Davis Wrinkle, Pres.                   Gary Cowardin, Editor    
7741 Rockfalls Dr.                     1404 Lorraine Ave.       
Richmond, VA 23225                     Richmond, VA 23227-3735  
dpwrink@verizon.net                    cowardin@juno.com        
January 2010 Program

"The Debate over Black Confederates"

John M. Coski

8:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 12, 2010, at the
Boulevard United Methodist Church, 321 N. Boulevard,
Richmond, VA (corner of Boulevard and Stuart Ave.) Enter
the basement door on the right side under the front steps.

One of the most controversial Civil War issues in recent decades is  the
contention  that  thousands - or even tens or hundreds of thousands - of
African-Americans served as soldiers in the Confederate Army even before
the  March  1865  act authorizing the Confederate States Colored Troops.
The January program will offer a systematic  critical  analysis  of  the
arguments and the evidence about "Black Confederates."                  

John  Coski  has  been  a  member  of the Richmond Civil War Round Table
since 1989.  He is Historian and Director of Library and Research at The
Museum of the Confederacy, where he has worked since 1988, and co-editor
of the Museum's quarterly Magazine.   He  earned  his  B.A.   from  Mary
Washington  College and his M.A.  and Ph.D.  from the College of William
and Mary.  He is the author of The Confederate  Battle  Flag:  America's
Most  Embattled  Emblem  (Harvard University Press, 2005); Capital Navy:
The Men, Ships and Operations of the James River Squadron (Savas,  1996,
2005),  White  House of the Confederacy: An Illustrated History (Cadmus,
1993 [co-author]), The Army of the Potomac at Berkeley  Plantation:  The
Harrison's  Landing Occupation of 1862 (Dietz Press, 1989), Charles City
County: An Official History (Don Mills, 1989 [co-editor]), and  of  more
than  100 published essays, articles, and reviews.  He lives in Westover
Hills with his wife, Ruth Ann, and their two dogs, Eleanor and India.   


NOTE: Please put on a name badge when you arrive for the meeting.
(Materials will be at the raffle table.)


Membership Dues for 2010 

Though you may find yourself writing "2009" on checks  and  letters  for
the  next several weeks, a quick glance at the calendar will reveal that
it is indeed 2010.  With the new year comes  the  opportunity  to  renew
membership in the Richmond Civil War Round Table.                       

We  have  an  exciting  line-up  of  speakers for 2010 featuring some of
America's most respected historians.  We hope you will support the RCWRT
by  renewing  your  membership  at  this  time.  By paying your dues you
enable the Round Table to  continue  to  present  the  enlightening  and
entertaining programs we've enjoyed in the past.                        

Please select a membership category from the list below.  The Sustaining
Member category is an entirely voluntary option for  those  members  who
choose to increase their support of our organization.  As in years past,
the Ides of March (March 15) is the deadline for payment of dues.       

Select one category:                                                    

< >  $50 - Sustaining member (voluntary)                      
< >  $35 - Resident member                                    
< >  $45 - Resident couple                                    
< >  $20 - Non-resident member (50+ miles outside of Richmond)
< >  $25 - Non-resident couple                                
< >  $20 - Senior member (65 and older with at least 10 years 
                        of membership)                     
< >  $25 - Senior couple                                      
< >  $20 - Student member (age 13-17)                         

You may make your payment at the January meeting or mail your check to: 

Sandy Parker, RCWRT Secretary
P.O. Box 37052               
Richmond, VA 23234           

Thank you for your continued support of the  Richmond  Civil  War  Round
Table!                                                                  


RCWRT OFFICERS FOR THE NEW YEAR - 2010

At the December meeting of the Richmond Civil War Round  Table,  members
approved  the  slate of officers recommended by the Executive Committee.
Officers for 2010 are:                                                  

Davis Wrinkle - President                  
David Whitehead - 1st Vice President       
Jack Mountcastle - 2nd Vice President      
Sandy Parker - Secretary                   
Richard Grosse - Treasurer                 
Gary Cowardin - Webmaster/Newsletter Editor

Also elected to the Executive Committee were Jack  Ackerly,  John  Coski
and Bobby Krick as the At-Large members.                                


A Word from President Elect Davis Wrinkle

At  the  December  meeting  president  elect,  Davis  Wrinkle  made  the
following remarks:                                                      

Recognizing the many noteworthy leaders who have held this gavel humbles
me.   Yet  I  accept  this responsibility and with your help and support
will work to continue the excellence of the RCWRT.  I believe  the  club
is  positioned  for another good year in 2010.  Membership is strong and
with the 150th anniversary of the Civil War approaching interest in  all
CW  activities is increasing.  Let me assure you Davis (Whitehead), Jack
(Mountcastle), and I are totally committed to making this  a  good  year
for the Round Table.                                                    

The most important  ingredient  to  our  club's  success  is  you,  your
participation  and  support.   This year your officers want to challenge
each of you to consider the club's many activities  and  to  share  your
thoughts  on  where  we  might improve. Consider club activities such as
meetings, field  trips,  programs  and  speakers,  the  Newsletter,  and
others.   As  good  as  we  are  we  believe  there  is  always room for
improvement.  Your club officers and Executive Committee truly want your
suggestions.                                                            

Note: To help in this members' input, attached to the printed newsletter
is  a  Club Survey.  For those of you on the web site click here:       
RCWRT 2010 questionnaire and print the page(s).                         

Please take the time to complete it and give it to one of  the  officers
or sent it to:                                                          

David C. Whitehead         
4305 Cary St.              
Richmond, VA 23221         

H) 562-2666                
davidwhitehead1@comcast.net
 

Some Upcoming Events


University of Richmond offers course  on  The  Civil  War  entitled  "At
Gettysburg  with  Lee's  Army"  that  meets  7:00  -  9:00  PM  on  five
consecutive Monday nights, March 1 - 29, 2010.  This noncredit course is
led  by  Round Table member Jack Mountcastle, the Army's former Chief of
Military History.   The  cost  of  the  non-credit  course  is  $169.00.
Registration is currently in progress.  For details call U of R's School
of Continuing Studies at 289-8133 or visit:                             
 deans.richmond.edu/scs/thinkagain/courses/list/?cat=History


Now - at the Virginia Historical Society
A New Exhibition on John Brown's Raid 
October 10, 2009 through April 11, 2010
www.vahistorical.org/news/pr_johnbrown.htm

Visit The American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar
www.tredegar.org
and their
Events Calendar

Visit the The Museum of the Confederacy Online
www.moc.org
and their
Events Calendar for MOC Events Calendar

Pamplin Historical Park and
The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier
www.pamplinpark.org
and their
Special Events Calendar

RCWRT Monthly Speakers for 2010


We Need Your Help to Save Money

If you have an E-mail address and internet access and are not currently
receiving your newsletter notification via E-mail please let me have   
your E-mail address.                                                   

My E-mail address is:  cowardin@juno.com
(Just click my E-mail address above)

Richmond Civil War Round Table Newsletter
Gary Cowardin, Editor  
1404 Lorraine Ave.     
Richmond, VA 23227-3735
cowardin@juno.com