January 2014 (773) 774-6781
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
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 THE CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE in CD format. For pricing and a lec- Founded December 3, 1940 ture list, please contact Hal Ardell at [email protected] or phone him at Volume LXXIV, Number 5 Chicago, Illinois January 2014 (773) 774-6781. Each meeting features a book raffle, with Future Meetings Robert I. Girardi Robert Girardi’s new book, The proceeds going to battlefield preserva- Regular meetings are held at the on Civil War Generals, is now “out” tion. There is also a silent auction for Holiday Inn Mart Plaza, 350 North “The Murder of General and available for purchase via Ama- books donated by Ralph Newman and Orleans Street, the second Friday of zon and local bookstores. In the others, again with proceeds benefiting William ‘Bull’ Nelson” each month, unless otherwise indicated. words of the publishers, the book battlefield preservation. by Bruce Allardice “offers an unvarnished and largely Feb. 14: Harold Knudsen, unknown window into what mili- On September 29th, 1862, a Union More Upcoming Civil War Events 727th REGULAR tary generals wrote and said about “General Longstreet” army general literally got away with MEETING murder. each other…” Jan. 3rd, Northern Illinois March 14: Aaron Barnhart, Robert I. Girardi CWRT: Wayne Rhine on “Lin- At 6-4 and 300 pounds, General “Price’s 1864 Missouri Raid” Robert I. Girardi On Jan. 18th, Bruce Allardice coln: The Lawyer” on William “Bull” Nelson may have been will speak on “Civil War Movies” “The Murder of General the biggest general in the war. And by all April 11: Scott Bowden, “Last On January 10th, Robert I. Girardi will to the Daughters of the Union in Jan. 9th, Lake County CWRT: accounts, his foul temper matched his Chance for Victory” William ‘Bull’ Nelson” examine the murder through the lens Naperville. Open Discussion on Vicksburg size. The native Kentuckian and prewar H H H H H naval officer had been promoted to of 22 years of experience as a homicide Jan. 9th, Milwaukee CWRT: May 9: Dan Bastian, “Grant’s general by President Lincoln, and at this detective. Robert Girardi is an author On January 10, at the Civil War Mu- Friday, January 10 and historian and is a popular speaker Robert Girardi on “The Mur- Canal” time in 1862 was trying to organize the seum, Kenosha, Dan Nettesheim H H H H H defenses of Louisville, Kentucky, against and consultant on the American Civil will discuss “the Chattanooga der of General William ‘Bull’ War to audiences of all ages. Robert June 13: Kenneth Noe, “The Holiday Inn Mart Plaza a threatened attack by General Braxton Campaign: Critical Contrasts and Nelson” War in Appalachia” Bragg’s Confederate army. is on the Board of the ISHS and the Paradoxes,” 12 noon. On January 350 North Orleans Street Camp Douglas Restoration Foundation, Jan. 15th, Starved Rock CWRT Subordinated to Nelson was an equally 11, Seeing the Elephant, a new movie Cocktails at 5:30 p.m. has consulted for the Chicago History focused on personal experiences of Ottawa: Dan Schott on “Six feisty general, the oddly-named (for a Museum (Chicago Historical Society), and accounts of citizen soldiers, Civil War Presidents” Dinner at 6:30 p.m. Union general, at least) and has collaborated opens in the Fiery Trial exhibit. In- Jefferson Davis. The with historical $47 - Members/Non-members two clashed. Nelson formation on all museum programs Jan. 17th, Salt Creek CWRT: artist Keith Rocco, The next Virtual Book Sign- criticized Davis for not is available at www.thecivilwarmu- Wayne Wolf and Bruce Allard- Call by historian/authors ing will take place in Satur- knowing how many seum.org or (262) 653-4140. ice on “Charles F. Gunther, Entrée: Chicken Napoleon, Wednesday Peter Cozzens, day, January 11th at noon. Baked Tilapia, troops he (Davis) Nathaniel Cheairs Mississippi River Confederate” commanded--and Jan. 8 Vegetarian Plate or Hughes Jr., Theodore The CWRT’s winter Executive Join the Abraham Lincoln on September 22nd, J. Karamanski, Noah Jan. 21st, Lincoln-Davis CWRT: Fruit Plate Committee Meeting is scheduled Bookshop for a book discus- Nelson relieved Davis A. Trudeau and Margaret Storey on “Tried Men of his command. Davis for Saturday, Jan. 25th at the Chi- sion with Rachel Shelden. Ra- others. He has spoken to historical cago History Museum, starting at and True” seethed over the rebuke, which led societies, libraries, schools at all levels, Please Note: 9 a.m. Any member is welcome to chel’s new book, Washington Make your reservations by Wednesday, Jan. 8, by to a fatal encounter at the Galt Hotel and Civil War groups all over the Jan. 23rd, South Suburban emailing [email protected], or in Louisville a week later. In front of United States. attend. Brotherhood, examines the calling 630 460-1865 with the names of your party CWRT: Donna Work on “The and choice of entrée. witnesses, including prominent army Robert earned his M.A. in Public History GAR’s 1900 Chicago Encamp- politics and social life within If a cancellation becomes necessary after dinner officers and politicians, Davis shot and Check the Announcements section reservations have been made, please email us at killed Nelson. The motives behind the at Loyola University of Chicago in 1991. ment” the antebellum Washington [email protected] and/or call us at of the CWRT’s website for addi- 630-460-1865. shooting, and how Davis was never He is a past president of the Civil War tional coming events. community. punished for his murder, make for Round Table of Chicago and newsletter Jan. 25th, Chicago Public Library, We are offering the option of choosing not to have dinner and coming only for the address at 7:15 p.m., a fascinating look at the interplay of editor of the Salt Creek Civil War Round Austin-Irving Branch: David for a charge of $10 per person. personalities and politics. Among other Table. He has authored or coauthored Know of any upcoming talks, events, or publi- Keller on “Camp Douglas” Parking at the Holiday Inn is $12 with a validated results, the murder probably kept the numerous books, including his latest, cations? All members are welcome to contrib- parking sticker. ute items to the newsletter. Contact the editor Union army from decisively winning The Civil War Generals. Comrades, at [email protected] or (630) 297-8046. Happy New Year! the Battle of Perryville a short time later. Peers, Rivals (Zenith Press, 2013). 2 The Civil War Round Table 3 The Civil War Round Table Trail of Tears/Cracker Line Road is Dedicated THE CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE December Meeting in Chattanooga, Tenn. By Mark Matranga By Gregory L. Wade Kevin Weddle addressed The Civil Pont was the toast of the navy, but Sound for his squadron’s base of op- Chattanooga, Tenn. – A .6-mile Some 780 acres of Moccasin Bend War Round Table at its 726th meet- he remained a commander. erations, and other joint operations segment of road used during the Cher- land became a National Park Service ing on December 13, 2013 on “Lin- as well. okee Indian removal 175 years ago, (NPS) unit in 2003. Young said the Du Pont spent the next nine years project to locate the road bed, hidden Founded December 3, 1940 coln’s Tragic Admiral.” Rear Admi- and 25 years later as part of a critical on shore duty, writing a memo- With the clash of the ironclads in Union supply line, has opened. by forest and swampy areas adjacent to 1039 Hinswood ral Samuel Francis Du Pont is an the river, has made great progress since Darien, Illinois 60561 randum on naval strategy in 1850 Hampton Roads in March 1862, Chattanooga and Chickamauga Na- Phone: 630-460-1865 obscure figure today, but was an ex- 2010. which became the blueprint for Welles and Assistant Secretary Fox tional Military Park (CCNMP) dedi- www.chicagocwrt.org perienced sailor who served actively the naval building program in the ordered an all navy operation to cated Brown’s Ferry Federal Road on “We used an 1863 U.S. Coast Sur- The only requirement for membership in for 50 years, half that time at sea, vey map and an 1820 survey found in mid-1850’s, and drafting legislation take Charleston using monitor-type October 26. The reclaimed road was The Civil War Round Table is a genuine and made significant contributions discovered by researchers at the park’s Robert Armstrong’s Survey Book of interest in the Civil War and its era. For in 1855 establishing a board of ex- ironclads. Du Pont resisted this to the navy. Appointed to both West Moccasin Bend Archeological District, Cherokee Lands,” he said. Those lands information, address Membership Com- aminers. This board separated one- idea, arguing for a joint operation, mittee, 1039 Hinswood, Darien, Illinois Point and the navy, he chose the lat- the land that forms a part of the criti- were granted from the treaty of Feb. third of all naval officers, permitting but did not raise his concerns when 27, 1819. 60561, or [email protected]. ter and entered the navy in 1815 as cal geography around Chattanooga promotion of many who played key he met with Lincoln. Eventually, a midshipman at age twelve. In his bordered by the Tennessee River. The survey was used to create a view roles in both union and confederate the Charleston operation was un- The road was part of the Trail of Tears, of the modern-day boundary of John first decades, Du Pont ‘learned the er is on private property.