One of the finest Civil War soldier’s diaries ever written was compiled by Elisha Hunt Rhodes of Cranston, RI. First published in 1985 by Andrew Mowbray of Lincoln, RI, under the title of “A History of the 2nd RI Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Great Rebellion”, the remarkable story of Rhodes’ four years in the Army of the Potomac became nationally known as a result of the popular Ken Burns documentary film The Civil War in 1990. But the diary’s publication – and Burns’ discovery of it – may not have happened without a chance visit to an antiques shop in Walpole, NH, by Dr. Walter Powell in the winter of 1984. That story, and a look at Colonel Rhodes extraordinary career, is the topic of our November program.

About the speaker: Dr. Walter Powell has served as the Executive Director of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants since July 2013. Prior to coming to Plymouth, he had a long career in historic preservation, including 17 years as Director of Planning and Historic Preservation for the Borough of Gettysburg, PA, where he directed the restoration of the Gettysburg Railroad Station, and served as historian on the restoration of the historic David Willis House, where President Abraham Lincoln completed the Gettysburg Address. Dr. Powell has several Civil War publications to his credit, including “Connecticut Yankees at Gettysburg“ and “Letters from the Storm: The Intimate Civil War Letters of Lt. J.A.H. Foster, 155th Pennsylvania Volunteers”.

TIME: 5:30 p.m. (social hour); 6:30 p.m. (dinner followed by program)
MENU: A traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings (pumpkin pie, too)!
LOCATION: Varnum Memorial Armory Museum, 6 Main St, East Greenwich, RI, 02818.
FEE: $20/person