Sesquicentennial celebrated

Civil War reaches 150 year anniversary as preparations take place for events

During this time 150 years ago, the United States was fighting in the bloodiest battle this country has ever seen. Now, the National Civil War Chaplains Museum (NCWCM) is hosting numerous events to commemorate the anniversary of the end of the war.

The NCWCM will screen the film “The Daughters of Eve” Feb. 10 in DeMoss Hall room 1113 at 7 p.m. with an admission price of $5. The writer and director of the film Jessica Keath is a graduate fellow at American Institute of Film Conservatory.

“This is a fundraiser for Ms. Keath, who is trying to pay off the cost of the film, but also for us for (creating) a black chaplains exhibit,” Dr. Kenny Rowlette, NCWCM director, said.

Half of the admission will be given to Keath, and the remaining half will fund a new exhibit honoring the black chaplains who served in the Civil War. Rowlette hopes the exhibit will be completed in spring 2015.

“All events are open to the public,” Rowlette said. “I want to fill up 1113. I’d love to have a second showing that night. It’d be great.”
The exhibit currently displays select chaplains on poster boards propped up on easels.

“What we hope to have in this space is a nice, framed, series of images of all of the black chaplains,” Rowlette said. “There were about 22 black chaplains who served the North, two who served the South and six white chaplains who served black troops.”

Rowlette said he also plans to show either an exclusive video or Skype interview with Keath about her experience making the film.

“The Daughters of Eve” is about Rebecca, whom Keath describes as a “free woman of color living during the Civil War era.”

“It’s an exploration of faith and questions of faith,” Keath said in a promotional video for the film. “Why do we go through hard things? I think it’s something that we all, in one way or another, face.”

“(Rebecca) is someone who has grown up in the church and thought she understood who God was,” Tracy Wu, producer, said in a promotional video for the film. “She comes to a place where horrible things are happening, and she has these questions about where is God in the midst of it.”

Trailers for “The Daughters of Eve” and other promotional videos for the film are available at thedaughtersofeve.com.

Dr. Paul Bennett, a Liberty alumnus, will speak on his Civil War era novel, “A Fall of Sparrows,” March 19 at 7 p.m. in Esbenshade Atrium Conference Room in the Jerry Falwell Library. “A Fall of Sparrows” is Bennet’s first published novel, and it won Athanatos Christian Ministries’ 2014 Christian Novel Contest.

The 19th Annual Liberty University Civil War Seminar will be March 27-29 and will highlight speakers Steven Woodworth, James Fink and more. Call 434-582-7328 for ticket information.

The Bedford, Virginia,-based band Riddle on the Harp will play the Civil War Music Concert in the Esbenshade Atrium in the Jerry Falwell Library April 1, 12–1 p.m. Rowlette described the band as an all female group that primarily sings Celtic music.

The Liberty University Civil War Day Encampment, which consists of re-enactments, guest speakers and several activities, will be April 2. The specific times are to be announced.

“We’re going to have soldiers and tents,” Rowlette said. “And naturally, we’re going to have a chaplains display. We’re expecting 400 ROTC students from Liberty and the University of Virginia.”

A Civil War Relic Exhibit will occupy the Esbenshade Atrium in the Jerry Falwell Library April 7 at 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Rowlette said the exhibit will include bullets and guns from the Civil War, as well as other artifacts collected from that time.

Rowlette will speak about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln April 14 at 7 p.m. in the Esbenshade Atrium Conference Room in the Jerry Falwell Library.

Rowlette mentioned that he will speak on little known facts concerning Lincoln’s death, including an attempted robbery of his body.

Rowlette said he also plans to tell the story of the people who tried to steal Lincoln’s body in 1892 and what authorities did to Lincoln’s crypt to ensure no one would ever attempt to steal it again during his April 14 talk.

For more information concerning the 150-year anniversary, visit the NCWCM’s website at chaplainsmuseum.org/production/ or call them at (434)-582-7090.

Hoosier is a news reporter.

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