Old Baldy Civil War Round Table of Philadelphia January 20, 2007, The One Hundred and Forty-Sixth Year of the Civil War That Maryland Raid Upset My Plans: Ulysses S. Grant and Jubal Early's Raid All Members of the Old Baldy Civil War Round Table of Philadelphia Dear Member of the Old Baldy Civil War Roundtable: Please accept our best wishes for a very Happy New Year! At the roundtable meeting in December we decided to work hard to continue the Old Baldy CWRT. This year we will make several changes in our roundtable format and have some great opportunities to discuss various aspects of the Civil War era as well as meet and listen to interesting speakers. Also, the Civil War and Underground Railroad Museum will be a more active partner in the Ulysses S. Grant roundtable. Jubal A. Early We very much hope that you will retain your Dr. Sommers’ program will examine his views of the membership in Old Baldy. This year, is going to be Maryland Campaign of 1864. It will not be from the banks exciting and all members will be more involved in our of the Monocacy River or the ramparts of Fort Stevens monthly meetings. We are going to return to our in Washington D.C., but rather from the Union Army roundtable roots and hold interactive discussions about Headquarters at City Point, VA. Dr, Sommers will analyze topics of interest where all members can participate and General Ulysses S. Grant, as a theater strategist, and how express their opinions and views about the topic. Our he responded to Confederate General Jubal Early’s Raid meeting on February 8, 2007 will be a roundtable in June, July and August of 1864 and how did Grant’s discussion of the Lincoln Assassination. response affect the remainder of the Civil War. On March 8, 2007 Andrew Coldren, Assistant Curator of the Civil War Museum will bring out “hidden relics Dr. Richard J. Sommers and artifacts” from the museum collection. You will get Dr. Richard J. Sommers, Chief Historian and Archivist at to see, close up, weapons and other relics from the muse- the U. S. Army Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA., is um vaults that have not been on display for the general one of the leading military historians in the country today. public. He received his Ph. D. at Rice University in 1970 where he also served as a graduate instructor. Dr. Sommers has Also, beginning in February the museum will again written scores of articles and papers on military history remain open for roundtable members! The museum and the Civil War for many publications. His 1981 book, will be open for research and reading. We will close only Richmond Redeemed: The Siege of Petersburg, is for dinner from 5:30 to about 6:45. considered a classic and has received many awards. Our meetings are held on the second Thursday monthly There are very few Civil War and military publications that at the Civil War and Underground Railroad Museum, 1805 have not published a book review or an article by Pine Street. The meetings begin at 7:30 PM, and are Dr. Sommers. He is a accomplished battlefield guide filled with fellowship and information. All members are especially the battlefields in and around Petersburg, VA. continued on page 2 Bring a friend, neighbor and another Civil War buff to enjoy a fascinating subject and to support our speakers at Old Baldy. 1 continued from page 1 - Members invited to meet at the Marathon restaurant at the corner The membership voted to elect the following slate of of 19th and Spruce Streets at 5:30 PM prior to the meet- officers for the next two years: Steve Wright, President; ing. The food is good, the company is congenial, and the Richard Jankowski, Vice-President; Tina Newberry, conversation is enjoyable. Secretary; Herb Kaufman, Treasurer. Don Wiles will continue as newsletter editor and Harry Jenkins will be Become active in your Roundtable! Come to a the new program director. A new Board of Directors will meeting! be formed after the new year. We know we can count on Enjoy an evening of education, information and our membership to support the new officers as we go into fellowship! 2007. We urge you to continue your membership and We have the opportunity to start the new year with hope to see you soon! Please take a moment and a bang. Our 30th Anniversary Dinner on Saturday write a check for your annual dues of only $25.00 January 20th will give us the opportunity to get together ($35.00 for the family) payable to “Old Baldy and reacquaint ourselves with some old members and CWRT” and send it to: Herb Kaufman. Treasurer, welcome the newer members to the ranks. Dr. Richard 2601 Bonnie Lane, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006. J. Sommers, one of the leading military historians in Sincerely, the country, will give us a detailed view into General U. S. Steve Wright, President Grant reaction to Jubal Early’s invasion of Maryland in Herb Kaufman, Treasurer 1864. With a great speaker and loads of door prizes to be awarded to those attending, it will be a special night, I’m sure, for all. The President’s Letter This will be my last President’s Letter but I will continue to be very active in the Old Baldy Civil War Round Table this It was a great night for the Old Baldy CWRT! Twenty coming year. As the last dues paying founding member I members showed up to voice their support for the con- surely did not want the round table to fold on my watch. tinuation of the round table into 2007. It was a unanimous I give my full support to the new officers and I know all vote not only to continue Old Baldy but also to continue of you will do the same. I want to thank those of you who meeting every month. Many of the future meetings will have worked to keep Old Baldy going and also thanks be round table discussion groups as opposed to bring- to the folks at the Civil War and Underground Railroad ing in outside speakers. Efforts will be made to build up Museum for giving us a place to meet each month. the membership rolls and encourage members to attend meetings and bring guests. We encourage all our mem- All the very best to you and yours in the new year! See bers to work to build the round table to what it was in the you at Williamsons. past. Regards, Mike Cavanaugh, President Today in Civil War History Mud March Begins: 1863 Union General Ambrose Burnside's Army of the Potomac begins an offensive against General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia that quickly bogs down as several days of heavy rain turn the roads of Virginia into a muddy quagmire. The campaign was abandoned three days later. The Union army was still reeling from the disastrous Battle of Fredericksburg on December 13, 1862. Burnside's force suffered more than 13,000 casualties as it assaulted Lee's troops along hills above Fredericksburg. Lee suffered only 5,000 casualties, making Fredericksburg one of the most one-sided engagements in the eastern theater of operations. Morale was very low among the Yankees that winter. Now, Burnside sought to raise morale and seize the ini- tiative from Lee. His plan was to swing around Lee's left Mud March Sketch by A. Forbes - LOC flank and draw the Confederates away from their defenses and into the open. Speed was essential to the opera- and conflicting orders caused two corps to march across tion. January had been a dry month to that point, but each others' paths. Horses, wagons, and cannon were as soon as the Federals began to move, a drizzle turned stuck in mud, and the element of surprise was lost. into a downpour that last for four days. Logistical prob- Jeering Confederates taunted the Yankees with shouts and lems delayed the laying of a pontoon bridge across the signs that read "Burnside's Army Stuck in the Mud." Rappahannock River, and a huge traffic jam snarled the Burnside tried to lift spirits by issuing liquor to the soldiers army's progress. In one day, the 5th New York moved on January 22, but this only compounded the problems. only a mile and a half. The roads became unnavigable, Drunken troops began brawling, and entire regiments continued on page 3 2 continued from page 2 - Today in Civil War History Steve Wright fought one another. The operation was a complete fiasco, and on January 23 Burnside gave up his attempt to, in his words, "strike a great and mortal blow to the rebellion." The campaign was considered so disastrous that Burnside was removed as commander of the army on January 25. HistoryChannel “December Meeting” Steve's topic on “The Minnesota Sioux Uprising” was postponed to a later date do to the discussion on keeping Old Baldy intact and an election of new officers. Steve gave us a brief talk on several of his favorite items in the museum. museum. Also there will be Roundtable type discussions One of the many subjects of future meetings will be tours on subjects that are of direct interest to members. And as and discussions of some of the many artifacts in the before great guest speakers... Lincoln and Dr. Leale: The First Surgeon to Attend President Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre. Article submitted by Herb Kaufman Dr.