Meeting of January 27, 2026

Join us at 6:30 PM, January 27, at Jack’s Restaurant & Bar, located at the Northwest corner of the Westgate Shopping Mall in San Jose, near Campbell (1502 Saratoga Ave, San Jose, CA 95129) and via ZOOM. This month’s topic is

Alan Sissenwein on “The Checkered Civil War Career of Edwin Vose Sumner”

History has not always been kind to Maj. Gen. Edwin Vose Sumner, the Civil War’s oldest corps commander. Born in Massachusetts in 1797, he had over four decades of military service behind him—with much combat experience—when the South seceded. In 1862, he was assigned to command the 2nd Corps in the Army of the Potomac, a position that some historians believe was beyond his capacity. Later that year, at the start of the Fredericksburg campaign, he took charge of the Right Grand Division, consisting of the 2nd and 9th Corps along with two cavalry brigades.

Sumner’s critics cite his performance at the Battle of Antietam as proof of his ineptitude. There, he led one of his divisions into the West Woods, where a Confederate counterattack inflicted over 900 casualties and sent the Federals reeling. Sumner’s culpability in this fiasco remains a source of debate, but the incident was unquestionably the worst moment of his military career.

Whatever Sumner’s limitations, his Civil War record also included successes. The general can be credited with averting disaster on at least two occasions. At the Battle of Fair Oaks, Sumner was ordered to cross the flooding Chickahominy River and support the isolated 3rd Corps, which was being hard-pressed by a Confederate attack. Ignoring warnings that the river had become impassable, Sumner and the 2nd Corps crossed the waterway over a pair of rickety bridges, one of which was soon destroyed by the surging current while the other was in danger of being swept away. Remarkably, they managed to reach the fighting in time to save the 3rd Corps from destruction. Six months later, at the Battle of Fredericksburg, Sumner staved off a potentially larger catastrophe when he dissuaded Ambrose Burnside from renewing his assaults against Marye’s Heights. This talk will examine Sumner’s personality and generalship, showing how they influenced the war for both good and ill.

Alan Sissenwein has been a member of the South Bay Civil War Round Table since 1997 and currently serves as its vice president. A professional writer, he holds a bachelor’s degree in history from UC Berkeley and a master’s in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. He is currently writing the second draft of a book on the Battle of Fredericksburg.

Quiz for January 27, 2026

Civil War Quiz: What Do You Know About the Anaconda Plan?

Q#1 — What were the main objectives of the Anaconda Plan?

Q#2 — Who proposed the Anaconda Plan?

Q#3 — How did the Anaconda Plan get its name?

Q#4 — What were the names of the two main operational components of the Anaconda Plan?

Q#5 — What reaction did the Anaconda Plan receive from a majority of the Union military high command?

Q#6 — What Executive Order by President Lincoln actually superseded the Anaconda Plan?

Q#7 — When was the Anaconda Plan approved and then implemented?

Q#8 — Who was initially given overall authority to implement the Anaconda Plan?

Q#9 — Which Assistant Secretary was key in advancing the western portion of the Anaconda Plan?

Q#10 — Approximately how many miles of Confederate coastline were included in the Anaconda Plan?

Q#11 — What was a major supply factor facing the Atlantic Blockade portion of the Anaconda Plan?

Q#12 — What was the solution to the supply problem for the Atlantic Blockade?

Q#13 — To implement the Gulf of Mexico Blockade component of the Anaconda Plan, what geographic location was critical to place under Union control?

Q#14 — By the end of the Civil War, approximately how many Union naval ships were involved in the Anaconda Plan?

Q#15 — How successful was the blockade at preventing ships sympathetic to the Confederacy from getting through?

Meeting of February 24, 2026

Join us at 6:30 PM, February 24, at Jack’s Restaurant & Bar, located at the Northwest corner of the Westgate Shopping Mall in San Jose, near Campbell (1502 Saratoga Ave, San Jose, CA 95129) and via ZOOM. This month’s topic is

Kirstein Ta on “Ars Moriendi – The Good Death”

Dying far from home and loved ones was a harsh reality that soldiers had to face. Many turned to comrades, religious leaders, nurses, or doctors to help them facilitate “a good death”—a death reflective of character and legacy, based on faith, repentance, and acceptance of God’s will.

“Civil War soldiers were, in fact, better prepared to die than to kill, for they lived in a culture that offered many lessons in how life should end. But these lessons had to be adapted to the dramatically changed circumstances of the war. Soldiers and their families struggled in a variety of ways to mitigate the cruel realities and to construct a good death amid chaos.” —Drew Gilpin Faust

Kirstein Hansen-Ta is a new student of the Civil War. In July 2024, she inherited ten six-inch binders containing her family history, dating as far back as 1630 to the present day. As incredible as all this history is, she found none as fascinating as her family’s experiences during the Civil War. Several men on both sides of her family fought for the Confederacy, including her second great-grandfather and a number of uncles. She is happy to report that, with the exception of one, they all returned home.

Among the hundreds of pages in these binders, Kirstein came across what she considers the most valuable: four typewritten pages of a letter from an uncle describing all three of his older brothers and their time in the Confederate army. Additionally, he describes what life was like for the family during the Civil War. After reading these stories, Kirstein realized that the most intriguing part of the Civil War wasn’t necessarily the battles or the politics, but rather the people who lived through it.

Wanting to learn more about the Civil War, Kirstein discovered the website for the South Bay Civil War Round Table and officially became a member in October 2024. She looks forward to learning more about this significant time in our country’s history.

Meeting of March 31, 2026

Join us at 6:30 PM, March 31, at Jack’s Restaurant & Bar, located at the Northwest corner of the Westgate Shopping Mall in San Jose, near Campbell (1502 Saratoga Ave, San Jose, CA 95129) and via ZOOM. This month’s topic is

Ron Vaughan on “The Mexican War”

How did the United States achieve victory in just two years, while failing to invade Canada in 1812—and while both Spain and France had previously failed to conquer Mexico? How did the USA succeed where others did not? This presentation will answer these questions and many more. It will also explore the critical role of U.S. junior officers who later rose to become generals in the Civil War.

Ron Vaughan holds an MA in History and a Secondary Teaching Credential. His master’s thesis was entitled “A Comparison of the Military Effectiveness of the U.S. Army and Mexico in 1846.” He is the author of two published books: Viva Juárez: A Source Book for the French Intervention in Mexico and Handbook for the Spanish Civil War, as well as numerous magazine articles on military history. His most recent article, “Joe Shelby’s Odyssey in Mexico,” appeared in the December 2022 issue of North & South magazine.

Ron has been an active historical re-enactor for the Roman era, the American Civil War, World War I, and World War II. He currently serves as Head Docent at the Tulare City Historical Museum and as Secretary and Editor for the San Joaquin Valley Civil War Round Table.

Meeting of November 25, 2025

David Hsueh on “Requiem for Innocence: Destruction of Nature and Animals in the Civil War”

Is This Death? by Alexander Gardner, Antietam Battlefield

Five days after the bloodiest single day in American history at Antietam, Union XII Corps acting commander Brig. Gen. Alpheus Williams rode across the devastated battlefield. The ground was still littered with corpses, and the stench of decay hung in the air. That evening, in a letter home to his daughter, Williams struggled to describe the scenes he had witnessed. One image, however, refused to leave him:

“The number of dead horses was high. They lay, like the men, in all attitudes. One beautiful milk-white animal had died in so graceful a position that I wished for its photograph. Its legs were doubled under, and its arched neck gracefully turned to one side, as if looking back to the ball hole in its side. Until you got to it, it was hard to believe the horse was dead.”

Unbeknownst to Williams, three days earlier, on September 19, the photographer Alexander Gardner had encountered the very same animal. He captured it in a haunting image later published in his Photographic Sketch Book of the War, titled “Confederate Colonel and Horse, Both Killed at the Battle of Antietam.” Williams’ words and Gardner’s lens together preserved the same tragic scene: an animal of striking beauty transformed into a casualty of war. Once overlooked, the photograph has, in recent decades, gained recognition as a powerful emblem of Antietam and of the Civil War itself, embodying not only the vast human slaughter but also the silent suffering of the animals drawn into the conflict.

This talk explores the wider devastation of the natural world during the Civil War: the destruction of landscapes, the slaughter of horses on the battlefield, and the displacement of other wildlife. It portrays the conflict not only as a human tragedy but also as an ecological catastrophe—a wound inflicted upon both creation and the divine. Its aim is to illuminate a different dimension of wartime destruction: the suffering borne by those who could not speak for themselves.

David Hsueh is a fourth-year political science student at the University of California, Berkeley. An avid history enthusiast since kindergarten, his first introduction to the American Civil War came through reading about President Lincoln. His true passion for the war began after his first viewing of the movie Gettysburg and his subsequent visits to the Gettysburg and Antietam battlefields seven years ago, at age 11. His main interests in the Civil War center on leadership decisions at the brigade-to-army level and on human-interest stories—both of generals and of the common soldier. A cinephile and film lover, he drew inspiration for the themes and topic of this talk from Andrei Tarkovsky’s Andrei Rublev and Robert Bresson’s Au Hasard Balthazar.

Meeting Minutes November 2025Download

Quiz for November 25, 2025

Civil War Quiz: What Do You Know About Miscellaneous Topics of the Civil War?

Q#1 — What was a first for the commanders during the Battle of the Wilderness?

Q#2 — What event in the Battle of the Wilderness killed many wounded soldiers?

Q#3 — Which army won the Battle of the Wilderness?

Q#4 — What were two drawbacks when supplying troops with Henry or Spencer rifles?

Q#5 — In the movie Unforgiven with Burt Lancaster and Audrey Hepburn, Lancaster reloaded cartridges for Colt revolvers, Winchester 1873, and Sharps rifles. Why can’t Henry and Spencer cartridges be reloaded?

Q#6 — Why weren’t the bullets in the Henry and Spencer cartridges Minie balls?

Q#7 — Eight civilians were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Civil War. What was unique about Dr. Mary Edwards Walker?

Q#8 — What was unique about five of the eight civilian recipients awarded the Medal of Honor during the Civil War?

Q#9 — Why were these eight the only civilians to be awarded the Medal of Honor in history?

Q#10 — The Confederate Congress authorized a Medal of Honor in 1862. Why were no Confederate soldiers awarded the medal?

Q#11 — What was unique about Civil War soldiers awarded a Purple Heart?

Q#12 — Which state was the closest in distance to California at the start of the Civil War?

Q#13 — Which Confederate state was the closest in distance to California?

Q#14 — What were California’s major contributions during the Civil War?

Q#15 — Which states were added to the Union during the Civil War?

Meeting of October 28, 2025

Mark Costin on “The Civil War Campaigns Against the Apache and the Navaho”

At the conclusion of the Civil War New Mexico campaign, the victorious Union appointed James Henry Carleton as commander of the Department of New Mexico. Carleton considered the local Native American tribes, the Apache and Navajo, grave threats and pursued a relentless campaign against them. This talk describes these little-known campaigns, which had severe consequences for the Native Americans in the West.

Mark Costin is an engineer living in Sunnyvale, California, recently retired from working on functional safety for automated and autonomous vehicles. A longtime history enthusiast, Mark now has more time to devote to his hobby. He holds a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering from Case Western Reserve University, an M.Eng. from McMaster University, and a B.Eng. from McGill University.

Meeting Minutes October 2025Download

Quiz for October 28, 2025

Civil War Quiz: What Do You Know About the 1863 New York City Draft Riots?

Q#1 — By what other name were the New York City draft riots referred to?

Q#2 — What was the name of the legislation that helped fuel the riots?

Q#3 — Which group of people did the Draft Law exclude?

Q#4 — Which ethnic group was the largest in confronting police during the rioting?

Q#5 — What action by President Lincoln that went into effect in 1863 helped fuel the riots?

Q#6 — What other city in the State of New York had already experienced rioting related to the military draft?

Q#7 — The first draft numbers were drawn in New York City on July 11, 1863, without incident. What was the date of the second draft number drawing that sparked the riot?

Q#8 — Which group led a furious crowd of around 500 in an attack on the assistant Ninth District provost marshal’s office at Third Avenue and 47th Street, where the draft was taking place?

Q#9 — Since the New York State Militia had been sent to assist Union troops at Gettysburg, what law enforcement organization was left to try to suppress the riots?

Q#10 — What was the name of the building located at 43rd Street and Fifth Avenue that provided shelter for 233 children and was attacked by a mob that looted the building of its food and supplies?

Q#11 — When New York Governor Horatio Seymour arrived in New York the day after the riot began, what action did he attempt to appease the crowd of rioters?

Q#12 — On July 15, what action did Colonel James Barnet Fry perform to quell the riot?

Q#13 — The exact death toll during the New York City draft riots is unknown. What is the estimate that was developed by historian James M. McPherson?

Q#14 — How many people were hanged over five days of the rioting?

Q#15 — Why was the Bull’s Head hotel on 44th Street burned by the rioters?

Bonus Question — On August 19, the government resumed the draft in New York. It was completed within 10 days without further incident. Across the nation, of the 750,000 selected nationwide for conscription, how many draftees were sent into active duty?

Meeting of September 30, 2025

Jim Rhetta on “Would England Have Recognized the South?”

A common belief among Civil War historians is that England was frequently inclined toward diplomatic recognition of the Confederacy. This belief is supported by the view that a shortage of cotton nearly drove England to recognize the South to secure cotton supplies for economic stability and employment in the cotton industry. However, the key missing requirement for diplomatic recognition was a decisive Confederate battlefield victory to convince England that the Confederacy was a militarily viable nation.

Closer evaluations of this issue are often lacking in U.S. publications, with familiar beliefs repeated across generations of readers. This presentation will examine British decision-makers, influencers, foreign policy, and political processes to uncover the truth about England’s intentions regarding recognition of the Confederacy.

Jim Rhetta retired from Lockheed Corporation and also retired as a Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, serving in the Intelligence Community. In both careers, he monitored, analyzed, and reported on global conflicts and crises for the Department of Defense. His roles required him to write and present daily intelligence briefings, threat assessments, and weekly activity reports. He authored classified books on foreign air defense threats and orders of battle. He continues to monitor current events and historical subjects for their impact on society today.

Meeting Minutes September 2025Download

Quiz for September 30, 2025

Civil War Quiz: What Do You Know About President Lincoln’s Cabinet Secretaries?

Q#1 – Who was President Lincoln’s first Secretary of War?

Q#2 – President Lincoln replaced his first Secretary of War with Edwin M. Stanton. What were the reasons for the replacement?

Q#3 – What two major accomplishments is Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles known for during the Civil War?

Q#4 – What was the main reason that Lincoln named Caleb B. Smith as his Secretary of the Interior?

Q#5 – What were two major accomplishments Postmaster General Montgomery Blair was known for?

Q#6 – What major legal action by President Lincoln did Attorney General Edward Bates strongly disagree with?

Q#7 – During the Civil War, who was responsible for implementing the National Banking System to help finance the Union cause?

Q#8 – What two major criticisms were directed toward Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton?

Q#9 – What were the reasons that Secretary of the Interior Caleb B. Smith clashed with President Lincoln’s wife, Mary Todd Lincoln?

Q#10 – What major postal reforms did Postmaster General Blair institute regarding mail delivery?

Q#11 – After President Lincoln was assassinated, which Cabinet Secretary is credited with making the statement, “Now he belongs to the ages”?

Q#12 – Which of President Lincoln’s Cabinet Secretaries was later named Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court?

Q#13 – What nickname did President Lincoln assign to his Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles?

Q#14 – What major reform regarding the federal monetary system is Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase known for?

Q#15 – Who organized the manhunt for Abraham Lincoln’s assassin, John Wilkes Booth?