“Do your duty in all things, like the old Puritan. You cannot do more; you should never wish to do less.”
— Robert E. Lee (1807-1870)
You’re ill and outnumbered and seemingly outmaneuvered by a large force of Union Gen. Joseph Hooker’s Army of the Potomac and one of your top generals, Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, is mortally wounded, yet you achieve a brilliant victory. It is a victory that’s still studied to this day by historians, soldiers and military strategists throughout the world.
It’s the Battle of Chancellorsville, fought from April 30 until May 6, 1863 in Spotsylvania County, and the public is invited to learn about Lee’s most improbable, and brilliant, victory at 7 p.m. Jan. 16 at the Chesapeake Central Library, 298 Cedar Road.
The Hampton Roads Civil War Round Table invites everyone to its January public meeting to attend the program “Adapt, Improvise and Overcome: Robert E. Lee’s Greatest Victory at Chancellorsville.”
The program will be given by Frank A. O’Reilly, a historian at the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. He will discuss how Lee achieved this unique victory.
“Gen. Robert E. Lee demonstrated his abilities on numerous battlefields, but he exceeded himself at Chancellorsville in the spring of 1863,” O’Reilly wrote in an email. “Outnumbered and outmaneuvered, the general battled against imposing odds to win an improbable victory that surprised even Lee. He adapted himself to the circumstances on the battlefield to improvise a bold plan of attack. He overcame an aggressive opponent and his own failing health to give the Confederates hope in 1863; and give us one of the most timeless blueprints for battle.”
Using his expertise and research, O’Reilly will discuss how Lee and his forces pulled their chestnuts out of the fire of defeat.
The historian and author studied early American military history and the Civil War at Washington & Lee University. His 2002 book, “The Fredericksburg Campaign: Winter War on the Rappahannock,” was nominated for the 2003 Pulitzer Prize in Letters. He’s currently working on a book about the 1862 Battle of Malvern Hill and the Seven Days Battle around Richmond.
Thursday’s program is free and open to all ages. One does not have to be a member of the round table group to attend.
ON THE TRAIL FOR TAGALONGS, TREFOILS
Here’s a fun dichotomy: how about shedding those extra holiday pounds and warming up for the 2020 racing season while on the trek for ... cookies!
Yup, it happens Jan. 18 at the sixth annual Cookie Classic Run to help raise funds to support programs and activities of the Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast.
The 1-mile, 5K and 10K runs are from 9 a.m. until noon along the 8.3-mile, paved flat-surface course of the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail, 1200 Dismal Swamp Canal Trail.
The runs are sponsored by Sweet Briar College, Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group and Practical Dental Assisting of Virginia Beach.
The fees are $20 for the 1-mile ($22 on Jan. 18), $40 for the 5K ($45 on Jan. 18), $50 for the 10K ($55 on Jan. 18) and $25 for the virtual run. The jaunts through a portion of the Great Dismal Swamp along the historic Dismal Swamp Canal are timed runs for all ages and abilities, perfect to train for the upcoming running season.
And while along the jogging and running route, participants will be able to load up on Trefoils, Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Do-si-dos, Lemonades and Savannah Smiles.
For more details and to register for the cookie cantering, visit cookieclassic.enmotive.com.
DE STIJL FOR KIDS, A RAISE FOR ADULTS
Introduce your youngsters, grades kindergarden through fifth, to the art and style of Dutch abstract art pioneer Piet Mondrian (1872-1944).
The Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road in Western Branch, will kick off a series of art adventures for children with Mad About Mondrian from 4 until 4:45 p.m Jan. 13.
Young artists will learn about Mondrian during a storytime session and then create their own work of art in Mondrian’s style.
Weekend Scoop
Mondrian was part of the Dutch abstract art movement known as "De Stijl” or The Style, according to britannica.com/biography/piet-mondrian. He reduced art to a “formal purity” in concert with the “harmonious cosmos.” His most famous works reduced his subjects into simple combinations of straight lines, right angles and primary colors, and used white, black and gray, the website said.
This stylish session is free. Call 410-7020 for more details.
Adults who feel taken for granted by their bosses, who think they deserve a promotion and even a raise, should learn how to negotiate a better deal during the Salaries & Promotions Workshop presented by the Hampton Roads Workforce Council.
Free sessions are from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 13 at the Central Library, 298 Cedar Road, and from 2 until 3:30 p.m. Jan. 16 at the South Norfolk Memorial Library, 801 Poindexter St.
Ages 18 and older will hone their negotiation skills and develop plausible arguments for promotions and raises.
Call 410-7048 for more information about the workshop.
Eric W. Feber, ewjfeber@gmail.com