Wednesday, September 4, 7 PM at Gates Hall when David Malgee will present a program entitled “Cowards to Heroes: The 111th New York Volunteers from Harper’s Ferry to Gettysburg”. Malgee, a member of the Gettysburg Foundation Board, will focus on the period between August 1862 when the regiment was formed to July 1863 when they suffered among the highest casualty rates at Gettysburg where several Williamson men were killed.
Malgee will also talk about the military career and post war life of Adrian Contant (his wife’s great, great grandfather), a soldier in Co. D who was wounded at Gettysburg. Contant married a Williamson girl and settled in Williamson, where he farmed along the lake. He is buried today in Lakeview Cemetery.

David Malgee grew up in Williamson and earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from the State University of New York at Oswego and a Master of Arts in History from the University of Richmond. Malgee served as chief Operating Officer of VSP Technologies, Inc. for more than three decades. Currently he served on VSP’s board and retains significant ownership in the company. He is also the president of the Colonial Heights (Virginia) Historical Society. Author of two books and written works including Virginia State historical and Civil War Trails markers texts and historical pamphlets, he remains active in studying the Battle of Gettysburg, collecting artifacts and speaking on Civil War topics.

Program attendees are encouraged to bring Civil War memorabilia (does not need to be local).
This program is open to all and should be of special interest to Civil War buffs.