Fauquier Heritage Institute
Lectures in American History
NEWS RELEASE
For further information contact
Mr. Gar Schulin at:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 540-349-5864; or via email:
February 8, 2009
Fauquier Heritage Institute Features Interesting, Informative History Lectures for 2009
WARRENTON, VA – The second edition of the annual Fauquier Heritage Institute Lectures in American History features a fine lineup of local historians and nationally acclaimed scholars to address a variety of topics of local and national significance. The monthly lectures take place on Sunday afternoons at 3:00 PM in the John Barton Payne Building in Courthouse Square on Main Street, in Old Town Warrenton, Virginia, directly across the street from the Old Warrenton Courthouse. Admission is free to the public and the lectures are sponsored by the Fauquier County Public Library.
All who are interested to learn more of our American history will want to mark their calendars now to hear these memorable topics and guest lecturers. The 2009 lecture opened on 18 January to an appreciative audience with a discussion on “The Importance of Buckland,” presented by Mr. David Blake, Proprietor of Buckland Farm.
On Sunday, 15 February at 3:00 PM, Living Historian Mr. David Meisky will present “Governor-General William ‘Extra Billy’ Smith Reminisces About His Life,” which will provide an interesting overview of one of the most important historic figures to emerge from Fauquier County and Virginia in the 19th Century. During his long and consequential life (1797-1887), William Smith became a lawyer at age 20, where he made and lost two fortunes; the first one earned building stage coach lines and the second fortune earned in the California Gold Rush. William Smith’s many accomplishments included having served as State Senator, U.S. Congressman, Confederate Congressman, a two-term Governor of Virginia under the Union (1846-49) and the Confederacy (1864-65), and at age 78, served as a Post-Reconstruction State Delegate. When the War Between the States came to Virginia in 1861, former Governor Smith at age 63, quickly petitioned to form and equip the 49th Virginia Regiment of Infantry Volunteers at a time when most men his age may have been inclined to sit out the war on their front porch in retirement. Colonel Smith eventually rose to the rank of Major-General through his distinguished command of Fauquier men in such battles as First Manassas, the Peninsula Campaign, Seven Pines, Frayser’s Farm, Malvern Hill, Second Manassas, Sharpsburg (where he received three wounds), Chancellorsville, Winchester and Gettysburg. Widely acclaimed by his native State, General Smith was re-elected as Virginia’s last Confederate Governor during 1864-65. As Confederate Governor, Smith dedicated his service to feeding starving soldiers and civilians, organized and equipped a Richmond home guard civilian defense force, promoted the use of African-American troops and other matters of state under the most dire hardships and circumstances imaginable. Abraham Lincoln referred to General Smith as “that old game cock,” and in the final days of the war, the Union placed a $25,000.00 bounty on his head. In a revealing testament of the great character of Virginians of the day who knew of Governor Smith’s whereabouts, no one ever collected the immense fortune.
On June 8, 1865, the Governor-General received a federal parole, whereupon he returned to his beloved home in Warrenton to lead an active and consequential life for the remainder of his years, including promotion of the spirit of reconciliation in his letter to President Andrew Johnson, which read in part, “I pray your Excellency, to remember in this connection, that the people of the seceded States did not act without deep conviction of the right to do as they have done; that the disastrous termination of their efforts for liberty and independence has not convinced them that they were in error in the efforts they have made, and that they now only submit to a necessity which they have no power to resist. The death or confiscation of the property of the father of a family are not likely to convince his children of error and to make them good and loyal citizens. I deem it due to myself to declare that the foregoing positions and opinions are those in which I believe. Accepting reconstruction as a necessity since the surrender of General Lee, I have borne myself in such a way as to promote and not obstruct it.”
Upon his passing in 1887, both Fauquier and Richmond citizens by the thousands gave the Governor-General memorial services befitting a Virginia hero. Upon the dedication of Smith’s statue on the grounds of the State Capitol in 1906, Judge James Keith recalled the Governor-General’s uncommon valor: “At Seven Pines we saw him seize a fallen banner and bear it to the front, heedless of a storm of shot and shell; at Sharpsburg all day upon the perilous edge of the fiercest battle of the war, he displayed the highest courage and by his example lifted his men above all fear of the carnival of death, in the midst of which they stood unshaken during that awful day. Oppressed by the weight of years, weary from almost superhuman exertion, bleeding from grievous wounds, his constant soul mounting with the occasion was careless of all save the command he received and the promise he had given to hold the position.” The Fauquier Heritage Institute is pleased to present this public tribute to William “Extra Billy” Smith during the 250th Anniversary year of both Fauquier County and the Town of Culpeper.
The Institute also invites all interested persons to mark their calendars for the remaining 2009 lecture series, summarized as follows: March 15, “The Real Lincoln,” presented by Thomas J. DiLorenzo, Professor of Economics, Loyola College and the award-winning author of The Real Lincoln: A New Look at Abraham Lincoln, His Agenda, and an Unnecessary War; Lincoln Unmasked: What You’re Not Supposed to Know About Dishonest Abe; and Hamilton’s Curse: How Jefferson’s Arch Enemy Betrayed the American Revolution- And What it Means For America Today; Winner of the Franz Cuhel Memorial Prize for Excellence in Economics Education by Prague University; and Abbeville Institute Scholar; April 19, “Did Anyone Really Know What Time It Was,” presented by Living Historian, researcher and lecturer Mr. Arthur Candenquist; May 17, “The War of 1812 in Virginia and the Role of the Fauquier County Militia,” presented by Living Historian Mr. Mike Lyman, member of the Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution, Culpeper Minute Men Chapter and the War of 1812 Society; June 14, “On the Shoulders of Giants: Project Apollo to the Moon,” presented by Mr. Gar Schulin, former Research Assistant at the Smithsonian Institution Center for Earth and Planetary Studies; National Air and Space Museum; July 19, an extended program starting at 2:00 PM with “The Post War Relationship of Grant and Mosby,” presented by Mr. David Goetz, author of War Between the States articles and editor of The Memorial Wall to Name the Fallen; and “Mosby’s Keydet Rangers,” presented by Mr. Eric Buckland, Historian and author of Mosby’s Keydet Rangers; a collection of memorials, biographical sketches, articles, personal letters, photographs and wartime reminiscences by and about those brave young men who both matriculated at the Virginia Military Institute and rode with the 43rd Battalion Virginia Cavalry-Mosby’s Rangers; August 16, “Lieutenant Governor Francis Fauquier, His Own Story,” presented by Mr. Dennis Loba, Living Historian and lecturer; September 20, “Lesser Known Heroes: Pelham, Pegram and Pendleton, The Gallant Young Men of the Confederacy,” presented by Mr. Thomas Moore, Military Historian and award winning author of The Hunt for Confederate Gold; former Professional Staff of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Director of Defense and Foreign Policy at The Heritage Foundation; Stephen Dill Lee Institute Scholar; and Current Chairman of the Southern National Congress; October 18, “Secession and the Confederate Constitution,” presented by Dr. William Wilson, Dean of Honors Students, University of Virginia; and winner of one the University’s highest distinctions, the Algernon Sidney Sullivan Award for teaching and selfless service; author of many articles pertaining to religion, literature, philosophical theology and three volumes of Lectura Dantes Virginiana; and Board of Directors of the Abbeville Institute for the Study of Southern Culture; November 15, “Meet One of America’s Servant Saviors: Suffragist, Mrs. Robert Walker,” presented by Ms. Lynne Garvey-Hodge, Living Historian and Chair of the Fairfax County History Commission; author of the pictorial essay "Clifton,"on the history of Clifton, Virginia; Owner of the historic Bed & Breakfast, The Canary Cottage in Clifton, Virginia; and management consultant and President of LGH, Inc. No program is scheduled for December.
The Fauquier Heritage Institute was created to promote the study and love of Virginia and American history. To that end, the Institute hosts a yearly series of public lectures that seek to provide knowledge, understanding and appreciation of our local, regional and national history.
Additional program and Guest Lecturer details for each month will be posted via the Fauquier County Library web site, in addition to local and national papers throughout the year. The Fauquier Heritage Institute welcomes and encourages all volunteers to aid our special events programs and lecture series in a variety of capacities. Contact Program Co-Chairs Mr. Gar Schulin at 540-349-5864; Mrs. Paula Johnson at 540-341-7019; or Mrs. Jackie Lee at 540-347-0607, for additional information.
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