FLORENCE-We have another series in our commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. Our other Civil War series have been very popular, so we expect this one to be well-received, as well.
Hoofbeats in the Heartland: Civil War Cavalry in Tennessee Exhibit and Event Series Florence-Lauderdale Public Library October and November
Hoofbeats in the Heartland Exhibit
On display throughout series This exhibit–from the Tennessee State Museum and the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area–consists of graphic panels and original artifacts about Civil War Cavalry in Tennessee. The exhibit will be displayed on the second floor of the library and is co-sponsored by the LaGrange Living Historical Association. An
Afternoon with Author Skip Tucker
Sunday, October 13, 2pm
Pale Blue Light is an espionage thriller set in the Civil War. Author Skip Tucker combines historical accuracy with plenty of gunfire and intrigue for an epic, entertaining novel.
Skip Tucker worked for the Jasper (Alabama) Daily Mountain Eagle for ten years as a reporter, editor, and assistant publisher. He became press secretary for George McMillan and then Charlie Graddick in their gubernatorial campaigns and was later deputy press secretary for Governor Jim Folsom. Recently, he has served as director of Alabama Voters Against Lawsuit Abuse and was media director for Judge Graddick’s 2012 campaign for chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court.
Connect with the Past: Exploring Family Genealogy in the Civil War
Clint Alley, FLPL Digital Archivist
Tuesday, October 15, 2–4pm
Was your ancestor in the Civil War? Or maybe even the Civil War Tennessee Cavalry? Come find out! This class will instruct you on utilizing Civil War records in your family history research. Participation is free; reserve your space by contacting 256-764-6564 ext. 27.
Spies, Scouts, Partisans, and Guerillas
Joel Sanford Mize
Sunday, October 20, 2pm
It has been said that the Achilles’ Heel of the Confederacy was the lack of unity within its own population, as was true in North Alabama. In fact, many of the counties of the Cumberland Uplands region of Alabama harbored pockets of strong Unionist sentiment. At the outset of hostilities, that sentiment boiled over into widespread resistance to the Confederate cause.
From the formation of both partisan guerilla and regular Federal Army units, to the organization of an often-overlooked Union spy ring, many North Alabamians were actively engaged in organized resistance to the Confederate government throughout the Civil War.
Joel S. Mize received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Alabama and a Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University. Mr. Mize is the former Vice President and President of the Houston, Texas Genealogical Forum. In addition, he is a compiler of Unionists of the Warrior Mountains of Alabama and a Compatriot of the Alabama Sons of the American Revolution, and he recently led a Grave Marking homage for five Revolutionary War Soldiers buried at Mt. Hope Church.
Sherman’s March Through the Shoals
Dr. David E. Gregg
Sunday, November 3, 2pm
In the fall of 1863, Union General William T. Sherman marched through the Shoals area on his way to Chattanooga. This lecture will examine the people, places, and events connected with this March, while providing a feel for what it was like from the viewpoint of local citizens and placing this event in its proper historical context.
David Gregg is the pastor of Florence Blvd. Baptist Church and has had a lifetime interest in the Civil War. He has been researching local Civil War period records for the past 30 years. Dr. Gregg has given many lectures on the War as well as local and battlefield guided tours. He currently serves as Vice President of the Tennessee Valley Historical Society.
General Joe Wheeler: Chief of Cavalry
Myers E. Brown II
Sunday, November 17, 2pm
This presentation will explore the life and military career of General Joe Wheeler before, during, and after the Civil War. Wheeler, although a very young man, at one point during the Civil War outranked his more famous subordinates, Nathan Bedford Forrest and John Hunt Morgan. The lecture will provide insight into the evolving role of cavalry under Joe Wheeler, the controversies of his command, and his post-war residency in Lawrence County, Alabama.
Myers Brown is the curator of the exhibition “Hoofbeats in the Heartland” and is an archivist at the Tennessee State Library and Archives. He is author of Images of Tennessee’s Union Cavalrymen and Images of Tennessee’s Confederates, both from Arcadia Press. He is a fellow of the Company of Military Historians.
Footsteps of the Blue & Gray: A Civil War Walking Tour in Downtown Florence
Lee Freeman, FLPL Tour Guide
Saturday, November 16, 10am & 2pm
Journey in the footsteps of those who were here 150 years ago! Find out which downtown sites existed during the Civil War and what role they played in housing troops, horses, and those who had fallen ill. Meet some period characters as they provide you with firsthand accounts of exactly what happened and why.
Registration is $10 and may be paid at the Reference Desk on the second floor of the library. Pre-registration is required.
For more information, call Lee Freeman at 256-764-6564 ext. 30.
