Lincoln Depot Museum

Friday, April 26, 2019 • 7:30 PM – $5 Admission or $20 for Full Weekend Pass

Grant’s Friendship with Abraham Lincoln

US Grant first-person impressionist Kenneth Serfass discusses the General’s close relationship with President Abraham Lincoln.

President Lincoln had faith in Ulysses S. Grant when few people did. During the Vicksburg Campaign, calls went out for the President to dismiss Grant because he had bogged down “somewhere in Mississippi”.  Mr. Lincoln later said in Grant’s defense, “I really believe I am the only friend Grant has left. Grant advises me that he will take Vicksburg by the Fourth of July, and I believe he will do it; and he shall have the chance.”

The criticisms came in the form of letters, newspaper editorials, and delegations of irate citizens calling on Lincoln in person. The editor of the Cincinnati Gazette wrote, ‘Our noble army of the Mississippi is being wasted by the foolish, drunken, stupid Grant, He cannot organize or control or fight an army. I have no personal feeling about it; but I know he is an ass.'”  Lincoln’s response, “I can’t spare this man, he fights”.  Colonel Absalom H. Markland, a Washington postal official connected to Grant’s army made note: “Other friends may have wavered in their friendship for General Grant, and even recommended his removal from command, but Abraham Lincoln was faithful to General Grant through evil and good report.”

Because Grant began his civil war career with victories in battle, he soon was very much in Lincoln’s focus as a successful commander.  Lincoln endured criticism of all sorts about Grant, but had faith as to the outcome of each battle and campaign.  The Chicago Journal once published this exchange with a visitor who asked: “When will the army move?” Responded the President: “Ask General Grant.” The visitor replied: “General Grant will not tell me.” Responded the President: “Neither will he tell me.”

The two men sustained each other for what was to come before the surrender of confederate armies, and that shared responsibility built a profound bond between two people, and like-minded men regarding fairness and humanity towards a vanquished foe.   It’s not always told in battle reports and dispatches, but the stories of friends go much deeper sometimes.  This encounter will be a rare chance to see inside that friendship.

Kenneth J. Serfass, Gunnery Sgt USMC, retired
(as Ulysses S. Grant)

Gunnery Sgt Kenneth J. Serfass was born in Bethlehem, PA on June 18th, 1966.  He joined the USMC in 1984 and his final tour was with the First Marine Division Band during Operation Iraqi Freedom and retired from the Marine Corps in July of 2004 to become a music teacher.

Ken WAS a civil war reenactor and now is a first-person impressionist with nearly fifty years of study of his childhood hero, US Grant.  He now works as a full-time professional living historian portraying Ulysses S. Grant, presenting between 11 and as many as 23 appearances each month between February and November each year as his work season.

Ken began appearing publically as General Grant in 2009 while living in San Diego CA, even then speaking at events across the country and he presents in as many venues as are relevant to the life of Grant.  From horseback tours and rail road excursion rides, at living history and roundtable events to public libraries on a regular basis across many eastern and southern states, and annually in Southern California at Huntington Beach’s Civil War Days over Labor Day weekend, Ken is established firmly on both coasts.

He has appeared at Pamplin Park near Petersburg VA, and at several national park sites on an annual basis.  In 2015 he was invited to join The Federal Generals Corps, a living history organization hosting first person impressions of many of the most well-known Union generals in the American civil war, to be their “Ulysses S. Grant.”  This past July he presented at Petersburg NPS for the Crater Commemoration, and the following day at City Point NPS, Grant’s war time Virginia headquarters.  They now have invited him back to make this an annual occurrence.

He has spoken on Grant’s Vicksburg Campaign to the Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Association to develop broader civil war study among their guides.  He is the only Grant impressionist to present his own topical programs at the General Grant National Memorial, in New York City, presenting first person public interactive addresses, as General and also as President, and has developed Junior Ranger programs for NPS, bringing America’s youth closer to history.

Entertaining and educational, the spectrum of venues includes schools, all sorts of service and history clubs, as well as museums, and business groups seeking leadership training and inspiration.  Ken’s work has generated a great following of supporters and others who share his love or American history and the attributes of positive role models throughout our national past.  Many are happy to refer him to others so they too can talk to history and share in our rich heritage.

It is with a profound honor that he tells the story of one of America’s greatest military leaders and Ken takes it very seriously to reaffirm Grant’s place of honor among the most respected people of our nation’s history.  His passion for the subject is evident in his presentation, and it is hard not to be affected by his enthusiasm for his subject and believe that you’ve met US Grant in living history.

Sunday, April 28, 2019 • 1:00 PM – $10 for the day (includes admission to all Sunday presentations).

Lincoln and the Surrender at Appomattox

Presented by – Civil War Author/Historian — Patrick A. Schroeder

The program will discuss Lincoln’s meeting with Generals Sherman and Grant prior to the Appomattox Campaign and his influence on the surrender terms.  Details about how the surrender meeting came about; incidents; personalities; primary source accounts; and details of the meeting that effectively closed the war and reunited the Nation will be covered, as well as the presence of Robert Lincoln at the McLean House on April 9, 1865.

Sunday, April 28, 2019 • 2:00 PM – (Outside on the LDM grounds).

Zouaves, America’s Forgotten Soldiers

Presented by – Civil War Author/Historian — Patrick A. Schroeder

A power point with more than 100 photographs of Zouaves both North and South.  Discusses the origins of Zouaves in North Africa, French Zouaves distinguished exploits in the Crimean War and in Italy, Elmer Ellsworth and “Zouaves craze” in America.  Slides demonstrate various styles of American Zouave uniforms.  Brief capsule histories on several famous Zouave units.  Reproduction uniforms brought for display.  Details of this unique uniform explained.

Sunday, April 28, 2019 • 1:00-4:00 PM – Included with Admission

General Grant Returns to the Depot

General US Grant (Ken Serfass) returns to the Lincoln Depot Museum to be available on site for small group or individual discussions and photographs.

Encampment on Grounds All Weekend!

Encampment will feature several Zouave units including 5th NY Duryee’s Zouaves, Cos. A & D, 15th NY Cavalry and 11th Connecticut Vols., with live firings, bayonet and arms drills, camp life and Grant and Lincoln’s review of the troops.  And MORE!

Civil War Author/Historian — Patrick A. Schroeder was born January 1, 1968, at Fort Belvoir, VA.  In the spring of 1990, he graduated Cum Laude with a B.S. in Historical Park Administration from Shepherd College, Shepherdstown, WV.  He has a M.A. in Civil War History from Virginia Tech.  From the summer of 1986-1993, Patrick worked as a seasonal living history interpreter at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park.  In 1993, he wrote Thirty Myths About Lee’s Surrender, which is currently in its twelfth printing.   From 1994–1999, he was employed at Red Hill, the Patrick Henry National Memorial.  Patrick has written, edited and/or contributed to more than twenty-five Civil War titles including:  More Myths About Lee’s Surrender; The Confederate Cemetery at Appomattox; Recollections and Reminiscences of Old Appomattox; Images of America:  Appomattox County; Tar Heels; Sailor’s Creek:  General Custis Lee Captured with Controversy; Civil War Soldier Life:  In Camp and Battle; A Duryee Zouave; We Came To Fight: A History of the 5th NY Veteran Vol. Inf., Duryee’s Zouaves; Campaigns of the 146th Regiment New York State Volunteers; Pennsylvania Bucktails; The Bloody 85^th; The Life of General Ely S. Parker: Least Grand Sachem of the Iroquois and Grant’s Military Secretary; Appomattox County; and With the 11^th New York Fire Zouaves: In Camp, Battle and Prison.  Patrick resides in Lynchburg, VA, and has worked as an independent researcher, author, historian, and tour guide.  He has served as the Historian at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park since 2002.  In an effort to protect sites relevant to the Appomattox Campaign, Patrick has set up the “Appomattox Fund” with the Civil War Trust, to save land important to the climatic events of April 1865.