Adjutant’s Call - October 2024
Link to Original PDF of the October 2024 Newsletter
Circular Memorandum #559 - October 2024
“Writing Historical Docudramas: Where Fact and Fiction Come Together” Will be Presented by William C. Davis
We welcome back longtime friend of the Round Table William C. “Jack” Davis. Specializing in the American Civil War, Davis has twice been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize (for Breckinridge: Statesman, Soldier, Symbol and Battle at Bull Run). He has written more than 40 books on the American Civil War and other aspects of early southern U.S. history. He is the only three-time winner of the Jefferson Davis Prize for Confederate history and was awarded the Jules F. Landry Award for Southern history.
Davis earned Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts of History in 1969 from Sonoma State University. For many years he was editor and publisher of Civil War Times Illustrated and lived in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.
Davis's expertise on Confederate and southern U.S. history has made him a valued consultant for newspaper articles as well as television productions, including the Arts & Entertainment Network/History Channel series "Civil War Journal". Davis served as a consultant for the creation of a United States postage stamp of Jefferson Davis and has had input into the formation of the Museum of the Civil War in Petersburg, Virginia.
He was awarded the Sonoma State University Distinguished Alumni Award in 1993. He is a past president of the National Historical Society. In 2000, Davis became a professor at Virginia Tech, where he served as director of programs for the Virginia Center for Civil War Studies. He is now retired and lives in Blacksburg, Virginia.
“Writing Historical Docudramas: Where Fact and Fiction Come Together”
Famed Civil War historian and author William C. Davis shares with us some of the interesting insights he has experienced in writing historical docudramas many of which we have seen on television.
Bryan and Cindy Winslow Awarded Life Membership
Bryan and Cindy Winslow were presented with the Life Membership Award at the September meeting. This award is given for outstanding contributions made to the Round Table and for the past twenty years Bryan and Cindy have given so much to our Round Table in time and service. Bryan and Cindy were a team and Cindy was always involved in all of Bryan’s activities on behalf of our organization. Bryan of course will be missed greatly, and the Board of Directors wanted to honor his memory with this award. Bryan said it was an honor for him to serve the Round Table and it is an honor that Bryan and Cindy have been a part of our Round Table community and have given so much.
Leonard Gross
Long time Round Table member Leonard Gross passed away on September 24th . He was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1944. His parents were Eva and Herman Gross. Leonard spent 27 years in the United States Army after which he came to Kentucky and taught computer science at Jefferson Community College for 20 years.
He is survived by his wife Emily Durrett and his brother Elliot Gross. The Round Table wishes to express our deepest sympathies to Leonard’s family and friends
12th Annual Bourbon & BBQ October 6
The Louisville Civil War Round Table proudly announces the 12th Annual Bourbon & BBQ fundraising and social eve nt. It is being held on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 6th, at Farmington Historic Plantation, 3033 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY 40205. This year our featured presentation and tasting will be centered on one of the world’s most venerated bourbon brands and most highly respected Kentucky bourbon families, Makers Mark and the Samuels family.
Kentucky Bourbon Distiller Hall of Fame and Lifetime Achievement recipient, Bill Samuels, Jr., Makers MarkChairman Emeritus, and Rob Samuels, 8th Generation Whiskey Maker and Makers Mark-Managing Director, will be in conversation with fellow Kentucky Bourbon Distiller Hall of Fame member, Chris Morris. Chris will be interviewing Bill and Rob concerning the ancestorial history of the Samuels family; the making of Makers Mark, the career life of Bill Samuels, Jr.; the introduction of Makers 46 and the subsequent variations of Makers Mark as well as bringing out other entertaining family and bourbon industry stories and anecdotes.
The cost for this event is $90 members and $100 non-member. This includes interview and conversation conducted by Chris Morris with Bill, Jr. and Rob Samuels; Barbeque; “fixins’”; opening cocktail; appetizers and desserts and the tasting of selected variations of Makers Mark.
“Food & Fixins” catered by Kingsley Meats. Reservations are required.
April 23-27,2025, Field Trip to Shiloh Albert Sidney Johnston vs U.S. Grant with Tim Smith
We will be going to Shiloh in southwestern Tennessee April 23-27, 2025 for our yearly field trip. Our guide will be Civil War historian and author Tim Smith. He has written the definitive account of the battle in his award-winning book, Shiloh: Conquer or Perish. Tim was our guide in 2012 and did a fantastic job for us. We could not have a better guide. Tim has served as a park ranger at Shiloh National Military Park for six years and has conducted numerous tours of this battlefield and has been involved in Shiloh’s preservation. The battle of Shiloh occurred on April 6-7, 1862 and the resulting causulties of more than 16,000 shocked the nation. After being surprised by Albert Sidney Johnston’s Confederate army on the morning of April 6, the Federals rallied under Grant’s leadership and were able to force the Confederates to retreat back to Corinth, Mississippi the following day after receiving reinforemcnts during the night. The Shiloh battlefield is one of the best preserved battlefields of the Civil War. We will also be going to Corinth and visiting the Corinth battlefield and visitor’s center. We will be staying in Corinth. We will walk this hollowed ground and cover in detail what happened there. We will begin taking signups in November. If you have any questions, you can email John Davis at johnd.davis@twc.com .
SEPTEMBER 2024 QUIZ
1. Who served as General Ulysses S. Grant’s Chief of Staff for most of the Civil War?
John A. Rawlins served not only as Grant’s most trusted advisor but also became a close friend.
2. Who was Vice President of the Confederate States of America?
He was Alexander H. Stephens of Georgia.
3. Following the disastrous Battle of the Crater on July 30, 1864, which Union Corps commander was relieved of command and told to go home to await further orders?
That was Major General Ambrose E. Burnside of the 9th Corps, who at one time had commanded the Army of the Potomac.
4. According to the 1860 U.S. Census, what was the smallest state in the Union by population on the eve of the Civil War?
The brand new state of Oregon was the smallest by population.
5. Who replaced General Benjamin Butler as commander of the Army of the James in January 1865?
Major General Edward Ord replaced Butler.
OCTOBER 2024 QUIZ
1. Where was the greatest supply base (Union) of the war located?
2. What infantry manual was most widely used by both sides during the war?
3. Who saved Little Round Top for the Union at the Battle of Gettysburg on July 2, 1863?
4. Where were the first Confederate forts to surrender?
5. What was the basic artillery weapon used in the war?