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
August 2010 Program
Dick Sommers
"Fury at Fort Harrison"
8:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 10, 2010, at the
First Presbyterian Church, Richmond, VA., 4602 Cary Street Road, 23226
A parking lot is available behind the church with an entrance off the
parking lot to the left and down a few stairs. (see map below)
Richard J. Sommers, Ph.D. is the Senior Historian at the
US Army Heritage and Education Center, Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA.
Dick has special interest in the US Civil War, US military history, amd
military history in general. He is a member of the Southern Historical
Assn, Society of Civil War Historians, Civil War Preservation Trust, and
the Harrisburg Civil War Round Table.
A few of his many, many publications are "Land Operations in Virginia in
1864: The Tightening Noose," Virginia At War, 1864, Kentucky, 2009;
"Stonewall Jackson," "George G. Meade," and "William T. Sherman," and
The Art of War: Great Commanders of the Modern World, Quercus (Vol. II),
2009.
John Coski tells me Dick Sommers is best known for his Richmond Redeemed.
Our New Meeting Location
It is less than 2 miles from the old one.
See map below with a line from the old location to the new.
Our meeting location from now on will be the First Presbyterian Church, Richmond, VA.,
4602 Cary Street Road, 23226. A parking lot is available behind the church.
The door is off the parking lot to the left with steps down into the meeting room.
(An elevator is available through the main doors to right off the parking lot.)
NOTE: Please put on your NEW NAME BADGE on when you arrive for the meeting.
(They will be near or on the raffle table.)
2010 Meeting Attendance: July = ~68
Civil War Preservation Trust
The Department of the Interior is seeking citizen input for the
"America's Great Outdoors" initiative - a program designed to promote
land conservation and reconnect all Americans to our rich outdoor
heritage. You can learn more about this exciting proposal through the
Department of the Interior's website:
www.doi.gov/americasgreatoutdoors
The Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) has proposed that battlefield
preservation be a key element of this outstanding conservation
initiative. For more than a year, CWPT has encouraged senior
administration officials to use this opportunity to commit resources for
preservation of the nation's remaining unprotected battlefield land as a
lasting legacy of the Civil War Sesquicentennial (2011-2015).
If you have not already done so, we ask that you please take a few
moments to express your support for the protection of our nation's
endangered Civil War battlegrounds. Making your voice heard is easy -
just take a few moments to provide feedback at the America's Great
Outdoors website:
ideas.usda.gov/ago/ideas.nsf/0/7D406B65E9D34CE48625774500526128?OpenDocument
For more CWPT information:
www.civilwar.org
Book Report
Roll Call To Destiny:
The Soldiers Eye View of Civil War Battles
By Brent Nosworthy
Brent Nosworthy's Roll Call To Destiny, by his own description is a
collection of short stories that attempts to flesh out the three
branches of the army. Describing micro infantry, artillery and cavalry
engagements that took place as part of larger battles he attempts to
link small unit narratives with pre-war tactical doctrine. Also
included are three tactical observations by the author outlining the
impact and use of the rifled musket, bayonet and cavalry saber. The
individual unit engagements took place in various battles almost all of
which occurred in the early to mid point of the war.
There are nine short stories generally told from a northern perspective:
five infantry, two artillery and two cavalry. Two of these stories
involve forts, one successfully taken and the other not. Included are
three of what the author terms tactical observations with an interesting
introductory chapter on weapons and warfare. Of importance is the
author's contention that Jomini's doctrine of linear formations was the
preeminent doctrine used by senior leaders north and south even though
this doctrine was not taught until 1859 at West Point1. Doctrine was a
function of the organization of the armies as defined by their
respective congresses and the prevalent use of field manuals such as the
prewar Hardee's Rifle and Light Infantry Tactics and Mahan's A Complete
Treatise on Field Fortifications. Generalship and tactics displayed by
many of the senior leaders is a result of what they as junior officers
saw, learned and experienced during the Mexican war and applied as
senior officers. They modified, adapted and codified variations in
established doctrine and tactics over time to meet the needs of their
individual commands and the exigency of war.
Roll Call To Destiny is research that could not be used in previously
published works and rather than let this material sit idly by Mr.
Nosworthy collected and polished it. The prose flows well and is easily
read but he ventures into the realm of making tactical observations
without the full weight of thorough research therefore his conclusions
are not well supported, wholly accurate or complete. Roll Call To
Destiny is generally interesting to read and the period maps, though
difficult to study given the small scale, are very good. The hardcover
edition currently retails for $23.89 at Amazon.com
ISBN 10: 0-7867-1747-5
For additional report information about this book click here.
Book Report by,
Jim Seguin
For Upcoming Events
U of R offers September Bus Trip to Harpers Ferry and Antietam
September 12-13, see last month's newsletter for the details.
Visit The American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar
www.tredegar.org
and their
Events Calendar
Visit The Museum of the Confederacy Online
www.moc.org
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
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)
