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Attention One and All

The Hagerstown Civil War Round Table is a group of men and women who are interested in the study of the American Civil War. All persons interested in good company, good food, field trips, learning about the American Civil War, and sharing your knowledge with others, enlist now in the Hagerstown Civil War Round Table. Yanks and Rebs welcomed with equal pleasure. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

No prior knowledge of the Civil War is necessary. Come and learn!

April Speaker

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Brad Gottfried earned his Ph.D. in Zoology from Miami University and spent the four decades as an educator in higher education. His interest in the Civil War began at an early age and was rekindled when he returned to an administrative position in the Philadelphia area. His fourteenth book was recently published. His early writing primarily centered on the Battle of Gettysburg, and he wrote five books on this topic. He has also written two brigade-level histories.

His current “niche” is map books, where he thoroughly describes campaigns through the use of maps. Seven books have been published in this series: Gettysburg, First Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Cavalry at Gettysburg, Bristoe/Mine Run, and the Wilderness. The Maps of Spotsylvania through Cold Harbor will be published next. He is also working on a variety of other Civil War related projects. In addition to writing, Brad is an Antietam Certified Battlefield Guide and a Gettysburg Licensed Town Guide. He may have retired, but he is still an educator.

Brad is married to his wife, Linda, and between them they have four grown children and six grandchildren. The Gottfrieds moved from Southern Maryland to Fayetteville, Pennsylvania, which is just west of Gettysburg.

Hagerstown Civil War Round Table, Inc.

P. O. Box 637

Funkstown, MD 21734-0637

Our Email Address is: hagerstowncwrt1956@gmail.com

Please click on one of the tabs in the menu bar above to learn more about our group.

Who We Are

The Hagerstown Civil War Round Table was founded in 1956 and has held eight meetings a year ever since. Currently the Round Table has close to 100 members from several states. We study battles, leaders, issues, personalities, politics, logistics, strategy, tactics, blunders and all of the facets that made up the Civil War.

We demonstrate an interest in public service through support of battlefield preservation, the presentation of needed books to the Washington County Free Library's Western Maryland Room, and donations to funds for historic preservation. Each May we present The E. Russell Hicks/Louis Tuckerman Merit Scholarship to an outstanding student of American History from among the high school seniors in Washington County.

Periodically, the Round Table sponsors a field trip to a Civil War battlefield or site. The field trips are led by a person, usually from the National Park Service, who is an expert in the area of the trip.

Meeting Times and Place

The Hagerstown Civil War Round Table meets from September through May at the Homewood Suites located at 1650 Pullman Lane (near Wesel Blvd), in Hagerstown, MD. The meetings start at 6:30 pm with optional dinner (cost $30) followed by a presentation at 7:30 pm by a nationally or regionally recognized authority in a field of Civil War history, and may be from the National Park Service, a college or university, or from another round table. Dues are currently $30 per year which entitles you to a name tag and a year's subscription to The Bugle Call.

A membership application can be found on the tab above.

Meeting dates are :

23 April 2026: Brad Gottfried, “Race to the Potomac: Lee and Meade after Gettysburg”

26 May 2026: Jim Broomall, "Reconsidering Antietam Photographs"

Our cancellation policy is that of the Washington County Public Schools. If the schools are closed, we will not meet. If the schools open late, we will meet.