Mr. Jon T. Hansen
Chairman, Texas Historical Commission
1511 Colorado
Austin, TX 78701
Re: Texas Civil War Sesquicentennial (2011-2015)
Dear Chairman Hansen:
The organizations listed below represent a state-wide cross section of entities interested in the preservation and interpretation of Texas history. We are writing to request your urgent assistance in organizing a statewide commemoration of the 150th anniversary (the “Sesquicentennial”) of the Civil War as it applies to sites in Texas and service by Texans in other states. We believe that the Texas Historical Commission (“THC”) must play a central role in planning, organizing, and coordinating the many events and activities that should take place throughout the state during the Texas Civil War Sesquicentennial. Since the Sesquicentennial events will start near the end of 2010 and beginning of 2011 it is imperative that planning begin almost immediately.
As you know, the official mission of the THC is “to protect and preserve the state's historic and prehistoric resources for the use, education, economic benefit, and enjoyment of present and future generations.” In its “Compact with Texans” THC has recognized that part of this mission requires it to “act in partnership with communities to stimulate tourism and economic development” associated with the history of Texas. The 150th anniversary of the Civil War in Texas is precisely the sort of broad historic event that falls within the THC’s mission to promote and encourage visitation and enjoyment of historic sites. We therefore urge the THC to take a leading role in this effort.
THC has since its inception played an important part in the development, preservation, and interpretation of Texas Civil War sites. In fact, the very first marker of the Official Texas Historical Marker Program was placed in 1962 at a Civil War prison camp (Camp Ford, near Tyler). The timing of this marker placement was no accident. It was part of the State’s successful Civil War Centennial campaign during 1961-1965 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the war. Fifty years later, it is now time to again mobilize statewide resources in a similar effort to plan for the 150th anniversary of our nation’s most important military conflict.
Texas has much to commemorate during the coming Sesquicentennial period. This includes three very unique and important battles that should be the subject of national attention:
• The Battle of Galveston (150th anniversary on January 1, 2013), which was the only battle of the war in which the Confederacy recaptured a major port from Federal forces;
• The Battle of Sabine Pass (150th anniversary on September 8, 2013), which Jefferson Davis referred to as the most amazing victory in military history; and
• The Battle of Palmito Ranch (150th anniversary on May 12-13, 2015), which was the last major land battle of the Civil War.
In addition to these three well known battles, there were other important battles and skirmishes all along the Texas Coast at places like Corpus Christi and Port Lavaca. There were also actions in the interior of the State involving clashes between Texas Unionists and Confederates. The Battle of the Nueces, which took place in Kinney County on August 10, 1862, would be an example of this type of military action.
Virtually every part of Texas has some important connection to the Civil War that deserves commemoration and interpretation as part of a potential Sesquicentennial program. In 2002, THC published an excellent brochure and map depicting “Texas in the Civil War” as part of its Texas Heritage Trails program. Saying that it was impossible to list all of the Texas Civil War sites, THC’s brochure proceeded to list more than 30 sites in alphabetical order from Austin to West Columbia that had important Civil War connections. The map and brochure ended with these words: “Although the Civil War ended nearly 140 years ago, today’s Texas travelers can experience its legacy. Explore historic stone forts, gaze in awe at plantation era-manors or discover museums filled with weapons of war, objects from the home front and African American artifacts. These places and things remind us of the valor, hope and sacrifice of all Texans during the conflict.”
The words in THC’s brochure were well chosen and are applicable to the approaching anniversary. How do we best use the Sesquicentennial as an opportunity to encourage visitation to historic sites across the State and remind Texans of the “valor, hope, and sacrifice of all Texans” during the Civil War? As organizations sharing a joint goal of preserving and interpreting Texas history, the job that we have before us is to develop a framework to promote, coordinate and sponsor activities that will educate the general public about this important aspect of Texas history. What should that framework look like? One essential element would appear to be the creation of a central clearinghouse organization to coordinate Sesquicentennial activities. As an example, Virginia has created a “Sesquicentennial Commission” and given it the following powers and duties:
1. Plan, develop, and carry out programs and activities appropriate to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War;
2. Encourage interdisciplinary examination of the American Civil War;
3. Facilitate balanced activities related to the American Civil War throughout Virginia;
4. Encourage civic, historical, educational, economic, and other organizations throughout Virginia to organize and participate in activities to expand the understanding and appreciation of the significance of the American Civil War;
5. Provide technical assistance to localities and nonprofit organizations to further the commemoration of the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War;
6. Develop programs and facilities to ensure that the sesquicentennial commemoration of the American Civil War results in a positive legacy and long-term public benefit;
7. Encourage the development and conduct of programs designed to involve all citizens in activities that commemorate the American Civil War; and
8. Report annually to the General Assembly and the Governor on the interim activity and work of the Commission.
In addition to creation of this commission, Virginia has encouraged the creation of local Sesquicentennial committees and developed a program to sponsor a whole series of educational programs during the course of the Sesquicentennial.
Like Virginia, Arkansas has created a similar Sesquicentennial Commission and has charged it with accomplishing the following objectives:
1. Sanctioning events around the state (reenactments, symposia, etc.) that are appropriate observances of the Sesquicentennial;
2. Promoting historic sites around the state that are connected to the Civil War through educational efforts (brochures, websites, etc.);
3. Promoting publications and archival collections connected to the Civil War in Arkansas and advocating donations of materials to appropriate repositories;
4. Promoting local observances that tell the local story;
5. Supporting efforts to teach and research Arkansas Civil War history in the state's schools and universities; and
6. Supporting efforts to preserve and interpret the state's Civil War sites and documentary heritage and artifacts.
Following the models in states like Virginia and Arkansas, we suggest that THC create a steering committee or commission composed of representatives of all the major organizations and entities interested in the Sesquicentennial effort, including historians, local historical groups, educators, media representatives, museum curators, and historic heritage groups. This committee would be given a list of objectives, similar to the objectives outlined by Virginia and Arkansas, and would be charged with coming up with a detailed plan to commemorate the Sesquicentennial in Texas. This would include coordinating events like battle reenactments and programs that mark important anniversaries. It would also include educational symposia and museum exhibits. Finally, using the model of THC’s 2002 map, the Sesquicentennial plan would include efforts to promote and encourage visitation to historic sites across Texas.
We believe that forming a Sesquicentennial steering committee to come up with a plan to commemorate this important anniversary falls squarely within THC’s mission and we urge THC to take the lead in filling this important role. The Sesquicentennial is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to educate the general public about the important role that Texas and Texans played in the Civil War. Obviously, there is a lot of detailed planning that will need to be done in connection with a program of the size and scope we envision. This type of work and planning tends to have a long lead time. It is imperative, therefore, that THC act soon in order to get a Sesquicentennial organization up and running.
Thank you for the important work you do in preserving and promoting Texas history. We look forward to working with you to make the Texas Sesquicentennial effort something that Texans will be proud of and enjoy. If you have any questions, we suggest you contact Ed Cotham at the contact information listed below.
Very truly yours,
Edward T. Cotham, Jr.
Member, Friends of the THC
Company of Military Historians
Life Member, Civil War Preservation Trust
3416 Tangley
Houston, Texas 77005-2248
Organizations supporting the proposal in this letter:
Austin Civil War Round Table Dallas Civil War Round Table Dick Dowling Camp No. 1295, Sons of Confederate Veterans (Beaumont)
East Texas Historical Association Sarah Emma Edmonds Detached Tent #4-TX - Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War
Edward Lea Camp No. 2, Sons of Union Veterans (Houston)
Fort Bend County Historical Commission Fort Worth Civil War Round Table
Friends of Sabine Pass Battleground
Galveston Historical Foundation
Hood’s Texas Brigade Association Re-Activated
Houston Civil War Round Table
Jefferson County Historical Commission The Jefferson Davis Papers Project, Rice University (Houston)
McWhiney Foundation (Abilene)
Sul Ross Camp #1457, Sons of Confederate Veterans (Bryan) Texas Civil War Museum (Fort Worth) Texas Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans
Waco Civil War Round Table