The Lincoln Leadership Institute Sponsors "The Memoirs of Abraham Lincoln"

Photo courtesy of Totem Pole Playhouse

Marking the 150th anniversary of the death of Abraham Lincoln, Granville Van Dusen brings his acclaimed PBS production of the one-man play "The Memoirs of Abraham Lincoln" to the Totem Pole Playhouse stage for his farewell performance as the nation's sixteenth president.

Written by playwright Peter King Beach and directed by Academy Award-winning Best Director Delbert Mann, the play had its world premiere 25 years ago at Gettysburg College’s Kline Theatre. The play is a refreshing portrait of one of our country’s most beloved presidents, spanning his early years as a country lawyer, to the troubling times of the Civil War.

The Lincoln Leadership Institute is sponsoring the performance. Lincoln Leadership Institute President Steve Wiley is a proud supporter of the play. Here's what he told Celebrate Gettysburg about his connection to this summer's farewell performance.

"When I came to Gettysburg College in 19-something, the first thing I did was go to the drug store [at the Wills House] to buy some things. That was where the Lincoln room was up above...in the Wills House. I was mesmerized by the Lincoln bedroom, and now here it is many years later and this is our office. My mom and dad both passed away and are buried a couple feet away from where Lincoln actually delivered the Gettysburg Address in the private cemetery. When the opportunity to help support the Totem Pole Playhouse in this manner came about, I thought it was in the stars that we should help support it."

Shows are scheduled July 10-26. To purchase tickets or view showtimes, visit www.totempoleplayhouse.org.

About The Lincoln Leadership Institute 
The Lincoln Leadership Institute at Gettysburg has developed several offerings that present “pure plays” in leadership that provide insight to timeless leadership issues—issues that were present in 1863 with President Abraham Lincoln, and issues that are relevant to organizations today. These sessions provide metaphors in which history comes alive and the leadership shift that occurred during the Battle of Gettysburg and its history-altering result are examined.

To learn more about The Lincoln Leadership Institute, visit gettysburgleadership.com.

The Battle of Gettysburg: Through the Eyes of Michael Schroyer

By Karen Hendricks

The inside of Shroyer's diary (Photo courtesy of Sue Boardman)

Sue Boardman became a licensed battlefield guide thanks to a passion for Civil War history ignited by discovering and reading a diary written by Michael Schroyer, who served in Co. G, 147^th PA Volunteers, based in her hometown area of Snyder County.

Here are Schroyer’s diary entries at the time of the Battle of Gettysburg, as he wrote them, but with locations capitalized:

Maryland June 30 Tuesday we marched through Taneytown. Crossed over into Pennsylvania and went through Littlestown and drove before us the enemys pickets with a skirmish at Littlestown capturing a few of the enemy. travelled 15 miles

July 1 1863 Wednesday we went back to Littlestown and took the Gettysburg pike and travelled within 11 miles to Gettysburg and stayed there all night very hard fighting.  Travelled about 12 miles

July 2 Thursday we went about 11 mile to the right of the line of battle and layed there until 12 o’clock at night when we again returned to our line of battle

July 3 the rebs then occupied our breastworks we commenced fighting about 5

o’clock in the morning and continued until two. About noon the rebs left the breastworks and we then went into them again. we left them on the night before the fight. The rebs then went into them but could not hold them. The wounded in our company are Calvin C. Parks in finger. Corporal bower Harris in hip. Thus ended the 3 of July. The rebs retreated with heavy loss

July 4 Saturday 1863 it was all along the line.  Quiet on the night of the 3 of July the rebs on a retreat. Our army burying the dead.

July 5 Sunday I was detailed to help bury rebel dead. we buried 42 rebs in one grave or trench and 31 rebs in another. we then went to marching.

Civil War Trust Seeks to Save Lee’s HQ

By Brendan Raleigh 

You’d think that the Headquarters of Gen. Robert E. Lee would be one of the top tourist attractions in Gettysburg. After all, the decisions made in that building significantly altered both the outcome of the Civil War and the future of the United States. But unfortunately, the charm of the historic building has been marred substantially by the commercial development surrounding it, preventing it from reaching its full potential as an historic landmark.

And that’s why the Civil War Trust, a Washington-based non-profit group, embarked on its quest to purchase the Headquarters, restore it to its 19^th century glory, and preserve it for future generations.

“The Lee’s Headquarters site is the most hallowed of grounds,” says Civil War Trust President Jim Lighthizer. “And the opportunity to preserve it is the best way to appropriately honor the legacy of those who gave the last full measure of devotion on that fateful July day.”

“The Headquarters are one of the most historically-significant, unprotected battlefield sites in Gettysburg, and possibly the nation,” agrees Jim Campi, the Trust’s policy and communications director. “It was the nerve center of the Confederate army for much of the Battle of Gettysburg.”

The neighboring Quality Inn and Appalachian Brewing Company are often perceived as disruptive toward the site’s potential for an authentic Civil War atmosphere. Since the two businesses declined to renew their leases this past year, the Trust was given its opening to purchase the Headquarters and four acres of battlefield around it.

Financially, it’s a pretty hefty undertaking: $5.5 million to purchase the building and another half-million to demolish the modern structures and restore the historic structure. However, with more than $4.4 already raised and committed thanks to the government grants, private sector dollars, and a sizable gift from FedEx Corporation, the people of the Civil War Trust are confident they will succeed in their endeavor.

“Within the first three weeks of the campaign, we had already raised 25 percent of our goal,” says Campi. “If the fundraiser is successful, we'll be able close on the property probably next year. And then we’ll be able to move forward with our goal of making it look as much as possible like it did on July 1, 1863.”

If the Trust purchases the site, they will first have to assess the historic site and the historic buildings before beginning the process of tearing down the non-historic structures and restoring the landscape. The current museum would remain, at least until the site is turned over to the National Park Service, as the Trust plans to do.

“To watch the property be transformed from commercial real estate to a restored historic site, a place of reverence and remembrance, will be a true privilege,” says Lighthizer. “We will all soon be able to stand on this ground and be transported back to those three days in July that shaped our nation so significantly.”

Civil War Trust has performed similar ventures in both Gettysburg and Antietam, but this undertaking is by far their most ambitious, and potentially their most significant. To donate to the Civil War Trust’s quest to save General Lee’s Headquarters or learn more about the cause, visit the fundraiser’s page.