Meeting of July 27, 2021

Alan Sissenwein on “The Worst Generals of the Civil War, Part IV”

This is a continuation of previous meeting presentations.

Most authors of the Civil War have focused on presenting the best Generals of the Civil War and their traits that led to that status. They focus heavily on Lee, Grant, Sherman, and Jackson as books on them abound. This focus overlooks the fact that there were generals at the opposite end of the leadership spectrum who were ineffective leaders.

For this presentation Alan Sissenwein will present more of the worst Federal generals. What made these generals selected for that status include bad leadership, bad battlefield results, poor decision-making, abrasive personalities, and abuse of subordinates. This will also cover the factors that allowed for bad generals to emerge and in some cases the inability to remove them from senior leadership positions.

Alan Sissenwein, a native Californian, is a professional writer who has been a member of the South Bay Civil War Round Table since 1997. He has a bachelor’s degree in history from UC Berkeley and a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University. Although he has been fascinated by history since he was a teenager, his interest in the Civil War only took root during his last semester of graduate school, which was spent in Washington D.C. He likes to say that in California the Civil War is an abstraction but on the East Coast it’s a presence. He has previously given talks to the South Bay Civil War Round Table on such subjects as George Armstrong Custer and George Brinton McClellan.

Meeting-Minutes-July-2021Download

Quiz for July 27, 2021

Civil War Quiz: What Do You Know About Southerners fighting for the North and Northerners fighting for the South?

Q#1 — Frank Crawford Armstrong was a United States Army cavalry officer prior to the Civil War. What made him unique?

Q#2 — This Union general was born in Virginia. In 1860 he was on officer with the US 2nd Cavalry. Unlike many southerner officers he opted to remain with the US Army. In response, his family turned his picture against the wall, destroyed his letters, and never spoke to him again. Name him.

Q#3 — This Confederate general was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At the start of the Civil War his choice to resign his commission in the Union and join the Confederate was due to the influence of his Virginia-born wife and many years of service in the southern states before the war. Name him.

Q#4 — This Virginia native remained loyal to the Union. He reached the rank of lieutenant general. Name him.

Q#5 — Prior to the war, this Confederate general lived in New York city where he served as deputy street commissioner. As military commander of New Orleans, he was heavily criticized for failing to adequately defend the city. Name him.

Q#6 — This Confederate admiral resigned his commission on April 22, 1861, expecting his home state of Maryland to eventually secede. When that didn’t happen, he tried to recall his resignation, but U.S. Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles said he did not want traitors or half-hearted patriots in his navy and refused to reinstate him. He then joined the Confederate navy. Name him.

Q#7 — This senator was the only sitting senator from a Confederate state who did not resign his seat upon learning of his state’s secession. He later joined the Lincoln administration. Name him.

Q#8 — This Confederate state furnished the most units of soldiers for the Union Army than any other state within the Confederacy, totaling approximately 31,092 white troops and 20,133 black troops. Name the state.

Q#9 — This western state raised 17 regiments for the Union. However, about 1,000 of its residents fought for the south. Name the state.

Q#10 — This woman, prominent during the war in her support for the Union, was born in Kentucky and had several of her half-brothers serving in the Confederate Army and were killed in action, and one brother serving the Confederacy as a surgeon. Name her.

Q#11 — Although born in Augusta, Georgia, he strongly opposed secession and supported the Union. He served as Quartermaster General of the U.S. Army during and after the American Civil War. Name him.

Q#12 — Sam Houston was governor of Texas when a Texas political convention voted to secede from the United States on February 1, 1861. What did he do next?

Q#13 — In the 1860 presidential election, this Tennessee politician ran as the candidate of the Constitutional Union Party and won 39 electoral votes. In the months following Lincoln’s election, he remained steadfast in his support for the Union but switched to supporting the Confederacy after federal forces invaded Tennessee. Name him.

Q#14 — This officer, who was born in Kentucky, surrendered Fort Sumter to start the Civil War. Name him

Q#15 — This Union admiral was born near Knoxville, Tennessee. He was the first rear admiral, vice admiral, and admiral in the United States Navy. Who was he?

Meeting of June 29, 2021

Mark Costin on “1864 General Sterling Price Raid”

By 1864 Missouri had been in Union control for two years. Believing that Missourians wanted liberation from Union forces, the Confederates made a desperate to divert Union forces from other war theatres; the Confederates attempted to retake Missouri. The campaign, often referred to as a raid but much larger in actuality, was led by General Stirling Price, former Missouri Governor, and consisted of 11 major and minor engagements. The campaign was ultimately a disaster for the Confederacy.

This talk will outline the strategic situation in Missouri in 1864 as well describe the personalities and battles of the campaign.

Mark Costin is an engineer living in Sunnyvale, CA working on functional safety for automated and autonomous vehicles. A long time history buff, this is Mark’s first presentation the SBCWRT. He holds a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering from Case Western Reserve University, an M.Eng from McMaster University, and B.Eng from McGill University.

Meeting-Minutes-June-2021Download

Quiz for June 29, 2021

Civil War Quiz: What Do You Know About the Gettysburg Address?

Q#1 – Who invited President Lincoln to speak at Gettysburg?

Q#2 – On the train trip from Washington, D.C., to Gettysburg, Lincoln was accompanied by three members of his Cabinet: William Seward, John Usher, and Montgomery Blair, along with several foreign officials and a man servant. What two other individuals who worked closely with Lincoln also made the trip?

Q#3 – The first page of the speech was written by Lincoln in ink on Executive Mansion stationery. What was the second page written with and on what?

Q#4 – How many words are contained in the Gettysburg Address?

Q#5 – What are the last 18 words of the Gettysburg Address?

Q#6 – Lincoln’s last words in the address were inspired by whom?

Q#7 – On what date and day of the week was the Gettysburg Address given?

Q#8 – Who took the only known and confirmed photograph of Lincoln at Gettysburg?

Q#9 – What was the title of the 13,607-word oration given by Edward Everett that preceded Lincoln’s address?

Q#10 – Regarding the crowd in attendance at the ceremony, what is generally known about their reaction to Lincoln’s address?

Q#11 – In a letter to Lincoln written the following day, Edward Everett praised the President for his eloquent and concise speech, saying, “I should be glad if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes.” What did Lincoln write back to Everett?

Q#12 – National reaction to the Gettysburg Address was mixed. What was the reaction of the Chicago Times Newspaper?

Q#13 – How many known manuscripts of the Gettysburg Address in Lincoln’s hand are in existence?

Q#14 – Three copies of the address were written by Lincoln for charitable purposes well after the event at Gettysburg. These were given to Edward Everett, George Bancroft, and Alexander Bliss. Who received the other two copies?

Q#15 – What happened to Lincoln on his trip back to Washington, D.C., after the event at Gettysburg?

Meeting of May 25, 2021

Robert O’Connor on “Mrs. Slater — The Missing Lincoln Conspirator”

This mysterious lady who always wore a mourning veil over her face was a confidant of John Surratt, Jr. She was a courier of messages between Richmond and the Confederate Secret Service office in Montreal. She is mentioned by several witnesses in the Lincoln Conspiracy trials, but there is a lot of confusion about their testimony. No one can describe her. She is arrested and questioned, but released and disappeared. Her story is interesting.

Robert O’Connor is an historian, researcher, and the author of 18 Civil War books who lived in Charles Town, WV. Is now retired and writes full-time. Writes about subjects or characters not widely known in the field. Has been named finalist four times in national book competitions. www.boboconnorbooks.com

Meeting Minutes May 2021Download

Quiz for May 25, 2021

Civil War Quiz: What Do You Know About the Connection of the American Civil War to Other Wars?

Revolutionary War

Q#1 — Robert E. Lee’s father, Henry Lee III, commanded Lee’s Legion during the revolutionary war. What was his nickname?

Multiple

Q#2 — He was a general in the War of 1812, The Mexican-American War and the Civil War. Who was he?

Q#3 — This confederate general’s grandfather was lieutenant colonel of cavalry in the American War of Independence and brigadier general in the War of 1812, and his father was an officer of dragoons in the War of 1812, and an aide to General Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans. Name him.

Mexican-American War

Q#4 — What key role did Robert E. Lee play in the US victory at the Battle of Cerro Gordo?

Q#5 — In the Battle of Chapultepec, brevet major James Longstreet was wounded in the thigh while charging with his regimental colors. Who did he hand the colors to?

Q#6 — Jefferson Davis commanded the Mississippi Rifles at two Mexican American war battles. Name them.

Q#7 — During the Battle of Buena Vista, General Taylor was alleged to make a statement regarding then Captain Braxton Bragg. What was the statement?

Spanish-American War

Q#8 — This Confederate cavalry commander served as major general of volunteers in the Spanish-American war. Name him.

Q#9 — As Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders charged Kettle and San Juan Hills, on their left, the 10th Cavalry, known as the Buffalo Soldiers, charged beside them. The commander of D Troop was the son of a Union general. Who was he?

Q#10 — This Civil War general, also famous as an Indian fighter, was Commanding General of the United States Army in 1895 during the Spanish–American War. Name him.

Spanish Civil War

Q#11 — US volunteers formed a battalion of the XV International Brigade to fight for the republic during the Spanish Civil War. It was named after an American Civil war figure. What was the name of the battalion?

WWI And WWII

Q#12 — This Civil War general was defeated by Nathan Bedford Forest at Brice’s Crossroads. His son was a WWI general and his grandson a WWII general. Who was he?

WWII

Q#13 — In 1943, the commander of the 84th Infantry Division was killed in action. His name has a connection to the Civil War. What was his name?

Q#14 — Confederate General Simon Bolivar Buckner, Sr., had surrendered to Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at Fort Donelson during the Civil War. What was his connection to WWII?

Q#15 — This man was the first US general to be killed in the war in Europe. He was the great-grandson of a Civil War general. Who was he?

Vietnam

Q#16 — The Battle of the Ia Drang documented in the book We Were Soldiers Once… And Young involved a regiment created during the Civil War. What was the regiment?

Meeting of April 27, 2021

Dana Lombardy on “Defending the Arteries of Rebellion: Building a Navy, Building a Book”

Dana Lombardy is back with another interesting talk, this one about his work editing Neil Chatelain’s book on Confederate Naval Operations in the Mississippi River Valley, 1861-1865 (published by Savas Beatie in 2020). Using a slide presentation created by the author, Dana will reveal the challenges and surprising discoveries that he and Chatelain uncovered while preparing this book for publication.

Dana Lombardy was an Associate Online Editor for Armchair General and now does research, writing and design through LombardyStudios.com. Dana is known for his nearly twenty television appearances, including multiple episodes of The History Channel’s “Tales of the Gun” series. He has contributed as an editor, cartographer, graphic artist,  and designer on many books, games, and magazines, was publisher of Napoleon Journal from 1996 to 2000 and published nine issues of World War One Illustrated.

Meeting Minutes April 2021Download

Quiz for April 27, 2021

Civil War Quiz: What Do You Know About Money During the Civil War?

Q#1 – What was the nickname given to US Government paper money?

Q#2 – The Confederate States dollar was backed with what?

Q#3 – There were two forms of US paper money – what were they?

Q#4 – What was the nickname given to Confederate Government paper money?

Q#5 – Before the Civil War, what was the only form of money issued by the United States?

Q#6 – What was the redemption phrase that was printed on Confederate money?

Q#7 – What was the name of President Lincoln’s first Secretary of the Treasury?

Q#8 – What was the name of President Davis’s first Secretary of the Treasury?

Q#9 – What were the interest rates offered by Northern banks when the Lincoln Administration initially sought loans at the beginning of the Civil War?

Q#10 – Which two Confederate states came up with their own form of redemption for Confederate paper money?

Q#11 – For Union paper money, what were the three denominations other than $1, $2, $5, $20, and $50 issued?

Q#12 – Confederate paper money was issued in the exact same denominations as Union paper money with one exception – what was that exception?

Q#13 – Which two Union states defied the Legal Tender Act of 1862, which authorized the US Congress to issue $150 million in paper currency that was not backed with gold or silver?

Q#14 – Why did Confederate paper money printers have to lift by offset or lithographic process scenes that had been used on whatever notes they had access to?

Q#15 – For Union paper money that was not backed by any assets, at the end of the Civil War, how many paper dollars did it require to purchase $100 in gold?

Meeting of March 30, 2021

Tom Roza on “The 1868 Impeachment Trial of President Andrew Johnson”

Tom’s study of the American Civil War has primarily focused on the people who fought in the war, who they were, what their role was in the Civil War, and what was it about them that made them significant characters in that great conflict. His previous presentations on John Buford, Winfield Scott Hancock, Robert Gould Shaw, Ambrose Powell Hill, US Grant, among others focused on this approach. This presentation is a combination of delving into the personalities of people involved coupled with the political impeachment-based functions written into our US Constitution.

We are all well aware, regardless of our individual political party affiliations, that Donald John Trump was the first (and hopefully, last) President to be impeached and put on trial twice by the United States Congress. Fortunately, there have only been two previous impeachment trials in our history and we should all pray that we never again have another.

As with the first two impeachment trials that were performed for Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton, Trump’s impeachments had two issues raised: first, were impeachable offenses committed by the President; and second, was the impeachment process employed unconstitutional. The 1868 impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson embraces both of those issues among others. And, in the last year and one-half, so much discussion on impeachment has occurred in our country, the presentation examines what actually is in the US Constitution on the topic of impeachment and how that affected the decision to impeach President Andrew Johnson.

Meeting Minutes March 2021Download

Quiz for March 30, 2021

Civil War Quiz: What Do You Know about the American Civil War in the Movies and TV?

Movies

Q#1 – The Red Badge of Courage filmed in 1951 starred this real-life military hero. Who was he?

Q#2 – This 1969 film saw ex-Confederate soldiers heading for a new life in Mexico. Name it and name the two leading actors.

Q#3 – Who did Errol Flynn play in They Died with Their Boots On?

Q#4 – David Janssen played a man escaping from a Confederate military prison in this 1970 film. Name it.

Q#5 – This Civil War film was Elvis Presley’s acting debut. Name it.

Q#6 – In the movies The Beguiled, which actors played Union soldier John McBurney?

Q#7 – In the beginning of Dances with Wolves, Lt. John Dunbar is wounded in what battle?

Q#8 – This Civil War film was based on Grierson’s Raid. Name it.

Q#9 – This 2002 movie depicted the New York draft riots. Name it.

Q#10 – Buster Keaton’s The General was inspired by which Civil War event?

TV

Q#11 – Gregory Peck played Lincoln in this TV mini-series. Name it.

Q#12 – Who played John Brown in the TV mini-series The North and the South: Book 1?

Q#13 – This short French film depicting a Civil War hanging appeared as which episode of The Twilight Zone?

Wonderful World of Disney

Q#14 – Fess Parker, known for his portrayal of Davie Crockett and Daniel Boone, starred as real-life James J. Andrews in what Disney film?

Q#15 – In Disney movie High Flying Spy, Stuart Whitman played what real-life character?