Speaking Engagement Topics
Will is a meticulous researcher with a passion for history. He spent his life in interesting and often dangerous endeavors, leading Marines in combat, working as an undercover drug agent in Amsterdam, and serving as a Federal special agent, conducting fraud investigations and counter-terrorism initiatives, involving nuclear plants. He has written and lectured on military history here and abroad for over twenty years. Here are some presentations to consider for your next meeting, conference, convention or event:
“The Making of Artifacts of the Little Big Horn: Custer, the 7th Cavalry, & the Lakota and Cheyenne Warriors”
This presentation will cover the historical research, the search for artifacts of the Little Bighorn battle, and the journey of the author across the United States in order to compile and write the book. Will Hutchison will explain the world of professionally photographing artifacts, as well as the challenges of finding and photographing artifacts within the military historian and Native American communities. He will tell the secrets of how he managed to acquire or take photographs in these highly internalized cultural communities, and the tales of those he missed along the way. This is an intriguing and entertaining story you will enjoy hearing.
“THE CRIMEAN WAR – A MAGNIFICENT CATASTROPHE”
The Crimean War was arguably the most mismanaged military campaign in modern European history. British soldiers were dying in the siege trenches from exposure and starvation with warm clothing and food nine miles away. Only stubborn pride and their glorious warrior spirit kept them in the fight. This talk presents an overview of the Crimean War (1854-1856), its causes, and the massive mismanagement. It will focus on the major battles fought, and the final outcome.
“BALACLAVA: SO WHERE WAS THE DAMNED INFANTRY?”
A detailed talk on all five phases of the Battle of Balaclava, covering the battle for the redoubts, the ‘thin red line,’ the charge of the heavy brigade, and, of course, the charge of the light brigade, made famous by Alfred Lord Tennison. You will discover what events led to the battle, and follow the major players in their pursuit of glory.
“LESSONS OF A MAGNIFICENT CATASTROPHE:
THE IMPACT OF THE CRIMEAN WAR ON THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR”
This talk discusses the lessons learned during the Crimean War, and how they impacted the American Civil War. Specifically, it will cover the work of the Delafield Commission, as well as the impact of new inventions and techniques in ordnance, logistics, transportation, communication, medical practices, the media, photography, and other vital areas. Finally, Mr. Hutchison will reason why so many crucial lessons learned in what seemed a magnificent catastrophe were, or were not, acted upon in the American Civil War.
“THE MAKING OF ‘CRIMEAN MEMORIES: ARTEFACTS OF THE CRIMEAN WAR”
This presentation will cover the amazing journey of two stalwart Americans throughout the United Kingdom photographing and documenting over a thousand surviving Crimean War artefacts in over twenty-five national / regimental museums and private collections. You will go along with these intrepid Yanks as they haul cameras, lights, and other photography equipment well over 1200 miles – stopping at the odd pub along the way. This was a journey both humorous and entertaining - that you will agree was well-worth taking.
“RELAX MEN – IT’S ONLY THE PRESIDENT:
A MEASURE OF LINCOLN’S PERSONAL SECURITY”
Mr. Hutchison will discuss the personal security conditions of Lincoln’s day-to-day life as viewed during the nineteenth century. He will show Lincoln’s vulnerability from various perspectives, with special focus on Lincoln’s own relaxed attitude. Specifically, he will cover the “Baltimore Plot,” Lincoln’s dangerous trip to Gettysburg, various assassination attempts, and security failures at his assassination at Ford’s Theater. He will compare these security measures and protocols to those we use today, and discuss why we can no longer say, “relax men – it’s only the president.”
“MARINES IN THE CIVIL WAR”
This presentation covers the participation of the Marine Corps in the American Civil War. It will focus on the organization, uniforms, equipment, and weapons of the Corps during the war, the major battles and engagements where Marines participated, and the impact of the war on the Marine Corps.
“AT ALL TIMES READY: JOHN BROWN’S CAPTURE AT HARPERS FERRY - THROUGH THE EYES OF A MARINE”
One man’s terrorist is another man’s patriot. The debate about John Brown, hero or villain, is nearly as strong today in its conviction on both sides as it was in late 1859. The Marines who were sent to Harpers Ferry did not have the luxury of political views or debates. They merely had a mission to perform, not to different from what is happening in far away places in the world today. The story of why the Marines were called in, and how they met their mission in capturing John Brown and freeing the hostages unharmed, is the topic of this talk.
“THE MARINES AT BULL RUN”
“Marines running … Say it isn’t so!” - - - In this presentation, Will Hutchison, a Marine himself, and Deputy Director of the Marine Corps Historical Company, will tell you the real story of those 1861 Marines, with all its shining moments, and all its warts. It is the vivid account of a fledgling Federal Army, and the Marine Battalion assigned to that Army. You will be privy to what those Marines did, and did not do, to allow you to decide for yourselves if their story rises to the level of the proud Marine Corps tradition dating back two hundred and thirty-five years to 1775, and continuing today.
“CUSTER FROM HUNTERSTOWN TO THE LITTLE BIG HORN: A PORTENT OF THINGS TO COME?”
Custer’s first engagement in direct command of troops at Hunterstown, Pennsylvania, was a disaster. He barely made it out alive. His last engagement at the Little Big Horn River was also disastrous, and, of course, it cost him his life. Was his death inevitable or avoidable? Who was the real Custer – brash and arrogant or steely and competent? Courageous or foolhardy? A good officer or a martinet? This talk will address these questions and more, peeling away some of the myths surrounding this dynamic figure and digging deep into what Custer was all about. By dissecting both of these engagements, Hunterstown and Little Big Horn, Will Hutchison will describe Custer, the soldier, in a way that you will surprise and possibly amaze you. This one is not to be missed.
“The Making of Artifacts of the Little Big Horn: Custer, the 7th Cavalry, & the Lakota and Cheyenne Warriors”
This presentation will cover the historical research, the search for artifacts of the Little Bighorn battle, and the journey of the author across the United States in order to compile and write the book. Will Hutchison will explain the world of professionally photographing artifacts, as well as the challenges of finding and photographing artifacts within the military historian and Native American communities. He will tell the secrets of how he managed to acquire or take photographs in these highly internalized cultural communities, and the tales of those he missed along the way. This is an intriguing and entertaining story you will enjoy hearing.
“THE CRIMEAN WAR – A MAGNIFICENT CATASTROPHE”
The Crimean War was arguably the most mismanaged military campaign in modern European history. British soldiers were dying in the siege trenches from exposure and starvation with warm clothing and food nine miles away. Only stubborn pride and their glorious warrior spirit kept them in the fight. This talk presents an overview of the Crimean War (1854-1856), its causes, and the massive mismanagement. It will focus on the major battles fought, and the final outcome.
“BALACLAVA: SO WHERE WAS THE DAMNED INFANTRY?”
A detailed talk on all five phases of the Battle of Balaclava, covering the battle for the redoubts, the ‘thin red line,’ the charge of the heavy brigade, and, of course, the charge of the light brigade, made famous by Alfred Lord Tennison. You will discover what events led to the battle, and follow the major players in their pursuit of glory.
“LESSONS OF A MAGNIFICENT CATASTROPHE:
THE IMPACT OF THE CRIMEAN WAR ON THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR”
This talk discusses the lessons learned during the Crimean War, and how they impacted the American Civil War. Specifically, it will cover the work of the Delafield Commission, as well as the impact of new inventions and techniques in ordnance, logistics, transportation, communication, medical practices, the media, photography, and other vital areas. Finally, Mr. Hutchison will reason why so many crucial lessons learned in what seemed a magnificent catastrophe were, or were not, acted upon in the American Civil War.
“THE MAKING OF ‘CRIMEAN MEMORIES: ARTEFACTS OF THE CRIMEAN WAR”
This presentation will cover the amazing journey of two stalwart Americans throughout the United Kingdom photographing and documenting over a thousand surviving Crimean War artefacts in over twenty-five national / regimental museums and private collections. You will go along with these intrepid Yanks as they haul cameras, lights, and other photography equipment well over 1200 miles – stopping at the odd pub along the way. This was a journey both humorous and entertaining - that you will agree was well-worth taking.
“RELAX MEN – IT’S ONLY THE PRESIDENT:
A MEASURE OF LINCOLN’S PERSONAL SECURITY”
Mr. Hutchison will discuss the personal security conditions of Lincoln’s day-to-day life as viewed during the nineteenth century. He will show Lincoln’s vulnerability from various perspectives, with special focus on Lincoln’s own relaxed attitude. Specifically, he will cover the “Baltimore Plot,” Lincoln’s dangerous trip to Gettysburg, various assassination attempts, and security failures at his assassination at Ford’s Theater. He will compare these security measures and protocols to those we use today, and discuss why we can no longer say, “relax men – it’s only the president.”
“MARINES IN THE CIVIL WAR”
This presentation covers the participation of the Marine Corps in the American Civil War. It will focus on the organization, uniforms, equipment, and weapons of the Corps during the war, the major battles and engagements where Marines participated, and the impact of the war on the Marine Corps.
“AT ALL TIMES READY: JOHN BROWN’S CAPTURE AT HARPERS FERRY - THROUGH THE EYES OF A MARINE”
One man’s terrorist is another man’s patriot. The debate about John Brown, hero or villain, is nearly as strong today in its conviction on both sides as it was in late 1859. The Marines who were sent to Harpers Ferry did not have the luxury of political views or debates. They merely had a mission to perform, not to different from what is happening in far away places in the world today. The story of why the Marines were called in, and how they met their mission in capturing John Brown and freeing the hostages unharmed, is the topic of this talk.
“THE MARINES AT BULL RUN”
“Marines running … Say it isn’t so!” - - - In this presentation, Will Hutchison, a Marine himself, and Deputy Director of the Marine Corps Historical Company, will tell you the real story of those 1861 Marines, with all its shining moments, and all its warts. It is the vivid account of a fledgling Federal Army, and the Marine Battalion assigned to that Army. You will be privy to what those Marines did, and did not do, to allow you to decide for yourselves if their story rises to the level of the proud Marine Corps tradition dating back two hundred and thirty-five years to 1775, and continuing today.
“CUSTER FROM HUNTERSTOWN TO THE LITTLE BIG HORN: A PORTENT OF THINGS TO COME?”
Custer’s first engagement in direct command of troops at Hunterstown, Pennsylvania, was a disaster. He barely made it out alive. His last engagement at the Little Big Horn River was also disastrous, and, of course, it cost him his life. Was his death inevitable or avoidable? Who was the real Custer – brash and arrogant or steely and competent? Courageous or foolhardy? A good officer or a martinet? This talk will address these questions and more, peeling away some of the myths surrounding this dynamic figure and digging deep into what Custer was all about. By dissecting both of these engagements, Hunterstown and Little Big Horn, Will Hutchison will describe Custer, the soldier, in a way that you will surprise and possibly amaze you. This one is not to be missed.