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Saturday December 14, 2024 at 3 PM

GENERAL RICHARD "DICK" STROTHER TAYLOR

Lecture by Jean-Claude Janssens: General Richard “Dick” Strother Taylor, the stubborn defender of Louisiana. Richard Dick Taylor spent his childhood in the forts of the Frontier. He was the son of General and later President Zachary Taylor. A graduate of Yale University in 1845, a Louisiana planter and politician, he had no military training. This did not prevent him from becoming one of the Confederacy's finest generals. His “masterpiece” was the 1864 Red River campaign in Louisiana. In 1865, he ended the war at the head of the Mississippi and Alabama departments. He died in New York in 1879 at the age of 53. The speaker will go into more detail about his life, which was as short as it was full.

Saturday February 8, 2025 at 3 PM

ULYSSES S. GRANT, GENERAL AND PRESIDENT

Lecture by Gerald Hawkins: Ulysses S. Grant, General and President. From lieutenant to commanding general of the U.S. Army, Ulysses S. Grant climbed the ranks of a remarkable military career. His strategic genius allowed the North to win decisive victories, notably during the Siege of Vicksburg and the Chattanooga Campaign. Appointed lieutenant general in 1864, Grant launched his Overland Campaign, which concluded with the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, thus sealing the end of the Civil War. A national hero for his decisive role in the Union's victory, Grant was elected president in 1868 and re-elected in 1872. During his terms, he worked to rebuild the South and protect the civil rights of African Americans, notably through the implementation of the 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution. However, his presidency was marred by corruption scandals that tarnished his reputation. Nevertheless, he succeeded in creating the Department of Justice, reducing the national debt by establishing the dollar’s parity with gold, and settling the Alabama Claims. Grant dedicated his final years to writing his memoirs which, published shortly before his death, are considered a masterpiece of military literature.

Saturday March 8, 2025 at 3 PM

SHERIDAN'S EPIC RAID ON RICHMOND

Lecture by Jean-Claude Janssens: Sheridan's epic raid on Richmond. On May 4, 1864, under the command of General-in-Chief Ulysses S. Grant, the Northern army crossed the Rappahannock River in Virginia. On May 9, General Philip H. Sheridan, the new commander of the cavalry, led the Army of the Potomac's cavalry corps on a major raid in Northern Virginia for the first time. The primary objective was to destroy the Southern cavalry led by J.E.B. Stuart, who would be mortally wounded on May 12 during the Battle of Yellow Tavern. Additionally, the raid aimed to destroy as much enemy infrastructure as possible and potentially threaten the still lightly defended Richmond. On May 24, having only partially achieved his goal, Sheridan rejoined Grant and the main army.

Saturday April 5, 2025 at 3 PM

THE LAST DAYS OF THE CONFEDERACY ... AND THEN?

Lecture by Marc Vandeplas: The last days of the Confederacy ... And then? In the first part of this lecture, Marc will guide you through the pivotal events of April 1865: the evacuation and burning of Richmond, the Battle of Appomattox on April 8th and 9th, General Lee's surrender, and the tragic assassination of Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre six days later. You will also revisit the final military moments of the Civil War, with special attention to the remarkable journey of the CSS Shenandoah, whose exploits across the globe left an indelible mark on history. In the second part, Marc will fast-forward to April 2024, embarking on a road trip along the East Coast of the United States in search of the Confederacy’s lingering legacy. Starting in Miami’s iconic Art Deco district, the journey continues to Key Largo for an unexpected boat ride. From there, you’ll explore Daytona Beach, a haven for car racing enthusiasts, before moving on to St. Augustine, Florida, the oldest city in North America, founded by the Spanish in 1565. Next, the trip takes you to Savannah, Georgia, now a popular destination for film productions, and Charleston, South Carolina, where you’ll be greeted by the Daughters of the Confederacy. The journey proceeds to the Manassas battlefield, renowned for its statue of Stonewall Jackson, and culminates in Washington, D.C., where you’ll explore the capital’s majestic monuments and free museums. The final stop will be Arlington, reflecting on the legacy of Robert E. Lee and the profound dilemmas that shaped his life.

LATEST PAINTINGS OF JOHN PAUL STRAIN

RAPPAHANNOCK RECONNAISSANCE

ROAD TO ROMNEY

The beautiful little town of Fredericksburg was nestled alongside the Rappahannock River. The town was settled before the end of the seventeenth century, and had a rich history, with prominent patriots of the Revolutionary War building fine mansions and great homes overlooking the river. George Washington had spent his youth not far from the city, and young Robert E. Lee spent time as a boy visiting the quaint town. The town was indeed a jewel of Virginia. But now the town was threatened with complete destruction by the invading Federal army under the command of General Ambrose Burnside. General Robert E. Lee had just arrived at the city when a letter was received from General E.V. Sumner commanding the Right Grand Division of the Army of the Potomac, demanding the complete surrender of Fredericksburg, on the grounds that businesses and factories had been used to supply the Army of Northern Virginia. The letter warned that if his demands were not met by 5 P.M. that same day, an artillery barrage to destroy the city would begin at 9 A.M. the following morning on the 22nd of November. General Lee immediately responded, advising the Union General it was not possible within the time frame given, to evacuate the civilian population. Lee, in an effort to save Fredericksburg from destruction, agreed that his soldiers would not occupy the town or use its factories. The statement seemed to mollify the Federals and the deadline was cancelled. But Lee knew it was just a matter of time before the Federals attacked, and he ordered the evacuation of the town. Now came the enormous challenge of defending against the 114,000-man Army of the Potomac. November 29th brought a severe snowstorm to Fredericksburg and the surrounding countryside. General JEB Stuart and his cavalry kept a close watch on the Federal preparations for battle across the Rappahannock River. A line of Stuart’s scouts extended along the river twenty miles below and thirty miles above to give warning of any Federal flanking maneuver. General Stuart “The Eyes of the Army” would ride to the front lines every day to see for himself what the enemy was about. Stuart would then report his findings and opinions to General Lee as to the best course of action to meet the threat. After one of General Longstreet’s gunners watched General Stuart ride by and then later Stonewall Jackson, he wrote home saying “Old Jackson is poking his nose around here, so you can look out for a squall soon!”

By the end of December 1861, the Governor of Virginia had provided new state flags for all the Virginia regiments. On New Years Eve, Stonewall Jackson’s regiments received orders to prepare for action, draw ammunition, five day’s rations, and arise at 3 A.M. to begin a march, which would later be called the Romney Expedition. Around 9 A.M. the next day Jackson's army of 8500 men filed out of Winchester waving their new flags, headed for Berkeley Springs (Bath) in mild weather conditions. Jackson was leading four brigades that afternoon when they were hit by a severe northwestern wind, which dropped temperatures below freezing. By the next day the army was fighting a blinding snowstorm as Lt. Col. Turner Ashby and his cavalry led the way, followed by Jackson’s brigades. But General Jackson was not deterred, pushing the soldiers ever forward through the icy snow-covered roads. On January 4th Jackson attacked the Federals at Berkeley Springs (Bath) forcing them to retreat and quickly occupied the town. He then ordered his artillery to shell the enemy positions in Hancock, Maryland. Snow continued to fall on January the 5th when Stonewall turned his attention to the Federal garrison at Romney. Jackson then gathered his brigades and headed back the way they had come towards Romney. After a long and arduous march, the cold and exhausted army arrived at Unger’s Store the night of the 7th. Jackson was invited to rest at Oakleigh Manor, the home of Washington Unger. The sky was beginning to clear on the morning of the 8th, as Jackson and his staff rode along the hills assessing the condition of his army. It was decided that the men would need a number of days to reorganize, refit, and recoup before their move on the garrison at Romney, thought to be 18,000 men strong. But news came that 2000 Federals had overwhelmed a 700 militia outpost at Hanging Rock near Romney. Jackson sent several raiding elements in different directions to probe the enemy strength and locations, to tear up telegraph and railroad lines, and to confound and confuse the enemy while his army recuperated. Despite the winter conditions, Jackson’s men destroyed a great number of telegraph lines and over 100 miles of B&O railroad track, earning Jackson the nick name “The Old Railroad Wrecker.” Back at camp, the milder weather began to melt the snow, turning their bivouac into what the men called “Camp Mud.” On January 13th General Jackson, and only about two-thirds of the men he had started with began their march to take the garrison at Romney. The next day Jackson’s brigades were hit with another heavy snowstorm. When one of Jackson’s brigade commanders questioned whether his men could continue under these circumstances, Jackson replied, “I have never found anything impossible with this brigade.”

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