There are four items again this month for the Speaker's Fund. The first is a copy of Dr. Harry W. Pfanz's Gettysburg - The First Day, probably the best book on that July 1, 1863 clash outside that south central Pennsylvania college town. The second item is a copy of Nat and Bucky Hughes's Quite Places: The Burial Sites of Civil War Generals in Tennessee. The third item is an ORIGINAL issue of Confederate Veteran magazine from August, 1903. It includes an article on Texas General Sol Ross, one of "Cavalry Service Under Gen. Wheeler" by W. H. Davis of Co. F, 4th Tennessee cavalry, and one on the Battle of the Crater at Petersburg. The fourth item is all six issues of America's Civil War with articles on such subjects as the 36th Alabama, one of the regiments engaged on Missionary Ridge just north of Rossville Gap, U. S. Marines at the First Battle of Bull Run, "The Great Rebel Beefsteak Raid," and article by our Nat Hughes on the loss of New Orleans, "Day One At Chancellorsville," and "Riding the Rails to Chickamauga." All four this month were donated to the Round Table to support the Speaker's Fund. To those donors go our thanks. Proceeds from the Speaker's Fund go toward bringing speakers in from outside the area. Your support of the Speaker's Fund is appreciated.

Some of you all amy be aware that, for the last few months, several individuals and entities have been exploring options for preserving a portion of the area of the engagement at Glass's Mill on Chickamauga Creek south-southwest of the Chickamauga Battlefield and southeast of the City of Chickamauga. An approximately 80 acre tract in two pieces has been for sale since early in the year. The tract includes the ruins of the foundations of the mill itself, the location of the historic ford of the road over the creek, much of the position of John Breckinridge's Confederate division overlooking the creek crossing, and part of the primary Confederate position for the artillery duel there on September 19, 1863. John Jackman of the Kentucky Orphan Brigade, who was present and endured the duel, said it was the "wickedest" artillery fight of the war. The Fifth Company, Washington Artillery of Louisanna, suffered several casualties. It is one of the small fights that helps define the larger strategy immediately associated with the intent, on the part of both commanders of the Battle of Chickamauga. Since February, efforts have been pursued with an eye to preserving the site by maybe partnering some of the conservation organizations, local government, the National Park Service's American Battlefield Protection Program, interested private individuals, etc. One key hopes was that the nation's largest Civil War battlefield preservation organization, Civil War Preservation Trust, would become involved as a key partner. One member of their staff visited in May. This week, their very effective president, Jim Lighthizer, visited and looked at the site. Maybe they will join the effort. If you're a CWPT member, and I hope you are, you might want to send CWPT a note and encourage them to look at Glass's Mill seriously.

Webmaster's Note: The Civil War Preservation Trust website is:

August 16, 2005 - Timothy B. Smith, Shiloh National Military Park, "Champion Hill"
September 20, 2005 - To be announced
October 18, 2005 - Dr. Kit Rushing, "Civil War Memoirist Fanny Andrews' A Family Secret"
November 15, 2005 - Harvey Scarborough, "Thomas' Demonstration Takes Orchard Knob"
December 20, 2005 - To be announced

September 19, 2005--Friends of Chickamauga and Chickamauga National Military Park Leonard Fant "Play for the Park Golf Tournament," Battlefield Golf Club, Fort Oglethorpe, for more information, www.chickchatt.org, 423-624-6914
November 10-12, 2005--13th Annual Symposium on the 19th Century Press, the Civil War, and Free Expression, sponsored by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's Department of Communications; more details later