WINCHESTER’S WINCHESTER’S PO Box 751, Winchester, Virginia 22604 www.FIWF.org Volume 10, Issue 1, Spring 2015 A N N U A L M E E T I N G O F T H E F O U N D AT I O N Our Annual Meeting was held at the Godfrey Miller Home on November 16th, 2014. Linda Ross, President, opened the meeting with remarks on our accomplishments through the past year. Vice-President David Grosso showed slide presentations of many of the events. Two articles on Fort Loudoun written by David Grosso were published. Eagle Scout David Tactikos built a display case for artifacts dug from Ft. Loudoun, and we had it placed in the Winchester- Frederick County Tourism Center. We installed a portrait of Col. George Washington by Charles Wilson Peale in his F&I War Virginia Regiment uniform in the new downtown Tourism Center on Boscawen St. We developed an "Outreach Program" for the community, to present to schools or Civic Organizations Made a presentation to the Kiwanis Club Ft. Loudoun Day, last May, was successful with a wonderful speaker, Bill Hunt, dressed in period uniform. Board member Carl Ekberg received the award La Medaille d'Or du Merite Francophone by the Ambassador of France at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. Several board members attended the ceremony. Norman Baker, the Foundation's Historian, was a speaker at the Braddock Road Seminar at Fort Necessity The Fort Loudoun site was granted listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The story was picked up by the U.S.A. Today Newspaper. A George Washington Birthday Dinner Norman Baker was held on Feb. 22nd at the George Washington Hotel. At our meeting Jim Moyer gave a demonstration of his website on French and Indian War Forts. We announced a newly formed Advisory Committee of 10 people: Stan Corneal, James Deskins, Amy DeBrueler, David Edwards, Bill Hunt, David Look, Jim Moyer, Roberta Munske, Dr. Dennis Pogue, and Dr. John Stauffer. Jim Moyer We are very encouraged to have this group as our Advisors. Dr. Pogue will lead the Archeology Committee. The foundation will be working with the City of Winchester to do an on-the-ground outline of the entire Fort. by Linda Ross Business: Reports were given by the heads of each committee. Finance, Jim Shipp; Building & Grounds, Linda Ross; Education & Outreach, Susan Emmart; Membership, David Grosso; and Development, entire board. Nominations were made for the following, Norman Baker, Steve Resan, Susan Emmart and R. Patrick Murphy, all to serve 3-year terms. All were unanimously elected. Awards: The Fort Loudoun Award was given to Roberta Munske, a former Board member and outstanding achiever in education on the F&I War. Roberta also formerly served on the board of the Fort Edwards Foundation. The Outstanding Leadership Award was presented to former Board member Scott Straub for his work on our Audio Tour. Linda took a minute to reflect on the passing of Foundation Members Eloise Strader, Marge Copenhaver and Helen Ritter. Roberta Munske Speaker: Our Speaker, Mr. Paul Misencik gave an engaging talk, based on his recent book, about George Washington and the Half King (Tanacharison), the Seneca Indian leader. Mr. Misencik is persuaded that Half King played a larger role in the seminal events of 1753-54 (especially the Jumonville Affair) than is commonly Speaker, Paul Misencik understood. Half King was a seasoned and wily operative on the Alleghany frontier, and he accompanied Washington on his remarkable diplomatic expedition to Fort Le Boeuf in 1753. Half King was surely influential in persuading George Washington to take the offensive against Jumonville’s party in late May 1754. It may even be argued, Mr. Misencik suggested, that Washington was deceived by Half King, who relished the action for which he is best known--striking defenseless Jumonville with a tomahawk and killing him. Upcoming Upcoming Events Events April April 25 25 Bus Bus Tour Tour to to Fort Fort Necessity Necessity National National Battlefield Battlefield May Speaker at May 16 16 Fort Fort Loudoun Loudoun Day, Day, 10am—1pm, 10am—1pm, Speaker at noon noon Business ConsultPage 1 ANNUAL MEETING Continued Winchester Star, 11/19/2014 Valley Pike by Adrian O’Connor Jumonville: ‘Murdered’ or merely ‘killed’ “This was war, undeclared though it may have been.” Norman Baker This past Sunday I went to a lecture and a splendid little war broke out — a war of words, that is ...among friends. Yes, much like at Fort Necessity, the meeting room at the Godfrey Miller House proved “a charming field for an encounter.” If you’re sensing a French and Indian War theme here, you’re spot on. The talk I took in, sponsored by our local French and Indian War Foundation, was delivered by Paul Misencik, author of a new book — “George Washington and the Half-King Chief Tanacharison: An Alliance That Began the French and Indian War” — about the events leading up to the tumultuous transactions at Pennsylvania’s Jumonville Glen that, as British writer Horace Walpole said, “set the world on fire.” Among scholars and enthusiasts of the war that set the table for the American Revolution, determining the wherefores and the whys of the abbreviated yet bloody fray at Jumonville has long been an academic cottage industry. Or, as I learned Sunday, a spark for the sort of rhetorical pyrotechnics that can result from honest differences in opinion and interpretation. The basic question energetically debated: Was Joseph Coulon de Villiers de Jumonville, leader of the small French force encamped in the glen, a casualty of war, or was he assassinated, murdered in cold blood by Tanacharison? It all hinges on whether you believe Jumonville was on a diplomatic mission — similar to that undertaken by the youthful Washington six months earlier at the behest of Robert Dinwiddie, Virginia’s royal governor — or on a military expedition whose intent was to engage the British and drive them back across the Alleghenies. Historical uncertainty abounds on this point, as does whether Washington was even aware Jumonville’s intentions may have been peaceful, but his message diplomatically firm. Misencik, for example, says Washington, until the day he died, never wavered in his conviction that the French he encountered that May morning in 1754 were a “hostile force.” There’s no question whatsoever about the circumstances of Jumonville’s death. Wounded in the battle — no hardand-fast determination has been made as to who fired first — Jumonville was treated as a prisoner of war...until Tanacharison walked up to him and cleaved his head with a tomahawk as Washington looked on. Hence, the spirited discussion that erupted near the end of Misencik’s presentation. In his introduction of the guest speaker, retired history professor Carl Ekberg called Jumonville’s death an “assassination.” And Misencik himself used the term “ cold - blooded murder” during his remarks. That was enough for Norman Baker. Decrying what he deemed the “demonization of Washington,” the Braddock’s Road explorer (and Iwo Jima veteran) noted it was common practice among Native Americans to slay the wounded after a battle. Thus, he said, “killed” rather than “murder” or “assassination,” might be a “better term.” Page 2 The 22- year- old Washington, Baker said, was “ a damn good leader.” What’s more, he added, “ in war, everyone makes mistakes” — particularly when there are no established “rules of engagement.” In its entirety, a fascinating discussion, from which I gleaned this bit of insight: Of all the principals at the glen and in the campaign that ensued, the Half King was the prime mover, a true Machiavellian. A Seneca sent by the Iroquois to oversee subjected tribes in the Ohio River Valley, he saw the French as a threat to Iroquois hegemony. His goal: to gin up a war between them and the British. Tanacharison got what he desired. Mere months later, he was dead, from pneumonia. Indian healers said he was “bewitched.” Adrian O’Connor is editorial page editor at The Winchester Star G E O R G E WA S H I N G T O N ’ S B I R T H D AY C E L E B R AT I O N at the New On Sunday, February, 22nd our Foundation held a luncheon for the celebration of the anniversary of George Washington’s birth. With good attendance, even though the winter weather forced a few cancellations, a good time was had by all. We were excited to 'christen' the George Washington Hotel's newly re-modeled downstairs restaurant ... George’s Food and Spirits. The restaurant is now themed exclusively on George Washington and we couldn't be happier! Birthday Cake! There is a small private room named the Fort Loudoun Room. On the walls, it features the Charles Wilson Peale’s portrait of "young" George Washington in his uniform as Colonel of the Virginia Regiment during the French and Indian War as well as a drawing of Fort Loudoun. Our own Norman Baker did the drawing of Fort Loudoun after two years of intensive research, including studies of Washington's drawings in the Library of Congress. This drawing was copyrighted in 2006. It first appeared on cover of the book, Fort Loudoun: Washington's Fort in Virginia by Norman L. Baker. We'd like to say Thank You to the owners of the Hotel for focusing on the early career of George Washington. The event was to allow our board members to meet members and to focus on sharing thoughts and visions for the Foundation's future. Vice President David Grosso, opened with a summation of our 2014 accomplishments. continued page 6 BELESTRE PART TWO by Stevan Resan Part 1 tells the story of the Cherokee coming from North Carolina to aid Virginia in protecting its western frontier and of the capture of a young French Ensign during a skirmish in which one of their Chiefs called the Swallow Warrior is killed. The French ensign is brought to Winchester for questioning amid excitement and controversy. The young French Ensign who was examined was Francois-Louis Picoté de Belestre, an aristocratic native of Canada who served in the Compagnies Franches de la Marine. By 1757 there were 40 companies of 65 men with each company having three officers. Therefore, Ensign Belestre was one of only about 120 field officers.i Edmond Atkin, Superintendent of Indian Affairs in the Southern Department, Col Washington, and George Croghan were present for the interview. The report of the examination was sent to Sir William Johnson, Superintendent of Indian Affairs in the Northern Department.ii Ensign Belestre said that he had come from Fort Duquesne, whose Commanding Officer's name was Deliguery. He reported that he left Fort Duquesne on the 17th of May with orders to reconnoiter Fort Cumberland and entice out small parties in order to make them prisoners. His party consisted of 40 Indians and 12 White men, 3 of which were Officers. He claimed that they did not kill anyone, but drove off a good number of horses. He said that the Indians separated themselves from the white men and dispersed themselves on the frontiers of the neighboring Colonies to get scalps and prisoners. When he and ten Frenchmen set off homewards, they were attacked about half way between Fort Cumberland and Fort Duquesne on the 30th day of May, and that two Officers and three soldiers were killed and himself taken prisoner. When questioned about the garrison present at Fort Duquesne he indicated that, when he left, there were 300 men, one half Regulars and the other half Militia. However, they expected a reinforcement of 300 more men from Montreal any day which were to be stationed at Fort Duquesne until spring to enable that garrison to resist any attempts the English might make against it this summer. He boasted that a great body of Indians to the number of 1500 composed of the Illinois, upper Cherokees and Creeks were also expected which were to be employed in scouting parties to annoy the frontiers of the three neighboring Colonies. He explained that the Indians who now harass the Frontiers are from more distant Nations than those previously employed who are now neutral. When questioned about an expedition intended to attack any of the frontier settlements or the outer forts, he replied that when he left Fort Duquesne he heard nothing of any such expedition and that they had no artillery to enable them to conduct such an attack on a fort, that the artillery at Fort Duquesne consisted of only 8 six pounders and 6 four pounders since the train of artillery taken after the defeat of General Braddock was sent down to Fort Niagara, and also used at the taking of Oswego by the French. Upon further questioning he said that only 100 of the Garrison at Fort Duquesne were quartered within the Fort the rest lodging in barracks without. When asked about the battle of Monongahela he said that there were 200 French and 600 Indians who attacked the British, and that the total killed and wounded on the side of the French amounted to only 30 and that they then made only 3 soldiers and 5 women prisoners. He also reported that the French give nothing for scalps but a little Spirits. Further intelligence supplied by Ensign Belestre was that 3000 Soldiers had arrived last winter at Montreal from France, but that he did not know of the arrival of any Troops at New Orleans by the way of Mississippi, that country being so distant that they had no accounts from there. However, at the same time he said that they were supported at Fort Duquesne with provisions from the Illinois country as well as from Fort Detroit. He added that 100 men were in the Garrison at Fort Presque Isle they being apprehensive that the English and their Indians might attack them there but that they had no Ports or Settlements on the Ohio below Fort Duquesne, however they had several above. Belestre may not have known, or was hiding the fact, that a French Fort was indeed being built on the lower Ohio. Major Mactique, the Commandant of Fort de Chartres had sent Monsieur Capitaine Charles-Philippe Aubrey, sieur de la Gautraye to build a fort on the lower Ohio. Aubry selected a site 39 miles from the Mississippi and 6 miles down from the Tennessee River on the northern (Illinois) side of the Ohio. The fort was to be built on a bluff 70 feet above the river. River traffic could not pass the fort without being seen during the day or during the night. The Fort was reportedly completed on the very day of the Belestre’s interrogation and was later called Fort Massac.iii Page 3 Belestre Part Two continued from page 3 All of this intelligence was considered by Washington and Stanwix as well as other recent information and both agreed that some major French offensive was in progress.iv v vi vii This was soon confirmed less than two months later in August when General Montcalm left Montreal to lay siege to Fort William Henry in New York. He led a powerful corps of 6,000 soldiers, including Captain Belestre, Ensign Belestre’s Father, and militiamen accompanied by 1,600 Indians. On August 6, after only three days of shelling, Lieutenant-Colonel George Monro, commander of the fort, surrendered. The Indians, frustrated by their inability to obtain any booty or capture prisoners, attacked the British and American soldiers as they withdrew, killing several and taking approximately 600 captive. The surrender of Fort William Henry was a harsh blow to the British, and it prevented them from effecting any operations south of Montreal for the remainder of the year.viii After the interrogation, it would have been expected that Belestre, as a prisoner of war, would have been detained at Winchester or sent to Williamsburg. However, there is no record of this taking place. What actually happened appears to have been that the Cherokee refused to turn him over to the British and instead made him their Chief.ix The refusal of the Cherokee to surrender prisoners was common. It had occurred just a few weeks earlier when Wawahachy, the other leader of the Cherokee that came north from the lower Cherokee towns with the Swallow Warrior, went to Fort Frederick with scalps and prisoners seeking gifts for their services. The Cherokee regarded goods that they received from the British as presents while the British regarded them as pay for scalps and prisoners. Wawahachy said “if they were not to have the goods that had been talked of unless they would purchase them with their prisoners or scalps they would return home” and that these “procured them most Honour among their own People”. He later declared that “nothing should tempt him to part with the prisoners.”x It was also not uncommon to adopt prisoners into the tribe to replace warriors killed in battle. As Washington had noted Belestre was a braggart and it is possible the Ensign not only impressed the Cherokee as a soldier but as one able to procure better gifts from the French. His Father, Captain Francois Marie Picoté de Belestre, was popular among the Indians of the Pays d’en Hautxi and may have been known to the Cherokee as the leader of the French and Indians who captured Fort Vause in southwest Virginia the previous year.xii When Governor Dinwiddie sent £240 to Atkins for “the scalps and prisoner bro’t in by the Swallow’s Party”, paying £30 per scalp “to make them thoroughly satisfied.”xiii It appears that by July 16 “the Indians having made no demand” the £240 was saved and given to Christopher Gist to pay for Wampum & Silver Ware for trade in Maryland and Pennsylvania.xiv Thus It may be that the “Swallow’s Party” and Wawahachy were dissatisfied and left for their village with their new chief. Over a year later, 24 September 1758, Col Henry Bouquet reported that he had heard that Belestre was “still with the Cherokees” and that “The Governor of Virginia and Carolina made them offers of considerable sums, and presents for his ransom, but the Cherokees having lost in that occasion one of their chiefs refused absolutely then to release him.”xv Captain Francois-Marie Belestre reported that his son Francois-Louis convinced the tribes to abandon the British side and join with the French. He said that Ensign Belestre remained with them for five years during which time “they have captured a fort on the Cherokee River, where there was a garrison of 500 men; they defeated on three occasions Major Grand and have ravaged all the settlements of Virginia and Carolina. This same son led a number of chiefs of different villages to Monsieur Neyon [de Villiers], commandant in Illinois [i.e. at Fort de Chartres], where they made peace with the Indians of Illinois and Missouri. This commandant gave him fifty men to return to Cherokee country and to continue the war against the English.”xvi Thus it appears that Belestre fought with the Cherokee through the Anglo–Cherokee War which broke out in 1758 and ended in 1761. Some of the Cherokee who were “convinced to abandon the British side” were forty men of the village of Estatoe (the village of the deceased Swallow Warrior) who had launched an unsuccessful attack on Fort Ninety Six in Carolina on Feb 2 and 3 of 1760. One of the Chiefs who led these pro-French Cherokee Indians was Wawahachy who had led the Cherokee north to help the British in 1757 and led the Cherokee south from Winchester with Belestre after his interrogation.xvii By 1762 Francois-Louis Picoté de Belestre was stationed back at Fort de Chartres serving as an ensign in the garrison. The fort was a stone fort enclosing an area of 4 acres which served as military, diplomatic and administrative capital of French Illinois. This French fortification was located on the east bank of the Mississippi River in presentPage 4 Belestre Part Two continued from page 4 Day Illinois. Fort de Chartres was most valuable as a center of Indian diplomacy attracting multiple tribal delegations from Lake Michigan southward for official parleys and the distribution of diplomatic presents. The fort dispatched marines, militiamen, and Indian allies to raid English settlements in Virginia and Pennsylvania. On 3 April 1762 Francois Louis married Joachime- Hyacinthe de Villers, Jumonville's niece, at Fort de Chartres.xviii In 1763 the Treaty of Paris was signed following the Seven Years’ War (French and Indian War). The French agreed to transfer control of the Illinois country (Eastern Louisiana) to Great Britain and most of Western Louisiana to Spain. With the Royal Proclamation of 1763 the British Crown declared almost all of the land between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River from Florida to Newfoundland an Indian Reserve. On April 4, 1765 Ensign Bellestre met with the Illinois, Missouri, and Osage Chiefs to report the cession of Eastern Louisiana to the British. French settlers were ordered to leave or get a special license to remain in British territory. Many French settlers moved west across the Mississippi to the newly founded village of St. Louis. Among them were FrancoisLouis Picoté de Belestre and his wife Joachime. The Spanish did not take official control of St Louis until May 1770. Don Marriage record of Francois-Louis Picote de Belestre and Joachime– Hyacinthe de Villers Francois- Louie, as he later was sometimes called, became a wealthy and respected citizen among the French settlers of St. Louis, one of the city’s original aristocrats. After the official entry of Spain into the American Revolutionary War in June 1779 on the side of the Americans and the French, the British began preparing an invasion to attack St. Louis. However, St. Louis was warned of the plans, and residents began to fortify the town. On May 26, 1780, British and Indian forces attacked the town of St. Louis in what is known as “The Battle of Fort San Carlos” which is the only battle of the American Revolution fought west of the Mississippi. However, the British forces were forced to retreat due to the fortifications and strong resistance by the French settlers and their slaves. One of the leaders of those French settlers and hero of the battle was FrancoisLouis Picoté de Belestre, still fighting the English as he had been doing since he was a teenager.xix i ii iii iv v vi vii viii ix x xi xii xiii xiv xv xvi xvii xviii xix Empires Collide, Ruth Sheppard, editor, Osprey Publishing 2006, pg 35 Sir William Johnson Papers, 7: 281. Beckwith, H. W., ed. Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library. Vol. I. Springfield: The H.W. Rokker Company, 1903. See Aubry’s report concerning the building of Fort Massac. Aubry's Account of the Illinois Country, 1763 [Dartmouth MSS., 510 — C];De Villiers du Terrage, Les dernieres annees de la Louisiane franqaise, 179, 190, n. 2, 205. WP2, George Washington to John Stanwix, 20 June 1757. WP2, George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 21 June 1757. WP2, George Washington to John Stanwix, 21 June 1757. WP4, John Stanwix to George Washington, 22 June 1757. www.cmhg-phmc.gc.ca Canadian Military History Gateway, Vol. 2, 1755-1871 The French take Fort William Henry. Archives Nationale, Paris, C11A/105. The Correspondence of Governor Sharp Vol 6 pp 557-563, D. Wolstenholme and J. Ridout to Sharpe, 25 May 1757. Dictionary of Canadian Biography Vol IV, Picoté De Belestre, Francois Marie Douglas Southall Freeman, Washington, Vol 2, p.212 Charles Scribner’s Sons, NY, 1948. Robert Dinwiddie to Edmond Atkin, 20 June 1757. Amherst papers, Edith Mays Editor, Heritage Books 1999, Bowie Md. 29 B.M., Add. MSS. 21652, f. 71, Df. Col Henry Bouquet to the Commander of Fort Duquesne Archives Nationale, Paris. C11A/105 <http://www.kronoskaf.com/syw/index.php?title=1760_-_British_expedition_against_the_Cherokee_Indians> Marthe Faribault-Beauregard, La Population des Forts Francais, Vol. 2 pg 229. New Spain and the Anglo-American West (Los Angeles 19320), Vol. I, 259-261 Page 5 Congratulations Carl Ekberg! continued from page 2 G . WA S H I N G T O N ’ S B I R T H D AY On your new book publication! Following David's remarks were a round of “toasts,” to our Col. Washington. This was led by our most distinguished guest, Col. James Wood (a.k.a. Steve Resan), "It was gratifying to see so many come to honor Col. Washington who could not be present as he was in Williamsburg beginning his first term in the House of Burgesses. I gave a toast to our gracious sovereign King George reminding all that were it not for the British soldiers, supplies and money sent by the king we could not have vanquished our French and Indian Enemies." and followed by member, Michael Rea in honor of the new Fort Loudoun Room. The meeting concluded with a final toast by Carl Ekberg with the quote from Joseph Madrillon, who met George Washington. A few more photos…. From the Celebration In most tellings, the story of St. Louis’s early days features the fur traders Pierre Laclède and Auguste Chouteau hacking a city out of wilderness with irresistible élan. St. Louis Rising overturns such gauzy myths with the contrarian thesis that French government officials and institutions shaped and structured early village society. Of such officials, none did more than Louis St. Ange de Bellerive. As Carl J. Ekberg and Sharon K. Person show, St. Ange’s commitment to the Bourbon monarchy and to civil tranquility made him the prime mover as St. Louis emerged during the tumult that followed the French and Indian War. Drawing on a wealth of new source materials, Ekberg and Person reexamine the complexities of politics, Indian affairs, marriage customs, slavery, and material culture that characterized the 1760’s. Their alternative version of the oft-told tale of St Louis’s founding places the event within the context of Illinois Country society. Vividly depicting life in a colonial outpost, St. Louis Rising provides a trove of new information on everything from the fur trade to the arrival of the British and Spanish in the aftermath of the Seven Years’ War-and explodes the many histories that rely on Chouteau’s self aggrandizing recollections. Page 6 Norman Baker Jim Moyer & Fay Dutton Our wonderful Servers “Happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected.” Jim Moyer & Col. Wood (aka Steve Resan) -George Washington A quote on one of the walls at George’s From the Annual Meeting Some of our Board with our Speaker Pat Murphy, Susan Emmart, Paul Mesnick, Alan Morrison, Steve Resan, Carl Ekberg, Jim Shipp & Linda Ross MEMBERSHIP YES, I wish to become a member of the French and Indian War Foundation and play an important role in supporting the educational goals and preservation of the sites associated with this conflict on the American frontier. Mission NAME _____________________________ “The French and Indian War Foundation preserves and interprets the colonial history of the Virginia frontier.” Goals ADDRESS _________________________ CITY ______________________________ STATE ____________________________ ZIP _______________________________ TELEPHONE _______________________ E-MAIL ____________________________ Annual Dues □ □ □ □ □ Student $ 15 Individual / Family $ 30 Patron $ 100 Sustaining $ 250 Benefactor $ 500 100 Soldiers—Lifetime Memberships □ □ □ Soldier $ 1,000 Captain $ 5,000 Colonel $ 10,000 The Foundation is a 501(C)(3) organization Raise public awareness about the war and its consequences through public lectures and tours, as well as publication in the media. Collect and conserve primary documents relating to the war. Identify, document, preserve and interpret French and Indian War era landmarks in the backcountry of the mid-Atlantic colonies. Cooperate with privately and publicly owned French and Indian War fort sites in research, promotion and preservation activities. We encourage high school and college History students to participate with all activities. □ □ I will volunteer my services I would like to make a Donation _________ THE 2015 BOARD Board meetings are the 1st Tuesday of each month at 5:30 pm. President, Linda Q. Ross Vice President, David Grosso Treasurer, Jim Shipp Secretary, Alan Morrison Historian, Norman Baker Dr. Carl Ekberg Susan Emmart R. Patrick Murphy Steve Resan Committee Chairs Education & Outreach, Susan Emmart Membership, David Grosso Finance, Jim Shipp Development/Fundraising, Our Board Building & Grounds, Jim Shipp & Linda Ross Please forward this form to: By-Laws, Steve Resan The French and Indian War Foundation Hospitality, Suzanne Baker, Susan Emmart, Karen Shipp P.O. Box 751 Winchester, VA 22604 (540) 665-2046 www.FIWF.org Call for Committee Members! If you have ideas, time or resources we need your help. If you could serve on any of the above committees, please call Linda Ross at 665-2046. D r. C o n r a d J . C h r i s t i a n s o n , J r. We lost a very good friend to our Foundation, Dr. Conrad J. Christianson, Jr., on Feb. 27th in Winchester. Conrad was pastor at Bethel Lutheran Church in Frederick County for thirty years and was presently serving that church as Pastor Emeritus. He was very active in our community, being one of the founders of CCAP in 1975, a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, and a long-time member and "Soldier" of our Foundation. He rarely missed one of our events, and during his final hospitalization made it a point to say he would not be able to attend our Washington's Birthday celebration, for which he had made a reservation. A true gentleman and so very kind, Conrad will be missed by all. Our Historian Norman Baker has been invited to attend the “70th Anniversary Reunion of Honor,” March 16-23 on Guam and Iwo Jima. This will include the “Reunion of Honor Banquet” on Guam on March 20 and a Memorial Service on the beaches of Iwo Jima on March 21. During ceremonies in Washington, DC at the Iwo Jima Memorial on February 19, marking the first day of the assault on Iwo Jima, there were only 27 survivors participating. Upon his return from the Pacific events, he will be interviewed regarding his experiences with Braddock’s Road on Sunday, March 29 at the Lyceum House in Alexandria as part of the Carlyle House “Braddock Day Symposium,” following a “Re-enactors Muster” at the Carlyle House Historic Park the day before, March 28. Page 7 Bus Tour to Fort Necessity National Battlefield You are invited to join us on a bus tour to the Fort Necessity National Battlefield. Departing from Winchester and traveling along portions of Braddock’s Road, we will stop at the site of Fort Cumberland. At the Battlefield, we will visit the splendid visitors’ center and the reconstruction of George Washington’s Fort Necessity and eat lunch. On our return to Winchester, we will stop at Jumonville Glen and visit other portions of Braddock’s Road. The tour will be narrated by Norman L. Baker, the foremost historian of Braddock’s Road. Saturday April 25, 2015 Box lunch provided Park entrance fee included Optional ranger-guided Tour $2.00 We will begin at the Food Lion, Rt. 522 North of Winchester at Sunnyside at 8:00am, retuning to Food Lion 5:00 pm “The French and Indian War Foundation preserves and interprets the colonial history of the Virginia frontier.” $50.00 per person $45.00 if reservation paid for by 4/4/2015 Respond to Alan Morrison 540-667-5978 [email protected] Space is limited! Call now! “Preserving and Interpreting the Colonial History of the Virginia Frontier” frenchandindianwarfoundation.org French and Indian War Foundation Box 751 Winchester, VA 22604
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