Edward J. Wooldridge, Pres.            Gary Cowardin, Editor    
13700 Lintel Lane                      1404 Lorraine Ave.       
Midlothian, VA 23113                   Richmond, VA 23227-3735  
edwool@verizon.net                     cowardin@juno.com        
 July 2009 Program

Bevin Alexander

How the South Could Have Won the Civil War

8:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 14, 2009, 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.

Bevin Alexander is a specialist on military strategy much of  which  was
learned  from  his  military  experience.   Between  1951  -1952  he was
commander of the  5th  Historical  Detachment  in  the  Korean  War  and
received  three  battle  stars as well as the Commendation Medal for his
work as a combat historian.  His battle studies on the  Korean  War  are
stored in the National Archives in Washington, D.C.  Bevin has taught at
VCU and is currently an adjunct professor at Longwood University.       

He was an adviser to the Rand Corporation for a recent study  on  future
warfare  and  a  participant  in a recent war game simulation run by the
Training and Doctrine Command of the U.S.  Army.  He also served on  the
president's   staff  at  the  University  of  Virginia  as  director  of
information.                                                            

He is the author of ten books on military history,  including  How  Wars
Are  Won, How Hitler Could Have Won World War II, and How America Got It
Right.  His book, Lost Victories, was  chosen  by  the  Civil  War  Book
Review  as  one  of  the  books  that  has  most  transformed  Civil War
scholarship.  Mr.  Alexander's book  are  available  through  bookstores
including    Barnes   &   Noble,   as   well   as   from   his   website
www.bevinalexander.com

His latest book  How the South Could Have Won the Civil War will be  his
subject  at  our  July  meeting.   At  the meeting,  Mr.  Alexander will
discuss how the Confederacy:                                            

>>   Had its greatest chance to win the war just three months into the  
     fighting, but blew it                                              

>>   How its three most important leaders, Jefferson Davis, Robert E.   
     Lee and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, clashed over how to fight the  
     war                                                                

>>   Devised, but never fully exploited, a way to negate the Union's huge
     advantages in manpower and weaponry                                 


The RCWRT Tour was a Great Success!

Led by Greg Mertz, we visited Hartwood Presbyterian  Church  first  then
headed  up  the Rappahannock to Kelly's Ford.  From there we visited the
spot where Maj.  Gen.  John Pelham, C.S.A.   was  mortally  wounded  on
3/17/1863.   (It was little wet in the area after several days of rain!)
Our next stop was the Graffiti House at Brandy Station.


Several local historians gave us a tour through the house.
After the tour we had lunch on picnic tables next to the house.


2009 RCWRT Tour standing in front of the Graffiti House at Brandy Station


A second floor room with graffiti in areas that haven't been damaged.


The museum historians believe most of the better art was done by one person.


J. E. B. Stuart's name is close to his signature below. (Note: when he
signed the wall it would have been like writing on a black board.)

J. E. B. Stuart's signature

For more info about Graffiti House visit:
www.brandystationfoundation.com

After lunch we headed about a mile away to the 1863-64 winter encampment
of the Army of the Potomac and what's left of the St. James Church and
cemetery.  Then a quick trip around Fleetwood Hill to the side facing
Brandy Station and Beauregard where Lee overlooked the battlefields.

Beauregard (formerly Barbour) as seen from Fleetwood Hill

Many thanks go to David Whitehead for putting the trip together.

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Upcoming Events


DABBS HOUSE MUSEUM IS NOW OPEN FOR TOURS

The Dabbs House Museum, located at 3812 Nine Mile Road, is now open  for
tours  Monday-Friday,  noon-4 p.m.  and by appointment.  The Dabbs House
served as General Robert E.  Lee's  headquarters  for  62  days  in  the
summer  of  1862.  It is the site of Lee's famous meeting with Stonewall
Jackson, James Longstreet, A.P.  Hill and D.H.  Hill to plan what  would
become  the Seven Days Battles.  The museum is very interested in having
Round Table members visit and provide feedback.  Members  interested  in
arranging  a  tour  should  contact  Jimmy  Price,  assistant curator of
education  for  Henrico  County  Division  of  Recreation  &  Parks,  at
804-652-3411.


Visit the The Museum of the Confederacy Online Events Calendar
for MOC Events Calendar:

http://www.moc.org/site/PageServer?pagename=visit_cal


Pamplin Historical Park
and
The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier

Special Events Calendar:

http://www.pamplinpark.org/events.html


RCWRT Monthly Speakers for 2009


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

cowardin@juno.com