FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 03/12/2008

Bridgewater College Launches Civil War Institute March 29

BRIDGEWATER, Va. — The American Civil War as it was fought in some key border locations will serve as the focus of the first Bridgewater College Civil War Institute March 29 from 9 a.m. till 4 p.m. There is no cost for the Institute, which will be held in the Spoerlein Lecture Hall in the McKinney Center for Science and Mathematics.

The event will feature nationally known historians and authors who will present topics to support this year's theme, "'The Mighty Scourge': The Civil War in the Borderland."

"The Institute understands that the Civil War is an important part of the heritage of the Bridgewater community," said Stephen Longenecker, professor of history and political science, and Institute co-founder with BC chief of police Nick Picerno. "The Institute will present the war in a way that reflects the values of the college and stress the impact of the war on individuals, community, religion, race, and memory."

Paul C. Anderson, author of "Blood Image: Turner Ashby in the Civil War and the Southern Mind," is keynote speaker, and will talk about the Confederate cavalry leader and the impact he had and continues to have on the Southern psyche. Anderson is an associate professor of history at Clemson University.

Christian Keller, an associate professor of military history at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Belvoir, Va., will explore the plight of Pennsylvania Dutch civilians in the Gettysburg campaign. He is co-author of "Damn Dutch: Pennsylvania Germans at Gettysburg."

Jonathan A. Noyalas is a history professor at Lord Fairfax Community College in Middletown, Va., where he also serves as the director of LFCC's Institute of Culture and History and the Center for Civil War History. Noyalas will speak on "General Robert Milroy at Winchester and His Presbyterianism."

Alann Schmidt is a ranger with the National Park Service at the Antietam National Battlefield. He will present an overview of the Brethren faith and Dunker meetinghouse that served as a focal point during the battle of Antietam.

For further information, contact Nick Picerno at 540-828-5761, or send him an e-mail at npicerno@bridgewater.edu

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