Fort Henry Trail Cleanup

Mar6

Received some information regarding a cleanup of the trails at Fort Henry coming up this weekend. If you can help, this would be a great way to celebrate our Tennessee Civil War heritage!! Click below to print out a flyer!

Ft. Henry Cleanup

February Newsletter and Meeting Notice

Feb13

February 15th, 2012 – Our 95th Meeting!
The next meeting of the Clarksville (TN) Civil War Roundtable will be on Wednesday, February 15th at the Bone & Joint Center, 980 Professional Park Drive, right across the street from Gateway Hospital. This is just off Dunlop Lane and Holiday Drive and only a few minutes east of Governor’s Square mall. The meeting begins at7:00 pm and is always open to the public. Members please bring a friend or two – new recruits are always welcomed.

OUR SPEAKER AND TOPIC: “Nashville – Siren’s Song of the Confederacy”

The fall of Fort Donelson on February 16, 1862, set off a chain reaction of events in Middle Tennessee that culminated with the capture of Nashville, the Volunteer State’s capital some days later. The last state to secede (June 1861), the loss of Nashville was a major blow to state morale as well as Confederate hopes for independence. Nashville then became the focus of no less than five Confederate offensives to capture it either directly, or indirectly, which dominated Confederate strategy in the west for the rest of the war. In essence, this telegraphed the Southern playbook to the Union Army so that they were able to make their own plans to retain hold of the city. Beginning in April 1862 and ending in December 1864, with the Confederate Army of Tennessee literally on the doorstep, Nashville remained in Union hands, becoming the major supply depot for all western campaigns conducted by their army.

Our speaker, CWRT president Greg Biggs, will detail the importance of Tennessee and Nashville before going into each of the campaigns to retake the city by the Confederates. Some of these offensives might be a surprise considering where they went, but part of their goal was getting Nashville back. The program will analyze these movements and the corresponding events after they failed.

Greg Biggs, president of the Clarksville CWRT, is also a flag historian, tour guide and research historian for some notable authors. He has lectured across the country to CWRTs, conferences and other history groups and has lead tours for many of them as well as the US Army.

Please join us for Greg Biggs and his program on the attempts to retake Nashville, Tennessee.

LAST MONTH’S MEETING

Teresa Prober, an instructor of history at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, gave us a very informative program on Dover, Tennessee and how the town has grappled with its Civil War history. She has spent numerous years researching Dover and its history which will culminate in a book for the University of Tennessee Press. Tremendously set back from the start by the loss of 17 wartime structures in 1862, what was left in Dover came under assault by modern development in the 20^th Century. Fortunately, some images of these buildings have survived and were included in her supporting Power Point program. It was evident that the program struck a chord because a long period of questions and answers followed; the mark of a program that got deeply into the interest level of our CWRT. For something different from the typical Civil War program our fellow CWRTs would do well to get Teresa Prober to speak to them.

Thanks Teresa for coming to see us.

FUTURE PROGRAMS:

March 2012 – Ltc. Harold Knudsen – “General James Longstreet – Modern General”

April 2012 – Mark Christ, Arkansas Historical Commission – “Arkansas 1863”

May 2012 – Michael Bradley, author/historian – “The Staff and Escort of Nathan Bedford Forrest”

June 2012 – Gordon and Traci Belt, authors – “Onward Southern Soldiers: Religion in the Army of Tennessee”

July 2012 – The one and only Ed Bearss! Topic TBA.

August 2012 – Jack Hurst, author/historian – “Grant and Forrest: Extraordinary Ordinary Americans.”

September 2012 – Martin Stewart, historian/author – “The 71^st Ohio Infantry” (based on his revised unit history)

October 2012 – Brian Wills, author/historian – “General George Thomas”

November 2012 – Ruth Hill McAllister, author/historian – “The Memoirs Of Sam Watkins, Company Aytch”

December 2012 – Krista Castillo, Fort Negley Park – “Christmas In The Civil War”

January 2013 – Rick Warwick, historian/author – Topic TBA (tentative)

April 2013 – William C. Davis, VA Tech University, author/historian – Topic TBA

Thanks to all of you, the Clarksville CWRT continues to grow. We would love to have you join us! If you have friends interested in the Civil War, please bring them along. July is our fiscal year when dues for the current campaign were due. If you haven’t paid your dues for this season yet please do so. Our dues help us get great speakers and for historical preservation. Annual dues are as follows:

Ö Student – $10

Ö Single membership – $20

Ö Family – $30

Ö Military – Active duty and veterans – $15

Ö Military family – Active duty, veterans, and family – $25

CIVIL WAR NEWS AND EVENTS

Civil War Events In Clarksville, Tennessee – February 2012 – Civil War Sesquicentennial

Fort Donelson fell on February 16, 1862 and Clarksville was captured by the Union Navy a few days later.  To help commemorate this time of our history three events will be taking 
place in town and they deserve your support.  As follows:

Local author Carolyn Ferrell will have a book signing at Ft. Defiance for her recently published book Occupied: The Story of Clarksville, Tennessee During The Civil War on Saturday, February 18, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Books will be available for purchase. Fort Defiance Civil War Park is located at 120 Duncan Street.

“Surrender of Clarksville.” Commemoration ceremony on Sunday, February 19, 2012 at

2 p.m. at Ft. Defiance Civil War Park & Interpretive Center. The ceremony will include a 20-minute re-enactment of events pertaining to the surrender. The event is free and open to the public.

“General Grant’s Briefing”by Grant impersonator Dr. E.C. Fields will be presented on Monday, February 20, 2012 at 11 a.m. in the theater of the Customs House Museum. A one-person, one-hour program on Grant’s role during the war in Tennessee. Free and open to the public. Limited seating.

 
The events are sponsored by the Clarksville-Montgomery County Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee.  There are three other events coming in March and April courtesy of Austin 
Peay State University, the Roxy Theater and Fort Defiance Interpretive Center.

Fort Donelson National Battlefield – 150^th Anniversary Programs Have Begun!
Fort Donelson National Battlefield in Dover, Tennessee, will be having a number of events for their upcoming 150^th Anniversary. Not all of the programs have been filled as yet but several known authors including Ed Bearss, Kendall Gott, Jack Hurst and Myron Smith have all been tabbed to make appearances at the park, most of them during the February events. Smith is an expert on the naval war in the west with several books to his credit while Hurst and Gott have both written books on the Fort Donelson Campaign. Ed Bearss is…well… Ed Bearss!

Most of the events will be around the date of the battle, February 12-16, 1862. Many of the programs will be led by park rangers but there will also be living historians and their encampments to add luster to the affair.

Included in the events will be the ceremonial signing of the deed between the Civil War Trust and Fort Donelson National Battlefield for the transfer of the acreage saved by CWT to the park service. This will, in effect, double the size of the park. How many other Civil War parks can say that? This takes place on Saturday, February 11 at 11 AM in the park visitors center.

For more information on all of the events please visit the park’s web site at: www.nps.gov/fodo and please support our wonderful neighbors!

 
New Blue & Gray magazine on Fort Donelson and Dover now in stock at Books A Million, Clarksville

For those that did not order the new issue of Blue & Gray magazine from our CWRT, with a cover story on the Fort Henry-Donelson Campaign written by park historian Jimmy Jobe, it is now in stock at Books A Million in Clarksville. The store is located on Wilma Rudolph Boulevard across from Governor’s Square Mall. The magazine also features an article on the battles of Dover, Tennessee written by John Walsh, one of our former members and owner of Fort Donelson Relics.

For those that did order the issue we will have them for you at the meeting this month.

150^th Anniversary Fort Donelson Reenactment – March 2-4. 2012 To Be Held At Cumberland City, Tennessee

This 2012 national event will be held 20 miles south of the actual battlefield on the Stewart-Houston County line in an industrial park. The event will feature loads of cannons, thousands of troops as well as civilian events like a ladies tea. The whole affair is sponsored by Porter’s Tennessee Battery (www.portersbattery.com) and the Armies of Tennessee (www.armiesoftennessee.com).

For more details about attending either as a spectator or reenactor please visit the event web site at – www.FortDonelson.org. This is an approved state of Tennessee Sesquicentennial event – visit www.tnvacation.com for details of all of their Civil War events.

Fourth Conference on the History of Louisville, Kentucky, and the Ohio River Valley in the Civil War— "Louisville and Louisvillians During and After the War." – March 8-9, 2012

This reoccurring Civil War conference will be held the weekend of March 8-9, 2012. It will start with a continental breakfast at 8:30 a. m. on March 8th and 9th and continue until around 3:30 p. m. each day. There will also be a panel discussion on Lincoln and the Constitution at 5:00 p. m. on March 8, followed by dinner at the Frazier History Museum and a chance to see the exhibit “My Brother, My Enemy.” The cost is $65 and includes 2 continental breakfasts, one lunch and dinner. To register call Janna Tajibaeva at 502-852-2247 or email Janna at janna.tajibaeva@louisville.edu

Some of the speakers are: Nikki Taylor, University of Cincinnati; Glenn Crothers, U of L; Anne Marshall, Mississippi State University; Luke Harlow, Oakland University; Carol Janney, Purdue University; Barbara Gannon, University of Central Florida; Mary Jean Wall, University of Kentucky; Mark Wetherington, Filson Historical Society; and Joe Reinhart, independent historian and noted author. The event will be held at the University of Louisville’s Chao Auditorium, Ekstrom Library, Lower Level West. Louisville is only 3 ½ hours north of Clarksville.

 
Tennessee Civil War Sesquicentennial Signature Event:  Invasions By Rail and River, April 4-5, 2012

The next series of Tennessee Sesquicentennial Civil War events will be held on April 4-5, 2012 at Pickwick Landing State Park. This site is not far from Shiloh National Military Park. Part of the festivities will include – Looking Back:The Civil War In Tennessee digitization project, where people can bring their letters, diaries, photos, weapons and much more to the event so that they can be documented by the state archives. Other programs include living history demonstrations; special exhibits from the Tennessee State Museum and Tennessee State Library and Archives plus musical performances and lectures by noted Civil War historians. These speakers include Larry Daniel, Wiley Sword, Stacy Allen, Tim Smith, James McDonough, John Marszalek Carroll Van West and others.

For more details on the location please visit www.tn.gov/environment/parks/PickwickLanding/. The hotel at Pickwick Landing is offering a special sesquicentennial rate of $75 per night and to secure that rate please call 800-250-8615. For more details on the event please call 615-741-2159 or email vionne.williams@tn.gov

Shiloh National Military Park Sesquicentennial Events – April 6-7, 2012

If you stay in the Pickwick Landing area a couple more days you can attend the additional sesquicentennial events hosted by Shiloh National Military Park just down the road. These include special extended tours of the battlefield and a grand illumination of the Shiloh National Battlefield with 23,746 luminaries, one for each American soldier killed, wounded or missing at Shiloh. If that isn’t enough, two amazing locally sponsored living history reenactments featuring 6,000+ re-enactors and hundreds of cannons will be held on March 29 through April 1st in Hardin and McNairy counties to commemorate the 150th Battle of Shiloh.

For more information on these locally organized events visit www.nps.gov/shil/.

Blue & Gray Issues are Here!

Jan28

For the 15 of you that ordered copies of the new Blue & Gray magazine on Fort Donelson, the issues arrived today. Greg will have them at the February meeting for $6 each. Payments will be made to the Clarksville CWRT.

In addition to the article by Donelson historian Jimmy Jobe, there is also a fine article by John Walsh of Fort Donelson Relics and for Fort Donelson CWRT about the two other battles for Dover. The maps are amazing!

Both Hastings and Books A Million will be carrying this magazine which should be in soon so if you are did not purchase from the CWRT, please visit those stores for your copy.

January Meeting Notice and Newsletter

Jan14

January 18th, 2012 – Our 94th Meeting!

The next meeting of the Clarksville (TN) Civil War Roundtable will be on Wednesday, January 18th at the Bone & Joint Center, 980 Professional Park Drive, right across the street from Gateway Hospital. This is just off Dunlop Lane and Holiday Drive and only a few minutes east of Governor’s Square mall. The meeting begins at 7:00 pm and is always open to the public. Members please bring a friend or two – new recruits are always welcomed.

OUR SPEAKER AND TOPIC: “How Dover Tennessee Failed Public History and How Public History Failed Dover”

The purpose of public history is not just simply preservation. Historians interpret and tell stories of American history that form the foundations of communities and the nation and shape us as a people. America is full of buildings that are of historical, cultural and architectural importance that should be saved so they can continue to contribute to American society, culturally and economically.

This presentation will examine the challenges that the small town of Dover, Tennessee encountered when confronted with issues of preserving and restoring local historical structures and the many failures they incurred and why. The program will also address how public history organizations (in this instance the park service) do not always make the best decisions in regards to preserving or restoring historical structures. With so few structures from the Civil War era remaining, thanks to much of the town being burned in August 1862, the challenge for buildings of that era is even greater. The Dover area was the site of three Civil War battles (February 1862, August 1862 and February 1863) in addition to numerous skirmishes in the region. Fewer small towns from the war suffered so much and the ultimate challenge is to preserve what remains.

Our speaker is Teresa Prober from Austin Peay State University where she is an instructor in history. She earned a BA in History from University of North Carolina at Pembroke and an MA in History from American Military University. She taught High School Social Studies for 9 years in North Carolina. She has also designed public history programs for Pennyroyal Area History Museum in Hopkinsville, KY; was an archivist who cleaned and preserved historic documents Stewart County TN and assisted in redesigning school programs for Fort Donelson National Battlefield. She has done extensive research on the Dover Hotel where CS General Simon Buckner surrendered the Fort Donelson garrison to Union Gen. U.S. Grant. She is currently working with University of Tennessee Press to publish the book, “ The Dover Hotel a Silent Witness to History in Tragedy and Triumph.”

Please join us for Teresa Prober and her program on Dover, Tennessee.

LAST MONTH’S MEETING

John Marler, of the Battle of Franklin Trust, presented an outstanding program offering an overview of the Petersburg Campaign, the longest campaign of the Civil War. From the time where the first defenses were built around the city through the first (and best opportunity) Union attempt to take the city when it was barely defended in June 1864, Marler wove a tale of mistakes, battles, leaders and much more. Generals who had been good before were found wanting on both sides while others rose to the occasion. Petersburg, Marler correctly argued, was the real key to taking Richmond, something that U.S. Grant figured out when he marched his Army of the Potomac across the James River. From June 1864 through the final battles of April 1865, Petersburg was a tough nut to break but Union persistence won the city after a sustained campaign of moving to the south and west side of the city taking out the vital railroads that supplied it. Marler’s style of presentation offers a full command of the facts delivered with humor at times. This is not only an excellent but an enjoyable program. The years that Marler worked for the national park there and ran his own guide service were more than evident.

Thanks John for coming to see us.

FUTURE PROGRAMS:

February 2012 – Greg Biggs, Clarksville CWRT – “Nashville – Siren’s Song of the Confederacy”

March 2012 – Ltc. Harold Knudsen – “General James Longstreet – Modern General”

April 2012 – Mark Christ, Arkansas Historical Commission – “Arkansas 1863”

May 2012 – Michael Bradley, author/historian – “The Staff and Escort of Nathan Bedford Forrest”

June 2012 – Gordon and Traci Belt, authors – “Onward Southern Soldiers: Religion in the Army of Tennessee”

July 2012 – The one and only Ed Bearss! Topic TBA.

August 2012 – Jack Hurst, author/historian – “Grant and Forrest: Extraordinary Ordinary Americans.”

September 2012 – Martin Stewart, historian/author – “The 71st Ohio Infantry” (based on his revised unit history)

October 2012 – Brian Wills, author/historian – “General George Thomas”

November 2012 – Ruth Hill McAllister, author/historian – “The Memoirs Of Sam Watkins, Company Aytch”

December 2012 – Krista Castillo, Fort Negley Park – “Christmas In The Civil War”

January 2013 – Rick Warwick, historian/author – Topic TBA (tentative)

April 2013 – William C. Davis, VA Tech University, author/historian – Topic TBA

MEMBERS AND DUES: – Your name badge will have a ribbon and a star if you are current with your dues. If it has neither please pay your dues at this meeting! Thank you if you have already done so.

Thanks to all of you, the Clarksville CWRT continues to grow. We would love to have you join us! If you have friends interested in the Civil War, please bring them along. July is our fiscal year when dues for the current campaign were due. If you haven’t paid your dues for this season yet please do so. Our dues help us get great speakers and for historical preservation. Annual dues are as follows:

Ö Student – $10

Ö Single membership – $20

Ö Family – $30

Ö Military – Active duty and veterans – $15

Ö Military family – Active duty, veterans, and family – $25

CIVIL WAR NEWS AND EVENTS

Online Civil War Program At The US Army Heritage And Education Center, Carlisle, Pennsylvania (From the Kankakee Valley CWRT newsletter in Illinois)

If you are looking for some good online Civil War lectures you cannot do wrong by visiting http://www.carlisle.army.mil/ahec/. A search through their Media Galleries will lead you to their lecture series. Some of their presentations do have a bit of static, and some even have some distortion and focus issues. However, the material presented is of very high quality. Here’s the list of what’s currently online and expect more topics to become available as the Civil War Sesquicentennial moves along.

Devils Own Work-CW Draft Riots and the Fight to Reconstruct America Barnet Scheter 73 mins

Virginia Campaign-May-June 1864 Mark Grimsley 60 mins

Harp and Eagle Irish-American Volunteers and the Union Army, 1861-1865 Dr. Susannah J. Ural 64 mins

Role of the Constitution in the CW Mark Neely, Jr. 73 mins.

From Engineer Lieutenant to Corps Commander-The Civil War Career of Godfrey Weitzel Dr. Arthur W. Bergeron Jr. 61 mins

Generalship of Ulysses S. Grant and the American CW Dr. Richard J. Somners 81 mins

West Pointers in the Civil War Dr. Wayne Hsieh 69 mins

Other online topics range from the militia men in King Philips War through Magnificent Desolation: The Long Road Home from the Moon with Dr. Buzz Aldrin, former Apollo astronaut.

Tennessee Civil War Sesquicentennial Signature Event: Invasions By Rail and River, April 4-5 2012

The next series of Tennessee Sesquicentennial Civil War events will be held on April 4-5, 2012 at Pickwick Landing State Park. This site is not far from Shiloh National Military Park. Part of the festivities will include – Looking Back:The Civil War In Tennessee digitization project, where people can bring their letters, diaries, photos, weapons and much more to the event so that they can be documented by the state archives. Other programs include living history demonstrations; special exhibits from the Tennessee State Museum and Tennessee State Library and Archives plus musical performances and lectures by noted Civil War historians. These speakers include Larry Daniel, Wiley Sword, Stacy Allen, Tim Smith, James McDonough, John Marszalek Carroll Van West and others.

For more details on the location please visit http://www.tn.gov/environment/parks/PickwickLanding/. The hotel at Pickwick Landing is offering a special sesquicentennial rate of $75 per night and to secure that rate please call 800-250-8615. For more details on the event please call 615-741-2159 or email vionne.williams@tn.gov

Shiloh National Military Park Sesquicentennial Events – April 6-7, 2012

For more information on these locally organized events visit http://www.nps.gov/shil/.

Fort Donelson National Battlefield Sets Their 150th Anniversary Programs

Fort Donelson National Battlefield in Dover, Tennessee, will be having a number of events for their upcoming 150th Anniversary. Not all of the programs have been filled as yet but several known authors including Ed Bearss, Kendall Gott, Jack Hurst and Myron Smith have all been tabbed to make appearances at the park, most of them during the February events. Smith is an expert on the naval war in the west with several books to his credit while Hurst and Gott have both written books on the Fort Donelson Campaign. Ed Bearss is…well… Ed Bearss! Most of the events will be around the date of the battle, February 12-16, 1862, but there will also be events for the fall of Fort Henry and Fort Heiman around February 4-6, 2012. Many of the programs will be led by park rangers but there will also be living historians and their encampments to add luster to the affair.

For more information on all of the events please visit the park’s web site at: http://www.nps.gov/fodo

150th Anniversary Fort Donelson Reenactment – March 2-4. 2012 To Be Held At Cumberland City, Tennessee

This 2012 national event will be held 20 miles south of the actual battlefield on the Stewart-Houston County line in an industrial park. The event will feature loads of cannons, thousands of troops as well as civilian events like a ladies tea. The whole affair is sponsored by Porter’s Tennessee Battery (www.portersbattery.com) and the Armies of Tennessee (www.armiesoftennessee.com).

For more details about attending either as a spectator or reenactor please visit the event web site at – http://www.FortDonelson.org. This is an approved state of Tennessee Sesquicentennial event – visit http://www.tnvacation.com for details of all of their Civil War events.

Battle of Franklin Blog and Emailed Newsletter

Kraig McNutt, a historian residing in Franklin, Tennessee, writes a fine blog on the Battle of Franklin as well as an emailed newsletter that will offer updates, information and much
more. To get to the blog please go to – http://www.BattleofFranklin.net – and be prepared for a lot of information. If you wish to receive his emailed newsletter simply send your email address
to – BattleofFranklin@yahoo.com.

Kraig also offers a site dedicated to the descendants of those men who fought at Franklin on November 30, 1864. Please visit –

http://franklindescendants.wordpress.com/

Kentucky Historical Society Gives Award to Phil Seyfrit of Battle of Richmond, Kentucky (From the Civil War News)

The Kentucky Historical Society recently presented its 2011 Frank R. Levstik Award given for professional service to Phillip Seyfrit. Seyfrit is the superintendent of the Battle of Richmond
Battlefield in Kentucky. He began working at the park in 2007 and guided most of the projects aimed to making it a viable resource and tourist destination including the new visitor
center which opened in 2008. His official title is Madison County Historic Properties Director.

In addition to running the battlefield park, Seyfrit is a member of the Kentucky Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission (appointed in 2010 by Governor Steve Breshear), as well as the
program chair for the Madison County Civil War Roundtable. He is also an officer of the Central Kentucky World War Two Roundtable. He also won a previous award, the Pinnacle
Award, given by the Kentucky Museum and Heritage Alliance.

Our heartiest congratulations to one of our past speakers!

Clarksville CWRT Meeting Notice and Newsletter

Dec19

December 21st, 2011 – Our 93rd Meeting!

The next meeting of the Clarksville (TN) Civil War Roundtable will be on Wednesday, December 21st at the Bone & Joint Center, 980 Professional Park Drive, right across the street from Gateway Hospital. This is just off Dunlop Lane and Holiday Drive and only a few minutes east of Governor’s Square mall. The meeting begins at 7:00 pm and is always open to the public. Members please bring a friend or two – new recruits are always welcomed.

OUR SPEAKER AND TOPIC: “The Petersburg Campaign”

Petersburg, located below the James River south of Richmond, Virginia, was an important Confederate supply center and railroad junction. All of the supplies sent to Richmond from the Deep South passed through the city during the war. Accordingly, it became a military target for the Union Army. Defense lines were built, local defense troops raised and industry expanded. In 1864, the Union military targeted both Richmond and Petersburg with a massive offensive. Union General Ulysses S. Grant used a two-fisted approach to go after these cities; his right hook was aimed at Richmond via the Overland Campaign while the left hook was the Army of the James starting with the Bermuda Hundred attack and subsequent crossing of the James River by Grant’s forces. Petersburg was first attacked in June along the Dimmock Line east of the city, held by Bushrod Johnson’s Tennesseans, among others. As the Union Army gained strength, they probed south and west seeking to cut the railroads into Petersburg and thus Richmond. With these gone, the Confederates would have to abandon both. Battles at Ream’s Station, Weldon Railroad, the Crater, Fort Stedman and Jerusalem Plank Road were critical fights to maintain the Confederate hold on the cities. Finally, with Union troops west of Petersburg, the Battle of Five Forks, followed by the massive attack along Hatcher’s Run on April 2, 1865, shattered the Petersburg defenses. The Confederates were forced to retreat to the west which ended at Appomattox Court House on April 9.

Petersburg was the longest continuous campaign of the Civil War and its conclusion set up the immediate defeat of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the loss of Richmond. Some of the biggest names, north and south, fought in the campaign which caused massive casualties. The huge trench systems built by both sides presaged what would happen in World War I in 1916. Despite the size of the campaign, few books have been written on it.

Fortunately for us, we have John Marler, former Petersburg National Battlefield ranger and now Operations Assistant for the Battle of Franklin Trust, coming to tell us the story of all that happened. John’s program will focus entirely on what happened south of the James River, Grant’s left hook. John, in addition to working for the National Park Service at Petersburg, also ran the Appomattox Touring Company which lead tours of the campaign. Since 2009, John has been working at Carnton and the Battle of Franklin Trust rising from a part time employee to his current position.

Please join us for John Marler and his program on the Petersburg Campaign.

LAST MONTH’S MEETING

We were blessed with a terrific program by Eric Jacobson, director of the Battle of Franklin Trust. Based on his new book, Baptism Of Fire, about the three green Union regiments whose first engagement was the Battle of Franklin, the 44th Missouri, 175th and 183rd Ohio Infantry were crucial to stopping the Confederate breakthrough in the Union center. Jacobson’s program detailed the formation of these units, where their men came from and how they ended up in Middle Tennessee just in time to partake in Hood’s Tennessee Campaign of November-December 1864. Jacobson argued that these three regiments were more critical in stopping the Confederates than Emerson Opdycke’s Brigade, who typically gets much more credit. Not only was this program filled with outstanding battle details, but it also contained very powerful human interest accounts. Jacobson has become a master of melding the two styles together which takes real talent as a historian. All of this was delivered with full knowledge of the topic and with grace and some humor. This is simply an outstanding program! Civil War Roundtables across the country would do VERY well in getting this program!

Thanks Eric for coming to see us.

FUTURE PROGRAMS:

January 2012 – Teresa Prober, Austin Peay State University, “The Dover Hotel and Dover, Tennessee in the Civil War”

February 2012 – Myron Smith, historian and author, Tusculum College, “Union Navy City Class Ironclads on the Western Rivers” (tentative)

March 2012 – Ltc. Harold Knudsen – “General James Longstreet – Modern General”

April 2012 – Mark Christ, Arkansas Historical Commission – “Arkansas 1863” (tentative)

May 2012 – Michael Bradley, author/historian – “The Staff and Escort of Nathan Bedford Forrest”

June 2012 – Gordon and Traci Belt, authors – “Onward Southern Soldiers: Religion in the Army of Tennessee”

July 2012 – The one and only Ed Bearss! Topic TBA.

August 2012 – TBA

September 2012 – Martin Stewart, historian/author – “The 71st Ohio Infantry” (based on his revised unit history)

TBA – Kraig McNutt, historian and author – “The Civil War Letters of Addison Lee Ewing, 63rd Indiana Infantry, Late Summer 1864-January 1865”

MEMBERS AND DUES: – Your name badge will have a ribbon and a star if you are current with your dues. If it has neither please pay your dues at this meeting! Thank you if you have already done so.

Ö Student – $10

Ö Single membership – $20

Ö Family – $30

Ö Military – Active duty and veterans – $15

Ö Military family – Active duty, veterans, and family – $25

CIVIL WAR NEWS AND EVENTS

Civil War Trust to Save 267 Acres at Fallen Timbers in Tennessee – Shiloh’s Aftermath

As the defeated Confederate Army of the Mississippi fell back from Shiloh on April 8, 1862, they were pursued by William T. Sherman’s infantry division. Their objective was the
Confederate hospital area but he was not aware that this was being protected by Confederate cavalry under Colonel Nathan Bedford Forrest. As Sherman’s men marched down the
Ridge Road and began to deploy, Forrest, with but 300 men, charged. His troopers broke the Union skirmish line and moved towards the main line. The Federals fired a volley that
dropped a number of Forrest’s men. Forrest himself was badly wounded. The Confederates turned and moved away to the west. Sherman’s troops then captured the hospital site.
Sherman later stated, “I am sure that had he not emptied his pistols as he passed the skirmish line, my career would have ended right there.” Imagine, indeed, what would the war
have been like had Sherman or Forrest been killed at Fallen Timbers?

Now the Civil War Trust is stepping forward to save 267 acres and they are having a fundraising campaign that will be matched $3.50 for every dollar donated. If you wish to contribute
please visit the Civil War Trust web site at http://www.civilwar.org and click on the Fallen Timbers section. There you can find the history of the fight and a terrific color map showing the action
as well as the field being sought. This will protect about 75 per cent of the battlefield if successful.

More Civil War Trust Western Battlefield Campaigns

In addition to Fallen Timbers, Civil War Trust is also raising funds to add more land to Parker’s Crossroads Battlefield in West Tennessee and Perryville in Kentucky. The land at Parker’s Crossroads, another battle that involved Nathan Bedford Forrest, is right along the north side of I-40 just east of Exit 108. In this area two of Forrest’s regiments and most of his artillery were deployed. As Forrest was taking the surrender of the Union brigade commanded by Cyrus Dunham, another Union brigade under John Fuller advanced on his rear. This caused Forrest to order his men to, “charge both ways!”

The land at Perryville, fought on October 8, 1862, is along Doctor’s Creek in the southern end of the field that surrounds the Bottom Hose. These 141 acres are where the Confederate brigades of Bushrod Johnson, Patrick Cleburne and Daniel Adams crossed the creek and advanced on the Federal line held by Lovell Rousseau’s Division. The Trust is only $10,000 shy of their goal so please visit the Trust’s web site at http://www.civilwar.org and see how you can help secure this great piece of history.

Just recently, the Trust announced the saving of some acreage for “Walthall’s Advance” at the Battle of Franklin. This important land being saved will add to the story of how that important battle played out. This 5 acre parcel of land is just west of the Carnton Plantation. So far the fine efforts of the Civil War Trust and the generosity of the American people have combined to save 30,000 acres of Civil War land preserving these acres for future generations.

Fort Donelson National Battlefield Sets Their 150th Anniversary Programs

Fort Donelson National Battlefield in Dover, Tennessee, will be having a number of events for their upcoming 150th Anniversary. Not all of the programs have been filled as yet but several known authors including Ed Bearss, Kendall Gott, Benjamin F. Cooling and Myron Smith have all been tabbed to make appearances at the park. Smith is an expert on the naval war in the west with several books to his credit while Cooling and Gott have both written books on the Fort Donelson Campaign. Ed Bearss is…well… Ed Bearss! Most of the events will be around the date of the battle, February 12-16, 1862, but there will also be events for the fall of Fort Henry and Fort Heiman around February 4-6, 2012. Many of the programs will be led by park rangers but there will also be living historians and their encampments to add luster to the affair.

For more information on all of the events please visit the park’s web site at: http://www.nps.gov/fodo

New Monument to General Patrick Cleburne Recently Dedicated in Wartrace, Tennessee

A new monument to Irish-born Confederate General Patrick Cleburne’s Division was dedicated on December 10, 2011 in Wartrace, Tennessee. This marker is part of the memorial park in Wartrace and it lies just west of the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad tracks (now run by CSX Transportation). The park is across the road from the Chockley Tavern, which served as Cleburne’s headquarters in the Tullahoma Campaign. Within this park, in addition to the monument remembering the fight at Liberty Gap north of town by Cleburne’s Division in June 1863, are also markers for the dead Arkansas soldiers killed in the fighting. General St. John Liddell’s Brigade, part of Cleburne’s Division, held off a powerful Union infantry attack on June 24-25, 1863. This all-Arkansas command fought tenaciously until finally forced to the southern end of the gap by superior numbers.

This is the second monument raised in recent years to General Cleburne or his men. A monument of the general was placed at Ringgold gap in Ringgold, Georgia a few years ago to honor the stand his crack division made against Joseph Hooker’s Corps in late November 1863. This stand allowed the defeated Army of Tennessee, shattered at Missionary Ridge, to retreat safely back to Dalton, Georgia. Cleburne won the thanks of the Confederate Congress and became known as the “Stonewall of the West.”

Battle of Nashville Commemoration at Fort Negley – Saturday, December 17, 2011

The critical Battle of Nashville, fought on December 15-16, 1864, was the only Civil War battle in which a major army was nearly destroyed on the battlefield. The two day hammer
blows of Union General George Thomas, smashed the Confederate left flank forcing them from one line of defense to a second. Then Thomas smashed the flank again this time with
his cavalry encircling the Confederate left forcing a rout. The Confederate retreat was aggressively pursued and hundreds of prisoners were captured as rear guard actions sought to
stem the Federal tide.

On Saturday, December 17, 2011, the Fort Negley Park in Nashville, will play host to a Union living history encampment featuring the 13th and 44th United States Colored Troops. The
event begins at 9 Am and continues until 4 PM. At 2 PM, the Fallen Drummer Boy ceremony will take place to honor all fallen American soldiers in all of our wars. Other events include
children’s programs, civilian living history events and more. Lastly, President Abraham Lincoln, and Generals Ulysses S. Grant and George Thomas will also be in attendance.
Everything is free to the public.

The event is hosted by the Fort Negley Visitors Center, the 13th USCT and the Living History Association & Ladies Auxiliary.

New Blue & Gray Magazine Features Cover Article by Our Own Mike Manning!

The new issue of Blue & Gray magazine is now out and the cover article was written by our own Mike Manning. Mike is Chief Ranger at Fort Donelson National Battlefield. The feature
is about the Civil War in the Indian Territory and if you attend Mike’s program at our CWRT some months ago you already know his depth of knowledge on this topic. The current issue
is Part One with a later issue covering the conclusion of the war it what is now Oklahoma. Mike also collaborated with the tour with the B & G editors and that is covered with the usual
excellent maps, photos and directions on how to see everything should you be in the neighborhood. Congratulations Mike – very well done!

A future issue will be a revisit to Fort Donelson written by park historian Jimmy Jobe which promises to be excellent if you know Jimmy. Another issue on the war in and around
Clarksville is also in the works written by Greg Biggs.

November Meeting Notice and Newsletter

Nov13

November 16th, 2011 – Our 92nd Meeting!

The next meeting of the Clarksville (TN) Civil War Roundtable will be on Wednesday, November 16th at the Bone & Joint Center, 980 Professional Park Drive, right across the street from Gateway Hospital. This is just off Dunlop Lane and Holiday Drive and only a few minutes east of Governor’s Square mall. The meeting begins at 7:00 pm and is always open to the public. Members please bring a friend or two – new recruits are always welcomed.

OUR SPEAKER AND TOPIC: “Baptism of Fire: The Role of Federal Recruits at the Battle of Franklin”

The Battle of Franklin has been considered the five most violent hours of the Civil War. Charge after charge of Confederate infantry threw themselves at Union entrenchments with the only success, albeit temporarily, coming in the center along the Columbia Pike. Here, the Union line broke, thanks to attacking Confederates intermingling with retreating Union forces from an advance line. As has been commonly reported, the Union brigade commanded by Emerson Opdycke, posted below the brow of Carter’s Hill, rose up and counterattacked, sealing the Union line which continued to resist further attacks well into the darkness.

But was it just Opdycke’s Brigade that saved the day? Historian Eric Jacobson, in his new book, Baptism Of Fire: The Role of Federal Recruits at the Battle of Franklin, examines the role of three green Union regiments who, in their first battle, also contributed greatly to the eventual saving of the Union line. The program will focus on the roles of the 44th Missouri, 175th Ohio, and 183rd Ohio, all three of which found themselves involved in some of the worst fighting at the Battle of Franklin. These three regiments played crucial roles in determining the battle’s final outcome and until now their roles have been virtually unknown. The program will show conclusively that Opdycke’s Brigade alone did not save the Federal army at Franklin.

Eric A. Jacobson has been studying the American Civil War for nearly 25 years. A Minnesota native, Eric lived in Arizona for over a decade before relocating to Middle Tennessee in 2005. He is the author of For Cause & For Country: A Study of the Affair at Spring Hill and the Battle of Franklin, a project which encompassed nearly 10 years. Published in March 2006 the book is considered by some to be one of the most important books ever written about the 1864 Tennessee Campaign.

Eric’s second book, The McGavock Confederate Cemetery, was published in April 2007. He is currently the Chief Operating Officer and Historian for the Battle of Franklin Trust, which manages the Carter House and Carnton. His third book, entitled Baptism of Fire, which details the roles of three Federal regiments at the Battle of Franklin, was released in September 2011.

Eric lives in Spring Hill, Tennessee, with his wife, Nancy, and their two daughters.

LAST MONTH’S MEETING

Phil Seyfrit, Historic Properties Director of Madison County, KY, regaled us with a fine program on the overlooked Battle of Richmond, KY. Fought on August 29, 1862 between Union troops commanded by Gen. William “Bull” Nelson versus the Confederate army led by Edmund Kirby Smith, Smith ended the day shattering the Union command, arguably the closest it ever came during the Civil War of an army being destroyed on the field. The resulting victory left Cincinnati, Ohio, Lexington, KY and other places wide open to attack and gave a boost to the early stages of the Confederate invasion of the Blue Grass State. As Seyfirt operates the Battle of Richmond Visitors Center, his knowledge of the battle is immense and the program as delivered with style and humor. Often dwarfed by the bigger fight at Perryville, this battle had huge consequences and great possibilities. Thanks Phil for the fine program!

FUTURE PROGRAMS:

December 2011 – John Marler, Battle of Franklin Trust – “The Siege of Petersburg”

January 2012 – Teresa Prober, Austin Peay State University, “The Dover Hotel and Dover, Tennessee in the Civil War”

February 2012 – Myron Smith, historian and author, Tusculum College, “Union Navy City Class Ironclads on the Western Rivers”

March 2012 – Ltc. Harold Knudsen – “General James Longstreet – Modern General”

April 2012 – Mark Christ, Arkansas Historical Commission – “Arkansas 1863” (tentative)

May 2012 – Michael Bradley, author/historian – “The Staff and Escort of Nathan Bedford Forrest”

June 2012 – TBA

July 2012 – The one and only Ed Bearss! Topic TBA.

August 2012 – TBA

September 2012 – Martin Stewart, historian/author – “The 71st Ohio Infantry” (based on his revised unit history)

TBA – Kraig McNutt, historian and author – “The Civil War Letters of Addison Lee Ewing, 63rd Indiana Infantry, Late Summer 1864-January 1865”

MEMBERS AND DUES: – Your name badge will have a ribbon and a star if you are current with your dues. If it has neither please pay your dues at this meeting! Thank you if you have already done so.

Ö Student – $10

Ö Single membership – $20

Ö Family – $30

Ö Military – Active duty and veterans – $15

Ö Military family – Active duty, veterans, and family – $25

CIVIL WAR NEWS AND EVENTS:

Battle of Nashville Preservation Society Civil War Seminar – November 11-12, 2011

The Battle of Nashville Preservation Society (BONPS) joins with Belmont Mansion and the Lotz House to bring a significant Sesquicentennial symposium on the Civil War to Middle Tennessee on November 11 and 12 to further commemorate and explore the 150th anniversary of the start of the War. The symposium will launch with an opening night reception at the Lotz House in Franklin, Tennessee on Friday, November 11. The reception will be hosted by BONPS President Phillip Duer and Thomas Flagel, author of “The History Buff’s Guide” book series. The formal Symposium will begin the following day at Belmont Mansion at 8:00 a.m. Speakers include:

Thomas Cartwright– Franklin-based historian, one of the nation’s leading authorities on the Battle of Franklin

Tim Johnson, professor of history at David Lipscomb University, who has appeared on the History Channel,C-SPAN and NPT.

Carole Bucy, professor of History at Vol State Community College and the newly appointed Metro Historian.

James McDonough, noted author of Five Tragic Hours and Nashville: The Western Confederacy’s Final Gamble.

Doug Richardson, Park Ranger and Chief of Interpretation at Fort Donelson.

Dr. Bobby Lovett, long-time professor of history at Tennessee State University and author

The event fee is $75.00 and includes the reception, symposium and other items. This event is being sponsored by Wade and Egbert Insurance Partners and Kay, Griffin, Enkema and Kolbert. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Contact jtt@lotzhouse.com for more information. For more information including tickets, contact Mark Brown at Belmont University at mark.brown@belmont.edu, or Ellen McClanahan at the Lotz House by email at ellen@lotzhouse.com or phone at 615-804-5068.

Tennessee Historical Society Reissues Civil War Articles From the Tennesseee Historical Quarterly In A New Book Series

The Tennessee Historical Society has just launched the 12-volume series Tennessee in the Civil War. The first and namesake volume appeared in October 2011 and new releases will take place through March 2015. The series is an official legacy project of the Tennessee Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission. Planning was done in partnership with the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area. Carroll Van West, PhD, is the series editor, and title editors are specialists on their subjects. Each book features a selection of articles related to the topic along with an introductory essay.

The series examines great battles, controversial leaders, first hand accounts, occupation, experiences on the homefront, women’s roles, the triumph of African Americans, and the legacy of the Civil War. The content of the volumes is drawn from the Tennessee Historical Quarterly, now in its 70th year. The THQ has published almost 400 articles since 1942 on the Civil War in the Volunteer State. The best of these pieces — by noted Civil War historians such as James L. McDonough, B. F. Cooling, Stephen Ash, Bobby Lovett, Stanley F. Horn, Edwin C. Bearss, and many more – will be included.

Volume 1, Tennessee in the Civil War, is now available, and Volume 2, The Civil War in Appalachia, will come out in late November 2011. The books in the series are trade-quality paperbacks of approximately 230 pages in length, with maps, illustrations, and index, printed on acid-free paper. Titles in the series include:

· Tennessee in the Civil War (October 2011): Title editor, Carroll Van West, PhD

· The Civil War in Appalachia (November 2011): Spurgeon King, PhD

· The Battle of Shiloh (March 2012): Timothy Smith, PhD

· Forrest and the West Tennessee Cavalry Campaigns (August 2012): Myers Brown

· The Battle of Stones River (November 2012)

· Emancipation and the Fight for Freedom: African Americans in the Civil War (March 2013)

· The Battles for Chattanooga (August 2013)

· Tennessee Women in the Civil War (November 2013): Antoinette van Zelm, PhD

· Fort Pillow (March 2014)

· Eyewitness to the War: A Collection of First Hand Accounts (August 2014): Ann Toplovich

· Hood’s Campaign: Franklin and Nashville (November 2014): James L. McDonough, PhD

· After the War: Reconstruction (March 2015)

The books retail for $25 each (shipping and sales tax extra). Members of the Tennessee Historical Society receive a 20% discount. For more information and to order, please go to http://www.tennesseehistory.org/TennesseeintheCivilWar.htm.

Please also note that book shops and historical sites may purchase 10 or more copies at a 50% wholesale discount — $12.50, plus shipping. (No sales tax if a tax number is provided.)

Filson Historical Society Civil War Lecture Series – November 20, 2011

The Filson Historical Society of Louisville, Kentucky offers a Civil War lecture series that will continue through the sesquicentennial. The next program will be on Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 5 PM EST. It will be held at Ballard High School, 6000 Brownsboro Road, Louisville, KY.

This month’s program features Adam Goodheart, author of the recent pivotal book 1861: The Civil War Awakening, a gripping original account of how the war began that has garnered rave reviews. Adam Goodheart is a historian, journalist, and travel writer. His articles have appeared in National Geographic, Outside, Smithsonian, The Atlantic, and The New York Times Magazine, among others, and he is a regular columnist for the Times’ acclaimed Civil War series, “Disunion.”

This event is free for members and $10 for non-members. Please call The Filson or visit us online to make your reservation. Send ticket requests to The Filson Historical Society, GPBL Tickets, 1310 S. Third Street, Louisville, KY 40208. Reservations are required, please go to this web site to make them – http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2333389230

Fort Donelson CWRT November 17th, 2011 Program

The new CWRT in Dover, TN will have Greg Biggs of the Clarksville CWRT speaking on Volunteer Banners: The Civil War Flags of Tennessee. The meeting begins at 7 PM at the Stewart County Visitors Center, located on US Hwy. 79 right across from the entrance to Fort Donelson National Battlefield. Guests are always welcome. Visit http://www.ftdonelsoncwrt.org for more details.

Historian Randy Bishop to speak at the Franklin Civil War Round Table’s November 13th, 2011 Meeting

Author, teacher and historian, Randy Bishop, is the featured speaker for the November edition of the Franklin Civil War Round Table. He has written extensively on Tennessee regiments, especially those that served in the Army of Northern Virginia, and his 2010 release, The Tennessee Brigade, has been well received. This work follows these Tennesseans from the Wars beginning to their dramatic last days at Appomattox in 1865. In a review of this book, Lt. Colonel Robert Lynn wrote, “This is a superb account…..Civil War unit history doesn’t get any better than this.” Bishop has also written Tennessee’s Civil War Battlefields and Mississippi’s Civil War Battlefields.

An accomplished educator, Bishop has been named as Teacher of the Year at Middleton High School and has served as adjunct for Jackson State Community College. His wife, Sharon, is also an educator. If you are interested in hearing about the average Tennessee soldier in some of the harshest fighting of the Civil War, you will not want to miss this Round Table event. The date is November 13th, Franklin Police Headquarters Community Room. The meeting begins at 3:00 PM.

Clarksville CWRT to present check to the Clarksville Parks & Recreation Department for a new picnic table for Fort Defiance

At this month’s meeting, the Clarksville CWRT will present a check to the Clarksville Parks and Recreation Department for the purchase of the first picnic table for the Fort Defiance Interpretive Center. The check is the result of several months of fund raising and the funds will purchase a durable table that will serve the public for years to come. The picnic table will enhance the visitor’s experience when they come to one of the most scenic places in Clarksville. Parks Director Mark Tummons will receive the check at this month’s meeting.

October Newsletter and Meeting Notice

Oct14

October 19th, 2011 – Our 91st Meeting!

The next meeting of the Clarksville (TN) Civil War Roundtable will be on Wednesday, October 19th at the Bone & Joint Center, 980 Professional Park Drive, right across the street from Gateway Hospital. This is just off Dunlop Lane and Holiday Drive and only a few minutes east of Governor’s Square mall. The meeting begins at 7:00 pm and is always open to the public. Members please bring a friend or two – new recruits are always welcomed.

OUR SPEAKER AND TOPIC: “Kirby Smith’s Invasion of Kentucky and the Battle of Richmond”

In late August 1862, the Confederate forces in Tennessee under General Edmund Kirby Smith, along with the Army of the Mississippi under General Braxton Bragg, began an invasion
of Kentucky. A third column under General Humphrey Marshall, moved from Virginia into Kentucky. The plan was to recover most of Middle Tennessee and eastern Tennessee and
force the Union armies back to defend the Ohio River line. Kirby Smith and Bragg, although trying to coordinate their separate movements, operated in an uncoordinated manner.
Neither officer was placed in authority over the other.

Smith drew first blood south of Richmond, Kentucky on August 29, 1862 but the battle at Richmond, fought on the next day, proved critical to Confederate hopes. Smith’s Army of
Kentucky, reinforced by two brigades from Bragg’s army (Preston Smith’s and Patrick Cleburne’s) attacked the Union army under General William “Bull” Nelson and after a time
shattered their lines in coordinated assaults. The pursuit and battle virtually annihilated the Union army on the field – the only Civil War battle where a defeated army suffered such
damage. The road to Cincinnati was wide open! And yet the engagement remains almost unknown even to students of the war in the West.

This month’s speaker is Phil Seyfrit, Historic Properties Director of Madison County, Kentucky and site manager of the Richmond Battlefield. He is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky
University and the Mid-America College of Funeral Service. After working in the funeral industry, Phil changed direction and took charge of the historic sites of the county where he
resides today. He has been widely published on the Battle of Richmond in various periodicals and has been appointed to the Kentucky State Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission.
Mr. Seyfrit also reenacts and tours and helps to preserve Civil War sites across the country.

Please join us for this program about a very overlooked part of the Kentucky Campaign of 1862.

LAST MONTH’S MEETING

Ross Massey, historian for the Battle of Nashville Preservation Society, gave us a fine program on the role of the Confederate cavalry division commanded by General James Chalmers in the Battle of Nashville. Deployed on the Confederate left and initially cut off by the Union attacks of December 16, 1864, Chalmers brought his division out of this hazardous position and deployed them on the Granny White Pike. This new position enabled Chalmers to form the first rear guard action of Hood’s defeated army as they fell back from their shattered lines, an act that, it can be argued, saved Hood’s troops from a more crushing defeat by the aggressive Union pursuit. This was a well presented program delivered in the down-home style of Ross Massey who has full command of all of the details. This program would be a great addition for any Civil War Roundtable. Thanks Ross!

FUTURE PROGRAMS:

November 2011 – Eric Jacobson, Battle of Franklin Trust – “Baptism of Fire: The Role of Federal Recruits at the Battle of Franklin”

December 2011 – John Marler, Battle of Franklin Trust – “The Siege of Petersburg”

January 2012 – Teresa Prober, Austin Peay State University, “The Dover Hotel and Dover, Tennessee in the Civil War”

February 2012 – Myron Smith, historian and author, Tusculum College, “Union Navy City Class Ironclads on the Western Rivers”

March 2012 – Ltc. Harold Knudsen – “General James Longstreet – Modern General”

April 2012 – Mark Christ, Arkansas Historical Commission – “Arkansas 1863” (tentative)

May 2012 – Michael Bradley, author/historian – “The Staff and Escort of Nathan Bedford Forrest”

TBA – Kraig McNutt, historian and author – “The Civil War Letters of Addison Lee Ewing, 63rd Indiana Infantry, Late Summer 1864-January 1865”

July 2012 – The one and only Ed Bearss! Topic TBA.

September 2012 – Martin Stewart, historian/author – “The 71st Ohio Infantry” (based on his revised unit history)

MEMBERS AND DUES: – Your name badge will have a ribbon and a star if you are current with your dues. If it has neither please pay your dues at this meeting! Thank you if you have already done so.

Ö Student – $10

Ö Single membership – $20

Ö Family – $30

Ö Military – Active duty and veterans – $15

Ö Military family – Active duty, veterans, and family – $25

CIVIL WAR NEWS AND EVENTS:

The Battle of Stones River 150 Years Later Symposium – October 26-27, 2011

By the end of October 1862, Murfreesboro, Tennessee became more than the geographic center of the state. It was the center of attention in the Western Theater of the Civil War. By the end of the year, 81,000 soldiers would clash in one of the most significant and bloody battles of the conflict. Join us for a two day symposium that examines how the Battle of Stones River shaped the outcome of the war, changed the lives of thousands of soldiers and civilians, and still impacts our lives 150 years later.

Friday October 26, 2012

Keynote Speaker – Larry Daniel

Saturday October 27, 2012

Speakers include: Earl J. Hess, Richard McMurry, Jim Lewis, Antionette Van Zelm. Keynote Speaker – Dwight Pitcaithley, Former NPS Chief Historian

Special battlefield programs will be offered Saturday afternoon. The admission fee is only $20 and includes lunch. Contact the park at (615) 893-9501 for more information.

Filson Historical Society Civil War Tour – The Tullahoma Campaign of Middle Tennessee, November 3-5, 2011

This Fall The Filson Civil War Field Institute will visit the visually stunning Middle Tennessee to explore a campaign that is only just becoming appreciated by Civil War historians as an important campaign that achieved vital goals with very few casualties on either side. The campaign began in late June and ended on July 4, 1863, the same day that Vicksburg surrendered and Lee began to retreat from his defeat at Gettysburg. Tullahoma is overshadowed to a great degree by these other Union victories, however strategically it is in the same category as both. It is still taught at the Military Academies and Service schools as a great example of Maneuver Warfare.

Tour guides and speakers will be Dr. Michael Bradley, who will be the keynote speaker and co-tour guide alongside Greg Biggs. Sites to be visited include Fortress Rosecrans, Hoover’s Gap, Liberty Gap, Guy’s Gap, Shelbyville, TN, Oaklands Historic House Museum, The Cowan Railroad Museum and Chockley Tavern. Dr. Bradley will speak on Thursday night.

Fieldtrip Fee – $280 for Filson members; $330 Non-members. This includes all admission fees to museums and parks, Chartered Bus, Two lunches, a reception and one dinner (Thursday evening). To reserve your place, a non-refundable deposit of $50 (Due by 9/23/11) per person is required at time of registration and balance is due to the Filson by October 21, 2011. Space is limited. The first 25 participants that register will receive an issue of Blue & Gray Magazine (Vol. XXVII, #1) featuring the main article about the Tullahoma campaign written by Michael Bradley including comprehensive maps for the campaign. This issue also includes a two page side bar on the rise of the Union cavalry by Greg Biggs. Issue will be mailed to you by request. To reserve your space or if you have any questions please email Scott Scarboro at – sscarboro@filsonhistorical.org – or you can visit the Filson web site at – http://www.filsonhistorical.org – and register and pay online.

Battle of Nashville Preservation Society Civil War Seminar – November 11-12, 2011

Thomas Cartwright– Franklin-based historian, one of the nation’s leading authorities on the Battle of Franklin

Tim Johnson, professor of history at David Lipscomb University, who has appeared on the History Channel,C-SPAN and NPT.

Carole Bucy, professor of History at Vol State Community College and the newly appointed Metro Historian.

James McDonough, noted author of Five Tragic Hours and Nashville: The Western Confederacy’s Final Gamble.

Doug Richardson, Park Ranger and Chief of Interpretation at Fort Donelson.

Dr. Bobby Lovett, long-time professor of history at Tennessee State University and author

Civil War Events in Kentucky – Be Sure to Visit and Support Our Fine Neighbors

Civil War: My Brother, My Enemy – Exhibit Opening, Frazier History Museum, Louisville, KY – Opens October 15. This exhibit will feature more than 100 artifacts that examines Kentucky’s divided families and more. For information: http://www.fraziermuseum.org/exhibitions/temporary-exhibits/upcoming-2/civil-war/

“Embattled Capitol: the Civil War in Frankfort” – Paul Sawyier Public Library Community Room, Frankfort, KY. October 17, 6:30 p.m. Presentation by James Prichard, KY State Archives, KY Humanities Council Speaker. For information, contact Diane Dehoney at diane@pspl.org.

“United We Stand, Divided We Fall” – Exhibit, Filson Historical Society, Louisville, KY. Opens October 21

This exhibit will be free and open to the public Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For information, visit http://www.filsonhistorical.org, or call 502-635-5083.

In addition, the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) has been working with the Kentucky Department of Travel and Tourism and the Kentucky Heritage Council on a new Kentucky Civil War Heritage Trail. The website for this trail has just been launched, and can be accessed at http://www.kentuckycivilwartrails.org. This site includes information about the trail sites, blog postings, travel itineraries, and more.

14th Louisiana Infantry Battle Flag Returned To Memorial Hall in New Orleans

A rare battle flag of the 14th Louisiana Infantry was stolen from Confederate Memorial hall in the early 1980s by a former volunteer. After years of search, the flag was located in private hands in Virginia. The collector bought the flag in 2004 and when informed by the FBI unit that specializes in artifacts and art of its theft years ago, turned the flag over to them. The flag was returned to Memorial Hall in New Orleans, Louisiana on Friday, October 7th. Besides seeing a lot of combat action, the banner also laid over former Confederate president Jefferson Davis’ coffin after his death. The museum will raise funds for its conservation and eventual display. If you care to donate please contact Memorial Hall at Memhall@aol.com for details. The 14th Louisiana Infantry contained many members of the Polish community of New Orleans.

Fort Donelson CWRT October 20th, 2011 Speaker

The next meeting of the new Fort Donelson CWRT will be Dr. Michael Bradley on his new book: “Forrest’s Fighting Preacher: David Campbell Kelley of Tennessee.” The meetings begin at 7 PM in the Stewart County Visitors Center in Dover, TN. This is located on Highway 79 right across from the entrance to Fort Donelson National Battlefield. Visitors are always welcome. Dr. Bradley will have copies of this new book for sale at the event along with his past books. Don’t miss this fine speaker!

Clarksville CWRT Newsletter and Meeting Notice for September

Sep18

September 21st, 2011 – Our 90th Meeting!
The next meeting of the Clarksville (TN) Civil War Roundtable will be on Wednesday, September 21st at the Bone & Joint Center, 980 Professional Park Drive, right across the street from Gateway Hospital. This is just off Dunlop Lane and Holiday Drive and only a few minutes east of Governor’s Square mall. The meeting begins at7:00 pm and is always open to the public. Members please bring a friend or two – new recruits are always welcomed.

OUR SPEAKER AND TOPIC: “General James Chalmers and His Cavalry Division in the Battle of Nashville”

Brig. Gen. James R. Chalmers was a veteran infantry and cavalry commander and commanding one of the divisions of Nathan Bedford Forrest’s Cavalry Corps. Chalmers and his escort made Belle Meade Plantation their headquarters in the days before the December 1864 Battle of Nashville. His escort provided a violinist and Selene Harding played piano to make their nights “heavenly.” The good times ended sometime after 2:00 AM on December 15th when a courier had Chalmers awakened to learn of the impending attack by the Union army of George Thomas. With Biffle’s Brigade detached on the far right, Chalmers only had Rucker’s Brigade in hand to fight off the Union cavalry and the U.S. Navy on the Cumberland River. He battled both to a stalemate that day. On December 16th, Chalmers, totally cut off from the infantry line, pulled off a perfect withdrawal and covered Hood’s retreat from the city. His stand on Granny White Pike prevented the Union cavalry from cutting off General John Bell Hood’s retreat as it moved down the Franklin Pike thus saving Hood’s army from being trapped. It was one of the highlights of this under-appreciated cavalry commander.

Our speaker this month is Ross Massey, historian for the Battle of Nashville Preservation Society and Nashville CWRT member. He is the author of a guide to sites of the Battle of Nashville and has appeared on Civil War TV shows as well as lectured around the country. Ross will be bringing his vast knowledge of this battle to this month’s meeting of our roundtable. For those that were here when we began, he was the first speaker of the Clarksville CWRT! This program will be an important addition to our understanding of this pivotal battle as the cavalry operations often get left out.
Please join us for this program about a very overlooked part of the Battle of Nashville.

LAST MONTH’S MEETING
Ross Hudgins, editor of the journal of Nashville’s Maggie Vaulx, gave us a wonderful program with great insights into the mindset of a young Nashville lady who, living with her parents, went through the displacement of the war when occupying Union troops came to town in late February 1862. Moving with the family further out from their home, Maggie still continued her studies and her dedication to her education never waned. Nor did her piety; she relied greatly on her religious upbringing to get her through this trying time of her life. Lastly, her dedication to pleasing her parents in all that she did also dominates her writings. Thankfully, these journals were saved by Mr. Hudgins who carefully edited them into his wonderful book. If you are looking for a different program for your CWRT you would do very well in getting Ross Hudgins, whose knowledge of Maggie Vaulx and enthusiasm for the topic comes shining through in his presentation. Thanks Ross for coming to see us!

FUTURE PROGRAMS:

October 2011 – Phil Seyfrit, Richmond, KY Battlefield – “The Battle of Richmond, Kentucky“

November 2011 – Eric Jacobson, Battle of Franklin Trust – “Baptism of Fire: The Role of Federal Recruits at the Battle of Franklin”

December 2011 – John Marler, Battle of Franklin Trust – “The Siege of Petersburg”

January 2012 – Teresa Prober, Austin Peay State University, “The Dover Hotel and Dover, Tennessee in the Civil War”

February 2012 – Myron Smith, historian and author, Tusculum College, “Union Navy City Class Ironclads on the Western Rivers”

March 2012 – Ltc. Harold Knudsen – “General James Longstreet – Modern General”

April 2012 – Mark Christ, Arkansas Historical Commission – “Arkansas 1863” (tentative)

May 2012 – Michael Bradley, author/historian – “The Staff and Escort of Nathan Bedford Forrest”

TBA – Kraig McNutt, historian and author – “The Civil War Letters of Addison Lee Ewing, 63^rd Indiana Infantry, Late Summer 1864-January 1865”

July 2012 – The one and only Ed Bearss! Topic TBA.

September 2012 – Martin Stewart, historian/author – “The 71^st Ohio Infantry” (based on his revised unit history)

MEMBERS AND DUES: - Your name badge will have a ribbon and a star if you are current with your dues. If it has neither please pay your dues at this meeting! Thank you if you have already done so.
Thanks to all of you, the Clarksville CWRT continues to grow. We would love to have you join us! If you have friends interested in the Civil War, please bring them along. July is our fiscal year when dues for the current campaign were due. If you haven’t paid your dues for this season yet please do so. Our dues help us get great speakers and for historical preservation. Annual dues are as follows:

Ö Student – $10

Ö Single membership – $20

Ö Family – $30

Ö Military – Active duty and veterans – $15

Ö Military family – Active duty, veterans, and family – $25

CIVIL WAR NEWS AND EVENTS:

 Living History and Skirmish presented by the Friends of Fort Negley, Metro Parks and Fort Negley Visitors Center

On September 24, 2011, a Civil War skirmish and living history will be held on the grounds of Nashville’s historic Fort Negley.  There will be lots of hands-on activities for kids, military
 and civilian reenactor encampments, a miniature train ride, guest speakers and a skirmish!  Events begin at 9 AM and conclude at 5 PM.  Admission is $5 with children under age 5 
getting in free.  Fun for the whole family!  Please park and enter at the Greer Stadium parking lot from Chestnut Street.  The proceeds go for Fort Negley projects.  Last year’s event 
drew nearly 1000 people so plan on making this year’s event even bigger!

Please support this excellent local event that helps raise money for this historic site!  They are also looking for volunteers to help run the event – please call Fort Negley and let Krista know if you can help.

Atlanta Campaign Tour Led by Greg Biggs – October 21-23, 2011 – Final Call!

If you are planning on going on this tour you need to get your checks in to the Tennessee Valley CWRT of Huntsville, Alabama as soon as possible. The tour bus is filling up and space is getting tighter every day. This is the final call for this tour which will cover from Ringgold Gap to Kennesaw Mountain. Please contact Kent Wright at – kdwrt@netzero.net. The tour fee includes hotels, bus, guide, park fees and much more.

Filson Historical Society Civil War Tour – The Tullahoma Campaign of Middle Tennessee, November 3-5, 2011

Tour guides and speakers will be Dr. Michael, who will be our Keynote speaker, and co-tour guide alongside Greg Biggs. Sites to be visited include Fortress Rosecrans, Hoover’s Gap, Liberty Gap, Guy’s Gap, Shelbyville, TN, Oaklands Historic House Museum, The Cowan Railroad Museum and Chockley Tavern. Dr. Bradley will speak on Thursday night.

Fieldtrip Fee – $280 for Filson members; $330 Non-members. This includes all admission fees to museums and parks, Chartered Bus, Two lunches, a reception and one dinner (Thursday evening). To reserve your place, a non-refundable deposit of $50 (Due by 9/23/11) per person is required at time of registration and balance is due to the Filson by October 21, 2011. Space is limited. The first 25 participants that register will receive an issue of Blue & Gray Magazine (Vol. XXVII, #1) featuring the main article about the Tullahoma campaign written by Michael Bradley including comprehensive maps for the campaign. This issue also includes a two page side bar on the rise of the Union cavalry by Greg Biggs. Issue will be mailed to you by request.

To reserve your space or if you have any questions please email Scott Scarboro at – sscarboro@filsonhistorical.org – or you can visit the Filson web site at – www.filsonhistorical.org – and register and pay online.

All participants are responsible for their travel arrangements to and from Murfreesboro, TN and making their own hotel accommodations and dinner on Friday evening. During the fieldtrip we will travel by chartered bus as a group. The tour will be staying at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Murfreesboro, 175 Chaffin Place, Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37129 – Phone: 615-849-1150 or 800-228-2800. Rooms are $94+tax a night – Mention FHS for a special group rate.

Battle of Nashville Preservation Society Civil War Seminar – November 11-12, 2011

The symposium will launch with an opening night reception at the Lotz House in Franklin, Tennessee on Friday, November 11. The reception will be hosted by BONPS President Phillip Duer and Thomas Flagel, author of “The History Buff’s Guide” book series. Attendees will be able to tour the historic Lotz House Museum, meet each of the symposium speakers, and enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres. The formal Symposium will begin the following day at Belmont Mansion at 8:00 a.m. Five guest speakers will focus on unique perspectives regarding the Battle of Nashville, Ft. Donelson and Shiloh. The event will be moderated by Thomas Flagel, assistant professor of American History at Columbia State Community College and serves on the boards of Franklin’s Charge, the Carter House Museum, the Franklin Battlefield Preservation Commission, and the Executive Committee for the Franklin Civil War Round Table. Panelists will include:

Thomas Cartwright– Franklin-based historian, one of the nation’s leading authorities on the Battle of Franklin

Tim Johnson, professor of history at David Lipscomb University, who has appeared on the History Channel,C-SPAN and NPT.

Carole Bucy, professor of History at Vol State Community College and the newly appointed Metro Historian.

James McDonough, noted author of Five Tragic Hours and Nashville: The Western Confederacy’s Final Gamble.

Doug Richardson, Park Ranger and Chief of Interpretation at Fort Donelson.

Dr. Bobby Lovett, long-time professor of history at Tennessee State University and author

A snack with coffee will be served in the morning and a lunch will be provided in the afternoon. Following lunch, visitors will take a guided tour of the Belmont Mansion. Guests will also be able to videotape their comments regarding the Civil War as it relates to the Battle of Nashville, Ft. Donelson and Shiloh. This video will be uploaded and available on various websites following the event. An exhibit will be set up depicting Ft. Donelson, and guest speakers will be available to sign their books during this time.

Tickets are $75.00 and include the reception, the symposium, Sesquicentennial commemorative Hatch Show Print, Minie ball, and BONPS Guide to Civil War Nashville autographed by author Mark Zimmerman. This event is being sponsored by Wade and Egbert Insurance Partners and Kay, Griffin, Enkema and Kolbert. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Contact jtt@lotzhouse.com for more information. For more information including tickets, contact Mark Brown at Belmont University at mark.brown@belmont.edu, or Ellen McClanahan at the Lotz House by email at ellen@lotzhouse.com or phone at 615-804-5068.

More of Historian Bobby Krick’s Army of Northern Virginia Staff Officer Book Suggestions

We conclude the list of books from Bobby Krick written by staff officers of this famous army for your further education into their jobs and their wartime experiences. As follows with his short reviews of each:

McHenry Howard, Recollections of a Maryland Confederate Soldier. Another classic. He was on the staff of several 2nd Corps generals.
Armistead L. Long, Memoirs of Robert E. Lee. The deceptive title suggests that Lee wrote this; in fact, it Long’s memoirs of serving with R. E. Lee.
Charles Marshall, Lee’s Aide-de-Camp. Another fine book by one of Lee’s staff officers.
G. Moxley Sorrel, Recollections of a Confederate Staff Officer. James Longstreet’s chief of staff who is quite well known.
Walter H. Taylor. Lee’s Adjutant: The Wartime Letters of…. (1995); Four Years with General Lee (1878); General Lee, 1861 – 1865 (1906). Taylor was the most important staff officer in Lee’s army. He wrote two books during his lifetime, and his wartime letters were published in 1995.:

There are at least 20 others that I have omitted, including books by William Allan (Jackson), H. B. McClellan (Stuart), T. J. Goree
(Longstreet), Heros von Borcke (Stuart), Francis Dawson (Longstreet), Robert L. Dabney (Jackson), John Esten Cooke (Stuart), Joseph Brent (John Magruder), J. W. Ratchford (D.H. Hill), and Walter Harrison (Pickett), and etc.

August Meeting Notice and Newsletter

Aug10

August 17th, 2011 – Our 89th Meeting!

The next meeting of the Clarksville (TN) Civil War Roundtable will be on Wednesday, August 17th at the Bone & Joint Center, 980 Professional Park Drive, right across the street from Gateway Hospital. This is just off Dunlop Lane and Holiday Drive and only a few minutes east of Governor’s Square mall. The meeting begins at 7:00 pm and is always open to the public. Members please bring a friend or two – new recruits are always welcomed.

OUR SPEAKER AND TOPIC: “The Civil War of Nashville’s Maggie Vaulx, April 1861 to March 1862”

In 1862, a 17 year old girl growing up during a time of great national strife spoke these words, “that I may be in after years an ornament to society and the delight of my dear parents.” Margaret Nichol Vaulx came of age during the American Civil War and left writings which are that very ornament which she so prophetically spoke of. Margaret, also known as Maggie was indeed the delight of her dear parents. Maggie’s journals have been described as both national and state treasures and as one Belmont University literary professor said, “she can be compared to a civil war Anne Frank.” Even though Maggie identified her journals as private, their emphasis is on a difficult 3 week period known in Nashville as “the Panic.” Nashville came under Federal control in February 1862 and remained occupied by the Union army throughout the rest of the war. Great hardships were placed upon the citizens of the city including the children. Maggie began her journals 2 week after the war began and she continued to write well beyond the surrender.

Nashville’s Ross Hudgins will bring Maggie’s story to life at this month’s meeting. There is a fascinating story as to how he came to find these journals that he will share with us this month but the main event will be Maggie and her perceptions of what was going on around her. Ross Hudgins is a military veteran as well as a former Tennessee Valley Authority employee. He will offer a Power Point with his presentation. Please join us for the story of Nashville’s Maggie Vaulx at this month’s meeting of the Nashville Civil War Roundtable.

Please join us for this program about a very observant Nashville young lady.

LAST MONTH’S MEETING

We were very fortunate to have one of the premier historians from the National Park Service, Bobby Krick, from the Richmond National Battlefield, speak to us about the staff of Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. Krick delved into the handful of staff officers that helped run the army all molded in Lee’s concept of how big the staff should be and what they should do. With staff officer experience himself, Lee’s concept was based on personal experience. A criticism made against Lee was that the staff was too small for an army so large, and that is a valid argument considering how large French and Prussian staffs were in the Napoleonic Wars. There were times when the staff officers worked very well and times when the staff seemed not up to the task at hand but the same can be said for Lee himself (and for that matter any other commanding general in history). It was an illuminating program that offered insights into how a mid-19^th Century American army was run delivered with superb knowledge and sometimes dry wit. Your CWRT would do very well getting Bobby Krick to come and speak!

FUTURE PROGRAMS:

September 2011 – Ross Massey, historian and author, “General James Chalmer’s Cavalry Division in the Battle of Nashville”