Civil War

11 23, 2019

Major Battles of the Civil War: The Battle of Franklin

By admin|2019-11-23T06:00:00-05:00November 23, 2019|

The Battle of Franklin pitted two flawed generals against each other: Union General John Schofield was too pompous; Confederate General John B. Hood, too stubborn.

But when they met on the battlefield, it was Hood’s flaws that came to the fore. Scott Longert, a former park ranger from James A. Garfield National Historic Site, explains how and why Hood and his “head of wood” ordered a charge more fatal than Pickett’s. He also tells how the Battle of Franklin spelled the end of the Army of Tennessee.

Our Civil War series continues at noon on Wednesday, Dec. 11 at our Main Branch. We’ll discuss what Christmas was like in a Civil War camp. As always, the talk is free and open to all.

By the way, if you’re interested in Civil War history, several talks in our Civil War series can be viewed online in their entirety, including:

09 23, 2019

Antietam: The Bloodiest Day in US History

By admin|2019-09-23T06:00:43-04:00September 23, 2019|

In fewer than 12 hours, 23,000 Union and Confederate soldiers died, wounded, or were missing during the Battle of Antietam.

It still stands as the single most fatal day in US history.

Todd Arrington, site manager of James A. Garfield National Historic Site, explains why the armies met at Sharpsburg, why there were so many casualties, and what Antietam had to do with the Emancipation Proclamation.

Our Civil War series continues at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 14, at our Main Branch. We’ll discuss the Siege of Atlanta. As always, the talk is free and open to all.

By the way, if you’re interested in Civil War history, several talks in our Civil War series can be viewed online in their entirety, including:

07 18, 2019

The Battle of Gettysburg

By admin|2023-06-12T17:24:14-04:00July 18, 2019|

About a third of the soldiers who fought in Gettysburg became casualties during three pivotal days of the US Civil War.

Todd Arrington, site manager of James A. Garfield National Historic Site and a Gettysburg native, talks about the history, strategies, and people involved in the battle.

He also explains why Gettysburg became the scene of the Civil War’s bloodiest battle. (It has nothing to do with shoes.)

5 things you didn’t know about the Gettysburg Address

Our Civil War series continues at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 14, at our Main Branch. We’ll discuss the Siege of Atlanta. As always, the talk is free and open to all.

By the way, if you’re interested in Civil War history, several talks in our Civil War series can be viewed online in their entirety, including:

07 1, 2019

The Untold Stories of Mentor, Ohio, with Thomas Matowitz

By admin|2019-07-01T06:00:03-04:00July 1, 2019|

Thomas Matowitz, the author and local historian who literally wrote the book one Mentor, Ohio, returned to the library to share some of his best stories.

Matowitz is the perfect person to discuss prominent Mentor families like the Garfields, landmarks like the Wildwood Estate, and more. But he also has a mindful of spectacular Mentor stories that nearly nobody else knows, including:

Mentor’s only Congressional Medal of Honor recipient
the most fatal day in Mentor’s history
the tale of the WWII pilot from Mentor who is buried in Normandy.

For more from Matowitz:

Speaking of history, you can also join us for our 200th anniversary party at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 12, on our Main Branch lawn. Help make a community mosaic of Mentor with Gail Christofferson of Animal House Glass.

Also, Tom Todd, the Amazing One Man Band, will perform from 6 to 7 pm. Bring your lawn chairs or blankets, sit back and enjoy a little bit of Jimmy Buffett. We will also have cake and contests. All are welcome and no registration is required for our party.

06 19, 2019

Juneteenth: The Historical Significance of June 19

By admin|2019-06-19T06:00:23-04:00June 19, 2019|

Juneteenth is an American holiday that commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas on June 19, 1865. But it’s come to have a broader meaning, celebrating the freedom of all black slaves.

The date became even more important when the Civil Rights Act was passed on June 19, 1964.

But that’s just the iceberg’s tip. By coincidence, several momentous events in American Civil Rights history have occurred on or near June 19. As part of James A. Garfield National Historic Site‘s Civil War series, Site Manager Todd Arrington leads us on a time-traipsing tour of these memorable Juneteenths.

Our Civil War series continues at noon on Wednesday, July 10, at our Main Branch. We’ll discuss the Battle of Gettysburg. As always, the talk is free and open to all.

By the way, if you’re interested in Civil War history, several talks in our Civil War series can be viewed online in their entirety, including:

Civil War

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