Author Archives: Steward T. Henderson

About Steward T. Henderson

Civil War historian at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park and living historian with the 23rd Regiment USCT and 54th Massachusetts Infantry Co. B. I am also a member of the Trail to Freedom Committee in the Fredericksburg, VA area and a member of the John J. Wright Museum in Spotsylvania, VA.

ECW Weekender: From Enslaved to Soldier – A New Tour in Fredericksburg

Posted on February 7, 2020 by Steward T. Henderson

On February 22, 2020, from 1 to 5 pm, Fredericksburg Tours will present a new tour that I have created, entitled “From Enslaved to Soldier.” This tour will explore slavery in the Fredericksburg area, from the City Dock on the … Continue reading →

Posted in ECW Weekender, Slavery, USCT | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The 30th Anniversary of Glory, Celebrated by the 54th Mass, Co. B

Posted on January 26, 2020 by Steward T. Henderson

On July 21, 2019, in solidarity with my fellow members of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Company B, I attended the 30th Anniversary showing of the movie Glory. Although several of the 54th were in Bowie, Maryland, I attended the … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil War in Pop Culture, Ties to the War, USCT | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

CW & Pop Culture: The North & South Miniseries

Posted on January 20, 2020 by Steward T. Henderson

John Jakes’s North and South Books I and II became one of my favorite Civil War miniseries. Although they are a romantic adaptation of  historical fiction of the Civil War following two West Point cadets, it is a very good … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil War in Pop Culture | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Significant USCT Sites in the Eastern Theater: Virginia and Washington, DC

Posted on May 20, 2019 by Steward T. Henderson

I have had a few inquiries about significant sites for the United States Colored Troops. Over the past several years, I have spoken about each of the five sites that I am writing about in this blog. I participated in … Continue reading →

Posted in Battles, USCT | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

What Was So Wrong with Slavery?

Posted on April 26, 2019 by Steward T. Henderson

“What was so wrong with slavery and why did it cause the Civil War?” This question was asked of a seasonal park ranger at the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center a few years ago. This question was asked by a white … Continue reading →

Posted in Slavery | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

ECW Weekender: Historic Kenmore and Ferry Farm

Posted on August 3, 2018 by Steward T. Henderson

The City of Fredericksburg, Virginia, has a significant history in America relating back through Colonial times, the Revolutionary War, and the Civil War. Many Colonial patriots  visited or lived in the area, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James … Continue reading →

Posted in Battlefields & Historic Places, ECW Weekender | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

War Comes to St. George’s (part four)

Posted on December 13, 2017 by Steward T. Henderson

(part four in a series) After the battle of Fredericksburg and before the battle of Chancellorsville, the Confederate army used St. George’s for services and revivals. J. William Jones reported in his memoir Christ in the Camp that revivals were … Continue reading →

Posted in Civilian, Medical, Slavery | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

War Comes to St. George’s (part three)

Posted on December 12, 2017 by Steward T. Henderson

(part three in a series) With the Union army occupying Fredericksburg, change was in the air, with runaway slaves and soldiers coming in and out of town, mixing freely with the citizens. Betty Herndon Maury describes the scene: Runaway Negroes … Continue reading →

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War Comes to St. George’s (part two)

Posted on December 11, 2017 by Steward T. Henderson

(part two in a series) In the summer of 2010, Park Service historian John Hennessy and I presented a History at Sunset program entitled “Slavery and Slave Places in Fredericksburg.” One of our stops was at St. George Episcopal Church’s … Continue reading →

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War Comes to St. George’s (part one)

Posted on December 10, 2017 by Steward T. Henderson

(part one of a series) Last August, I had the honor of giving a lecture at my church, St. George’s Episcopal Church, about its history during the Civil War. Several living historians, members of Women of the Civil War, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Antebellum South, Battles, Civilian, Slavery, USCT | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment