News in Brief…

Bus association estimates 30 percent increase
in tourism visits to Gettysburg battlefield

An estimated fifteen thousand motor coaches bring visitors to Gettysburg, Pa., each year, making it one of the American Bus Association’s leading event attractions. And, officials estimate that, because of the events in the summer of 2013, a 30 percent increase in tourism-related business is anticipated.

The Gettysburg battlefield, the site of Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, the historic Evergreen Cemetery, and the home of President and Mrs. Dwight Eisenhower - where they lived after his return from Europe and until his death - are some of the main attractions.

Although three years late, funding becomes available

In 2009, a $400,000 grant was awarded the Battle of Richmond to make interior renovations to Pleasant View, the historic “Big House” at the Civil War park. Three years later, the funds have become available.

The delay, attributed to revenue problems, will not deter the intended use, however. Electrical wiring, plumbing, heating and cooling will be improved and upgraded through the grant, made available by the Kentucky Transportation Department.

Perryville initial topic of MADCO Roundtable

The Madison County Civil War Roundtable has announced six programs for its 2013 meetings.

Author Stuart Sanders kicks off the year Jan. 18 with “The Aftermath of the Battle of Perryville,” a discussion based on his new book.

The other programs are:
• March 15, “What the Bible Says About Slavery,” Doug Lippman
• May 17, “Federal Major General Stephen Burbridge,” Bryan Bush
• July 19, “Federal Infantry and Cavalry Regiments from Kentucky,” Joe Rhinehart
• Sept. 20, “The Death of Confederate Lt. General A.P. Hill,” Will Greene
• Nov. 15, “July 4, 1863; The Battle of Helena, Arkansas,” Joe Brent

The Roundtable meetings are conducted at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Dinner Bell Restaurant in Berea. Call 859-624-0013 for reservations.

Klotter to open Frankfort Roundtable schedule

Dr. Jim Klotter will kickoff the Frankfort Civil War Roundtable program March 4 speaking on “Kentucky and the Civil War.”

The June 3 program will be “The Civil War and Liberty Hall” and artist Jim Hoffmann is featured Sept. 9 with the topic, “Theodore Davis, a Special Artist to Harper’s Weekly.” Dr. Anne Butler will speak Dec. 2 on “Frankfort’s African-American Community, 1861-65.”

Roundtable meetings are conducted the first Mondays in March, June and December and the second Monday in September. Call 502-227-2463 for additional information.

Civil War deaths equivalent to seven million today

Two-and-a-half percent of America’s population died in the Civil War, what would be the equivalent of seven million Americans today, according to statistics compiled by the Public Broadcasting Service.

Harvard historian Drew Faust emphasizes that the deaths of more than 600,000 Americans has had an important impact on the nation’s national identity.

Viewing battle proved risky for Lincoln

The Sesquicentennial of the Civil War has spawned a number of stories about Kentuckian Abraham Lincoln. But, here’s one you may have missed about the 16th president:

On July 11-12, 1864, Fort Stevens in northwest Washington, D.C., came under attack from the forces of CSA Lt. Gen. Jubal Early as part of the Valley Campaigns of 1864.  Union reinforcements and strong defenses at the fort, however, caused Early to withdraw after two days of skirmishing.

Among the interested spectators were President Lincoln and wife, Mary. When enemy fire wounded a Union surgeon standing next to Lincoln on a fort parapet, the president was roughly ordered to take cover.

Morgan inspired poetry from North, South

Confederate Gen. John Hunt Morgan so fired public imagination that schoolchildren from both the north and south recited poems about the Lexingtonian.

The Union rhyme was…
“I’m sent to warn the neighbors, he’s only a mile behind/He’s sweeping up the horses, every horse that he can find./Morgan, Morgan the Raider and Morgan’s terrible men/With bowie knives and pistols, are galloping up the glen.”

Southern youngsters had a different perspective…
“I want to be a cavalryman, and with John Hunt Morgan ride/A Colt revolver in my belt, a saber by my side./I want a pair of epaulets to match my suit of gray,/The uniform my mother made and lettered C.S.A.”

New York was a Confederate supplier

Ever wondered where the first Confederate money was printed?

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Southern notes were engraved and printed in the North by the National City Bank Company of New York. But, the United States government quickly put a stop to it.

When more money was needed, the Confederacy attempted to have more paper currency printed in New York, but the Union seized the plates. As a result, the New Orleans office of the National Bank Note Company became the “Southern Bank Note Company.”

Confederate money later was printed in Montgomery, Ala., and Richmond, Va.  Overall, the total amount of Confederate currency issued was about $1.7 billion. Due to the scarcity of metal, the South never officially issued coins, but 72 different note types were released in some seven series from 1861-65.

The above information is the consensus of authorities on Confederate currency.