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CALL TO ARMS
Brunswick Civil War Round Table
Wally Rueckel, President. [email protected] or 910-253-7382 April 5, 2011 Charen Fink, Newsletter Co-editor. [email protected] Volume II, Issue No.4
Mike Powell, V.P./Newsletter Co-editor. [email protected]
Location: Trinity United Methodist Church, 209 Nash St., Southport, across from the post office
First Tuesday of each month (except July and August)
Registration: 6:30 pm Program: 7:00pm
BCWRT is a 501 (3) tax exempt organization formed in May 2010 with a current membership of
269.
The Ladies’ Department—2-3 Photo Gallery--6-7
1864 Happenings—3 Trivia Questions—8
In Memoriam—3 Bentonville Trip—8
Around Town, State and Nation—3 Research Development Team—5
It Happened in April—4 President’s Message—9
Schedule of Programs—4 Trivia Answers—9
Synopsis of March Speaker—5
In This Issue
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The Ladies’ Department By Charen Fink
Civil War Cosmetics, Part I
Cosmetics were used but depended upon the user’s age, background, financial and social status. Not
everyone was using them and certainly not to the degree of modern cosmetics. A brief look in history shows:
*Egyptian women using kohl ( a mixture of lampblack, soot or antimony) to blacken edges of the eyelids and
lashes
*Ancient Greeks had heavily made up eyes, whitened their teeth, rouged their cheeks & lips but did not
―paint‖ their faces.
*Middle Eastern women edged their eyes in black, reddened their lips, blackened the space between their
teeth, frosted the face with gold powder, & reddened their finger & toenails and palms of the hands with
henna.
*Oriental women plucked their eyebrows, powdered their faces white, stained their teeth black, & reddened or
blued their lips.
Prior to the Victorian period (1837-1901) the use of heavy, thick, pasty make-up was going out of fashion
but still used by older women. Bismuth powder was considered a good substitute for the popular pearl
powders (made by dissolving seed pearls in acid & precipitating the powder with an alkali). Unfortunately it
turned a sickening shade of grey or even black when it came in contact with sulfur fumes.
Courtesans & actresses used this lead base paint, dried it in front of the fireplace, and supposedly it remained
on the face for up to a year. This was the origin of the term, ―painted lady‖
Commonly used powders to whiten the skin, to achieve a desired alabaster complexion.
*starch---carbonate of magnesia---rice powder---French chalk—talc
A few women went so far as to emphasize their veins with French chalk tinted with Prussian blue & painted
on with a leather pencil.
Lola Montez, a celebrated beauty of her time and mistress of Franz Liszt & Louis I of Bavaria, reported that
young girls were eating chalk, slate, or tea grounds to give themselves a white complexion.
Many books were published on the subject of caring for the complexion: removing wrinkles, removing
freckles, making the face as white as alabaster, & how to make the face ruddy.
According to Lola Montez, the greatest secret to bright & beautiful skin lies in temperance, exercise &
cleanliness.
Recipes for the complexion The author assumes no responsibility for any results on the skin.
* To remove freckles: An ounce of alum, an ounce of lemon juice, in a pint of rose water (Godey’s, Jan.,
1858)
* An ointment: pulp of apples, lard, & rosewater to beautify the skin. Pomade originates from the French for
apple. (Peterson’s, May 1860)
* Cold cream: Take a quarter ounce of white wax, & shred it into a basin with one ounce of almond oil.
Place the basin by the fire till the wax is dissolved; then, add very slowly one ounce of rosewater, little by
little, during this beat smartly with a fork, and continue beating till it is accomplished; then pour into jars for
use. (Godey’s, Feb., 1863)
Recipes for powders
* Face powder: starch, one pound; oxide of bismuth, four ounces
* Neutral face powder: rice flour
Period cosmetics available today
*Tinted face powder–similar to loose face powder available in department, grocery, & drug stores
*Absorbent powders–cornstarch, potato, rice, wheat or arrowroot starches are available in grocery stores
*Cold cream–any modern equivalent may be used
TRIVIA
1846–Pond’s was founded by Thomas T. Pond in the US (Pond’s Extract was their first product & the cold
The Ladies’ Department
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cream was not produced until 1910)
On July 21, 1861, Judith Henry leaves Washington, D.C. to watch the fighting at the first Battle of Bull
Run. Sitting with other spectators, Henry is hit by a shell & becomes the first female casualty of the war
Mary Had A Little Lamb was written by Sarah Josepha Hale, editor of Godey’s, in 1830.
Scalloped pinking shears were not used during our period. The pinking iron was used & it was a small
sharpened metal die. To scallop the edge of dress flounces the fabric was spread over a block of lead or
wood. The pinking iron was set against the fabric & hammered with a mallet so the die cut the fabric.
Each die would cut only a single scallop; by repeating the stamping, an elaborate design was achieved.
In addition to many cosmetics made of lead, other chemicals included mercury and arsenic.
References
Brinton, D.G, M.D. Personal Beauty. Bedford, Massachusetts: Applewood Books, 1994.
Bury, Lynne. ―To Rouge or Not to Rouge‖ Enhancing Natural Beauty. Past Reflections Magazine, Issue 12,
2003
―Fast Facts.‖ The Ladies’ Companion. Volume VII, Number 2, February 1995.
Mescher, Jen. ―On 19th Century Cosmetics.‖ Civil War Lady Magazine, Number 14, 1995.
___________. Powdered, Painted, and Perfumed; Cosmetics of the Civil War Period and Their Historic Context.
Burke, Virginia: Vintage Volumes, 2003.
Montez, Lola. Timeless Beauty. Gettysburg, PA: Thomas Publications, 1998.
In Memoriam Our condolences to Ed Ovsenik on the passing of his mother the end of February.
1864 Happenings Stephen Foster, age 38, & Nathaniel Hawthorne, age 60, died.
Songs: ―Beautiful Dreamer‖ & ―Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!‖ published.
Motto ―In God We Trust‖, used on U.S. coins for 1st time.
Gen. U.S. Grant named Commander-in-Chief of Union Armies.
National debt $1,815,784,370.00
Around Town, State & Nation
Suffolk, VA: May, 7th (9 am to 4pm), ―The Departure of Confederate Troops‖ begins the Sesquicentennial
Celebration in Suffolk, VA. Contact: email [email protected] or call 757-934-0822 and ask for Lee.
Salisbury, N.C.: April 8-10, 14th Annual Salisbury Confederate Prison Symposium sponsored by the U.D.C.
Includes lectures, tour of prison, books, music, displays and banquet, the cost is $65. Contact Sue Curtis at 704-
637-6411 or [email protected].
Charleston, S.C.: April 8-12, Barter Theatre presents ―Civil War Voices‖, true stories, real words - the people
and the music that shaped America. Email www.bartertheatre.com or call 276-628-3991.
Charleston, S.C.: April 8-17, 150th anniversary of the bombing of Fort Sumter, email clsinclair @
Comporium.net.
By Charen Fink
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It Happened in April 1861
April 6—Lincoln sent a State Dept. clerk to inform the Governor of S.C. that he intended to send provisions only
to Fort Sumter.
April 12—Confederate troops attacked Fort Sumter. The Civil War began.
April 15—Lincoln publicly issued a proclamation that insurrection existed and called for 75,000 troops to put
down the rebellion.
April 19—The 6th Mass. Was attacked in the streets of Baltimore by Southern sympathizers.
April 20—The Federals evacuated the Navy Yard at Norfolk, VA leaving the USS MERRIMACK to fall into
Virginian hands.
April 22—Lee was nominated to command all the forces of Virginia.
April 27—Lincoln extends the naval blockade to include the coasts of Virginia and North Carolina. He also
suspends the right of Habeas Corpus, along a line from Philadelphia to Washington.
April 29—Under pressure from Lincoln, Maryland votes to reject secession.
1862
April 6-7, 1862—Battle of Shiloh, Union won
1865
April 9, 1865—Lee surrendered.
April 14, 1865—Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth.
This new line-up includes three speakers back by popular demand. Thanks to you, our members,
your dues have enabled us to bring a wide variety of topics and speakers with outstanding
credentials to the Round Table. We are most fortunate to secure this impressive line-up. We need
your support.
September—Steve Nash, ―The Blockade and Blockade Running‖, he is the recognized expert on this subject.
October—Brian Wills, ―Nathan Bedford Forrest‖, he is a Forrest biographer and Director of the Kennasaw State
University Civil War Center.
November—Bob Mallaur, ―Hood in Tennessee‖ with special reference to Franklin, he is President of the
Baltimore Civil War Round Table and a frequent speaker on the Civil War and WWII.
December—Jack Travis, ―Artilleryman, E. Porter Alexander‖, Jack is a member of our RT and has recently
published a book on Alexander.
January—Ed Bearss, ―Lincoln and McClellan‖, tentative topic.
February—Will Green, ―April 2 to Appomattox‖, he is Executive Director of Pamplin Park.
March— Marvin Nicholson, ―The African American Experience in the Civil War,‖ located in South Carolina;
Marvin is a frequent speaker on this subject.
April—William C. ―Jack‖ Davis—topic to be determined. He is a former editor of Civil War Illustrated
And a prolific writer on the C.W., and Director of VT’s Civil War Institute.
May— Chris Fonvielle, ―William B. Cushing‖, Federal navy hero active in North Carolina waters who was
instrumental in the capture of Fort Fisher.
June—Professor Max Williams, topic to be determined, perhaps King Cotton diplomacy or reconstruction
Schedule of Programs for 2011-2012
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No one will disagree that Max Williams is irreplaceable! His student, Master’s Candidate and friend, Richard
Starnes, has performed one of the finest lateral arabesques you will ever see. He is Max to the 9’s. Richard is
highly qualified to expound on Lincoln. His lugubrious delivery is hard to reduce. Those who were there will no
doubt agree. Dr. Starnes is smooth. We peppered him with laughter.
NO ONE but NO ONE had such a depth of crisis as Lincoln. He was terribly ill-prepared as a soldier let alone a
commander-in-chief. IF his military background had been more than fighting in the Blackhawk War and killing
only mosquitoes, his odds would have improved. He laments that he must plow his own field and plow he did. A
voracious reader, Lincoln educates himself first in military strategy. Then he schools himself in monetary
strategy to squelch rampant corruption and plundering of the government. Next, he brilliantly forms diplomatic
strategies to use on such ―frying pan‖ issues as the Trent Affair (Mason/Slidell). Having started this war with little
or no Navy and a woefully ill-equipped Army he must next develop an Industrial strategy. Last but far from least,
he must embrace the first job of any politician–get himself re-elected. That calls for sometimes brutal political
strategy. The Commander-in-Chief’s National Strategy is, was and always will be preservation of the Union at
whatever cost. The Union is perpetual.
1862 is Lincoln’s winter of discontent. IF McClellan would only stop counting imaginary Confederates and give
the Commander-in-Chief a real Northern victory, Lincoln wouldn’t need to say, ―IF he isn’t using it, I would like
to borrow his Army.‖ Lincoln must lead the Army from the rear and practically lives at the Washington
Telegraph Office.
Richard reminds us of a few key points. Lincoln was a lawyer and as such, words mean things. IF he admits the
South has the right to ―depledge‖ this honored Union, he loses the core of that National Strategy. The
Commander, therefore, calls it just an ―insurrection.‖ The South never left the Union!
Richard tells us that Lincoln surrounded himself with a very long list of undistinguished people. Halleck ―is little
more than a first rate clerk‖ and suffers from hemorrhoids. Ben Butler collects discontent by the chamber pot full.
The ladies of New Orleans take to painting his picture on the bottom of said pots. You won’t find a more
narcissistic man than McClellan. Grant, later, calls him ―one of the mysteries of this war.‖
The Commander knows this can’t be a war of attrition. Grant MUST bring the battle to the South and break their
will to fight. The ―grand freeing of the slaves‖ was mostly a political act. Suspending Habeas Corpus was clearly
wrong. Lincoln had already begun ―reconstructing‖ the South with his 10% rule.
Finally, Richard asks, with an IF larger than any of Rudyard Kipling’s writings, IF Lincoln had lived, how would
he have performed as a peace time Commander? Dr. Starnes bring us more gems. Enlighten us and maybe even
―dazzle‖ Max. Submitted by Dan Fink
Be sure to stop at the Sutler’s table and check out the shirts and hats with the BCWRT logo. They are
perfect when attending Civil War functions and traveling on trips, such as the upcoming Bentonville Trip.
Continue to bring in your gently read magazines and exchange them for another.
Check also for the monthly book sales.
Many of our members are graciously sharing their memorabilia, visit with them and share information.
Synopsis of March Speaker, Richard Starnes, ―Abraham Lincoln as Commander-in-Chief‖
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Max Williams, Director and Program Chair Richard Starnes, guest speaker
The members in attendance listening to Richard Starnes presentation.
Photo Gallery
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Richard Starnes, Jim McKee and Doty Anderson holding a piece of Lincoln campaign
Memorabilia that has been in her family for years.
Col. “Black Jack” Travis signing copies of his book about E. Porter Alexander
Max Williams; Richard Starnes; Jim McKee, V.P.; Tom O’Donnell, Director & Co-founder
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1) ―The art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike
him as hard as you can, and keep moving on.
2) ―I stand before you today a thief and a robber. I stole this head, this body, these limbs, and ran off with
them.‖
3) ―I hate newspapermen. They come into camp and pick up their camp rumors and print them as facts. I
regard them as spies, which, in truth, they are. If I killed them all there would be news from hell before
breakfast.‖
4) ―If the Confederacy falls, there should be written on its tombstone: Died of a theory.‖
5) ―America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter, and lose our freedoms, it will be because
we destroyed ourselves.‖
6) ―Stand up you cowards; they couldn’t hit an elephant at this distance.‖
7) ―I like liquor – its taste and effects – and that is just the reason why I never drink it.‖
8) ―I fought the battle splendidly, everybody said so.‖
This is the last chance to sign up for this day-trip on Monday, April 11, 2011. It lasts from 8:30am till
5:30pm. The cost is $65.00 per person and includes: bus, lunch, fees, and information packet. The more
people who go, the less the price. Contact Mike Powell at [email protected] or see him at the April 5th
meeting.
******************************************************************************************* President, Wally is arranging a unique small group tour of Chickamauga, Chattanooga and Atlanta C.W.
Campaigns starting on Nov. 11, 2011. This is not being organized by the Round Table but is recommended to
members who like to tour important battle fields. The tour will feature a noted C.W. historian, guide and
executive director of Pamplin Park and The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier. Transportation during the
tour will be in a comfortable tour bus. Wally receives no remuneration for this and any excess revenue left will be
returned pro rata to all participants. More details will follow in future newsletters and notices. Contact Wally
Rueckel at 910-252-7382 or [email protected].
Trivia
Who Said That?
Bentonville Trip
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We had another great speaker at our March meeting. Professor Richard Starnes presentation was thought
provoking yet interspersed with bits of humor. I am sure we all learned a lot about Lincoln and better appreciate
the rapid transformation that he went through after becoming President.
We added 14 new members last month and are now up to 269. We take this as support for the quality of the
speakers that Max and Jim have scheduled this year such as Richard and the speakers that will speak thru June of
this year including our next speaker Professor Don Johnson.
Your directors are pleased to announce next year’s speakers that Max and Jim have scheduled from Sept. 2011
thru June 2012 which is presented elsewhere in this newsletter. The schedule includes previous speakers, Ed
Bearss, Chris Fonvielle and Jack Travis, plus new and equally interesting speakers, such as William Davis, a
noted Civil War historian, speaker and consultant for several T.V. programs and the History Channel.
Our Bentonville trip is coming up on April 11th. A comfortable motor coach will take us from Southport in the
morning and return in the late afternoon. The tour of the battlefields will be led by a local knowledgeable
historian. We have the necessary minimum participants but there is room for more.
Many people do not realize that there were a series of battles fought over 3000 acres around Bentonville. This
was the last major battle in the Civil War and the largest fought in North Carolina. It was fought between the
armies led by Generals William Sherman and Joe Johnson with approximately 50,000 troops in the battle or in the
immediate area. Sherman was surprised by Johnson’s tactics and ALMOST LOST this battle. A couple of weeks
after losing this battle the southern troops surrendered just up the road in Durham, N.C. Many people do not
appreciate the fact that more troops surrendered in Durham and that it occurred AFTER Lee surrendered at
Appomattox.
See Mike Powell at the sutler table to sign up. Hope to see you on the trip.
We continue to attract more volunteers. Our web master, Kathy O’Donnell, is actively working on bringing our
web site up. It should be another month. Dan Fink has volunteered to lead a committee to organize one-day-
clean-up events for our members’ at our local Civil War sites. We plan on starting with Fort Anderson. Please
agree to participate when contacted. This is one way to become acquainted with your fellow members and also
help improve the condition and appearance of these hallowed grounds.
See you at our next meeting on April 5th when Professor Don Johnson will speak on ‘Civil War Medicine.” You will be surprised at the number of changes which took place in battle field medicine during the Civil War. Wally Rueckel
1) U.S. Grant 5) A. Lincoln
2) Frederick Douglas 6) John Sedgwick—his last words, Gettysburg
3) W.T. Sherman 7) T. Jackson
4) Jefferson Davis 8) G.B. McClellan to his wife after Antietam
Pr esi dent ’ s
Message
Trivia Answers
