Eighth Francis Marion/Swamp Fox Symposium: "Explore General Marion and the Southern Campaign," October 15-16, 2010

Immerse yourself in Francis Marion's world, the Southern Campaign of the Rev. War.

Times: Friday, Oct. 15, 2010: 2 PM - 9 PM and Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010: 9 AM - 10 PM
Site: DuBose Campus of Central Carolina Technical College, Manning, SC.

Agenda for Presentations:
Jack Parker: Parker’s Guide to the Revolutionary War in South Carolina
Val Green: Cofitachequi
Patti Proctor: A Revolutionary War Backcountry Woman
Wright Turbeville: Christopher Gadsden
Dave Neilan: Marion letters & research
Nell Davies: Much Ado About Potatoes
Karen MacNutt: Marion Images
Gene Poteat: Marion and his Intelligence Network
An Evening in Rev. History Dinner Theater With Our Favorite Historian: Joe Stukes as Col. Otho Williams

For information/registration: http://www.francismarionsymposium.com/

New Jersey Conference on the American Revolution: November 13, 2010

In our first presentation, Jay Jorgensen will address us on Benedict Arnold and the Battle of Valcour Island. During this battle, waged on Lake Champlain on October 11, 1776, Arnold led a small navy in a delaying action against the formidable British fleet. This engagement, while technically an American defeat, nonetheless was crucial for the American side. The significance of Arnold’s delaying action was best summed up by Admiral Alfred Mahan in his "War of American Independence" when he wrote..."The little American navy on Champlain was wiped out: but never had any force, big or small, lived to better purpose nor died more gloriously, for it had saved the Lake for that year."

Next, William M. Welsch will present Arnold in 1777: A Hero Still, which will tell the tale of Arnold’s imaginative, daring and courageous leadership in the Battle of Saratoga where he led a dangerous assault against the center of the British line, incurring a leg wound in the process.

In our third presentation, Benedict Arnold: No Longer the Hero, Rich Bellamy will tell the story of the why and how of Arnold’s treason. If Arnold had died at the battle of Saratoga he would be remembered as one of America's greatest heroes but as we know that is not the way it turned out.

In the afternoon, we will go back to an earlier chapter in Arnold’s life as noted author Arthur S. Lefkowitz addresses us on The 1775 Arnold Expedition. Hand-picked by George Washington for this mission, Colonel Arnold successfully led more than 1,000 freezing and famished men up and over the Appalachian mountains to the fortress city of Quebec in one of the greatest exploits in American military history. Mr. Lefkowitz’s presentation will be based on his book, Benedict Arnold’s Army: The 1775 American Invasion of Canada During the Revolutionary War.

The topic of our next presentation, by Todd W. Braisted, will be The British Military Career of Brigadier General Benedict Arnold. Few people know much of Arnold’s career after his dramatic defection to the British in September, 1780. He not only raised his own Provincial regiment, but led major British expeditions to Virginia and Connecticut. This talk will be an examination of Arnold’s corps (the American Legion), his military campaigns of 1781, and his proposals to win the war in 1782.

Our final session will be a panel discussion, featuring all five of our faculty members, on the topic of Assessing Benedict Arnold.

On Sunday, November 14, we will offer a tour of Washington’s Crossing, Trenton and Princeton led by Jay Jorgensen and Bill Welsch. For more information:
http://cwea.net/2010tours/2010_New_Jersey_WEB.htm

Washington's Crossing and the Battles of Trenton and Princeton, November 14, 2010

Our tour will focus on Washington’s Crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas night, December 25, 1776 and the subsequent battles of Trenton, fought on December 26, and Princeton, fought on January 3, 1777. On Sunday morning, we’ll depart by bus and begin our tour along the Delaware River at the place where the Continentals crossed the ice-choked waters on Christmas night. We will then follow the route of the army as it approached the Hessian troops encamped in and around Trenton. Our morning stops will include the Battle of Trenton Monument, the Assunpink Creek crossing and the Olde Barracks.

After lunch, we will take up the actions involving the Battle of Princeton and will follow Washington’s route from Trenton to Princeton. Along the way, we will examine the ten markers that interpret the route and discuss the significant events that occurred in each area. We will then visit the Princeton Battlefield Park and focus on the fighting that occurred there on the morning of January 3, 1777, including the fierce hand-to-hand fighting at the place where Brigadier General Hugh Mercer was mortally bayoneted. We will conclude our day in the borough of Princeton with a visit to Nassau Hall, where Alexander Hamilton opened fire with artillery, leading to the surrender of the British forces sequestered therein. For more information: http://cwea.net/2010tours/2010_New_Jersey_WEB.htm