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​2022 SYMPOSIUM SPEAKERS

Stephen M. Hood

"Patriots Twice: Former Confederates and the Building of America after the Civil War"

​The long and bloody American Civil War claimed the lives of more than 700,000 men. When it ended, former opponents worked to rebuild their reunified nation and moved into the future together. Many people will find that hard to believe—especially in an era witnessing the destruction or removal of Confederate monuments and the desecration of Confederate cemeteries.

In the unique and timely Patriots Twice: Former Confederates and the Building of America after the Civil War, award-winning author Stephen M. Hood identifies more than three hundred former Confederate soldiers, sailors, and government officials who reintegrated into American society and attained positions of authority and influence in the federal government, the United States military, academia, science, commerce, and industry. Their contributions had a long-lasting and positive influence on the country we have today.

Stephen M. "Sam" Hood, a relative of Confederate General John Bell Hood. He is a retired industrial construction company owner, and lives in Huntington WV with his wife of 44 years. He is a 1970 graduate of Kentucky Military Institute, and earned a BBA in Marketing from Marshall University. Sam served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and has had a life long interest in Civil War history.His first book "John Bell Hood: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of a Confederate General" won the 2013 Albert Castel Civil War History Book of the Year Award and the 2014 Walt Whitman Civil War History Book of the Year Award. Sam is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Blue Gray Education Society of Chatham VA, and is past president of the Board of Directors of Confederate Memorial Hall Museum Foundation in New Orleans.

Mark F. Bielski

"Ben Butler Beauty and the Beast"

Mark F. Bielski is an historian and author and the director at Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours. He also hosts the History with Mark Bielski Podcast, where he and his guests, experts in their field, delve into the characters, backstories, and intrigues that drove events throughout history. Bielski’s first book, Sons of the White Eagle in the American Civil War: Divided Poles in a Divided Nation, describes the fascinating story of nine transplanted Poles who participated in the American Civil War. He received his Ph.D. in History at the University of Birmingham in England. Bielski lives in New Orleans, where he enjoys the city’s historical, cultural, and culinary riches on a daily basis.

Sean Chick- Author/Historian 
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Creole General: P.G.T. Beauregard

      Sean Michael Chick graduated from University of New Orleans with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Communications and from Southeastern Louisiana University with a Master of Arts in History. He served as a teaching assistant in the history department at University of Kentucky and currently works in New Orleans, leading historic tours of his hometown and helping residents and visitors appreciate the city’s past. Chick has also been involved in historic board game development and design for many years.
Welcomed as a speaker at CWRTs and at the 20th Annual Bluegrass Symposium (2007), he has presented his research on secession and the life of General Beauregard. Chick has published a book about the Battle of Petersburg. He has written articles for nationally recognized history magazines, and is currently working on books for the Emerging Civil War Series.
Chick’s research interests include Beauregard, New Orleans during the Civil War, the Army of Tennessee, and Civil War tactics in relation to linear tactics from 1685-1866. His studies in historic tactics and generalship emphasizes new perspectives to Civil War studies. He is always looking for new topics of study in untapped resources and avenues of inquiry into the past.
 P. G. T. Beauregard is among the most misunderstood figures of the Civil War. Depicted as a colorful but ineffective general, he was a master engineer, an inspiring leader, and had a good grasp of strategy and tactics. However, he was inept at politics, both in the army and in his postwar life. His feud with Jefferson Davis poisoned an otherwise promising career. This talk also places him in perspective as a product of the Creole culture of Louisiana.

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 Richard Holloway

"Little Sham Castle" and "Baton Rouge Goes to War"

Baton Rouge and New Orleans were both captured early in the war, but the capital city was the only one to be abandoned by the Yankees shortly after the August, 1862 battle. Recaptured later in the year, Baton Rouge remained a focal point throughout the conflict. 
Richard will lead the tour through the Old State Capitol after a short talk during lunch.

Holloway wrote biographies of Generals Richard Taylor, Hamilton Bee and William R. Boggs for the book, "Confederate Generals in the Trans-Mississippi,  Vol 3" and a chapter on the Louisiana troops during the Siege of Jackson,  MS for the book, "Vicksburg Besieged."  

Danny Sessums
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"You Can Tell a Texan, But You can't tell him much"

During this great conflict, Texans not only invaded the Indian Nations, New Mexico, and Arizona, but equally "invaded" the states of Missouri, Arkansas and Louisiana, to assist those states in the "War of the Rebellion."  Drawing from my late research, and talk at Kerrville, I can craft a talk focused more on the latter southern states (including the Indian Territory), with a focus on their contributions in trying to repel the "heathen" Yanks from her sister Trans-Miss. compatriots. 
Danny Sessums has been a historian, educator and museum professional for most of his career. Completing his undergraduate work at Texas Tech University in anthropology, he later received his master's degree at the University of Texas at Arlington.
Sessums has also been an avid living Civil War historian, studying the lifestyle and experience of the "common soldier" during the War Between the States.
In 2009, Danny retired from Houston Baptist University and today, he and his wife reside in East Texas.

Duffy Neubauer
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Ordnance: From The Factory to The Field

Mr Neubauer takes us on the little known journey of projectiles. From concept to the factory and then each of the necessary steps and methods of bringing it to the men in the killing fields. 

Duffy is retired from being the Operations Coordinator of Humphrey Coliseum, owner and curator of The Starkville Civil War Arsenal He founded and is President of Turner’s Battery, Inc., a Civil War artillery living history unit since 1988, and a few other things.

1. Cannon owner and competitive live round shooter for 45 years
2. Director of live round artillery matches for 28 years
3. Civil War public lecturer for 40 years
4. Artillery consultant for 35 years 
5. 45 years of experience with Civil War artillery 
6. Safety Inspector of the North South Skirmish Association (N.S.S.A.) for 5 years; the N.S.S.A. is the largest artillery shooting organization in the        United States since 1950 
7. Collector of an extensive resource library on artillery and author of over 20 published articles and reports on artillery and black powder 
8. Subscriber and contributor (since 1978) to “The Artilleryman” magazine which is the only periodical dedicated to the use of vintage artillery
9. Owner and operator of The Artillery Shop which provided artillery consultation, equipment and supplies, 1984 – 1995 
10. Testified as expert witness in artillery litigation case, Atlanta, GA, May 2011 
11. Member and past President of the Golden Triangle Civil War Round Table 
12. Member of the Sons of Union Veterans

AWARDS:

• The Honorable Order of Saint Barbara Medal, December 1994, the only military medal awarded to non-military personnel
• Mississippi Historical Society Award of Merit, March 2018, for exemplary work in establishing and operating the Starkville Civil War Arsenal and outstanding contributions to living history
• The People's Choice Award, March 2016, voted Best Civil War Museum by the readership of the Starkville Daily News