DECEMBER 2020 VOLUME XI ISSUE 4 Call to Arms Brunswick Civil War Round Table Newsletter THE PRESIDENT’S CORNER - MIKE POWELL This is my last president’s Gary Krupp, and Jim Kane are all top-notch column. Rather than say people, bringing skills that will be needed good-bye via the newsletter, in this period of growing reliance on I really wanted to thank computers. Our group of experienced everybody — officers, directors backs them up. With Wally directors, volunteers, all — Rueckel at the helm we are in good shape. person. However, thanks to Wally can expect the same dedication that these challenging times, I received, exactly like that he had during virtual hugs and handshakes his last trip as president. We have an must suffice. Assuming I am still above excellent mix of new folks with fresh ideas, ground, we will do the in-person version folks that have been there for a couple of the first night we are back at Hatch. I do years, and those of us who have been need to thank the folks that have made my around for a while with institutional five years as VP and another five years as memory. We really have only one guiding president such a joy. Being a part of this principle for BCWRT: put on the best round table has been one of the finest possible event each month, whether for 50 things I have ever done. BCWRT has or 500 people. If that single idea remains opened so many doors for me that would our legacy, we cannot go wrong. have otherwise remained closed. Folks, this may be a fairly gloomy holiday Of course, none of this would have been season. The virus seems to be out of possible without the support of our control and we have a clear and present membership. You all have my heartfelt danger. So, let’s use it as an opportunity thanks. Everyone involved with getting it to get back to the origins of the holidays. done every month should take great pride We may not be able to celebrate and party and satisfaction in what we are doing. like we want, but think about how you There is nothing like it elsewhere. would feel if someone got sick from a holiday event. With family and Zoom, we This is my fourth draft of my good-bye. I will survive. We want to see every one of tried thanking folks by name, but the list you when we get back to live events. Make was way too long, and I was sure to miss good decisions and be safe. someone. At a later date, I will be around to thank folks one-on-one. I can hear E. Gifford, saying, “OK, wrap this up, Mike.” I will still be involved in It is comforting to know that BCWRT will our round table. Like the bad penny, I shall remain in good hands. The incoming return, but I cannot express my gratitude January board of directors is one of the to all strongly enough. Thanks, and hope most impressive of any Civil War round to see you soon. Mike table. Officers Gar Dowell, Cin Brochure, 1 Mike, thanks for five wonderful years leading the largest Civil War round table in the county. You are THE BEST! Signed: Each and every one of the 1,200 BCWRT members. 2 GENERAL U.S. GRANT VISITS IN DECEMBER One of the heroes of the Civil War, who chosen to portray him at the 150th Sesqui- became the 18th president of the county, will centennial observations at Fort Donelson, pay a visit to our Tuesday, December 1, Shiloh, Richmond, Vicksburg, and Zoom meeting! Yes, General Grant, Appomattox Courthouse, the site where portrayed by Dr. E.C. (Curt) Fields, Jr., will General Robert E. Lee surrendered to join us for what promises to be a memorable General Grant. He has portrayed the general evening. on film as well as staring as General Grant in Dr. Fields’s presentation is based on quotes the Visitor Center film shown at Appomattox Court House National Historic Park, and in from Grant’s the Discovery Channel’s three-part docu- mentary series, “How Booze Built America.” memoirs, articles and Dr. Fields also was featured as General Grant giving his life story on the Civil War Trust letters that website. In addition, he is affiliated with Grant numerous historical organizations in Ten- wrote, nessee and various Civil War associations. statements from There are two ways to join our 7 p.m. Zoom interviews meeting. The easiest is to connect directly by with Grant, clicking on this link which already contains and first- the meeting ID and passcode: person https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81443473805? accounts pwd=WGhUNEd3Rjd6V01OUE8xd0N5VUt from Wdz09 people who Or, if you have the Zoom app installed, the knew him meeting ID is: 814 4347 3805; and the or witnessed him during events. His interest passcode is: 297242. Please keep these in portraying Grant was driven by his deep methods to join in a handy spot, and kindly respect and admiration for him. Fields is the do not send emails to the round table asking same height and body type as General Grant, for the information once again. Regardless and therefore presents a convincing, true-to- of the method you choose, you will be life image of the man as he really looked. He placed in a ‘waiting room.’ researches and reads extensively about Grant You are encouraged to sign in starting at 6:45 to deliver an accurate persona of the general. p.m., as it takes several minutes to admit all An active educational consultant and living attendees. Signing in early also reduces historian, Dr. Fields has portrayed Grant at potential frustration wrestling with those numerous battle reenactments, and was untimely and annoying computer issues! 3 Second Guessing Richard Ewell: The First Day at Gettysburg Ewell’s Biggest Mistake: He Wasn’t Stonewall A review of Chris Mackowski’s November Presentation By Jim Medeiros Lt. General Richard Ewell’s blessing told the generals generally to eschew a came with a curse: He learned corps major engagement, he gave Ewell leave command at the elbow of Lt. General to press home an attack “if practicable”. Stonewall Jackson. According to Chris To shore up flanks Ewell asked if AP Hill Mackowski, Ewell commanded as if could help. Hill, thinking his own men Jackson were there, but even that could blown from their heavy fighting, declined not rescue him from his greatest failing-- to assist. Ewell had to detach two he just wasn’t Stonewall Jackson. brigades to watch Union activity on a flank decreasing needed manpower. The If Mackowski thinks Ewell absorbed final brick in Ewell’s shame said he some Jackson, he is further convinced lacked strategic vision. To this day Ewell Ewell takes the blame for Gettysburg stands condemned for not appreciating failure and protected Robert E. Lee. the strategic importance of Cemetery Down the years Ewell’s vilification most Ridge and attacking it. importantly protected Lee’s reputation. The myth of Lee as the greatest general Traditional lore casts Lee as hero with in a war sadly doomed to failure became history crediting him with ordering a cornerstone of the tale of the lost Ewell up Cemetery Hill. Note, however, cause. In spite of the general who could what orders did Ewell actually hear at make no error, the South could never Gettysburg? Although they did appear have won the war. For Lee’s myth to live, in Lee’s written battle summary months Ewell’s reputation had to suffer. And later, orders at Gettysburg were all historians and armchair generals have verbal. According to the written battle obliged Lee’s myth down the years. summary, Ewell was given the option of attacking July 1, however, he declined The first brick in Ewell’s wall of shame without better emplacement information built on Jackson’s reputation for and fresher troops. aggression. Repeatedly, Ewell has suffered criticism that he simply wasn’t Ewell, once tarred with the brush of aggressive like Jackson. (Shadows can f a i l u r e , p r o t e c t e d L e e ’ s l a t e r overarch us for a lifetime. Never mind canonization as the patron saint of the that once in town, Ewell lead his corps to Confederacy, all General Lee’s greatness attack the Federals on the north side.) doomed to failure in the face of Ewell’s The next brick we could call cowardice. sins in the lost cause. Some have whispered that Ewell feared to find the Yankees waiting to butcher Chris Mackowski welcomes your Civil War him. (Again, never mind that Ewell set commentary on the blog for Emerging his troops to fighting immediately in Civil War at https:// town and again the next day on bloody emergingcivilwar.com/tag/blog-series/. July 2.) A third brick we call faint- heartedness in numbers. Although Lee 4 Ladies’ Department — By Charen Fink Trivia Quiz Answers appear at the end of the This article is taken from a reprint distributed article and were named in past “Ladies’ by Dr. and Jacqueline Stroud at the annual Department” issues. conference of the Museum of Civil War Medicine in Towson, Maryland, on October 2, 1. At least two groups of women in 2008. Georgia formed their own home guard groups, drilling and learning to fire By today’s standards, $10 won’t really buy weapons; both groups were named after much, but on March 6, 1865, it would admit a which Georgia heroine of the American gentleman and two ladies to the event of the Revolution? year - Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural ball.