Image courtesy of Colonial National Historical Park, Yorktown.

Monday, June 20, 2022

Next Meeting: July 20, 2022

Please join us at our next meeting on July 20, 2022 at the University of Richmond. Dr. John L. Seidel will present "'In Quarters Comfortable & Clever': The Continental Artillery in Winter Cantonment, 1778-79." John was originally scheduled for 2020, but Covid interfered.  He has just retired as Director, Center for Environment & Society and Lammot du Pont Copeland Associate Professor of Anthropology and Environmental Studieat Washington College in Maryland.  In the 1970s, Dr Seidel led the archaeological work at Knox's encampment and academy in Pluckemin, NJ.  This is a fascinating tale of history and modern technology.

We will again meet at the University of Richmond. This will continue to be an in-person meeting ONLY.

The university will be renovating the Heilman Dining Center during the summer.  So we will have dinner (beginning at 5:30) in the regular dining area, not in the Westhampton room.  Look for tables marked reserved for ARRT-Richmond.

At 6:30, we will move to the Gottwald Center for the Sciences, adjacent to Heilman, meeting in the lecture hall on the lower level.

If you can't join us for dinner, then join us at 6:30 for the meeting.

University of Richmond campus map: 
http://www.richmond.edu/visit/maps/print/campus.pdf

Meeting Notes: May 18, 2022



After a long absence, the American Revolution Round Table of Richmond was able to return to the University of Richmond for the May 18, 2022 in-person meeting. Those in attendance were happy to be back to the fine meeting facilities offered by the University and the opportunity to socialize over dinner before the meeting and program presentation.

Bill Welsch reminded attendees that the newly revised "Revolutionary Richmond" brochure is available for distribution by those wishing to do so. He canvassed attendees about a possible Fall trip to the Town of Yorktown. Arthur Wm. Ritter presented the Treasurer’s Report. Mark Lender (head of the Harry M. Ward American Revolution Round Table of Richmond Book Award Committee) spoke about Westholme Publishing's new military history series, "Small Battles: Military History as Local History" being published in collaboration with distinguished historians. “The series offers a fresh and important new perspective on the story of America’s early conflicts.” The Dan River Chapter of Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution presented the ARRT-R with a commendation certificate from the Order of the Riverboat Flotilla for its continuing education programs.

Al Zambone (DPhil) was the featured speaker. Al is the author of Daniel Morgan, A Revolutionary Life published by Westholme Publishing, a new biography. His presentation focused on placing Morgan in the context of his life experiences, his presence and his ambitions, and how they contributed to his rise from a young penniless wanderer arriving near Winchester in Virginia, to Brigadier General, and Virginia politician. Zambone’s presentation evidenced his deep research into Morgan’s ordinary life, the history of his place in times, and the experiences his life presented him. Zambone explained how Morgan’s ambitions constantly lifted him within colonial society from ruffian, to farmer, to waggoner, to rifleman, to soldier, to military leader, and major general, and how the rifle influenced his life. Morgan is most known for his tactics used to engage Lieutenant-colonel Banastre Tarleton, who was leading a mixed force of cavalry and light infantry known as the British Legion, in pursuit of American patriots as Morgan retreated to an area between present day Charlotte, NC and Greenville, SC following the surrender of Charleston. The retreat was halted near Cowpens, SC because Morgan recognized the battle field advantages of a cow pasture’s topography and support logistics to stand and battle Tarleton. Morgan arranged his riflemen skirmishers, militia, and Continentals into succeeding lines of fire with devastating results. With heavy losses, Tarleton abandoned the battlefield to rejoin Cornwallis's army near Wilmington, NC. Morgan was a hard man who learned throughout his life. He was in his thirties before learning to read and write. His stature and voice enabled him to lead other men. He listened to the counsel of his subordinate officers and he was just plain lucky (if you consider his getting shot in the face, surviving and still being able to lead the many years afterward). Zambone’s book is not only a biography but a trove of facts concerning life in America’s colonial times—a good read.

Next meeting is July 20 with presentation by Dr. John L. Seidel, "'In Quarters Comfortable & Clever': The Continental Artillery in Winter Cantonment, 1778-79"