2026 Call for Nominations for the 

Civil War Round Table of the District of Columbia

Edwin C. Bearss Preservation Award 

and the

Edwin C. Bearss Legacy Award 


Background

These two awards were created by the Civil War Round Table of the District of Columbia (CWRTDC) to honor the life and legacy of one of the nation’s preeminent Civil War historians: the late Edwin C. Bearss. Ed spent more than seven decades crusading for battlefield site preservation, expanding interest and education in the military, political and socio‐cultural history of events leading up to the Civil War, the War itself, and its aftermath. He led countless tours of battlefields and other Civil War related sites.  

Severely wounded as a Marine in the South Pacific during WW2, Ed understood the chaos and horror of battle and therefore was uniquely able to communicate the battlefield experience to his audience.  He authored more than two dozen books on the Civil War, joined the US National Park Service, and served as its chief historian from 1981‐1994 and later as its Historian Emeritus.  Ed was an honorary lifetime member of our Round Table and spoke regularly at its meetings and as its guide during many of its battlefield tours.

Seeking to assist Ed in his mission to protect, preserve and interpret Civil War sites around the country, the CWRTDC for many years made financial gifts for these purposes to an organization Ed selected. With his passing in 2020, the Round Table decided to continue this tradition by creating a new Edwin C. Bearss Awards program.  More information about Ed Bearss and the Awards Program is available at HERE (https://cwrtdc-calendar.blogspot.com/p/ed-bearss-and-history-of-cwrtdc-awards.html/) 

Monetary gifts to support the program are essential for the continuation of this awards and may be made through the CWRTDC website HERE or at https://cwrtdc-calendar.blogspot.com/p/ed-bearss-awards-donation-page.html  All gifts and donations are maintained separately from the Round Table’s regular accounts and donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.  

The first recipient (2021) of the new  Edwin Bearss Preservation Award was the African American Civil War Memorial Museum of Washington, DC, which recognizes the contributions of the U.S. Colored Troops and the persons of color who served in the U.S. Navy during  the Civil War. The museum  used the grant for exhibits and youth educational outreach.  The 2021  Bearss Legacy Award, a non‐monetary award, was presented to Wendy Swanson, for her outstanding contributions to the preservation of  Civil War sites, landmarks, and education.

The second recipient (2022) of the preservation award was to the Battle of New Market Battle Heights Memorial and Education Association for assistance in the erection of a monument to honor the U.S. Colored Troops who served in the 3rd Division of the XVII Corps. Among these men were 14 African American soldiers who received the Congressional Medal of Honor for their gallantry in this important victory for the Union. The 2022 Bearss Legacy Award was posthumously awarded to Burrus “Buzz” Carnahan, a member of the CWRTDC and of the Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia and its past President. A noted Lincoln scholar, author, lecturer on the International Law of War and with the  Air Force Judge Advocate, US State Department and US Department of Energy and served on the advisory group at the Gettysburg Lincoln Forum. 

The third recipient (2023) of the preservation award was to the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust for assistance in creating a self-guided driving tour featuring historic interpretive signage at multiple CVBT-owned properties and conserved private properties across the battlefields, including (1) land along the Po River that saw fighting by the Army of the Potomac's II Corps at Spotsylvania; (2) Chancellorsville along the route of General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's May 2, 1863, flank attack where XI Corps troops attempted to make stands; (3) acreage at Chancellorsville's Nine Mile Run that saw brutal combat on May 3, 1863; and (4) property along Brock Road that served as artillery positions and as a staging area for V Corps troops as they battled at Spotsylvania from May 8-10, 1864. 

The 2023 Bearss Legacy Award was awarded to Ms. Susan Claffey for the immense contribution to the CWRTDC and, through our organization, to the preservation of Civil War knowledge and sites. She has been an enthusiastic member of the CWRTDC since 2001, serving as its President for three terms (2005-6, 2009-10, and 2011-12) and as Acting President in 2014-5, when the elected President Kent Schweikert was deployed to Afghanistan for most of his term.

The last Bearss Legacy Award was awarded to Ms. Loretta Neumann, whose work in preservation began with the National Park Service (NPS) in 1969, then with the late Congressman John F. Seiberling (D-OH) where she helped advance the Historic Preservation Fund established by Congress in 1976. In 1977, she joined the staff of the House Interior Committee where she drafted the 1980 amendments to the National Historic Preservation Act.

For nearly 30 years, Ms. Neumann studied and photographed the Civil War defenses of Washington: the fortifications that encircled the Nation’s capital to protect it during the Civil War. She is a co-founder and past president of the Alliance to Preserve the Civil War Defenses of Washington (https://www.apcwdw.com/).  

Purpose and Amount of the Edwin C. Bearss Preservation Award

A monetary award is presented to an  entity (a non‐profit organization or public entity or agency) to assist in preservation of a Civil War site or history, with “preservation” being used in the broadest sense of the word. This includes but is not limited to, the acquisition of property; the building, repair or restoration of a property; and the promotion, definition or narration of a site through interpretation, information infrastructure, including research and educational materials or displays.

It is the intent of the CWRTDC Board that the Preservation Award in any given calendar year will be $2,500. The grant amount may, at the discretion of the CWRTDC Board of Directors, be increased or decreased.  Use of the Award for financial matching for similar purposes is encouraged.  

Purpose of the Edwin C. Bearss Legacy Award

This award, which is non‐monetary, is to be given to a person or persons who exemplify and emulate Ed Bearss’s dedication in their personal efforts and commitment to preserve Civil War historic sites, landmarks, and relevant educational activities.  

Application Process

  • The call for applications for the 2026 Awards to be will be issued not later than July 15, 2025.
  • The application process has been revised and streamlined this year.  It no longer requires the endorsement of a Civil War Round Table or the sponsorship of a member of the CWRTDC. N
  • Nominations for either the Preservation Award or the Legacy Award (or both) may be submitted by a current member of any Civil War Round Table or similar organization.  Any person submitting a nomination may not participate in the awards decision-making process, including any Selections Committee or Board discussion regarding the awards.
  • Sharing information about the Ed Bearss Awards and the application process as widely as possible with appropriate media outlets and with other CW history organizations is encouraged.
  • Nominations for the Award must be made by completing the form available HERE  (https://drive.google.com/file/d/19nPcYBaNRWgGQFMUU0wvS52ey0c8paSH/view) or by submitting the information requested by the form through other means, such as in a Word document as attachment(s) to the form.  In other words, using the form is optional, but any nomination must be in writing and contain the information requested in the form.  
  • The submission must be sent via email to Karl Garman, Chair of the Edwin C. Bearss Awards Selections Committee at karl.e.garman@gmail.com with a copy sent either via email to admin@cwrtdc.org or by mail to: Civil War Round Table of the District of Columbia, 3601 Pickett Road, #2123, Fairfax, VA  22031.
  • Applications are due or, if sent by mail, must be postmarked by, the close of business November 1, 2025.
  • Selections of the 2026 awardees will be recommended by the Selections Committee and approved by the CWRTDC Board of Directors. The Selections Committee is open to all current members, Officers, and Board members of the CWRTDC, but any current Officers or Board members serving on the Sections Commitee must recuse themselves from approving the recommendations made by the Sections Committee.
  • Absent unforeseen circumstances, the awards will be presented in person at the joint dinner meeting of the CWRTDC and the Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia scheduled to be held in or near Washington DC early in 2026.

Follow up by Awardee

The awardee of the Edwin C Bearss Preservation Award should confirm in writing within one calendar year after receipt of the award how the grant was used as described in connection with the nomination process.  If the intended use of the grant is not possible, the awardee should advise the CWRTDC of any change to the requested purpose or return the grant to the CWRTDC allowing it to be reallocated for future awards.  

It would  be appreciated if the awardee of the Edwin C. Bearss Preservation Award publicly acknowledges its receipt of the award from the CWRTDC.   

Questions

Please contact Karl Garman, Chair of the CWRTDC’s Edwin C. Bearss Awards Selections Committee at karl.e.garman@gmail.com or at 562.405.2532.

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2024 Call for Applications for the 

Civil War Round Table of the District of Columbia

Edwin C. Bearss Preservation Award 

and the

Edwin C. Bearss Legacy Award 


Background

These two awards were created by the Civil War Round Table of the District of Columbia (CWRTDC) to honor the life and legacy of one of the nation’s preeminent Civil War historians: the late Edwin C. Bearss. Ed spent more than seven decades crusading for battlefield site preservation, expanding interest and education in the military, political and socio‐cultural history of events leading up to the Civil War, the War itself, and its aftermath. He led countless tours of battlefields and other Civil War related sites.  

Severely wounded as a Marine in the South Pacific during WW2, Ed understood the chaos and horror of battle and therefore was uniquely able to communicate the battlefield experience to his audience.  He authored more than two dozen books on the Civil War, joined the US National Park Service, and served as its chief historian from 1981‐1994 and later as its Historian Emeritus.  Ed was an honorary lifetime member of our Round Table and spoke regularly at its meetings and as its guide during many of its battlefield tours.

Seeking to assist Ed in his mission to protect, preserve and interpret Civil War sites around the country, the CWRTDC for many years made financial gifts for these purposes to an organization Ed selected. With his passing in 2020, the Round Table decided to continue this tradition by creating a new Edwin C. Bearss Awards program.  More information about Ed Bearss and the Awards Program is available at HERE (https://cwrtdc-calendar.blogspot.com/p/ed-bearss-and-history-of-cwrtdc-awards.html/) 

Monetary gifts to support the program are essential for the continuation of this awards and may be made through the CWRTDC website HERE or at https://cwrtdc-calendar.blogspot.com/p/ed-bearss-awards-donation-page.html  All gifts and donations are maintained separately from the Round Table’s regular accounts and donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.  

The first recipient (2021) of the new  Edwin Bearss Preservation Award was the African American Civil War Memorial Museum of Washington, DC, which recognizes the contributions of the U.S. Colored Troops and the persons of color who served in the U.S. Navy during  the Civil War. The museum  used the grant for exhibits and youth educational outreach.  The 2021  Bearss Legacy Award, a non‐monetary award, was presented to Wendy Swanson, for her outstanding contributions to the preservation of  Civil War sites, landmarks, and education.

The second recipient (2022) of the preservation award was to the Battle of New Market Battle Heights Memorial and Education Association for assistance in the erection of a monument to honor the U.S. Colored Troops who served in the 3rd Division of the XVII Corps. Among these men were 14 African American soldiers who received the Congressional Medal of Honor for their gallantry in this important victory for the Union. The 2022 Bearss Legacy Award was posthumously awarded to Burrus “Buzz” Carnahan, a member of the CWRTDC and of the Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia and its past President. A noted Lincoln scholar, author, lecturer on the International Law of War and with the  Air Force Judge Advocate, US State Department and US Department of Energy and served on the advisory group at the Gettysburg Lincoln Forum. 

The third recipient (2023) of the preservation award was to the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust for assistance in creating a self-guided driving tour featuring historic interpretive signage at multiple CVBT-owned properties and conserved private properties across the battlefields, including (1) land along the Po River that saw fighting by the Army of the Potomac's II Corps at Spotsylvania; (2) Chancellorsville along the route of General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's May 2, 1863, flank attack where XI Corps troops attempted to make stands; (3) acreage at Chancellorsville's Nine Mile Run that saw brutal combat on May 3, 1863; and (4) property along Brock Road that served as artillery positions and as a staging area for V Corps troops as they battled at Spotsylvania from May 8-10, 1864. 

The 2023 Bearss Legacy Award was awarded to Ms. Susan Claffey for the immense contribution to the CWRTDC and, through our organization, to the preservation of Civil War knowledge and sites. She has been an enthusiastic member of the CWRTDC since 2001, serving as its President for three terms (2005-6, 2009-10, and 2011-12) and as Acting President in 2014-5, when the elected President Kent Schweikert was deployed to Afghanistan for most of his term.


Purpose and Amount of the Edwin C. Bearss Preservation Award

A monetary award is presented to an  entity (a non‐profit organization or public entity or agency) to assist in preservation of a Civil War site or history, with “preservation” being used in the broadest sense of the word. This includes but is not limited to, the acquisition of property; the building, repair or restoration of a property; and the promotion, definition or narration of a site through interpretation, information infrastructure, including research and educational materials or displays.

It is the intent of the CWRTDC Board that the Preservation Award in any given calendar year will be $2,500. The grant amount may, at the discretion of the CWRTDC Board of Directors, be increased or decreased.  Use of the Award for financial matching for similar purposes is encouraged.  

Purpose of the Edwin C. Bearss Legacy Award

This award, which is non‐monetary, is to be given to a person or persons who exemplify and emulate Ed Bearss’s dedication in their personal efforts and commitment to preserve Civil War historic sites, landmarks, and relevant educational activities.  

Eligibility

Any entity that meets the criteria set forth in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, any other non‐profit entity, or any public entity or agency, is eligible to receive the Preservation Award.  Any person or group of persons is eligible to receive the Legacy Award.

Application Process

  • The call for applications for the 2024 Awards will be issued not later than July 15, 2024.
  • Sharing information about the 2024 Ed Bearss Awards and the application process as widely as possible with appropriate media outlets and with other CW history organizations is encouraged.
  • Applications for the Preservation Award must include a written endorsement from at least one Civil War Round Table or similar group registered on the CWRT Congress website (https://www.cwrtcongress.org/c-registry/websites.php or downloadable HERE). The endorsement letter must include the name, mailing and email addresses, telephone number(s), and website URL if available of the endorsing entity and be signed on its behalf. Nominations for the Preservation Award may not be made by current members, Officers, or Board members of the CWRTDC.
  • Applications for the Legacy Award.  Applications seeking only to nominate person(s) for the Legacy Award must either: (a) be accompanied by a written endorsement described above, OR (b) be submitted or sponsored by current members, Officers, or Board members of the CWRTDC.
  • Applications must be made by completing the form available HERE  (https://drive.google.com/file/d/19nPcYBaNRWgGQFMUU0wvS52ey0c8paSH/view) and sending it via email to admin@cwrtdc.org with a copy to Karl Garman, Chair of the Edwin C. Bearss Awards Selections Committee at karl.e.garman@gmail.com 
  • Alternatively, applications may be sent by mail to: Civil War Round Table of the District of Columbia, 3601 Pickett Road, #2123, Fairfax, VA  22031, with a copy sent via email to karl.e.garman@gmail.com . 
  • Applications are due or, if sent by mail, must be postmarked by the close of business November 1, 2024.
  • Selections of the 2024 awardees will be recommended by the Selections Committee and approved by the CWRTDC Board of Directors. The Selections Committee is open to all current members, Officers, and Board members of the CWRTDC, but any current Officers or Board members serving on the Sections Commitee must be recused from approving the recommendations made by the Sections Commitee.
  • Absent unforeseen circumstances, the awards will be presented in person at the joint dinner meeting of the CWRTDC and the Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia scheduled to be held in or near Washington DC early in 2025.

Follow up by Awardee

The awardee of the Edwin C Bearss Preservation Award should confirm in writing within one calendar year after receipt of the award how the grant was used as described in connection with the nomination process.  If the intended use of the grant is not possible, the awardee should advise the CWRTDC of any change to the requested purpose or return the grant to the CWRTDC allowing it to be reallocated for future awards.  

It would  be appreciated if the awardee of the Edwin C. Bearss Preservation Award publicly acknowledges its receipt of the award from the CWRTDC.   

Questions

Please contact Karl Garman, Chair of the CWRTDC’s Edwin C. Bearss Awards Selections Committee at karl.e.garman@gmail.com or at 703.538.5962.

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Nominations for the 2026 Ed Bearss Awards are now being accepted and are encouraged.  

More information about the nomination process is available at

https://cwrtdc-calendar.blogspot.com/2025/05/call-for-bearss-awards-nominations.html   

Please feel free to share this link with others, too!

________


MS. LORETTA NEUMANN

To Receive CWRTDC's 2025 Legacy Award

Honoring the Life and Contributions of Edwin C. Bearss

     
Background on the Awards 

It was very sad to hear in 2020 that Ed Bearss -- legendary Civil War historian and lifetime member of our Round Table -- had passed away. We have missed him dearly.  Ed showed many of us literally what it meant to have our "boots on the ground" at a battlefield, and many of us will remember him and that phrase every time we take a battlefield tour from here on out.  

And it is fitting that we celebrate his legacy and his contributions to the study of Civil War history on a continuing basis for many years and many generations to come. Aside from being an honorary lifetime member of our Round Table, Ed spoke regularly at our meetings and guided many of our tours.

In appreciation of Ed’s dedication to battlefield preservation, the CWRTDC had for years made an annual donation to a historic site selected by Ed (See a complete history below).  In 2021, the Board of Directors unanimously decided to continue donating annually to a Civil War site or Civil War history-related activity selected by the Board and to increase the amount of the donation by establishing a separate fund supported by individual contributions from members and other admirers of Ed. Monetary gifts to support future CWRTDC awards in honor of Ed’s life and legacy would truly be appreciated and can be submitted using the PayPal module below.

Last year, the CWRTDC awarded the Preservation Award to the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust and the Legacy Award to Ms. Susan K. Claffey.  A post about those awards is available at  https://cwrtdc-calendar.blogspot.com/2024/01/awards-to-honor-life-and-legacy-of.html

In 2023, the CWRTDC awarded the Preservation Award to the Battle of New Market Heights Memorial and Education Association and the Legacy Award to Mr. Burrus Carnahan.  A post about those awards is available at https://cwrtdc-calendar.blogspot.com/2023/01/awards-to-honor-life-and-legacy-of.html

In 2022, the Board awarded the Preservation Award to the African American Civil War Museum and the Legacy Award to Ms. Wendy Swanson.  A post about those awards is available at https://cwrtdc-calendar.blogspot.com/2022/06/bearss-awards.html 

On February 25, 2025, at a joint meeting of the CWRTDC and the Lincoln Group of DC, the Round Table will announce the “2025 Edwin C. Bearss Legacy Award” to Loretta Neumann (see more below).  The Selections Committee received a number of wonderful nominations, (which made it difficult to select an awardee), and it encourages all those who were not selected to be re-nominated for next year's award.

The ceremony will be followed by a presentation from Sidney Blumenthal entitled “Abraham Lincoln: Volume IV."  Mr. Blumenthal is the acclaimed author (by, among others: Jon Meacham, Harold Holzer, and James McPherson) of the first three volumes of a projected five-volume biography of Lincoln. Mr. Blumenthal's first volumes, listed below, have been resounding critical and popular successes. 

  • A Self-Made Man: The Political Life of Abraham Lincoln Vol. I, 1809–1849 
  • Wrestling With His Angel: The Political Life of Abraham Lincoln Vol. II, 1849-1856 
  • All the Powers of Earth: The Political Life of Abraham Lincoln Vol. III, 1856-1860 

Mr. Blumenthal is the former assistant and senior adviser to President Bill Clinton and senior adviser to Hillary Clinton. He has been a national staff reporter for The Washington Post and Washington editor and writer for The New Yorker. His books include the bestselling The Clinton Wars, The Rise of the Counter-Establishment, and The Permanent Campaign. 

Born and raised in Illinois, Mr. Blumental lives in Washington, DC. 

Sources: https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Sidney-Blumenthal/453035597  and https://www.hnn.us/article/sidney-blumenthal----yes-that-sidney-blumenthal---

Information about the meeting and Mr. Blumenthal's presentation is available at https://cwrtdc-meetings.blogspot.com/


The CWRTDC would like to take this opportunity to thank the Chair and members of the Selections Committee that coordinated the Awards effort and made recommendations to the Board about these Awards: Karl Garman (Chair), Gordon Berg, Tom Macia, Paula Whitacre, and Mick Bedard.  Thank you all!


2025 Edwin C. Bearss Legacy Award

The recipient of the 2025 “CWRTDC Edwin C. Bearss Legacy Award” is Ms. Loretta Neumann.

The Legacy Award honors persons who exemplify Ed Bearss’ mission through their own efforts to preserve U.S. Civil War sites and landmarks and to promote interest and education in Civil War history.Ms. Neumann’s work in preservation began with the National Park Service (NPS) in 1969, where she edited several NPS publications and was chief of the Branch of Internal Communications. In 1973 she joined the professional staff of the late Congressman John F. Seiberling (D-OH) where she helped advance the Historic Preservation Fund established by Congress in 1976. In 1977, she joined the staff of the House Interior Committee where she drafted the 1980 amendments to the National Historic Preservation Act.

For nearly 30 years, Ms. Neumann studied and photographed the Civil War defenses of Washington: the fortifications that encircled the Nation’s capital to protect it during the Civil War. In 2003, on behalf of the Committee of 100 on the Federal City, she researched and authored the report, “A Call to Action on the Fort Circle Parks Draft Management Plan” that made recommendation adopted by the NPS.

Ms. Neumann is a co-founder and past president of the Alliance to Preserve the Civil War Defenses of Washington (https://www.apcwdw.com/).  For many years, she led the Alliance’s work to plan and implement the annual commemoration of the 1864 Battle of Fort Stevens.

Ms. Neumann is a longtime member of the CWRTDC, the Lincoln Group of DC, and other Civil War history organizations.  She has received many awards for her work, including the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the DC Preservation League.  



_____________________________________________


The CWRTDC will announce the 2025 Edwin C. Bearss Legacy Award during an in-person/hybrid meeting to be held on February 25, 2025 (rescheduled from Feb. 11 and Feb. 19 due to weather).  Information about the ceremony, which will be followed by a presentation from Sidney Blumenthal, is available at https://cwrtdc-meetings.blogspot.com/



All are welcome to attend! Additional details about the CWRTDC are posted on its website at www.cwrtdc.org. 


A copy of the News Release for the awards ceremony will be available HERE.  


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Copied below is a post about Ed written by our former President and Director Susan K. Claffey (and coincidentally, the selectee of the 2023 Edwin C. Bearss Legacy Award).



 EDWIN COLE BEARSS

(1923-2020)

We've received the sad news that legendary Civil War Historian and Lifetime member of our Round Table Ed Bearss has passed away. Ed was 97 years old.

Edwin Cole Bearss was born in Billings, Montana, on June 26, 1923. He grew up on his grandfather's ranch near Hardin, Montana, in the shadow of the Rosebud Mountains and within a bike ride of the Little Bighorn Battlefield. In Ed's own words, 

I was interested in history from the time I was in the second grade. At that time, I was interested in Lewis and Clark and the Nez Perce, because I grew up in Montana. I became interested in the Civil War in the seventh grade. My father liked to read to my brother and me books that he was interested in. He did not read children’s books. Someone had given him a book by John Thomason on Jeb Stuart. My father read this book to me, and that captured me—I’ve been interested in the Civil War since then. 

That interest was reflected by the fact that on the ranch, the E Bar S, he started naming the cattle for Civil War generals and battles. He often said his favorite milk cow was Antietam.

He attended a one-room school in Sarpy, Montana and in 1937 was sent to St. John's Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin. He graduated from Hardin High School and, with World War II underway, he immediately joined the Marine Corps (Ed's family has a long history with the Marines, his father, Omar, served in World War I.  His father’s cousin Hiram I. Bearss, a famous Marine colonel nicknamed “Hiking Hiram,” fought in France during World War I and received the Medal of Honor for service in the Philippines in 1901.  Ed’s daughter and grandson also served in the Corps). 

He served with the 3rd Marine Raider Battalion and 1st Marine Division. In the invasion of Guadalcanal and New Britain, Ed was seriously wounded by machine gun fire. He spent 26 months in various hospitals for multiple surgeries, bone grafts, and rehabilitation. In fact, it was only a couple of years ago that Ed was treated at a VA hospital during a trip to Johnstown, PA for a piece of bone fragment that worked its way to the surface after 75 years. He got quite a kick out of telling that story. 

After the war, he took advantage of the GI bill to study at Georgetown University, receiving a bachelor's degree in Foreign Service in 1949. He took a job with the Navy Hydrographic Office in Suitland, MD, where he stayed for 3 years. He then attended Indiana University and graduated with his M.A. in history, writing his thesis on Patrick Cleburne. 

Ed’s career with the National Park Service got its start in 1955, when he was stationed at Vicksburg, Mississippi as a Park Historian. While there, he did the research leading him and two friends to the long lost resting place of the Union gunboat Cairo and he was instrumental in its rise from the bottom of the Yazoo River. He also located two forgotten forts at Grand Gulf, Mississippi and helped get Grand Gulf named a Mississippi State Military Monument. He was the founder of the Mississippi Civil War Round Table in 1956, which later consolidated with the Jackson Civil War Round Table. 

In 1966, Ed was transferred to Washington, DC. He rose to prominence and became the Chief Historian in November 1981, a position he held until July 1994. Then he served as the Director's Special Assistant for Military Sites until his retirement on October 1, 1995. But Ed never really retired; through lectures, television, writing, and as a renowned battlefield guide, he continued his association with our nation's military history. He spoke to our Round Table and many other round tables many, many times. He also served as our guide for more field trips and day tours than can be counted. His final field trip for us was the 2013 trip to Vicksburg. He last spoke to us in September 2019 on the discovery and raising of the Cairo. 

Ed received numerous awards in the field of history and preservation: the T. Harry Williams Award; the Bruce Catton Award; the Alvin Calman Award; the Bell I. Wiley Award and others. He was chosen Man of the Year at Vicksburg in 1963. He received the Harry S. Truman Award for Meritorious Service in the field of Civil War History. In 1964 he was chosen to become a member of the Company of Military Historians and was voted a Fellow in that organization. In 1983 he won the Department of the Interior's Distinguished Service Award, the highest award given by the department. He received a commendation from the Secretary of the Army in 1985. He is a veteran of 50 years of Government Service.

He has done detailed studies for the National Park Service for many areas: Vicksburg; Pea Ridge; Wilson's Creek; the Ray House; Fort Smith; Stones River; Fort Donelson; Battles around Richmond; Bighorn Canyon; Eisenhower Farm; the gold miners' route over Chilkoot Pass; LBJ Ranch; Fort Moultrie; Fort Point; William Howard Taft House; Fort Hancock; Boston Navy Yard; Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and others. He was instrumental in the establishment of Monocacy National Battlefield. In 1990, he was featured as a commentator on the PBS program The Civil War, which as of this writing is the most popular program ever to be broadcast by that network. More recently, he has appeared on the Arts & Entertainment Channel's Civil War Journal.

Ed was a force of nature and always at his best “on the ground” of a battlefield. Those of us who were privileged enough to see him in “full sway,” with eyes closed and voice booming, will never forget. He made history come alive and truly was its “Pied Piper.” We won’t see the likes of his amazing charismatic personality again. 

Thank you, Ed. Thank you for your service. Thank you for your knowledge. And thank you for sharing it so willingly. May you rest in peace.

Author: Susan K Claffey

Photo: https://kcwrtorg.wordpress.com/2016/10/31/ed-bearss-returns-to-knoxville-nov-14/


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History of the CWRTDC’s Edwin C. Bearss Award

The December 2003 Newsletter of the Civil War Round Table of the District of Columbia announced that the Board had established a $1,000 donation to a Civil War preservation cause to honor Edwin C. Bearss' extensive contributions to Civil War historical research, preservation, and interest.  The recipient of the donation would be chosen by the Board and would be based on recommendations from Ed Bearss.  See https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a1yp4t4j6uP43T_BYulnEk--1dSUqb87/view

Also added to the dinner reservation form used at the time was a line that read “Contribution to Edwin C. Bearss Award.”  In addition, members attending the dinners could contribute spare change and bills to a collection jar shaped like a bear: a big plastic Bear(ss) jar.  

This effort was promoted and coordinated principally by Susan Claffey, former President and current Director of the CWRTDC. Thank you, Susan!

The donation was often awarded in conjunction with an annual party that Wendy Swanson (also a former President and Director of CWRTDC) and the “Bearss Brigade” organized and sponsored not only to celebrate Ed’s birthday, but also -- per Ed’s wishes – to collect donations from many other organizations and friends to support a recipient of Ed’s choosing.  Wendy and the Bearss Brigade often collected over $10,000 each year in donations at those parties!  Thank you, Wendy!  

Now that Ed is no longer with us, the Board decided to enhance the Ed Bearss Award so as to continue to honor Ed and his legacy, as described above.  Ed’s friends miss him dearly, and it is fitting to see what the CWRTDC can do to expand the award that celebrates his legacy and his contributions to CW history on a continuing basis for many years to come. 

The recipients to date of the CWRTDC’s Edwin C. Bearss Awards are listed below:

Year Amount   Recipient

2004 1,000.00   Civil War Preservation Trust – for Fort Donelson

2005 1,000.00   Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Assoc.–Daniel Lady Farm

2006 1,000.00   Friends of Chickamauga & Chattanooga

2007 1,000.00   Civil War Trust - for White Oak Road, Bentonville, and Shiloh

2008 1,000.00   Monocacy National Battlefield

2009 1,000.00   Civil War Preservation Trust - for Port Republic

2010 1,000.00   Richmond Battlefield Association

2011 1,000.00   Civil War Trust - for Shiloh National Military Park

2012 1,000.00   Civil War Trust - for Franklin

2013 1,000.00   Friends of Raymond Battlefield

2014 1,000.00   Franklin's Charge

2015 1,000.00   Friends of Raymond Battlefield

2016 1,000.00   Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation

2017 1,000.00   Gettysburg Foundation

2018 1,000.00   Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

2019 1,000.00   Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park

2020 1,000.00   Grand Gulf Military Park

2021        2,500.00    African American Civil War Museum (Preservation Award)

2021        N/A           Ms. Wendy Swanson (Legacy Award)

2022        2,500.00    New Market Heights Mem. & Edu. Assoc. (Preservation Award)

2022        N/A           Mr. Burrus Carnahan (Legacy Award)

2023       2,500.00     Central Virginia Battlefields Trust (Preservation Award)

2023        N/A           Ms. Susan K. Claffey (Legacy Award)

2024 N/A The CWRTDC did not receive a nomination for the Preservation Award   

2025        N/A         Loretta Neumann (Legacy Award).

Dated 2025 to re-align the Award with the year presented

TOTAL $24,500


For information about the the history of other awards given by the CWRTDC, click HERE or visit https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KDif1-SImVUQotFjYJHCnM-SYYKrDVzq/view 


2026 Call for Nominations for the 

Civil War Round Table of the District of Columbia

Edwin C. Bearss Preservation Award 

and the

Edwin C. Bearss Legacy Award 


Background

These two awards were created by the Civil War Round Table of the District of Columbia (CWRTDC) to honor the life and legacy of one of the nation’s preeminent Civil War historians: the late Edwin C. Bearss. Ed spent more than seven decades crusading for battlefield site preservation, expanding interest and education in the military, political and socio‐cultural history of events leading up to the Civil War, the War itself, and its aftermath. He led countless tours of battlefields and other Civil War related sites.  

Severely wounded as a Marine in the South Pacific during WW2, Ed understood the chaos and horror of battle and therefore was uniquely able to communicate the battlefield experience to his audience.  He authored more than two dozen books on the Civil War, joined the US National Park Service, and served as its chief historian from 1981‐1994 and later as its Historian Emeritus.  Ed was an honorary lifetime member of our Round Table and spoke regularly at its meetings and as its guide during many of its battlefield tours.

Seeking to assist Ed in his mission to protect, preserve and interpret Civil War sites around the country, the CWRTDC for many years made financial gifts for these purposes to an organization Ed selected. With his passing in 2020, the Round Table decided to continue this tradition by creating a new Edwin C. Bearss Awards program.  More information about Ed Bearss and the Awards Program is available at HERE (https://cwrtdc-calendar.blogspot.com/p/ed-bearss-and-history-of-cwrtdc-awards.html/) 

Monetary gifts to support the program are essential for the continuation of this awards and may be made through the CWRTDC website HERE or at https://cwrtdc-calendar.blogspot.com/p/ed-bearss-awards-donation-page.html  All gifts and donations are maintained separately from the Round Table’s regular accounts and donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.  

The first recipient (2021) of the new  Edwin Bearss Preservation Award was the African American Civil War Memorial Museum of Washington, DC, which recognizes the contributions of the U.S. Colored Troops and the persons of color who served in the U.S. Navy during  the Civil War. The museum  used the grant for exhibits and youth educational outreach.  The 2021  Bearss Legacy Award, a non‐monetary award, was presented to Wendy Swanson, for her outstanding contributions to the preservation of  Civil War sites, landmarks, and education.

The second recipient (2022) of the preservation award was to the Battle of New Market Battle Heights Memorial and Education Association for assistance in the erection of a monument to honor the U.S. Colored Troops who served in the 3rd Division of the XVII Corps. Among these men were 14 African American soldiers who received the Congressional Medal of Honor for their gallantry in this important victory for the Union. The 2022 Bearss Legacy Award was posthumously awarded to Burrus “Buzz” Carnahan, a member of the CWRTDC and of the Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia and its past President. A noted Lincoln scholar, author, lecturer on the International Law of War and with the  Air Force Judge Advocate, US State Department and US Department of Energy and served on the advisory group at the Gettysburg Lincoln Forum. 

The third recipient (2023) of the preservation award was to the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust for assistance in creating a self-guided driving tour featuring historic interpretive signage at multiple CVBT-owned properties and conserved private properties across the battlefields, including (1) land along the Po River that saw fighting by the Army of the Potomac's II Corps at Spotsylvania; (2) Chancellorsville along the route of General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's May 2, 1863, flank attack where XI Corps troops attempted to make stands; (3) acreage at Chancellorsville's Nine Mile Run that saw brutal combat on May 3, 1863; and (4) property along Brock Road that served as artillery positions and as a staging area for V Corps troops as they battled at Spotsylvania from May 8-10, 1864. 

The 2023 Bearss Legacy Award was awarded to Ms. Susan Claffey for the immense contribution to the CWRTDC and, through our organization, to the preservation of Civil War knowledge and sites. She has been an enthusiastic member of the CWRTDC since 2001, serving as its President for three terms (2005-6, 2009-10, and 2011-12) and as Acting President in 2014-5, when the elected President Kent Schweikert was deployed to Afghanistan for most of his term.

The last Bearss Legacy Award was awarded to Ms. Loretta Neumann, whose work in preservation began with the National Park Service (NPS) in 1969, then with the late Congressman John F. Seiberling (D-OH) where she helped advance the Historic Preservation Fund established by Congress in 1976. In 1977, she joined the staff of the House Interior Committee where she drafted the 1980 amendments to the National Historic Preservation Act.

For nearly 30 years, Ms. Neumann studied and photographed the Civil War defenses of Washington: the fortifications that encircled the Nation’s capital to protect it during the Civil War. She is a co-founder and past president of the Alliance to Preserve the Civil War Defenses of Washington (https://www.apcwdw.com/).  

Purpose and Amount of the Edwin C. Bearss Preservation Award

A monetary award is presented to an  entity (a non‐profit organization or public entity or agency) to assist in preservation of a Civil War site or history, with “preservation” being used in the broadest sense of the word. This includes but is not limited to, the acquisition of property; the building, repair or restoration of a property; and the promotion, definition or narration of a site through interpretation, information infrastructure, including research and educational materials or displays.

It is the intent of the CWRTDC Board that the Preservation Award in any given calendar year will be $2,500. The grant amount may, at the discretion of the CWRTDC Board of Directors, be increased or decreased.  Use of the Award for financial matching for similar purposes is encouraged.  

Purpose of the Edwin C. Bearss Legacy Award

This award, which is non‐monetary, is to be given to a person or persons who exemplify and emulate Ed Bearss’s dedication in their personal efforts and commitment to preserve Civil War historic sites, landmarks, and relevant educational activities.  

Application Process

  • The call for applications for the 2026 Awards to be will be issued not later than July 15, 2025.
  • The application process has been revised and streamlined this year.  It no longer requires the endorsement of a Civil War Round Table or the sponsorship of a member of the CWRTDC. N
  • Nominations for either the Preservation Award or the Legacy Award (or both) may be submitted by a current member of any Civil War Round Table or similar organization.  Any person submitting a nomination may not participate in the awards decision-making process, including any Selections Committee or Board discussion regarding the awards.
  • Sharing information about the Ed Bearss Awards and the application process as widely as possible with appropriate media outlets and with other CW history organizations is encouraged.
  • Nominations for the Award must be made by completing the form available HERE  (https://drive.google.com/file/d/19nPcYBaNRWgGQFMUU0wvS52ey0c8paSH/view) or by submitting the information requested by the form through other means, such as in a Word document as attachment(s) to the form.  In other words, using the form is optional, but any nomination must be in writing and contain the information requested in the form.  
  • The submission must be sent via email to Karl Garman, Chair of the Edwin C. Bearss Awards Selections Committee at karl.e.garman@gmail.com with a copy sent either via email to admin@cwrtdc.org or by mail to: Civil War Round Table of the District of Columbia, 3601 Pickett Road, #2123, Fairfax, VA  22031.
  • Applications are due or, if sent by mail, must be postmarked by, the close of business November 1, 2025.
  • Selections of the 2026 awardees will be recommended by the Selections Committee and approved by the CWRTDC Board of Directors. The Selections Committee is open to all current members, Officers, and Board members of the CWRTDC, but any current Officers or Board members serving on the Sections Commitee must recuse themselves from approving the recommendations made by the Sections Committee.
  • Absent unforeseen circumstances, the awards will be presented in person at the joint dinner meeting of the CWRTDC and the Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia scheduled to be held in or near Washington DC early in 2026.

Follow up by Awardee

The awardee of the Edwin C Bearss Preservation Award should confirm in writing within one calendar year after receipt of the award how the grant was used as described in connection with the nomination process.  If the intended use of the grant is not possible, the awardee should advise the CWRTDC of any change to the requested purpose or return the grant to the CWRTDC allowing it to be reallocated for future awards.  

It would  be appreciated if the awardee of the Edwin C. Bearss Preservation Award publicly acknowledges its receipt of the award from the CWRTDC.   

Questions

Please contact Karl Garman, Chair of the CWRTDC’s Edwin C. Bearss Awards Selections Committee at karl.e.garman@gmail.com or at 562.405.2532.

_____________________________________________

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2024 Call for Applications for the 

Civil War Round Table of the District of Columbia

Edwin C. Bearss Preservation Award 

and the

Edwin C. Bearss Legacy Award 


Background

These two awards were created by the Civil War Round Table of the District of Columbia (CWRTDC) to honor the life and legacy of one of the nation’s preeminent Civil War historians: the late Edwin C. Bearss. Ed spent more than seven decades crusading for battlefield site preservation, expanding interest and education in the military, political and socio‐cultural history of events leading up to the Civil War, the War itself, and its aftermath. He led countless tours of battlefields and other Civil War related sites.  

Severely wounded as a Marine in the South Pacific during WW2, Ed understood the chaos and horror of battle and therefore was uniquely able to communicate the battlefield experience to his audience.  He authored more than two dozen books on the Civil War, joined the US National Park Service, and served as its chief historian from 1981‐1994 and later as its Historian Emeritus.  Ed was an honorary lifetime member of our Round Table and spoke regularly at its meetings and as its guide during many of its battlefield tours.

Seeking to assist Ed in his mission to protect, preserve and interpret Civil War sites around the country, the CWRTDC for many years made financial gifts for these purposes to an organization Ed selected. With his passing in 2020, the Round Table decided to continue this tradition by creating a new Edwin C. Bearss Awards program.  More information about Ed Bearss and the Awards Program is available at HERE (https://cwrtdc-calendar.blogspot.com/p/ed-bearss-and-history-of-cwrtdc-awards.html/) 

Monetary gifts to support the program are essential for the continuation of this awards and may be made through the CWRTDC website HERE or at https://cwrtdc-calendar.blogspot.com/p/ed-bearss-awards-donation-page.html  All gifts and donations are maintained separately from the Round Table’s regular accounts and donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.  

The first recipient (2021) of the new  Edwin Bearss Preservation Award was the African American Civil War Memorial Museum of Washington, DC, which recognizes the contributions of the U.S. Colored Troops and the persons of color who served in the U.S. Navy during  the Civil War. The museum  used the grant for exhibits and youth educational outreach.  The 2021  Bearss Legacy Award, a non‐monetary award, was presented to Wendy Swanson, for her outstanding contributions to the preservation of  Civil War sites, landmarks, and education.

The second recipient (2022) of the preservation award was to the Battle of New Market Battle Heights Memorial and Education Association for assistance in the erection of a monument to honor the U.S. Colored Troops who served in the 3rd Division of the XVII Corps. Among these men were 14 African American soldiers who received the Congressional Medal of Honor for their gallantry in this important victory for the Union. The 2022 Bearss Legacy Award was posthumously awarded to Burrus “Buzz” Carnahan, a member of the CWRTDC and of the Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia and its past President. A noted Lincoln scholar, author, lecturer on the International Law of War and with the  Air Force Judge Advocate, US State Department and US Department of Energy and served on the advisory group at the Gettysburg Lincoln Forum. 

The third recipient (2023) of the preservation award was to the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust for assistance in creating a self-guided driving tour featuring historic interpretive signage at multiple CVBT-owned properties and conserved private properties across the battlefields, including (1) land along the Po River that saw fighting by the Army of the Potomac's II Corps at Spotsylvania; (2) Chancellorsville along the route of General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's May 2, 1863, flank attack where XI Corps troops attempted to make stands; (3) acreage at Chancellorsville's Nine Mile Run that saw brutal combat on May 3, 1863; and (4) property along Brock Road that served as artillery positions and as a staging area for V Corps troops as they battled at Spotsylvania from May 8-10, 1864. 

The 2023 Bearss Legacy Award was awarded to Ms. Susan Claffey for the immense contribution to the CWRTDC and, through our organization, to the preservation of Civil War knowledge and sites. She has been an enthusiastic member of the CWRTDC since 2001, serving as its President for three terms (2005-6, 2009-10, and 2011-12) and as Acting President in 2014-5, when the elected President Kent Schweikert was deployed to Afghanistan for most of his term.


Purpose and Amount of the Edwin C. Bearss Preservation Award

A monetary award is presented to an  entity (a non‐profit organization or public entity or agency) to assist in preservation of a Civil War site or history, with “preservation” being used in the broadest sense of the word. This includes but is not limited to, the acquisition of property; the building, repair or restoration of a property; and the promotion, definition or narration of a site through interpretation, information infrastructure, including research and educational materials or displays.

It is the intent of the CWRTDC Board that the Preservation Award in any given calendar year will be $2,500. The grant amount may, at the discretion of the CWRTDC Board of Directors, be increased or decreased.  Use of the Award for financial matching for similar purposes is encouraged.  

Purpose of the Edwin C. Bearss Legacy Award

This award, which is non‐monetary, is to be given to a person or persons who exemplify and emulate Ed Bearss’s dedication in their personal efforts and commitment to preserve Civil War historic sites, landmarks, and relevant educational activities.  

Eligibility

Any entity that meets the criteria set forth in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, any other non‐profit entity, or any public entity or agency, is eligible to receive the Preservation Award.  Any person or group of persons is eligible to receive the Legacy Award.

Application Process

  • The call for applications for the 2024 Awards will be issued not later than July 15, 2024.
  • Sharing information about the 2024 Ed Bearss Awards and the application process as widely as possible with appropriate media outlets and with other CW history organizations is encouraged.
  • Applications for the Preservation Award must include a written endorsement from at least one Civil War Round Table or similar group registered on the CWRT Congress website (https://www.cwrtcongress.org/c-registry/websites.php or downloadable HERE). The endorsement letter must include the name, mailing and email addresses, telephone number(s), and website URL if available of the endorsing entity and be signed on its behalf. Nominations for the Preservation Award may not be made by current members, Officers, or Board members of the CWRTDC.
  • Applications for the Legacy Award.  Applications seeking only to nominate person(s) for the Legacy Award must either: (a) be accompanied by a written endorsement described above, OR (b) be submitted or sponsored by current members, Officers, or Board members of the CWRTDC.
  • Applications must be made by completing the form available HERE  (https://drive.google.com/file/d/19nPcYBaNRWgGQFMUU0wvS52ey0c8paSH/view) and sending it via email to admin@cwrtdc.org with a copy to Karl Garman, Chair of the Edwin C. Bearss Awards Selections Committee at karl.e.garman@gmail.com 
  • Alternatively, applications may be sent by mail to: Civil War Round Table of the District of Columbia, 3601 Pickett Road, #2123, Fairfax, VA  22031, with a copy sent via email to karl.e.garman@gmail.com . 
  • Applications are due or, if sent by mail, must be postmarked by the close of business November 1, 2024.
  • Selections of the 2024 awardees will be recommended by the Selections Committee and approved by the CWRTDC Board of Directors. The Selections Committee is open to all current members, Officers, and Board members of the CWRTDC, but any current Officers or Board members serving on the Sections Commitee must be recused from approving the recommendations made by the Sections Commitee.
  • Absent unforeseen circumstances, the awards will be presented in person at the joint dinner meeting of the CWRTDC and the Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia scheduled to be held in or near Washington DC early in 2025.

Follow up by Awardee

The awardee of the Edwin C Bearss Preservation Award should confirm in writing within one calendar year after receipt of the award how the grant was used as described in connection with the nomination process.  If the intended use of the grant is not possible, the awardee should advise the CWRTDC of any change to the requested purpose or return the grant to the CWRTDC allowing it to be reallocated for future awards.  

It would  be appreciated if the awardee of the Edwin C. Bearss Preservation Award publicly acknowledges its receipt of the award from the CWRTDC.   

Questions

Please contact Karl Garman, Chair of the CWRTDC’s Edwin C. Bearss Awards Selections Committee at karl.e.garman@gmail.com or at 703.538.5962.

_____________________________________________

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