Albert Sidney Johnston Camp #67

Rebecca Jean Cumins

Thank you for inviting me to speak at your SCV Camp, Albert Sidney Johnston in Houston, Texas. I am honored to be invited. The topic of my speech will be titled, “Lee’s Right Arm, the Death of Stonewall Jackson”.

My deep interest in this topic goes back to the year 2001 when I was working at Manassas National Battlefield Park and had the opportunity to meet some descendants of General Jackson. Already a fan of the General before our meeting, his descendants were so kind and shared so much family information with me that it made me really want to know the man. I interpreted General Jackson at Manassas for a long time and then was fortunate to transfer down to Fredericksburg Spotsylvania National Military Park where one of my many assignments was the Jackson Shrine. This greatly added to my curiosity as not only did I work at the small building that he passed in that is 70 per cent original, but I worked at Chancellorsville where I gave the “Wounding of Jackson” tours. I spoke on General Jackson in 2008 at the United States Capitol, the first woman to ever speak at the event and according to the UDC ladies to one of the longest standing ovations ever given. The relationship between Lee and Jackson was one of a kind and the story is full of all aspects of human life, love and death. Items we will all deal with some day. I hope your members will enjoy my talk. I have spent 30 years following Mr. Bearss over battlefields and he has taught me my method of interpretation. He asked me to work with him on the 2006 Chicago Civil War Round Table tour of Manassas, help edit his chapter on the battle of First Manassas in the book Fields of Honor and had me attend many events with him. Mr. Bearss is my mentor and friend and I have the deepest respect for him.

Special Tours

· The Civil War Round Table of Chicago, Illinois

56th Tour 2006 Manassas-Mosby
Ed Bearss, Historian, Rebecca Cumins, Historian
Two day tour at of First and Second Manassas Battles, Manassas National Battlefield Park
Commemoration of 201^st Birth Anniversary of General Robert E. Lee presented by the District of Columbia Division Robert E. Lee Chapter
Statuary Hall, United States Capitol
January 19, 2008
Speaker: Rebecca Cumins, Historian
Commemoration of the 202^nd birthday of General Robert E. Lee presented by the District of Columbia Division Robert E. Lee Chapter
The Crypt, United States Capitol
February 7, 2009
Invocation and Benediction, Rebecca Cumins, Historian

· Confederate Memorial Service

June 6, 2010
Arlington Confederate Monument
Jackson Circle
Arlington National Cemetery
Invocation and Benediction
Rebecca Cumins, Historian
2010 Tour of Manassas for the Walter Reed Wounded Warriors
One day bus tour for our wounded veterans of First and Second Manassas with special visits to Bristoe Station Battlefield, Peace Jubilee Monument and lunch in historic Manassas Courthouse. Also assist with tours for the Wounded Warriors when other Historians are speaking.
Numerous Military Staff Rides at both Manassas and Fredericksburg for American Soldiers and English Soldiers
Special Tours for Scott Walker (Hallowed Ground Tours) on the death of General Thomas Jonathan Jackson

Affiliations:

· Board of Directors Confederate Memorial Hall

· New Orleans, LA

· Civil War Preservation Trust

· Member of the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, VA

· Member of the Virginia Historical Society

· Smithsonian Resident Associates Program

· DAR Member for 15 years

· UDC Member for 14 years

· Prince William County Historical Commission: Commissioner for Brentsville District

o Ten years helping identify and save historic Civil War sites.

o Worked extensively on saving Bristoe Station Battlefield from Centex Homes Development and was successful along with many others who worked with me and beside me.

o Helped preserve and protect a famous Civil War soldier’s grave John W. Hall 39 VA Cav who was buried across the street from me and who would have been in the vicinity with Jackson when he was accidently wounded by the 18^th NC troops. The Home Owners Association did not want to maintain the cemetery to an acceptable level, but I stepped in and got things headed in the right direction.

I have studied the Civil War in length for thirty years. I started out at Brice’s Crossroads in Mississippi 30 years ago when women were not seen on battlefields. I was given a hard time by the men on the tours until I guess they figured they were not going to get rid of me and so they accepted me and have become some of my closest friends. I have a very firm belief that in order to understand these fields, you have to walk them, see them for yourself and ideally be there at the time of year the battle was fought to truly understand the situation. What has made these numerous tours so valuable is that I have worked at Manassas National Battlefield for over seven years and have worked at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania for over five years. When visitors come I can explain the battles that occurred on the grounds we are standing on but because of my extensive study of most Civil War battlefields I can explain to the visitors what was going on in other theatres of the war at that time. Primarily, I learned under the teachings of Ed Bearss who wondered for several years who this woman was who kept following him around, Ted Alexander, Greg Mertz, Ed Raus, James Burgess, General Parker Hills, Dr. Brian Wills and so many wonderful historians who shared their knowledge with me. There is never a bad day on a battlefield when you are on tour and I truly believe that Civil War folks have a special bond and respect unique to these fields and men and women we study.

		Albert Sidney Johnston Camp #67 Sons of Confederate Veterans Houston, Texas
Home Our Camp Camp Activities Camp History Camp Officers Photo Album Newsletters TX Division, SCV National SCV Links Contact Us Louisiana's Confederate Museum in New Orleans, LA Museum of the Confederacy, in Richmond, VA Copyright 2003-2012 ASJ 67, SCV All Rights Reserved. Created by Jim Mims Revised: 02/01/12	Rebecca Jean Cumins Thank you for inviting me to speak at your SCV Camp, Albert Sidney Johnston in Houston, Texas. I am honored to be invited. The topic of my speech will be titled, “Lee’s Right Arm, the Death of Stonewall Jackson”. My deep interest in this topic goes back to the year 2001 when I was working at Manassas National Battlefield Park and had the opportunity to meet some descendants of General Jackson. Already a fan of the General before our meeting, his descendants were so kind and shared so much family information with me that it made me really want to know the man. I interpreted General Jackson at Manassas for a long time and then was fortunate to transfer down to Fredericksburg Spotsylvania National Military Park where one of my many assignments was the Jackson Shrine. This greatly added to my curiosity as not only did I work at the small building that he passed in that is 70 per cent original, but I worked at Chancellorsville where I gave the “Wounding of Jackson” tours. I spoke on General Jackson in 2008 at the United States Capitol, the first woman to ever speak at the event and according to the UDC ladies to one of the longest standing ovations ever given. The relationship between Lee and Jackson was one of a kind and the story is full of all aspects of human life, love and death. Items we will all deal with some day. I hope your members will enjoy my talk. I have spent 30 years following Mr. Bearss over battlefields and he has taught me my method of interpretation. He asked me to work with him on the 2006 Chicago Civil War Round Table tour of Manassas, help edit his chapter on the battle of First Manassas in the book Fields of Honor and had me attend many events with him. Mr. Bearss is my mentor and friend and I have the deepest respect for him. Special Tours · The Civil War Round Table of Chicago, Illinois 56th Tour 2006 Manassas-Mosby Ed Bearss, Historian, Rebecca Cumins, Historian Two day tour at of First and Second Manassas Battles, Manassas National Battlefield Park Commemoration of 201^st Birth Anniversary of General Robert E. Lee presented by the District of Columbia Division Robert E. Lee Chapter Statuary Hall, United States Capitol January 19, 2008 Speaker: Rebecca Cumins, Historian Commemoration of the 202^nd birthday of General Robert E. Lee presented by the District of Columbia Division Robert E. Lee Chapter The Crypt, United States Capitol February 7, 2009 Invocation and Benediction, Rebecca Cumins, Historian · Confederate Memorial Service June 6, 2010 Arlington Confederate Monument Jackson Circle Arlington National Cemetery Invocation and Benediction Rebecca Cumins, Historian 2010 Tour of Manassas for the Walter Reed Wounded Warriors One day bus tour for our wounded veterans of First and Second Manassas with special visits to Bristoe Station Battlefield, Peace Jubilee Monument and lunch in historic Manassas Courthouse. Also assist with tours for the Wounded Warriors when other Historians are speaking. Numerous Military Staff Rides at both Manassas and Fredericksburg for American Soldiers and English Soldiers Special Tours for Scott Walker (Hallowed Ground Tours) on the death of General Thomas Jonathan Jackson Affiliations: · Board of Directors Confederate Memorial Hall · New Orleans, LA · Civil War Preservation Trust · Member of the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, VA · Member of the Virginia Historical Society · Smithsonian Resident Associates Program · DAR Member for 15 years · UDC Member for 14 years · Prince William County Historical Commission: Commissioner for Brentsville District o Ten years helping identify and save historic Civil War sites. o Worked extensively on saving Bristoe Station Battlefield from Centex Homes Development and was successful along with many others who worked with me and beside me. o Helped preserve and protect a famous Civil War soldier’s grave John W. Hall 39 VA Cav who was buried across the street from me and who would have been in the vicinity with Jackson when he was accidently wounded by the 18^th NC troops. The Home Owners Association did not want to maintain the cemetery to an acceptable level, but I stepped in and got things headed in the right direction. I have studied the Civil War in length for thirty years. I started out at Brice’s Crossroads in Mississippi 30 years ago when women were not seen on battlefields. I was given a hard time by the men on the tours until I guess they figured they were not going to get rid of me and so they accepted me and have become some of my closest friends. I have a very firm belief that in order to understand these fields, you have to walk them, see them for yourself and ideally be there at the time of year the battle was fought to truly understand the situation. What has made these numerous tours so valuable is that I have worked at Manassas National Battlefield for over seven years and have worked at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania for over five years. When visitors come I can explain the battles that occurred on the grounds we are standing on but because of my extensive study of most Civil War battlefields I can explain to the visitors what was going on in other theatres of the war at that time. Primarily, I learned under the teachings of Ed Bearss who wondered for several years who this woman was who kept following him around, Ted Alexander, Greg Mertz, Ed Raus, James Burgess, General Parker Hills, Dr. Brian Wills and so many wonderful historians who shared their knowledge with me. There is never a bad day on a battlefield when you are on tour and I truly believe that Civil War folks have a special bond and respect unique to these fields and men and women we study.