THE CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE Founded December 3, 1940 Volume LXXIV, Number 1 Chicago, Illinois September 2013 Mike Priest on South Mountain by Bruce Allardice 723rd REGULAR After decisively repelling John MEETING Pope’s August 1862 invasion of Mike Priest Mike Priest Virginia at the Second Battle of on il War’s bloodiest day which soon Manassas, Robert E. Lee took “South Mountain” followed at Antietam Creek. the offensive. Moving north into H H H H H Maryland, Lee divided his forces On Sept. 13, John Michael Priest Friday, September 13 to capture Harpers Ferry while will examine those pre-Antietam H H H H H continuing his advance further Holiday Inn Mart Plaza engagements, focusing on the into Union territory. George B. 350 North Orleans Street perspective of the ordinary sol- McClellan, the new Union com- Cocktails at 5:30 p.m. dier. mander, learned that Lee had Dinner at 6:30 p.m. divided his forces, A retired school teacher, John $47 - Members/Non-members and advanced to Michael “Mike” attack the Confed- Priest has been Call by Entrée: Roast Sirloin, erates. The armies, Wednesday studying the Baked Salmon, from squad to Sept. 11 Civil War since Vegetarian Plate or corps level, fought Fruit Plate he was in grade hard in both cav- school when his alry and infantry actions for Please Note: parents took him and his broth- Make your reservations by Wednesday, Sept. 11, by emailing [email protected], or control of the three gaps across calling 630 460-1865 with the names of your party er to Gettysburg every weekend. and choice of entrée. South Mountain, about sixty A specialist in small unit tactics, If a cancellation becomes necessary after dinner miles from the Federal capital. reservations have been made, please email us at [email protected] and/or call us at he has authored or edited about 630-460-1865. The victory McClellan’s officers We are offering the option of choosing not to have and men gave him forced Lee to 12 books on the Civil War, in- dinner and coming only for the address at 7:15 p.m., for a charge of $10 per person. fall back and regroup near the cluding Antietam: The Soldier’s Parking at the Holiday Inn is $12 with a validated parking sticker. town of Sharpsburg, Maryland, Battle and Before Antietam: The thus setting the stage for the Civ- Battle of South Mountain. 2 The Civil War Round Table Battlefield Preservation THE CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE By Brian Seiter 4-Min. Videos Premiere On Viewers who desire more information Civil War Trust Site can click on links to articles, primary (September 2013 Civil War News) sources and classroom materials. WASHINGTON — The Civil War “This new approach will bring the ex- Founded December 3, 1940 Trust recently launched Civil War In4, citement and experience of learning 1039 Hinswood a series of 4-minute videos on Civil about the Civil War to a whole new Darien, Illinois 60561 War topics. When complete, the se- audience, who will discover why it’s Phone: 630-460-1865 ries, which opened with 13 videos, will so important to protect and preserve www.chicagocwrt.org have more than 50 videos. America’s hallowed ground,” said The only requirement for membership in Adelman. The Civil War Round Table is a genuine Produced through a partnership be- interest in the Civil War and its era. For tween the Trust and Wide Awake The series is available free on the Civil information, address Membership Com- Films, the series answers frequently War Trust’s website at www.civilwar. mittee, 1039 Hinswood, Darien, Illinois 60561, or [email protected]. asked questions about the Civil War. org/in4 “The whole project was conceived on three principles to reach as many Civil The 2007 plan calls for a widening of War enthusiasts as possible: basic, sim- F’burg Developer’s Suit To Lafayette Boulevard where the subdi- ple and short,” Trust president James be Heard vision and its access to the boulevard Lighthizer said. By Scott C. Boyd would be. The 2009 study recommend- (September 2013 Civil War News) The format aims to appeal to a wide ed that the entrance to Telegraph Hill range from beginning to veteran stu- FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – A be located south of the Lee Drive park dents of the war. The series relies on a hearing will be held Sept. 6 on two entrance, not aligned with it. broad-strokes approach and an acces- motions for summary judgment in An order signed on Nov. 2 by Freder- sible, entertaining and factual presen- the lawsuit brought by the developer icksburg Circuit Court Judge Gordon tation. of the proposed 79-home Telegraph F. Willis implemented an agreement Hill subdivision. It is opposite the by all parties that the city would be Trust director of history and education entrance to scenic Lee Drive in the removed from the case and the city Garry Adelman said, “We would rath- Fredericksburg unit of Fredericksburg er 500,000 people watch a 4-minute and Spotsylvania National Military council would be the sole defendant. video, than 50 people watch a 40-min- Park. Both lawsuits were consolidated into ute video.” the one against the council. Fredericksburg Park LLC filed suit Using his experience as a longtime bat- against the City of Fredericksburg and Fredericksburg Park LLC and the city tlefield guide, Adelman chose topics a separate suit against the city council council have both filed motions for a based on typical tour questions he was on Sept. 27, 2012, following the coun- summary judgment by the court. asked, along with a variety of questions cil’s 4-3 vote on Sept. 18 rejecting the the Trust received in e-mails, conversa- development, which stopped the proj- “Both sides contend that based upon tions and phone calls. ect. the undisputed facts and the law and city ordinances they are entitled to a The current videos include army or- As noted in a November 2012 CWN ruling from the court in their favor,” ganization, artillery, infantry tactics, story, the National Park Service, Civil council attorney Jennifer Parrish told black soldiers, Confederate leaders, War Trust and Central Virginia Battle- Civil War News. monuments, Union leaders and the fields Trust opposed the plan. Gettysburg Address. These will be argued at the Sept. 6 The council’s resolution rejecting the hearing, according to Parrish. Each video has a presenter. In addition proposed subdivision stated that it was to Adelman they are Peter Carmichael, incompatible with the 2007 Fredericks- If no summary judgment is given at Jared Frederick, Eric Jacobson, Hari burg Comprehensive Plan and 2009 the hearing, a two-day trial is tenta- Jones, Sam Smith and Tim Smith. Lafayette Boulevard Corridor Study. tively scheduled to begin Oct. 9. 3 The Civil War Round Table June Meeting By Mark Matranga Professor Timothy Smith ad- route. And Smith challenges the loh, but the union pursuit to dressed the 722nd meeting of myth that Halleck ‘dug’ his way Davis’ Bridge did not, and Van The Civil War Round Table on to Corinth. The army marched Dorn barely escaped. June 14, 2013 on “Corinth 1862.” to within a few miles of its objec- In early 1862, Corinth was at the tive in two days when a constant After the October battle, Corinth center of the war. It was the ‘key’ rain interrupted its progress. became an occupied town. Es- to the Tennessee and Mississippi After the confederate assault at caped slaves flocked into town river valleys: General Halleck con- Farmington on May 9th was re- to the safety of the union garri- sidered Corinth and Richmond pulsed, Halleck ordered his units son; Corinth became one of the the “great strategical points” of to entrench. The historian of most famous ‘contraband’ camps the war; General P.G.T. Beaure- the 9th Illinois mentioned on in the south. But the army aban- gard wrote that “if defeated here, May 10th of being “introduced doned Corinth in January 1863. we lose the Mississippi Valley and to the spade.” The army moved The Memphis and Charleston probably our cause.” Corinth’s in coordinated advances which had been severed to the east, and importance was derived from its ultimately caused Beauregard to by that time southern distribu- being at the crossroads of the two evacuate the city. Smith refused tion networks had moved further most important southern rail- to castigate the creole general for south, rendering Corinth of little roads, the Mobile and Ohio and abandoning Corinth without a strategic value. Memphis and Charleston, the fight as he saved his army from “Vertebrae of the Confederacy.” destruction. Tim Smith made a compelling case for reevaluating Corinth’s Corinth has been overshadowed, Corinth remained a confeder- significance in the civil war. Al- most prominently by Shiloh. ate objective in October 1862 though somewhat neglected to- That battle produced significant when southern forces moved to day, in the spring of 1862 there casualties and involved some of retake the city. The confronta- was no more important place in the war’s most colorful person- tion between Earl Van Dorn and the south than Corinth, Missis- alities whereas Corinth produced William Starke Rosecrans again sippi. little drama, despite there being lacked the personalities and num- some 120,000 federal troops in- bers of troops engaged as other volved in the siege. But Corinth Lincoln Colloquium battles fought at that time. But was the climax of a campaign On Sept. 28th, Knox College which began in February 1862, Corinth was a major prong of a in Galesburg will host the 28th and was perhaps the determining multi-front offensive in the fall of “Lincoln Colloquium.” factor in opening the Mississippi 1862 which included the moves annual Valley.