Free talks scheduled at New York State Military Museum in February and March

Subjects range from French and Indian War boats in Lake George to the National Guard in the 19th Century

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (01/23/2020) (readMedia)-- New York's military history will be highlighted in seven free talks being planned at the New York State Military Museum in Saratoga Springs in February and March.

The topics will range from the "ghost fleet" of French and Indian War boats on the bottom of Lake George to the history of the New York National Guard's mobilizations in the 19th Century and military intelligence during World War II. The talks will be held in the museum's meeting area and all will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturdays.

Talks scheduled for February and March are:

Feb. 1, 2:00PM – Military Intelligence During OPERATION FORAGER – Manhattan College history professor Andrew Tompkins analysizes the successes and failures of the 27th Infantry Division's military intelligence during World War II's Battle of Saipan.

Feb. 8, 2:00PM – Left for Dead on Slaughter's Field: The 177th New York Volunteer Infantry at Port Hudson – Using rare historic photographs and the recently discovered diary of Private William Henry Harrison Freligh, a 21-year old soldier from rural Albany County, retired National Guard officer and historian Pat Chaisson explores the little known Civil War battle of Port Hudson.

Feb. 22, 2:00PM – Charles Johnson Post: A Soldier's Life in Art – Local author and historian William Howard discusses the remarkable life and career of Charles Johnson Post, a journalist, artist, adventurer, and soldier with the 71st New York during the Spanish-American War whose paintings are currently on display at the New York State Military Museum.

Feb 29, 2:00PM – Naval Camouflage Expert, Museum Director, and Shipwreck Archaeologist: The Fascinating Life of Dr. Robert Bruce Inverarity – As a chapter in his new book, "Ghost Fleet Awakened: Lake George's Sunken Bateaux of 1758," underwater archaeologist Joseph Zarzynski chronicles the life and career of Dr. Robert Inverarity from his days as a US Navy illustrator and camouflage specialist to his innovative maritime archaeological expeditions on Lake George.

March 7, 2:00PM – Campaign to Saratoga, 1777 – Eric Schnitzer, one of the foremost experts on the Northern Campaign of 1777 reviews the Battle of Saratoga as depicted through the detailed paintings of master artist Don Troiani as featured in his new publication, "Don Troiani's Campaign to Saratoga, 1777." –

March 14, 2:00PM – Hanging, Riots, and Strikes: 19th Century Mobilizations of the New York National Guard – Gar Mitchell, a West Point graduate and historian of the New York National Guard, explores the role of the National Guard in maintaining order throughout the social turbulence of the 19th century, a story he considers "a mix of tragedy, comedy, and heroism.

March 21 2:00PM – The 42nd Rainbow Division and the Liberation of Dachau – Colonel Richard Goldenberg, a 42nd Division officer and veteran of the Iraq War, presents the combat history of the 42nd Infantry Division across Europe in the winter and spring of 1945, culminating with the Division's fateful liberation of prisoners from the notorious Dachau Concentration Camp on April 29, 1945.

The New York State Military Museum is located at 61 Lake Ave, in Saratoga Spring and is open Tuesday thru Saturday for 10:00 a.m.to 4:00 p.m.