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CONFEDERATE
HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OF BELGIUM |
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NEXT MEETINGS |
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Saturday March 8, 2025 at 3 PM
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SHERIDAN'S
EPIC RAID ON RICHMOND
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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 11 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. |
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Saturday April 5, 2025 at 3 PM
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THE
LAST DAYS OF THE CONFEDERACY ... AND THEN?
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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. |
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NASHVILLE NIGHT PATROL |
ROAD TO ROMNEY |
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After escaping General Grant’s encirclement of
Fort Donelson, Lt. Colonel Forrest led his men
on a snowy two-day 75-mile trek to Nashville.
Rain and warmer temperatures had melted much
of the snow as Forrest arrived in Nashville,
and reported to General Floyd, who was then
commanding the city. Word had spread through
the populace that Fort Henry and Fort Donelson
had fallen to Union forces. And with news of
the approach of US General Buell’s army, a
great panic spread throughout the city like a
wildfire. A witness later wrote, "A reign
of terror and confusion ensued, the like of
which was never witnessed in Nashville."
Government officials and citizens fled the
chaotic scene. Violent plundering mobs were
stealing anything of value, attacking anyone
who resisted. General Floyd authorized Forrest
to take command of the city. Immediately
Forrest sent a company of men to secure the
public commissary. Forrest then rode with his
troops directly into the plundering mob. Those
who refused to disperse were met with sabers
on their heads and shoulders. One of the
drunken ring leaders of the degenerates,
charged at Forrest. The man was quickly
knocked unconscious by the butt of Forrest’s
revolver like a sack of potatoes. The man’s
followers realized their situation had changed
and reluctantly dispersed. Forrest and his
cavalry moved throughout the city restoring
some semblance of order. For a week, Forrest’s
next task was to try and save as much military
equipment and supplies as possible. Every
available wagon, horse, or mule left in
Nashville was used to remove valuable stores
to the depot of the Tennessee and Alabama
Railroad. Large quantities of military
supplies from the Confederate quartermaster’s
department, including hundreds of wagonloads
of meat were saved by Forrest and his
soldiers. The exodus from the city continued
for days with men riding on the top of
railroad cars packed with women and children.
At night, Forrest and his men patrolled the
streets of Nashville, protecting those still
remaining in the city. When Buell’s Union army
reached the outskirts of Nashville, Forrest
and forty of his men were still looking after
the transport of supplies. Being the last to
leave, Forrest finally headed to Murfreesboro.
The Federals entered the city of Nashville on
February 25th, which became the first captured
Confederate Capital of the war. The city would
be occupied by Union forces until 1867. But
the Union army had not heard the last from
Nathan Bedford Forrest.
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© All copyrights reserved
by John Paul Strain Historical Art
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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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© All copyrights reserved
by John Paul Strain Historical Art
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For information or online orders: |
www.johnpaulstrain.com |
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