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Knoxville Civil War Roundtable

~ Remembering the Civil War in East Tennessee

Knoxville Civil War Roundtable

Tag Archives: Braxton Bragg

President’s message: Review of book of the Battle of Stones River

06 Tuesday Dec 2016

Posted by knoxcwrt in Civil War leaders, news, President's message

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Battle of Stones River, Braxton Bragg, Jim Lewis, Larry Daniel

Thank you to everyone who attended the November meeting to hear Ed Bearss speak on “Custer at the Little Big Horn.” There were 63 diners, ten who were non-members. Also attending were an additional 22 members and nine non-members to hear the presentation. Total attendance for the lecture was 94. Thank you once again for your outstanding support and interest in the Round Table.

Remember to make your dinner reservation by 11 a.m. December 12th to hear Jim Ogden speak on “The Great Locomotive Chase.” Don’t forget to bring a dessert to share for the “dessert social” after the speaker’s presentation.

The Battle of Stones River / Murfreesboro

I re-read Larry J. Daniel’s book entitled “Battle of Stones River: The Forgotten Conflict between the Confederate Army of Tennessee and the Union Army of the Cumberland”. The Confederacy referred to it as the Battle of Murfreesboro. This battle was of great importance to both sides and its Generals – Rosecrans for the Union and Bragg for the Confederacy. Rosecrans needed a victory to undermine the growing antiwar movement and regain the northern army’s morale after the loss at Fredericksburg. Bragg, who was defeated in Kentucky, needed to reclaim Middle Tennessee and his reputation. So at the end of December 1862 both armies are on the move in horrific conditions of severe rain and cold, lack of food and supplies, and mud ankle deep to secure Middle Tennessee. 100,000 men fought in deadly battle for three days starting December 31st, 1862 and resulted in 23,000 casualties by the two armies.

In reading Daniel’s book it is hard to understand why this battle is referred to the forgotten battle. Bragg withdrew his army from the field because he did not have the supplies or the reinforcements to continue the fight. I believe that Bragg and his army acquitted themselves well at Stones River but none the less it is considered a Union victory and another loss for Bragg.

The Battle of Stones River

The Battle of Stones River

The Union did hold Middle Tennessee and Rosecrans’s star was on the rise. Let us not forget that Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation went into effect January 1, 1863 with the support of a win at Stones River. Lincoln would write to Rosecrans: “I can never forget, whilst I remember anything, that about the end of last year and the beginning of this, you gave us a hard earned victory, which had there been a defeat instead, the nation could scarcely have lived over.” Lincoln certainly understood the importance of this battle to his cause to continue the war. This may be the best book on this battle and I would encourage you to read it. Maybe you will be able to answer the question of why this has become the forgotten battle.

In January Jim Lewis, Historian Stone’s River NMP, will do a presentation entitled

“Hell’s Half Acre” at the Round Table’s monthly meeting January 10, 2017. Lewis’ thoughts and insights on this battle.

John Stegner, President

Sources

The Battle of Stones River – Larry J. Daniel
Battle of Stones River Illustration – Kutz and Allison

Map – Hal Jespersen

Map of the Battle of Stones River

Map of the Battle of Stones River

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Richard McMurry tells KWCRT Joseph Johnston gets ‘too much credit’ for transforming the Army of Tennessee

29 Monday Aug 2016

Posted by knoxcwrt in Civil War leaders, news, speakers

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Army of Tennessee, Braxton Bragg, Chattanooga, Civil War, Joseph Johnston, Richard McMurry

Historian Richard McMurry told the August meeting of the Knoxville Civil War Roundtable that Confederate Gen. Joseph Johnston gets too much credit for being a “miracle worker” in November 1863 when he too command of the Army of Tennessee south of Chattanooga.

Most of the things that happened to change the army during that winter, McMurry said, “would have happened anyway no matter who was the commander.”

Here’s a video excerpt of McMurry’s talk:


KCWRT-McMurry from Jim Stovall on Vimeo.

Historian Richard McMurry discusses the undue credit that Confederate Gen. Joseph Johnston receives for “turning the Army of Tennessee around” in the winter of 1863-64 when he took command. Many of the things that happened to re-invigorate the army would have taken place no matter who was in command. The speech was given on August 9, 2016, to the Knoxville Civil War Roundtable.


Johnston took over the Army of Tennessee in November 1863 when it was demoralized and in disarray. McMurry listed some of the things that Johnston did to get the army ready for its spring battles:

  • He reorganized the command and thus restored its morale.
  • He made useful suggestions for transporting food more efficiently.
  • The men built relatively comfortable shelters for the winter.
  • More railroad cars became available and thus more food, clothing and supplies were shipped tot he army.
  • Johnston reduced the number of mouths the army had to feed by granting furloughs.

Many of these things would have happened anyway, McMurry said, but Johnston gets credit for them. The reputation of Braxton Bragg, one of the army’s previous commanders, has suffered because these things had not happened on his watch.

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James Longstreet

01 Wednesday Jun 2016

Posted by knoxcwrt in Civil War leaders, news

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Ambrose Burnside, Battle of the Wilderness, Braxton Bragg, Centreville, Chattanooga, Chickamauga, Civil War in East Tennessee, Civil War in Knoxville, Fredericksburg, Ft. Sanders, George McClellan, Gettysburg, James Longstreet, Jefferson Davis, Joseph Hooker, Manassas Junction, Robert E. Lee. George Pickett, Rutherford B. Hayes, T.J. "Stonewall" Jackson, Ulysses S. Grant, United States Military Academy, West Point

By J. C. Tumblin, O.D., Past President, Knoxville Civil War Roundtable

Copyright 1998 by J. C. Tumlbin All rights reserved.

James Longstreet

James Longstreet

CHILDHOOD, YOUTH, AND WEST POINT YEARS (1821- 1842)

James Longstreet was born the fifth child of James and Mary Ann Dent Longstreet, on January 8, 1821, in the Edgefield District of South Carolina. His mother had traveled to her mother-in-law’s home for his birth. Both of his parents, owners of a cotton plantation near present-day Gainesville in the Piedmont section of northeastern Georgia, were descendants of families dating to the colonial period — James born in New Jersey, Mary Ann in Maryland. The future general always regarded Georgia as his home, as he came there within weeks of his birth and spent the first nine years of his life there. It had required hard physical labor and resilience to carve a farm out of the forest and wilderness that had been the frontier only a few years previous. Under the tutelage of his older brother and sister, William and Anna, young James rode horseback, hunted, fished, and developed the strong physique that would characterize him throughout life. He also developed self-confidence, self-reliance, and a work ethic.

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Welcome to the KCWRT

The Knoxville Civil War Roundtable is a organization dedicated to remembering and studying the Civil War in East Tennessee.

Find out how to join the KCWRT on our membership page.

Meetings of the KCWRT are held at the Bearden Banquet Hall (5806 Kingston Pike). A dinner buffet is served at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $17 for members and $20 for nonmembers. Reservations must be made or cancelled not later than 11:00 am on the day before the meeting. Call (865) 671-9001 to make or cancel reservations.

Roundtable business is conducted at approximately 7:15 p.m.

A guest speaker, normally an author, educator, or historian of national prominence in his or her field, speaks for approximately one hour, on some aspect of the American Civil War. Additional information about this month's speaker can be found in the current issue of The Scout's Report.

This address is followed by a brief question and discussion period. Cost (for those not dining) is $5 for members and $8 for nonmembers.

The normal schedule of events at each meeting is as follows:

6:30 p.m. - Buffet Dinner
7:15 p.m. - Roundtable Business
7:30 p.m. - Speaker + Questions/Discussion
8:45 p.m. - Adjournment

Now available

Protect your pate with this fashionable and utilitarian cap. Made of cotton twill, it is durable, yet comfortable, and displays the Knoxville Civil War Roundtable logo prominently in front. Our caps are proudly worn by Ed Bearrs and they are an excellent accessory for your civil war history adventures. Priced at only $15.00, you too could look like a national treasure!

“Its Memory Alone Remains”
The Battle of Fort Sanders took place on what is now known as Fort Sanders Hill near downtown Knoxville. Nothing remains of the original fortifications however this short film provides excellent information about the fortifications and the battle. The fortifications were designed by Orlando Poe who encircled the fort with a deep trench which was not visible upon approach to the walls of the fort. Poe also had interwoven telegraph wire among the tree stumps surrounding the fort which presented a nearly impassable barrier, and utilized brush from the cut trees as additional camouflage. The resulting battle was brutal, resulting in large casualties.
Produced by Steve Dean, this documentary was filmed on a full-scale reproduction of the bastion with the dimensions of the earthwork and ditch taken from Orlando Poe’s description. The title of this film was taken from an 1890’s Blue and Gray Reunion Medal.
Available for purchase at $15.00.

“The Hidden Battlefield”
From the renowned Heartland Series, “The Hidden Battlefield” retells the history of the battle of Campbell Station. On November 16, 1863, nearly 20,000 soldiers fought on two fronts, with hundreds of deaths. Unfortunately little remains at this location to commemorate the 6-hour battle for possession of the crossroads at Campbell Station that resulted in two Medals of Honor being awarded.
The illustrious and knowledgeable Gerald Augustus is featured in this presentation.
Available for purchase at $15.00

All items are available for purchase at our monthly meetings or by mail to PO Box with check to KCWRT for amount of purchase. add $5 for postage and handling and email to zachsam@yahoo.com with order.

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Abraham Lincoln Alfred Pleasonton Alfred Waud Ambrose Burnside Antietam Army of Northern Virginia Army of the Potomac Atlanta campaign Battlelines: Gettysburg Battle of Stones River Battle of the Wilderness Braxton Bragg Brian McKnight Brian Steel Wills Centreville Champ Ferguson Chattanooga Chickamauga Civil War Civil War in East Tennessee Civil War in Knoxville Civil War outlaws Civil War partisams Civil War Trust crowdsourcing Culp's Hill Curt Fields Earl Hess Ed Bearss Ed Caudill Edwin Forbes Fort Dickerson Frank O'Reilly Fredericksburg Free State of Jones Ft. Sanders George Armstrong Custer George Henry Thomas George McClellan George Meade George Rable Gettysburg Henry Wirz J.E.B. Stuart James Longstreet Jefferson Davis Jim Lewis Jim Ogden John Marszalek John Singleton Mosby Joseph Hooker Joseph Johnston Joseph Wheeler Knoxville Civil War Rountable magazines Manassas Junction march through Georgia news during the Civil War newspapers Paul Ashdown Richard Ewell Robert E. Lee Robert E. Lee. George Pickett Rutherford B. Hayes Scout's Report T.J. "Stonewall" Jackson Ulysses S. Grant United States Military Academy University of Alabama Vicksburg video West Point William P. Sanders William Tecumseh Sherman Wyatt Moulds

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