Meeting of July 30, 2024

Chuck Seekamp on “Civil War Equipment and Miscellaneous Support Paraphernalia”

Chuck will display and discuss the tools used during the Civil War. Some are reproductions that were either bought or made from pictures. Includes one saddle bag with tools and medicines and an actual medical bag, probably post Civil War, but 1800s. The presentation will include tools out for inspection and to look at.

Chuck Seekamp was a volunteer firefighter for 15 years with many medical calls and learned things there. For the Civil War, Chuck started by re-enacting in the artillery. When the doctor who was impersonating the Confederate doctor had to leave, Chuck’s daughter, who playing a nurse, came to Chuck and asked to fill in, Chuck did so and started reading up on Confederate medical procedures. Many were written by Union doctors who had been captured and put to work in southern hospitals and therefore there was much comparison. The unit had in it an actual nurse, X-ray tech, blood drawer, dental hygienist, and a couple of other jobs. These people taught Chuck names and how things were done as well as what to read.

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Quiz for July 30, 2024

Civil War Quiz: What Do You Know About the Underground Railroad?

Civil War Quiz: What Do You Know About the Underground Railroad?

Q#1 – What is the origin of the term “Underground Railroad?

Q#2 – The Underground Railroad was used by enslaved African Americans primarily to escape into free states and from there to Canada. What other destinations were there?

Q#3 – Approximately when did the Underground Railroad begin?

Q#4 – For the fugitive slaves who took the Underground Railroad, many of them considered Canada their final destination. Approximately how many of them settled in Canada?

Q#5 – What was the Fugitive Slave Clause of the U.S. Constitution (Article IV, Section 2, Clause 3)?

Q#6 – What did non-slave states do to circumvent the requirements in The Fugitive Slave Act that compelled officials of free states to assist slave catchers, granting them immunity to operate in free states??

Q#7 – How did escaped slaves learn how to use The Underground Railroad?

Q#8 – What was the main route for freedom seekers from the South?

Q#9 – There was a western route, used by John Brown among others, as part of the Underground Railroad. Where was it located?

Underground Railroad Terminology

Q#10 – What term was used to describe people who helped fugitive slaves find the Underground Railroad?

Q#11 – What term was used to describe those individuals who acted as Guides?

Q#12 – What term was used to describe the various hiding places along the Underground Railroad?

Q#13 – What term was used to describe those people who hid escaping slaves in their homes?

Q#14 – What term was used to describe people escaping slavery?

Q#15 – What term was used to describe financial benefactors of the Underground Railroad?

Meeting of June 25, 2024

Alan Sissenwein on “George Armstrong Custer”

Custer is mainly remembered for his defeat and death at the Battle of Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876. Custer’s disastrous end, however, has eclipsed his very credible career in the Civil War, where he initially won the celebrity that made his final defeat a shock to the nation. This talk is intended to present a more three-dimensional view of Custer as both a man and a soldier, examining his conduct in both the Civil War and the Indian Wars.

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.

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Quiz for June 25, 2024

Civil War Quiz: What Do You Know About Canada and the American Civil War?

Q#1 – At the time of the American Civil War what was Canada’s political status?

Q#2 – What was Canada’s position on slavery?

Q#3 – Approximately how many Canadians participated in the Civil War?

Q#4 – What was one of the main reasons that influenced England not to recognize the Confederacy as a legitimate government?

Q#5 – The rent Affair began when an American warship stopped the British mail ship RMS Trent on the high seas and seized two Confederate diplomats, James Mason and John Slidell. What action did England take that involved Canada?

Q#6 – What was the Grand Trunk Railway Brigade?

Q#7 – Who was Benjamin Wier and what was his involvement in the Civil War?

Q#8 – What incident occurred on December 1863, involving the new Union tug Chesapeake that was preparing for service in the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron?

Q#9 – Why did a large number of Canadians have a negative view of US President Abraham Lincoln?
 
Q#10 – The CSS Tallahassee was involved in what incident in Canada?

Q#11 – What was the City of Montreal, Canada’s role in the Civil War?

Q#12 – The St. Albans Raid was the northernmost land action of the American Civil War. Taking place in St. Albans, Vermont, on October 19, 1864. From where was a raid conducted?

Q#13 – Who conducted the St. Albans Raid?

Q#14 – What was the objective of the St. Albans Raid?

Q#15 – What happened to the men who conducted the St. Albans Raid?

Meeting of May 28, 2024

Mark Costin on Battle of Buena Vista – Training Ground for the Civil War”

Battle of Buena Vista by Carl Nebel

This talk describes the 1847 Battle of Buena Vista where the American forces of Zachary Taylor defeated the Mexican army of Santa Anna. The battle saw significant contributions by many future Civil War stalwarts. Particular attention will be paid to the important actions by Jefferson Davis and Braxton Bragg in securing the victory. The talk will conclude with an open discussion of the comparison between the two wars.

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

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Quiz for May 28, 2024

Civil War Quiz: What Do You Know About the Fort Pillow Massacre?

Q#1 – Where is Fort Pillow located?

Q#2 – Who constructed Fort Pillow?

Q#3 – Why did the Confederates construct Fort Pillow?

Q#4 – What was a major defensive design flaw in the fort’s construction?

Q#5 – When did Union forces capture Fort Pillow?

Q#6 – Why were Union forces able to capture Fort Pillow?

Q#7 – After its capture by Union forces, how large was the military garrison at Fort Pillow?

Q#8 – What Confederate General led the attack on Fort Pillow?

Q#9 – What was the overall Confederate strategy that eventually led up to the attack on Fort Pillow?

Q#10 – What battle preceded the Confederate attack on Fort Pillow?

Q#11 – What tactic did Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest attempt to get Union forces to surrender at a military engagement that preceded the attack on Fort Pillow?

Q#12 – Approximately how many Confederate forces participated in the attach on Fort Pillow? (Note: the estimate is a range of 1,000 troops!)

Q#13 – What significant Union casualty early in the Confederate attack on Fort Pillow aided in losing the battle?

Q#14 – What occurred at the end of the Battle for Fort Pillow?

Q#15 – After the Battle of Fort Pillow what reason did the Confederates give for the high number of Union troops killed during the battle?

Meeting of April 30, 2024

Alan Sissenwein on “Worst Generals of The Civil War – Earl Van Dorn.”

On the eve of the Civil War, there were few professional soldiers in North America who were held in higher esteem than Earl Van Dorn. Like many of his contemporaries, he had distinguished himself during the Mexican War. Far less typically, he had also earned a reputation as an Indian fighter leading cavalry against the elusive Comanches in Texas. He belonged to a select group of officers, which included George McClellan and Joseph Johnston, from whom great martial deeds were expected when the War Between the States started.

Again like McCellan and Johnston, Van Dorn would prove a disappointment, siding with the Confederacy, he lost important battles at Pea Ridge in Arkansas and Corinth in Mississippi. His conduct of these battles marked him as one of the war’s worst army commanders, but Van Dorn’s defeats did not end his military career. Reassigned to commanding cavalry, Van Dorn conducted a raid that thwarted Grant’s first attempt to capture Vicksburg, and he later captured 1,221 Federal troops at Thompson’s Station in Tennessee.

By May 1863, Van Dorn had seemingly found his military niche when he met a sudden and scandalous death that was perhaps the most embarrassing ever suffered by a Civil War general. Van Dorn’s story is thus a tale of defeat and near redemption that took a final turn into ignominy.

Alan Sissenwein has been a longtime active member, and is now vice president of, the South Bay Civil War Round Table. He is currently writing the second draft of a nonfiction book.

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Quiz for April 30, 2024

Civil War Quiz: What Do You Know About the Civil War in the New Mexico Territory?

Q#1 In 1861, the New Mexico Territory was comprised of which current States?

Q#2 The New Mexico Territory provided more soldiers to the Union, than any other western state or territory. Approximately how many Union soldiers came from the New Mexico Territory?

Q#3 In 1861, the Confederacy claimed the southern half of the vast New Mexico Territory as its own Arizona Territory. What was the main objective behind this claim?

Q#4 At the start of the Civil War, what was the general political attitude by those inhabiting the Nex Mexico Territory regarding supporting secession?

Q#5 Which geographic portion of the New Mexico Territory had the strongest support for the Confederacy?

Q#6 What was a major influencing Union support in the northern geographic portion of the New Mexico Territory?

Q#7 In 1861 in the town of Tucson, southern sympathizers living in the New Mexico Territory established what they called the Arizona Territory What was the name of the man named governor?

Q#8 What significant events in July 1861 occurred in the town of Mesilla, New Mexico Territory?

Q#9 On January 13, 1862, what action was taken by Confederate President Davis with regards to the New Mexico Territory?

Q#10 In March 1862, the U.S. House of Representatives, took what political action regarding New Mexico Territory?

Q#11 In what mountain range was the Battle of Glorieta Pass fought in?

Q#12 The Battle of Glorieta Pass began with a skirmish on March 26 between advance elements from each army, with the main battle occurring on March 28. Although the Confederates were able to push Union forces back through the pass, what was the reason they had to retreat?

Q#13 Years after the Civil War ended, what name was given to the Battle of Glorieta Pass?

Q#14 What military engagement is often considered the westernmost engagement of the Civil War?

Q#15 While the Battle of Valverde was technically a Confederates victory, why did Confederate General Henry Sibley decide to abandon his attempt to capture the fort, thus ceding the battlefield back to Union control?

Meeting of March 26, 2024

Tom McMahon on “Bleeding Kansas”

American Progress (John Gast painting)

Setting the stage with a short recall of the violent guerilla warfare that sets pre Civil War Kansas bleeding and on Fire,1855-9 over the issue of slavery we examine the stark contrast of the type of conflict carried out in Virginia by Lee ,a West Point model of proper military engagement as contrasted to the bushwhack raids and battles west of the Mississippi which were out of control of Jefferson Davis in his struggle with his generals. One of my main interests will be to high light the contingent of Union troops who were stationed in Alabama throughout the entire war ,cavalry that became the personal guard of General Sherman in his March to the Sea and the destruction of a 200 year economic plantation way of life for the people of the South. It looks like only a short mention of the March to the Sea can be taken up , so this might be for another time.,

Tom McMahon, San Francisco born in 1928, Roman Catholic priest for 26 years, pastor of Old 1897 historic church in New Almaden, married to Elaine (deceased 2021, two sons, five grandchildren), member of local San Jose South Bay Civil War Roundtable for 16 years, retired mental health therapist, amateur historian, founder of History Club at Almaden Senior Center, writer-researcher, and one who enjoys life and people.

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Quiz for March 26, 2024

Civil War Quiz: What Do You Know About Civil War General Benjamin Butler?

Q#1 – Where was Benjamin Butler born and on what date?

Q#2 – What military event did Butler’s father, John Butler serve in?

Q#3 – Who was Butler named after?

Q#4 – Butler was awarded a scholarship to Phillips Exeter Academy, where he spent one term. How was described by his schoolmates?

Q#5 – In 1844, Butler was elected to what organization?

Q#6 – What reputation did Butler earn as a criminal defense lawyer?

Q#7 – Although Butler represented workers in legal actions, he also sometimes represented mill owners. This adoption of both sides of an issue manifested itself when he became more politically active. What landmark labor working condition for laborers did Butler advocate for?

Q#8 – Butler, as a Democrat, supported the Compromise of 1850 and regularly spoke out against the abolition of slavery. At the 1860 Democratic National Convention at Charleston, South Carolina, who did Butler support as the Democratic Party’s candidate for President of the United States?

Q#9 – In 1857 what position did then Secretary of War Jefferson Davis appointed Butler to at West Point?

Q#10 – Although he sympathized with the South, what statement did Butler make as he sought to serve in the Union Army??

Q#11 – After Abraham Lincoln was elected president in November 1860, Butler traveled to Washington, D.C. When a secessionist South Carolina delegation arrived in Washington, what did Butler do?

Q#12 – At the start of the Civil War, Butler managed to be named Brigadier General of the 8th Massachusetts Regiment. What was the first action Butler participated in April 1861?

Q#13 – In May 1862, Butler commanded the force that conducted the capture of New Orleans after its occupation by the Navy following the Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip. In the administration of that city, what did Butler initially implement?

Q#14 – In November 1863, Butler was given command of the Department of Virginia and North Carolina based in Norfolk, Virginia. In January 1864, what activity did Butler play a pivotal role in regarding the creation of ??

Q#15 – What do many Civil War historians’ cite as a major contributing factor for Andrew Johnson being acquitted at his impeachment trial?