Spotsylvania Civil War Blog: NPS Summer Staff Member Brings Civilian Story to Life at the Sunken Road

Sunday, July 10, 2011

NPS Summer Staff Member Brings Civilian Story to Life at the Sunken Road

As reported by NPS historian Eric Mink at Mysteries and Conundrums here, summer staff member Katie Logothetis is presenting "first-person" programs along the Sunken Road Saturdays and Sundays only at 11:15, 12:15, 2:15, and 3:15.

My wife and I attended yesterday's 2:15 performance and were delighted. The program brings the civilian refugee experience of Fredericksburg to life in a comfortable 15-20 minutes. The research and writing of the program's content was done by the Park's Chief Historian John Hennessy, but Katie makes it her own with a smoothly articulated and confident delivery. The experiences of diarist Mary Caldwell is a must see this season. Even if you have visited the park many times over, this makes stopping by again well worth it.

Katie Logothetis as Mary Caldwell.

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Why I am here:

I am the owner of Spotsylvania Commemorative. For over 20 years I provided battlefield guide services, but as of January 1, 2022, I have retired from that aspect of my work. I continue to conduct historical research and assist and advise fellow historians. Living on the Spotsylvania battlefield has its advantages. The most important to me is that I am right on the ground that played an important but usually disregarded role in the campaign. The actions of May 14, 1864 resulted in the near capture of General George Gordon Meade while it also helped to anchor a new Federal left wing. Known as the battle of Myer's Hill, it focused on what was until recently a wooded summit, one half mile southeast from my driveway. There remains close to 75 acres of land which includes the Myer house site. In 1864 it was a 400 acre farm. I advocated for 20 years to influence the preservation of this property. During this time I sadly witnessed the destruction of some of the cultural resources on the site by deforesting, including what was a beautifully preserved trenchline built by the Federal 6th Corps. Seeing an imminent threat to the house site, I personally negotiated with the logging company and minimized the damage, while the surrounding acres were clear cut.
I have come to know the story of John Henry Myer and his family and the struggle for the farm site they called home. Myer, conscripted into the 40th VA Infantry, watched helpless from the Confederate trenches on May 15, 1864 as his home was destroyed by the Union occupants. It had been intended as a sanctuary from the ravages of war.
Their story, and those of countless others, is my inspiration. Thankfully, in 2018, the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust did purchase, and now aims to interpret, the Myer's Hill battlefield. I shall continue to advocate and assist where I can.

Battlefield Guide Services

Sunday, July 10, 2011

NPS Summer Staff Member Brings Civilian Story to Life at the Sunken Road

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