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        
February 2010 Program

Myths, Misconceptions and Mistakes of the
Kilpatrick-Dahlgren Raid on Richmond

Dr. Bruce M. Venter

8:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 9, 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.

Over the years, myths and legends have grown up around one of  the  most
controversial  cavalry  raids  of the Civil War: the Kilpatrick-Dahlgren
Raid on Richmond in 1864.  Similarly, our speaker has spent years trying
to  unravel  the  mysteries  surrounding  this  raid  and  the  colorful
characters involved in it.  The raid's proximity to  the  Richmond  area
should make it an interesting topic for many RCWRT members.             

Bruce  M.   Venter's  major  interest  is Union cavalry, with particular
research emphasis on the career of General Judson  Kilpatrick.   He  has
lectured  at  numerous cavalry conferences and Civil War Round Tables on
this controversial cavalry leader.  He has also led  bus  tours  of  the
Kilpatrick-Dahlgren raid.                                               

He  is  currently  a partner in Stars & Stripes Events, LLC, an American
history tour company which offers  in-depth  battlefield  tours  of  the
Revolutionary War, the Civil War and the Indian Wars out west.          

In  March  2003,  Blue  &  Gray  magazine  published  his article on the
"Kilpatrick-Dahlgren Raid on Richmond." He is completing  a  book-length
study of the Kilpatrick-Dahlgren raid for publication-very soon.        

He  has  written  for Civil War magazine, the Washington Times and was a
book reviewer for North & South and Civil War News.  His latest  article
for  Blue  &  Gray,  on the second battle at Reams' Station was entitled
"Hancock the (Not So) Superb."                                          

He maintains membership in three Round Tables and numerous  preservation
groups,  including  the  Brandy Station Foundation, Richmond Battlefield
Association and the CWPT.  He currently serves on the  Goochland  County
Sesquicentennial Committee.                                             

Dr.   Venter  holds  a  B.A.   in  history from Manhattan College, and a
doctorate in educational administration from the University  at  Albany.
He  lives in Goochland County-"Dahlgren Country"-with his wife Lynne and
their beagle, Sally Seddon.                                             


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


Reminder - Membership Dues for 2010 are Due by March 15th

Update: as of 1/23/10 we have 80 paid up members.

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 February 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!                                                                  


From the Preservation Committee Report
Jack Ackerly, Chairman

There is changing focus of sponsors of  Civil  War  seminars  away  from
primarily  military topics to more social and political subjects.  While
Ackerly thought most folks were more  interested  in  subjects  such  as
Jackson's  flank attack at Chancellorsville; Brandy Station, the largest
Cavalry battle on this continent, etc., the Sesquicentennial Commission,
supported   by   the   Virginia  Historical  Society  and  others,  were
emphasizing the causes  of  the  War,  women  on  the  home  front,  the
activities  of  slaves  during  the  War,  the  results of the War, etc.
Delegate  Scott  Lingamfelter  of  Woodbridge  was  influential  on  the
Commission  in  preserving military subjects to create a better balance,
according to Ackerly.                                                   

This  past  December  the  Shenandoah  Valley  Battlefields  Foundation,
following three annual military seminars, had a social/political seminar
in Staunton which seemed to be well received.  The SVBF Seminar was also
attended   by   RCWT   members  Bernie  Fisher,  John  Marakovitz,  Jack
Mountcastle and Bill Welsch.                                            

It will  be  interesting  to  compare  attendance  figures  between  the
military  and  the  social  seminars  as  the  year progresses concluded
Ackerly.                                                                



Please Complete Our Survey Before the Next Meeting

To help in RCWRT  members'  input,  attached  to  last  month's  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
at the next meeting or send 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

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