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2016-03-08- Winter Speaker Event - "The Life of the Confederate Soldier"



Arthur Green is a military historian whose own family history in Monmouth County dates back to 1680 and is populated with ancestors who served in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. So maybe his fascination for all things military is in his genes. From childhood, he has collected and researched uniforms, equipment, weapons—the stuff of waging war and the stories behind it. He is next in the Museum Speakers Series, appearing 7:15, Tuesday, March 8, at the auditorium of the old Oakhurst Schoolhouse (Board Offices), 163 Monmouth Rd., Oakhurst. He’s bringing with him items from his collection to illustrate the life of a Civil War soldier.

I’ve chosen to talk about the Confederate soldier,” Arthur explains, “because it tells a little-understood but interesting story.” It is the story of how the Southern agrarian society with limited manufacturing capability and few raw materials— was able to mobilize and equip an army. The North had the factories, distribution channels, and financial resources to provision its troops. The South relied on determination, innovation, and the personal involvement of its population.

The difference is seen in uniforms and equipment. The Confederates emphasized functionality. Their uniform was not a fashion statement. No cuffs, limited trim. Non-traditional materials substituted for things like leather and wool. Everyone, even Mrs. Robert E. Lee, worked on provisions. The story is that when told the war had ended, she lay down her knitting, having finished just one sock of a pair, saying “our soldier will not need these now.”

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The Township of Ocean Historical Museum, founded in 1984, is a member-supported, 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, incorporated under the laws of the State of New Jersey. Its headquarters, the Eden Woolley House, is one of the few 18th-century structures still in existence in the Township. The museum serves as the ancestral home to every citizen of the Township of Ocean. PLEASE NOTE: At the present time, due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the Museum will only be open on all  Sunday afternoons, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, or request a tour anytime by Calling 732-531-2136 or e-mailing at OceanMuseum@yahoo.com. We will be adding days in the future and will continue to keep you advised. The Township of Ocean Historical Museum offers exhibits on the history of coastal Monmouth County and a full calendar of events. The Museum is also 100% volunteer supported, with no paid staff. The Museum maintains a library and archive, which houses manuscripts, books and photographs of historical and genealogical interest. For more information, please call 732-531-2136 or visit our website at

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