This month, SDCWRT member Gene Armistead will present “Generally Despicable: Men Who Wore the Star During the Civil War”.  Some Civil War Generals, like Forrest and Sherman, are thought despicable—even despised—by partisans of the other side.  Some, like Ben Butler, are thought to be despicable by nearly everyone even though charges against him were actually false.  Some, like Dan Sickles, really were despicable people but somehow managed to pretty much behave during the war.  Gene will review the actions of a dozen generals, mostly little known, who wore the star and excelled in personal despicability during the Civil War.

            This month’s speaker will be one of our own members. Josh Weiselberg’s program will be “The Western Theater: Mill Springs and Shiloh.” Josh will introduce the Union and Confederate commanders that played a role in the Western conflict. He will discuss Shiloh and its significance in the strategy in the west, and its effect on later engagements out there, including Mill Springs as a focal point.

            Josh will supply an overview of the future of the Western Theater of the War and how Crittenden, McCullough, Van Dorn, Grant, Curtis, as well as Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis responded after these events. Sounds as if it is going to be a very interesting program so come one and all.

        When South Carolina left the Union on December 20, 1860 the threat of secession left the realm of rhetoric and entered an alternate reality.  In Part II of, “Men Really Do Go Mad : Slavery, Secession, Seward, and Sumter”, SDCWRT member Pedro Garcia takes us to the centre of gravity of the secession movement, Charleston SC, as well as to the prize in Charleston Harbor…before returning north to look at the reaction of the Lincoln administration.  Reading suggestions are: Days of Defiance by Maury Klein, Apostles of Disunion by Charles Dew, First Blood—the Story by W.A. Swanburg, and The Unpopular Mr. Lincoln by Larry Tagg.

The Battle of Missionary Ridge at Chattanooga

This month our speaker will be one of our own members, who has given us several outstanding programs over the years—Barbara Hemmingsen.  Tonight Barbara’s program is “Chattanooga and Missionary Ridge”.  After its defeat at the Battle of Chickamauga, September 19-21, 1863, the Union Army retreated to Chattanooga where it was promptly encircled by the Confederate Army of Tennessee.

            The siege was broken by the Federals under the leadership of General Grant, and was made possible, in large measure, by the men of the Army of the Cumberland who spontaneously, stormed up Missionary Ridge and drove the Confederates south.  The lecture will be illustrated by quotes from the letters of Captain Joseph Bruff, 125th O.V.I., who endured the siege and then led the men of Company A up the ridge to break it.

Civil War Pistol

            This month, long time SDCWRT member Phil Binks will be presenting “Civil War Weapons, Part 2”.  In March of last year, Mr. Binks presented “Long Arms of the Civil War” and this year, he is returning to present about pistols and other small arms of the Civil War as well as their history and development.

            The time has not changed and the location is still the same.

            This will be the 292nd Meeting of the San Dido Civil War Round Table at Palisades Presbyterian Church, 6301 Birchwood St., San Diego, CA 92120.

            We apologize for any inconvenience, but we were just as surprised as anyone else. We are still looking forward to seeing one and all for what we believe will be fun night with good food and good friends. Don’t forget to bring any guest you wish, but please make sure they know of the change. Also remember a White Elephant Gift for our Gift Exchange.

            Once again we apologize for the change and if you are unable to attend your Round Table Officers wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and the Happiest of Holidays.

Pedro is a longtime SDCWRT member and two time winner of POT, Pedro will seek to show what America was in 1860, and what it was becoming.

            This month’s speaker will be one of our own, Mark Shapiro. Mark has spoken to us in the past and each and every time it has been one our best programs, and this time will be no different. Be prepared for an educational treat.

On August 21, 1848, a Virginia slave named Nat Turner launched an insurrection that would shake the antebellum South to its core. Over the course of the rebellion, 56 white people, including men, women, and children were murdered. Turner was subsequently captured and was, along with 55 accused accomplices, put to death. In a paroxysm of fear and reprisal, more than 200 black people uninvolved in the rebellion were beaten, tortured and killed. These events and the far-reaching consequences will be explored in “Antebellum Fear: Nat Turner’s Rebellion”

 Our meeting this month “Charles Stewart: First Admiral and Forgotten Hero “will be presented by Gene Armistead.  Stewart, at the time of the Civil War, known by the sobriquets “the American Nelson” and “Old Ironsides” was our navy’s first admiral rather then, as commonly believed, David Glasgow Farragut. In explaining how this is the actual case, Gene will review the evolution of naval rank as well as an illustrious career that merited Stewart’s

Charles Stewart

 becoming the first admiral almost four years prior to Farragut achieving that grade. In some ways, Stewart was the Navy’s equivalent to General Winfield Scott – only more so. And, of course, this forgotten man’s contributions toward Union victory in the Civil War will be highlighted. Gene always presents an informative program, so don’t miss this evening with Gene.