Civil War Conference

"Lone Star Historian 2" is a blog about the travels and activities of the State Historian of Texas during his second year. Bill O'Neal was appointed to a two-year term by Gov. Rick Perry on August 22, 2012, at an impressive ceremony in the State Capitol. Bill is headquartered at Panola College (www.panola.edu) in Carthage, where he has taught since 1970. For more than 20 years Bill conducted the state's first Traveling Texas History class, a three-hour credit course which featured a 2,100-mile itinerary. In 2000 he was awarded a Piper Professorship, and in 2012 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Wild West Historical Association. Bill has published over 40 books, almost half about Texas history subjects, and in 2007 he was named Best Living Non-Fiction Writer by True West Magazine. In 2013 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree by his alma mater, Texas A&M University - Commerce.

Lynn, Jessie, Chloe, Bill, Karon

On Saturday morning, November 16, it was my pleasure to conduct a Civil War Conference at Panola College in Carthage. I taught history for four decades at Panola, and as State Historian I have been provided an office and financial backing by the college. Dr. Gregory Powell, President of Panola College, and Vice President Dr. Joe Shannon have graciously afforded me an institutional affiliation and constant encouragement. One of my goals as State Historian was to bring an historical event to my home campus, and last June I hosted a conference on "East Texas Gunfighters and Shootouts." Response was enthusiastic, and there were many requests for another conference. "The Civil War in East Texas" was decided upon as the next conference topic. 

I promptly contacted my oldest daughter, Lynn Martinez, an award-winning teacher with a deep interest in women of the Old South. Lynn planned an antebellum fashion show, which would include "Seven Layers of Women's Clothing," as well as the "Language of the Fan." Lynn enlisted her two daughters, Chloe and Jessie. My wife Karon joined in, and she and her mother, Louise Ashby, created a beautiful antebellum ball gown, along with the requisite undergarments. Lynn has accumulated a large antebellum wardrobe, with which she attired herself, as well as Chloe and Jessie. 
 

Through the years I've delivered several hundred lectures on the Civil War, and I've collected numerous artifacts - authentic items as well as reproductions - to illustrate and enhance my presentations. Three of my great-grandfathers - one from Georgia, one from Mississippi, and one from Alabama - were Confederate soldiers, and I have a few of their Civil War heirlooms. To the conference I brought weapons, (mostly reproductions), uniforms, miscellaneous artifacts, and wall posters. A special prize was an antique Spencer carbine, borrowed from Dennis LaGrone, a former student of mine who has generously shared this unique weapon with me on several previous occasions. 

A large number of attendees were women, who especially enjoyed the fashion show. After more than an hour of varied presentations by me and by Lynn and her ladies, we took a break to enjoy refreshments, animated conversations, and up-close examinations of the artifacts and clothing. 

A feature of the second hour was a lively rendition by our ladies' quartet of "Dixie" and "Bonnie Blue Flag." At the close of the morning many attendees visited the traveling display on Civil War Medicine in the college library, which was opened for us by Librarian Cristie Ferguson. It was an enjoyable morning, and no one enjoyed the event more than I did.