General Orders No. 9-17 September 7, 2017 Ed Bonekemper September 2017 IN THIS ISSUE False Remembrance of the Civil War: MCWRT News ………………….….…………..… page 2 The Myth of the Lost Cause From the Archives …………..…..…………….. page 3 Area Events ……………………………………….. page 3 But their greatest, their supreme and most poignant accomplishment was the Confederate Soldier. Out of the smoke they plucked him, and set him atop a stone pedestal in the From the Field ……………….…..….…..... pages 4-5 courthouse yard where he stood free at last of hunger and fear and raggedness and madness La Crosse Light Guards Flag …………… page 5 and violence; where he would never desert nor write home for a substitute, never run, never Round Table Speakers 2017-2018………. page 6 complain of short rations, never question the sacred Cause of which he was protector, and 2017-2018 Board of Directors ……..……. page 6 for which he had marched forth to willing sacrifice. Meeting Reservation Form …………….…. page 6 Howard Bahr Between the Covers…………………….. pages 7-8 The Black Flower Wanderings ………………………..……………… page 9 The Southern-created Myth of the Lost Cause has long dominated Through the Looking Glass ………….…… page 10 Americans’ remembrance of the Civil War, the country’s watershed event. Civil War Dentistry …………………………… page 11 In many ways, that Myth has been America’s most successful propaganda In Memoriam – Jud Wyant ………….….. page 11 campaign. Great Lakes Civil War Forum …………… page 12 Why “Walk the Field” ………………………. page 13 At our September meeting historian Ed Bonekemper examines the 2017 Savas Beatie Titles ……..…………… page 13 accuracy of the Myth and how it has affected our perception of slavery, Quartermaster’s Regalia ………..………… page 14 states’ rights, the nature of the Civil War, and the military performance of Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant and James Longstreet. Bonekemper September Meeting at a Glance begins by discussing the nature of slavery in 1860, including whether it Wisconsin Club th was a benign and dying institution. 9 and Wisconsin Avenue [Jackets required for the dining room.] The heart of his analysis is whether slavery was the primary cause of 6:15 p.m. - Registration/Social Hour secession and the Confederacy’s creation. He does this by examining 6:45 p.m. - Dinner Federal protection of slavery, slavery demographics, seceding states’ [$30 by reservation, please] conventions and declarations, their outreach to other slave states, Reservations are accepted until Confederate leaders’ statements, and the Confederacy’s foreign policy, Monday, September 4, 2017 POW policy and rejection of black soldiers. 7:30 p.m. - Program Drawing on decades of research, Bonekemper will then discuss other Speaker and topic are subject to change. In controversial Myth issues, such as whether the South could have won the case of inclement weather, listen to WTMJ Civil War, whether Lee was a great general, whether Grant was a mere or WISN for meeting status. “butcher” who won by brute force, whether Longstreet lost Gettysburg 2017-2018 Speaker Schedule for Lee, and whether the North won by waging “total war.” Find the speaker schedule on page 6. Ed Bonekemper earned a B.A., cum laude, in American history from Muhlenberg College, an M.A. in American history from Old Dominion Congratulations to University, and a J.D. from Yale Law School. He is the former book MCWRT member review editor of the Civil War News (2010-2016), and former adjunct Dave Wege for being military history lecturer at Muhlenberg College (2003-2010). He has honored with the written six Civil War books including Lincoln and Grant: The Westerners Who Abroe-Carter Award for Teaching Won the Civil War; Grant and Lee: Victorious American and Vanquished Virginian; McClellan and Failure: A Study of Civil War Fear, Incompetence and Excellence by the Worse; A Victor, Not a Butcher: Ulysses S. Grant’s Overlooked Military Genius Civil War Trust. and How Robert E. Lee Lost the Civil War. His latest book is The Myth of the Lost Cause: Why the South Fought the Civil War and Why the North Won. 1 milwaukeecwrt.org Civil War Round Table News When Reservations are Cancelled The Muster Roll: NEW MEMBERS Please be aware that cancellations of dinner reservations within 48 hours of the meeting are subject to payment in full. The MCWRT is charged for these dinners whether they are used or not! Your Cooperation is Appreciated “Walk-in dinner” requests are sometimes difficult to honor. Remember, dinner reservations are to be made at least 48 hours prior to the meeting date. We are always happy to accommodate where possible, but we cannot always guarantee a dinner that evening if you have not called in or emailed your reservation. MCWRT Annual Fund Thank you for your understanding. The following members have made a generous Special Dietary Needs commitment to the MCWRT by investing in that fund. This list reflects those donations made from We have quite a number of regular members who have opted for July 1, 2015 through June, 2016. special entrees as options to the regular dinner being served. The Wisconsin Club and the Round Table will make every effort to Major Contributor ($500 and above) meet any special dietary needs you may have. As a courtesy, please give a reminder when making your reservations, so we Patron ($200 - $499) Crain Bliwas, Stephen Leopold, Grant Johnson, don’t forget to serve you what you’re expecting! Robert Parrish Wade House Civil War Weekend This annual event brings the history of the American Civil War Associate ($100 - $199) to life. Held the last weekend in September, Civil War Paul Eilbes, Bill Finke, Randall Garczynski, Weekend is two action-filled days of battles, drills, medical care, Van & Dawn Harl, David L. Jordan, Jim & Ann period music and food, and general immersion into the period. Reeve, David & Helga Sartori, Dennis Slater, Hundreds of re-enactors share their talents to depict different Paul Sotirin, Wisconsin Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission scenarios of the 1860s. Programs are designed for both children and adults. Interact, Contributor (up to $99) explore, and engage presenters to broaden your understanding George Affeldt, T. James Blake, John & Linda of the times. Connelly, Tom Corcoran, Dr. Gordon Dammann, Michael Deeken, Bob Dude, Lori Duginski, Gary and The 27th annual Civil War Weekend will be held at the Wade Judith Ertel, Ted Fetting, Richard Gross, Richard House in Greenbush on September 23-24. Heaps, Tim and Nicole Hirthe, Dr. Erwin Huston, Eugene and Jane Jamrozy, Christopher E. Johnson, Adults $14 Dr. Robert Karczewski, Allan Kasprzak, Ardis Students/Seniors (65 & older) $12 Kelling, Jerome Kowalski, Jay Lauck, Fredric Madsen, Jerry & Donna Martynski, Rodney W. Malinowski, Children (5-17) $7 (children under 5 are free) M.D., Kenneth & Mary Ellen Nelson, Herbert Family $38 Oechler, Tom Olsen, Laura Rinaldi, John Rodahl, (up to two adults and two or more children 5-17) Chet Rohn, Jean Schwonek WE Energies Foundation (Gift Match) Dan Tanty, Gil Vraney, Fred Wendorf For further information: 920-526-3271 or visit: www.wadehouse.org milwaukeecwrt.org The annual membership renewal form can be found in this issue. Please complete the form and return it as soon as possible. By renewing right away, using the postage-paid envelope, you will be saving the Round Table the cost of mailing reminder notices. The money we save can be used for the excellent programming provided by your Milwaukee Civil War Round Table! Thanks for choosing to be a member of the organization that has been accurately called “the best kept secret in Wisconsin!” 2 Kenosha Civil War Museum Second Friday Lunchbox Series The series is a free program sponsored by the Milwaukee Civil War Round Table and Iron Brigade Association. Hall Rifles and Carbines in the Civil War Elmer Gertz was our Round Table speaker in September Presented by: Steve Krolick 1967 speaking on “The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln Friday, September 8, 2017 Noon and John Kennedy.” Steve Krolick will detail the invention and production of “Brandy Station: Greatest Cavalry Battle of the War” was the Hall Rifle from its patent date of 1811, to its the topic of Marshall Krolick’s talk to the Round Table in production at the Harpers Ferry Arsenal, to its use during September 1977. the Civil War by both the Union and Confederate armies. Howard Michael Madaus spoke to the Round Table in Mr. Krolick's program will include detail photographs of a September 1987 about “Hay Foot! Straw Foot! Drill disassembled Hall Rifle and parts found on battlefields. Manuals and Tactics of the Civil War.” 10th Annual Great Lakes Civil War Forum In September 1997, Lance Herdegen discussed “The Men Tullahoma, Chickamauga, and Beyond Stood Like Iron.” See page 12 for more information. “Jeb Stuart’s June 1862 Circuit of the Army of the Potomac” was presented to the Round Table by Horace Mewborn in Civil War Museum Campaign Tour 2017 September 2007. October 22 – 25, 2017 Fredericksburg At last year’s September meeting David J. Eicher spoke to Chancellorsville the members on “Tales of the Civil War High Commands.” The Wilderness Spotsylvania Talking Spirits Cemetery Tour XIX September 30-October 1, 2017 Registration Closes September 4 Forest Hill Cemetery, 1 Speedway Rd., Madison Museum members - $675 per person double occupancy $840 per person single occupancy Registration Opens Tuesday, September 5, 2017 Advance Registration available online Non-members - $720 per person double occupancy $5 online/$10 on-site ticket purchase $885 per person single occupancy Full details can be found at: Saturday, September 30 – 5:30 – 7:30 pm www.kenosha.org/wp-civilwar/events/ Candlelit tours. On the 90-minute walking tour, local actors share Civil War stories through portrayals of Wisconsin At the Madison Veterans Museum Civil War soldiers and citizens buried at the cemetery.