Lecture on Oregon's Civil War Connections features lives of Senator Edward Baker & Roswell Lamson

Sept. 12, 2011 - PRLog -- The lecture, "Oregon's Civil War Connections" is the third in a series of lectures being given by NW Historical Perspectives in 2011 to mark the first year of Oregon's participation in the national commemoration of the Americal Civil War (2011-2015). The lecturer, Frank Krone, was invited to speak about the Civil War by the Lincoln County Historical Society and his talk will include reading portions from transcripts of the political speeches of Oregon's US Senator Edward Dickinson Baker, and excerpts from the war-time letters of US Navy Lt. Roswell Hawks Lamson that were written 150 years ago..

Lamson's family was one of the Oregon Trail Pioneers who established a large farm in Willamina, Oregon. Lamson  was the first Oregonian to obtain an appointment to the US Navy Academy, and finished his last year at sea, due to the start of the Civil War. He distinguished himself in various sea and amphibious battles. At the time of the Battle of Fort Fisher in January 1865, Lamson  was Captain of the USS Gettysburg, a Union Navy steamer.

Before Edward Dickinson Baker became Oregon's Second US Senator, he was President Lincoln's closest friend, and the namesake of Lincoln's son. Baker was a native of London, England who was in turn, a practicing attorney,  a sometimes political opponent of Abraham Lincoln  and a veteran of the Black Hawk War of 1832 and the Mexican War. Baker  served in the Illinois state legislature and as a representative in Congress. Prior to the shelling of Fort Sumter, he was named one of Oregon's Senators. He volunteered for service at the outbreak of the rebellion and became Colonel of a regiment raised in New York and Pennsylvania. Senator Baker was killed in battle on the afternoon of October 21, 1861 while leading his troops  against Confederate forces at Ball's Bluff near Leesburg, Virginia.

The lecture: "Oregon's Civil War Connections" will take place in the historical society's Bay Front center located at 333 SE Bay Blvd in Newport, Oregon in a remodeled building that used to be the residence of  World War I hero, General Ulysses Grant  McAlexander. Promoted Colonel, in July 1918, McAlexander  commanded the 38th US Infantry Regiment successfully against German forces at the second Battle of the Marne, for which he was promoted to Brigadier General and became known as the "Rock of the Marne" The building and site at 333 SE Bay Boulevard were purchased by the Lincoln County Historical Society in 2004. In the 1970s the structure underwent remodeling and expansion and most recently housed  Gracies at Smuggler's Cove, a popular restaurant and entertainment spot.

This is the third of a series of lectures about Oregon's Civil War veterans being scheduled by NW Historical Perspectives around the state during the four years of the national Civil War Sesquicentennial. for more information, please call (503)303-8426 or go to www.oregoncivilwarconnections.yolasite.com