Download Corinth 1862: Siege, Battle, Occupation

Circular Memorandum #442
October, 2012
louisvillecwrt.yolasite.com
Announcing Our 477th Meeting
“Corinth 1862: Siege, Battle, Occupation”
Will be Presented by Tim Smith
DATE: Saturday, October 13
COCKTAILS: 6:00 P.M.
Location: Big Spring Country Club
DINNER ($25.00): 7:00 P.M.
PROGRAM: 8:00 P.M.
Meet Our Speaker – Tim Smith
Tim Smith grew up in Carrollton, Mississippi, and received a BA and MA in History from Ole Miss in 1996 and
1997 respectively. He then received a Ph.D. from Mississippi State University in 2001, studying under Dr.
John F. Marszalek. His major field was Early United States History, with three minor fields in Modern
United States History, Military History, and Latin American History. A veteran of the National Park
Service, he currently teaches history at the University of Tennessee at Martin. His main area of interest
and specialty, in addition to the military events of the Civil War, is in the history of Civil War battlefield
preservation.
The University of Tennessee Press published his first book, This Great Battlefield of Shiloh: History,
Memory, and the Establishment of a Civil War National Military Park in March 2004. His second book,
Champion Hill: Decisive Battle for Vicksburg, came out in August 2004 with Savas Beatie of New York and
was a selection of the History Book Club and Military Book Club. His third book, The Untold Story of Shiloh:
The Battle and the Battlefield, came out in January 2006 with the University of Tennessee Press. In
addition to these efforts, Smith published an edited version, along with Dr. Gary D. Joiner of Louisiana
State University-Shreveport, of a 1966 Ph.D. dissertation on the Battle of Shiloh: Shiloh and the Western
Campaign of 1862. This book was a main selection of the History Book Club as well as an alternate selection
of the Military and Book of the Month clubs. Dr. Smith’s fifth project, a history of the first five national
military parks preserved during the 1890s entitled The Golden Age of Battlefield Preservation: The
Establishment of America’s First Five Civil War Military Parks, came out with the University of Tennessee
Press in 2008. His A Chickamauga Memorial: The Establishment of America’s First Civil War National
Military Park came out with the University of Tennessee Press in 2009. Smith published Mississippi in the
Civil War: The Home Front with the University Press of Mississippi in 2010, and James Z. George:
Mississippi’s Great Commoner with the same press in 2012. The University Press of Kansas published Corinth
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1862: Siege, Battle, Occupation in 2012. He is also working on a history of Mississippi’s secession convention
as well as a new volume on Shiloh for the University Press of Kansas.
In addition to numerous chapters in other books, introductions to reprints, and forewords, Dr. Smith has
also widely published in journals such as Hallowed Ground, North and South, Civil War Times, Annals of Iowa,
Tennessee Historical Quarterly, West Tennessee Historical Society Papers, Encyclopedia of the American
Civil War, America’s Civil War, Journal of Mississippi History, and CRM: The Journal of Heritage
Stewardship.
“Corinth 1862: Siege, Battle, Occupation”
In the spring of 1862, there was perhaps no more important location in the western Confederacy, and possibly
in the entire South for that matter, than Corinth, Mississippi. Major General Henry W. Halleck declared on
May 25, “Richmond and Corinth are now the great strategical points of war, and our success at these points
should be insured at all hazards.” Corinth’s defender, P. G. T. Beauregard, similarly argued to Richmond
immediately after Shiloh that, “If defeated here, we lose the Mississippi Valley and probably our cause.”
Situated at the crossing of the western Confederacy’s two most important rail lines, Corinth has gained the
sobriquet as the crossing point of “the vertebrae of the Confederacy.” As a result, Union and Confederate
armies vied for control over the railroad town over almost the entire year of 1862, first in a spring siege and
then in a fall battle. The occupation in between the two and after Corinth was safely in Union hands brought
additional issues such as logistics, dealing with local civilians, and Federal policy regarding slaves and
contrabands. Examining Corinth in the Civil War, especially in the pivotal year of 1862, can thus help us
understand the crucial events wedged between and often overshadowed by Shiloh and Vicksburg.
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Books, Books, Books!
We will have copies of the Tim’s new book, Corinth 1862 for sale at the meeting at a 40% discount. These
will be hardback first editions.
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RESERVATIONS: Call Doug Krawczyk (502-425-0325) to place your reservations. If you are making
reservations for more than just yourself, please give the names of the others. If you leave your reservation
on his answering machine, please spell out your name so he can correctly identify you. You can also make your
reservation by e-mail by sending it to [email protected]. Please call or email no later than
Wednesday, October 10, by noon. If you wish to join us just for the program, please call and make a
reservation so that we can provide you with a chair. If you are only coming for the program, you can call Doug
anytime up to 4:00 p.m. the day of the meeting.
Reminder for Table Reservations: We can reserve tables for parties of eight only, and we need you to
provide us with the names of all the people in your party when you make the reservation. This will enable us to
manage our meeting space in a more efficient manner. Thank you.
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The Adjutant’s Call
October, 2012
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Thanks to Everyone Who Has Renewed Their Membership!
If you have not renewed your membership, this is a gentle reminder to do so. Remember any amount you
give above the basic or family membership fee is tax-deductible since the Round Table has tax-exempt
status as a 501 (c) (3) organization! There are three membership options from which to choose. The
additional funds raised through Patron memberships allow the Round Table to take a more active role in the
Preservation of Civil War battlefields and sites and also help pay the costs of bringing the very best Civil
War speakers to our meetings. A dues notice is included with this newsletter if we have not heard from you.
To Summarize the Options:
Option One: Regular Membership
Option Two: Family Membership
$30
$35
Option Three: Patron Membership
+$5
$55+
Basic membership.
Allows spouse or family member living in the same
household to also join.
For each additional family member.
Membership with financial gift to LCWRT.
Please send your membership renewal to: LCWRT, 1028 Sarah Drive, Louisville, KY 40219-4923
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LCWRT Publishes “Kentucky in the Civil War: 150 for the 150th
An Annotated Bibliographic Reference”
Books Will be Given Free to Those Attending the October Meeting!
In commemoration of the sesquicentennial of the Civil War, a committee of the Louisville Civil War
Round Table has developed an annotated bibliography of the 150 best books relating to Kentucky’s
participation in the War. The committee members are Doug Krawczyk, Norvelle Wathen, Tom Lively, Tom
Mackey, and Lowell Griffin. We are indebted to these individuals for their labor to make this happen.
The book covers all areas of interest and most of the listings are readily available. The bibliography is
separated into categories to aid the reader in their particular area of interest. The book also includes a list
of reference materials, other bibliographies, and historical fiction.
Each family unit or individual will receive a copy of the book at the October meeting. After the
meeting the books will cost $12.50 retail and $7.50 discounted for members. Only those attending the
October meeting will receive a free copy of the book.
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Shenandoah Valley 1864 is Destination for 2013 Field Trip
We will be going to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia to study the 1864 Valley Campaign! This is a campaign
we have never toured on a field trip before and in recent years there has been some great victories in
preserving these battlefields. The dates will be April 3-7, 2013 and our guide will be Civil War historian Will
Greene who is an outstanding battlefield guide. Mark your calendars and start studying. Sign-up sheets will
be available at the meetings. You can make your reservation by paying a non-refundable $200 deposit to
Harriette at the meeting or mailing it to her at 1028 Sarah Drive, Louisville, Ky. 40219.
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October, 2012
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Fall Field Trip to Perryville October 20th
We will be going to Perryville on Saturday, October 20 to tour the battlefield with Chris Kolakowski serving as
our guide. October 8 marks the 150th anniversary of Kentucky’s largest Civil War battle.
We will meet at
the visitor’s center in the park at 10:00 and begin our tour there. We will break for a boxed lunch around
noon and then continue our tour until late afternoon. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and clothing
appropriate for the weather. You are responsible for your own transportation (please car pool) and lunch
which will cost approximately $10. You will need to pay the $10 in advance either by giving your money to
Harriette at the meeting or mailing it to her at 1028 Sarah Drive, Louisville, Ky. 40219. Please sign up at the
October meetings or email your reservation to Harriette at [email protected].
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You Just Can't Have Too Many Civil War Books!
After an absence of several years, we are returning to one of our tried- and- true means of raising funds for
Civil War Preservation: the Civil War Book Raffle.
Thanks to an unnamed donor we will raffle off two racks of books(racks not included) at the January meeting.
The first rack, the blue one, consists of 18 books related to the Civil War in Kentucky. The second rack, the
red one, contains 15 books pertaining to the Civil War in general. These are high quality books in extremely
good condition, covered in Brodart covers. Tickets will be $1 a piece or 6 for $5. You may buy red tickets if
you prefer the red rack, blue, if you prefer the blue. At the January meeting a drawing will be held for each
of the racks. You do not need to be present to win. Good luck and good reading!
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Getting the Newsletter via Email is Fast and Saves $$$
With the cost of postage going up (as always), we want to encourage everyone to consider getting the
newsletter by email. It costs the Round Table about $10.00 per year in postage, envelopes, and printing costs
to mail each newsletter. If you multiply that times 150 you can see it adds up to a large amount. In order to
receive the newsletter by email, you do need the capability to read a ‘Word Document’ or PDF on your
computer. Just contact Harriette Weatherbee at [email protected] and let her know. You will get your
newsletter faster and help us save $$$ at the same time.
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Perryville to Commemorate 150th Anniversary
There will be commemorative events, a reenactment, and other educational programs at the Perryville
Battlefield Park on the weekend of October 6 and 7 to mark the 150th anniversary of the battle. For details,
visit the Park’s website www.perryvillebattlefield.org/.
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The Adjutant’s Call
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2012 – 2013 Schedule
Saturday
October 13
Tim Smith
“Corinth 1862: Siege, Battle and Occupation”
Saturday
November 10
Michael Ballard
“U. S. Grant at Vicksburg”
Saturday
December 8
James Lewis
“Stone’s River: 150 Years Ago”
Saturday
January 19
Mark Neely
“TBA”
Saturday
February 9
Gloria Swift
“TBA”
Saturday
March 9
Earl Hess
“TBA”
Saturday
April 13
Bob Krick
“TBA”
Saturday
May 12
Jack Davis
“TBA”
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Welcome New Members!
We wish to extend the warm hand of fellowship to new member:
James Hill
And returning Member
Richard Williams
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SEPTEMBER 2012 QUIZ:
1. Who was believed to be the only son of a United States president to fight for the Confederacy?
Lieutenant General Richard "Dick" Taylor, son of U.S. President Zachary Taylor and brother-in-law
of CSA President Jefferson Davis.
2. USA Rear Admiral David D. Porter's brother William, who also served in the US Navy, did something
unusual to show his loyalty to the Union. What did he do?
He divorced his southern-born wife, Elizabeth Ann Beale, on September 10, 1861. Contributing to
this might have been the fact that she and their three children had moved from Washington to
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October, 2012
Richmond, Virginia while he was serving in the Pacific. Two of his sons served in the Confederate
Army. As the war progressed, his health deteriorated, and William died of heart disease in May
1864.
3. The last fighting of the Second Battle of Manassas or Bull Run took place where and with what tragic
results for the Union?
The last fighting was the Battle of Chantilly or Ox Hill, Virginia. Killed in this Confederate victory
were two commanding Union generals, Philip Kearny and I. I. Stevens.
4. After the Union disaster of Second Manassas, General John Pope saw his Army of Virginia consolidated
with General George McClellan's Army of the Potomac and Pope received new orders. What were they?
Pope was assigned to head the Department of the Northwest, consisting of Wisconsin, Iowa,
Minnesota, Nebraska and the Dakota territories, with his main job to cope with the Sioux uprising.
5. Why was tension so high militarily among Federal authorities at the beginning of September 1862?
Confederate armies were invading and attacking the North on two fronts: in Kentucky on the Western
Front and in Maryland on the Eastern Front. In addition, people living in Ohio, Indiana and
Pennsylvania were also concerned about being attacked.
OCTOBER 2012 QUIZ:
1. During the 1862 Peninsula Campaign, observations balloons were used. What was painted on one side of
the Union balloon?
2. Shortly after Arlington House was seized by the Federal government, it was visited by three residents
of the White House. Who were they?
3. What were the Union command changes ordered in October 1862?
4. During this same period, President Lincoln personally ordered a Union officer to do something which
resulted in great friction and confusion in the Union Army. What were those orders and who were the
officers involved?
5. Why did President Lincoln cashier Major John Key, whose brother was on General McClellan's staff?
(The Quiz is prepared by Harriette Weatherbee)
Attest:
John Davis
Adjutant
By Order of:
Charles Moore
President