Annual Civil War Symposium, Jefferson, Texas, August 7, 2021

James N.

Colonel
Annual Winner
Featured Book Reviewer
Asst. Regtl. Quartermaster Antietam 2021
Joined
Feb 23, 2013
Location
East Texas
Earlier this week I received this Email from organizers of this annual event:


I can't tell you how excited we all are are to see this email go out - the 2021 Jefferson Civil War Symposium is actually looming on the horizon! Before reading another word, before doing anything else, be sure to put a big, red circle around August 7 on your calendar. That is the date that we're all going to gather in Jefferson for this year's symposium!

Last year we had to cancel due to the pandemic, and we missed out on an incredible slate of speakers... so we're very proud to announce that the same speakers that missed last year will be in the house to deliver the same programs that were scheduled for last August. We're finally going to hear these incredible presentations...
  • Vicki Betts recently retired as a librarian at the University of Texas at Tyler and is currently co-editor of Chronicles of Smith County, Texas, the annual journal of the Smith County Historical Society. She will present “Escape from Camp Ford!” which will look at the various ways federal soldiers tried, and sometimes succeeded, in escaping from the largest prisoner of war camp in the Trans-Mississippi, located near Tyler.
  • William Bozic, a Park Guide at the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve assigned to the NPS visitor centers in Lafayette and Eunice, Louisiana will present “Get in the Saddle and Ride: A Regimental History of Col. James B. Likens’ 35th Texas Cavalry Regiment”, a unit that rode and fought along the Texas Gulf Coast, through the Red River Campaign, in the Atchafalaya Region, and finally in Galveston until the war ended.
  • M. Jane Johansson, Ph.D., is a professor of history at Rogers State University who will present “The 28th Texas Cavalry (Dismounted) of Walker’s Texas Division.” This presentation will provide a collective biography of the men who served in this East Texas regiment, and describe their recruitment, wartime service in Arkansas and Louisiana, and combat experiences during the Red River Campaign.
  • Steven M. Mayeux, a retired Central Louisiana agricultural consultant, historian and former Marine tank officer will present "Joseph Lancaster Brent: Lawyer, Warrior, and Prophet of Tank Warfare." Joseph Brent was one of the more obscure Confederate generals. His impressive accomplishments during the War make this story all the more amazing. He should have died in two different shipwrecks, but instead, lived on to broker one of the last Confederate surrenders. His post-war prophetic look into the future of tank warfare is almost spooky.
These are topics that are brand new to the symposium, even after nine previous years (can you believe that this is the 10th annual?). As always, there will be a full vendor room and a delicious lunch served. The Friday night speaker's reception is an add-on that attendees always love - it's a chance to meet the speakers one-on-one, and hear them preview their presentations.


Anyone interested in attending this event can contact the Jefferson Historical Museum in Jefferson, Texas for further details. Unless things have changed, attendance for the day is $60 and includes a catered barbeque lunch. There are plenty of overnight accommodations in this B&B capital of Texas or nearby Marshall.
 
Last edited:
Well I'm glad to see its happening, best place to hunt for CW books in Texas. Its good to hear it ain't completely centered on the Red River Campaign like all the other years with a little branching out. Be great if it could lead to a trend.:D
 
Well I'm glad to see its happening, best place to hunt for CW books in Texas. Its good to hear it ain't completely centered on the Red River Campaign like all the other years with a little branching out. Be great if it could lead to a trend.:D
Actually, though admittedly largely centered on Red River as the largest event that occurred in this region, there have been plenty of other subjects over the years, though most if not all of them have concerned the Trans-Mississippi theater - not a bad thing! Examples I recall have included unit histories that necessarily extend both before and after April, 1864; Confederate uniforms in the Trans-Mississippi; Indian participation in the war; Blockade Running; and Confederate forts on the Red.
 
I don't know if anyone else is planning on attending this year or not - @bdtex @Nathanb1 @Joe Walker @Rick Featherston - but it's definitely on! Yesterday I made my reservation (which is now $75) and since I plan on once again displaying my collection of Union Regulation arms, accouterments, etc. I will also be at the Friday evening Welcome session. I also made a room reservation at the Jefferson Hotel which is open again under new management after a hiatus of several years.

Hope to see some familiar faces there!
 
I also made a room reservation at the Jefferson Hotel which is open again under new management after a hiatus of several years.
Rooms there are a bit too pricey for me now.
 
Perhaps you will be assigned the haunted room at the Jefferson! Its a fun town. Wish I could go.
Rooms there are a bit too pricey for me now.
True - I didn't really want to spend $150 a night, but unfortunately the number to a nice B&B I'd stayed at previously no longer works and I wanted to get this over with. I've stayed there on several previous occasions and have never had any sort of "experiences".
 
We have stayed at Old Mulberry Inn on another trip, and felt it reasonable with some nice breakfasts included.
The Benefield House B&B was where I stayed last and it's breakfasts were also very good, but for some reason its telephone is out-of-service. Unfortunately, especially considering the rate, the Jefferson Hotel doesn't include breakfast! (Neither does the Excelsior House where I've stayed many times before.)
 
I'm probably gonna leave early on Friday and stay one night in Marshall this time. There's as cemetery in Marshall I want to go to that I haven't been to before.
 
I'm probably gonna leave early on Friday and stay one night in Marshall this time. There's as cemetery in Marshall I want to go to that I haven't been to before.
The only place I've ever stayed in Marshall was the old Motel 6 on I-30 south of town so I have no recommendations for you.
 
The only place I've ever stayed in Marshall was the old Motel 6 on I-30 south of town so I have no recommendations for you.
Probably stay at the one right next to Golden Corral. :D
 
Stayed at LaQuinta south side of Marshall coming up from Carthage, but I don't recall if there were decent eating places nearby. Hope you two have a great time.
 
I'll be there, may even listen in for a change since its not the same old subject which got old after so many years.

Also for the record and because I'm a jerk I just got to remind everyone that instead of getting a hotel I'll be sleeping nicely at my house just 15 minutes away.:D
 
IMG_20210807_145800125.jpg



Yours truly, James N. , @Joe Walker , @Rick Featherston , @J. D. Stevens
 
Wish I could've hung around, but life never waits for long.

I came, said hello, bought a Sharps, bought a slew of books, arranged a tour of Fort Derussy, and hauled ***!
Sorry I didn't think about the group picture until late in the day.
 
Back
Top