McHenry County CWRT Discussion: The Beginning of the End December 1864, January 1865

The McHenry County (Illinois) Civil War Round Table discussion group met at Panera Bread on December17, 2022 to discuss events in these two months.

Of course, a lot was said about the two battles of Fort Fisher in those two months and the fall of the fort on Jan. 15.

On January 15, 1865, Confederate General Beauregard arrived in Tupelo, Mississippi, to inspect what was left of the Army of Tennessee.  There wasn't much to inspect.  It was in complete chaos.

He sent 4,000 of them to Mobile to reinforce that garrison and furloughed 3,500 to go home.  (You have to wonder how many returned after the furlough was over.

Also in South Carolina, Charleston Harbor was abandoned.  The Union fleet was preparing a demonstration to draw attention away from its entrance to the harbor.

The USS Patapsco hit a torpedo while participating in obstruction removal and sank with the loss of 75 of her 105 man crew.  One of the few survivors was its executive officer, Lieutenant William T. Sampson who would later find fame for the naval victory over the Spanish at the Battle of Santiago de Cuba in the Spanish-American War.

--Old Secesh

McHenry County CWRT Presentation June 11, 2024: John Brown: Hero or Terrorist, Martyr or Mad Man?

 The McHenry County Civil War Round Table met June 11, 2024, at the Woodstock Public Library in Woodstock, Illinois, and were treated to an presentation on none other than John Brown by Bob Pressman of the Rock River Valley CWRT.  I wrote about Bob Pressman and his Round Table earlier this month in this blog.

 At the end of his talk, he had us vote as to which of the four descriptions of him were most appropriate:  Hero or Terrorist, Martyr or Mad Man.  I voted all but hero.  I am Southern and there was no way he was a hero.  But I did agree on the other three cases.  He fit them all. And, yes, I can see why he is a hero to some, just not me.

Bob Pressman opened saying that John Brown was a "bundle of contradictions."  He was probably the single biggest solo reason why the Civil War was fought.  Some say the Civil War actually began at Harpers Ferry on October 16, 1859.

I agree.  

What John Brown was trying to do was the biggest Southern fear of them all.  The fear of a slave insurrection, armed and killing owners went to the deepest part of the Southern heart.  And, it would have been one thing for John Brown and a small band of followers doing what they did.

But what really got the Southerners was how the North regarded John Brown as a hero and/or martyr.

How can you live in a country where a lot of the people want you dead?

--Old Secesh

McHenry County CWRT Discussion Group Meets Saturday to Discuss Union General Steven Hurlbut

The McHenry County Civil War Round Table (MCCWRT) will meet this Saturday June 22 at Panera Bread in Crystal Lake, Illinois between 10 am and 11:30 to discuss Union General Steven A. Hurlbut who had quite the interesting career for many reasons.

It will also be carried on ZOOM.

All are invited and we generally stay somewhat on topic most of the time.  If we don't Steve is bound to say something.

Panera Bread is located at the corner of Main Street and Northwest Highway (U.S. 14).

Come on By.  --Old Secesh

2024 'Talks' at McHenry County CWRT-- Part 2: 'Rank Discord'

JULY 9:  And Then He Was a Lion:  Major General James Steedman

AUGUST 13:  Meade at Gettysburg  (Impersonation)--  David Eisele

SEPTEMBER 10:  Rank Discord--  Rob Girardi

OCTOBER 8:  George Custer, His Rebel Buddy, Harpers Ferry & John Yates Beall--  Don Hatch

NOVEMBER 12:  Loose Lips: "Military Intelligence in the Civil War"--  Bruce Allardice

DECEMBER 10:  Partisan Warfare in 1862 Kentucky   (ZOOM only)--   Derrick Lindow

So, there you have it.  One year of Civil War stuff from your friendly local McHenry County (Illinois) Civil War Round Table.

--Old Secesh

'Talks' at the McHenry County Civil War Round Table 2024: 'Last Man Standing'

Earlier this month I listed the presentations that have been and will be given to the Rock River Valley CWRT.

I decided to list the ones at my Civil War Round Table.

JANUARY:  Morgan's Great Raid:  Taking the War to the North--  Dave Mowery

FEBRUARY:  "Last Man Standing" the 20th Indiana--  Chuck Rebesco

MARCH:  Confederate Railroads--  Charlie Banks

APRIL:  Central Florida's Civil War Veterans--  Bob Grenier

MAY:   Charles River Ellet, the Queen of the West and USS Indianola--  Ed Urban

JUNE:  John Brown:  Hero or Terrorist?  Martyr or Madman?--  Bob Pressman

--Old Secesh

MCCWRT Meeting June 11: John Brown: Hero or Terrorist?

The McHenry Civil War Round Table (Illinois) will be meeting Tuesday, June 11 at the Woodstock Public Library in Woodstock, Illinois.

It will be in person and via Zoom.

Presenter will be Bob Pressman on "John Brown:  Hero or Terrorist."

Meeting starts at 7 p.m. and runs to 8:30.

The library is located at 414 West Judd Street.

All are also invited to attend a pre-meeting get together for dinner or snacks at 3 Brothers Restaurant on Illinois Highway 47.    No need to RSVP.  Just show up.

(Personally I regard John Brown as quite a terrorist and a major reason the war was fought.)

--Old Secesh  (With a name like that, how could I not?)

MCCWRT Discussion Group Meets Saturday May 25

The McHenry County Civil War Round Table (MCCWRT) meets this Saturday at Panera Bread in Crystal Lake, Illinois.  This week's discussion will revolve around April-May 1865 Escape from Richmond and the capture of Jefferson Davis.

Panera Bread is located at the intersection of Main Street and U.S. Route 14 (Northwest Highway) and the meeting runs from 10 a.m. to 11:30.

There is also Zoom available.

Come On By.  --Old Secesh

THE McHenry County Civil War Round Table-- Part 2

Attendance at meetings averages between ten and fifteen, while discussion groups are smaller.  We also have ZOOM in both venues. 

"COVID took a toll on us as well as other groups and we are still recovering," says Jim Stannis.  "But we are starting to grow our membership again."

Several members of the McHenry group have presented Civil War topics to adult education classes at McHenry County College and they've assisted the McHenry County Historical Society in restoring artifacts and writings.

Membership dues are $25 a year, and part of the money is used to support a $1,000 scholarship to the annual high school winner of a historical contest.

--Old Secesh

Now for the Best (In my Opinion) CWRT: McHenry County Civil War Round Table

These are all from the 2024 Northwest Quarterly Magazine "Civil War Round Tables" by Jon McGinty.

Then McHenry County Civil War Round Table (MCCWRT) was founded in 1997, and it holds monthly meetings on the second Tuesday of every month (that would be tonight) at the Woodstock Public Library in Woodstock, Illinois.  Meetings are also shared on Zoom with members and other regional round tables.

"We also conduct a monthly discussion group every  fourth Saturday at Panera Bread  restaurant in Crystal Lake, Illinois, also on Zoom," says Jim Stanis, secretary of the Round Table.  "They are informal  conversations about Civil War topics, whereas the meetings  usually include a presentation."

Tonight's presentation will be given by Ed Urban on the Ellet rams at Vicksburg.

The meeting starts at 7 at the library.  Before hat some of us will gather at 3 Brothers Restaurant in Woodstock on Illinois Highway 47 for dinner or snacks.  That starts around 5:30.

Come on By.  --Old Secesh

MCCWRT Discussion Group Meets Tomorrow: Topic 'The Fall of Richmond'

In April 1865, the capital of the Confederacy fell to Union forces.  The McHenry County (Illinois) Civil War Round Table discussion group will be talking about it from 10 am to 11:30 am at the Crystal Lake, Illinois.

It will also be on Zoom.  So if you're in the area, stop on in.  Everybody's welcome and all you need is an interest in the Civil War.

And, we actually do stay on topic most of the time.

Panera Bread is located on Northwest Highway (US-14) by Main Street.

Come On Down.  --Old Secesh

Seven Illinois Civil War Round Tables Listed

The Civil War.com site lists seven CWRTs in Illinois:

Champaign County CWRT

Chicago CWRT

Decatur CWRT

Joliet Area CWRT

McHenry County CWRT

Northern Illinois CWRT

Salt Creek CWRT

There is also a Rock River Valley CWRT

--Old Secesh

Civil War Round Tables-- Part 2: And Then There's the McHenry County Civil War Round Table

Although operations at meetings differ, most Civil War Round Tables (CWRT) follow a similar format at their monthly meetings.  Some meet at a restaurant where a meal preceded the program.  Announcements or publicity for related events are usually followed by a formal presentation from an author, professor, historian, re-enactor, member or others on a topic related to the Civil War.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many CWRTs have hybrid programs where the live meeting is shared online on Zoom.

This is how my McHenry County Civil War Round Table operates as well.  Plus, once a month we have a discussion meeting at Panera Bread in Crystal Lake, Illinois.  And, we usually stick to our topic somewhat.

--Old Secesh

MCCWRT Discussion Group Meets Tomorrow: Topic 'That Devil Forrest'

The McHenry County (Illinois) Civil War Round Table Discussion Group will meet tomorrow, March 23, at the Panera Bread in Crystal Lake, Illinois. from 10 am to 11:30.

Discussion topic will be "Nathan Bedford Forrest, Cavalry Commander of the West."  Lots of opinions on this man and Steve normally keeps us somewhat on topic.

The Panera Bread is located at Main Street and US-14 (Northwest Highway).

This will also be on Zoom.

Everyone is welcome.  You do not have to be a member to attend.

--Old Secesh

Confederate Railroads-- Part 1: A Real Mess

Yesterday we had the first meeting of the year for the McHenry County (Illinois) Civil War Round Table at the Woodstock Public Library.  It was both a live and a Zoom meeting and Charlie Banks gave a presentation on Confederate Railroads.  He is quite the expert on Civil War railroads.

His main thing was that it was the failure of the Confederate railroad system that was a big reason for the failure of the new country.

Railroads across the United States increased their mileage drastically in the decade before the war.  But the South lagged way behind the North.  In the South the Atlantic Ocean states had 5400 miles, Gulf states 2063 and South interior states 2666.

In the North, Chicago had become a major railroad hub with 11 railroads going through there.

In contrast, the future capital of the Confederacy, Richmond, had five, but none of them connected which caused unloading and reloading of cargos.  Plus, making it worse, the lines had differing gauges.  (Most Northern railroads used 4'8" gauge while Southern ones went with 5 feet.

--Old Secesh

MCCWRT Meeting This Tuesday: Presentation on Confederate Railroads

The McHenry County Civil War Round Table will have the opening meeting of the 2024 year this coming Tuesday, March 12 at the Woodstock Library (Illinois).

We will be having a special presentation by Charlie Banks on Confederate Railroads.

The meeting starts at 7 pm at the library at 414 W. Judd Street.  It can also be seen on ZOOM.

Before the meeting some of us will be getting together at 3 Brothers on Illinois Highway 47 in Woodstock for dinner or snack.  (And, we don't just talk Civil War.)  Meets at 5 pl.

--Old Secesh

'The Tullahoma Campaign' at MCCWRT Tuesday

The McHenry County Civil War Round Table will have Dave Powell presenting "The Tullahoma Campaign" this Tuesday, April 11 at the Woodstock, Illinois, Public Library at 414 W. Judd Street (close to the famous Woodstock Square).

Probably on of  the lesser-known actions of the war, but one with significant results.  Find out about it.

It will be in person and via Zoom and will start at 7 and go to 9 pm.

There will be a pre-meeting get-together at 3 Brothers restaurant on Illinois Highway 47 at 5:00.

--Old Secesh

MCCWRT Discission Group Saturday: 'Antietam- What If the South Had Won?'

The McHenry County (Illinois) Civil War Round Table meets Saturday, March 25, at Panera Bread in Crystal Lake from 10 am to 11:30.

The topic promises to be a good one and involves all sorts of thoughts:  "Antietam-- What If the South Had Won."  Would this have made a difference in the outcome of the war?

Come on out and put you two cents worth in.

Panera Bread is located at the corner of US-14 (Northwest Highway) and Main Street.  Have some expensive, but good, coffee and food and give your thoughts.

"Where there is always good discussion and debate (sometimes even on topic).

See You There.  --Old Secesh

MCCWRT Meeting Tuesday, Mar. 14: 'How Did They Die? Murder or Natural?

The McHenry County (Illinois) Civil War Round Table (MCCWRT) will meet Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at the Woodstock Public Library in Woodstock, Illinois.  The meeting starts at 7 pm and will be in person or via Zoom.

This month's presentation will be given by Steve Alban.  "How Did They Die?  An Agatha Christie Whodunit.  Prominent Civil War  Persons Who Died.   Natural Causes or Murder?"

There will be a pre-meeting get-together at 3 Brothers Cafe on Ill. Route 47 at 5:30.  Snacks are meal, your choice.

--Old Secesh

MCCWRT Sept. 2022 Meeting-- Part 1: 'Gen. John E. Smith: Galena's Forgotten General'

The McHenry County (Illinois) Civil War Round Table September 2022 meeting was held at the Woodstock Library.

The presentation was on a Union general I had never heard of, John E. Smith, described as one of the most important people of the Civil War that you've never heard of.  He was from Galena, now sometimes called the City That Time Forgot, but in the early 1800s it was a very important town and busy port.  

From 1827 to 1850, some 85% of lead mined in the U.S. came from the Galena area.  Galena was the largest river port north of St. Louis.

And, when the Civil War came, Galena supplied nine generals to the Union cause, the best-known being one U.S. Grant.   As a matter of fact, the U.S. Highway that runs through Galena, US-20, is called the U.S. Grant Highway.

--Old Secesh

MCCWRT Discussion Group: Civil War Technology-- Part 1

On October 22, 2022, the McHenry County Civil War Round Table (Illinois) (MCCWRT) met at Panera Bread in Crystal Lake with the topic being "Civil War Technology."

I had found a list of "Top Ten Innovations of the Civil War" from the May 17, 2017, War History on Line site and we used that to kickoff the discussion with these questions.  Not only did they have to guess the answer, but also tell what innovation it was.

1.  Who was the Father of Battlefield  Medicine?

2.  Who was the first president to be able to communicate effectively during battle?

3.  Who was John Hunt Morgan's code genius?

4.  What was the favorite choice of anesthetic?

5.  Name the Confederate surgeon who perfected a standard anesthetic inhaler.

Answers below.

***********************************************

1.  Army Ambulance Corps //  Dr. Jonathan Letterman

2.  Portable Telegraph //  Abraham Lincoln  

3.  George A. "Lightning" Ellsworth

4.  Anesthesia Inhaler  //  Ether

5.  Dr. Julian  Chisholm

--Old Secesh