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Due to the renovation works at the Communal Museum, the CHAB Club House has moved into temporary premises at Wolubilis, Woluwe-Saint-Lambert. Our monthly meetings will thus be held there until further notice. New Address: 1 place du Temps Libre - Local A300 - 3rd floor (right when leaving the elevator). The building is located along the Cours Paul-Henri Spaak, just opposite the Woluwe Shopping Center. The entrance is on the ground floor, left of the bookstore/restaurant Cook & Book. (see access map)

NEXT MEETINGS

Saturday 8 April 2023 at 3 PM

THE KNOXVILLE CAMPAIGN or THE SETBACK OF JAMES LONGSTREET

At our temporary premises in Wolubilis, lecture by Jean-Claude Janssens: The Knoxville campaign or the setback of James Longstreet (September 3 - December 4, 1863). Already in April 1863, General Pete Longstreet had failed to capture Suffolk in Virginia. After the Pennsylvania campaign of 1863, Longstreet and part of the 1st Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia were rushed to Tennessee, where the situation was becoming precarious for the Confederates. They participated at the Battle of Chickamauga and at the beginning of the siege of Chattanooga. On November 17, 1863, they besieged Knoxville in East Tennessee, which had been in Union hands since September 3. The siege was poorly conducted and on November 29, culminated in a resounding setback at Fort Sanders. On December 4, Longstreet had to retire. He held on with difficulty in Tennessee during the winter of 1863-64 and did not reach Virginia until the spring of 1864. An excellent tactician, Longstreet did not, however, shine at the head of independent commands. Siege warfare was clearly not his specialty.

Saturday 13 May 2023 at 10 AM

EXCURSION TO POPERINGE

Excursion to Poperinge organized by our member André Borri. Visit of Talbot House, the Hop Museum and the military cemetery of Lijssenthoek

Talbot House
During the First World War, Poperinge was part of a small unoccupied part of Belgium. About twelve kilometers from the Ypres Salient, the town became the nerve center of the British troops. In December 1915, in the heart of the city, the chaplains Neville Talbot and Philip Tubby Clayton opened a club where soldiers, whatever their rank, could find some rest and entertainment. Today, the house remains a remarkable testimony for anyone interested in the Great War.

Hop Museum
Poperinge is the capital of hop farming. Here, the story of hops and beer is told. From the ground floor to the monumental attic, from cultivation to field work, including harvesting and the various forms of applications, the genesis of hops is explained. On the ground floor, one can admire the collection of more than 2,500 Belgian beers.

Lijssenthoek
The Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery bears impressive witness to more than four years of wartime violence. From 1915 to 1920, the largest evacuation hospital in the Ypres Salient was located in the hamlet of Lijssenthoek. Today, the cemetery is the mirror of the Great War. The visitor center tells the story of this unique site.

Price of the excursion is 60 €. More details on the French page of this website or upon request. Reservation a must before May 3, 2023 at the latest by email to d.decleer@scarlet.be or tel. at 0475/77 34 60.

Saturday 3 June 2023 from 11.30 AM

CHAB BARBECUE

As in previous editions, the CHAB barbecue will take place at the club house of the Hoegaarden hockey club. This year, Hubert Leroy and Dominique De Cleer will prepare a traditional barbecue. Planter's punch – Famenne pâté – Beef skewer and spare ribs, salads, assorted vegetables and fried potatoes – Vanilla ice cream and fresh fruit salad – Coffee/Tea. Meal price (drinks not included): CHAB members: €35 – non-members: €45. Please register with our secretary Dominique De Cleer by email at d.decleer@scarlet.be or by tel. at 0475/77 34 60, and pay the amount of your meal to account BE90 0631 2838 8932 with the mention BBQ CHAB, before May 25, 2023 at the latest.

CHAB NEWS END OF PUBLICATION NOTICE

The CHAB committee wishes to inform its foreign and American friends that due to severe budget constraints, the English version of the CHAB News is no longer published. However, the French version of our quarterly remains available to the contributing members of our association. Thank you for your understanding.
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LATEST PAINTINGS OF JOHN PAUL STRAIN

MAJOR JOHN PELHAM COURTING MISS SALLIE

GOLDEN SKY

After the Battle of Antietam, General Stuart and his staff retired to “The Bower”, the home of the Dandridge family located near Leetown, Virginia. During the months of September, October, and into November the home was the site of many entertaining nights with General Stuart and staff, including John Pelham, Heros Von Borke and Wade Hampton. Both military and civilian participants enjoyed music, dancing, games of whist, chess, and cards. Even scenes from Shakespeare and Dickens were performed. It was during this respite from war that Stuart’s brilliant 24 year old artillery commander Major John Pelham met and courted Miss Sarah “Sallie” Dandridge. The couple spent every minute of spare time together, riding through the beautiful countryside and taking long walks together. By some accounts, just before General Stuart’s raid on Chambersburg, the couple were engaged to be married. Like many young soldiers Major Pelham would have to say good-bye to Miss Sallie. Major Pelham’s horse artillery battery was a key element in General Stuart’s success in the field. Pelham and his guns proved time and time again how devastating to the enemy his brave and skilled cannoneers were. General Stuart regarded his young artillery commander as a younger brother, praising, promoting, teasing, and looking after him. Major Pelham’s exploits were often witnessed by the Confederate high command. General Lee talked about watching Pelham in action, ”It is glorious to see such courage in one so young. I have never seen a more skillful handling of guns.” Lee remarked. “It is really extraordinary to find such nerve and genius in a mere boy.” General Stonewall Jackson begged Stuart to give him Pelham for his army, saying according to legend, “With a Pelham on each flank, I could whip the world.” And of course Stuart refused to give up his young artilleryman. General Stuart’s Chambersburg Raid and second ride around the Army of the Potomac was about to start. Pelham and his cannoneers would face new challenges in enemy territory covering many fast paced miles crossing difficult terrain and keeping pursuing Federals at bay. The Raid on Chambersburg would be a great success. But sadly Major John Pelham would be killed at the Battle of Kelly’s Ford, five months later. Pelham was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel posthumously on April 4, 1863. He had fought in over 60 engagements and had never lost a gun to the enemy. General Stuart would later name his newborn daughter Virginia Pelham Stuart.

A distant crack of a Federal sharp-shooter’s rifle was instantly heard, as the bullet whistled past Generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, barely missing them. The two commanders made a dash to some nearby woods. It had been a close call, one that easily could have changed the whole course of the war. But this was the risk these brave leaders often faced leading their armies in battle. Lee and Jackson had been scouting the ground southeast of the Plank road on a small pathway leading to Catherine’s Furnace. In the early morning of April 27, the Army of the Potomac under the command of General Joseph Hooker had begun an offensive towards the Confederate left, by crossing the Rappahannock River on pontoons. On the 29th, General Stuart dispatched a telegram to Lee reporting that his men had engaged the enemy at Maddens, nine miles from Culpeper. They had captured Federal troops from the V, XI, and XII Corps of the Army of the Potomac. The dispatch also informed Lee that large columns of federal troops were headed for Germanna and Ely’s Ford on the Rapidan River. With this vital information Lee was able to determine General Hooker’s plan was to turn the Confederate left flank. General Lee ordered Stuart to rejoin the main body of the army post haste. On the 30th, a courier arrived from General Anderson at Chancellorsville, informing Lee the federal force had crossed the Rapidan and was heading his way. Anderson requested reinforcements, and Lee ordered Anderson and his four brigades to dig in. Hooker’s advance was tentative. When confronted by southern brigades, the Federals would stop, retreat and regroup before advancing again. General Lee felt there was something suspicious about the situation, as numerically, General Hooker’s army was far superior than his. In the late evening of May 1st, he met up with Jackson near the Plank road to get a better feel of things. After retreating from the sniper into the woods, Lee and Jackson dismounted and began discussing how best to deal with the invading federal force. They were soon joined by General Stuart in this night conference. Lee had already left part of his army at Fredericksburg to counter any federal moves there. His new plan was to divide his army again sending General Jackson’s Corps on a flanking maneuver at 4am and attack the unsuspecting Federal XI Corps in their camps. The plan the commanders came up with would lead to one of the greatest victories for the Confederacy, and one of the costliest. General Jackson would be mortally wounded.

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