By Kiara Catanzaro
News Assignment Editor
Chris Mackowski, associate professor of journalism and mass communication, was the featured speaker at the New York Military Affairs Symposium (NYMAS) Friday, Oct. 18, in New York City.
NYMAS exists to promote public knowledge of the interrelationship of war, society and culture by presenting diverse scholarly viewpoints, Robert Rowen, director of operations and programs for NYMAS, said.
According to Mackowski, while he was speaking at the Civil War Forum of Metropolitan New York last year about Ulysses S. Grant’s final battle, a man from NYMAS attended and invited him to speak at this year’s NYMAS.
Mackowski’s talk on the last days of Stonewall Jackson focused on the Battle of Chancellorsville and Jackson’s significance during the Civil War.
“Jackson was a Confederate general who was accidentally wounded by one of his own soldiers and died a few days later because of those wounds,” Mackowski said. “Some people acknowledge this event as the major turning point of the Civil War, because the Confederacy doesn’t win an offensive battle after Jackson’s death, even though the war goes on for two more years.”
“The Last Days of Stonewall Jackson” is one of Mackowski’s favorite talks to present because it’s easy for others to connect with Jackson, he said.
“Jackson has become one of the marble men of history, but there are parts of his life that other people can relate to and associate with if they look past the historical facts about him,” Mackowski said.
Aside from “The Last Days of Stonewall Jackson,” Mackowski offers other lectures, including “The Battle of the Bloody Angle,” “Chancellorsville: Crossroads of Fire” and “Grant’s Last Battle.” Mackowski travels to different areas in New York, North Carolina, Virginia and other states to discuss specific Civil War stories.
Although it was Mackowski’s first time speaking at NYMAS, he said he is accustomed to speaking on the Civil War through the years.
“Speaking about the Civil War and history has become second nature to me,” Mackowski said. “Talking at NYMAS was a great opportunity, but it was similar to the other talks I give during the year.”
Rowen offered positive feedback on Mackowski’s talk.
“Chris was certainly one of the best talks we have ever had here in New York City at New York Military Affairs Symposium,” Rowen said. “He delivered a spirited presentation of Stonewall Jackson’s last days.
