“January 7, 2004
Dear Mr. Johnson,
I would like to thank you for coming into our class and sharing your amazing performance with us. That was very generous of you to take time out of your day to do that for us. Your presentation of Private William Webb was very good! I didn’t think it would [...]
Archive for January, 2007
“Letters to Kevin Johnson”
Posted in Uncategorized on January 26, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Re: A Celebration
Posted in Uncategorized on January 19, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Kevin Johnson’s 300th Performance as Private William Webb on January 11, 2007 in the Museum of Connecticut History was a huge success! Congratulations to Kevin and a big “Thank You” to all who contributed to make this performance extra special.
Here’s to 300 more!
“Letters to Kevin Johnson”
Posted in Uncategorized on January 11, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
“January 7, 2004
Dear Mr. Johnson,
Thank you very much for coming to our school. Your portrayal of William Webb was awesome. It is so kind of you to share his life, the life of a Civil War soldier, with us. I especially enjoyed your enthusiasm as you played this person. Your devotion to learning all that [...]
An Interview with Private Webb cont’d
Posted in William Webb on January 11, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
CSL: Welcome Back, Private Webb. You were telling us last time that the reason you joined the 29th Connecticut was because you wanted freedom.
Webb: That’s right. Freedom was the most important reason for all of us who served in the 29th. I remember hearing stories when I was a boy about Nat Turner and how he tried to overthrow slavery. He [...]
“Letters to Kevin Johnson”
Posted in Uncategorized on January 11, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
“January 7, 2004
Dear Mr. Johnson,
Thank you very much for coming in yesterday and presenting your fabulous act. You were so realistic. I felt like I was there at the Civil War. I had forgotten some things that had happened there, for it had been almost a year since I studied the war. I really enjoyed [...]
An Interview with Private Webb
Posted in William Webb on January 6, 2007 | 2 Comments »
CSL: Hello, Private Webb. Thank you for agreeing to be interviewed. Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Webb: I was born in 1834, so I’m getting up there in years! But, I grew up mostly in Ellington. My mother married Edwin Salisbury in 1840 there. He was a good man and he taught me all the things a [...]
A Celebration
Posted in Uncategorized on January 5, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Please join us for the 300th presentation of Private William Webb: An African-American Connecticut Civil War Soldier Portrayed by the State Library’s very own Kevin Johnson
When: January 11, 2007 5p.m. – 7p.m.
Where: Museum of Connecticut History’s Memorial Hall 231 Capitol Avenue ~ Hartford, CT
Remarks by Diane Smith, Host of Positively Connecticut
For More Information, go to: [...]
Greetings!
Posted in Uncategorized on January 5, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Greetings to all of you!
My name is Private William Riley Salisbury Webb and I served in 29th Connecticut Volunteers during the American Civil War.
That means I’m pretty old now! My friend, Mr. Kevin Johnson of the Connecticut State Library, will help me to tell my story as he relives my life and times.
So join us here [...]

