Pamplin Historical Park

159th Breakthrough Battle Anniversary
2024-03-23 09:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Join us as we remember the 159th Anniversary of the Breakthrough Battle which ended the Petersburg Campaign and forced the Confederate withdrawal from Richmond.
At 4:40 a.m. April 2, 1865, some 14,000 Union soldiers moved forward in the chilly gloom toward the Confederate fortifications six miles southwest of Petersburg. Less than an hour later, the American flag flew over the Confederate line following one of the most important battles of the entire Civil War. This engagement led directly to the evacuation of both Petersburg and Richmond. One week later, Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House and our nation began the long process of reconciliation.
The Park is hosting a full schedule of activities and programs open to walk-in visitors. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear author presentations, living history portraying soldiers and civilians, and artillery demonstrations. Visitors can experience encounters all day with civilians at Tudor Hall and sharpshooters and skirmishers on the Breakthrough Battlefield with reenactors. Additional programming includes a guided walking tour “between the lines” of the Breakthrough Battlefield to discover the role of soldiers in the picket lines and interact with reenactors along the way. An additional battlefield tour titled “The Norfolk Light Artillery Blues” will guide visitors to the actual redan manned by the Norfolk Light Artillery during the April 2, 1865 Breakthrough Battle. There, visitors will hear about the role of artillery, the different types of ammunition used, and will see a live firing of the two-gun section.
Authors Hampton Newsome will present “Gettysburg’s Southern Front” and Michael C. Hardy will present “General Lee’s Immortals, the Branch-Lane Brigade,” which is included with regular admission.
Hampton Newsome is author of several books on the Civil War including Richmond Must Fall: The Richmond-Petersburg Campaign, October 1864, published by Kent State University Press in 2012 and recognized as a best book of the year by the Civil War Monitor magazine; and The Fight for the Old North State: The Civil War in North Carolina, January-May 1864, which was published in 2019 by the University Press of Kansas and received the Emerging Civil War Book Award and the Richard Barksdale Harwell Award from the Atlanta Civil War Roundtable. His most recent title is Gettysburg’s Southern Front: Opportunity and Failure at Richmond. Also published by University of Kansas Press, this new book has received the Edwin C. Bearss Book Award for Outstanding Scholarship from the Chicago Civil War Roundtable as well as the Emerging Civil War 2023 Book of the Year.
Michael C. Hardy is an award-winning and widely published author. A graduate of the University of Alabama, he has written on a large array of subjects — Confederate regimentals, Southern places, and personalities — in books, articles, and blog posts. In 2010, Hardy was named North Carolina Historian of the Year by the North Carolina Society of Historians. He was also awarded the James I. Robertson Literary Prize by the Robert E. Lee Civil War Library and Research Center in 2018 for his history of the Branch-Lane Brigade, General Lee’s Immortals (Savas Beatie, 2018). When not researching, writing, and traveling, he volunteers at historic sites, sharing his love for history.
These programs are included with Park general admission. Daily admission for adults is $15, seniors (65+) and Military w/ID $12.00, children (6-12) $8, and children under 6 free.
SCHEDULE
Saturday, March 23, 2024
9:00am – 5:00pm Encounter Programs all day “Civilians at Tudor Hall” at Tudor Hall
9:00am – 5:00pm Encounter Programs all day “Sharpshooters and Skirmishers” at Breakthrough Battlefield Trail
10:00-10:45 “Gettysburg’s Southern Front,” Lecture by Hampton Newsome at Banquet Room
11:30-12:15 “General Lee’s Immortals,” Lecture on Lane’s Brigade by Michael C. Hardy at Banquet Room
1:00-1:45 Guided walk “between the lines” to discover the Breakthrough Battlefield and learn about the role of sharpshooters and skirmishers and converse with Johnny Reb and Billy Yank.
2:30-3:15 Guided walk to the “Norfolk Light Artillery Blues,” to hear from Gunner Atkinson on the role of artillery during the Civil War and the April 2, 1865 Breakthrough
3:30-4:20 War So Terrible, standard viewing at the Battlefield Center

Roundtable: Myths About Lee's Surrender
2024-04-04 19:00 - 20:00
Join speaker Patrick Schroeder as he explores “Myths about Lee’s Surrender.”
Many are familiar with the April 9, 1865 surrender at Appomattox Court House by Confederate general Robert E. Lee to Union general Ulysses S. Grant, which led to the capitulation of other Confederate forces and ultimately the end of America’s bloodiest conflict. However, there’s still much debate about the events during the days leading up to and even after the surrender. Schroeder will explore the myths around the last days of the Civil War and decipher fact from fiction.
Civil War author and historian Patrick A. Schroeder was born in 1968, at Fort Belvoir, VA. Patrick attended Stuarts Draft High School in Augusta County, VA. In the spring of 1990, he graduated Cum Laude with a B.S. in Historical Park Administration from Shepherd College, Shepherdstown, WV. He has an M.A. in Civil War History from Virginia Tech. From the summer of 1986-1993, Patrick worked as a seasonal living history interpreter at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park. In 1993, he wrote Thirty Myths About Lee’s Surrender, which is currently in its twelfth printing. From 1994 – 1999, the author worked at Red Hill, the Patrick Henry National Memorial. From 1999 – 2002, Patrick was an independent researcher. Patrick is now the full-time Historian of Appomattox Court House National Historical Park.
The Petersburg Civil War Roundtable (PCWRT) will meet the first Thursday of each month at Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier from 7:00 pm-8:00 pm. Annual membership is $40.00. Individuals who are already members of Pamplin Historical Park can become members of PCWRT for $20.00. Non-members can attend for $5.00 each meeting. Call (804) 861-2408 for more information.

Roundtable: The Forgotten Battle of Wapping Heights
2024-05-02 19:00 - 20:00
Join speaker Dr. Timothy Orr as he shares the story of “The Forgotten Battle of Wapping Heights.”
The three-day Battle of Gettysburg resulted in over 50,000 casualties and ultimately forced the retreat of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia led by General Robert E. Lee from Pennsylvania into Virginia. Union Major General George G. Meade initially failed to pursue his retreating foe, which caused President Abraham Lincoln to remark “We had only to stretch forth our hands & they were ours.” Meade then decided to try and flank the retreating Confederates and cut them off at Manassas Gap in the Shenandoah Valley. The little-known resulting Battle of Wapping Heights took place in the final days of the Gettysburg Campaign. It’s inconclusive outcome led to two more years of bloody Civil War and was a missed opportunity to bring the war to an early end.
Timothy Orr is associate professor of military history at Old Dominion University. He earned his PhD at the Richards Civil War Era Center at Pennsylvania State University. He is author and editor of Last to Leave the Field (2011) and co-author of Never Call Me a Hero (2017), as well as several essays about the Army of the Potomac. He is the book review editor for the Gettysburg Magazine and author of the blog Tales From the Army of the Potomac. For eight years, he worked as a seasonal ranger at Gettysburg National Military Park.
The Petersburg Civil War Roundtable (PCWRT) will meet the first Thursday of each month at Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier from 7:00 pm-8:00 pm. Annual membership is $40.00. Individuals who are already members of Pamplin Historical Park can become members of PCWRT for $20.00. Non-members can attend for $5.00 each meeting. Call (804) 861-2408 for more information.

World War II in the Pacific Weekend
2024-08-24 09:00 - 2024-08-26 17:00
This living history event brings to life the experiences of fighting in the Pacific Theater and the home front during World War II. Guests will have the chance to learn from living historians portraying soldiers who fought in the Pacific Theater and about different aspects of a soldier’s life including weapons, signals and communications, and tactical demonstrations. Impressions will range from U.S. Army and Marines to those of British and Russian allies. Civilian living historians will portray goings on at the home front and USO activities stateside. Demonstrations will include medical, cooking, weapons and a military uniform and civilian fashion show. A special tactical demonstration will be performed on Saturday afternoon to illustrate the art of fire and maneuver. All event activities and programs are included with regular daily paid admission.
Partner museums to include; the Hampton Roads Naval Museum, MacArthur Memorial, U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum, U.S. Army Ordnance TSF, U.S. Army Women’s Museum and the Virginia War Memorial will have displays and more for visitors to see and experience. Presentations by authors and historians will be throughout the weekend. Col. Richard D. Camp U.S.M.C. Ret. will present “Lieutenant General Edward A. Craig: Warrior Six: Combat Leader in World War II and Korea,” Dr. Timothy Orr will present “No Routine Flights: The Life of Dive Bomber Pilot Donald Kirkpatrick, Jr.,” Mr. Carter Bertone will present “The Battle of Wake Island,” and Mr. Jim Triesler will present “The Coming of War in the Pacific: 1931-1941.” Artist Henry Kidd will additionally speak on his military art and share his collection of Hollywood movie props from The Pacific series, Saving Private Ryan and Sands of Iwo Jima to name a few.
Colonel Richard D. Camp, U.S.M.C. Ret. will speak on his new book titled: Lieutenant General Edward A. Craig: Warrior Six: Combat Leader in World War II and Korea (2023). Colonel Richard D. Camp, a Purple Heart recipient, served 26 years in the U.S. Marine Corps before retiring in 1988. Upon retirement he served as the Deputy Director, U.S. Marine Corps History Division and as the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, Vice President for Museum Operations at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, Quantico, Virginia. Currently residing in Fredericksburg, Virginia, he is the author of ten books and over 100 magazine articles on various military related subjects. Copies of his books will be available for purchase and signing.
Dr. Timothy Orr is associate professor of military history at Old Dominion University. He earned his PhD at the Richards Civil War Era Center at Pennsylvania State University. He is author and editor of Last to Leave the Field (2011) and co-author of Never Call Me a Hero (2017), as well as several essays about the Army of the Potomac. He is the book review editor for the Gettysburg Magazine and author of the blog Tales From the Army of the Potomac. For eight years, he worked as a seasonal ranger at Gettysburg National Military Park. Dr. Orr co-authored Never Call Me a Hero: A Legendary American Dive-Bomber Pilot Remembers of the Battle of Midway (2017) with his wife Laura which chronicles American dive-bomber pilot Jack “Dusty” Kleiss.
James Triesler is the Director of Education for the Virginia War Memorial located in Richmond, Virginia. Triesler became a history teacher in 1992, and has a passion for WWII. He and his students have won numerous awards for their work, including a Save Our History Award from the History Channel for creating the website ittookawar.com, a collection of letters and personal accounts from the Second World War. While in the classroom, Triesler accumulated nearly 8,000 original WWII letters for his students to learn from and transcribe. He was named the Virginia Battle of the Bulge person of the year in 2012, and is a former Virginia Region 1 Teacher of the Year. He has presented at several VBOB and BOBA events and loves displaying artifacts for people to enjoy and learn about WWII. Since 2015, Triesler has been the Director of Education at the Virginia War Memorial, where he has continued to honor veterans and educate students of all ages.
Mr. Carter Bertone, a retired US Army Special Forces and current DoD Civilian will give a presentation on the Battle of Wake Island (Dec 41) in which the heroic actions of a USMC Defense Battalion, a squadron of USMC fighter planes, a USN administrative unit US Army signalmen and a civilian contractor company slowed the advance of Japanese forces across the Pacific during the darkest days of WWII after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Children will enjoy craft activities to include World War II coloring books and making a take home project of the Roosevelt’s Scottie Dog “Fala.”
World War II, which was fought between 1939 and 1945, cost an estimated 85 million casualties both military and civilian worldwide. The United States military casualties amounted to 416,800. While many were thankful for the surrender in Europe on May 8, 1945 the war in the Pacific raged on and was far from over. The battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa during the first half of the year gave a glimpse of the carnage awaiting invasion forces set to strike the Japanese home islands. A planned Allied invasion on the island of Kyushu was set for November 1st. There 500,000 Japanese troops were in position and another 6 million were under arms or able to be called into service. This invasion did not come to pass. The dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki forced Imperial Japan to accept an unconditional surrender. The terms were accepted on August 14, 1945 and a formal document signing ceremony took place aboard the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2nd.
This event is held in partnership with Bank of Southside Virginia.

Roundtable: Civil War in Cinema
2024-09-05 19:00 - 20:00
Join speaker Dr. Brian Steel Wills as he shares the story of “Civil War in Cinema.”
Ken Burns once said that the impression made on the American psyche by the Civil War is demonstrated by the many movies that have been made about this war. Several of these movies come to mind from Gone with the Wind to Gettysburg, Glory and The Horse Soldiers among many others. This special event will explore the early and controversial The Birth of a Nation of 1915, through decades of Civil War related films, ending with modern releases like Gods and Generals and Cold Mountain. Major Dundee which stars Charlton Heston, stands out as one movie to be discussed as Dr. Wills most recent book is titled, Running the Race: The ‘Public Face’ of Charlton Heston.
Dr. Brian Steel Wills is the Director of the Center for the Study of the Civil War Era and Professor of History at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Ga. In addition to leading tours, offering lectures, and conducting programs, Dr. Wills is the award-winning author of numerous works relating to the American Civil War, including biographies of Confederate generals Nathan Bedford Forrest and William Dorsey Pender and Union general George Henry Thomas. He has also written about the Civil War in Virginia and in the movies, as well as a volume that focuses on noncombat deaths in the Civil War. His latest work is Running the Race: The ‘Public Face’ of Charlton Heston.
The Petersburg Civil War Roundtable (PCWRT) will meet the first Thursday of each month at Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier from 7:00 pm-8:00 pm. Annual membership is $40.00. Individuals who are already members of Pamplin Historical Park can become members of PCWRT for $20.00. Non-members can attend for $5.00 each meeting. Call (804) 861-2408 for more information.

Roundtable: Relics Reunited and the Story of LTC Richard S. Thompson
2024-10-03 19:00 - 20:00
Join speaker Kenny Bage as he shares “Relics Reunited: The Story of LTC Richard S. Thompson.” The Petersburg Civil War Roundtable (PCWRT) will meet the first Thursday of each month at Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier from 7:00 pm-8:00 pm. Annual membership is $40.00. Individuals who are already members of Pamplin Historical Park can become members of PCWRT for $20.00. Non-members can attend for $5.00 each meeting. Call (804) 861-2408 for more information.

27th Annual Civil War Symposium
2024-10-18 09:00 - 2024-10-20 17:00
A number of irregular operations took place during the American Civil War incorporating acts of sabotage, ambushes or raids and any number of special reconnaissance missions. These activities were not new then and now fall under the responsibilities of today’s Special Forces in many modern military armies. Then as today, it takes unique skills, training and bold personalities to conduct these forms of unconventional warfare and we’ll explore the people, missions and results of their actions. This year’s Pamplin Historical Park Symposium, with a prominent cast of speakers, examines both special operations and examples of “Guerrilla, Raider, Soldier, Spy: Irregular Warfare in the Civil War.”
The conference will be held on Friday, October 18 through Sunday, October 20, 2024 at Pamplin Historical Park’s Museum of the Civil War Soldier and Education Center in Dinwiddie, Virginia and will feature presentations from seven outstanding historians: Joseph M. Beilein, Jr., Christopher Grasso, Michael C. Hardy, Brian McKnight, Barton Myers, Timothy Smith and Brian Steel Wills.

For more information or to register, call a reservation specialist at 877-726-7546. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Register today online by clicking here. Be sure to register separately for our optional tour this year following the Wilson-Kautz Raid.
Download a printable flyer and registration form by clicking here.
The Symposium begins at 6:00 pm with a Welcome Reception for all attendees at Pamplin Historical Park’s National Museum of the Civil War Soldier, located at 6125 Boydton Plank Road, Petersburg, VA.
Park Members pay $339 per person and non-members pay $379. The price includes all lectures, the Friday night reception, two mid-morning coffee breaks, two lunches, and the Saturday night banquet.
*Not a member, but interested in joining? Click here or call Member Services, 877-726-7546 .
Speakers & Topics:
Dr. Joseph Michael Beilein, Jr.
Bushwhackers: Guerrilla Warfare, Manhood and the Household in Civil War Missouri
Dr. Christopher Grasso
Teacher, Preacher, Soldier, Spy: the Civil Wars of John R. Kelso
Michael C. Hardy
George W. Kirk and Guerrilla War in Western North Carolina and Tennessee
Dr. Brian McKnight
A Brutal Theater of War: Appalachia and the Guerrilla Menace
Dr. Barton Myers
The Guerilla Hunters: Irregular Conflicts during the Civil War
Dr. Timothy Smith
The Real Horse Soldiers: Benjamin Grierson’s Epic 1863 Civil War Raid through Mississippi
Dr. Brian Steel Wills
A “Civilized” Warrior: Bedford Forrest and Guerrilla Warfare

Roundtable: Exploring the Life and Letters of Col. Prescott, 32nd Mass. Regiment
2024-11-07 19:00 - 20:00
Join Dr. Sean Heuvel who will present on November 7, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. to the Petersburg Civil War Roundtable. Dr. Heuvel will share the “Prescott Revisited: Exploring the Life and Civil War Letters of Col. George L. Prescott, 32nd Massachusetts Regiment.”

Dr. Sean M. Heuvel serves as Director of Graduate Recruitment and Admissions at Christopher Newport University. In that capacity, he oversees the admissions process for all of CNU’s graduate programs. He holds a B.A. in Government, M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration, and Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from The College of William and Mary. He also completed an M.A. in History from the University of Richmond. Prior to this current position, he served as a faculty member at CNU for sixteen years and was an admissions officer in CNU’s Undergraduate Admissions Office before that.

An active scholar in the fields of American military history, higher education, and leadership studies, he has written numerous books as well as articles for refereed journals, encyclopedias, and magazines. His interests include higher education history, the college presidency, the American Revolution, the American Civil War, World War II, and military leadership. Active in foreign study programs at CNU, Heuvel has also lectured at Harris Manchester College, Oxford University, in the United Kingdom. He and his wife and two children live in Williamsburg, Virginia.
The Petersburg Civil War Roundtable (PCWRT) will meet the first Thursday of each month (except for the months of June, July and August) at Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier from 7:00 pm-8:00 pm. Annual membership is $40.00. Individuals who are already members of Pamplin Historical Park can become members of PCWRT for $20.00. Non-members can attend for $5.00 each meeting. Call (804) 861-2408 for more information.

Roundtable: Battle of Dranesville
2024-12-05 19:00 - 20:00
Join Mr. Ryan Quint who will present on December 5, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. to the Petersburg Civil War Roundtable. Mr. Quint will share the “The Battle of Dranesville.”
After the guns of Manassas fell silent, the opposing Civil War armies grappled for position wondering what would come next. Popular history has us believe that daily briefings reported something along the lines of “All quiet along the Potomac.” Reality was altogether different. In fact, the fall and early winter of 1861 was a hotbed of activity that culminated in the December combat at Dranesville. A Union victory was sorely needed after the string of defeats at Bull Run, Wilson’s Creek, and Ball’s Bluff. This battle was small when measured against what was to come; it also helped shape the bloody years to follow.

Ryan Quint, a native of Maine, earned his degree in history from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA. He has worked in the field of public history, including at the George Washington Foundation, Colonial Williamsburg, and the National Park Service. Ryan has been involved with Emerging Civil War since 2013, and his first book, Determined to Stand and Fight: The Battle of Monocacy, was published by Savas Beatie in 2017 as part of the Emerging Civil War Series.

The Petersburg Civil War Roundtable (PCWRT) will meet the first Thursday of each month (except for the months of June, July and August) at Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier from 7:00 pm-8:00 pm. Annual membership is $40.00. Individuals who are already members of Pamplin Historical Park can become members of PCWRT for $20.00. Non-members can attend for $5.00 each meeting. Call (804) 861-2408 for more information.

Roundtable: A Wonderful Career in Crime: Charles Cowlam’s Masquerades in the Civil War Era & Gilded Age
2025-02-06 19:00 - 20:00
Join Dr. Frank Garmon Jr. who will present on February 6, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. to the Petersburg Civil War Roundtable. Dr. Garmon will share the “A Wonderful Career in Crime: Charles Cowlam’s Masquerades in the Civil War Era & Gilded Age.”
Frank Garmon Jr. is an Assistant Professor of American Studies at Christopher Newport University where he specializes in American political economy. He has published articles in the Economic History Review, the Journal of the Early Republic, and Historical Methods. Garmon studied history and economics at Christopher Newport University, before completing his M.A. and Ph.D. in history at the University of Virginia. His biography of Charles Cowlam is published by Louisiana State University Press.
The Petersburg Civil War Roundtable (PCWRT) will meet the first Thursday of each month (except for the months of June, July and August) at Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier from 7:00 pm-8:00 pm. Annual membership is $40.00. Individuals who are already members of Pamplin Historical Park can become members of PCWRT for $20.00. Non-members can attend for $5.00 each meeting. Call (804) 861-2408 for more information.

Roundtable: The Battles of Appomattox: The Final Fury and the Last to Die
2025-04-03 19:00 - 20:00
Join Mr. Patrick Schroeder who will present on April 3, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. to the Petersburg Civil War Roundtable. Mr. Schroeder will share the “”The Battles of Appomattox: The Final Fury and the Last to Die.”
Civil War author and historian Patrick A. Schroeder was born in 1968, at Fort Belvoir, VA. Patrick attended Stuarts Draft High School in Augusta County, VA. In the spring of 1990, he graduated Cum Laude with a B.S. in Historical Park Administration from Shepherd College, Shepherdstown, WV. He has an M.A. in Civil War History from Virginia Tech. From the summer of 1986-1993, Patrick worked as a seasonal living history interpreter at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park. In 1993, he wrote Thirty Myths About Lee’s Surrender, which is currently in its twelfth printing. From 1994 – 1999, the author worked at Red Hill, the Patrick Henry National Memorial. From 1999 – 2002, Patrick was an independent researcher. Patrick is now the full-time Historian of Appomattox Court House National Historical Park.
The Petersburg Civil War Roundtable (PCWRT) will meet the first Thursday of each month (except for the months of June, July and August) at Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier from 7:00 pm-8:00 pm. Annual membership is $40.00. Individuals who are already members of Pamplin Historical Park can become members of PCWRT for $20.00. Non-members can attend for $5.00 each meeting. Call (804) 861-2408 for more information.

Roundtable: The Beefsteak Raid
2025-05-01 19:00 - 20:00
Join speaker J. Michael Moore as he shares the story of “The Beefsteak Raid.” Moore’s presentation will focus on the the September 14 through 17, 1864, Beefsteak Raid led by Confederate Major General Wade Hampton. Hampton’s 100 -mile raid behind Union lines included 3,000 Confederate cavalrymen whose goal was to capture Union cattle to feed Confederate soldiers. When U.S. President Abraham Lincoln heard of the raid capturing more than 2,000 cattle, he said that it was “the slickest piece of cattle-stealing” he ever heard of.
J. Michael Moore is employed by the City of Newport News and serves as their Historic Services Museum Curator. Moore received a bachelor of arts in history from Christopher Newport University and a master of arts in history from Old Dominion University. During his tenure with the City, he has curated exhibits at several local historic sites, developed historic signage, and led battlefield tours in Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. Working with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, he has placed Causey’s Mill, Historic Endview, Lee’s Mill, and Whitaker’s Mill on the National Register of Historic Places. In addition, Michael is a popular lecturer for CNU’s LifeLong Learning Society. Moore has co-authored two books – The Peninsula Campaign of 1862: A Military Analysis in 2005 and Yorktown’s Civil War Siege: Drums Along the Warwick in 2012. In addition, he has served as the editor and photographic editor for twelve books and written articles for Virginia Cavalcade, North & South, Military Collector & Historian, and Mulberry Island Notes. In recognition of his work in public history, the Governor of Kentucky commissioned Moore a Kentucky Colonel in 2014. He is a Newport News native and resides in Historic Yorktown.
The Petersburg Civil War Roundtable (PCWRT) will meet the first Thursday of each month (except for June, July and August) at Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier from 7:00 pm-8:00 pm. Annual membership is $40.00. Individuals who are already members of Pamplin Historical Park can become members of PCWRT for $20.00. Non-members can attend for $5.00 each meeting. Call (804) 861-2408 for more information.

Independence Day Celebration
2025-07-04 09:00 - 17:00
Join us for an Independence Day Celebration as Pamplin Historical Park will offer multiple activities and programs throughout the day.
Families will enjoy musket and cannon fire demonstrations. A “Load-in-Nine-Times” program will begin at 10:00 am and highlight the types of weapons used in the Civil War to include a demonstration of the loading and firing of muskets. A “King of Battle” program will follow to which will begin with a presentation on artillery and it’s role on the battlefield. The presentation will conclude with a firing demonstration of a cannon at the park’s re-created fortification exhibit.
Author and historian John Settle will present The Virginia Line in the Southern Campaign at 1:00pm, where he will highlight the stories, battles and journeys of Virginia Continental Line soldiers in the American Revolution from his book. Mr. Settle teaches U.S. History at Nandua Middle School in Accomack County, VA. He received his B.A. in History at Bridgewater College at Bridgewater, VA. Mr. Settle was a military interpreter at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation from 2019 to 2022. Mr. Settle has written for the Fluvanna County Historical Society and has worked with that organization in other research projects. The research of Mr. Settle is focused on the military experience of the regular troops and the militia of Virginia during the American Revolution and the campaigns they were involved in.
A guided tour of the Breakthrough Battlefield will take place at 2:00pm. The April 2, 1865 battle saw the U.S. Army’s 6th Corps of 14,000 men successfully assault the Confederate defenses, and breakthrough to lift the 292-day siege of Petersburg. This forced the Confederates to evacuate both Petersburg and their capital city Richmond. Seven days later, the surrender took place at Appomattox. Multiple stories of valor will be shared from the battle, and a display of artifacts at the park’s Battlefield Center include a combatant’s Medal of Honor. Additional programming includes, living historians portraying soldiers who will share why they fought and explain the equipment and camp life of the men during the Civil War.
Dinwiddie County, Virginia is home to a great amount of American history to include that of the American Revolutionary War. Dinwiddie County residents formed a Committee of Correspondence and several militia units were raised in Dinwiddie County. Many of these men went on to serve in Virginia state and Continental Army formations throughout the war. Others such as merchants, supported the army through supplying food and materials or played other vitally important roles in the fight for independence.
All event activities and programs are included with regular daily paid admission. This event is sponsored by the Bank of Southside Virginia.
This event is a part of the VA250 celebrations taking place across Virginia, to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolutionary War for independence. Established in 2020 to commemorate Virginia’s role in the 250th anniversary of American independence, the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250) aims to form a more perfect union by educating Virginians about their history and civic duty and sharing diverse narratives that capture Virginia’s complete story and role in shaping the nation.

29th Annual Civil War Symposium: 1865 A Year of Reckoning
2025-10-17 09:00 - 2025-10-19 17:00
The conference will be held on Friday, October 17 through Sunday, October 19, 2025 at Pamplin Historical Park’s Education Center in Dinwiddie, Virginia and will feature presentations from seven outstanding historians: A. Wilson Greene, Harold Holzer, William Marvel, Dr. George Rable, Dr. Brooks D. Simpson, Dr. Craig Symonds and Dr. Brian Steel Wills.
For more information or to register, call a reservation specialist at 877-726-7546. Pre-registration is required and space is limited.
Download a printable flyer and registration form by clicking here.
The Symposium begins at 6:00 pm with a Welcome Reception for all attendees at Pamplin Historical Park’s Education Center, located at 6523 Duncan Road, Petersburg, VA.
Park Members pay $339 per person and non-members pay $379. The price includes all lectures, the Friday night reception, two mid-morning coffee breaks, two lunches, and the Saturday night banquet.
*Not a member, but interested in joining? Click here or call Member Services, 877-726-7546 .
Speakers & Topics:
A. Wilson Greene
Beefsteak Raid
Harold Holzer
Lincoln’s Second Inaugural and Final Weeks
William Marvel
The Decline and Fall of the Army of Northern Virginia
Dr. George Rable
What Hath the War Wrought? Northerners and Southerners Face the Future in 1865
Dr. Brooks D. Simpson
Olive Branch and Sword: Ulysses S. Grant’s Road to Appomattox
Dr. Craig Symonds
General Joseph Johnston’s Surrender
Dr. Brian Steel Wills
Two Confederates Face the End: Nathan Bedford Forrest and Robert E. Lee

Roundtable: Gettysburg's Southern Front
2025-11-06 19:00 - 20:00
Join Mr. Hampton Newsom as he presents on November 6, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. to the Petersburg Civil War Roundtable. Mr. Newsom will share ”Gettysburg’s Southern Front.”
The three-day Battle of Gettysburg took place between July 1 and July 3, 1863 in and around Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It was fought between the Union and Confederate and is considered the turning point of the American Civil War. The battle is also recognized as the most costly battle in American military history with over 50,000 combined casualties.
While General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia was committed to an invasion of Pennsylvania, US Major General John Adams Dix led 20,000 Union troops on an assault against Richmond, Virginia. Union General-in-Chief Henry Halleck sensed and opportunity and ordered Dix to attack Richmond. On July 1863, Dix would move on both Bottom’s Bridge and Crump’s Crossroads in an effort to disrupt Lee’s lines of communication and threaten the Confederate capital. Newsome will explore these events, which took place on the same day as Confederate General Longstreet’s massive assault at Gettysburg, and ended with a different outcome than the Battle of Gettysburg.
Hampton Newsome is a retired attorney who lives in Arlington, Virginia. He is an editor of Civil War Talks: Further Reminiscences of George S. Bernard and His Fellow Veterans. Hampton Newsome is the author of several books on the Civil War including Richmond Must Fall: The Richmond-Petersburg Campaign, October 1864, published by Kent State University Press in 2012 and recognized as a best book of the year by the Civil War Monitor magazine; and The Fight for the Old North State: The Civil War in North Carolina, January-May 1864, which was published in 2019 by the University Press of Kansas and received the Emerging Civil War Book Award and the Richard Barksdale Harwell Award from the Atlanta Civil War Roundtable. His most recent title is Gettysburg’s Southern Front: Opportunity and Failure at Richmond. Also published by University of Kansas Press, this new book has received the Edwin C. Bearss Book Award for Outstanding Scholarship from the Chicago Civil War Roundtable as well as the Emerging Civil War 2023 Book of the Year.
The Petersburg Civil War Roundtable (PCWRT) will meet the first Thursday of each month (except for the months of June, July and August) at Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier from 7:00 pm-8:00 pm. Annual membership is $40.00. Individuals who are already members of Pamplin Historical Park can become members of PCWRT for $20.00. Non-members can attend for $5.00 each meeting. Call (804) 861-2408 for more information. The meeting is held at the park’s Education Center located at 6523 Duncan Road, Dinwiddie, VA 23803.

Roundtable: Opium Slavery: The Civil War, Veterans, and America’s First Opioid Crisis
2026-01-08 19:00 - 20:00
Join speaker Dr. Jonathan Jones as he shares the “Opium Slavery: The Civil War, Veterans, and America’s First Opioid Crisis.”
The Petersburg Civil War Roundtable (PCWRT) will meet the first Thursday of each month at Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier from 7:00 pm-8:00 pm. Annual membership is $40.00. Individuals who are already members of Pamplin Historical Park can become members of PCWRT for $20.00. Non-members can attend for $5.00 each meeting. Call (804) 861-2408 for more information.
This is an in-person event.

Roundtable: The Battle of Franklin
2026-02-05 19:00 - 20:00
Join speaker Andrew Gallagher as he shares the “Twilight of the Confederacy: The Battle of Franklin.”
The Petersburg Civil War Roundtable (PCWRT) will meet the first Thursday of each month at Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier from 7:00 pm-8:00 pm. Annual membership is $40.00. Individuals who are already members of Pamplin Historical Park can become members of PCWRT for $20.00. Non-members can attend for $5.00 each meeting. Call (804) 861-2408 for more information.
This is an in-person event.

Roundtable: The Civil War Sacrifice of Somerset County, Pennsylvania
2026-04-02 19:00 - 20:00
Join speaker Jerry Ankeny as he shares “The Civil War Sacrifice of Somerset County, Pennsylvania.”
The Petersburg Civil War Roundtable (PCWRT) will meet the first Thursday of each month at Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier from 7:00 pm-8:00 pm. Annual membership is $40.00. Individuals who are already members of Pamplin Historical Park can become members of PCWRT for $20.00. Non-members can attend for $5.00 each meeting. Call (804) 861-2408 for more information.
This is an in-person event.

30th Annual Civil War Symposium - Hot Heads!: Quick Tempers & Rash Actions
2026-10-16 09:00 - 2026-10-18 17:00
The conference will be held on Friday, October 16 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 at Pamplin Historical Park’s Education Center in Dinwiddie, Virginia and will feature presentations from seven outstanding historians: Chris J. Hartley, James A. Hessler, Robert I. Girardi, Dr. Christopher S. Stowe, Dr. Brooks D. Simpson, Jeffry Wert and Dr. Brian Steel Wills.
Any era is full of colorful personalities who may be known for their temperament and the Civil War is no different. Whether in personal life, in camp or on the battlefield leaders have been known to blow up at subordinates or even superiors. In extreme cases, the outbursts can manifest into disastrous decisions on the battlefield or even murder. “Hot Heads!: Quick Tempers & Rash Actions” explores seven fiery Civil War commanders who let anger get the best of them both in and out of uniform.
For more information or to register, call a reservation specialist at 877-726-7546. Pre-registration is required and space is limited.
Download a printable flyer and registration form by clicking here.
The Symposium begins at 6:00 pm with a Welcome Reception for all attendees at Pamplin Historical Park’s Education Center, located at 6523 Duncan Road, Petersburg, VA.
Park Members pay $339 per person and non-members pay $379. The price includes all lectures, the Friday night reception, two mid-morning coffee breaks, two lunches, and the Saturday night banquet.
*Not a member, but interested in joining? Click here or call Member Services, 877-726-7546 .
Speakers & Topics:
Chris J. Hartley
Maj. Gen. D.H. Hill
James A. Hessler
Maj Gen. Daniel E. Sickles
Robert I. Girardi
Maj. Gen. William “Bull” Nelson
Dr. Christopher S. Stowe
Maj. Gen. George G. Meade
Dr. Brooks D. Simpson
Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman
Jeffry D. Wert
Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early
Dr. Brian Steel Wills
Lt. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest
