Scott Lee Spence
May 8, 2016
Scott Lee Spence is the President of the National Civil War Association of California, a 501c3 educational corporation in 1983. The NCWA educates the public about the American Civil War through public reenactments and school visits. In addition to traditional presentations about the Eastern Theater of the Civil War, the NCWA has in recent years started to explore the role of California, the events of the Pacific Theater, and the roles of women and minorities in the War. Mr. Spence will be discussing some of these new narratives at this presentation.
Humanist Community Forum (2016-05-08): The Civil War (Scott Lee Spence) from Humanist Community-SiliconValley on Vimeo.
Note: Below is a statement from the speaker that he sent us after his talk that he wanted us to post:
Dear Humanists and Hosts,
I must apologize for some factual errors I made during my presentation to you group. Shortly after leaving your meeting, it dawned on me that I said “Black Hills” as opposed to the “Cherokee Nation” when speaking of gold mining. Due to fatigue I mixed up two examples of Native Americans being forcibly removed from their lands due to mining concerns.
The offer to speak to your group came between two very large events the National Civil War Association was running. The first, at the beginning of May, involved hosting 3200 school children over two days, as well as two days for the general public. The second event was held on Angel Island at the beginning of June, and required me to prepare to cook three days’ worth of meals for 45 people. The food to be cooked on a wood burning stove in a kitchen with no running water.
In addition I was working many hours of overtime on a special project at my job.
It would have been a better choice on my part to wait to do my presentation later in the summer.
Some other factual error I committed include…
Mixing up the Biographies of Joseph Pierce and Thomas Sylvanus (Ah Yee Way); Joseph was adopted by a Connecticut Sea Captain, and Thomas was brought to the US against his will as part of the Coolie/Pig Trade, an attempt to replace African Slaves with Asian ones. Thomas escaped from bondage in the South and ended serving in two different Union regiments. He was captured and survived Andersonville prison.
The woman on the cover of They Fought like Demons is Frances Clayton, not Sarah Rosetta Wakeman aka Pvt Lyons Wakeman.
I will take a look at the video this weekend and write up anythings that need correcting.
As the head of a 501c3 educational organization, it causes me no small embarrassment to know that I made what I consider big blunders.
My thanks still go to all of you for inviting me to speak before you.
Sincerely,
Scott Lee Spence, NCWA President
