compiling of personal letters, many
from (or referencing) Brandy Station. The Foundation is proud to be the
Publisher of this special book.
And the newest book we
donated is that by Mr. Paul Herbert , the President of the Fairfax Historical
Society, titled ‘God Knows All your Names, Stories in American History’.
This is a wonderful collection of personal stories divided into 3 sections, the
American Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and other stories
With the economy impacting
one of our most valuable community assets, our public library, the BSF is
pleased to have contributed in a small way to increasing the resources of
knowledge available to the public.
The Foundation and Christ
Episcopal Church at Brandy Station are pleased to announce that the second
annual Commemorative Service will be held on Sunday June 13th at 2
P.M. at the Historic St. James Church site on the Brandy Station Battlefield.
This 13thday in June is the date on which we will honor with
remembrance those who fought and gave their lives at the Battle of Brandy
Station on June 9, 1863. The Reverend Joi Weiher will officiate at the service
of Holy Eucharist. We are thrilled this year to have musical accompaniment
provided by Anne Howard and John Tole of Evergreen Shade. All persons
are invited to attend this service and you are encouraged to come in Civil War
period costume. Parking will be available at the CWPT parking circle at the
corner of Beverlys Ford Rd. and St. James Church Rd. (For reference this is off
the airport road just before the entrance into the airport.) We suggest that you
bring a folding camp chair for sitting during the service. Everyone is welcomed
at the BSF headquarters, the Graffiti House at 19484 Brandy Rd., after the
service for light refreshments, and of course the House will be open for touring
at this time.
For more information please
contact Mary Tholand at 540 825 5534, or at the GH, 540 727 7718.
The
Foundation will once again welcome members of Company D, 17th Virginia Infantry,
"The Fairfax Rifles," as they establish a picket on the grounds of the historic
Graffiti House on April 24-25 during Culpeper Remembrance Days.
The Fairfax Rifles, is a
family oriented re-enactment group, and has been a frequent guest here at Brandy
Station in Culpeper County, supporting the preservation efforts and goals of the
BSF. They look forward to sharing their knowledge of life during the War Between
the States with visitors. A period camp will be established and the soldiers can
expect a visit from their wives and friends. Visitors will have an opportunity
to learn about life at home during the war by talking to the women of the sewing
circle, and will gain a better understanding of the day-to-day actions of the
Fairfax Rifles as they march, drill and learn to survive "in the field."
On Sunday, the 25th, at 2
P.M. the Graffiti House will host its monthly Sunday Seminar. Featured for this
special Remembrance Days Weekend is Eric Buckland,
author of ‘Mosby's Keydet Rangers’ which is a collection of biographical
information, passages from books, personal letters, obituaries, memorials,
personal accounts and newspaper articles about the young men and college
students from the Virginia Military Institute who rode with Mosby's Rangers.
Mr. Buckland gives a lively and interesting talk about these VMI men from his
book. He has spoken to many Civil War Roundtables and other groups interested
in the Civil War and Mosby's Rangers. Eric is a retired Army Lt. Col (22 years
of service). He spent the majority of his time in the Army in Special
Operations. After retiring in 1999 and spending two years as a contractor at
the Dept of State, he has been working at the White House Office of National
Drug Control Policy as a Policy Analyst.
Enjoy a weekend full of
educational and entertaining programs, demonstrations, and activities
commemorating and celebrating Culpeper’s rich history! Aviation enthusiasts will
love visiting the Open Hangars and flying vintage aircraft at the Culpeper
Regional Airport. Enjoy living history, a Civil War encampment, and Colonial
dance demonstrations at the Museum of Culpeper History and Burgandine House in
town. Attend an authentic 18th century Anglican church service at Little Fork
Church, the oldest colonial church in the area. On Sunday, enjoy a choral
performance by the Blue Ridge Chorale. Meet Cowboy and Western Singer Del
Shields of “Best of America by Horseback” fame in concert at the Depot in
downtown Culpeper.
For more information, please visit:
www.brandystationfoundation.com
or the Culpeper tourism website: www.visitculpeperva.com/remembrance
____________________________________________________________________________________
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.
