Military Staff Ride of the
Battle of Antietam
Thursday, May 13th, 2004
3
PM-4 PM: Check In and Welcome, Sheraton Four Points Hotel,
Dual Highway, Hagerstown, MD by Corky Lowe
4-6
PM: The Military Staff Ride,
Orientation and Discussion on the Art of War and related items. Instructor TBA
6:15
PM Icebreaker Dinner at the
Sheraton. Casual Dress. Meet the faculty
7
PM: Introduction and review of the
course of study, methods to be used and rules of engagement by Dr. Tom Clemens,
President of Save Historic Antietam Foundation.
Friday,
May 14th and Saturday May 15th, 2004
8 AM Depart the hotel en route to
the Antietam battlefield. We will stop
first at the Pry House—headquarters of General George McClellan. This program is about battlefield decisions
both strategic and tactical. We will
work to get in the heads of the people we are studying--paying particular
attention to the formulation of orders, how they read and when they are
dispatched or arrive. We will then
play those orders out on the field.
Unlike most tours this program is designed to cover the battlefield by
walking the same paths as the soldiers.
We will leave the park tour and go to spots that are in private
ownership. We will also climb the hills
south of Sharpsburg. As you know the
battle was fought in segments. Thus we
will be able to follow the battle from north to south. Good for us, but not necessarily good for
the soldiers. Thus you will be walking
across and along the same attack routes as the soldiers did. There will be some criss crossing across the
same sites. There will be a limited
amount of battle narrative. You already
know what happened—we will merely orient you on the site before analysis
begins. We will go across routes as
opposed to staying on paved routes. We will return to the hotel each
night by 6 PM. Dinner will
be on your own on Friday. Saturday we
will have a banquet and then the integration/closing phase of the program.
About the Program: BGES
takes pride in bringing to you some of the finest military historians
available. This program goes far beyond
what anyone else will offer you. In order
to qualify for registration you must pass a 30 question written examination
with a minimum score of 75%. A single
retake is permitted. If you fail to
qualify for the program your deposit of $100 will be refunded less the cost of
postage ($40). Once you pass the
test you will be provided with the course text books. You will need access to them as your preparations will require
you to read in advance assigned passages.
The books will also be referred to and additional homework
assigned. This is an immersion course for serious students only.
*Entrance Examination: The 30
question entrance examination will be given on January 28, 2004 and as required after that date or until the
program is filled at the maximum capacity of 30 registrants. The exam is open book with Sears’ book as
the authority for the questions. The exam
will be sent to applicants upon receipt of a $100 application fee ($60 is refundable if the applicant is not
admitted to the program) via 2nd Day UPS. It must be returned in the enclosed UPS
envelope by February 6, 2004 or as
advised
Physical Fitness: Participation is at your own risk. This
program requires participants to be in average to good physical health as it will be conducted in the field. There
will be extensive periods away from the bus.
Registrants will be expected to stand for long periods of time. Lengthy, sometimes physically demanding,
walks across fields and up hills will be undertaken. For those unable to make
the longer or more physically demanding walks a faculty member will return to
the bus and recreate what you are missing in the field. We encourage you to prepare. A personal statement of fitness must be
executed with your registration. You
will also be required to provide us with a medical profile if you have any
condition that may require medical intervention and will hold us harmless in
the event that you develop a medical emergency as a result of your
participation in any and all portions of this program..
Graduation: There will be two
levels of distinction for this program.
Each person who completes it will receive a diploma that is suitable for
framing signed by the faculty and Executive Director of the BGES. For those who aspire to higher recognition an
optional written examination may be taken on Saturday after the close of
the program. A grade of 90% will earn
the “Distinguished Graduate”
notation on your certificate.
Top Graduate Award. The
faculty will caucus after the event and determine who was the best overall
student in the program. That individual
will be recognized after the banquet in a memorable and appropriate fashion.
The Faculty
Tom Clemens: Is the Head of the Faculty. Dr. Clemens will develop the syllabus and
direct the program before and during the event. He is an instructor at Hagerstown Community College is adjunct
professor at George Mason University.
He is the President of the Save Historic Antietam Foundation.
Colonel William Lowe: Is the
President of the BGES Board of Directors.
A retired Colonel from the New Jersey National Guard, Colonel Lowe has
conducted many staff rides for buisness and military leaders.
Two additional faculty members will be announced
before the end of December. Both will
be uniquely qualified for the roles they will play in this program.
Meeting
Site and Hotel: This program will be held at the Four Points Sheraton
Hotel, 1910 Dual Highway, Hagerstown, Maryland, 21740(1-301-790-3010). Ask for the Blue and Gray Education Society
rate of $64 plus 11% tax. The Four
Points Hotel is conveniently a mile or so down the road from exit 32B for
Hagerstown. We have reserved a block of
20 rooms in the Blue and Gray Education
Society’s name. The block expires
on April 13th and the hotel goes to open reservations.
Airport
and Transportation Information: Hagerstown is serviced by USAirways
Express. There is complimentary
transportation available to and from the hotel using the hotel courtesy phone. The best major airports are Washington
Dulles (IAD) and Baltimore Washington (BWI).
Both would require you to get a rental car for the duration of the
program.
Key
Publications and Recommended Readings: A reading book will be
provided at the event.
We
recommend that you read Stephen Sears book “Landscape Turned Red” before taking the entrance exam. It is in paperback. Your registration fee includes the
wholesale cost of Joseph Harsh’s books Taken
at the Flood (Kent State University Press) and his peerless reference work Sounding the Shallows (KSU Press). You must have both books available to you at
the program. They will be sent to you
upon acceptance of your registration. If
you have those books then you may reduce your registration fee by $40. Spouses may share a set and reduce their
registration fee by $40.
BGES’ MSR of the Battles of Antietam Registration Form:
Name (s): _______________________________ _________________________________
Address/City/State Zip:____________________________________________________________
Phone: ______________________ E-mail:
____________________________________________
____ UNIVERSAL
APPLICATION FEE: $100 per person. Must be sent with the application. Includes exam cost, required text books, shipping
and handling. If accepted you
will be invoiced as follows:
______
Regular Registration: $330 _____
Current member of BGES or partner organization* $297
* Save
Historic Antietam Foundation, Cedar
Creek Battlefield Foundation,
Friends of the Wilderness,
Tredegar
National Civil War Center Foundation
_______
Teacher/Student: $275
Payment Instructions:
My check for $__________ is
enclosed. Or
charge my AmExp VISA MCard
# _______________________________________________________________ Exp: ____________
Please Check and sign: I understand that this
program will be physically challenging and that I am the sole determinant of my
ability to participate. I and my family
agree BGES will not be held responsible if I exceed my physical
limitations. I will hold BGES harmless if I develop a medical emergency as a result of my
participation in any and all portions of this program I will discuss any
physical or medical challenges that I currently face with the Executive
Director, Len Riedel at 1-888-741-2437 prior to my registration becoming
binding on either party.
____ I have no
physical or mental challenges. _____ I
need to speak with you about my health.
Signature:
_______________________________________________________________