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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 10 September 2022 at 3 PM

THE CONFEDERATE STATES MARINES

At our temporary premises at Wolubilis, lecture by Daniel Frankignoul: The Confederate States Marines – a corps forgotten in history. The Confederate Marine Corps provided security detachments for warships and merchant raiders, and guarded shipyards. Also used as a landing force, the maintenance of the main artillery pieces on the ships and within the coastal batteries was entrusted to this unit. The theoretical strength of the corps, commanded by a regular colonel, was forty-six officers and nine hundred and forty-four men for the whole South, but it never exceeded six hundred men in the field. The archives kept by its sole commander, Colonel Lloyd J. Beall, were destroyed in the fire that gutted his house in 1887. No regulations concerning their uniforms have been found, so one has to rely solely on a few objects, documents, surviving newspapers or vintage photographs. In addition, bibliography on the subject is almost non-existent so recounting, even briefly, the history of this elite corps is a real challenge.

Saturday 8 October 2020 at 3 PM

STATUARY AND THE CIVIL WAR

At our temporary premises in Wolubilis, lecture by Maurice Jaquemyns: Statuary and the Civil War. Civil War commemorative statuary responds to codes of expression that run through the entire history of art. We will discuss the artistic manifestations of this type of representation used by the belligerents in the conflict and we will focus our attention on their underlying intentions. We will end the conference with a general synthesis of our previous interventions by highlighting the roles and codes of military representation whatever the medium: paintings of land and naval battles, comics and commemorative statuary.

Saaturday 5 November 2022 at 7 PM

CHAB'S 50th ANNIVERSARY GRAND BANQUET

Our association is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year (1972-2022). To mark this memorable event, the CHAB is organizing a grand banquet in a stylish restaurant. A private room will be reserved fo the evening.

Saturday 10 December 2022 at 3 PM

TEXAS, AN INDEPENDENT AMERICAN REPUBLIC

At our temporary premises in Wolubilis, lecture by Jean-Claude Janssens: Texas, an independent American Republic (1836-1845). As of 1520, Texas as we know it today was part of the Spanish Empire. Between 1685 and 1690, it was French before returning to the Crown of Spain; nevertheless, it was claimed again by France until 1763. In 1821, Mexico – of which Texas was an integral part – proclaimed its independence from Spain. From that moment on, the history of this barren land would accelerate, and at the request of the government of Mexico, American immigrants settled there. In 1835, the new Texans numbered thirty thousand for only eight thousand natives. In 1836, Texas Americans broke away from Mexico. After almost ten years of precarious independence, they joined their powerful neighbor, the United States of America.

CHAB NEWS 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

RIDE AROUND McCLELLAN

SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS

In March 1862, US General George B. McClellan began his campaign to capture the Confederate Capitol of Richmond. McClellan landed 121,500 men and equipment by boat on the Virginia Peninsula and moved inland. However, the Federals were met with strong southern resistance, and after a series of battles their offensive stalled. When commanding Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston was wounded in battle, General Robert E. Lee took command of the Army of Northern Virginia. On June 10, 1862, General Robert E. Lee met with his cavalry commander, General J.E.B. Stuart concerning how best to defend Richmond. Lee’s plan was to go on the offensive against McClellan’s huge Army of the Potomac. But to do this General Lee needed detailed information on the enemy’s right flank, and this is where General J.E.B. Stuart and his cavalry came in. One of Stuart’s scouts and staff member Lt. John S. Mosby had reconnoitered the federal right flank and found only a thin screen of cavalry pickets guarding the position. Mosby reported the federal supply depots near the Pamunkey River, and communication lines were completely unprotected. Lee was intrigued and excited about the daring plan for an expedition into the area and gave his approval. On the morning of June 12th, General Stuart with 1500 cavalry men, guided by Lt. Mosby, headed in the direction of the Shenandoah Valley to fool any union sympathizers as to their destination. But in the early hours of the 13th the column moved east into enemy territory heading towards the Hanover Court House. One of the cavalry men described the terrain as the sun broke over the horizon. “The roads were surrounded by the fertile fields of waving golden grain.” When the column approached the courthouse a squadron of about 150 federal “Blue Birds” on picket duty were completely caught off guard. In a very few moments they mounted their horses and disappeared in a dense cloud of dust. Now discovered, the raiders pressed forward rapidly and took the road to Old Church. Near a wooded area near Haw’s Shop, General Stuart and his escort were engaged by Union pickets and cavalry. Stuart gave orders to “Form fours! And charge!” The men in gray pursued the enemy with shouts and yells. A number of the Federals were killed or captured. The chase continued till they reached a small sluggish stream called Totopotomoy Creek. Stuart’s cavalry continued on to attack a federal supply depot and camp near Old Church. Large supplies of boots, pistols, liquors, and commodities were found and liberated by the southerners. Horses were drafted into Confederate service and supplies left were burned along with federal tents. Telegraph wires were cut along the way as well. General Stuart had achieved his goals on the raid, but now the column was in the heart of the enemy’s country. The expedition had passed within sight of the white tents of General McClellan’s headquarters causing all manner of confusion and fear. At this point Stuart could not return by the route he had advanced. The alarm had been sounded all over the country, and an overpowering force of Federal infantry, cavalry, and artillery had been rapidly moving to intercept the daring raiders. Stuart was asked by one of his officers, that if they got into a tight place would they surrender? Stuart replied “No, … one other course was left … To die game.” Stuart and his men kept their fast pace as they continued their ride around McClellan’s forces, not stopping to rest. They travelled all night and at dawn arrived at the Chickahominy River, where a barn was hastily torn down to rebuild an old bridge. Now passing through friendly territory Stuart’s raid had become a tremendous success. The three-day ride had covered over 150 miles through enemy territory, cutting communication lines, confiscating supplies, weapons, equipment, horses, capturing 180 Federal soldiers, and causing panic and confusion behind Union lines. The whole expedition was highly embarrassing for General George McClellan. Northern newspapers featured the debacle as front-page news, and President Lincoln was livid. Southern papers cheered the amazing exploit. Stuart had proved to General Lee, that he was a very capable commander, and was “game” for any challenge.

In 1775, the Revolutionary War began in earnest as American patriots fought the British army for their independence. The founders of the Constitution met at the second Continental Congress in Philadelphia, and George Washington was named Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. By June of 1776, the Virginia legislature had adopted Virginia’s Declaration of Rights and the First Virginia Constitution. A seal for the Commonwealth of Virginia was needed, and delegate George Mason recommended the phrase “Sic Semper Tyrannis” (Thus Always to Tyrants), be included. The seal artwork was designed by George Wythe and featured the Goddess of Virtue holding a sword and spear, resting her foot on the tyrant King George. Wythe was a distinguished Virginia judge, a signatory of the Declaration of Independence, and a Founding Father of the United States. Wythe was also a law professor and mentored Thomas Jefferson, Henry Clay and John Marshall. In May of 1861, the Virginia legislature voted to secede from the Federal government and join the Confederate States of America. The convention of delegates also approved an ordinance to establish a flag for the commonwealth, adopting the pattern of the Virginia state seal of 1776 surrounded by a blue field. Virginia brigades would carry these hand painted flags featuring the Goddess of Virtue and motto “Sic Semper Tyrannis” into battle against invading federal forces. Confederate officers often purchased their own swords after obtaining a commission in the army. These swords varied in quality as well as intricacy in design, depending on the officer’s rank and wealth. It was fairly common for Generals of the highest rank to carry an ornate sword, possibly with brass fittings, silver plated handle, and their name engraved on the scabbard. Sometimes, these elegant swords were donated to the generals by a grateful citizen. General Robert E. Lee of Virginia carried a Colt 1851 Navy revolver, 3rd model - 36 cal. 6-shot round cylinder, with a 7 1/2” octagonal barrel. The piece featured a brass front bead, one piece walnut handle, silver plated brass trigger guard, and backstrap. The revolver was engraved by the W.L. Armsby Company, New York, and had the serial number 37698. After the war, Lee kept the revolver in a holster hanging from the headboard in his bedroom. General Lee would pass away on October 12, 1870. His revolver was then emptied with all six shots firing. The motto, “Sic Semper Tyrannis”, still adorns the Virginia State flag to this day. Robert E. Lee’s revolver can be seen in the American Museum of the Civil War, in Richmond, Virginia.

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