The Virginia Division Speakers Bureau is intended to provide a list of program resources for your SCV camp meeting or other gathering. If you wish to make use of the services of someone on this list please contact the speaker directly for information on availablity, topics, travel compensation, etc.

If you know of someone who would be willing to speak at SCV events please email the Virginia Division Rebmaster and provide contact information. We will get in touch with the individual and obtain permission to list them on this page.

Harry J. Boyd -- Harry is Past Commander of the General James Longstreet Camp #1247 in Richmond, past Judge Advocate of the Virginia Division and a former adjunct professor at Virginia Commonwealth University and John Tyler Community College. His contact info is: phone: 804-741-2060 and email: ThrdVaCav@comcast.net. His presentations are:

• Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis; Partners in the Cause
• Specters at the Inn; The Civil War Ghosts of Cashtown, Pennsylvania

Gary Casteel -- Well known sculptor of  War between the States sculptures including the Gen. James Longstreet Memorial, Gettysburg NP, the President Jefferson Davis piece just recently completed, the Kentucky State Memorial, Vicksburg NP, 13th North Carolina Monument, South Mt., Md. Battlefield, Pt. Lookout, Md. POW Monument, etc. His speaking topic is usually about what it takes to create and erect a monument. Also, the research that goes into the historically correctness of the piece. Along with that, an encompassing story of history surrounding the subject matter. Contact information: Gary Casteel, P.O. Box 246, Cashtown, PA  17310, 717-387-0461.

Arthur Candenquist -- Arthur has been a serious scholar and researcher of the WBTS for over 50 years. His research focus is on the more unusual and lesser-known aspects of the War. Arthur is a Life Member of the SCV and a Life Member of the Virginia Division. He is a member of the Turner Ashby Camp #1567 in Winchester and a Life Member of the Summers-Koontz Camp #490 in Luray. His contact info is: phone: 540-937-7444, FAX: 540-937-7443, and email: AC9725@cs.com. His slide presentations are 45 minutes long and include the following:

• The War Between the Sheets (the seamier side of the War);
• Relieve & Befriend Every Brother (Freemasonry during the War);
• Jeff Davis Must Be Killed! (the Kilpatrick-Dahlgren Raid on Richmond in 1864);
• If We Build It, Supplies Will Come (the world's first military RR, between Manassas & Centreville in 1861);
• Did Anyone REALLY Know Waht Time It Was? (keeping time during the War, before Standard Time was established);
• The Great Train Robbery (Stonewall Jackson's "appropriation" of the B&O RR equipment in 1861).

William Connery-- William has spoken in the past 2 years to SCV Camps in Annapolis, MD; Fairfax, VA; and Richmond, VA. He will be speaking in Annapolis and Richmond on ‘The CSS Shenandoah and the Last Shot of the Civil War.’ He has also spoken on ‘John Tyler and the Confederacy’ and ‘Following the Footsteps of JEB Stuart.’ Please feel free to contact the Commanders of the Camps concerning his talks. Click here for a list of his lecture topics. He can travel within a reasonable distance of my home in Alexandria, for a small fee and gasoline money. His contact info is: William Connery, 5777 Westchester Street, Alexandria, VA 22310, 703-719-6639, william.connery@verizon.net.

H. K. Edgerton -- H.K.'s specialty is the role of black soldiers in the WBTS and of blacks and whites together in today's heritage struggle. Call Allison Schaum for information at 864-476-0656.

John Fox -- John is the author of Red Clay to Richmond: Trail of the 35th Georgia Infantry Regiment, CSA . He is a member of Turner Ashby Camp #1567 in Winchester. He has given numerous talks to historical/civic groups about the Confederacy. Most recently he gave the keynote address for the 139th annual Confederate Memorial Day in Winchester. His current talk is titled "The Brutal Realities of War." He uses previously unpublished letters and diaries to detail in graphic fashion the difficult transition for Georgia soldiers coming to Virginia from the Deep South in 1861-1862. He has an 18 minute, 28 minute or 45 minute version depending on a camp's needs. More info is available at http://www.anglevalleypress.com. John's phone is 540-665-8567 and his email address is anglevalleypress@yahoo.com. John's bio may be found here.

Dana Jackson -- Dana speaks on "Confederates who served in the subsequent Indian Wars and in the Spanish-American War" and a "History of the Confederate Veterans Home in Richmond." His contact information is: 7506 Pepper's Ferry Blvd., Fairlawn, Va. 24141-8860, danac_jackson@hotmail.com.

Marc Leepson -- Marc has spoken on his newest book, Desperate Engagement, a history of the July 9, 1864, Battle of Monocacy and Jubal Early's subsequent raid on Washington, D.C., to many groups, including Civil War Roundtables, UDC, DAR and SAR Chapters, and SCV camps in Richmond, Winchester, Alexandria, Gaithersburg (Md.), Ellicott City (Md., May 13) and he is in the process of choosing a date for the Sharpsburg (Md.) Camp. Marc is the author of six books, including Desperate Engagement, a free-lance journalist for many publications (including Civil War Times and America's Civil War), and historian. He lives in Loudoun County, and teaches U.S. History at Lord Fairfax Community College in Warrenton on an adjunct basis. Contact info: Marc527psc@aol.com; 540-687-4131 or visit the Web site www.marcleepson.com.

Kirk D. Lyons -- As the Southern Legal Resource Center's Chief Trial Counsel, Kirk addresses the Constitutional issues of today's fight for Confederate Southern American rights. Call Allison Schaum for information at 864-476-0656.

Timothy D. Manning Sr. -- Tim is the Executive Director of the Virginia Heritage Foundation. Tim's interests are wide ranging -- enough so that he has his own speaker's bio page! His contact info is 336-420-5355 and TManning1@triad.rr.com

Jack Marlar -- Jack is the SCV Field Representative. He can put on a variety of programs designed to assist in recruiting new members and helping your camp become more active. 2161 Greenpond Road, Fountain SC 29644, Cell 864-616-0042, Home 864-862-3946.

Roger W. McCredie -- The SLRC's Executive Director examines the heritage conflict itself, who our enemies are and why, and what every Southerner can do to help. Call Allison Schaum for information at 864-476-0656.

Thomas D. Perry -- Thomas has three talks, see list below. He may be contacted at 4443 Ararat Hwy., P. O. Box 50, Ararat, VA 24053, tdperry@sitestar.net, 276.692.5300, www.freestateofpatrick.com

• Jeb Stuart's Last Ride: The Battle of Yellow Tavern, a slide program about Stuart's life and death at Yellow Tavern.
• George Stoneman's 1865 Raid.
• A Tale of Two Great-Grandfathers: Jeb Stuart Ancestors in the American Revolution.

Mary Schaller -- Mary is the author of PAPA WAS A BOY IN GRAY (Thomas Publications of Gettysburg, PA), a member of the UDC, and an accomplished speaker. She has spoken to school groups, CWRTS, SCV camps, UDC chapters and was the featured speaker April 30th at the Confederate Memorial Day ceremony at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Frederick MD. Mary may be contacted at mnschaller@earthlink.net

Fred D. Taylor -- A native of the Tidewater region, Fred is a life member of the SCV, and has held numerous positions from the camp to the national levels of our organization. His education background includes a B.A. in History from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, and a J.D. from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. He may be contacted at: fred.taylor.va@gmail.com

Fred's topics include:

• "The Last Battles at Appomattox" – An historical account of North Carolina's claim of being "Last at Appomattox," with an in-depth look at the final hours of the Army of Northern Virginia.

• "A Walk Through Cedar Hill" - An entertaining story of unique Southern figures from the Suffolk and Nansemond County area during the War Between the States. This program includes fascinating personal stories about secession, the Confederate "secret service," Unionists during the war, and Brazil's Confederados.
• "The Life of Richard Byrd Kennon" - A native of Norfolk, Kennon was the descendant of a distinguished Virginia family. Kennon spent his childhood in Powhatan County, and prior to the WBTS, married the daughter of Confederate Brig. Genl. Phillip St. George Cocke. During the war, Kennon served with distinction on the staffs of such noted Generals as J.E.B. Stuart, Thomas Rosser, James Dearing, and others. Following the war, Kennon lived with his family in Brunswick County, where his home today operates as the "Kennon House" restaurant in Gasburg, Virginia.
• "Our Southern Heritage in the 21st Century" – A look at the Southern people as a distinct group, and the history of the movement to eradicate Southern symbolism.
• "The History of Coleman's Company, Virginia Heavy Artillery" - Also known as "Neblett's Artillery" or the "Brunswick Rebel Artillery," this unit formed in the Brunswick County area of Virginia in 1861, and served with distinction at Craney Island until the fall of Norfolk, and for the remainder of the war at Drewry's Bluff, defending the Confederate Capital along the James River.
• "Point Lookout POW Camp, Maryland" - A program that details the history of Point Lookout prison, with a special look at the legal and political aspects of the United States' prisoner and exchange policies.

Michael Virts -- Michael is the Adjutant of Major General Fitzhugh Lee Camp # 1805 in Spotsylvania County, Virginia and is Past Chaplain of Frank Stringfellow Camp # 822 of Fairfax County, Virginia. He has given a diverse variety of presentations throughout Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia to Civil War Round Tables, SCV Camps, UDC Chapters, Boy Scouts, public & private school history classes, city & county historical societies, genealogical societies, etc. Michael resides in Stafford County, Virginia and has a B.A. Degree in History from Mars Hill College in North Carolina. Some of his mid-nineteenth century ancestors served in the 4th Virginia Cavalry and the 30th Virginia Infantry during the war. His contact information is a cell phone at (301) 466-5803 and an office phone at (202) 366-0814. Michael’s office e-mail address is michael.virts@dot.gov and his mailing address is 6 Adam Ct., Falmouth, Virginia 22405.

Some presentations Michael has given include:

• Religion in the War from 1861 to 1865: Chaplains, Protestants, Catholics, and Jews, damage to churches, clergy arrested, etc.
• Montgomery County, Maryland during the War of 1861 to 1865: The war in the county boarding to the north of Washington, DC
• Point Lookout Prisoner-of-War Camp in Scotland, Maryland: The story of the largest prison camp on either side during the war.
• Assassination of Abraham Lincoln: Preceding the Assassination, Aftermath, the Accused, Reactions, etc.
• Mosby’s Rangers in Maryland: Sites and stories of Mosby’s Rangers in Frederick & Montgomery Counties in Maryland
• Women in the War from 1861 to 1865: Includes Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Surratt, Miss Kate Cumming, Mrs. Rose O’Neal Greenhow, etc.
• Confederate Cherokees: General Stand Watie in Indian Territory (Oklahoma), Thomas’ Legion of the Cherokees in North Carolina, Federal Government actions against the Cherokee Nation preceding the War, e.g., “Trail of Tears”, war’s aftermath in Cherokee country, etc.

Mark Vogl – Mark Vogl is a Citadel graduate, former infantry officer, professor, political aide, and presently an author and speaker. Though living in Texas he enjoys travelling and speaking to camps across the Confederation. His contact information is: Mark Vogl, 2LT Cdr., Texas Division, 7082 Fm 1795, Big Sandy, TX 75755, (903) 725-3175, and his e-mail address is johnyreb43@yahoo.com. Contact Mark and he will send you an information flier with a more complete biography and a list of formal programs he has developed or click here to download a sample flier of some of the presentations that Mark has prepared. If you contact him in advance, he can develop a custom made presentation specifically for your camp. Mark accepts donations but does not ask a fee.