Adjutant’s Call - September 2023
Link to Original PDF of Summer 2023 Newsletter
Circular Memorandum #548 -September 2023
“The Fortress War: How the United States Defeated the Confederacy Yet Lost the Peace” Presented by Thomas Flagel
Thomas Flagel is a professor of History at Columbia State Community College in Tennessee. He holds degrees from Loras College (B.A., History), Kansas State University (M.A., European History), Creighton University (M.A., International Relations), Middle Tennessee State University (PhD., Public History) and has studied at the University of Vienna. Author of several books and articles on the Civil War. Among the books Flagel has writer are The History Buff's Guide to the Civil War, The History Buff's Guide to the Presidents: Top Ten Rankings of the Best and Worst, The History Buff's Guide to World War II, The History Buff's Guide to Gettysburg, War, Memory, and the 1913 Gettysburg Reunion, Gettysburg Battle Briefings (volume 3) An Introduction to the Battle. His latest book is about his speaking topic and will be out soon. Flagel has spoken multiple times at Gettysburg, including the 150th Anniversary Commemoration. He has also worked with multiple historic preservation groups, including the American Battlefield Trust and the National Park Service. Originally from Iowa, he currently resides in Franklin, Tennessee. He has also lived in Austria and the Czech Republic. Among his ancestors are several American Civil War veterans, including a great, great, great grandfather from the 2nd Iowa Volunteer Infantry.
The Fortress War: How the United States Defeated the Confederacy Yet Lost the Peace
Based on his upcoming book, Dr. Thomas Flagel illustrates the pivotal use of fortifications in the Civil War. While the conflict famously involved approximately 10,000 battles and skirmishes (some of which lasted for days), often overlooked are more than 1,000 individual fortifications (many of which operated for years). The vast majority were US sites, which transferred enormous amounts of resources from the Confederacy to the Federal war effort. In addition, these forts became the primary portals for enslaved self-emancipation. Yet once the war was over, the US government rapidly abandoned these strongholds, creating power vacuums that quickly reestablished the prewar status quo, leaving generations of Unionists black and white to wonder what might have been.
Meet Our New President – Julie Bartlett!
Greetings fellow Round Table members. I am so honored to serve the group this year as president of the best CWRT in the country. The Board of Directors are on the top of their game this year with a fantastic line-up of speakers, an exciting field trip to the Wilderness -Spotsylvania battlefields in the spring, AND, we will be adding an online credit card payment option for the meetings, field trip, and membership renewal. You will also be able to pay with a credit card at the sign-in desk upon arrival. In addition to myself, we will be introducing you to our new treasurer and web master who have been instrumental in helping make these changes happen. I have been an active LCWRT member for 10 years, a board member for 3 years, and finally got to go on the field trip to Gettysburg. I am also still working as a UPS pilot, so our president-elect, John Davis, may be running the meetings from time to time. Congratulations to John for being elected again! He is the backbone of our Round Table and we are so very lucky to have him working hard behind the scenes. I have a board interest in American history, WWI, and WWII history. I have a history reading list a mile long that I dream of diving into - I am always so delighted to get a door prize at the meetings to add to my plight. At the book sales I inevitably leave with an armful!!
I would also like to introduce you to my husband, Mike Kurowski. He is a retired cost accountant and history buff. He has been a member for nearly 10 years and also participated in the Gettysburg field trip. You will notice a few price increases this year. It has been a loooong time since we have raised membership dues. Speaker costs are driving part of this increase. Please consider renewing at the Patron Level of $75 or more. There is now a Patron Perk! Patron Level members will enjoy a discounted price for the B&BBQ fundraiser. Please take a look a Doug’s flyer for all the details. And finally, the difference in cost between the Patron and basic membership would be tax deductible. There is quite a bit to look forward to in the upcoming 2023-24 season, not to mention the fried chicken. Thank you all for supporting the LCWRT. If we have not met, please, come and have a chat with me during the social period before the meeting. - Julie
April 17-21,2024, Field Trip to the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Battle of Giants: Lee vs Grant
We are going to Virginia to cover the beginning of the Overland Campaign, the battles of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania. The dates are April 17-21, 2024. Our guide will be renowed Civil War historian and author Gordon Rhea. He has written seven award-winning books about the American Civil War, including The Battle of the Wilderness, The Battles at Spotsylvania Court House and the Road to Yellow Tavern, To the North Anna River, Cold Harbor, On To Petersburg, Carrying the Flag, and In the Footsteps of Grant and Lee. He has conducted numerous tours of these battlefields and has been involved in their preservation. These two battles which occurred over May 5 – May 12, 1864 marked the beginning of the titantic confrontation of the war’s two greatest generals, Robert E. Lee and U.S. Grant and would to a large extent determine the outcome of the Civil War. When the Army of the Potomic numbering some 120,000 men crossed the Rapidan River on May 4 and entered the tangled undergrowth of the Wilderness, Robert E. Lee responded by having his 55,000 Army of Northern Virginia break camp and march directly towards Grant’s army. What followed was some of the war’s most savage and dramatic fighting resulting in enormous casualties on each side. We will walk this hollowed ground and cover in detail what unfolded. You can sign up now by emailing John Davis at johnd.davis@twc.com or you can sign up at the meetings beginning in September.
Two Round Table Members Have Passed Away
We wish to express our condolenses to the familes of two of our members who passed away this summer. Jackie Powell Hopkins, a long time member of our Round Table passed away in early June, She was preceded in death by her husband Gary who was also a member of the Round Table. Dr. Alton “Sonny” Neurath (87) Also passed away this summer. Sonny and his wife, Betty, were a very sweet couple who supported the LCWRT (and Filson) for many years. Betty died a few years ago. Both regularly attended the dinner meetings. Sonny was a dentist by profession. He initially practiced in the U.S. Air Force. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to their families and friends.
SUMMER 2023 QUIZ
1. Who was the last Confederate general to die during the Civil War?
That was Brigadier General James Dearing from Virginia, who was mortally wounded at the Battle of High Bridge on April 6, 1865 and died in Lynchburg, Virginia on April 22, 1865.
2. What Confederate commerce raider (ship) was still attacking U.S. whaling ships during the summer of 1865?
The C.S.S. Shenandoah did not learn of the ending of the Civil War until August 3, 1865. It then sailed to Liverpool, England and surrendered to British authorities on November 6, 1865.
3. Although U. S. Grant died in 1885 and R. E. Lee died in 1870, they were the same age when they died. How old were they?
They were both 63 years old.
4. How many stars were on United States flags in April, 1865?
There were 35 stars as the 36th star had not yet been added. Actually, the United States Government did not remove any stars from the flag for the states that seceded to join the Confederacy.
5. What famous World War II general’s father served with the 24th Wisconsin Division in the Civil War?
Arthur MacArthur was the father of General Douglas MacArthur.
SEPTEMBER 2023 QUIZ
1. Where was Fort Darling?
2. What was the name of General Ulysses S. Grant’s horse?
3. Who wrote the original order of General Robert E. Lee’s Farewell Address?
4. Who first commanded the Union’s Irish Brigade?
5. What family owned the farmhouse that General George Meade used as his headquarters at Gettysburg?