October 19, 2023 Meeting

War Is All Hell

By Dr. Edward J. Bloom

War Is All Hell peers into the world of devils, demons, Satan, and hell during the Civil War. It charts how African Americans and abolitionists compared slavery to hell, how Unionists rendered Confederate secession illegal by linking it to Satan, and how many Civil War soldiers came to understand themselves as living in hellish circumstances.

Dr. Edward J. Blum is professor in the History Department at San Diego State University. He received his B.A. from the University of Michigan and his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky. He is the author and co-author of several books on religion and race throughout United States history, including Reforging the White Republic: Race, Religion, and American Nationalism, 1865-1898 (2005; reissued 2015), W. E. B. Du Bois, American Prophet (2007), and The Color of Christ: The Son of God and the Saga of Race in America (2012). Blum is the winner of numerous awards including the Peter Seaborg Award for Civil War Scholarship, the Gustave O. Arlt Award in the Humanities, and the John T. Hubbell Prize for best article published in Civil War History in 2015.

June15th, 2023 Meeting

Counterfactual Questions and the Civil War

By Dr. Brian M. Jordan

Our last meeting of the year. The program will be streamed and will cover aspects of the war that defy logic and are contrary to what we think they should be.  It sounds intriguing. 

Dr. Jordan has an impressive biography. Check it out in the column under the photo. He has lots of experience presenting programs to Civil War Roundtables--his bio indicates he has addressed Roundtable in 25 states. So, don't miss this opportunity with an award winning historian and author with a special interest in the Civil War.

May 18th, 2023 Meeting

Civil War Medicine

By Mel Wittwer

It has been said that the American Civil War was the first "modern war" in terms of technology and lethality of weapons, but that it was simultaneously fought "at the very end of the medical 'Middle Ages.'"

Very little was known about the causes of disease, and so a minor wound could easily become infected and take a life. 

Battlefield surgeons were underqualified and hospitals were generally poorly supplied and staffed. In fact, there were so many wounded and not enough doctors, so doctors were forced to spend only a little time with each patient. They became proficient at quick care. 

April 20th, 2023 Annual Dinner Meeting

Grenville Dodge

By Grant Veeder 

Always a special evening--the Annual Dinner Meeting. First we'll' gather for some socialization, followed by dinner. 

You'll have your choice of two entrees for dinner. First, there's pork tenderloin with apricot glaze and cheesy party potatoes. Or, Chicken marsala and cheesy party potatoes.  Bothe entrees served with salad, rolls & butter included along with with lemon and cholate bars for desert. Choose from  coffee, lemonade or water for your beverage.

Following the meal, Grant Veeder will present the program which highlights Greenville Dodge. Grenville Mellen Dodge was a Union Army officer on the frontier and a pioneering figure in military intelligence during the Civil War, who served as Ulysses S. Grant's intelligence chief in the Western Theater. He served in several notable assignments, including command of the XVI Corps during the Atlanta Campaign.

March 16th Meeting

Rock Island Confederate Cemetery

By Charles Lott 

Charles Lott is an active Roundtable member and officer. He currently serves as secretary and web master. Charlie was born in Mississippi and grew up in Alabama. He likes to say he's "presently in Iowa, but his heart is in Dixie". 

Charlie's ancestors served in the Confederate armed forces. He is researching 38 soldiers in six Mississippi units. There are graves for soldiers from 31 Mississippi regiments in the Confederate Cemetery at the Rock Island Arsenal. While none of his ancestors died here, they fought in four regiments alongside the men from Mississippi that were captured, imprisoned and died here. So, the cemetery here has special meaning for him personally. 

In the program, we examined the prison camp for captured Confederate soldiers established at Rock Island and the associated cemetery. We got to know four Mississippi soldiers buried here that were in regiments with Charlie's ancestors. We discussed his ancestor, Joshua Lott, who was a prisoner at Rock Island and survived the experience. 

Here is some historical contextual information for the program.

Rock Island Prison began operating in December of 1863. The first group of prisoners, were captured in the Battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, near Chattanooga, Tennessee on November 24th and 25th of 1863. They arrived on December 3, 1863 by rail. 

The prison was closed and the last prisoner released from the hospital in July 1864. During the twenty months of Rock Island Prison’s existence over 12,000 men were imprisoned here—likely not more than 8,000 at one time. 

There are records of the death of 1,961 prisoners here at Rock Island. Eleven bodies have been relocated to their home states, leaving 1,950 graves in the cemetery today today.

November 20 Meeting

The Battle of Westport

By Ward Zischke 

The Battle of Westport, sometimes referred to as the "Gettysburg of the West", was fought on October 23 & 24, 1864, in modern day Kansas City, Missouri. Union forces under Major General Samuel R. Curtis decisively defeated an outnumbered Confederate force under Major General Sterling Price. This engagement was the turning point of Price's Missouri Expedition, forcing his army to retreat. The battle ended the last major Confederate offensive west of the Mississippi River, and for the remainder of the war the United States Army maintained solid control over most of Missouri. This battle was one of the largest to be fought west of the Mississippi River, with over 30,000 men engaged. From: Battle of Westport - Wikipedia. Good information about the battle, the historical context and the participants here on Wikipedia. Be sure to check it out.

Lot of Iowa units involved. Check out the Union Order of Battle here:  The Union commander M.G. Samuel R. Curtis had been the mayor of Keokuk before he was elected to the the Iowa House of Representative where he was serving when the war started.  More information about Curtis by clicking here. 

Ward Zischke is a former Cedar Falls native who now works at Fort McCoy, WI, as the historian for the 88th Readiness Division (Army Reserve). He has been a Civil War reenactor since 1988. Ward has provided several Roundtable programs in recent years. Mr. Zischke wants to make this presentation as close to an Army staff ride as possible. Planning for the program is currently underway. Details will be provided here when completed.

Maj. Gen. Sterling Price's Confederate Army of Missouri headed towards Kansas City, Missouri and Fort Leavenworth, hoping to capture Missouri for the South in the weeks prior to Abraham Lincoln's reelection in 1864. Union Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis's Army of the Border, in and around Westport, was blocking Price's movement, while Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton's provisional cavalry division was pressing Price's rearguard.

On October 22nd, Maj. Gen. James G. Blunt's division held a defensive position on the west bank of the Big Blue River just outside Kansas City. Around 10:00 am, part of Brig. Gen. Joseph O. Shelby's Confederate division conducted a frontal attack on Blunt's men. 

The attack was a ruse; Shelby's men flanked Blunt's hasty defenses, forcing the Federals to retire to nearby Westport. The next morning, Pleasanton's troopers gained the west bank of the river and the Confederates retired. 

As the Union cavalry forded the river, they came under heavy fire from Confederate artillery. Once they had crossed, they charged the Confederate infantry under General John S. Marmaduke across an open field; during which Union troops from Missouri and Arkansas battled Confederates from these same two states. 

As the Confederates under Shelby and Marmaduke consolidated their men, they came under attack from Union artillery, forcing them to withdraw. 

The fighting around the Big Blue River and Westport brought to a close the last major Confederate military operation west of the Mississippi River. From: Byram's Ford Battle Facts and Summary | American Battlefield Trust (battlefields.org) 

October 20 Meeting

Fort Pillow Battle

By Sherman Lundy

Sherman is a very active Roundtable member and officer. Sherm currently serves as vice president . He is one of the charter members and was instrumental in establishing the organization in 2005. His ancestors were from from Virginia and served in the Confederate armed forces. Sherm is a recognized expert on the war and all things confederate.

Sherm will expound on the Fort Pillow battle and associated controversy from the southern perspective. He will will expand on some of the local issues with a general theme:  Ft Pillow, 1864, Before, During, and After. Look for interesting questions, discussion and camaraderie at this one.

Here is some historical contextual information for the program.

In 1861, the Confederates constructed a military installation at the Fort Pillow site and named it for General Gideon Johnson Pillow (1806-78), a Tennessee native. Fort Pillow overlooked the Mississippi River and was an important part of the Confederate river defense system before it was captured by federal forces in the summer of 1862 

In March 1864, Confederate Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest (1821-77) launched a cavalry raid in western Tennessee and Kentucky that was aimed at destroying Union supply lines and capturing federal prisoners. In early April, he determined to move on Fort Pillow, located 40 miles north of Memphis. At the time, Fort Pillow was being held by a garrison of around 600 men, approximately half of whom were black soldiers.

On the morning of April 12, Forrest’s force, estimated at 1,500 to 2,500 troops, quickly surrounded the fort. When the fort’s commander, Union Maj. Lionel Booth, was killed by a Confederate sniper’s bullet, the second in command, Major William Bradford took control. By 3:30 pm, Forrest demanded surrender from the Union troops. Bradford, hoping for reinforcements from Union boats arriving by the Mississippi River, called for a one-hour cease fire. 

Forrest, however, spotted Union boats approaching and sent men to block the possible reinforcements. Then he declared his troops would storm the fort in 20 minutes—which they did, meeting little meaningful resistance. 

While Major Bradford fled toward the Mississippi, most of the Union garrison surrendered, and thus should have been taken as prisoners of war. But Confederate and Union witness accounts attest that some 300 soldiers were gunned down by the Confederate forces, the majority of them black. The Confederate refusal to treat these soldiers as traditional POWs infuriated the North, and led to the Union’s refusal to participate in prisoner exchanges.

Union survivors’ accounts, later supported by a federal investigation, concluded that African-American troops were massacred by Forrest’s men after surrendering. Southern accounts disputed these findings. Forrest, himself, claimed that he and his troops had done nothing wrong and that the Union men were killed because Bradford had refused to surrender. Controversy over the battle continues today. From Fort Pillow Massacre: Facts, Deaths & Significance - HISTORY.

Iowa and the Civil War

Volume 3:

The Longest Year 1864-1865

by Ken Lyftogt

September 15, 2022

Ken Lyftogt, historian of our Cedar Valley, the state of Iowa and Iowa Troops in the Civil War in particular, will be our speaker. Lyftogt spent 15 years researching and writing a trilogy-- a comprehensive history of Iowa’s role in the Civil War, the first to be published in over 130 years. He will introduce volume 3 The Longest Year; 1864-1965. It begins with the spring campaign of 1864 in Georgia and ends with the mustering out of Iowa’s veteran regiments. Lyftogt will tell of well-known battles and commanders. He will introduce soldiers and people seldom heard of who recorded their experiences and observations, also important to the history of the war.

Copies will be available to purchase that evening for $40.00. Please bring cash or a check. If you do not have the first two volumes, copies of those will also be available.

An Iowa original, Lyftogt was a lecturer in history at University of Northern Iowa. He has trod many battlefields and was an infantry reenactor for several years. Those experiences help him identify the experiences of the soldiers he writes about. In the few months of “real retirement” Ken continues reading-- a few biographies, books of history, as well as some unexpected books of science fiction.  He no longer takes notes or plans topics for lectures or articles.

We will meet at 7:00PM at the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, 317 Greenhill Circle, Cedar Falls. The entrance is on the upper level. Zoom link information will be emailed to members a few days prior to the meeting.

April 21, 2022

Celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the Roundtable

 Catered meal will be served with your choice of two entrees: Pork Tenderloin with Apricot Glaze or Pasta with Marinara Sauce--both served with Cheesy Potatoes, Salad and Dinner Roll with Butter. We'll also have a special cake like the photo on the left from the April 2011 meeting when we celebrated 10 years. The cost of the meal is $15 per person.

We have as great speaker lined up --Jeff Kluever, a member of the Des Moines CWRT.  His presentation, complete with interesting slides, will be on the Battle of the Crater and the breakthrough of the lines at Petersburg in April of 1865.  We used to say that an expert is someone who comes from 50 miles away and brings slides.  Jeff, therefore, is fully qualified.  He has also written an historical novel which we suggested he bring along and we will set up a sales table.

We will also present Service Awards for two members who have made exceptional contributions to the Roundtable over the years, in fact, both of the honorees were charter members of the CVCWRT.  We usually do one Service Award each year, but since we weren't meeting in-person a year ago we'll be doing two this year.

And we'll be recognizing new members who've joined us over the past two years. 

March 17, 2022

The New Mexico Campaign and the Battle of Glorietta Pass, The Gettysburg of the West.

 By Lynn and Julianne Herman

The Hermans discussed the battles and skirmishes between the United States and Confederates from El Paso, TX to Glorietta Pass, NM - CSA Brigadier General Henry H. Sibley and USA Colonel Edward Canby.  Their photo collection includes photographs taken during a tour that included sites not open to the public.  They also have photos of seldom seen battle sites and terrain of Fort Bliss, Fort Craig, Fort Union and the Battles of Valverde, Santa Fe and Glorietta Pass.

February 17, 2022

Did Forrest Make A Difference?

 by Gen. John R. Scales 

Retired General John R. Scales examines the environment in which Forrest operated and the factors that contributed to his decisions and battles he chose to fight.  Scales also explores how the actions of his opponents affected Forrest's decisions. Since so many Iowa regiments, especially cavalry, were engaged in negating Forrest's efforts, we have an opportunity to learn more about him.

John R. Scales retired from Special Forces as a brigadier general.  He served more than 30 years which included tours in Vietnam and Afghanistan.  Scales has a Ph.D. in Engineering and worked in this field after retiring from the military.  Scales previously served as president of the Tennessee Valley Civil War Roundtable and continues to lead tours in Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia.

Sgt. George Cruikshank

Co. A 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry

February 17, 2022

Dave Baker, Ankeny, will portray Sgt. George Cruikshank a soldier from Ft. Dodge. Company A was formed in August 1861 by men who had been drilling during the spring and summer. When the news of the battle of Bull Run was received, they resolved to organize a company.

Cruikshank and other men from Fort Dodge went to Dubuque to enlist and were attached to the Pennsylvania unit, as there were not enough men to form an Iowa unit. He served until 20 Sep 1864 and wrote over three hundred letters home. Baker will interpret Sgt. Cruikshank and his Civil War experiences first person

Baker graduated from Central College in 2010 with a degree in Business Management and History. He is employed at Iowa State University as an assistant finance manager. In his spare time Baker posts pictures and info on a FaceBook page-- The 29th State, which celebrates Iowa history, heritage, and architecture.

Annual Show and Tell Program

December 16, 2021

Our annual Show and Tell program will start at 7:00PM with the business meeting. We will then talk about Civil War related collectibles and artifacts that members have acquired. Some might tell of travels and experiences at battlefields, parks and museums. Others might have updates on researching ancestors who served in the War Between the States.

Remember to brig extra scrip (currency) for the book drawing. An email regarding the Zoom link will be sent to members a few days prior to the meeting.

We will meet at the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, and need to observe a few requirements related to COVID-19 safety:

Those who have not been fully vaccinated are required to wear masks. If you are feeling ill or have been with someone who has bee exposed to COVID-19 recently, you are asked to stay home. Please observe the CDC social distancing and hand cleanliness recommendations.

LOCATION: Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, 317 Greenhill Circle, Cedar Falls. Entrance is on the upper level.

An Afternoon with Hannah Bunker Porter

November 18, 2021

Jo Porter will portray her great great grandmother Hannah Bunker Porter of Centerville, Iowa. A farmwife, Hannah and husband Phinehas settled in Appanoose County in 1855. 

Their oldest son James enlisted in Co I of the 3rd Iowa Cavalry on 23 Feb 1864 at 18 years of age. A few weeks after enlistment, James caught cold and then the measles. He remained with the 3rd when the unit was sent to Arkansas and his health declined with pneumonia developing. James died in Adams Hospital, Memphis, Tennesse June 18, 1864, and was buried in Memphis. 

Hannah will read excerpts from letters James' wrote during his illness. She will reflect on the effects of the war on her family and others in the neighborhood.

September 16, 2021 Program

Fourth Iowa Cavalry 

by Frank McCaw

About this time of year in 1861, men of varying ages, from diverse walks of life and of many national origins, began to gather in a field northeast of Mount Pleasant, Iowa. They were answering the call for the formation of new volunteer cavalry unit authorized by the United States War Department to fill the military quota ordered by President Lincoln.

They had many reasons for “joining up” as they would say. Some needed the money that regular military pay offered to support their families. Some had political or moral reasons. Others were called by the chance to visit places far from their homes. Whatever their motivation they threw their lot in with others from their town or county to represent the young State of Iowa as the 4th Iowa Volunteer Cavalry. They were in for the adventure of their lives. For many this would be their defining moment. Others would win fame and parley it into future success. Some would never again see their homes and families. Others would return broken men, both physically and mentally.

The next four years would change their lives forever and, for most, they would never again experience anything close to this. At our next meeting we will take a close look at the 4th Iowa Cavalry and follow them as the traversed a great part of the country and performed amazing feats. When we have finished I trust you will acquire the same admiration for the men who made up this remarkable Civil War unit as I have.