Civil War buffs hear from an expert

Newton — The Colonel Henry Ryerson Civil War Round Table features the Round Table's chairman Dr. Peter Lubrecht as its guest speaker for its November meeting. Dr. Lubrecht will be discussing the group's namesake Colonel Henry Ryerson. The upcoming meeting will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 7:30 p.m. in the Theatre (D-Building) at the Sussex County Community College. Colonel Henry Ryerson, a native of Newton, was a world traveler, a judge and a war hero. During the Civil War he was commanding the 10th New Jersey Infantry when he was wounded at the Battle of the Wilderness in 1864 and subsequently died of his wounds in Virginia. Prior to his deployment to the Army of the Potomac and General Grant's Overland Campaign, Ryerson had been in Pennsylvania to quell draft riots in the coal fields and was provost marshal for the trials of the Molly Maguires. Lubrecht's talk will focus on the Ryerson family, Henry's legal practice, and his military heroism. Peter Lubrecht has a Ph.D. in Educational Theatre from New York University and a master's degree in English and Drama Theory from NYU's Graduate School of Arts and Science. An avid researcher with an interest in historical theater, he has been lecturing locally on the Civil War and 19th century American Theatre. His latest book, 'New Jersey Butterfly Boys in the Civil War, the Hussars of the Union Army," was published in March. The Colonel Henry Ryerson Civil War Round Table provides educational programs, tours and fellowship for individuals interested in the Civil War era. Meetings are free and open to the public. For more information call Jennifer at 845-295-2603 during work hours or check out the Round Table's Web site at www.ryersoncwrt.com.