Bruce Allardice and the Northern Illinois CWRT

Bruce Allardice is a recently retired history professor from South Suburban College in South Holland, Illinois.  He is the author of five books on the Civil War and a frequent presenter at CWRTs (Civil War Round Table) throughout the northern Illinois area.

"I've tried to visit all Illinois round tables," says Allardice.  "I finally spoke at Rock River Valley (CWRT) in July 2022 and again in August 2023."

Allardice's great-grandfather served as a lieutenant in the 113th Illinois Infantry during the Civil War, and he frequently saw his presentation sword when visiting his grandparents as a child.

"He was overage and sickly the whole time," says Allardice, "and his regimental commander called him the worst officer in his command."

Nice Guy.  --Old Secesh

RoadTrippin' with Gen. Charles Gilbert-- Part 5: Lincoln's Good Buddy and Brother and, the 'Gonzo'

Also buried at Louisville's Cave Hill Cemeery.

**  JAMES SPEED  (1812-1887)

In 1864, he was appointed Secretary of the Treasury by Abraham Lincoln.  Brother of Joshua Fry Speed.

**  JOSHUA FRY SPEED  (1814-1882)

Friend and confidant of future President Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois.  During the Civil War, served as Lincoln's Western Affairs advisor and was offered the position of Secretary several times but refused it.

**  HUNTER S. THOMPSON  (1937-2005)

Journalist and author.  Internationally recognized "Gonza"  journalist.  Had a big best-seller with "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas."

--Old Secesh

Ten Civil War Generals Who Were Famous for Other Things-- Part 1

From the June 29, 2022, ListVerse by David Williams.

They achieved something more than just "being" a general.  Interesting list.  I am just doing the names and what else they did.  For more information, go to the site.  Pictures as well.

10.  Lewis Wallace (Union)--  Wrote "Ben-Hur:  A Tale of the Christ."

9.  Lawrence Sullivan Ross (Confederate)--   As sheriff of Waco, Texas, arrested 700 outlaws, was governor and saved Texas A&M.

8.  Jefferson Columbus Davis  (Union)--  Besides having the same name (except middle) as the Confederate president, killed another Union General but not prosecuted.

7.  Benjamin McCullough  (Confederate)--  Friend of Davy Crockett.  Fought for Texas independence.  Killed at Battle of Pea Ridge in 1862.

--Old Secesh

Two Books Written About the 15th Illinois Infantry

I found that two books have been written about the 15th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment.  And one of them concentrates on Company D.

"The Gallant  15th of Illinois"  (2019) by Betty Obendorf and Kathy Pasch.

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"Army Memoirs of Lucius W. Barber, Company 'D', 15th Illinois Volunteer Infantry"  (1894)  by Lucius W. Barber.

--Old Secesh

MCCWRT April Discussion, Battle of Shiloh-- Part 1: A War and a Snowstorm

The McHenry County Civil War Round Table (MCCWRT) discussion group met Saturday, April 27 at Panera Bread in Crystal Lake, Illinois in the midst of all sorts of dire snow warnings.  As such, attendance was down to just four.  I went, but as Captain Jack Sparrow would say, "Kept a weather eye out."  As long as the snow didn't start sticking to the pavement, I was staying.

I brought along the huge book "American Heritage Civil War" to give to the eleven-year-old boy who has been at our last two meetings.  I had a smaller child's edition growing up.  But the thing I liked the most were the battle maps which had small soldiers charging and moving in formations.  I spent hours pouring over those maps.  And, the book was written by none other than Bruce Catton, who really knew his way around words.

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I had a little quiz for attendees concerning the Battle of Shiloh.

1.  Name the two U.S. Navy ships that helped turn the tide at the Battle of Shiloh?

2.  Name the two Union armies involved in the battle as well as the Confederate one.

Answers in the next post.

The Snow and the Blood and the Beer.  --Old SeceshSnow

Charles Stuart Tripler, U.S. Surgeon-- Part 3: Wrote Medical Books

He was buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan.  His wife and others supported him for a promotion to brigadier general and President Andrew Johnson did so, backdating it to March 1865.  In 1920, the hospital at Fort Shafter in Hawaii was renamed Triplet Army Medical Center in his honor.

His military career was not considered remarkable while he was living.  But in 1858, he wrote the "Manual of the Medical Officer of the Army of the United States" which outlined the basic physical requirements for army recruits and it was almost immediately accepted by the Army.

In 1861, he wrote "Handbook for the Military Surgeon" which standardized many Army medical practices to include administration, hygiene and surgery.

Tripler is also credited with inventing the first army four-wheeled medical ambulance.

--Old Secesh

David Powell on Technology and Why He Chose Chickamauga

At the beginning of the presentation, David Powell apologized for no power point or av in his presentation saying he doesn't trust technology.  I'm like him.  I don't trust it and surely don't much understand it.

He did have a four map handout that was very informative.

When asked at the end of the presentation how he came to get so involved with the Battle of Chickamauga, he said he used to be big into the Battle of Gettysburg and made yearly trips there, sometimes more than once.  However, there is such a preponderance of material and books on that battle he decided there was nothing he could add.

Chickamauga, on the other hand, has had very little written about it, despite its size and scope and casualties (some 35,000 on both sides).  He cited three, including Glenn Tucker's great book that came out during the Civil War Centennial in 1961.  It's a wide open field.

--Old Secesh

Chickamauga Expert David Powell at McHenry Civil War Round Table Last Night

Last night, October 14th, we were treated to a presentation by David Powell, who wrote the book  "Failure in the Saddle: Nathan Bedford Forrest, Joe Wheeler, and the Confederate Cavalry in the Chickamauga Campaign."  I sure know a whole lot more about the campaign, battle and aftermath of what Powell regards as the second biggest battle of the war (after Gettysburg, of course).

David Powell is a recognized authority on the Battle of Chickamauga whose battlefield tours of it are considered exceptional by those who have been on them.  (Something for me to think about in the future.)

He is a 1983 graduate of the Virginia Military Institute with a BA in History and owns and operates a delivery company in Chicago.  We even had a couple of members of the Chicago Civil War Round Table in attendance.

I was greatly tempted to buy his book, which he had for sale, but didn't as I really should be starting to get rid of stuff instead of buying more (isn't working though).

I will be writing about his presentation beginning tomorrow.

If You get the Chance, Definitely See Him.  --Old Secesh

Fletcher Pratt's "Civil War in Pictures"

Since I have been writing about the artists would brought the Civil War to the people via their illustrations, I decided to go dig out my old copy of this book, over which I spent so much time back when I was a youngster.

It is old, much smaller than I remembered and a bit dog-eared. My mother had used it in her classroom library when she taught. I see my very childish scrawl on the inside cover showing my address at the time as being at 129 North Library Street, Grenvile (well, actually Greenville as in North Carolina). That would have put me in 4th or 5th grade at that time.

My mother had also written our address through junior high, high school and even first year at college. That would be 1102 E. Anderson, Palatine, Illinois.

There are three pieces of tape holding the front and back covers together.

My copy, which I think cost me a small fortune of $5 and bought at a small mom and pop book store in Greenville (maybe) was printed by Garden City Books, Garden City, New York.

Copyright is 1955 by Fletcher Pratt, who also wrote a favorite paperback book of mine about the Civil War. I think it was called "A Short History of the Civil War."

The Garden City Books Edition was printed in 1957.

As I said a few days ago, this book was essentially a compilation of illustrations from Harper's Weekly and Frank Leslie's Illustrated Weekly Newspaper.

Hello, Old Friend. --Old Secesh

July Second Saturday at Fort Fisher

From the July 9th WWAY 3 ABC News, Wilmington, NC.

The monthly Second Saturday program at Fort Fisher concentrated on Civil War authors of both fiction and non-fiction, who set up at the Fort Fisher Visitors Center to discuss their books and sign copies.

Jack Travis has written a book on Confederate Major James Reilly who he describes as the greatest battery leader of the war. Major Reilly was in the US Army and surrendered Fort Johnston to Confederates after North Carolina seceded and then joined the Confederate Army and was at Fort Fisher during the battles. It was he who surrendered the fort after the commanders, William Lamb and W.H.C. Whiting, were wounded.

The next Second Saturday is August 13th.

Sure Would Like to Go to One of These Interesting Events, But Too Far Away. --Old B-R'er