Update

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, the seminar at Liberty University was excellent. Dr. Cline Hall, Associate Professor of History at Liberty and Kenny Rowlette, Associate Professor of English at Liberty, were kind and gracious hosts and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The ride over Brent's Mountain and down through Piner River en route to Lynchburg is always beautiful. My wife and I stopped and snapped this photo of a classic Blue Ridge Mountain cabin. Pure Appalachia. One can easily imagine the barefooted children who once played in the front yard of this now abandonded homeplace while Mama snapped beans on the front porch.

My lecture on Lee Chapel was well received as we noted that 2007 marks the 140th anniversary of the Chapel's construction. We also met some new friends, sold some books, and got our first sneak peek at the National Civil War Chaplain’s Museum - the only one of its kind in the United States. Take time to visit the link to the site. Their list of trustees and advisors is quite impressive, as are the goals they've set for the museum. Should you have items to donate or loan for this effort, please consider doing so. I was able to donate a couple of items related to John Jasper’s ministry to this new endeavor. The church Jasper founded, Sixth Mount Zion Baptist in Richmond, is also celebrating its 140^th anniversary this year. During the Civil War Jasper, though enslaved, requested and received permission from Richmond authorities to minister to the wounded Confederate soldiers at Chimborazo Hospital. My own great-great grandfather, John Meredith Crutchfield, was at Chimborazo during the closing days of the war.

The Chaplain's Museum will be kicking off a national fund-raising effort (The Stonewall Procession) the weekend of May 11th - 13th with special guest, Mort Kunstler. Kunstler will be unveiling his latest work about the funeral procession of Stonewall Jackson from Lynchburg aboard the packet boat The Marshall. Civil War author and historian, Rod Gragg will be speaking as well. I've been asked by Kenny Rowlette to set up a book table as my book has a chapter about Jackson's funeral. We will be posting more information about this event and the Chaplain's museum in the near future.

This coming weekend, I will be speaking at the annual Natural Bridge Civil War Living History and encampment. There will be a few lectures on Saturday, an evening camp service, some new Confederate headstone dedications in the church cemetery, music around the campfires, and another service Sunday morning at Natural Bridge Baptist Church. Please contact me if you are in the area and would like more information.