Adjutant’s Call - February 2023
Link to Original PDF of February 2023 Newsletter
Circular Memorandum #543 -February 2023
“The Atlanta Campaign and the Battle of Peach Tree Creek” Will be Presented by Robert D. Jenkins
Robert D. (“Bob”) Jenkins, Sr. is an attorney practicing in Dalton, Georgia, where he has maintained a general and civil trial practice since 1990. Bob was graduated from Georgia Southern University in 1987 with a B.B.A degree in Business Management with Minors in History and Geography. Bob received his Juris Doctor degree from Mercer University in 1990 and regularly practices in the courts throughout Northwest Georgia. A native of Chamblee, Bob began pursuing his biggest hobby, the study of the Civil War, while he was in fourth grade when he chose War in Georgia as his Social Studies project. He was hooked, so much so that by high school his teachers would ban the Civil War as a topic for any further research projects or book reports. During the past thirty years, Bob has meticulously researched the Western Theater of the War, and he has uncovered many letters, diaries, articles and accounts which have remained out of the public’s eye for over 100 years. In 2013, Bob Jenkins completed a book titled The Battle of Peach Tree Creek, Hood’s First Sortie, (Mercer University Press, Macon, GA: 2013), the first of its kind which incorporates previously unpublished photographs, maps, and diagrams, and a detailed casualty list for all known Union and Confederate losses including charts depicting unit losses by regiment, brigade, division, and corps.
In 2014, Bob completed a second book, titled To the Gates of Atlanta, (Mercer University Press, Macon, GA: 2015), which focuses on the events in the Georgia Campaign between the Confederate victory at Kennesaw Mountain and the Federal triumph at Peach Tree Creek and the decision to replace General Joseph E. Johnston with General John Bell Hood by Confederate President Jefferson Davis. In 2016, Bob wrote an extensive article on the Battles for Dalton which was published in the Blue and Gray Magazine, January 2016 (Vol. XXXII, Issue 1) issue. He has given numerous tours and lectured on several battles in Northwest Georgia during the Atlanta Campaign, including Dalton, Resaca, Cassville, New Hope Church, Pickett’s Mill, Dallas, Kennesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, and Ezra Church. Currently, Bob is President of Save the Dalton Battlefields, LLC and is Vice Chair of Whitfield County’s Historic Preservation Commission where he has led efforts to preserve and protect civil war earthworks and sites in and around Dalton. Through their efforts, the County has acquired and opened Mill Creek Gap Park, Potato Hill Park and Rocky Face Ridge Park. Bob has most recently researched and uncovered new and groundbreaking evidence on the events surrounding the Cassville Affair which promises to change our perception and understanding of the subject and its mysteries. He is currently working on a book on the Cassville controversies.
The Atlanta Campaign and the Battle of Peach Tree Creek
The Battle of Peach Tree Creek was fought in Georgia on July 20, 1864, as part of the Atlanta Campaign in the American Civil War. It was the first major attack by Lt. Gen. John Bell Hood since taking command of the Confederate Army of Tennessee. The attack was against Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman's Union army, which was perched on the doorstep of Atlanta. The main armies in the conflict were the Union Army of the Cumberland, commanded by Maj. Gen. George Henry Thomas and two corps of the Confederate Army of Tennessee. Hood’s intention was to attack this isolated wing of Sherman’s army and defeat it before help could arrive.
Three Round Table Members Pass Away
Sadly, we must report the passing of three of our longtime members in the past few weeks. All three had been members of the Round Table for many years and had attended meetings, gone on field trips, attended the Bourbon & BBQ’s, served on committees and the Board of Directors, and contributed to our organization. Our condolences go out to their family and friends. They will be greatly missed.
Edward Bridgewater
Edward "Ted" Bridgewater, 92, passed away on Thursday, December 22, 2022, at Baptist Health. He served in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Japan during the Korean War. He was a member of Beargrass Christian Church in St. Matthews and Central Christian Church in New Albany, Ted announced Jeffersonville basketball games starting in 1964 at Nachand Fieldhouse. He was a teacher at Jeffersonville High School, Parkview Middle School, and Charlestown High School. He received his bachelor’s degree in American History at Ball State University, he took courses at San Diego State University, then came back to the area to get his master's degree in education from U of L. He is survived by his son Glenn Bridgewater (Jill) of Louisville, KY; sister Laura Lyons (Brian) of Richmond, KY; along with 6 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife June Bridgewater; father Roy Bridgewater; Mother Helena Bridgewater; sister Polly Brown; brother Larry Bridgewater. Ted has been a member for several years and attended the Gettysburg field trip last year and at the age of 91 walked the field of Pickett’s Charge.
James Simpson
James L. Simpson III, 84, of Georgetown, Indiana, formerly of Louisville Kentucky, passed away Friday, January 6, 2023. Jim was born August 11, 1938, in Princeton, Kentucky, to the late James L. and Elizabeth (Williams) Simpson. Jim grew up in the family home on Southern Parkway and graduated from Louisville Male High School. In 1962, he graduated from the Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville, in Louisville, Kentucky. Jim worked with the Corp of Engineers, the Small Business Administration, and retired as an administrative law judge for Social Security in the Office of Hearings and Appeals. Through the years, Jim enjoyed traveling locally and internationally. He was a member of the Male High School Hall of Fame, University of Louisville Alumni Association, Kentucky Bar Association, Kentucky Historical Society, Kosair Shriners, High Twelve Club, Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, Grand Lodge of Kentucky, F.& A.M., and the Louisville Civil War Roundtable. Jim, with his wife Carol, settled in eastern Jefferson County in the early 1960s where they raised their three children. Jim was a member of St. Matthews United Methodist Church on Browns Lane, joining the church in the 1960s and actively involving his children in many of the church's activities. Jim enjoyed spending time with his family and especially enjoyed family meals. His kind and gentle nature allowed him to reach out to friends and family needing legal counsel. He always willingly gave his time and talents for those in need. His reflections and observations on human nature were one of his trademarks. His opinions were valued and he often shared his sage advice and wisdom (at times whether you asked for it or not). He was notorious with his children for his speech on “needs and wants” when they were growing up.
Jim was a fan of legal shows, detective/mysteries, enjoyed reading history, and listening to a wide array of music, with New Orleans Jazz being his favorite. Jim was preceded in death by his parents James L. and Elizabeth Simpson, his sister Betty Simpson, and two infant great-grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Carol S. Simpson, three children Cheryl Simpson Fekete (John), Scott Simpson, and Glenn Simpson (Teresa). Jim had five grandchildren, Kyle Fekete (Stephanie), Amy Fekete Webber (Eric), Erin Goodman Naiser (Nick), Justin Goodman (Monica), Amanda Simpson Haas (Kip); eight great-grandchildren, Cole and Olivia Fekete, Eli and Luke Webber, Sterling and Aleena Naiser, Oliver and Olivia Goodman. Jim got his wish for a sendoff as a New Orleans Jazz procession was performed at his funeral. His wife Carol said of Jim, “he has belonged to the Round Table for MANY Years and at one time served as treasurer and was on the board of directors. He has always shown an interest in the Civil War and we both have very fond memories of the trips we made with this group
Johanna (Jo) Humanek Mader
Johanna (Jo) Humanek Mader, recently of Noblesville, IN, was welcomed into her eternal rest on December 9, 2022. Jo was born November 24, 1941, in Cleveland, OH to Joseph G. Humanek and Johanna ("Lena" Dauria) Humanek. On October 22, 1960, she married her high school sweetheart, John T. Mader, at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN. Jo was the loving mother of Beth Holley of Vancouver, WA, Mary (Jerry DeBrosse) of Indianapolis, Annemarie Brown (Richard) of Grove City and John W. Mader of Burbank, CA. She was the doting "Gran" of Ben (Erin) Brown of Grove City, OH, Caiti (Zach) Wagner of West Chester, OH, Nick Brown of Lebanon, OH and Ren DeBrosse of Baltimore, MD, and three great-grandsons: Everett and Elliott Brown and Owen Wagner. Having raised her children, Jo completed her education at Ohio Dominican University (BA, 1991), Indiana University (MLS, 2005) and Butler University (MFA, 2017). She was a curious and energetic person, leading to a varied work career, ranging from director of religious education at St. Aloysius and St. Philip's parishes in Columbus, then leading the ballet school of Ballet Met. Later, she transitioned into finance and banking with Bank One in Columbus and Chase Bank in Louisville. She retired from Invesco Asset Management in Louisville in 2007. In their retirement, she and John enjoyed their very big dogs, exploring battlefields with the Civil War Round Table of Louisville and Indianapolis, following Notre Dame football, and gardening. She was a lover of Jane Austen's writings and was herself a published author of short stories and poems. It was a privilege to have Jo and her husband, John, as members of the Round Table these many years. She will be missed.
JANUARY 2023 QUIZ
1. Who wrote TAPS and when and where was it written?
The 24 notes of Taps were written by Union General Daniel Butterfield in July 1862, while he was stationed at Berkeley Plantation in Virginia. He composed it to order lights out for his troops and had Oliver Norton Wilcox play it.
2. Who was the Confederate second-in-command at the Battle of Gettysburg?
That was General James Longstreet.
3. For how long had Union General George Meade been commander of the Army of the Potomac before the Battle of Gettysburg?
He had been appointed three days before the battle.
4. How many Southern states had seceded by the time Fort Sumter, South Carolina fell?
Seven had seceded.
5. What battle was named after two different kinds of trees?
The Battle of Seven Pines was also called the Battle of Fair Oaks and was fought on May 31 and June 1, 1862 as part of the Peninsula Campaign.
FEBRUARY 2023 QUIZ
1. What prison had the highest death rate of all Civil War prisons?
2. Why, by 1864, was the Army of the James frequently called the Army of the Games?
3. What building stands on the site in Washington where the commandant of Andersonville was hanged?
4. Which Confederate general was present at Ulysses S. Grant’s wedding in 1848?
5. During the war, how many commanders did the Stonewall Brigade have?