Tennessee Valley Civil War Round Table

Tennessee Valley Civil War Round Table

May2017 Newsletter

To Inform and Educate Since 1993Contents

The TVCWRT is a not-for-profit organization providing a forum for non-partisan study, education, and discussions regarding the American Civil War, and to support the preservation of Civil War battlefields. The TVCWRT meets the 2nd Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm, the Elks lodge on Franklin Street Huntsville, Al.TVCWRT will never sell or rent your email address to anyone. Address: 7910 Memorial Parkway SW Suite F—1 Huntsville, AL 35802 Page 1

President’s Message: page 2

Announcements:

May Speaker; Dr. Michele Butts; Galvanized Yankees page 3

Nicks Dinner page 4

Stones River Field Trip page 5

Complete History of the Rebellion Page 5

WE NEED YOU!

Duties of the President page 5

Duties of the Vice President page 6

Duties of the Program Officer page 7

Help bring us back: Marketing Director page 7

Olde Town Brass at Big Spring page 8

Battle of the Bands at Stones River page 8

Board Reports page 8

TVCWRT Features

Book Review

Making of a Memorial page 8

Little Round Table Report page 9

President’s Message

The storms of April have now, hopefully, given way to the spring glory of May, and the onset of summer is finally upon us. Here in your Round Table, we are looking forward to the next few months because they will be chock full of wonderful speakers, an exciting field trip to Stone’s River, and even a special event of two. Summer is truly our favorite time of year.

Last month’s presentation by Ms Frances Osborn Robb on Civil War Photography in Alabama was one of the most interesting presentations I have heard in a long time. Ms Robb obviously is a storehouse of knowledge on things Civil War related, and I felt that she could probable have spontaneously given an entire presentation on any of the subjects she discussed. It was terrific.

Bet you didn’t know that Confederate soldiers fought for the Union? Well, this month, Dr. Michèle Butts, who grew up in the “shadow” of Fort Donelson, and received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in History from Austin Peay State University, will talk to us about her book, Galvanized Yankees on the Upper Missouri: The Face of Loyalty published by the University Press of Colorado in 2003, allowed her to blend her three scholarly interests; the Civil War, the American West, and Native American History. Dr. Butts is a Professor of History at Austin Peay State University, and has taught in Kentucky as well as New Mexico.

We are looking for several new officers for 2018. If you have a desire to participate and help improve our Round Table, please speak to one of us at the meeting Thursday. We would love to have you help us grow. I have asked each of the officers to write up a short description of what they do to give you a better idea of the requirements. We already have a volunteer for Communications Officer – Mr. Edwin Kennedy – and are looking forward to his presence. Now. How about you? As you may or may not know, the Alabama Bicentennial celebration is about to begin with several events coming in the next few months. Preparatory to that, be sure and put a hold on your calendar for Saturday, August 19, when the Round Table will host a Beer, Bourbon and BBQ festival at the Roundhouse Depot as the kickoff of Huntsville’s celebration of Alabama’sBi-centennial 1817-1819. More about it as details develop, but planning is already well underway. It looks to be fantastic! Stay tuned to this newsletter for more details.

Having said all of that, I can’t wait to see you all on the 11th! Oh, and by the way, if you’re looking for some good reading material to have on hand while you’re at the lake or pool, check out the Round Table’s suggested Civil War reading list at Lots of good stuff there! So, until then . . .

John Mason

President, TVCWRT

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Galvanized Yankees: The First United States Volunteer; Infantry Regiment

A native of Clarksville, Tennessee, Dr. Michèle Butts grew up in the “shadow” of Fort Donelson, and received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in History from Austin Peay State University. She received her Ph.D. in History from the University of New Mexico, directed by Dr. Paul Andrew Hutton and Dr. Richard Ellis. Her book, Galvanized Yankees on the Upper Missouri: The Face of Loyalty published by the University Press of Colorado in 2003, allowed her to blend her three scholarly interests; the Civil War, the American West, and Native American History. Dr. Butts is a Professor of History at Austin Peay State University, and has taught in Kentucky as well as New Mexico.

As the Second Battle of Bull Run was raging in Virginia, vengeful Santee Sioux war parties were burning, pillaging, and killing hundreds of settlers along the Minnesota-Dakota-Iowa frontier. Horrified residents clamored for military action, but President Abraham Lincoln and Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton were hard pressed to keep troops on the battle lines in the South. They met the desperate need for additional manpower in December 1863 by permitting the recruitment of Confederate prisoners of war into the Union army, beginning under Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler at Point Lookout Prison in Maryland. Distrusting the enlisted prisoners of war, Maj. Gen. Ulysses Grant sent them to Maj. Gen. John Pope, commanding the Department of the Northwest, to garrison western forts and to protect the overland trails.

Designated the “First United States Volunteer Infantry Regiment” by General Butler, these Confederate prisoners of war were enlisted between January and June 1864 with the understanding that they would face their former comrades on the battlefield in the East. General Grant’s orders, however, sent half of them to the Minnesota frontier and half to Dakota Territory. The Dakota Battalion garrisoned Fort Rice on the Upper Missouri, where they assisted travelers, fought Native raiders, supervised Indian traders, and gathered reconnaissance for their district commander, Brig. Gen. Alfred Sully. Severely suffering from subzero temperatures; debilitating diseases; and inadequate equipment, food, and supplies, the Dakota Battalion of the First U.S. Volunteers faithfully manned their posts and served their country until they were mustered out in November 1865. As one of their officers commented, they were “the first fruits of a reunited people.”

Nick’s Dinner:

Nick’s Ristorante remains the #1 steakhouse in North Alabama and now has the Best Chef in the Valley as voted in ThePlanet.

The winner last month was Marcia Chesebro:

LET’S All VISIT NICK’S on Tuesday, June 20, 2017, 6-9pm. By popular request, we’re starting an occasional “sip and supper” for members, their guests and friends at Northern Alabama’s top rated steak house--Nick’s Ristorante in Southeast Huntsville. Members present for our monthly meeting drawing can win a $50 gift certificate to Nick’s. This benefit is yet another good reason to pay your annual dues!

To thank and support our generous sponsors, Nick and Dave Mikus, the board is hosting an occasional third Tuesday of the month social. We’ll hold a few tables, and feel free to drop by for conversation (not just on history!) with several board members and other Round Table friends. If you’ve been hesitant to try Nick’s, come try a beverage, appetizer, dinner, or just dessert and coffee—separate checks.

Please call Carol Codori 256 293 -0075 or see her at the Membership table on Thursday night. Carol reserved 20 seats for June and confirmed that ½ prices on Ladies’ Night Tuesdays also apply to the dining room. It’s a real date night.

*****

In the event a scheduled meeting must be canceled, visit the website for a detailed update no later than 3:00 P.M. on the day of the meeting. A cancelation will only be for weather or if the Elks Lodgehas anunexpectedfacility issue that requires closure. The board will not attempt to contact members.

Looking for Used Civil War Books; Look at the selections in the Library book store. Titles for as much as $4.

TVCWRT Field Trip for 2017:

Stones River National Battlefield, 28 October 2017

Attention Members! By platoons,right wheel and march with Program Director John Scales and The Round Table Brigade to Murfreesboro TN, on a Saturday when thereis neither anAlabama nor an Auburnfootball game. John and loyal assistant Dave Lady have coordinated a most interesting one-day trip to study and discuss the ferociously fought Battle of Murfreesboro or Stones River (31 Dec 1862-2 Jan 1863).

Leadingour tour will be the local park servicesenior volunteer expert, "Doughboy" Jim Schroeder, who has been studying the battleand leading tours for over twenty years. He will be assisted by John and Dave, and John will display his deep knowledge of Nathan Bedford Forrest by explaining Forrest's two raids on Murfreesboro, 1862 and 1864.

We will depart from Huntsville at 6:30AM, and expect to return the same day by 6:30 PM. A 57-PAC Bus has been reserved. Cost per person is $40.00 and registration will begin at the June general membership meeting. Time constraints will probably require all to bring their own lunches, although we are exploring the possibility of a catered lunch utilizing one of the popular sandwich shops.

Complete History of the Rebellion

Check out

Manchester Antique Mall Cross Road Trading Cois offering a complete set of the “War of the Rebellion Official Record of the Union and Confederate Army’s” history of the Civil War. The Volumes can be found on line but for those die hard researchers that like to have the old crisp pages at your finger tip; here is a chance.

931-728-4007

410 Woodbury Hwy
Manchester, TN37355

We Need You tofill one of three RT board positions!

Duties of the RT President

The President serves at the pleasure of the membership to preside over Round Table operations. As such, he/she chairs the monthly Board of Directors meeting, Opens and closes the monthly meeting, and presides at special activities such as Symposia, Dinners, and any outside meetings with other organizations. Time spent on the job each month is generally less than 12 hours, including meetings. The President's prime qualifications include the ability and willingness to speak to large groups, knowledge of planning and budgeting, and a mind capable of thinking outside the proverbial box.

Duties of the RT Vice President

The Vice President (VP) of the Tennessee Valley Civil War Round Table (TVCWRT) is an elected voting member of the Board of Directors (BOD) of the TVCWRT. The VP serves typically for two years or more as an unpaid volunteer. The primary responsibility of the VP is to support the President of TVCWRT, and filling in for the President when and as necessary (e.g., opening and closing of monthly meetings, presiding at special events, representing the RT to outside organizations, and chairing BOD meetings). This typically involves performing a wide range of one-time and recurring tasks directly and coordinating others’ performance for other tasks.

At present, recurring tasks performed by the VP include –

Assisting in the set-up of the audio and visual systems (including pre-meeting slides) to support monthly meetings and special events.
Coordinating the scheduling of and agendas for the BOD meetings.
Proofreading draft monthly newsletters, as well as other materials upon request.

Recurring tasks will change and new ones added from time to time. Current time spent performing these duties typically is 2-4 hours per month.

The VP’s prime qualifications are essentially the same as for the President. Prior experience is useful, but not required. These tasks can be learned on-the-job.

Duties of the RT Program Officer (PO):

The Program Officer (PO) of the Tennessee Valley Civil War Round Table (TVCWRT) is a voting member of the Board of Directors (BOD), or governing body, of the TVCWRT. The PO serves at the will of the BOD, typically for one year or more as an unpaid volunteer. The PO informs the President, Treasurer, and BOD of all activities relative to the monthly and special programs of the TVCWRT. The primary responsibility of the PO is to solicit and engage speakers for the regular monthly meetings of the TVCWRT and other special programs as devised by the BOD. The primary duties of the PO are corresponding with potential speakers to secure their agreement to speak on meeting nights; arranging for lodging and transportation of speakers as needed; and ensuring their timely arrival for a comfortable transition through equipment familiarization, dinner, introduction, and lecture. The PO helps in setting up the audio and video equipment for each speaker and ensures that the needs of the speakers are met.

The Program Officer advocates field trips to the BOD and solicits volunteers as needed to assist in the planning and coordination thereof.

The Program Officer fills the calendar of speakers for every month of the year except December and reports to the BOD the status of the calendar for the following year not later than October 31 each year.

It’s a Different Social Environment than Yesterday!

Our membership is declining and the Civil War is being attacked in the news on a regular basis. While we have many quality speakers and historians in the Round Table they are not experts on everything. But, enticing top quality historians known for their expertise on various subjects of the Civil War is the hallmark of our Round Table and to sustain the quality we need a person to help us navigate the winds of public opinion: AMarketing Director. It is a new position with responsibilities to guide the Round Table to increase membership and market programs to that end. It will involve developing, implementing and managing ways to understand our audiences in the Tennessee Valley, and to better promote the RT, our products, and our services to those audiences.

Prior experience with activities related to these positions would be helpful, none require prior experience or training as a prerequisite. The only qualifications actually needed are enthusiasm and a willingness to serve. Current and past Board members will advise as you settle in and get familiar with the tasks and rhythm.

Again, we need your help! Please contact any Board member if you are interested. If you don’t step up to help the organization, who will?

Help us advertise!

Are you on Facebook? Twitter? Or our web page?

If you are, “Friend” the RT. Then, when you receive FB notices of RT meetings and other events, “Share” them with all of your other friends (and ask them to do the same).

Also, do you have a Twitter account? If you do, “Follow” Emil Posey.

Then, when you receive his tweets of RT meetings and other events, re-tweet them so all that follow you will be informed (and ask your followers to do the same).

Olde Towne Brass Performs

The Olde Towne Brass will perform at Huntsville’s Concert in the Park in Big Spring Park on Monday, July 3, 2017, at 6:30 PM. It will be a big band with 15 Brass and 3 Drums. The music will be the same as was performed in Huntsville during the 1860’s by occupying (Union) Bands.

Battle of the Bands on Saturday, October 14, 2017, at the Stone’s River Battlefield.

It is Free, with Concerts starting at 10:00 AM and the Battle between the two large Bands at 4:00 PM.

The musicians taking part are coming from all over the place, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Texas, Georgia, Alabama, and other places. Bob Baccus will be conducting the Confederate Band, and the conductor of the Union Band is conductor of the Federal City Band from Maryland. It will be a great event just like last year.

Board Reports

Programs: acting Programs Director; John Scales

June 8, 2017: Art Candenquist, “Did Anyone REALLY Know What Time It Was? The Lack of Time Standardization and Its Outcome on Many Battles”

July 13, 2017: Brian Steel Wills, "The Softer Side of Forrest"

August 10, 2017: Whitney Snow, “Guntersville's Teenage Civil War Diarist, Catherine Fennell”

August 19, 2017: 2017 Bicentennial Celebration: Beer, Bourbon, BBQ and more

September 14, 2017: Philip Leigh, “Confederacy at Flood Tide”

October 12, 2017: David Lady and John Scales, "Stones River"

October 28, 2017: Jim Schroeder, Field Trip to Stones River Battlefield

November 9, 2017: Phil Bording, James Buchanan Eads-Pioneer Engineer in the 1800’s

TVCWRT Features

Book Review

John J. Perry and David R. Carney; The Making of a Memorial, 2017, Nightsky Publishing, New Market, AL 35761

I know book reviews are supposed to address the good and the not so good of a book and clearly expose the intent of the author and judge if the author meets his objective. The intent and objectives were met and the text is an adequate representation of the largest Veterans memorial in the southeast United States and a rival to any memorial in Washington D.C.