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 4 Chicago, Illinois December 2013 (773) 774-6781. Each meeting features a book raffle, with Future Meetings Kevin Weddle On Dec. 14th, the Civil War Muse- proceeds going to battlefield preserva- Regular meetings are held at the on um in Kenosha will present an after- tion. There is also a silent auction for Holiday Inn Mart Plaza, 350 North “Lincoln’s Tragic Admiral” noon of songs, crafts and activities books donated by Ralph Newman and Orleans Street, the second Friday of exploring how soldiers and civilians others, again with proceeds benefiting each month, unless otherwise indicated. by Bruce Allardice battlefield preservation. celebrated the Christmas holiday Jan. 20, 2014: Rob Girardi, “The On Dec. 13th Colonel Kevin during the Civil War. Murder of General William ‘Bull’ Weddle will discuss Rear Admiral More Upcoming Civil War Events 726th REGULAR Nelson” MEETING Samuel Francis Du Pont. At the The December issue of Civil War Dec. 4th, Lake County CWRT: start of the Civil War, Du Pont Feb. 14: Harold Knudsen, “General Kevin Weddle News has an extensive article with Christmas party was considered one of the finest Longstreet” on Kevin Weddle photo of the Sons of Union Vet- officers in the US Navy. Yet a Dec. 6th, Union League Club March 14: Aaron Barnhart, “Price’s “Lincoln’s Tragic Admiral” erans grave marker ceremony at little more than two years into States and overseas and he is a of Chicago, Kevin Peraino will 1864 Missouri Raid” H H H H H Plainfield Township Cemetery on the war, he was disgraced, having veteran of Operations Desert discuss his new book, Lincoln April 11: Scott Bowden, “Last Sept. 28th. Among those pictured Friday, December 13 been relieved of his command Shield and Desert Storm and is our own Jerry Kowalski (Gen- in the World Chance for Victory” H H H H H after his failed naval effort to take Operation Enduring Freedom. eral George Thomas), in his role as Dec. 6th, Northern Illinois May 9: Dan Bastian, “Grant’s Charleston, SC. Today Du Pont Chaplain General of the SUV. This CWRT: Charlie Banks on Canal” Holiday Inn Mart Plaza is little more than a footnote. Colonel Weddle holds masters’ is the seventh Civil War veteran 350 North Orleans Street degrees in history and civil “U.S. Military Railroads” June 13: Kenneth Noe, “The War in Kevin Weddle, Ph.D., Colonel headstone project completed by the engineering from the University Appalachia” Cocktails at 5:30 p.m. (Retired), US Army, and Professor Sheridan Camp, SUV. Dec. 8th, McHenry County of Minnesota and a Ph.D. in Dinner at 6:30 p.m. of Military Theory and Strategy CWRT: Annual Christmas lun- at the US Army War College, history from Princeton University. On Dec. 7th, the Civil War Mu- cheon The next Virtual Book Signing $47 - Members/Non-members will talk about this He has written will take place in Thursday, De- numerous articles seum in Kenosha will have Steve Dec. 12th, Milwaukee CWRT: all but forgotten cember 5th at 6:00pm. Join the for popular and Sherry hosting a workshop on Civil Kevin Weddle on “Lincoln’s officer who actually Call by Abraham Lincoln Bookshop for scholarly journals War small arms and uniforms Tragic Admiral” Entrée: Prime Rib, made a significant Wednesday Kevin Peraino and Jared Peat- Baked Salmon contribution to US Dec. 11 and his first book, man. Kevin’s book, Lincoln in Lincoln’s Tragic The CWRT’s winter Executive Dec. 13th, Civil War Museum in Vegetarian Plate or Navy success before the World, is the first on over 40 Admiral: The Life Committee Board Meeting is ten- Kenosha: Neil Shafer discusses Fruit Plate and during the war. years to examine Lincoln’s foreign of Samuel Francis tatively scheduled for Saturday, Jan. Civil War paper currency policy initiatives. Jared Peatman Kevin Weddle is Professor of Du Pont (University of Virginia 25th at the Chicago History Muse- Please Note: Dec. 17th, Lincoln-Davis CWRT: will talk about The Long Shadow Military Theory and Strategy at Press, 2005), won the 2006 um, starting at 9 a.m. Any member Make your reservations by Wednesday, Dec. 11, by Dave Clark on “The Roads that of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. emailing [email protected], or the US Army War College, Carlisle William E. Colby Award, was is welcome to attend. calling 630 460-1865 with the names of your party Lead to Lincoln” This revealing work provides fresh and choice of entrée. Barracks, Pennsylvania. He is runner up in the Theodore and If a cancellation becomes necessary after dinner a native Minnesotan, graduate Dec. 19th, South Suburban insight into the enduring legacy of reservations have been made, please email us at Franklin Roosevelt Naval History Check the Announcements section Abraham Lincoln and his Gettys- [email protected] and/or call us at of the U.S. Military Academy at Prize competition, and won CWRT: Holiday Party at Aure- 630-460-1865. of the CWRT’s website for addition- West Point, New York, and served lio’s in Frankfort burg Address on American history We are offering the option of choosing not to have the Army War College’s faculty al coming events. dinner and coming only for the address at 7:15 p.m., over 28 years as a combat engineer and culture. for a charge of $10 per person. writing award. He is currently officer. Throughout his career he Know of any upcoming talks, events, or publi- Dec. 20th, Salt Creek CWRT: Parking at the Holiday Inn is $12 with a validated writing a strategic history of the cations? All members are welcome to contrib- Roger Bohn on “Richard Yates” parking sticker. worked in a variety of command Saratoga campaign for the Oxford ute items to the newsletter. Contact the editor From the CWRT to all, and staff positions in the United University Press. at [email protected] or (630) 297-8046. Happy Holidays! 2 The Civil War Round Table 3 The Civil War Round Table Battlefield Preservation THE CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE November Meeting By Brian Seiter By Mark Matranga (Richmond, Va.) – Governor Bob easements that protect the lands The Civil War Round Table award- any of Lee’s staff left an account of Hewitt exposed another long held McDonnell announced today that from future development. ed Lawrence Hewitt the 2013 this event. Hewitt ponders the pos- assumption, that the Trans-Missis- Wal-Mart has donated to the Com- Nevins-Freeman award at its 725th sibility that Lee heartily welcomed sippi was the ‘junkyard’ of the Con- “This is a won- Stuart. monwealth of Virginia more than Founded December 3, 1940 regular meeting on November 8, federacy, by citing a set of unassail- derful legacy gift 2013. In his lecture, Civil War Myths able facts: of 73 generals who served 50 acres of land in Orange County 1039 Hinswood A ‘Tall Tale’ involves the oft-repeat- from Wal-Mart Darien, Illinois 60561 and Mythmakers, Hewitt focused on in the Trans-Mississippi, ninety per associated with the Civil War battle ed story of Braxton Bragg, who as Phone: 630-460-1865 the differing methods by which a cent were not ‘dumped’ by the east- that comes dur- www.chicagocwrt.org company commander issued a req- of Chancellorsville and most notably myth is created. Mythmakers can ern armies. Of the remaining seven, ing the mid- uisition to the quartermaster of the with the battle of the Wilderness. The only requirement for membership in be supposed eyewitnesses or histo- John G. Walker was transferred to Gov. McDonnell point of the Ses- The Civil War Round Table is a genuine fort, himself, who denied the re- of Virginia rians writing after the fact. Despite the Trans-Mississippi over Lee’s ob- “We are delighted by this generous quicentennial of interest in the Civil War and its era. For quest. He referred the dispute to the information, address Membership Com- the historians’ job to ferret out the jection, William Preston was sent and voluntary gift from Wal-Mart,” post commander who marveled that the Civil War,” mittee, 1039 Hinswood, Darien, Illinois truth and expose lies, sometime the away by Bragg, and Sibley was ini- he had argued with every other of- said Governor McDonnell. “It’s an- said Kathleen S. Kilpatrick, direc- 60561, or [email protected]. story is just too good not to retell. tially assigned there. ficer in the army and was now argu- other demonstration of Wal-Mart’s tor of the Department of Historic At times historians are misled by ing with himself. The story’s source? Hewitt challenged another great role as a good and positive corpo- available evidence and at times his- Resources. “We look forward to Grant’s Memoirs, published some myth of the war, one biographer purchased, and constructed a store rate citizen in Virginia, whose pres- working with community leaders torians manufacture facts, and even forty years after this event could of Nathan Bedford Forrest and at an alternative site four miles west ence here serves long range goals to steward the property and realize the best historians make honest have happened. Braxton Bragg have perpetuated, of the original site located at the mistakes. for our vitality.” its potential for public benefit.