Circular Memorandum #424
louisvillecwrt.yolasite.com
December, 2010
Announcing Our 460th Meeting
“Odyssey of a Border State: Antebellum Kentucky
During the Sectional Crisis 1845 – 1860”
Will be Presented by Gary Matthews
DATE: Saturday, December 4
COCKTAILS: 6:00 P.M.
Location: Big Spring Country Club
DINNER ($25.00): 7:00 P.M.
PROGRAM: 8:00 P.M.
Meet Our Speaker – Gary Matthews
Gary R. Matthews is an independent historian and free lance writer who resides in Lexington, Kentucky. Mr.
Matthews is a native of Virginia who has studied history at the University of Virginia and law and economics at
the Pennsylvania State University. He is the author of Basil Wilson Duke, C.S.A.: The Right Man in the Right
Place (University Press of Kentucky, 2005) and “Beleaguered Loyalties: Kentucky Unionism,” in Sister States
Enemy States: The Civil War in Kentucky and Tennessee (University Press of Kentucky, 2009). Mr. Matthews
is currently working on book length manuscript that is intended to be an in-depth examination of the topics
that will be addressed in his December 4th lecture.
Antebellum Kentucky
For the most part, historians have traditionally explained Kentucky’s equivocation during the secessionist
crisis as being characteristic of a border state. The immediate question this comment raises is what is
meant by the term border state? In 1926 the historian E. Merton Coulter in his seminal work The Civil War
and Readjustment in Kentucky wrote: “Kentucky was neither wholly Northern nor Southern, but that lying on
the borderline of both she partook of both.” This definition and Coulter’s historical interpretations are still
highly regarded, but unfortunately tend to place too much emphasis on the state’s geographic location at the
time of the secessionist crisis, rather than on the evolution of Kentucky’s national perspective and why it was
the determining factor in 1861. Coulter’s analysis of Kentucky in 1861 should not be totally discounted, for
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December, 2010
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many of his conclusions are still valid. What is needed for those interested in not only the history of the
American Civil War, but also that of the Commonwealth in general, is an understanding of the historical
processes that created and distinguished the antebellum mindset of Kentucky.
It must not be assumed without debate that the perception of Kentucky as the quintessential border state is
also the quintessence of its antebellum character. Instead Matthews will show through a topical discussion
that antebellum Kentucky was a state unique in character that cannot be fully appreciated without an
understanding of the state’s interaction with the dynamics of nation building, slavery, capitalism and national
politics. This is not to say that geography played but a minor role during the sectional crisis, for Kentucky
was quite adept at dancing a fine jig between North and South. Indeed, the relationship between Kentucky
and the six states that graced her borders, both individually and collectively, was an integral factor in
developing the state’s political mindset in the antebellum era; as were the physical characteristics of the
state. When the moment of truth did arrive for Kentucky during the secession crisis it was not one single
factor but the aggregation of many that would define Kentucky’s unionism.
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Books! Books! Books!
We will have copies of our speaker’s books on sale at the meeting at a 40% discount.
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RESERVATIONS: Call Doug Krawczyk (502-425-0325) to place your reservations. If you are making
reservations for more than just yourself, please give the names of the others. If you leave your reservation
on his answering machine, please spell out your name so he can correctly identify you. You can also make your
reservation by e-mail by sending it to [email protected]. Please call or email no later than
Wednesday, December 1, by noon. We cannot accept reservations past this date! If you wish to join us just
for the program, please call and make a reservation so that we can provide you with a chair. If you are only
coming for the program, you can call Doug anytime up to 4:00 p.m. the day of the meeting.
Reminder for Table Reservations: We can reserve tables for parties of eight only, and we need you to
provide us with the names of all the people in your party when you make the reservation. This will enable us to
manage our meeting space in a more efficient manner. Thank you.
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2010-2011 Preservation Grant Awarded
The 2010 – 2011 Louisville Civil War Preservation Grant has been awarded to the Civil War Preservation Trust
for the purchase of land at Perryville. A check for $1450.00 was sent to the CWPT and will be matched 4 to
1 and goes toward saving 357 acres of historic ground. Thanks to everyone who contributed and to Holly
Jenkins-Evans who is the chairperson of our preservation committee.
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December, 2010
THE 50 for the 50th
In honor of its 50th Anniversary, the Louisville Civil War Roundtable selected what it considers the 50
Essential Books on the Civil War. These works are not necessarily the best books on the era, but rather are
the basic resources necessary for anyone to understand the period 1861-1865. The list is divided by categories
and touches as much of the war as possible; no effort was made to rank the books within each category, or to
decide the relative merits of each type of book. All of these titles are available today. Taken as a whole, they
represent the Civil War and its myriad facets.
Respectfully Submitted,
Chris Kolakowski, Chair
John Davis
Doug Krawczyk
Dick Skidmore
Battles/Campaigns
Return to Bull Run: The Campaign and Battle of Second Manassas by John Hennesey
The Gleam of Bayonets: The Battle of Antietam by James Murfin
The Campaign of Chancellorsville by John Bigelow
The Campaign of Gettysburg by Edward Coddington
The Vicksburg Campaign 3 Vols by Ed Bearss
The Terrible Sound: Chickamauga by Peter Cozzens
Wilderness/Spotsylvania by Gordon Rhea
Shiloh: Bloody April by Wiley Sword
Stonewall in the Valley by Robert Tanner
Decision in the West: The Atlanta Campaign of 1864 by Albert Castel
Biography
RE Lee 4 vols by Douglas S. Freeman
The Edge of Glory: A Biography of General William S. Rosecrans by William Lamers
John Breckinridge by William C. Davis
The Young Napoleon by Stephen Sears
Rock of Chickamauga: The Life of General George H. Thomas by Freeman Cleaves
Lincoln by David Donald
Lee the Soldier edited by Gary Gallagher
Jefferson Davis by William Cooper
Lincoln and His Generals by T. Harry Williams
Stonewall Jackson by James I. Robertson
Fiction/Literature
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane
Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
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December, 2010
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Unit Histories
Lee’s Lieutenants by Douglas S. Freeman
Mother May You Never See the Sights I have Seen: The 57th Massachusetts by Warren Wilkinson
The Union Cavalry in the Civil War by Stephen Starr
Two Great Rebel Armies by Richard McMurry
The Army of the Potomac 3 Vols by Bruce Catton
The Orphan Brigade by William C. Davis
Nothing but Victory: The Army of the Tennessee by Stephen Woodworth
Army of the Heartland and Autumn of Their Glory by Thomas Connelly
The Stonewall Brigade by Bud Robertson
Education in Violence: The Army of the Cumberland by Francis McKinney
General Histories
Photographic History of the Civil War in Ten Volumes by Francis Miller
Battles & Leaders Century Magazine
The American Heritage History of the Civil War (Old Version Bruce Catton)
Battle Cry of Freedom by James McPherson
The Civil War 3 vols by Shelby Foote
Virginia at War 4 vols edited by William C. Davis and James I. Robertson
Memoir
Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant by Ulysses S. Grant
Memoirs of William T. Sherman by William T. Sherman
The Civil War Papers of George McClellan by Stephen Sears
A Confederate War Clerk’s Diary by John B. Jones
Fighting for the Confederacy by E.P. Alexander
Memoirs of a Dutch Mudsill: The “War Memories” of John Henry Otto 21st Wisconsin by John Henry Otto
Company Aytch by Sam Watkins
A Diary From Dixie by Mary Boykin Chestnut
Memoir of Service Afloat During the War Between the States by Raphael Semmes
The Children of Pride: A True Story of Georgia in the Civil War by Charles Babcock Jones edited by Robert
Meyer
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Early Reservations Recommended for 50th Anniversary Meeting
Start planning now to attend our special 50th Anniversary meeting that will be held January 22, 2011. There
will be special mementos that will be given only to those who attend the meeting, special guests, a unique
buffet menu, a birthday cake, and of course our very special guest speaker, Bud Robertson. Make your
reservations early because Big Spring does have a limit on the number of attendees that can be
accommodated. You can make your reservation by emailing Harriette [email protected] or Bryan Winslow
[email protected] or calling Doug Krawczyk (502-425-0325).
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December, 2010
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2011 Field Trip: Return to Gettysburg
We have 48 people signed up for the Gettysburg field trip and 34 of these have paid the $200
nonrefundable reservation deposit, which guarantees them one of the 54 seats on the tour. Remember,
signing up alone will not guarantee your reservation. Only the $200 deposit will. We will be going back
to Gettysburg for our 2011 field trip to study the biggest battle of the Civil War. The dates will be March
30 – April 3. Our guide will be Chris Kolakowski. There is a limit of 54 who can take the tour so sign up early
and pay your deposit.
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2010 – 2011 Dates
Saturday
December 4
Gary Matthews
“Odyssey of a Border State: Antebellum
Kentucky During the Sectional Crisis,
1845-1860 ”
Saturday
January 22
Bud Robertson
“TBA”
Saturday
February 12
Ed Bearss
“TBA”
Saturday
March 12
George Rable
“TBA”
Saturday
April 9
John Marszalek
“William Sherman”
Saturday
May 14
Jeffrey Wert
“Jeb Stuart”
Welcome New Member!
We wish to extend the warm hand of fellowship to new member:
Paul Fridell
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Winners of the November Door Prizes
Congratulations to our door prize winners at the November meeting.
Wearing the Gray
Pictorial History of the Civil War
Tarnished Eagles
Lincoln’s Admirals
George B. McClellan
Field Trip Hat
by
by
by
by
by
John Esten Cooke
Paul Angle
Tom Lowery
Craig Symonds
Warren Hassler
won
won
won
won
won
won
by
by
by
by
by
by
Richard Slone
Bill Hambleton
Chris Kolakowski
Michaeleen Peck
Mary Ann Mitchell
Doug Krawczyk
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December, 2010
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December 2010 Quiz:
1. Who was the Union cavalry commander who ordered the ill-advised and disastrous cavalry charge
into the Confederate infantry advance late in the day at the Battle of Gaines's Mill?
2. A Richmond, Virginia newspaper described weekly battles involving "scores of youthful candidates
for the penitentiary." What battles were they talking about?
3. What city was the first capital of the Confederate States of America and how long did it host the
new government?
4. The full title of Harriet Beecher Stowe's 1852 anti-slavery book was UNCLE TOM'S CABIN,
or......(what)?
5. Buffalo Bill Cody and Wild Bill Hickok both saw action during the Civil War. On which side was each
one?
November 2010 Quiz:
1. How did CSA General John C. Pemberton serve out the remainder of the war after he resigned his
generalship following his surrender at Vicksburg?
He served as an artillery inspector in Virginia.
2. How many times did Union General U. S. Grant try to take Vicksburg before he was successful?
After six failures, he was successful on the seventh try.
3. Who was the last Civil War veteran to actively serve in the United States Army?
John Clem, who was probably the youngest to serve in the Civil War. He retired prior to
the United States' entry into World War I and died in 1937.
4. How many times did Vice President Andrew Johnson meet with President Lincoln before Lincoln's
death?
He met with him twice.
5. In an obituary in Historical Magazine a CSA general was described as "He could fight all day and
dance all night. In the morning, a glass of brandy and strong cigar renewed his strength....He loved
magnificent uniforms, and magnificent horses, and magnificent women." Who was this general?
He was John Bankhead Magruder.
(The Quiz is prepared by Harriette Weatherbee)
Attest:
John Davis
Adjutant
By Order of:
Art Boerner
President