Strong in Wretchedness and Woe
The Untold Story of Rockingham County in the Spanish-American War
March 20, 2025, 7 pm
With E.K. Knappenberger
As a historian and analyst, Knappenberger seeks out the forgotten and overlooked. His trademark research uncovers unique details and little-known commentary of the times. Recently, Knappenberger’s focus turned to 1898 and the widely forgotten actions and effects of the Spanish-American War on the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Community. Join this conversation to:
- Venture bravely back to when the Mayor of Harrisonburg led the boys of Rockingham off to fight for glory and freedom.
- Learn about Doctor Heneberger, the Harrisonburg native who survived the explosion of the USS Maine—the spark that started the 1898 war between Spain and America.
- Follow the soldiers as they suffer from tropical disease and neglect.
- Enjoy the fanfare of President McKinley’s stop at the Rockingham County Courthouse.
- Hear the words of local pundits and poets as they explore what it meant to be an American at the turn of the 20th century.
Dark Chambers of Imperial Fate: Rockingham County, Virginia, in the Spanish-American War, by E.K. Knappenberger
A “splendid little war” which lasted half a year and saw the United States grow from an isolated republic into an imperial world power, the 1898 conflict between Spain and the USA left an impact on every corner of quiet Rockingham County, Virginia—and then was promptly forgotten by all but a few local veterans.
Now, 125 years later, veteran and historian E.K. Knappenberger performs an in-depth analysis of first-hand source material relating Harrisonburg, Bridgewater, Dayton, Elkton, and Spring Creek to that brief but impactful story, from the shores of Guantanamo to the President’s speech at Court Square.
Copies of Knappenberger’s book will be available at the event. To read ahead, purchase via the Rocktown History bookstore in Dayton or online.
E.K. Knappenberger is a doctoral student at Drew University, Madison, New Jersey, and a former US Army intelligence analyst writing in history, philosophy, and theology. He holds an MA in Religion from Eastern Mennonite Seminary, a BA in Philosophy and Theology from Eastern Mennonite University, and an AAS from Whatcom Community College.