THE CIVILFounded WAR December 3, ROUND 1940 TABLE Volume LXVI, Number 2 Chicago, Illinois October, 2005

EDWIN C. BEARSS - on - “The Most Forgotten, Misunderstood & Least Appreciated Civil War 644th REGULAR Battles and Soldiers” MEETING

ED BEARSS By Bruce Allardice Edwin C. Bearss ON In this 65th year of The Civil War Marines on Guadalcanal and New THE MOST FORGOTTEN, Round Table of Chicago, it is alto- Britain, suffering wounds which MISUNDERSTOOD & LEAST gether fitting and appropriate that we caused him to spend 26 months in APPRECIATED CIVIL WAR have Ed Bearss address our group. various hospitals. Upon recovery, he BATTLES AND SOLDIERS No man has been a bigger friend to earned degrees from Georgetown our Round Table, and to the Civil University and Indiana University. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ War Round Table movement, than Ed While writing his history thesis on Friday, October 14 Bearss. General Pat Cleburne, he visited bat- We all know him as our indefati- tlefields and concluded that inter- ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ gable tour guide, barking orders for preting battles in the field was more Holiday Inn Mart Plaza us to get off the bus and walk faster, interesting than academic history in 350 North Orleans Street striding with his fast, purposeful an office. In 1955 entered the stride through the muck and mire of as park histo- Cocktails at 5:30 p.m. battlefields, delivering what the rian at Vicksburg. While at Dinner at 6:30 p.m. Washington Post calls “Homeric Vicksburg, his research led to the dis- monologues” in a voice that needs no covery and salvage of the Union $30 - Members/Non-members microphone to be heard. Ed’s been Ironclad Cairo, the remains of which Entrée: leading our tours for 40+ years now are now on display at the park. Chicken Casriel, (since 1961), and those tours, and our Ed is the author of numerous lives, have been books and over 100 Catch of the Day or enriched by his pres- articles in scholarly Vegetable/Fruit Plate ence, his energy, his Call by journals. In 1995 he PLEASE N O TE endless store of color- Monday, retired after 14 years ful (and sometimes as chief historian of Make your reservation by MONDAY, October 10, by calling 630-460-1865. We now also have ribald) anecdotes, and Oct. 10 the National Park our online dinner reservation system at his prodigious mem- Service. Ed currently http://www.thecwrt.org/commiss.htm. Reservations made after Wednesday, October ory for facts. leads well-attended 12, will be surcharged $5. Edwin C. Bearss grew up on a history tours in the U.S. and Europe, People who attend without having made a reser- ranch in Montana. Even as a youth tours covering (among other sub- vation will pay a $5 walk-in charge. If you make a reservation and then find you cannot attend, please he was interested in the Civil War, jects) World War II, the Indian Wars call to cancel or you will be billed for a dinner. naming his ranch animals after Civil and the Lewis & Clark Expedition, We are offering the option of choosing not to have War figures. Mary Abroe will be along with his signature Civil War dinner and coming only for the address at 7:30 p.m., for a charge of $5 per person. happy to learn that Ed’s favorite milk tours. As Ed has often said, “You Parking at the Holiday Inn is $8 with a validated cow was named “Antietam”. In can’t describe a battlefield unless parking sticker. World War II he served with the you walk it.” 2 The Civil War Round Table

THE CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE

CWRT Renews Memberships in In addition to approving and com- Preservation Groups: In July the pleting the noted membership renewals, Battlefield Preservation Fund (BPF) com- the BPF committee also voted to renew mittee voted to renew the CWRT’s mem- our memberships in the National Founded December 3, 1940 berships in the following organizations: Museum of Civil War Medicine 9670 N. Dee #205 Central Battlefields Trust (CVBT), (NMCWM) and Save the Franklin Des Plaines, Illinois 60016 winner of the 1st Bearss Preservation Battlefield, Inc., both of which come due Phone: 630-460-1865 Award; Kernstown Battlefield Association in the near future. www.thecwrt.org (KBA), winner of the 2nd Bearss CWRT Supports Restoration of Preservation Award; Friends of the Chicago Light Artillery Monument: The only requirement for membership in The Round Table is a genuine interest in the Civil National Parks at Gettysburg; and the The Sons of Union Veterans (SUV) War and its era. For information, address Save Historic Antietam Foundation Reserve, the reenacting branch of the Membership Committee, 9670 N. Dee #205 (SHAF). Upon renewal of those member- SUV, currently is the moving force Des Plaines, Illinois 60016, or contact ships, we received acknowledgements behind the restoration of the Chicago [email protected]. from all four. Denise Troxell, SHAF treas- Light Artillery Monument at Rosehill urer, sent thanks from that organization, Cemetery; according to past president while Larry Duncan, president of the Jerome Kowalski of the SUV, the group is KBA, wrote that he and his colleagues “in the final stages of fundraising” for the of this deal are Ed Bearss, Jim Campi of “really appreciate...(our) longstanding project. the Civil War Preservation Trust (which generosity.” In response to the CWRT’s donation is donating $50,000 for the acquisition), From Dr. Mike Stevens, president of of $250 from the Battlefield Preservation and Professor William G. Piston of the CVBT, came detailed information Fund, we received the following note of Missouri State University; Piston calls the about recent activities with which we thanks from Bob Conklin, Adjutant, acquisition “one of lasting benefit to (the) assisted: “We are very pleased to Battery A of the Chicago Light Artillery: people of Missouri and (the) people of announce that thanks to the Civil War “We want to express our appreciation for the nation...” Preservation Trust, Tricord Homes, and The Civil War Round Table of Chicago’s The area around Springfield has been the Spotsylvania County Board of generous donation to the Chicago Light expanding rapidly in recent years. Supervisors, 140 acres of the Day One Artillery, Battery A’s Monument Making that problem more urgent has Chancellorsville battlefield have been Preservation Fund. This will be applied been Redford’s proposed 2,000-acre saved.... Because of you and your sup- for the restoration of the battery’s monu- Terrell Creek residential development, port for preservation, this ground, which ment at the Rosehill Cemetery recogniz- which borders Wilson’s Creek National is quite literally America’s sacred soil, will ing the sacrifices the soldiers of the bat- Battlefield. Redford’s offer earlier this year be there for you, your children, and all tery endured during the Civil War. Over to sell the 157 acres was welcomed by future generations, for as long as there is the years weathering has taken its toll the foundation, which eventually hopes an America.” and deterioration is much in evidence. to sell the land to the National Park President Stevens also indicated that We are anxious to have the monument Service. The NPS at Wilson’s Creek, in the CVBT is in the process of saving six- restored to more nobly recognize those turn, received a $1.2 million appropria- teen-plus acres at Chancellorsville on the original CLA veterans who performed tion in the 2006 federal budget and may Talley Farm ridge, just south of the his- with honor. Again your donation was complete such a purchase with those toric Orange Turnpike (State Route 3); most appreciated.” funds. this acreage is part of the May 1863 Wilson’s Creek Preservation As is often the case in contemporary Jackson Flank March area. Currently the Group Will Acquire 150-Plus Acres: dealings between developers and preser- Trust is raising $50,000 as matching The September 1 issue of the Springfield vationists, this deal between Redford and funds in order to receive a $150,000 (MO) News-Leader reported that 157 the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield grant for completion of the purchase, acres of historically significant land bor- Foundation represents a compromise. and the support of our Round Table “will dering Wilson’s Creek National The foundation will gain 112 acres west help us as we strive to meet this most Battlefield will be purchased by the of the park, the 112 acres being part of a recent fundraising challenge.” In con- Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield total of 200 that have been designated cluding, Mike Stevens emphasized the Foundation, a not-for-profit organization historically significant. Most of the following: “Thank you! Together we are that supports the NPS locally. The foun- remaining 88 acres, however, lay within making a difference!!” We also received a dation, to which we made a $500 dona- the Terrell Creek development. The personal phone call from vice-president tion last year, has been negotiating a deal foundation also will acquire 45 acres Harriet Condon, in which she noted that with developer Steve Redford since last south of the park, part of a 160-acre tract “we really appreciate everything you do.” March, when Redford offered to part that has been specified for acquisition; For additional information on the CVBT, with the acreage for $1.86 million. the rest of the 160 acres remains open visit its web site at www.cvbt.org. Among those applauding the conclusion land in private ownership. The Civil War Round Table 3

SEPTEMBER MEETING By Larry Gibbs

On September 9th Richard McMurray The generals in the book were Robert McMurry argued strongly that the received the prestigious Nevins- E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and Jeb was NOT the most Freeman Award before 91 members Stuart.” McMurry, who grew up near decisive Civil War battle. He claimed and guests at the 643rd regular meeting Atlanta, asked himself “Where was Lee that the minor Battle of Mill Springs, of The Civil War Round Tble of in 1864 at the Battle of Kennesaw Kentucky in early 1862 was more Chicago. A famed historian, speaker, Mountain?” important than Gettysburg, because and raconteur, McMurry is the author The concentration of interest in the Kentucky—the most important state in of numerous books, among them Two eastern theater battles and leaders the 1861 Union—remained in the Great Rebel Armies and The Fourth intensified when McMurry attended Union as a result of the battle. Using Battle of Winchester. As President Bob the Virginia Military Institute. He pro- this logic, McMurry joked that Miller states, McMurry is a very claimed, “I grew up with a bad case of President Lincoln should have made deserving recipient of the Nevins- V.D.—the Virginia Disease!” While at the Shiloh Address, rather than the Freeman Award because he is “well- Emory University, McMurry wrote a Gettysburg Address. informed, iconoclastic, and amusing”. thesis on John Bell Hood that later Concluded McMurry, “If I have McMurry’s presentation was titled “40 became a biography. In the South, done anything important in Civil War Years to a New Framework for the McMurry claimed, “Confederate studies, I wanted to get people to think, Civil War.” General Joseph Johnston was presented understand, and accept the significance Historiography is the way that his- as the best thing since grits!” However, of the western theater in the Civil War!” torians interpret history. McMurry has from his research, McMurry thought challenged the conventional historiog- that Johnston should have been raphy of Civil War military history removed from command by with his emphasis on studying battles Confederate President Jefferson Davis CWRT COMMITTEE in the western theater. McMurry’s due to incompetence. Johnston’s CHAIRS 2005-2006 hypothesis is that until recently Civil Atlanta campaign was disastrous, Spring Battlefield Tour—Nancy War historians have emphasized east- opined McMurry. He argued that Hood Jacobs ern theater battles to the virtual exclu- wasn’t totally incompetent, as many Tour Co-chairs—Dick McAdoo, Jim sion of battles fought west of the Confederate supporters suggested. The Nethery Appalachian Mountains. He main- Hood biography gave McMurry the Membership/Hospitality—Jerry & tained that the Civil War was really beginning of a new paradigm which JoEllyn Kowalski, Donna Tuohy won in the west, where huge areas to stressed the importance of the Atlanta territory were conquered by Union Campaign and the western theater. Inspector General—David Zucker, Tom Trescott armies. He pointed out that the eastern McMurry challenged traditional theater battles—even such gigantic Civil War historiography when he Dinner Reservations—Bill Sullivan clashes as Antietam and Gettysburg— wrote Two Great Rebel Armies. He Registrar—Janet Linhart, Sonya did not result in significant loss of ter- elaborated on the importance of the Reschly ritory, but only many deaths. If the (underestimated) Army of Tennessee as Ways & Means—Kurt Carlson conquest of territory is the criterion for compared to the exaggerated emphasis Battlefield Preservation—Mary Abroe decisive battles, the western battles of on the Army of Northern Virginia. The Shiloh, Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, new paradigm hypothesized that the Nevins-Freeman Award—Dan Weinberg Vicksburg, Chattanooga, and Atlanta most important military part of the war were decisive battles leading to ulti- was the oft-neglected western theater. Honors—Marshall Krolick mate Union victory. Union armies conquered huge amounts Nominations—Jerry Kowalski McMurry indicated how his inter- of territory with victories in Kentucky, Raffle/Boutique—Frank Pettice, Steve pretation of Civil War battles became Tennessee, , Georgia and Stewart transformed over his career. He stated, later in the Carolinas. Meanwhile, very Shows—Chuck Bednar “The first Civil War book that I read few square miles were won or lost by was about the war east of the either side in the east, even after the Milwaukee Liaison—Roger Bohn Appalachian Mountains. Most of the famous battles of Antietam, Archives—Jackie Wilson rest of the narrative concerned the Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Audio Librarian—Hal Ardell Battles of Gettysburg and in Virginia. Gettysburg. Publicity—Janet Linhart 4 The Civil War Round Table

GRAPESHOT SCHIMMELFENNIG BOUTIQUE Lapel pins, Meeting Tapes and other items are on sale at each monthly Bulletin meeting, with proceeds to go to bat- tlefield preservation. There is also a Board book raffle, with proceeds again going to benefit battlefield preservation. A silent auction is held at each monthly dinner meeting, for books Future Meetings donated by Ralph G. Newman and Regular meetings are held at the Holiday LaVerne Wesselhoeft, wife of our other members. The minimum bid is Inn Mart Plaza, 350 North Orleans longtime member, the late Charles $5 per book, with a minimum raise of Street, the second Friday of each month, Wesselhoeft, died Sept. 13th. LaVerne $1 per bid. Five minutes after the con- unless otherwise indicated. had been with our Round Table on clusion of the speaker’s presentation, October 14: Ed Bearss,“The Most many battlefield tours. Our sympathies bidding will close and the highest bid Forgotten, Misunderstood & Least to the Wesselhoeft family. is the winner of each book. Proceeds Appreciated Civil War Battles and benefit battlefield preservation. Soldiers” November 11 (Veteran’s Day): Edward The Orland Park Library will be CWRT SPRINGFIELD TOUR Bonekemper III, “A Victor Not a sponsoring a Civil War exhibit Oct. Butcher—U.S. Grant’s Overlooked THIS NOVEMBER! 15-Dec. 2, titled “Forever Free: Military Genius” Abraham Lincoln’s Journey to Travel with the CWRT to December 9: Stephen Fratt, “Civil War Emancipation”. Events will include Tactics and Technology” music by the Battlefield Balladeers and Springfield, Illinois. Leave book discussions. For more informa- Saturday morning, Nov. 5th, stop at January 13, 2006: Round Table Panel tion, call (708) 428-5151 or visit Lincoln College for lunch and tour Discussion (Panel: Bruce Allardice, www.orlandparklibrary.org. the Lincoln College Museum. In Rob Girardi, Larry Gibbs; Chair: Springfield, visit Lincoln’s home, Mary Abroe) “The Most Significant ‘What-Ifs’ of Civil War History” law office, tomb and the rail station The Pritzker Military Library in where he gave his farewell address February 10: James McPherson, Chicago is sponsoring a “Civil War (time permitting). Sunday will be “Abraham Lincoln as Commander in Chief” Round Table Day” Saturday, Nov. devoted to a tour of the new 12th. The event features talks by Abraham Lincoln Museum and authors Pete Cozzens and Pulitzer Library, guided by Tom Schwartz, On Wednesday, Oct. 19th, at 6:00 p.m., Prize-winner Doris Kearns Goodwin. Historian for the State of Illinois. Chicago’s Newberry Library is sponsor- Space is limited, so reservations will be ing a talk by noted author E. L. required. Call (312) 587-0234 for This two-day guided tour, at a Doctorow on his latest novel, The reservations. For further information, cost of $195.00 per person, includes March, a fictional account of Sherman’s visit the library web site at www.pritzk- bus transportation, three meals march through Georgia and the ermilitarylibrary.org or call the (lunch and dinner on Saturday and Carolinas. The public is invited to Abraham Lincoln Book Shop at (312) breakfast on Sunday), museum attend. For more information, call the 944-3085. admissions, a single or double room Newberry Public Programs Office at and all tips and gratuities. (312) 255-3700, or go online at Space is limited. The deadline www.newberry.org. Longtime member and Boutique for registration is October 21, Committee chair Frank Pettice has 2005. been hospitalized after discovery of If you need any further informa- OCTOBER DINNER FREE TO GUESTS both cancer and the need for bypass tion, or to make reservations, please surgery. We all wish Frank a speedy Our friend and battlefield guide, Ed recovery. Get well cards can be sent to call one of the following CWRT Bearss, will be our speaker this month, his home, 22844 Cottage Grove, members: Marvin Sanderman, 847- to celebrate the 65th Anniversary of the Steger, IL 60475. 520-3525; Brooks Davis, 312-654- CWRT of Chicago. As part of the cele- 0614; or Donna Tuohy, 312-649- bration, the CWRT is offering a 2-1 Know of any upcoming talks, events, or 1041, or visit the CWRT website at deal—any member who brings a guest to publications? All members are welcome www.thecwrt.org. that meeting, that guest gets their dinner to contribute items to the newsletter. FREE. An Ed talk AND a free meal—it’s Contact the editor at [email protected] or (847) 375-8305. a great opportunity for members to intro- duce their friends to our Round Table!