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Compatriot Gar Schulin of the Black Horse Camp #780 sent us this press
release for the Fauquier Heritage Institute Lecture Series. Please
contact Compatriot Schulin at the phone number or e-mail address below
for further information. This event will be posted on the Virginia
Division Web site.<br>
<br>
<br>
John Sawyer, Commander<br>
Virginia Division SCV<br>
<br>
<br>
__________________________________________________________________<br>
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<br>
<br>
Fauquier Heritage Institute<br>
Lectures in American History<br>
<br>
<b>NEWS RELEASE</b><br>
<br>
<br>
For further
information contact<br>
Mr. Gar Schulin at:<br>
<br>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 540-349-5864; or
via email:<br>
February 8, 2009
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:gonearethedays@earthlink.net">gonearethedays@earthlink.net</a> <br>
<br>
<br>
Fauquier Heritage Institute Features Interesting, Informative History
Lectures for 2009<br>
<br>
<br>
WARRENTON, VA – The second edition of the annual Fauquier Heritage
Institute Lectures in American History features a fine lineup of local
historians and nationally acclaimed scholars to address a variety of
topics of local and national significance. The monthly lectures take
place on Sunday afternoons at 3:00 PM in the John Barton Payne Building
in Courthouse Square on Main Street, in Old Town Warrenton, Virginia,
directly across the street from the Old Warrenton Courthouse.
Admission is free to the public and the lectures are sponsored by the
Fauquier County Public Library. <br>
<br>
All who are interested to learn more of our American history will want
to mark their calendars now to hear these memorable topics and guest
lecturers. The 2009 lecture opened on 18 January to an appreciative
audience with a discussion on “The Importance of Buckland,” presented
by Mr. David Blake, Proprietor of Buckland Farm.<br>
<br>
On Sunday, 15 February at 3:00 PM, Living Historian Mr. David Meisky
will present “Governor-General William ‘Extra Billy’ Smith Reminisces
About His Life,” which will provide an interesting overview of one of
the most important historic figures to emerge from Fauquier County and
Virginia in the 19th Century. During his long and consequential life
(1797-1887), William Smith became a lawyer at age 20, where he made and
lost two fortunes; the first one earned building stage coach lines and
the second fortune earned in the California Gold Rush. William Smith’s
many accomplishments included having served as State Senator, U.S.
Congressman, Confederate Congressman, a two-term Governor of Virginia
under the Union (1846-49) and the Confederacy (1864-65), and at age 78,
served as a Post-Reconstruction State Delegate. When the War Between
the States came to Virginia in 1861, former Governor Smith at age 63,
quickly petitioned to form and equip the 49th Virginia Regiment of
Infantry Volunteers at a time when most men his age may have been
inclined to sit out the war on their front porch in retirement.
Colonel Smith eventually rose to the rank of Major-General through his
distinguished command of Fauquier men in such battles as First
Manassas, the Peninsula Campaign, Seven Pines, Frayser’s Farm, Malvern
Hill, Second Manassas, Sharpsburg (where he received three wounds),
Chancellorsville, Winchester and Gettysburg. Widely acclaimed by his
native State, General Smith was re-elected as Virginia’s last
Confederate Governor during 1864-65. As Confederate Governor, Smith
dedicated his service to feeding starving soldiers and civilians,
organized and equipped a Richmond home guard civilian defense force,
promoted the use of African-American troops and other matters of state
under the most dire hardships and circumstances imaginable. Abraham
Lincoln referred to General Smith as “that old game cock,” and in the
final days of the war, the Union placed a $25,000.00 bounty on his
head. In a revealing testament of the great character of Virginians of
the day who knew of Governor Smith’s whereabouts, no one ever collected
the immense fortune. <br>
<br>
On June 8, 1865, the Governor-General received a federal parole,
whereupon he returned to his beloved home in Warrenton to lead an
active and consequential life for the remainder of his years, including
promotion of the spirit of reconciliation in his letter to President
Andrew Johnson, which read in part, “I pray your Excellency, to
remember in this connection, that the people of the seceded States did
not act without deep conviction of the right to do as they have done;
that the disastrous termination of their efforts for liberty and
independence has not convinced them that they were in error in the
efforts they have made, and that they now only submit to a necessity
which they have no power to resist. The death or confiscation of the
property of the father of a family are not likely to convince his
children of error and to make them good and loyal citizens. I deem it
due to myself to declare that the foregoing positions and opinions are
those in which I believe. Accepting reconstruction as a necessity
since the surrender of General Lee, I have borne myself in such a way
as to promote and not obstruct it.”<br>
<br>
Upon his passing in 1887, both Fauquier and Richmond citizens by the
thousands gave the Governor-General memorial services befitting a
Virginia hero. Upon the dedication of Smith’s statue on the grounds of
the State Capitol in 1906, Judge James Keith recalled the
Governor-General’s uncommon valor: “At Seven Pines we saw him seize a
fallen banner and bear it to the front, heedless of a storm of shot and
shell; at Sharpsburg all day upon the perilous edge of the fiercest
battle of the war, he displayed the highest courage and by his example
lifted his men above all fear of the carnival of death, in the midst of
which they stood unshaken during that awful day. Oppressed by the
weight of years, weary from almost superhuman exertion, bleeding from
grievous wounds, his constant soul mounting with the occasion was
careless of all save the command he received and the promise he had
given to hold the position.” The Fauquier Heritage Institute is
pleased to present this public tribute to William “Extra Billy” Smith
during the 250th Anniversary year of both Fauquier County and the Town
of Culpeper.<br>
<br>
The Institute also invites all interested persons to mark their
calendars for the remaining 2009 lecture series, summarized as
follows: March 15, “The Real Lincoln,” presented by Thomas J.
DiLorenzo, Professor of Economics, Loyola College and the award-winning
author of The Real Lincoln: A New Look at Abraham Lincoln, His Agenda,
and an Unnecessary War; Lincoln Unmasked: What You’re Not Supposed to
Know About Dishonest Abe; and Hamilton’s Curse: How Jefferson’s Arch
Enemy Betrayed the American Revolution- And What it Means For America
Today; Winner of the Franz Cuhel Memorial Prize for Excellence in
Economics Education by Prague University; and Abbeville Institute
Scholar; April 19, “Did Anyone Really Know What Time It Was,” presented
by Living Historian, researcher and lecturer Mr. Arthur Candenquist;
May 17, “The War of 1812 in Virginia and the Role of the Fauquier
County Militia,” presented by Living Historian Mr. Mike Lyman, member
of the Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution, Culpeper
Minute Men Chapter and the War of 1812 Society; June 14, “On the
Shoulders of Giants: Project Apollo to the Moon,” presented by Mr. Gar
Schulin, former Research Assistant at the Smithsonian Institution
Center for Earth and Planetary Studies; National Air and Space Museum;
July 19, an extended program starting at 2:00 PM with “The Post War
Relationship of Grant and Mosby,” presented by Mr. David Goetz, author
of War Between the States articles and editor of The Memorial Wall to
Name the Fallen; and “Mosby’s Keydet Rangers,” presented by Mr. Eric
Buckland, Historian and author of Mosby’s Keydet Rangers; a collection
of memorials, biographical sketches, articles, personal letters,
photographs and wartime reminiscences by and about those brave young
men who both matriculated at the Virginia Military Institute and rode
with the 43rd Battalion Virginia Cavalry-Mosby’s Rangers; August 16,
“Lieutenant Governor Francis Fauquier, His Own Story,” presented by Mr.
Dennis Loba, Living Historian and lecturer; September 20, “Lesser
Known Heroes: Pelham, Pegram and Pendleton, The Gallant Young Men of
the Confederacy,” presented by Mr. Thomas Moore, Military Historian and
award winning author of The Hunt for Confederate Gold; former
Professional Staff of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Director
of Defense and Foreign Policy at The Heritage Foundation; Stephen Dill
Lee Institute Scholar; and Current Chairman of the Southern National
Congress; October 18, “Secession and the Confederate Constitution,”
presented by Dr. William Wilson, Dean of Honors Students, University of
Virginia; and winner of one the University’s highest distinctions, the
Algernon Sidney Sullivan Award for teaching and selfless service;
author of many articles pertaining to religion, literature,
philosophical theology and three volumes of Lectura Dantes Virginiana;
and Board of Directors of the Abbeville Institute for the Study of
Southern Culture; November 15, “Meet One of America’s Servant Saviors:
Suffragist, Mrs. Robert Walker,” presented by Ms. Lynne Garvey-Hodge,
Living Historian and Chair of the Fairfax County History Commission;
author of the pictorial essay "Clifton," on the history of Clifton,
Virginia; Owner of the historic Bed & Breakfast, The Canary Cottage
in Clifton, Virginia; and management consultant and President of LGH,
Inc. No program is scheduled for December.<br>
<br>
The Fauquier Heritage Institute was created to promote the study and
love of Virginia and American history. To that end, the Institute
hosts a yearly series of public lectures that seek to provide
knowledge, understanding and appreciation of our local, regional and
national history.<br>
<br>
Additional program and Guest Lecturer details for each month will be
posted via the Fauquier County Library web site, in addition to local
and national papers throughout the year. The Fauquier Heritage
Institute welcomes and encourages all volunteers to aid our special
events programs and lecture series in a variety of capacities. Contact
Program Co-Chairs Mr. Gar Schulin at 540-349-5864; Mrs. Paula Johnson
at 540-341-7019; or Mrs. Jackie Lee at 540-347-0607, for additional
information. <br>
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