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        
December 2009 Program

Richard McMurry
The General in the Jar:
Joseph E. Johnston and the Defenses of Atlanta

8:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 8, 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.

The speaker for our December 8, 2009 meeting, Richard McMurry,  will  be
familiar  to  many  of us as he returns to the Round Table.  A native of
Atlanta, he received a B.A. in history from  VMI.  Following  two  years
active  duty in the Army,  he completed his M.A.  and  Ph.D.  degrees at
Emory University.                                                       

Richard taught history at Valdosta  (GA)  State College (1967-1981)  and
was  an adjunct professor at NC State University (1981-1988).  Currently
he is a freelance writer, a speaker and serves as a guide/historian  for
tours and cruises.                                                      

He  qualifies  as  an authority on the Civil War as he has authored over
100 articles on the War in addition to publishing many  books.   Two  of
his  books, John Bell Hood and the War for Southern Independence and Two
Great Rebel Armies: An  Essay  in  Confederate  Military  History,  were
listed by Civil War Magazine among the 100 best current Civil War books.
Other books include 1) Virginia Military Institute Alumni in  the  Civil
War:  Bello Presidium (1999), 2) The Fourth Battle of Winchester: Toward
a New Civil War Paradigm (2002), and 3), Atlanta 1864: Last  Chance  for
the  Confederacy  (2000),  which  received  an  award  for distinguished
scholarship and political history.                                      

Richard has spoken extensively to Civil War Round Tables, colleges,  and
high  school  groups  in  over  30  states.   He  is an active member of
numerous Civil War historic and preservation organizations including the
Civil War Preservation Trust and the Civil War Education Association.   

No period of General Johnston's command has been  more  crucial  to  his
military  reputation  or  was  more controversial than the six months in
1864 that he spent in commanding the Army of Tennessee in the defense of
Atlanta.   At  our December 8, 2009 meeting Richard McMurry will discuss
this critical period in the life of General Joseph E.  Johnston and  its
effect on the outcome on the Civil War.                                 

During  the  Civil  War  General  Johnston  commanded  more  Confederate
soldiers  than  any  other  Rebel  general  leading  Southern  armies in
Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, and the  Carolinas.   He  was
also  one  of  the most controversial Confederate generals.  What can be
said about his record that most critical period of the war?             


Round Table Elections Upcoming At December 8 Meeting

All members are encouraged to attend the December meeting.   This  is  a
very  important meeting because we will be electing our officers and the
three at-large members of the Executive Committee.                      


Annual Dinner a Rousing Success



For those of you who were unable to attend this  year's  Annual  Holiday
Dinner at the Jepson Alumni Center, you missed a wonderful evening. More
than 120 members and guests in attendance were treated to a  great  meal
and  an  outstanding  talk  by  famed  historian  Dr.   James  I.  "Bud"
Robertson.  Many thanks go to 1st VP Davis Wrinkle for putting  together
this  excellent  evening for the Round Table.  Also, thanks to Treasurer
Richard Grosse, for handling the cash bar so the rest of us could  enjoy
the social hour preceding the dinner.                                   


Check Out Our Latest Online Book Report
The Rebel and the Rose. James A. Semple, Julia Gardiner Tyler
and the Lost Confederate Gold
By Doug Tice

Some Upcoming Events


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


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

cowardin@juno.com