THE CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE Founded December 3, 1940 Volume LXXVI, Number 4 , December 2015

Dave Keller on

by Bruce Allardice

Opened in 1861, Camp Douglas was a Union training and reception facility 747TH REGULAR for over 40,000 Union soldiers in Chicago. Camp Douglas became a MEETING David Keller is a long time resident prison camp, housing over 30,000 H H H H H of Chicago and an amateur historian. Confederate prisoners, from 1862 Mr. Keller’s professional life included Friday, December 11th until it was demolished in 1865. various executive positions at Chicago Containing over 200 buildings on H H H H H area commercial banks. Currently 60 acres, Camp Douglas was the Holiday Inn O’Hare he is a respected expert witness in most significant Civil War facility in 5615 N. Cumberland, Chicago banking matters throughout the Northern Illinois. Cocktails at 5:30 p.m. country. Retired since 2002, he Dinner at 6:30 p.m. On Dec. 11th, Dave Keller, Managing devotes much of his time to volunteer $50 - Members/Non-members Director of the Camp activities including Douglas Restoration the Foundation Board Call by Zoo, Chicago Entrée: Chicken of Directors, will Sunday History Museum Dec. 6 New Orleans or present a history of and American Youth the history of Camp Soccer Organization. Tilapia Douglas and Camp David’s interest Douglas stories from diaries and in Camp Douglas comes from his journals of Confederate prisoners of interest in the Civil War, Civil War

Please Note: the Camp. The presentation includes Prison Camps and 19th century Make your reservations by Sunday, information on conditions and loss Chicago history. The founder of the Dec. 6, by emailing dinnerreservations@ chicagocwrt.org, or calling 630 460-1865 of life at the camp, current status Foundation, Mr. Keller is in demand with the names of your party and choice of entrée. of the camp’s site, and work done as a speaker on the Civil War and If a cancellation becomes necessary after by the Camp Douglas Restoration Camp Douglas and has written a two dinner reservations have been made, please email us at dinnerreservations@chicagocwrt. Foundation to provide a lasting books, The Story of Camp Douglas, org and/or call us at 630-460-1865. remembrance of Camp Douglas. Chicago’s Forgotten Civil War Prison We are offering the option of choosing not to have dinner and coming only for the address and Robert Anderson Bagby, Civil at 7:15 p.m., for a charge of $10 per person. War Diary (Annotated) 1863-1865. Parking at the Holiday Inn is FREE. 2 The Civil War Round Table THE CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE NEW ALLIANCE SUPPORTS CULPEPER STATE PARK By Scott C. Boyd (November 2015 Civil War News) CULPEPER, Va. — The momentum The preserved acreage will increase — the for a new state park incorporating the Trust is under contract to buy a modern Brandy Station and Cedar Mountain house and 10.5 acres on Fleetwood Founded December 3, 1940 battlefields in Culpeper County Hill from Page Mitchell. She and her 1039 Hinswood continued with the Civil War Trust husband, B.B, who died in 2011, were Darien, Illinois 60561 announcing the formation of the Brandy early opponents of major residential Phone: 630-460-1865 Station & Cedar Mountain State Park and commercial development on the www.chicagocwrt.org Alliance on Sept. 25. battlefield and helped start the Brandy The only requirement for membership in Alliance members include the Trust, Station Foundation in 1989. The Civil War Round Table is a genuine Brandy Station Foundation (BSF), The Trust has also preserved 164 acres interest in the Civil War and its era. For Friends of Cedar Mountain Battlefield, at Cedar Mountain through purchase information, address Membership Com- Journey Through Hallowed Ground along with 421 acres protected through mittee, 1039 Hinswood, Darien, Illinois Partnership, Preservation Virginia, conservation easements. 60561, or [email protected]. Piedmont Environmental Council “I think a state park will be very (PEC), Culpeper Department of beneficial to BSF and for the Culpeper examples like needing one visitor center Tourism and Remington Community community,” said Brandy Station Partnership. instead of two and fewer full-time staff. Foundation President Joe McKinney. … At a Sept. 29 meeting, Trust consultants “A state park — with the associated “We are moving as one to create Glenn Stach and Kennedy Smith advertising and support from Virginia briefed alliance members and others a permanent place of education, Tourism — should attract many more recreation and reflection,” Trust on prospects for the new state park, visitors to the battlefield and to the according to Diane Logan, president President James Lighthizer said in the Graffiti House than are drawn at Sept. 25 announcement, thanks to of the Friends of Cedar Mountain present,” he said. Battlefield. the tremendous support of its Alliance “Some will come for the history, others partners. An economic impact study is expected perhaps for recreational activities such as in early November. “With the 80th anniversary of the horseback riding, hiking, biking, rafting Virginia state park system on the Reports in the Culpeper and or camping. We anticipate that this state immediate horizon, this is the moment Fredericksburg newspapers said the park — like most — will be multi-use.” … to act and secure a legacy for the Old consultants believe a new state park Of major importance for McKinney’s Dominion that will last for generations incorporating both battlefields could group is “discussion about locating to come,” Lighthizer said. draw 100,000 visitors annually. the park’s visitor center at the Graffiti The Battle of Cedar Mountain was This possible visitor count does not House,” the foundation’s headquarters. fought Aug. 9, 1862. Confederate Maj. approach the visitation at the long- The Commonwealth has the resources Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson’s established Fredericksburg and to address several current limitations troops, aided by troops under Maj. Gen. Spotsylvania National Military Park at the house, according to McKinney. A.P. Hill, repulsed Union Maj. Gen. (870,000 visitors) or the Manassas Expanding the restroom facilities, Nathaniel Banks’s corps, preventing National Battlefield Park (500,000 improving handicapped accessibility them from seizing the rail junction at visitors), both operated by the National and increasing the hours open with Gordonsville. The battle marked the Park Service. state employees could be done. shift in focus from the failed Union Peninsula Campaign to operations in Nonetheless, the proposed park “fills a More than one preservation group Northern Virginia. need, bringing a state park to an area official endorsed the idea of the two under-served in this regard,” Paula L. battlefields being administered together The June 9, 1863, Battle of Brandy Combs, public relations manager for the as one combined park. Station, was the first battle in the PEC, told Civil War News in an email. Gettysburg Campaign and the war’s “Combining the two parks is the most largest cavalry battle. Union Maj. Gen. The Trust and the BSF own 1,020 efficient and cost effective option,” said Alfred Pleasonton’s troops surprised acres at Brandy Station. An additional Meg Martin, communications manager Confederate Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart’s 3,217 acres are protected through for the Civil War Trust. “A good forces in camp, but were repulsed after conservation easements in cooperation practical example is Fredericksburg and heavy fighting. with the Virginia Department of Spotsylvania National Military Park.” Historic Resources and the Virginia Alliance information is at www. “By creating only one park, the Outdoors Foundation (see October facebook.com/BSCMStatePark CWN). Commonwealth can likely conserve resources,” McKinney said, citing 3 The Civil War Round Table Veterans Day at Rosehill Cemetery

On Veterans Day Rosehill Cemetery the past 10 years. Several Civil experience. Some photos are below. hosted a salute to our nation’s War (and other) re-enactor groups veterans, something Rosehill has helped make the event a moving

An artillery salute is fired. A 21 gun salute, in front of the Rosehill Chapel.

Mrs. General George H. Thomas (JoEllen Kowalski) graced the event! (left) 4 The Civil War Round Table

Grapeshot Schimmelfennig Boutique

Sixty plus years of audio recordings of CWRT lectures by distinguished histori- Bulletin ans are available and can be purchased Board in CD format. For pricing and a lec- ture list, please contact Hal Ardell at [email protected] or phone him at (773) 774-6781. Future Meetings Each meeting features a book raffle, with Regular meetings are held at the On December 4th, the Abraham proceeds going to battlefield preserva- Holiday Inn O’Hare, the second Fri- Lincoln Bookstore and the Union tion. There is also a silent auction for day of each month, unless otherwise League Club CWRT are hosting a books donated by Ralph Newman and indicated. luncheon at the Union League Club others, again with proceeds benefiting battlefield preservation. Jan. 8, 2016: David Moore on “William of Chicago, for Bud Robertson. The S. Rosecrans” event starts at 11:30. Reservations More Upcoming Civil War Events Feb. 12: Don Doyle on “The Cause of required. All Nations” Dec. 4th, Northern Illinois CWRT: March 11: Bruce Kraig on “Why the Kevin Connelly on “Custer in the Civil War Made our Modern Food” The Kenosha Civil War Museum Shenandoah” H H H H H will host Gene Salecker Dec. 11th, April 8: Greg Biggs on “Nashville: Dec. 10th, Lake County CWRT Xmas Siren’s Song of the Confederacy” noon, as part of its lunchbox series. party Salecker will speak on “The Sultana May 13: Glenna Schroeder-Lein on Disaster: What Caused it?” For this Dec. 10th, Milwaukee CWRT: Dave “The Solders’ Home in Civil H H H H H Keller on “Camp Douglas” and other events, visit http://www. War America” kenosha.org/wp-civilwar/events/ Dec. 15th, Lincoln-Davis CWRT: June 10: Dale Phillips on “Ben Butler Chris Kolakowski on “Stones River and the Federal Occupation of and the Tullahoma Campaign” New Orleans” Larry Hewitt will be speaking on Dec. 17th, South Suburban CWRT: “Myths and Myth Makers of Civil Christmas Party War History” at the New Orleans Dec. 18th, Salt Creek CWRT: Larry Virual Book Signing Gibbs on “The Lost Cause” CWRT Dec. 9th, and the Austin Join the Book CWRT Dec. 10th. Shop on December 5, at noon, when we welcome James “Bud” Robertson Historian Wiley Sword died in to the program. Bud talks about his new book After the Civil War: The Georgia last month, at age 77. A HAPPY Heroes, Villains, Soldiers and Civil- good friend to our CWRT, Winfield ians Who Changed America. Learn Wiley Sword presented at several of HOLIDAYS! more about these books and order our meetings, and authored many yours at http://virtualbooksigning. books, Shiloh: Bloody April being net/book-information/#anchor_2. just one of them. The CWRT awarded Wiley the Nevins-Freeman Award in 1997. Quizmaster—Volunteers Wanted! Check the Announcements The CWRT is looking for a new Ad- section of the CWRT’s website for jutant General, who will do the quiz additional coming events. at our monthly meetings. If you’re Know of any upcoming talks, events, or publi- interested, contact the president at cations? All members are welcome to contrib- CWRTPresident@ChicagoCWRT. ute items to the newsletter. Contact the editor org. at [email protected] or (630) 297-8046. The Civil War Roundtable

November 2015 Meeting—Talk Summary Philip Leigh - Tradig ith the Eey

When most people think of the Civil through belligerent lines as eluded ensure that England did not starve War, their first thought may well be the blockade. The practice for cotton. slavery and the cotton culture it developed after the major cotton Leigh provided examples of those created and sustained. Indeed, depots Memphis and New Orleans who engaged in the legally dubious, cotton created antebellum southern were captured in 1862. That if ot treasoous, itersetioal wealth; cotton in turn represented a summer, General Sherman trade. The largest shareholder in a significant economic interest at the complained that northern traders northern mill, General Butler north whose mills required this vital were buying southern cotton for amassed a huge fortune in the agricultural product. But even gold which the south used for trade. Others profited from the those of us who study secession and purchasing arms in Bermuda, and Matamoros trade. Charles Stillman, its ramifications may not consider even Cincinnati. And General Grant a Texan with southern sympathies, the extent to which trade in cotton captured Confederate cavalry became one of the richest men in continued after hostilities armed with modern carbines America by selling cotton to the commenced and the degree to purchased at Memphis. federal government for use in which it contributed to the progress Northern interests needed an intact making uniforms. Perhaps the most of the war. This was the theme union to sustain an emerging notorious example of trading with explored by Phillip Leigh in his economic supremacy. Businessmen the enemy was William Sprague, presetatio, Tradig ith the feared that without access to cotton mill owner, Governor, and later th Regular Eey, at the 4 from a seceded south and without Senator from Rhode Island, and son- Meeting of Round Table on the souths faorale trade alance, in-law of Treasury Secretary and November 13, 2015. the economies of the remaining later Supreme Court Justice Salmon Leigh relates how trade in cotton states would collapse. The south Chase, became ensnared in the between the sections persisted needed trade as well; it relied on Matamoros trade and narrowly after the start of the war. Ships out cash crops such as cotton and avoided prosecution. And lest we of northern ports not subject to the tobacco which created a need for forget, the Red River Campaign in blockade docked at Matamoros, northwestern grain and pork. Also, 1864 was led by New Englander Mexico at the rate of one per week the south needed all types of Nathaniel Banks, whose aim was to whereas prior to the war there was manufactured goods which were confiscate cotton but who only one such arrival annually. available from the north. succeeded only in depriving These ships sailed from northern Sherman his best divisions and As the war progressed, the need for ports and carried arms, munitions, prolonging the war. cotton virtually dictated trade equipment and clothing for between the belligerents, especially As Leigh concluded, there were no southern armies. In exchange, the when Lincoln learned he could sell heroes in the history of trading with Confederacy shipped cotton from cotton to Europe for gold. Thus the enemy. Notwithstanding this Arkansas, Louisiana, and East Texas while both sides maintained policies truism, he has written an excellent shipped overland to Brownsville, of interdiction, Jefferson Davis account of this fascinating aspect of Texas, from where it was moved looked the other ay out of the war which should be mandatory across the Rio Grande. necessity, while Lincoln ignored reading for anyone who thinks the Matamoros played only a minor role regulations on trade as a matter of war to save the union was a glorious in intersectional cotton dealing. policy. Part of this policy was to crusade. Twice as much cotton passed