BATTLEFIELD PLIGHT FEATURED IN "LOUISIANA LIFE" COVER
 
The cover feature of the Winter edition of Louisiana Life magazine is titled "Coal War: Mining vs. preservation, Mansfield's Battleground." It reviews preservation and mining issues at the Mansfield Battlefield.  The article written by board member Dr. Cheryl White includes photography and a map by Gary as well as photography by Sonny Carter.

Detailed are the views of preservationists, including Gary, Dan Laney of the Austin Civil War Round Table and Marylee Orr of Louisiana Environmental Action Network and Karla Raettig of the Tulane Environmental Law Clinic. It also covers the views of SWEPCO, the organization that operates the Dolet Hills Lignite Co. According to the article, SWEPCO has about 30,000 acres under permit to mine in northwest Louisiana.

In addition to the opposing views, Dr. White also reviews the background of the battle as well as the battlefield's notoriety as one of the nation's most endangered historic battle sites.

This is yet another focus on what has proven to be one of Louisiana's most-visited state parks and helps to shed light on the historic importance of the battlefield.

TOP STATE OFFICIAL VISITS HISTORIC SITE DURING NOVEMBER

Recently, the staff at Mansfield State Historic Site were honored with an unannounced visit of the secretary of Louisiana's Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism (CRT), Angele Davis.  This comes on the heels of having Dr. Stuart Johnson visit during our annual meeting in October. Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu is the elected official who heads CRT and while he has not visited the site since his election last year, his two top people in charge of state parks have.  Ms. Davis toured the museum and the park and visited the mining operations as well.

The state is interested in improving their informational video and the informational technology at the Mansfield State Historic Site. (Since Ms. Davis' visit, they have asked to convert Gary's big map to a digital one and we have offered to create a digital version for them so it can be put on DVD.)

If you have some time, please take a few moments to send an email to Lt. Gov. Landrieu for the attention that is now being paid to the Mansfield State Historic Site. It's not the length of the communication but the number of communications that helps to get the attention of elected officials.

You may contact Lt. Gov. Landrieu to thank him and his staff for their interest by visiting the
CRT Web site:
http://www.crt.state.la.us/
Click on Lt. Governor button

OLD PAMPHLET SHEDS NEW LIGHT ON BATTLE OF MANSFIELD

Over the years we've acquired an "addiction" to Ebay. The thing about Ebay is that the uninitiated can get burned, thinking something is of historic significance or perhaps a true historic artifact. While we found most dealers to be honest, there are the unscrupulous ones that misrepresent their merchandise. So, the caution is always "Buyer Beware."

In the instance of one recent Ebay find, the authenticity was not in question. Handwritten on the top of the pamphlet was the name of a UDC member in Mansfield who Marilyn remembered.  The publication, bought from a dealer in California, was written to commemorate the dedication of the Richard Taylor and Polignac monuments. Daughters of both of these men, as well as Polignac's son, Victor Mansfield Polignac, attended the dedication ceremonies. Mansfield native J.E. Hewitt, the pamphlet details the memories he had of information surrounding the battle. (He was 13 at the time.) It also includes information given him by his uncle, J.H. Garrett.

Among the significant points in the pamphlet is information on where the troops were located on the evening prior to the battle and the location of the Union hospital.

We have contacted Fran Hewitt Strange, a member of the Hewitt family, to get additional information on Mr. Hewitt who was a well-known figure in Mansfield. We have also been able to confirm some of the details through the assistance of Mary Sydney Huson Amy, a UCD member who calls herself "the oldest person in Mansfield." Despite her age, her memory is sharp!

This pamphlet will be included in a future book of primary sources on the Red River Campaign that is currently being prepared for publication.

SEMINAR RAISES FUNDS TO HELP PRESERVE MANSFIELD SITE

Gary was a speaker at the 11th annual Civil War Preservation Seminar at Hill College and Hillsboro, Texas, where their theme was the Red River Campaign. In correspondence from Dr. B.D. Patterson, we have learned that the event (and associated patron events) raised $6876 for preservation of the Mansfield Battlefield by the Civil War Preservation Trust. Attendance at the seminar was 182--and several of these participants have subsequently joined our Friends group. Of course, some of them were already members, and Gary enjoyed the opportunity to get to know them better.

ANCESTOR INFORMATION

Our members often tell us about their ancestors who fought at the Battle of Mansfield or in the Red River Campaign. We are happy to share this information with our members--who knows--someone may find a common ancestor. This information submitted by Connie McAdams Dennis and Jewell Murphy McAdams includes their ancestors who served at Mansfield and at Pleasant Hill.

Co E 2nd Louisiana Cavalry
Devereaux Jarrett Ferguson – Grandfather,

12th Texas Infantry Co K (Youngs)
Madison M. Smith - Grandfather

Consolidated Crescent Regiment of Louisiana Infantry
John J Ferguson – Uncle

28th Texas Cavalry, Dismounted
John Wesley McCary-Uncle
Jefferson E. Thomas-Uncle
James Franklin Cooper – Uncle
Isaac (J. W.) Hayes- Uncle, who died in  The Battle of Pleasant Hill, April 9, 1864

3rd Regiment Arizona Brigade
Richard Dudley McCary – Uncle

HONOR ROLL
Do you know someone on our honor roll? Please review these names. These generous
people and groups have joined at our legacy level or at the business/organization members. We thank them for their special generosity.

13th Texas Infantry Camp #1565, SCV, Angleton, TX
Evelyne C.T. Abney, Shreveport LA
Charles Affeltranger, Pineville LA
Barton Allen, D.D.S., Dallas, TX
Robert Bailey, Longview, TX
William & Becky Almond, Coushatta, LA
Roger K. & Bonnie Anderson, Shreveport, LA
Austin Civil War Round Table, Austin, TX
Barry E. Bentle, Fort Worth, TX
Berlin Airlift Veterans Association
Michael A. Bergeron, Lake Charles, LA
B. Gen. J.J. Alfred Mouton Camp 778 SCV, Opelousas, LA
James Bobbitt, Shreveport
Robert L. Bradley, Houston, TX
Angel Brandt, Dallas, TX
Leona Cagle, Shreveport, LA
Capt. James P. Douglas Camp 124 SCV, Tyler, TX
Arthur R. Carmody Jr., Shreveport, LA
Pete W. Cawthon Jr., Hunt, TX
Civil War Round Table of Orange County, Garden Grove, CA
Richard L. Colquette, Shreveport, LA
Edward Cotham, Houston, TX
Anna Dattalo, Nederland, TX
Greggory Davies, Winnfield LA
A.W. Davis, Bryan, TX
Reinhard Dearing, Slidell, TX
Markham A. Dickson Jr., Shreveport, LA
Bobby F. Dowden,  Princeton TX
Semmes Favrot, New Orleans, LA
Flexographic Engraving Co., Inc., Tyler, TX
Jeanie & Dan Flowers, Houston, TX
Francis Chandler Furman, Rolla, MO
Gen. Polk Chapter UDC, DeRidder, LA
Lee W. Gibbs, Chagrin Falls, OH
Jas. S. Gilliland, Memphis, TN
Shirley Goodwin, Dallas, TX
J. Forrest Green, Corsicana, TX
Nolan L. Green, Jacksonville, TX
David L. Gruber, D.D.S., Irving, TX
Mr. and Mrs. Gregory J. Hamer, Morgan City, LA
William Hayden, M.D., Paris, TX
Jonathan Henderson, Shreveport, LA
Andrew Higgins, Ruston, LA
History Club of East Texas, Longview, TX
Houston Civil War Aficionados, Houston TX
John B. Hood Camp #40 SCV, Galveston, TX
Johnson-Sayers-Nettles SCV Camp 1012, Wortham, TX
Janie Joiner, LaPorte, TX
Marilyn & Gary Joiner, Shreveport, LA
Paul Jones, Opelousas, LA
Denny Kalk, San Antonio, TX
John M. Keahey, Missouri City, TX
Kyle A. Korcha, Leesville, LA
David J. Krebs, New Orleans, LA
Frank Larkin, New Orleans, LA
Louisiana Division, SCV
James Marvin Lowrey, Sulphur, LA
Maj. Thomas McGuire Camp 1714 SCV, West Monroe, LA
Fred McCasland, Houston, TX
George McCormick, Shreveport, LA
Fred McGilberry, Navasota, TX
Tony Matt, Sugar Land, TX
Leon Maxey, Bossier City, LA
Roderick Miller, Lafayette, LA
Montgomery County Artifact Recovery Club, Houston, TX
Moonlight & Lace B&B, Mansfield, LA
North Louisiana Civil War Round Table, Shreveport, LA
Paul Oberle, Benton, LA
Greg O’Neal, Delhi, LA
Damian Paul, Kailua, HI
Dorothy Perkins, Rancho Santa Fe, CA
Angelo J. Piazza III, Marksville, LA
Robert C. Poimboeuf, Shreveport, LA
Donald V. Purn, Algonquin, IL
Questers-Bayou Chapter, Shreveport LA
Patrick Reardon, London, England
Robert J. & Norma Richardson, Hillsboro, TX
Donald Rigali, Spring, TX
Paul Rigali, Conroe, TX
Philip R. Ritchie, Carrollton, TX
Garland E. Robbins, Tomball, TX
Glen L. Roosevelt, Anaheim Hills, CA
James Rowell, Covington, GA
Samuel D. Russell Camp 1617 SCV, Natchitoches, LA
Herbert Sayas, News Orleans, LA
Shreveport Chapter UDC, Shreveport LA
J.G. Smith, Stonewall, LA
Robert / Sudie Stark, Brenham, TX
Charles H. Stewart, M.D., Lafayette, LA
Anita Tinsley, Jack Tinsley II, Jason & Sonia Tinsley, Taylor Tinsley, Lake Charles, LA
Louis P. Towles, Central, SC
Frank Hall Wagner, M.D., New Orleans, LA
Norman Wayman, Longview, TX
Mr. and Mrs. L.J. Whitmeyer Jr., Colmesnell, TX
William T. Whittington, Hemphill, TX
Darryl P. Yank, Syracuse NY